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By Chris Neklason
Published May 13, 2024

People are nearby to throw you a line if you feel you are sinking. People are nearby to throw you a line if you feel you are sinking. Image credit: CoolR   Shutterstock/standard

May is Mental Health Month

This week, we note that May is Mental Health Month.  If you live in one of the 10 counties in our coverage area, we include links to groups focusing on supporting your health and well-being below. If not, know that your community has resources available to assist you with information a web search away.

Most importantly, if you or someone in your family is in crisis or having suicidal thoughts, call the California Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Also, as always: Peruse your cureated local News Feed; learn about a local nonprofit doing good work; and check out our Recipe of the Week.

California's Mental Health History

A harrowing number of young people report living in despair, while we witness thousands of our neighbors suffering in the streets. Jon Vankin on the unintended consequenses of a misguided health-care reform effort.

UPDATE: California’s Mental Health Crisis: How We Got Here

The California mental health crisis is tied to both homelessness and rising crime.
How the California mental health crisis emerged out of the state’s history of deinstitutionalization and laws designed to protect the mentally ill, as well as the communities around them.

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San Joaquin County's Homepage
Direct your browser to https://sanjoaquin.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and San Joaquin County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!

A Visitation from the Northern Lights

A mega-storm on the sun and earth's magenetic field collabroated on a show over the weekend.

Aurora Borealis in the Santa Cruz Mountains


The Northern Lights appeared in Northern and Central California Saturday night.

San Joaquin County Mental Health Resources

Life is the hardest job there is. Luckily, nobody's in it on their own.

Every community is home to a network of helpers to assist when things become more than one can handle alone.

We’ve gathered a list of San Joaquin County nonprofit community groups with a mission to help people through times of crisis,  ill health and the challenges of aging or past service in the military.

If things are feeling too heavy or out of control, reach out.

And if you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call the California suicide prevention and mental health lifeline now at 988.

Recipe of the Week

Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.

See more recipes in their Taste Spring! cookbook.

Chilled asparagus soup an elegantly cool dish

Serve the soup chilled but not ice-cold for best flavor. Top with crème fraîche, chopped chives and a blanched asparagus top.
New! Spring asparagus blends well with green garlic

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Get to Know a Group

San Benito County Historical Society logo San Benito County Historical Society

Since 1957, the Historical Society has devoted itself to collecting and preserving materials pertaining to the San Benito County of yesteryear.

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From Our Media Allies

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SanBenitocom logo ‘Empower Voters’ Initiative Moving Toward November Ballot

Local proponents of an initiative that would put land use decisions in the hands of San Benito County voters are one step closer to placing it on the ballot for the Nov. 5 general election.

Benito Link logo San Benito County Aims to Overhaul Cannabis Tax Rates

Ad hoc committee of supervisors will recommend changes to ‘allow the free market to work.’

SanBenitocom logo SB County Gets State Grant to Fight Opioid Epidemic

The Tri County-Collaborative has received a state-funded grant to help in efforts to battle the ongoing opioid epidemic in the Central Coast region, the group announced this week in a press release.

Benito Link logo San Benito High School District Earns Green Ribbon School Designation

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond recently announced that San Benito High School District is one of 14 school districts in the state to have earned a 2024 California Green Ribbon Schools award.
Benito Link logo Local Walnut Farm Tied to E. Coli Outbreak

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert regarding an E. coli outbreak linked to organic walnuts sold in bulk by Gibson Farms, Inc., of Hollister.
Hilltromper Silicon Valley logo Tips on Ticks for Lyme Disease Awareness Month

Partly due to global warming and the proliferation of ticks, Lyme disease is the fastest growing infectious disease in the US. Here’s how to protect yourself.
Benito Link logo Youth Alliance Hosts ‘Youth Rising’ Awards Gathering

The nonprofit Youth Alliance celebrated youth leadership with the community on May 2 in a gathering called Youth Rising.
SanBenitocom logo Burning Man Comes to Tres Pinos

The 12th annual UnSCruz event, a four-day bounty of free style art projects, oddball vehicles, tricycles, motorized gizmos, outlandish costumes, food and drink extravaganzas, music, dance and more unfolded May 2-5 at the San Benito County Fairgrounds.

Benito Link logo Hollister Council Renews Wastewater Contract

Hollister City Council voted unanimously to renew its wastewater treatment plant operations agreement with its current contractor. Negotiations for a shorter term agreement will continue.
Benito Link logo Rain Does Not Dampen Turnout at the Hollister Wine and Beer Stroll

The rain began on May 5, just before the Hollister Downtown Association’s annual Wine & Beer Stroll started, and it lasted just until the event was over and the participants were packing up and leaving.
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Government Announcements

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Image of United States seal. United States   (05/10/2024)

Healthwest Minerals Inc. DBA Mt Capra Products Recalls Goat Milk Formula Recipe Kit and Warns Consumers Against the Use of Product as Infant Formula
Healthwest Minerals, Inc. d/b/a Mt. Capra Products of Chehalis, Washington, is recalling 1,506 boxes of Goat Milk Formula Recipe Kit on the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and advises consumers to immediately discontinue use of the product as infant formula. The FDA is conc
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/10/2024)

Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc. Recalls Yogurt Covered Pretzels Because of Possible Health Risk
Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc. of Ontario, CA is recalling Yogurt Covered Pretzels, because the yogurt coating has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with wea
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/10/2024)

Voluntary Recall of Select Great Value Organic Black Chia Seeds Due to The Possible Presence of Salmonella
Natural Sourcing International is initiating a voluntary recall of one lot of Great Value Organic Black Chia Seeds 32 oz. due to the potential presence of Salmonella that may be in some of the finished products. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/08/2024)

Texas Pecan Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Tree Nuts (Not Named Individually), Soy, Dairy(Milk), Sesame and Wheat Not Named in Product
Texas Pecan of Dallas TX is recalling 1 Lb and 8 oz products because it may contain an undeclared allergen. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to (tree nuts, peanuts, almonds, brazils, cashews, filberts, macadamias, pistachios, pecans, pine nuts, walnuts, soy, dairy (milk), sesame and
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/08/2024)

DaVinci Laboratories Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Shellfish Allergen in Amyloid Complete Product Lot 549853001
DaVinci Laboratories, a division of FoodScience, LLC of Williston, Vermont is recalling 72 bottles of Amyloid Complete because it may contain undeclared shellfish (Shrimp and Crab). People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to shellfish run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic rea
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/06/2024)

Recall_Supplier Recalls Impact Two Hy-Vee Products Third-Party Manufacturers Alert Retailer of Potential for Contamination; No Illnesses Reported
Hy-Vee, Inc., based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling two varieties of its Hy-Vee Cream Cheese Spread out of an abundance of caution due to the potential for contamination with Salmonella. Additionally, Hy-Vee is voluntarily recalling its bulk-packaged Cookies & Cream Mix out of an
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/05/2024)

Palmer Candy Company Recalls White Confectionary Products Because of Possible Health Risk
Palmer Candy Company, Sioux City, Iowa, is recalling its "White Coated Confectionary Items" because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immu
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/03/2024)

Chuao Chocolatier Recalls Its: .39 oz /11 Gram Potato Chip Mini Bar Lot 4022 Due to Undeclared Hazelnuts
May 3, 2024, Chuao Chocolatier is voluntarily recalling a single production of Potato Chip mini bar .39oz/11 gram LOT 4022 because some packages may contain undeclared hazelnut. People who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut could be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reactio
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/03/2024)

Hormel Foods Sales, LLC Recalls a Limited Number of Planters® Honey Roasted Peanuts 4 Oz. and Planters® Deluxe Lightly Salted Mixed Nuts 8.75 Oz. Because of Possible Health Risk
Hormel Foods Sales, LLC is voluntarily recalling a limited number of two PLANTERS products that were produced at one of its facilities in April. This recall only impacts two retailers in five states. These products are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/02/2024)

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Raw Pork Chorizo Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
WASHINGTON, May. 2, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns of raw pork chorizo products...