Bonnie and Miguel Hernandez open their gallery's doors to the community.

Photo by Eric Johnson: Bonnie and Miguel Hernandez, married 33 years, do not consider themselves activists, but their generosity benefits protesters among others.

The front room of the old Austin House in Salinas functions as defense attorney Miguel Hernandez''s law office. The back is the Sasoontsi Gallery, an Oldtown gem. When gallery owners Miguel Hernandez and his wife Bonnie aren''t hosting artist receptions or after-school tours here, they throw benefits for good causes. In the next couple of weeks, there''ll be a reception for a peace activist and for California Supreme Court associate justice Carlos Moreno. The Hernandezes also open their doors for friends in need, like a court translator who couldn''t afford her medical bills after bypass surgery.

Inside the historic building there''s a mid-sized conference room with an antique fireplace. Groups like the Del Mar Caregivers, the Catholic Daughters and a Hartnell writing class use the space for free.

This bright blue Victorian, located at 40 Central Ave., very well may be the only criminal-defense-practice-slash-art-gallery-slash-community venue in the US. But that''s just how Bonnie and Miguel Hernandez operate.

This Friday, they''ll host an event to raise money for legal defense costs for antiwar protesters. But they don''t call themselves activists.

"The peace movement goes along with our Christian values," Bonnie says.

The couple, married 33 years, often start and finish each other''s thoughts. "We support our troops, but we would like them to come home," Bonnie says. "We want them to come home safely, to their families, so they can start families," Miguel adds."

Friday''s reception will benefit the Vandenberg Peace Legal Defense Fund, and feature guest speaker Bud Boothe, of Veterans for Peace. Boothe''s a WWII veteran who has spent three decades picketing for peace at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, home of a missile launch system.

Earlier this year, Boothe was arrested twice for trespassing at the base. The second time, according to peace protesters, military police came out and "crossed the green line" to arrest him. In October, he''ll stand trial in Santa Barbara.

"Neither Bonnie nor I are involved in the protests at Vandenberg," Miguel says. "They''re very energetic people, very sincere, concerned people and when they asked, we said, ''why not?''"

Miguel Hernandez serves pro bono as the Peace Legal Defense Fund''s administrator, handling and distributing money to help other protesters who have been arrested.

MacGregor Eddy, a veteran activist, Salinas resident and longtime friend of the Hernandezes--and also one of the founders of the Fund--says there will likely be more arrests. "The Air Force Base is not going to go away."

Eddy herself is on probation until Oct. 19 for trespassing. After Oct. 19, Eddy says she''ll return to the regular antiwar vigils at Vandenberg.

Both Miguel and Bonnie say Vietnam shaped their thinking about war, and about supporting US troops.

During Vietnam, Miguel, an Air Force intelligence veteran, was stationed in Okinawa and Japan.

"I went into the Air Force a very naive, gung-ho 19-year-old and came out a very burdened and troubled 23-year-old," he says.

Meanwhile, Bonnie was in the streets marching for peace. "I was in the Chicago area protesting the war, carrying signs," she recalls.

The two would later meet in Fresno. They were neighbors. "It was love at first sight," Miguel says.

They''ve lived in Salinas for almost 30 years. In April 2001, they opened the art gallery. "It was more of a vision," Miguel says. "I woke up one morning and I thought, ''I''d like to open an art gallery.''"

Soon afterward, the Austin House went up for sale. So the Hernandezes moved Miguel''s law practice to the building and transformed the rest of the space into a gallery.

As they''ve done with the rest of their gifts, they are using the gallery to make the world a better place, through art and through community.

"We''ve got a nice, busy place here," says Miguel. "We like to have a mecca for people to come and see beautiful art in the heart of Salinas. And we also offer, free of charge, a nice venue for community events."

The benefit for the Vandenberg Peace Legal Defense Fund takes place 5-8pm, Friday, Aug. 22. The Sasoontsi Gallery, The Austin House, 40 Central Ave., Salinas. $25 donation at door. 751-1777.