Showing posts with label local people. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local people. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Relay for Life


Downtown Hollister is swimming in purple to support Relay for Life that's taking place this weekend at the San Benito High School football field. This local annual event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.


Participants form teams and each member takes turns walking around the track for 24 hours from Friday evening (July 31). According to the Hollister Relay for Life web page, 27 teams and 198 participants have raised nearly $56,000 so far. For more information about this event, click here.


Today I'm participating in Our World Tuesday. If you'd like to join or check out posts by other participants, click here.



Monday, July 27, 2015

Fremont Memorial Tunnel


A long time ago, a tunnel was built beneath Fourth Street so that schoolchildren could safely cross the busy street to go to and from Fremont School, which used to be where the present-day courthouse stands.



Recently, a mural honoring the memory of Fremont School and the schoolchildren was painted on the Fourth Street underpass. It's an amazing mural, full of life and brilliant colors.


The designer, Arturo Rosette, the Fine Arts Chair at Gavilan College, based the mural on photos he found in the San Benito County Historical Society's archives. The silhouettes are of children who went to Fremont School, including the mural's painter, Roy Darr II.


For more about the mural, check out this story by John Chadwell at BenitoLink.com. And, to check out another Downtown Hollister mural designed by Arturo Rosette, click here.

Today is the Monday Mural meme, hosted by Oakland Daily Photo. Click here to check out other murals from around the world.


Monday, July 20, 2015

Calpulli Itzpapalotl Danza Azteca


Calpulli Itzapapaloti Danza Azteca is a local Pre-Columbian Aztec dance troupe that performs at various events and functions, such as last Saturday's Street Festival and Car Show in Downtown Hollister.


According to its Facebook page, the group offers free instruction to anyone interested in learning Aztec dance. Beginners are welcome to observe or participate. The group holds practices at the First Presbyterian Church in Hollister on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

For more information about the dance troupe, visit its Facebook page.


Today, I'm linking up at Monday Mellow Yellows, hosted by Gemma Wiseman. Click here to see more mellow yellows by bloggers around the world.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

29th Annual Street Festival, Car Show, Swap Meet, and Chili Cookoff!


Here's how late I can be: I finally "processed" some of my photos from last year's street festival. Ha! Just in time, too. This Saturday, July 18, is the 29th Annual Street Festival, Car Show, and Swap Meet in Downtown Hollister. New this year is a Chili Cookoff. 


The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on San Benito Street, between Fourth and South Streets. Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Streets will also be closed between Monterey and East Streets. 


Lots of old, older, and even older cars to see. Also, live music and entertainment to enjoy on two stages. Be sure to stop at the Hollister Downtown Association's booth for a free slice of watermelon.

The Hollister Downtown Association sponsors the event each year. Thank you, Brenda and team!


Here are a few more photos from the 2014 festival and car show. Maybe this year, I'll get Saturday's photos up sooner. Have fun at the festival!





Thursday, June 4, 2015

Moments to Love about Hollister


Nova Alinca, the last participants in the annual Portuguese Festival parade, came to a halt in front of the Old Courthouse on Fifth Street. The other parade participants had stopped before them. The band members turned to face the American flag and prepared their instruments to play.

"Oh say can you see. . . ." 

The doors of the Methodist Church opened. A few members came out. Upon hearing the national anthem, they stood respectfully at attention. When the song was finished, they went back in and closed the doors. The parade continued onward to Sacred Heart Church.

It's moments like these that remind me why I like living in Hollister. 

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

2015 Festa do Espirito Santo Parade


Last Sunday, the Husband and I headed down to Dunne Park to watch the start of the annual Portuguese Festival parade. It's one of the prettiest parades in Hollister.


Every year, the Portuguese American community of Hollister holds the Festa Do Espirito Santo, or Feast of the Holy Spirit, on Pentacost Sunday to celebrate a longtime cultural tradition.


The two-day event honors Queen Isabella of the 14th century who helped the starving poor in the Azores Islands against the wishes of her husband.  She gave her crown to the church so that it could buy food for the people.


The local Portuguese American community held its annual festival this weekend at its S.D.E.S. (Socieda do Divino Espirito Santo) Hall on Seventh Street. Saturday night was the crowning of  the "Big Queen" (high school student) and "Little Queen" (elementary school student) and their royal courts, who will represent the community at Portuguese American festivities throughout the year.


The "Big Queen" and "Little Queen" and their courts lead the traditional parade on Sunday morning. They were joined by royal courts from Portuguese American communities in Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Monterey, and other cities.


The parade started at the S.D.E.S. Hall, and made its way up Seventh Street to San Benito Street Street, where the parade marched to Sixth Street and then down to Sacred Heart Church. After attending a mass, the community went back to the hall to enjoy a traditional meal of Portuguese beef and cabbage soup.


To see more parade photos, check out the album at Take 25 to Hollister Facebook page.


I've linked up to Our World Tuesday. Come check out other participants from around the world with me.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

2015 Hollister Certified Farmers' Market


The farmers' market in Downtown Hollister is open every Wednesday from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m. until September 30. Whooo-hooo! 

The market is on San Benito Street, between Fourth and Seventh Streets. So, from around noon to 8 p.m or so, you'll need to find another way through Downtown Hollister. Truly no big deal for fresh vegetables, fruit, and meats; or for baked goods, prepared food, prepackaged foods, and food cooked on the spot; or for such other items as fresh flowers, plants, clothing, jewelry, and crafts. There are also information booths for products, businesses, and nonprofit groups.





The farmers market again features live music from local talents as well as culinary demonstrations. New this year is the First Wednesday Art Nights, hosted by the San Benito County Arts Council. In the works is wine tasting, also on the first Wednesday of the month. 

For more information about the Hollister Certified Farmers' Market, check out its webpage at the Downtown Hollister Association or the market's Facebook page.


Today is Our World Tuesday, and that's where I'm linking up. Click here to visit other participants from around the world. 

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

S is for. . .

The former home of John and Almira Steinbeck on Monterey Street
The Steinbecks. 

John and Almira Steinbeck, to be precise. They were the grandparents of author John Steinbeck, who was born in Salinas and lived there until he graduated from Stanford. 

John and Almira Steinbeck were originally from Prussia. They first moved to Palestine before migrating to the United States. They settled in Hollister around 1874. They owned a dairy on  Line Street, which back then was in the country. When they retired from farming, they moved into town, purchasing a house on Monterey Street. 

As a child, John Steinbeck and his family, from what I understand, visited their grandparents in Hollister by driving a surrey over the Gabilan foothills via the Old Stage Coach Road. Part of the road is known today as the Anza Trail. Something to think about the next time you hike that trail. 


Click here to find other A to Z challenge participants.


Monday, April 6, 2015

E is for. . .


Eric Tognazzini!

In his later years, Eric buzzed up and down the sidewalks of Downtown Hollister on an electric wheelchair. Before that, he rode his tricycle. Eric was constantly stopping to talk with friends and acquaintances, some of whom crossed the streets or popped out of the shops and restaurants to say hello and chat with him for awhile.

I never knew what Eric's physical disability was. I just knew that he did not stick to the shadows because of it. He had a charming personality that disarmed people so that they didn't feel uncomfortable being around him.

Eric died in May, 2011 at the age of 64. Immediately, his friends started a memorial fund to build a statue of Eric, so that we may all remember and be inspired by Eric's amazing joyful spirit. Last month, the statue was installed and unveiled in front of the Briggs Building on the corner of San Benito and Fourth Streets.

To Eric!



Click here to find other A to Z challenge participants.






Sunday, November 2, 2014

Local Book Authors of San Benito County


So, we turned back the clocks an hour today, which to me is another sign of huddling in for the cooler and, hopefully, rainy days and nights. And, that means cozy times for reading a good book. That said, ever wonder if we have any book authors in San Benito County?

Well, here you go: A list of fiction and non-fiction books written by some authors who live in our county. If you know of others, please leave a comment.
  • These titles were penned by John Chadwell: Hunt of the Sea Wolves, Pershing -- The Soldiers' General, Major Crime Unit: Operation Casablanca, Werewolves of New Idria: Holly Warriors, Legends and Liars, and Last Sunrise. You can find a couple of his titles at San Benito Bene.
  • The Book of Jones by Rob Campbell. This is an anthology of comic strips about an old-school biker named Jones. Check out Campbell's description of the dude here. The book is also available at San Benito Bene.
  • Widows Peek and Ya Wanna Watch? I'll Let Ya! by Renette Torres. You can find these books at San Benito Bene, too.
  • Miracles and Grace in an Unlikely Place by Charisse Tyson, who is also the owner of Johnny's Bar & Grill.
  • Secure the Ranch, Read My Lipstick, Shaking in Her Flip-Flops, Beetles in the Boxcar, and Cuckoo Clock Caper are titles in the Josephine Stuart Mystery series by Joyce Oroz.
  • Richard McDavid and Susan Echaore-McDavid have authored career titles, some of which are still in print, such as Career Opportunities in Forensic Science and Career Opportunities in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. Click here for more info. By the way, these authors are the Husband and me.

To put it nicely, Jones is a freeloadin’, cheatin’, lyin’, booze swillin’ scooter fiend of the old school variety.  There was a time when bikers of his kind made up a larger percentage of Harley riders, maybe minus some of the freeloadin’, cheatin’ and lyin’.  This ended somewhere in the eighties or nineties with the advent of the Rich Urban Biker, or Rubbie.  Jones is a holdout from pre-rub days. - See more at: http://www.cartoonthunder.net/landing/#sthash.3vIuAXbG.dpuf
To put it nicely, Jones is a freeloadin’, cheatin’, lyin’, booze swillin’ scooter fiend of the old school variety.  There was a time when bikers of his kind made up a larger percentage of Harley riders, maybe minus some of the freeloadin’, cheatin’ and lyin’.  This ended somewhere in the eighties or nineties with the advent of the Rich Urban Biker, or Rubbie.  Jones is a holdout from pre-rub days. - See more at: http://www.cartoonthunder.net/landing/#sthash.3vIuAXbG.dpuf

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

The Second Annual San Benito Olive Festival


This Saturday, October 11, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., is the second annual San Benito Olive Festival, which celebrates the natural beauty and agricultural bounty of our county. I have no doubt that it will be another successful fun and joyful affair that will be attended by hundreds of people from near and far.

San Benito Olive Festival is both the gourmet event and the not-for-profit organization that plans, organizes, and brings the event together. The group's mission is to promote awareness and appreciation of the region's world-class culinary agriculture and premier artisans who make award-winning olive oils, wines, chocolates, Blenheim apricot products, and more. All net profits made from the event are donated to service, educational, and other community groups in San Benito County.


This year, the gourmet celebration is going to be at the gorgeous, historic Bolado Park, which is 8 miles south of Hollister. It's easy to find and reach on Highway 25, whether driving from the north or south.

There will be lots to eat, to drink, to purchase, and to enjoy at the festival. General admission tickets -- $20/adults and $10/children, ages 5-12 -- include the cost of entry to the festival, parking, cooking demonstrations, and entertainment. The $35 VIP ticket grants guests access to the wine tasting tent and five tastings of wine and craft beer from wineries in San Benito, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties. I'm a beer drinker myself, but I would be tempted to taste samples from places with such great names as Alicats Winery, Wild Eye Winery, Lightheart Cellars, and Graveyard Vineyards.


Six celebrity chefs are scheduled to conduct live cooking demonstrations of dishes using olives or olive oil. Starting off will be Chef Eric Carter, Director of the Culinary Arts at Cabrillo College in Aptos, at which the students run the popular Pino Alto Restaurant on campus. Following him will be Chef Dorothy McNett, the popular foodie legend of the California Central Coast, after which the chef duo Gene Sakahara and Sam Bozzo, also known as SakaBozzo, the twins separated at birth, from the Gilroy Garlic Festival will take the cooking stage. Next up will be Chef Mike Fisher, a Hollister native and local caterer who was trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and ending the day will be Chef David Boswell who is the Chef de Cuisine at Yahoo!


It's going to be a toss up for me -- watching the cooking demonstrations or listening to the live bands. I've heard three out of the four that will be performing Saturday, and just the music alone makes me realize what a bargain the festival tickets are for a great afternoon of fun. Festival guests will be hearing a range of music from jazz and big band by Mr. O's Jazz Band, doo-wop by The Flashbacks, and popular rock by Shiloh and The Retrospect.


I could go on and on about the San Benito Olive Festival, but I shall stop here. To learn more, check out the festival's website and read this article that the festival posted at BenitoLink.com.

Today, I shall be hanging out at Our World Tuesday. Come join me by clicking here.


Thursday, August 21, 2014

Los Niños Bailando en El Calle



Yesterday afternoon, this group of young dancers performed baile folklorico at the Downtown Hollister Farmers Market.  It was certainly fun and enjoyable to watch the children dancing in the street (los niños bailando en el calle).

Baile folkorico is a type of Latin American dance that integrates ballet dance techniques with regional folk culture.  Here's the Wikipedia link that explains baile folklorico better. Sorry I missed the name of the local dance troupe.

Today is Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday. I invite you to come along with me and visit other bloggers who have posted stories and photos around the letter N.


Thursday, August 7, 2014

Flowers from a Friendly Customer


Aren't these dahlias gorgeous?

They're sitting on the counter at the PG&E office on East Street. The ladies in the office told the Husband and me that a customer comes in regularly with flowers that he grows to give them. I love stories like that. Don't you?

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