Free December Days at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

We, residents of San Benito County, are in luck! Between today and Sunday, December 13, 2015, admission into the Monterey Bay Aquarium is f-r-e-e. Free!

The aquarium offers free entry every year during its Community Open House to not only San Benito County residents, but also residents of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Thank you very much, Monterey Bay Aquarium!

San Benito County residents: To take advantage of the free access, you must show a valid photo ID with your local address. The aquarium also accepts a recent utility bill or monthly San Benito County Express bus pass as proof of residence. If you're a student attending a community college or university in San Benito, Monterey, or Santa Cruz county, you can show your student ID.

For information about the Monterey Bay Aquarium's hours, exhibits, and other matters, click here to go its website.

Santa Claus Sighted in Hollister

There he is! Biker Santa Claus on Johnny's Bar & Grill's ledge.

See you tomorrow.

Pre-Owned Holiday Treasures

For those of you who like exploring thrift shops and consignment stores for fun, awesome, practical, and, simply, blast-from-the-past holiday decorations and gifts, you're in luck. We have several in Hollister. Here are some of them.

Finders Keepers, 191-C San Felipe Road

Forgiving Paws Thrift Shop, 195 Meridian St. B-18

Goodwill, 550 Tres Pinos Road

Hazel's Thrift Shop, 898 San Benito Street

Pat's Place, 101 5th Street

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, 680 College Street

She's Consignment Store, 202 5th Street, 831 630-5810

Autumn 2013

Don't you just hate it when your modem isn't working?  Thank goodness for the iPAD, wireless connection at the San Benito Free Library, and an archive of photos online. With luck, I may be able to post new stuff tomorrow.

Outside City Limits

I love the pockets of country within Hollister. For example, a residential development borders the south of this field on Meridian Street, and another development is across the street.

See you tomorrow.

Support Our Local Merchants During the Holidays

While you're out and about checking out all the cool events going on today in San Benito County (see yesterday's post), take a look at the local shops that may be nearby. You may find that holiday gift or idea that you're seeking.

Today in San Juan Bautista is the "Holiday Stroll Through Time" from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Many of the San Juan merchants are holding an open house, offering refreshments and such to their customers.

Hanging around Hollister today?  Here are a few small businesses in and around Downtown Hollister to check out.

Bella Charm, 748 San Benito Street
Gaia's Cottage, 200 Tres Pinos Road
Eclectic Treasures, 731 San Benito Street
Irma's Fashions, 230 Fifth Street
Johnnie's Girl, 535 San Benito Street
McAbee Feed, 71 McCloskey Road
Off the Chain Bikes, 101 McCray Street, Suite 101
Rancher's Feed, 354 First Street
San Benito Bene, 615 San Benito Street, Suite B
The Garden Mart, 190 San Benito Street


Note to FCC: I was not compensated to mention any business on this post, nor any other post on Take 25 to Hollister. 

December 5, 2015: Day & Night Fun in San Benito County

Lots of fun stuff going on tomorrow, Saturday, December 5, 2015, in San Benito County. These are some of them. Which ones will you check out?

Boutiques and Open Houses

Spring Grove Santa's Holiday Breakfast and Boutique 

8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

This event takes place at Spring Grove Elementary School, 500 Spring Grove Road, off Fairview Road. The all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast is $6.50. Santa Class will be there for photos. About 40 vendors will be selling crafts, goods, and other wares. For more details, check out the event's Facebook page. 

B & R Farms Annual Holiday Sale and Christmas Open House 

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

B & R Farms is located at 5280 Fairview Road (west side), between Fallon and Lone Tree Roads. They will offer free samples and refreshments as you shop. For more information, visit the events page on their website.

Bertuccio's Market Holiday Open House

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  

Bertuccio's is located at 2014 Airline Highway (west side) just before Union Road. They will offer food tastings, hourly giveaway, and raffle prizes as you shop. 

For more information, check out its Facebook page. 

Holiday Stroll Through Time Open House  

11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

San Juan Bautista merchants will hold its annual "Holiday Stroll Through Time" tomorrow.  They will offer refreshments as you shop their seasonal items. For more information, check out this article in Out and About Magazine.

Living History Days

Tomorrow is the monthly Living History Day at the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park, which features the early days of San Juan Bautista. Meet and talk with Victorian Ladies, Mountain Men, and Civil War Soldiers as they demonstrate crafts and cooking of their times. The event will run from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, click here. 

The Art of Books!

The Art of Books! is the theme of the 4th Annual Children's Art Exhibition at ARTspace, 240 Fifth Street, in Downtown Hollister. The delightful masterpieces done by local school children are available for purchase, of which proceeds go to funding the local Arts in Education Program. The gallery will be open from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. For more details, check out this earlier post.

Holiday in Lights Parade

The annual Holiday in Lights Parade in San Juan Bautista will start at 5:30 p.m., going along Third Street.  The Community Christmas Peace Tree lighting will take place earlier at sunset. 

Fa la la la Lah, la la la lah 

The Watsonville Community Band will hold it annual Winter Concert at the Veterans Memorial Building on the corner of San Benito and Seventh Streets. This free concert will start at 7:00 p.m.  

The band is made up of musicians, of all ages, from San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Santa Clara counties. Tomorrow night the band will perform songs from The Polar Express. There will be a Christmas carol singalong. (I love that part.) For more details, visit this Facebook page.

Play On!

A theater group is rehearsing its play. But, the play's author keeps changing the script. Oh, dear....Oh, rats! It's getting crazy. It's gotten out of hand. Will the show go on? 

That's the premise of the comedy Play On! performed by the San Benito Stage Company, which will run until December 12. The play is at the Granada Theater, 336 Fifth Street, in Downtown Hollister at 7:00 p.m. For more details, go to the San Benito State Company website. 

La Pastorela

Upon receiving a message from the Angel of the Lord about the birth of the Holy Child, several poor shepherds make their way to visit him. It is not an easy journey to Bethlehem as the followers of Luzbel (Lucifer) block their way at nearly every turn. 

This the basis of the play La Pastorela, the traditional Mexican tale that Luiz Valdez adapted for El Teatro Campesino.  Performed in Spanish, the local acting troupe tells the story through words, song, and dance. La Pastorela runs every weekend until December 20 at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista.  Tomorrow night, the play will start at 8 p.m. 

You can learn about the other performance dates and times, as well as purchase tickets at this Brown Paper Ticket link. Be aware that you must pick up tickets at the El Teatro Campesino box office at 300 Third Street in San Juan Bautisa. 

Keep the Peace

"The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace." ~ Carlos Santana

A December Morning

The Three Sisters look closer than they are. I took this yesterday morning from John Smith Road near Guerra Cellars.

See you tomorrow.

The Christmas Tree Forest

Every year, the Hollister Downtown Association sponsors a Decorate-the-Tree contest, inviting local nonprofit groups to turn trees into beautiful Christmas trees. This year was no different.

The contest was part of the Lights On Celebration, which was last Saturday. The trees were donated by Bourdet Christmas Trees.

The 30 Christmas trees are on display at the corner of Fourth and San Benito Streets. Soon, they will be given away to families in need in our community.

I love your town.

Loving the Children' Art

School: Mi Escuelita Pre-K

Some awesome artwork is currently on display at ARTspace (240 Fifth Street) in Downtown Hollister. Each painting is bound to melt your heart. I dare you to go look for yourself and not say "Aaaaaaah!" Or, "How cuuuuute!"

School: Little Baler

Sponsored by the San Benito County Arts Council, the 4th Annual Children's Art Exhibition goes through December 12, 2015.  School children from different local schools painted pictures inspired by children's books, such as Winnie the Pooh, The Little Prince, and If You Give a Moose a Muffin.

School: Calaveras TK

All of the paintings are on sale. Proceeds go to the San Benito County Arts Council's Arts in Education Program. Any one of the paintings would be a wonderful fun gift for art lovers and children's book fans.

School: Calaveras TK

ArtSpace is open from 12 to 4 p.m. this Saturday, December 5, and Saturday, December 12. For other gallery hours, call 831-636-2787 or email info@ sanbenitoarts.org.

School: Little Bridges

Half-an-Hour to the Parade

Sparkle-sparkle lights floated along San Benito Street yesterday evening to the happy sounds of oohs and aahs of the audience.  The Lights On Celebration Parade last night was a grand one.

I'll have more parade photos to share on Facebook within the next few days. Here are some photos taken before the parade.

The search for a good seat.

Cute pixies on the way to their float.

Who wants to buy a balloon?

Plowing and Thinning in Cold Temps

The temperature was about 37 degrees around 8 a.m. this morning. A few degrees colder an hour earlier. Brrrrr. 

Autumn Loveliness

Hope you take some time to enjoy the autumn colors between your Black Friday and Small Business Saturday shopping this weekend. This brilliant colorful tree is on the NW corner of Monterey and South Streets.

See you tomorrow.

Thank You!

I appreciate your support and visits to Take 25 to Hollister. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Su-sieee! Mac

Morning After a Sweet Rain

We had a wonderful rainy day yesterday. It gave us at least one great reflection in Downtown Hollister this morning.

Whoooooo

ARTspace, that's who. Okay, what, for all of you grammar experts who are shuddering right now. (grin)

ARTspace is the art gallery, 240 Fifth Street (east of San Benito Street), owned by the San Benito County Arts Council.  That's where you can find this cute white owl on display in the ARTspace window.

Starting this Saturday, November 28,  will be the 4th Annual Children's Art Exhibition, which will display art work by local schoolchildren. This year's theme is "The Art of Books!" The exhibit will run through December 12.

On Saturday, from 3 to 5 p.m., ARTspace will hold an open reception. For more information, check out the San Benito County Arts Council website or Facebook page.

2015 Lights On Celebration

Whooo-hooo! The Lights On Celebration in Downtown Hollister will be this Saturday, November 28, 2015. It'll an all-day event, beginning at 10 a.m. with the opening of the Holiday Boutique and the Holiday Car Display.  The Lights On Parade will start at 5:30 p.m.

For details of the day's activities, go to the Hollister Downtown Association website.

Slow Down!

It's starting to look quite festive in Downtown Hollister, despite the cars and trucks zooming down San Benito Street. Slow down, people.

Yesterday evening, for nearly an hour, the Husband and I watched the traffic on our main street. We were alarmed at how fast the vehicles traveled in both directions.  A downtown business owner told us it's like that even during the day. We've also heard that some people have had scary experiences crossing San Benito Street.

The City of Hollister has a plan to help slow down the traffic and make downtown be a pedestrian-friendly place. That would be also great for the shops and restaurants down there. Not to say for bringing future businesses to downtown. This traffic plan is ready to go, from what I understand. Hopefully the execution of it won't drag on too long. Otherwise, San Benito Street continues to be a drag strip.

Another View of San Juan Bautista

I guess you could say I've been in San Juan Bautista a lot lately. What's not to like there, right?

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Loving the Back Roads

Riding a motorcycle or scooter is a great way to enjoy the back roads of San Benito County. Pedaling a bicycle is truly fun, too. Okay, so is driving a car.

Giggle. And, a big smile. 

A Very Striking Tree

Here is another handsome, and rather dramatic, tree that graces the front of the former Courthouse on Fifth Street.

See you tomorrow.

Uhm. . .

Shades of Twilight Zone. Those clouds are passing through the sign!

FYI: I did not do any editing in Photoshop. Well, except to sharpen the photo.

See you tomorrow.

Day In, Day Out

San Juan Valley

Lots of very hard work go into farming and ranching every day. It doesn't matter whether temperatures are over 100 degrees or in the low 40s, nor whether it's windy, foggy, or raining.

Many thanks to the men and women who do the backbreaking work of growing, nurturing, and harvesting food for everyone!

San Juan Valley

E. T. in S. J. B.

Ah ha! The Husband and I sighted E. T. in San Juan Bautista the other day. He was diligently guarding the parking lot to Casa Maria on First Street.

Have a great Monday!

It's Getting Green!

This is the view from the corner of Union Road and Highway 25. Hurrah!

See you tomorrow.

A Sunday Treat

A few Sundays ago, while the Husband, our friends, and I were walking around San Juan Bautista, we came across the performers of El Teatro Campesiño practicing their songs on their building's front steps. Of course, we had to stop and enjoy the music.

El Teatro Campesiño turned 50 years old this year. Check out this interview about the stage troupe and its founder Luis Valdez, written by Frank Perez published in BenitoLink.

A Fifth Street Reflection

If you visit the San Benito County Free Library after a rain—or while it's raining—you know about the puddles alongside the curb in front of it. I have no problem with the puddles. I know how not to walk in them, as well as splash through them (Happy smile). One of the things I like about the puddles is seeing the reflections of the trees in them.

The weather guys say that it looks like rain this Sunday.

A Magnificent Autumn Canopy

Did you know that some of those trees lining the residential part of San Benito Street are magnolia trees? Yesterday, the Husband and I sat under the canopy of one of the trees while we watched the Veterans Day Parade.  Simply delightful!

By the way, if you'd like to see some photos of the parade, click here. This will take you to my album at Facebook. You can view it without logging on or even having a Facebook account.

See you tomorrow.

Thank you, Veterans, for your Service!

In Flanders Field

by John McCrae

(1915)

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

A Balcony and a Tower

The balcony and the tower on the main building at San Benito High School have always been my favorite features of that building.  Whenever I glanced at them when I was a student there many years ago, I felt like I was in another world.

The school's oldest building was built around 1910. Some people say they may have been designed by W.H. Weeks, a popular architect who created the building plans for many schools, libraries, and residences in Central and Northern California.

Veterans Day 2015

Veterans Day is this Wednesday, November 11. This year's activities will start with the annual breakfast fundraiser sponsored by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) at the San Benito High School. Open to public, the LULAC scholarship fundraiser will be from 7:00 a.m. to noon. It's $8 per plate.

Also scheduled that day will be the annual Veterans Day Ceremony and Parade hosted by the Hollister VFW Post 9242 and American Legion Post 69. Activities at the Veterans Memorial Building in Downtown Hollister will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a military benefit fair. The banner presentation, which is the installation of banners honoring local military service members, will be at 10:30 a.m. This will be followed by the memorial ceremony at 11:11 a.m., after which there will be a BBQ luncheon.

The Veterans Day Parade will start at 1:30 p.m. It will march along San Benito Street through Downtown Hollister, turning left at Fifth Street.

For more information, visit the Hollister Veterans Day Parade Facebook page.