I Spy . . . a Merry Gnome in San Juan Bautista

I spy with my little eye a gnome of cakes, sprinkles, and fairy tales enjoying himself at the San Juan Bakery on Third Street. 

"While there," suggests the gnome's friends reflecting in the Christmas bulbs, "be sure to try the doughnut-hole size doughnuts. They are the perfect taste of sweetness."

Peace and love, Dear Take 25 Readers. See you in 2017.

Su-sieee! Mac

I Spy . . . Holiday Cheer

I spy with my little eye holiday decorations in the streets of Downtown Hollister. They're lovely whether looking at their reflections or straight on.

Last Saturday was the annual Lights On Celebration. I wasn't able to enjoy the fun. For photos of the parade, check out this Benitolink page.

I Spy . . . a Dinosaur!

I spy with my little eye one of the Swank Farms' dinosaurs from the sky. Roarrrrrrrrr!

By the way, the Swank Farms' corn maze and pumpkin patch are now open until October 31, 2016. If you haven't yet, go check out the fun. Swank's is located on San Felipe Road, just north of the Hollister Airport. Look for the dinosaur. For more info, visit the Swank Farms website.

Classic Knights in Downtown Hollister

I don't know what's funniest—Yoda as Santa Claus, Yoda next to a medieval knight, or Yoda and the knight being barkers for a furniture store in downtown historical Hollister. What do you say?

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

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. 

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.

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?

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.

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.

Halloween Fun

Halloween decorations around Hollister are quite chilling for chickens like me. Bwak, bwak, bwak.  Be safe and enjoy your All Hallow's Eve!

Enjoy the Day!

Hope you're all having a great three days off from work! You deserve it.

See you tomorrow.

The 2015 Fourth of July Kiddie Parade

The Husband and I barely parked our bicycles when we heard the band start up a couple blocks away. The annual Fourth of July Kiddie Parade had begun. Hurrah! 

The Summer Band and Music Band Camp Marching Band played the Stars & Stripes. The Husband, a former school band marcher, said that they played part of the song, but they had it memorized. Few, if any, were carrying music. The young musicians were quite impressive. 

The fun parade of cuteness and sweetness went by quickly, as the children and their grown-ups made their way from the Veterans Park to Marguerite Maze School on Meridian Drive. 

Happy Fourth of July, Everyone!

The 4th of July Kiddie Parade

The annual 4th of July Parade is the cutest and sweetest of all the parades that we have in Hollister. The main participants are the children of Hollister. It's also the shortest, and the only parade that does not go along the main street of Dowtown Hollister.

The Independence Day Kiddie Parade starts at 10 a.m. It marches down Memorial Drive, between Hillcrest Road and Meridian Street, to Marguerite Maze School.

All children and their adults are welcome to join the parade. Kids can walk, pedal their bicycles, push their scooters, ride their wagons or strollers, and so forth. If you want to be in the parade from the start, meet at the corner of Hillcrest Road and Memorial Drive before 10 a.m.

If you're a sentimental old fool like me who plans to watch the parade, be sure to bring tissues or a hankie in case you start crying because you're watching such a cute and sweet parade.

A Day To Remember

Memorial Day

by Helen Leah Reed

(From Memorial Day and Other Verse, 1917)

        No warrior he, a village lad,
                needing nor words nor other prod
        To point his duty; he was glad
                to tread the path his fathers trod.
        Week days he worked in wood and field;
                with homely joys he decked his life;
        The sword of hate he would not wield,
                nor take a part in cankering strife.
        On Sunday in the little choir
                he sang of Peace and brotherly love,
        And as his thoughts soared higher and higher,
                they reached unmeasured heights above.

        A cry for Freedom rent the Land -
                "Our Country calls, come, come, 'tis War;
        Together let us firmly stand;"
                he answered, though his heart beat sore
        At leaving home, and kin, and one
                in whose fond eyes too late he read
        That life for her had but begun
                with the farewells he sadly said.

        A half a century has passed -
                and more - since all those myriads fell;
        For he was one of those who cast
                sweet life into a Battle's hell.
        The village has become a town,
                brick buildings the old graveyard gird;
        Of him who fought not for renown,
                no one now hears a spoken word,
        But on the Monument his name
                in gold is lettered with the rest.
        Without a sordid thought of fame
                he to his Country gave his best.

        Strew flowers, then, Memorial Day
                for him, for all who for us fought.
        With speech and music honors pay;
                teach what our brave defenders taught.
        And now our sons are setting out;
                the call for Right rings to the sky,
        "Our Country! Freedom!" hear them shout,
                re-echoing their Grandsires' cry.

November – December 2015 Annual Events in San Benito County

Here are some annual events taking place in November and December of this year in San Benito County. Click the following links to find out about events in other months.

• March - May 2015
• June - July 2015
• August - October 2015

NOVEMBER 2015

November 11: Veterans Day Parade  

November 28: 25th Annual Lights On Celebration  For its Facebook page, click here. 

DECEMBER 2015

To Be Announced: 4th Annual Holiday Stroll Through Time in San Juan Bautista

To Be Announced: 10th Annual Holiday in Lights Parade in San Juan Bautista 

December 18: Annual Holiday Bonfire/Hayden Christmas Celebration in San Juan Bautista

December 21: Winter Solstice at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista

Merry Christmas!

Dear Take 25 to Hollister Readers,

I wish you peace and love, joy and happiness on this Christmas Day!

~ Su-sieee! Mac

Spotting Santa Around Hollister

The spirit of Santa Claus has been all over Hollister, from cute Santa dolls at the grocery stores to happy Santa prints in shop windows.

Santa has also showed up at various holiday parties and events throughout the month, including the annual Filipino American Community of San Benito County's Christmas dinner.

I even saw Santa, incognito, walking up and down San Benito Street in search of one of his reindeer. Did Santa find the reindeer? What do you think?

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Today is Our World Tuesday, and that's where I'll be checking out other blogs from around the world. Come join me by clicking here.

The Holiday Sparkle in Downtown Hollister

One of the lovely holiday traditions of Downtown Hollister is the sparkle, sparkle that brightens up San Benito Street at night.

Happy Holidays, One and All!