Best Entries of the 2013 Lights On Celebration Parade

It was a huge turnout for this year's Lights On Celebration Parade, put on by the Hollister Downtown Association.  Did you go? What was your favorite float?

This morning, the Hollister Downtown Association announced the winning floats:

Best of Parade:  Hollister Dual Language Academy
Best Use of Lighting: Alves Collision Center
Best Use of Theme (A Family Tradition): Girl Scouts of America Service Unit
Best Community Group: Folklorico Juvenil de Hollister
Best Drill/Dance Group:  West Coast Music & Dance

To see more photos of the parade, click here. It will take you to the 2013 Lights On Celebration Parade album on Take 25 to Hollister's Facebook wall. You don't need to be be signed up to Facebook, or even be a member, to view the album.

First Annual San Benito Olive Festival

Click here to go to the San Benito Olive Festival website

Agriculture has been the largest industry in San Benito County since. . .forever. In 2012, the industry grossed over $297 million, according to the San Benito County Agricultural Commissioner. That's definitely a big WOW! This includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, livestock, poultry, honey, whole grains, and nursery stock. It's only befitting that come October 19, 2013, we will be celebrating the abundant bounty of our land with the first annual San Benito Olive Festival.

It will be one humdinger of a gourmet celebration. Here's just a few of the olive oil producers, wineries, food artisans, restaurants, and merchants who will be participating: Brigantinto Olio de Oliva, Sons of Sicily, Oils of Paicines, Pietra Santa, Guerra Vineyards and Groves, Casa de Fruta, Marich Chocolates, San Benito Tea Company, Running Rooster, Paine's Restaurant, Grillin & Chillin, M&M Plant Sales, Soul Sweets, San Benito Bene, and McAbee Feed.

Food demonstrations will be given by foodie legend Dorothy McNett and the chef team of Gene Sakahara and Sam Bozzo (aka SakaBozzo). Other food demonstrators will be Chef Maurizio Cutrignelli of Maurizio’s Restaurant in Morgan Hill and Chef Matt Woolston of Supper Club/ Matteo’s in Sacramento.

Mr. O's Jazz Band, David Huboi and The Architecturals, RetroSpect, and Workhouse Poets will be some of the bands playing throughout the day. Other live entertainment will be offered as well.

Click here to go to the
San Benito Olive Festival website

Have I teased you too much with the what? Good. Then, you're ready for the when? where? how much?  and why?

When: October 19, 2013, 11 am to 5 pm

Where: Paicines Ranch, 13388 Airline Highway, Paicines 95043, about 12 miles south of Hollister  (Did you know that Judy Garland and Sid Luft got married at this working, historic ranch in 1952?)

How much: General admission tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. VIP admission is $30, which includes access to the wine tasting.

You can purchase tickets online at Eventbrite.com. Tickets are also available at the door.

Why: The San Benito Olive Festival (SBOF) is a not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to  promote awareness and appreciation of the region's world-class culinary agriculture and premier artisans and to help support community causes with festival proceeds.

Program Schedule
The Music 

11 AM to 12 PM -- Mr. O's Jazz Band
12:30 to 1:30 PM -- Retrospect
2:00 to 3:00 PM  -- David Huboi and the Architecturals
3:30 to 4:30 PM -- Workhouse Poets

The Olive and Cooking Demonstrations

11:30 to 12:15 -- Don Landis, The Olive Guy
12:30 to 1:15 -- SakaBozzo, chef duo featured at the Gilroy Garlic Festival
1:30 to 2:15 -- Matt Woolston, chef/owner of Matteo's Pizza and Bistro and Supper Club in Sacramento area
2:30 to 3:15 -- Dorothy McNett, Central Coast Foodie, Chef and Instructor of the Cooking Club in Pacific Grove
3:30 to 4:30 -- Maurizio Cutrignelli, chef/owner of Maurizio`s Italian Restaurant in Morgan Hill

For more information about the first annual San Benito Olive Festival, visit www.sanbenitoolivefestival.com or its Facebook page.

Hope to see you there!

Disclosure: Just so you, dear readers, know, I'm volunteering on the SBOF's marketing committee. Hello, FCC: No money or free products were given me to write about the upcoming gourmet celebration.

Saturday, October 12th Happenings in San Benito County

How often have you heard -- or said it yourself -- there's nothing to do around here?

Ha! Can't say that tomorrow, Saturday, October 12. You can pick and choose of things to do, even at this late date.

24th Annual Red Ribbon Run
Feel like taking part in a run?  Since 1989, San Benito County Behavioral Health has hosted a 5K Run/Walk and 10K Run to bring awareness to the problem, as well as prevention, of alcohol and drug abuse. The races start and ends in San Juan Bautista. You can still register to enter on Saturday. The event hours are 7 AM to 12 PM. For more information, including the maps of the runs, click here.

Open House  at Luck Park
From 9 AM to 2 PM, the San Juan Bautista Historical Society Luck Museum and the Carl M. Luck Memorial Library Auxiliary will be hosting an open house at Luck Park in San Juan Bautista. The event will showcase projects of San Juan Bautista organizations and nonprofits. A BBQ lunch will be available. Funds raised from the BBQ will be used for renovations of Luck Park. For more information, click here.

Women's Center Open House
Hazel Hawkins Hospital invites the community to visit the newly built Women's Center on Saturday, from 10 AM to 1 PM, at 911 Sunset Drive in Hollister. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the facility and meet obstetrical staff, as well as take advantage of free health screenings and participate in giveaways and other activities. For more info, read this article at BenitoLink.com.  

Northern California Renaissance Faire
This will be the last weekend of the Renaissance Faire at Casa de Fruta. Hours of the festival on both Saturday and Sunday are 10 AM to 6 PM. Head over to the Renaissance Faire's website for all the details you may want to know.  

 

Relay for Life Pumpkin Patch
The Casillas Garner Family and Friends Team are holding their annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life on both Saturday and Sunday (10/13), from 10 AM to 7 PM,  at the old Ferry Morse Ranch on Highway 156. People can purchase pumpkins, fresh produce, baked goods, and a barbecue lunch. For more details, click here.

Swank Farms Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, and Haunted House Event
Every year Swank Farms creates a new elaborate and crazed corn maze for folks to make their way through. They also have a pumpkin patch, a kiddie corral, pedal go carts, and other fun activities for young and old. They're open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM through October. And, this Saturday night, from 6 PM to midnight, their haunted event called Terror in the Corn, Alien Invasion will be open for the brave of heart. To get all the details, click here.

Downtown Wine & Beer Stroll 
Taking place in historical downtown Hollister from 1 to 5 PM tomorrow afternoon will be a wine and beer stroll hosted by the Hollister Downtown Association. The event will provide an opportunity to learn about both downtown merchants and local wineries and breweries. Stroll participants will visit businesses and restaurants to taste samples of wines and beer. For more details, check out this Hollister Downtown Association web page.

BenitoLink.com Launch Party
BenitoLink.com is a free online resource for local news and information. Tomorrow evening, the nonprofit group will hold a launch party to formally introduce its website to the community. The party will be from 5 to 7 PM at  the Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito Street. There will be live music and complimentary food and drinks. For more information, click here.

The Hollister Farmers Market

If it's Wednesday, then it must be the Farmers Market Day in historical downtown Hollister.

Every Wednesday, from now until September 25, 2013, you can get your fresh local produce and meats,  breads, sausages, honey, and handcrafted food and wares at our farmers market. It's open from 3 to 7 pm. The produce and food vendors are lined along Fifth Street, between San Benito and Monterey, with many of the take-out fare in the parking lot between Fifth and the lawn in front of the parking garage. On the lawn, you can find craftspeople and nonprofit organizations, as well as entertainment.

Enjoy!

American Red Cross

Do you know where the local American Red Cross office is located?

The  Hollister American Red Cross office is part of the Monterey Bay Chapter.  The local office is at 357 Fifth Street, next to the City Hall. It's open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

February 11 to 17 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: Red in Downtown Hollister

November 10–11 2012 Weekend

Just in case you haven't heard, here are three events taking place this weekend.

Mommy and Me, Art and Tea

On Saturday afternoon, November 10, children and their parents (Moms and/or Dads) can participate in a hands-on art project event at the Blak Sage Gallery (727 San Benito Street). The free event is from noon to 5 p.m. Cookies and tea will be served. The fun family affair fete is sponsored by the San Benito County Arts Council. For more info, call 831-636-2787 or check out this Facebook link.

Sounds of Brass Concert

The Pacific Brass Band will hold its 12th annual benefit concert this Saturday, November 10, 2 p.m., at Rancho San Justo Middle School (1201 Rancho Drive). This British-style brass band is composed of musicians from San Benito, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties. The concert is sponsored by the local YMCA  and Mr. O's Save the Music Drive.

Proceeds of the concert will benefit the Hollister elementary school music program and the Hollister middle school sports program.

Admission tickets: $25 per family (up to to persons), $5 for seniors, and $5 for students. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by paid adults. Tickets may be purchased before the concert at the YMCA of San Benito County, Mr. O’s Academy, Postal Graphics,  and Ace Hardware.

Veterans Day Parade

This year's Veterans Day Parade will take place in downtown Hollister on Sunday November 11 at  1:30 p.m.

The Veterans Day celebration will begin at 11:11 a.m.  at the Veterans Memorial Building with  a moment-of-silence observation for our deceased Veterans. A BBQ lunch will be available at noon. The day's event will also have a resource fair for Veterans. A military flyover is slated to take place before the parade.

Scheduled earlier on Sunday is the annual Veterans Day Breakfast,  hosted by San Benito County LULAC, at the  San Benito High School Cafeteria. Breakfast will be served from  7 a.m. to noon. State Assembly member Luis Alejo will be a guest speaker at the breakfast.

Breakfast is $8, with proceeds benefiting the 2013 LULAC scholarship fund. For further information, call  831-673-1977.

© 2012 Su-sieee! Mac. All rights reserved. www.take25tohollister.com

Coming Up: A Spring Weekend of Fun

Lots of things going on this weekend in and around Hollister, if you're looking to distract yourself from doing taxes or to celebrate having done them.  Or, just to take part in the local fun. Here are some of the happenings:

Friday Evening, April 13
Charming Chairs Silent Auction at the Blak Sage Gallery. This is a fundraiser for the Hollister Downtown Association. At the same time, the gallery will host an artist reception for artists who will be participating in the Open Studios later this month. 

Narnia—The Magic Begins at the Granada Theatre. This spring musical production is presented by the San Benito Stage Company and features many young actors. The play opens Friday night, with performances also on Saturday and Sunday and the following two weekends. 

Saturday, April 14
Earthquake Walk and Talk. This walk starts at 9 a.m. at the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce (650 San Benito Street).  Geologists will lead folks on a tour of the Calaveras fault that runs through downtown Hollister. 

Spring Arts and Crafts Festival. This annual event will take place on both Saturday and Sunday in downtown San Juan Bautista.  

2012 Crab Crack. The annual dinner-dance fundraiser by the Hollister Exchange Club will be at Bolado Park.


Sunday, April 15
San Benito County 4-H Pancake Breakfast. This annual fundraiser will take place on Sunday morning at the Hollister Elks Lodge at the Hollister Airport.

Hollister Derby Girls vs. SINtral Valley Derby Girls.  The junior team will be going at it on Sunday afternoon at Bolado Park.

Dinner Theater at Paine's

Tomorrow night (February 10) is the first of nine showings of Lend Me A Tenor, a comedy full of sophisticated craziness. The play was written by Ken Ludwig, and received several Tony nominations when it was performed on Broadway in 1989.

Hollister's production is presented by the San Benito Stage Company at Paine's Restaurant on 421 East Street. Evening performances starting at 7 p.m. will be on February 10, 11, 17,  18, 24,  and 25; and afternoon performances starting at 2 p.m. will be on February 12, 19, and 25.

Tickets include the cost of the meal. $35 at the door; $30, if bought beforehand. For more info, check out the San Benito Stage Company Web site. For the menu, check out Paine's Facebook page about the event.

Two More Saturday Events
Here are two other things happening on Saturday, February 11:

Community Volunteer Fair
Sweethearts and Memories, Dinner-Dance fundraiser for the local senior citizens center

2012 Community Volunteer Fair

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer?

Many opportunities are available in San Benito County in various areas. For instance, if you're into history, check out the San Benito County Historical Society or the SJB Plaza History Association. The arts? Mr. O's Academy of the Arts and the San Benito Stage Company are just two nonprofit groups that can use volunteers. And, if you would like to be a natures volunteer, think about being part of Pinnacles Partnership.

You can learn more about volunteer opportunities on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the Community Volunteer Fair, which is sponsored by the Community Foundation for San Benito and the Sacred Heart Parish School. About 40 local nonprofit groups will be there. The event will take place from 12 to 4 p.m. in the Sacred Heart School Gymnasium at 670 College Street in Hollister. For more info, visit the Community Foundation Web site or call its office at 831-630-1924.