Farming on the Bolsa

Farm work is back breaking intensive labor. I appreciate the men and women who are willing to do these jobs. Day in, day out, regardless of the weather.

Summer Fun

The Wednesday's Farmers Market in downtown Hollister is great for people watching. I enjoyed listening to the band play as I watched these two boys work out a routine of walking in step, turn, run, then jump up and off a bench.

18th Annual Storytelling and Indigenous Gathering

This Saturday, July 12, 2014, from 1 to 5 PM, the 18th Annual Storytelling and Indigenous Gathering will be held at Indian Canyon in Hollister. Story tellers and artists of the Ohlone, Chumash, Aztec, and other indigenous communities who will entertain and educate the audience with traditional and new tales of their culture and heritage in words, music, and dance.

The annual gathering is a fundraiser for Costoanoan Research, Inc., a non-profit group based at Indian Canyon. Admission to the event is by donation. Amounts suggested are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Children under 12 are free. A tri-tip lunch will be available. A donation of $5 to $10 per plate is appreciated.

Indian Canyon is recognized as "Indian Country" by the federal government, and is under the stewardship of Ann-Marie Sayers, Tribal Chairwoman of Indian Canyon – Costanoan Ohlone People.  The venue is about a 20 minute drive south of Hollister via Cienega Road.

For more information about Indian Canyon and the Storytelling and Indigenous Gathering, please head over to this link.  If you'd like to read about my experience at last year's event, please click here.

Ann-Marie Sayers,
Tribal Chairwoman of Indian Canyon – Costanoan Ohlone People

The Best of Times Cafe

Meet Paul. He's one of the new owners of The Best of Times Cafe. Yesterday, he and his partners, Dave and Rachael, officially took it over from Terry.

I met Paul at their booth at last week's Farmer's Market. He's been in the restaurant business for a long time and is very excited about this new venture. He says that the restaurant will maintain the same menu and gradually introduce new items that may interest customers. For instance, Paul says they'd like to add steak to the menu and also try out gluten-free items.

Buona fortuna, Paul, Dave, and Rachael!

And, best wishes to you, Terry! Thank you for establishing the Best of Times Cafe.

Festa do Espirito Santo

2010 Festa do Espirito Santo
Click here to see more photos

This weekend, June 6 and 7, will be the Festa do Espirito Santo (The Holy Ghost Festival), an event that the Portuguese American community of San Benito County holds every year. This traditional Portuguese festival is celebrated by Portuguese communities throughout the world on Pentecost Sunday.

The celebration honors the life of Queen Isabella, the wife of King Denis who ruled Portugal in the late 1200s. At the time, a severe drought caused widespread famine. According to one story, Queen Isabella snuck out food from the palace to feed the people. One day, with her apron full of bread, King Denis stopped her and demanded to see what she was hiding in her apron. She opened it to show red roses, which was considered a miracle because it wasn't the season for roses. From that point, Queen Isabella decided to have masses to maintain the faith of the people through the bad times. On Pentecost Sunday, ships sailed into the Lisbon harbor full of of grain for everyone.

The local Festa do Espirito Santo will begin Saturday night, 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM, with a dance and the crowning of Queen Isabella at the SDES Portuguese Hall on 695 Seventh Street. The following morning, the annual parade will start at 10 AM in front of the hall. The parade will go up Seventh St. to San Benito Street, turn at Fifth Street and head down to the Sacred Heart Church. A traditional mass will be held, including the serving of complimentary sopas. After the mass, the festival will continue at the hall. 

Julie -- Our Local Story Teller and Bundt Cake Maker

This past week I won one of Julie's Bundt Cakes in a fundraiser raffle at one of the elementary schools. It was winner's choice, so I asked for a lemon cake with chocolate frosting. Julie said it was an uncommon combination, then joked, "I hold no responsibility if it doesn't work."

The combination worked deliciously well, thank you very much, Julie's Bundt Cakes, especially on the second day when the flavors settled in.

Some, if not many, of you local readers, may know Julie. Julie Englehardt, that is. She is quite an enterprising creative lady. Not only does she make bundt cakes for sale--award-winning I might add--but she also offers tea-time parties to celebrate birthdays and, as Julie puts it, "any time of the year."  In addition, this freelance writer and substitute teacher,  is the owner and creative director of Story Time Adventures. Along with giving themed storybook readings to children, Julie performs as Ms. Bunny and Mrs. Claus, and as these characters will write letters and make phone calls to children.

To learn more about Julie and her products and services, check out her pages at Facebook.

• Julie's Bundt Cakes 
• Story Time Adventures 
• Mrs. Claus
• Julia's Tea Time Parties 

Note to FCC: I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, unless winning the bundt cake in the fundraising raffle counts. 

Unique Hollister Tees

I'm not talking about the Hollister tee-shirts made for wannabe imaginary Dudes and Bettys. Uh-uh. The tee-shirts in these photos are local products. They are designed by Dean Machado of Mandego Apparel and being sold at Muenzer's Keys & Teez on Fifth Street. Go check them out. You know you want to.

And, no, I'm not being paid for mentioning these tee-shirts.  They are just so cool I had to show and tell.

The Gilmore Colony of Cienega Valley

Poster by the San Benito County Historical Society

 In 1888, Daniel Gilmore of Arkansas bought several hundred acres of land in the Cienega Valley where he planned to create a plantation like the one he grew up on. To make it happen, he invited former slaves of his father's to move to San Benito County and work for him. Gilmore was reported to have paid the train ride west for more than 40 men, women, and children who arrived in Hollister in 1889.

So, where did the name Gilmore Colony come from? I have no idea.  But, perhaps, it will be clarified at the presentation this Friday evening, February 21, from 6:30 to 8 PM at the San Benito County Historical Museum Open House on 498 Fifth Street, next to the library.

For more about the Gilmore Colony, check out these links:

• The Gilmore Colony Story by Phil Reader, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History Research Forum
• February is Black History Month | A Look at the History of African Americans in San Benito County, BenitoLink

Some of the original family members who worked
at the Gilmore Ranch are buried in the southeast corner
of the IOOF Cemetery.

Santana Gallery

Painting by Manuel Santana (1927 - 2008)

Santana Gallery, at 115 3rd Street, is one of several art galleries in San Juan Bautista. It opened last summer with an exhibit of the late Manuel Santana's paintings. Mr. Santana was known not only for his art work, but also for his community activism and for his popular restaurant next door to the gallery -- Jardines de San Juan.

If you're like me, your first visit to Santana Gallery will make you think you've been there before. You have. The building was once the home to Galeria Tonantzin, which featured workds of contemporary women artists. I finally remembered when I saw the trap door in the floor that leads to a tunnel system which runs under the city.

My Sources:
Santana Gallery
Manny Santana: Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year
Jardines de San Juan

The open door between Santana Gallery 
and Jardines de San Juan

Sacred Rain Ceremony

This morning, the Husband and I joined about 80 folks or more at the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park Plaza Green to participate in the Sacred Rain Ceremony presented by the San Juan Intertribal Council led by Sonny and Leynee Reyna. Also joining in prayer and song were Ann Marie Sayers and Canyon Sayers from Indian Canyon in Hollister.

The blue sky was quite clear when the ceremony began. By the middle of the ceremony, clouds came creeping in from the south and west. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. Let us not question though. In each our own way, let us continue hoping and praying for a gentle, nourishing rain to feed the Earth, the animals, and us, all.

Farewell to Penny Wise Drug

After nearly 66 years in business, Penny Wise Drug, at 549 San Benito Street, will be locking its doors for the last time on January 12, 2014.  Big, big Bummer! I will miss seeing Joan, Jeanne, and Stephen Rosati in downtown Hollister.

Starting today, Penny Wise Drug is holding it going-out-of-business sale. And, the sale is a bargain. Discounts range between 30 to 60 percent off.

Pharmacists Jeanne and Stephen filled their last prescriptions on December 26, closing the only independent pharmacy in Hollister -- for that matter, San Benito County. All of their customers' files have been moved to the recently opened Walgreens at the corner of Tres Pinos Road and Highway 25. For me, it's already not the same.

I will miss the comfort of opening the back door to Penny Wise Drug and calling out, "Hello!" and hearing a welcoming  greeting from one or two, and sometimes all three of the Rosati siblings.

I will miss looking at their shelves of OTC items and seeing something that I recall my dad bought from Penny Wise Drug when I was a kid many years ago.

I will miss being able to purchase items that I will now have to order online or wait until my next trip to a natural grocery store in Santa Cruz.

I will miss the professional advice of Jeanne and Stephen, as well as seeing what gorgeous bohemian skirt Jeanne is wearing and what handsome Hawaiian shirt Stephen has on.

I will miss chatting with the lovely, lively Joan who for the longest time I called Carol and she never corrected me.

Sigh.

I am very fortunate to have experienced the helpful cheer of a small business and hometown wonder as Penny Wise Drug. And, I thank you very much, Rosati Family, for your wonderful assistance and service to my family and to our community. Best wishes to you, Joan, Jeanne, Stephen, and Marie on your new adventures!

~ Su-sieee! Mac

Coming Up on Saturday, December 7

Quite a lot of holiday things happening this Saturday in San Benito County. Who knows who you might meet on Saturday. (Hint: Ho! Ho! Ho!) Which events will you check out?



Holiday Resource Fair
10 AM to 2 PM
Briggs Building, 365 Fourth Street, Hollister
Sponsored by the Hollister Youth Alliance, the free event will feature local organizations that offer free or affordable health care, legal, education, and other services to individuals and families. A food and toy drive will also take place. Santa Claus will stop by the fair for photos.

3rd Annual San Benito Holiday Cheer Shop Hop
When you visit any of the participating shops, galleries, salons, restaurants, and more in Hollister, San Juan Bautista,  and Aromas on this day, you can enter a raffle to win one of 26 baskets of local goodies. For a list of participants, click here.

B&R Farms Cozy Christmas Open House
10 AM to 4 PM
5280 Fairview Road, Hollister
B&R Farms will also be having an open house on 12/14 and 12/21.

Tasty Saturdays at San Benito Bene 
615 B San Benito Street, Hollister
San Benito Bene will also have samples of food pairings on 12/14 and 12/21.

Living History Day 
11 AM to 4 PM
San Juan Bautista State Historic Park
Adults $3; Children under 16, free

  
Merchants Holiday Open House
11 AM to 9 PM
Shops, restaurants, and other businesses throughout San Juan Bautista start off the season of holiday cheer.

Holiday Art Marketplace
12 to 5 PM
Blak Sage Gallery
Prints, pottery, ornaments, wooden toys, cards, and more created by local artists and artisans are on sale Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday through 12/ 21.

ARTS OUT LOUD 
1 to 5 PM
1220 Monterey Street, Rooms 301-316, Hollister
This free event will feature art work of more that 175 San Benito High School artists, which will be available for sale.  Live entertainment, demonstrations, and workshops will also be part of the day. Free refreshments will be on hand. ARTS OUT LOUD will be on Sunday, 12/8, too.

100 Years of Ice Cream Socials: Centennial Anniversary of the Women's Club of Hollister
2 to 5 PM
First Presbyterian Church, 2066 San Benito Street
Mr. O's Academy Jazz band and Triple Creek will be performing.
Tickets are $5/person and being pre-sold by members. For more info, call Cindy at 637-0362 or email her at acbiese@ymail.com.

Visions of San Juan, A Holiday Stroll Through Time
 4 to 8 PM
A Victorian holiday celebration. To check out the schedule of activities, click here.

San Juan Bautista 8th annual Holiday In Lights Parade
5:30 PM
The parade winds through downtown San Juan Bautista.

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.

2013 Downtown Hollister Street Festival and Car Show

Click. Click. Click.

Yes, there were lots of gorgeous cars at last week's annual Downtown Hollister Street Festival and Car Show. Also, lots of people of all ages enjoying the cars, the live music and performances, and free watermelon. What did you like most?

To see more photos of the event, head over to this photo album at the Take 25 to Hollister  Facebook wall.

Indian Canyon Storytelling and Indigenous Gathering

 

A couple of Saturdays ago, the Husband and I with the buddy Dave, spent a joyous afternoon at the 17th Annual Storytelling and Indigenous Gathering held in Indian Canyon, off of Cienega Road. Story tellers and artists of the Ohlone, Chumash, Cherokee, Aztec, and other indigenous communities came together that afternoon to tell traditional and new tales in words, music, and dance. Hosts for the event were Ann-Marie Sayers, the chairwoman of Indian Canyon, and artist and activist Kanyon Sayers-Roods. (By the way, did you know that Indian Canyon is the only recognized "Indian Country" along the central coast?)

One of the featured speakers was Eddie Madril, a member of the Pascua Yacqui tribe of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico, whose last story was the hoop dance. These photos only give you an inkling of the beauty and wonder of his story. Here's a Youtube video with Madril in which he talks about and performs the hoop dance.

Fun in the Sun in Downtown Hollister

This Saturday, July 20, 2013, is the 27th annual Hollister Street Festival, which includes a car show and a swap meet. San Benito Street will be closed from Fourth to South Streets. The swap meet, which is new this year, will take place on Sixth Street. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is freeeeeeeee!  You can't beat that.

The festival is brought to us each year by the Hollister Downtown Association (HDA). We truly appreciate their hard work. For more details about the festival, check out the HDA link.

The image of the Hollister Street Festival and Car Show poster is courtesy of the Hollister Downtown Association.  Thank you, Sharlene and the whole HDA crew. 

Happy, Happy Fourth of July!

I saw the sweetest parade ever in Hollister. How sweet? I started crying as the last participants filed by me. I'm so glad I decided to pedal down to Memorial Drive for the Fourth of July Kiddie Parade.
 

Uncle Sam in all his  glory led a long line of kids and their parents along Memorial Drive, from the corner of Hillcrest Road to Marguerite Maze School on Meridian Street. A summer camp marching band brilliantly played. Parents pushed their babies in strollers and pulled their toddlers in wagons. Tiny and not-so-tiny kids pedaled their big wheels, tricycles, and bicycles and pushed  along on their scooters. And, of course, there were the parade marchers of all ages. It was just all so cute!

The parade was short. Ten minutes, if that. But, all that preciousness made my Fourth-of-July Day. Thank you, all parade participants, for putting the smile in my heart today.

Happy Independence Day to us all!

Neighborhood Art

The artist was a young teenage girl, who glanced at us briefly from her new creation in progress. Her father was very proud of her talent and skills, as he smiled broadly first at his daughter and then at us while we appreciated her sidewalk art.