Hollister Movies Under the Stars

The downtown summer night movies are back!

This year, the Hollister Downtown Association will be holding the free movies every Thursday night in July. Bring your seats and blankets and find your place on the lawn at the corner of San Benito and Fourth Streets. Movies start half an hour after dusk.

Some things to remember: Minors cannot attend the movies alone. Please leave your pets at home. No coolers or alcohol drinks are allowed at the movies. And, no smoking either. If you're hungry or just need something to munch as you watch, you can buy pizza, popcorn, and other refreshments there.

Here's the movie line up for the month. (Clicking the movie links will take you over to Amazon.com, from which you read movie summaries and reviews.)

July 8: Paul Blart, Mall Cop
July 15: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
July 22: Shrek 2
July 29: Over the Hedge

For more details, check out this page at the Hollister Downtown Association Web site.

The 2010 San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo Parade

The 2010 San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo was last weekend. Check out the following for stories and some photos of the event. If you know about other links, please leave them in the comments section.

• Rodeo: Another Kickin' Rodeo, Hollister Free Lance
• Rodeo 2010: A San Benito Touch, Hollister Free Lance 
• San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo on Facebook 
• San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo

The parade, which opens the horse show and rodeo every year, was loads of fun. Participants included horsemen, equestrians, community groups, 4-H groups, school groups, baton twirlers, politicians, and more. Here are just a few photos from that Thursday evening.  If you'd like to see more, head over to the Take 25 to Hollister page on Facebook.

Miss San Benito Rodeo Taylor Rae Wood

The Wells Fargo Wagon

The Horseman had his horse dancing
clippity-clop down the street.

Daredevil Sweethearts Trick Riders.
Click here to see them in action.

Wranglers took turns showing how to rope a cow.

Equestrians showing their support for cancer research.

Union 4-H, one of the 4-H groups in the parade.

Swank Farms

San Benito High School

San Benito County Farm Bureau

San Juan Bautista Historical Society

Jerry Muenzer, Candidate
San Benito County Supervisor, District 5.

Watsonville Community Band

E Clampus Vitus

Even puppies wave "Hello" to the crowd.

The Fourth of July Weekend

No motorcycle rally again this year. Will there ever be another? Only time will tell. 

Regardless, Johnny's Bar and Grill is honoring the 63-year old biker legend and keeping the spirit   alive with four days of food, song, and fun. The party starts on Thursday evening, July 1 and goes through Sunday July 4. Click here for the details.

Here are other events that will be taking place this weekend:

Saturday July 3

• Gypsy Cruisers Car and Bike Show at the San Benito County Fairgrounds (Bolado Park) 
• Summer Outdoor Concert at the Guerra Family Vineyard featuring Fandango (ZZ Top Tribute Band) and Fortunate Son (John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute Band)

Sunday July 4

• The Kiddie Parade starts at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park parking lot on the corner of Memorial and Hillcrest. Everyone is welcome to join in and mosey on down Memorial Drive to Marguerite Maze Middle School. 
• Fourth of July Fireworks Show at Marguerite Maze Middle School. The KABOWs! and Oooohs! begin at dusk. 

To read more about the two events, check out "Chances for a Blast over Fourth Weekend" in the online version of the Hollister Free Lance.

Have a joyous and peaceful Fourth of July, Everyone! 

Fresh Cherries in Hollister

Cherries! Yum, double exclamation points. No make it three of 'em. Yum!!!

Yesterday, the husband and I bought our first cherries from the Ivancovich Family Orchards on Buena Vista Road. Two kinds, the regular dark red ones and the light colored ones. They were plump and full of taste. Yum!!!

We are late this year buying our first cherries from the cute wooden fruit stand on Buena Vista Road. So, that means we need to buy a box of cherries sooner than later, if I want to make a cherry pie or two and dehydrate some for later eating.

An 18 pound box is $46. To buy them otherwise is $3 a pound. Steep, according to the elderly man who was seeking apricots.   Said he, "I bought cherries for $1.99 at the supermarket."

"These are really tasty. Worth the price," we said.

"My $1.99 cherries are tasty," said he.

I doubted it. Fresh-picked cherries bought directly from the farmer generally taste better than cherries that have been sitting at the market for a few days. Any day.

John, the teenager tending the stand, said that they'll be there through the Fourth of July. Theirs is a late crop. He's not sure about how far into July that they'll be selling though. So head on out to Buena Vista Road if you're seeking fresh cherries.

The fruit stand sits under the shade of a tall tree on the north side of the road. You should see it just before you drive into that curve as you head east into Hollister. Or, if you're coming the other way, as you come out of the curve.  That probably doesn't mean a thing unless you know Buena Vista Road. So, enter 2420 Buena Vista Road into a Google search engine to pull up the Google map on the address.

A Scavenger Hunt in Hollister

The Hollister Downtown Association (HDA) is hosting a scavenger hunt during the first seven days of July.  

Yippeee! I love a scavenger hunt, don't you?

July 1 through July 7 is National Independents Week, which is sponsored by the American Independent Business Alliance.  It is an annual event to honor and promote local independent businesses nationwide. This year, the HDA is participating and, as part of its celebration of Hollister's own small businesses, it is holding a scavenger hunt.  Whoo-hoo!

Grand prize is $200!   Hot dog!

How does the scavenger hunt work?

1. You must be at 18 years or older to play the game.
2. Get your game card. You can download it  here from the HDA Web site.
3. During July 1 through 7, find 20 diverse items, such as angel pins, lemon cake, solar panels, WD-40, and organic chicken, at the participating businesses. You don't have to buy anything (if you can resist), but you do need to have someone at a business's register to endorse your game card.
4. When you've found all items, submit it to the HDA off by 5 p.m. on July 9th. You'll find the address details on your game card.

Not interested in playing? Okay, more chances for me of winning the grand prize, thank you very much.  But, I hope you do go out and support our local businesses, particularly during National Independents Week. Check out this HDA web page for tips about shopping locally.

FYI: These are the participating businesses in the Scavenger Hunt.

• American Electrical Services   
• Autoworks
• Cheap Seats Grub and Pub
• Design Line and Granger Printing
• Dolce Baby and Mommy Too
• Drapoel
• The Elegant Touch 
• Hain's Ranch Organics (Farmer's Market) 
• The Knife and Fork Café
• Maddux Jewelry 
• McKinnon Lumber 
• Muenzers Cyclery and Sports Center
• Paine's Restaurant and Bar 
• Pat's Place
• Penny Wise Drug
• Precious Petals
• Serene Home 
• She's Apparel and Shoes 
• Teezerz
• Timber and Textiles