Tuesday in Hollister: Where to Go for History?

If you want to learn about the history of Hollister or San Benito County, one of the doors you may want to enter is that brown one in the photo. Do you know where that building is? Do you know who holds the key to that door?

The photo to your right is your hint. This house belonged to Dr. George Wapple, one of the local pharmacists in the olden days. It was built in 1909. Until the 1990s, it was the residence of the Wapple family. The home now houses local history.

Be sure to come back on Thursday for the answers and a look at what's behind that brown door.

Coming Up in November 2010 in SBC

Yes, new "Take 25" visitors, you're at the right blog. SBC stands for San Benito County. Hollister, through which highway 25 leads to and from, is the county seat. Some may think that Hollister is the only city it the county, but that's not true. San Juan Bautista is the other city. And then there are the unincorporated communities of Aromas, Tres Pinos, Paicines, Ridgemark, Panoche, and Bitterwater.

Okey-doke. Now, here are some the events and activities taking place in November around SBC.

WEEKLY EVENTS
Friday evenings: Bingo, Sacred Heart Church, Hollister. It starts 6:30 p.m. at the O'Reilly Hall (670 College Street).  You must be 18 years old to play.

Saturday mornings 

• Bike Ride with Off the Chain Bikes, 8 a.m.
• Book Sale, sponsored by Friends of the Library, from  9 a.m. to 12 p.m., behind the San Benito County Free Library, 5th and West Streets. $2 per bag.

Sundays: Flea Market, Betabel Station and Outdoor Market, 9644 Betabel Road, San Juan Bautista. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more details, go to the market's Web site or its Facebook page.

MONTHLY EVENTS
November 5: Open Mic Night, San Benito County Free Library, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., according to the Hollister Macaroni Kid Web page. For up-to-date info, check out the Open Mic Nights Web page.

November 6: Living History Day, San Juan Bautista State Historic Park, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

November 12:  Pedro Card Party, San Juan Bautista. Sponsored by the Native Daughters of the Golden West, it will be held at 203 Fourth Street from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Beginners are welcome.

November 13: San Juan Bautista Gallery Walk, San Juan Bautista, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENTS
November 2:  Election Day!!!!!!  7 a.m to 8 p.m.  For elections info, go to the County of San Benito Clerk, Auditor, and Recorder: Registrar of Voters Web site.  For election results, click here.

November 5: 4th Annual Dinner-Dance Fundraiser, Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation, San Juan Oaks Golf and Country Club, 6:30 p.m.

November 5 and 6: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, San Benito Stage Company, at the Granada Theater, Hollister. 7 p.m.  Check out  "Teens in Stage Company Production Learn 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' This Fall,"  by Melissa Flores, at The Weekend Pinnacle Online.

November 5, 6, and 7: Dia de Los Muertos, El Teatro Campesino, San Juan Bautista.

• November 5: The Danza Azteca troupe Calpulli Itzpapalotl will perform a traditional blessing and dance in honor of the departed. 
• November 6, 7 p.m.): A community processional through the streets of San Juan Bautista featuring performances by La Banda Calavera and ETC’s own Teatro Eskeleto. 

November 6

• Barn Sale, hosted by the San Benito County Historical Society, at the San Benito County Historical and Recreation Park, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Women's Annual Harvest Bazaar, United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall at Monterey and Fifth Streets, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Sneak Preview, Hazel Hawkins Hospital Emergency Room, 911 Sunset Drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• Craft Boutique, a fundraiser for the Rancho/Maze Band, at Rancho San Justo Gym, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Historias de Mi Madre IV (Histories of My Mother), Gavilan College Theater, 5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard, Gilroy. 6 p.m. $10 donation suggested. This play is hosted by the Community Solutions, a nonprofit group that provides prevention, intervention, treatment, and residential services to San Benito County, South Santa Clara County, and South San Jose.

November 11: Veterans Day

• LULAC breakfast at San Benito High School cafeteria, 7 a.m.
• Veterans Benefits Fair, Veterans Memorial Building, 10 a.m.
• Veterans Day Ceremony, Veterans Memorial Building, 11:11 .m.
• BBQ, sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9242, noon
• Parade, Downtown Hollister. 1:30 p.m.

November 13

• Christmas Boutique, Sunnyslope Christian Center, 1520 Sunnyslope Road, Hollister, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• November 13, Toy Drive for Jacob's Heart, Betabel Station Outdoor Market, 9644 Betabel Road, San Juan Bautista , 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For info about the market, go to its Web site or its Facebook page.
• Benefit Dinner, sponsored by the Sacred Heart Foundation. For details about the event, go to the Hollister Macaroni Kid Web page.

November 14: 10th Annual YMCA Benefit Concert featuring the Pacific Brass Band, The First Presbyterian Church, 2066 San Benito Street, 2  p.m.  Tickets are $10, adults; $5, students and seniors.  Details about the concert can be found at the Hollister Macaroni Kid Web page.

November 20: Holiday Boutique, Cerra Vista School, 2151 Cerra Vista Street, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details about the concert can be found at the Hollister Macaroni Kid Web page.

November 26 to December 19: La Virgen del Tepeyac, El Teatro Campesino, San Juan Bautista.

November 26: Black Friday! Click here to go to the Hollister Downtown Association Web site for a list of local shops and restaurants.

November 27: 20th Annual Lights on Celebration and Parade, Downtown Hollister, 5 to 8:30 p.m. 

Hollister City Hall

This week's Tuesday in Hollister question was: Do You Know Where City Hall Is?

No doubt you all know that it is located at 375 Fifth Street between Monterey and San Benito Streets, across from the Granada Theater. You can pay your city water bill in the basement. The door is on the east side of the building.

The City Hall building was originally the San Benito County Free Library. In 1910, the county received a $10,000 grant from the Andrew Carnegie Library Foundation to construct a library for the community. Two years later, the library opened and was located there until 1959 or 1960 when it moved to its current place.  Before the city of Hollister moved its government offices into the building, it was used by the San Benito County Superior Court and the county probation department.


A few buildings to the east of City Hall is a tan brick building that proudly wears a sign that identifies it as CITY HALL. That building, designed by William H. Weeks, was erected after the 1906 earthquake. Along with once housing City Hall, the building used to be home to the city's fire department.

For info about the Hollister city government and its building, check out these links:

• Hollister City Government
• Hollister City Council
• Carnegie Libraries of California—Hollister, California 

Tuesday in Hollister: Do You Know Where City Hall Is?

Got a grief about which you want to fight City Hall?

No.

Do you want to pay your water bill in person? You can pay that down at City Hall.

Feel like checking out a City Council meeting? City Hall is where you want to go.

But, do you know where City Hall is?

Don't know what the building even looks like?  Here you go.

Recognize it? Where is it?  You have until Thursday to figure it out.

The Halloween Corn Maze

Have you gotten lost in the corn maze yet?

I'm talking about the Swank Farm's Halloween corn maze at 2600 San Felipe Road, just next door (on the north side) of the Hollister Airport. There are only 9 days left, if you haven't checked it out yet.

Every year, the Swanks create a new design for their Maniac Maze, which involves twists and turns through 20 acres of corn. To successfully make your way through and out of the maze, you must find 27 hidden spots that complete the story about the maze. It also helps if you or someone with you has a good great sense of direction. Otherwise. . . .

The amazing maze is open daily until October 31. On weekends, you can try your luck at night. (It's a full moon tomorrow night, by the way.) If you're into being spooked senseless, you might want to venture into the Haunted Conover Mystery Ranch.  Boo!

Swank Farm also offers other fun things for kiddies and grown-ups: Pig races, pumpkin tosses, go-carts, a farm animal zoo, and a pumpkin patch, among other activities.  You can also buy fresh produce, homemade fudge, and other food products, as well as items from the farm's Swanky clothing line, at the farm's country store.

Definitely a fun outing for everyone!  And, no, I wasn't paid, nor had my arm twisted, to write about the Swank Farm.

For more info about the farm and the corn maze, check out these links:

• Swank Farms
• Yelp reviews of the Corn Maze  
• The Great Outdoors: Outdoor Halloween Fun, by Kristin Leal, The Monterey County Herald