January 2011 Happenings in and around Hollister

A glorious 2011, dear Take 25 Readers! I wish each and every one of you the best of bests as we move forward and upward. As Buzz Light Year said, "To infinity and beyond!"

Okay, then. As for own little corner on earth? Check out these January doings!

WEEKLY EVENTS

Monday mornings: Toddler Story Time for ages 0 to 3, San Benito County Free Library, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday evenings: Sleepy-Time Story Time for ages 3 to 5, San Benito County Free Library, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Friday mornings: Newborn Story Time for ages 0 to 3, San Benito County Free Library, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

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 to 11 a.m.
• Book Sale, Friends of the Library,  San Benito County Free Library. From  9 a.m. to 12 p.m., behind the Wapple House Museum, 5th and West Streets. $3 per bag.

Saturday and Sunday afternoons: Wapple House Museum, Fifth and West Streets, open from 1 to 3 p.m. Free admission.

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

ONGOING EVENTS
January 8: San Juan Bautista Gallery Walk, San Juan Bautista, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

January 10: Research Room Open, Wapple House Museum. Fifth and West Streets, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

January 14:  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.

ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENTS
January 4 to 29: Gero Heine Exhibit, Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito Street, Hollister. Artist reception will be held on January 22, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

January 29: 28th Annual Mission 10 Race, San Juan Bautista. The event includes the 10 mile and 5K races as well as the Elliott Swank Memorial 1-mile Kids Fun Run.

Sun setting from Fairview Road

I wish you all dear Take 25 readers a very wonderful and wondrous holiday season. Merry Christmas! Happy Festivus! Joyful Boxing Day! and Happy Kwanzaa! And, for all you grumpys out there, may you have a Merry Bah, Humbug!

See ya next year!

Ding-a-Ling Jingle. . .

If you had a camera, could you resist taking this sign as you came out of Ace Hardware Store?

Okay, you ancient ones out there: Was Brown and Chappell a hardware store? And, before it moved to Cushman Street, where was it downtown?  No, I don't have the answers. I just want to know because I'm driving myself nuts trying to remember.

Shop Locally: Marich Confectionery

Christmas is a few days away. Still stumped about what to give as presents. How about chocolates and jelly beans that are made within our own county?

If you haven't tried any of Marich Confectionery's goodies yet, what are you waiting for? Truffles, yum. Malt balls, yum. Chocolate-dipped nuts, yum. Jelly beans, yum....Excuse me, for drooling.

You can buy online, but at this late date, you might want to go down to the factory. Marich has a small shop to the right of the lobby. It is located at 2101 Bert Drive, which is off of Fallon Road across from the Hollister Municipal Airport.

Here's a fascinating fact about the company, which was established in 1983. The founder was Marinus Van Dam, who was the creator of the Jelly Belly beans. Yes, I'm talking about the infamous jelly beans manufactured in Fairfield, California.  It was Mr. Van Dam, an employee of the Jelly Belly who had the know-how to come up with the why-to's, how-to's, and where-for's for mass producing the tasty, high quality jelly beans that are sold around the world.

Here are some links to learn more about Marich Confectionery.

• The Marich Confectionery Web site
• Marich Confectionery, Wikipedia
• Marinus Van Dam, Wikpedia

And, no, dear Take 25 readers, I was not paid nor given freebies to write about Marich Confectionery.  Chocolates, yum. Drooooooool.

Saturday Nightlife

The Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Hollister is used for public and private events throughout the year. Last Saturday, for instance, the Filipino American Community of San Benito County held its annual Christmas Ball there.