Pinnacles National Park...Soon!

Last night, the bill to change Pinnacles National Monument to the status of a national park was passed in the Senate. That means that all it needs now is to be signed into law by President Obama. What a wonderful start to 2013. Whoo-hooo!

By the way, the park is working on a new general management plan. The public is invited to read the proposed plan and make comments on it until January 11. If you're interested, click here to access it at the park's Web site.

Happy New Year, Dear Readers! Happy New Year!
 

Good-bye to Local Businesses in 2012

"It just saddens me," said a business owner to me a few months ago. She was referring to The Market and Teezers that had just shut their doors of business.

What further saddened her was the fact that nobody knew the shops were gone.

Unfortunately, I think, some people did not even realize the shops were there at all. Other folks had good intentions to check them out, but time just got away from them.

Running a business—any kind of business—with or without employees is tough. Business owners work hard and long hours. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA),  the annual turnover rate of small businesses with employees is about 10 percent. The rate is much higher for businesses without employees.

In 2012, several establishments in Hollister shut their operations  for various reasons. The following businesses were some of them. Let us wish them—and others not mentioned—all well and good fortune in their new adventures.

• Cherry Tree Photography 
• Country Rose Gallery and Frame 
• Homespun Harbor
• Maverick BBQ Restaurant
• Santa Barbara Ice Cream
• Teezers (It was part of Drapoel which is still open)
• The Locker Room
• The Market/The Butcher Shop
• Tres Jolie Vintage
• Veronica's Art of Dance

 Thank you, one and all!

The Back Roads of San Juan Valley

I think this was taken on either Lucy Brown Road or Bixby Road. But, then, it could've been Flint Road. This road look familiar to anyone?

Anyone else remember driving down those roads when the fields were mostly apple orchards?

What Direction?

One of these days I'm going to remember to look for this particular spot in Tres Pinos so I can read what the sign says on that building. I had no idea there was a sign until I was cropping this photo. I took it a few months ago, most likely for the fact that the steeple of the Immaculate Conception was peeking over the roof and the birds were flying by high above it.

. . .And we have lift off

I know the "mission" in Mission Cafe refers to Mission San Juan Bautista. But, every time I look at the restaurant's sign, I think of space exploration.