Pedaling Along Southside Road

I don't care what the calendar says. We are now in wonderful, wondrous summer! The hills around Hollister are now golden brown. The thistles are outstanding in the field, as are the bales of hay. What better thing to do on a summer day than to pedal around the backroads. Yep.

Yesterday, the husband and I wandered along Southside Road. Only a bit because we're bordering on out of shapeness. Again. The road parallels CA 25 between Hollister and Tres Pinos. By the end of summer we ought to be pedaling the full length of the zigs and zags, and ups and downs of Southside Road to Tres Pinos.

The photos are just a few of the sights we saw yesterday. Just click on the photos to get a full-size gander. And, yes, the sky was truly that blue.

Lots to Do In and About Hollister, California

It's gonna be a hopping town this week!

May 13: The Farmer’s Market
The farmers, food vendors, craftspersons, and others will be coming to town every Wednesday, from 3 pm to 7 pm, starting this week. Whoo-hooo! The Farmer's Market a whole new set up this year. The farmers will set up their booths on Fifth Street (between San Benito and Monterey streets), while the food vendors and nonprofit groups will be found in the parking lot behind the Vault as well as on the lawn beside it. Live entertainment is also being scheduled. To see a list of products that will be sold, check this link at the LocalHarvest Web site.

May 14: The Expo & Job Fair
The San Benito County Expo and Job Fair (also known as the San Benito County Trade Show) will be held this Thursday, from 2 pm to 7 pm at the Veterans Memorial Building in Hollister. This year’s theme is ECO-nomics, which highlights the growing green industry in the county. Click here for a story, published by the Hollister Free Lance, about last year’s event. For more info about the fair, contact the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce.


May 13-15: Wings of Freedom Tour
This week, living aviation history will be flying into the Hollister Municipal Airport. It will be one of the stops for the Wings of Freedom Tour, which is sponsored by the Collings Foundation. Featured on the tour are the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 Liberator, and the P-51 Mustang—all restored WWII aircraft. Walking tours cost $12 for adults and $6 for 12 and under.

Other Events this Week

• 5/16: 2009 Rattle & Roll Car and Motorcycle Show, Road Angels Car Club, Bolado Park

• 5/16-5/17: 7th Annual Passport Weekend, San Benito County Winegrower’s Association
  

• 5/16: Summer Outdoor Concert, “The Dizzy Burnett Jazz Trio & Shakedown, Guerra Farm Vineyard
  

Can a Business Own a Town's Name?

Hollister, California.

Yes, I wrote the name. I'll write it again.

Hollister, California! That's where the heck I live.

Will Abercrombie & Fitch sue me because it says "Hollister California" is its trademark for its fictional surfside town. Will it sue me and every resident who writes Hollister, California to the question "Where do you live?" Or, will it sue all of us residents because we write Hollister, California as part of our return address on our correspondence?

Why am I being so rhetorical...so cynical? According to a report on a Bay Area news station last night, Abercrombie & Fitch has sent letters to Hollister merchants notifying them that the use of "Hollister" in their names or merchandise is an infringement on the big corporate's brand. Really? People can't tell the difference between its clothing line and say the Mexican products sold at the Hollister Super Market? Sheesh!

To view the story covered by KTVU, a news station out of Oakland, California, click here.

Dining Out, Helping Out!

The Community Food Bank of San Benito County (formerly known as the Community Pantry) will be holding its first annual Dining Out Helping Out event this Thursday, April 30. Sponsoring restaurants of the event will donate a portion of their receipts on Thursday to the food bank. Those restaurants are:

• Café Ella
• Dunneville Store
• Inn at Tres Pinos
• Jardines Restaurant
• Margot’s Ice Cream Parlor
• Papa Murphy’s Take N Bake Pizza
• San Juan Oaks

According to its Web site, the Community Food Bank serves about 1,700 bags of food to over 5,000 people weekly. And, it puts 92 cents of every dollar they receive into feeding those in need.

So, if on Thursday, you're seeking to enjoy a cup of coffee, a sandwich, a dessert, a take-out meal, or a sit-down one, be sure to swing over to one of the above local restaurants. You'll be feeding your tummy happy yummies as well as those of others.

Santa Barbara Ice Cream

2/27/12 Update: The Santa Barbara Ice Cream Parlor is no more. Bummer!

Today was hot. No, it was HOT! In the 90s at one point. So, Dick and I headed out to the new ice cream shop in town for tonight's dessert— the Santa Barbara Ice Cream Parlor. My mom and I would’ve been perfectly happy to eat ice cream for dinner. But, a wise man said otherwise.

Santa Barbara Ice Cream Parlor is a franchise established by McConnell’s Creamery of Santa Barbara. I’ve never had any of McConnell’s ice cream but I figure if the ice cream is made in Santa Barbara, it just may be worth my while.

I was right.

The shop has been open for a few months, and the friendly young man behind the counter said they’ve been doing well, but should do better once they begin advertising. It’s in an ideal location, on McCray Street, right next to the Premiere Cinemas.

All the ice creams and sherberts looked so fresh and delicious. We went with a pint of Mint Chocolate Chip (Dick’s standard) and a pint of Coconutty Professor, as I’d been craving coconut for a while.

My mom, Dick, and I were not disappointed when we finally ate our dish of ice cream after dinner. With our first taste, Dick and I exclaimed in unison, “This ice cream is yummy!” Really, we did say that at the same time.

The Mint Chocolate Chip was laced full of tiny chiplets and the Coconutty Professor had a surprising amount of toasted coconut and walnuts. Both ice creams tasted rich yet light. They reminded me of gelato, while Dick thought it was like eating homemade ice cream.

Santa Barbara Ice Cream sells cones, shakes, floats, smoothies, and coffee blasts. It also takes orders for customized ice cream cakes. I also noticed iced cold drinks on sale and a rack of other snacks.

Starting Tuesday May 19, the shop is starting its promotion Baler Bailout Tuesday’s. Between 6 and 9 p.m., it will sell single scoops of ice cream for one dollar a scoop. You can't beat that that these days.

Tomorrow will be another HOT day. I can hardly wait for us to eat the rest of the ice creams. Yum!

Historical Fifth & San Benito

Isn't this sign hysterical?

It’s one of my favorites around Hollister. Not to worry. Head on down. There’s lots of parking, on the street and in the parking garage. You just can’t park where that particular sign stands.

I suppose a sign of having lived a long life is when the downtown you've always known is now called "historic." What I wonder is if there's a Historic Downtown Hollister, where's the modern one?

According to a brochure by the Hollister Downtown Association, Historic Downtown Hollister is from Third Street (north end) to South Street (south end, naturally) and between Monterey Street (west end) and East Street (east end). That’s five cute blocks from north to south and two blocks, just as cute, from west to east. Easy to mosey or stride. And, yes, you will find most of the downtown shops and restaurants within those boundaries.

Here's a peek at what's on the historical corner of Fifth & San Benito Streets.

Yes, that's part of the Diablo range in the background.

This was the old Bank of America building.

Deli-issh Eats!

Dick and I may have found our go-to place when we want a deli-ishhh sandwich. For us, it means taking the Highway 25 bypass to get across town and then turning north on San Felipe Road to head towards the Hollister International Airport. It’s well worth driving the extra minute or two to to get to Victoria’s.

This Italian deli is in one of those nondescript industrial-park store fronts. Inside, it definitely is far from bland. It’s cute and clean with a sense of fun. That day, balloons and signs wishing "Happy Birthday Nana" were sprinkled about the shop. The deli is mostly a take-out place, but there are a few tables for sit-down eating.

Victoria’s serves breakfast and lunch fare. The lunch menu includes salads, soups, sandwiches, and pastas. There are also desserts. A breakfast menu is also available. Click here to download a copy of the menu.

We each went with a box lunch, which included a deli sandwich, choice of pasta salad or chips, a cookie, and soda. Dick ordered a turkey sandwich, while I asked for a forest ham. My mom's a light eater, so I figured I could share my sandwich with her. But, I also ordered her a cup of clam chowder, in case the sandwiches were petite.

When we opened the boxes at home, we were very surprised with the hefty portions. How big? Dick and I are not dainty eaters, but I was full after eating half of half of my sandwich, while Dick was content after eating half of his. Leftovers for dinner or for lunch the next day. I, being the cook, am always grateful for one less meal to think about creating.

The sandwiches, the pasta salad that came with my meal, and Mama’s clam chowder were all delish! Fresh, tasty, and tummy-satisfying. A cute, roll-sized baguette came with the soup. Both the soup and roll were hits with my mom, and, she's a very picky eater. Next time we go to Victoria's, I plan on trying the pasta pesto, lasagna, or cheese ravioli. . .or, maybe the Meatball Italiano sandwich…or the turkey avocado or. . . .

The downside to Victoria’s: It’s only open Monday through Friday. Victoria's is located at 1745 San Felipe Road, #3.

For more about Victoria’s, check out these two links:

• a Yelp review
  
• Victoria's Italian Deli open in North Hollister, The Weekend Pinnacle
  

The Church in Tres Pinos

A few years ago I jumped out of a plane and landed in the field across from the church where I had been baptized as an infant. The jump was planned (of course!) and I was attached to a trained professional skydiver of Skydive Hollister. But, that is a tale for another day.

Today, my focus is on the small, plain-looking church across from the field. I’ve always known it as the church in Tres Pinos, which is several miles south of Hollister. It’s actually called the Immaculate Conception Church, and it is right off of Highway 25.

The church was built in the late 1800s. It has been carefully kept and maintained through the years, both inside and out.

xxxx

The Immaculate Conception is an active parish with masses held on Sunday and during the week. The doors, I believe, are open during the day throughout the week. I'm not a churchgoer, but now and then I like to step into that church, usually on a weekday. When I enter its sanctuary, I always feel a sense of comfort…of being…of hope.

(Note: The photo of me was taken by Joe Siudzinski. Thank you, Joe!)

Driving Up Lone Tree Road

When I was a kid, I thought the mountains that surrounded Hollister were just a bunch of hills. What does a kid know! Today, in my wise old age, I am continually taken aback at how awesome they are.

The Diablo Range runs down the eastern side of San Benito County. The tallest peak in this whole range is in the southern part of the county—San Benito Mountain, which stands 5,241 feet high. Sorry. These photos aren't of that peak. One day.


This part of the range is just outside of Hollister. I don’t know how high they are. They do get a now-and-then dusting of snow, and when they do, some folks like to drive up Lone Tree Road to check it out.

The mountains have been wearing Spring quite well. The other day some friends came by, so it was a great excuse to head up Lone Tree Road. As you can see from the photos, it was a perfect day! We even saw wild boars who looked as tame as the cattle.

The Knife & Fork Cafe

For the last hour, I have been thinking about the lemon cake that the Knife & Fork Cafe has listed on its menu. I’ve been to this restaurant on San Benito Street twice, and I have yet to try it. On my first visit (September 2008), I decided to be wise and eat a fortified breakfast of biscuits and gravy. Yum!

The second time there—just last Friday—I was full after eating a grilled Portobello sandwich and a scoop of potato salad. My juicy sandwich was delicious, but the potato salad. Oh, yum, now that is something to drool about in memory. It was just right. For me, that means a bit of crunch with each bite and the potato concoction was not glistening in mayonnaise. I also like that the scoop was placed on a slight bed of salad greens. One of my companions had a grilled salmon salad, which I think I’ll try another day. A big portion of wild salmon was set prettily on a big plateful of greens. It looked well worth the price.

The Knife & Fork opened last summer. It's located on San Benito Street, across from the Veteran’s Memorial Building. You can’t miss it. It’s next to Browns Alley where the building next door exhibits a huge, beautiful mural, which was painted by some Gavilan art students under the direction of their instructor Arturo Rosette. The mural is another reason why I’ll head down to Knife & Fork again. I like looking at it, whether through the restaurant’s side windows or at its reflection in the mirrors on the restaurant’s southern wall.

Currently, the Knife & Fork is open for breakfast and lunch. It’s a friendly and comfortable place to hang out. When my party sat down to eat on Friday afternoon, we didn’t realize they were about to close. Our waiter said not to worry. We got there before the closing hour (4:30) and we could stay as long as we want. Music to our ears. So, we decided to eat an early dinner, which was great for the cooks in the party.

The proprietors say that they’ll soon be open for dinner. They are also getting permits to put out tables in the alley for outdoor service. Oh, boy! I can see sitting next to that mural on a warm summer evening as I finally eat a slice of lemon cake.

For other reviews of the Knife & Fork Cafe, check out these links

• Melissa Good Taste
• Yelp

Four Places to Hike in San Benito County

(The photograph is courtesy of my hubby Dick. © Richard A. McDavid. All rights reserved.)

The mountains around Hollister are looking mighty green these days, and it won’t be long before all the poppies and other wildflowers are blooming wildly. Are you ready for a hike?

San Benito County has four parks that are worth checking out.

• Pacheco State Park is on the way to the San Luis Reservoir, heading east on highway 152. The above photograph was taken there a couple years ago.

• Fremont Peak State Park is south of San Juan Bautista, which is about 7 miles from Hollister. Once upon a time it was known as Gavilan Peak. It was named after Capt. John Fremont who supposedly defied the Mexican government in 1846 by camping there and raising the U.S. flag at the tippy-top.
  

• Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail is just outside of San Juan Bautista, also to the south. The trail is about 6 miles long and takes you into Monterey County.
  

• Pinnacles National Monument is about 30 miles south of Hollister, off of highway 25
  

Anyone know of other hiking places in San Benito County?

Ten Smells of Hollister, California

I have yet to sniff the Hollister California line of bottled fragrances. But, it intrigues me that some people are willing to buy and apply a smell that would make others (and themselves) think they are living a fabricated Hollister California life.

It also got me thinking about the aromas of my hometown. What could I bottle and sell as Sigh, I’m Feeling Nostalgic for the real Hollister California? These are my top 10 smells (past and present). They are not in any particular odor. Hee-hee, I couldn’t resist the pun.

1. The wild mustard that bloom in spring
   
2. The tons of tomatoes as they are being canned on a hot summer evening
3. Freshly-mowed grass on a Saturday morning
4. Morning fog that clings to rows upon rows of tomato plants
5. The heaps of fresh compost on Highway 25
6. Manure just laid on newly-prepared vegetable fields
   
7. Meat being barbequed on charcoal by next-door neighbors
   
8. Gas, oil, and/or burning rubber fumes of a beyond-vintage truck or car passing by
   
9. The livestock stalls at the county fair
10. Approaching rain

What aromas get you thinking of home?

Back on the 25!

Yeah, I know. I’ve been away much longer than six weeks. What can I say? Deadlines never cease.

So, what’s new on Highway 25?

The 25 bypass, for one! Opened a couple of weeks ago, this extension goes around the city of Hollister. It was built so that downtown would be more pedestrian-friendly and hence more people will head downtown to shop and eat.

Yes, you read that paragraph correctly. If more people use the bypass, what then is the incentive of going downtown? I dunno.

However, the next time you visit Hollister, or go through it for points elsewhere, do take the 25 bypass. It is a short scenic drive. Be aware: The bypass has several stoplights. Be sure to drive the speed limit, regardless of how fast someone may have swished by you. But, also make a point of heading downtown for an enjoyable look-see as well.

For a peek at the northern third of the 25 bypass, please click on the photo below. It will take you to the video that I posted at 1971 Balers. It’s not the best footage, but I like the music. ☺

Until Next Year. . .Some Time

Hellooo!

Thank you all for stopping by these last three months. I hope you've been enjoying Take 25 to Hollister. I've been having fun taking photos, learning, and writing about stuff around town and the county. But, it's time for me to buckle down big time to make a deadline. No more fun for the naughty, at least for a while.

I'll be back on the 25 in six weeks, more or less. Until then, I invite you to pretend you haven't read any of the posts thus far. And, yes, please, I love reading comments.

May you have a Happy Christmas and a glorious New Year! Peace and Joy!

Flapjack’s Country Café

Whenever Dick and I go on a road trip, we like to start by driving over to Tres Pinos for breakfast at Flapjack’s Country Café. The owners, Karen and Phil Barrett, make and serve some of the best breakfast dishes around the area.

On our last visit, Dick devoured a delish Italian pesto omelet and I plowed through a heaping dish of Phil’s Corned Beef and Eggs. How heaping, you ask? I had a half-order and I took half of it home. (I probably could’ve eaten it all, but I was saving myself for a whole bunch of eating treats throughout the day, as it was my birthday.)

Both our dishes came with home fries and a huge, fluffy flapjack. Yum! You could have toast instead of the pancake, but, hello, it’s the Flapjack’s Country Café.

Did I mention the big mugs of coffee? Heavenly.

Flapjack’s offers a creative menu. The owners also offer choices for folks who adhere to a non-gluten diet. Check the offerings out for yourself. Breakfast. Lunch.

Just recently, Phil and Karen began serving “Sunset Suppers” on Wednesdays and Thursdays, between 5 and 7:30 pm. I went home with a copy of the menu. Grilled polenta, Pasta Marinara, Pasta Primavera, Chicken Cacciatore, and Eggplant Parmigiana are featured. I’m drooling just thinking of how they might taste, and in my mind, I’m thinking it will be very trés delicious. I’ve already decided that my first order will be the NY Steak plate: “Phil’s NY Steak, cooked to order with sautéed bell peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions and garlic served with pasta marinara.” It’s only $16.50! What a deal for these times.

Tres Pinos is a few miles south of Hollister. Just head straight out on Hwy 25, or as we, locals, like to call it, Airline Highway. Tres Pinos is a very small hamlet. You won’t miss Flapjack’s at all. Just as you’ve slowed your car to the proper speed limit, you’ll see the restaurant on the left. You can park alongside the highway. You can also turn left just after passing the restaurant to park in its parking lot. If you need to buy stamps or mail a letter, the post office is right by the parking lot. I like to mosey over to read what’s posted on the community bulletin board. But, that’s for another post.

Some links to check out:

• Other folks' reviews of Flapjack's
• About Tres Pinos

And, since you're in Tres Pinos, check out:

• San Benito County Historical and Recreational Park
  
• Immaculate Conception Church

A Christmas Contest

$1,000! Want to win it?

Some of the downtown merchants are currently sponsoring a “Where’s Rudolph?” contest. Here are the rules:

1. Go to a participating store, restaurant, or other business. See the list below
   
2. Find the picture of Rudolph.
3. Ask for an entry form, fill it out, and turn it in pronto.

You can enter as often as you like. You can enter only once a day. You don’t have to buy anything to win. But, since you need to buy those Christmas presents or eat to sustain yourself, well, there you are.

The Contest ends on December 15. Get going!

The Merchants

• Penny Wise Drug
• Maddux Jewelry
  
• She’s Apparel & Shoes
• Drapoel–Teezerz
  
• Muenzer’s
  
• Fortino’s Total Home
  
• French’s Kitchen and Baths
• Serene Home
• Fireplace Depot
  
• Timber & Textiles
• McKinnon Lumber
• Precious Petals
  
• Winn Insurance

The following restaurants are also participating in the contest:

• The Elegant Touch
• Las Palmas Restaurant
• Paine’s Restaurant
  
• The Knife & Fork Café
• Running Rooster

Christmas Music!

Last night, Dick and I headed over to the Veteran’s Building for a Christmas concert. “Deck the Halls. . . fa la la la la. . .” Yep. We got to sing a bunch of first verses worth of Christmas carols with the Watsonville Community Band, the members all decked in their green and gold uniforms. It’s nice to know that there is an outlet for once-upon-a-time high school band members. One of the trumpet players was my seventh grade music appreciation teacher, who continues to teach and lead middle school musicians into one amazing marching band year after year.

“We are the Watsonville Community Band,” announced Eugene Smith, the conductor, at the beginning of the night. “But we are not a Watsonville band.” The members hale from various cities in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties, including Watsonville, Salinas, Ben Lomond, Gilroy, and Hollister.

The Watsonville Community Band is one of the few adult community bands in the nation. It has been around since 1947! According to the Christmas program, anyone who plays (or played) a band instrument is welcome to join. The band performs yearly concerts, such as its Christmas Concert series, as well as participates in marching parades. Their performances are always free.

At last night’s concert, the band performed a selection of pieces, from an Andy Williams song, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” to the quietly moving “Ave Maria.” They also played the “March of the Women Marines,” which was composed in 1943 for the Women Reserve band. That piece was a head bouncer and toe tapper, but the coolest thing about it is the fact that one of the members of the band was part of the original Women Reserve band.

The “Night Before Christmas” was read by the conductor, surrounded by many of the tiny children in the audience. Snap. Flash. Snap. Flash. Snap. Yep, the sound and blur of a photo op for parents and grandparents who smilingly crept up to candidly catch their kiddies. For the last piece, the audience stood and sang joyously loud (OK maybe some of us) with the band, after which Santa Claus popped out to give the kids candy cane sticks.

The concert was an hour long, and for an hour, I felt a sense of the warmth of small-town community. The Watsonville Community Band will be back to put on a spring concert for the town. I’m looking forward to it.

In the mean while, here are still a few more Christmas concerts in the county to check out:

• 12/10: Elementary School Holiday Concert, 7 pm, Rancho San Justo
• 12/10: Oriana Chorale Christmas Concert, 7:30 pm, Mission San Juan Bautista
• 12/11: Scarlet Regiment Band Holiday Concert, 7 pm, San Benito High School Auditorium
  
• 12/18: Rancho-Maze Band Holiday Concert, 7:30 pm. Rancho San Justo
  

Christmas singing cheer can also be found at these events:

• 12/12: Trees of Light, 5:30 pm, Veteran’s Building
• 12/13: Annual Christmas Caroling and Candlelight Walk, San Juan Bautista

Christmas 2008
Hwy 25, Hollister, California

Hollister and Bikers

Have you ever seen the movie The Wild One? A young Marlon Brando plays an "outlaw" biker named Johnny. He scoffs at trophy-winning bikers, yet goes through much of the movie clasping a stolen biker trophy in the same way that Linus clings to his blanket. Of course, Johnny could've been doing so facetiously because his character was portrayed as a misunderstood guy after all. That's how I interpreted it.

The Wild One was kinda based or somewhat inspired on an incident that took place in Hollister in 1947 over the July 4th weekend. It was a motorcycle rally that got out of hand. I would think it was a no brainer that some fights were bound to take place when 4,000 bikers rolled into town. They were there to enjoy some motorcycle races and to relax and party. Remember: It was a three-day Fourth of July weekend. The police force was few in number, but they had it under control. After all, about .02% of the attendants were arrested and charged with misdemeanors. Hullo. Nothing outlaw-ish about that.

Still, if you're a journalist, you can spin a pretty gol darn story. And, the newspaper reporters did just that. What probably made that Fourth of July incident famous was the infamous spread of staged photos in Life magazine. I'm not gonna go into the five W's of the event. You can click on these links for the history:

• Hollister Riot
• The 1947 Gypsy Tour in Hollister (You'll find links to interviews with locals who were there as well as to SF Chronicle articles.)
  

In 1997, Hollister merchants, the city council, or maybe both together, decided to hold a Fourth of July Independence Motorcycle Rally to honor the event's 50th anniversary. Since then, the rally has become an annual event. Next year's event is not sanctioned by the City because it lost taxpayers' money big time. But, you never know.

I have no idea what the annual event celebrates. Is it the romantic image of an outlaw biker played by Marlon Brando, the misdemeanor arrests of a bunch of bikers, or what? Could be why Hollister rarely makes any money off the hundreds of thousands of people who come into town each year for three days. Bad karma. But, suppose we were to celebrate the idea of WWII Vets letting off steam after a hard week of work, because that was what many of those 4,000 bikers were. It's a thought. Anyway, enjoy the trailer for The Wild One.

Christmas Bazaars, Boutiques, and Etc.

It's the season for Christmas Bazaars, Boutiques, Crafts Fairs, Open Houses, and Etc. You can definitely count on finding a bunch of local ones in Hollister and abouts. Some are fundraisers, while others are not. Here's a list of some that are happening this week.

• 12/3: Winter Magic Bazaar and Luncheon, Hazel Hawkins Hospital Auxiliary, Veteran’s Memorial Building
  
• 12/3: Ceramics Sale, Gavilan College, Gilroy
  
• 12/6: Cerra Vista School Holiday Boutique
  
• 12/6: Southside School Holiday Bazaar
  
• 12/6: Holiday Craft Fair, Ladies Auxiliary VFW 9242, 10 am to 4 pm, Veterans Memorial Building
  
• 12/6: Bertuccio’s Open House
  
• 12/6: Holiday Open Studios Tour, Aromas
  

The Christmas Parade

My only complaint about last night's parade: I wished the evening air was cooler and crisper so it felt more like winter (and Santa) was a coming. ☺

We missed the first few floats, but we were fortunate to be there to see a mutt of a terrier steal the show away from the Sheriff’s float. The little dog stubbornly sat in the middle of the street or pranced precariously close to and around the sheriff’s car as it slooooooowly drove along, with the Grinch hanging out of its back window.


He was a dog that would not be caught, at least right away. At one point, he was surrounded by several people. The dog knew how to stop and go. He had them all in his hands. He had all of us who were hanging around on that that block in his hands as well. When we heard clapping and hurrahing at the end of the block, we knew the chap was caught.


The theme for the parade was “All I Want for Christmas....” I wouldn’t mind having that parade-stopping dog.

Annual Lights On Celebration and Parade

Is it just me, or are Christmas decorations going up even sooner?

I noticed the green garlands stretched above San Benito Street on Sunday morning. As we sped by the lawn in front of the parking garage, I saw that Santa’s Village was up as well. The Hollister Downtown Association is getting ready!

By this Saturday evening, November 29, downtown Hollister will be transformed for the annual “Lights on Celebration.” The trees will be lit along the main street, between South and Forth Streets, and the street will be lined with people as well to watch the parade of floats and cars and people waving and smiling from them. And, of course, bringing up the rear of the parade will be Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

The theme for this year’s parade is “All I Want for Christmas.” It will start at 5:30. There’ll be live entertainment happening before and after the parade, too. Stores will be also be open for the browsing and buying.

For me, the best part about the night is hanging out after the parade. After the last float goes by, people pile out from the sidewalks into the center of the street. Folks walk up and down the closed street, checking out the music, greeting acquaintances, and yakking and laughing it up with friends and family. That's worth the Christmas decorations being put up seemingly earlier each year.

Some links to check out about the event:

• 2008 Lights On Celebration
• 2007 Lights-On Parade and Concert with Rancho-Maze Band
• Trees of Life
• Hollister Downtown Association