Looking Back at 2015

Let's take a look back at some of the events that took place in Hollister this year. 

Late February/Early March: Rain! So good, so wonderful.

March 2015: The statue of Eric Tognazzini was installed.

Spring: Utility box art project began

May–September: Farmers Market in Downtown Hollister

May: Portuguese Festival Parade

June: Hollister Airshow

June: San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo

July: Vietnam Veterans Memorial visits Hollister.

Fourth of July Kiddie Parade

July: Hollister Freedom Rally

July: Hollister Street Fair & Car Show

Summer: Fremont Memorial Tunnel

Last Weekend in July: Relay for Life

August–October: Music in the Park concerts

September: Mexican Independence Day Parade

October: San Benito County Fair

October: San Benito Olive Festival

November: Veterans Day Parade

Last Weekend in November: Lights On Celebration

December: Regular rain clouds! So good, so wonderful.

The Hi Outlet in Downtown Hollister

After nearly two years of sitting empty, the building at 549 San Benito Street has a new occupant. The Hi Outlet (which was once on Tres Pinos Road) opened for business a few days before Christmas in downtown historical Hollister. The building was previously home to Penny Wise Drug.

Coming Soon: The Fairfield Inn

A new hotel is going up on Gateway Drive, which is the next intersection after you turn right from Highway 25 towards Downtown Hollister. The Fairfield Inn will have four floors with anywhere between 70 and 90 rooms.

Construction began last April and is expected to be open for business in April, 2016, according to this BenitoLink article. Just in time for the school graduations, rodeo, motorcycle rally, high school reunions, summer and autumn weddings, county fair, olive festival, and other public and private events.

Looming Diablos

Don't the Diablo Mountains look like they're sitting right behind San Felipe Road rather than far in the distance? This was taken from Briggs Road, off of Bolsa, aka Highway 25.

Clouds

Those were some amazing clouds over Hollister on Thursday afternoon.

Merry Christmas!

Cheers, One and All!

~Su-sieee! Mac

Wandering the Backroads

Here's another view from Hospital Road, off Southside Road.  This time, I'm looking northwesterly.

The Last of Autumn

This gorgeous old tree is slowly loosing its leaves. Just think, by spring it'll be wearing new sprouts. Amazing.

The West View from Hospital Road

Not until I looked at this photo, did I notice that water is flowing in the San Benito River. Look at the bottom left hand corner of the picture. Sweet!

Beauty

If I could add a definition to the word beauty in the dictionary, this is what I would put:

beau-ty n.   San Benito County

Santa Ana Mountain in the Mist

Recognize Santa Ana Mountain? It looks nearby in the photo but it's truly far off in the distance. I took this photo from Thomas Road, off of Southside Road.

Cows, Mist, and Green.

This morning I went searching for a picture of water in the San Benito River. Couldn't find one. But, I did find this sweet scene off of Southside Road. Moooo.

Another Lovely Day

It was another gorgeous morning along Highway 25. This is near the corner of Enterprise Road and the highway.

See you tomorrow!

Sparkle, Sparkle in San Juan Valley

At first glance, it looked like a lake. After all we did have a good rain the previously day, but, it was merely the sun's reflection on plastic tarps.

See you tomorrow.

Classic Knights in Downtown Hollister

I don't know what's funniest—Yoda as Santa Claus, Yoda next to a medieval knight, or Yoda and the knight being barkers for a furniture store in downtown historical Hollister. What do you say?

Going Around the Bend

I like this bend on Union Road, the one by Riverside Road. It reminds me that we do indeed live in a rural area, no matter how developed we get. Even, if one day, the orchards and vegetable fields along this bend are gone. Hopefully, that doesn't ever happen. Knock on wood. 

The Last of the Apples

Still a bit more fruit left in the organic apple orchard in San Juan Valley. No doubt they're crisp and yummy, with the natural refrigeration.

See you tomorrow. 

A Birthday Mocha

Getting a mocha java at Vertigo Coffee is worth pedaling over 13 miles on a beach cruiser. That was my birthday gift to me. The mocha java. And, a ride through San Juan Valley.

If you'd like to read about my ride, click here to go to The View from the Top of the Ladder.  See ya tomorrow.

A Happy Goof of a Tree

Here's my giggle of the day. See if you can find it on East Street.  Until tomorrow.

Window Shopping in Historic Downtown Hollister

Bella Charm

To help make Christmas shopping less hectic in Downtown Hollister, the City has lifted parking hour restrictions until January 8, 2016.

For a list of some of the downtown Hollister businesses, check out these links: shops and thrift stores.

Enjoy!

Johnnie's Girl

Irma's Fashions

Eclectic Treasures

San Benito Bene

Free December Days at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

We, residents of San Benito County, are in luck! Between today and Sunday, December 13, 2015, admission into the Monterey Bay Aquarium is f-r-e-e. Free!

The aquarium offers free entry every year during its Community Open House to not only San Benito County residents, but also residents of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Thank you very much, Monterey Bay Aquarium!

San Benito County residents: To take advantage of the free access, you must show a valid photo ID with your local address. The aquarium also accepts a recent utility bill or monthly San Benito County Express bus pass as proof of residence. If you're a student attending a community college or university in San Benito, Monterey, or Santa Cruz county, you can show your student ID.

For information about the Monterey Bay Aquarium's hours, exhibits, and other matters, click here to go its website.

Santa Claus Sighted in Hollister

There he is! Biker Santa Claus on Johnny's Bar & Grill's ledge.

See you tomorrow.

Pre-Owned Holiday Treasures

For those of you who like exploring thrift shops and consignment stores for fun, awesome, practical, and, simply, blast-from-the-past holiday decorations and gifts, you're in luck. We have several in Hollister. Here are some of them.

Finders Keepers, 191-C San Felipe Road

Forgiving Paws Thrift Shop, 195 Meridian St. B-18

Goodwill, 550 Tres Pinos Road

Hazel's Thrift Shop, 898 San Benito Street

Pat's Place, 101 5th Street

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, 680 College Street

She's Consignment Store, 202 5th Street, 831 630-5810

Autumn 2013

Don't you just hate it when your modem isn't working?  Thank goodness for the iPAD, wireless connection at the San Benito Free Library, and an archive of photos online. With luck, I may be able to post new stuff tomorrow.

Outside City Limits

I love the pockets of country within Hollister. For example, a residential development borders the south of this field on Meridian Street, and another development is across the street.

See you tomorrow.

Support Our Local Merchants During the Holidays

While you're out and about checking out all the cool events going on today in San Benito County (see yesterday's post), take a look at the local shops that may be nearby. You may find that holiday gift or idea that you're seeking.

Today in San Juan Bautista is the "Holiday Stroll Through Time" from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Many of the San Juan merchants are holding an open house, offering refreshments and such to their customers.

Hanging around Hollister today?  Here are a few small businesses in and around Downtown Hollister to check out.

Bella Charm, 748 San Benito Street
Gaia's Cottage, 200 Tres Pinos Road
Eclectic Treasures, 731 San Benito Street
Irma's Fashions, 230 Fifth Street
Johnnie's Girl, 535 San Benito Street
McAbee Feed, 71 McCloskey Road
Off the Chain Bikes, 101 McCray Street, Suite 101
Rancher's Feed, 354 First Street
San Benito Bene, 615 San Benito Street, Suite B
The Garden Mart, 190 San Benito Street


Note to FCC: I was not compensated to mention any business on this post, nor any other post on Take 25 to Hollister. 

December 5, 2015: Day & Night Fun in San Benito County

Lots of fun stuff going on tomorrow, Saturday, December 5, 2015, in San Benito County. These are some of them. Which ones will you check out?

Boutiques and Open Houses

Spring Grove Santa's Holiday Breakfast and Boutique 

8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

This event takes place at Spring Grove Elementary School, 500 Spring Grove Road, off Fairview Road. The all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast is $6.50. Santa Class will be there for photos. About 40 vendors will be selling crafts, goods, and other wares. For more details, check out the event's Facebook page. 

B & R Farms Annual Holiday Sale and Christmas Open House 

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

B & R Farms is located at 5280 Fairview Road (west side), between Fallon and Lone Tree Roads. They will offer free samples and refreshments as you shop. For more information, visit the events page on their website.

Bertuccio's Market Holiday Open House

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  

Bertuccio's is located at 2014 Airline Highway (west side) just before Union Road. They will offer food tastings, hourly giveaway, and raffle prizes as you shop. 

For more information, check out its Facebook page. 

Holiday Stroll Through Time Open House  

11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

San Juan Bautista merchants will hold its annual "Holiday Stroll Through Time" tomorrow.  They will offer refreshments as you shop their seasonal items. For more information, check out this article in Out and About Magazine.

Living History Days

Tomorrow is the monthly Living History Day at the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park, which features the early days of San Juan Bautista. Meet and talk with Victorian Ladies, Mountain Men, and Civil War Soldiers as they demonstrate crafts and cooking of their times. The event will run from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, click here. 

The Art of Books!

The Art of Books! is the theme of the 4th Annual Children's Art Exhibition at ARTspace, 240 Fifth Street, in Downtown Hollister. The delightful masterpieces done by local school children are available for purchase, of which proceeds go to funding the local Arts in Education Program. The gallery will be open from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. For more details, check out this earlier post.

Holiday in Lights Parade

The annual Holiday in Lights Parade in San Juan Bautista will start at 5:30 p.m., going along Third Street.  The Community Christmas Peace Tree lighting will take place earlier at sunset. 

Fa la la la Lah, la la la lah 

The Watsonville Community Band will hold it annual Winter Concert at the Veterans Memorial Building on the corner of San Benito and Seventh Streets. This free concert will start at 7:00 p.m.  

The band is made up of musicians, of all ages, from San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Santa Clara counties. Tomorrow night the band will perform songs from The Polar Express. There will be a Christmas carol singalong. (I love that part.) For more details, visit this Facebook page.

Play On!

A theater group is rehearsing its play. But, the play's author keeps changing the script. Oh, dear....Oh, rats! It's getting crazy. It's gotten out of hand. Will the show go on? 

That's the premise of the comedy Play On! performed by the San Benito Stage Company, which will run until December 12. The play is at the Granada Theater, 336 Fifth Street, in Downtown Hollister at 7:00 p.m. For more details, go to the San Benito State Company website. 

La Pastorela

Upon receiving a message from the Angel of the Lord about the birth of the Holy Child, several poor shepherds make their way to visit him. It is not an easy journey to Bethlehem as the followers of Luzbel (Lucifer) block their way at nearly every turn. 

This the basis of the play La Pastorela, the traditional Mexican tale that Luiz Valdez adapted for El Teatro Campesino.  Performed in Spanish, the local acting troupe tells the story through words, song, and dance. La Pastorela runs every weekend until December 20 at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista.  Tomorrow night, the play will start at 8 p.m. 

You can learn about the other performance dates and times, as well as purchase tickets at this Brown Paper Ticket link. Be aware that you must pick up tickets at the El Teatro Campesino box office at 300 Third Street in San Juan Bautisa.