 On The Line -- Issue 591 -- July 14, 2006  Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
|
|
On The Line -- Issue 591 -- July 14, 2006 Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
|
|
The tendency to ignore or to scoff at global warming seems to lower as the temperatures grow higher. The thought of the polar ice caps melting and rising the sea level to the point where coastal cities like New York, Boston and Miami will be under water within the century is not as compelling to today's America as the preset summer heat.
And it is hot. Although July and August are usually warm their temperature has gone up significantly over the last several years. Some people do not seem to recall that fact, and say that they were like summer months have always been on the Central Coast -- hot. And they are getting hotter. The first of what has been a steady flow of hot days began on July 12. Coincidentally, it was also the second Wednesday of the month and therefore the date of the monthly San Benito County Chamber of Commerce mixers. It was held at Intero Real Estate Services at 800 San Benito Street, not long ago the site of Dorothy McNett's Place. Richard and Marilyn Ferreira are owners and the company employs many agents. Many of the guests remarked upon the heat as they registered shortly before 5:30, and it continued to be among the main topics discussed that evening. It was cooler inside the building but as many people showed up some repaired outside to take advantage of a slight breeze that had arisen. Barbara Cosio and Irnee Agredano faithfully signed in guests, with the latter's daughter, Irene Turturici, greeting them as they entered. Liz Sparling, Frankie Valent, Jack Hance and Mark Vivian were at hand to lend aid wherever needed. Mrs. Agredano smiled sympathetically and waved her hand in front of her face whenever one of the registering guests complained of the heat. Mrs. Cosio said, "If we think it's hot now, wait until we help out at the Chamber booth at the Gilroy Garlic Center later this month." Gilroy is usually about five degrees warmer than Hollister during most summer days. Gerald and Mary McCullough were on hand and, although they have attended previous mixers, they are by no means regulars, so it was especially good to see and talk with them at this one They spent a lot of time talking with Beth Ivey and Gordon Machado, who are also involved in Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, and one could assume that much of their conversation was about the hospital and its programs. Mannette Machado was with her father and is his partner in The Rustic Turtle. It doesn't seem that long ago that as a schoolgirl she rode the baby elephant to open Big John Strong's Circus on one of its summer visits. Dee Hone, a regular, was there with two irregulars -- if that's the right word -- her granddaughter, Christie Langley, and Mrs. Langley's son, Robert Christopher Langley, who was pushing five months. He was the hit of the mixer and just about everyone there paid respects to him at one point or another during the evening. One old party said, "Give me five, Robert" and lightly hit his hand with his open palm. Robert immediately fastened his hand around one of the fingers and the youngster and oldster became attached for about two minutes until Mom moved elsewhere; even then, he seemed reluctant to let the finger go. David Huboi found a place outside to talk with Linda Fine (that lady knows history!) where she stood near her seated father, Walter Fine. She and Huboi talked of various topics, including The Farmers' Market where he frequently plays his guitar. Nants Foley of the Intero staff greeted many visitors and directed them to buffer tables laden with skewered fruit and vegetables, finger-sized sandwiches, cheeses, crackers and various dips. Soft drinks, lemonade and even two urns of coffee were also available, as well as cookies. Jim and Shirley Horn and Ron and Dianne Rodrigues gravitated toward each and other as they normally do at functions as each has known all the others most of their lives. Wolfgang and Ingrid Leitenberger have been mixer regulars for more than five years and people are always glad to see them. Among other regulars were Marv and Reba Jones and Jack and Francene Markle. The latter couple was there with good friend Cilly Fisher. Mrs. Fisher, who returned earlier in the month from a week's vacation in Belize, looked tan and fit. "We (her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren) had a wonderful time together," she said. Dale Brown and Millard Strohn of the Intero staff showed many of the visitors around the offices and fielded many questions about its operation. Real estate seems to be a topic many people believe they know well but are often surprised at some of its many facets. Robert Scattini, the county's marshal and Hollister's mayor, came early as he often does but had to leave on marshal's business after about an hour. Friends Reb and Jill Monaco remained, however, and talked with fellow guests. Jaime De La Cruz put in a brief appearance before going. Joe Paul Gonzalez, elected county clerk on June 6, introduced his friend, Larry Chapin, to another friend. Gonzalez and brother Fernando Gonzalez are the only brother set in Hollister's history to each have served it as mayor. Absence of some regulars, Shannon Grissom, Helen McAbee and Jim West, was commented upon. Mrs. McAbee's and West's reasons for missing the mixer were not known, but everyone seemed confident that Mrs. Grissom was either busy at her canvas or promoting her art and book if she was not there. Among the other topics (when everyone had commented upon the heat) was the upcoming Salinas Rodeo, the Gilroy Garlic Festival and next month the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life at Andy Hardin Field. The Downtown Street Festival will follow the Relay in August, and over the years they have become even bigger participation events than they had been in previous years. Thousands are expected at both. Another topic of conversation was the Independence Day weekend motorcycle rally, not sanctioned by the City of Hollister this year. Many insisted that it was better to have more policemen than necessary rather than less. However, even those for the added presence felt that many of the officers were overly aggressive. With two more months of summer yet to run, many of the mixer's guests said they were looking forward to autumn and its cooler weather. |
 |
