 On The Line -- Issue 617 -- January 12, 2007  Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
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On The Line -- Issue 617 -- January 12, 2007 Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
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A sense of optimism always attends the beginning of a new year. The mistakes of the past may be rectified or atoned for, and circumstances beyond or control such as death or natural disaster can soften with the passage of time.
Surely each of us dares hope that 2007 will be better than 2006, and that personal or family accomplishments in the next 12 months will shape our future happiness. This could be the year that sees a pivotal point in ending our long, deadly involvement in Iraq. It is also likely that real strides in the world community will be made in the too-long deferred action against global warming. Perhaps a cure for some terrible disease may be achieved this year. Hope is natural to Mankind, and without it the race would have perished long ago. It is the flickering beacon in a dark night that prompts us to steel ourselves to continue the age-old struggle against the darkness. Although wars and devastation seem to be everywhere at times, most of us are more concerned about our day-to-day life, and of our family, friends and neighbors, of just getting on and doing a little better than we had been doing. One local couple was not n San Benito County as the new year began. In fact, it wasn't in the state or even the nation. Shortly before Christmas, Salvador and Irene Agredano left for her native Mexico to spend the holidays. Part of the time they were there they had her cousin, Lucia Gomez, and their daughter and son-in-law, Irene and Pat Turturici, along with the Agredanos' grandchildren, Felicia and Dominic Turturici. "It was nice to visit," Mrs. Agredano said, "but Christmas just didn't seem the same as when I was a girl." That is a common reflection upon visiting places where we grew up and where our characters were molded. No matter where we were raised, no matter the circumstances, the places where we were youngsters. Where we became aware of the world around us can never be the same to any of us. Our true hometown is our youth. As the last few minutes of Dec. 31 ticked away many local people were with family members and friends to welcome Jan. 1, the first day of a bright new year. Some were at home, some at restaurants and others at bars. Wherever they were, they felt a sense of exaltation, the almost palpable hope that the new year would bring them happiness. Most people as they watched the ball drop in Times Square in New York, or the clock on the wall, in the final seconds they counted "Seven, six, five, four…" And then as the hands of the clock stood straight up, they yelled, "Happy new year!" and embraced others around them, then repeated the glad salute to the wondrous clean slate presented them, "Happy new year!" At the Hollister home of David and Ravena Huboi and their daughter, Carmen, everyone was merry in anticipation of 2007. Plenty of family embers were on hand to welcome 2007 and had already been there for a few days. Among them were Mrs. Huboi's sister, Charisse, with husband Mike Heath, and their son Garrett, from Novato. Also there were her brother, Jesse Padfield, wife Carrie Padfield, and their twins, Libby and Tanner from Santa Maria, and brother Stephen Padfield from Sacramento. They set off some fireworks outside their front door, and neighbors Keith and Sandi Schwehr showed up to join them and wish them the best for the next 12 months. It was a mild celebration as celebrations go but no one had a headache the next morning from overdoing it. It is difficult to assess how many local people made serious resolutions for self-improvement and would be even more difficult to tell how many are still observing them. It is the nature of Mankind to hope and even though the deed sometimes falls short of the wish, it is important to have wished. The new year also saw the fulfillment of many hopes as successful candidates for public office took their oaths to begin their terms. The same ceremonies were reminders to others of hopes dashed, as their particular candidates had not been successful this time. Among county officers re-elected were Superintendent of Schools Tim Foley, Sheriff Curtis Hill, Supervisors Pat Loe and Reb Monaco, Treasurer Mary Lou Andrade and Superior Court judges Harry Tobias and Steve Sander. District Attorney Candice Hooper began the first of what she hopes will be many terms, as did County Clerk Joe Paul Gonzalez, who was unopposed in the primary election in June. Assessor Tom Slavich, appointed a year ago after Arnold Fontes retired, was pleased to have been elected in his own right. On Monday, June 8, departing County Clerk John R. Hodges turned over two keys to Gonzalez before leaving the office he had held for 24 years. They were to the courthouse itself, and to the century-old safe in the county clerk's office. Many of the women on the county clerk's staff were a little teary as their chief and friend for so long was leaving for his last time. "To tell the truth, I felt a lump in my throat myself," Hodges said. He also told Gonzalez that if he needed help for any reason that he would come back and do it for nothing. Gonzalez said he would keep that in mind but hoped it would not be necessary. Then Hodges waved went down the stairs and drove off to his home in Hidden Valley, still getting used to the idea of retirement. He's not completely off the hook yet because a roast is planned for him next month on his birthday. So the years come and go, changes are made here in San Benito County or in the great wide world outside its borders. It is the story of Mankind, and will always be. It is called life. |
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