 On The Line -- Issue 634 -- May 11, 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 634 -- May 11, 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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The two preceding days had been uncomfortably hot for most people with temperatures soaring to the mid-90s but although it was still warm on Wednesday, May 9, it was tolerable.
That was a good sign for the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce's monthly mixer, held this time at the Blue Room Restaurant at Bolado Park. Although its official starting time was 5:30, several dozen guests had already arrived by 5:15. The mixer was co-sponsored by the Chamber, the county Fair and the Saddle Horse Association. With the annual Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo scheduled at the end of next month, more and more interest is focused on it. Jim and Ann Strickland were sitting outside the door with Jim Horn and a few other people as the guests streamed in. They had a greeting and good words for everyone who arrived, and just about everyone has kind words for them. Inside, Frankie Valent-Arballo and Jessica French of the Chamber board signed them in, and sold raffle tickets to those who felt lucky, which many did. Meanwhile, at the other end of the long room, many people gravitated to the bar. Mark Wright genially poured wine and opened bottles of beer for the guests. Those who preferred found bottled water and a variety of soft drinks in iced containers nearby. An urn of coffee stood at the end of a table along the window. While all this was going on the kitchen crew busied itself with the preparation of the tri-tips and slicing of the bread. Others tended to the preparation of the onions, and others carried out pans of the food with foil on top to the serving tables. Steve Johnson and Randall Brooks have often worked together in preparing meals. Emilio Casillas is a familiar sight at the stove as is Ross Rianda. Working with them this time were Jim O'Donnell and Greg Thul. O'Donnell, whose son Patrick O'Donnell of The Pinnacle, was among the guests that evening, said that his father, Jack O'Donnell, had been in and out of the hospital that same day to have a stitch in his right eyelid. He explained that it will allow his father to fully close it and not be subjected to the inflammation that has plagued him for several years. Jim West was near the door to mingle with friends as they arrived. He and Wolfgang Leitenberger talked for awhile, and someone asked the latter where his wife, Ingrid, was that evening. "One of her oldest friends is visiting from Germany," he explained, "and the ladies have so much to talk about that they decided not to come this evening. They went shopping instead." "Shopping?" an eavesdropper asked incredulously. "Women who like shopping?" Shannon Grissom was talking with Ruth Erickson and Jill Monaco when a man asked if they had read that article in the Mercury News that day. "Which article was that?" Mrs. Grissom asked. "The one that said the prettier the woman, the more she smiles," he replied, and was rewarded with three beautiful smiles and a bit of laughter. More people arrived, Ron and Dianne Rodrigues among them, and they immediately gravitated to Jim and Shirley Horn, friends for gosh knows how long. Before a minute had passed they were laughing together as they have one so intimately for so long, Jon and Juanita Mansmith are fairly regular guests at mixer, and this time they had someone with them, Miss Carrie Gutierrez. The 13-year-old is their granddaughter and had a lively interest in everything going on. Kelley Ferreira, the man in charge of Bolado Park and who keeps up with everything happening in it, talked to everyone sometime that evening. He has earned a lot of respect and esteem since he arrived in the summer of 1986 with only a short time to prepare for the county fair, and who carried it off beautifully, "but with a lot of help," he points out. Tom Slavich attracted a coterie of friends, including Robert Scattini and Jaime De La Cruz. After awhile Doug Emerson came over to say hello and trade comments. Reb Monaco joined them. Then some hardy soul decided to open the way for others and went to the serving table. The menu was very simple: succulent tri-tip slices, rolls cut through to provide a place for it, and plenty of cooked onions; oh yes, and two kinds of potato chips. Without the stigma of being first in line, dozens of people descended on the tables, forming lines on both sides. A few soaked half their roll in the gravy but most were content to take it as it was. What is there about beef, rolls and cooked onions that is so satisfying? One can hardly get more basic than that, yet the guests at May mixers have come to look forward to it. Even the potato chips are unnecessary but let's keep them anyway. At his table Patrick O'Donnell remarked to a friend who used to work for The Pinnacle that it will move this summer to the same building that houses The Free Lance. The same media group owns the newspapers. The Pinnacle will be 21 years old this October and the weekly newspaper has already been in four locations. It began its operation in the Ross Building, just across the alley from The Free Lance. It was on San Felipe Road for a good part of 1987 while The Pinnacle Building was under construction. The operation was moved to the former site of the J.C. Penney Building, on San Benito and Fourth streets, earlier this decade. O'Donnell understands that the move is to be completed by mid-summer. Much talk went around bout many topics, including Liz Sparling's decision to resign as the Chamber's executive manager. She left the past in March shortly before the birth of daughter Emery on St. Patrick's Day, and was expected to resume her duties on May 14. However, she and husband Ev Sparling discussed her new status as mother and came to the decision. The Sparlings suddenly showed up at the mixer an hour or so after it had started, and talked with many friends. Linda Fine and father Walter Fine mingled and talked with many people, including Phyllis Swallow, Sharlene Van Rooy and Dave Baumgartner. Bill Martinie and wife Elizabeth Gage also passed the time of day with many people. Barbara Cosio and Nasa Jimenez came in together just before Irene Hurtado did and many hugs and smiles were exchanged among just about everyone. It was a great mixer and people left it with a feeling of deepened friendship with the other guests. |
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