 On The Line -- Issue 648 -- August 17, 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 648 -- August 17, 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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It is not always easy to determine the beginning of a tradition. Some events that are planned to carry on for years fizzle our after the first presentation or die after only several stagings.
The perennial Hollister Streets Festival was first put on in 1987. It was the idea of the Hollister Downtown Association, which thought it a good way to draw attention to the downtown area. It caught on and flourished, and on Aug. 11, the 21at was held on midtown San Benito Street from Fourth to South streets. Its main components then were entertainment, the display of classic cars and free watermelon. That has never changed. Saturday, Aug. 11, was a particularly good day for it, as the temperature did not get above 80 degrees. A few times in the past, August being August, the mercury soared to 90 degrees and more. Although attendance seemed slightly lower than in some past observances, hundreds of people began drifting downtown by 10 a.m., although many vendors and organizations had come earlier to set up their stations in booths and tents. Some people who entered the celebration came from the area around Fifth Street and were nonplussed when they did not see the watermelon stand at its usual place at Fifth and San Benito streets. However, they found it this year at Seventh Street near the Veterans' Memorial Building. It again offered a choice of watermelon, the traditional red and the more exotic yellow, which intrigues some people even if they ask for the red. "They taste just alike," noted a member of the Hollister Downtown Association. "Many people automatically ask for the red but the more courageous choose the yellow." It seems yellow is not for the yellow. Everyone seemed in a good mood, and there was much greeting between friends and neighbors as they circulated along the four blocks. Eric Tognazzini, riding his bicycle with the cart for aluminum cans in a red, white and blue motif with stars, was very apparent and many friends greeted him. It took a few seconds to recognize James Hodges in his sunglasses although the familiar smile should have been an instant tip-off. He said he was just going along to see what and whom he could see and, after a minute or so of conversation, resumed it. Marv and Reba Jones were in their traditional place for many gatherings, the registration booth for the local Republican Central Committee, just east of San Benito Street on Fifth. He smilingly offered a friend, whom he knows to be a registered Democrat, some GOP literature, and professed surprise when it was declined. Within easy shouting distance on San Benito Street (although no one shouted at each other) was the Democratic registration booth. It was being staffed by Joanne McMahon, Nancy Kopps and Matt Hale. The latter lives in Hollister but attends Sacramento State so doesn't have much tome to participate in his party's local doings. Lowell and Connie Jennings were trolling past the downtown branch of San Benito Bank where she is a teller. She is that cheerful blonde lady whose station is near the door, and she seems to have a smile for most clients -- and even non-clients. Louie Sumaya took a moment from looking at the cars to talk. Sumaya is a life-long resident, served in the Army as a young man, and has been a frequent volunteer at Marland Holte's Thanksgiving and Christmas community dinners. Father down the street, near the Chamber of Commerce office, Gino Fortino stopped to talk. His typical smile was even broader because he recently became the grandfather of a boy named for him. "Phyllis is in Fresno attending a shower of one of our relatives," he said. Like the typical temporarily liberated spouse of storydom, Fortino was on the town for abandoned revelry. He was already smoking a cigar and was contemplating his next move, perhaps buying a bag of popcorn. At the corner of Sixth and San Benito streets, Xtremely Rockin' was playing for the crowd, many of whom listened from haybales placed in front of the stage. After some of the ear-splitting numbers, a few old-timers settled down to hear Maria Sorobyanskayuya sing songs whose words they could actually distinguish. Among the guitarists accompanying her was a man whose identity was partially concealed by sunglasses. Roland Perkins asked "Recognize him? He's Craig Nagarsda -- my dentist." On the other side of the street, Colleen Eastman with daughters Madison and Caitlin stopped for a moment. When Mrs. Eastman was asked where husband and father Michael Eastman was, she said he was in surgery. "Surgery for what?" the friend asked. She replied, "Not surgery -- Sturgis, the biggest motorcycle rally in the country." The hearing-impaired friend in embarrassment turned to the younger daughter and said, "Hello, Myrtle" (she was wearing a T-shirt with the inscription "Myrtle Beach") and got an appreciative titter from her sister. In the meantime, people streamed along the center of the street to view the classic cars. Two speedboats on display were so sleek looking that they were almost ticketed for speeding while standing still. Many automobiles from the 1950s and ?60s had knots of people admiring them, including a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback and red 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air with a picture of Marilyn Monroe on the windshield and a tray with simulated hamburgers and milkshake protruding from the side window. The good old standby, the Jeep, had many admirers but probably the oldest and one of the most attractive cars there was a purple 1908 two-cylinder five-passenger touring car. Its headlights and accessories shone like burnished gold. Vendors dispensed hot dogs, Polish sausage sandwiches and, courtesy of the LULAC Youth Council, delicious tacos. Down the street at Johnny's Bar, Charisse Tyson deftly filled orders for beer and sandwiches. Gordon Machado joined friends Peter and Marianne Filice outside the Delicate Touch for lunch, and they reminisced about past Festivals and other celebrations they had enjoyed over the years. Meanwhile, Kaye Felice and Donna Howe staffed the Kinship Center booth to sell tickets for a chance on a new car. They said business had been good and were expecting even more sales before the end o the day. Overall, it was a very enjoyable event. Businesses and other organization got exposure, money was made for good causes, and hundreds of people came together for another pleasant day in the community that has many special events and pleasant days throughout the year. |
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