 On The Line -- Issue 666 -- December 21, 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 666 -- December 21, 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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Each of the monthly mixers of the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce has its own flavor, and the Dec. 12 affair held at Hollister Motor Sports at 201 San Benito St. with Chris Cason and Mark Rogers as hosts, had several.
First of all, it was the last one before Christmas, and it had a bigger-than-average turnout. It was also especially joyful because the Chamber's Woman and Man of the year had just been announced that day and both were at the mixer. They are Cilly Fisher and Ed Stephenson, each of whom has a record of outstanding service to the community. Stephenson was there with wife Michele Stephenson, the current Woman of the Year. Close friends Jack and Francene Markle and Ed and Rose Ford accompanied Mrs. Fisher. Another of her close friends, Irene Agredano, would have been there helping Barbara Cosio checking in guests but a family matter arose that required her attention. Her daughter, Irene Turturici, was present with husband Pat Turturici. Mari Davis assisted with the registration. Jessica French, the Chamber's executive director, greeted guests as they arrived. Vice President Frankie Arballo also greeted many of the guests with husband Jason Arballo standing by as did President Mark Vivian and Jack Hance, the immediate past president. After getting a glass of wine, the irrepressible Jim West noted, "The only beverages they're serving tonight are water and wine. Did they expect Jesus Christ? " West likes to laugh and sets others off around him. Kathy Johnson arrived a little later as did Cesar Flores. Flores is a new member of the Chamber board of directors. He is an actor who has appeared in a number of films as well as productions of El Teatro Campesino. People kept streaming in, some noting how hard it was to find parking space nearby. The big front room filled up early and some guests moved to the rear room. Many hastened over to congratulate Mrs. Fisher and Stephenson on their honor. There were few places to sit so most guests leaned against each other. A line formed for the buffet and the guests helped themselves to the prawns, finger-sized sandwiches, cheeses, crackers, cold cuts and fruit. Another attraction was a chocolate-flowing well and people speared marshmallows and strawberries on toothpicks to dip in it. Will Sutton and Gordon Machado, two past Men of the Year, seemed to find something to say to everyone. Joanne Machado was with her husband and they gravitated toward Beth Ivey. Shannon Grissom arrived to many greetings. She paused to say hello to Gerald and Mary McCullough and to Charles and Barbara Scott on her way in. Denise Cauthen-Wright, a former Woman of the Year, had her own coterie. And smiles abounded. Guests threaded through the crowd to see special friends. Ron Rodrigues soon found himself surrounded by Jim and Shirley Horn, Helen McAbee and Linda Fine. They're all close friends but the way their eyes light up upon seeing each other, you would think that they were being reunited after years apart. Much of the conversation was about Christmas: who was expected home and who was going elsewhere. Some people remembered past Christmases and they evoked smiles and a few sighs. Jim and Flo Pleyte, infrequent mixer guests, were accompanied by daughter and son-in-law Marla and Ryan Oprea. Mrs. Oprea, it will be remembered, was the track star at San Benito High School in the 1990s, setting may running records. She is now an attorney (like Dad) and now that he is retired runs her law practice at his former offices on Monterey Street. Jim and Gayle Sleznick, Jon and Juanita Mansmith and Ken and Sonny Underwood were among the couples who are frequent mixer guests as were Glen and Jean Koehl. Another couple that is quickly becoming regulars is Tom Horsfall and Charisse Tyson. Robert Scattini and Jaime De La Cruz made the rounds. Scattini, county marshal, is not running for any office but De La Cruz, who became a county supervisor in 2004 and is running for re-election next year, talked to many people. To do him justice, he is a regular mixer-goer and does not show up just before elections. Perhaps there are no people who enjoy the mixers more than sisters Susan Jones and Catherine Napier. One often sees them smiling and when there is a twinkle in their eyes you know that they are enjoying something the rest of us may have missed. Dee Hone and Sharlene Van Rooy talked for awhile about something and it must have been pleasant because their conversation was animated and they laughed aloud several times. Nasa Jimenez paused to listen for a moment and left with a smile to see other friends. It was good to see Joe Postigo again. He used to be regular mixer guest but attends them only infrequently now. Postigo enjoys humorous anecdotes and offers a few of his own from time to time. Elizabeth Gage was there, of course, noting bits of information for the Chamber's monthly newsletter which she writes and edits. She is a quiet person so one may not notice her right away but her smile emerges from deep within her and brightens the surroundings. The conversation rose and fell, often punctuated by laugher, and staff members replenished the food trays. The camaraderie was almost palpable, and some guests laughed aloud at the sheer joy of the evening. Kathy Mapleton smiled at the scene as did Greg Cable and Richard Ybarra. Everything seemed to stir more happiness, the same kind Ebenezer Scrooge must have felt when he awoke a reformed man n Christmas morning. When Cilly Fisher, still blushing by compliments upon being named Woman of the Year, won the first prize in the raffle and everyone laughed, even a little harder when a friend of hers yelled "Fix!" And so the last mixer of the year ended, with good feeling all around and a glad sense of having participated in the evening. Many a "Merry Christmas!" was heard as guests returned to their vehicles for the trip home. |
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