San Juan Bautista
– A bright red Folgers can sits next to the cash register at
Daisy’s Bar on Third Street, but it won’t be providing patrons
their caffeine fix.
San Juan Bautista – A bright red Folgers can sits next to the cash register at Daisy’s Bar on Third Street, but it won’t be providing patrons their caffeine fix.
What the owners of Daisy’s hope it will provide is a little relief for a longtime local whose family lost their home to a trailer fire on Mission Vineyard Road in April.
Nico Soliz Rodriguez, a 44-year-old manager at Jardines de San Juan restaurant who has lived in the town for almost three decades, said he and his family have found a place in San Juan, but lost the majority of their possessions in the fire.
The family – which also includes Rodriguez’s wife Valeria, 7-year-old daughter Alecia and 4-year-old daughter Jocelyn – did not have renter’s insurance.
Since the fire, the family has relied on the generosity of other San Juan residents.
“I appreciate everything they’ve done for me over in San Juan,” Rodriguez said.
So far, Rod Concepcion and Dan Thomas, the owners of Daisy’s, have helped raise more than $2,500 for the Rodriguez family.
“We all know he’s been a resident for years and years and years and actually used to work here years back,” Concepcion said. “Everybody knows him.”
On April 28, the bar hosted a 50-50 drawing and potluck dinner with live music for the Rodriguez family. A band member won the drawing and donated his winnings back to the family, Concepcion said.
The San Benito County Deputy Sheriff’s Association pitched in Thursday, donating $250.
Deputy Terri Edwards, the union’s treasurer, said the money was made possible through member dues.
“Everybody was on the same page, ‘Definitely, let’s donate to him,'” Edwards said.
Pablo Garcia, who has known Rodriguez and worked with him at the restaurant for 23 years, received a phone call from his longtime friend April 14, after the trailer caught fire for a second time that day.
Garcia filled in for Rodriguez as he responded to the fire that afternoon.
“He’s the nicest guy,” Garcia said. “Everybody knows him, everybody loves him.”
Valeria and her brother extinguished a cooking fire earlier in the day. However, while Valeria was in Gilroy, the trailer caught fire again at about 3pm.
The Rodriguez girls, who attend San Juan School, were scared after their home burned.
“They’re kind of getting over it now,” Rodriguez said. “It’s going to be three weeks already.”
After the fire, the Red Cross stepped in, providing the Rodriguez family with food and a hotel room for a few days.
Lynda Maguet, disaster services director for the Monterey-San Benito counties chapter of the Red Cross, said the Rodriguez family has been fortunate.
“Their community is very supportive,” Maguet said. “It’s nice to see the community come together.”
The Rodriguezes stayed with a family friend for several weeks and found a two-room home to rent in San Juan Bautista, moving in April 29.
Getting everyone situated hasn’t been easy.
“With the moving and the new house it’s an adjustment,” Rodriguez said.
Community members have also donated furniture, helping the family furnish its temporary home.
As for a permanent living situation, Rodriguez is waiting for the trailer to be replaced. He hopes the family will be back enjoying the quiet environment of Mission Vineyard Road within a couple of months.
“I like this small town,” Rodriguez said. “It’s been very good to me.”
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or mv*********@fr***********.com.
