San Juan Bautista
– Back in the early days of the San Juan Bautista mission, the
Spanish friars didn’t concern themselves with building indoor
toilets. But 200 years later, parishioners say the closure of
bathroom facilities, which were built in 1976, is a huge problem,
especially during the holiday season when at
tendance is expected to rise.
San Juan Bautista – Back in the early days of the San Juan Bautista mission, the Spanish friars didn’t concern themselves with building indoor toilets. But 200 years later, parishioners say the closure of bathroom facilities, which were built in 1976, is a huge problem, especially during the holiday season when attendance is expected to rise.
Since the start of this year, bathrooms have been closed due to deteriorating conditions and tourists passing through this relic of California history have had to go down the street to the teaching center, about half a block from the mission.
“It’s been an inconvenience, especially for seniors or pregnant ladies,” said Jackie Ferreira, manager of gift shop at the mission.
Now a local woman is trying to raise $40,000 to renovate the bathrooms and she is getting creative about it.
For the second year in a row, San Juan Valley resident Niessa Bauder-Guaracha, whose husband Tony owns A&N Plumbing in Hollister, is hosting a fund-raising event where attendees judge decorated Christmas trees that are then donated to local needy families. There is wine and an assortment of food, from French pastries to Mexican appetizers and a raffle with cash prizes ranging from $250 to $1000. Prizes include a diamond necklace, tickets to Universal Studios and an AT&T Pebble Beach golf tournament.
Last year, the event raised $6,000, which the diocese of Monterey is holding onto until more money is raised.
Mission San Juan Bautista stands to gain money from the recently approved Missions Preservations Act, which will give $10 million to California missions over the next five years. However, Bauder-Guaracha and other parishioners worry that it would get little of that money since it ranks third on the need-based list. Mission San Miguel in San Luis Obispo county is ranked the number one mission in terms of need, with an estimated $23 to $26 million in repairs stemming from a 2003 earthquake.
No formal bids have been made on the bathroom project, but Bauder-Guaracha estimates the cost at over $40,000. The contract could go to A&N Plumbing or another company, if they prove they can do the project for a lower cost, she said.
“We are not in this for the money,” said Bauder-Guaracha. “We are parishioners and just want to do this for the church.”
There is also discussion about forming a joint venture with the city of San Juan Bautista. City offices were closed for the holiday and officials could not be reached for comment.
Friday, four Porta-Potties opened to the public, after being brought in by Teatro Campesino, whose “La Virgen de Tepeyac” opened last night at the mission.
“We have kids as young as six performing…and plus it’s cold,” said Susan Woods, a producer with the theater group. “It would have been impossible without them.”
The Porta-Potties will remain open all day through out the duration of the play which ends December 19.
The fundraiser is one of the numerous projects Bauder-Guaracha has done over the years. In 2001, she raised $28,000 in less than a month for a new playground at San Juan School in San Juan Bautista.
“I always seem to pull rabbits out of hats,” she said. ” I just do it not because it’s my job, but because no one else will.”
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected]
