The following groups, organizations and individuals deserve
either a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down this week.
The following groups, organizations and individuals deserve either a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down this week.
THUMBS UP: For Marley Holte who, along with a host of volunteers, provided a hearty Thanksgiving dinner and warm companionship for more than 200 people Thursday. Holte heads the Marley Holte’s Community Assistance Program and provides free dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas. He started the Christmas dinners 20 years ago when he and his wife decided to feed the needy instead of buying gifts for each other, he said. Not only has Holte providing holiday feasts for years, he has long been an advocate for the homeless and never let local government officials forget the needs of the less fortunate in our county. It must be especially gratifying for Holte to see a winter shelter about to open at the Southside Migrant Labor Camp this December. Holte is a kind soul and his perseverance and selflessness should be an inspiration to us all.
THUMBS DOWN: For the Hollister City Council, which – with the exception of Robert Scatinni – voted to cancel the Hollister Independence Rally contract with the non-profit organization that has been running the event for the last nine years without a solid backup plan. The Hollister Independence Rally Committee has had problems running the event smoothly and making it profitable so it is no surprise council members yanked the rug out from under it. What is disappointing, however, is council members say they are open to others running the event but have no concrete plan in place to hand over the event. Time is running short to organize next year’s rally and the council must decide the event’s future soon. It would be a shame if the rally were canceled and it would be even worse if the city contracted with a group that could not pull it off because of the rush.
THUMBS UP: For all the Hollister residents who will do their holiday shopping locally this year. Not only will they find excellent gifts at pleasant shops, they will be supporting local business owners, the people they employ and the city government that survives, in part, on the sales tax generated within city limits. Please consider doing your part for the local economy and shop in town this year.
THUMBS UP: For City Manager Clint Quilter, who is getting down to business on hiring a new economic development manager for Hollister. Quilter is in the process of interviewing candidates to fill a position that will play a crucial role in reviving our flagging local economy. The city’s economic development czar will be charged with drawing new businesses to the city and keeping existing businesses from leaving. It’s important to have such a person in place soon so he or she can begin developing an economic plan and luring companies to the area by the time the building moratorium – put in place after a 15 million gallon sewer spill in 2002 – lifts in 2007. The City Council also deserves kudos for recognizing that need and creating the position.
