It was quite a week for news: Scientists found more proof that
there is water on Mars, the Iraq Study Group said the war in Iraq
is becoming an even bigger mess, the Hollister City Council removed
the proverbial spike strips from San Benito Street and will again
welcome bikers to town on the Fourth of July, and Britney Spears
apologized for partying too much with Paris Hilton.
It was quite a week for news: Scientists found more proof that there is water on Mars, the Iraq Study Group said the war in Iraq is becoming an even bigger mess, the Hollister City Council removed the proverbial spike strips from San Benito Street and will again welcome bikers to town on the Fourth of July, and Britney Spears apologized for partying too much with Paris Hilton.
But in Hollister, nothing was bigger news than the Target fire. I was just getting done coaching a youth basketball game at the high school when my sister came up to me and said “Target’s on fire.”
By then, half of the town had heard about it and most of them appeared to be cruising by the store, drawn by the spectacle of fire trucks, smoke and bewildered Target team members.
I live somewhat close to the store and I’m a “journalist,” so that tempered my guilt a bit about rubbernecking, but it was surreal to be a part of the parade of vehicles filled with locals wondering if what some teens call “Hollister’s Mall” was burning down.
Thankfully, a sprinkler system and massive response from fire personnel kept the fire in check, and the store was opened for business within a couple days.
Looking back, my interest in this breaking news was tinged with sadness that Hollister would suffer another economic hit. I immediately thought about the dozens of employees who would be out of work, the tax receipts that wouldn’t be helping our strained local economy, and the poor caffeine addicts that would have to drive all the way across the parking lot toward Nob Hill to find another Starbucks.
The next day at San Benito High School, the rumors about the cause of the fire were flying among students.
“I heard someone threw gasoline on a Christmas tree,” one said.
“I heard it was an electrical short,” offered another.
“I bet Kmart did it,” one joked.
Thursday’s news that a teen was arrested on charges of arson prompted more questions.
“Who did it?”
“Why would someone do that?”
“Is Starbucks open again?” (I made that one up, but I ‘m sure someone thought about it.)
The good news – a Christmas miracle, if you will – is that the store has reopened, a suspect is in custody, and I’ll be able to buy cat litter, Christmas lights, and 99-cent birthday cards all in one store again.
Meanwhile, another near flame-out – the Independence Day Rally – is rising from the ashes this week as well. It’s enough to make me want to do wheelies and donuts (if I wasn’t scared to get on a motorcycle).
Those who say we should shut down the rally and hope those meanies with their loud bikes won’t terrorize our town again are ignoring the fact that those folks will be coming to our town whether we want them to or not. When the event is organized, sanctioned and patrolled, we stand a much better chance of having a peaceful event that brings money to Hollister.
An unregulated, unsupervised event could mean chaos. Good choice, City Council.
Welcome back, bikers. After you shop downtown, swing by Target and get an iced coffee at Starbucks.
Adam Breen teaches journalism and yearbook at San Benito High School. He is former editor of The Free Lance.
