“Harvard Street Holidays” event a great success

Hemet might be a small town, but how beautifully we small-town folks come together to celebrate the holidays.  There was a touching tribute to late True Value Hardware owner and beloved Hemetonian Rick Truskowski organized by Mayor Pro Tem Linda Krupa with speeches by Krupa, HSJ Chronicle senior writer Rusty Strait, Destonation Coffeehouse owner Patricia Yepremian and Rick’s spouse and current True Value owner, Carolyn Truskowski.  For more on this story, please see Rusty Strait’s article elsewhere in this issue.

There were actors and actresses walking the street, booths and food stalls were available and all store owners opened there doors wide to handle the crowds which came and went with regularity.  

The booths, stalls and festivities stretched down the entire length of Harvard Street and around the corner to State Street.  Jewelry-handmade and fancy, ethnic delicacies, children’s school programs, chair massages and more ringed the sidewalks as hundreds and hundreds of holiday shoppers and visitors joined in the celebration.  This Harvard Street celebration, with its plaque in Rick Truskowski’s name in front of a massive fir tree, together with the Farmer’s Market on Harvard and Florida, with yet another fir tree, lighted for Christmas, gave the entire section of Hemet a “Winter Wonderland” feeling as people stopped, ate, chatted, hugged, shook hands and exchanged warm greetings that no amount of cold could have dampened.   Look for an even bigger event next year.  

EDITOR’S NOTE                                                                                        For more information on the Harvard Street Holidays, please see Rusty Strait’s Article for a wonderful tribute to Rick Truskowski elsewhere in this issue.

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Downtown Holiday Festival is back

On Saturday, December 14th from 11am to 5pm, The Hemet Woman’s Club will host their first annual “Holiday Street Festival” in the Historic Downtown District of Hemet. Over a dozen organizations will be partnering with HWC to create a very special community event.

Planned activities include:

– Live entertainment performed by local schools and community groups
– A Wine & Beer Garden for a pleasant spot to relax and enjoy the music
– A large vendor area with lots of local and regional vendors
– Visits with Santa and his elves and plenty of locations for special photos with the family
– A petting zoo with a Nativity theme
– A “kid zone” filled with free games & activities including face painting, carnival games & more
– A “Make-A-Craft” area with free holiday craft projects for kids of all ages
– An art sale & exhibit, with live “plein air” (outdoor) artists
– Roaming performers including carolers and street artists
– Special festival sales at local merchants

All Kid-Zone and Make-A-Craft activities will be free of charge, with local groups providing the equipment, materials and staffing. Sponsorships will assist with the cost of street closures, equipment and decorations.

For more information on hosting a vendor booth or activity, please call Margie Wachter (951) 219-2983. Sponsorship information is available from Susan Carrier (951) 551-5363.

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