It’s time once again for my annual bazaar (or is that bizarre?)
column. I’ll let you in on a little secret.
It’s time once again for my annual bazaar (or is that bizarre?) column. I’ll let you in on a little secret. Back when I was first starting to appear in print, I wrote an anonymous column under the pseudonym of “The Church Mouse.” I wrote what can best be described as a positive “gossip” column. It included stories of local good news, unsung heroes, and humorous anecdotes. Sometimes I’d be sitting beside someone at a luncheon who would ask, “Who do you think The Church Mouse is?”

One of the first things this quiet little mouse scampering about the nooks and crannies of Gilroy discovered was Gilroy’s longest running holiday bazaar. Each November, Santa’s elves can be found busily toiling away behind the scenes at all hours of the night and day to get everything ready for the wondrous Christmas Bazaar that will be held in the heart of Gilroy this Saturday.

This is the 72nd year that the hands of Methodist women and their friends have quilted, sewn, embroidered, decorated, cooked, baked, canned, pickled, played, potted, mixed, fudged, bottled, preserved, painted, macramed, knitted, glued, crocheted, chutneyed, and jammed.

Not to be left out, the men of Gilroy contribute as well. In the past, Rotarian Mike Salewske handcrafted fine wooden pens, apiarist Herb Edde brought jars of “Grandpa’s Honey” fresh from the hive, and woodworker Dick Freitas made birdhouses. You never know what you might find at Gilroy’s longest running bazaar.

There are new participants each year as well.

“For the first time, I will be able to participate in the bazaar,” substitute teacher Janice Krahenbuhl tells me. “I’m ‘in charge’ of getting cakes and will be baking up a storm starting after school tomorrow. I’ll come home and spend most of Friday evening and probably into the wee hours making soup.”

One of the most popular parts of the Bazaar is the soup and pie luncheon which usually costs a mere five to six bucks. The homemade chowder, white bean, vegetable beef, split pea, chicken, and Abundiga (Mexican meatball) soups are local favorites. Young ladies from the community have the opportunity to try waitressing at the luncheon.

Mary Magnuson and Mary Ernest may have moved away from Gilroy, but these two Marys still send Christmas cheer back to Gilroy each year. Mary Ernest sends a box of handmade baby blankets, lap robes, tablecloths, aprons, eyeglass cases, etc., from Poplar, Missouri.

Claudia Salewske begins collecting jars for canning a few months before the bazaar, and many different people bring her their jars each year. Her chutneys and jams are always a hit, and last year’s “parsonage plum jam” (made from local pastor Alison Berry’s tree) was described as “pretty darn tasty.”

You are likely to be greeted by Barbara – the Bazaar Czarina – also known as retired teacher Barbara Gailey, and her husband, Bazaar Czar and retired astrophysicist Hugh, who do a fantastic job of organizing and directing all aspects of the event.

It takes the cooperation of both young and old behind the scenes to make this holiday dream come true, but it just goes to show what is possible when so many different people bring their talents together. The proceeds go to benefit women’s and children’s causes. Rebekah’s Children’s Home will be one of the recipients this year with a donation of toys to make Christmas a little brighter for the children there. Rebekah’s Children’s Home has worked to help provide for the social, emotional and physical well-being of children in Gilroy for more than 100 years.

‘Twas the night before the Bazaar and all through town, not a creature was stirring – except one tiny mouse in the pews of the church, who scampered about on a sugar plum search.

The Bazaar will be held Saturday, at the United Methodist Church located at Fourth and Church St. from 8:30am until the goodies run out. Lunch is served from 11:30am to 2pm.

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