Every year, as part of the Celebrate Campbell Awards Dinner event, the Campbell Chamber of Commerce invites us (Downtown Campbell Business Association) to name a person to honor for their contributions to our little fun village of Downtown Campbell in the previous year.

This year, we cheated. We couldn't narrow it down to just one person to give the award to. Our persons of the year for 2019 are Michael Sanders and Mark Thornton. They're a couple of regulars of the Downtown Campbell scene by way of their affiliation with the Home Church.

The Home Church is one of the community organizations that has quietly worked alongside the Downtown Campbell Business Association to help us run many of the events happening in Downtown Campbell, but Michael and Mark have done far more than just show up to help us check tickets and direct traffic. They've gone the extra mile out of love for their community to help make Downtown Campbell the place that it is.

Michael Sanders is the Facilities Manager and IT Manager of the Home Church and can come close to outrunning Usain Bolt if you tell him that you're taking his photo (despite a broken foot). He's been at the Home Church for over 20 years and we've been quite familiar with him for most of those years. His friends attest to his great sense of compassion for those around him, good humor, and his amazing singing voice.

Mark Thornton is a leader and volunteer at the Home Church who's very much a hands on kind of person no matter what it is. He loves working with his hands and is an avid gardener, cook, and nature lover. He's hands on with teenagers and loves working with them to shape the character of young adults. His friends speak warmly of how reliable and sensitive he is in difficult situations.

The Downtown Campbell Business Association is very grateful to these two men and the Home Church for all of their support over the years. We are so proud to name these two gentlemen as our persons of the year for 2019 and we will be celebrating their contributions to the community this weekend at the 52nd Annual Celebrate Campbell Awards dinner.

BTW, both of these men are dog people. Can you tell?

Undoubtedly, you know there's this Covid-19 Novel Coronavirus thing going around. Regardless of how you feel about the risks of it, we have one thing to ask of you. Please stay home if you're sick.

It doesn't matter if you truly only have a cold and can back it up with laboratory test results. People on the street won't see it as trivial. Anyone who appears to be spreading germs in Downtown Campbell is going to discourage people from coming here. Downtown Campbell remains open for business as it always is, but things aren't normal. We'll eventually find a new normal, but we are going to need help from our loyal community to get there sooner.

You can start by making sure that all of your friends understand that FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS SPREAD GERMS. Downtown Campbell is a very social place. You come here to celebrate birthdays, retirements, bachelorette parties, and last nights in town. If you're going to hit the town with friends here, please do us a solid and remind your entire crew to stay away if they're sick or even think they might be coming down with something. Make sure your friends know you'll forgive them if they have to back out.

Even under the best of circumstances, operating a small business is a monumental challenge. In most cases, it's not something any sane person will want to do to make money. You do it because it's who you are. You do it because there's something about it that you just love, but it's still a struggle. Challenging times are coming and we will need your help. Start by keeping all of us more healthy.

We're sure you've heard plenty about the Covid-19 "novel coronavirus". We're going to post some links for you as a public service announcement. Local governments are acting urgently to to enact precautions with public health and safety in mind. There is a lot of information being shared out there about this and some of it is of questionable value.

If you are trying to understand what Covid 19 is and how it affects you, please start with these three websites. For the most relevant local level information affecting Santa Clara County, we especially recommend that you check the Santa Clara County Public Health Department's Coronavirus page or social media accounts for updates.

The Covid 19 Coronavirus is a fast moving topic and official news sources may not be able to keep up with the latest developments, but please use these official information sources to judge the accuracy of things that you read online.

• Santa Clara County Public Health Department - Facebook • Twitter
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• World Health Organization

The featured landmark home this month is the Ed Arnott House at 155 Alice Avenue. Built in 1922, this house is a fine example of the Craftsman/California Bungalow style with many character defining features. It has a broad, closed veranda style porch supported by brick and stone pillars and unusual stacked wooden brackets at the top. An additional open porch can be seen on the west side of the house. Its low-pitched roof is supported by projecting eaves and exposed roof rafter tails. Large transom style windows frame the front door with many small divided- light, casement windows on either side of the chimney and the side porch. The house also has a small finished basement.

The current owners said that they found several old-double hung windows along with heavy weights in the basement when they started their renovation efforts. The original front door went missing over the years and when they bought the home in 2012, the existing hollow core front door was in bad shape and unsafe, with gaps that let light and wind through it. They replaced it with a new, solid fir door in the Craftsman/Bungalow style that matches interior molding woodwork.

The Peter Paul Arnott and Son’s Lumber Yard was one of the early 1900’s businesses in downtown Campbell. Along with lumber, Peter and his son Ed helped provide cement building blocks for foundations, chimneys and basements. They were kept busy as the newly created downtown business district on East Campbell Avenue grew rapidly. (See photo)

However, on October 27, 1917, a disastrous fire quickly swept through the downtown community and destroyed many buildings including the house of E.A. Arnott according to Jeanette Watson’s book, ‘CAMPBELL the Orchard City’. Although not much is known about the Arnotts, one can surmise that the Ed Arnott House on Alice Avenue was built using materials that were readily available from the family’s business.

Alice Avenue, now part of a historic district, was created in 1915 on a portion of the site of fruit drying yards owned by the George E. Hyde Company, a canning and fruit dehydrating plant occupying 17 acres in Campbell. This residential subdivision named “Hyde Residential Park” was built primarily for housing cannery workers, though George and Alice Hyde (the Street’s namesake) resided there too.

Photo courtesy of Campbell Museums.

Campbell Avenue looking east at the corner of First Street, 1905-1910. On the right side of the street is the newly constructed Odd Fellows Hall, Peter Arnott’s residence (with palm trees) and Al Smith’s Auto Shop where the fire started that wiped out the entire block of buildings.

Want to learn more about Campbell’s Historic buildings? There’s a free app for that. Search for: Historic Campbell, available for both Android and Apple.

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Ritual Day Spa is now offering hand crafted soaps and bath bombs from Buck Naked Soap Company! They are vegan, organic, and smell fabulous! Come pick one up and bring the spa experience home.

Below are the showtimes for Osio Theater, March 6-12, 2020. Osio, a nonprofit movie theater dedicated to independent, foreign, and art films, is located at 350 Alvarado Street in Old Monterey. Purchase advance tickets on our website.

GREED
Weekdays at 1:30pm, 4pm, 6:45pm
Sat & Sun at 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm, 6:45pm
Self-made British billionaire Sir Richard McCreadie's retail empire is in crisis. For 30 years he has ruled the world of retail fashion – bringing the high street to the catwalk and the catwalk to the high street – but after a damaging public inquiry his image is tarnished. To save his reputation, he decides to bounce back with a highly publicized and extravagant party celebrating his 60th birthday on the Greek island of Mykonos. Watch the trailer.

ORDINARY LOVE
Weekdays at 2pm, 4:45pm, 7pm
Sat & Sun at 11:15am, 2pm, 4:45pm, 7pm
An everyday couple with a remarkable love, there is an ease to their relationship which only comes from spending a lifetime together. When Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer, the course of her treatment shines a light on their enduring devotion as they must find the humor and grace to triumph over a year of adversity. Watch the trailer.

THE BANKER
Weekdays at 1:30pm, 4pm, 6:30pm
Sat & Sun at 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm, 6:30pm
In the 1960s, two African-American entrepreneurs hire a working-class white man to pretend to be the head of their business empire while they pose as a janitor and chauffeur. Watch the trailer.

ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND
Daily at 4:15pm
This documentary film tells the moving story of Robertson’s personal journey, overcoming adversity and finding camaraderie alongside the four other men who would become his brothers in music and make their mark on music history. Once Were Brothers blends rare archival footage, photography, iconic songs, and interviews with many of Robertson’s friends and collaborators. Watch the trailer.

THE ASSISTANT
Weekdays at 2pm, 6:30pm
Sat & Sun at 11:30am, 2pm, 6:30pm
Jane is a recent college graduate and aspiring film producer who has recently landed her dream job as a junior assistant to a powerful entertainment mogul. As Jane follows her daily routine, she grows increasingly aware of the abuse that insidiously colors every aspect of her workday, to which she decides to take a stand against, only to discover the true depth of the system into which she has entered. Watch the trailer.

FANTASTIC FUNGI
Daily at 2:30pm, 5pm, 7pm
Sat & Sun at 11...Read More

The Cooper Molera Adobe, located at 506 Munras Avenue in Downtown Old Monterey, is proud to present an exhibit of paintings and etchings by Armin Carl Hansen (1886-1957). This exhibit, which highlights Hansen’s love for and dedication to the fishing community and the Monterey Peninsula, which be on display through March 2020. Cooper Molera Adobe is open Tuesday - Saturday, 11am-4pm and Sunday, 11am-2:30pm.

Hansen is remembered as one of California’s most significant artists. Born in San Francisco in 1886, he began art lessons as a child and later studied at the Mark Hopkins Institute under Arthur Mathews before heading abroad to study at the Royal Academy in Germany. To support his studies and painting, he took a job as a deckhand on a Norwegian trawler and other commercial vessels. Returning to San Francisco in 1912 Hansen briefly taught art at UC Berkeley and the California School of Fine Arts.

In 1913, Hansen came to Monterey where he eventually settled, taught painting and print making, and built a house on Eldorado Street. An active member of the community, he was a founding member of the Monterey History & Art Association, the Carmel Art Institute, and an early member of the Carmel Art Association.

Throughout the year, the Cooper Molera Adobe displays artwork from Monterey County institutions, galleries, and private collections that reflect or are connected to Monterey county’s history in a unique way. This particular exhibit of Armin Hansen's work is taken from the City of Monterey's art collection. It is presented by Presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Cooper Molera Adobe, the City of Monterey Museums Division, and Trotter Galleries of Carmel and Pacific Grove

The City of Monterey boasts a number of bicycle rack locations. And now the City has published easy-to-use maps so you you can find out exactly where they are! There are two types of maps available: 1) two printable maps (one for Downtown Monterey and one for New Monterey) and 2) a single online map (be sure to click "bike parking" in the sidebar to view the bike rack locations).

Are you a business with a bike rack not listed on the maps? Please take a photo of your bike rack and e-mail it with a description of its location and address to Fernanda Roveri and the City will add it to the list.

In addition to bicycle racks, the City also offers bicycle lockers to rent at the Cannery Row Garage (601 Wave Street) and the Downtown East Garage (Washington and Del Monte St.). Lockers can be rented on a monthly ($15) or quarterly ($36) basis. Bike lockers are currently booked, but the Parking Division Office manages a waitlist - please call 831-646-3953.

The City of Monterey boasts a number of bicycle rack locations. And now the City has published easy-to-use maps so you you can find out exactly where they are! There are two types of maps available: 1) two printable maps (one for Downtown Monterey and one for New Monterey) or 2) a single online map (be sure to click "bike parking" in the sidebar to view the bike rack locations).

Are you a business with a bike rack not listed on the maps? Please take a photo of your bike rack and e-mail it with a description of its location and address to Fernanda Roveri and the City will add it to the list.

In addition to bicycle racks, the City also offers bicycle lockers to rent at the Cannery Row Garage (601 Wave Street) and the Downtown East Garage (Washington and Del Monte St.). Lockers can be rented on a monthly ($15) or quarterly ($36) basis. Bike lockers are currently booked, but the Parking Division Office manages a waitlist - please call 831-646-3953.

Below are the showtimes for Osio Theater, February 28 - March 5, 2020. Osio, a nonprofit movie theater dedicated to independent, foreign, and art films, is located at 350 Alvarado Street in Old Monterey. Purchase advance tickets on our website.

ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND
Weekdays at 2pm, 4:15pm, 6:45pm
Sat & Sun at 10:45am, 4:15pm, 6:45pm
This documentary film tells the moving story of Robertson’s personal journey, overcoming adversity and finding camaraderie alongside the four other men who would become his brothers in music and make their mark on music history. Once Were Brothers blends rare archival footage, photography, iconic songs, and interviews with many of Robertson’s friends and collaborators. Watch the trailer.

SEBERG
Weekdays at 1:30pm, 4pm, 7pm
Sat & Sun at 11:15am, 1:30pm, 4pm, 7pm
A political thriller inspired by real events about the French New Wave darling and Breathless star Jean Seberg. The film focuses on Seberg in the late 1960s when she was targeted by Hoover’s FBI because of her political and romantic involvement with civil rights activist Hakim Jamal. Watch the trailer.

THE ASSISTANT
Weekdays at 1:45pm, 4pm, 6:30pm
Sat & Sun at 11:30am, 1:45pm, 4pm, 6:30pm
Jane is a recent college graduate and aspiring film producer who has recently landed her dream job as a junior assistant to a powerful entertainment mogul. As Jane follows her daily routine, she grows increasingly aware of the abuse that insidiously colors every aspect of her workday, to which she decides to take a stand against, only to discover the true depth of the system into which she has entered. Watch the trailer.

LITTLE WOMEN
Weekdays at 4:15pm
Sat & Sun at 10:30am, 4:15pm
Writer-director Greta Gerwig has crafted a Little Women that draws on both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott and unfolds as the author’s alter ego, Jo March, reflects back and forth on her fictional life. Watch the trailer.

FANTASTIC FUNGI
Daily at 2:30pm, 5pm, 7pm
(No 7pm show on 2/29)
This consciousness-shifting documentary takes us on an immersive journey through time and scale into the magical earth beneath our feet, an underground network that can heal and save our planet. Watch the trailer.

PARASITE
Daily at 1:30pm, 7pm
(No 7pm show on 2/29)
Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these...Read More

The Lighthouse District is proud to announce that wedding and portrait photographer Manuel Ortega has won a silver award in the Wedding and Portrait Photography International (WPPI) annual print competition held in February 2020. Congratulations, Manuel! View the winning shot on Facebook.

The WPPI's annual competition is the most prestigious wedding and print competition in the world and the capstone event of the WPPI Conference & Show, with an awards ceremony honoring the most illustrious photographers of the year.

Fore more information about photographer Manuel Ortega, whose office/studio is located at 191 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite A4, in Monterey, please visit his website.

The Direct Action Monterey Network organizes a monthly letter writing session for political prisoners, with an emphasis on political prisoners in California’s jails and prisons, on the third Sunday of every month at 7pm at Old Capitol Books. All are welcome to come and write letters of support with us. Each month, the group also tries to find a book on one of the prisoners’ wish lists and send it to them.

The Direct Action Monterey Network is a collective of anarchists, feminists, socialists, and other anti-authoritarian revolutionaries in the Monterey Peninsula area.

Old Capitol Books is located at 559 Tyler Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Nancy Dean's, the Lighthouse District's own diner featuring fresh, authentic American cuisine, has changed its hours and is now serving both breakfast and lunch! Come and visit us 598 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey. We're open Monday-Saturday, 8am-3pm.