SBM1916

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY

APRIL 19, 2019

HOLLISTER MEMORIES A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance

1957 graduate inducted into Hall of Fame P4

1776 PREVIEW P8 | CALENDAR OF EVENTS P10 | FEATURED HOME P17

APRIL19, 2019

S T R O L L SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019 1pm to 5pm

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20 Tasting Locations in Downtown Hollister Tickets $30 per person by 5pm on April 19, 2019, $40 after Tickets available at HDA Office • Irma’s Fashions • GardenShoppe Postal Graphics • SBC Chamber of Commerce • Online

www.downtownhollister.org or 831-636-8406

Modern Medicine, Compassionate Care

PODIATRIST Chris Lydon

4

CLASS OF 1957 Sandy Lydon was inducted into

the San Benito High School Hall of Fame.

MAGAZINE

64 W. Sixth Street, Gilroy, CA Mailing address: P.O. Box 516, Gilroy, CA 95021 Phone: 408-842-6400

14

Publisher

Dan Pulcrano Associate Publisher

Jeannette Close Editor

Erik Chalhoub Calendar Editor

Tia Sundberg Contributing Writers

16 4

Cover Story

7

Crush

8

Theater

10 Calendar

16 Gardening 17 Featured Home 19 Real Estate

Advertising Account Executives

Kelly Been, Carrie Bonato, Scott Harvey, Eileen Katis Design Director

Dr. Casparro is a graduate of the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. She completed her podiatric medicine and surgical residency at Lakewood Regional Medical Center where she also received the added credential in reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery.

Dr. Casparro also provides advanced wound care.

Kara Brown Production Operations Manager

Sean George Editorial Production Manager

Katherine Manlapaz Cover photograph by:

Chris Lydon Published by New SV Media Inc., Gilroy, CA Entire contents Š 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form prohibited without publisher’s written permission.

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APRIL 19, 2019

14 Getting Out

Jenny Arbizu, Wallace Baine, Mary Bartholomew, Janet Enright, Ron Erskine, Kimberly Ewertz, Colleen Grzan, Cheryl Huguenor, Laura Ness, Susan Rife, Kate Russell, Neera Siva

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‘HOLLISTER BOY’ COMES HOME Well-known historian Sandy Lydon inducted into San Benito High School Hall of Fame BY WALLACE BAINE

APRIL 19, 2019

W

4

hen our alien overlords eventually take over the planet and finally get around to a debriefing on the swath of middle California we locals call the “Central Coast,” the first person they’ll call will be Sandy Lydon.

The longtime Cabrillo College teacher, writer, historian and local celeb has devoted his life to investigating the culture, ecology, economy and history of the region that entails Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Monterey and San Benito counties. But whether he’s talking about Big Sur, Davenport, Morgan Hill or San Juan Bautista, Lydon will inevitably mention that in the end he’s just a “Hollister boy” at heart.

These days, Lydon is looking at Hollister in a way that he’s never quite done before, thanks mostly to his 2019 induction into the San Benito High School Hall of Fame. Of course, the first thing he’ll tell you is that he, like many of his classmates

across generations, prefer to call the school Hollister High (if for no other reason than for the harmonious alliteration with the school’s nickname the Haybalers) and, as a three-year letterman in baseball, that letter H means a lot to him.

“Back when I was in school, we burned the initial H into the lawn at Gilroy High School,” said Lydon, 78, who was a high schooler in the 1950s. “Just imagine trying to burn a letter in the lawn with ‘San Benito,’ all those curves with the S and the B. With the H, it’s three straight lines and you’re out of there.”

He gets even more animated by a notorious (to Hollister locals, anyway) 2015 article in the New Yorker magazine by famed writer Dave Eggers titled “The Actual Hollister.” It was Eggers’ attempt to distinguish the town from the ubiquitous clothing brand that has made the name “Hollister” famous around the world. From the opening ➝ 6

HISTORY WALK

Sandy Lydon leads a tour of Hollister’s IOOF Cemetery for Cabrillo College Foundation donors on April 6.

APRIL 19, 2019

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HONORED CLASS Laurie Chavez (clockwise from top left), Sandy Lydon, Cassandra Guerrero and Dario Casarino were among the inductees into this year’s San Benito High School Hall of Fame.

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Lydon to the point where he considered doing an extension course at Cabrillo, in answer to Eggers, that he would call the Real Actual Hollister. A half-forgotten health issue derailed the extension class, but even today, Lydon lights up when talking about the Eggers piece.

“You have to be careful when you’re out of your turf,” he said.

Though he left Hollister more than 60 years ago, Lydon still considers the town very much his turf.

For years, he has led group tours of spots all around the Central Coast, but is only now getting around to bringing tours to Hollister.

“I’ve been putting Hollister off,” he said. “It’s hard to do the place you grew up. Too many memories, a ex-girlfriend on every corner. It has proven to be a challenge.”

Lydon first came to Hollister in 1950 at the age of 10 when his family moved there from San Mateo. At the time, the town was only three years past a notorious incident involving a motorcycle rally turned rowdy, which the press at the time sensationalized as the “Hollister riot.” Lydon was 13 when The Wild One, a movie based on the event starring Marlon Brando, was released.

Lydon remembers little about the release of the movie, but he remembers well the motorcycle races that took place just outside of town. He was not old enough to see the races in person, but he lived close to the old Hazel Hawkins Hospital, “and we’d go over there and wait for the ambulances to arrive. Guys were getting beat up something fierce, bleeding and such, so we saw the results of those ➝ 12 races.”

CELEBRATIONS

The family can enjoy Easter celebrations throughout San Benito and South Valley on Apr. 20 and 21.

OA &

OUT & ABOUT

SAN MARTIN

FELTON

EGG HUNT

REDWOODS EASTER

Operation Freedom Paws’ fourth annual Easter Egg Hunt will feature games, hunting for eggs and special guest, the Easter Bunny.

Children age 10 and younger are invited to hunt for eggs while others enjoy face painting and more. Tickets are $5 per hunt participant. Saturday, Apr. 20, 1-3pm at Operation Freedom Paws Canine Education Center, 13920 Llagas Ave. For more information, visit ofpeaster.eventbrite.com or call 408.641.7137.

HOLLISTER

EVENING HUNT All ages are invited to hunt for Easter eggs filled with candy at a unique Evening Easter Egg Hunt at Hollister Hills. Hunters are advised to use flashlights or bring along a blacklight to enhance the hunt with a glow in the dark element.

Saturday, Apr. 20, 7:30-8:30pm at Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area, Radio Ridge Track, in the Lower Ranch, 7800 Cienega Rd. Park entrance fee is $5 per vehicle; there is no charge for this event. For more information, email hollister.hills@parks.ca.gov.

The Easter Steam Train will depart from Roaring Camp in Felton and travel over Indian Creek Trestle and through the Santa Cruz Mountains to the top of Bear Mountain where children will scavenge for chocolate eggs. The train will have three departures per day Saturday, Apr. 20 and Sunday, Apr. 21 at 11am, 12:30pm and 2pm at Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road.

For tickets and information, visit roaringcamp.com.

HOLLISTER

EASTER BRUNCH After all the Easter eggs are found, the public is invited to head to San Juan Oaks for the annual Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet.

The event includes salad medleys, a create-your-own omelet bar, carving stations, waffle and dessert bars, a complimentary mimosa for guests over age 21 and more.

Reservations are required; children under age 5 are free. Sunday, Apr. 21, 10am-2pm at San Juan Oaks Golf Club, 3825 Union Road. For reservations, call 831.636.6127.

APRIL 19, 2019

7

THEATER

Founding Fathers on stage

Elizabeth Mandel

BUILDING A NATION Michael Lund (left) as Thomas Jefferson, Jon Reed as Benjamin Franklin and Peter Mandel as John Adams star in South Valley Civic Theater’s 1776.

APRIL 19, 2019

SV Civic Theater presents award-winning musical

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By SUSAN L. RIFE

S

outh Valley Civic Theater last presented the musical 1776, about the politically tricky process of writing the Declaration of Independence, in 2006.

Then came Lin-Manuel Miranda’s huge Broadway hit, Hamilton.

But rather than divert attention from the 1969 musical, with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone, Hamilton seems to have sparked more interest in all things Founding Fathers.

“This show was one of Miranda’s inspirations,” said Kathy Tom, who is producing the show as part of SVCT’s 50th anniversary season. “He loved this show. He felt if someone could write about the entire Declaration

of Independence, why not about one life?”

1776, which won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, will open April 26 for a three-weekend run in Morgan Hill. Two performances for area Title I schools are also planned.

Peter Mandel stars as John Adams, Jon Reed as Benjamin Franklin and Michael Lund as Thomas Jefferson. All three appeared in the 2006 production.

“It’s the only show where I’ve felt a chill (of emotion) at the end,” said Reed, who plays Franklin, the most senior of the Founding Fathers at age 70. “So many things during the Revolution that could have gone a little bit differently,” he says, might have led

to a different outcome at the Second Continental Congress.

And even knowing how it turned out, audiences sometimes sit on the edge of their seats, said Tom. For Mandel, Reed and Lund, the passage of more than a decade since the last production has given them a chance to study their characters more thoroughly. Recent biographies of the Founding Fathers have allowed actors to take deeper dives into the Founders’ lives and motivations.

“We all talk about what was the person like,” Lund said.

His character, the red-haired and shy Jefferson, is the most elusive.

“No one’s ever been able to nail that guy down,” he said.

“The other element is, Adams can be played very one-dimensionally,” Mandel said. “The running joke is that Adams was obnoxious and disliked. But he had a very loving relationship with his wife, a very loving relationship with his kids. He’s an interesting person.”

The show is historically instructive, in that it highlights the disagreements, arguments and compromises necessary to the Declaration of Independence, which ultimately was signed by 12 of the 13 colonies (New York abstained).

“They found their way through it,” said Mandel, who sees parallels between the struggles of the Founders and the current political polarization.

“Hopefully we can get back to that.”

In fact, when 1776 opened in 1969, the nation was deep in turmoil over the Vietnam War, civil rights, women’s rights and Woodstock.

“It is an amazing musical,” Mendel said. “It’s been one of my favorites since childhood. I think people will come and enjoy it wonderfully.”

1776 runs April 26-May 12 at South Valley Civic Theatre, Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill. Tickets $16$25. (408) 842-7469; www.svct.org.

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O& A CALENDAR

EARTH DAY

APRIL19, 2019

The community is invited to celebrate Earth Day with San Benito County Integrated Waste Management and more than 15 partners providing education and interactive Earth Day games and activities for all ages. The event will feature an upcycled art workshop, free yoga class, free bike safety checks and performance by Calpuli Itzpapalotl Danza Azteca and more. Also enjoy a free compost giveaway, free secure on-site shredding, free E-waste collection and food available for purchase by Lolla and Farm House Cafe. Saturday, Apr. 20, 10:30am-3pm at Veterans Memorial Park, 1221 Memorial Dr, Hollister. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/yyqqhtzs.

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HOLLISTER DRIVER SAFETY The No. 1 killer of teens in America is car crashes, with most revolving around

distracted or reckless driving.

Parents and teens are invited to the Impact Teen Drivers Parent/ Teen Safe Driving Workshop presented by the Hollister-Gilroy

CHP Office and the Hollister DMV. This presentation is designed to educate teens and their parents with strategies to keep them safe while driving or riding as a passenger in a car. Saturday, Apr. 20, 1-2:30pm at Veterans Memorial Hall, 649 San Benito St. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/y6t3weuv.

BIKE PARTY Pedal-powered bicycle riders of all kinds are invited to enjoy the sites and streets of Hollister during Hollister Bike Party’s sixth ride. The ride will be medium-paced and is generally three to five miles around downtown Hollister, with a rest stop to regroup. All are welcome Saturday, Apr. 20, 7:30pm-10pm

at 400 San Benito St. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/ yytluybk.

COYOTE LEGENDS Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area will present the free family program, “The Legends and Myths of the Prairie Wolf.” Participants will learn why the coyote is such a successful survivor and the topic of many stories and myths. Park entrance fee is $5 per vehicle, and there is no charge for the event.

Saturday, Apr. 27, 6-7pm at Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area, 7800 Cienega Rd, Lower Ranch, Madrone Campground. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/ yxkp89b8.

San Benito County Arts Council

DANCE WEEK

San Benito Dance Week will celebrate dance and movement. This week-long event invites the public to participate in free movement-based classes, workshops and performances highlighting San Benito dance studios, styles, students and community partners. Dance styles include ballet, Zumba, hip hop, pilates, Aztec, folklorico and more. Dance lovers of all ages and abilities are welcome to join. Tuesday, Apr. 23 through Monday, Apr. 29 in San Benito County. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit sanbenitoarts.org.

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA

Volunteers are asked to bring brooms, dustpans, garden gloves and shovels to help get Downtown Hollister into tip-top shape. Volunteers will help beautify downtown at the annual event with cleanup activities including pulling weeds, planting, scrubbing and painting. Students needing service hours and community minded adults are encouraged to volunteer, and groups are welcome. Volunteer Saturday, Apr. 20, 8:30-11:30am, meet at the HDA Office, 514 Monterey St, Hollister. To participate, call 831.636.8406.

TRES PINOS

GILROY

MORGAN HILL

BENEFIT BARBECUE A benefit barbecue for the Chamberlain’s Children’s Center will feature a main course of chicken and ribs.

Attendees can also participate in a horseshoe tournament and bounce house while listening to live music.

Soft drinks and water will be provided as this is an alcohol-free event. Saturday, Apr. 20, noon6pm at North Bolado Park Picnic Area, 9000 Airline Hwy. For more information and tickets, visit tinyurl.com/y5hvvfht.

PEACE CORPS Janet Espinoza will describe her time in the Peace Corps and beyond at the Gilroy Library, co-sponsored by the AAUW. Espinoza joined the Peace Corps in 2007 and has served in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Ghana.

The presentation will include time for questions and answers and an opportunity to purchase authentic items made by Honduran artisans.

Monday, Apr. 22, 6pm at Gilroy Library, 350 W. Sixth St. For more information, visit sccl.org.

GARDEN MARKET The free South County Spring Garden Market will be presented by the UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs and more will be available for sale, and UCCE Master Gardeners will also provide gardening talks and advice. Arrive early for the best selection, cash or checks only. Saturday, Apr. 20, 10am-1:30pm at Guglielmo Winery, 1480 E. Main Ave, Morgan Hill. For more information, visit mgsantaclara. ucanr.edu. ➝ 13

APRIL19, 2019

FIELD DAY Attendees to Morris Grassfed’s Annual Spring Field Day can enjoy the wildflowers and a ranch tour and learn about regenerative agriculture.

Participants are asked to bring side dishes, desserts and drinks for the barbecue picnic lunch of Morris Grassfed beef. They are also advised to wear comfortable shoes to walk in and sunscreen and hats.

Saturday, Apr. 27, 10am-3pm at Baumgartner Ranch, 500 Mission Vineyard Road, San Juan Bautista.

For tickets and information, visit morrisgrassfed.com.

SPRING CLEANUP

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SANDY LYDON

6

Modern Medicine, Compassionate Care

GENERAL SURGEON

SENIOR PORTRAIT Sandy Lydon is shown in his 1957 senior photo.

Dr. Gamboa employs state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgical techniques in his practice as a general surgeon. Board Certified, with over 35 years of experience, Dr. Gamboa’s practice covers a broad range of specialty procedures including trauma and pediatric surgery and the newest endovascular therapies for varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

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Later, as a high schooler, Lydon participated in the beloved ritual of the era, “dragging Main.” That meant, essentially, driving up and down San Benito Street just to see and be seen.

“You’d start down at Haydon, which was two blocks past our house, because you could do a U-turn there,” he remembered.

“Then you go up San Benito to Fourth, go to the Fosters Freeze parking lot on Fourth, then go back and do it again and again. Hey, gas was 27 cents a gallon.”

The story evokes a vision torn from American Graffiti, which depicted the teenage years of Star Wars director George Lucas in Modesto in the early 1960s. That film got it almost right, said Lydon.

“Yeah, that American Graffiti thing,” he said. “There was too much gender mixing in that movie. Girls getting in the cars with guys? C’mon.

(In Hollister) that never happened.”

Young Sandy would have struck an intriguing figure in his 1930 Ford Model A, a car already old when he was driving it.

“I painted the rims pink to stand out,” he said. “I made the biggest mistake of my life when I went off

to college (at UC Davis). The Model A didn’t have quite enough style, so I sold it for $125. I bought it for only $110, so I thought I did pretty good.”

At Hollister High, Lydon was all about baseball. He lettered three straight years, and as a senior, he was part of the school’s 23-1 team in ’57. After graduation, he headed off to UC Davis, after which he became a teacher and baseball coach, first at Elk Grove High south of Sacramento and finally at Cabrillo College in nearby Aptos.

“To this day, I kiss the ground at Cabrillo,” he said. “I was so lucky in that they had this old-school mentality of, ‘We’ll hire you and then leave you alone.’”

Then, it was on to a fruitful career as a teacher, a TV personality (including a stint as the local weatherman), a newspaper columnist and group tour leader. Only now has the meandering path led him back to Hollister.

“The whole thing in the ’50s,” he said, “was that you never went back home. Unless your dad owned a business or something, there was nothing there for you. I always had it in my head that I would have to pay my dues somewhere else.”

O& A CALENDAR

11 in the little-traveled east side of the 87,000-square-foot park. Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians are invited to enjoy the day, camp or backpack among the spring wildflowers and scenic trails. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Friday-Sunday, Apr. 26-28 at the Henry W. Coe Dowdy Visitor Center, Bell’s Station Entrance on Hwy 152. For registration, information and detailed directions, visit coepark.net/bcw.

Ronald Rietman

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

Old timey bluegrass tunes will fill the air at the Brookdale Bluegrass Festival. Acts include Peter Rowan, The Town Howlers, Blue Summit, The Wildcat Mountain Ramblers and more. The festival will also include camping, food vendors and self-contained RV spaces. The Brookdale Bluegrass Festival will be held Friday-Sunday, Apr. 19-21 at San Benito County Historical Park, 8300 Highway 25, Tres Pinos. For tickets and more information, visit brookdalebluegrass.com.

EVENTS CHILI COOK-OFF Everyone is welcome to join Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz at its First Annual Veteran’s Chili Cook-off. Attendees will have the opportunity to try chili prepared by 15 different veteran teams.

Admission is $10 pre-sale or $12 at the door. Saturday, Apr. 20, noon4pm at VFW 1716, 1960 Freedom Blvd, Freedom. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/y235j866.

BACKCOUNTRY WEEKEND Henry W. Coe State Park’s Coe Backcountry Weekend will be held

WINE STROLL The Wine Stroll is a yearly staple of Morgan Hill’s downtown events. Taste wines from around the region while on a self-guided walking tour throughout downtown.

Participants will receive a wristband, personal tasting glass and map. Saturday, Apr. 27, 1-5pm in downtown Morgan Hill.

Ticket quantities are limited.

For information, tickets and a list of participating wineries and downtown businesses, visit morganhilldowntown.org.

STARRY NIGHT The community is invited to enjoy an evening under the stars with astronomy docents eager to share the view at Starry Nights in Open Space. Attendees are asked to dress in warm layers and bring drinking water.

Telescopes will be provided for this telescopes-only event. Space is limited, registration by the number

WORLD PREMIERE Luis Valdez, the Chicano playwright and director behind Zoot Suit, La Bamba and El Teatro Campesino, stages the world premiere of his latest work, Adios Mama Carlota, the Empress of Mexico. Empress Carlota— daughter of King Leopold I, King of the Belgians—inherited her title after marrying Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico (later executed in the country Napoleon III had entrusted him to rule). The play is narrated

by Carlota, 60 years after she fled Mexico to Europe in a failed attempt to save her husband’s crown and his life. The production runs through April 28 at the San Jose Stage Company. For more information, visit www.thestage.org.

RECIPE SUBMISSIONS Amateur chefs are invited to submit their original recipes for the Gilroy Garlic Festival’s 41st annual Great Garlic Cook-Off amateur cooking competition.

Eight finalists will be selected to compete on stage at the Gilroy Garlic Festival on Saturday, July 27 for the garlic crown and grand cash prize. Each original recipe must include a minimum of six cloves of fresh garlic or three teaspoons of chopped or minced garlic. Submit original recipes for Great Garlic CookOff by May 1. For entry rules and more information, visit gilroygarlicfestival.com.

COMPETITIVE LEAGUE Weekly Alehouse Cornhole League tournaments will be held every Tuesday through May 28, 7-9pm at Grillin’ & Chillin’ Alehouse, 401 McCray St, Unit B24, Hollister.

There will be weekly and monthly winners and overall league winners for first, second and third place.

For more information, visit tinyurl. com/y3n2ruxs.

APRIL19, 2019

HOLI EVENT The Indian Association of South County (IASC) will host its annual Holi Event and Potluck. Holi, the Festival of Colors, is one of the largest festivals in India, celebrating the end of the winter season. Guests are invited to join the celebration, wear their bright whites and bring a treat to share.

Saturday, Apr. 20, 11am–2:30pm at Morgan Hill Community Park, 171 W. Edmundson Ave, Morgan Hill. For more information, visit iascinfo.com.

ANZA TRAIL HIKE The Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition will be the subject of the Juan Bautista de Anza Hike history walk. Participants will hike at a moderate pace along the four-mile Arrowhead Trail in Coyote Valley, a certified interpretive site for the Anza Expedition, and learn about the expedition and the experience of the families that undertook it.

Attendees are advised to bring drinking water and a snack for the trail. Heavy rain will cancel.

The Anza Expedition Hike will be held Saturday, Apr. 27, 10am-noon at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve, 550 Palm Ave. For more information, visit openspaceauthority.org.

of cars in each group is required.

Saturday, Apr. 27, 8:45-10:30pm at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve, 4289 Casa Loma Rd. Arrive before the gates close at 9:15pm to allow for undisturbed viewing. For more information, visit openspaceauthority.org.

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GETTING OUT

Venture off the Trail

Ron Erskine

SOOTHING MUSIC The sound of water greets hikers on Coon Hunter’s Gulch at Henry Coe State Park.

Spice up your normal hiking routines APRIL19, 2019

By RON ERSKINE

14

T

here are days when the prospect of another walk on a trail you have trod many times before doesn't have the allure. It is a lovely trail, but you know it like the back of your hand.

So, the hiking shoes stay in the closet, and you stay on the sofa.

One way to add a bit of adventure to familiar territory is to travel off the trail. There are a few cautionary considerations, but the course of that creek or that trailless ridgetop might reveal surprising secrets in an area you thought you knew.

A recent spring hike reminded me of the sights and surprises hidden off trail. I love the trails out of the Hunting Hollow entrance to Henry Coe State Park east of Gilroy, but most of those trails are nearly as familiar to me as the route from my living room to the kitchen. How could I jazz things up a bit?

Along the course of Hunting Hollow Road, every ridge that ascends the hulk of Willson Peak has a trail that rises along its crest.

Between each ridge is a seasonal creek. None have trails. From the Lyman Willson Trail, I have often

gazed down—way down—into Coon Hunter's Gulch. It is long, but not silly-steep like some others.

What adventure awaits down in that creek bed? That was the jazzing up I needed.

Gardens of poppies and baby blue-eyes and the music of water greeted me at the entrance to Coon Hunter's Gulch. The broad bench of alluvium at the mouth of the creek quickly pinched down to a narrow ravine. Around every bend, there was a new setting and a new challenge. I hopped from tussock to tussock to navigate through a wide wet marsh and a lovely series of quiet pools. Then, round the bend, I found tiers of cascades tumbling down massive boulders where the creek bed pinched down to a narrow fissure.

On a trail, we take each step thoughtlessly, but along Coon Hunter's Gulch, I chose each one carefully. Walking through dry rocky streambeds or rock-hopping over wet boulders on countless creek crossings requires care and close attention. I scrambled over boulder bulwarks that blocked tight spots while avoiding encroaching tangles of poison oak vines.

I wanted adventure, something new and fresh, and I got it. At the top of Coon Hunter's Gulch, I was very tired and still five miles from the car. But I knew for sure that I was alive.

Now, the caution part. Coe Park is larger and wilder than some preserves and parks that require people to stay on the trails. Honor their rules. Footing, poison oak, ticks and overhanging branches are faint hazards on trails but lurking dangers for cross-country hikers. It is easier to get lost, so know the territory or understand how to navigate.

Be safe, but if your hiking activities need a little hot sauce, venture off the trail and see familiar country in a fresh light.

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15

GARDENING

Celery’s Cousin

VERSATILE PLANT Dill leaves can enhance many dishes.

Growing dill can be easy and rewarding APRIL 19, 2019

By KATE RUSSELL

16

D

ill’s delicate fronds and distinct aroma make it a useful addition to your San Benito garden.

Known for elevating pickled cucumbers, asparagus and green beans to new heights, dill (Anethum graveolens) is a cousin to celery. Dill oil, extracted from seeds, stems and leaves, is used to make soap.

Dill can reach a height of two to four feet, making it only slightly smaller than fennel, which has a similar feathery growth. Flowers

are white or yellow umbels (think umbrellas) that attract many beneficial insects. Dill seeds look like tiny brownish-gray orange slices.

Once seeds start forming, leaf production is over and the plant will soon die. But worry not, dear gardeners! Dill reseeds itself easily. Seeds from a single plant can create an entire bed of dill in future seasons. To collect seeds for kitchen use, remove seed heads and hang upside down over a bowl or in a pillowcase. Seeds will fall when they are mature, and the flower head can be added to the

compost pile to feed next year’s generation.

Dill is a biennial that is grown as an annual. Dill does not transplant well, so site selection is your first step. Dill prefers lots of sun, though partial shade can be tolerated. Shadier sites will result in less bushy plants. You can easily grow dill in a container that is at least 12 inches deep. This will make room for dill’s taproot (“Fernleaf ” is a dwarf variety best suited for containers). Seeds should be planted a quarter- to half-inch deep and the soil kept moist until seedlings emerge. Seedlings should be thinned to 12 inches apart.

Once plants are established, allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Side dressing plants with aged compost during the growing season will provide important nutrients (side dressing simply means dumping an amendment around a plant and watering it).

Dill has very few pests, thanks to the volatile oils that give it its flavor. Tomato hornworms and parsley caterpillars may be seen and can be handpicked. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or insecticidal soap can be used to treat severe infestations.

Dill is relatively disease-free.

Dill leaves enhance many dishes.

Simply snip off what you need. You can also dry dill leaves for later use by placing cut leaves between cloth napkins or paper towels, laid on top of nonmetallic screens to dry, and then storing in an airtight container. Dill leaves can also be frozen. You can keep harvested leaves fresh by wrapping them in a damp paper towel and refrigerating them for up to a week in a sealable container. Growing dill is easy and rewarding. Give it a try!

Kate Russell is a UCCE Master Gardener in Santa Clara County. For more information, visit mgsantaclara. ucanr.edu or call 408.282.3105 between 9:30am-12:30pm, Monday through Friday.

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Tierra at Monte Bella is Now Selling!

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Tierra at Monte Bella is NOW SELLING! Visit our sales office and ask our sales team about special limited-time buyer incentives.

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General Contractor License #971581. Seller reserves the right to make changes or modifications to plans, amenities, maps, plan specifications, materials, features, and colors without notice. Maps, plans, landscaping and elevation renderings are artist’s conceptions, are not to scale, and may not accurately depict the homes or lots as they are built. These illustrations may depict options and features that are not standard on all models. Optional features may be included in the purchase, and if included, will vary according to size and location of the lot. Exterior treatments, square footages, window locations, and room configurations may vary with elevation. Model home interior decorating, options, landscaping, fencing, and other amenities are for display purposes only. All marketing material is for illustrative purposes only and not a part of a legal contract. Square footages are approximate. All prices, plans, standard features, specifications, options, availability and estimated delivery dates are subject to change without prior notice. Additional restrictions may apply. See a New Home Counselor for further details. Depictions of homes or other features are conceptual. Decorative items and other items shown may be decorator suggestions that are not included in the purchase price and availability may vary. Persons in photos do not reflect racial preference and housing is open to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. ©2019 Century Communities.