SBM1927

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY

A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance

JULY 5, 2019

Sticking their neck out

Ostrich farm debuts to the community

CALENDAR OF EVENTS P8 | WILDFIRE PREPARATION P14 | REAL ESTATE P19

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Locals enjoy savings on admission this summer Evenings by the Bay Make Saturday nights special this summer with live music and amazing food. Locals pay only $25 per adult and $15 per child after 6 p.m.

Summer Sundays Spend your Sunday afternoons with us. Locals are invited to arrive after 2 p.m. to save $10 on each general admission.

Remember to park in the Downtown East Garage (340 Tyler Street, Monterey) and hop aboard the MST trolley for a fast, fun and free ride to the Aquarium!

MontereyBayAquarium.org/Locals

JULY 5, 2019

For more information, visit

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Those tall birds I didn’t know much about ostriches until I visited the Gilroy Ostrich Farm.

In this week’s edition, I toured the recently-opened farm on Pacheco Pass Highway near the Santa Clara/ San Benito county line (page 6).

Owner Dan Nelson led me on a tour of the property, visiting the 20 ostriches that now call the farm home and await eager visitors.

It can be intimidating standing next to a nine-foot-tall creature, so

I passed when Nelson asked me if I wanted to feed the ostriches. But as he showed me, there isn’t any danger to it.

Starting this week and continuing throughout fire season, Fire Marshal Dwight Good will be writing a series of wildfire preparedness columns for San Benito, information that is extremely pertinent in this area.

ERIK CHALHOUB

Editor, San Benito

MAGAZINE

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

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Publisher

Dan Pulcrano Associate Publisher

Jeannette Close Editor

Erik Chalhoub Calendar Editor

Tia Sundberg Contributing Writers

14 5

Crush

6

Cover Story

8

Calendar

12 Getting Out

JULY 5, 2019

14 Wildfire

4

15 Wine 16 On Seniors 17 Home 19 Real Estate

Jenny Arbizu, Wallace Baine, Ron Erskine, Kimberly Ewertz, Cheryl Huguenor, Laura Ness, Susan Rife, Kate Russell Advertising Account Executives

Carrie Bonato, Scott Harvey, Eileen Katis, Cynthia Runyon Design Director

Kara Brown Production Operations Manager

Sean George Editorial Production Manager

Katherine Manlapaz Cover photograph by:

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

TO PLACE AN AD Email:

advertising@newsvmedia.com Phone:

408.842.9404

O& A

SUMMER FUN

Keep little ones entertained at events especially for kids throughout South Valley and San Benito July 6-11.

OUT & ABOUT

MORGAN HILL

GILROY

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA

HOLLISTER

HAPPY BIRDS

FAMILY CAMP

ART CAMP

The Happy Birds Show at the Morgan Hill Library will feature performing parrots as they talk, sing and dazzle with their tricks. Saturday, Jul 6, 3-3:45pm at Morgan Hill Library, 660 W. Main Ave. Due to large crowds, a ticket will be required for entrance to this event. Tickets can be picked up one hour in advance of the program time in the Program Room at door 1. For information, visit sccl.org.

Gilroy Gardens is hosting a Camp Out and Movie Night inside the park. Attendees will camp overnight and then enjoy Gilroy Gardens the next day. This campout features a family movie shown in the park’s amphitheater. Packages include three meals, movie with free popcorn and park admission the following day. Saturday, Jul 6, 4pm at Gilroy Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Highway. For information, visit gilroygardens.org.

EVENING AT THE OBSERVATORY Fremont Peak’s free Evening Public Program features a media presentation and the opportunity to observe the night sky through a 30-inch Challenger telescope and volunteers’ instruments. Saturday, Jul 6, presentation at 8:30pm, viewing from 8pm-midnight at Fremont Peak Observatory, San Juan Canyon Road. Parking is available at nearby lots in Fremont Peak State Park for $6. For information, visit fpoa.net.

At Mythical Creatures Paint Party Art Camp, campers will explore mythical images from different regions. Students will follow step-by-step instructions to paint different fantastical themes and take home a new painting each day. This condensed three-day summer camp workshop offers two sessions, 10am-noon for 5to 7-year-olds and 1-3pm for 8- to 13-year-olds, Tuesday-Thursday, Jul 9-11, at ARTspace ANNEX, 217 Fifth St. Registration is $50 per student, including all materials and a snack. For information and to register, visit sanbenitoarts.eventbrite.com.

JULY 5, 2019

5

Big bold birds

Gilroy Ostrich Farm opens to the public BY ERIK CHALHOUB

JULY 5, 2019

T 6

he largest and heaviest bird in the world is also the fastest on land.

Ostriches can grow to 9 feet tall and weigh more than 300 pounds. While they can’t fly, somehow they can run more than 40 mph. And the round, gangly, yet muscular bird can live for roughly 50 years.

Dan Nelson has a simple description for these unique-looking animals.

“They’re beautiful birds,” he said. ➝ 10

STANDING GUARD

Erik Chalhoub

JULY 5, 2019

Two ostriches keep a close eye on their territory at the Gilroy Ostrich Farm.

The recently-opened farm is located on Pacheco Pass Highway.

7

O& A CALENDAR

PARK WALKING TOUR

JULY 5, 2019

REACH San Benito Parks Foundation is celebrating National Parks and Recreation Month with a park-to-park walking tour in Hollister. The tour goes from Calaveras Park to the new play equipment in the Allendale development and on to McCathy Park, which has been renovated with a water feature. The walking tour is about three miles and will end back at Calaveras Park. Attendees are advised to bring water, sunscreen and sturdy walking shoes; snacks will be provided. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Thursday, Jul 11, 1-4pm beginning at Calaveras Park, 1151 Buena Vista Road, Hollister. For information, visit reachsanbenito.org.

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HOLLISTER YAPPY HOUR Yappy Hour is held the second Thursday of every month at Paine’s

Restaurant, with a portion of proceeds from the event benefiting Pet Friends and Rescue Non-profit Organization of San Benito County. Pet

Friends Rescue works to help eliminate cruelty and neglect of abandoned companion animals and encourage a community atmosphere of education, care and concern that will strengthen the human/animal bond.

Thursday, Jul 11, 4-8pm at Paine’s Restaurant, 421 East St. For information, visit petfriends.org.

COOKING DEMONSTRATION Becky Herbert of Farmhouse Cafe will help the public prepare a meal for four at an Interactive Cooking Lab demonstration. Participants will make blackened fish, sweet potato mash and fresh corn and black bean salad to take home.

Cost is $75 per person, and two sessions will be offered. Saturday, Jul 13, 11:30am-1:30pm or 2-4pm

at Farmhouse Cafe, 615-D San Benito St. Space is limited. For tickets and information, visit eatwiththeseasons.com.

WATSONVILLE AGRICULTURAL HISTORY Agricultural History Project’s Second Saturday on the Farm is a free family event featuring games and grilling. Attendees of all ages will experience the old days of life on the farm with activities including tractor driving, wooden cow milking, feeding chickens and holding rabbits. Saturday, Jul 13, 11am-3pm at Agricultural History Project, 2601 East Lake Ave. For information, visit aghistoryproject. org or call 831.724.5898.

Robert Eliason

RALLY 2019

The unofficial 2019 Hollister Independence Rally features bike shows, music, entertainment, food and a variety of merchants selling biker goods and event merchandise. Some of the highlights include Corbin’s Annual Open House and Rider Appreciation Day, the Top Hatters’ 72nd Annual Motorcycle Run and a performance by Charlie Brechtel Band. Friday-Sunday, Jul 5-7, in downtown Hollister. For a full listing of events, locations and times, visit corbin.com/rally.

GILROY

MORGAN HILL MUSIC SERIES Morgan Hill’s 2019 Friday Night Music Series–

VINES & VIBES Guglielmo Winery presents its summer concert series, Vines & Vibes.

Attendees are invited to bring a picnic dinner or purchase a meal onsite and relax while enjoying a bottle or glass of Guglielmo’s

The PettyBreakers, a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute act, will perform live at Hollister Concerts. This Southern California band reproduces the sights, sounds and experience of a Tom Petty concert. The opening performance will be by Mirage, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Barbecue items, beer, wine and soda will be available for purchase. Saturday, Jul 13, 6:30-9:30pm at Pepper Tree Ranch, 500 John Smith Road, Hollister. For information and tickets, visit hollisterconcerts.com.

award-winning wine. Area bands will perform throughout the series.

Attendees must be 21 or over, and no outside alcohol is permitted.

Wednesday, Jul 10, 6-9pm at Guglielmo Winery, 1480 East Main Ave. For information, visit guglielmowinery.com.

FAMILY PICNIC Little Uvas Creek Preserve is hosting a family picnic day. Located in the southern Santa Cruz Mountains, just west of Morgan Hill, this preserve contains rolling hills, oak trees and a pond full of frogs, fish and other wildlife. Families can enjoy picnicking, plein air watercolor and rock painting, nature activities and crafts and a wildlife presentation. Sunday, Jul 14, 10am-2pm at Little Uvas Creek Preserve, Uvas Road. Detailed

driving directions will be provided upon registration. For information and to register, visit tinyurl.com/ y5mhxb2x.

SUMMER DELIGHTS Summer Delights: Stone Fruit and Wine Tasting tour will feature a gourmet luncheon, wine tasting and Old World family wine making traditions at two wineries.

Tours will also stop at Andy’s Orchard, where participants will learn about the orchard’s history and taste dozens of stone fruit varieties. Tours are available Mondays-Saturdays through Sept. 30, departing at 11am from 50 E. Third St. For tickets and information, visit californiapassporttours.com. ➝ 11

JULY 5, 2019

DOWNTOWN LIVE Gilroy’s family-friendly Downtown Live free concerts return Thursday nights, with live music, vendors and a kid zone. Food trucks will also be onsite for hungry attendees. Attendees are advised to bring along folding chairs and dancing shoes. R&B HipHop Fusion band Barely Functional will hit the stage Thursday, Jul 11. Downtown Live will be held Thursdays, 5-9pm in Downtown Gilroy. For information, visit tinyurl.com/y2weag7o.

Rockin’ the UpBeat Vibes, runs Fridays through Aug 30. The event features music, booths offering local goods and services, local wines, and free admission and parking. No outside alcohol permitted; beer, wine, food and more are available for purchase on site. All food proceeds from this event will benefit community youth scholarships. Friday, Jul 5, 6-9:30pm at Morgan Hill Downtown Amphitheatre, 17000 Monterey Road. For information, visit morganhill.org.

PREMIER TRIBUTE

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GILROY OSTRICH FARM

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Left: Erik Chalhoub, Right: Demi Guevara

JULY 5, 2019

FARM FUN Dan Nelson (left) feeds a pair of ostriches. The Gilroy Ostrich Farm offers guided tours for groups.

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Nelson, a Morgan Hill-based developer who has worked on projects in the South Valley and beyond, is the founder of the Gilroy Ostrich Farm, located on Pacheco Pass Highway near the intersection of San Felipe Road. He purchased the 114-acre property in 2018 to embark on a quest to bring the African native birds to not only the South Valley and San Benito communities, but to the state as a whole.

The venue is not only new to the region—the two closest ostrich farms are in Los Angeles and Solvang—but for Nelson himself.

“It’s a really new venture for me,” he said. “I’m spending a lot of time learning the behavior of ostriches.”

After a year of preparation, the farm recently opened to the public to much fanfare: Nelson said people have been visiting from all over the state to witness these gigantic birds in person.

“People seem to enjoy it,” he said. “It’s been getting busy.”

The farm is open Friday through

Monday, 10am-6pm for self-guided tours, weather permitting. Guided tours for groups of 10 or more people are also available.

Although its name may suggest otherwise, the Gilroy Ostrich Farm is not just ostriches. The property also houses alpacas, chickens, goats, sheep, rabbits and pot-bellied pigs. Nelson said the plan is to add miniature horses and cows in the near future.

A completely remodeled barn near the entrance to the farm serves as a farm stand, where guests can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables as well as hollow ostrich eggs, which Nelson noted many people use for art projects.

But the farm’s namesake is the star attraction.

“When the kids come, they hang out here most of the time,” Nelson said as he stood in the middle of a number of ostrich pens neatly positioned across the property. “The ostriches are the feature.”

Signs posted next to the pens

inform visitors about the different species of ostriches and their behaviors. Holes along the fences allow guests to feed the always-hungry birds themselves.

While holding a pan of food toward the towering creatures can be intimidating to some, an ostrich’s “bite” is no worse than its bark, since it has no teeth.

Unless threatened, all ostriches want to do is eat, not fight, Nelson said.

Ostriches maintain a diet of roots, leaves and seeds, as well as rocks, eating roughly four pounds of food a day.

The Gilroy Ostrich Farm once had dozens of ostriches on the property, but now has 20, as the remainder was sold to other farms due to costs.

“They are very expensive to maintain and feed,” he said.

A hen can produce up to 50 eggs a year, which weigh about 5 pounds each. Those eggs are then shipped to an incubator in Los Angeles, Nelson said.

However, it can be difficult to raise ostrich chicks, he noted. While many eggs never hatch at all, the ones that do suffer a high mortality rate within their first 90 days of life.

But once they survive those critical 90 days, they grow quickly, reaching their full height in nine months. As expected for the world’s largest bird, ostriches at birth are as big as a full-grown chicken.

Nelson purchased the birds from a farmer near Pajaro Dunes on the outskirts of Watsonville. He is quick to note that the ostriches are not raised for meat, but rather to educate the public.

“I love animals,” he said. “I wanted to open something to the public that would be educational not only for kids, but for adults as well. There’s nothing like this in South County.”

The Gilroy Ostrich Farm is located at 5560 Pacheco Pass Highway.

Admission is $10 per person. For information, call 408.713.1338 or email info@gilroyostrichfarm.com.

O& A CALENDAR

9 holder for World’s Biggest Bounce House, with 40 unique obstacles in America’s biggest inflatable obstacle course, “The Giant.”

Attendees can also enjoy slides, ball pits, a maze and more in the interactive, intergalactic themed attraction, “airSPACE.” Individual sessions are available in all age groups from toddlers to adults.

Friday, Jul 12, 1-7pm at Morgan Hill Soccer Complex, 16500 Condit Road, Morgan Hill. For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/y4os2d7b.

MAKERS MARKET The Stomping Ground will host the Makers Market, a new take on an open air marketplace. This monthly craft fair series features wine tasting, food, live music, dancing and a curated marketplace of local handcrafted goods.

Attendees can shop for jewelry, handbags, ceramics, glassware, soaps, succulents and more at this free event and support local small businesses. Saturday, Jul 13, 2-8pm at The Stomping Ground, 6500 Brem Lane, Gilroy. For information and to RSVP, visit tinyurl.com/yxvdctpb.

COMEDY TOUR

The Winery Comedy Tour, a night of comedy and local wines, comes to Fortino Winery. This new comedy circuit brings comedy performed by top, nationally recognized comedians, to local wineries throughout the country. Seating is limited and general admission ticket prices begin at $15. Friday, Jul 12, 7-9pm at Fortino Winery, 4525 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy. For information and tickets, visit fortinowinery.com.

EVENTS

BIG BOUNCE The Big Bounce America is coming to Morgan Hill.

It is the Guinness World Record

BENEFIT CONCERT The third annual “The Squeeze” benefit concert will feature headliner Cripple Creek Band. Guests will enjoy a night of country and Southern rock music, dancing, mechanical bull rides, beer, wine and food. Must be 21 or older with

STREET FESTIVAL The Hollister Downtown Association is presenting the 33rd Annual Street Festival Car Show. This year’s event features two stages of live entertainment and music, more than 200 vehicles on display and a Kids Zone. It also includes free watermelon, vendors, refreshment concessions, raffle prizes, free admission, free parking and more. Saturday, Jul 20, 10am-4pm in the Downtown Hollister. For information, visit downtownhollister.org/streetfestival-car-show.

ART OF EATING The San Benito County Arts Council will present “The Art of Eating: A Farmto-Table Benefit for the Arts.”

Guests will experience a fourcourse open-air dinner featuring locally sourced food and wine, live music, a farm talk by Paicines Ranch owner Sallie Calhoun and more. Guests are encouraged to bring their own artistic plates to the event. All proceeds benefit the Arts in Education Program, which brings the arts to more than 6,000 local students every year.

Sunday, Jul 21, 5-8pm at Paicines Ranch, 13388 Airline Highway, Paicines. Tickets are limited. For information and tickets, visit sanbenitoarts.org.

SUMMER DANCING San Benito County Arts Council and Hollister Recreation are partnering to present Dance @ Dunne. The community is invited to get moving at a Zumba class Fridays, 5:30-6:15pm.

Participants will also learn a new style of dance each week after Zumba, beginning at 6:15pm. This program is free, and all ages and abilities are welcome to attend. Fridays through July 27, 5:30-7:30pm at Dunne Park, 600 West St, Hollister. For information, contact the Arts Council at 831.636.2787 or info@sanbenitoarts.org.

JULY 5, 2019

CLASSIC MUSICAL South Valley Community Theater is bringing a Broadway musical classic to local audiences with its production of Gypsy. Loosely based on the memoirs of famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee and her show business mother Rose, the story transports audiences to the 1920s, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque

was born. This performance also features many Broadway hit songs such as “Let Me Entertain You” and “Everything's Coming Up Roses.” This production runs through Saturday, Jul 6 at Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey Road. For information and tickets, visit svct.org.

COMEDY DRAMA Belles: The Reunion, the South Bay premiere of the 2016 follow up to Mark Dunn’s popular comic drama Belles, is on stage at Limelight Actors Theater.

The production follows the Walker sisters from Memphis as they return after 25 years, back on the phone for another crisis-filled weekend. Guests are invited to bring their own dinner and wine to performances.

This production runs through Sunday, Jul 14 at Limelight Actors Theater, 7341 Monterey St., Gilroy. For information, showtimes and tickets, visit limelightactorstheater.com.

a valid ID. All proceeds will benefit Rebekah Children’s Services.

Saturday, Jul 19, 5:30-11pm at Gilroy Gardens, 13050 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy. For tickets, visit thesqueezeconcert.com.

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GETTING OUT

Coe Park mountain lion study

KEYSTONE SPECIES The Felidae Conservation Fund is studying mountain lions throughout the Bay Area.

Pumas face struggle for survival

JULY 5, 2019

By RON ERSKINE

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fter a 45-minute drive along old, bumpy ranch roads, we stepped from our vehicles onto a remote ridgetop deep in the interior of Henry W. Coe State Park. Under the guidance of Susan Ferry, Coe Park’s environmental scientist, members of the Felidae Conservation Fund were getting their first look at a portion of the 136 square miles that comprise the park. Today would be the beginning of Felidae’s Coe Park mountain lion study.

Last summer, I interviewed Zara McDonald, president of Felidae.

During the course of our conversation, McDonald said that while they

had done considerable research in the Santa Cruz Mountains, they had little data on puma activity in the Diablo Range. Where better to fill that void than Coe Park? After introducing Ferry and McDonald and the completion of the permit process, the day had come to begin the study.

“Research, educate and conserve,” McDonald told me. “Those are the three legs to Felidae Conservation Fund’s mission.”

While Felidae works to protect cat species around the world, pumas (another name for mountain lions) and bobcats in the Bay Area face a unique struggle for survival next to a major metropolitan area.

“We want to learn how lions are

faring at the urban edge, how we impact them, and what we can do to ease the conflict with humans in order to preserve this keystone species,” McDonald said.

As we drove in, the Felidae people commented on how ideal the park’s habitat is for lions. We finally arrived at a spot chosen by Ferry. She knew a lion roamed this area after capturing images on one of her two nearby cameras. Intent conversation and lots of pointing animated the ridgetop consultation as Ferry and the Felidae crew discussed likely lion pathways and the best locations for motion-sensitive cameras.

Brad Nichols, Felidae field biologist, paid particular attention to the conversation. The rest of us would leave shortly, but Nichols would stay behind and spend the rest of the day laying out a grid for the motion-sensitive cameras and putting them in place.

I asked McDonald how much research information can be obtained from photographs. She told me, “Cameras from multiple sites tell us what is happening in a habitat, but along with DNA information from scat and hair samples, we learn about ancestry and the overall health of the animal. We detect the presence of parasites and toxins such as rodenticides. Doing a study in a wild place like Coe Park will give us a good baseline to compare data we obtain here with locations closer to the urban edge.”

Coe volunteers will help with the study by monitoring cameras and replacing SD cards. McDonald encourages volunteer involvement in the studies she conducts.

Conflict with humans is the greatest threat to mountain lions.

When people get involved, understanding replaces myths and fears.

That's what we need to live with this beautiful and important species.

For information about Felidae Conservation Fund and its Bay Area Puma Project, visit www.felidaefund.org.

GET FIRED UP FOR THE

Garlic Festival Visitor Guide!

IN THE

JULY

26 ISSUE

Ad reservation deadline is Friday July 19, noon

For ad

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION:

advertising@newsvmedia.com or 408.842.8313

PINEWOOD DERBY- New this Year!

FREE

WATERMELON

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019 • 10am-4pm

Over 200 Vehicles • Live Entertainment on 2 Stages • New Car Display • Raffle Prizes • Kids Zone FREE Admission & Parking • Downtown Restaurant & Merchant Specials DowntownHollister.org Mark Medina San Benito County District 1 Supervisor Anderson Homes | C&N Tractors | DeBrito Chocolate Factory | Edward Jones Investments - Alexis Winder Farm at Bertuccio’s | Pinnacle Organic Farm | Swank Farms | RGN Productions

JULY 5, 2019

2018 Best of Show Winner 1941 Plymouth Coupe Owned by John Gimelli of Santa Cruz, California

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PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE

Wood roofs burn like kindling people on the risks of ember cast and the actions they can take to reduce those risks, to encourage residents to harden their homes against embers and/or to maintain those ember-resistant features, and to practice ember-safe housekeeping and landscaping. You can learn more at www.emberaware.com.

We will provide a series of articles and tips on the topic. Make changes now to reduce the ember threat to your home.

Tip #1: Stop shaking

FIRE HAZARD In the summer, wood shingles can be nearly bone-dry and easily ignited by embers.

Consider replacing with fire-resistant material JULY 5, 2019

By DWIGHT GOOD

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M

ost people believe that wildfires ignite homes through direct contact with flames, but it is rare to have a home ignite this way. Thanks to effective defensible space campaigns, very few homes are in direct contact with traditional wildland fuel models (e.g., uninterrupted fields of seasonal grass, flammable brush or tree canopies). The collective experience of our wildland firefighters suggests that homes most commonly ignite from airborne flaming brands and embers.

Flaming brands and embers can

travel a mile or more ahead of the active front of a wildfire, and scientific research finds that up to 60 percent of wildland/urban interface home ignitions result from embers landing on flammable materials such as roofing or landscaping materials, or ember penetration into concealed spaces through vents and other structural openings.

Most of the activity that makes a home less vulnerable to ignition focuses on the home and its immediate surroundings. Defensible space preparations are part of the equation, but they do not address the ember threat. The Ember Aware campaign is intended to educate

The most reliable way to predict which houses will survive a wildfire and which will be destroyed is by looking at the roof.

Houses with wood shake or shingle roofs are many times more likely to be destroyed during a wildfire. Using wood shakes or shingles for roofs in high fire hazard areas is like stacking hundreds of pounds of kindling on top of your home. During the hot summer months, the shakes or shingles can be nearly bone-dry and easily ignited by embers. The embers come from pieces of burning material that can be lofted high into the air during a wildfire and travel a mile or more from the actual fire.

Unfortunately, there is no effective, inexpensive long-term solution to the ember threat to wood roofs. We recommend replacing wood shake or shingle roofs with a rated, fire-resistant roofing material, such as asphalt composition shingles, metal or concrete or clay tile. Although this can be expensive, it may well be the one thing that saves your home when the embers arrive.

Fire Marshal Dwight Good, MS, EFO, serves the Morgan Hill Fire Department, South Santa Clara County Fire Protection District and CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit. He has 24 years of fire service experience. For questions or comments, email Dwight.good@fire.ca.gov or call 408.310.4654.

WINE

Solis takes Best of Show

Petit Verdot; and silvers for the 2017 Reserve Chardonnay, 2014 Cabernet Franc, 2013 Reserve Cabernet, 2007 Monte Bello Road Cabernet, 2014 Swing Malbec, 2014 Merlot, 2014 Petite Sirah, 2014 Meritage, ONES and ZEROS V5.0, 2012 Estate Syrah, 2014 Syrah and 2014 Swing Carmenere.

Verde Vineyards scored silvers for the 2017 Chardonnay, 2016 Cabernet and 2016 Tess’s Bordeaux Blend.

Jason-Stephens Winery pulled off a couple of medals for their label designs, including a gold in Modern Design for the Ones and Zeros V5.0.

Sunset Wine Competition

BEST OF THE BEST Solis Winery received Best White and Best of Show with

the 2018 Estate Fiano at the Central Coast Wine Competition.

Wineries have strong showings at competitions

By LAURA NESS

F

won Best Pink Wine for its 2018 Rosé of Grenache. Best Sparkling Wine went to Laetitia Vineyard and Winery’s 2016 Brut Rosé.

Alara Cellars scored double golds for the 2016 Reserve Pinot Noir and the 2016 Negrette, gold and Best of Class for the 2016 Sangiovese, and silvers for the 2017 Pinot Grigio, 2017 Pinot Noir, 2016 Tempranillo and 2016 Boudoir Blend.

Guglielmo scored Gold for the 2015 Estate Petite Sirah, and Silvers for the 2018 Pinot Blanc (unoaked) and 2016 Petit Verdot.

Jason-Stephens scored double gold for the 2014 Persing Vineyard Cabernet; golds for the 2014 Cabernet, 2014 Malbec, 2014 Persing Vineyard Meritage, 2014 Petit Verdot and 2014 DeWitt Vineyard

JULY 5, 2019

or the second year in a row, a Santa Clara Valley winery won the Central Coast Wine Competition.

Solis Winery garnered Best White and Best of Show with the 2018 Estate Fiano, a lithe Italian variety that is a rare bird in California. Last year, Alara Cellars won for the 2017 Grenache Blanc.

The Fiano grape is indigenous to Southern Italy. This is the first time a Fiano has taken Best of Show at this competition, which saw a record 803 entries this year.

Solis also scored a silver for the 2018 Vino Roseo di Sangiovese.

Best Red Wine went to Halter Ranch’s 2016 Ancestor, a Bordeaux blend. The Paso Robles winery also

After a two-year hiatus, the Sunset Wine Competition roared back in fine form, attracting more than 2,700 entries. Best of Show White went to the 2018 Bella Grace Estate Vermentino, Amador County, and Best of Show Red to the 2017 Sycamore Ranch Grenache, Santa Barbara.

Congrats to La Vie Dansante for scoring a coveted Best of Class for their 2015 Nocturne dessert wine in this one!

Alara Cellars brought home gold for the 2016 Sangiovese and silvers for the 2016 San Benito Pinot Noir and 2017 Pinot Grigio.

For Church Creek, it was silver for the 2014 Malbec, 2013 Estate Merlot and 2013 Estate Cabernet Franc, while Guglielmo brought home gold for the 2018 Rosé of Grignolino, with both the 2017 Monterey Chardonnay and 2015 Petite Sirah scoring silver.

Jason-Stephens Winery scored gold for the 2014 Persing Vineyard Cabernet Franc and silver for the 2013 Swing Vineyard Carmenere.

Martin Ranch scored gold for the 2015 Thérèse Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet, plus silvers for 2018 Thérèse Vineyards Rosé, 2016 Thérèse Vineyards Mourvèdre, 2016 J.D. Hurley Cabernet Sauvignon and 2015 J.D. Hurley Merlot.

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SENIORS

Memories of grandparents

GRANDPARENTS DAY Grandparents treasure time spent with the younger generation

to pass along their traditions, foods and languages.

JULY 5, 2019

Passing along family traditions

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By CHERYL HUGUENOR

J

uly is such a nostalgic time of year for me. As a child I would go to spend a week at my grandparents’ house in July, when it was my turn. They had 12 grandchildren, and one after the other, each of us would come to stay for a week.

There was a routine we followed every time. The first day, Grandma would walk with me to the store, where I could pick out my own box of cereal to last for the week, and

sugary cereal was allowed. Then I picked out my own box of cookies and I could decide how many to eat each day, but once they were gone, they were gone. I spent the mornings playing with the neighborhood kids while Grandma would rush around in her flowered housecoat, cleaning and scrubbing, until mid-afternoon.

We would eat lunch together, bake brownies or pie for my grandpa, then the ironing board would come out of the closet, the TV would be tuned

to the afternoon talk shows, and we would settle in for Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin while she starched and steamed everything from sheets to underwear. I can still see and smell the clouds of starch.

Time spent one-on-one with Grandma was magical. I am not alone in these sweet memories.

Here at Live Oak Adult Day Services, I discovered that summers spent with grandparents were recalled with such fondness.

Felipe spent his summer days trout fishing with his Cuban grandpa.

“He was quiet. There wasn’t a lot of talking, but I learned from watching him,” he said with a warm smile.

Lynette’s grandpa worked at a movie theater, so she was lucky enough to see new movies every week all summer long. Roberta grew up near Coney Island in New York, and loved going to the beach with her grandparents.

“I even rode the roller coaster!” she boasts.

Mary loves to talk about her Italian grandparents. They lived nearby, so she was able to learn and practice speaking Italian at their house. An added bonus was learning to make pasta from scratch. Mary shares that even today, pasta is her “favorite food in the whole world.”

All these years later, I marvel that my grandparents gave their entire summers over to the grandkids. But I have learned from our Live Oak seniors that this is typical of grandparents. They want special time with the younger generation, to pass along their traditions, foods and languages. Kids can never receive too much love, too much of their heritage and family history.

Grandparents Day is officially recognized in September, but as far as I am concerned, every day should be Grandparents Day. Cheryl Huguenor is the program director of Live Oak Adult Day Services in Gilroy. For information, visit liveoakadultdaycare.org.

HOME OF THE WEEK

LARGE DRIVEWAY This Hollister home is set back far from the street.

Private home, long driveway Located at end of cul-de-sac, Hollister property includes pool, solar power

F

The open-concept ground floor features a large kitchen with pantry, island, breakfast bar, gas cooktop, newer built-in double ovens and contemporary gray wood-like laminate floors. Large windows provide views of the in-ground pool, open space and hills. The home is also solar-powered.

It is listed at $785,000 by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

For information, visit tinyurl.com/ yy72t7ay.

JULY 5, 2019

or the car hobbyist, this Hollister home recently put on the market is right up their alley.

Located at 658 Oak Canyon Court, the home features an oversized driveway that leads up to a four-car garage.

There is plenty of privacy as well— rows of trees line the driveway on both sides, and the home is situated at the end of a cul-de-sac and set back far from the road.

The four-bedroom, 2.5-bath home, built in 2003, sits on a 15,000-square-foot lot.

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Showcase, REALTORS ®

Featured Agent

Open Saturday Noon-3pm HIDDEN GLEN ~ Single-story 4Br/2Ba w/nice amenities & spacious rooms. Separate living & dining rooms, kitchen w/island open to family room. Backyard is great entertaining space WOW! 6445 Sussex Place, Gilroy $774,999 Monica Weltz (831) 801-0592 NEW LISTING

Open Sun 1-4pm Eileen Stone (408) 506-0067 Listed by Charlene King (831) 801-5464 4-CAR GARAGE ~ Beautiful 4Br/3Ba (3000+ SqFt) in sought-after neighborhood. Downstairs bedroom & full bath. Upstairs w/area for office, 5th Br, nursery or ??? A/C. Fully landscaped.

391 Majestic Drive, Hollister $735,000 NEW LISTING

Sun 12-3pm Ana Milenewicz (831) 595-2036 Listed by Charlene King (831) 801-5464 MAJESTIC VIEWS ~ Spacious 4Br/3.5ba w/large living/dining room & cozy family room. Master suite w/desk area, bath w/two walk-in closets. Jr Suite w/private bath. Oversize, landscaped yard.

1831 Monte Vista Drive, Hollister $684,900

EStoneileen

Mobile: (408) 506Ͳ0067 REALTOR® DRE #01479862 Eileen has 24 years of experience working in the real estate/mortgage industry. In 1995 she began working doing loan origination & loan processing in Seattle, WA. She relocated back to San Jose in 2003 and continued working as a mortgage loan officer. In 2009 Eileen became a licensed real estate agent and worked for Century 21 Alpha until 2019.

During these years she gained vast knowledge and success in various types of real estate markets including short sales, foreclosures and extreme seller markets.

Eileen moved to the lovely town of Hollister in 2017, where she and her husband enjoy raising their 2 children. She is excited about joining the Century 21 Showcase, REALTORS® family in Hollister, where she continues to help her clients reach their real estate goals and dreams. Let her experience and knowledge work for you!

241 GIBSON DRIVE “B” FIRST TIME OFFERED

Original owners. Unit has been rental. 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath, 1016 Sq.Ft., 2 story. New paint, carpet, upgraded faucets in kitchen and baths, new shower door and new stove in kitchen. Great floor plan. Plenty of room for storage with detached 1 car garage. Laundry hookups in garage. Walking distance to schools and shopping and neighborhood restaurants. Gated community with a large clubhouse which is available for the owners.

Use for parties, meetings and events. Great addition is the community pool and spa. At full price, Seller will credit $5600 as follows- $3500 for buyers closing costs and $2100 for prepaid HOA dues.

Asking: $340,000

770 RIDGEMARK DRIVE OPEN SATURDAY & SUNDAY 1-4PM

GOLF COURSE LIVING AT IT’S BEST!

17,203 Sq.Ft. lot on the 18th Tee 2832 Sq.Ft. Updated Home • 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath

Family Room, has a retreat with a stone fireplace, ideal for a reading room + wet bar. Formal Dining room, Sunken living Room, Home “Lives Big”. Master bedroom has floor to ceiling fireplace and access to study or retreat. 6x6 walk in marble shower, dual shower heads + a Rainbird head. It just gets better and better. Enjoy your new kitchen, all new appliances, island + a breakfast area. PLUS walk in pantry. Room for everything.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND COME SEE FOR YOURSELF!

Reduced: $828,800

790 RIDGEMARK DRIVE OPEN SATURDAY & SUNDAY 1-4PM

WHAT’S BEHIND THE RED DOOR?

PRIVATE COURT YARD, EXPOSED AGGREGATE, VERY SPACIOUS & PRIVATE AREA IDEAL FOR ENTERTAINING.

Side yard, backyard with deck to enjoy the panoramic views of the hills, the full golf course view on the 18th tee. Cathedral beam ceilings in Living Room, built in fireplace with gas logs, generous use of brick, ash entertainment area, book shelves that are reflected in a mirrored wall in the Dining room, plus a built in cabinet to store your precious treasures. 3 Bedroom, 3 bath 2700 +/- S.F. Upgraded kitchen with ash cabinets and granite counter tops, island where you can enjoy your breakfast. State of the art stainless steel appliances, including refrigerator, 5 burner stove top, Fisher/Paykel 2 drawer dishwasher, microwave, double ovens/convection, microwave, refrigerator, bar sink. Family room off the kitchen with work area, floor to ceiling brick fireplace with gas log insert. Inside utility room + bath with shower, breezeway takes you to your oversized deep 3 car garage with storage.

Reduced: $745,800

Featured Property NEW LISTING

NEW PRICE

Expansive Views Features Many Anderson Homes Upgrades QUALITY BUILT ~ 3-years new 4Br/3Ba with 1Br/1Ba downstairs. Upstairs master w/office area. Glamorous kitchen w/island open to family area—makes a great space for entertaining.

Priced to Sell—Don’t Miss This Opportunity! $735,000 Hollister (831) 245-0321

JULY 5, 2019

NEW LISTING

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Open Sat Noon-2pm ORIGINAL 1-STORY ~ Large, airy rooms, open kitchen/eating area. Formal dining room, large back deck & front patio w/gate. A/C & four sliding glass doors. Absolutely beautiful views!

540 Helen Court, Hollister $463,500 Shannan Matthews (209) 410-8078

Don't miss this beautiful home on 5 acres with unobstructed views of the hills and peaks. The home has an open concept with 2,652 Sq Ft of living space. It boasts 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths with an added bonus room off the garage. There is a private, gated entrance off the street and it sits at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac with three other homes. There is a beautiful backyard with peach, pear, apricot, and pomegranate trees, extensive fencing and a large barn.

Call Today for an Exclusive Showing!

Offered for $1,175,000 (831) 245-0321

We are an award winning company offering superior service in each of our five locations!

330 Tres Pinos Road, Suite D1, Hollister (831) 245Ͳ0321 1544 Constitution Blvd, Salinas (831) 800Ͳ7341 534 Abrego Street, Monterey (831) 648Ͳ7271 237 Mt. Hermon Road, Scotts Valley (831) 438Ͳ8400 13117 Highway 9, Boulder Creek (831) 338Ͳ2125 or 338Ͳ2184

Full Service Broker Do Not Over Pay for Brokerage!

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Cal BRE: 01131718 • NMLS: 330315

REAL ESTATE APARTMENT/ CONDO RENTALS

HOME RENTALS $2,550 Month/$3,050 Deposit Nice 3 Bedroom 2 Bath home.

AVAILABLE MID JULY $2,950 Month/$3,450 Deposit One story home in nice area. New carpet and paint. Gardener included in the rent.

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200 Tres Pinos Road Excellent Location/Good Parking 2 units available starting at $325 to $525 Call Marilyn Ferreira 831-901-0161 Hollister Rental Properties BRE# 00409787

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Land Sales Built-to-Suit For Sale or Lease Select Lots Have Airport Access Financing Available

$1,200 $1,800

OFFICE SPACES AVAILABLE Adam Square Business Complex 330 Tres Pinos Rd. Executive Suite available and

HOLLISTER INDUSTRIAL LAND

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