San Benito Magazine August 21-27, 2020

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY

A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance

AUGUST 21, 2020

BASED AT HOME Hollister family creates successful venture while sheltered in place P2

GARDENING P4 | HOME OF THE WEEK P6 | REAL ESTATE P7

AUGUST 21, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

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C

L olorful COLLARS

BY ERIK CHALHOUB

Local family’s newly created home-based business is growing

ife has gotten stale over the past five months since the shelter-in-place order went into effect.

Everyone has bingewatched their favorite television show, perhaps multiple times. They’ve run out of puzzles to challenge their minds, worn paths from walking around the outside of their homes, and have had the same old tired microwaved dinners on a daily basis.

One Hollister family was stuck in this same rut, until they decided to do something about it after they found inspiration in the unlikeliest of places: cat fashion shows.

Shortly after viewing these frisky felines begrudgingly donning whatever wild garments their humans outfitted them with, the Loftus sisters created TerrifiCollars, a full line of handmade dog collars and cat toys.

Lauren and Morgan Loftus, who hail from Modesto, are currently living in

Hollister with their uncle and aunt, Chuck and Nicole Bellemare, as they attend college. Lauren, 20, is a junior at California State University Monterey Bay, while Morgan, 18, is a sophomore at Modesto Junior College. Both, however, are attending virtually due to the Covid19 pandemic.

The Loftus’ plans to get a job over the summer to pay for their college tuition was squashed because of the pandemic and resulting business closures. While stuck at home and perusing videos on social media, the sisters came across clips of fashion shows with cats. They looked at their own two cats and thought a similar project would be a fun way to pass the time.

Their cats, though, were having none of it. So, the sisters turned to their two dogs, who were much more amenable to modeling handmade collars the Loftus’ made for them.

That sparked the proverbial lightbulb moment.

Morgan added that “every sale is exciting.”

“I like the challenge of having to figure out how to create a website from scratch,” she said. “I’ve never done that before. It’s really fun and really exciting to continue seeing the results.”

Chuck Bellemare said he is proud of the sisters for working through a difficult situation caused by the pandemic.

“When they were given the Covid lemon, they made lemonade out of it,” he said. “They were really excited about getting jobs this summer. When Covid hit, we were all kind of just stagnant.

“We all brightened up [with the business]. It snapped us out of our funk.”

For information, visit terrificollars.com.

TERRIFICOLLARS Lauren (top right photo)

and Morgan Loftus (above) created their own business during the shelter-in-place order.

SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | AUGUST 21, 2020

Their products, which are made to order, include their best-selling red polka dot dog collar, a watermelon-themed collar and a “President Donald Trump Kitty Kicker” cat toy with catnip.

The Loftus sisters’ aunt and uncle chip in with the business.

“This is definitely an opportunity we wouldn’t have had or even thought of if we weren’t in a pandemic,” Nicole Bellemare said.

Chuck Bellemare said the sisters are learning real-life business skills such as marketing, shipping, finances and taxes.

“To see the girls light up and do something different and unique, it warms our hearts,” he said.

Lauren said she is excited to put in the work and see others enjoy her handiwork.

“It’s very satisfying for me,” she said.

Submitted photos

“We said, ‘We can perfect these and sell them,’” Morgan said.

TerrifiCollars was born.

Lauren is the creative side of the business, designing the patterns, choosing the fabric and taking photos of the products. Morgan handles the business side, such as creating a tax identification number, setting up a bank account and managing the website.

They began crafting prototypes in May and June, and launched their business on July 1. The sisters first thought they would sell a collar a week. But their projections were off, and in a good way: According to Morgan, they averaged a sale a day over their first month, and things have been continuing to pick up thanks to word of mouth and reaching out to social media influencers. They received their first international sale from Germany, and on a recent weekend had eight purchases.

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GARDENING

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Kate Russell

AUGUST 21, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

Protecting fruit and nut trees

PEST CONTROL Netting around fruit and nut trees can be an effective way to keep birds,

rats and squirrels from stealing their crops.

Homemade cages can deter birds, squirrels

By KATE RUSSELL

J

ays, mockingbirds, rats, squirrels and even chickens can wreak havoc on your fruit and nut tree crops.

There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting for that moment of perfect ripeness, only to lose pears, nectarines, almonds and many other tree crops to local wildlife.

Scaring birds and other pests away is the most common method of control, with mixed results.

Some people hang old CDs in their trees. As the CDs move in the breeze, flashing sunlight may discourage birds for a time. Noisy plastic bags may be tied to trees with similar results.

You can buy giant floating eye balloons that are “guaranteed” to protect your fruit and nut crop from marauding birds. Supposedly, the eye shape and the balloon movement work together to discourage bird feeding. The problem with trying to frighten birds and other thieves away from your fruit and nut trees is that these methods do not work for long. Birds and animals quickly learn that there is no real danger and the method is ignored.

Professional orchardists use noise cannons, but your neighbors might not appreciate that method.

Motion-sensing sprinklers are another option, which may have the

added benefit of discouraging rats and squirrels at dusk and at night.

The problem with this method is that trees and leaves move, as well.

If the sprinkler is triggered by every breeze, birds and animals will learn to ignore it and your tree may develop fungal disease.

The only way to protect your fruit or nut crop from birds, rats and squirrels is by caging your trees. Store-bought tree cages can be astronomically expensive and most of the really nice ones are from the UK. The added shipping costs make it unrealistic for most of us. Luckily, it is surprisingly easy to make an affordable tree cage yourself.

You can create a box with PVC pipes and cover the whole thing with netting, or you can insert tall tree supports or other sturdy poles into the ground just outside of a tree’s dripline, top that with an X-shape made with two lightweight pieces of wood which are attached to the vertical poles, and the whole thing again covered with netting. Whichever method you use, be sure to make the netting taut, so that birds will bounce off rather than becoming entangled. If you have chickens, a chicken wire barrier around the base should do the trick.

The netting used over your tree cage will still allow pollinators easy access. It also allows codling moths and other flying insect pests to reach your fruit and nut trees, so be on the lookout.

Birds, rats and squirrels can take a big bite out of fruit and nut crops. Tree cages stop that damage before it starts. Plus, these cages can stay up, year-round, so there's no wrestling with netting every spring and fall.

Kate Russell is a UCCE Master Gardener in Santa Clara County.

For information, visit mgsantaclara. ucanr.edu or call 408.282.3105 between 9:30am-12:30pm, Monday through Friday.

WINE

Photo courtesy of Calerrain

RICH TASTE Calerrain’s Chardonnay from Paicines and Albarino from San Antonio Valley are the perfect wines for the summer.

A tale of many local vineyards

F

ew settings in the Santa Clara Valley offer such a feeling of respite from the craziness of Covid than Calerrain, out on Day Road.

On a pretty toasty afternoon, the breeze came off the western hills and kept things mighty pleasant as we tasted Geoff Mace’s new 2019 Albarino from Pierce Ranch in southern Monterey County. Peachy, slightly saline and with a squeeze of lime, this is precisely the mouthwatering wine you want in summer’s heat.

For Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fans, Mace makes two different styles of each from two very different vineyards: warm and given to ripeness Paicines in Tres Pinos, and the much cooler Santa Lucia Highlands. The 2018 Paicines Chardonnay delivers lots of mango vanilla bean custard, vanilla wafers and butterscotch biscotti: rich

and mouth-filling. The 2018 SLH Pinot Noir from the Pavo Real vineyard at the northern end of the bench surprised with its largesse, focusing on strawberry and sassafras tea, with plenty of earthy tannin and depth.

Everyone is asking about the Malbec. Club members can expect that in September. He’s been crushing at Eden Rift but may return to The Stomping Ground.

Janu and Jason Goelz intend to move their respective brands, Alara and Jason-Stephens, to the Sunsweet building on Third Street in downtown Morgan Hill, targeting an October opening.

Denise and James at Besson Vineyards invite the public to come taste their new Sauv Blanc and Chardonnay, along with James’ luscious limoncello.

Now’s a great time to escape to Santa Clara Valley.

Browse our inventory online!

SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | AUGUST 21, 2020

Cool down from summer heat with local wine By LAURA NESS

Emerging ~ Mid-career ~ Local ~ International Artists

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HOME OF THE WEEK

Submitted photo

AUGUST 21, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

COUNTRY LIFE An extensive gravel driveway leads to this historic Hollister home.

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Historic home with workshop Upgraded Hollister property is suitable for woodworking, hobbies

T

his historic Hollister home has been upgraded and remodeled throughout the last century.

Located at 1191 Union Road, the 2,278-square-foot home includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Built in 1908, the home has hardwood flooring, multiple living spaces and an upstairs owners' suite. The detached garage includes room for two vehicles,

a massive workshop, game room, upstairs reading room and plenty of storage space.

The home sits on four acres, and is surrounded by mature apricot and walnut trees. The property is served by its own well, PG&E electric, propane gas and standard septic tank.

The home is listed at $1.2 million by Nino Real Estate. For information, visit tinyurl.com/ y58htphb.

WINE

Located in Historic Downtown Gilroy

REAL ESTATE

Photo courtesy of Calerrain

RICH TASTE Calerrain’s Chardonnay from Paicines and Albarino

from San Antonio Valley are the perfect wines for the summer.

A tale of many local vineyards

local wine By LAURA NESS

F

moremouth-filling. information The 2018 SLH ew settings in the Santa For and Clara Valley offer such a Contact Pinot408.842.5066 Noir from the Pavo Real vinefeeling of respite from the or email yard at the northern end of the bench classifieds@newsvmedia.com craziness of Covid than surprised with its largesse, focusing Calerrain, out on Day Road. on strawberry and sassafras tea, with On a pretty toasty afternoon, the plenty of earthy tannin and depth. breeze came off the western hills and Everyone is asking about the Malkept things mighty pleasant as we bec. Club members can expect that tasted Geoff Mace’s new 2019 Albain September. He’s been crushing rino from Pierce Ranch in southern at Eden Rift but may return to The HAULING MAGNOLIA LANDSCAPE Monterey County. Peachy, slightly Stomping Ground.

ANDJason CONCRETE, INC. intend saline and with a squeeze of lime, this Janu and Goelz South County Cleanup, is precisely theHauling mouthwatering wine to move their respective brands, Demo & youLOW want in summer’ heat.

Alara and Jason-Stephens, to the RATES • FREEs ESTIMATES For Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Sunsweet building on Third Street in CLEAN UP-Yards, homes, fans, Mace makes two different styles downtown Morgan Hill, targeting an properties, rentals & garages Specializing, Pavers, Concrete, of each from two very different vineOctober opening.

DEMO-Bathrooms, kitchens, Irrigation, Sod, Cleanups, All yards: warm and given to ripeness Denise and James at Besson VineLandscape Construction decks, patios, small buildings Areato since 1992 Paicines in Tres Pinos,yard andwaste, the much yardsServing invite the theBay public come taste HAULING-Garbage, cooler Santa Lucia Highlands.

The their new Sauv Blanc and Chardonnay, Call for Free Estimates rock, sand & mulch Licensed, Bonded & Insured 2018 Paicines Chardonnay delivers lots along with James’ luscious limoncello.

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SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | AUGUST 21, 2020

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