THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY
OCTOBER 9, 2020
A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance
PREPARING FOR DISASTER
Experts weigh in on wildfire preparedness P2
GARDENING P4 | WINE P5 | HOME OF THE WEEK P6
Steps to safety BY JOHANNA MILLER
OCTOBER 9, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM
As destructive wildfires continue to hit California, experts talk preparedness
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T
he catastrophic wildfires that have broken out in California since the beginning of the year burned nearly 4 million acres of land, destroyed thousands of structures and killed 29 people. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes and seek shelter elsewhere with friends, family and pets. It has been a wake up call for many—including those not yet directly affected. How can we safeguard our homes and families? What should we do if we need to evacuate? How can we be prepared for the next time disaster strikes? Officials from Cal Fire have weighed in, advising people how best to prepare for such events. Year-round the agency works to educate the public through its website, readyforwildfire.org, aiming to be a resource for all things fire safety.
PREPARING YOUR HOME Preventative measures can be taken in advance to protect homes or other structures from a spreading wildfire. One way is to create “defensible space” around your home by clearing away all dead trees, brush and vegetation within 100 feet. “Flying embers from wildfires can travel up to a mile away, invading communities and destroying homes,” said Daniel Berlant of the Cal Fire Information Center. “When you and your neighbors create defensible space, you help protect your community.” You can also “harden” your home by making upgrades to your roof, fence, windows, walls, deck, vents, garage and more. Utilize fire ignition-resistance materials such as composition, metal or tile instead of easily burnable wood or shingles.
Keeping rain gutters clear will also prevent accumulation of plant debris on a structure. Have fire extinguishers, tools such as shovels, rakes, buckets, etc., easily accessible, and multiple garden hoses if you live on a larger property. Lastly, make sure that your driveway is clear and your address visible to help fire officials better reach your home.
MAKING A PLAN Cal Fire recommends that families create their own Fire Action Plan. It is important, they say, to designate an emergency meeting location, and find the safest escape routes from every area of the house. Also plan for how to get pets and other animals out safely. This is especially important for people who own large animals such as horses and livestock. Be sure you know how to shut off your home’s gas, electricity and water, and keep an up-to-date fire extinguisher close by. If you are unsure if your extinguisher is too old, check with your local fire department or other emergency agency. Cal Fire also recommends creating to-go kits of emergency supplies, at least one in the house and another in the car. You can also purchase a radio or scanner to stay informed with current updates. People should designate an out-of-area point
of contact—someone they can get ahold of when in danger. In the time of Covid-19, be sure to plan ahead with those friends and family if you have to stay with them.
THE SIX P’S Berlant said there are six things families should prioritize saving and taking with them in case of evacuation: • People and pets • Papers, phone numbers and other important documents • Prescriptions such as medications and eyeglasses • Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia • Personal computer hard drive and disks • “Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash “Start planning now,” Berlant said. “When a wildfire strikes, it’s going to be very hard to remember exactly what you need to grab, and it just may be the most important items that you leave behind.”
AFTER THE FACT Returning after being evacuated due to wildfire can be a harrowing experience, especially if you do not know the state of your home. Firstly: Do not return at all until you get the
go-ahead from fire officials. Stay away from active evacuation zones, not only for your own safety but so that firefighters and other emergency personnel can do their jobs. When you are allowed to return, be aware of unstable trees, power poles and downed lines. Establish a “Fire Watch” to keep a lookout for smoke or sparks of any kind. Check for the smell of gas in your home, and be sure to confirm with officials that it is safe to turn on your water. Do not consume food that has been exposed to heat, smoke, flood water or soot. Flooding and erosion is a common occurrence in the winter months following a fire season. Intense heat can leave the ground unstable; its soil unable to absorb water. This puts it at risk for floods and mudslides. “It’s vital that people take extra precaution during the rainy months following a fire,” Berlant said. Before leaving the burned area of wildfires, Cal Fire often implements recovery efforts to help minimize the potential for flooding, such as building hillside straw wattle dams to help control water runoff. If you are uncertain about the stability of the land surrounding your home, contact experts immediately.
Chris Mora
wildfires throughout California should prompt residents to develop an evacuation plan.
SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | OCTOBER 9, 2020
BE PREPARED The frequent
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GARDENING vibrant fall color to sunny spaces and for attracting bees, songbirds and butterflies to your yard. Tip: Leave the older blooms of Echinacea on their stems to feed wildlife into the winter. Then cut them back after their feast to put new energy into the plant for spring.
Flowers that thrive
OCTOBER 9, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM
PREPARATION Add compost or soil to pots and other garden spaces to support fall plant growth.
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Get growing this fall Many plants thrive during changing season
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he changing season offers a new opportunity to grow fall-friendly plants. Gardening is a great way to decorate your space with beautiful blooms, grow fresh vegetables that produce delicious cool season harvests, and is a safe, healthy activity to engage in while practicing social distancing and enjoying the outdoors. Whether you have a small patio, high-rise rooftop, quaint sunny corner of your yard or even a balcony, the experts at Ball Horticultural Company share their fall gardening insights for growing a successful and stunning garden this season.
Prepare for planting If you have plants that have matured from the summer gardening season, it's time to clean up to prepare for new growth. Remove surface plants and use a tiller or
hand tools to remove root matter under the soil. Add compost or gardening soil to pots, window boxes and other garden spaces, so they are ready with rich nutrients to support fall plant growth. If you've grown hardy perennials, just a brief tidy-up is needed. Clip away any brown foliage or spent flowers and provide a light covering of mulch at the base of the plant to ready them for frosty temperatures.
Embrace fall hues Rich reds, vivid oranges and happy yellows are traditional autumnal hues that add energy to your gardens as temperatures turn. A classic coneflower and pollinator favorite, like the Sombrero Echinacea from Darwin Perennials, will brighten your space even as temperatures fall. Available in a variety of colors, Sombrero Baja Burgundy and Fiesta Orange are ideal for bringing
Another colorful and easy care option are Cool Wave Pansies, a fast-growing, long-lasting trailing pansy available in a variety of bold colors perfect for revamping your outdoor space for fall. A cool-season gardener's dream, you can feel confident that these blooms will thrive even as fall temperatures ebb and flow. Check out Cool Wave Raspberry Swirl with cheerful magenta and white petals and a delightful yellow center. Tip: Place your Cool Wave Pansies where you've also planted bulbs. Their hardiness will make them the first pansy to reappear next spring for two seasons of enjoyment.
Enjoy homegrown vegetables In addition to adding style to your space with fall flowers, incorporate seasonal vegetables to enjoy fresh, healthy produce straight from your backyard or patio. Burpee Sweet Thang Cabbage adds beauty to any garden with its attractive dark green leaves. A touch sweeter than collards or kale, this non-heading cabbage delivers a delicious bite to round out autumn dishes. A wonderful option for full-sun gardens is Bright Lights Swiss Chard, a stunning All-America Selections-winning mix that produces delicious, mildly flavored stems in a rainbow of colors - including yellow, gold, orange, pink, violet, green, white, red and even striped. Tip: Harvest the tender bronze to dark green leaves young to enjoy in salads or eat like spinach or beet greens. There are many plants that thrive in the fall weather, adding style and life to your outdoor space to enjoy for many months. For more tips and gardening ideas, visit burpeehomegardens.com and wavegardening.com. —Brandpoint Content
WINE
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October 17, 11:00am – 12:00pm
RSVP to admissions@mountmadonnaschool.org to receive the Zoom link
Submitted photo
LOCAL TALENT Niklas Zorn (left) has joined Michael LeComte at Oak Tree Winery in San Jose.
New winemaker at Oak Tree
M
ichael LeComte, owner and founder of Oak Tree Winery in San Jose, is a lucky man. Right now, many winery owners are reeling from the fire effects of 2020, but LeComte has two good reasons to feel confident about this harvest. First, he sources his red wines from the Monson Vineyard in Alexander Valley at about 800 feet elevation, where the southwest hillside does wonders for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. “There have been multiple other wineries who have conducted smoke taint tests, and everything is clear for now,” he said. He planned to harvest the last weekend of September. The second reason is that he recently brought on local talent, Niklas Zorn, as Oak Tree’s new winemaker. Zorn has been assistant
winemaker at Guglielmo Winery for the past five years, and has experience making wine in Germany and South Africa. Zorn holds a Diplom Ingenieur in Viticulture and Enology from the University of Geisenheim (Germany), where he focused on organic and biodynamic viticulture. Zorn will oversee all production and winemaking operations for Oak Tree Winery, which hopes to source some grapes, likely Grenache and Petite Sirah, from the Santa Clara Valley. “Niklas’s addition will continue our brand’s focus on meticulous, limited releases, drawing upon a broad range of varietals and methods,” LeComte said. “Given his extensive experience internationally and in California with unique vintages, we are eager to partner on delivering the finest wines with minimal manipulation.”
408-847-2717 / MountMadonnaSchool.org
Located in Historic Downtown Gilroy • Steaks, Seafood & Pasta • Beautiful Ambiance • Patio Dining • Early Bird Dining • Sunday Champagne Brunch 8am • Full Service Bar / Happy Hour 3-6pm • Early Bird Dinner Specials 4-6pm • Ask About Our Banquet & Catering Services Weddings, Rehearsal Dinners, Line Dancing Baby Showers, Receptions Wed • 7pm FREE Lessons Open daily 8:00am for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Sunday Brunch 8am-1pm 7400 Monterey Street, Gilroy • 408.842.3454 www.oldcityhall.biz
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Niklas Zorn worked at Guglielmo Winery for five years By LAURA NESS
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HOME OF THE WEEK
Submitted photo
OCTOBER 9, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM
FIVE OAKS COURT This Hollister home sits on five acres.
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Executive privacy in rustic Hollister Custom home sits on five fenced-in acres along cul-de-sac
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rustic paved road leads to this Hollister home set on a private cul-de-sac. Located at 660 Five Oaks Court, the 3,612-square-foot home includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The kitchen is equipped with wood flooring and a granite countertop island. High ceilings and
French doors in the living room offer views of the outside. A four-car attached garage features car lifts, built-in cabinetry and countertops, and a compressor. The five-acre property is fenced with electric gates. The home, built in 2005, is listed at $1,399,000 by Nino Real Estate. For information, visit tinyurl.com/yagvnv4l.
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