Aptos Life November 2021

NOVEMBER 2021 • VOL. 8, NO. 44 OCTOBER 2021 • VOL. 8, NO. 40

Mural Compass Harvest Time

New campus art project reflects Cabrillo’s successful efforts to connect with Latinx community Jamie de Sieyes and Kim Null of Aptos’ Wild Poppies Olive Oil

BY JOHANNA MILLER are ready for a comeback crop

BY JOHANNA MILLER

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ABOUT THE

COVER

NOVEMBER 2021 | APTOS LIFE

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love a good harvest story.

In an area like Santa Cruz County that’s so known for its agricultural history, the harvest reconnects us to the land. In an era when technology and convenience rule our culture, that connection is even more important—which is why we shouldn’t be surprised by the rise in the last couple of decades of community-supported agriculture (CSAs) and farm-totable dining.

Olives are an interesting part of the Aptos landscape— it’s home to the only commercial olive orchard in Santa Cruz County. That might seem surprising, since olive oil in particular has been increasingly hip in California for many years now, and our state now produces tens of thousands of tons of the stuff every year. But the Aptos orchard actually predates this craze; it was planted in 1994 with 100 olive trees imported from Italy. In 2018, Jamie de Sieyes and Kim Null, the sisters-in-law featured on our cover this month, took over the orchard (which is now home to 2,000 trees) and began producing Wild Poppies Olive Oil. In our cover story, Johanna Miller profiles the pair, and the business they’ve built here. It’s exactly the kind of harvest story I like to read this time of year—it’s so evocative, for instance, when they describe the smell of the oil from the first press of the year— and I hope you’ll enjoy it too.

STEVE PALOPOLI Editor

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Cover Story

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History Corner

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Word from a Friend

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Ask Nicole

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Financial Advice

CEO & Executive Editor

Dan Pulcrano Vice President

Lee May Publisher

Jeanie Johnson Editor

Steve Palopoli Contributing writers

John Hibble Zach Friend Johanna Miller Soren E. Croxall Photography

Tarmo Hannula Cover photo

Contributed Cover design

Hon Truong Advertising Director

Debra Whizin Advertising Sales

Tiffani Petrov Kate Kauffman Ilana Packer Lisa Buckley Sue Lamothe Production

Rob Chalhoub Hon Truong

Aptos Life is published monthly. All rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher. Aptos Life made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. Aptos Life is a division of the Pajaronian. Publishing in Santa Cruz County since 1868.

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Dr. Volat was born in Sydney, Australia and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa on a full academic scholarship and received a Bachelor’s degree in zoology in 2000. While attending UH, she volunteered at the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium. She also spent time researching endangered native Hawaiian forest birds and monk seals. Dr. Volat obtained her Veterinary degree from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. After working in general practice and emergency services in San Francisco, she moved to Santa Cruz in 2009 to enjoy the beautiful beaches, mountains, and friendly community. She has worked in a variety of settings in Santa Cruz and Monterey doing a mix of emergency and general practice. Dr. Volat spends her free time surfing, camping, hiking, traveling and spending as much time as possible with her 2 children and husband.

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Ripe Picking NOVEMBER 2021 | APTOS LIFE

BY JOHANNA MILLER

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After the ‘Great Olive Oil Drought,’ Aptos’ Wild Poppies Olive Oil is eager for this month’s harvest

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live harvest kicks off in November, and Wild Poppies Olive Oil of Aptos is readying for a busy and fruitful season.

Sisters-in-law Jamie de Sieyes and Kim Null are entering their fourth harvest with optimism and

excitement—especially after last year. Olive trees have alternating high and low years, they explained, and last year was the lowest they’ve experienced thus far.

“Last year was the worst on record,” Null says. “But it’s pretty standard to have a low year occasionally. Plus, we’re dealing

Contributed

FOR

BUSINESS IS PICKING UP The owners of Aptos’ Wild Poppies Olive Oil

say last year was the worst olive season on record. This year’s harvest season begins in mid-November.

with more factors like climate change—heat waves during olive bloom can really affect the fruit.”

A low harvest season resulted in what the sisters have dubbed “the Great Olive Oil Drought.” They have been out of their products since May. “We’ve been out for almost six months,” De Sieyes says. “But things are moving forward. We have olives again! We’re feeling really excited, eager to have our oil back on the shelves.”

De Sieyes and Null bought the orchard in the Aptos hills in 2018 from friend Chris Bantheien, a well-known olive farmer, grower and producer who planted the grove of 100 trees imported from Pescia, Italy in 1994.

Not knowing anything about olives at the time, de Sieyes

and Null have been under the tutelage of Bantheien for the past few years, learning all they can about growing olives and the process of making oil.

“When we had the opportunity, we were like, ‘Let’s give it a go!’” De Sieyes says. “Chris has helped us so much. She is so knowledgeable. We had a really steep learning curve.”

Wild Poppies Olive Oil is certified by the California Olive Oil Council, and also receives chemical certification through Baker Labs in Paso Robles It is milled in San Ardo, a process overseen by miller Greg Traynor of 43 Ranch, then brought back to Aptos to be stored and bottled by hand.

De Sieyes says that their goal is to produce a “flavorful, well-balanced oil.” ➝ 10

HISTORY CORNER

GOING TO THE CHAPEL AND WE’RE GONNA GET BURIED In this photograph of the intersection of State Park

Drive and Soquel Drive from around 1926, Raphael Castro’s grave marker can be seen to the left of the chapel.

A Cemetery Story

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Spreckels, $100.00; Patrick Walsh, $100.00; Rafael Castro, $100.00; Patrick Leonard, $100.00; Joseph Arano, $100.00; Guadalupe Bernal, $100.00; Thomas Leonard, $100.00; Vicente Castro, $25.00; Soledad Castro, $20.00; B. C. Nichols, $25.00; James Corcoran, $10.00; and James Leonard, $25.00.

The first mass was celebrated in the chapel by Rev. Father Joaquin Adam on November 17, 1874.

The building was not finished on the inside or furnished. At that point, the chapel had cost $799.50. It was not completed and dedicated until October 1875. Mass was celebrated every first and third Sunday. The first internment in the cemetery was five-month-old Josefa Arano on September 14, 1875.

The following year, Cypress

trees were planted around the cemetery and down the Santa Cruz Watsonville Road, (Soquel Drive) and the road to the beach, (State Park Drive), some of which still survive.

Supposedly, about the time the chapel was being built, Indian bones were discovered near Aptos Creek where Claus Spreckels was building his Aptos Hotel. It was reported that these bones were interred in the new cemetery near the chapel. This seems unlikely, as the Indians were not Christian and the cemetery was consecrated ground.

The chapel served the community well, but was vandalized in the early 1900s and ultimately deteriorated and was condemned. The altar, two side altars and bell were distributed to other parts of the diocese. The

NOVEMBER 2021 | APTOS LIFE

any of our communities have pioneer cemeteries where the early settlers are buried. In Aptos, our pioneer cemetery is on Soquel Drive, invisibly nestled between Resurrection Catholic Church and Aptos Center, directly across the street from the library. This is also where the first church was erected.

In 1868, the owner of the Aptos Rancho, Raphael Castro, deeded to the Roman Catholic Church two acres of land for a church and cemetery at the corner of today’s Soquel Drive and State Park Drive. Before the chapel was built, rooms in private Aptos homes had been used for services.

Prominent citizens of the town subscribed donations to erect the chapel including Claus

church was torn down in 1935.

Eventually graves were permitted where the chapel had stood.

Of interest

By John Hibble in the original Aptos History Museum structure was the beautiful handcarved statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, secured from Spain and presented to the chapel by the Santa Cruz pastor. It was created by a celebrated artist and enclosed in a walnut shrine. It has crystal eyes, coat of arms and gold-leaf decorations. It now resides in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Monterey Avenue in Capitola.

Rafael Castro died on May 14, 1878, and was buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery. His children erected a 16-foot marble monument with a bust of Castro's likeness, at a cost of $1,015. His grave marker is inscribed in Spanish. He refused to speak English.

Over the years, the cemetery has been called Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Calvary Cemetery, Aptos Cemetery, St. Joseph's Cemetery, and Resurrection Cemetery. In 2002, Phyllis Casey and Dorothy Garske compiled a definitive list of those who are interred there, a copy of which is in the Aptos History Museum library.

Until recently, the only pictures that we had of the chapel were long distance aerial photographs, but on October 8, 2013, Gerald and Joanne Epperson of Crockett California, brought in a collection of over 50 historic photographs of Seacliff from their grandmother Frances Jordan Stules, who owned one of the first houses on the cliff.

The photograph, circa 1926, shows the intersection of State Park Drive and Soquel Drive.

There is an entrance trellis for the Seacliff Park development at the intersection. You can just make out Raphael Castro’s grave marker to the left of the chapel.

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WORD FROM A FRIEND

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First 5 Santa Cruz County triplep.first5scc.org 831.465.2217

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here is no question that the Santa Cruz County of today is different than it was 30 years ago, and we know that some elements will be different 30 years from now than they are today. How do we invest in the current and future needs of the county?

Where can the county improve?

Where should we focus our efforts?

The Board of Supervisors

By Zach Friend adopted a Santa Cruz County countywide Supervisor strategic plan to provide a framework to answer these questions. After a yearslong effort, which included input from thousands of county residents, the Board approved a six-year strategic plan with six main focus areas. Each of the strategic plan’s six focus areas contains four goals, for a total of 24, which are presented online at www.sccvision.us.

As outlined in the strategic plan, the County develops twoyear operational plans containing countywide strategies, department objectives and key steps for achieving the 24 strategic plan goals. These elements are broken into three parts: • Countywide strategies approaches for achieving strategic plan goals; • Department objectives - specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound (SMART) actions that work towards strategic plan goals and countywide strategies; • Key steps - critical activities or steps necessary to achieve each department objective.

performance metrics provides the community with something tangible to review the success of programs and policies.

The Board of Supervisors recently received an update on the operational plan, as it is meant to be a document that is reviewed, flexible and updated.

The Board wanted the community to have a transparent view of the goals, successes and challenges surrounding the objectives.

Through the strategic plan website mentioned above, the county tracks its progress on each objective, as well as local, state and national indicators that demonstrate progress towards achieving the county’s goals, mission and vision. The website is updated twice yearly, in June and December. It provides significant data and an opportunity for members of the community to see whether the county is meeting its targets and objectives.

The 2019-21 Operational Plan consisted of 180 objectives.

County departments successfully completed 134 (74%) of objectives, and amended or consolidated the remaining 46 (26%) objectives into the 202123 Operational Plan. The 202123 Operational Plan includes 147 new objectives that focus primarily on recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, CZU fires and climate resilience, and build a significant equity lens into county plans, programs and expenditures.

Why is a strategic plan helpful?

Working with the community to identify our community’s strategic direction prioritizes use of limited resources, set expectations and measurable objectives, help cope with environmental uncertainty and change, and provide an objective basis for programmatic and policy evaluation that previously did not fully exist.

Additionally, having measurable performance metrics provides the community with something tangible to review the success of programs and policies. It supports data-driven decision-making and informs the budget process. Are our investments working? Should programs be reformed or improved? How do we best invest in improved outcomes?

As a result, the Board of Supervisors created a two-year budget combined with a twoyear operational plan to carry out the county’s strategic plan goals. This aligns the budget and operational plan to provide funding alignment to meet specific community objectives.

As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue). I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook. com/supervisorfriend, and you can always call me at 454-2200.

ASK NICOLE

By Nicole M. Young, MSW

TABLE SETTING A little planning and communication can ease parenting stress around this year’s holiday visits.

Preparing for the Holidays

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Dear Nicole, We’re visiting extended family during the holidays this year.

We haven’t seen several family members since before the pandemic, which means our two young children (2, 5) won’t know or remember them. I’m worried it will be overwhelming for our kids to be around so many “strangers,” and that my wife and l will spend our entire visit handling tantrums. I

also worry about everyone hugging and kissing our kids, and am afraid we’ll get exposed to COVID. Do you have any suggestions?

— Miguel Dear Miguel, Good question! The holidays can be an exciting and stressful time for many children and adults. That might be especially true this year.

Many families are eager to celebrate together after spending the holidays apart last year due to the pandemic, and several children, teens, and adults are also finding it difficult to adjust to being around a lot of people again. Here are a few tips to try: Maintain your children’s daily routines. The predictability of daily routines helps children feel secure, and can prevent meltdowns caused by being tired, hungry, overstimulated, or overwhelmed. Ask family members about their plans for mealtimes, visits, exchanging gifts, or other holiday activities, and let them know your children’s schedules. This allows you to discuss ways to minimize disruption to your children’s routines or help family members understand why your family might follow a different schedule at times.

Talk about plans and expectations.

Talk with your children about your travel plans, which relatives ➝ 10

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love this time of year. The cool air (and even some rain!) makes me want to stay in my pajamas all day, cook, bake, listen to music, and reflect on everything I’m thankful for. I try to make gratitude and thankfulness a daily habit, but when life gets busy and stressful (and disrupted by a pandemic), it’s easy to take things for granted or feel too overwhelmed to be grateful for “the little things.” As the holiday season begins, I want to remind myself to slow down, be present in the moment, and enjoy time with my family. Who’s with me?

This monthly article provides tips for families raising children, based on the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question for a future column, please email triplep@first5scc.org.

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FINANCIAL ADVICE

The Importance of Beneficiary Planning

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n past articles, we always make it a point to emphasize the importance of double-checking beneficiary designations regularly to make sure they are up to date and reflect your current wishes. Can you remember the last time you’ve done that?

Unfortunately, it’s something that is easily forgotten about or overlooked, yet can lead to big headaches down the road for heirs.

NOVEMBER 2021 | APTOS LIFE

Double Check Beneficiary Designations

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I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve looked over an account statement for a client who holds an account outside of our management and seen “No Beneficiary On File” written right on the statement! When I ask the client about it, usually the reaction is one of surprise. Most mistakenly believed they had designated a beneficiary sometime in the past. Maybe they had, but it never got properly processed. This is why it is important to doublecheck beneficiary designations regularly. Another situation that I encountered recently was with a client who had an old 401k plan that he wanted us to review.

Upon reviewing the statement, I noticed his ex-wife was still listed as his beneficiary. When I inquired about it (thinking maybe it was a requirement of his divorce) he was shocked and said it should not be his ex-wife, and he would be updating it ASAP. What surprises

me about these examples is that the company actually lists the beneficiary information right on the statement. Sometimes the information isn’t so readily available, as some companies don’t list beneficiary information on their statements. A good exercise would be to list all assets you own that have beneficiary designations attached to them (examples include retirement accounts, life insurance, annuities, etc.).

Then write down (and confirm directly with the respective company) the current beneficiary designations. I emphasize making it a point to confirm directly with the company—don’t assume.

Another common misconception I encounter is people mistakenly believe that even if they have outdated beneficiaries listed on assets, it’s no big deal because their will or trust will supersede these “outdated” beneficiaries.

This is not true. Beneficiary designations will almost always supersede what is written in estate planning documents like a will.

All the more reason to double check to make sure beneficiary designations are up to date and align with your current wishes.

Consider Adding Contingent Beneficiaries If you have made a list of all the assets you own that have beneficiaries and confirmed that the primary beneficiary is up to date,

that’s a good start. You may want to take it one step further and consider adding contingent (or secondary) beneficiaries. A contingent beneficiary would be entitled to inherit the asset if they outlive your primary beneficiary or the primary beneficiary is unwilling or unable to receive the asset for some reason. Let’s look at the example of spouses Bob and Sally. Bob and Sally each name each other as 100% primary beneficiary on their assets that have beneficiary designations, but they don’t list any contingent beneficiaries. If they were to both pass away simultaneously (i.e. an auto accident), then their assets will be treated as essentially having no beneficiary listed at all (since they were both listed as each other’s 100% primary beneficiary) and will likely be payable to their respective estates (not ideal). Had they each listed a contingent beneficiary (or contingent beneficiaries) on the respective assets, then the contingent beneficiary (or beneficiaries) would have been able to inherit the assets and avoid probate. Adding contingent beneficiaries provides an additional level of planning and thought as to where you ultimately would want your asset(s) to go if the primary beneficiary (or primary beneficiaries) was unable to inherit the assets. Keep in mind that contingent beneficiaries should also be reviewed frequently, just like primary beneficiaries.

Who Can Be Named a Beneficiary?

While we most often think

Soren E. Croxall Financial Advice

of naming individuals as beneficiaries, beneficiaries can also be non-natural entities like charities, non-profits, or maybe a trust you’ve established. A financial professional or estate planning attorney can help guide you through the pros and cons of naming certain types of beneficiaries (individuals or otherwise) on certain types of accounts. However, just keep in mind that you don’t have to name solely individuals.

While it may seem like an administrative nuisance to contact companies and confirm your current beneficiary designations, it is important to keep them up to date. Things and circumstances can change over time (marriage, divorce, deaths, births, etc.). Keep in mind that it is your money, and the beneficiary designations are your way of being certain it goes to where you want it to go.

Soren Croxall, CFA, CFP® is a registered representative of LPL. Financial Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor.

LPL Financial and Croxall Capital Planning do not provide tax or legal advice. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

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they’ll see and holiday traditions.

If you can, show them photos of family members they don’t know or remember so that their names and faces will seem familiar when they meet in person. Talk about any family rules that will be the same (or different) as when they’re at home—e.g., sharing, cooperating, amount of screen time (TV, movies, tablet). This helps them know what to expect, which prepares them to cope with unfamiliar situations.

Also talk with family members about how to have a Covidsafe celebration. Will you gather indoors or outdoors? If indoors, will family members be supported if they choose to wear masks and maintain physical distance? Let your family know in advance about any boundaries or limits about hugging and kissing your kids. If they protest, explain that it’s out of concern for everyone’s health and safety and ask them to respect your decision, even if they don’t agree with it.

Have simple, engaging activities for your children: This helps prevent meltdowns caused by boredom or restlessness. Take healthy snacks, some books and a few of their favorite toys on your trip. Play guessing games, make up stories, or sing songs together.

And don’t be too hard on yourself if you relax the rules about screen time during your visit. This can give both children and parents a much-needed break from constant activities and socializing.

NOVEMBER 2021 | APTOS LIFE

RIPE FOR PICKING

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“Some oils can be too robust and peppery,” she says. “We’ve heard that our customers really prefer a fruity, balanced flavor.”

Preorders are now available for the first oil of the season: 2021 Olio Nuovo, a green, unfiltered oil with a “bold and bright flavor profile, and... a fruity nose.” A limited amount of this specific oil is available; however, more releases are scheduled for early 2022. Products will eventually show up again at local businesses such as New Leaf Community Markets and Mentone restaurant.

Farming is a challenging job, De Sieyes says—physically demanding and exhausting at

Encourage the behavior you want to see more of: Give your children descriptive praise when they’re being kind, helping others, following family rules, or expressing their feelings. This shows them you appreciate their efforts and encourages them to keep it up.

Take time for yourself: Living with fear, uncertainty, disruption, and loss during nearly two years of a global pandemic has taken a physical and emotional toll on many people. Whenever you can, find time to do something you enjoy, like catching up with a relative, exercising, taking a nap, or sitting in silence by yourself.

Final thoughts: Holidays provide opportunities for quality family time, but they can also add stress and pressure. Try a few of these positive parenting strategies to help you and your family truly enjoy each other and the spirit of the holidays.

Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 18 and 21, who also manages Santa Cruz County's Triple P - Positive Parenting Program, the world's leading positive parenting program. Triple P is made available locally by First 5 Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (Mental Health Services Act) and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit http://triplep.first5scc.org, www. facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 4652217 or triplep@first5scc.org. times. But it’s worth it when they see (and taste) their final product.

“My favorite part is the first press of the year,” she says. “Just that smell when the first oil comes off the press … it's intoxicating. We usually sit down and say ‘cheers’ with a first taste. It’s just amazing.”

“A lot can go wrong with farming,” adds Null. “But we feel we have a lot of cheerleaders on our side. We put a lot of thought and effort into what we do, and we’re very proud of it.”

Starting on Dec. 8, local customers can use the code LOCALSONLY for free pickup. For information, visit wildpoppiesoliveoil.com.

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