THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE PAJARO VALLEY
OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021
Paying respect Dia de los Muertos celebrations underway P4
A supplement to The Pajaronian
Marigolds thrive at a farm on Hall Road in Las Lomas.
GARDENING P6 | HOME OF THE WEEK P7 | MIXING BOWL P8
A Cool
Kick Back and Save
4
with $100 Cash Back + No Payments for 90 Days
MAGAZINE
21 Brennan St, Suite 18, Watsonville, CA 95076
when you refinance your auto loan from another lender.*
Phone: 831.761.7301
Apply at any branch or at www.bayfed.com.
CEO & Executive Editor
Dan Pulcrano Publisher
OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
831.479.6000 • www.bayfed.com • 888.4BAYFED
2
* Cash back offer of $100 will be paid as a deposit to a Bay Federal Credit Union savings account upon loan closing. First payment deferred for 90 days. Interest will continue to accrue from date of loan disbursement and becomes due once payments begin. Offer available on the refinance of a 2011 or newer vehicle currently financed at another financial institution. Refinances of current Bay Federal loans and purchase transactions are not eligible for this offer. Minimum loan amount is $10,000. All loans subject to credit approval with credit score (Experian FICO V9 Auto Score) of 640+, income verification and valid Social Security Number or ITIN per Bay Federal Credit Union lending requirements. Must have a valid driver’s license. Bay Federal Credit Union membership required at the time of closing. Loan must be funded now through December 31, 2021 in order to qualify for this offer. This offer is subject to change without notice. Other terms and conditions may apply. For more information, visit any Bay Federal Credit Union branch or call us at 831.479.6000 or toll-free at 888.4BAYFED, option 3.
Jeanie Johnson
7
Ad Director
Debra Whizin Editor
Erik Chalhoub Contributing Writers
Federally Insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender.
Erik Chalhoub, Johanna Miller, Tarmo Hannula Kate Russell, Sarah Ringler Advertising Account Executives
A Good Night’s Sleep... is the Greatest Gift • Maintains proper spinal support • Opens the airway for easier breathing • Works with any sleeping position Comfort & Support for the REST of your life 2701 41st Ave, Soquel (Top of 41st Ave, at Hwy 1) sc41.com | 831.464.2228
Lisa Buckley, Sue Lamothe, Kate Kauffman Ilana Packer, Tiffani Petrov Design Layout
10 4
Cover story
6
Gardening
7
Home of the Week
8
Mixing Bowl
Hon Truong Cover Photography:
Tarmo Hannula
Published by WatsNews, LLC, Watsonville, CA. Entire contents © 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form prohibited without publisher’s written permission.
TO PLACE AN AD Email:
sales@pajaronian.com Call:
10 Photo Gallery
831.761.7325
the
THE RIGHT CHOICE. Call us for all your Real Estate needs.
Kathy Oliver
REALTOR® 831.254.1432 egagne@baileyproperties.com Cal DRE #01450406
Broker Associate/REALTOR® 831.206.2249 Kathy@OliverPM.com Cal DRE #01116175
TAB
4.3438" X 4.8438"
ADVERTISER: NAME HERE ACCOUNT EXEC: NAME HERE DESIGNER: NAME HERE
l sh op
p in g
GOOD TIM P R E S E N T SE S THE BEST LOCAL GIF OF TS
2021 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE The biggest and best Holiday Gift Guide in the County DESIGN DEPARTMENT showcasing gift ideas from local businesses with beautiful weeklys.com design and a whopping 60,000 circulation! 30,000 copies will be inserted into Good Times on November 25th, and the next 30,000 will be distributed freestanding at key locations until December 24th. Now also distributed in Los Gatos!
Publication dates: Wed, Nov 24 & Dec 8 Call your rep for more details 831.458.1100
PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021
1/4s
PUBLICATION: NAME HERE
e to loca
SAN TAC G O O R U Z .C O D T IM M E S .S C
Owner of Oliver Property Management
AD SIZE
at e g u id
2019 Holid a Gift y Guide
Over 40 years of combined real estate experience. Specializing in Home Listings, Home Sales and Property Management.
Ed Gagne
u lt im
3
4
the Watsonville Public Library’s Main Branch created this altar at the entrance to the library as part of Dia de los Muertos.
Photos by Tarmo Hannula
OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
DISPLAY The staff at
HOLIDAY TREAT Workers at Ricarmi Panadería y Pastelería, 11 East Fifth St. in
Watsonville, are busy making “dead bread” as part of Dia de los Muertos.
ADDING COLOR Ana Ruvalcaba, owner of Ruvalcaba Nursery on San Miguel Canyon
Road in Royal Oaks, includes marigolds in her array of flowers for sale at the Watsonville Certified Farmers’ Market to align with Dia de los Muertos.
Tarmo Hannula
CELEBRATION Mexican tradition in full swing around the Pajaro Valley By TARMO HANNULA
ay of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, celebrations are underway around the Pajaro Valley as a continuum of a long-standing Mexican tradition. The holiday, celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November, originated in Mexico, but is also recognized in other spots, especially by people of Mexican heritage. Day of the Dead typically involves family and friends who gather, often at area cemeteries,
D
OF THE
to pay respect and to remember the dead. Traditions include honoring the deceased with skeleton facsimiles, skulls, music and altars that feature favorite foods and other attractions of the deceased. In Watsonville some vendors at the Certified Farmers’ Market continue the tradition by offering freshly harvested marigolds, trinkets and clothes reflecting Dia de los Muertos themes. Though the celebration honors
DEAD the dead, it also includes gift giving to friends, that include candy sugar skulls or pan de muerto (dead bread). The owners of Ricarmi Panadería y Pastelería in Watsonville have taken steps to bake traditional dead bread. On Oct. 29, the Watsonville Film Festival will feature its Dia de los Muertos event in Watsonville Civic Plaza. Arts and crafts activities, dance performances, and more are on deck for the day that gets started at 4pm.
PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021
IN THE SPIRIT Trinkets and other goods reflecting Dia de los Muertos are popular items for sale at the Watsonville Certified Farmers’ Market.
5
OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
GARDENING
6
VERSATILE PLANT Dill leaves can enhance many dishes.
Celery’s cousin Growing dill can be easy and rewarding By KATE RUSSELL
D
ill’s delicate fronds and distinct aroma make it a useful addition to your garden. Known for elevating pickled cucumbers, asparagus and green beans to new heights, dill (Anethum graveolens) is a cousin to celery. Dill oil, extracted from seeds, stems and leaves, is used to make soap.
Dill can reach a height of two to four feet, making it only slightly smaller than fennel, which has a similar feathery growth. Flowers are white or yellow umbels (think umbrellas) that attract many beneficial insects. Dill seeds look like tiny brownish-gray orange slices. Once seeds start forming, leaf production is over and the plant will soon die. But worry not, dear gardeners! Dill reseeds itself easily.
Seeds from a single plant can create an entire bed of dill in future seasons. To collect seeds for kitchen use, remove seed heads and hang upside down over a bowl or in a pillowcase. Seeds will fall when they are mature, and the flower head can be added to the compost pile to feed next year’s generation. Dill is a biennial that is grown as an annual. Dill does not transplant well, so site selection is your first step. Dill prefers lots of sun, though partial shade can be tolerated. Shadier sites will result in less bushy plants. You can easily grow dill in a container that is at least 12 inches deep. This will make room for dill’s taproot (“Fernleaf ” is a dwarf variety best suited for containers). Seeds should be planted a quarter- to half-inch deep and the soil kept moist until seedlings emerge. Seedlings should be thinned to 12 inches apart. Once plants are established, allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Side dressing plants with aged compost during the growing season will provide important nutrients (side dressing simply means dumping an amendment around a plant and watering it). Dill has very few pests, thanks to the volatile oils that give it its flavor. Tomato hornworms and parsley caterpillars may be seen and can be handpicked. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or insecticidal soap can be used to treat severe infestations. Dill is relatively disease-free. Dill leaves enhance many dishes. Simply snip off what you need. You can also dry dill leaves for later use by placing cut leaves between cloth napkins or paper towels, laid on top of nonmetallic screens to dry, and then storing in an airtight container. Dill leaves can also be frozen. You can keep harvested leaves fresh by wrapping them in a damp paper towel and refrigerating them for up to a week in a sealable container. Growing dill is easy and rewarding. Give it a try! Kate Russell is a UCCE Master Gardener.
HOME OF THE WEEK Tom Brezsny’s
Real Estate of Mind Discover Dewy Organics, plant & fungi based products to power your daily skin care routine and
naturally accent your beauty.
dewyorganics.com @dewyorganics
eXp Realty of California
BROWNS VALLEY This home is surrounded by nature.
T
his Corralitos home sits on the edge of the redwood forest. Located at 835 Browns Valley Road, the 1,408-square-foot home includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The living room features large windows that open up to the forest and sizable paver stone patio. The home is also outfitted with
a wood-burning stove in the main living space, as well as a loft and an upstairs deck. It is also located near the Byrne Trail, a scenic route through the forest with ocean views. The home, built in 1991, is listed at $899,000 by eXp Realty of California. For information, visit bit. ly/3pJNacH.
TOPS in Their Field Are You TOPS in Your Field? Call Debra 831.761.7325
Corralitos home in the redwoods features large stone patio and deck
We’reresciis talkingnobitium about a subject most Realtors Ore qui utam estrum are intimately familiarati with. Something que inimint invent ut fugiasp ienihil near but not always dear to their hearts. igentotatem auda molupta Tom Brezsny’s Something that’s partquamus and parcel of just quiat. about every home sale they are involved Luptas di berisqui andi simi,I’m quo with. What am I talking about? talking Provoking thought sinceque 1990 about that huge umbrella of a euphemism essinulpa nimillaciam molorem. known “stuff ”. Vel est,asquibercima si dus. Ore nobitium qui estrum Am rerore,“stuff si volorio. Nemod You resciis know, ” as in all theutam “stuffquistrum ” people collect andntiberum fillinvent their homes with. All the que inimint ati utquas fugiasp ienihil resequu quid volorenet “stuff ”Etthat strange attractions igentotatem audaform quamus molupta fuga. respeople sitatus andentem. Cabo. to. All the “stuff ” that’sillor in their drawers Nobitatia volorero remjunk volest que quiat. and closets and attics and garages, in bags vendus restis senistota sam hitatur Luptas di berisqui andi simi, quo and boxes, piled high on shelves, jammed aditiur? Qui dolorro ipsundit occupti essinulpa nimillaciam que molorem. tightly into corners. busdae necaectium si et dus. plam dunt am Vel est, quibercima The “stuff ” they are saving. Or the “stuff ” sim verit quis minum, consenis re Am si volorio. Nemod theyrerore, can’t quite bring themselves toquistrum throw sinienim qui iurquid modis as volorenet etur? resequu quas away. Thentiberum “stuffaut ” that gets stuffed down Torisquosae repuditas utitfacia like baggage from theandentem. pastunt until is taking fuga. Et res sitatus Cabo. up way toovolorero much room or is so heavy doloribus, utatetur? Nobitatia illor rem volest que (physicallynienimi and psychically) that it makes Cerrume ligenducient verum vendus restis senistota sam hitatur it hard to conceive of actually moving fugitatem im inimus, voluptur? Quiberu aditiur? Qui dolorro ipsundit occupti anywhere. ptatur? necaectium et plam dunt am busdae Even if each andquam every one of us knows, Cepudandam si consenis bea endusant. sim verit quis minum, somewhere deep in our hearts, that itreis Pudis sim quis maiorrovitem sinienim qui” aut modis ascorrum etur? all just “stuff that iur we aren’t going to take alit, quo(Maybe comniatiur aut Torisquosae repuditas unt the ut facia with cusam us whenium we die. ancient im facepra verspel suntem Egyptians were able tolaciae pack important doloribus, utatetur? ipsamus, quam sed esuse es in maximus asse possessions for personal the verum afterlife. Cerrume nienimi ligenducient but there’s nottem enough real estate left on volorerfero quod quo voluptaquos fugitatem imstart inimus, voluptur? Quiberu theet planet modest ex is eictote lit burying volupti even dolum ptatur? members of our modern consumer iumquiatio exces erion nihit autculture lat Cepudandam quam si bea endusant. with a fraction of the “stuff ” they’ve quam quis rem fugita consedi niet, eos accumulated). Pudis sim quis maiorrovitem corrum eost alit late verum que coressin alit, cusam comniatiur aut To get intoturionsedit a ium betterquo mood for etur? this discussion, Voloreca quo Qui odit google the George Carlin video on “stuff ”. im facepra verspel laciae suntem quisciis mo optatur? Quaspit aut volore It brilliantly captures the absurdity of ourasse ipsamus, quam sed es maximus doluptiis inus siall-too-human qui es voluptas nosaffair modi weird, addictive, love volorerfero tem quod quo voluptaquos ilibus. with things. We’ve spent the last few weeks ex et is eic tethe litfaccus, voluptiisdolum Ique nulparum aofconestr talking about importance homes in iumquiatio erion nihit autbiggest lat our lives andexces their dual roles as our uptat. quam quis rem consedi niet, eos assets and centering Is there Alique mahallowed enisifugita quatet am,places. audipsa anything that ranks higher on Maslow’s eost alit late verum que coressin piciaec usandite latur aut dicia quia Hierarchy turionsedit of Needs thanquo home doesQui for odit Voloreca etur? pa ipsant magnihicid quiate re ad que human beings? quisciis mout optatur? Quaspit aut volore delibusam et ut odicidebit, siment But how ironic is itqui thatvoluptas homes often act doluptiis dem quaeinus porisidolorro vitatianos quiamodi as repositories for all the junk people can’t ilibus. illatur? Voluptat aspernatum, figure out how to recycle back intoserupta the Ique nulparum faccus, isnonsedipsum a conestr ecesci resmy eum restiumbelief world? It’s passionate that in order uptat. eum queout dolorem nos dolum lam, to figure more graceful strategies for growing older, facing change moving Alique ma quatet am,and audipsa etur, cust aenisi duntusdae lam dolorpo ahead inusandite life, all those aging baby boomers piciaec latur aut dicia quia rempeliquid modis aut ataerror re outipsant there optatio are goingdempor to have toaut rethink pa magnihicid quiate re volorest autad que their relationship to the “stuff ” they define delibusam ut etque ut odicidebit, siment explabo. recuste posapel themselvesNem by. dem quae pori dolorro vitatia quia What’s important going forward? You can’t illatur? Voluptat aspernatum, serupta begin to downsize unless you are ready to ecesci res restium nonsedipsum give things eum up. You can’t shrink your debt eum que dolorem nos dolum and conserve your resources if youlam, can’t quit buying things. YouDRE can’t#01063297 open up to Realtor® etur, cust a duntusdae lamyourself dolorpo all those 831-818-1431 “life experiences” you’d dearly rempeliquid modis aut ataerror re love getreal@sereno.com to have before youdempor leave the planet, volorest optatio aut autunless you are willing to empty your rice bowl. explabo. Nem que recuste posapel Next week: rice bowl. PAEmptying I D A DVthe ERTO RI A L
Real Estate of Mind
Tom Brezsny
Tom Brezsny (831) 722-4694
Realtor® DRE #01063297 831-818-1431 getreal@sereno.com PA I D A D V E R T O R I A L
PAID ADVERTORIAL
PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021
Close to the scenic route
Provoking thought since 1990
7
THE MIXING BOWL
8
Tarmo Hannula
OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
Homemade caramel corn
TREAT Buttery and sugary caramel corn can be easily made at home but be careful with the hot caramel.
By SARAH RINGLER
P
opcorn is funny. Its unique look comes from the hard shell that when exposed to high heat causes the moisture and starch inside to build up and explode. It is a good time food that is healthy, low in fat, sugar, sodium and high in fiber. However plain popcorn is bland and the health benefits can quickly be destroyed by what you put on it. For instance, a typical medium buttered popcorn at a movie theater that has been popped in coconut oil, according to DietFacts.com, contains the same calories as three
Big Macs. For another example, note the high amounts of sugar and butter in the Caramel Corn recipe below. This is a treat, not a snack. Popcorn is native to North America and archeologists have found samples of it in New Mexico from 5,600 years ago. English settlers learned about it from the Native Americans and brought it back to Europe. In the United States it grew in popularity during the Great Depression because it was cheap. Sugar rations during World War II made it a substitute snack. It is still a popular snack and has its own unique niche as a movie snack, diet food and candy.
Oven Caramel Corn 5 quarts of popped popcorn made with 1 2/3 cups unpopped popcorn 1 cup butter 2 cups packed brown sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon soda Nuts – optional
Traditional Popcorn: 1 2/3 cups popping corn 10 tablespoons high heat oil Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Put a large roasting pan in the oven. Make popcorn using a Hot Air Popcorn Popper, or the traditional
method using a heavy bottomed 2 1/2 quart saucepan with a lid to make 5 quarts of popped corn. Dispose of unpopped seeds and keep popped corn warm in the oven in the roasting pan. To use the traditional method, put a heavy bottomed saucepan on the burner on nearly high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil and 3 kernels of corn. Cover with lid. Listen carefully and never leave the stove. When the test kernels pop, add about 1/3 cup of corn kernels. Cover the pan and shake occasionally. When the corn begins to pop enthusiastically, shake the pan holding the lid with a potholder. When the popping begins to cease, remove from the stove. When the popping stops, pour the popcorn into a large roasting pan. Keep warm in oven. Repeat 4 more times. Each saucepan load makes about 1 quart popcorn. Measure out the baking soda and put aside. Combine butter, sugar, corn syrup and salt in the same 2 1/2-quart saucepan you used to pop the corn. Cook over medium heat stirring until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and boil for about five minutes until it is at the firm-ball stage. This means that when you drop some of the mixture into a small cup of cold water, the mixture turns into a firm mass that you can mold between your fingers. You do not want to overcook this mixture. Remove from the heat and completely stir in the soda. It will foam. Quickly remove the popped corn from the oven. Be careful with the sugar mixture because it can burn you. Carefully pour the sugar and butter mixture over the corn, tossing it to coat the corn. When the mixture is completely combined, put in the oven. Bake for 45 minutes stirring every 15 minutes to keep the kernels separated. Stores well in metal cookie tins.
HOMEOWNER’S SERVICE GUIDE Keep your home in top shape with the help of these local professionals.
Native Tree Care
For information on how to include your business, email sales@pajaronian.com
Extraordinary Construction
Quality House 5 Cleaning
RAINBOW CARPETS & FLOORS
WE DELIVER!!
RAINBOW 1 CARPETS & FLOORS
2
ADUs • Jr ADUs • Granny Units Additions • Studios • Sun Rooms
Quality House Cleaning
831 322-4422
Our Watsonville location is still Serving all of Santa Cruz County!
831.728.3131
FOR IN HOUSE APPOINTMENTS
& MORE!
www.AToolShed.com 1-800-A-TOOL-SHED Santa Cruz
Watsonville
831.477.7133
831-722-0334
3700 Soquel Ave
Native
• BACKHOES • TRUCKS • TRAILERS
285 W Beach St.
We handle everything from
Design to Permits to Construction
EXTRAORDINARY CONSTRUCTION extraordinaryconstruction.com LIC #1023400 and Insured
Tree Care All phases of tree work...
• Stump grinding • Poison oak removal • Fruit tree pruning • Palm tree pruning
Julian 831 335-5175 *Certified arborist since 1974 *Iinsured PLPD $2M
• Holiday Cleaning • Residential • Vacation Rentals • All Plant-based
Cleaning Products • English Speaking • Vaccinated for COVID-19
I specialize in homes! References available LIC#108576 Insured
Call or Text Kristina: 650-703-5179
JOHN SKILLICORN Realtor®
CALDRE #01875872
831-818-1540 | www.JohnSkillicorn.com | johnskillicorn@att.net
PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021
LOCAL BUSINESS FOR OVER 40 YEARS
• CHAIN SAWS • GENERATORS • GARDEN TOOLS • LOG SPLITTERS • FORKLIFTS
9
PHOTO GALLERY Have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to echalhoub@weeklys.com or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 18, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name of the photographer.
Tarmo Hannula
BIRDS THIS WAY
A painting of a pelican joins other road signs in Carmel.
Tarmo Hannula
10
SOLEMN PERFORMANCE
A trumpet player warms up prior to performing at a graveside service at a cemetery in Moss Landing.
Tarmo Hannula
OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
FRESHLY PICKED The harvest season is underway at the Pista Ranch on Freedom Boulevard in Watsonville.
View our full menu at kindpeoples.com
Find yourself,
533 Ocean St.
Voted best dispensary in Santa Cruz 2015 – 2021
A S K
&
O R D E R
Cannabis Questions Answered Chat with a consultant on our website today.
Reserve Your Order Online Pick up and pay in store in 30 minutes.
G A FRIE IN
D N
8am – 10pm Daily
BR
3600 Soquel Ave.
with $25 purchase & newly enrolled friend
Licenses: C10-0000172-LIC • C10-0000234-LIC
8am – 10pm Daily
PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4, 2021
here.
11
Est. 1911
