Pajaro Valley Magazine | August 7, 2020 by Weeklys

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE PAJARO VALLEY

AUGUST 7, 2020

A supplement to The Pajaronian

Gardening P6 Mixing Bowl P7 Home of the Week P10

HOME STUDY

School is back, but it will look different this semester P2

AUGUST 7-13 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Raeid Farhat Real Estate Inc

raeidfarhat.com

The rules of the game have changed, just like major

league sports, but the real estate market is still strong and active. Marketing strategies and showings are a bit different with restrictions to the number of people allowed to enter a listing as well as sanitizing regulations. I have successfully embraced the changes. Here are (4) properties that I have listed and sold during the covid-19 shelter in place mandate that began in mid-March 2020.

115 Hastings

42 Robak

149 Marin

335 Zurich

8 MAGAZINE

21 Brennan St, Suite 18, Watsonville, CA 95076 Phone: 831.761.7301

CEO & Executive Editor

Dan Pulcrano Publisher

Jeanie Johnson

Editor

Erik Chalhoub Contributing Writers

Erik Chalhoub Kate Russell Sarah Ringler

Tiffani Petrov Jazmine Ancira

Local Real Estate Specialist CA BRE #01450406

Honesty • Loyalty • Integrity Extensive local market knowledge! Community Involvement for over 20 years

Lupita Ortiz Design Director

Kara Brown

7 4

Design Layout

Hon Truong

Cover story

Gardening

Mixing Bowl

Photo Gallery

TO PLACE AN AD Email:

jjohnson@pajaronian.com Phone:

10 Home and Garden

831.761.7301

Circle of Champions - Watsonville Office

PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | AUGUST 7-13 2020

Advertising Account Executives

Ed Gagné

HOME SCHOOL

AUGUST 7-13 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Kitchen tables and bedrooms are the new classrooms, at least through the end of 2020.

BACK T SCHOOL, HOME TO

Students, parents should prepare now for distance learning By ERIK CHALHOUB he phrase “back to school” is somewhat misleading in 2020. Yes, students will be hitting the books, listening to their teachers, writing essays and applying the Pythagorean theorem. But they won’t be physically at “school” in the traditional sense; rather, “school” will take place mere feet away from their beds. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s fall 2020 semester will be in a virtual format known as distance learning, through the district’s Virtual Academy. What will it look like, and how can students and parents prepare? The first day of school is Aug. 17.

The right setting Homes across the nation have been transformed into many things these past four months, one of them being classrooms. With that, though, comes distractions unique to the home. Perhaps the dog wants to go for a walk, or maybe a few more minutes in bed wouldn’t hurt. Setting a dedicated study space is key, educators advise. According to an article by Homeschool.com, parents should talk to their children about how they prefer to study. A desk area is ideal, but it can be anywhere the student feels comfortable to study, such as the top of a bed. Most importantly, the area should be free of distractions and stocked with supplies students will need, such as pens, paper and other items that supplement learning. The rigid physical classroom structure may be gone for now, but that doesn’t mean students should become lackadaisical on their assignment deadlines. Homeschool.com advises parents to keep their students on a schedule as an important life lesson. To keep students motivated, parents should reward them on occasion, such as allowing

them to call their friend after they complete an assignment. All the technological aspects of distance learning, such as Zoom and Google Classroom, may seem unfamiliar and overwhelming to many. Joe McClary of the International Association of Continuing Education and Training advises students and their parents to familiarize themselves with the technology before the virtual bell rings so they can be prepared. “Seek out instructional videos or tutorials made available to you,” McClary wrote in an article. “Taking a little time upfront to complete the appropriate technology orientation will save you a lot of time later and ensure you understand when instructions are provided that require use of the technology. If you have to wait until the last minute, at least take time soon after the assignment is made to acquaint yourself with all that will need to be done.” PVUSD provides online resources for distance learning. For information, visit tinyurl. com/te4byr8. For information on the Virtual Academy, visit virtualacademy.pvusd.net.

PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | AUGUST 7-13 2020

Each student will work with a PVUSD Virtual Academy supervising teacher and their parent/ guardian to create a learning plan. With teacher guidance, students will be encouraged to set their own educational goals, evaluate their progress and develop new goals. Students will engage in weekly virtual one-onone meetings with their supervising teacher, and they may set their own work schedules as long as they meet the minimum instructional period of 20 hours each week, attend required learning sessions and participate in educational activity on every school day. They are required to log on to virtual lessons by subject every day for a specific period of time, as daily attendance will be recorded by the teacher. Students will also submit assignments through the district’s Learning Management System. Most students have received Google Chromebooks on which to complete their work, and many have received wireless hotspots to provide internet access, PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez said. In an effort to keep screen time to a minimum, students will be provided with a back-to-school launch kit full of supplies that will enable them to work independently, according to Rodriguez.

Ready to help with all of your real estate advertising needs. PRINT & DIGITAL

GARDENING

Inspect your garden Learning to recognize problems early can keep plants healthy By KATE RUSSELL

Tiffani Petrov Account Executive 831.761.7314 | tpetrov@pajaronian.com

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ou may be busy watering and weeding your garden, but that makes it the perfect time to take a closer look at what is happening to the plants under your care. Wilting, ragged leaves, unproductive flowers, and mummies are just a few of the clues that may indicate a problem in your garden. Afternoon wilting is common in summer, especially among largeleafed squash plants, but any wilting that doesn’t resolve overnight can mean there’s a problem. Closer inspection may show that borers have taken up residence in the stems, irrigation water is being diverted away from the plant, or a disease has taken over. Fungal diseases, such as fusarium wilt, onion white rot, and verticillium wilt block the flow of water and nutrients through vascular tissue, causing plants to wilt. Other fungi can cause girdling that leads to wilting and plant death. Nematodes may also feed on roots, causing wilting. Learning to recognize the specific symptoms and treatments for these conditions can help you keep your plants healthy. Ragged leaf edges and middles can mean many different things. It may be that local goldfinch populations have discovered your sunflowers or sparrows are devouring your chard. It can also mean sowbug populations have gone out of control. Flea beetles, cabbage loopers, stink bugs, and Fuller rose beetles are just a few of the pests whose feeding is a sign of a problem. Many garden crops start out as flowers. When those flowers fail to produce it means something is wrong. It may mean high temperatures have damaged the pollen, but it can also mean pesticides and insecticides have killed off local pollinators. It may also be fungal disease. Closer inspection will give you the information you need.

DISEASE CUES Wilting that doesn’t resolve overnight can point to a larger problem. While you are out inspecting your garden, be sure to take a closer look at fruit for signs of moth larvae and check the nooks and crannies of bark and branch crotches for signs of pest eggs, plum bud gall mites, and other insect invaders. And be sure to check for aphids. Catching problems early on makes correcting them a lot easier. Inspecting your garden regularly also gives you clues about what is thriving and what needs a little extra care. A notebook can be a very handy tool for these inspections. You can create your own with a loose-leaf notebook, use a tablet, buy one online, or get a lovely handmade gardening diary. Whichever type you select, these notebooks are organized by month. Taking notes on what is sprouting, blooming, fruiting, fading or having problems each month will, over time, show you trends in your garden that occur each year. You can also note insect migrations, rainfall amounts and other helpful information. This will help you be better prepared for what’s to come, making your work in the garden easier and more productive. Kate Russell is a UCCE Master Gardener.

THE MIXING BOWL

Crispy cabbage leaf pancake

Tom Brezsny’s

REAL ESTATE OF MIND

By SARAH RINGLER

Provoking thought since 1990

8 ounces napa cabbage leaves, 4 to 5 leaves Vegetable oil for frying

Batter: 1 cup stock (vegetable stock, anchovy-kelp stock, Japanese

DELICATE MEAL Savory and crispy cabbage leaf pancakes make a nice light dinner for two. dashi or chicken broth) 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2/3 cup all purpose-flour 1 egg

Sauce: 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground chili pepper or gochu-garu 1 tablespoon white vinegar 1 green onion, minced 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds Prepare the napa cabbage by cutting off one inch of the thick base, depending on the size of the cabbage you bought. Wash and dry the leaves. Use leaves that can fit into your large frying pan. Cut a slit about an inch or so into the thick stalk so the leaf lies flat when pressed down. Make the sauce. Combine the soy sauce, ground chili pepper, vinegar, green onion, and sesame seeds in a small bowl. Mix well and set aside. Make the batter by combining the stock, salt, flour and

the egg in a large bowl. Mix together well with a whisk. To fry the cabbage leaves, heat up some vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Swirl to coat pan evenly. When the pan is hot, dip a cabbage leaf into the batter, making sure to coat the whole leaf. Place it in the skillet. Repeat with another leaf if possible. With a spatula, press down on the base of the leaves for about 10 seconds to flatten them out. Cook until lightly crisped on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Flip and add more oil if necessary. Cook another 2 minutes, until the other side is lightly crisp, too. Flip and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes, until both sides are crisp but not brown. Transfer to a plate and serve right away with the dipping sauce. Work in batches with the rest of cabbage and the batter. To eat, cut the pancake into bite size slices crosswise with a kitchen scissors. Add some dipping sauce and eat. Serves 2.

Continuing the conversation...talking about the moves more people in their 80s and 90s are making as they try to come to terms with the inevitable transitions around aging. And also talking about some of the common questions that come up when adult children try to help their aging parents through the difficult process of leaving the family home. Sound familiar? It seems like everyone knows someone going through a version of this scenario these days. That’s what happens when the population continues to age all around us. Even though everyone’s choices around home and life are different, the growing number of stories I hear from my clients are remarkably similar. There are no right ways to navigate the challenges of aging, and no simple ways to make it easier. But there is wisdom and comfort in shared experience. Sometimes I think all the media attention surrounding Baby Boomers and their struggles with downsizing is actually more of a projection of what their parents are going through right now. A cultural warm-up and harbinger of the more difficult things to come in a rapidly changing world, one where the population is getting older. Where family members are finding themselves scattered across the country. Where worries about outliving one’s resources are rife, and where incidents of in-home accidents and memory care are steadily increasing. If you are an aging Baby Boomer, the handwriting is on the wall. The example is right there in front of you in the guise of your parents. So, it begs the question: if you are one of those people trying to help... where exactly do you start? And how can you use the experience to prepare for your own journey twenty or thirty years down the road? A tall order for sure. Not one we are going to solve in the next 100 words. But here are a few initial questions to wrap your head around: Do your parents have a trust? Who are the trustees? Beneficiaries? Did a parent pass years ago? Was there a step-up in basis? Any capital gains implications? Where are they moving to? How much do different care options cost? What other resources do they have? Is there a special needs trust for a sibling? Are there other legacy issues? What’s the family dynamic? Who are the decisionmakers? What do you do with all the stuff? Who’s going to manage the process? We’ll wade further into some of these questions in the near future. Or you can always call me.

Tom Brezsny

Realtor® DRE#01063297

831-818-1431 getreal@serenogroup.com PA I D A D V E R T O R I A L

PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | AUGUST 7-13 2020

BAECHUJEON

Tarmo Hannula

umorously, each pancake is one leaf of cabbage that has been dragged through a batter and fried until crisp. Spoon on a little vinegary sauce and eat. It’s pretty easy and very satisfying. The recipe calls for Chinese cabbage, native to the area around Beijing in northwest China. It is commonly used in Chinese, Japanese and Korean cooking. It has a more delicate leaf and flavor than the more common cabbage found around here. Chinese cabbage is called napa cabbage in California although I couldn’t find a reason for that; “nappa” is a Japanese word referring to leaves from edible vegetables. In Australia, it’s called wombok. The Korean word is baechu, so since this is a Korean recipe these pancakes are called baechujeon. Baechu is also an essential ingredient in kimchi, a pickled salad common on Korean tables and would do well alongside these pancakes. This recipe is from maangchi.com/recipe/baechujeon. Napa cabbage comes in various sizes and I recommend buying the smaller ones so you can cook more leaves at the same time. Large leaves need to be fried singularly so it takes longer to fry them and they lose their crispiness when they sit. Some of the flavor of the pancake comes from the stock so try not to use just water. Japanese dried Hondashi added to water makes an excellent stock. Four to five leaves make a nice lunch or dinner for two.

PHOTO GALLERY

AUGUST 7-13, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

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Tarmo Hannula

AUGUST 7-13 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Have a recent photo youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name of the photographer.

LIVING GIANT A massive oak tree spreads its limbs over

a trail in Arana Gulch in Santa Cruz.

Tarmo Hannula

CROWDED Sooty shearwaters clutter the sky and sea

off the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.

at the mouth of the Santa Cruz Harbor.

PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | AUGUST 7-13 2020

WARM OUTING Beachgoers enjoy a stroll to the Walton Lighthouse

AUGUST 7-13, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Tarmo Hannula

COLORFUL Gladiolus explode with color in early morning sunlight.

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HOME OF THE WEEK

AUGUST 7-13 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Submitted photo

A digital solution for real estate professionals to attract prospects, sell homes and build listings All packages feature inclusion of property on homes.sc, six-photo gallery, link to video walk-through and agent photo with contact information. For more information contact Tiffani Petrov, 831.761.7314

homes.sc

COUNTRY SETTING This Watsonville homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s backyard features trails,

a riding arena and more.

Pair of country residences Watsonville property includes eight acres of amenities

wo homes sit on this eight-acre South County property. Located at 120 Taryn Lane in Watsonville, the main house features four bedrooms and four baths, while the second home includes three bedrooms and two baths. The single-story Mediterranean-style home, built in 1994, is designed with east and west wings for multi-family living. The foyer

leads to a round fireplace on an Italian tiled stage in the great room with cathedral ceilings and hardwood floors. The property includes horse and hiking trails, a dog run, fish pond, barn with paddocks, pasture, riding arena and a tack house. The property is listed at $1,697,000 by Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty-Rancho. For information, visit tinyurl.com/yxjs23o4.

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PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | AUGUST 7-13 2020

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