THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE PAJARO VALLEY
AUGUST 21, 2020
LANDSCAPING SAFELY
A supplement to The Pajaronian
Fires and pandemic present new challenges for gardeners P4
REAL ESTATE UPDATE P6 | HOME OF THE WEEK P7 | MIXING BOWL P8
AUGUST 21 - 27 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
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Changing landscape More people turning to their yards while sheltered in place By TARMO HANNULA
AUGUST 21- 27, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
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ne facet of the stay-at-home, and workfrom-home coronavirus ordeal is an uptick in home gardening and landscaping. With extra time spent around the home, some folks are putting more time, and money, into the land that surrounds their homes. “They’re stuck at home more and now they’re realizing they have an irrigation problem or overdue projects,” said Jamie Strange, account manager and marketing director for K&D Landscaping of Watsonville. “Now, we’re getting about 20 calls a day. People have more time to take a deeper look at their yards.” Strange said K&D offers a wealth of information and tips on their website for beginners and advanced gardeners. “We’re a great resource,” Strange said. “Our website right now has so many blogs; we push out two a month that range in topics from residential to commercial and on how to improve on even the most basic garden themes. We also recommend the CLCA.org website.” Strange said that in March, when the coronavirus lockdown went into effect, the crew at K&D had to hit the “reset” button. “We haven't skipped a beat yet,” she said. “The entire team just stepped up and figured how to work through this. We’re full force now and staying on top of this.” Strange said that all employees have their temperatures taken at the start of each shift and are required to wear face coverings. “All of our crew are social distancing and we've been trying to embrace digital communication more; we go virtual when it can work,” Strange said. “Paying more attention to your yard is a good way to stay calm and focus. It boosts your morale in a time like this.”
SAFETY PROTOCOL
Workers from K&D Landscaping have been practicing social distancing since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Tom Brezsny’s
REAL ESTATE OF MIND
Provoking thought since 1990
photos courtesy of K&D Landscaping
Beating the heat Landscaping giant offers advice during heatwaves, fires By JOHANNA MILLER “Root systems breathe, just like we do,” he said. “They need that oxygen-to-CO2 transfer. If a plant is saturated, it can’t breathe. Simple as that.” The fires that have battered parts of California recently have also taken a toll. K&D has been offering resources to its customers, especially those living in rural areas, on fire safety, including partnering with Cabrillo College to create a special course. White advises that if possible, people should leave a 100-foot “defensible space” between their house and anything that can easily catch on fire, such as overgrown or dried-out bushes, hedges or trees. “This gives firefighters the best chance at saving your home,” he said. People’s health is also at risk during heat waves, from heat exhaustion to smoke inhalation. White said K&D has been making sure its crews monitor themselves closely. Drinking enough water, making sure there is shade nearby and taking regular breaks are vital. “Coupled with the fact we are all wearing masks during Covid…we have a very serious safety hazard,” he said. “For our crews, and for everyone working outside… Listen to your body. Stay cool, and take care.” For information on K&D Landscaping and its various resources, visit kndlandscaping.com.
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 21- 27, 2020
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he Central Coast of California is known for its Mediterranean climate—mild winters and warm to hot summers. Due to this temperate weather, local plant life can be thrown into a state of shock when things turn more extreme. Justin White, CEO of Watsonville’s K&D Landscaping, said that the coast’s recent heatwave has hit hard. Currently, the company is focusing its efforts on water conservation. “Wasting water is bad all-around…For plant health, for costs, everything,” he said. “We are focused on our irrigation systems and how to use them efficiently.” Some plants are more susceptible than others, White said. Succulents and other drought-resistant plants can survive hot spells, while more tropical ones cannot. The best thing to do is analyze your yard and discover which are which. White said that the leading cause of plant death during heat waves is drowning due to over-watering. People tend to go overboard, and unfortunately symptoms of over- and under-watering tend to look the same. White’s advice? Be prepared for your yard to show some stress, and don’t panic.
Who knew? You can’t make this stuff up. Five months ago, could anyone have predicted the stunning, shockingly crazybusy real estate market we’re experiencing right now? Or some of the record-setting sale prices we’re seeing in Santa Cruz? If you’ve heard through the grapevine that real estate is busy, then you’ve heard right. And if you’ve already been thinking there’s a huge disconnect between the stock market and the real economy, you might also want to add real estate to the list. At the moment the real estate market feels like it’s unhinged from the concerns that all of us have about jobs, the economy and the virus. Is there any data? Or at least anecdotal evidence that something weird is afoot? Using my best Rod Serling voice: “I’d like to submit the following for your consideration…” In July, the highest sale price ever, in the County, was recorded. A house near the harbor sold for $15.75 million, a number that eclipses the previous high by 5 million. A number of other sales close to the beach have also closed at record high prices - notably on the Westside and in Pleasure Point, Las Olas and La Selva Beach (call for details). In July, our local median price point reached a million dollars for the first time ever. Half the homes sold for more than that number and half sold for less. The average price of a home was more than $1.2m. In San Lorenzo Valley, an area always known as more affordable, a Felton property recently sold for $1,500,000 with a reported 17 offers. There was a two-week waiting list just to see the home. There are currently more homes in escrow than there are active listings on the MLS. The available inventory is half of what it was last July. The average price per square foot in July rose to a whopping $630, and the number of closed transactions jumped by almost 50% year-over-year from July 2019. And, of course, the weirdest thing at all? The one unassailable fact is that we are living in the middle of a global pandemic. At the moment, the coronavirus has disrupted, disconnected and unhinged all of us from the “normal” lives and livelihoods that we thought we were living. Right now, the entire country is untethered and everything feels like it is up in the air. Next week we’ll look at some of the shifting patterns in real estate and how they reflect the ways people are adjusting and adapting their lives in the face of an emerging new normal.
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REAL ESTATE
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Creativity thrives during pandemic Realtors faced with new challenges
AUGUST 21 - 27, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
By ED GAGNE
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ome might be asking themselves, “What’s it like buying or selling real estate during a pandemic like Covid-19?” Believe it or not, the local market has remained strong with both buyers and sellers successfully closing escrows. The inventory continues to grow within most areas of the county, with a few hotspots like Rio Del Mar and Scotts Valley. Some areas such as Watsonville continue to be challenging for buyers because of a shortage of homes on the market. The Rio Del Mar and Scotts Valley market will favor buyers, as there are plenty of homes to choose from. In Watsonville, the market will favor the sellers as there is a higher demand and low inventory. On account of Covid-19, marketing strategies have changed. Open houses are no longer an acceptable avenue to showcase properties.
Realtors are getting creative with Virtual Tours and slideshows to enhance exposure to their listings. Hiring professional photographers is another way to market properly; cell phone images will become a thing of the past. Showing properties has changed as well. An agent showing a listing must now present the listing agent a PEAD (Property Entry Advisory Declaration) form signed by the agent and his or her clients. The PEAD form specifies the health and safety protocol that must be followed to prevent contamination. One agent and two clients are allowed in the property at a time so the listing agent must schedule accordingly. None of these nuances are daunting. Let’s respect each other’s health and space, be smart and follow the new protocol and you will be successful. Ed Gagne is a Realtor for Bailey Properties.
HOME OF THE WEEK
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.
submitted photo
PEACEFUL CORNER This property in Corralitos includes two studios
in addition to the main home.
42 Robak
149 Marin
335 Zurich
Ed Gagné
Local Real Estate Specialist CA BRE #01450406
Honesty • Loyalty • Integrity Extensive local market knowledge! Community Involvement for over 20 years
Corralitos property includes main home, smaller studios on two acres
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his Corralitos home overlooking the Pajaro Valley offers panoramic views of Monterey Bay. Located at 1845 Enos Lane, the 3,000-square-foot main home includes three master suites. The largest studio (650 square feet) is above the separate two-car garage and has ocean views, bath and full kitchen. The smallest studio (350 square feet) is downstairs from the main floor with a private entrance, kitchenette and bath.
The main home is powered by solar. The first floor is ADA accessible and has a chef ’s kitchen with a walk-in pantry. Outside is a large concrete patio and private hiking trails ideal for visitors and entertaining. There is also ample parking for cars, boats and RV's. The home, built in 1972, is listed at $1,780,000 by David Lyng Real Estate. For information, visit tinyurl.com/y537cesb.
Circle of Champions - Watsonville Office
PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | AUGUST 21- 27, 2020
Panoramic bay views
115 Hastings
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THE MIXING BOWL
Cinnamon-sugar potato chips Lyonnaise Pizza with Brie, Brazilian Coxinha, Moroccan Shepherd’s Pie, and Potato Chorizo Croquettes. They have a new “Recetas en Español” clickable menu item. Sanchez’s recipe calls for either using Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes. I used Russets. You can hand slice the potatoes or use a slicer. I have a Kyocera Adjustable Ceramic Slicer that does a nice job of making even slices but it is very sharp and dangerous; use the hand guard! Don’t make the slices too thin. Thick is better than thin. Open the oven a few times to check that they are cooking evenly.
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Tarmo Hannula
AUGUST 21 - 27, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
CINNAMONSUGAR OVEN FRIED POTATO CHIPS
SIMPLE RECIPE Get the kids involved and make sweet
and cinnamon potato chips together.
By SARAH RINGLER
B
aked potato slices covered in cinnamon and sugar have the flavor and simplicity that makes a good recipe for kids. It comes from Erika Sanchez’s website, Nibbles and Feasts (nibblesandfeasts.com), but was on the Idaho Potato Commission website.
With most young kids, adults will need to peel and slice the potatoes, melt the butter and deal with the oven. Kids can brush the potato slices with butter, make the cinnamon and sugar mixture, coat the potato slices, and of course, eat them. Also, don’t deny the kids the complete experience and involve them in the set up and clean up. It’s also another good opportunity to emphasize hand washing.
I keep getting recipes from the Idaho Potato Commission, an industry group established in 1937 out of Idaho whose goal is to promote potatoes by taking every recipe imaginable and adding or replacing them with potatoes. They now have 1,648 recipes, from desserts to main dishes, at idahopotato.com. Some of their international offerings are Potato Focaccia, Oriental Chicken Topping, Potato
3 Russet potatoes 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Preheat oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter 2 baking sheets. In a shallow medium bowl, measure and combine sugar and cinnamon. Mix well. Melt butter. Peel and carefully slice potatoes about 1/8-inch wide by hand or by using a slicer or mandoline. Dry the slices in between paper towels, then arrange them in one layer on the baking sheets. Brush each potato slice with butter on both sides. This would be a good activity for the kids. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until they are light brown and the chips are crispy. Check them frequently and shake the pan. If you see any white parts, it means they aren’t crispy. Immediately transfer potato chips into cinnamon-sugar mixture and shake to coat a few at a time. Repeat until all chips have been coated and serve.
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. TRAVELING INSECTS A monarch butterfly alights in
a flowering bush. The monarchs are on the move in their migration north with many of them stopping at Natural Bridges State Park.
Tarmo Hannula
PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | AUGUST 21- 27, 2020
ALL IS SILENT A weather
vane sits motionless in the still evening air during a summer sunset.
off of a car covered in ash in Watsonville.
Dave Miller
Tarmo Hannula
RED POINT The sun is reflected
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SUMMER HOMEOWNER’S
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