Pajaro Valley Magazine | April 3, 2020

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE PAJARO VALLEY

A supplement to The Pajaronian

APRIL 3, 2020

CHANGE & PERSIST

Watsonville hard cider company adapts to shelter-in-place order COVER STORY P5 | THE MIXING BOWL P6 | PHOTO GALLERY P8

2 APRIL 3 - 9, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

MAGAZINE

21 Brennan St, Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076 Phone: 831.761.7301

ABOUT

THE COVER

G

8 5

Cover story

6

The Mixing Bowl

8

Photo gallery

CEO & Executive Editor

Dan Pulcrano Publisher

Jeanie Johnson Managing Editor

Tony Nuñez Contributing Writers

Johanna Miller Sarah Ringler Advertising Account Executives

Tina Chavez Jazmine Ancira Lupita Ortiz

The housing inventory is at an all time low. This is having a great impact on property values. The supply and demand theory is in full swing, thus driving home values up. If you are considering selling or just want an idea of what your property value is in this current market, reach out to us.

Ed Gagné

Kathy Oliver

egagne@baileyproperties.com CalDRE# 01450406

koliver@baileyproperties.com CalDRE# 01116175

Realtor 831.254.1432

Realtor 831.206.2249

Ed Gagné Local Real Estate Specialist CA BRE #01450406

Honesty • Loyalty • Integrity Extensive local market knowledge!

Community Involvement for over 20 years

Design Director

Kara Brown Design Layout

Hon Truong Cover photograph by:

Johanna Miller

Published by WatsNews, LLC, Watsonville, CA. Entire contents © 2020. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form prohibited without publisher’s written permission.

TO PLACE AN AD Email:

tchavez@pajaronian.com Phone:

831.761.7301

Circle of Champions - Watsonville Office

APRIL 3 - 9, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

rowing up in Watsonville, I’ve always felt lucky to have so many great eateries close to home. From Japanese restaurants to an assortment of taquerias, the Pajaro Valley has no shortage of quality places to grab a bite.

In recent years, breweries and wineries JOHANNA MILLER have joined the lineup.

Fruition Brewing is within walking distance of my house, and my family has become members of Wargin Wines’ wine club.

Last year, Santa Cruz Cider Company also arrived. The hard cider company creates some unique, top-notch cider, and holds fun events such as February’s Girl Scout Cookie pairing.

The closures of these new businesses due to the COVID-19 crisis has been difficult for everyone, but especially for the owners and employees.

I chatted with Santa Cruz Cider Company owners Nicole Todd and Natalie Henze about how they are adapting to the changes. They, like many businesses, are now offering curbside pickup and delivery.

The countywide shelter-in-place has hit us all.

Many are either partially or fully out of work, and as such our pockets may not be as deep.

But it’s worth it to support these small businesses—and I implore anyone who is able to do so.

The Pajaronian will continue to highlight businesses in the coming weeks and months, and update our list of places offering takeout and delivery on our website.

Let’s show our support. We all depend on each other.

We are here for all your Real Estate needs

3

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU with

We recommend to shop our online menu and pre-order with our Express Lane Service and pick-up and pay in store. Outdoor walk-up service is also available at both our locations.

• • • •

Check our current menu online before you arrive ATM available Product returns not currently accepted Clones, seeds available at the Soquel Ave. location

Be assured that we are practicing social distancing and sanitation procedures at both locations.

533 Ocean St, Santa Cruz 831-515-4114 Temporary Hours

9am – 9pm Daily

APRIL 3 - 9, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

3600 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz 831-471-8562

4

Temporary Hours

9am – 9pm Daily

kindpeoples.com/expresslane Daily discounts for veterans, students, MMIC, and seniors 65+ C10-0000172-LIC • C10-0000234-LIC

CRISP LINEUP

Santa Cruz Cider Company’s Wooden Tooth Special and Hopped Apple Cider are two of the ciders available online for delivery and pickup.

Cider PHOTO & STORY

BY JOHANNA MILLER

times

single door was propped open, with a long table placed just inside of Santa Cruz Cider Company’s Apple City Tasting Room Monday

afternoon.

A sign directed customers to the makeshift pickup window, which the owners have set up during the countywide shelterin-place order.

Natalie Henz, who runs the cidery with her sister, Nicole Todd and their families, was there to hand out orders. The business is currently offering online ordering with either in-person pickup, delivery or shipping.

Henz said that after just two weeks, they have felt the effects of shelter-in-place acutely.

“It’s been rough, being closed,” she said.

“But we’re doing what we can… We are figuring things out.”

Santa Cruz Cider Company was established in 2013 and moved its full operation to Hangar Way in Watsonville last year. It has steadily gathered a following of South County customers, many of whom have become members of the cider club. Henz says this has been very helpful during the shutdowns.

“We are lucky in that respect… People had signed up for the club, and they will definitely get their cider,” she said.

On March 21 the company launched a revamped website, complete with a new online store and ordering system. A select group of their canned and bottled ciders, as well as a refillable 32 oz “Meowler,” can be ordered through the site.

Every Monday and Friday from noon to 4 p.m., an employee will be on hand for people to pick up their orders in person.

Customers can also order online for free delivery within Santa Cruz County every Thursday, and the business ships anywhere in California.

The cidery still sells its products at local grocery stores, which remain open, such as AJ’s Market in Aptos and Staff of Life and Shopper’s Corner in Santa Cruz. But reaching residents who buy their cider at the tasting room and other local hangouts has been challenging.

“Our business came to a screeching halt,” said Todd. “Suddenly, not only did we have to close, but many of the bars or other public places we sell to… It all just ended. We had to rethink how we were going to do things.”

For now, Todd says the best way to support the cidery is to stay in touch with the business through social media and occasionally picking up an order or two.

“Buying directly is really the best way for folks to support a small business,” Todd said. “Especially in times like these.”

For information and to order from Santa Cruz Cider Company visit santacruzciderco.com.

APRIL 3 - 9, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

A

Santa Cruz Cider Company offering delivery, curbside pickup

5

THE MIXING BOWL

Peanut butter and cookies

available at Yamashita Market at 114 Union St. While you are there, check out the beautiful bowls, plates and other dishware.

Also, thanks to all the people who wrote in about the Lemon Crinkle Cookies. I really appreciate your feedback and expertise. Maryann Schnitter mentioned in her note that to keep cookies from spreading too much while baking, she always puts her dough in the refrigerator for a few hours. A great idea.

PEANUT BUTTERMISO COOKIES

Tarmo Hannula

NUTTY TREATS Peanut butter cookies have been an American treat for around 90 years.

APRIL 3 - 9, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

T

6

SARAH RINGLER

he origin of the peanut butter cookie started with the 1884 invention of nut butter.

It was hoped that it could be used as a substitute for butter or lard. Marcellus Gilmore Edson of Montreal, Quebec, invented a hot grinding stone to process roasted peanuts into a paste that he used to make into candy.

It took another fifty years to make it into the cookie we recognize today, with the distinct criss cross markings made with the tines of a fork. That recipe was featured in a newspaper, the Schenectady Gazette, on July 1, 1932.

Well, nothing seems to stand still long. Our globalized and curious society now has an even larger repertoire of ingredients with which to experiment. This recipe, from Krysten Chambrot in the New York Times food section, replaces a little Japanese miso with some of the peanut butter. Miso adds a slightly salty and earthy dimension that I think makes these cookies more sophisticated. Also, instead of

making the crisscross design on top of the cookies, Chambrot’s recipe, in these anxious times, provides you with the opportunity to flatten the cookies by slamming them on the kitchen counter, twice.

I field-tested these cookies with quite a few people because although I loved the flavor, I wanted to make sure that most people would enjoy them. The feedback was positive. Although miso has a flavor that is not associated with sweet desserts, with enough sugar and the crunchy topping of crystals of demerara sugar, it is clear that this is a sweet treat.

This recipe requires at least six minutes of beating, so it helps to have a stand mixture. Also, be sure and watch your timer if you want to keep them chewy and moist. Overbaking makes them hard. Remember that they will continue to bake for a short while even after they come out of the oven. Over-baking is not a total disaster, as they can then be dunked in tea, coffee or milk.

A varied selection of miso is

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour ¾ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ cup butter, at room temperature 1 cup light brown sugar ½ cup granulated sugar cup white miso ¼ cup chunky peanut butter 1 large egg 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract ½ cup Demerara sugar, plus more as needed In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and baking powder. Whisk until well blended. Set aside.

Use a standing mixer if you have one, or in a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to cream butter, light brown sugar and granulated sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, for about five minutes.

Add miso and peanut butter to the mixing bowl with the butter and sugar, and continue to mix at medium speed for about one minute. Scrape down sides of the bowl to make sure all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated, and mix a bit more if needed. Add egg and vanilla extract, and mix until just combined. Do not beat.

Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the mixing bowl, and mix on low speed until flour mixture is incorporated. Repeat with remaining flour mixture in two batches until all of it is incorporated.

Place 1/2 cup Demerara sugar

into a small bowl. Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of dough and roll between your hands until it is round. The recipe can make about two dozen medium sized cookies.

If the dough is too soft, you can put the mixing bowl in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes to firm the dough up slightly. Put the ball of dough into the bowl of Demerara sugar and turn to coat. Transfer each ball to a parchment-lined baking sheet, arranging them about three inches apart. Repeat with all of the dough.

Refrigerate the tin for two hours or overnight. (Even 15 minutes of refrigerator time will help the dough firm up, and the flavors combine.

The longer the dough is refrigerated, the more mellow the flavors will be.)

When ready to bake, preheat the

oven to 350 degrees. Bake cookies for about 10 minutes, until crisp at the edges and slightly puffed in the middle. They should still be underdone in the center. Pull out the baking sheet and hit it against a counter. Place back into the oven to finish for about 3-4 minutes. When cookies are firm at the edges and slightly puffed in the center, pull them out and again hit the baking sheet against the counter. The cookies should appear flat and crinkly at the center.

Let the cookies cool on a baking sheet for a few minutes, and then transfer to a cooling rack. Store fully cooled cookies in an airtight container; they should retain their chewy texture for a few days.

Tom Brezsny’s

REAL ESTATE OF MIND

Provoking thought since 1990

TINA CHAVEZ Advertising Sales Manager

Specializing in Real Estate Advertising (831) 761-7359 tchavez@pajaronian.com

PVAOR Affiliate of the Year 2008 and 2016

SELL IT NOW! All Local Listings • Print & Online

TOPS In Their Field

Contact Tina 831-761-7359

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

APRIL 3 - 9, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Are You TOPS in Your Field?

Real Estate in the Time of Corona.

While I’ve managed to weave in a few literary references to Shakespeare, Nietzsche and Thomas Wolfe over the years, I never really expected to add Gabriel Garcia Marquez to the list...

The last thirty years has brought a series of shocks to the system and setbacks to the real estate market, including: the 1989 earthquake, the savings and loan crisis / recession of the early ‘90s, the dot.com bubble and resulting crash, the events of 9/11, the subprime mortgage crisis and Great Recession that followed.

None of those threats, natural or manmade, was premeditated or planned for, even if some should have been anticipated. In hindsight it’s easy to see that each took place within larger cycles of the economy. The huge run-up in home values in the ‘80s was just coming to an end when the quake hit.

The real estate market of the early ‘90s had a stagnant inventory hovering five times above where it is now and average times on market exceeding six months.

The hiring binge of the mid ‘90s brought the market out of recession but also launched the crazy excesses of the dot.com era. The recession that followed was punctuated by 9/11 but as federal stimulus poured in, the economy ratcheted up on the growing excesses of subprime mortgages, which came to a crushing halt in 2008 as the country teetered on the edge and rules were rewritten to stave off disaster. By 2011-12 the recession was fading in the rearview mirror as the real estate market accelerated into the record run-up that was still in evidence a month ago.

Through all of those ups and downs, life and the real estate market went on. If you bought a house in the early ‘90s, you were happy you did by the mid-‘90s. By the late ‘90s you were a genius. If you bought a place before 9/11 you were probably ready to sell it and move-up to a larger one by 2004. If you bought in 2010, your property had doubled in value by 2015.

Looking back with greater perspective, the most dangerous times in the last thirty years were the ones that saw prices rising the fastest and when everything seemed too good to be true.

That’s when irrational exuberance took control of people’s decision-making.

In an ironic way, the very best and hottest markets actually had the largest negative effect on the most people.

It has been all the lulls and the down markets in between that have offered the most benefit to the most people in the long run.

7

PHOTO GALLERY

8

Tarmo Hannula

APRIL 3 - 9, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to tnunez@pajaronian.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.

STORM WATCH A giant thunderhead boils up into the sky over the Monterey Bay.

LIMB WORK A man prunes Pippen

FINDING BALANCE

apple trees (which are at least 50-yearsold) in an orchard on Upper Green Valley Road.

“Om” is spelled out in a Santa Cruz garden. It is a sacred sound and a spiritual symbol in Indian religion typically found in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.

Tarmo Hannula

Ed Show

Tarmo Hannula

in the Overlook Center in Watsonville.

HAPPY MOMENT A young girl clowns around inside the front

door of a business at Plaza Vigil in Watsonville.

APRIL 3 - 9, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Tarmo Hannula

STOCKING UP Shoppers come and go at Target

9

WINTER HOMEOWNER’S

4

SERVICE GUIDE 1

HAULING

HAUL IT NOW! Yard Waste, Dump Run, Debris, Tear Offs, Large & Small Trucks Available

(831) 750-7044 24 Hour Service A Division of Ariana Roofing We won’t make you wait. www.arianaroofing.com

6

FURNITURE

Baker Bros.

31 E 5th Street Watsonville

APRIL 3 - 9, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

(831) 722-1776

10

2

HOUSE CLEANING

• HOUSE • OFFICES • BUSINESS, ETC.

Fernandez House Cleaning BL – 104076

FIND US IN Mario (831) 707-7005 *Spanish For more info call Yesenia *English *Spanish (831) 707-9542

7

AIR CONDITIONING

HARDY

QUALITY AIR INC. Heating & Air Conditioning 2576 Freedom Blvd.

Watsonville

3

9

6 10

CARPET CLEANING

A-1 JANITORIAL SERVICES

Professional Carpet & Upholstery Steam Cleaning

(831) 724-4409

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

8

7

8

4

2

5

1

ROOFING

ARIANA ROOFING Lic#73748 Make Us One of Your Three Estimates Commercial & Residential Free Estimates Watsonville call 761-1328 Santa Cruz call 462-3036 We won’t make you wait. www.arianaroofing.com

WINDOWS

Delta Glass 1811 Freedom Blvd.

(831) 724-6385 delta_glass@sbcglobal.net

(831) 722-3242

3

5

EQUIPMENT RENTAL

A TOOL SHED 285 W. Beach Street Watsonville

(831) 722-0334

C-39 Roofing • C-33 Painting

9

PLUMBING

A.L. LEASE Wholesale Plumbing Supplies 1220 W. Beach St. Watsonville

(831) 724-1044

10

YARD MAINTENANCE

Greenridge Yard Maintenance Pressure washing, Fence deck repairing, Fertilizing Drip systems, Sod, and Clean Up Trimming, Pruning, Hauling, Sprinkler repair, Weed Whacking, Tractor Work

(831) 713-3222

JOHN SKILLICORN Realtor®

CALBRE #01875872

831-818-1540 | www.JohnSkillicorn.com | johnskillicorn@att.net

Becky Campos Cell: 818-7607

BRE #01900835

Serving You at 4 Locations: Carmel, Prunedale, Salinas & Watsonville

beckycampos.com rcampos 969@aol.com

Testimonials: Becky is an outstanding REALTOR. We have used Becky three times buying and selling our homes. She gets you to dollar for your home and helps you get into your new home quick and easy. Becky is a one stop REALTOR, she is with you from the beginning to end, every step. I would recommend Becky Campos to all my friends and to anyone who is selling or buying a home.

Bill & Virgie Neighbors

250 BELLA VISTA HECKER PASS AREA

COMING SOON

COMING SOON

COMING SOON

Location, Location, possible 3 bedroom home with 2 baths, formal living, dining and family rooms. Located on one of the State streets in Watsonville.

Extra large lot with room for gardens and or puppy run. detached two car garage. #4013 $699,500

2 bedroom special, great bones, roomy backyard and great location, close to most conveniences. Fireplace, some hardwood floors, nice and sunny, formal dining room plus eat in kitchen, laundry inside.

1 car garage and long driveway. #4014 $500,000

Two nice homes on 5.6 usable acres. Santa Cruz county. Main home has over 2000 sq ft with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, open floor plan in kitchen and dining areas, wood burning stove in large living room. 2 car garage, Deck and Yard areas. Plenty of parking. Second home has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, newer paint and carpet in both homes. Work shop, flat fenced areas, private setting. $1,250,000

GROUND LEASE

535 OHLONE PARKWAY

TRAVERS LANE PARCELS

428 EAST BEACH ST.

Downtown Watsonville lot available for GROUND LEASE. Many zoning options, list available. Across the street from the Historic City Plaza, seasonal Farmers market, Cabrillo College, bank, retail stores, restaurants, courthouse and parking garage half a block away. $9,500 p/month

4 Plus useable acres, inside the city limits of Watsonville.

Build a subdivision, city utilities available.

Close to highway 1 for easy quick access North or South. $4,000,000

2 separate country parcels with a water share each. Maybe Build your dream home. Perhaps modular or Tiny Home. Nice private location, quiet rolling hills. Santa Cruz county, Off Green Valley Rd. Easy commute to work then back home to enjoy the country.

Craftmens style special 3 bedroom, 2 bath one level home. Remodeled kitchen and baths and immaculate in and out. Gas Stove and newer forced air heat. Formal Dining room, dual glass windows, French doors, deck front and back plus concrete patio with hot tub. Private back yard with shade tree and raised garden area plus lawn. This home has an approximate 700 SQ foot tandem garage and long driveway. White picket fenced front yard and porch is adorable. Close to most conveniences. L# 4010 $599,500

Panoramic Monterey Bay View!!! Estate sized property situated on approx 6 Acres, overlooking the coastline of Santa Cruz, Salinas & the Monterey Bay. Perched on a hilltop this private estate has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and approx 6095 square feet, formal living and dining rooms, two family rooms, country size kitchen, 2 pellet stoves and one wood burning fireplace. You will love the large size of every room in this home. There is an Eagles nest/ Bar room perfect for getting away by yourself. So many amenities, two ovens, two dishwashers, trash compactor, two refrigerators, stainless steel railing around patio to relax and enjoy the view and privacy with family and friends.

Abundant natural light throughout. Gated entry, location is central to Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey & San Benito Counties. 1248 sq feet Shop/Garage with grease pit and one tall door for a motorhome.

INCREDIBLE PROPERTY! BRIGHT & OPEN FLOOR PLAN, BRINGS OUTDOORS IN! VIEWS FROM EVERY ROOM! OCEAN, COAST, VALLEY & MOUNTAINS! SPECTACULAR SUNSETS AND CITY LIGHTS! L#4005 $1,575.000

N

PE

G

N DI

APRIL 3 - 9, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Parcel 15 has 3.02 acres for $200,000.

Parcel 16 has 3.49 acres for $210,000.

SOLD - Parcel 18 has 2.95 acres for $210,000.

REDUCED

11

12 APRIL 3 - 9, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE