Pajaro Valley Magazine | July 10, 2020

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE PAJARO VALLEY

A supplement to The Pajaronian

JULY 10, 2020

WORLD ON WHEELS Communities participate in Bike Month Santa Cruz

COVER STORY P4 | THE MIXING BOWL P6 | PHOTO GALLERY P8

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JULY 10 -16, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Raeid Farhat Real Estate Inc

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raeidfarhat.com

MAGAZINE

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

ABOUT THE

COVER

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We are here for all your Real Estate needs 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.

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Cover Story

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The Mixing Bowl

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Photo Gallery

CEO & Executive Editor

Dan Pulcrano Publisher

Jeanie Johnson Managing Editor

Tony Nuñez Contributing Writers

Johanna Miller Sarah Ringler Advertising Account Executives

Tiffani Petrov Jazmine Ancira Lupita Ortiz

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:

Tarmo Hannula

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:

jjohnson@pajaronian.com Phone:

831.761.7301

Circle of Champions - Watsonville Office

JULY 10 -16, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

ack in May, I finally bit the bullet and pulled out my old Trek bicycle from the garage. Noticing it was in pretty bad shape, I took it over to Watsonville Cyclery on East Fifth Street for a tuneup. Owner Julian Mandujano was helpful in getting my bike up and running again.

Cycling has made a resurgence during the Covid-19 pandemic, not only because people needed to stay active and healthy JOHANNA MILLER when athletic facilities were closed, but also because it became a necessary mode of transport.

There are many incredible organizations in Santa Cruz County that promote biking. This month, many of those groups are working together to participate in Santa Cruz Bike Month, the subject of this week’s cover story.

I spoke with Community Bike Collective President Kymberly Lacrosse, who told me about the impressive work being done at her organization and how they are celebrating Bike Month along with Bike Santa Cruz County and Ecology Action.

These organizations are doing their part in promoting the benefits of biking, as well as the importance of having safe biking spaces in every city.

Lacrosse added that Watsonville, a city historically ignored by the rest of the county when it came to biking infrastructure, is finally moving forward, thanks to the community’s hard work and support. New bike lanes are being drawn. Groups rides and safety campaigns are being organized.

So fasten your helmet securely, push up that kickstand and take off.

You never know what you’ll find on two wheels.

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JULY 10 -16, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

NEW SKILL Executive Director of Bike Santa Cruz County Gina Cole explains how to deflate a bike tire to participants of Summer Bike Camp in Watsonville.

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on the

MOVE PHOTOS & STORY BY JOHANNA MILLER

ORGANIZATIONS PROMOTE SANTA

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group of young people gathered Wednesday in front of the Commu-

nity Bike Collective (CBC) in Watsonville to learn how to change a bicycle tire.

Participants in CBC’s Summer Bike Camp, they were preparing for a trip to Wilder Ranch State Park later that day. Staff and volunteers from the City of Watsonville and CBC President Kymberly Lacrosse were also on hand.

“What we’re trying to do is diversify the cycling world,” says Bike Santa Cruz County

Executive Director Gina Cole. “I always call bikes a ‘machine for freedom.’ You can get out of your house, your yard, your neighborhood. It gives you the self-propelled ability to move.”

Santa Cruz Bike Month kicked off July 1. It is usually held in May to coincide with National Bike Month, but shelter-in-place restrictions forced local groups to go back to the drawing board and find ways to celebrate safely during the Covid-19 pandemic.

For CBC, things began in late June with the start of Bike Camp. Young people, many

READY TO GO Bikes hang from

new racks at the Community Bike Collective in Watsonville.

CRUZ BIKE MONTH

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JULY 10 -16, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

of them children of essential workers, are taking part in the seven-week camp, which is one of many ongoing projects at the CBC. The Ecology Action organization started the Santa Cruz Bike Month Challenge. People can register through the Love to Ride app on their smartphones. Those who log at least one ride per week can win a $100 gift card to a local bike shop. Riders connect, share photos and stories on social media using the hashtag #BikeLoveSC. “All of this is an effort to make bike riding a joyous experience, and to socially normalize it,” says Matt Miller, Program Specialist at Ecology Action. ➝7

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TOPS In Their Field

THE MIXING BOWL

Are You TOPS in Your Field?

Contact Tiffani 831.761.7314

Tarmo Hannula

DEFINITIVE DISH This simple recipe turns out an authentic

and popular Sichuan dish, Kung Pao Chicken.

JULY 10 -16, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Ever popular Kung Pao Chicken

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K

SARAH RINGLER

ung Pao chicken is a commonly found dish in Chinese restaurants around the world, including China. On the colorful, budget Silk Road Tour I took last year, among the 20 of us on the trip, it was the most commonly ordered item at our group dinners.

This was not a high-end tour across China. We ended up eating this dish at a small gangster cafe in Beijing, a Muslim Quarter family restaurant in Xian and at urban fast-food joints in Urumqi. Spicy, exposing its Sichuan heritage, and slightly sweet, it packs a lot of flavor.

Like many popular Chinese recipes, it comes with stories and puns. Like homophones in English, many Chinese words sound alike.

In this case, Kung Pao is reputed to be named from the late 19th century Qing Dynasty Sichuan governor, Ding Baozhen. His title was Gongbao, or Palace Guardian, hence, a similar-sounding word, Kung Pao. Also, the Chinese character for his last name, Ding, can mean “small cube,” like the size of the chicken chunks.

For a short period of time during the Cultural Revolution, from 1966-1976, in the interest of promoting communism by getting rid of references to the tyrannical dynastic history of the past, the dish was renamed Spicy Chicken, only to return to its former name under reforms in the 1980s under Deng Xiaoping.

Served with rice, this simple recipe makes enough for two people. It’s all over the web and is originally attributed to Chef Wei Zhong Xin, the executive chef of Nine Dragons, a Chinese restaurant at the Epcot Center, part of the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

BIKE

KUNG PAO CHICKEN Marinade: 3/4 pounds boneless chicken breast or thighs 1 egg, beaten 2 teaspoons cornstarch ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon white pepper 1 cup skinned peanuts 4 tablespoons peanut oil, divided 3 green onions, cut into ½-inch pieces 1/3 cup peeled and ¼-inch diced carrots 1/3 cup sliced celery 1 teaspoon chili flakes 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger 2 garlic cloves, crushed

Sauce: 1 1/2 tablespoons water 3 teaspoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon sherry or mirin 3 tablespoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons sugar 1/4 cup chicken stock 2 teaspoons rice vinegar Cut the chicken meat into bitesized cubes. In a medium bowl, combine the egg, 2 teaspoons

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

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Volunteer Alex Lanctot (left) instructs Summer Bike Camp participants at Community Bike Collective in Watsonville.

roads to discuss bike and pedestrian improvements.

“With Covid-19, we’re seeing things we haven’t seen before,” Cole says. “Like with bus services being reduced… How can people safely get to work? So it goes even beyond freedom. Biking is now a way to survive.

We envision a bike-centric community, where there’s plenty of access and resources.”

Miller had a similar outlook.

“We’re seeing a social phenomenon during Covid,” Miller says. “Bikes

have become the go-to activity for a lot of people. This year has been so upending—opening people’s eyes to so many inequalities… about race, urban planning, the environment, mobility, transportation. And all of it is connected.”

To participate in Santa Cruz Bike Month go to ecoact.org/bikemonth.

For information on the Community Bike Collective visit communitybikecollective.org.

Tom Brezsny’s

REAL ESTATE OF MIND

Provoking thought since 1990 Let’s return to something we talked about last year...when the frenzy of the market was fraying people’s reserves of rational thought, and I noticed a widening gap between the public’s popular imagination about how real estate works and how it actually plays out in real life.

There are two parts: 1) Every single Santa Cruz seller fantasizes about wealthy buyers swarming over the hill to pay lots of money for their house. 2) Not all Santa Cruz sellers are willing to do what it takes to attract one of those “unicorn buyers” that are so easy to conjure up in their heads.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean sellers choosing to skimp on their prep are also voluntarily scaling back on their expectations about what those blue sky buyers will pay. No matter which cultural incarnation they assume: rich techie, Facebook/Apple/Google employee, retiring couple from the mythical 650 area code, Chinese national or virtually anyone driving a new Tesla.

From the looks of it, it doesn’t stop some sellers from continuing to ratchet up the $$$ long after the point in time when they balk at spending one more dime to prepare their place for sale. Almost like it wasn’t necessary to do anything. Or even...the less you do, the higher the price should be.

This is this market’s version of magical thinking. Aspirational pricing that exceeds reasonable expectation. It’s a trend that will only help hasten the end of an otherwise amazing upcycle. Doesn’t matter whether it is bitcoin or tulips or real estate, things wind down when there’s not enough “there, there”.

It all breeds an odd kind of seller discontent too, in the midst of the best seller’s market anyone in California has witnessed since the Gold Rush. No matter how good the results, more sellers are decidedly unhappy.

Five offers? Maybe there should have been ten. Price bid up $50,000 over asking? But we were expecting at least $100,000 over.

There’s an embarrassment of first-world problems out there! And way too much seller’s remorse.

So, here’s the thing, folks. The market is great, but selling in a seller’s market is still hard work. You get out of it what you put into it - and in many cases even more. You can’t take your listing back, once you go on the market. There are no mulligans in real estate. Why not get it right the first time?

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

JULY 10 -16, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Ecology Action will also be offering virtual workshops, presentations and film screenings, as well as a collaboration with the Museum of Art and History with “Exhibition Expeditions,” tours that riders can follow with the help of the RideWithGPS app.

Miller says Bike Month is not only meant to get people biking and supporting Santa Cruz County shops, but also to promote bike safety.

“From countless surveys we’ve done… We've found that the single greatest barrier people face to ride is traffic safety,” Miller says.

“Some are real concerns, and some are perceived. It is something we’re always addressing.”

In Watsonville, green bike lanes have been popping up in different parts of the city for the past few years. Last week, Cole joined city officials and the Regional Transportation Commission’s Bicycle Advisory Committee at the intersection of Holohan and College

cornstarch, salt and white pepper to taste. Add the chicken, cover and set aside to marinate for 30 minutes.

Fry peanuts in 1 tablespoon of oil until golden and crunchy. Set aside. Prepare green onions, ginger, garlic, celery and carrots.

For the sauce, in a small bowl dissolve 3 teaspoons cornstarch in 1½ tablespoons of water. Then add sherry, soy sauce, sugar, chicken stock, and white vinegar. Mix well.

Heat a wok or frying pan over high heat. When the pan is hot, add 2 tablespoons of oil and tilt pan to distribute. When the oil is hot and shiny, add chicken and stir fry until nearly tender. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside. Remove wok or frying pan from the heat and using a paper towel, wipe it dry.

Return wok to high heat and add 1 tablespoon oil. When the oil is hot, add green onions, carrots and celery and stir fry for one minute. Add chili flakes, ginger, and garlic and stir fry for 1 minute more. Add chicken and stir fry for 30 seconds. Then add the cornstarch and soy sauce mixture. Stir fry until sauce thickens. Stir in fried peanuts and stir fry until chicken is fully cooked.

Serve immediately with rice.

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PHOTO GALLERY

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Tarmo Hannula

JULY 10 -16, 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.

CLOSE UP A Datura plant, or angel’s trumpet, thrives in the patio garden at the Crepe Place in Santa Cruz.

CLASSIC STYLE

A 1947 Buick Roadmaster cruises along Freedom Boulevard in Watsonville.

TALL ORDER

Tarmo Hannula

Workers install an antenna atop the new location of KPIG radio, 107.5FM, on Main Street in Watsonville.

a Watsonville neighborhood.

JULY 10 -16, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Sally Vaughn

Tarmo Hannula

HOPE MOON The moon shines brightly over

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SUMMER HOMEOWNER’S

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

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FURNITURE

Baker Bros.

31 E 5th Street Watsonville

JULY 10 -16, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

(831) 722-1776

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HOUSE CLEANING

HOUSE CLEANING

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A-1 JANITORIAL SERVICES

Professional Carpet & Upholstery Steam Cleaning

(831) 724-4409

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HARDY

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

Watsonville

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CARPET CLEANING

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

AIR CONDITIONING

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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

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EQUIPMENT RENTAL

A TOOL SHED 285 W. Beach Street Watsonville

(831) 722-0334

C-39 Roofing • C-33 Painting

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PLUMBING

PLUMBING

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YARD MAINTENANCE

YARD MAINTENANCE

(831) 722-3242

JOHN SKILLICORN Realtor®

CALBRE #01875872

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

Testimonials:

Becky Campos Cell: 818-7607

BRE #01900835

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

250 BELLA VISTA HECKER PASS AREA

beckycampos.com rcampos 969@aol.com

22 JEHL

REDUCED

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

TRAVERS LANE PARCELS

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.

John Bannister

719 OREGON ST.

535 OHLONE PARKWAY

REDUCED

Wow, nothing to do but move in!

2 bedrooms, 1 bath, gorgeous remodel, new laminate, kitchen cabinets, appliances, dual windows, tankless water heater, laundry inside, dining nook, slider to large landscaped backyard.. Oversized living room, open floor plan, long driveway to new 2 car carport. Front yard with easy care landscaping.

Pretty easy commute north or south. Look and purchase today!

L# 4016 $527,750

Location, location, location, California Ranch style home, over 1750 sq ft with living and family rooms, formal dining plus eat in kitchen area, fireplace, laundry inside, 1 story, oversized lot, 2 car garage, plenty of parking. Easily made into 3 bedrooms with a wall in the oversized bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms, plenty of room to put a shower in half bath to have another full bath. Room for garden and or puppy run. Work shop on end of garage. Close to most conveniences. Look and purchase today. #4013 $679,950

GROUND LEASE

115 HILL AVE

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

COMING SOON 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

26 ROOSEVELT ST Remodeled Beauty, just purchase and move in. 2 bedroom Spanish style bungalow, Gorgeous remodeled kitchen with custom white cabinets, granite, under counter lights, 5 burner gas stove, tiled floor and much more.

Laminate floors thru out, designer paint colors, bath is remodeled too. New wiring and plumbing, long driveway to 2 car garage, nice easy care front and back yards, fenced. Oversized concrete patio for BBQs. Look and purchase today! #4015 $514,500

S

D L O

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

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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.

We couldn’t be more pleased with the services Becky provided. Our family had to sell a home as part of a trust. We had no experience in real estate, but Becky was extremely helpful and transparent about each step of the process. She made herself available to help us whenever we needed it, and was very communicative. Becky has extensive knowledge of the county and neighborhoods and sold our home in under 6 days. For full asking price! We would wholeheartedly recommend her services to anyone looking for a professional realtor.

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Cannabis for you.

JULY 10 -16, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

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