San Benito Magazine October 25-31

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY

OCTOBER 25, 2019

Jukebox musical

A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance

Stage company’s teen production travels back to the golden oldies P4

Gardening P9 Calendar of Events P10 Real Estate P19

OCTOBER 25, 2019

Located in Historic Downtown Gilroy

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Golden oldies The Veterans Memorial Building is about to rock the golden oldies.

San Benito Stage Company is bringing Leader of the Pack to local audiences from Oct. 25-Nov. 9.

Jenny Arbizu spoke with the producers and some of the teenaged cast in this week’s cover story (page 4).

The musical includes 1960s hits

such as “Be My Baby” and “Chapel of Love,” telling a story of love and loss.

San Benito magazine will honor local veterans with a special Veterans Day edition on Nov. 8. Turn to page 8 to learn more on how you can be included.

ERIK CHALHOUB

Editor, San Benito

MAGAZINE

64 W. Sixth Street, Gilroy, CA Mailing address: P.O. Box 516, Gilroy, CA 95021 Phone: 408-842-6400

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Publisher

Dan Pulcrano Associate Publisher

Jeannette Close Editor

Erik Chalhoub Calendar Editor

Tia Sundberg Contributing Writers

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Cover Story

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Crush

9

Gardening

10 Calendar 14 Community 15 Wine 17 Home of the Week 19 Real Estate

Advertising Account Executives

Carrie Bonato, Scott Harvey, Eileen Katis, Cynthia Runyon Design Director

Kara Brown Production Operations Manager

Sean George Editorial Production Manager

Katherine Manlapaz Cover photograph by:

Robert Eliason Published by New SV Media Inc., Gilroy, CA Entire contents © 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form prohibited without publisher’s written permission.

TO PLACE AN AD Email:

advertising@newsvmedia.com Phone:

408.842.9404

OCTOBER 25, 2019

12 Wildfire

Jenny Arbizu, Wallace Baine, Ron Erskine, Kimberly Ewertz, Cheryl Huguenor, Laura Ness, Susan Rife, Kate Russell

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OCTOBER 25, 2019

Lead

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ding the charge POP STAR Abby Chase stars as singer/songwriter Ellie Greenwich in San Benito Stage Company’s production of “Leader of the Pack.”

San Benito Stage Company’s teen performance opens at Veterans Memorial Building

BY JENNY ARBIZU PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT ELIASON

B

OCTOBER 25, 2019

efore Mama Mia! or The Jersey Boys ever saw Broadway stages, a lesser-known jukebox musical had already rocked Broadway audiences in 1985—Leader of the Pack.

Chock-full of golden oldies from the 1960s, such as “Be My Baby,” “Chapel of Love,” and “Da Doo Ron Ron,” the musical wowed audiences with songs written by singer/songwriter Ellie Greenwich, the story based on her life, and roles of Greenwich and Darlene Love played by themselves.

Now, San Benito Stage Company promises to bring that same wow factor to Hollister audiences when it opens at the Hollister Veterans’ Memorial Building on Oct. 25.

“I think audiences are going to be shocked when they hear songs and go, ‘Oh, this is an Ellie Greenwich song? She’s attached to this song?’” said co-producer Karen Firstbrook.

“This show is going to appeal to all ages. This is the kind of show that you’re going to want to bring your mother and your grandmother to. If you have any love of great music and harmonies and dancing, you need to come see the show because it’s that good.”

The show ( co-produced by Mary Chase, directed by Derek Barnes, choreographed by Amy Redmond Waran, and vocally/musically directed by Kayla Chizek) follows Greenwich from her teenage days as a member of a girl group, to meeting her husband Jeff Barry, to having a successful songwriting career and then to eventually having a nervous breakdown. ➝6

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STAGE VETERAN Abby Chase is in her last teen production

with San Benito Stage Company.

“It’s a story of love, it’s a story of loss, and it’s a story kind of like a rebirth,” Barnes said. Greenwich “thought being married to another songwriter was going to be enough for her, and the music and the partnership was enough for their marriage, but it ended up not being enough for him.”

The musical is not the typical teen show Hollister audiences are used to seeing, according to Firstbrook. While it appeals to all ages, it is also timely for the current generation.

“It’s such a good girl-power show,” Firstbrook said. “We’re now in a society that is supporting our young women; Ellie Greenwich didn’t grow up in that society. She had to work hard and had to break glass ceilings like you wouldn’t believe.”

Audiences will also find the set to be less elaborate than in shows past. Barnes said this is due to SBSC now being a mobile stage company and needing to streamline productions to make things more manageable.

“I have a really stripped down set for this show,” Barnes said.

“We’re going to be using a lot more projections, we’re going to be using a lot more props and a lot more of the actors will be portraying their characters in a way where we won’t need large sets.”

A live band will also be accompanying the performers, and live

preshows will take place before each performance.

“We will have local artists out front in the Veterans Memorial Building plaza an hour prior to the shows,” Firstbrook said, noting Kya Andrade, Larry Masula, and Animation Dance Group will be some of the headliners.

The cast of 29 teenagers, ages 13-19, includes Abby Chase as Ellie Greenwich, Joey Rasmussen as Jeff Barry, and Jenna Hernandez as Darlene Love.

Firstbrook said a lot has been demanded from the teens during rehearsals in terms of dancing, vocal ability and stamina.

And Waran and Chizek can attest to this firsthand.

“The cast is so dedicated and talented,” Waran said. “Every night they were ready to learn and ready to try out anything that was presented to them.”

“They have been asked to sing difficult harmonies, complex dances, and showcase a variety of emotions on their face,” Chizek added. “This cast has been up for all the challenges we have thrown their way.”

Chase, who is in her last teen production with the company and has performed with it since she was 8 years old, said many of the cast members have found support in each other to tackle these challenges.

“Everyone is very ➝8

O& A

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS

Celebrate the spooky season at events for all ages Oct. 25-31.

OUT & ABOUT

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA

GHOST WALK The 11th annual San Juan Bautista Ghost Walk features local ghost sightings and paranormal activities. Reservation fees include gift bags and beverages, and proceeds support Rotary San Juan Bautista’s community and internal projects. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26 in Downtown San Juan Bautista, meet at the corner of Third and Mariposa streets. Tours will be offered at five nightly departure times beginning at 6:30pm. For reservations, visit rotarysanjuanbautista.com.

HOLLISTER

MURDER MYSTERY The GardenShoppe will present a gothic dinner party, “Murder at the Poe’s Raven Party.” This murder mystery party will feature two victims and prizes for the winners, and the first to buy tickets will get their choice of parts. Dinner and dessert are also included in the $30 ticket price. Saturday, Oct. 26, 4-8:30pm at The GardenShoppe, 364 Seventh St., Hollister. Space is limited, and warm attire is advised. For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/yxzd6yuy.

MORGAN HILL

MONSTER BALL Head to the Granada Theatre for its Halloween Monster Ball Dance Party, and enjoy an evening of dancing the night away with DJ Dare Run G In The Mix. Guests will be treated to hors d’oeuvres, mini desserts and a no-host full bar. Attendees are advised to wear a Halloween costume for a chance to take home the grand prize. Age 21 and over only; VIP tickets also available. Saturday, Oct. 26, 8pm-1am at the Granada Theater, 17440 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill. For information, visit liveloveleal.com.

HOLLISTER

Downtown Hollister invites the public to this year’s Trick or Treat on San Benito Street. Head downtown this Halloween as more than 30 businesses participate in this family-friendly trick-or-treating event. Enjoy music, a haunted house, a cake walk, costume contests with prizes and more. The first 500 participants will receive a Treat Street trick-or-treat bag filled with goodies. Free for all ages. Thursday, Oct. 31, 4-6pm beginning at Veterans Memorial Building, 649 San Benito St. For information, visit tinyurl.com/y5ufzvao.

OCTOBER 25, 2019

TREAT STREET

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LEADING THE CHARGE

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YOUNG PERFORMERS The cast of “Leader of the Pack”

ranges in age from 13 to 19.

WE WANT YOU (or a relative or friend)

TO BE FEATURED IN OUR VETERANS DAY EDITION! The section is devoted to all U.S. or allied military veterans who are currently San Benito County residents or have a connection to this area.

Please provide service photos and information (see below) and submit to us for publication in November 8, 2019. This is a great way to honor the veterans in your family or to let us know of your service to our country.

If you have access to email, please send information to our editor: echalhoub@newsvmedia.com. Attach photos (jpgs preferred).

No email? Complete the form below and mail: New SV Media, 64 W. Sixth St., Gilroy, CA 95020; or drop off materials at the same address.

Please label all materials with your name and phone number and submit by Nov. 1, 2019.

OCTOBER 25, 2019

Name:

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Phone number: Branch of service: Rank achieved (optional): Dates served: Where did you serve?

Special information (e.g. POW)

supportive and makes the environment feel safe and fun,” she said.

New to SBSC, Hernandez is appreciative of this. She has performed with South Bay companies, as well as her high school in Morgan Hill, but said, “I never felt like I just professionally work with these people, which is what I do with a majority of the other show companies that I’m working with. We’re always doing outside events.”

Local businesses and organizations have also offered their support to the cast and to the stage company.

Since becoming a mobile theater in February, San Benito Stage Company has had to build partnerships with local sites that provide rehearsal and performance spaces.

The Veterans Memorial Building will serve as the performance spot for this show and as the future site for the children and teen shows in 2020.

“It’s been a great partnership with the Hollister VFW [Veterans of Foreign Wars] 9242,” said SBSC’s venue liaison Brian Murphy. “They’re giving back to the community and giving us a home for some of our shows.”

Hollister VFW is also a sponsor of SBSC. “Plus, it’s a great downtown location and it has a really nice stage where we can put on the types of shows that people have become accustomed to seeing from

the stage company,” Murphy said.

The directors and producers are also grateful to Flying Colors Dance and Fitness, which served as a rehearsal spot for two weeks, and to Mr. O’s Academy of Arts Studio, where the duration of rehearsals were held.

In fact, SBSC recently made a long-term agreement to use Mr. O’s as a rehearsal site. “They’ve really worked with us,” Firstbrook said of Joe (Mr. O) and Frances Ostenson.

“I’m really grateful for their willingness to try. They took a risk with us; their very first show with us is 29 teens.”

Barnes said those who have been behind this production—the cast, the crew, the venues used—all have one common goal.

“It’s trying to make the kids have the best show possible and to put the best product out there in the community. We all care and focus on making San Benito Stage Company successful, so it makes it easy for us.”

Leader of the Pack runs Oct. 25-Nov. 9 at Hollister Veterans’ Memorial Building at 649 San Benito St. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Adult admission is $17, students and seniors $14, group fourpacks $55 (presale only). Tickets are sold at Mars Hill, Postal Graphics, or brownpapertickets.com. For information, visit www.sanbenitostage.org or call 831.636.0122.

GARDENING

Proba bug problem

ARTICHOKE PEST Proba bugs are attracted to artichoke plants.

Pests becoming major threat to artichokes

brown and only 0.2 inches long; that means you could line up 3½ proba bugs across the top of a dime. Nymphs start out looking like pale yellowish green aphids, except that they move a lot faster than aphids due to their longer legs. During the next two developmental stages (instars) they are first reddish-brown, and then they develop light and dark bands on the abdominal area during the final two instars.

Proba bugs are active year round (just a lot slower in winter). As temperatures begin to rise, usually in March, they begin feeding and breeding in earnest. Eggs are laid on artichoke petioles (leaf stems)

Kate Russell is a UCCE Master Gardener in Santa Clara County. For information, visit mgsantaclara. ucanr.edu or call 408.282.3105 between 9:30am-12:30pm, Monday through Friday.

OCTOBER 25, 2019

By KATE RUSSELL

Y

ou’ve proba-bly never heard of proba bugs.

Proba bugs are relatively new pests in our area. And they love artichokes.

Proba bugs (Proba californica) have been around for some time, but they used to prefer coyote brush. Coyote brush is a common native plant found along highways in agricultural areas of California. At some point (around 1997) a proba bug decided to give artichokes a try. From that moment on, proba bugs have become an increasing threat to artichoke plants.

Adult proba bugs are plain

and hatch within 20 to 30 days.

Nymphs go through five instars before reaching adulthood.

The damage caused by proba bugs is similar to that of lygus bugs, only proba bugs are more aggressive in their feeding habits. Adults and nymphs feed on young artichoke leaves and at the base of developing buds. They feed by piercing the tissue and injecting a toxin that kills plant cells. As the surrounding leaf tissue continues to grow, these punctured areas turn into brown dead spots that dry and fall off, leaving what looks like a gunshot hole. Feeding on the base of flower buds causes the bud (the part we eat) to turn black.

This phytotoxin also causes stunting and deformed flower buds.

Severely affected leaves will be smaller than normal and chlorotic.

Until relatively recently, commercial artichoke fields were treated with organophosphates and chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides. Use of these neurotoxins is being phased out, so proba bugs are becoming more of a problem. Infested fields can lose 20 to 30 percent of the harvest to proba bugs. Farmers are now removing the coyote brush near their fields and tilling the crop residue under, in a practice called stumping, to help combat this pest.

Natural predators, such as bigeyed bugs, damsel bugs, minute pirate bugs and spiders all feed on the nymph stage of proba bugs, so avoid using broad-spectrum pesticides.

You can help protect your artichoke plants by cutting the plant off at ground level once flower production is done for the year, and monitoring for signs of infestation in March and April.

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O& A CALENDAR

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

OCTOBER 25, 2019

El Teatro Campesino presents its 2019 Dia de los Muertos Weekend, celebrating arts and culture, and honoring the lives of departed loved ones through dance, music, teatro and community. Attendees will enjoy a community altar exhibit and live music and dance performances by Esperanza del Valle (tickets required). Guests are also invited to enjoy free family-oriented activities that will be held in the Playhouse parking lot, including a Teatro performance, live music, dancing calaveras, raffles, children’s activities and more. Nov. 1-3 at El Teatro Campesino Playhouse, 705 Fourth St., San Juan Bautista. For information, visit elteatrocampesino.com.

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HOLLISTER SPOOKTACULAR 2019 The importance of after-school programming will be celebrated at Spooktacular Lights On After

School 2019. This free community event will be full of activities, arts and crafts, games and a costume contest. All who bring a toiletry donation will be entered to win a spooky prize. Friday, Oct. 25,

6:30-8pm at YMCA of San Benito County, 351 Tres Pinos Road. For information, visit tinyurl.com/ y5nvp5ok.

HALLOWEEN COMICFEST Bill’s Bullpen will host Halloween Comic Fest 2019, featuring no tricks, just treats with free comics and free photos with super hero favorites. A costume contest will include prizes. Saturday, Oct. 26, 10am-8pm at Bill’s Bullpen Baseball Cards & Comics, 207 Fourth St. For information, call 831.636.1180.

HALLOWEEN PARTY Ridgemark Golf Club and Resort will celebrate Halloween with Soul Kiss Band. Soul Kiss performs a variety of top pop, rock, country, hip-hop, old school, classic rock

and R&B hits from today and yesteryear. Ages 21 and over only; no cover charge. Saturday, Oct. 26, 9pm-midnight at Ridgemark Golf Club and Resort, 3800 Airline Highway. For information, visit ridgemarkgolfclub.com.

BOTTOMS UP "Bottoms Up Yoga at the Grove” will be a class on strengthening mind and body workout amongst the olive trees with certified yoga instructor Courtney Evans. After class, be sure to enjoy a bottomless bloody mary and mimosa bar while mingling with fellow yogis. Sunday, Oct. 27, 9-10am at The Grove, Leal Vineyards, 7511 Pacheco Pass Highway.

Space is limited and tickets are non-refundable. For tickets and information, visit liveloveleal.com.

ANNUAL PARTY

Jardines de San Juan presents the seventh annual Dia de los Muertos Party and Day of the Dead costume contest. The event features free live music in the back garden by Grupo Macabra and those ages 21 and over are invited to enjoy Tequila and Mezcal tasting for $20. A taco bar and face painting will also be featured. Friday, Nov. 1, 5-10pm at Jardines de San Juan, 36 Washington St., San Juan Bautista. For information, visit jardinesrestaurant.com.

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA

TRES PINOS

AROMAS

DERBY DEVILZ The Faultline Derby Devilz will play their last home bout of the 2019 season against the Kuhmaunawanha

HARVEST FEST The BackStretch Equine Rescue, Rehabilitation and Retirement is hosting its first annual Harvest

The GardenShoppe is hosting a Dia de los Muertos hour-long drop in class.

Students will plant succulents in Day of the Dead ceramic pots that they will paint themselves. Tickets may be purchased for $15 each and extra succulents will be available for purchase. Guests may bring their own snacks; beverages, including beer and wine, may be purchased onsite. Saturday, Nov. 2, drop in between 11am-2pm at The GardenShoppe, 364 Seventh St., Hollister. For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/y4auldtq.

Festival. Attendees can participate in horse-drawn wagon rides, pumpkin decorating, a scavenger hunt and prizes as well as games, coloring, face painting and more.

Entry fee is $5 at the gate, and a barbecue lunch will be available for purchase for $10. Saturday, Oct. 26, 10am-2pm at 18500 Rea Ave. For information, visit tinyurl. com/y69vssvx.

GILROY OFRENDA EXHIBITS The Gilroy Center for the Arts will remember family members and friends who have passed on at the eighth annual Dia de los Muertos Community Ofrendas

& Art Exhibit. The exhibit, 7341 Monterey St., Gilroy, runs Oct. 15-Nov. 2 with a free event on Oct. 26 from noon-4pm. For information about the event or setting up an Ofrenda, visit gilroycenterforthearts.com.

MORGAN HILL HALLOWEEN GEOCACHE Open Space Authority will present a family-friendly nature education night—with a Halloween twist.

Attendees will embark on an adventure along the valley floor and visit educational stops to gather clues to solve riddles, find geocaches and search for hidden Halloween ➝ 13

OCTOBER 25, 2019

ROCKIN HALLOWEEN Plan a Halloween party night out at Daisy’s with JJ Hawg Band.

Guests will be treated to their favorite classic rock, blues, country and funk songs. Saturday, Oct. 26, 9pm-1am at Daisy’s Saloon, 213 Third St. For information, visit jjhawgband.com.

Roller Derby. The Derby Devilz, an amateur roller derby league, recently joined the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, and is now part of the ranks of more than 400 all-female, skater-owned and -operated leagues worldwide.

Saturday, Oct. 26; doors open at 11:30am and the action begins at noon at Bolado Park Event Center, 9000 Airline Highway, Tres Pinos.

For information and tickets, visit faultlinederby.org.

SUCCULENT SKULLS

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PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE

Don’t wait—plan now

APPROACHING DANGER Wind-driven embers can easily ignite

OCTOBER 25, 2019

a home or property around it.

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Evaluate your home’s protection against embers

By DWIGHT GOOD

Editor’s note: This is the next installment in a series of articles on wildfire preparation.

M

ost homes are destroyed by wildfires because wind-driven burning embers come into contact with something easily ignited on, in or near the home. When evaluating your home and property’s vulnerability

to embers, you should do it in the context of wildfire conditions. You should assume: • Hot temperatures, very low humidity and strong gusting winds; • Poor visibility due to smoke; • No electricity; • Little or no water pressure’ • No telephone, including cell phone service; • Panicking people acting irrationally;

• Firefighters will not be protecting your home and will likely not even be in your neighborhood; • You and your family will not be present; and • Thousands of burning embers coming from burning pieces of bark, pine cones, branches and construction materials are being driven by winds into your house and onto your roof.

Now assume that your home is exactly as you left it this morning when you left for work. Would it survive under these conditions?

Did you leave a window open? Did you forget to close the garage door?

Is the firewood pile stacked next to the house? Are the garbage cans on the back porch full and not covered by lids? Take steps now to reduce the ember threat to your home.

Waiting until the fire starts may cost you your home.

Most people believe that wildfires ignite homes through direct contact with flames, but it is rare to have a home ignite this way. Flaming brands and embers can travel a mile or more ahead of the active front of a wildfire and up to 60 percent of wildland/urban interface home ignitions result from embers.

Make changes now to reduce the ember threat to your home.

The Ember Aware campaign is intended to educate people on the risks of ember cast and the actions they can take to reduce those risks, to encourage residents to harden their homes against embers and/or to maintain those ember-resistant features, and to practice embersafe housekeeping and landscaping. You can learn more at www. emberaware.com.

Fire Marshal Dwight Good, MS, EFO, serves the Morgan Hill Fire Department, South Santa Clara County Fire Protection District and CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit. He has 24 years of fire service experience. For questions or comments, email Dwight.good@fire.ca.gov or call (408) 310-4654.

O& A CALENDAR

11 and binding fabric to create patterns. The workshop includes a complimentary beverage while crafting. Guests may also bring a small piece to dye at the end of the workshop, Saturday, Oct. 26, 1-3pm at Annieglass, 310 Harvest Drive, Watsonville. For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/yy2voc3s.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY PARTY DreamPower Horsemanship is hosting a sensory-friendly Trick or Treat Party featuring miniature horses, goats, chickens and ducks.

Children ages 18 and under are invited to enjoy ranch-themed fun, games and tricks and treats. $10 per child or $30 per family.

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 4-6pm at DreamPower Horsemanship, 7460 Crews Road, Gilroy. To RSVP, visit tinyurl.com/y5pn3xjq.

SPEECHLESS TOUR

Blue Man Group is bringing their new tour, Speechless, to San Jose for a limited engagement as a part of the Broadway San Jose 2019-20 season. Speechless will feature new and original compositions, invented instruments and unexpected situations alongside iconic Blue Man Group moments based in joy, art, music, comedy, social commentary and profound absurdity. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1-3 at San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts, 255 S. Almaden Blvd., San Jose. For information, full schedule and tickets, visit broadwaysanjose.com.

the Boo Train or other “spookified” rides. A marketplace filled with Halloween treats, wine, craft beers and more fills out the event.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18, 19 and 20, 5-10pm nightly at Gilroy Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Highway. For information, visit gilroygardens.org.

EVENTS

SHIBORI WORKSHOP The public is invited to learn the ancient technique of Shibori Indigo Dyeing to create a set of four dinner napkins to take home. Students will learn the basics of mixing indigo dye and the Japanese art of folding

SPOOKY FUN Gilroy Gardens’ spooky-but-not-too-scary Halloween event is back with even more Boo. Little ones can trick or treat, sing and dance along to a live musical show or take a ride on

LIGHTS AND FRIGHTS Swank Farms presents its Trail of Lights and Frights, offering a full Fall Festival experience with a night under the stars. All ages are invited to wander through a starry path filled with Halloween favorites.

This family-friendly experience is open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Halloween, from dusk-10pm at Swank Farms, The Experience, 4751 Pacheco Pass Highway. For information and tickets, visit swankfarms.com/trail-of-lightsand-frights.

HOLIDAY COMEDY The Gilroy Center for the Arts will host the performance of The Hallelujah Girls, written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. In this comedy, five

FAMILY CELEBRATION Gilroy Gardens will celebrate Dia de los Muertos, featuring live entertainment, beer and margaritas as well as traditional Mexican food such as tamales, elotes (street corn), churros, hot chocolate and Pan de Muerto (Mexican pastry).

Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Saturday, Nov. 2, 3-9pm at Gilroy Gardens’ South County Picnic Grove, 3050 Hecker Pass Highway. For information, visit gilroygardens.org.

CULT CLASSIC Everyone age 21 and over is invited to get their time warp on with the Rocky Horror Picture Show at The GardenShoppe. Limited tickets are available for $20 and include 10 of the 11 film props: rice, a water pistol, rubber gloves, newspaper, toilet paper, confetti, a noisemaker, party hat and playing cards. Dressing up is optional, and guests are requested to bring their own flashlights and toast.

No outside food or beverages will be allowed. Saturday, Nov. 2, 6:30-10pm at The GardenShoppe, 364 Seventh St, Hollister. For information, visit tinyurl.com/ yyecx2qe.

FALL MIXER The SJB Library Auxiliary and San Juan Bautista Community Business Association will host the What’s Up Fall Mixer.

Attendees can learn what is going on in the community and enjoy a drawing and refreshments.

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 5-7pm at the Carl Martin Luck Memorial Library, 801 Second St., San Juan Bautista. For information, visit tinyurl.com/y3e77rqh.

OCTOBER 25, 2019

treasures. Halloween costumes are encouraged at this free, real world, outdoor treasure hunt.

Bring flashlights and water to drink. Saturday, Oct. 26, 5:307:30pm at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve, 550 Palm Ave., Morgan Hill. To register, visit openspaceauthority.org.

PUMPKIN JUNCTION The family-friendly Pumpkin Junction celebrates the harvest season and explores all that Casa de Fruta has to offer. Guests are invited to find a pumpkin, mine for gemstones at Casa de Miner’s Sluice, ride Casa de Choo Choo and take a spin on Casa de Carousel. The Junction will be held through Oct. 31, 8am-8pm at Casa de Fruta Orchard Resort, 10021 Pacheco Pass Highway. For information, visit casadefruta.com.

women realize time is precious after the passing of a dear friend.

In an effort to change their lives and achieve their dreams they decide to turn a rundown church into a spa, but each has their own issues preventing them from being motivated. This production runs Nov. 1-Dec. 1 at the Gilroy Center for the Arts, 7341 Monterey St. For information and performance schedule, visit limelightactorstheater.com.

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COMMUNITY

Co-working space opens

Robert Eliason

FEMALE-FOCUSED Hollister resident Toni Bowles is the founder of the Neon Exchange, a new co-working space in downtown Gilroy.

Hollister resident envisions female-focused space

OCTOBER 25, 2019

By ERIK CHALHOUB

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oni Bowles spent nearly 20 years with the Santa Clara County Superior Court, working in a division that was tasked with applying for various grants.

Bowles, who describes herself as a “people person” with a passion for social welfare reform, began noticing the job was becoming more about paperwork and less about interacting with others.

The commute from her home in Hollister to downtown San Jose was one thing. But she found it nearly impossible to achieve a work-life balance with the position while raising a family.

An avid reader, Bowles came across an article on a female-focused co-working space in New York called The Wing. The concept intrigued her, and she began researching the industry when she came across another similar space

in Mill Valley called The Hivery.

A visit was a moving experience, to say the least.

“I could feel inspired just walking through the doors,” she said. “Something inside of me was telling me these folks are onto something.”

Fast forward to a few years later, and Bowles has left her job in the court and is preparing for the grand opening of her own female-focused co-working space in the heart of downtown Gilroy: the Neon Exchange.

Located at 7363-7371 Monterey St. in the historic Louis Hotel, Neon Exchange provides various workstations and desks that are available on a membership basis. The sizable first floor includes a conference room, full kitchenette, library and many other amenities open to members. After work hours and on weekends, the space will be available for special events.

The second floor, which Bowles expects will be open in March,

will feature 20 fully enclosed office spaces for rent.

Bowles said she has already heard from various working professionals, such as tutors, Realtors and mortgage brokers, about using the firstfloor space. In addition, Gallery 1202 has moved from its previous Fifth Street location into Neon Exchange.

The Louis Hotel, according to Gilroy’s Historic Resources Inventory, opened on Sept. 10, 1921. The hotel, which was a popular stopping place for Highway 101 travelers, was designed by the Binder and Curtis architectural firm in the Neoclassic commercial style.

It was later converted into a restaurant, offices and retail stores.

But for the greater part of the last decade, the hotel has sat vacant as various businesses and special events have come and gone. As a result of years of neglect, the building was in a sad shape when Bowles purchased it at the end of 2018.

“As I walked the layout of the building, I could envision the color, I could envision the workstations,” Bowles said. “I could already see it happening. I was like, this is it.

This is where it needs to be.”

After nearly a year of work, the hotel has been transformed. New stucco lines the walls, while the original wood flooring has been refinished. Gold accents can be found throughout the space, harkening back to the 1920s, and various art and other decorations complete the look.

“We wanted to make a conscious effort to preserve the building, but bring it to the 21st century,” she said.

It wasn’t an easy process.

“I can’t even believe that we are going to open our doors,” she said.

“It was a painstaking responsibility to make this building right again.”

The Neon Exchange, 7365-7371 Monterey St. in Gilroy, is holding a grand opening gala on Oct. 27, 1-4 p.m. Free tickets are available at facebook.com/neonexchange and Eventbrite. For information, visit theneonexchange.com.

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Submitted photo

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