South Valley Magazine October 30- November 5

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF MORGAN HILL, GILROY & SAN MARTIN

OCTOBER 30, 2020

SCARING SAFELY Alternatives to the traditional trick-or-treating A supplement to the Gilroy Dispatch & Morgan Hill Times

P2

PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE P5 | HOME OF THE WEEK P6 | REAL ESTATE P7

safe n’ scary OCTOBER 30, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

Juan Reyes

Alternatives to celebrating Halloween during a pandemic

Erik Chalhoub

2

ROWS OF ORANGE Swank Farms in Hollister has hundreds of visitors show up every year to stock up on pumpkins for Halloween. The pumpkin patch is open until Nov. 1.

SPOOKY FUN Emmett (left), 1, and Ian Tran, 4, chose a pumpkin

before taking on the hay maze at the Gilroy Ostrich Farm.

H

alloween has traditionally been a holiday that encourages large gatherings, inyour-face scares and candy.

But even though Covid-19 will change the way people celebrate the spooky season, there are plenty of precautions everyone can take to stay safe and enjoy the festivities.

When it comes to reducing the spread of Covid-19, Halloween and DĂ­a de los Muertos are no different than the rest of the year. This ongoing risk requires everyone to follow necessary precautions. Reducing close

Juan Reyes

as visitors pick their pumpkins.

contact with individuals outside your household, wearing face coverings, practicing hand hygiene, and staying home when not feeling well are all important measures to slow the spread.

Revelers are asked to consider using a Halloween-themed cloth face covering, as a costume mask is not a substitute.

Avoid wearing a costume mask over a protective cloth face covering because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.

Many traditional holiday activities promote congregating and mixing of households, which increase the risk of transmitting Covid-19. For this reason, both Santa Clara County and San Benito County public health departments recommend safer alternatives to celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos and strongly discourage trick-or-treating.

The safest way to celebrate Halloween is to spend time with people in the same household or to celebrate virtually.

Some specific alternatives that are low risk but still capture the holiday fun include: • Creating a haunted house or candy scavenger hunt in your home for members of your household, rather than going house-to-house.

• Having a scary movie night or Halloween-themed activities (pumpkin carving, face painting) at home.

• Participating in online parties or contests (e.g., costume or pumpkin carving).

• Dressing up homes and yards with Halloween-themed decorations.

• Participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt in your neighborhood and look for Halloween-related objects (e.g. witches, spider webs, black cats) while maintaining social distance ➝ 4

SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | OCTOBER 30, 2020

EVENING GLOW The sun sets on Swank Farms in Hollister

3

4

3

from people from outside your household.

• Car parades that comply with public health guidance for vehicle-based parades including: -Drive-by events or contests where individuals dress up or decorate their vehicles.

-Drive-thru events where individuals remain in their vehicles and drive through an area with Halloween displays.

-Drive-by events where individuals can receive a treat bag (limited to commercially packaged non-perishable treats) or take away item(s) from an organizer while the participants remain in their vehicle.

The safest way to celebrate Día de los Muertos is to spend time with people in the same household or to celebrate virtually. Some specific alternatives that are low-risk include: • Decorating your home with images and objects to honor your deceased loved ones.

• Preparing traditional family recipes.

• Playing music in your home that your deceased loved ones enjoyed.

• Making and decorating masks or making an altar for the deceased.

• Joining a virtual get-together celebration.

• Visiting and decorating graves of loved ones with household members only and keeping more than 6 feet away from others who may be in the area.

The following are higher-risk activities that are strongly discouraged: • Door-to-door trick-or-treating is not recommended because it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors, ensure that everyone answering or coming to the door is appropriately masked to prevent disease spread, and it involves touching high contact surfaces such as doorbells and candy bowls.

Juan Reyes

OCTOBER 30, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

SAFE N’ SCARY

EVENING GLOW The sun sets on Swank Farms in Hollister as visitors pick their pumpkins.

• “Trunk or treating” where children go from car-to-car instead of door-to-door to receive treats is also not recommended, since it is difficult to avoid crowding and sharing food.

These activities are prohibited by state public health orders: • Halloween gatherings, Día de los Muertos celebrations, events or parties with non-household members are not permitted.

• Carnivals, festivals, live entertainment and haunted house attractions are not permitted.

• Having a large dinner party with people from different households coming from different geographic locations.

• Attending large indoor celebrations with singing or chanting. Large gatherings, even if they are outdoors, are high risk for spreading Covid-19 and are associated with many cases throughout the Bay Area.

• Sharing, eating, drinking, speaking loudly or singing amongst others outside of your household.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE MEASURES Regardless of how you choose to celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos, it is important to keep the following in mind: • Face Coverings: Wear a cloth face covering that securely covers nose and mouth to prevent disease spread when outside your home and around others that are not part of your household. Please note plastic, rubber, vinyl, and other Halloween costume masks are not acceptable substitute for cloth face-coverings to prevent Covid-19 spread.

• Practice Social Distancing: Stay at least 6 feet away (three

• • • •

or more adult steps) from all other people who are not part of your own household, especially when talking, eating, drinking and singing.

Outdoors is Safer: Avoid confined spaces, especially indoors.

Good Hygiene: Wash or sanitize your hands often. Clean high-touch items regularly.

Minimize Mixing: Plan activities to limit mixing between different households.

Stay Home If You Are Sick or You are in a High-Risk Group: If you are sick, or you have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Covid-19 or has symptoms of Covid-19 please stay home and away from others.

People at higher risk of severe illness or death from Covid19 (such as older adults, people with chronic medical conditions) are strongly urged to stay home.

PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE

Much about mulches

Organic mulches are highly combustible

By DWIGHT GOOD

M

ulches play an important role in landscapes. They can reduce the water requirements of plants, cool soil temperatures, reduce the occurrence of weeds, control soil erosion and dust, and can visually enhance the landscape. Unfortunately, some popular mulches are also combustible, a bad attribute for residential landscapes located in high fire hazard areas, and can be easily ignited by embers during a wildfire.

Organic mulches are made from plant materials. These materials vary considerably in terms of size, shape and texture; factors that also influence their flammability. Test results show that pine needle and gorilla

hair mulches are easily ignited, burn fast and produce considerable heat.

Other organic mulches, such as bark nuggets and wood chips, burn somewhat slower but also produce considerable heat. Partially composted wood chips produce very little flame and burn much slower than the other mulches, but burn hot via glowing combustion.

Inorganic mulches are derived from non-plant materials and include rock, stone and gravel. Most inorganic mulches are noncombustible and are good choices for homes located in high fire hazard areas.

Some important mulch tips for homeowners living in high fire hazard areas are: • Do not use organic mulches within

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 25 years of fire service experience. For questions or comments, email Dwight.good@fire.ca.gov or call 408.310.4654.

SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | OCTOBER 30, 2020

DECORATIVE BARK Organic mulches must not be used within five feet of the house.

five feet of the house. During a wildfire, burning embers may accumulate in this area, providing ample sources of ignition for wood and bark mulches. • Keep organic mulches several feet away from combustible materials such as wood posts, firewood stacks, wooden fences, decks, stairs, etc. • Irrigating organic mulches may improve their ignition resistance, although the surface layers of mulch will dry out quickly during wildfire weather conditions.

No matter where you live, the most common reason homes burn during a wildfire is because embers land on something easily ignitable around the home. Remove leaves and pine needles from your rain gutters. Make changes now to reduce the ember threat to 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.

Most of the activity that makes a home less vulnerable to ignition focuses on the home and its immediate surroundings. 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 ember-safe housekeeping and landscaping. You can learn more at www.emberaware.com

5

REAL ESTATE SPOTLIGHT

HOME OF THE WEEK

Devoted to Customer Satisfaction The name Mojisola means born into wealth. As an agent with Exit Realty Keystone, Mojisola Sosimi will help you choose markets on the upswing, find properties at an undermarket value and build a real estate portfolio for long term wealth creation.

She loves to help buyers acquire their own home that is meant for a good living experience because she believes everyone has a destination. Her dedicated spirit will help sellers achieve their goals efficiently and effectively.

With her professionalism of integrity, and being a child of God, she is devoted to: • Taking the time to listen, and learn about client’s needs, wants and desires

OCTOBER 30, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

• Study the market to help clients when buying or selling

6

• Using every innovative marketing plan, buying and selling techniques • Put her negotiating skills to work for you The best part of this career for Mojisola is seeing the excitement and joy on the faces of her clients; especially first-time home buyers after getting their keys to their homes for the first time. This is a calling to her to help someone that has lost hope in ever owning a home and having the American dream become a reality. She loves to listen and walk her clients through every process to make the transaction very easy. If buyers and sellers are out there and need an agent that is knowledgeable and caring, look no further.

Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home, land, commercial property, or an investment property, Mojisola is the loyal and dedicated Realtor that takes the time necessary to achieve your goals.

MOJISOLA SOSIMI REALTOR

DRE# 01998991 EXIT Realty Keystone | 16175 A Monterey Road | Morgan Hill, CA 95037 www.ExitRealtyKeystone.com | mojisolasosimi@gmail.com | 408.515.7474

Submitted photo

Mojisola has a well-grounded background of sales and entrepreneur skills. Her father and mother were in buying and selling for over 40 years before they retired, therefore, it runs in the family.

FOOTHILL AVENUE This Gilroy home offers views of the countryside.

Taking in the countryside Gilroy home surrounded by sprawling five acres of land with expansive views

T

his custom Gilroy home offers expansive views of both eastern and western horizons.

Located at 10470 Foothill Ave., the 4,521-square-foot home includes four bedrooms and five bathrooms.

The entry features a 20-foot ceiling that opens into the formal living and dining rooms with cathedral ceilings.

The kitchen is outfitted with

maple cabinetry, granite counters, an island and appliances such as a Thermador six-burner range. A fireplace and wet bar are located in the family room area.

The master suite features a walk-in closet, shower, jacuzzi tub and sunlit sitting area, with its own fireplace and office space.

The home, built in 1999, is listed at $2,249,000 by Intero Real Estate Services. For information, visit tinyurl.com/y6ftcygp.

REAL ESTATE

For more information Contact 408.842.5066 or email classifieds@newsvmedia.com

HOME & GARDEN SERVICES HAULING

South County Cleanup, Demo & Hauling LOW RATES • FREE ESTIMATES CLEAN UP-Yards, homes, properties, rentals & garages DEMO-Bathrooms, kitchens, decks, patios, small buildings HAULING-Garbage, yard waste, rock, sand & mulch POWER WASHING

408.430.3560

Shop Local

Your Local Mortgage Expert Tiffany has a referral-based operation that has been growing over her 25 years as a mortgage expert. She has a reputation for uncompromising ethics and attacks every home loan with the tenacity needed for a timely close. Year after year Tiffany is recognized as a President’s Club level producer and recognized in the Top 1% of Originators* in the United States. Call Tiffany to receive a personal and professional approach on your home loan!

NMLS ID: 236890 CA CA - CA-DOC236890 - 41DBO-68350 - NMLS ID # 1598647 (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) CA - Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight, Divi- sion of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act Lic #41DBO-68350 - Guaranteed Rate A nity, LLC is a registered trademark of Guaranteed Rate, Inc., used under license. Guaranteed Rate A nity, LLC is a subsidiary of Guaranteed Rate, Inc.* Source: Mortgage Executive’s Top 1% Originators list, 2019.

TIFFANY DOYLE

VP OF MORTGAGE LENDING 950 Tennant Station Morgan Hill www.GRArate.com/TiffanyDoyle | Tiffany.Doyle@Grarate.com O: 408.962.6868 | C: 408.607.9421

SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | OCTOBER 30, 2020

Publish Your Business or Service Ad Here

7

MISSING OPEN STUDIOS? (Us, too!)

V ISUAL ArTS

• Steaks, Seafood & Pasta • Beautiful Ambiance • Patio Dining • Early Bird Dining • Sunday Champagne Brunch 8am • Full Service Bar / Happy Hour 3-6pm • Early Bird Dinner Specials 4-6pm • Ask About Our Banquet & Catering Services Weddings, Rehearsal Dinners, Line Dancing Baby Showers, Receptions Wed • 7pm FREE Lessons

N e t w o r k

presents

Located in Historic Downtown Gilroy

a curated directory of santa cruz county visual artists

Art on Your Schedule Any Time All Year Long find yourfor favorite the artists Food and discover new ones!

Holidays

Open daily 8:00am for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Sunday Brunch 8am-1pm

return often for updates.

Made Easy!

presenting sponsor

Major sponsor

7400 Monterey Street, Gilroy • 408.842.3454 www.oldcityhall.biz

Enjoy

10/23/20 1:01 PM

Drop Off Free in Gilroy On Site at Cafe 152 Bread Co.

Call cafe152@charter.net

408.767.2868 Here are some ideas!

TY

OF

SANTA

C

RA

Holidays

CATERING EASY! Made Easy!

1549_AC_VAN_GT_ad_4.34x4.84_4C_2ndRound_v5.indd 1

LA

Call 408.767.2868 cafe152@charter.net Food for the How many from 10 to 100 Tell Us We’ll work with your budget MADE

COU N

visualartsnetworkscc.com

REGISTRAR OF

SI

OTERS

N CE 1850

Presidential General Election

Assorted Gourmet Sandwiches How many from 10 to 100

Tell Us

Mini SandwichesWe’ll work with your budget Variety of Market Salads Drop Off Free in Gilroy

Enjoy

Site at Cafe 152 Bread Co. Audrey’s FinestOn Chocolate Chip Cookies and many other Desserts Here are some ideas!

Here are some ideas!

Exceptional Breakfast • Assorted gourmetAssorted sandwiches Gourmet Goodies • Mini sandwiches Sandwiches

Pastries and Coffee • Variety of market salads

Mini Sandwiches

Fall Bites • Harvest ChocolateSmall chip cookies Variety of Market Salads Menu • Exceptional breakfast goodies

Audrey’s Finest Chocolate

• Pastries and coffee Sliders - Burger BarChip Cookies and many • Burger sliders other Desserts Buffet Dinner for drop off • Buffet dinner for drop off

Appetizer Party at Exceptional Breakfast • Appetizer party atGoodies Cafe 152 Bread Co. Cafe 152 - BYOW BYOW Pastries and Coffee

Office parties and events

408.767.2868

Catering

Fall Harvest Small Bites Menu Sliders - Burger Bar Buffet Dinner for drop off Appetizer Party at Cafe 152 Bread Co. BYOW

408.767.2868 • cafe152@charter.net

VOTE PROUD

AVOID THE CROWDS Early Voting Starts Oct 5th