Pajaro Valley Magazine November 5 2021

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE PAJARO VALLEY

NOVEMBER 5 -11, 2021

A supplement to The Pajaronian

SERVED  WITH 

PRIDE Veterans Day Celebration to honor local service members

HOME OF THE WEEK P7 | MIXING BOWL P8 | PHOTO GALLERY 10

3% Down Payment and No Closing Costs!*

4

• Low, competitive rates • Friendly, fast, and local service

MAGAZINE

21 Brennan St, Suite 18, Watsonville, CA 95076

Apply online at www.bayfed.com or any of our convenient locations.

Phone: 831.761.7301

CEO & Executive Editor

Dan Pulcrano

831.479.6000 or toll-free at 888.4BAYFED, ext. 304 www.bayfed.com/HomeLoans

NOVEMBER 5 -11, 2021 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

*No closing costs include lender fees, appraisal fees, title fees, and escrow fees. First-Time Homebuyer Program available to those that have not owned a property in the last three years. Offer valid on owner-occupied single-family residences for those with a credit score of 680+. Maximum loan amounts up to $822,375 in Santa Cruz County and San Benito County, and $739,450 in Monterey County. Mortgage insurance required for loan amounts greater than 80% loan to value. Offer applicable on purchase transactions in the State of California. Offer not available on refinances. Other restrictions may apply. Terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. All loans are subject to approval of credit, income verification, and property valuation. Bay Federal Credit Union membership required at the time of closing. For more information, visit any Bay Federal Credit Union branch or call a Bay Federal Home Loan Consultant at 831.479.6000, or toll-free at 888.4BAYFED, extension 304. Bay Federal Credit Union is registered with the Nationwide Mortgage Lending System (NMLS). Bay Federal Credit Union ID #403635.

2

Publisher

Jeanie Johnson

8

Ad Director

Debra Whizin Editor

Erik Chalhoub Contributing Writers

Federally Insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender.

Erik Chalhoub, Johanna Miller, Tarmo Hannula Kate Russell, Sarah Ringler Advertising Account Executives

Lisa Buckley, Sue Lamothe, Kate Kauffman

Cabrillo Theatre Arts presents

Charley’s Aunt November 5 - 21 on the Blackbox Stage tickets: cabrillo.edu/vapa or 831-479-6154

Ilana Packer, Tiffani Petrov Design Layout

10 4

Cover story

7

Home of the Week

8

Mixing Bowl

Hon Truong Cover Photography:

Tarmo Hannula

Published by WatsNews, LLC, Watsonville, CA. Entire contents © 2021. All rights reserved.

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

TO PLACE AN AD Email:

sales@pajaronian.com Call:

10 Photo Gallery

831.761.7325

Tom Brezsny’s

Real Estate of Mind Provoking thought since 1990

Real Estate of Mind

Are You TOPS in Your Field?

Call Debra 831.761.7325

TOPS in Their Field

(831) 722-4694

Tom Brezsny

Tom Brezsny

Over 40 years of combined real estate experience. Specializing in Home Listings, Home Sales and Property Management.

Call us for all your Real Estate needs.

Ed Gagne

Kathy Oliver

REALTOR® 831.254.1432 egagne@baileyproperties.com Cal DRE #01450406

Broker Associate/REALTOR® 831.206.2249 Kathy@OliverPM.com Cal DRE #01116175 Owner of Oliver Property Management

AD SIZE

1/4s TAB

4.3438" X 4.8438"

DREAMER

Dreamer is doing just that, dreaming of his forever home. He is a very nice dog who enjoys pets and human attention. He is wonderful with other dogs and even wants some play. Dreamer is very smart and knows basic commands.

He is an 13-year-old, 48 pound Lab Mix. If you’d like to meet Dreamer, please fill out an online adoption questionnaire.

ADVERTISER: NAME HERE ACCOUNT EXEC: NAME HERE

plant & fungi based

DESIGNER: NAME HERE

products to power your daily skin care routine and

naturally accent your beauty.

831-718-9122

peaceofminddogrescue.org

Realtor® DRE #01063297 831-818-1431 getreal@sereno.com

Ad sponsored by Buttons

PA I D A D V E R T O R I A L

(If you’d like to sponsor our next ad, give us a call.)

PAID ADVERTORIAL

Discover Dewy Organics PUBLICATION: NAME HERE

dewyorganics.com @dewyorganics

PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 5-11, 2021

Last we alwaysqui do here the Ore week, resciisasnobitium utamonestrum reservation, we embraced Halloween que inimint invent ati ut fugiasp ienihil with passion. I went to the big Real Estate igentotatem auda quamus Halloween Party most of you molupta probably Tom Brezsny’s don’t quiat.even know about. Think Burning Man – but just for Realtors.

It always Luptas di berisqui andi simi, quo ends at midnightthought when they crank up the David Provoking since 1990molorem. essinulpa nimillaciam que Byrne song and torch a giant effigy of a Vel est, quibercima suburban tract house. si dus.

Ore resciis nobitium qui utam estrum Am rerore, si volorio.

Nemod It started 13 years ago, back in thequistrum dark que inimint invent ati utquas fugiasp resequu quid volorenet days of thentiberum Great Recession, when itienihil felt like was going to hell. Fear was igentotatem auda quamus molupta fuga.real Et estate res sitatus andentem.

Cabo. running rampant through the marketplace Nobitatia volorero illor rem volest que quiat. and I’ll never that first one…it vendus restisforget senistota hitatur Luptas andisam simi, quo took place ondia berisqui spooky dystopian cul-de-sac aditiur?

Qui dolorro ipsundit occupti essinulpa nimillaciam que molorem. filled with foreclosures, boarded-up busdae necaectium etdoorways plam dunt windows and darkenedsi thatam Vel est, quibercima dus. resembled the and vacant sim rerore, verit quis minum,teeth consenis re Am si missing volorio.

Nemod quistrum stares of hollowed-out pumpkins. sinienim qui aut iurquid modis as volorenet etur? resequu ntiberum quas Cobwebs hung like Spanish from For Torisquosae repuditas untmoss ut facia fuga.

Et res sitatus andentem.

Cabo.

Sale signs leaning at odd angles. Buzzards doloribus, utatetur?

Nobitatia volorero illor– rem volest que circled homes in default marking them Cerrume nienimi verum vendus restis sam hitatur as easy prey forsenistota landligenducient sharks prowling the fugitatem imdolorro inimus, voluptur?

Quiberu neighborhood.

Crazy conga linesoccupti of buyers aditiur?

Qui ipsundit and sellers were snaking the am ptatur? busdae necaectium et through plam dunt streets.

Loan brokers Cepudandam quaminsiAlan bea Greenspan endusant. sim verit quis minum, re masks were handing out consenis Nestle “Credit” Pudis sim quis maiorrovitem sinienim qui Others aut iurwere modis ascorrum etur?

Crunch Bars. handing out alit, cusam ium quoGum. comniatiur aut Real Estate “Bubble” Torisquosae repuditas unt ut facia im facepra verspelaslaciae doloribus, utatetur?

Someone disguised Nakedsuntem Greed was ipsamus,through quam sed es es maximus streaking the crowd chased byasse Cerrume nienimi ligenducient verum volorerfero tem quod quo voluptaquos another character dressed in a skimpy Real fugitatem im inimus, voluptur?

Quiberu Estate There were Monster ex et isRally eic Thong. te lit volupti dolum ptatur?

Houses milling everywhere andaut a roaming iumquiatio exces erion nihit lat Cepudandam quam si bea chorus of gremlins called “Theendusant.

What-Ifs” quam quis rem fugita consedi niet, eos was whispering thoughts corrum into Pudis sim quis fearful maiorrovitem eost alitears latewith verum que coressin people’s high-pitched, bansheealit, cusam ium quo comniatiur aut like voices.turionsedit quo etur? Qui odit Voloreca im facepra verspel laciae suntem mo optatur? aut volore Iquisciis saw a couple of Blind Quaspit Appraisers ipsamus, es es maximus asse searching for of Swarming doluptiis quam inuscomps. si sed quiGroups voluptas nos modi volorerfero temdressed quod quo voluptaquos Termites. up like Statues of ilibus. Sellers St. et Joseph. morphing ex is eicAnd te litUnderwriters voluptiisdolum IqueUndertakers nulparum faccus, a conestr into trying tonihit bury the lat iumquiatio exces erion uptat. declaring that the word aut market, “mortgage” quam quis rem fugita consedi niet, eos Aliquedid ma enisi quatet am,French audipsa really originate from the word eost alit late verum que coressin for “death tax. ”

piciaec usandite latur aut dicia quia Voloreca etur?

Qui odit pa ipsantofturionsedit magnihicid quiate re ad que Prophets Doom and quo Gloom roamed quisciis mout optatur?

Quaspit volore the cul-de-sac chased by Zombieaut Buyers, delibusam et ut odicidebit, siment while a growing ofvitatia Unsolds hid doluptiis inus qui voluptas nos modi dem quae porisiLegion dolorro quia inside their houses. The American Dream ilibus. illatur?

Voluptat aspernatum, serupta was dressed in a black robe and carried a Ique nulparum faccus, isnonsedipsum a conestr ecesci res eum restium scythe. The Grinch That Stole the Economy uptat. was a bag fullnos of treats labeled eumlugging que dolorem dolum lam, Credit Default Swaps, while someone else Alique maaenisi quatet am, audipsa etur, cust duntusdae lam dolorpo dressed like a Doctor wasaut trying toquia find the piciaec usandite latur dicia rempeliquid modis aut ataerror re market’s pulse! pa ipsantoptatio magnihicid quiate volorest dempor aut re autad que A few people came as Toxic Assets and delibusam ut etque utmask odicidebit, siment explabo.

Nem recuste the Gordon Gekko madeposapel a big dem quae Freddie pori dolorro quiaa comeback.

Krugervitatia also made special guest appearance promoting his illatur?

Voluptat aspernatum, serupta new movie “Nightmare on nonsedipsum Main Street,” but ecesci res eum restium he was almost eclipsed by a giant swathe of eum quecalled dolorem nos dolum lam, darkness the Shadow Inventory.

DRE #01063297 etur, custRealtor® a duntusdae lam dolorpo Wow. What a party. Say what you want 831-818-1431 rempeliquid modis do autfear ataerror re about realgetreal@sereno.com estate...we well. There volorest are alwaysoptatio plenty ofdempor lost soulsaut outaut there wanderingNem around with grave faces on. explabo. que recuste posapel Gives mePAID goosebumps just to think ADVE RTOR IALabout it.

THE RIGHT CHOICE.

DESIGN DEPARTMENT weeklys.com

3

WALKING STRONG

Veterans from various branches of the military march along Main Street in Watsonville at a previous Veterans Day walk of honor.

Tarmo Hannula

NOVEMBER 5 -11, 2021 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

                    

4

SALUTE TO THE PROUD                     

By ERIK CHALHOUB & TODD GUILD

Veterans Day ceremony returns after pandemic hiatus

W

atsonville’s Veterans Day Celebration returns to downtown after last year’s in-person event was cancelled due to Covid-19.

Veterans and others will begin gathering at 9:30am on Nov. 11 in the parking lot of St. Patrick’s Church, 721 Main St. At 10am, the Chesty Puller Battalion, United States Naval Sea Cadets will lead the parade carrying

the Colors, followed by the veterans and then other parade participants.

They will march down Main Street, turn left on East Beach Street and finish at the Henry J. Mello Center, 250 East Beach St. The program will take place inside the Mello Center at 11am with the ringing of the bell.

During the ceremony, Tony Rojas and Rick Sanchez will be honored as Veterans of the Year.

In addition to the

After the ceremony, the American Legion and Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez will be hosting a luncheon for all attendees. The luncheon will be hosted by volunteer students of Watsonville High in their newly remodeled cafeteria. Music during lunch will be performed by Jose Camacho and the Activities For All band. American Legion Commander Felipe Hernandez will be emcee of the luncheon.

REFLECTION Veteran Tony Rojas plays his bugle

at the start of the Walk of Honor.

Tarmo Hannula

VFW Post 1716 Veteran of the Year: Tony Rojas Whenever there is an event honoring veterans, Tony Rojas is there, bugle in hand.

He’s performed “Taps” at countless Veterans Day ceremonies in Watsonville and the region, as well as at funerals for service members, regardless of whether he knew them or not, he notes.

Rojas, a retired U.S. Air Force Airman 2nd Class, has also received recognition from numerous organizations and government representatives for his service. He’ll soon add another honor to his illustrious career, as the VFW Post 1716 will

recognize him as its Veteran of the Year during the Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 11.

Growing up in Arizona, Rojas said he was drawn to the bugle as a young boy. His goal was to play “Call to the Colors” at his elementary school, so he approached his principal with the idea.

The principal agreed, Rojas recalled, and from that point on, he performed the song every morning at school.

Not too long after, his father approached him with a task that would serve as a defining moment in his life.

“My father worked at the cemetery, and he said, ‘Son, I have an honorable job for you. I want you to play 'Taps' for our fallen veterans,’”

Rojas said. “With great pride I took on the task to play ‘Taps.’”

The following year, Rojas joined the Boy Scouts, and became the bugler of Troop 24. He later joined the Arizona National Guard 158 infantry and played the bugle for several events. Rojas also served at Fort Huachuca for nearly three years.

In 1952, Rojas joined the Air Force, and was deployed to the Far East, Africa, Azores and French Morocco, ending his term at Forbes Air Force Base in Kansas.

At the end of his military service, Rojas moved to Watsonville.

He retired as a professional musician in 2010, capping a career that included many performances at venues throughout the Bay Area,

and even playing at the Western White House for President Richard Nixon's staff.

Rojas is married to his wife Valie for 66 years, and they have four daughters, one granddaughter and one grandson.

He said he has played his bugle to honor veterans from World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War for more than 65 years.

“I am a very proud veteran and bugler,” Rojas said, adding that he hopes to one day perform “Taps” at the Arlington National Cemetery. “I feel every veteran deserves a bugle call and this is something we must never forget.” ➝6

PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 5 -11, 2021



5

HONORING VETS

NOVEMBER 5 -11, 2021 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE



6

American Legion Post 121 Veteran of the Year: Rick Sanchez Rick Sanchez enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1982. He did his basic training at Camp Pendleton in Southern California, and was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where as a corporal, he specialized in the M60 rifle and the 50-caliber machine gun.

He was deployed to Lebanon in 1982, and served in Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Guam, Panama, Honduras, Puerto Rico, and did cold weather training in New York and Norway.

“We were never in one place for three months, we were always on deployment,” he says.

After serving three years, he completed a carpentry apprentice program in Santa Clara, and moved to Watsonville 26 years ago.

Sanchez has been a member of the Watsonville American Legion Post 121 for 22 years, serving as commander, financial officer adjutant and second vice.

Sanchez’s father served in WWII, and his brother in the Vietnam War. He says he has turned down the veteran of the year honor twice. Like many veterans, he says he enlisted–and continues to help with the American Legion–because of a sense of duty to his country.

“I really didn’t think I deserved it,” he said. “We just do these things to help out. We don’t do it to get brownie points. It’s to honor our country and make sure we do our service.”

         

ADD ‘VETERAN’ TO DRIVER'S LICENSE The Santa Cruz County Veterans Services Office will be on hand at the Mello Center to assist veterans in adding the “Veteran” distinction on their driver’s license.

Eligible veterans will have the opportunity to be issued a VSD-001 Form in order to take to the DMV to have the word “Veteran” added to the front of their driver’s license/ID card to indicate that they have served in the U.S. Military.

Those who served in the military are asked to bring their DD Form 214.

Those who served in the National Guard or Reserves are asked to bring their DD Form 256 or DD Form 257.

         

Tarmo Hannula

Rick Sanchez is shown at the American Legion Hall in Watsonville.

HOME OF THE WEEK

Coldwell Banker Realty

TINDALL RANCH A 50-acre property in Corralitos.

Multiple cabins, rooms and more along with main house in Corralitos

W

ith 22 guest rooms and 50 acres, the potential uses of this massive Corralitos property seem endless.

Located at 1550 Tindall Ranch Road, the main 2,484-squarefoot house includes five bedrooms and three bathrooms, plus a 2,000-square-foot deck.

There are also five cabins, a converted two-story barn with two

apartments, a 1,260-square-foot glass ceiling multi-purpose room, a 950-square-foot conference room, pool with sauna and more. A commercial grade kitchen is also part of the property.

The property features two producing wells, with 5,000- and 20,000-gallon tanks.

It is listed at $4.9 million by Coldwell Banker Realty. For information, visit bit.ly/3xoThDX.

PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 5 -11, 2021

Retreat in the mountains

7

THE MIXING BOWL degrees. Put seeds in a colander and run water over them to clean them up. Dry in a kitchen cloth.

Put them in a bowl and toss with a little sea salt and olive oil. Spread them out on a cookie tin and bake for about 15-30 minutes stirring them until they are crunchy.

French pumpkin soup

Tarmo Hannula

NOVEMBER 5 -11, 2021 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

SEASONAL TASTE Combine sourdough bread, rich Swiss Cheese and milk inside a pumpkin to make a festive fall soup.

8

Soup in a pumpkin

By SARAH RINGLER

H

alloween is over and pumpkins are everywhere. If you happen to have an uncarved pumpkin sitting around, here is a way to turn it into a delicious soup.

This recipe comes from Solange, a French woman I knew, who made this for a luncheon I attended many years ago. Since the soup is made inside the pumpkin, it makes a dramatic presentation.

The problem with making this

soup is that there are no exact ingredients; the amounts depend upon the size of the pumpkin.

The amounts below are suggested and should be modified according to the size of your squash. A medium-size pumpkin can make enough soup for about five people.

The main requirement is that it has to fit inside your oven.

There are many kinds of pumpkins and all are edible, but some are more adaptable to eating with more flavor, and thicker and denser flesh.

Pumpkins bred for carving tend to have thinner and drier flesh.

A member of the squash family, it is native to North America and there is evidence that it has been farmed and eaten for around 9,000 years. It can be steamed, baked, boiled or grilled on hot coals like it was in ancient times. Some pumpkins that might be better for this soup are Pie, Cheese, Cinderella, lumina or peanut pumpkin. Peanut pumpkin, a French variety also called Galeux d’Eysine, is pinkish colored and has a sweet flesh.

Don’t forget the seeds, which can be used to grow next year’s crop or to eat: Preheat an oven to 375

One medium sized pumpkin 2 cups sourdough bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and lightly toasted 3-4 cups Swiss cheese, grated 1-quart milk or enough to fill the pumpkin 1 tablespoon salt 2 teaspoons ground black pepper 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2-3 tablespoons butter Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Take slices of sourdough bread and cut into cubes. Put them into the oven for a few minutes to dry them out a bit.

Cut a ring around the top of the pumpkin that allows you enough space to get your hand inside so you can clean the seeds out. The lid will go back on the pumpkin as you bake it.

Clean out the seeds and scrape out the stringy and slimy fibers. I used a soup spoon to scrape off a thin inner layer. Take the seeds and rinse and then roast them with oil and salt for a snack. Wash and dry the pumpkin. Put it on a pie plate.

Sprinkle the inside generously with salt, pepper and nutmeg and rub around to coat the sides. Put in a layer of bread cubes followed by a thin layer of grated cheese.

Alternate layers until the pumpkin is about 2/3 full, no more. Pour in milk leaving an inch at the top. Dot with butter. Put the top back on.

Bake the pumpkin for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Keep an eye on it to make sure the outside doesn’t get too dark in color. Some liquid may pour out onto the pie tin.

Finally, before serving, stir the inside with a metal spoon, scraping off the cooked flesh and mixing it with the bread, cheese and milk.

Be very careful not to puncture the skin. Place the cooked pumpkin and pie plate on the table. Serve immediately with some nice fresh bread.

HOMEOWNER’S SERVICE GUIDE Keep your home in top shape with the help of these local professionals.

Native Tree Care

For information on how to include your business, email sales@pajaronian.com

Extraordinary Construction

Quality House 5 Cleaning

RAINBOW CARPETS & FLOORS

WE DELIVER!!

RAINBOW 1 CARPETS & FLOORS

2

ADUs • Jr ADUs • Granny Units Additions • Studios • Sun Rooms

Quality House Cleaning

831 322-4422

Our Watsonville location is still Serving all of Santa Cruz County!

LOCAL BUSINESS FOR OVER 40 YEARS

& MORE!

www.AToolShed.com 1-800-A-TOOL-SHED Santa Cruz

Watsonville

831.477.7133

831-722-0334

3700 Soquel Ave

Native

• BACKHOES • TRUCKS • TRAILERS

285 W Beach St.

We handle everything from

Design to Permits to Construction

EXTRAORDINARY CONSTRUCTION extraordinaryconstruction.com LIC #1023400 and Insured

Tree Care All phases of tree work...

• Stump grinding • Poison oak removal • Fruit tree pruning • Palm tree pruning

Julian 831 335-5175 *Certified arborist since 1974 *Iinsured PLPD $2M

• Holiday Cleaning • Residential • Vacation Rentals • All Plant-based

Cleaning Products • English Speaking • Vaccinated for COVID-19

I specialize in homes! References available LIC#108576 Insured

Call or Text Kristina: 650-703-5179

JOHN SKILLICORN Realtor®

CALDRE #01875872

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

PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 5-11, 2021

831.728.3131

FOR IN HOUSE APPOINTMENTS

• CHAIN SAWS • GENERATORS • GARDEN TOOLS • LOG SPLITTERS • FORKLIFTS

9

PHOTO GALLERY Have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to echalhoub@weeklys.com or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 18, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name of the photographer.

UNDER THE ARCH

These folks take time to visit one of the last remaining natural bridges along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz.

SEARCHING A

skimboarder waits for the ideal wave at Main Beach in Santa Cruz.

Tarmo Hannula

NOVEMBER 5 -11, 2021 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Tarmo Hannula

Puddles remained in Moss Landing Oct. 25, a day after an “atmospheric river” drenched the region.

Ed Show

10

WET WEATHER

the

u lt im

at e g u id

e to loca l

shop

p in g

2019 Holid ay Gift Guide SAN TAC G O O R U Z .C O D T IM M E S .S C

GOOD TIM P R E S E N T SE S THE BEST LOCAL GIF OF TS

The biggest and best Holiday Gift Guide in the County showcasing gift ideas from local businesses with beautiful design and a whopping 60,000 circulation! 30,000 copies will be inserted into Good Times on November 25th, and the next 30,000 will be distributed freestanding at key locations until December 24th. Now also distributed in Los Gatos!

Publication dates: Wed, Nov 24 & Dec 8 Call your rep for more details 831.458.1100

GUIDE 2022

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

GUIDE TO WHERE THE LOCALS GO

2020

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

GUIDE TO WHERE THE LOCALS GO

2019

THINKLOCALSANTACRUZ.ORG

SPACE RESERVATION NOV 30 PRODUCTION AD DEADLINE NOV 30 E-AD DEADLINE DEC 15 DISTRIBUTION DATE DEC 22

THINKLOCALFIRSTSC.ORG

Contact your advertising representative at 831.458.1100 If not a member we can sign you up!

107 Dakota Avenue, Santa Cruz

PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 5-11, 2021

2021 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

THINK LOCAL FIRST

11