San Lorenzo Valley Post November 2021

SAN LORENZO VALLEY POST

FALL’S BOUNTY

FOOD 17

PHOTOGRAPHY 23

Welcome Celebrating Fall

By Julie Horner

The first rains of autumn have deepened the Santa Cruz Mountains verdure; leaves a collage of green, amber, and crimson as colder days approach. Yards and countryside drip heavy with figs, apples, and persimmons. The air is newly fresh, wiped clean of summer’s dust. Cords of wood are stacked against fences, and fireplaces glow for the first time. Residents watch forecasts with hope that mountainsides in the CZU burn scar are secure. With fire season potentially quelled, thoughts turn to remedying local water issues, supporting fire survivors in their rebuilding, and making progress out of the health crisis. Main streets twinkle in the early dusk, and small town shops and local crafters have flung open their doors to reveal their wares, a delight for the eye and an opportunity to give genuinely in this season of sharing.

This month’s beautiful cover photo is by Alison Steele, the Post’s food columnist and mountain gardener. To

celebrate the bounty of the harvest, Alison shares her Heirloom Fig Bread Pudding recipe on page 17 and gorgeous Fall photos from her Boulder Creek home on page 23. mountain

Publisher

Founders/Editors

Mary Andersen mary@slvpost.com

Julie Horner

julie@slvpost.com

Photographers

Julie Horner

Josh Reilly

Alison Steele

Graphic Design

Laura Testa-Reyes

Contributors

Jayme Ackemann

Randall Brown

Catie Cadge

M.C. Dwyer

Bob Fultz

Josh Reilly

Lisa Robinson

Alison Steele

Cover photo by

Event Notices

Contact julie@slvpost.com 831-325-1974

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Community News

Felton Library Friends Celebrate Reopening of the Felton Branch

In February 2020, more than 2,000 people celebrated the grand opening of the new Felton Library. But just a few weeks later, the Felton Branch closed due to COVID. The new landmark building sat empty for over a year while patrons picked up requested library materials at the curb, then in the lobby.

Now the library is once again a welcoming space for all. The Felton Branch Library is open seven days a week until the Scotts Valley Branch reopens in the spring. Many activities are offered weekly, from

children’s story times to knitting to computer help. A highlight for the season, Dia de los Muertos, takes place on November 6 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.

Felton Library Friends partners with the library on a number of projects including Community-Led Learning, which reviews proposals by community members to present adult programs in the areas of local history, arts and crafts, or environmental sciences. FLF also supports enhancements to library spaces such as the Teen, Multipurpose, and Community rooms, as well as activities at the adjacent Felton Discovery Park through monthly work parties.

FLF carries out its objectives through teams, each assigned to a specific task like “friend-raising,” community outreach, art curation, and tending to the Felton Discovery Park. The Felton Branch features the Steve Dondero Environmental Collection and scientific materials, such as a lendable telescope. The Felton Discovery Park also promotes environmental literacy through a native plant walkway and pollinator garden; musical instruments; a 3-D watershed map; children’s play structures; a “human sundial”; and interpretive signs about pollinators, watershed, riparian zones, and restoring fire’s natural role in a healthy ecosystem. Michele Mosher, FLF Park Team member said, “The combination of library and park is unique, and the environmental emphasis of both is so fitting for our valley.”

FLF is a chapter of the nonprofit Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. All interested community members are welcome to come to FLF meetings on the first Tuesday of the month in the Community Room. The next meeting is November 2 at 4:30 pm. Masks and social distancing are required. To subscribe to the monthly newsletter, and to see volunteer opportunities and library event listings, visit feltonlibraryfriends.org. For library hours, visit santacruzpl.org. mountain

Felton Discovery Park

PHOTO BY CAITLIN ATKINSON

Art installation in the Felton Library “When Dreams Take Flight” by Lea De Wit

Main Street SLV

Historic Trout Farm Inn Soon to Reopen

By Julie Horner

The Trout Farm was just purchased by Jessyka Soto, her husband Tachu Soto, and partners Olive Moredock, Craig Renfroe, Kym and Shawd DeWitt. Rumor had it that Beer Thirty bought it, but that’s only partly true. “I originally had other partners in mind,” Soto said, “but when a friend said I needed a beer garden, I contacted a few in town, and reached out to Beer Thirty specifically.” They were interested. “Once we met, and walked the property together, it was the start of this new venture and we couldn’t be more excited that they agreed to partner!”

Soto has always had her heart set on reopening the iconic Santa Cruz Mountains restaurant and event property on East Zayante Road in Felton. A popular roadside vacation spot established in 1947 on the site of a former trout hatchery, the building was heavily damaged by fire in 2016 and completely renovated in 2020. Locals have watched the new venue arise from the ashes over the years. Soto said, “I was looking at properties online one night and saw it was on the market. I grew up going there and took my kids there when they were growing up. I have always had a special place in my heart for the Trout Farm and knew I had to do whatever I could to purchase it.”

One Thing at a Time

“The restaurant was rebuilt, and done very well,” Soto said. The pool and the outside bathrooms and snack shack are next on the list to renovate. The cottages, the trout pond, and the barn will also be redone. “One thing at a time,” Soto said. The vision is all about community. “We see laughter and belly flop contests, and a place in Felton for people to come and have good food and good times!”

Newly remodeled Trout Farm Inn

She knows this will be a huge success. “Everyone stops by and can’t wait for it to reopen,” she said. “This is what we want to create...fun for the community again! Local enjoyment, history meets a new wave of bougie!”

Tasty Plates

The Trout Farm Inn will bring back some of the “must ‘’ dishes from the past in addition to a new comfort food menu with locally sourced health conscious options. They are hiring and invite the community to contribute old photos for a commemorative wall. Photos can be emailed to: party@thetroutfarm.com. The Trout Farm Inn plans to open on December 1.

7701 E. Zayante Road, Felton CA FB @troutfarminnfelton thetroutfarm.com mountain

Humble Sea Mountain Tavern Opening Soon in Felton

By Julie Horner

Humble Sea Brewing Company anticipates opening at the Cremer House in Felton by the end of the year. “It’s a slow rollout, these things take time,” said Lee DeGraw, Head of Marketing. “We just got the keys and we’re stoked!” DeGraw said they’ll have a full menu of “elevated comfort food” and feature an artisanal craft cocktails program. They’ll be brewing at the Swift Street taproom on the Westside and bringing “tons of rotating taps”

to the Humble Sea Mountain Tavern.

DeGraw said she loves the spirit of it and notes that all three of the co-founders grew up in the San Lorenzo Valley and graduated from SLV High — Frank Scott Krueger, Nick Pavlina, and Taylor West — and their first batch of suds was brewed in Ben Lomond on Pavlina’s grandmother’s property. So this is a true homecoming. “Stomping around Felton, there’s a real change going on there,” DeGraw said. “The idea of going back to the mountains feels really good.”

Humble Sea Mountain Tavern Felton

PHOTO

PHOTO BY JULIE HORNER

Main Street SLV

Manipura Marketplace Opens in Boulder Creek

By Julie Horner

Before opening Manipura, Valerie Campos taught adults and children who are blind and visually impaired the skills needed to safely navigate in their environment and lead independent lives. Transitioning, she felt the pull to pursue her passion and open a business of her own. “Holistic, plant-based living and natural medicine have always been important to me. I believe in the power of plants to heal mind, body, and spirit and want to share that with my community.

Recently moved to Boulder Creek

from Half Moon Bay, she said, “I’ve completely fallen in love with the area. The trees, the quiet, the proximity to the ocean, and the smal l-town community, all make for a very special place to call home!”

An Apothecary at Heart

Although an apothecary at heart, Manipura carries a wide array of products including ceremonial goods (sage, incense, kuripés, tarot), indoor plants and pots, and a selection of books. “My vision for the shop is to be a place where people can not only access high quality, organic herbs and teas but also find a book that inspires, a unique home décor item or a plant that livens up their space.”

A majority of their products come from local sources and they plan to expand this outreach to artwork from local artists. “We carry beautiful earrings from Desert Moon Design and artwork from True Blue Studio and Blind the Sun.”

She plans to offer workshops including breathwork and incense making, and live music is a probability. Opening Friday, October 29, 2021.

125 Forest Street, Boulder Creek IG @manipura_apothecary manipuramarketplace.com mountain

Humble Sea Mountain Tavern Opening Soon in Felton (cont.)

continued from page 4

Parking is always a hot topic, DeGraw acknowledged, but so far there seems to be local buy-in. “I love that we’re across from Felton Music Hall, I love the vibes. How cool is that? They’re booking some real high quality shows,” she said.

Rapidly expand ing from their 2015 launch on the West side, Humble Sea opened a new tap room in Pacifica this summer and is active ly scoping locations

over the hill in the East Bay and South Bay. For the Felton location, DeGraw said they’ve even created a mascot, a “Seasquatch” character. “It’s really about bringing the general kookiness of Humble Sea up to the mountains,” she said. And up here there are some true believers.

6256 Highway 9, Felton FB & IG @humblesea.tavern humblesea.com mountain

Manipura Marketplace on Forest Street, Boulder Creek

The Tavern’s new glassware

Transportation Accusations Abound As Electric Streetcar Demo Rolls Out

By Jayme Ackemann

Aprivate excursion train operator is hosting a demonstration project for one vision of rail service using a “ZEMU,” or zero-emission multiple unit, that could operate on tracks between Watsonville and Santa Cruz.

The Coast Futura, operated by TIG/m, offered tickets for two weekends in October to show Santa Cruz County residents what an electric streetcar might be able to offer the region as it grapples with a decision about the best use for the tracks.

There’s room for a healthy debate about what transit solutions might benefit all of the various interests trying to resolve traffic congestion and what role the out-of-service corridor might play without leaning on unnecessary fear tactics and obfuscation to make an argument.

Take claims about “dark money” funding the demonstration project. Those claims are among a raft of somewhat incendiary inferences made by Greenway, a mid-county group opposing rail alternatives previously led by Supervisor Manu Koenig prior to his election.

The money probably isn’t any “darker” than the funding behind Greenway. Coast Futura is merely the name of the demonstration project being operated by a joint coalition that includes TIG/m and Santa Cruz Big Trees Pacific Rail, which owns Roaring Camp

Railroads and operates freight service in south county.

The big picture is that Santa Cruz County has a traffic congestion problem that disproportionately impacts residents in the southern part of the county. A rail solution is one possible option that could help to address that congestion but has never been intended as the sole solution - which is another issue that rail opponents ignore when they suggest this project should be abandoned because alone it can’t resolve all of the traffic congestion.

Santa Cruz County Regional Transit Commission studied a host of projects that would address the congestion along this corridor as part of its Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis Study. While rehabilitating the rail corridor is among solutions that could have a meaningful impact on congestion - a bike-only trail probably doesn’t do anything more to solve that problem than the rail opponents suggest Coast Futura might. So this talking point probably doesn’t bear much fruit.

Greenway goes on to ominously suggest that allowing a for-profit private contractor to operate a county service on county-owned, right-of-way would be somehow inappropriate and Supervisor Koenig shares this concern.

“The coastal corridor is owned by the public. Anyone should be able to bring whatever wheels they want and ride on a trail for free,” Koenig said in an emailed statement. “We should not have to pay for a ride on some mall trolley to

experience the beauty of soaring over the Capitola Trestle or Watsonville wetlands.”

In his statement, Koenig also pointed out that contracting for essential county services is different, but I fail to see the distinction between contracting out the county’s fire recovery responsibilities to for-profit operator 4Leaf, Inc. and contracting with a private operator for transit service. That’s also a fairly common operating model in the Bay Area.

Caltrain is a publicly-owned service, using tracks owned by the counties through which it operates, and operated entirely on contract by a for-profit operator - TransitAmerica Services Inc. (TASI), a subsidiary of Herzog. Coincidentally one of the individuals behind TIG/m also formerly advised Herzog, so perhaps they aren’t as inexperienced as Greenway would suggest.

The fact is there are many publicly-owned right-of-ways upon which you cannot walk or ride your bicycle. Highway One south of Santa Cruz is one such example; the Caltrain tracks extending more than 50 miles between San

Jose and San Francisco are another.

Traffic congestion and its impacts on the quality of life for those residents routinely delayed by it are social justice issues in that the negative impacts more frequently accrue to lower-income individuals who are forced to rent or purchase housing further away from job centers due to affordability issues but then find themselves losing hours of their lives to congestion.

We need to start talking in a civil way about real solutions. Streetcars and bike trails may not get us there but there are good-faith arguments on both sides to be heard without all of the incendiary or misleading rhetoric.

Jayme Ackemann is a public affairs consultant and freelance writer. She has worked on major capital investments and water infrastructure construction projects in the Bay Area. Jayme is a resident of Ben Lomond. mountain

The Coast Futura electric streetcar

Water Policy

SLV Water District: Understanding Capital Obligations

By Bob Fultz

In earlier articles we examined SLVWD’s operating expenses, which have skyrocketed over the last decade in excess of inflation. This resulted, over the last 25 years, in almost $40 million dollars diverted to operating expenses rather than being used for infrastructure improvements and rate relief.

In this article we’re going to close the loop on how that diversion seriously impacts our community by examining more closely the District’s “capital obligations.”

Capital obligations include 1) debts that the District has incurred, which need to be paid to “catch up”, and, 2) investments the District needs to make going forward in order to maintain a viable, independent system.

The chart below illustrates the first category. This analysis assumes the District can obtain grant funding for all of the fire mitigation work needed and that CZU recovery is fully funded by the surcharge recently enacted. The total “catch-up” debt is about $20.5 million. As you can see, the $40 million diverted to operating expenses in excess of inflation would

have covered these catch-up expenses—and then some.

The remaining categories are unlikely to be eligible for either grant funding or FEMA reimbursement, with the possible exception of replacing the legacy redwood tanks (about $3.5 million) in the event those are damaged in a significant disaster—if such a disaster occurs before we replace them anyway as many of those tanks are at the end of their design life.

By way of comparison, budgeted operating expenses for the current fiscal year are about $9.2 million forecasted to go to $11.2 million in 5 years for an average growth of about 6.8% per year.

Conversely, the money needed to tap into our allotment from Loch Lomond (one of the enhancement projects above—also envisioned by the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency) may be eligible for some grant funding to construct—but most likely not the cost to operate it.

The second category includes spending on infrastructure improvements along with keeping reserve and pension accounts refreshed

every year with incremental funding—mainly to cover inflation. This second category examines the main infrastructure categories that need, over time, repair or replacement—from the water collection/generation points all the way to and including your meter.

As you can see in the chart on page 8, the two big categories are debt payments (showing current amounts) and replacing pipes. Even with an estimated life of 100 years for new pipe, we need to replace about 1% per year. According to our 2020 annual report, we have 170 miles of pipe. Replacing 1% per year on average means replacing 1.7 miles of pipe per year at an average cost of about $300 per foot for a total of $2.7 million a year just in replacing pipe. And given the age of some of our pipe, we may need to play “catch up” here as well.

Currently, the District has about $4.2 million per year to spend on both “catch-up” and “annual” capital obligations—and that number is forecasted to shrink over the next 5 years.

If the Board were to establish a policy to increase operating expenses by 4% a year over the next 5 years, the District would accrue about $24.5 million to apply to our capital obligations instead of the budgeted $20 million. A positive $4.5 million is a huge difference that will continue to grow over time as we work towards paying down our capital obligations. That is the key: time and compounding. These obligations were built up over decades. It will take time to pay them off. However, the longer we wait to make these policy changes, the larger the unpaid capital obligations.

Recently, there was a proposal made to merge SLVWD with the Scotts Valley Water District. The community, quite rightly in my opinion, expressed a very strong preference to stay independent. While this merger proposal has been shelved for now, there were certain Board members expressing both support for moving forward now as well as support for revisiting it later.

continues on page 8

Water Policy

SLV Water District: Understanding Capital Obligations (cont.)

continued from page 7

However, if our community wishes our District to stay independent then we must get on a better path with respect to fiscal policy. The first step in establishing good fiscal policy, or any policy, is to be transparent—and identify the challenges. As a first step, the SLVWD Board needs to establish a policy to include a more comprehensive review of the District’s true financial condition in its annual report—like the numbers presented here. And then the Board needs to engage the community in a discussion about how to address these financial realities, culminating in a strategic plan that reflects the solutions.

And a second step is an established policy around growth in operating expenses, recognizing that skyrocketing growth in operating expenses directly impacts our ability to address our District’s capital obligations, as shown here as well.

In the end, change happens when it is supported by a broad base of Owners—meaning all of you. The path to a healthy District with a stable fiscal policy, sound infrastructure and with affordable water rates can only be achieved if we, acting as a community, take action.

Bob Fultz is a member of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District Board of Directors, but is speaking only for himself in these columns. He is a resident of Boulder Creek and CFO at Range Networks. mountain

Fire Recovery

CZU Fire Survivors Navigate Difficult Rebuilding Decisions

By M.C. Dwyer

Last month, a group of us REALTORs were spurred into action when a unanimous vote of the County Board of Supervisors (“Board”) created the CZU Rebuild Directive. On its surface, the vote seemed positive for those who’d lost their homes in the CZU fires last August (“survivors”). In theory, this would have allowed survivors to rebuild without first getting expensive ($15,000+) and time consuming (months) reports from geologists and engineers. All survivors had to do to avoid these costs and delays, was sign an 8-page Geological Covenant to be recorded on their land’s title.

One of our community’s survivors, Brian Dean, is a lender. When he passed the Covenant by his underwriters, they determined it was dangerously flawed: the covenant protected the County, but it didn’t protect lenders. The underwriters said no conventional lender would lend to a new buyer of a Covenant property, and no lender would refinance a Covenant property. That would devalue the property, as only all-cash buyers could buy it. And all-cash buyers demand a steep discount for putting in so much equity. Since getting a loan includes promising you won’t do anything that decreases your property value, signing the Covenant meant lenders’ options included using survivors’ insurance money to repay the loan, or even calling the loan due in full – potentially putting survivors between a rock and a really hard place, and worst case to possibly

lose their land if they couldn’t afford to pay the lender back.

REALTORs galvanized. Chris Clayton set up a messaging group that grew to 60+ members, encouraging people to write letters to the Board. I started a petition that got over 980 signatures. We went to the Board meeting wearing red shirts, in support of fire survivors, and we voiced our concerns. There was one really awkward moment when the County’s legal counsel questioned my description of the Covenant’s riskiness. However, the survivor community has an amazing ally: banking professional Creedence Shaw. In a Hail Mary moment, he called in to the meeting and reiterated these were legitimate problems. Our concerns were heard! The Board ordered the Covenant to be revised and promised a Community Meeting mid-October.

The County’s communication about the virtual Community Meeting was poor. A survivors’ Facebook page announced it, but REALTORs only heard just hours before it started. About 60 people attended, including REALTORs. Remember, there are over 900 survivor families.

The meeting itself was well thought out with multiple presenters, flow-charts, and a Q&A session. The County offered a new document as an option: a Notice of Geological Hazards. It’s similar to documents already recorded on about 700 properties without

continues on page 10

Temporary housing on a Boulder Creek fire survivor’s property

Nightfall in the CZU burn zone

Fire Recovery

CZU Fire Survivors Navigate Difficult Rebuilding Decisions (cont.)

continued from page 9

negative repercussions. County staff ran the Notice by lenders, and promised to have it reviewed by insurers prior to implementation.

There are two methods to obtain geologic clearance to build: County Code Chapter 16.10, or the CZU Rebuild Directive. The CZU Rebuild Directive is available to survivors. The lost home must either be permitted or legal non-conforming, and rebuilding “in-kind.” “In kind” means a home or ADU, rebuilt substantially where it was or somewhere safer, and no more than 10% larger than the original.

There are two methods to obtain geologic clearance to build: County Code Chapter 16.10, or the CZU Rebuild Directive.

By signing the Notice, which will be recorded on title, survivors can waive the geo requirements to rebuild to save time and money. It’s not a permanent solution, but allows the County to waive some of the rigorous state building code requirements for survivors willing to take the risks. It’s also not a fair solution, because neighbors whose homes survived the fires won’t have this on their title, even though they face the same geological risks. County officials explained they only can record documents on title during the permit process: they said they have no way to make it fair.

The County explained three rebuild scenarios, one using chapter 16.10 and two using the CZU Rebuild Directive. They explained how the scenarios work, depending on risks outlined in the Atkins Debris Flow Study, which was paid for by a grant. The county hopes to apply for more grants to build debris walls to protect certain neighborhoods, and announced plans to have more neighborhoodspecific community meetings.

For more information, visit santacruzcounty.us/FireRecovery.aspx, email the Recovery Permit Center at rpc@santacruzcounty.us, or call (831) 454-5323.

This week, the first new stick of lumber went up for my husband’s rebuild: the customer power pole. More electrical work needs to be completed, then we can call PG&E to connect it. My husband

hired someone to locate the septic leach fields. He’s spent a month of weekends digging all over the property and fixing all the water infrastructure damaged by the fire and the heavy equipment for debris removal.

Visuals for the meeting: co.santa-cruz.ca.us/Portals/0/County/ firerecovery/pdfs/events/10.14.21_ CommunityMeetingCZURebuildDirective.pdf

“M.C.” (MaryCatherine) Dwyer, MBA, REALTOR® CA DRE License 01468388 EXP Realty of California, Inc. Serving San Lorenzo Valley and Santa Cruz County since 2005 mcdwyer.com mountain

The statements and opinions contained in this article are solely those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the positions or opinions of eXp Realty, LLC, or its subsidiaries or affiliates (the “Company”). The Company does not assume any responsibility for, nor does it warrant the accuracy, completeness or quality of the information provided.

PHOTO BY MC DWYER

Power pole finally up in Boulder Creek

Community Calendar

November 2021

Boulder Creek Fall Town Sweep

Saturday, Nov. 6 from 8:00 am to noon. Fall Town Sweep invites families, individuals, and groups to grab a broom or rake and lend a hand keeping downtown Boulder Creek tidy. Weeding, clearing gutters, picking up branches from recent winds, raking and sweeping leaves, and picking up trash. Please bring your own gloves and tools; the BCBA will have some tools to loan. Meet at the vacant lot between Jenna Sue’s Cafe and Los Amigos Taqueria at 8:00 am. Drop ins welcome any time before noon.

An Afternoon of Music at Mia Nova Vineyards

Saturday, Nov. 6 from 2:00 to 5:00. 160 Mitchell Drive, Boulder Creek. Mia Nova presents Sweetbender in an intimate concert featuring Todd Huth and Jay Lane, both original members of Primus, and Christopher Frey who played with Todd in the band Porch. Vocalist Michelle Strand completes the vibe with an intense and unexpectedly soothing tone. Farm fresh lunch included. Tickets and more information: eventcreate.com/e/sweetbender

13th Annual Santa Cruz Sea Glass & Ocean Art Festival 2021

Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 6 and 7 from 10:00 to 5:00. Sunroom and Cocoanut Grove on the Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz. Celebrating authentic sea glass and coastal art of all kinds. One-of-a-kind pieces from ceramics, soaps, sea salts, photography, fabric arts, and stunning sea glass jewelry.

Aptos Grange 7th Annual Craft Fair

Saturday, Nov. 13 from 11:00 to 4:00. 2555 Mar Vista Dr, Aptos. Handmade crafts for the holidays.

Brookdale Lodge Historic Plaque and Unveiling Ceremony

Saturday, Nov. 13 at 1:00 pm. Brookdale Lodge 11570 Highway 9, Brookdale. The E Clampus Vitus, Branciforte Chapter 1797 will install a plaque commemorating the history of the Lodge.

Herbal Holidays Workshop and Sale

Saturday, Nov. 13 from 10:30 to 4:30. Make and sample lip balm, pomander balls, aromatherapy spritzers, easy no-cook jam, bath salts, herb vinegars, tea blends, culinary delights, grapevine wreaths. Bonny Doon, address with registration: SweetHerbMedicinals.com/herbal-holidays

Riverside Art Fair

Saturday, Nov. 13 from 1:00 to 5:00. 332 Riverside Ave, Ben Lomond. Local handcrafted gifts, live music.

Capitola Village Sip and Stroll

Saturday, Nov.13 from noon to 5:00. Register at Mercantile, 115 San Jose Rd, Capitola starting at 10:00 am. Bring Identification and your purchase receipt from Eventbrite. No alcohol outside. Tickets: https:// fb.me/e/3qN6NhJkM

Downtown Santa Cruz Fall Wine Walk

Sunday, Nov. 14 from 2:00 to 5:00. Get your pass at Soif, 105 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz. Taste great wines, including many made in the Santa Cruz Mountains, while strolling through favorite Downtown Santa Cruz shops. Registration: 1:30 to 3:30. Tickets: https://fb.me/e/lpAvg7iIF

Women’s Full Moon Hike West Cliff Friday, Nov. 19 from 5:00 to 8:00. West Cliff/Park on West Cliff, meet at the Light-

house by Steamer Lane. The power of walking courageously at night under a moonlit sky with a group of women is deeply magical and powerful. If you’ve never done it, you’re in for a real treat! Register: mountainseaadventures.com/womens-full-moon-hike

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum Annual Wreath Sale

Saturday, November 20 from 9:00 to 5:00 Horticulture II Building, 1156 High St, UCSC (For GPS Use Arboretum Rd) Santa Cruz. Gifts, wreaths and holiday items.

Santa Cruz Mineral and Gem Society Art and Gift Sale

Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 20 and 21 from 10:00 to 5:00. Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz. Come see wonderful gifts of nature and art from around the world – gems, jewelry, rocks, minerals, and lapidary arts.

Farmworker Reality Tour Watsonville

Sunday, Nov. 21. Meet the farmworkers who are responsible for the fruits, vegetables and nuts that most of us consume daily. Hear their stories and learn about their lives along the Central Coast of California. Visits to Crystal Bay Farm, Buena Vista Migrant Camp, farmworker homes, and eat a traditional Mexican meal. Address with reservation. Tickets: https://fb.me/e/40E5II3J1

Small Business Saturday SLV

Saturday, Nov. 27 from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, and Felton small businesses are open for holiday shopping. Avoid the shipping and supply delays due to the pandemic and purchase your gifts locally! ‘Tis the season to celebrate old traditions – and make new ones. mountain

Entertainment Calendar

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS

Brookdale Lodge

11570 Highway 9, Brookdale. (831) 609-6010 brookdalelodge.com

Aki Kumar w/ Shakti Bhakti Diwali Celebration

THURS | NOV 4 | 5:00 TO 9:00

Davenport Roadhouse

1 Davenport Avenue, Davenport. (831) 426-8801 davenportroadhouse.com

Lauren Wahl

FRI | NOV 5 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Big Bad Wolf

SAT | NOV 6 | 1:00 TO 4:00

Redwood Road

SUN | NOV 7 | 1:00 TO 4:00

Robert Elmond Stone

FRI | NOV 12 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Ripatti & Rose

SAT | NOV 13 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Nicole Wilson Quartet

FRI | NOV 19 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Lloyd Whitley Blues Band

SAT | NOV 20 | 1:00 TO 4:00

The Shady Rest Band

SAT | NOV 20 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Sigmon & The Sea Monsters

FRI | NOV 26 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Simon Santiago

SAT | NOV 27 | 6:00 TO 9:00

T-Bone Mojo

SUN | NOV 28 | 1:00 TO 4:00

Felton Music Hall

6275 Highway 9, Felton. (831) 704-7113

feltonmusichall.com

Ed Jurdi & Gordy Quist w/ Wild & Blue

WED | NOV 3 | 8:00

Birdtalker w/ Lonas

FRI | NOV 5 | 8:00

The Garden

SAT | NOV 6 | 8:00

Paul Thorn

SUN | NOV 7 | 7:00

Terrapin Flyer

WED | NOV 10 | 8:00

Melvin Seals & JGB

THURS | NOV 11 | 7:00

Reckless Kelly w/ Bob Woodruff and Robert Francis

FRI | NOV 12 | 7:00

JMSN w/ MALIA

SAT | NOV 13 | 8:00

Wavves plus Harmless

SUN | NOV 14 | 8:00

GA-20 & JD Simo

TUES | NOV 16 | 8:00

Satsang

WED | NOV 17 | 8:00

Sensi Trails w/ The Happys and Spray Allen

THURS | NOV 18 | 8:00

Mark Farina

FRI | NOV 19 | 8:00

Acoustic Sunset w/ Anthony Arya plus Lindsey Wall

SUN | NOV 21 | 7:00

The Mother Hips

SAT | NOV 27 | 8:00

Zoso - The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience

WED | DEC 1 | 8:00

Henflings of Ben Lomond

9450 Highway 9, Ben Lomond. (831) 586-0606 henflingsbar.com

Flingo

WEDNESDAYS AT 7:30

November 2021

Karaoke

THURSDAYS AT 8:00

Sunday Jam Band

SUNDAYS AT 5:00

Groovy Judy

FRI | NOV 5 | 8:00

The Next Blues Band

SAT | NOV 6 | 8:00

Blue Ocean Rockers

FRI | NOV 12 | 8:00

The Gravity

SAT | NOV 13 | 8:00

Bluesadelix

FRI | NOV 19 | 8:00

Cougar Unleashed

SAT | NOV 20 | 8:00

Blue

FRI | NOV 26 | 8:00

Big Bad Wolf

SAT | NOV 27 | 8:00

Joe’s Bar

13118 Highway 9, Boulder Creek. (831) 338-9417 facebook.com/joesbouldercreek

Karaoke

TUESDAYS AT 8:00

Neighborhood Night

WEDNESDAYS AT 8:00

Pool Tournament

THURSDAYS AT 8:00

The Shady Rest Band

FRI | NOV 5 | 8:30

Blue

SAT | NOV 6 | 8:30

Jet Star Casualties

FRI | NOV 12 | 8:30

The Beach Cowboys

SAT | NOV 13 | 8:30

Redwood Road

FRI | NOV 19 | 8:30

Serious Condition

SAT | NOV 20 | 8:30

Entertainment Calendar

JOE’S BAR CONT’D FROM PAGE 12)

Jefferson’s Revival

FRI | NOV 26 | 8:30

The Kevin Hamm Band

SAT | NOV 27 | 8:30

Malone’s Grill

4402 Scotts Valley Dr, Scotts Valley. (831) 438-2244

malonesgrille.com

Jet Star Casualties

FRI | NOV 5 | 6:00

Jeff Gardner & the Tools

SAT | NOV 6 | 6:00

Dave D’oh

FRI | NOV 12 | 6:00

Eric Morrison & The Mysteries

SAT | NOV 13 | 6:00

Gina & The Tonics

SAT | NOV 19 | 6:00

Ten O’Clock Lunch Band

SAT | NOV 20 | 6:00

Steel Bonnet Brewing Company

20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley. (831) 454-8429

steelbon.net

Trivia on Tap

THURS | NOV 4 & NOV 18 | 6:30

Dirt Rakers

FRI | NOV 5 | 5:30

Jenny & the Bets

THURS | NOV 11 | 5:30

Paul Trugman

FRI | NOV 12 | 5:30

Big Bad Wolf

FRI | NOV 19 | 5:30

Skypark

SAT | NOV 20 | 5:30

Joe Kaplow

WED | NOV 24 | 5:30

SANTA CRUZ

Chaminade Resort & Spa

One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz. (831) 475-5600 chaminade.com

Ted Welty

MON | NOV 1 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Patti Maxine & Alabama Annie

TUES | NOV 2 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Ripatti & Rose

THURS | NOV 4 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Shotgun Suitor

FRI | NOV 5 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Paul Kent

SAT | NOV 6 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Dave D’oh

SUN | NOV 7 | 5:00 TO 8:00

John Michael

MON | NOV 8 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Scott Cooper

TUES| NOV 9 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Alex Lucero

THURS | NOV 11 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Blue

FRI | NOV 12 | 5:30 TO 8:30

7th Wave

SAT | NOV 13 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Jackie Kohls

SUN | NOV 14 | 5:00 TO 8:00

Toby Gray

MON | NOV 15 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Wild and Blue

TUES | NOV 16 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Dennis Dove

THURS | NOV 18 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Jenny and the Bets

FRI | NOV 19 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Jim Lewin

SAT | NOV 20 | 5:30 TO 8:30

November 2021

Paul Hayward

SUN | NOV 21 | 5:00 TO 8:00

Aprylle Dawn

MON | NOV 22 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Wine Women & Wrong

TUES | NOV 23 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Claudio Melega

FRI | NOV 26 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Chas Crowder

SAT | NOV 27 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Elie Mabanza

SUN | NOV 28 | 5:00 TO 8:00

Dan Frechette

MON | NOV 29 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Quinn Becker

TUES | NOV 30 | 5:30 TO 8:30

Moe’s Alley

1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. (831) 479-1854 moesalley.com

Carsie Blanton w/ Guest Adron

WED | NOV 3 | 8:00

Walk Talk w/ Guest Adrea Castiano

THURS | NOV 4 | 8:00

Don Carlos w/ I-taweh and DJ Spleece

FRI | NOV 5 | 9:00

Don Carlos w/ I-taweh and DJ Spleece

SAT | NOV 6 | 9:00

The Gold Souls and Smokey The Groove

WED | NOV 10 | 8:30

Erin McKeown w/ Guest The Cabin Project

THURS | NOV 11 | 8:00

Good Riddance w/ Ignite and Lost Cause

FRI | NOV 12 | 9:00

Taylor Rae Record Release w/ Guest Mokili Wa

SAT | NOV 13 | 9:00

Sunday Blues Series w/ Lydia Pense & Cold Blood

SUN | NOV 14 | 4:00

Entertainment Calendar

(MOE’S ALLEY CONT’D FROM PAGE 13)

Junior Reid & The One Blood Band w/ Dub Souljah

SUN | NOV 14 | 8:00

La Luz w/ Guest Tropa Magica

TUES | NOV 16 | 8:00

Gondwana w/ Guest E.N Young

THURS | NOV 18 | 8:30

Metalachi w/ Shark in the Water

FRI | NOV 19 | 9:00

Metalachi w/ Coffee Zombie Collective

SAT | NOV 20 | 9:00

Leilani Wolfgramm w/ Guest Swells OC

SUN | NOV 21 | 8:00

The Redlight District

WED | NOV 24 | 8:30

MID COUNTY

Capitola Wine Bar & Merchants

115 San Jose Ave, Capitola. (831) 476-2282 capitolawinebar.com

Thirsty Thursday Trivia

THURS | NOV 4 | 6:30 TO 8:00

Kip Alert with Jerry Flores

FRI | NOV 5 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Levi Jack

SAT | NOV 6 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Ted Welty

SUN | NOV 7 | 2:00 TO 5:00

Nomad

FRI | NOV 12 | 6:00 TO 9:00

The Joe Leonard Trio w/ Brian Fitzgerald

SAT | NOV 13 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Sunday Funday with BanjerDan

SUN | NOV 14 | 2:00 TO 5:00

Thirsty Thursday Trivia

THURS | NOV 18 | 6:30 TO 8:00

Lavender Fields

FRI | NOV 19 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Michael Gaither and Greg Abelar

SAT | NOV 20 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Sunday Funday with BanjerDan

SUN | NOV 21 | 2:00 TO 5:00

Kip Kip

FRI | NOV 26 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Vinny Johnson

SAT | NOV 27 | 6:00 TO 9:00

Sunday Funday with Nomad

SUN | NOV 28 | 2:00 TO 5:00

Michael’s on Main

2591 S Main St, Soquel. (831) 479-9777 michaelsonmainmusic.com

Grateful Sundays

SUNDAYS AT 5:30

Hump Day w/ Ted Welty and Guests

WEDNESDAYS AT 5:00

R&R w/ Ripattit & Rose and Guests

THURSDAYS AT 5:00

Cruz Control w/ Swirly Girls

THURS | NOV 4 | 5:00

November 2021

NoJoKen

FRI | NOV 5 | 5:00

Ben Kaili & Friends

SAT | NOV 6 | 1:30

Edge of The West: Music of Gram Parsons “Dinner & A Show”

SAT | NOV 6 | 6:30

Redwood Express

THURS | NOV 11 | 5:00

Country Feelings

FRI | NOV 12 | 5:00

Painted Mandolin w/ Joe Craven

SAT | NOV 13 | 7:30

The Messiahs

FRI | NOV 19 | 5:00

James Durbin Classic Rock Unplugged w/ Guests “Dinner & A Show”

SAT | NOV 20 | 6:30

Anthony Arya’s Chasing Ophelia w/ Matt Hartle

FRI | NOV 26 | 7:30

Dirty Cello “Dinner & A Show”

SAT | NOV 27 | 6:30

Music & Festivals

A Feast of Light and Dance

Diwali at the Brookdale Lodge

By Julie Horner

Each Fall, South Asians light up their homes and dress cheerfully for the biggest Hindu festival of the year. Diwali, or Deepavali, Sanskrit for “festival of lights,” is celebrated annually for five days between October and November depending on the position of the moon as prescribed in the Hindu lunisolar calendar. This year’s celebration kicking off the Hindu New Year occurs on Thursday November 4, 2021.

The Historic Brookdale Lodge welcomes the celebration of

Diwali featuring the Aki Kumar Band, Shakti Bhakti Dance Ensemble, Hand in Hand Henna, Himani Natu Silversmith and Artisan Jeweler, and fresh handcrafted Indian food.

Diwali is widely celebrated in India and around the world.

Event host Anil Prajapati, owner of Lille Aeske Arthouse in Boulder Creek, and the owner

of the Brookdale Lodge, Pravin Patel share common roots in the Northwest Indian State of Gujarat. Prajapati said, “It’s a really big event for Hindus, like Christmas and New Year’s rolled into one. It’s a way for all of us to get together as a family, even if you’re not Hindi.” With gratitude to auspicious Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, good fortune, and beauty, this community friendly evening of twinkling lights and vivid colors is a dance party and food festival with religious significance in Krishna — the bringing of light and victory against evil — and a time to share blessings for the future.

Passionate Music and Dance

Shakti Bhakti of Santa Cruz opens the evening with the expressive and sensuous Odissi form of Classical Indian Dance. In a return performance from last October’s Diwali celebration at Fridays on Forest in downtown

Boulder Creek, audiences will be held enthrall by the ecstatic movements and mesmerizing rhythms of this graceful and powerful Yogic dance art. Prajapati said, “This event is really all about passion and is very much a dance party.”

Also returning to San Lorenzo Valley, Aki Kumar, the Indian born bluesman and his band will play three sets. Kumar drives an interplay of humor, crowd participation, and seriously danceable music. Kumar said, “I’m very excited to be performing with my band as part of the Diwali celebration at Brookdale Lodge. My performance will feature a blend of Blues, Rock n’ Roll, retro Bollywood, Old Country, and originals in Hindi and English — the perfect American way to celebrate Diwali.”

A Feast for the Senses

Boulder Creek local Saroj Sharma will be cooking Indian Nepalese fare, Anil Prajapti will prepare Kudrati North Indian cuisine. And there will be lots of traditional Diwali sweets like Kaju Katli, the delightful diamond shaped cashew paste cookies wrapped in silver, or ‘varakh’. The traditional menu offerings for Diwali carry deep

personal meaning, Prajapati said. “The foods have so many different flavors, it just really evokes so many emotions.” Combined with the colors and connection with the people while trying new flavors together, Diwali at the Brookdale Lodge promises to be a feast for the senses.

What to Wear

This is an evening to dress to excess in joyous colors. Saris and wrapped garments are traditional for women. For the gents and the ladies, kameez or kurta — a long shirt or tunic — paired with shalwars, churidar, or dhoti — loose fitting trousers worn beneath. According to Prajapati, as a culture, “It is appreciated when guests don Indian traditional dress to present a shining brightness of vibrant colors.” Hand-painted henna art is also a popular tradition to complete the outfit.

Diwali Festival of Lights with Aki Kumar Band and Shakti Bhakti Dance Ensemble, Thursday November 4, 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Brookdale Lodge, 11570 Hwy 9, Brookdale. lilleaeske.com

Proof of vaccine or negative test required; masks must be worn. Suggested donation: $5-$10 mountain

Aki Kumar

PHOTO BY AARON BLUMENSHIE

Shakti Bhakti dancers

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY SHAKTI BHAKTI

Mountain Fermenter

The Sweet Taste of Honey Wine

By Greg Roe and Mike De Smidt

Mead, in its basic form, is very simple. Only honey, water, and yeast. Variations include cysers (apple meads), pyments (grape-wine & mead combo), methaglyns (mead with spices added), and braggot (mead combined with beer). They range in alcohol from just a few percent alcohol by volume to over 20% ABV, though most are going to be in the typical wine range. The flavor can vary quite a bit as a result of the honey varietal used and other ingredients added. Now that Fall has arrived and the harvest season is upon us, it is the perfect time to make a mead.

It used to be that meads were cumbersome and took a very long time to make. Unlike wort (unfermented beer), the must (unfermented wine) for mead making is virtually devoid of nutrients that the yeast need to ferment. This is the main hurdle. Over the past couple of decades, there have been major strides in understanding how to make a mead fermentation healthier, resulting in a faster ferment and a better tasting mead. This is accomplished primarily by the addition of specific nutrients at certain intervals as well as injecting oxygen/air into the ferment.

Unlike brewing beer, making mead requires very little equipment. Generally, a large stirring spoon, kitchen measuring tools, and a food-grade bucket. A few other items, such as a lees stirrer mountable in an electric drill, can make the process easier and the end product better. Note that it is more difficult to oxygenate the must if you ferment in a carboy, or narrow-necked container.

Mike n Greg’s Mountain Mead

Ingredients for 1 gallon

» 3 pounds local Santa Cruz honey

» 1 gallon filtered (non-chlorinated) water

» Yeast Nutrient (We recommend Fermaid-K, or another nutrient containing diammonium phosphate (DAP))

» Dry Yeast (recommend Lalvin D47 or Lalvin 71B)

Directions

1. Sanitize everything you will use in the process with a sanitizer like StarSan.

2. Rehydrate ½ packet of yeast in ¼ cup lukewarm filtered water in a sanitized bowl. For best results, try adding a product like Go-Ferm during rehydration.

3. Combine honey with filtered water. Two options:

a. Combine straight into a sanitized, food grade bucket (or glass jug) and shake vigorously to mix and aerate, or use the lees stirring attachment for your drill (don’t use the drill with glass), until honey is fully mixed with water; or,

b. Combine water and honey into a sanitized pot and gently heat to 140F and hold for 22 minutes. Heating will blow off some of the honey aromatics (you’ll lose flavor and aroma), but this will make mixing easier. Once combined, pour must into your sanitized food grade bucket, or a sanitized 1 gallon glass jar or carboy.

4. Rehydrate 1 gram of Fermaid-K in distilled water, and pour into must. Stir.

5. Pour yeast into must.

6. Close the fermenter and add a compatible airlock.

7. On days 2, 4, and 6 of fermentation rehydrate another 1 gram of Fermaid-K and slowly add to the fermenting mead. Add oxygen to the must by shaking or stirring vigorously.

8. Once the mead has cleared a bit and you notice sediment building up on the bottom (3-6 weeks, mead takes patience!), carefully transfer (rack) the mead to a new sanitized container. You can top up with sanitary water if need be.

9. Once mead has ceased all signs of fermentation, is very clear, and has not increased sediment for 2-4 weeks it is time to bottle. If you followed option 3a and did not heat the must, add a Campden tablet to the mead, straight into the fermenter, and wait one day before bottling.

10. Bottle your mead into your preferred vessels. Sanitized 12 or 22oz beer bottles work well with a bottling wand and capper. But you can get more elaborate and put it in corked wine bottles.

11. Age mead for 6 to 9 months before drinking.

Ben Lomond local, Mike De Smidt has been home brewing for 12 years and is a BJCP Certified Beer Judge.

Greg Roe is a Felton local who has been a home brewer for 20 years and is a self-proclaimed Fermentation Geek. mountain

PHOTO BY DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Mountain Honey Mead: Darker color variations occur when fruit, spices, or herbs are added

Recipies from a Mountain Garden

Heirloom Fig Bread Pudding

By Alison Steele

Baking season has officially arrived, along with the first ripe figs in the garden. I have resisted most temptation to buy figs at the farmers market knowing that these two heirloom trees produce enough fruit for vinegars, jams, cakes, salads, teas, puddings, pizzas, and brandy for the coming winter.

Not only are they loaded with minerals and antioxidants, but fiber to balance blood sugar levels, feed the gut microbiome, and ultimately nourish the winter psyche. One of the earliest cultivated trees, Ficus caria is indigenous to the Mediterranean. It’s no surprise they still thrive here in Georgina Locatelli’s garden in Boulder Creek, along with her garlic, rosemary, and the olive trees we planted a few years back.

Bread pudding is the perfect treat for the first cold days of the season with longer baking times to warm the home, the hens still laying a few eggs, and late-season fruit to enjoy. These, partnered with a few pantry staples, make it a quick and easy delight!

Heirloom Fig Bread Pudding

» 1 pint fresh figs, quartered lengthwise

» ½ loaf day old bread

» 3 T butter

» ½ c sugar*

» 3 cups full fat milk**

» 3 fresh eggs

» 3 T cultured butter

» 1/2 t salt

» 1 teaspoon vanilla

» 3 large fig leaves, optional

» ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

» ½ cup dark chocolate chunks, optional *coconut sugar works well with this recipe

**coconut milk can be used for the custard. Add 10 minutes to bake time.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9” x 9” baking dish or cast iron skillet. Cut day old bread into 1 inch cubes. Crumple fig leaves. Scald milk with the leaves, then squeeze every drop into the milk and discard to the compost pile. Stir in butter and sugar until dissolved. Beat eggs slightly in a large bowl adding vanilla extract and salt. Slowly pour scalded milk over beaten eggs while stirring. Mix thoroughly. Add the bread cubes and toss until coated with the liquid. Fold the fresh figs into the mixture along with the chocolate. Pour into a greased baking dish or skillet. Bake for about 1 hour or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Can be made a day ahead. Serve hot or cold with freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Serves 6-8.

A native of Virginia, Alison Steele lives with her husband, two children, and cat in Boulder Creek where she raises quail, chickens, fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs. Alison plays banjo and sings in Sugar by the Pound. mountain

PHOTOS BY ALISON STEELE

Heirloom Fig Bread Pudding

Figs harvested from Alison’s Boulder Creek garden

Ben Lomond Gardener

Putting the Garden to Bed for the Winter

By Josh Reilly

Lay down a layer of mulch, put away the tools and gloves and wait until February. Too cold and muddy to do anything else. It makes sense. Or does it? Our Winters in the SLV are relatively mild. And much of our flora is Summer dormant. There may actually be more to do in Winter than Summer, depending on the extent to which you have landscaped with natives.

Native plants need time and Winter rain to establish root systems capable of tolerating the hot, dormant Summer period. So, it’s a great time to plant native shrubs like Ceanothus, Ribes, Elderberry, Western Redbud, and Manzanita. Perennials, like Salvia, Epilobium, Eriogonum, Fragaria, and almost all the native and drought tolerant grasses, like Muhlenbergia (Deer grass), Bouteloua, Fescue, various sedges (Carex) should also be planted now. It’s also a great time to sow grasses from seed. If you already have mature grasses, such as Miscanthus, Calamagrostis, Chasmanthium or blue oat grass (Helichtotrichon – say it 5 times in a row, fast), these may now be lifted and divided and the divisions re-planted or given away to gardener friends. Almost anything else with fibrous roots can be lifted and divided now, including ornamentals like Sedums and Veronica, and herbs like Oregano and Thyme.

And yes, you absolutely can still plant a few things now, even with frost on the way. Edible bulbs, corms and tubers, such as onions, garlic, and chives can go in the ground now. Beets can be planted almost any time of year. It’s probably not too late for potatoes in warmer parts of the Valley. Same for artichokes. Sweet peas will weather the Winter frost and delight with early to mid-Spring blooms. Be ready to trellis them later in Winter.

If you make compost, now is the time to apply it. If it’s dark, friable,

and evenly broken down, it’s ready. If some of it needs to decay further, sift it and toss the big, undigested clumps back into the pile. Trees and shrubs, like apples and roses should be fertilized now. These plants are Winter-dormant but nutrients gradually released by microbial breakdown will be available to plant roots in February when both begin to produce new growth. A top dressing of 4” of compost will get the job done. Some people like to scratch or dig it in, but in my garden, the earthworms perform that task. Another way to overwinter the soil is with cover crops, such as Fava or broad beans, clover, buckwheat or cover crop mixes (available at Mountain Feed, Ben Lomond). These plants protect soil tilth and shade out Winter weed seedlings. Legumes, like Fava beans, fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it available for your plantings next Spring (and they go well with liver and a fine chianti). Pull them out in late Winter and add them to your compost pile to capture the carbon they drew from the air all Winter. If even that seems daunting, you can simply spread seedless straw or straw/hay mixes over bare or spotty patches of soil.

Fall is a great time to re-organize your infrastructure. Clean your tool blades. Sharpen pruning gear. Clear out the shed. Inventory everything and donate old tools or unused items to those in need, such as the Homeless Garden Project. Garden sheds tend to accumulate old, more or less useless stuff, because there was nowhere else to put it. 20 years later, that rusty hoe you never use is still there, getting in the way. If you haven’t used it in the last year, think seriously about parting with it. Tools wear out, but metal blades can go into scrap metal waste, while handles make good garden stakes. Or kindling.

And to think, you were just going to knock the dirt off your boots and head indoors until late February…

Josh Reilly, aka Uncle Skip, writes about seasonal gardening from his home in beautiful Ben Lomond. mountain

Fall in the Santa Cruz Mountains: preparing for winter

PHOTO BY JOSH REILLY

Local History

Brookdale Blues

By Randall Brown

At the end of October 1928, a brief but significant item in the Santa Cruz News advised that “Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Shier have returned to Clear Creek Villas after a visit to their previous home in Stockton.” Five years had passed since the couple had sold their Brookdale Hotel to Dr. Camp, who had insisted that they abandon the resort business for that length of time. Before the start of the next summer season, the Shiers revealed that they had purchased the Villas and chosen a new name for their property - Brookdale Inn.

Dr. Camp was about to launch a unique advertising campaign. While wintering in the Los Angeles area, he had happened upon a lot of statues, designed to advertise a Hollywood movie. The artwork featured an elaborately dressed young woman, seven and a half feet tall, mounted on another four and a half feet of pedestal. Camp, who styled himself “Master of the Lodge” had asked that the girl’s dress be painted red and added the legend “Meet me at the Brookdale Lodge” to the figures, which were trucked in from Southern California and left along various local highways. Their arrival inspired considerable curiosity. “Numerous traffic jams,” noted the News, “were caused by the unusual load of the three trucks.” The worst occurred in Felton, where more that 50 cars filled the road to watch the installation at the intersection of the San Lorenzo Road (Highway 9) and Mount Hermon Road.

The new “guides” were a hit. “Your lady of the highway most graciously directed us to the beautiful Brookdale lodge,” one visitor said. “The gay statues in their vivid colorings which you have placed conveniently along the highway are most attractive and cannot fail in their mission,” one guest remarked.

The statues had been designed to promote “Seventh Heaven,” a popular Hollywood movie, starring Janet Gaynor. If Dr. Camp was unaware of their origin, any doubt was removed by a guest at the lodge. “I am Janet

Gaynor’s mother,” said the woman to her host, “and Janet did pose for that statue. I have one of the statues in my yard at home.” The doctor remarked to a reporter that it was an appropriate connection “because, you know, Brookdale Lodge is the Seventh Heaven.” Her daughter was not available for comment, because she was honeymooning in Hawaii.

Mary Shier was at work early in the spring of 1930, supervising an extensive remodel. The floors were replaced and “a huge kitchen with a Frigidaire” attached to the old building—an investment of hundreds of dollars. When he returned to Brookdale to open for the new season and checked out the competition’s improvements, Camp was unhappy.

“Your lady of the highway most graciously directed us to the beautiful Brookdale lodge.”

In July 1931, the News reported that Dr. and Mrs. Camp had filed a lawsuit alleging that Brookdale Inn has damaged his business to the extent of $9600 by use of the similar name.” and requested a restraining order preventing the use of “Brookdale Inn.” His list of perpetrators was headed by the Shiers, “Jane Doe” O’Neil (Mary’s sister). Dr. Camp made it clear that “he and his wife intend to continue the present litigation to a conclusion.”

The case was heard by a Santa Cruz judge six months later. The Shiers were represented by a prominent local law firm, while Camp brought in an attorney from San Francisco. Attorney John Gardner for the defense argued that the only allegation worth considering was the similarity of the names. He contended that “Brookdale” was a geographical location and that no one person could appropriate it for exclusive use. A witness for the plaintiffs stated that he had wanted to stay at “the place

where the fish run through the dining room,” but was not sure which one it was. When all was said and done, the judge ruled in favor of the Shiers.

Dr. Camp stewed over the verdict for a few months before deciding to appeal. More than a year passed before the higher court dismissed the appeal and made the Camps pay the costs incurred by the defense.

A recent business development provided some consolation. The Lodge had become a destination for movie people including Clark Gable and Edward G. Robinson. In August, Janet Gaynor, escorted by her mother, visited the San Lorenzo Valley to inspect the statues. “While the elements had been kind,” the News reported, “she discovered small boys in training to become the world’s greatest pistol shots had been less considerate. The statuettes had suffered badly.” Despite their disappointment, the star and Mrs. Gaynor stopped at the Brookdale Lodge for lunch.

Randall Brown is an author and historian. He lives in Boulder Creek and works in Felton. mountain

Actress Janet Gaynor was the inspiration for the Brookdale Guides statues according to her mother.

Local History

Streetwise: Hidden History of Street Names in SLV

By Lisa Robinson

In the 1870s, there were two main settlements in the Valley; Lorenzo and Felton. But exactly where was Lorenzo?

It was located on the 160 acre homestead of lumberman Joseph Peery just south of a small creek, Harmon Creek now called “Stream 346.” Work has recently been going on where the creek passes under Highway 9 and now there is a stripe across the road that delineates the town laid out by the railroad in 1885 from the earlier town of Lorenzo.

Note that the original Boulder settlement lay to the north of Boulder Creek (the actual creek) at West Park Avenue.

Joseph Peery laid out the town of Lorenzo around 1875 and it was bounded by Mountain Street on the north, and later Harmon Street which was named for the creek and the Harmon family, and the creatively named, East Street, West Street, and South Street. It encompassed Flat, Boulder, and Center (now Highway 9) Streets.

The town was described in 1879, before the railroad arrived, in Wallace W. Elliott’s Santa Cruz County, California: Illustrations Descriptive of its Scenery:

“Lorenzo, some eight miles above Felton, near the summit of the mountains and the head waters of the river, is a delightful mountain town and great summer resort, hundreds of camps being established amid the redwoods, whose white tents present a picturesque and weird aspect amid the balsamic evergreens, while the laugh and merry prattle of women and happy children mingle with the music of the dancing rills, transforming the mountain altitude into an Eden of happiness and enjoyment.

The place is a mere hamlet, comprising one hotel, one store and a few dwellings. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in making shingles or cutting logs from the interminable forests of redwoods. One sawmill not working, is in the vicinity of the town. This locality is a favorite one with sportsmen, game and fish being plentifully abundant.”

In 1896, mill owner and lumberman Joseph Peery and pioneer resort owner William H.

Booth laid out the Peery and Booth addition to Lorenzo. This added four blocks to the south of the town and included Grove Street. It was bounded at the south roughly by Molaskey Creek, named for Lorenzo resident and lumberman Henry Molaskey and which crosses Highway 9 on its way to the river just north of the Boulder Creek Community Church.

Note that the original Boulder settlement lay to the north of Boulder Creek (the actual creek) at West Park Avenue.

In 1897, a fire ravaged Lorenzo, most of the structures were lost, leaving the remains to be annexed by the expanding railroad town of Boulder Creek.

Lisa Robinson is the Collections and Exhibitions Curator at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum. mountain

Pictured here is an early image of Lorenzo looking north on Highway 9. Towards the distance, there are two white buildings. Charles Cottrell’s store (now embedded in one of the White House buildings on the northwest corner of Mountain Street) is on the left, which was described in 1875 as one of the largest and neatest store buildings in the county outside of Santa Cruz, and the twenty room Lorenzo Hotel is on the right. PHOTOS

A Fisherman's Wife ~ $1,300,000 Stargazer ~ $880,000

*An exclusive 51-acre valley with sunny meadows, redwood trees, and seasonal creek frontage

*Heritage property with 2 small architecturally unique cabins, gazebo, sheds/outbuildings

*Backs up against Open Space on one side, Sempervirens on the other and is a short distance to Castle Rock or Big Basin

*Plenty of privacy, zoned TPZ for timber harvesting and still much of the acreage is undiscovered

Creekside Cottage ~ $685,000

*2/1 open floor plan home with lofts and bonus room downstairs

*Lompico Creek runs through the property

*New roof, newer engineered septic and newer central heating

*3 contiguous parcels, multiple redwood decks, an open sunny feel

Main Blvd ~ $250,000

*4 contiguous parcels totaling 2 6+ acres

*Electricity close by and water buy-in available

*End of the road parcel in the Big Redwood Park Community

*Easy commute to Hwy 17, close to Los Gatos, Scotts Valley schools

*Serene 17+ acre parcel at the end of a private, partially paved gated road

*A ready-made compound with 3 unique cabins each with decks offering amazing views

*Off grid lifestyle with solar electricity, propane, water, incl 10,000 gallons in tanks, septic and good internet

*Various "campsites" w/water, electric hookups, terraced garden, trails to under-utilized areas

Everest Unconquered ~ $279,000

*Private 2 acre parcel on a quiet cul-de-sac

*Previously a 4 bedroom, 3 bath 3500 sq ft home

*Located in the CZU burn zone, the County Clearance on this property is complete

*Water, power, septic and Comcast on site

Brookside Beauty ~ $127,000

*Active building permits and architectural drawings for a 2/2 5 2000sq ft home

*Flat building area located in private cul-de-sac neighborhood

*Sunny creek views with easy access to Hwy 9 and Bear Creek Rd

*Good mix of sun and shade with owner financing offered

Astrology

Evolutionary Astrology: Cosmic Weather Report for November

By Catie Cadge, PhD

We start with a New Moon in Scorpio at 12°40’, November 4th at 2:14 PM Pacific time. Sun and Moon oppose Uranus in Taurus, while Mars is close by in early Scorpio. It is a good time to set intentions about getting to the truth about why we often do what we do for security or out of manipulation of personal power. We may feel possessive about our money and who gets what when. How can we bring truth to the table while also respecting others’ needs and acknowledging power struggles?

This particular New Moon echoes the tension of the ongoing Saturn square Uranus, which made two hits already this year, and will make the final square at 11° on December 24. Overall, people are wrestling with authenticity and freedom versus being practical with what they want or need to feel comfortable and secure. Just think about all the people choosing to leave their jobs at the moment!

Venus enters Capricorn early in the morning November 5th. One way to help our family and friends feel good in the weeks ahead is to find the holiday rituals that are stable and time-honored. Such holiday gatherings and customs help us calm down and renew our sense of a “normal” life we all have missed. The sign Capricorn also asks for a “great work” in our approach to loving one another and in creating music and art that celebrates “tradition.”

November 10th Mercury triggers a Mars square to Saturn. Another tense time building upon the themes of this month’s New Moon. Mars is strong in Scorpio, Saturn strong in Aquarius and both are fixed signs. Saturn asks us to do some hard work to make radical change and guide us into a viable future for our planet (look to see where 5° to 9° Aquarius falls in your birthchart) but Mars presents the potential shadow work: anger, frustration, power issues and jealousy all possible with quite a bit of intensity. I expect we will hear about ongoing testimony around the disruptive and at times violent actions of those who stormed the White House back on January 6th, when the Saturn / Uranus square first came into range. Mars in Scorpio opposes Uranus on November 17th, another day of tension, this time possibly explosive, as tempers may flair and people may react in sudden and upsetting ways. The Moon in Taurus will further trigger things. Watch out! Venus trines Uranus and Mercury trines Neptune by the next day. My advice is to try to stay calm and to bring a sense of peace and comfort for those feeling over stressed or anxious. We all need a compassionate ear; someone who understands to listen now.

Full Moon happens on Friday, November 19th, at 12:57 am, at 27°14’ Taurus. La Luna appears big and beautiful Thursday evening. There

is a partial lunar eclipse that darkens in shadow, a rosy color, ninety-seven percent of the Moon. Eclipses mark significant events in a person’s life six months before and/or after if the Moon hits significant degrees in your birthchart. Look to see where late Taurus is in your chart. The Moon trines Pluto earlier in the evening before. Something of importance may bring security and stability now. Things are becoming real and manifesting finally, after months of hard work, tearing down old structures and creating something new. Later in the month, things will lighten up as the Sun and Mercury enter Sagittarius, just in time for Thanksgiving. Sagittarius can be so conducive to fun and merriment. Let’s celebrate and be grateful for a year when we move steadily more and more free from pandemic isolation. But, one warning. On Turkey day, the Moon in Leo, triggers Saturn, Uranus and Mars, forming a grand square. The usual family arguments may seem to be on steroids this Thanksgiving! Sagittarius energy brings strong opinions and assumptions to the holiday table and the Moon squaring Mars some fights. The key, again, is to have compassion and don’t buy into the stubborn power play. Better to be hopeful for the year ahead!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Catie Cadge is a master-certified Evolutionary Astrologer and is the Dean of Instruction for the Forrest Center for Evolutionary Astrology. Read about Catie and her work at caraevolutionaryastrology.com mountain

Partial lunar eclipse

photography

Alison Steele

Iused to pass this old house after first moving to Boulder Creek in 2003. The giant poppies lining the grape stake fencing were always a neck breaker as we headed into town for supplies. Little did I know we would purchase those poppies, along with the entirety of Georgina Locatelli’s Ciao III garden three years later. Overgrown and neglected, we worked for over a decade to bring it back to what I imagine it was like when she was here to tend it.

To her figs, pears, persimmons, feijoas, loquats, garlic, hollyhocks, rhubarb, and poppies we’ve added gooseberries, currants, apples, blueberries, peaches, olives, elderberries, and grapes with success speckled with medicinal herbs and drought loving flowers. The past few years we’ve concentrated on heirloom varieties and native food plant gardens, experimenting with the centuries-old agricultural legacy of native peoples before us. Our newest addition is a dye garden for coloring textiles and soaps.

Caring for this sunny plot of land has taught me how important bio-

dynamic gardening is and how it fits into the bigger picture. Using chickens and quail in tandem with composting, planting cover crops, resting vegetable beds, and protecting the integrity of the soil work hand in hand with Mother Earth to produce the most nutrient dense fuel for mind and body. This little mountain garden has been an invaluable education and continues to cultivate our love of the earth and the beings we share it with. mountain