DIMITRI STORM CAPTURED! - Santa Cruz Mountain Bulletin

Volume 2: Issue 5
Serving the Communities of the San Lorenzo Valley
May 2013
THE “CLEAN TEAM” SWEEPS SANTA CRUZ
Community Based Group Takes a Stand for Local Environment
by Steve Kuehl
do not widely advertise their
locations ahead of time for
their own safety. Sometimes
individual volunteers will
go out on their own cleanups and post pictures in the
group facebook page, with
locations ranging all the way
from Felton, Pogonip, Harvey
West and down to the Soquel
area and Capitola beaches. In
their five months of keeping
records, The Clean Team has
collected over 27,530 pounds
of trash and 735 needles.
Not to say some of the issues
surrounding the homeless
community in Santa Cruz
have been around since only
last year, but since the (now)
world famous video posted
in December of the garbage
and drug paraphernalia
discarded at a popular
local beach went viral –
community involvement in
environmental cleanup has
soared.
One such group that formed
shortly after that video went
worldwide was the Clean
Team. They are a now 1,000+
strong group on Facebook
that is filled with concerned
environmental activists, families,
garbage-weary citizens, and just
ordinary folks worried about the
devastation occurring throughout
the San Lorenzo Valley and Santa
Cruz city region by illegal homeless
encampments.
of varying sizes, then using their own
equipment and safety gear, proceed
to pick up whatever is left behind,
including human waste, drug needles,
batteries and literally tons of garbage.
One of the spokespeople from the
group I interviewed, Sharon, stated
they only target inactive camping sites
and do not roust any active or staffed
homeless camps.
equipment, and depending on the
area the Team is working in, the
County of Santa Cruz or the Santa
Cruz City Parks & Rec assists in
the removal of the bagged garbage
(though sometimes the volunteers
have had to transport the waste to
the landfills themselves). On the
Through the Clean Team, these
average, Sharon stated that upwards
individuals have helped coordinate
of fifteen volunteers show up on
a variety of weekly clean-ups with
any given weekend to facilitate the
an all-volunteer staff. They pick a Several local companies, including cleaning of a chosen location. They
different region or locale that has Coast Paper and Supply, have assisted
been afflicted with homeless camps in the cause through donations of
Concerns of personal
protection from needle
sticks, violent or discontented
homeless campers and
human waste exposure
are all at the forefront
when operations like this occur.
They are not registered as a nonprofit organization and are mostly
self-financed. The Clean Team
is not affiliated with any of the
other organizations also recently
formed that are forwarding their
own missions of how to make our
communities safer, though there are
common members. Look for their
group on Facebook under “The Clean
Team.”
DIMITRI STORM
CAPTURED!
by Steve Kuehl
Congrats to the winner of the Masterheader contest, Ebin Lee. His
drawing of the fog coming in through the Santa Cruz Mountains
is both beautiful and iconic. It represents the mountain we call
home. Also it says to the world the importance we place on art
in our community. Thank you so much Ebin for your wonderful
work.
Thank you to all the other entries. There were so many wonderful
submissions it was very hard to choose. We had graphically
orchestrated entries to beautiful paintings of the river flowing into
the sea. Thank you all.
May 2013
One of Santa
Cruz County’s
most wanted fugitives,
Dimitri Storm,
was finally apprehended
this week. He
was caught in
Berkeley using
an alias, and
was arrested
and charged
with burglary
and resisting
arrest. It took a
couple of days
after the arrest
for the information to be verified, reported to
the concerned law enforcement
agencies and then released to the
public.
community
for their help
and support
through these
trying couple
of months.
Since he is
wanted in several counties
further information will
be released
as it becomes
available on his
future destinations for prosecution.
Recent auto
burglaries were
not committed
by Dimitri Storm but by several local
teen suspects who removed items
from unlocked vehicles in Boulder
Creek and Felton. As a reminder be
sure to lock your cars at all times
Santa Cruz Sheriff ’s deputy April even if in your driveway.
Skalland thanked everyone in the
www.mountainbulletin.com
Page 1
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
JV Boys Aquatics Championship
Grant Funds for SLV Landowners
Changes for the Dam
Gum Flappin’
Healthy is Wealthy
Valley Business
Local Services
SLV History
Art & Music
Letters to the Editor
On the Other Hand
Astrology
Tips for Teens
Mountain Matters
Doug’s How To
SLV Map
Off Grid Livin’
Entertaining
Community Calendar
Our Staff:
Publisher - Wendy Sigmund
Editor - Deb Longley
Layout - Bree Karpavage
Columnists - Doug Conrad,
Marnie Defosset, Deb Longley,
Dennis Gobets, Matt Hill, Ray
& Chandala Snow-Shiva, Al
Wasserman, Steve Poikonen,
Linda Robinson
Reporters - Steve Kuehl,
Wendy Sigmund
Staff Artist - Ebin Lee
Header Artist - Ebin Lee
The Santa Cruz Mountain
Bulletin
13090 Central Ave. Suite 3
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
831-278-1613
[email protected]
www.mountainbulletin.com
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The opinions expressed herein
belong to the writers, and do
not necessarily reflect those
of the Santa Cruz Mountain
Bulletin (SCM Bulletin). SCM
Bulletin is not responsible
for the content of any of the
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publication imply endorsement.
Written permission from the
publisher of the SCM Bulletin
is required to reprint this issue
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JV BOYS AQUATICS TAKE
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
by Sonia Cruz
Friday, April 26, 2013, was a beautiful,
sunny day at the Cougar swimming
pool. It couldn’t have been brighter
for the San Lorenzo Valley High
School Boys Junior Varsity swimmers
as they captured the Santa Cruz
Coast Athletic League (SCCAL)
championship with 390 points.
Competing against Aptos, Harbor,
Scotts Valley, and Santa Cruz high
schools in the JV Boys Finals, the
boys fared very well at their home
pool, soaking the 2nd place contender
(Aptos) by nearly 100 points.
Sophomore Ryland Denny broke a
school record in the 100 Individual
Medley with a time of [1:09.5].
Denny also took 2nd place in the 100
Backstroke. Kurt Fulkerson splashed
into 1st place with a remarkable
[0:26.3] seconds in the 50 Freestyle.
Fulkerson also claimed 1st in the
500 Freestyle with a time of [6:09].
Marshall Williams placed 2nd in the
100
Freestyle and Jake McClure took 2nd
in the 50 Butterfly.
The relay teams helped sink the
competition. The 200 Medley
Relay-A (Guarente, Williams, Denny,
Fulkerson) captured 1st place, while
the 200 Freestyle Relay-A (Denny,
Gilbert, Brosmahan, Fulkerson)
took 1st place and the 400 Freestyle
Relay-A (Gilbert, Williams, Guarente,
Brosmahan) snatched 2nd place.
JV Boys Aquatics Coach Aidan
McCown took the plunge as the JV
Boys tossed him, fully clothed, into
the pool upon their victory!
The SLV Swim and Dive teams
celebrated the end of the season with
a poolside Potluck Style Banquet on
May 1st.
Go Cougars!
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May 2013
Grant Funds Available For SLV Landowners
by Steve Poikonen designs for road improvements,
assist in debris removal, culvert
Living on a private road in the expansion/installation, and host
San Lorenzo Valley has many workshops to set up functional road
perks. However, unless your road associations.
association is firing on all cylinders,
maintaining the road can be costly, The grant funds are meted out based
potentially problematic, and more on what the RCD determines will be
of a hassle than herding feral the most beneficial use of money,
kittens. Fortunately, Angela Gruys so landowners should be detailed
and the Resource Conservation during the application process.
District of Santa Cruz County have Additional matched grant funds
been working to ensure that local are available for water diversion and
landowners can access federal and water storage, with instructional
state grant funds to improve private workshops to accompany the grants.
roads and combat silt erosion.
By utilizing the RCD, landowners
can either handle the actual work
Slogging through the process on their road by themselves or
of applying for permits for road use a licensed contractor. Minor
improvements, water diversion, and or inexpensive improvements
reducing silt/sediment runoff can are eligible for full grants. If your
be nearly as enjoyable as Civil War property is along the San Lorenzo
era dentistry. With up to twenty-five River, grant funds are available
different agencies to deal with, the for restoration or improvement of
task in and of itself might seem as fish habitats. The steelheads are
though it isn’t worth the accelerated returning. Up to a dozen at once
aging process, or the mountains of have been sighted by local residents
forms that are necessary to even in the last few weeks. Any and all
start the improvements. It may improvements the community can
even be that on your road, you make to the waterways will only
have a tractor operator and enough bolster their population, and the
contractors/builders to get all of the RCD will be there to assist the San
improvements done, but the funds Lorenzo Valley.
just aren’t available. Don’t sweat it,
friends and neighbors; the Rural All inquiries regarding the RCD’s
Roads Program was designed for matched grant programs should be
you.
directed to Angela Gruys. She can
be reached by calling (831) 464The Rural Roads Program was 2950 ext. 22, or by email at agruys@
established fifteen years ago to aid rcdsantacruz.org. San Lorenzo valley
landowners specifically in the San property/landowners are encouraged
Lorenzo Valley with matched grant to sign up for the RCD’s mailing list.
funds. The Resource Conservation The workshops regarding formation
District literally cuts through of road associations are held by Tom
the bureaucratic hoops that Bird, President of the Deer Creek
homeowners/landowners wade Road Association. The RCD will
through by obtaining permits hold a workshop specific to the grant
and filing paperwork on your applications in the month of June, so
behalf. Additionally, the Resource please call or email for the specific
Conservation District will provide date as it has yet to be determined. CHANGES FOR THE DAM
by Steve Kuehl
The fate of the dam at Barbara Day
Park in Boulder Creek will be in the
hands of the BC Rec and Park District
(BCRPD) which is facilitating the
process through regular meetings
and by a planning committee, of
finalizing a plan to be carried out
sometime this year. That may sound
indefinite, but after reading through
the last ten years of meeting minutes,
assessment reports and interviewing
those familiar with this story, it
appears that no decision is going to
be implemented overnight.
The dam was typically put into place
every spring through the efforts of
volunteers over the years, and each
year it is removed at the end of the
swimming season. The dam created
multiple swimming holes all the
way past the Junction Park. But
as regulations were changed and
enforced by a variety of governing
agencies, including California Fish
& Game and the County of Santa
Cruz, continuing to put the dam into
place became a cost prohibitive and
logistical nightmare.
The BCRPD funded a report in 2004
which outlined ways to improve the
Kate Livingston, CI, NIC
Interpreter ~ Educator ~
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aslmom.com
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The BCRPD holds regular meetings
and the public is encouraged to attend
and participate in what might be the
final steps leading up to a decision
regarding the changes and long-term
care of the dam. They meet the first
Wednesday of every month at the
main facility behind the fire station.
More info can be found at their
website http://www.bcrpd.org/.
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dam, and how much money might
be made annually if upgrades and/
or changes are made at the park.
Since that time, various meetings
and planning committees have been
held, but in all these years, still the
dam itself remains unchanged. The
cosmetic changes to the parking area
and day use have greatly improved
the aesthetics of the park, but the
problems of garbage, human and
animal feces, alcohol and drug
usage along the waterfront and on
the concrete structures, continue to
plague the lower area.
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Page 3
GUM FLAPPIN’
by Deb Longley
What our little trucks bring home.
Congratulation Derek Creelman, for beating the SLV Middle School high
jump record. The previous record was set in 1974 at 5 foot 5 inches.
Derek jumped a whooping 5 foot 6 inches. Great job Derek!!
Today I was driving home after our
monthly Santa Cruz Mountain Bulletin
staff meeting broke up. I stopped at
New Leaf before heading outta Dodge,
and another beat-up mini-truck just
like mine (except hers was a brown
beat-up Toyota with “Treehugger”
and “Keep Santa Cruz Weird” bumper
stickers and mine is a grey beat-up
Nissan with “Dirty Girl Produce” and
“No Fracking Way” bumper stickers)
pulled out of the New Leaf parking lot
just before me. I ended up behind her
at the stop sign turning left. She yielded
to a beat-up blue Toyota pick-up, then
turned left. I yielded to a black, very,
very old Toyota pick-up, and then I
turned left. Another Toyota pick-up
(not sure of the color—maybe it didn’t
have one, kind of like mine), followed
me, and none of us turned right on
Bear Creek Road.
So there we were: four Toyotas and a
Nissan driving north out of Boulder
Creek. I felt a little sheepish driving
a Nissan, but what was I going to do?
Anyway, none of that is the interesting
part. I mean, really. This is Boulder
Creek. Trucks “R” Us. What was interesting, and more than a little endearing,
was what we were hauling.
First off, none of the beds were empty.
Three of them had bales (two looked
like alfalfa; mine was straw). One of
them had a bag of premium sawdust
(Mini-Flake) that folks sometimes
use for animal litter, but maybe more
often for compost toilets, like we do.
The one behind me appeared to have
a truckload of compost from the Ben
Lomond transfer station. Couldn’t tell
for sure because of the blue tarp covering it, but what appeared to be blowing
out of the back end was something
that looked an awful lot like the very
same compost I have often hauled in
the back of mine. The blue one in the
very front had some newly budded
fruit trees and a few other plants that
might have been blueberry bushes. I
would bet my socks that they had just
come from Mountain Feed. The very,
very old black Toyota in front of me
was also hauling plants of some kind,
and great big rocks and some flagstone.
They were also hauling home some
chicken feed and a huge sack of dog
food. There were three suntanned left
arms hanging out driver’s side windows.
One turned on Juanita Woods, one
turned on Two Bar, one turned on Pool,
I turned on McGaffigan Mill and the
little blue truck in the front just kept
on going.
I was amused, thinking how that would
pretty much never happen on the other
side of Skyline. I was happy, thinking
about each one of these folks (and for
every one of us in that line of trucks,
are there a couple hundred others?)
bringing home things that matter. Dirt
and animal feed and sawdust to aid in
our close-the-circle composting. And,
I was proud. That’s an odd emotion, I
sez to meself. But there it was. I was
proud of what we do here. Proud of
this valley’s homesteading impulse, and
proud of the old beat-up trucks that
are not shiny new BMW’s. Proud that
we do it here like we do it here. The
way we do it.
Here.
Page 4
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May 2013
Healthy is Wealthy
by Ray & Chadala Snow Shiva
Parasites –
The Invisible Menace
may be harder to detect. Signs may
include a constant appetite without
ever feeling nourished, intense sugar
cravings, bloating, gas, bad breath,
Yes, I said it. Nobody really wants to dark blue patches in the whites of
think about tiny creatures inhabiting the eyes and fatigue, just to name
our bodies against our will, but a few.
most people do have them. Quietly
lurking undetected, stealing our How do we get rid of them? There
bodies’ nutrition and leaving acidic are many natural foods that are
waste behind, oh my!
anti-parasitic, and we eat lots of
these in our family. Coconut oil,
These tiny little beasts can attach raw pumpkin seeds, garlic and
themselves to our organs, the most neem are excellent. For a severe
common cases being flukes on infection we find that something
the liver and upper digestion and stronger may be needed. Blood
amoebas in the lower digestion. Cleaner and Paracleaner by Herbs
Giardia attaches itself to the small Forever, Allicidin, Parastat and
intestines, but people usually realize Paratosin by Premier Research Labs
something is wrong when they are our favorite products for clearing
have a case of these little guys. The unwanted parasites. These products
symptoms are much more obvious. are safe for use in pets as well. We
also wash our hands, clothes and
How do we get them? There are bed sheets with oxygenated bleach,
many ways, but most of the time, we which kills all types of nasties,
contract them from very ordinary including mold, fungus and bacteria.
activities. We can get parasites
from unwashed foods, especially If you suspect that you may have
fruits and vegetables, unclean parasites, we strongly recommend
water sources, digging around seeking out an experienced health
in our beloved gardens, and the care practitioner to help you
unmentionable but maybe most clear them. In our opinion, this
common way: oral/fecal contact. practitioner should have confidence
Often our pets are carrying parasites and success in having cleared
as well.
parasitic infections and be able to
do so with all natural products.
What are the symptoms?
Sometimes these can be obvious Best of health to you!
as in a case of Giardia, with diarrhea,
stomach cramps and possible For questions or comments, please
vomiting. Other times, as with email [email protected]
flukes and amoebas, an infection
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Page 5
Valley Business
Women in Business Networking Debuts
at the Felton Satellite
A new networking opportunity has emerged in the
business community here in the mountains designed
to give women in business a much needed opportunity to network with and support each other. SCM
Business Girls has a laid back style that caters to a business woman’s busy
lifestyle. Created by local business owner, Bree Karpavage of Bree’s Design
and Sky Fire Gems, SCM Business Girls is positioned as a non-member,
non-commitment style group that meets weekly on Thursdays mornings
from 9-10am. Come when you can and no worries if you can’t! It’s a great
opportunity for local business women to collaborate, network, and give
each other support. Come out and be a part of an amazing group of
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Page 6
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May 2013
LocaL ServiceS
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A.R.D. # 00186563
(831) 338-3660
Box 931 Boulder Creek, CA 95006
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BOOK KEEPING
Book Keeping &
Business Management
(831) 359-5909
P.O. Box 1692
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[email protected]
CLEANING
Women at Work
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831-338-3082
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COMPUTER REPAIR
Eric Hammer
Construction
831-239-8895
[email protected]
www.erichammerconstruction.com
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Electric Electric Co.
Serving local businesses &
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Full service graphic design work
Logos . Ads . Business Materials
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Call for a free quote
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Bruce J. Bellochio
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[email protected]
Donner Land & Homes, Inc.
MaryBeth Sundram ~ Realtor
831.252.4085
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TRASH & RECYCLING
Kunz Valley Trash
Weekly, Bi-weekly, & Monthly Pick-ups
www.kunzvalleytrash.com
[email protected]
831-338-9050
TREE SERVICES
Richard’s Tree Service
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Voted #1 in the Valley
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Our Local Services page is
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CLASSIFIEDS
Help Wanted:
Sales Account Manager
The Santa Cruz Mountain Bulletin is
looking for a sales manager. Outside
sales experience, ability to communicate effectively, ability to conduct
market research to find niche markets, liaison between advertisers and
graphic designers, team leadership,
persuasiveness, and the ability to work
well under pressure while preserving
a great attitude. Compensation based
on experience. 831-278-1613
Newspaper Staff Reporter, Editor
and Columnist
The Santa Cruz Mountain Bulletin
is looking for volunteer newspaper
staff. This opportunity is to get into
the newspaper business on the ground
floor and build from there. Students
Welcome. 831-278-1613
Help Wanted:
Retreat/ Kiosk Worker position
available.
Send resume to [email protected].
Bob Pilgreen
831-338-6361
831-588-2306
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Cell - 408-234-1847
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Professional Group
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Recycling and Hauling
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Page 7
SLV HISTORY
Two Valley Buildings
Honored with Blue
Plaques
By Lisa Robinson
May is Museum Month and National
Preservation Month. The Santa
Cruz Museum of Art and History
celebrates these events by awarding
Blue Plaques to local historic
landmarks. Two buildings in the
Valley will receive plaques this
month: Park Hall and The Rankin
Home, both in Ben Lomond.
Park Hall has an interesting
history. In 1911, the Ben Lomond
Improvement Society, headed by
renowned educator Elisha Brooks,
decided that a park along the
riverbank on the south side of Mill
Street would be desirable. However,
in order for the land to be available
for the purpose, buildings currently
occupying that area had to be
moved. Frederick Cody “generously
donated about 160 feet of this choice
property” on the north side of Mill
Street onto which these existing
buildings could be transferred.
The Rankin Home, Craggie Lee Cottage
dash and the name Park Hall [would
be] outlined in large colored pebbles.”
The building would resemble those
of Switzerland. The barn, some 26
by 40 feet, would be converted into
a stage and dining room.
The opening of the hall in April 1912
was a grand affair with delegations
from Boulder Creek, Brookdale, and
Felton. The Knights of the Maccabees
Orchestra “brought to the floor
gallant youth and pretty maidens to
trip the light fantastic toe.” Supper
was served at midnight in the dining
room behind the stage (this is the
In January 1912, Iven Hobson’s dressing and makeup area today).
barn, the former Ben Lomond
Livery Stables, was “put on rollers Hobson sold the property later that
and moved from its old location to year and moved to Santa Cruz. The
the new one adjoining the Pioneer hall passed through a succession
Mercantile company store.” Hobson of owners until, in 1923, the Ben
then began to build a new front for Lomond Improvement Society, still
the structure. The new front would headed by Elisha Brooks, endeavored
be 40 by 60 feet, “finished with pebble to purchase the building outright to
Park Hall. The restrooms to the right were originally owned by the
Ben Lomond Fire Department and housed the Hose Cart.
be held in trust for the residents of
Ben Lomond who live within a one
and a half mile radius of the hall. This
trust is still in place today.
James’ company installed the heating
and plumbing for Hearst Castle. The
home was owned by the Rankin
family until the 1990s. The original
structure, the summer home, is little
Among the people thanked for his changed today.
involvement in securing the purchase
of the hall was Andrew Rankin. The Santa Cruz Museum of Art
Oakland residents and Scottish and History’s Historic Landmark
descendants James and Andrew program presents blue plaques to
Rankin built their summer home, structures that are deemed to be of
the second blue plaque recipient, historic, architectural, or cultural
on the banks of the San Lorenzo significance throughout Santa Cruz
River in 1909. The new park would County. While MAH authorizes
extend from their home at the north the plaques, which are paid for
end, along the south of Mill Street, by the owner of the property, the
to the location of the soon-to-be designation is purely honorary, has
library. Oakland plumbers by trade, no legal implications, and is not
the Rankins named their Victorian connected with the City or County
style cottage Craggie Lee after a historic building surveys. If you
poem by Scotsman Robert Tannahill, are interested having your Valley
Thou Bonnie Wood of Craigie Lee. property recognized with a blue
Andrew was an active member of the plaque, please contact Lisa Robinson
Ben Lomond Improvement Society. [email protected].
Your town.
Your doctors.
John Bergren, MD
Family Practice
Wilder Ranch State Park
Dignity Health Medical Group Dominican is committed to serving the local health care needs of residents
and their families in the Santa Cruz area. With nine care centers conveniently located throughout the
County, our doctors combine highly personalized primary care with easy access to all the specialists and
resources of Dominican Hospital, the area’s finest. We’re proud to care for the town where we live.
831.338.6491
DominicanMedicalGroup.org
Page 8
www.mountainbulletin.com
May 2013
Arts & Music
A look at the local art scene in SLV
BCE ARTISTS CREATE ART MASTERPIECES
By Kili Crandall
The Art Masterpiece program at
Boulder Creek Elementary School is
not just about creating art, it’s about
“touching the lives of the Art Masters
over the past few centuries…” and
understanding their art as well as
what their influences were.
The program has evolved over
the past two decades since it’s
implementation in the mid-90’s with
Andrea Burgon at it’s helm. Mrs.
Burgon sought to “bring the art
masters to the San Lorenzo Valley”
so that her four children and their
classmates could benefit from the
amazing talent in our community.
“We have so many incredible artists
here, living in this beautiful valley
who want to inspire our youth. Let’s
provide them with an opportunity.”
The program consists of a variety of
“art masters” for each grade level,
following a set monthly schedule, so
that ideally, by the end of fifth grade
the students will have been infused
not only with the Renaissance art of
Brueghel and the impressionist art of
Cassatt, Renoir and Monet, but also
the surrealism of Miro and Chagall
and the passion of artists such as
Rivera and Kahlo. The pop art of
Warhol and Thiebaud have recently
been added in. “This year we even
added Alexander Calder… with his
amazing mobiles…. It was a fun way
to learn about movement, powered
only by our natural elements.” It
took more than one lesson to
complete the projects, but it was
well worth it and Laurie Conrad’s
fourth grade class will be displaying
their mobiles in the annual art show
at Open House, along with all the
other classes. “You will see some
truly inspiring art,” assured Kili
Crandall, the current Art Masterpiece
coordinator.
Ms. Crandall insists that this program
would never be possible without
all the dedicated “Art Masterpiece
Volunteers” who put a monthly
plan together, teach and complete
various projects with each class. It
has been very rewarding for both the
children and the parent volunteers.
“A few years ago, Mrs. Bruce, who
teaches kindergarten at BCE told me
that a parent of one of her students
commented that her son had been
lining up peas on his plate… and
when asked what he was doing, he
insisted to his mother that it was
‘pointillism.’ We had just learned
about the artist Seurat, whose style of
art was pointillism: thousands of dots
that make up a scene when viewed
from a distance…. I think I had the
biggest smile on my face, knowing
that he ‘got it,’” she said.
All the art supplies for each project
are supplied by the Art Masterpiece
program, which is fully funded
by the BCE Parent Club and past
fundraisers. Materials include
watercolors, pastels, charcoals,
tempera... even clay. This year
there will be 21 classes displaying
18 or so different artists (there are
usually have a few duplicate artists
with different projects). The BCE
multi-purpose room becomes a
“Museum D’Art” for two days:
Thursday evening, May 23, during
Open House and the following day,
May 24, for students with their classes
to tour. Everyone is welcome.
by Steve Poikonen
Throw a rock in any direction in
the San Lorenzo Valley and chances
are this will happen: you’ll hit a
carpenter. You’ll hit a techie. You’ll hit
a musician. Throw a well-placed rock,
and you’ll hit all three at once. Now,
I’m not advocating rock throwing.
We’re Americans, if we want to prove
a point, we use a bomb. What I’m
getting at is that we have about as
many talented musicians here as we
have tall trees. Some of them travel
about, and some of them want to stay
local. I sat down and talked with the
latter sort and was reminded music,
no matter how localized, is a universal
language. Bobby Carr has spent 35 years in the
San Lorenzo Valley sharing his music.
For the last fifteen years, that music
has accompanied our morning coffee
hour at Rainbow’s End (soon to be
Boulder Creek Roasting Company).
Bobby, and every musician that turns
up for Open Mic on Sundays, is well
aware that this particular venue is a
family-friendly space in the valley.
“We’re holding this in a coffee shop
so that we don’t have to deal with
people getting out of hand,” said
Bobby. “Families can come here,
listen to music, and don’t have to put
up with what you hafta deal with in
a bar scene.”
The next several months will be filled
with live music from local pickers,
and they plan to spread the tunes
down the Valley. For those who
remember the Dirty Butter Jug Band,
Dr. Madd brings his tunes every week.
Bobby Carr, and café regulars such as
Michael Martyn, Helen Rogers, and
Mark Boggs will orchestrate a caravan
of local artists from Boulder Creek to
the ocean, hitting every space you can
stuff a few chairs into with room for
The goal for the 2013-2014 school musicians to play.
year is to finally get the music
appreciation component back in Anyone inclined to listening to local
place. It used to be part of the musicians should wander into the
Art Masterpiece program but the café Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
old cassette tapes have become Not only will you get an earful, you’ll
antiquated and there is the need get to talk to some exceptionally
for some serious upgrades. Mary interesting folks who work every
Beth Curley has agreed to be co- day, one note at a time, to keep our
coordinator along with Kili Crandall. community vibrant, tonal, and weird.
The opportunity to network with
EARTH without ART is “eh”…. I other musicians and be a part of a
think that says it all….
well-established and thriving local
scene is available to any
and all with the hitch
in their giddy-up to
show up.
Bobby Carr
May 2013
Bobby Carr
set the Stage
For Music in
theMountains
www.mountainbulletin.com
I’m going to wrap
this up the same way
I’ll wrap every music
column: I want you to
join me at a show in the
Valley. Saturday, May
18th at Don Quixote’s,
The Good Luck Thrift
Store Outfit rolls into
town from Oakdale.
Chris Doud and Will
Taylor are two great
songwriters, and they’ll
leave you wondering
why you only hear
them on KPIG. I hope
to see you all at the Redwood
Mountain Faire. Page 9
COMMUNITY OPINION
LETTERS
Hi SCMB I am pleased and impressed
with the way the paper
continues to evolve, and I
think the current issue is the
best yet.
It’s filled with relevant news,
topical information, and
thoughtful
perspectives. I found the editor’s
piece, Swimming Upstream,
particularly cogent.
Keep up the good work
-STEVE BAILEYBoulder Creek
Happy
Birthday,
Jaden Adams!
On The Other Hand
Plato’s Allegory of the
Cave
by Al Wasserman
This
allegory
tells of a group of
people living in a
cave with a small
fire from which
shadows are created, and these
shadows are the only things visible
to the people at all. As a result, they
naturally believe that the shadows
are reality.
Reality, as generally understood
here in the United States, is much
the same. Almost all forms of information available to us have created nothing but shadows of actual
facts. The information sources are
almost entirely owned by the same
economic class that virtually owns
our country and their dispensation
of information is so complete, and
the resulting “reality” so interlocking, that, like that cave shadows, the
result indeed appears to be all that
is real.
Examples of our current shadow realities are:
Our foreign policies are for
1224 ~
You’ve been a friend on
and off the golf course
for over 15 years. We
will miss you, but
here’s to a hole in one
wherever you land.
- The B.C.
Golfing
Gals
Congratulations, 2013
Santa Cruz County Math
Contest Winners!
Boulder Creek Elementary
Austin Whisler
San Lorenzo Valley Middle
Aaron McKay, Aiden LeRoux,
Jenna Soloman, Jesse Lopez,
Jon Rose, Joy Lyon, Robert
Jeffrey, Rowan Nolan, Tyler
Goedeck, Zahira Elmansoum
the betterment of the world.
We have a democracy in
which our representatives
reflect the needs and wants
of the majority of our population.
We are a peace loving nation.
We are unfairly attacked by
terrorists who have no reason to harm us.
It is OK for us to assassinate
foreign leaders.
We the majority have ownership of our country.
It is constitutional for our
president to declare war.
Anyone can become super
rich.
Single Payer Health Plan is a
socialist idea.
Advertising is mostly true.
There is a connection between 9/11 and Iraq.
Credit card interest rates are
acceptable.
Corporations are people.
“Almost all forms of information available
to us have created nothing but shadows of
actual facts.”
Banks are mostly honest.
Politicians accepting large
corporate donations are still
working in our best interests.
Our history and the morality we proclaim to embody
are in agreement with each
other.
Our workers are the wellpaid in the world.
Our health care and health
insurance are the best quality in the world.
We are a Judeo-Christian
nation that remains true to
our stated religious beliefs.
We are now protected from
bank frauds.
Bankers will eventually go
to jail.
Corporations are moral.
Jesus could live comfortably
in our country.
It is good foreign policy for
us to have more than 800
military bases all over the
world.
Sixty-eight
years
after
WWII, we still have troops
occupying Germany and Japan for our protection.
If it is high tech, it is good.
It is good that we have so
few unions as they are a
corrupting influence on our
capitalism.
We have a two party system.
Our educational system is
number one in the world.
If you are opposed to our occupations across the globe,
then you are a terrorist.
The principles of our legal
system are applied equally
without regard to class, gender or race.
Our president does not order the killing of American
citizens.
Our tax structure is fair,
with the wealthy paying a
greater share than the work-
Congratulations
Graduating
Class of 2013!
Page 10
ing class.
Muslims don’t value life like
us Christians and Jews.
It is unfair that our oil is under the sands of the Middle
East.
There will never be anything
better than capitalism and
capitalism can keep expanding forever in a finite world.
We are a democracy.
The shadows we
see on the cave
walls are indeed
only shadows
and not reality.
Maybe it’s time
to turn on the
lights.
Beginning
a new study
group. Please
call for information: 338-4233
www.mountainbulletin.com
May 2013
Astrology – May 2013 Horoscope
By Mr. Astrology
(And a little help for the rest of us!)
Pluto and Uranus are presently in a square, an arrangement that will continue until 2016. A square is a 90 degree angle that creates demanding and
provocative situations. Pluto and Uranus came together in an exact square
twice during 2012. In 2013, the square will be exact from May 16-June 2,
at 11 degrees Aries/Capricorn, and October 17-November 16, at 9 degrees.
Confidence
Since 2010, Uranus has been in Aries, the ruler of the house of the self. We as
individuals will feel the need to assert ourselves. Aries is ruled by Mars, the
warrior planet. Motivation is very dynamic in this sign.The nature of Uranus
is freedom-seeking, often bringing unexpected changes. The nature of Pluto
is deep, power-seeking and transformative. When these forces collide, the
result is significant.
Most of us get caught up in the first definition. We need to feel a sense of
confidence about doing something before we will do it. This can be a huge
roadblock for a lot of people which stops them from following their dreams
or even just speaking up for themselves at a restaurant.
What is confidence? How do you get it? How come some people seem to
have so much of it and I never seem to have enough? Self-confidence has
been coming up a lot lately in my practice. In my research, I’ve come across
Pluto has been in Capricorn since 2008. Capricorn pertains to industry, finance a great book by Russ Harris called The Confidence Gap, which I highly recand the government. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of structure. ommend. He says there are two definitions of confidence. First, confidence
Pluto is ruled by Scorpio and is associated with transformation and power. is a feeling of certainty or assurance, and secondly, confidence is act of trust
and reliance.
During its transit, until 2023, it will take on the attributes of Capricorn.
In the book the author states the second definition is more of an action
rather than a feeling. When we trust or rely on ourselves (or others), we aren’t
totally sure that things will work out well. In fact, we might even have a
Aries March 21-April 20 You are powerful on the 5th as your
lot
of
fear and anxiety about all of the things that could possibly go wrong.
ruling planet Mars aligns with Pluto. Helping others helps you
But
we
trust anyway. Think back to when you first learned how to ride a
more fully sense your inner resources. The 12th appears bursting
bike.
If
your
bike was too big (like mine was), it hurt a lot when you made
with predestined events. They assist you in beingfully grateful for
a
mistake
and
fell off! I didn’t feel confident at all because I hadn’t gotten
what you treasure.
good at it yet. But I kept trying. I acted confidently and trusted that I could
Taurus April 21-May 21 The May 9th solar eclipse occurs in your eventually get it right.
house of self-image. Look for new foundations connected to your
self-image and communicating with others. The lunar eclipse on The idea is to trust in yourself even when you don’t feel it. Trust that you are
the 24th shines a light on methods to discover when to act on good enough to do whatever it is that you want to do, whether it’s passing
your next math test, interviewing for a job, or applying to the college of
your own, and when it seems enjoyable to petition others.
your dreams. Yes, it might be scary, but act confident. If you wait until you
Gemini May 22-June 20 Pluto and Mars align with your ruling feel confident, you will never try. If you never try, how will you learn to get
planet Mercury on the 6th and 7th. If you concentrate, nothing good at something? (This could go round and round all your life!)
can interfere with your achievements. The worth of your associations is the focus of the lunar eclipse on the 24th. You’re able A few people in our community have become quite self-confident at being
to articulate your viewpoints to those who are significant to you. high school students as senior year comes to an end. They’ve had a lot of
practice. But now new adventures are soon coming. I encourage you to act
Cancer June 21-July 21 The 14th is a potent day for you! You’re with self-confidence even though you might not feel so confident about
able to emotionally unite with people when they come to you for what you will be doing next in your life (more about this in my next article).
reassurance. On the 24th, the lunar eclipse helps you to attain a
The theory of thought behind this kind of thinking is “Acceptance and
greater level of health and well-being.
Commitment Theory”. Contact me below if you’d like more information.
Leo July 22-Aug. 22 The May 9th solar eclipse occurs in your house
Marnie Defosset
of contribution. New starts can take place in your profession that
Personal Development Coach / Certified NLP
can effectively modify its path. On the 11th, your concentration
Practitioner
is strong as the Sun unites with Mercury. You are enthusiastic
about communicating your thoughts with others!
[email protected]
www.mjdcoaching.com (almost done!)
Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Mercury connects to Pluto and Mars on
the 6th and 7th. You can muscle through any test and emerge
If you have any topic requests or suggestions, drop
triumphant. The lunar eclipse on the 24th shows you how a supme
a
line
at
the
email
above.
portive family can help you to achieve your professionalaspirations.
Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 The May 9th solar eclipse occurs in your
house of intimacy. Look for a fresh start in attaining a greater
depth of unity with other people. Power disputes appear on the
18th. It’s essential to grant you and your colleagues the freedom
you need.
Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 22 Your ruling planet Pluto harmonizes
with the Sun on the 1st. You’re able to communicate the depths
of yourheart. Pluto aligns with Mars and Mercury on the5th and
6th. Your words can change the world!
Sagittarius Nov. 23-Dec. 21 The May 9th solar eclipse occurs
in your house ofwork. Explore new avenuesin your professionalambitions. Your ruling planet Jupiter unites with Mercury on
the 27th.It’s a great day forinteraction!
I am also co-hosting a workshop
with Janet Janssen, How to pull
yourself out of a
rut! Sunday June
23, 2013 11:004:30, Scotts Valley Satellite Center. For more info
go to www.creativeworkshopsforachange.com.
Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 20 Saturn makes a stressful opposition to
Mercury on the 5th. It may appear more difficult to make yourself
be heard or to complete your tasks.The lunar eclipse on the 24th
shows the way forward to improve your health.
Aquarius Jan. 21- Feb. 19 TheMay 9th solar eclipse occursin your
house of family and home. Look for a fresh start with regards to
domestic matters. Your ruling planet Uranus aligns with Venuson
the 18th. Treat yourself!
Pisces Feb. 20-March 20 Relationships are highlighted on the 13th.
Don’t take blame for something that’s not all your fault. The Sun
is in stressful alignment with Neptune on the 26th. Take extra
care with the gift of your empathetic nature.
When Uranus and Pluto struggle, the outcome is revolution in the world. The
last time they were in a square was 1932-34, with 5 exact hits. Throughout
this period we witnessed the Great Depression, political turmoil, and social
upheaval. We would do well to contemplate the lessons from the past as we
move into the future! Have a great month, and remember: keep looking to
the stars!
May 2013
www.mountainbulletin.com
Page 11
MOUNTAIN MATTERS - Are There Dangerous Animal in the Mountains?
by Dennis Gobets
One of the cutest and most common
animals on the dangerous list is the mule
deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and the
related black tailed deer. Deer eat plants
and generally avoid humans, although
they often raid gardens on their nightly
foraging runs. An adult male mule deer
weighs between 150 and 300 pounds, but
very large males may weigh up to 450
pounds and carry a rack of antlers with
10 or more pointed spikes. People can
be injured by a charging deer. Deer are
shy, but if you block their escape route,
they will try to get around you at high
speed, so their sharp antlers and hooves
can pose a real danger. As with all live
animals, when you see them, enjoy them
from a safe distance.
Well, yes, there are animals living
around Boulder Creek that could cause
you harm, but attacks are very rare and
knowing something about their habits
can help keep you safe.
The top of the food chain around here,
the alpha predator, is the mountain lion,
also called puma, cougar, and panther
(Puma concolor in Latin). An adult puma
can weigh between 80 and 220 pounds
and measure over 7 feet from nose to
tail. Mountain lions feed on deer and
smaller animals, including farm animals
and pets. They fill a necessary role in
keeping populations of their prey animals in check. They avoid people for the
most part, although every year they are
sighted by hikers, mountain bikers and
other outdoors people. Cougar attacks on
people are extremely rare, but it is wise
to be cautious when out in the woods
between twilight and dawn.
Puma researchers track individual animals with high tech collars which are
attached when they are captured. The
new generation of collars can show researchers what the puma has been doing,
not just where it has been. www.xxx.co
Because cougars are most active from
dusk to dawn, it is best to hike with a
friend or two if you are going to be out
during twilight or when it is dark. It is
also a good idea to make a little noise
to let the cats know you are in the area.
Having a dog with you is not necessarily
a good idea because a dog might actually
attract a cougar and no dog is a match
for a cougar in a one-on-one fight. If you
see a cougar, the best course of action is
to stand your ground aggressively. If you
have children with you, pick them up. Do
not run away or climb a tree as they can
run faster and climb better than you can.
Wave your arms and yell at the cat. Try
Page 12
to look as big and as dangerous as you
can. Pick up a stick or rock, if possible.
Cougars don’t want to risk being hurt,
so they will most likely leave to search
for easier prey.
Our other local feline predator is the
bobcat, also called a wildcat or lynx
(Lynx rufus in Latin). The bobcat weighs
between 25 and 45 pounds, although the
largest bobcat on record was 49 pounds.
The bobcat preys on rabbits and rodents
but will also eat insects and a large one
might hunt deer. The bobcat really doesn’t
pose a threat to humans, although they
may prey on our pets. Bobcat sightings
are fairly common around Boulder Creek.
If you see one, stand your ground and
keep your eye on it until it is out of sight.
On the canine side of the picture, we have
the coyote (Canis latrans). The coyote is
a medium-sized animal similar to a dog,
and adult males can weigh as much as 50
pounds. While coyotes sometimes gather
in large informal packs, they usually
hunt alone or in pairs. Coyotes hunt
small animals including cats and small
dogs, large insects and they will even eat
carrion and human trash if they can’t get
fresh meat. While there have been very
rare confirmed attacks on humans, they
generally avoid human contact.
Our only dangerous reptile is the pacific
rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus). Rattlesnakes pose a threat to humans. Their
bite is rarely fatal but it is painful and can
result in lasting harm including amputation and nerve damage. Rattlesnakes
don’t always rattle a warning before they
strike. In fact, they may not even have
rattles on the tips of their tails. They
primarily hunt rodents and can be found
coiled and waiting in woodpiles, rocky
spots and places around our yards and
gardens that provide secluded cover, such
as the coil of garden hose or a tool shed.
If you encounter a rattlesnake, back away
slowly and deliberately. If you encounter a
rattlesnake in the wild, leave it alone. Do
not annoy it or poke at it with a stick or
throw rocks at it. If you find one around
the yard, call for professional help to
remove it. Remember, all snakes keep
the vermin population down and they
mean us no harm.
www.mountainbulletin.com
Last on the list is our night bandit, the
raccoon (Procyon lotor). They are not
large, typically weighing between 8 and
20 pounds although larger individuals
can weigh up to 30 pounds. These animals are full of fight. They eat plants,
small animals, fish, insects and are
attracted to pet food that is left out at
night. They have been known to enter
houses through pet doors and they are
very nimble and clever when it comes
to getting at food. If cornered, they will
fight savagely and may severely injure
a dog or cat who stands its ground. A
raccoon will attack a human, if there is
no escape. In fact, almost any animal, no
matter how small, will turn and fight if
it feels threatened, so the best course of
action is to leave them alone, or call for
professional help to remove them.
All of our local critters serve a purpose
in the forest and are part of a balanced
ecosystem. They are fun to watch and
photograph. Animal attacks in the Santa
Cruz Mountains are very rare, but the
wise outdoorsperson knows it is best to
“live and let live”.
May 2013
CAN YOU FIND YOUR BUSINESS ON THE MAP?
Make Sure your Customers Can!
Contact the SCM Bulletin at [email protected] or call us at 831-338-7262
Doug’s How To
by Doug Conrad
Whether they are in your pants or at
your picnic, ants are amazing little
creatures; well maybe not in your pants.
Like bees, ants are social creatures with a
social structure of workers and queens.
I’ve always been amazed at these little
guys and in researching for this article I
came across even more interesting facts
about ants than anyone in Boulder Creek
would care to know. But I have to bore
you with a few of them. It is estimated
that there are over 22,000 species of ants
and only 12,500 have been classified.
Sometimes their colonies can number
in the millions and they exist on almost
every land mass on earth. That’s a lot of
ants. They can range in size from a super
tiny .03 of an inch to just over 2 inches
long. Most are black or red but there are
some that have a metallic luster. The life
span of ants increases according to the
hierarchy. Since the fertile males are at
the lowest rung, they live only for a few
weeks. Worker ants are a little higher up,
so they live for 2 - 3 years. Queen ants
live the longest, with a lifespan of almost
25 - 30 years!
Customers often come in thinking they
have termites when actually they have
ants. Yes, some ants have wings. These
are usually the male drones but the queen
will have wings for the early part of her
life. You can tell the difference between
an ant and a termite by the wings. A
termite’s wings are both the same size,
ants are different sizes. Termites have
straight antennae and ants are bent. It’s
hard to tell but the ant’s waist is slender
and the termites are not as much. That’s
May 2013
the basic difference between these two,
but do you know what you get if you
cross ants with tics? All sorts of antics!
Around here we basically have two types
of ants that most of us consider pests.
The tiny sweet eating ant and the large
jet black carpenter ant. Growing up we
always called the big black ones Tahoe
ants as they seem to be everywhere up
there. I did run across an interesting
article about Lake Tahoe not being as
clear as it was in the past partially because
of the decline in ant population. The ants
will aerate the soil with their tunnels
underground. These tunnels act like a
filter to trap sediment and help keep
Tahoe blue and clear. Because of the large
forest fires recently much of the downed
wood and needles are now required to
be removed from the forest floor. This is
the ant’s habitat, and because its being
removed, not burned anymore the ant’s
ecosystem has been disrupted, hence less
tunnels and soil aeration. But like always,
I digress…back to the subject.
So that tiny little ant that Aunt Sue
points out (with a high pitch voice) on
your counter when she visits is called a
sweet eating ant. The sweet eating ant is
sometimes called grease ant, sugar ant,
honey ant, or in our house it’s that damn
little ant. This little ant is considered a
pest around here. When you see just
one or two ants these are the scouts.
The scouts are sent out to find water,
sugars, or proteins that they can track
and then leave a pheromone trail for the
rest of the worker ants to follow back.
Amazingly, these little guys can travel
up too 700 feet away from the colony. If
you see these scouts and you don’t want
an invasion following it’s a good idea to
smoosh them scouts.
So how do you prevent these ants from
snooping around your home? Or worse
invading and taking everything in your
pantry with them? There are many
options of course. The most common
thing we sell is the aerosol sprays that
kill on contact. This spray kills a few at
best and really does nothing to control
them returning. So the greenest thing
you can do to prevent ants is eliminate
the food or water source. Leaving food
out and leaking plumbing are the most
preventable and common attractants.
Once I went to a friend’s home for dinner
and at the bottom of her doors on the
floor were all these cinnamon sticks.
When I inquired she said that this was
her green ant prevention method. I
thought that it’s nice that it is green, but
having sticks all other floor may not be
the best décor choice, even in Boulder
Creek. I heard of some folks using garlic,
pepper, bay leaves, and cloves in the same
fashion. Another greener option is Borax.
We stock it ready to go from Terro® as
an ant killer but some folks will mix
Borax household cleaner with three parts
sugar, dilute with water then add syrup
to make a think consistency. This is then
placed into small containers with holes.
The ants will take this back and ingest it
and it causes dehydration and hopefully
the elimination of the colony. Sometimes
the ants sense danger and will start a
new colony, so it is important to keep
applying bait for at least 60 days. Most of
my customers have had good luck with
Borax based product but another albeit
toxic method is products with Propoxur.
This systemic insecticide was introduced
in 1959 and is very effective in controlling
www.mountainbulletin.com
ant colonies but I hesitate recommending
it as it can be harmful to bees.
So back to the “Tahoe ants” AKA
Carpenter ants that we also get here.
These big black ants can be controlled
with bait like the little ones but be aware
their colony will reside in decaying or
hollow wood. They don’t eat wood but
cut what are called “galleries” into the
wood. Wood areas that are prone to
moisture are where you will find these
ants. As these ants can be damaging it’s
a good idea to find the nest. I thought
this was a good tip: Buy a few crickets,
yes we sell them, smash them so they are
dead and place them in the late afternoon
or evening where you think the ants are
foraging. They will come get the cricket
and take it back to the nest. Follow the
dead cricket as the ants carry it back
to the nest. Once you have located the
nest you can then bait the colony with
that sweet Borax mix or Terro® product.
I recommend you let them enjoy that
cricket as their last meal.
Lastly a few other good tips. Clearing
away bushes and branches touching your
home as these can be pathways in for
ants. Sealing cracks along plumbing lines
where ants can enter your house with
caulking or expanding foam. Seal wood
with paint especially if it is susceptible
to moisture. Ants love old tree stumps,
something that appears to be required
landscaping here in our valley.
Oh and speaking of tree stumps do you
know when ants get lost up at Big Basin
who they call? The ranger in charge of
fin-ants!“Like” Boulder Creek Hardware
on Facebook or visit our website at www.
Bouldercreekhardware.com
Page 13
Entertaining in the Sunshine:
South Carolina Style : Frogmore Stew
True Love & Homegrown
Tomatoes
by Steve Poikonen
According to Guy Clark “There’s just
two things money can’t buy and that’s
true love & homegrown tomatoes.”
Now, I realize there are very literalminded folks around that would be
only too happy to point out the cost of
a shovel, soil, and the back-breaking
energy involved with the process.
And then there are tomatoes. To them
I would say “Kick rocks and stop
being a stick in the mud.” But I didn’t
set out to debate the practical verses
idealistic merits of a thirty year-old
song about the joys of gardening: I set
out to warn you and help you protect
your valued property and garden.
Every year, countless numbers of
delicious veggies are eviscerated by
the scourge of hopeful gardeners
everywhere. A creature so vile and
destructive that the mere mention of
its name raises hackles or paralyzes
with fear. I speak, of course, of
Bambi. Make no mistake, the deer
are out there and coming for your
garden. Based on the color-coded
alert system used by local observers
of these demons in the woods, the
threat level has reached orange. So,
what can be done about this Mongollike herd? Unfortunately it is nearly
impossible to completely deer proof
your garden, however common nonbolt action related defenses are fences.
Good deer fences can be picked up at
any hardware store, but you have to
remember to dig them down at least
a foot & make sure that they are at
least 6 feet above ground. There are
native deer-resistant plants and herbs
that will not only help keep deer
out but they will also pretty up your
garden. Douglas Irises, apricot sunrise
(orange hummingbird mint), the
sticky monkey flower, native onion,
rockrose and lavender. It is important
to plant these on both sides of the
fence because deer will push past
the stuff that they don’t like in order
to get to the goodies. Another good
method is gardening vertically, by that
I don’t mean that you have to stand
up while you plant. No, it means you
pick a southwest facing wall on your
house, slap together a little trellis and
any of your vegetables that grow from
vines, like green beans, you can grow
right up against your house and keep
the buggers out. You can also plant
tomatoes in hanging buckets. You can
also do this for squash or pumpkins,
although you would need a really big
bucket. The deer are attracted to the
way that the plants and veggies smell
so you can mask that smell by using
nutrients with fish emulation or bat
guano.
Establishing a completely deer-proof
garden is about as possible as getting
money out of politicians, but you but
you can follow the steps outlined
above to help drastically reduce the
damage done by these cloven-hooved
berserkers. I hope that your garden
thrives this season. Please keep in
mind that I am particularly fond of
heirloom tomatoes.
Steve lives off the grid
in Boulder Creek,
CA. Originally from
Indiana, but don’t hold
that against him: he’s
no longer a Cubs fan!
Contact Steve at stevep.
[email protected].
by Wendy Sigmund
I am going to share one of my favorite
entertaining themes. I lived in South Carolina for several years. They really know
how to throw a party down there. Here
is one of the most fun outside events. Be
warned though, it is messy... very messy,
casual and tons of fun. It requires a picnic
table and a lot of newspapers. The Bulletin
will work but the Press Banner holds the
seafood juices very well.
It is called Frogmore Stew. A stew is any kind of soup that has potatoes included.
This is a variation on any outside “boil.” A shrimp boil or crawfish boil are great
examples. As with many southern things there is great pride and some history attached. As I was writing this column I had forgotten the name of this dish. I asked
a friend, OT from the BC music store. He was the only one who knew exactly what
I was talking about because he is from the same region in South Carolina. He told
a story of a feud between two neighboring towns. One town called “Frogmore”
served the dish on a newspaper covered table, while the other “Beaufort” served it
in separate dishes. Each town claiming the name of the stew and the best way to
serve it. I picked Frogmore because Frogmore is way more quirky than Beaufort.
On a hot and sunny day invite a mess of people and their young-uns. Yes, I know
it is not proper but it is South Carolinian. The more the merrier for this event.
Instructions:
Get a large cooking pot with a basket or buy one of those turkey fryers: they come
with the pot, lid, basket and burner, and you can use the propane tank from a gas
BBQ. Buy fresh seafood and veggies. Clean everything in preparation for the seafood boil, so it is ready to go into the pot. Fill the pot 3/4 full of water and fire it up.
When the water is boiling, add Old Bay Seasoning, small red potatoes and a couple
of bay leaves. Cook for about 15 minutes. Then add corn wheels and hot smoked
sausage, and let boil for 10 minutes. The corn wheels are fun to eat and don’t require
a commitment of pulling out a whole ear of corn plus is looks cool. When done,
remove everything and dump it out of the basket onto a large platter or paper. Cover
it with aluminum foil to keep it hot. Keep the same water in the pot.
Now for the Seafood
Drop everything you have into the pot; clams, crabs, crab legs, shrimp and or
mussels you can even toss in some lobster if you like. Start with the clams first
they need to cook a little longer. Let the clams boil for about 4 minutes, then throw
everything else in. Let it boil for about 5 minutes. Now dump the seafood on to
the newspaper covered picnic table. Arrange the potatoes and corn around the
seafood. Sprinkle with lemon wedges and dig in.
Have all of your favorite seafood condiments arranged on a separate small table.
Some suggestions are: melted butter, tobacco, ketchup (you never know), and
cocktail sauce.
Now, no party is complete without libations so the question becomes what to
serve your guests to drink with this oh-so-fun-but-messy meal. There is only one
reasonable answer: beer. Beer is the perfect choice for sticky-fingered guests. Keep
it in the bottle so the smudges are not noticeable. I will advocate in the future the
need to pour beer into a chilled pint glass or stein, but not in this case.
There are many good beers that will go along with this meal. As always pick a
quality beer. Some people say that the light, less expensive beers are fine for hot
days, however the blending of flavors are best with good beer. A good pale ale is
more refreshing than a American light beer. My suggestion would be Dragon’s
Breath from the Boulder Creek Brewery or the Organic Indian Pale Ale from Santa
Cruz Mountain Brewing.
The best part of a messy outdoor party is the ease of clean up. Just wrap everything
in the newspaper and throw it way. Recycle the glass beer bottles and you are done.
Have a beautiful day and remember to have fun. For any entertaining questions
or sharing great party ideas you have used in the past, email me at [email protected]
Junction Park Event
34¢ Color Copies
7¢ Black & White
Copy paper: $3 / ream
Business Cards: 500 for only $30
Banners: 30% OFF (that’s only $5/ft2)
- Just mention this ad.
Page 14
www.mountainbulletin.com
May 2013
Upcoming Events May/ June
Friday May 10
6 - 8 p.m Art Galley Opening @ Mountain Art Center
Reception
June 6, 1978
A Day in History: By a vote of almost two to one, California voters
approved Proposition 13, an amendment to the state constitution severely
limiting property tax rates.
June 8
8:00am to 11:00 am The BC Sweep
Saturday May 11
Relay for Life 10am to 10am (24 hours) at Skypark, Opening Ceremonies,
live music, food, and lots of walking!
Community Calendar
Opening Reception: “Imagine”: Local artists have filled
the gallery with their imaginative works of art! Paintings,
textiles, jewelry, ceramics, turned wood and more! Join us
in spreading our imaginations throughout the community. Meet the artists and enjoy refreshments at this FREE event. Bring your friends - the more the merrier!
9:00 am – 2:00 pm Camp Joy Plant Sales
and Fundraiser
Sunday May 12
9:00 am – 2:00 pm Camp Joy Plant Sales
and Fundraiser
Mother’s Day
Boulder Creek Annual Spring Cleaning. Meet in the IOOF parking lot.
Come out and help the community clean the streets of our downtown.
June 8 & 9
Roots that Rock Vintners’ Festival: Enjoy live music, vineyard tours
and stroll through the rose garden at Burrell School Winery, try barrel
samples and order futures at Naumann Vineyards, and nibble on hors
d’oeuvers while tasting Zayante Vineyard’s new releases. June 8 & 9
11am-3pm: downtown Santa Cruz Street Faire, Pacific Ave. (between
Locust & Walnut Sts.)
June 13
Saturday May 18
BCE Carnival. 10:00 to 3:00 Come one Come all to a day
of family fun
SLV Museum Dinner at Scopazzi’s - Annual Fundraising Dinner
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL SLV
Saturday May 18 & 19
June 14
Plein Air Day @ Camp Joy by Mountain
Art Center
12:00 noon SLV High School Graduation!!!!
Sunday May 19
Kessler Promotions: Good Job Karate Kids!!
Monday May 20
A day in History : President Abraham Lincoln signed the
Homestead Act opening millions of acres of government
owned land in the West to “homesteaders” who could
acquire up to 160 acres by living on the land and cultivating
it for five years, paying just $1.25 per acre.
Congratulations Class of 2013
Ongoing
Business Girls SCM: All women’s networking, contact exchange and
support. Thursdays at Satellite in Felton. 9:00- 10:00am. All women
in business are invited to attend. For more information go to www.
scmbusinessgirls.com or email [email protected].
Valley Women’s Group Board Meeting Second Tuesday of the month,
6:30 PM, at The Satellite in Felton. Meetings are open to the public.
Thursday May 23
Gallery Exhibit
BCE Open House
“Imagine” Through July 6, 2013
Saturday May 25
Open Mic at Rainbow’s End (Boulder Creek Roasting Company): Every
Other Sunday at 1pm
Felton Remembers: Memorial Day Parade and Covered
Bridge Festival. Parade starts at 10:00 Highway 9.
Starting at Henry Cowell State park to Graham Hill. The
Covered Bridge Festival is held at the Covered Bridge Park.
The Festival has grown during the past five years into an
event which features live music great food Hamburgers,
Hot dogs, Tri–tip, watermelon, pastries and a beautiful Beer
Garden with beer and Local wine, soft drinks and specialty
items. Booths promoting local artists and non–profit
organizations, Jump houses and festival games for the kids,
are all part of the Festival. Festival Starts following the Parade @ 11:00 to
4:00. Covered Bridge Park Graham Hill.
Sunday May 26
Art and Music Festival at the Rec Center. Family event with music, food
kid activities, entertainment and a lot of fun.
Monday May 27
Look for A Boulder Creek Farmers Market Coming Soon!!!!
Toastmasters Club: Meets Noon until 1pm at the St. Philip’s Episcopal
Church 5271 Scotts Valley Drive, Scots Valley The Redwood Ramblers
Toastmasters meets Weekly to help members build confidence as public
speakers and leaders.
Call for Artists: Open Air Art Show coming to the Mountains this
summer. Call 831-338-7262 for more information on securing a booth.
Jury process will be in place and limited space so call now.
Save the Dates
The 45th annual Race Thru the Redwoods 10K August 18, 2013 Felton,
California
Felton Remembers: Memorial Day Parade and Festival
Memorial Day
NO SCHOOL
**Please submit items to [email protected] include the word “Calen-
Saturday & Sunday June 1 & 2
dar” in the subject line. Or stop by our new office at 13090 Hwy 9 in Boul-
Redwood Mountain Faire
der Creek. Submissions due by the first Monday of the month. Thanks.
Roots that Rock Vintners’ Festival
Enjoy live music, vineyard tours and stroll through the rose garden at
Burrell School Winery, try barrel samples and order futures at Naumann
Vineyards, and nibble on hors d’oeuvers while tasting Zayante Vineyard’s
new releases. June 1 & 2
May 2013
Happy Mother’s Day!
www.mountainbulletin.com
Page 15
The Road Home Begins With Us. . .
DRE#00498325
$225,000 Owner Financing
Little Basin ~ BC 7+ Acres
• Rare Opportunity
• Paved Road Access
• Private Setting
• Surrounded by State Park
LIC#01466579
$225,000
Mitchell Place ~
3.3 Acres - Rebuild Your Home
• Existing Septic
• PG&E
• Storage Shed
• Sunny! Great Neighborhood
$219,000 Owner Financing
Wildrose ~ BC 18 Acres
• Off Pleasant Way
• Bonus 24x20 Storage Shed
• Possible City Water
• Convienent Paved Road
$259,000 Owner Financing
Brimblecom ~ BC
$189,000
Mountain Charlie ~
Los Gatos 2 Acres
• Minutes to Downtown Los Gatos
• Power & Water Available
• Some Reports Completed
• Very Private Setting
$182,000
10 Rural Acres ~ BC
• Romantically Quaint
• Minutes from Downtown
• Nestled in Redwoods
• Storybook Setting
• Near BC Country Club
• Possible Water
• Possible Owner Financing
Deborah J. Donner ~ Broker
408.395.5754
MaryBeth Sundram ~ Realtor
831.252.4085
www.donnerland.com
When you hear the words
FUN - RELEVANT - PRACTICAL
Do you think of Church?
Boulder Creek
Community Church
Visit Us this Sunday!
Service Times 8:30am & 10:00am
Come check out our:
• Relevant, Life-application
Bible based Message
• Live Worship Band
• Family & Community
Friendly Atmosphere
• Casual Dress
• Free Coffee
Featuring:
• Our Nursery, “Noah’s Park”
(10am service only)
• K.F.C. Kids for Christ - 4-10
year olds (10am service only)
• Weekday Youth Groups
• Weekly Bible Studies &
Fellowship for Men & Women
12465 Highway 9, Boulder Creek, CA 95006
831-338-3700 Prayer Line - 831-338-PRAY
Like us on Facebook!
Page 16
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May 2013