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On May 20, 2020, Facebook Messenger alerted me to a new note from my college sweetheart, Peter. He and I had met in Southern California circa 1991 at a collegiate Speech & Debate tournament (where I trounced him in the category of Speech to Entertain), and we have remained friends. Peter sent me a link to a stunning home that he had found on Zillow. “Is this in your neighborhood?” he asked. I responded in the affirmative, and asked how a guy living in Oceanside could happen upon a house for sale in Felton, of all places. He and his family were looking for an investment property in Northern California, he said, and this one caught his eye. Was it the stunning interior? The wrap-around deck? The stand-alone cottage that adorned the property? Nope. “There’s a picture of Bigfoot in the backyard, and that’s a first,” said Peter. Daniel Oster is the realtor who put the home on Hillside Drive on the market, and although the house featured five beds, three baths and plenty of room to roam, Oster felt it needed…a hook. Oster decided that this was the property where Bigfoot would make his debut, and sure enough, the hook worked. “We had over 800,000 views on Zillow...one of the top 3 in Zillow’s history,” Oster said. “Bigfoot was seen making the best of the shelter-in-place…reading, baking, exercising, gardening, working in the home shop…” In the end, the property had multiple offers and sold for $101,000 above list price (sorry, Peter). Read on to learn about Oster’s advantage with his innovative Sasquatch placement. Press Banner: When did you start using the Bigfoot costume in conjunction with your business?Daniel Oster: This was the first, and perhaps, the only time Bigfoot made an appearance at one of my listings. The response was overwhelming, so perhaps he'll show up again in the future. PB: How did you come up with the concept?DO: I was inspired by a listing that made the real estate news that featured an inflatable T-Rex... Bigfoot seemed more relevant to the house I was marketing at the time. It was set in a beautiful stand of redwood trees in Felton. PB: Are you in any way affiliated with the Bigfoot museum in Felton?DO: No affiliation, but they are certainly a landmark. PB: Do you hear directly from clients that you were selected as their realtor based upon that fun element of your business?DO:Bigfoot was a conversation starter, but people primarily value working with me for local expertise with a combination of responsiveness and creative problem solving. I did connect with quite a few new clients as a result of this going viral, but my business is almost entirely repeat and referral clients. I always try to have fun along the way, so the silliness factor of Bigfoot certainly resonated with my core group of clientele.  PB: What’s the best story you can share regarding your wearing of the costume?DO: We wanted to bring attention to the property, but we were also trying to bring a bit of levity to folks in the real estate market. The pandemic is stressful for all of us, and we are all trying to make the best of it. I received calls from people all over the country just to let me know that this made them smile. That was the best. PB: How do dogs react to you?DO: The seller's dog, Max, was a bit curious, but I was surprised he wasn't frightened by the costume. PB: What is the best lesson you've learned from your cross-over of Bigfoot and real estate sales?DO: This is really twofold: 1. No matter what is happening in the world, our community is bigger than we realize. Each of us has the ability to impact others in profound ways. 2. Take action. If you have an idea, or inspiration, act on it. We are surrounded by opportunity, but it takes action and follow-through.  PB: And the question we all want to ask you: Do you believe in Bigfoot?DO: I did not believe in Bigfoot before this, and now, I'm sure there's no real Bigfoot. I'm still cleaning hair from my car and office. If Bigfoot was real, there'd be hair all over the forest! 

Scotts Valley’s beloved outdoor concert series, “Music at Skypark,” is back for its 16th season, promising lively music, community gathering and support for local arts education. The free, all-volunteer event kicks off on Sunday, Aug. 24, at Skypark, located in the heart of Scotts Valley,...

To call Scotts Valley High School senior Megan Gurer wise beyond her years would be doing her an injustice. She’s taken advanced studies into a realm that most 17-year-olds can only dream about.

Tasting Under the Redwoods was a fund raising event sponsored by Valley Churches United Missions on August 9, from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Upon entry to the Bret Harte Hall at Roaring Camp in Felton, guests were enveloped by music and the scent of yummy foods.The delicious sound of jazz played by Soul Doubt kept the tasters swaying to the music as they sampled food provided by about 27 restaurants and confectioners while about eight wineries and 4 breweries poured beverages.If you were there, chances are that you bumped into many of your friends, maybe even folks that you have not seen in a while. Maybe some of the new people that you met turned out to be a friend of a friend. That is the kind of pleasant atmosphere that was experienced by the visitors."This is a great opportunity to enjoy our community," said Patty Malone from Malone's Bar and Grill in Scotts Valley. Across the aisle was Jessica Hix from Mama Mia's in Felton, "try our calzone?" It was delicious along with a sample of Queen Bee ale from New Bohemia from 41st Avenue in Santa Cruz. From Boulder Creek to Santa Cruz, yummy samples of food and beverages were available for tasting.Busy making sure that guests were enjoying themselves was seen David Mills, Executive Director of VCUM. "Glad to see that you made it," said Mills as he welcomed people to the event. Ed Lambing was busy photographing people as they enjoyed the party atmosphere, while Colly and Norm Gruczelak were busy directing foot traffic at the front door and answering questions. Many other VCUM volunteers were also actively welcoming people and making preparations for the silent auction.Having sold out all tickets for the event, VCUM can agree with those from the community who were fortunate enough to get a ticket, that Tasting Under the Redwoods, 2015, was a huge success. While the tasters work the extra calories off, they can take comfort that all of that nibbling was for a good cause. It was also a lot of fun!

Miranda Beasley

Call it a trick, call it a treat, but all gardens change with time. It’s part of nature for the fittest to survive.

It would have been nice if a table had been available for the food, but Jonney Hughes explained that the maintenance people from the Santa Cruz County Department of Parks had removed the one that used to be in that spot.“They said they were going to fix the table and bring it back, but we could not see that anything was wrong with it,” explained Hughes.The picnic was spread on a cement area under the trees and the hosts sat in canvas folding chairs around a spread of sandwiches, salads, fruit and desserts. “Those of us who can, pool our money and food so we can share with others,” said Hughes.Asked what it was like to be homeless, Teresa Fitzpatrick said “I am not homeless and not all of us are. Some of us have jobs, but don’t earn much –– not enough for rent and food,” said Fitzpatrick. “We all have different stories. Some of us are retired and get social security but it’s not enough for everything so we get stuck in this wilderness,” she said.“We are people who have raised families. We are good people who have fallen on hard times. It happens,” said Fitzpatrick. “The picnic table that used to be here was like a social center where we met to eat, sew, and visit,” said Hughes. She said “we have even held memorial services here for friends who have passed away.”The New Life Church in Santa Cruz provides some help to these folks. Richard Franconi distributes food to people that has been donated by the New Life Church. He walks around the park and hands out burritos. He said “I have been doing this for 15 years. I used to give about 30 and now it is only about 10.” He gives the food to hungry people even if they are not homeless.The people at the picnic were all wearing neat, clean clothes. Lise Lafontaine said that she was one of the homeless. She is a licensed hair stylist who cannot find work. “I cut hair for these people for free,” she said as she gestured at the circled of people. “I never thought that I would become homeless because I am a professional haircutter,” said Lafontaine. “Sometimes we get to shower at the Presbyterian Church,” she said. Otherwise, they have no access to water in order to stay clean.They told their stories and when it was time for lunch, the circle of people bowed their heads while Hughes led the group in a thank you prayer. Lunch was good. It would have been nicer if the picnic table had been there.The good news is that Alan Galran from Santa Cruz County Department of Parks said that the table will be replaced within two weeks.