Aptos High School sports inside Page B1
MARCH 2013
Restaurant feature: Red Apple Cafe Page B3
Aptos Life Aptos gets grant for traffic safety
New art supply store opens on Soquel Drive
By ROSEANN HERNANDEZ Of Aptos Life
By ROSEANN HERNANDEZ Of Aptos Life
Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life
Affordable Canterbury Park homes near completion
APTOS — Construction continues on the Canterbury Park homes in Aptos. Nineteen affordable two, three and four bedroom homes are slated for completion by late April. A new park adjacent to the homes is also in the works which will include a picnic area, playground and amphitheater. Prices range from $299,000 to $361,500. The site is located on Sea Ridge Road at Canterbury Drive just off the State Park exit from Highway 1 on the ocean side of the highway. “Right now all the homes have reservations,” said Debra Frey of Intero Real Estate. “But you can put your name on a reservation back up list because we have had some cancellations.” The homes are being built by South County Housing. Frey can be reached at 465-8300, or at dfrey@interosantacruz.com.
Orchard School students learn kung fu moves during a celebration of Chinese New Year last month. Photo by Tom Dunlap/Aptos Life
Students celebrate Chinese New Year By TOM DUNLAP
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APTOS — Orchard School rang in the Chinese New Year last month with lessons about Chinese history, the Chinese Zodiac, inventions and traditional dragon dances. In wide-ranging presentations by students and teachers, the students learned about many Chinese inventions, including gunpowder, rockets, kites, the crossbow, the compass, metal detectors and more. The school is located on a sprawling, 14-acre campus on Trout Gulch Road, where dirt pathways lead between buildings and over wooden bridges that span tiny creeks. At times, when
the students are engaged in their lessons, birdsong from the nearby woods is the only sound. Visitors are greeted by students so friendly and outgoing that they introduce themselves with a handshake, eager to tout their school. During the Chinese New Year celebration, sixth-grader Lillian Wayne explained how the year of the black snake fits in the Chinese Zodiac calendar and the meaning behind the snake, which is said to be the most mysterious creature of the Chinese Zodiac. Another boy said that the year of the black snake, which follows the year of the dragon, is meant to be a year of “steady progress and at-
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APTOS — Aptos has a new art supply store on Soquel Drive – Art Supplies, Ink – which is the brainchild of husband and wife artists Rich and Sandy Koslowski. The two have worked as professional artists for the last 20 years. Rich is a writer and artist in animation and comics — his cover for the popular “Adventure Time” comic hit the stands in January — and Sandy is a clay and pottery sculptor whose pieces will be on display in the shop. The store is something the couple have long talked about. “We are both in our 40s so we thought, ‘let’s do this,’” Rich Koslowski said. The Wisconsin native is widely lauded for his award-winning original comic, “The 3 Geeks” and graphic novel “Three Fingers.” Koslowski started working on the Archie comic book series 20 years ago and has done storyboarding for television shows “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.” Tapping into their wealth of expertise, the new art store will hold art classes for both adults and children. Koslowski said they are teaming up with local artists to develop classes in jewelrymaking, pottery, acrylic and watercolor painting and cartooning and comic book illustration. “A lot of schools have cut their art programs, and we wanted to make somewhere nice for kids to get their art,” he said. They also want the shop to be a place where kids can have special art-themed birthday parties. In addition to stocking traditional art supplies, the shop will feature jewelry made from local artists and unique products sourced from around the world. Spain-based, Milan-brand school accessories and pencil cases encompass comfort, design and functionality to create items that are both beautiful and fun to use. There will also be fine art calligraphy sets and feather quill pens. From Japan, the store will carry a line of tote bags and erasers in a wide variety of fun shapes. “We wanted to set ourselves apart,” Koslowski said, adding they will also stock kid-friendly comics. The store will also provide a space for local artists to display their work. Art Supplies, Ink is at 7960 Soquel Drive, Suite H1, Aptos.
APTOS — The Aptos Village plan got a boost in February with the awarding of $690,000 in grant funding, which will be used to improve pedestrian access, increase traffic flow and improve safety at busy intersections. In particular, funds will go toward installing traffic signals at Soquel Drive and Aptos Creek Road and Soquel Drive and Trout Gulch Road. Railroad crossing modifications will include new crossing arms and concrete panels for vehicle and pedestrian crossings. New pedestrian facilities on the south side of Soquel Drive between Aptos Creek Road and Trout Gulch Road will be constructed, with a new bus pullout and shelter on the north side. On Trout Gulch, from Soquel Drive to Valencia, sidewalks will be replaced with standard sidewalks on the east side and accessibility upgrades made to the west side sidewalks, making it easier for handicap access. Barry Swenson Builder Project Manager Mary Gourlay said the new traffic lights will benefit traffic flow and sidewalk upgrades will improve pedestrian access. “They will be great assets for the neighborhood,” she said. The grant was part of $5.3 million in Regional Surface Transportation Program funds approved by the Santa Cruz County RTC for local transportation projects. Projects funded will be implemented over the next two years. The Aptos Village Plan, originally called the Aptos Village Community Design Framework, was adopted by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in 1979 and again in 2010, after significant community input spanning almost a decade. The plan serves as a guide for the development project spearheaded by Green Valley Corporation / Barry Swenson Builder, and it outlines everything from design elements to traffic and pedestrian improvements. The development project encompasses more than 11 acres in the heart of Aptos Village and is projected to provide more than 60 residential units and up to 75,000 square feet of commercial space, a village green and a recreational park. The project also includes a number of other benefits, including a new kiosk and signage for The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park and drainage upgrades.
A2 - Aptos Life - March 2013
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Annual prom dress drive under way in Aptos By ROSEANN HERNANDEZ Of Aptos Life
APTOS—There are few events in a person’s life that continue to resonate long after the day has passed — weddings, graduations, the birth of a child, to name a few. For young ladies still in high school, the prom is often that first thing, but for some in Santa Cruz County, going to prom is not an option due to the expense. To help students make their prom night dreams come true, the annual Prom Dress Drive is currently underway, with donations of lightly used dresses pouring in to drop-off locations around the county. “We know that families are still scaling back due to the economy, and students should not have to miss their prom,” said
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Tony Madrigal, former Santa Cruz councilman who founded the drive five years ago. One of the first prom-dress drives in the country, the initiative is now replicated in cities across the nation. Madrigal said the annual drive brings in about a thousand dresses for local high school students in need. The event brings together community organizations and local businesses as they serve as drop-off points for donations, contribute accessories and alteration services, open their doors for free-shopping days where students can select their dress and offer cleaning services so dresses look and feel their best. Once students choose their desired dress during two designated free shopping days — one at Louden Nelson Community Center on April 13 and a second at Our Lady of Assumption Church in Pajaro (a third one in Hollister is being planned) — dresses are taken to Classic Vapor Dry Cleaners where they are cleaned, pressed and made ready for the special night. “We had hundreds of girls come in,” said Pamela Whittington, owner of Classic Vapor Dry Cleaners. “In this economy, girls see their parents getting laid off or their hours cut; they are not going to go up to them and ask them for three hundred dollars for a dress to go to the prom,” she said. Whittington, who understands what it is like growing up with limited means and did not attend prom, said she was amazed to see the impact a new dress had on the girls who participate. Whittington recounts how one young lady at one of the free shopping days had to be compelled by a volunteer to try on a dress after she consistently refused to do
Emily Barnard, an employee at Classic Vapor Cleaners in Aptos, holds up one of the many lightly used dresses donated as part of the fifth annual Prom Dress Drive running now through April. Photo by Roseann Hernandez/Aptos Life
so, because she was self-conscious of her weight. Refusing to take “no” for an answer, the volunteer persisted and found the perfect dress for her. When the girl stepped out the dressing room, Whittington said she was overwhelmed and in tears. “She had never seen herself in that way,” she said. Whittington still keeps in touch with her, now a student at San Francisco State. Whittington said the power of “dressing up” cannot be underestimated. “When you get the dress, the gloves — all those things during this transitional period — it sticks with you and you want
more. You want to go to that concert, and see other places,” she said. Classic Vapor Cleaners, which has locations in Aptos, Santa Cruz and Capitola, is also a big supporter of the winter coat drive and the annual Hot Rods for Kids charity event. Whittington said she has the best employees in the county, as they come in during their free time to help with the variety of charity events the company supports. “We are so lucky to have a wonderful, generous community making young students’ dreams come true,” Madrigal said. For a complete list of drop off locations, visit www.promdressdrive.org.
Aptos highlighted in upcoming coffee table book By ROSEANN HERNANDEZ Of Aptos Life
APTOS — “What inspired me is pretty simple — I love Aptos,” said Aptos resident and first time author, Kevin Newhouse, when asked why he decided to write a book on Aptos history set to be released in June. “I grew up here and it is where I live now and plan to live for the rest of my life,” he said. Newhouse, who has the added distinction of living in the oldest house in Aptos — built by one of the town’s original residents, Joseph Arano — said Aptos provided the background to all his earliest memories and remembered driving through town knowing that some of the buildings were historic, but not fully knowing the back story of places like the Bayview Hotel or Valencia Elementary School, where he was a student. Five years ago, Newhouse decided to learn more about these hidden stories and enrolled in a class at Cabrillo College,
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lished by Arcadia Publishing as part of their Images of America series, and lead him to the Aptos History Museum, where he conducted the bulk of his research and began volunteering. “I’ve learned so much from volunteering at the museum all these years,” Newhouse said. All the random bits of information on Aptos history he’d heard over the years coalesced into one cohesive story — the story of Aptos — as he undertook his research at the museum. The idea for a book came about while discussing possible fundraising activities for the museum, which also runs educational tours for local students. “I volunteered to take my project and expand it into a full-length book,” Newhouse said. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to support the Aptos History Museum. Newhouse said the book, which runs to 127 pages and follows Arcadia’s strict Please see Page A3
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Aptos Life - March 2013 - A3
Slow and steady progress on traffic concerns By ZACH FRIEND
Santa Cruz County Supervisor
It is impossible to live in the 2nd District and not struggle with our foe: traffic. Next to potholes, our office receives a number of questions, complaints and concerns about traffic. Given that there are some potential development projects on the horizon (Aptos Village, Rancho Del Mar), and Highway 1 seems more impassible every day, what is being done to ensure we don’t spend our days (and nights) in traffic? Highway 1
When will Highway 1 be widened all the way into Aptos? This is a common question and it isn’t one with an easy answer. First, it is good to understand how it would be funded and one of the key funding mechanisms for the widening project comes from the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). This commission consists of mostly of elected officials (including each member of the Board of Supervisors) and deals with dispersing very limited state (and sometimes local/federal) funding for regional transportation projects. This includes everything from road improvements to bike and pedestrian improvements to Highway 1 flow. As you can imagine, transportation funding can be highly politicized. Especially with a shrinking pot there can be strong disagreements over what to use the funding for. I am a strong supporter of using the funding for projects that have the greatest impact, which I believe includes highway widening, road repairs and high yield bike/ ped improvements such as the Mar Vista pedestrian bridge. Within this backdrop, it is safe to say that the political makeup of the RTC has an impact on the speed of highway widening into our district. Second, the pure cost of highway improvements (coupled with a significant decrease in funding for transportation projects) also slows down the time horizon. Lastly, the physical complexity (namely the train crossings over the highway in Aptos) add cost and additional
Book
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formatting for the popular series — there are books on Monterey, Alcatraz Island and Santa Cruz — will feature many photographs highlighting milestones in the town’s history, from its earliest days in the 19th century to the modern time and encompassing events like the founding of Cabrillo College. “We were put in this unique situation where Aptos’ earliest days were captured on film,” said Newhouse, explaining that the development of photography as an archival medium coincided with the development of the town. Newhouse admitted it was difficult staying focused at times and had to remind himself he was writing a book and not just learning for fun. “It was awesome — I’d spend hours and hours at the museum after work and on the weekends,” said Newhouse, who spends his daytime hours working in finance. “I just love this subject matter so much I’d start reading for enjoyment and have to remind myself I’m writing for a book.” ••• “Aptos,” as part of the Images of America series by Arcadia Publishing is coming out June 24 and will be available for purchase directly from the Aptos History Museum and local booksellers. For information about the Aptos History Museum go to www.aptoshistory.org.
agencies into the discussion. Highway improvement projects are planned multiple years in advance and funding generally takes multiple years to materialize. However, improvements are being supported by the RTC that will have an impact in our district. The current Highway 1 auxiliary lane improvements will improve flow from the fishhook to Soquel. Additional auxiliary lane work is expected to be done between Soquel and 41st Avenue in the next few years. While this may seem to be “pushing the bottleneck” it actually reduces the length of the bottleneck therefore improving flow. These improvements, once complete, should reduce the distance of backups in our district. The more that auxiliary work can be done the better traffic flow will be on Highway 1. As future funding becomes available I will continue to advocate for highway improvements into our district.
trian improvements, including sidewalks that will be American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible, will be created as part of this funding. Currently, there are some less than safe conditions for pedestrians to walk and cross in the Aptos Village and this funding will help make it a more walkable (and hence less car dependent) area. Overall, improvements are being made but at a much slower pace than the need. As the highway improvements are completed to 41st Avenue the bottleneck distance
should decrease, and as new Aptos Village road improvements come online the persistent traffic should improve. While these projects are in the pipeline they will still take some time to complete. As always, if you have any questions, thoughts or concerns about these projects please call our office at 454-2200. And if transportation projects, and traffic reductions, are important to you please advocate along with me for RTC funding to continue to improve conditions in our district.
Roads and Construction Projects
Given the possibility of two construction projects in a relatively short distance (Aptos Village and Rancho Del Mar) what is being done to ensure traffic improves? Many residents have expressed concerns about increased traffic pressures as a result of these proposed developments. As it stands, traffic is already heavily impacted in the Village area during rush hour or school drop off/pick-up times. As part of the recent RTC funding allocations I voted to bring $690,000 toward traffic and pedestrian safety improvements to the Aptos Village area. This will include the addition of traffic signals and the synchronization of these signals from the Village through Rancho Del Mar so someone at Trout Gulch will be able to travel to State Park on synchronized lights. County traffic engineers believe this should improve traffic flow. In addition, as part of the proposed developments, traffic impacts studies (including mitigations) need to be completed. Since the area is locked in by two trestles it is important that any additional development not adversely impact traffic flow. Pedes-
Local businesses showcased CAPITOLA — Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries greet the public last month inside the Capitola Mall at the annual Greatest Showcase on Earth, sponsored by the Capitola Soquel and Aptos chambers of commerce. More than 130 exhibits, including law agencies, schools, banks, restaurants and wineries took part in the one-day event that is designed to bring the community and local businesses and organizations together. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life
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Aptos student headed for state spelling bee By ROSEANN HERNANDEZ Of Aptos Life
APTOS — Rio Del Mar Elementary School student Lauren Jacque will compete at the state spelling bee in Stockton in April after winning her division at the annual Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee on Feb. 23 at UC Santa Cruz. The fifth-grader took first place in the elementary division, beating more than 100 of the county’s best spellers in the fourth through sixth grades from approximately 50 public and private schools. Thirty-four students in the seventh through ninth grades representing 20 schools competed in the secondary division. “I’m not surprised — Lauren has a lot of tenacity, she studies hard, goes above and beyond and she’s an avid reader,” said Martin Sweet, Lauren’s teacher at Rio Del Mar Elementary. Sweet said it was rare for a fifth-grader to take the top spot in the elementary division as they are competing against sixthgraders and it was the first time the school has sent a student to the state championship. “It’s a real special thing for Rio Del Mar,” he said. The road to the Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee was long, as Lauren first competed in her class spelling bee and advanced to the Rio Del Mar Elementary Spelling Bee before placing as one of two
Loaves and Fishes honors volunteer Bob Montague Aptos Life Staff Report
Sitting at a crowded table with wife Beverly by his side, Bob Montague digs into a plate of enchiladas during lunch at Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes, where
students from Rio Del Mar to compete at the county level. Lauren missed just one word out of a total of 62 (she spelt “facet” with an “i” instead of an “e”) at the county’s all-written spelling bee. At the county competition, students were given a piece of paper and allowed 15 seconds to spell each word. After the allotted time, proctors would go around the room and tick the students’ paper if a word was misspelled. At the end of the two-hour competition, students with the least amount of misspelled words won, explained Jason Tovani, spelling bee coordinator at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Tovani said the all-written format increases participation and ensures that students are engaged in the competition until the very end. Lauren, who is also in advanced math, said she studied an hour a day for a month before the county spelling bee and is looking forward to competing in Stockton in April, where she will be representing the county alongside Audrey Webb from Spring Hill School in Santa Cruz, who took second place. “It’s going to be really fun and I want to try my hardest,” she said, trophy in hand. “I want to learn all the words.” The elementary Spelling Bee Championship will be held on April 20 in Stockton at the San Joaquin County Office of Education. The secondary division winners will
compete at the Junior High State Spelling Bee in Marin County on May 11. The Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee Results included: Elementary Division (4-6 grades): Lauren Jacque, Audrey Webb
(Spring Hill School, Santa Cruz) Secondary Division (7-9 grades): Andrew Miller (Coram Deo Academy), Ava Badger (San Lorenzo Valley Middle School)
he has been volunteering for more than 12 years. A former member of the Coast Guard and retired civil servant, Montague, of Aptos, was honored at a special event last month, where he was thanked for his tireless service to the hunger-relief organization. One by one, staff and former staff, fellow volunteers, clients and members of the Watsonville City Council, took their turn
at the microphone, honoring a person who exemplified the volunteering spirit — generous with his time, respectful of all who came through the door seeking help and always cheerful. “He has so much respect for everyone who comes here — he makes it a great, welcoming place,” said Lin Colavin, who worked alongside Montague as a volunteer. “In 12 years, Bob has donated over
27,000 hours to Loaves and Fishes — congratulations for a job well done,” said Dave DeBoer, member of the Board of Directors. Montague has worn many hats at the organization, which relies heavily on volunteer support — there are only three paid staff, including the director — and last year they served more than 24,000 hot meals and provided food to more than 10,000 clients from their pantry.
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Lauren Jacque, fifth-grade student at Rio Del Mar Elementary School, poses with her spelling bee trophy. Photo by Roseann Hernandez/Aptos Life
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Aptos Life - March 2013 - A5
Valencia students shine at annual science fair By ROSEANN HERNANDEZ Of Aptos Life
APTOS — Valencia Elementary held its annual science fair last month in the school’s cafeteria, where students proudly displayed their projects to the delight of parents and friends. A total of 150 students participated in the fair, which is part of the school’s required curriculum for fifth and sixth grade students. A group of scientist volunteers from the University of California, Santa Cruz helped judge the competition, with five projects from each grade level selected to compete at the countywide science fair being held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds on March 9. Last year one of Valencia Elementary’s sixth graders made it past the county competition and went on to compete at the state science fair. It’s the standard science fair approach: Students were required to come up with their own question, and through experimentation they were to generate data, which they then analyzed and formed a conclusion. Fifth-grade student Sophie Pintner wanted to know which type of sandwich would go moldy the fastest in her experiment. Comparing different types of the popular lunchtime meal, Pintner found that cheese went moldy the fastest and peanut butter took the longest to break down. Sixth-grade scientist Addie Breen constructed a trebuchet — with help from her father — to find out which type of fruit or vegetable travels the farthest when flung from the contraption. Breen found that apples went the longest and illustrated her results with colorful graphs and charts. Taking his inspiration from the ocean, sixth-grader Sam Bach built a solar-pow-
ered desalination unit from two plastic containers, straws and plastic cups to see how saltwater could be turned into drinkable water and how much water the device could produce. Bach also wanted to test whether a colored slip of paper at the bottom of one part of the device would lead to more water being produced. Bach admitted that the data did not completely support his hypothesis that the colored bottom would lead to more water being produced – and during the course of his experiment gaps in the components led to loss of water vapor and condensation, impacting Sixth-grader Sam Bach shows his project – a solar powered desalination unit constructed from two plastic results. However, the young sci- shoeboxes, funnels and plastic cups. Photo by Roseann Hernandez/Aptos Life entist, who also researched desalination units in places such as Saudi Arabia as part of his project, concluded he was able to produce enough water to show the device would work in converting saltwater into drinking water — if it was done on a larger scale and all Loyalty Discount components were sealed tightly. valid for 90 days Science teacher Cathy Guiley coupon must be present said doing the science experiments helps some restrictions apply students understand the process of method• Free pick up and delivery ically finding answers to questions, which APTOS can be applied to all subjects, but Guiley • The only Botanical 415 Trout Gulch Rd. • 831-688-5011 has particular ambitions for her students. Green Cleaner CAPITOLA “I would love to see more scien(in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties). 809 Bay Ave. • 831-479-0650 tists come out of here,” she said. • Endex-99 exclusive
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A6 - Aptos Life - March 2013
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Car club at Twin Lakes Church turns lemons into hot rods By ROSEANN HERNANDEZ
“They benefit by learning a skill, but they also meet other people, and it gives them an alternative place to go at night — any gender, school or walk of life are invited to be involved,” Campbell said, adding that the club gives a home to students who may not be athletic or artistic but are more engineer-minded. Those who put in more than 40 hours can become a member and get a jacket. Students are currently restoring a vintage Model A car and two motorcycles. They are also getting ready to receive a donated 34 Ford and VW Beetle, which they plan on transforming into a Baja Bug. Youth also bring their own cars to work on, attend car shows and put on a hot rod car show during the summer. “There are so many auto shop classes disappearing at schools, we want to let youth know there is a place to learn these skills,” said Campbell.
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APTOS — In a scene that appears straight out of the 1950s, youths in overalls smeared with grease stand round the chassis of a vintage car, tools in hand and each with a cool expression on his face. But it isn’t 1955, and although most auto shop classes have gone the way of home economics as schools have had to cut costs, teens of today still dream of transforming a lemon into a hot rod. One Aptos group is helping youth do just that. Since 2010, the Kingsmen Apprenticeship has shown teens how to change their own motor oil and restore old cars in a fully equipped barn at Twin Lakes Church, giving teens a safe place to learn a skill and bring their hot rod dreams to life. Youth learn how to work on cars and motorcycles and undertake large-scale restoration projects under the supervision of professional mechanics who serve as leaders to the group. “It’s really designed for high school students to work and learn about cars and motorcycles,” said Summer Campbell, one of seven leaders who manage the program.
Teens and adults working on the frame of a bike at the car club are, from left to right, Kevin Knuth, William Grant-Kochheim, Randy Wheeler, Erik Knuth. Contributed photo
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Orchard School kindergartner Rebecca is all smiles as she leads her classmates in a dragon dance last month at the school. Photo by Tom Dunlap/Aptos Life
Chinese
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tention to detail.” Circus arts, drama and gardening teacher Rock Lerum dazzled the crowd with an ancient form of juggling involving three sticks. “They’re called devil sticks, but here we call them rythym sticks,” Lerum said, adding that he is self-taught and his skill level is a result of years of practice. Language arts and social studies teacher Rob Owen led his students and the entire crowd in practicing some kung fu moves,
including one called “cloud hands.” A group of kindergartners crawled under the first of two ceremonial dragons, and then twisted and turned the dragon through the school’s gym (which also houses the music and art rooms). 5th grader Declan Lanyi assumed the head of the second dragon, and he lead the smiling students out of the gym, down the steps and out onto the sprawling, sunny campus for a makeshift Chinese New Years Day parade.
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Aptos Life - March 2013 - A7
Artist Vaughn expands venues By ERIK CHALHOUB Of Aptos Life
APTOS — As she paints, Aptos artist Sally Vaughn gets a thrill as she sees the brush “dance” on the paper. “While I’m painting, my cells dance, and my cells keep dancing when I look at each finished piece,” she said. That thrill is also there when she sees how her work is displayed in each exhibit that she is a part of. “It comes alive in an assortment of ways,” Vaughn said. “I find it stunning when I see what someone else has done with my very own art.” In addition to an ongoing exhibit at Aptos Core Care Chiropractic at 311 Clubhouse Drive, Vaughn now has another solo show at Mark Hoover Training, 335 Spreckels Drive, Suite 3. Vaughn said her earliest experience with art began in preschool, when she made a hand print out of a piece of clay. Art fol-
“Release to Peace” by Sally Vaughn. She is in the process of creating new pieces of work for her next exhibit. Courtesy of Sally Vaughn
lowed her throughout her education career thereafter. In the early 2000s, Vaughn took a creative process class, working with media such as watercolor, collage, clay and more. These days she enjoys working with acrylic and tempera paints, she said. Coming up with names for her work is spontaneous, and she never knows when or how the name will come about, Vaughn said. That spontaneity is reflected in the names themselves, with titles such as “Follow Your Nose ... Choose Your Path” and “Blue Line Group,” which are being shown in her new exhibit. Currently, Vaughn is creating new pieces of work for her next exhibit. ••• w Vaughn is open to displaying her work at other venues. Contact her by email at salvaughn@comcast.net, or visit her website at www.sallysgallery.com.
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Community
MARCH 2013
B - SECTION
Aptos High’s Lindsay Moore runs with the ball during the team’s soccer game against Harbor earlier this month. The two teams tied, 1-1. Photo by Glenn Cravens/Aptos Life
Aptos High’s Cole Welle averaged 17.1 points a game in SCCAL play this season and was named league co-Player of the Year.
Players converge at the Valley Christian goal following an Aptos corner kick during their match at Trevin Dilfer Field last month. Photos by Glenn Cravens/Aptos Life
Mariners win sports honors By GLENN CRAVENS Of Aptos Life
APTOS — As the winter sports season came to a close, several honors were bestowed upon Aptos High student-athletes and coaches. The Aptos High wrestling team received one of the top honors in the Central Coast Section, as they were named a CCS Scholastic Championship Team for the 2013 winter season. Each sports season, the CCS honors the five teams in each sport that has the best collective grade point average. Aptos’ wrestlers finished with a collective GPA of 3.2268. It was the fourth best among all of the wrestling teams in the section; Sequoia was the top team at 3.4068. The wrestling team is the fourth this school year to earn a scholastic award. The girls cross-country team, boys cross-country team and girls tennis team all received scholastic awards during the fall season. That wasn’t the only award the wrestling team received. Coach Reggie Roberts was named a CCS Winter Honor Coach in wrestling. Roberts has coached at Aptos High for 13 years. Once a program that had few wrestlers, Roberts now has one of the most-attended wrestling teams in the county. “He teaches through his actions that you must build a team as you would build a small community or family — with communication,” Aptos principal Casey O’Brien said in a statement. “He teaches them that tradition is very important.” Aptos Athletic Director Mark Dorfman praised Roberts for his love of teaching student-athletes. “The only thing, outside of his
family that Reggie loves more than wrestling is mentoring kids,” Dorfman said in a statement. “When he combines the two, amazing things happen. Wrestling champions happen. Improved GPAs happen. Improved attendance happens. Great citizenship happens. Life skills 101 happens.” Roberts was nominated by O’Brien, Dorfman and Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Commissioner Pat Lovell. Roberts led the Mariners to their fourth consecutive SCCAL championship earlier this month. The team went unbeaten in league play and had 10 wrestlers in the
league championship finals. Cole Welle, one of the Mariners’ standout basketball players, was named co-Player of the Year in the SCCAL this season. Welle was the top scorer for Aptos, averaging 17.1 points a game in league play. He put up 26 in a 75-63 victory over San Lorenzo Valley in Felton. He scored 17 in the Mariners’ win over Soquel in late January that took Soquel off the ranks of the league unbeatens. Welle helped get the Mariners to the quarterfinals of the CCS Division III tournament, where they were eventually elimi-
nated by Mills of Millbrae. The Player of the Year honor is just one of several awards Welle has received this season. He also was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2012 Bob Steinbach Classic at North Salinas High, and he received all-tournament honors in the Bob Hagen Memorial Tournament at Gilroy High. The wrestling team made its mark at the SCCAL league championship earlier this Please turn to Page B2
B2 - Aptos Life - March 2013
Sports
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Continued from page B1
month, as several student-athletes won league titles. Of the 10 who wrestled, the most exciting matches arguably came from the Zacarias brothers, Gio and Ramon. Both of them won, one after the other, as part of the finals showcase event Friday evening. Gio Zacarias went up first and rallied from an 8-0 deficit to defeat San Lorenzo Valley’s Jed Kraft 17-13. It looked all but wrapped up for the Aptos freshman, as Kraft had his way in the first round and the early part of the second round. Zacarias got a reversal and a near fall midway through the second round to cut his deficit to 8-5. Kraft answered back with a reversal and a near fall of his own to go up 12-5. Kraft led 12-9 going into the final round. He nearly had Zacarias down in the early moments, but Zacarias reversed the tide and got two points for it. Zacarias kept
Aptos High’s Halley Bermingham chases the ball during the Mariners’ playoff game against Valley Christian at Trevin Dilfer Field. Photo by Glenn Cravens/Aptos Life
working Kraft on the ground only to see Kraft not succumb. Kraft started bleeding, prompting an official to call a timeout. Zacarias opted to surrender a point and restart in the neutral position. That gave Kraft a 13-11 lead, but it went to 13-12 after he got called for stalling. With less than 10 seconds to go, Zacarias got a takedown to take the lead. Zacarias said he knew he was down 8-0 and shook it off. “I just didn’t want to give up without fighting,” he said. “It’s the most exciting win I’ve had because he’s a very good wrestler.” Ramon Zacarias took care of business in the second round of his match against Scotts Valley’s Michael Sandoval. Unlike his brother, Zacarias had an 8-0 lead. With about 15 seconds to go in the second round, Zacarias got a takedown and then got Sandoval down for the pin. It’s his second consecutive SCCAL Aptos High wrestling coach Reggie Roberts talks strategy with wrestler Ramon Zacarias championship. “It feels good to win league two times in during the SCCAL championship meet at San Lorenzo Valley High in Felton. Roberts was a row,” he said. “With my brother here, it named a CCS Honor Coach for the 2013 season. Photo by Glenn Cravens/Aptos Life makes the victory even better.” The brothers say they learn from each ners, who hadn’t lost in the calendar year, tian goalkeeper didn’t pick up the ball until other frequently — Gio said he asks his were blanked by Valley Christian 1-0 in it nearly hit iron. brother more often since Ramon’s the the first round. In the 59th minute, a Valley Christian older — and they use each other as moValley Christian’s Nicole Carson scored forward collided with an Aptos defender, tivation. on a pass from sister Colby Carson in the leaving the middle open for a brief mo“If I need help, I’ll look at him and what 30th minute for the only goal of the game. ment. A shot attempt went right at the he’s doing,” Gio Zacarias said. “He helps They hadn’t lost since Dec. 18 at Depot goalkeeper, who cleared it before any me, and he gives me tips.” Park. Since then, they had surrendered just harm could be done. Ramon Zacarias kept the momentum four goals in 11 games. The Mariners kept pushing the tempo going into the CCS tournament, taking Carson’s goal was the fifth since the only to see Valley Christian break it and fifth place at Independence High in San Mariners’ last loss. create a shot opportunity. Jose. In his final match of the tournament, “You’d hate to see it end like that,” said In extra time, Aptos got a shot on goal he defeated Santa Teresa’s Matthew Mit- Aptos coach Jessica Perkin. that was deflected out, giving the home tlestead 9-1. After Carson’s goal, it took a while be- team a corner kick. The ball pinballed Aptos’ Miller Clark battled through the fore another team got a good look. It ended around and eventually out of bounds. consolation bracket and ended up sixth up being Valley Christian, as two players For Perkin, she said it’s tough to see in the highly competitive 138-pound di- raced down the sideline with the ball in the the season end with five seniors having to vision, a division that included two-time 43rd minute. They darted to the middle for go. But she’s proud of how the team, who champion Nikko Villarreal of Gilroy. a shot. The ball went wide right. graduated 10 players a year earlier, got Unfortunately for the Aptos girls soccer Ten minutes later, Aptos flooded the back to the postseason. team, they were unable to get a win in the box, and a shot attempt went right to the “With five special seniors, I’m thankful CCS Division II tournament. The Mari- right corner of the post. The Valley Chris- to have coached this team,” Perkin said.
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Aptos Life - March 2013 - B 3
Unique therapy program offers therapy animals, a calming place By TODD GUILD Of Aptos Life
APTOS — Kubla Khan is a 2,000-pound camel with shaggy fur, a slow gait and the perceptive, deadpan stare of his dromedary brethren. The beast also has a gentle disposition and is so accustomed to life with people that he kneels on command and follows directions with what seems to be a goodnatured resignation. Because of Kubla Khan’s personality, he is regularly used as a therapy animal for people with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities. The camel is one of several dozen denizens of Aptos-based River’s Crest Dragon Slayers, where a menagerie of highly trained animals provide therapeutic services. Proprietor Josef Rivers, 76, offers the services for dozens of students who range in age 6 to 72. Despite their age, he refers to all of them as his “kids.” Kubla Khan is not the sole therapy animal at Dragon Slayers, which is nestled in a 24-acre ranch adjacent to Nisene Marks State Park. The camel is joined by Bwana, an Ankole-Watusi bull with gigantic, improbable horns, a flock of serama chickens, a handful of giant tortoises and several friendly donkeys, among other things. All are trained to be therapy animals and are employed specifically for their innate ability to minister to those who need it. The free services provided are varied and too numerous to list in this story. For some people, simply holding a chicken in their lap might have a calming effect, while for others helping to train an animal might give them a boost of confidence. Rivers told the story of a small blind girl who asked him to release a much-loved carrier pigeon at the beach, so the girl could hold the bird and “speak” with it about the beauty of the ocean upon its return. He spoke of another student — a boy with severe anger issues — who gets “donkey therapy,” which involves spending time with the resident donkeys.
Josef Rivers get a Bwana Ankole-Watusi bull to tilt its head to show off its horns. Photo by Todd Guild/Aptos Life
Still another student, who needed crutches to walk after suffering from Guillain–Barré syndrome, ended up working as a mounted ranger in the Grand Canyon after her time with Dragon Slayers. She has since started her own animal therapy organization in Arizona. With more than 45 years of experience under his belt and well-known known in the animal therapy community, Rivers has written several articles for international magazines, including “How to train your camel from your wheelchair.” Despite having so many success stories, Rivers refuses to take credit. “I don’t do a damn thing,” he said. “My title is director, but my students do it all.” Rivers also credits the organization’s serene, forested location with helping his students, many who have no parents, and some of whom have been abused.
“My kids see this as a safe place,” he said. “If I can provide that, it’s my biggest thrill.” Rivers is not a trained therapist, nor does he claim to be. Stricken by polio as a young boy in Bolivia, however, he does have a unique insight into the trials and tribulations of his students. “I am 76 years in this wheelchair,” he said. “That’s my qualification.” Working with animals runs in Rivers’ family. His father and grandfather were both horse trainers, a legacy out of reach for the wheelchair-bound Rivers. Still, his father encouraged him to follow his dreams, telling him that everyone has their own personal dragon to slay. Rivers took this lesson to heart, so much so that he incorporated it into his organization’s name. Despite the variety of winged, hooved
and shelled residents, Rivers is quick to point out that the organization is not a petting zoo. The animals are handpicked and trained from infancy to be therapy animals. They are chosen for their gentle temperament and willingness to interact with people. “I have reached people who were unreachable with animals,” Rivers said. Feeding and caring for the animals, in addition to providing the free services, is expensive, and Rivers relies entirely on donations to keep the program afloat. ••• River’s Crest Dragon Slayers is accepting students. For information, or to make a tax-deductible donation, call 688-6699, or visit josefriversdragonslayers.org. Donations may also be sent to Dragon Slayers, P.O. Box 1051 Aptos, CA, 95001.
APTOS REAL ESTATE NEWS March 2013
RUTH BATES—831‐359‐2212 ruth_bates56@yahoo.com #01799929 www.ruthbates.com I have lived in Aptos since 1995. I am a Santa Cruz County Top Producer, have a Master’s degree in Business, and consider myself an “EXPERT” on Aptos Real Estate. Call or email me any�me and “Get Results with Ruth!”
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B4 - Aptos Life - March 2013
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Cabrillo Gallery transforms into 19th century science museum By ERIK CHALHOUB
successful,” he said. The work addresses subjects such as the war in Iraq, corruption and social-political APTOS — Scott Serrano doesn’t want battles. But it does have a humorous vibe to it, his works at the Cabrillo Gallery to be recSerrano said. ognized as pieces of art. One series of drawings, based on Ronald Instead, he wants the viewer to feel like they stepped into a 19th century science McDonald, showcases the character in the time of the Aztecs. The myth Serrano cremuseum. “The more it looks like my artwork, the ated describes how the Aztec people worshipped the character as a god. less happy I am,” he said. Other fictionalize narratives make up the Serrano’s “Picturesque Flora Wallaceana: Botanical Ambulations In Greater exhibit, Serrano said, which is supposed Wallaceana 1854 to 1857” runs through to be set on the invented tropical island, “Wallaceana,” named after 19th century March 15. If the viewer can’t tell that it is a piece naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace. The exhibit is more like a 500-page of art, then “that’s when my work is most novel instead of an art exhibition, Serrano said. Some might just glance at the narratives, which would be like skimming a book, he said, while others might choose to spend more time and read them closely. If they do, they will discover “very detailed stories,” Serrano said, adding that many levels of jokes and humor arise from the narratives. This level of detail is typical of his work. “I’m very detail-oriented,” Serrano said. “I never do simple things.” He works with a “very time consuming” stipple drawing, and prefers to give his pieces a tattered, aged effect. Scott Serrano’s “Oatman’s Five Lined Cactus Flower.” Courtesy of Scott Serrano “I want my drawings to look like they’re from another time,” “My work is a big commitment,” he said. he said. “I don’t want them to could show his work. After seeing the Cabrillo Gallery, he de••• look like contemporary drawcided that it was a perfect fit. ings.” “I love the Cabrillo Gallery,” he said. “I The Cabrillo Gallery is located at Currently residing in New York, Serrano studied art at thought it was beautiful. I could see that I 6500 Soquel Drive, Library Room 1002 in Aptos. Serrano’s exhibit will run through Cabrillo College. He recently could install the exhibition there.” After shipping his work to the gallery, March 15. For information, visit www.cacontacted Jamie Abbott, art “Kurtz’s Five Fingered Creeper” by Scott Serrano. instructor at the college, ask- Serrano put in four 12-hour days to get the brillo.edu/services/artgallery. Courtesy of Scott Serrano ing which venues in the area he exhibit up. Of Aptos Life
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Aptos Life - March 2013 - B 5
Community Calendar Mondays Kuumbwa Jazz: Weekly Concert Series World-class jazz & world music artists perform in concert. Open to all ages. Serving dinner, beer, wine & beverages. Downtown Santa Cruz, CA | 831.427.2227 | http://kuumbwajazz.org/ Workforce Santa Cruz County Resume Review Sign up for a 30-minute one on one Resume Review at the Workforce Santa Cruz County Capitola Career Center! Learn to avoid the most common mistakes and create a resume that really works. Current registration in CalJOBS and validation of Right to Work documents are required in order to participate. Resume Reviews are offered every Monday afternoon. Please contact the Event Moderator to register. FREE 1:00pm-4:30pm Capitola Career Center, Capitola | Charles.davies@edd.ca.gov | https://www. santacruzvcc.com
Tuesdays Food and Wine Tasting at Michael’s on Main Please join Michael’s on Main for the restaurant’s popular Tuesday night Food and Wine Tasting! Michael’s prepares a delicious match to specially selected wines. The food buffet, wine and live music reflect the theme of the evening. 6:30pm to 8:30pm $25 per person. 6:30pm-8:30pm Michael’s on Main, Soquel | 831-4799777 | http://www.michaelsonmain.net Meet Your Maker at Cava Wine Bar Every Tuesday evening from 7pm to 9pm Cava Wine Bar in Capitola is pleased to host Meet Your Maker. At this weekly event you’ll meet local wine makers and enjoy discounted wines and tasting flights. This is a fun way to support local businesses and learn more about winemaking! FREE 7pm-9pm Cava Wine Bar, Capitola | 831-476-2282 | http://www.cavacapitola.com/ Aptos Library Pre School Story Time Join the Aptos Public Library for their Pre-School Storytime every Tuesday morning from 11am to 11:30am. PreSchool Storytime is designed for families with children 3-6 years old. Can you feel the sun arising in your heart? Come enjoy early literacy fun with books, songs, fingerplays, movement and more! FREE 11am-11:30am Aptos Library, Aptos | 831-427-7702 | www.santacruzppl.org Branciforte Library Baby Storytime Nursery rhymes, songs, and books for newborns up to 13 months provide the opportunity to learn new games to play with babies and socialize with other parents/ caregivers. FREE 10:15am Branciforte Library, Santa Cruz | 831.427.7704 | www.santacruzppl.org La Selva Beach Pre-School Storytime Pre-School Storytime is designed for families with children 3-6 years old. Early literacy skills are encouraged through reading, singing, crafts, and fun. FREE 10:30am to 11:30 am La Selva Beach Library, La Selva | 831.661.4770 | www.santacruzppl.org Aptos Young People’s Chess Club Kids ages 6 and up should stop by the Aptos Branch of the Santa Cruz Public Library system on Tuesday afternoons for their Aptos Young People’s Chess Club. This club is open to players of all levels and kids are welcome to drop in and learn how to play the popular game of strategy. FREE 3:30pm Aptos Public Library, Aptos | 831-4277702 | www.santacruzppl.org
Wednesdays
Families in Motion Every week on Wednesday morning at 9:30am come out to Seacliff Drive in Aptos for Families in Motion! This is an outdoor fitness class for parents with children ages 0-17. Class focuses on strength training and jogging intervals. $8 to $10 9:30am State Park Dr. & Seacliff Dr., Aptos | 831.818.8423 | http://www.santacruzkids. com Capitola Library Story Time Join the Capitola Branch Library every Wednesday morning from 11am to 11:45am for Storytime. This program is geared for children ages 3 to 6 years old. Join the talented library children’s staff for a friendly gathering, great books, and a little wiggling around. It’s never too early to get your kids hooked on reading! FREE 11:00am Capitola Library, Capitola | 831-4277705 | www.santacruzppl.org Tales to Tails Trained therapy dogs will be available to be attentive, non-judgemental reading partners for children reading aloud. Children will have an individual, 20 minute time slot to sit with a dog and read. FREE 3:00pm Capitola Library, Capitola | 831-4277705 | www.santacruzppl.org Wine Wednesdays at Sanderlings Offering a different Santa Cruz wine, tapas & live music weekly. $15 per person (plus tax & gratuity). Through May 22, 2013 5:30pm-7pm Sanderlings, Seascape Resort Aptos | 800.929.7727 | sanderlingsrestaurant.com Winemaker Wednesdays Featured local winemaker on hand & a different local winery featured each week. Discounted flights/glasses of featured wine. Free appetizer with flight purchase. FREE Shadowbrook | Capitola | 831.475.1511 | http://www.shadowbrook-capitola.com/ home/home.php Steve’s Jazz Kitchen at Cava Wine Bar Wednesday night is Jazz Night at Cava Wine Bar in Capitola! Visit Cava between 7:30pm and 10:30pm every Wednesday to hear the sultry sounds of Steve’s Jazz Kitchen. This is a fun way to unwind in the middle of the week with good tunes, good company and great wine. FREE 7:30pm-10:30pm Cava Wine Bar, Capitola | 831-476-2282 | http://www.cavacapitola.com/
Thursdays TNT Marathon Training Every Thursday morning from 6:15am to 8:15am Soquel High School hosts TNT Marathon Training. The practices take place in the Soquel High School Stadium. For more information visit the Soquel High website. FREE 6:15am-8:15am Soquel High School, Soquel | 831-4293909 | http://soquelhs.net
Fridays Friday Night Music in the Cellars Enjoy live, local music in our historic cellars. Food and wine by the glass available for purchase. No cover charge. Dress warm!! FREE Soquel, CA | 831.475.2258 | http://www. bargetto.com Wine Tasting Seascape Foods $5 Wine tasting every Friday 4pm-6pm. Featuring a different winery every week. For more information contact Seascape Foods in Aptos. Seascape Foods, Aptos | 831.685.3134 Classical Guitarist Paul Renslow at Cava Wine Bar Every Friday evening, from 7:30pm to 9:30pm come out to Cava Wine Bar in Capitola to hear the sounds of classical guitarist, Paul Renslow. This is a great chance to start your weekend with some good music, good company and tasty vino. FREE
Aptos Cup Golf Challenge winners Mark Holcomb (left) and Austin Welch pose with the championship trophy after winning the inaugural Aptos Cup Golf Challenge in February at Seascape Golf Club in Aptos. Seascape Resort and Palapas Restaurant won the event with a score of 28, defeating Deluxe Foods and Seascape Golf Club. The tournament was match play. The Seascape/Palapas team was represented by Holcomb, Welch, Don Harper, Pete Vomvolakis, Josh Morgan, Jordan Stidham, Bruce Rettig, Curt Rettig, Marcus Coffee, Sido Path, Danny Thomas and Raul Ortiz. “It was a lot of fun, and it’s all about having a friendly competition,” said Seascape Golf Club General Manager Gary Nelson. Contributed photo
7:30pm-9:30pm Cava Wine Bar, Capitola | 831-476-2282 | http://www.cavacapitola.com/
Saturdays Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College The Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College is open every Saturday, 8 am - 12 pm, rain or shine. With its upbeat and relaxed atmosphere, market customers appreciate the bountiful selection of premium quality organic produce and specialty foods as well as the opportunity to connect with the people who produce it.FREE 8am-12pm Cabrillo College, Aptos | 831.728.5060 | http://www.montereybayfarmers.org Santa Cruz Track Club Practice The Santa Cruz Track Club holds its pratices at Soquel High School on the track on Wednesdays and Saturdays each week. Saturday practices take place from 8:30am to 10:30am and Wednesday practices take place after school from 6pm to 7:30pm. FREE Soquel High School, Soquel | 831-4293909 | http://soquelhs.net Docent-led Tours of Elhorn Slough Reserve Meet at the reserve and then learn about this unique area on a guided tour. FREE Every Saturday and Sunday 10am & 1pm Elkhorn Slough, 1700 Elkhorn Rd., Watsonville | 831.728.2822 | elkhornslough. org SC Museum of Art & History Family oriented art-making workshops led by professional artists on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month
visit santacruzmah.org for times
Sundays
Ukulele Sundays with UCSC Sons of the Beach Every Sunday at the Capitola beach bandstand join the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz Sons of The Beach for great casual family fun. FREE 10:00am-11:30am Esplanade Park Bandstand, Capitola Open Mic Night Hosted by Dennis Dove or Pam Hawkins (hosts alternate Sundays). FREE 7:00pm-10pm Fog Bank, Capitola | (831) 462-1881 | http://www.the-fogbank.com/
All month
ARTIST DISPLAY: Ron Cyzman Photographer Ron Cyzman will be on display in the Cafe at Capitola Book Cafe through February and March. FREE Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola | http:// www.capitolabookcafe.com/
March 9
Free Intro to Svaroopa Yoga Class Experience how Svaroopa® Yoga works in your body. Supported by blankets, you’ll relax into poses that release deep tensions in your spine. This unique form of yoga quiets your mind, increases flexibility, and eases pain. 9 am - 10:30 am. Aptos Yoga, 783 Rio Del Mar Blvd, Ste 23B, Aptos. Preregistration required. Call 688-1019 or email info@aptosyoga.org to register. FREE 9:00am-10:30am Aptos Yoga, Aptos | 831.688.1019 |
B6 - Aptos Life - March 2013
www.AptosLife.com
Aptos History Corner: the Cement Ship By JOHN HIBBLE
Norwegian civil engineer, Nicolay Knudtzon Fougner, had been working on reinforced concrete ship technology and had APTOS — Seacliff Beach is unique actually built several. He and his brother because it has a fishing pier that extends Hermann, convinced the U.S. Shipping out to a sunken concrete ship facing out Board Emergency Fleet Corporation to into the bay. How did it get there and why embark on a program to build 38 concrete would anyone make a ship out of concrete? ships. Only eight were completed. By 1919, The San Francisco ShipbuildWe have to go back to April 6, 1917, when the United States officially entered ing Company was constructing the Palo World War I. German submarines were Alto and her sister ship Peralta at the U.S. taking a heavy toll on our ships. By 1918, Naval Shipyard in Oakland. These ships our government began an $8 billion ship were 435 foot long, 7,500 ton oil tankers. building program to replace those ships. A The war ended before they were completed. Concrete hulls are relatively thin. The Palo Alto’s hull is five inches thick on the bottom and four inches thick on the sides. The hull has seven times more steel reinforcing rod than would be required for dry land cement work. The cement used to build the hull came fromDavenport and had puffed brick substituted for half of the required gravel to lighten the weight. It is possible that some of this brick was rubble left over from the San Francisco earthquake. The S.S. Palo Alto was launched sideways on May 29, 1919. The hull was completed in 120 days from the first pour. She was outfitted with a 2,800 horsepower steam engine, a fifteen foot, eleven ton, bronze propelMarissa Hushaw, right, and two other girls celebrate ler and white Norwegian the success of the second annual Marissa Hushaw ash decks. She had 14 water presents Grind Out Hunger Rail Jam on Feb 9. Orgatight oil compartments with nized by Aptos teen and snowboarder Hushaw, the a capacity of 3 million galevent raised more than $1,000 for Grind Out Hunger. lons. Contributed SEA-403 Easterphoto Ad_AptosLife_Final_SEA 2/25/13 12:07 PM Page 1 Her estimated cost was Contributed
Grinding out hunger
Easter Buffet
The Seacliff Amusement Ship Palo Alto, in 1930. Contributed
$51.5 million. The Palo Alto was commissioned in October 1920, eleven months after the war’s end. Because concrete ships were considered to be brittle, they were not popular in peace time. Palo Alto lay at anchor for the next four years and was sold for the scrap price of $18,750. She was stripped of her engine and propeller and sold to the Seacliff Amusement Corporation in 1929. The Red Stack tug, Sea Scout, towed her toSeacliff Beach where she arrived January 22, 1930. She was drawn up toward the beach and sunk onto the sandy bottom on January 25th. A 630 foot pier was built out to the ship’s stern and she was refitted as a pleasure ship with a dance floor, a cafe, a 54 foot heated swimming pool and concessions, including slot machines, bingo and other games of chance. The Rainbow Ballroom opened Saturday, June 21, 1930 to a crowd of 3,000 people. According to Dick
Firebaugh of Freedom, whose father was the ship’s night watchman, gambling went on below deck. “Bootleg whiskey” was also available. Rio Del Mar beach was notorious as a landing spot for illegal liquor during prohibition. Dick recalled one night when his father scarred off a rum runner’s boat with the ship’s search light. The ship was open for two summer seasons and was very popular, but in 1932, a winter storm cracked the hull. That same year, the Seacliff Amusement Corporation went bankrupt. The ship was stripped of its valuables in 1934. Aptos centenarian, Ralph Mattison had the running lights and donated them to the visitor center. The ship was sold to the state in 1936 for one dollar. Today, the ship is the most unique fishing pier on the Pacific coast. For more information, read David Heron’s book, “Forever Facing South”, available at the Seacliff State Beach Visitors Center and local bookstores.
Go Ahead Drink Your Dessert &
Fresh Seafood, Coastal Mexican & Vegetarian Dishes Prepared “A La Cocina Fresca” Full Bar, 50+ Tequilas Santa Cruz Mountain Wines
AT S A N D E R L I N G S R E S TA U R A N T ATUN ESTILO JAPONÉS (Sashimi) and the Fat Boy Margarita
Sunday, March 31, 2013 from 9:00am – 2:00pm $42.95 Adults/$18.95 Children 12 & Under Tax and gratuity are not included.
Join us for our Easter brunch buffet with a wide selection of choices including a seafood bar, carved prime rib, breakfast favorites, a variety of delectable sides and salads, dessert display, children’s station and more!
Reservations Recommended (831) 662-7120
Fine Dining Mexican Style www.SanderlingsRestaurant.com One Seascape Resort Drive, Aptos (Across from Seascape Village)
21 Seascape Village, Aptos
831-662-9000
Ocean View Lunch & Dinner Daily Reservations Suggested
www.palapasrestaurant.com
www.AptosLife.com
Aptos Life - March 2013 - B 7
Red Apple Cafe: a perfect place for American comfort food By TODD GUILD of Aptos Life
The breakfast cafe, to me, is a cornerstone of contemporary American cuisine. It is a place where locals gather at daybreak to sip coffee and trade gossip. Where seasoned short-order cooks expertly sling together plates of eggs and hash browns. Where families come for a quick bite before church and blearyeyed revelers fresh from the previous nights’ parties come to refuel. Redolent with the smell of coffee and bacon and brightened by animated conversation, such places convey a sense of home and a promise of comfort. Just such a place is the Red Apple Cafe in Aptos. Tucked into the upscale Deer Park Center, the cafe is a deceptively simple place, with a tiny dining room, downhome decorations and a refreshingly welcoming staff. The restaurant’s menu largely stays true to its biscuits-and-gravy heritage, with just a few nods to “California cuisine” such as an artichoke and pesto omelets and turkey and avocado Benedict. Aptos Life photographer Tarmo Hannula and I decided to try the cafe based on the recommendation of a coworker. We approached the restaurant through a large outdoor eating area overlooking a grassy, tree-lined park and into the dining room, where we were immediately greeted and told to sit where we liked. Menus and drink orders quickly followed. Because we arrived after breakfast and just before the lunch crowd came in, we were the only customers and had the place to ourselves. Being an aficionado of breakfast foods, I ordered the traditional eggs Benedict ($9.95), passing up several iterations of the classic including crab cakes Benedict ($12.95). My meal came with the restaurant’s selfdescribed “famous” country potatoes. I also ordered a strawberry chocolate muffin to go along with my piping hot and excellent coffee. Tarmo got the California club sandwich ($10.95), which takes the deli classic and adds a West Coast flair with slices of avocado. With a choice of soup, salad or french fries, Tarmo went with the latter. My muffin came quickly and was warmed enough to slightly melt the chocolate. It had a hint of strawberry and while a tad dry was the perfect start to my breakfast. There is no superlative sufficient to
describe my eggs Benedict. It was the best I have eaten, and honestly left me worried that I won’t be able to enjoy the dish anywhere else I go. The Hollandaise sauce was thick and deeply rich, and complemented the paper-thin slices of ham that were grilled to a crispy perfection. My potatoes were crispy outside and creamy inside, and perfectly seasoned. Tarmo’s sandwich was piled with thick-cut bacon, turkey, lettuce and tomato, and came with a pile of fries Tarmo described as “generous.” While we didn’t have a chance to gauge how well the staff stands up under the pressure of a busy dining room, we thought the service was excellent, with our waitress returning several times to refill my coffee and inquire how we were doing. One of the best parts of the red Apple Cafe is the location — most windows offer a panoramic view of the wooded area outside. Dan and Gracia Krakauer purchased the restaurant in 2009, with a combined 15 years in the business. With a nod to the existing base of loyal customers they decided to keep the menu and the look of the place the same. “We didn’t want anything to change,” Gracia Krakauer said. “There was really a good following and a good reputation, and we’ve followed up on that.” Krakauer describes the menu as traditional American cuisine, “with a little flair here and there.” “We try to infuse a little fun,” she said. The restaurant’s success comes despite the fact that they purchased it in the midst of the fiscal crisis, Gracia Krakauer said. “We’ve been very lucky and very happy with the progress we’ve made,” she said. “We’ve brought the quality up to where we wanted it to be.” ABOVE: The California Club is a popular lunch plate at the Red Apple Cafe in Aptos. BELOW: The Red The restaurant is celebrating its Apple Cafe is situated on the second deck of the Deer Park Shopping Center. 25th anniversary this year, and Dan Photos by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life and Gracia Krakauer plan on hosting several events to commemorate the occasion. Krakauer said the Red Apple is known for its eggs Benedict and three-egg omelets, which she describes as “nice, big and fluffy.” But the four-page menu offers dozens of other breakfast and lunch items that could leave the indecisive scratching their heads. “I don’t think anyone would say we are skimpy with the portions,” she said. “You definitely get a lot for your money.” Krakauer said the cooks strive to use local produce when they can, including Gizdich juices and locally grown strawberries. “It’s definitely a labor of love,” she said. “We like it to be a family restaurant where you would meet friends or run into friends, and that happens all the time.”
Red Apple Cafe
The Red Apple Cafe serves a hearty traditional eggs Benedict. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life
Cuisine type: American | Food: +++ | Décor: basic, with a rotating display of local artists on the wall | Service: Friendly, efficient | Atmosphere: Small, neighborhood restaurant | Price: $$ Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, closed Mondays Red Apple Cafe is upstairs in the Deer Park Center at 783 Rio Del Mar Blvd. in Aptos. For information, call 685-1224 or visit redappleaptos.com. Key: (per meal) $ = $5 - $10 $$ = $11- 20 $$$ = $30 | + = average, ++ = very good, +++ = excellent
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B1 - Aptos Life - February 2013
www.AptosLife.com
16 B Seascape Village, Aptos, CA
Fresh. Local. Organic. All-Natural.
We carry an array of organic, local, regional, and sustainable products.Our meats include Meyers, Certified Humane Vegetarian fed Angus Beef and Mary’s Air Chilled Chicken. Our dairy includes Clover all natural and organic milk and yogurt. Our eggs come from our local Aptos Glaum Egg Ranch. You will find local Surf City Coffee and Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company on our shelves along with Marianne’s and Polar Bear ice cream in our freezers. Kelly’s French bakery delivers fresh bread and baked goods daily. Gianna’s cakes and cookies are the perfect hostess gift.
Ingredient of the Month Quinoa What is quinoa? While quinoa is usually considered to be a whole grain, it is actually a seed, but can be prepared like whole grains such as rice or barley. Quinoa has the highest protein content, so it’s perfect for vegetarians and vegans. Quinoa provides all 9 essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. Quinoa is a gluten-free and cholesterol-free whole grain, is kosher for Passover, and is almost always organic. Historically quinoa was a staple food for thousands of years in the Andes region of South America as one of just a few crops the ancient Incas cultivated at such high altitude. Nutritional Facts. Calories - Each 1 cup serving of cooked quinoa contains 222 calories. In comparison, 1 cup of cooked brown rice contain 240 calories. High in Fiber - As a grain, quinoa contains mostly carbohydrates. Each 1-cup serving of cooked quinoa has 39 g of carbohydrates and 5 g of fiber. Source of High-Quality Protein- Each 1-cup serving of cooked quinoa contains 8 g of protein. It is one of only a few plant-based foods that contains all of your essential amino acids, making it a complete source of protein. Low in Fat - Each 1-cup serving of quinoa contains 3.5 g of total fat. Good Source of Iron - A 1-cup serving Pictured above are some of our favorite Quinoa’s. Sun Ridge Farms of cooked quinoa contains 2.8 mg of iron. and Cadia are both organics products with outstanding quality. Sources USDA Nutrient Database
Here are our recipes of the month QUINOA AND PESTO SALAD
QUINOA Quinoa 1 cup dried quinoa 2 cups liquid - water, vegetable stock or chicken stock Directions to cook quinoa: 1 cup dried quinoa makes approximately 3 cups cooked quinoa. To cook: use 2 cups liquid (water, vegetable broth or chicken broth) to 1 cup rinsed quinoa and a dash of salt. Combine ingredients and bring to boil. Once boiling turn down heat to a simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from stove and put lid on pot and let cool. If you want to cool quinoa faster put in refrigerator.
GREEK QUINOA SALAD Greek Quinoa Salad: 6-8 servings 6 cups cooked quinoa 1 diced cucumber 1 diced medium red onion 1 cup diced tomatoes 1 cup kalamata olives cut in 1/2 1 cup sliced pepperoncinis 1/2 cup chopped parsley 1 cup crumbled feta 1 cup shallot vinaigrette salt and pepper to taste Shallot Vinaigrette 6 oz olive oil 2 oz white balsamic vinegar 1 shallot Directions: combine all ingredients and serve cold Directions for Shallot Vinaigrette: combine olive oil, white balsamic vinegar and shallot in blender and blend until smooth.
Quinoa and pesto salad: 6- 8 servings 6 cups cooked quinoa (see cooking instructions to the left) 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes thinly sliced 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts 6 large leaves of basil rolled and thinly sliced 1 cup pesto 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan PESTO: 1 bunch of basil 3 sprigs parsley 1/2 clove garlic Juice of 1/2 lemon 1/2 cup olive oil salt and pepper to taste 1 Tablespoon pine nuts or walnuts
Directions: After quinoa has had a chance to cool, combine all ingredients For Pesto: Combine all ingredients well in a blender or food processor. Toss lightly with pesto and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts.
ROASTED VEGGIES & QUINOA Roasted veggies and quinoa salad: 6-8 servings 6 cups cooked quinoa 1 thinly sliced bell pepper 1 cup sliced mushrooms 1 thinly sliced med yellow onion 1 cup zucchini cut in 1/8” saucers 2 roma tomatoes cut in 1/8” saucers 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 clove of garlic thinly sliced 1/4 cup chopped parsley Balsamic Dressing 1/2 cup red balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup olive oil Directions: Combine all the vegetables and olive oil and cook at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or desired tenderness and crispness. Let cool and mix with cold cooked quinoa and add balsamic dressing and salt and pepper to taste. Directions for balsamic dressing: Mix olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a jar and shake.
Fresh. Local. Organic. All-Natural. SeascapeFoods.com | 831.685.3134