Aptos Life | April 2020 by Weeklys

APRIL 2020 • VOL. 8, NO. 8

Aptos Adapts Local businesses make changes to meet county order P3

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APRIL 2020 | APTOS LIFE

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Aptos-Creekside Pet Hospital is OPEN. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic we are utilizing curbside check-in. Ask us about our online pharmacy option. Our goal is to keep our staff and clients as safe as possible while striving to maintain the welfare of our patients. Call 831.688.4242 to schedule an appointment 10404 Soquel Drive, Aptos • aptos-creeksidepets.com

ABOUT

THE COVER

he world has changed significantly in the matter of a month. Businesses are closing. Schools are shuttered. Hospitals are starting to fill. We’re living through a global pandemic that has affected every aspect of our lives. But now is not the time to panic. No, now is the time to work together to slow the spread of COVID-19, the highly-contagious virus that has sickened more than a million people around the world. How do we work together? By being good citizens and following the direction of Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel. That means staying home unless you absolutely must leave your residence. That means covering your mouth when you are out in public. That means scrupulously washing your hands with soap and hot water. That means staying at least six feet away from others while out in public. Only by following these commonsense rules will we flatten the curve and help our healthcare professionals deal with this crisis. Yes, the situation will worsen— there’s no doubt about that. The White House recently projected that anywhere from 100,000-240,000 people could die from COVID-19. Even when considering that there are more than 320 million people living in the U.S., those numbers are tough to swallow. But experts say we can give those infected in the ICU a fighting chance if we stay home, enforce social distancing and practice good hygiene. We all have a role to play during this pandemic. Healthcare professionals and our first responders will undoubtedly shoulder the load as they so often do. But everyday citizens also have a task to accomplish, and it is a very simple one: stay home.

6 3

Cover story

Ask Nicole

10 Financial Advice 11 Word from a Friend CEO & Executive Editor

Dan Pulcrano Publisher

Jeanie Johnson Editor

Tony Nuñez Editorial

Tony Nuñez Cover photography

Tarmo Hannula Contributoring writers

John Hibble Zach Friend Nicole M. Young Gary & Soren Croxall Advertising Sales

Tina Chavez Lupita Ortiz Jazmine Ancira Production

Rob Chalhoub Tony Nuñez

Aptos Life is published monthly. All rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher. Aptos Life made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. Aptos Life is a division of the Pajaronian. Publishing in Santa Cruz County since 1868.

831.761.7300 tnunez@pajaronian.com

— Tony Nuñez

SHELTER-IN-PLACE

Tarmo Hannula

SOCIAL DISTANCE Shoppers come and go at the recently opened New Leaf Community Market in the Aptos Village.

The new normal By TONY NUÑEZ

ew Leaf Community Markets in late March announced its first hour of shopping (8-9 a.m.) Monday through Friday would be dedicated to older adults and those with underlying health conditions. Dubbed the Community Care Hour, it is one of several moves the niche market has made to protect the community and possibly slow the spread of COVID-19, the highly-contagious disease which has sickened more than a million people worldwide. The market has also added signage to enforce Santa Cruz County social distancing requirements, suspended the use of reusable bags and containers and increased its sanitation efforts. Staff, meanwhile, is being paid a bi-weekly bonus to “recognize their incredible dedication and work during this time,” the company said in a

press release. “We are so proud of our incredible staff for their commitment to feed our communities during this time of uncertainty,” said Forrest Gonsiewski, vice president of New Leaf Community Markets. The anchor of the Aptos Village is one of many businesses that have had to make adjustments after County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel ordered residents to shelter-in-place on March 17. Gov. Gavin Newsom made a similar order to California’s roughly 40 million residents soon after. Newel’s order, set to expire on April 7, was extended through May 3 as early indications showed it was “helping reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus,” Newel said in a press release. ➝4 “I expect the weeks ahead will be challenging,

APRIL 2020 | APTOS LIFE

Businesses throughout mid-county have limited their hours or closed entirely

NORMAL

and it is imperative that we not let down our guard as we work together to reduce the impacts from this disease,” Newel said. The order has put a strain on several industries that were not

deemed “essential.” That included gyms, theaters, bars, nightclubs, breweries and any other industry in which large gatherings take place. Restaurants, however, were spared. Under the order, they can

continue to offer food for takeout and delivery. In Aptos, that includes staples such as Aptos St. BBQ, Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant, Parish Publick House, The Palm Deli and the community’s newest addition: Mentone, the long-awaited eatery from renown restauranteur David Kinch. “Due to COVID-19, we’re delaying our official opening so our guests can enjoy Mentone safely,” the restaurant’s website reads. “In the meantime, order some takeout or snag some merch and gift cards. [It’s] the best way to support your favorite local businesses during this time.” Education was deemed “essential” in a reduced capacity, allowing staff to gather only to establish remote learning capabilities. Though the order extends into early May, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and most other counties around the state closed their campuses through the end of the 2019-20 school year. The county’s closure came one day after State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that the restrictions will make it impossible for

schools to reopen before June. The measures mean that students will continue online and distance learning at home. “In order to allow schools to plan accordingly, and to ensure that learning still occurs until the end of the school year, we are suggesting that schools plan and prepare to have their curriculum carried out through a distance learning model,” Thurmond said. “This is in no way to suggest that school is over for the year, but rather we should put all efforts into strengthening our delivery of education through distance learning.” County health officials have said they expect COVID-19 patients to exceed ICU capacities in either mid-April or early May, and that as of early April they have made plans to use Simpkins Swim Center on 17th Avenue in Live Oak when that happens. “It would be a dream come true if we didn’t have to use an alternative care site,” Newel said at a press conference in late March. For information on coronavirus visit santacruzhealth.org/ coronavirus.

Stronger Together! APRIL 2020 | APTOS LIFE

Let's stay Healthy and Fit for Life.

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Open Monday - Friday AS AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS: Chevrolet of Watsonville, Watsonville Ford, Watsonville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and National Truck Sales and Service (Watsonville Auto Group) Community and friends, As an Essential business, our community has asked us to remain open at this time. We are implementing best practices in ensuring both our safety and our customers safety. To help at this time we are also making door to door service available. We are here to help our community’s automotive needs as we already serve many local transportation needs such as law enforcement, medical practitioners, city and county, agricultural and food services. Please be patient with us at this time as we are short staffed. The Watsonville Auto Group will continue modified dealership operations, at this time, as we are classified as an ESSENTIAL BUSINESS per Section 10.6.vi which includes, “gas stations and autosupply, auto repair, and related facilities”. The health, well-being, and safety of The Watsonville Auto Group’s staff, visitors and guests is our priority. Our team has been closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 across the country and more specifically our county of Santa Cruz and adjusting our business as it unfolds. Our company as a whole is practicing constant health precautions, so your safety is our priority. We are committed to implementing recommendations from the health authorities to give you peace of mind as you visit us now and in the future. The health and safety of our customers and employees will always be our most important consideration, especially in these challenging times. If you are desperate and no one else can help you, please call my Father Clarke and he will try his best to help you: 818.618.6136

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APRIL 2020 | APTOS LIFE

HISTORY CORNER

The Grand Hotel of Aptos

brothers of the Vienna Bakery of San Francisco and the hotel was to open by May 20. Work commenced on repairing the waterlines, the hotel was repainted outside and cleaned inside. It opened late. In July, employees formed a social club to hold monthly dances. Plans were made to add a third story. The following year the newspaper noted that the Roemer brothers had either sold most of the hotels furniture or shipped it to San Francisco. They were to have taken over the hotel, but Claus Spreckels would not make the needed repairs, so they gave up the idea of opening the hotel. In February of 1886, Mr. L Eppinger, one of the best known hotel men in Oregon, was considering leasing the Aptos Hotel for the season but there is no indication that he did. An advertisement on April 14, 1887 indicated that Mr. A. G. Sielaff had leased the property and was taking reservations for the 10 furnished cottages and that meals could be had in the hotel. Bar and bathhouse privileges were available to rent. There was no mention of rooms being available at the hotel. Five days

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laus Spreckels’ Aptos Hotel opened in 1875 to great fanfare as the finest summer resort in California and it put Aptos on the map. The first six years were spectacular but things were about to change. In 1881, there is no indication that the Aptos Hotel opened for the season. Southern Pacific Railroad had acquired the bankrupt Santa Cruz narrow-gauge rail line and began the process of changing the rails to broad gauge. That process was completed in September 1883. During that period, the hotel would not have been accessible by train. The Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel complained that the hotel had done large business until it began to lose its prestige because of the annual change of landlords and that Spreckels had no interest in the hotel other than the rent he received from it. In August 1883, rumors speculated that the hotel had been leased or sold to Stanford of the Southern Pacific, however, Spreckels promised that the hotel would open the following season. In 1884, the newspaper said that the hotel was leased to the Roemer

John Hibble Aptos History Museum

A LOOK BACK Spreckels’ Aptos Hotel on Spreckels Drive 1875. later, the newspaper indicated that Spreckels had withdrawn the lease from Mr. Sielaff. The newspaper also bemoaned the fact the hotel had been closed for some time and was falling into disrepair. In April of 1889, Mrs. F. Lewis, former lessee of the Sea Side Home and later of Camp Capitola, was making arrangements to lease the Aptos Hotel. There was no additional advertising to indicate that the hotel reopened. In January 1893, inside information said that the hotel would reopen, but it did not. By 1896, it was reported that the hotel and cottages would be demolished to make room for Claus Spreckels to build a grand new residence and that the creek would be dammed to create a lake. In August the hotel was reportedly torn down. The new residence was never built. In an interview with Ralph Mattison, a life-long Aptos resident, he reaffirmed the rumor that part of the deal when the Southern Pacific Railroad purchased the bankrupt Santa Cruz Narrow Gauge Rail Road was, that they bought out the lease to the Aptos Hotel so that all visitors would go to the Southern Pacific’s Hotel Del Monte in Monterey. It is conceivable that Southern Pacific

provided some compensation to Spreckels for the loss of rail service to the hotel for the three years that it took to broad gauge the tracks. But it is more likely that no one wanted to lease that enterprise without train service and the Hotel Del Monte had no competition. That would explain why the hotel sat empty for so long. Ralph said that the hotel was torn down a little bit at a time so that the lumber could be used to build the new sugar factory near Salinas. There was a big ‘V’ cut of solid timber across the dining room that was taken. They left some of the cottages up on the hill and some may have been taken to Salinas. The hotel was taken down, but part of the dining room and the kitchen were left standing. When the hotel was closed, everything was left, the furniture, bedding, chairs and dishes. Everyone in the neighborhood helped themselves. In 1920, Ralph Mattison built his house above Aptos Village with remnants of the hotel. Ralph said the demolition people just destroyed almost everything down there. Ralph used two pieces of marble that had been part of the fireplaces. The demolition people had broken the fireplaces with a hammer. He made a counter in his kitchen that was from ➝8

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HISTORY

APRIL 2020 | APTOS LIFE

the billiard table. It had been torn to pieces, so Ralph took the slate. Spreckels’ original house was on the knoll above the hotel, which is today’s Bayview Court. Ralph Mattison bought it and tore it down to get the timbers out of it. The timbers were three inches square by 24 feet long with no sap and no knots. Ralph wanted them to support the tanks for his vinegar works in Aptos Village. He saved the rest of the lumber and used it to build his house. Spreckels’ Aptos Hotel was open during the summer season for six continuous years and for one last season four years later. It certainly put Aptos on the map in a grand scale, and then it disappeared. We only knew of one photograph

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of the hotel taken at some distance and we did not have a copy for the museum. But recently, we were able to obtain a spectacular copy taken up close. The photo was a stereoscopic photograph. A stereoscope photo has two pictures taken at slightly different angles. When inserted into a stereoscope viewer, the image becomes three dimensional. We have to thank Heidi Garwood of Heath Designs who combined the two photographs so that all of the final image is complete, and we can see how grand this hotel really was. If you enjoy these stories please consider joining the museum. After the coronavirus public health emergency is over, reopening the museum will require lots of public support.

ASK NICOLE

By Nicole M. Young, MSW

Small steps, big changes

pril is the Month of the Young Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is a good opportunity to remind ourselves that 1) raising happy, healthy children is both exhausting and rewarding, 2) every parent struggles, feels unprepared, or worries they’ve failed at parenting at some point, and 3) everyone in the community can play a role in making sure children and families have the resources and support needed to thrive. This monthly article provides tips for families raising children, based on the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question or idea for a future column, please email me at triplep@first5scc.org.

Dear Nicole, My family needs help. My partner and I both work two jobs but can barely make ends meet. We’re constantly stressed and hardly spend

time together as a family. Whenever we’re together, we end up arguing. My kids fight with each other, I lose my patience and yell, and then my partner yells at me for yelling at the kids. It’s become a daily pattern that we can’t seem to stop, even though we all love each other and want to have good communication and relationships. What can we do to change this? Ronnie Dear Ronnie, First, you’re not alone. Many families experience similar types of stress and conflict. Second, it’s great you’re reaching out for help. Parents are often embarrassed or afraid to talk about parenting and relationship difficulties out of fear of being judged as a “bad parent.” The good news is that there are small steps you can take that can have a big impact on your family’s communication and relationships. Here are 30 small steps to try – one

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Nicole for each day of the month: 1. Do something just for you. Read, meditate, exercise, socialize, or do nothing. You choose. 2. Go for a walk or hike. Go alone (see #1) or with your family. 3. Make a meal together. Let your children pick the food and help make it. 4. Go to a beach or park. Fresh air and physical activity can work wonders. 5. Do a chore together. Turn it into quality time by talking or listening to music together. 6. Play games – cards, board games, video games or make up your own game. 7. Eat together. Turn off electronic devices and talk about how everybody’s day went. 8. Volunteer together. Teach your children to help other people, animals, or the planet. 9. Explore together. Go somewhere local that you’ve never been before. 10. Tell stories. Share true or makebelieve stories. 11. Look at family photos and videos. Talk about your favorite memories. 12. Plant a family garden. Let each child pick something to plant. 13. Read together out loud or silently while sitting next to each other. 14. Give each child quality time before bed. Snuggle, read, or hug before the lights go out. 15. Have an indoor or outdoor picnic. All you need is a blanket and food. 16. Teach each other something new. Share a fun fact or special talent. 17. Listen. When your child needs something, stop what you’re doing, make eye contact, and give your full attention. They’ll learn to do the same. 18. Color together. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but art activities can be

Final Thoughts: Remember that raising children isn’t easy, but no one should have to struggle alone. Small steps make a big difference. Try these ideas and add to the list. Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 16 and 19, who also manages Santa Cruz County’s Triple P-Positive Parenting Program, the world’s leading positive parenting program. Scientifically proven, Triple P is made available locally by First 5 Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (Mental Health Services Act) and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit http://triplep.first5scc.org, www. facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 4652217 or triplep@first5scc.org.

APRIL 2020 | APTOS LIFE

VERIFIED

ASK

very soothing. 19. Play music. Sing and dance together (or alone, see #1). 20. Attend community events. Look in local newspapers and calendars to find fun, free events. 21. Go on “dates.” Do something special (and simple) with each child. And your partner. 22. Write notes or draw pictures that show you care about each other. 23. Visit your local library for books, story time, or homework help. 24. Have a family movie (or TV) night. Relax and laugh (or cry) together. 25. Go on a walking tour. Pick a few local places, then go on a walk to find them. 26. Look at the stars. Watch the stars appear, then look for shooting stars. 27. Read maps together. Share your dreams about where you’d like to travel. 28. Have a family meeting. Resolve problems or talk about everybody’s plans for the week. 29. Hang out. Just sit, relax, and enjoy each other’s company. 30. Give affection every day. Give hugs, high 5s, or pats on the back to show you care.

FINANCIAL ADVICE

Retirement plan questions for small business owners

mall business owners face challenges every day with how to maximize the growth of their business while maintaining operational efficiency. Often the question arises: How do I, as a small business owner, pick a retirement plan for my company that allows me to save for my eventual retirement while providing a cost-effective added benefit for my employees? The answer to this question is not a simple one and takes careful consideration. Employers need to ask themselves some key questions in order to find the retirement plan that is right for them.

Alphabet Soup When small business owners begin to research retirement plan options

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APRIL 2020 | APTOS LIFE

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that may be available to them, they are met with an alphabet soup of choices. SEP, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k), traditional 401(k), safe harbor 401(k), profit sharing plan, or defined benefit plan, just to name a few. Every retirement plan has its own characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks. What may be a great choice for one small business owner may be less advantageous to another small business owner. It’s important to do your research carefully or work with a financial professional and tax professional. If you are just getting started in your business, are the only employee, and find that $500 or less is the most you can afford to save per month toward retirement, then a traditional or Roth IRA may be a good place to start. In 2020, if you are under age 50,

you can contribute up to $6,000 annually to a traditional IRA or Roth IRA (or $7,000 if you are over age 50). Traditional or Roth IRAs are easy to establish and don’t require any additional administrative burden that some other workplace retirement plans do. Just make sure you understand a few nuances like income limits that limit the ability to contribute to Roth IRAs and some limitations on the deductibility of traditional IRA contributions depending on if you or a spouse are covered by a workplace retirement plan and your income exceeds certain thresholds. If you would like to contribute more than what traditional or Roth IRAs allow per year or you have employees, then the questions below will help with narrowing down a retirement plan that may be a good fit for your business.

Questions to Consider Small business owners should consider a few core questions about their business when trying to decide which retirement plan options would be right for them. The first question is, are they a

sole practitioner? Do they have employees? If so, are they full time or part time? Is there a high turnover rate of employees or are they long term? Do they have independent contractors? Different types of plans have different rules on who is eligible to participate. The next question that small business owners need to consider is do they want employees to be able to make their own contributions to a retirement plan? Or would they, as the employer, like to make all contributions to employee accounts? Small business owners should also consider how much they want to budget to administer a retirement plan for their business. Some plans are simpler and more cost effective to administer but may not allow an owner to maximize contributions to their own account. On the other hand, some plans require more time and money to administer, but may allow an owner to maximize contributions to their own retirement account, which may make the tradeoff worth it. Adding a retirement savings component to your business can be a way to potentially help attract new employees as well as create a way for owners and existing employees to save and accumulate for their own retirement. Every business is different and objectives for a retirement savings plan can vary from one workplace to another. The choices are many and can often be complicated to evaluate, but the benefits can be worth the effort. Work with qualified tax and financial professionals to sort through your options. Gary E. Croxall, CFP® Registered Principal of LPL Soren E. Croxall, CFP®, CFA Registered Representative of LPL Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. LPL Financial and Croxall Capital Planning do not provide tax or legal advice. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

State Budget

WORD FROM A FRIEND

County budget mid-year update

he Board of Supervisors recently received a midyear budget overview and I wanted to share with you what we learned and give you a general overview of the County budget. Over the last few years, the Board of Supervisors has made investments in public safety, parks, roads and health and human services to restore

Zach Friend Santa Cruz County Supervisor

some of the significant cuts during the Great Recession. However, the Board has also made a commitment to improving our reserves to address future economic downturns, which improved our bond rating and now has reserves at approximately 10 percent.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget splits investments between increases in budgetary reserves and new investments to address housing affordability, economic opportunity and emergency response. This includes a nearly $2 billion proposed transfer to the Rainy Day Fund, which would bring the total to $18 billion, as well as $1.6 billion for the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties. The Governor continues to be focused on homelessness and affordable housing including proposing a one-time $750 million investment in the new California Access to Housing and Services Fund to support local efforts to address homelessness.

Economic Outlook Narrowing economic growth is expected locally and in the state. The current economic expansion that began in 2009 is the longest in modern history. This is combined with record low unemployment and historically low inflation rates and interest rates. Most project that Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth will slow to 1.5 percent by 2022 and 2023 due to increased pressure from tariffs, slowing global economic growth, slower investments and other risks. While local, state and federal impacts associated with COVID-19 are not fully known, they are expected to have marked impacts on economic growth and increased unemployment.

County Budget

APRIL 2020 | APTOS LIFE

The discretionary portion of the County budget (General Fund) is what funds things such as parks and Sheriff’s deputies. Approximately 60 percent of net County cost goes toward public safety including the Sheriff’s Office, Probation, District Attorney and the Public Defender. Less than 20 percent goes to General Government functions such as economic development, county facilities, and elections among other things. While less than 10 percent goes toward health services and sanitation (note these are the discretionary funds - there are much higher amounts that are state and federal passthrough funds for health programs). Under 5 percent is allocated to

parks, recreation and culture. County revenues have increased and expenditures have decreased this year based on mid-year updates. Overall, this has resulted in a $1 million savings to the General Fund compared to initial estimates. This comes from modest growth of 5 percent from general purpose revenues, such as property tax, sales tax and cannabis business tax, offset by rising costs with above-average increases for health insurance and retirement. Additionally, significant capital project needs (from failed culverts to immediate needs at the County Jail) require approximately $37 million in expenditures. Approximately $17 million has been obtained through grants and other sources and the rest will be financed as interest rates are very low and the County’s debt service costs are declining. Departments are submitting their budgets with cost reductions ranging from 2.5 percent to 12.5 percent of the General Fund contribution. In addition, Health Services identified some increased costs associated with mental health services and entitlements for Drug Medi-Cal costs as a result of client and provider increases and revenue decreases from the State totaling $14 million. Looking ahead, the General Fund is expected to meet its obligations for the coming year through reductions in department costs and increases in revenues. However, due to some declining or flat revenues in the current year and continuing through FY 2024-25, the General Fund will need increased revenues and/or major cost reductions that could potentially impact programs and services. A lot of this depends upon economic factors (whether a recession starts, how COVID-19 impacts the overall economy or how the regional economy continues to perform in general) but a budget shortfall anywhere between $3-$12 million is possible if prior year savings are not achieved and revenues stagnate or decline further. The County budget can often be complex and I hope this provides you with a helpful overview. You can view the budget at www.sccbudget. com or always feel free to call me at 454-2200 with any questions.

12 APRIL 2020 | APTOS LIFE