Aptos Life | June 2020 by Weeklys

JUNE 2020 • VOL. 8, NO. 10

Congrats Grads

Aptos High’s Class of 2020 drives to diplomas P4

Thank you for voting us

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JUNE 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

efore moving to news coverage I spent six years reporting about the local sports community, mostly following the flow of high school athletics from the fall to the spring. It’s the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. Most years, I’d interact with more than 200 student-athletes from various high schools in South Santa Cruz County. Many of those kids were in their senior year and most had an understanding of who they wanted to be in life, what they valued and how they planned to achieve those goals. Sadly, when I moved from sports to news a year ago, I lost track of almost all of the high schoolers that I had built a good working relationship with. Every now and then I’d read their name and learn about their successes while editing a story or scrolling through my Twitter feed. It might sound odd, but I felt proud, happy and optimistic for each one of those studentathletes that were continuing to accumulate accomplishments. While putting together our front-page story on the Aptos High School Class of 2020, I was able to reconnect with two standout student-athletes: Dre Gomez and Shea Garcia. I first interviewed them during their sophomore year. Both were kind, open and respectful then and still are now. But this time around they were more introspective and understanding of their surroundings than they were as sophomores. They had a more refined feel for life and what’s ahead—the challenges, successes and expectations. They had grown up so much in a matter of months. They reaffirmed my hope for the future. Congratulations to the Class of 2020. Our world is in your hands. Make the most of it.

5 4

Graduation

Outdoor Business

History

Financial Advice

10 Word from a Friend CEO & Executive Editor

Dan Pulcrano Publisher

Jeanie Johnson Editor

Tony Nuñez Editorial

Tony Nuñez Todd Guild Tarmo Hannula Contributing writers

John Hibble Zach Friend Gary & Soren Croxall Photography

Tarmo Hannula Advertising Sales

Lupita Ortiz Jazmine Ancira Production

Rob Chalhoub Hon Truong

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 newsroom@register-pajaronian.com

— Tony Nuñez

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CLASS OF 2020 Tarmo Hannula

SMILE GRAD

Diego Fernandez rises to the occasion for his drive-thru graduation at Aptos High.

Danny Dahel gets framed as he graduates.

Tarmo Hannula

YOU MADE IT Aptos High class president

photos by Tony Nuñez

JUNE 2020 | APTOS LIFE

DREAM BIG Aptos High School graduates (from left) Oscar Cisneros, Dre Gomez and Shea Garcia lead this year’s crop of seniors.

Sailing into the future W Aptos grads tried to make campus more diverse, safer for the future By TONY NUÑEZ

hen Oscar Cisneros was a sophomore at Aptos High School he and his friends felt their school was not celebrating its large cultural diversity. “This is a diverse campus,” he said. “There are so many cultures that should be celebrated.” Together, they created the Migrant Student Association, a club devoted to bringing the school’s Latino population together and showcasing the rich history ingrained in Mexican culture. Cisneros, twice the president

of the club and member of the Associated Student Body, helped bring events such as a Dia de Los Muertos celebration to Aptos High, and connect Latino students—whether they were part of the migrant program or not—who might have trouble adjusting to the breakneck speed of high school. “Hopefully we changed the campus to be more inclusive and show the diversity that’s on campus,” he said. Cisneros is part of this year’s graduating class of 215 students. He next year will attend Chico State

University to study agriculture and environmental science. He hopes to one day follow in the footsteps of touted local farmers such as Dick Peixoto in running his own farm-totable restaurant while also producing the locally-sourced crops. That dream comes from his grandparents, Leopoldo Cisneros and Piedad Jimenez—immigrants from Jalisco, Mexico. As a kid, he split his time in the garden tending to fruit trees and small spices with his grandpa, and in the kitchen cooking classic Mexican cuisine ➝6 with his grandma.

SHELTER-IN-PLACE

Business moves outdoors A By TODD GUILD

Tarmo Hannula

NEW OPPORTUNITY Benches, barricades and yellow tape define a section of The Esplanade

in Capitola Village on June 5 where outdoor dining will soon be allowed. Margaritaville and Sotola Bar & Grill have all applied for a free permit, as has Caruso’s Tuscan Cuisine. The Esplanade features Margaritaville, Zelda’s and Pizza My Heart, along with Beach Break By Marianne’s ice cream shop, and has for a long time been a popular destination for families seeking a day at the beach and people looking for a bit of nightlife.

The Covid-19 crisis has curtailed much of the business that packed the village before the virus started it spread, but the alfresco option could start to attract crowds again. “The majority of the restaurants are participating,” said Capitola Community Development Director Katie Herlihy. “We’re just really excited to see more of our restaurants opening up.”

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s county officials begin to ease up some Covid-19 restrictions, businesses and restaurants that were closed—or saw a giant drop in customers—are finding ways to welcome them back, including establishing outdoor dining and shopping areas to help conform with social distancing requirements. That transition was made easier late last month when the California Department of Public Health approved variances for Santa Cruz County. Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria, which was closed for several weeks in the wake of the virus, still has not opened its dining room. But it is allowing a handful of customers inside at a time to purchase pre-made lunch and dinner items and pastries. The City of Santa Cruz announced that starting June 8 it will close the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue between Lincoln and Cathcart streets to vehicles and bicycles to allow for outdoor dining, a pedestrian promenade and limited retail operations. The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on June 2 approved a plan to allow restaurants and businesses in the unincorporated areas of the county to use their parking lots for outdoor eating and shopping areas. They can also apply to use public right-of-way areas such as sidewalks. The Capitola City Council on May 28 voted unanimously to allow outdoor dining throughout city limits. Capitola has closed the parking area along The Esplanade and replaced it with seating for patrons. The council also green-lighted a proposal for restaurants to offer takeout windows. El Toro Bravo, Britannia Arms,

APTOS HIGH

“Owning my own restaurant one day and connecting small, local farmers with restaurants in our community; that would be a dream career,” he said.

THE ‘BIG BOSSES’ The Aptos High football team and the seniors who lead the squad are seen as the “Big Bosses” on campus, according to Dre Gomez, a stud linebacker and running back on the team. It’s not a moniker that he and his friends took lightly. When he saw a freshman being bullied by an upperclassman, he put an end to it and hung around with the student afterward to make sure he was OK. When he saw an unacceptable amount of trash littered on the campus, he organized a cleanup crew of athletes to pick up the trash and throw it in the bins—he said they did the impromptu cleanups several times throughout the school year. “There’s a responsibility that you have when you step in as the quote ‘big bosses,’” he said. “You can choose to make the campus a welcoming, better place for everyone or you can let bad

things keep happening.” He said that do-the-right-thing mentality comes from his mother, Erika, who, from a young age, told him to be the person who creates change. “She’s my inspiration,” he said. Gomez also carried that attitude and leadership on the football field. A year after helping the squad win a section championship and smash dozens of records, he helped carry a young team to within inches of a return to the section championship game. The memories and lessons he attributes to football helped shape his life, he said. “That sport, the coaches and my teammates taught me so much about life,” he said. Those lessons and his passion for helping others, he said, have spurred his interest in becoming a firefighter. He plans to attend Cabrillo College to attain his degree in business and then join a local fire technology program. “I feel like I really want to make my life count,” he said. “I really want to help people.” Asked about the abrupt cancellation of classes because of the Covid19 shutdown, Gomez said the transition to in-home learning was a small challenge to deal with considering the

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everyday uncertainties essential workers are facing. “[Essential workers are] a key part to our society right now and I just want to thank all of them,” he said. “I hope everyone’s happy and healthy with their family right now.”

NEW GENERATION OF TEACHERS Shea Garcia said she strongly believes that education is the key to success. But her definition of education might be a bit deeper than others. Grades are part of the equation, she said, but they do not completely eclipse teacher-student relationships, sports, volunteering and friends. “The entire high school experience has meant a lot to me and it was definitely more than surface level, I would say,” she said. “I grew a lot, and I have a lot of people at the school to thank for that.” At the top of that list: the faculty who showed as much interest in who she was as a person as teaching her who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. Those mentors inspired her to go down the same route. Next fall she will attend Portland State University and

major in political science. She plans to also earn her masters and eventually become a teacher or administrator. “I know the impact that some of those teachers have had on my life, and I want to do the same,” she said. “Growing up is really hard and I think teachers can be a great outlet to help you find something that you’re passionate about. School is so important and I want to change the mentality that some kids have about that.” Those leadership qualities shone through on the softball diamond over two varsity seasons. A star infielder with a powerful bat, Garcia as a sophomore helped Aptos win its first softball league championship in six years. The Mariners had hopes of returning to the top of their league this spring but the Covid-19 pandemic dashed those chances. Garcia said she was “not a joy to be around” after that news, but that she received an incredible amount of support from her family and friends. “I took it really hard but I tried to remember, as my family taught me, all the good times,” she said. “There’s going to be so many more good times to come.”

HISTORY CORNER

Celebrating the Fourth of July

hat if you have a party and nobody was allowed to attend? The Fourth of July is America’s birthday and many communities have parades to celebrate that fact. The freedom to determine our own future was at the center of the founding of our country. The “World’s Shortest Parade” in Aptos is also about self-determination but it was not originally about America’s birthday. In 1959, a zoning change was proposed to allow a concrete batching plant in Aptos Village. The community organized to defeat the zoning change. The first “World’s Shortest Parade” was held in 1961 on the Fourth of July to celebrate the community’s success. For 58 years the parade has continued down Soquel Drive. However, this year,

because of the coronavirus would be appreciated. pandemic, we cannot We are also celebrate with an organized encouraging local parade, a pancake breakfast businesses, (open or and a party in the park not), to participate in Are there creative ways our Red, White and Blue to continue to celebrate patriotic decorating our country’s birthday and contest. Show your spirit. our freedoms? The Aptos Businesses that would Chamber would like to like to participate can celebrate Independence By John Hibble call the Aptos Chamber Week from July first Aptos History Museum at 688-1467 or go online through the fifth. at http://aptoschamber. Decorate your car, whether it be com/independence-week/. an antique, a classic or a clunker, Register for $25 and we will and drive around town and show email participation information off during the week. Please do including a judging number not pack your car with friends, and rules. Participants will be immediate family only. Car clubs added to our website and social can do the same thing but please media platforms. Why $25 to do not extend the invitation to your participate? The Aptos Chamber out-of-county members. Let’s keep is not independent. We rely on it local. There are no entry fees but the community for support. donations to the Aptos Chamber During these difficult times

we cannot hold events to raise the necessary funds to pay our expenses. We would appreciate any donations to help stay afloat until we can all return to normal. Please send donations to 7605 Old Dominion Court, Suite A, Aptos, CA 95003. Thank you. The community at large gets to vote for the contest winner. You be the judge. Drive by and select the most patriotic business display by number. Judging will start on July 1 and end at midnight on July 4. Vote at aptoschamber.com. The winners will be announced on July 5 The Aptos Chamber will be selling patriotic masks and a very special commemorative T-shirt for this year. The design is on our website and shirts will be available at Deluxe ➝8 Foods, Aptos Feed

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FINANCIAL ADVICE

CARES Act retirement plan changes

he Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that was passed by Congress in March, contained several changes to retirement plan loan and withdrawal provisions designed to allow people easier access to money saved in these accounts if they have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The changes outlined below are meant to provide general information. However, everyone’s situation is different, and we would recommend working with a qualified tax or financial professional prior to taking any loan or withdrawal from a retirement account to understand the pros and cons of doing so as it relates to you personally.

LOAN & WITHDRAWAL CHANGES

JUNE 2020 | APTOS LIFE

Before the passage of the CARES Act, loans from workplace retirement plans (i.e. 401(k)s) were typically limited to 50% of the vested balance up to a maximum of $50,000. The CARES Act allows for a sixmonth window from the date of passage of the Act in March to allow for participants to take a loan of potentially 100% of their vested balance capped at a maximum of $100,000 (provided you qualify

under certain provisions). There are a couple of points to consider. The CARES Act gives workplace retirement plan providers the flexibility to allow for the higher loan amount, but providers are not required to allow the higher limit. Also, even though your workplace plan may allow for a loan, you should work with a qualified tax advisor to understand how they work and if it is the best choice given your situation. For example, you should understand what would happen if you took out a loan from your workplace plan and then subsequently lost your job. Along with changes to loan provisions from workplace retirement plans, the CARES Act made changes to withdrawal provisions from both workplace retirement plans and IRA accounts. In 2020, workplace plan participants and IRA account owners are eligible to take up to $100,000 from eligible retirement accounts if they experience a coronavirus-related

hardship (there are specific requirements to qualify so work with your workplace plan or IRA custodian to see if you meet the eligibility requirements). What is unique about the coronavirus-related withdrawals is that they are not subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you are under age 59 ½ and they provide some flexibility on when you will be required to pay taxes on the withdrawal. Coronavirus-related withdrawals are potentially eligible to have taxes associated with the distribution paid ratably over three years. Also, the CARES Act has a provision that allows for coronavirusrelated withdrawals to potentially be repaid into the IRA or workplace retirement plan within three years.

REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS (RMDS) If you were 70 ½ or older on Dec. 31, 2019, then you would have likely been subject to taking RMDs from various retirement accounts in 2020 or face a stiff penalty. However, with the passage of the CARES Act, RMDs from IRAs and defined contribution workplace retirement plans (401(k), 403(b) are examples) have been waived for 2020. This applies to everyone, not just people who have been affected by the coronavirus. Given the large market sell off in the first quarter of 2020, by not requiring people to take distributions from accounts that may have suffered from market losses, it allows more time to potentially recoup some of those losses by allowing the money to stay tax deferred in the account and stay invested.

FOURTH

and Pet Supply and through the Aptos Chamber. We will also be making a celebration banner for the rail road trestle over Soquel Drive. Businesses and anyone who wants to be listed on the banner can call the chamber or sign up on our website. Let freedom ring!

If you already took your RMD early in the year, work with a tax or financial professional to discuss what your options are to potentially return the money to your retirement account. We expect in the coming weeks for the IRS to provide formal guidance for people who took RMDs early in 2020 and would now like to waive them. Although the CARES Act made access to retirement savings more available to those who understandably may need cash during the short term, taking it may have longer term consequences that should also be considered carefully. Are taxes due and when? How will those tax payments be funded? If I take a loan what are the terms on paying it back, and when? How will I replace those funds I had set aside for retirement? Everyone has a different set of needs and everyone’s circumstances are different. It’s always wise to work with a financial professional on these key decisions. 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. One hundred years ago the world was seized by a devastating pandemic called the Spanish influenza. We are reliving history and making history at the same time with Covid 19. Let’s find a way to celebrate while keeping safe. We are Aptos strong! Together, let’s celebrate our Fourth of July Independence Week!

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JUNE 2020 | APTOS LIFE

WORD FROM A FRIEND

Summer road work and Covid-19 update

JUNE 2020 | APTOS LIFE

ven as much of the County’s focus is on the health and economic response to Covid-19, the County is still maintaining general operations. One of the areas that will see some noticeable work this summer will be on local road and infrastructure projects— specifically Measure D and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funded projects and storm damage projects. Which areas will be repaired under Measure D and STIP funds? Measure D, is a half-cent sales tax measure approved in late 2016 for transportation projects. Depending upon how much sales tax is collected, approximately $900,000/year is available for local road projects in our district. This year, a major repair in Corralitos and a number of residential roads in Seacliff will be addressed using Measure D and STIP funds. In Corralitos, the long-awaited repairs to Pioneer and Varni will occur soon. Specifically, repairs will be done to Pioneer Road between Amesti Road and Green Valley and Varni Road between Corralitos Road and Amesti. This route is heavily used by residents, agriculture businesses and bicyclists. The funding became possible after an

damage on upper Valencia (by item that I supported at the Regional Transportation Commission that Flume) has gone to bid and will be under construction soon. This changed funding from a competitive over $3 million project is funded process to a formula basis—ensuring that the unincorporated areas in by federal emergency repairs. The lower Valencia damage the county would receive design and environmental more road funds than report is nearly complete previously provided. with just right-of-way In Seacliff, a number acquisition to finish. of residential streets will Once done that project be repaired as a result will go to bid with of this year’s Measure D construction expected allocation. Specifically, the next year. Multiple following streets will be projects on Highland completed this summer: Way were awarded • Seacliff Drive between By Zach Friend contracts in late spring Santa Clara Avenue Santa Cruz County with construction planned and Broadway. Supervisor soon. Projects on Trout • Santa Cruz Avenue Gulch and Hazel Dell are also between Broadway and Seacliff completing environmental and/ • San Benito Avenue between or right-of-way acquisitions with Seacliff and Seacliff (the loop) most of those projects going to • East Street between Santa construction next year. The storm Cruz Avenue and Center damage project on McGregor was • Valencia Avenue between already completed in the spring. East Street and Seacliff • Santa Clara Avenue between How do I get more information Seacliff Drive and Center Avenue about the road repairs? • El Camino Del Mar between You can visit the project website Seacliff Drive and Center Avenue. at https://santacruzcountyreWhat about storm-related surfacingproject.info/ for more damage? information. In general, up to date information on County Some significant progress has been maintained roads in Santa made on storm damage repairs in Cruz County is available online the last few months. The significant

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at sccroadclosure.org/.

Where can I get the latest information on Covid-19? The County has a live, staffed hotline—open every day between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm. Call 454-4242. I’m also maintaining regular updates on social media at facebook.com/supervisorfriend and during the shelter-in-place order I’m hosting weekly tele-townhalls with county and community leaders on Tuesday nights from 6-7pm. The call in information for the town halls is 454-2222 with the Meeting ID: 145384#. Lastly, the County Health’s website, santacruzhealth.org has up-to-date information on cases, demographics, provider and business guidance and more. Guidance is changing from the state on a regular basis and the County’s new order aligns our timeline for most re-openings with the state’s order. As is the case throughout the state, the County can take a stricter approach to reopening should local conditions warrant it or the state can deny a county’s request to move into a next stage if conditions change. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please do feel free to reach out to me. You can always call me at 454-2200.

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JUNE 2020 | APTOS LIFE

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12 JUNE 2020 | APTOS LIFE