LIFE Everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

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AUGUST 2017 EVERYTHING APTOS, CAPITOLA & SOQUEL Vol. 5 No. 12

World’s Shortest Parade

APTOS

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SOQUEL

Wharf to Wharf

pg. 12

CAPITOLA

HISTORY CORNER

Photo by Tarmo HANNULA

By John Hibble Call: 688-1467 Visit us online: aptoshistory.org Visit the museum: 7605-B Old Dominion Court Aptos, CA

A most amazing man, and rich, too:

Claus Spreckels

Who owns this place? The native people did not pretend to own the land, they lived on it and considered it sacred. The first owners of Aptos were the King and Queen of Spain. The Catholic Church and the Army administered their holdings. After Mexico threw off Spanish rule, the land was granted to citizens who had helped develop the region. Rafael Castro was granted the 6,600-acre Aptos Rancho. Claus Spreckels was the third owner of the majority of Aptos and this is his story, (Part 1). Claus Spreckels was one of the most industrious,

Wharf work

A work crew repairs damage to the Capitola Wharf recently following heavy winter storms. Officials with the City of Capitola said the wharf was slated for a full opening by July 28.

The business of beautification

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City of Capitola adopts new policy for enforcing display regulations

Rancho Del Mar project approved

By BEK SABEDRA

Improvements include façade work, parking lot upgrade By TODD GUILD SANTA CRUZ — The Santa Cruz County Zoning Administrator on July 21 approved a series of renovations at the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, a decision that will allow the project to begin. It is unclear when work will begin at the aging, 10.5-acre center at State Park and Soquel drives. Property owner Terramar Retail Centers, LLC did not return a call for information as of press time. The company will perform series of façade renovations at the center at State Park and Soquel drives, including creating an outdoor dining area, parking lot landscaping improvements and ADA accessibility upgrades. The developer will also replace the signs throughout the center, and convert the former vacant cinema building into retail space. According to county staff, the proposal is consistent with county code and the county’s general plan. The project has generated controversy since it was proposed in 2012, when the Safeway corporation that Please turn to Page 7

Josh Fisher, owner of Left Coast Sausage Worx in Capitola Village. Photo by Bek Sabedra

CAPITOLA — Capitola city officials recently proactively began enforcing regulations in the Capitola Village regarding sidewalk signs and outdoor displays.

A beautification effort of the Village four years ago resulted in permitting processes and fees being put in place before shops could legally place signs or display wares outside their shop. The Please turn to Page 7

Ow Family hands out scholarships to students Staff report

Pajaro Valley High School graduate Edgar Mora describes his path to college. Contributed photo

APTOS — George Ow Jr. and his family provided $500 scholarships to 106 high school seniors during a June ceremony at Cabrillo College. The American Dream Scholarships have been awarded to high school seniors for 28 years. “My parents came from China and believed in the power of education,” Ow said. “Dozens of our family

members have come to Cabrillo College and we are grateful for the opportunities it has provided to us. Our family believes that the American Dream is that you can come from humble beginnings and succeed, and when you do succeed, you give back to help others.” Since 1989, the Ow Family has awarded more than $560,000 to graduating high school students Please turn to Page 10

Inside ...

Valencia Road ....................2 Briefs ...............................4-5 Guest columns .......9, 10, 11 Calendar ...........................15 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WATSONVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 23 ******ECRWSSEDDM****** POSTAL CUSTOMER APTOS, CA 95003 CAPITOLA. CA 95010


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2 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel Photos by Tarmo HANNULA

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AUGUST 2017

Around Aptos By KAREN HIBBLE

APTOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Who is your Community Hero? Who has made a difference in our lives? Sometimes it is a quiet person who works behind the scenes. Sometimes it is obvious. The Aptos Chamber of Commerce wants to recognize those people who make our lives better. The Chamber is accepting nominations for Man, Woman, Organization, and Business of the Year for 2017. Please download a nomination form from our website, AptosChamber.com, and recognize someone, or a business, or an organization that has done something outstanding or deserves to be recognized in our community.

Together we can make a difference

Valencia Road bridge work continues

Heavy equipment and big steel are part of a new bridge project on Valencia Road in Aptos. Workers are pouring concrete foundations and starting work on the structure that will support the bridge on the road. The road was closed in January after heavy rains weakened it. That forced the closure of Valencia Elementary School, and the students were relocated to four schools throughout

APTOS

SOQUEL

CAPITOLA

Publisher - Jeanie Johnson Editor - Erik Chalhoub Editorial Todd Guild, Tony Nuñez, Tarmo Hannula, Bek Sabedra Photography - Tarmo Hannula Advertising Sales Tina Chavez, Jazmine Ancira, Mark Pezzini, Veronica Iniguez, Bek Sabedra Production - Daryl Nelson Design - Mike Lyon Life in Aptos, Capitola and Soquel is published monthly. All rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher. Life in Aptos, Capitola and Soquel made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. Life in Aptos, Capitola and Soquel is a division of the RegisterPajaronian. Publishing in Santa Cruz County since 1894.

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Pajaro Valley Unified School District. The critical piece of the puzzle – a truss bridge that will allow students to return – is expected to be completed in time for school to start. “The final construction will wrap up by the end of year, but we’ll have traffic moving before school starts, which is what people are concerned about,” Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin said.

Are you tired of visiting our beaches and parks and finding trash piled everywhere, including in front of the garbage cans? Help us to create a slogan that encourages visitors and residents to be responsible and to clean up after themselves. The breaches have been overwhelmed with trash since Memorial Day. Folks leave beach chairs, towels, rafts, barbecues and, of course, garbage at the beach, on the beach and around the trash cans that are provided. State Parks picks up the trash cans seven days a week all year but cannot possibly keep up with the amount of trash people are leaving. “Pack Your Trash” is no longer something people do. People have advocated for more trash cans, but there needs to be other solutions as it seems people will fill up the trash cans, no matter how many State Parks put out, and half the trash is not even in the trash cans that are available. People even bring trash from their homes and vacation rentals to deposit at the parks. We’re hoping that a cute poster using the image of an Otter with a slogan that people can identify with, will help some people to consider their actions, especially if their children understand the message and help to remind their parents. We understand that Carmel does not seem to have this problem and they have many visitors to their beaches. Do you remember, “Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute,” with a cute owl or Smokey the Bear and “Only You can Prevent Forest Fires”? As children, we took these slogans to heart. Now it is our turn to help our oceans, beaches and parks. So, send your ideas to us and if you are artistic help us design a poster or bumper sticker we can use to get our message across. Maybe the Highway 17 sign could be used to notify visitors. But let’s work on this together. Thanks for your help. We are a great community.

Fourth of July update

It takes a village to have a Fourth of July celebration in Aptos. We were blessed this Fourth of July with great weather, and fantastic people who came together to celebrate: from pancakes to parade to “Family Day in the Park,” thousands of people enjoyed our Aptos celebration. Special thanks to our committee: Rob Morse, Kiss Catering, Michael Gardner, David Lompa, Matt Walthard, and Burger restaurant, who helped to make the Pancake Breakfast a fabulous success. We also want to acknowledge Whole Foods, Safeway, Seacliff Inn, and Erik’s Deli Café of Aptos for the food donations. We served about 1,000 breakfasts and there were many compliments from our breakfast goers. We also want to thank Starbucks of Aptos for supplying the coffee and Gizdich Ranch for the apple juice. We had three new residents from Italy helping serve. They loved the parade and learned all about America’s celebration here in Aptos. They moved here about three months ago and are already a big part of our community. The parade had 80 entries from dance groups, to dogs, to our fabulous bands, and so much more. Special thanks to the California Highway Patrol, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department, the Aptos/La Selva Fire Department, and Earthworks for keeping us safe. Thanks to Bob Norton and his team of volunteers who kept the parade moving and people marching. The parade was over in record time. Thanks to Steve Allen and Allen Property Group for hanging the parade banner on the trestle. Thanks to Coldwell Banker for hosting the parade judges who had a difficult job. Please see the list of parade winners. If you are one, come pick up your beautiful ribbon at that Chamber office. Thanks to “Extra Large” for the music at “Party in the Park.” Thousands of people danced, ate and celebrated living in Aptos. This year our parade was listed as one of “America’s Most Unique July Fourth Celebrations” by Land’s End Journal. Thanks to all of you who make Aptos such a special place to be. Together we can keep our traditions alive. ••• Karen Hibble is co-executive director of the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.


AUGUST 2017

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 3 Photos byJohanna MILLER

A local Brownie Girl Scout troop show off their decorated bikes.

A community celebrates

Dancers from the Pacific Arts Complex wowed the crowd with their moves during the World’s Shortest Parade in Aptos.

The World’s Shortest Parade returns to Aptos By JOHANNA MILLER APTOS — By 9 a.m. on July 4, two blocks of Soquel Drive were already packed with spectators, eagerly anticipating the start of the annual World’s Shortest Parade in Aptos. Some people had even claimed their spots on the sidewalk the night before. “I think it’s getting more and more popular every year,” said Marte Kupps, who has been attending the parade for the past 10 years with friends. “But it’s obvious why. This parade is special. It’s got that ‘Little Town USA’ feel to it.” The parade, which begins every year at the corner of State Park and Soquel drives and ends at the Bayview Hotel in Aptos Village, has been a tradition for the past 56 years. It began in the 1960s as a celebration of a successful protest against a proposed development in the Village. It was then adopted as a way to celebrate Independence Day. While the parade has evolved over the years, many Aptos residents say the sense of community has continued to remain strong.

“This is a really great way for everyone to come together,” said Brian Groves of Aptos, who attended the parade with his two young daughters. “We try to make it every year.” The Watsonville Community Band kicked off the parade at 10 a.m. A long procession of school groups, individuals, organizations and businesses followed. This year’s theme, “America: Your Land, My Land, Our Land,” was utilized by many of the participants. Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz serenaded the crowd with a rendition of the classic folk tune “This Land is Your Land.” Enthusiastic spectators would often recognize friends and family who were marching in the parade, cheering when they passed. But locals weren’t the only ones who enjoyed the event. George Rios of Sacramento had traveled to Santa Cruz to spend the holiday with his in-laws. “They kept telling me about this parade I had to get up early for,” Rios joked. “I’m glad I did. This is what Fourth of July is all about.”

Aptos Fourth of July Parade Awards Grand Prize - Best of Parade: Monterey Bay Dog Training Club Grand Prize: Knox Roofing Crowd Pleaser: Pacific Arts Complex Ole’Time Favorite: Clampers

Floats Judge’s Choice: Aptos All Stars 8/9 Most Original: Santa Cruz Warriors Best of Theme: Calvary Chapel Aptos

Adult Groups First Prize: Capitola Begonia Festival Judge’s Choice: Second Harvest Food Bank Most Patriotic: Aegis Living Most Unique: Worldanz

Individual First Prize: Rex For Rent Second Prize: Linde Harum Lawrence - 1932 Chevrolet Coupe Third Prize: D. Mike Epperson - 1961 MBZ Fourth Prize: Keith Calderon - 1936 Ford Sedan

Bands First Prize: Ukelele Club of Santa Cruz Judge’s Choice: The Digbeats Most Colorful: Watsonville Community Band Cars First Prize: Malcolm Park Most Patriotic: Aptos VFW Most Unique: Bellows Plumbing Children’s Groups First Prize: Girl Scouts of the Central Coast Judge’s Choice: Jacob’s Heart Most Patriotic: Cub Scout Pack 676 Most Unique: Aptos Little League 7/8 All Stars

Pets Best Costumes: St. John Baptist Church Cutest: Wilber the Piglet First Prize: West Coast Great Pyrenees Judge’s Choice: Myrtle the Turtle Trucks First Prize: Extreme Towing Most Patriotic: Community Bridges Most Unique: Granite Construction Schools Most Spirited: Kristy’s School of Dance Best of Theme: St. Andrews Preschool

Antique cars were a main draw of the parade, including this 1915 Ford Model T.t


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ART CAMP

Camille Torres (from left), Maddie McCraw, Elliot Ramsay and Anne Edelmaier participated in the Summer Art Camp in Corralitos. Photo by Chanel Escobar

Art camp wraps up in Corralitos By CHANEL ESCOBAR CORRALITOS — The Summer Art Camp at the Corralitos Cultural Center is a place where children can be together while learning about art and culture around the world. The weeklong camp, which drew 20 children ages 5 to 12, ended July 21. This year’s theme for the camp was, “Come in and fill your life with art,” said Roberta Dallimonti, founder of the camp. Continuing generations have been attending for more than 15 years, and look forward to going every year. “We have had a lot of wonderful volunteers throughout the years,” Dallimonti said. Whimsical animals on canvas, papier-mâché, acrylic painted table tops, and ceramic patio wall hangings were among some of the masterpieces the kids created, which were all started from scratch.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

VOLUNTEER CENTER

County receives Social Innovation Fund award

Volunteer Center celebrates 50th anniversary

Staff report

Staff report

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department announced that it was one of only three awardees from the states of California, Washington and Oregon selected to take part in a Stanford-led initiative aimed at decreasing poverty and increasing economic opportunity. Led by the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality and Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc., the $3 million project uses data to build a framework for measuring and evaluating program success. The effort is funded by the Social Innovation Fund, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service. The County of Santa Cruz will use the opportunity to study changes in the self-sufficiency of families that participate in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, California’s version of the Federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. The support will be provided to the county through 2019, and is equivalent to approximately $700,000 in consultation services. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Stanford and Third Sector to help us access other administrative data systems so that we can better understand the effectiveness of our programs and make well informed decisions on the use of scarce resources. With this technical assistance, we will be primed to measure results, improve services, and subsequently deliver proven support to persons in need,” said Ellen Timberlake, interim director of the County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department. For information on the award, visit www. thirdsectorcap.org/news/stanford-and-third-sectorlaunch-partnerships-for-economic-opportunity.

APTOS — The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County celebrated its 50th anniversary on July 29 at the Sesnon House. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our supporters and the community at large to come together in celebration of 50 years of volunteerism in Santa Cruz County,” said Volunteer Center Executive Director Karen Delaney. The Volunteer Center opened its doors in 1967 when Marian McBee, Kathryn Merriam and Margaret Schaeffer, three local social workers inspired by their passion for helping others, set up shop at a loaned office space in downtown Santa Cruz. They set out to develop volunteer programs that would lift up residents in need. Within a year, they hired a staff member and developed a mentoring program for boys in need of male role models, a tutoring program for adults who were unable to speak English, a jail visitation program, and two programs addressing the needs of home-bound seniors. “Dedicated volunteers are the backbone of so many communities across the country. As the executive director of the Volunteer Center for over 30 years, I feel so fortunate that I have had the opportunity to witness acts of kindness carried out by everyday people nearly every day of my job,” Delaney said. “I am excited to celebrate, share memories, and honor the legacy of the thousands of local volunteers who are part of this movement at our upcoming birthday bash.” The Volunteer Center provides in-person, phone and electronic matching services to connect individuals with the fit for their time, skill and interest. For information, visit www. scvolunteercenter.org.


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LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 5

COMMUNITY BRIDGES

MONTEREY BAY POWER

Dinner benefits Community Bridges programs

Monterey Bay Community Power selects CEO

Staff report

Staff report

APTOS — Community Bridges invites the public to a locally sourced, gourmet dinner, along with live music and award-winning wine and beer. This year’s gala celebrates Community Bridges’ 40th anniversary and provides support to all 10 of the organization’s programs that collectively serve 22,000 children, families and seniors in Santa Cruz County each year. The gala will be held on Saturday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-10 p.m. at Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road. The event features live music, a live auction featuring experiential farm-to-table packages, beer from World Beer Cup winners Discretion Brewing, wine from Beauregard Vineyards, and a multiplecourse, locally sourced dinner. All proceeds will support the 10 programs of Community Bridges: Elderday Adult Day Health Care, Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County, Lift Line, Child & Adult Care Food Program, Child Development Division, Women, Infants & Children (WIC), La Manzana Community Resources, Live Oak Community Resources, Mountain Community Resources, and Nueva Vista Community Resources. Tickets and full information for the event are available online — including the menu and parking information — at cbfarmtofork17.eventbrite.com. Tickets are $125 per person, $750 for a table of six, or $1,200 for a VIP table of eight.

WATSONVILLE — Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP), a regional initiative among local government agencies to provide electricity to residents and businesses throughout Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, selected Tom Habashi as interim CEO by the MBCP Policy Board. The decision was made at the July 12 joint meeting of the Policy and Operations Boards, held in Marina. The boards have also selected Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson as chair of the Policy Board and Gonzales City Manager Rene Mendez as chair of the Operations Board. Serving as MBCP’s first executive officer, Habashi will oversee and direct MBCP’s strategic plan, implementation, operations, regulatory affairs and communications and outreach. “Tom brings a wealth of experience and leadership in the clean energy sector, most recently launching and building the Silicon Valley Clean Energy organization,” McPherson said. “We’re confident that Tom’s expertise will help MBCP deliver on our mission of providing renewable energy while giving a boost to the local economy.” The MBCP Implementation Plan will be considered for final approval at a special meeting of the MBCP Policy Board, Aug. 16 at 9 a.m. at the Watsonville City Council Chambers, 275 Main St., fourth floor.

EAGLE SCOUT

Aptos High senior becomes Eagle Scout Staff report APTOS — Jared Hill, a senior at Aptos High School, became an Eagle Scout on June 21. Hill has been in scouting since he was in first grade (as a Cub Scout). He continued as a Boy Scout, first in Livermore with Troop 939 and then in Aptos with Troop 969. He loves camping, hiking, backpacking, etc. One of his favorite trips was hiking more than 50 miles last summer in the Sierra’s. All Boy Scouts have to do an “Eagle Project”to earn their rank. Hill built a shade structure and surfboard bench at Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter last summer. The idea for this project came to him while he was earning service hours working at the shelter, for a merit badge. He realized the large outdoor area needed a shade structure for the dogs (and even the humans). They use that area all year long. Hill will be having his Eagle Court of Honor ceremony in August.

What a Wonderful World My mom has always been an optimist. She sees hope when others just see rain. For as long as I can remember, each fall, when temperatures cooled and the autumn rains rolled in over our pasture, she pointed out a symbol of that hope. We would wait, and when the sun broke just the right way, it would emerge. A rainbow! I cling to those now. Rainbows. Because they are harder for her to point out. Over the course of my mom’s life, severe arthritis and a weak heart now make bending and reaching painful. Cooking and laundry are impossible without help. My dad and I have tried home care services and worked shifts ourselves, but Dad is exhausted and they’re becoming housebound. I think it’s time for a change. If an older parent needs daily assistance, maybe they’re not independent anymore. Consider Áegis Living for professional help. We are the trusted, local senior care provider, specializing in assisted living and memory care. We offer the finest care, cuisine, social activities and comfortable warm home surroundings with committed staff. Come in for a tour and lunch with your parent. Let them experience our community filled with new friends, and new hope.

Please call our community and learn how we can help you take the break you need.

Áegis of Aptos 125 Heather Terrace Aptos, CA 95003

831-706-2956 AegisofAptos.com

RCFE #445202057


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History Corner

Continued from page 1

successful, and powerful people involved in the history of Aptos. A truly amazing individual. His impact on our community was profound. However, Aptos was only a small chapter in the story of Spreckels’ impact on our state and country. Claus was born in 1828 in Lamstedt, in the independent German kingdom of Hanover. At the age of 18, he boarded a ship for America for the opportunities it afforded as well as to avoid military service in the European wars. Upon reaching the East Coast, Claus found employment in a grocery store and was so adept that he bought out the owners upon their retirement and established lines of credit so that he could build, what turned out to be, a very successful business. Claus married Anna Mangels in New York. They moved to San Francisco in 1856. Claus Spreckels’ brother Peter, and Anna’s brother Claus Mangels, married twin sisters. The three couples founded the Albany Brewery, the first large-scale producer of beer in San Francisco. Their next venture was the Bay Sugar Refining Company in 1863 which they sold in 1865 for a considerable profit. Spreckels returned to Germany to learn everything about refining sugar. In 1867, he opened the California Sugar Refinery. Harnessing centrifugal force, he invented new machines to speed up the refining process from three weeks to one day. Up to that time, sugar was sold in blocks or loaves which required the user to crush them for loose sugar. Spreckels introduced granulated sugar and sugar cubes, and at such low prices that most of his competitors closed. This made him a millionaire and earned him the title of “Sugar King.” In order to control the sugar market, Spreckels acquired 40,000 acres in Hawaii on Maui and built a canal to bring water from Hana to plant and irrigate sugarcane. He also built railroads and refineries. He reached a point where he purchased the entire sugar output of the Islands for his

San Francisco factory. Unhappiness with his methods ultimately led the Hawaiian growers to establish the California and Hawaii (C&H) sugar refinery in Crockett, California. While in the Islands, Spreckels financed the Hawaiian King, David Kalakaua, acted as the national bank, and virtually controlled the Kingdom. He also financed William Matson, who was the captain of Spreckels’ private yacht. Matson founded the famous Matson Lines steamship company which developed trade and tourism to the Hawaiian Islands. Spreckels also financed his son, John D. Spreckels, who started the Oceanic Steamship Company which carried freight and mail between San Francisco and the south seas. As competition in the sugar market increased, Spreckels decided to produce sugar in California from sugar beets. He created a competition among cities for the new factory. Eventually, Watsonville won the competition by agreeing to give the land to Spreckels and to plant at least 2,000 acres of sugar beets each year. Spreckels built a railroad to Moss Landing so that the product could be transferred to his family’s ships. As production increased and beets were planted farther into the Salinas Valley, Spreckels moved production near Salinas and built the largest sugar refinery in the world. When Claus Spreckels felt that he was being taken advantage of, he would go into competition with his adversary and usually force the adversary to submit and then to purchase Spreckels’ assets at twice the cost of his investment. At one point, the sugar trust on the East Coast tried to control the cost of sugar so Spreckels moved to Philadelphia and built a refinery to undercut their prices. Ultimately, they had to buy out Spreckels and he doubled his money. Southern Pacific Railroad was charging excessive freight rates in the Central Valley, so Spreckels built a competing railroad from Richmond to

Claus Spreckels. Aptos History Museum archives

Bakersfield which he eventually sold to the Santa Fe Railroad. Claus Spreckels held substantial amounts of real estate in San Francisco. One of his developments was the ornate and elegant “Claus Spreckels Building” on Market Street. At 310 feet tall, it was the first modern skyscraper in San Francisco. The San Francisco Gas & Electric Light Co. had two stations near the building with smoke stacks that funneled smoke into the new office building. Spreckels requested a solution to the problem. Although attempts were made to solve the problem, the president of the utility was rude to Mr. Spreckels so Spreckels organized the Independent Light & Power Company. The competition eventually led to a consolidation of the power companies and a profit of over $1,000,000 to Claus Spreckels. The consolidation eventually lead to a merger with Pacific Gas and Electric. It should be noted that Claus Spreckels

was civic-minded and made many donations including to St. Marks Church, Children’s Hospital, the University of California, and the Dewey Monument in Union Square. He donated the bandstand in Golden Gate Park between the deYoung Museum and the California Academy of Sciences, known as the “Temple of Music” with seats for 20,000 people. In 1905, Spreckels’ estate was valued at approximately $50 million which made him one of the 10 richest Americans of his time. Today, that would equate to more than $15 billion. In 1998, he was ranked 40th on the list of wealthiest U.S. Americans of all time. Next month our story will chronicle Claus Spreckels’ time in Aptos and why one of our streets is named Spreckels Drive. Please support and thank the advertisers who make these stories possible and consider becoming a member of the museum.

Claus Spreckels donated the Temple of Music in San Francisco. Aptos History Museum archives


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Rancho Del Mar

Continued from page 1

formerly owned the center announced plans that included a major upgrade of the parking lot and replacing the Safeway grocery store. Public opposition sidelined that project.

Terramar Retail Centers released renderings of proposed renovations to the Rancho Del Mar shopping center. Image courtesy of Terramar Retail Centers

Capitola Signs

Continued from page 1

administrative policy for enforcing these regulations was, at first, by complaint only; something that changed during April’s city council meeting when they enacted a more rigorous approach. July was the first month of implementation and the more aggressive strategy quickly brought results and cleaner streets. “We recently did a sweep to see who has a legal conditional use permit or sign display permit,” Senior Planner Katie Herlihy said. “Code enforcement is not new — it passed more than four years ago when the city council noticed people putting things out on sidewalks.” But for some newer shop owners, it came as a surprise. Josh Fisher, who owns Left Coast Sausage Worx, did not receive the warning letter sent out by the city regarding his hanging plush hot dog and outdoor cooler containing water bottles. When a city employee came out 30 days later and began writing him a ticket, he was caught off guard. “It affected a lot of people, mainly businesses,” he said. “If the public can see it, it can be a permit issue.” Fisher quickly brought his business into compliance — his ticket redacted after the misunderstanding was brought to light — and he said he has no hard feelings for the process. “Businesses had 30 days to rectify any problems, which is generally fair,” Fisher said. “I understand their objective; I don’t necessarily like it, I am just happy it is fair.” He will soon be getting a pre-approved design and sidewalk sign and agrees with the idea that a universal theme looks good in a place like the Village. “There was a big effort by businesses to create a specific design,” Herlihy said. “As long is it follows regulations, it is approved over the counter.”

But while the idea of clean streets and universal marketing is appealing, some business owners said that more should be taken into account. “If someone is putting stuff out that is trashy, will be in the way of ADA compliance or people can’t walk by — I think that should be addressed,” Fisher said. “But if it’s not hurting anyone and helping business, what’s the harm? I think there is a better way to go about it.” And for other businesses, cost is a big concern. Holly Smart, the owner of Kickback who rents shop space and has been a fixture in the Village for more than 20 years, says she can’t afford the $3,000 deposit required to apply for a conditional use permit. “There is less traffic and fewer sales now at a time my rent went up more than 50 percent,” she said. “I am not sure we are even gonna make it to next month.” Her shop sits on a corner lot, and before she would frequently hang a few articles of clothing for sale out on hooks to draw in customers. Now she said the attention is on bare stairs, and even processes such as ordering her merchandise have changed because she would use customer interest to determine which items to order more of. Her confusion is compounded by the fact that her displays were hung, and not impacting the flow of traffic in any way. “I can understand them wanting sidewalks clear, but not intervening on private property,” she said. “It is unfair, hurting business and overall, I don’t think it’s good for the community.” According to Herlihy, the $3,000 deposit is used to pay the planning commission, who take their hourly cut before refunding the rest back to the business owner. The catch: approval is not guaranteed, and they do not get back any of the money spent if denied. Still, some merchants say that they have been cautioned by others that any attempts

will be met with rejection. “If I knew that it would work, I would absolutely try,” Smart said. “We really need our outdoor displays, but merchants have been told not to apply because they will not be approved.” But Herlihy points to Capitola’s Rainbow City Limit as a store that has successfully maneuvered the system. “The end goal is to be maintaining a great place,” Herlihy said. “We really have to treat everyone consistently. The majority of shop owners have come into compliance and it’s noticeable; a great clean-up effort by all and it is appreciated.” Instead of fighting, the merchants are instead hoping for more meetings and future discussions that would result in a

more accommodating attitude. “I want the city to take a step back,” Fisher said. “It is really hard to make a living because of the seasonal nature of the business, so anything like signs, flags, helps.” As for Smart, she hopes that store owners would be brought into the discussions themselves. Having spent a lot of time looking up information on the ordinance, talking to officials and trying to get more information, she said what they were initially given did not explain everything. “I would like the city to hold another meeting, invite all the businesses and look for real solutions that won’t negatively impact business,” she said.

Shops such as Kickback were recently told to take down their outdoor displays in accordance to a policy passed by the Capitola City Council four years ago — but was infrequently enforced. Photo by Bek Sabedra

NON-PROFIT

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September 14, 2017

A benefit and celebration for the 20th Anniversary of Second Harvest’s Award-Winning Food For Children Program

thefoodbank.org/chefs17

Tools to Make Parenting Easier

First 5 Santa Cruz County triplep.first5scc.org 831.465.2217


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AUGUST 2017


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Second District Update

Making housing more affordable in our county

By ZACH FRIEND

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SUPERVISOR

With median home prices in the county currently hovering around $850,000, it’s easy to see why many in our community find it difficult to afford to live there. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that one would have to earn $35/hour (or over $70,000/year) to afford a two-bedroom apartment in our county. Many of us fortunate enough to own our own home wouldn’t be able to afford our home if we had to repurchase it today and I often hear stories about children moving away for cheaper housing and even people

working longer than originally planned because of a high mortgage. Given these challenges, what can we do to make housing more affordable for our residents? It takes a multifaceted approach that include local and state regulatory, political and economic changes. At the local level the county has taken significant steps toward modernizing and improving affordable housing regulations to help encourage the creation of affordable housing. New county policies encourage smaller unit sizes (which are often more affordable), reduces fees, and makes it easier for builders to construct more sustainable housing along urban transportation corridors. It also provides fee incentives for property owners wanting to build deed-restricted Accessary Dwelling Units (as many have children, parents or more wanting to live on the property). But affordable housing policy can’t occur in a vacuum. It requires reviews and policy changes in zoning and even economic development regulations, after all, no matter how affordable a house is it won’t be affordable if there aren’t jobs in an area to allow someone to pay for it in the first place. As a result, the affordable housing changes have been occurring in tandem with reviews in zoning and economic development

regulations to encourage more job creation in our area — all while respecting longterm established land use protections that ensure environmental priorities are maintained. Additionally, the county has created regulations around vacation rentals to preserve current rental and owner-occupied housing stock and is looking toward regulations on single room short term rentals in the unincorporated area. While this isn’t a comprehensive list of things the county has done it provides a general overview. At the state level a number of affordable housing and regulatory streamlining bills have been proposed to help spur the creation of housing. One of the most notable is Senate Bill 35, from San Francisco area Senator Scott Wiener. SB 35 works to ensure that all communities in the state create housing (sharing the responsibility throughout the state) by streamlining the approval process for specific housing types. The housing types are for income-based criteria. For example, if a county is meeting its state goals for housing development for above moderate-income housing but not its low-income housing goals, streamlining would apply to projects that focus on lower-income units. Why does it matter to address these housing costs? The high housing costs have real social, environmental and economic costs. High

housing costs lead to displacement and even changes in community diversity as working families are forced to live further away from their jobs. According to a study done by McKinsey Global Institute, California’s housing shortage costs the state more than $140 billion per year in lost economic output, including lost construction investment as well as foregone consumption of goods and services. Given that Californians pay $50 billion more for housing than they are able to afford, the report concludes, there is a significant reduction in the ability to support our local businesses and economy. We know we can’t simply “build our way” out of the problem — and that is not being proposed. We recognize that realistically some of our local residents will still be priced out of the rental and ownership market. But we also know that we need to do something. It took years for our county to be faced with the housing issues we have today so there will be no quick or immediate fix. However, I believe the policies the Board has adopted, both directly for affordable housing and more broadly for job growth, are an important first step toward putting us on a path toward improved options for future generations. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to call at 454-2200.

Financial Advice

Financial planning for single parents

By GARY E. CROXALL, CFP® and SOREN E. CROXALL, CFP® Raising children can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. It is also very costly. From clothing, food, day care, tuition, the costs quickly add up. According to the latest statistic released by the Department of Agriculture, for a child born in 2015, parents can expect to spend about $233,000 raising that child from birth to age 17. That number doesn’t even include college expenses! Additionally, according to a 2016 report done by the U.S. Census Bureau, there are about 11 million families in the U.S. that are headed by single parents which presents some unique goals and objectives. Below are a few items for single parents to consider. Have your estate plan in order While we always feel that having your

estate plan in order is an integral part of financial planning, it is imperative for single parents. You want to make sure that you have a plan that spells out exactly what will happen to your assets if something were to happen to you to make sure they properly provide for your children. A properly designed estate plan can also spell out guardianship choices that you would like for your children. Work with a qualified professional to make sure you have a properly drafted plan that will carry out your wishes. Be properly insured Although no one likes to think of their own mortality, life insurance can provide much-needed financial support for your children should you pass away unexpectedly or prematurely. Another important type of insurance to consider is disability. If you are the sole breadwinner of your household, what would happen if you could no longer work because of a disability? These two types of insurance are especially important for one parent households. A qualified financial professional can help you determine your needs and how to properly structure these types of insurance. Budget, budget, budget… We like to think of cash flow being the bedrock of any properly drafted financial

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plan. It’s important to know what money is coming in and where it is going. If you don’t have a good grasp of this, it is hard to plan for other goals like education costs and retirement. Take a few minutes to determine where money is coming in from. Consider various sources like earnings from a job, child support or alimony. Then lay out your monthly expenses. Determine what costs are relatively fixed and what costs are more flexible. Also, pay close attention to income sources that may not be around forever, like alimony, and plan accordingly. Create a balancing act between saving for education and retirement While most parents would say they want to fully pay for their child’s college education and fully fund their retirement, this may or may not be feasible depending on budget constraints. If you find yourself putting all of your savings into a college account and nothing in a retirement account, you may need to reassess. A financial professional can help find a balance between these two goals as well as helping prioritize shorter term goals you may have as well. There is no question about it, being a single parent is a challenging full-time job. It is easy to get caught up in the things that need attention right now. That might be

the children’s school schedule, homework sports activities, health needs or just plain being there for them. It can be an exhausting undertaking, not to mention you might be holding down a “day” job! It is easy to put off doing some basic financial planning, but it does not make it any less important. Carve out a little time to do some simple financial planning and then spend a little more time with your kids. You’ll be glad you did!

Gary E. Croxall, CFP® Soren E. Croxall, CFP® Croxall Capital Planning Advisory services provided by Croxal Capital Planning (CCP), a Registered Investment Advisor. Separate advisory and securities services may be provided by National Planning Corporation (NPC), member FINRA/SIPC, and a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. CCP & NPC are independent and unrelated companies Please consult with your representative to confirm on which company’s behalf services are being provided. NPC and CCP do not provide tax or legal advice. The information contained herein is for general education and is not intended as specific advice or a recommendation to any person or entity The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of NPC.


AUGUST 2017

10 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

Finding out your home’s value One of the best things about online anything is our ability to immediately get an answer. Want to know the square root of pi? Log on. Want to know how many gallons of water in the California aqueduct? Log on. Want to know what your house is worth? Log on ... not so fast. The advent of valuation websites is all the craze. You can now walk up to your co-workers and proclaim how much equity you have in your home and tell them “in your face!” And if your co-workers ask how you know about your newfound riches, just tell them Zillow told you. Now get ready to watch them laugh.

Think about it, if you have 100 of the same exact thing well then it’s pretty easy to tell you what each one is worth. But what if you live in an area where almost every house has a different look and appeal? Like here where we live. The whole reason we moved to this county was to be different. It’s impossible for a computer to recognize your beautiful redwood deck and compare it to your neighbor’s yard filled with cars, weekend projects and all the items you noticed on the way home that said “free stuff.” So if you can’t trust Zillow, who can you trust? A local real estate agent or someone like Sergio Angeles at Prime Home Loans who is a mortgage expert and a pro at home valuations and anything real estate can

help you (I’ll stop at nothing to promote myself). Getting the right value on your home is going to take careful consideration of numerous factors. Appraising is not a science and is very much human. In recent months Zillow has been caught in legal battles with homeowners who claim that Zillow’s valuations are low and this has adversely affected them. I don’t see how but hey, this is America, you can sue anyone. More importantly, why do you want to know your home’s value? Unless you’re thinking about selling or refinancing it’s probably best to find out that there’s 59 million gallons of water in California’s aqueduct.

for $5.0M, and I sold 631 Quail Run Road with ocean views on acreage for $3.1M. In the past six months there were 49 homes sales ranging from $1.0-$1.5M and 42 home sales from $800K-$1.0M. A total of 21 homes sold from $700-$800K and only five homes sold for less than $700K. NEIGHBORHOOD HIGHS — In my July 2016 update I cited the “Cliff neighborhood” in Rio Del Mar as

“hot” and wrote that I had just sold 525 Townsend for the highest price ever on the street at $1,150,000. Well – guess what – 637 Townsend just set another huge record and sold for $1,630,000 this month! It was a competitive, multiple offer situation and the new owner just had to have it. In the Seascape Uplands, sales so far this year include $1,925,000 for a single level at 403 Ventana, and a new pending sale (July 21) on List Price of $2,895,000 at 204 Zanzibar (we won’t know sales price until it closes). In the Aptos “country” areas outside of Rio Del Mar and Seacliff, 24 out of 56 sales this year were for over $1 million; so 95003 is a valued zip code. ACTIVE LISTINGS — There are only two condos for sales in all of 95003 right now, both are 2 bedroom and listed at $699,000. There are only five town homes for sale and they range from $485,000 - $900,000. There are 84 single family homes for sale as of July 21 and 25 of those (30 percent) just came on the market in July. The breakdown is: 15 listed >$2.0M, 7 listed $1.5-$2.0M, 33 listed $1.0-$1.5M, and 29 listed under $1 Million. I just listed 736 Clubhouse, a very nice 3 bed, 2 bath, 1966 Sq. Ft. 1959 rancher with a converted garage for $949,000 and we shall see what

the market thinks about that; I’ll report back next time. And … new mobile homes coming soon at land-owned park Aptos Pines are listing for … $595,000! LOANS — Interest rates a year ago were 3.67 percent for a 30-year fixed. Today they are at 4.11 percent average, still a very reasonable interest rate and one that allows for more buying power. Lenders are now coming up with new and more creative ways to help you get a loan. Some recent examples that I have heard of include using two years of bank statements versus two years of income tax returns for a self-employed worker, and ways to put 15 percent down on up to $3.0M on a primary home or $1.5M loan on a rental property and not pay mortgage insurance. WHAT’S NEXT? — Coming soon … the “new” Safeway center with a new central draw where Comerica now is (?), the Aptos Village with a New Leaf, 69 housing units, 75,000 square feet of retail/ office space and a “village green,” Measure D “road-widening via merge lanes” from Bay to State Park (?), and who knows what! As always, Aptos is a very special place to live and work and I look forward to the changes.

By SERGIO ANGELES

REAL ESTATE

Update

By RUTH BATES

Broker Associate & MBA

MEDIAN PRICE HIGHS — A year ago my update showed the median sales price in Aptos at $935,000. Well, guess what — we just surpassed the $1 million mark in Aptos, as the past 180 days Median Sales Price was $1,005,000! The Average Sales Price over the past 180 days was $1,189,841! This was driven by several high priced sales: 618 Beach on the sand sold for $5.7M, 1 Potbelly on the sand sold

Scholarships

Continued from page 1

George Ow Jr. and his family provided $500 scholarships to 106 high school seniors during a June ceremony at Cabrillo College. Contributed photo

coming to Cabrillo. Several scholarships recipients spoke at the ceremony and expressed their gratitude for the support from the Ow Family, including Edgar Mora, who graduated from Pajaro Valley High School. Mora, who immigrated Michoacan, Mexico, overcame a language barrier to graduate in the top five of his class. “This scholarship will help me pay for college,” Mora said. “I want to thank Mr. George Ow Jr. and the Ow Family for making the American Dream Scholarship possible.” Among the recipients from Pajaro Valley Unified School District are seven from Aptos High School, 14 from Pajaro Valley High School, 30 from Renaissance High School and 48 from Watsonville High School.


AUGUST 2017

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 11

What’s in my pet’s food? By DR. NICHOLE M BROOKS, DVM The pet food industry has gone from zero to 60 in a nanosecond! We went from a few choices on the shelf to an overwhelming amount of all types of foods, each designed to cater to a particular need. Deciding which food is best for your beloved canine or feline can be overwhelming and the information provided can be confusing. There are some resources available that can help guide us through the mystery of our pets’ food. In my opinion, we all take on huge responsibilities for our pet’s nutrition. We, including myself, feel compelled to control their diets simply because we want them to live forever and feel their best. We often choose our pet foods based on history with a certain brand, food that makes our pet feel better, pet store recommendations, a recommendation from another pet owner, a Netflix show, the pretty package or the price. Beware of how powerful and seductive marketing can be. Many claims are just not important. There are also some new developments in our pet food world that we need to learn about, such as grain free, raw, wild and homemade. How do we determine our dog and cat food pyramid? We look to AAFCO for most of our answers. AAFCO, the Association of American Feed Control Officials established in 1957, is a voluntary group of local, state and federal agencies that regulate the sale and distribution of animal food and animal medications. This organization provides pet food manufacturers the minimal nutritional requirements needed for our dogs and cats. An Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act initiated by Congress

enforced a NO tolerance for any and all feed additives that are known to produce cancer in humans OR animals. All dog and cat food that is based on the AAFCO guidelines is created equally when it comes to the basic nutrition. Look for the AAFCO statement on the pet food label. The information panel The primary display panel on a pet food is what most of us read when shopping. Legally the display must include who it’s for (dog, cat, guinea pig…) and the net weight, however the manufacture and brand name are optional. The name of the pet food is often a good indicator to what the ingredients are. For example a diet that claims “100 percent beef only” contains beef and water. If it says “Beef for dogs” then the food is 70 percent of its weight in beef. If the food claims a term such as “entrée,” “dinner” or “recipe” and uses a word such as beef, then 25 percent of the product’s weight is beef. The term “flavor,” such as “beef flavor,” means the food may have less than three percent of its weight in beef and the pet should be able to “recognize” the flavor as beef. The most important thing to note about the display panel is that the pet food should include a specific species and a net weight. If you read the words “complete/balanced/ nutritional/organic” or other information then read the information panel for clarity. It’s our job as pet parents to ensure we are giving our pets what they need. We often do this by interpreting the pet food labels and trying to decipher the nutritional panel located somewhere on the product. It resembles what is on our own packaged foods. It often has an ingredient statement, guaranteed analysis, nutritional adequacy statement and the name of the producer

or manufacturer. Ingredients are listed by weight (heaviest first). So, what is guaranteed analysis?! This is where the pet food must display the minimum protein, fat, fiber and moisture content. This does not have anything to do with nutrients or AAFCO recommendations. For example, when we measure protein, we are actually measuring nitrogen rather than the protein quality or digestibility. The ingredients listed on the pet food do not reflect ingredient quality, availability or digestibility. Ask the pet food company or your veterinarian to help determine if the ingredient listed is acceptable quality and is digestible. Foods that are designed for varying medical conditions that are not prescribed by your veterinarian can also be confusing or allude to treating an underlying disease. These include allergy, joint disease diets, urinary diets and others. Consult your veterinarian before investing in these types of products. Raw foods… OMG there is so much talk about them! Between the mass media, Netflix, Facebook and general dog park gossip, it would appear raw foods are the new thing! My Mom was at her local garden (which is, of course, all organic and pesticide-free) and was seduced by her fellow community gardener to change her dog, Calley, to a raw diet. We discussed Calley’s health and elected to choose a more traditional type of food. My advice is to think critically and always check your facts. The most important part of raw foods to be aware of is foodborne illnesses! They are the same as in us: salmonella, e-coli, neorickettsia,

clostridium, mycotoxins and many more. Our pets can suffer the same consequences from contaminated e-coli and other outbreaks. Even if your pet does not become sick from these above mentioned contaminants, some pets can become carriers and shed the bacteria and spread it to you or your family! There are marketed raw pet foods that are sold commercially, these often follow AAFCO guidelines and have been treated to eliminate the foodborne illnesses. Lastly, don’t fear the recall! This is our modern way of guaranteeing that the foods we and our pets eat are safe. I applaud the pet food companies who issue these alerts and recall contaminated food. Just as with our own human food, recalls are issued whenever there is contamination. Contamination can occur at the farm, packing plant or in transit. Recalls improve the quality of products we have today. Choosing the right pet food is a very personal choice. We want it to be the best one and we all choose them for different reasons. Hopefully you can use some of these tips to choose the best diet for your pet. Please email me if you have any more questions, would like the references or have another question you would like answered. Bon Appetite to our healthy pets! ••• Ask Dr. Brooks! The Del Mar Pet Hospital, a locally owned Small Animal Hospital offering medical, surgery, radiology, dentistry, boarding and bathing services for dogs and cats. 7525 Sunset Way in Aptos. 688-2016.

Government holds its sway despite popular objection To the Editor, A standing-room-only crowd was in attendance April 10 at a meeting of the Historic Resources Commission (H.R.C). Most of the attendees were there to object to an item on the agenda concerning the Hihn Apple Barn in the Aptos Village Project. A majority of the group strongly advised the commissioners not to approve an amendment to the Preservation Plan of the Barn. Despite strong popular objection, the commissioners voted to approve the amendment. This meeting of the H.R.C. was illegal owing to a number of violations of the Brown Act concerning proper notice

of the meeting. Any and all actions of the commission on that date were null and void. A letter of protest was filed with the County Counsel to this effect. Subsequently, the County Planning Director scheduled a special meeting of the H.R.C. for May 12, during which the April 10 approved of the amendment was rescinded and the commissioners voted to approve it once more. In a letter from the County Counsel dated May 24, we were advised that simply repeating the April 10 meeting legally made everything OK. No mention of consequences for those responsible for the illegality on April 10, nor any discussion of the popular objections. During a meeting of the H.R.C. on July 10, we learned that the County Board of Supervisors had directed that the commission’s minutes of their meetings

shall reflect its actions only; nothing regarding the input by the people is to be included and thus not to be known by the general public! This makes one wonder how much of this sort of thing goes on. My experience with respect to the Aptos Village Project is that some of those working there are not above skirting the law and regulations whenever they believe they can get away with it, such as in the case of the oil spill in March of last year. A minimal fine was imposed in that matter. In such cases as the oil spill which was the result of unearthing of a large fuel tank which ruptured in the process, and the subsequent disposal of the tank, all of which was illegal as there was no permit to do so, it would be good if the perpetrators could have been cited or arrested and the case settled in a court

of law. However, that is not the way it works, unfortunately. Adding to the enormity of the situation, the county issued a permit one week later, after the tank had been totally scraped! So, it appears that those with money and power are at liberty to do as they please without fear of official reprisal. Government is hired and paid to represent and serve the general public but it appears that it looks out for those with the money and power much better. It is very difficult and expensive for the people to object effectively. We once had, and are again in need of, a citizen’s review board to exercise control over such nefarious activities. Thomas R. Stumbaugh Aptos


AUGUST 2017

12 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

SPORTS

Aptos High alumna Nikki Hiltz, who now runs for the University of Arkansas, took home the title of top local female finisher. Photo by Tony Nunez

WITH

TONY NUNEZ

Ethiopian Buze Diriba (right) sprints down the hill to capture the women’s championship at the 45th Wharf to Wharf Race in Capitola. Photo by Tony Nunez

Strong run continues

Teshome Mekonen, of Ethiopia, nips Kenyan Simion Chirchir to win the overall championship at the 45th annual Wharf to Wharf Race in Capitola. Photo by Tony Nunez

Pair of Ethiopians win titles at 45th Wharf to Wharf By TONY NUNEZ CAPITOLA — Teshome Mekonen described the last two weeks as “very good.” That might be a little bit of an understatement. Fresh off a win at Crazy 8s in Tennessee, the 22-year-old Ethiopian captured another title on July 23, holding off Simion Chirchir, of Kenya, to win the 45th annual Wharf to Wharf championship. Mekonen completed the six-mile road race between the Santa Cruz and Capitola Wharfs in 27 minutes, 33 seconds. Chirchir finished just one second behind him. “The competition, from start to finish, was very good,” Mekonen said. “Strong runners. Good final push. Good work.” Mekonen, who took third last year, held off a strong field of experienced runners and former champs. Isaac Mukundki Mwangi entered as the defending champion but fell behind when Mekonen and Chirchir picked up the pace in the fifth mile. Mwangi finished fourth

(27:44), just three seconds behind 2011 Wharf to Wharf Silas Kipruto, who last year finished second. “Today was a bit tough,” said Mwangi, who last year won with a time of 27:30.27. “My body did not respond like last year. I was struggling today to add the finish.” He has plans of coming back next year for another go. “I can’t give up. I don’t give up,” Mwangi said. “I’m a fighter. I have to come back and fight again.” Mekonen took home $4,000 for the first-place finish, Chirchir won $3,000, Kipruto walked away with $2,000 and Mwangi earned $1,000. Salinas native Diego Estrada also won some cash, winning $1,000 after finishing as the top American. The Alisal High alumnus was sixth (27:48). Last week, Mekonen topped several of the same elite runners at Crazy 8s to earn a $5,000 pay day. It also gave him a bit of a mental edge heading into the Wharf to Wharf, which featured clear skies and temperatures in the high 50s. “This week, the training schedule is

very good to keep,” Mekonen said. “And that’s the reason for the good finish.” Buze Diriba cruised to the women’s Wharf to Wharf championship with a time of 31:19. The 23-year-old Ethiopian edged runner-up Monica Ngige, of Kenya, by nearly half a minute (31:36). Despite running the race for the first time, Diriba, who was the heavy favorite after three-time champ Risper Gesabwa bowed out Thursday, said her goals were clear from the moment she woke up in the morning. “I’m going to win,” she said. Dribia won $4,000 and Ngige $3,000. Mara Olson not only earned $2,000 for her third-place finish (32:21) but also another $1,000 for coming in as the top American woman. Fellow American Samantha Silva was fourth (32:30) and won $1,000 for her efforts. Scotts Valley’s Nick Heath was the top local man and Aptos’ Nikki Hiltz crossed the finish line as the top local woman. It was sweet retribution for Heath, a Scotts Valley High alumnus who now runs for Pepperdine, after being nipped at the

line by Watsonville’s Justin Carrancho for the title of top local last year. He was 13th overall with a time of 30:10. For Hiltz, who has decided to hold off on turning pro despite her stellar junior season at the University of Arkansas, the race was just another year of fun with the family. The Aptos High alumna said she first ran the Wharf to Wharf at 8 and she’s run it each of the last seven years. “I’ll always run the Wharf to Wharf,” said Hiltz, who was the eighth woman to finish at 33:49. “Even when I’m 90 I’ll run it.” The race got off to a slower than usual start, causing the lead pack to balloon to nine runners. They all hung around until Mekonen, Chirchir, Kipruto and Mwangi started picking up speed midway through the fourth mile. By the time the fifth mile had started, the top four had broken away and as they came around the final stretch down Cliff Drive into Capitola, Mekonen and Chirchir were in a foot race for the title. Mekonen proved to have a little more kick.


AUGUST 2017

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 13

A nontraditional love story Cabrillo Stage’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ now open By ERIK CHALHOUB

said the Texas native. “Jon Nordgren and the entire team has stayed in touch over the years and it feels like I never left.” Taylor and Marsilia will also play as love interests in a Cabrillo Stage production again, as the two performed as Curly and Laurey in “Oklahoma.” Mike Saenz plays LeFou, the sidekick to the main antagonist Gaston. It’s a role that Saenz describes as “very physical,” as the character gets “knocked around a lot.” “I really believe that my dance training has helped me immensely – not only with spatial awareness, but also knowing my body well enough to be able to do the stunts safely,” he said, adding that “epsom salts and hot tubs” help immensely. ••• “Beauty and the Beast” runs through Aug. 13. Performances, taking place at the Cabrillo Crocker Theater at 6500 Soquel Drive in Aptos, are Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., with weekend matinees at 2 p.m. A special kids’ matinee will be performed on Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. Admission prices range, with general admission costing $36 for adults, $34 for seniors 65 and over and $25 for children ages 5-12. For tickets, call 479-6154 or visit www. cabrillostage.com.

APTOS — It’s been a big year for Belle and the Beast. The 1991 Disney animated feature, “Beauty and the Beast,” was remade into a live action film earlier this year starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. Now, Cabrillo Stage has brought the story to the theater stage for local audiences. Directed and choreographed by Janie Scott, with musical direction by Artistic Director Jon Nordgren, “Beauty and the Beast” stars Emily Marsilia as Belle and Matthew Taylor as the Beast. Marsilia said “Beauty and the Beast” goes beyond the typical “love at first sight” story. “It is rewarding to tell a story that, for lack of better words, tells a tale of ‘dislike at first sight,’” she said. “Both Belle and the Beast form a bond in which love grows.” Marsilia, who is in her fifth production with Cabrillo Stage, said playing the role of Belle caused her to look at her own innate qualities and expand them to “new levels” for the character. She notes that Belle is not a standard “Disney princess,” but rather, a role model for young women. “I think Belle as a character represents a young woman who is willing to stand outside of what is expected of her,” Marsilia said. “I believe that kind of energy resonates and appeals to many, myself included.” Taylor called performing as the Beast “both a blast and an immense challenge.” Inhabiting an animal body may be a unique experience, but it’s “tough on the joints,” he added. “Beast is so beautiful to me,” Taylor said. “He was once a gentleman, an aristocrat. Time, rage and loneliness strip that from him and it is such a journey to not only see him learn to love, but remember how to be that gentleman.” Now in his second show with Cabrillo Stage, Taylor was encouraged to audition for the theater company’s 2013 production of “Oklahoma” by its musical director, Alice Hughes, who also happened to be the mother of his best friend in college. “An old college friendship Matthew Taylor as Beast and Emily Mairi Marsilia as really made Cabrillo and Santa Belle star in Cabrillo Stage’s production of “Beauty Cruz a second home to me,” and the Beast.” Photo by Steve DiBartolomeo

Lions clubs from around the county joined other volunteers in packaging meals for Rise Against Hunger in Watsonville on June 17. Contributed photo

Lions clubs package meals Staff report WATSONVILLE — The four Lions clubs of Santa Cruz County consisting of Freedom Lions, Santa Cruz Host Lions, Cabrillo Host Lions of Aptos, and Scotts Valley Lions sponsored a Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event on June 17 at the Kennedy Youth Center in Watsonville. The Lions and many volunteers worked for two hours measuring, bagging, weighing and sealing 20,000 meals of dry contents. Each bag will feed six people. The volunteers of around 65 met at the center at 10 a.m. and finished the project around noon. This is the second year the Lions in the county have sponsored this event and the goal was to double the meals packaged last year. That goal was achieved. They were joined by the Santa Cruz County community, high school students, Aztecas Soccer, Watsonville Wetlands Birding, and Elevate Addiction Services. The assembly process combines rice, soy meal, dehydrated vegetables and a micronutrient flavoring mix that includes 23 essential vitamins and minerals. Each meal costs 29 cents. The food has a shelflife of two years. Rise Against Hunger provides more than 70 percent of its meals to support

development programs such as school lunch programs, vocational training programs, early childhood development programs, orphanages and medical clinics. The Lions were notified meals from the meal packaging event have been shipped in a container totaling 285,120 meals from a Southern California warehouse. The meals will be received by Rise Against Hunger’s in-country partner Islamic Relief - Distribution in Turkey. Islamic Relief USA in cooperation with ANSAGIAD, an NGO based in Turkey, and Rise Against Hunger is committed to supporting refugee communities in Turkey through a comprehensive initiative called the “Syrian Urban Refugee Aid Program.” The initiative aims to help meet the basic needs through the distribution of food aid, dignity kits, and winterization materials such as coal, wood, and other materials. Rise Against Hunger meals will be incorporated in Ramadan Care Packages and distributed in the first phase of the program. A total of 7,920 families will receive one box of RAH meals each for 3-4 weeks. The Lions will do this event next year. If you are interested in participating, there is a Lions club in Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Aptos or Freedom, or visit www. riseagainsthunger.org/get-involved.

Always the right choice.

40

For

years running.

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AUGUST 2017

14 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

By NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW There’s a song from the hit musical “Dear Evan Hansen” that plays on repeat in my head. Two mothers sing an emotional song about the challenge of raising teens, “Does anybody have a map? I don’t know if you can tell, but this is me just pretending to know … the scary truth is I’m flying blind and I’m making this up as I go.” I’ll bet I’m not the only parent who can relate to this. Although I’ve been a parent for more than 17 years, I still get lost and need a map to find my way. As my children navigate their way through adolescence and get closer to young adulthood, I have to remember they’re also flying blind and do my best to help them find their own roadmap to independence. This monthly column provides tips and a helpful roadmap for anyone who is raising children, based on the worldrenowned 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, I have three teens who will graduate high school and leave home over the next three years. I’m dreading the empty nest and can already feel them pulling away. Even when they’re at home, they’re more interested in their phones or video games than talking to me. I’m also worried they

Ask Nicole: A roadmap to independence aren’t ready for the “real” world. They can be irresponsible and still need me to do everything for them — laundry, cooking, waking them up on time. I want them to be independent, but it also feels good when they need me. Should I be doing more to prepare them — and myself — for life after high school? — Teresa Dear Teresa, Raising teens is a wonderful and challenging phase of parenting. Many teens believe they don’t need their parents’ rules, guidance or affection, but their behaviors tell a different story. Teens often seem irresponsible or impulsive to adults because their brains are still “under construction.” Meanwhile, many parents struggle to stay involved in their teens’ lives while learning to let go. Despite what teens might say, they need their parents and other caregivers to remain loving, engaged, fair and consistent during this crucial stage of development. It will help teens develop the life skills and confidence they need to become independent young adults. Here are some tips to try: Stay connected. Teens naturally spend more time away from home or with friends as they get older. Try to find small moments every day to check in, ask how they’re doing and talk about things they’re

interested in. Keep these moments casual and give your full attention, even if it’s only for a minute. Those small moments may never feel like enough time, but they send an important message that you’re available and enjoy being with your teens. Give them responsibilities. Hold a family meeting and identify the tasks you’re responsible for, such as laundry, cooking, cleaning, waking them up, providing transportation and paying the bills. Describe these tasks as important life skills to learn, whether they are living at home or independently. Let them know you will stop doing things they can do for themselves (laundry, waking up) and want them to share the responsibility for doing other household tasks (cleaning, cooking). Teach them one task at a time, providing guidance and encouragement until they “master” each one. This will prepare them to take on other responsibilities outside of your home. Give descriptive praise. Acknowledge your teens’ efforts and improvements, such as spending time with you, following family rules, speaking respectfully or helping out at home. Be specific and genuine – e.g. “I appreciate you doing your laundry. It’s a big help.” This will keep all of you focused on the positive, helpful behaviors and skills they’re developing. Let them experience consequences. This will help your teens feel ownership of their choices and actions. If they forget

to do their laundry, let them experience the “natural” consequence of wearing dirty clothes instead of doing it for them. In other situations, you might need to use a logical consequence. If they break curfew one weekend, a logical consequence might be not going out the next weekend. Final thoughts: Adolescence is a rocky journey for many families that can leave parents and teens feeling like they’re flying blind. Positive parenting strategies provide a helpful roadmap for parents as they help their teens discover their own roadmap to independence. ••• Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 13 and 17, who 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. For more information about Triple P tips, classes or one-on-one sessions in Santa Cruz County, visit triplep.first5scc.org or www.facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@first5scc.org.

Lyon

Business & Service Directory Host your next event at one of our facilities! City of Watsonville Parks and Community Service Department 831-768-3240

www.watsonvillerec.com • Office Hours: M-Fri 9am-4pm


AUGUST 2017

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 15

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

AUGUST 2017

Aug. 5-6

Aug. 17

Aug. 26

Ongoing

Strawberry Festival The Strawberry Festival in downtown Watsonville from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. is a family event with entertainment, food, beverages, contests and more. For information, visit www. celebratestrawberries.com.

SCORE workshop SCORE will hold the workshop, “Simple Steps to Starting Your Business,” from 6:309 p.m., at Simpkins Family Swim Center, 979 17th Ave. in Santa Cruz. Learn what it takes to start your own business. Pre-registering for seats is recommended at santacruzscore.org.

‘Community Gathering on Mental Health’ The Mental Health Advisory Board will be participating at the “Community Gathering on Mental Health,” to be held at Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive in Aptos, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. This is a one-day event for anyone interested in mental health both personally or professionally. For information, call 454-4767.

Cabrillo Stage Cabrillo Stage presents “Beauty and the Beast” at the Cabrillo Crocker Theater located at 6500 Soquel Drive in Aptos. “Beauty and the Beast” runs through Aug. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and includes weekend matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at cabrillostage.com or through box office at 479-6154.

Aug. 10 Mixer at LOOT The Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce will hold a mixer at LOOT at 3011 North Main St. in Soquel, from 5-7 p.m. Mix and mingle with business owners, professionals, and community members while enjoying light appetizers, wine, networking and raffle prizes.

Aug. 11-13 California Beer Festival The California Beer Festival will be held at Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road. There will be 85 craft breweries, food, and entertainment by DJ Cue. For information, visit www.californiabeerfestival.com.

Aug. 22 Sons In Retirement luncheon Sons In Retirement is having a buffet luncheon and talk by Horace Hines, “The Science of Baseball,” at 11:30 a.m., at Severino’s Restaurant, Best Western Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court in Aptos. For information, call Jim at 708-4133.

Aug. 25 Lunch meeting The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will host a lunch meeting with guest speaker Assemblyman Mark Stone at Severino’s Bar & Grill, 7500 Old Dominion Court in Aptos, from 11:50 a.m.-1 p.m. The meeting is an opportunity to network with other chamber and community members. Cost is $30. For information, call 688-1467.

Around for 40 years At three locations, The Bagelry is a restaurant mainstay By TARMO HANNULA SANTA CRUZ — The Bagelry, situated in three locations in Santa Cruz County, has been a pillar in the restaurant world for the past 40 years. First established in 1977 on Seabright Avenue at Soquel Avenue, the sitdown/take-out eatery has continued to grow, not only with their extensive menu, but by offering a host of jobs that have served as a springboard for local students, households and older workers. A brainchild of Janice Walton Hadlock, who used to play music with band members Steve Walton Hadlock and John Hamstra, who were roommates at a Washburn Street home in Santa Cruz, the trio spawned the idea of a business that would serve fresh, hearth-baked bagels — a product not offered locally. “We first started at the Seabright location in a 1,000-square-foot space,” Hamstra, who has since bought out his partners, said. “There was barely enough room for the bakery and supplies and no room for a proper kitchen. We only offered a minimal menu. Primarily we opened as a bakery but the public wanted more, like a café and other bagel toppings.” Hamstra said The Bagelry started with experimentation at home. Then the Bagel Bakery opened in Monterey, which offered some inspiration. “Janice’s wheels began to turn,” Hamstra said. “She was the driver; she found a storefront. We began looking for equipment. We found a hand-fed dough forming

machine.” Hamstra said that not one of them was a schooled chef or schooled in culinary. He said they largely just needed to get started by trying things out with the public. Eventually people began to contribute to the spread menu and the wide variety of soups, salads and desserts. “Lots of people continued to add to the repertoire over the years and it has worked well for us,” Hamstra said. “It’s a nice thing to offer varieties to the public, especially from the talent we have on our staff.” Currently there are about 60 people running the three locations of The Bagelry, which offers wholesale and delivery. The business offers a traditional style of about 15 bagel flavors, including their in-house three-seed, a jalapeño cheese, whole wheat varieties, gluten free, tomato herb, and the standard onion, garlic, salt, poppy, sesame

Sarah Lanham. Photo by Tarmo Hannula

Sept. 1-Sept. 4 Begonia Festival The Capitola Begonia Festival will return for its 65th and final year. This annual four day tradition celebrates the begonia growing and water festival history of Capitola. The highlight of the festival is the Nautical Parade of begonia covered floating barges. For information, visit begoniafestival.com.

Movies on the Beach Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk hosts Wednesday night movies on the beach at 9 p.m. through Aug. 16. The Boardwalk encourages all families and friends to join to watch classic movies such as “Back to the Future,” “Grease,” “Ghostbusters” and more on the beach for free admission. Check online for movie date information at beachboardwalk.com.

APTOS

SOQUEL

CAPITOLA

and so on, all made from scratch. Unlike many bagel places, The Bagelry makes their dough in house and refrigerates the bagels to retard further yeast rising (as opposed to freezing it), and then boils the dough prior to hearth baking. “We never had a business plan; we had a low horizon plan,” Hamstra said. “I personally enjoy our regular customers. I try to spend a lot of time on the floor and keeping in the mix. The rewards are frequent and direct. It feels good to know that you are feeding people healthy food.” The business officially kicked open its doors on Aug. 10, 1977.

“It’s been very rewarding and I feel we’ve had a good measure of luck in the business,” Hamstra said. “So many things can go wrong. The community support has been wonderful. We’re happy to be part of the community and we certainly appreciate their support.” ••• The Bagelry is located at 320-A Cedar St. in downtown Santa Cruz (429-8049), 1636 Seabright Ave. in midtown Santa Cruz (425-8550), and 4763 Soquel Ave. in Soquel Village (462-9888). Visit www. bagelrysantacruz.com for a view of their full menu.


AUGUST 2017

16 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

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