FEBRUARY 2019 EVERYTHING APTOS, CAPITOLA & SOQUEL Vol. 7 No. 6 Sports
Cabrillo Gallery
Heleyna Hill is second in the state in points per game
New exhibit opens
APTOS
pg. 3
SOQUEL
pg. 12
CAPITOLA Photo by Tarmo HANNULA
Clouds briefly step aside for eclipse
The trail of a commercial jetliner is shown, thanks to a long exposure, crossing the sky as an eclipse of the moon, known as the super blood wolf moon, takes place Jan. 20 as seen from Santa Cruz.
HISTORY CORNER
County looking to spend $10 million on homelessness programs
By John Hibble Call: 688-1467
Staff report
Visit us online: aptoshistory.org Visit the museum: 7605-B Old Dominion Court Aptos, CA
A homeless camp has emerged on a strip of land along Highway 1, River Street and the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz. Photo by Tarmo Hannula
Paul Johnston, the man who did everything: Part 1 A community is defined by the people who take a leadership role. In the 20th century, Paul Johnston was constantly involved in the development of Aptos Village for more than 100 years. He was the man who did everything. Paul was born Aug. 26, 1889 in Vancouver, Territory of Washington. His family moved to Capitola when he was 10. His mother was a seamstress and kept up the linens for the Capitola Hotel. His father was away in the gold fields of Alaska. At 11 years old, Paul ran the popcorn stand in Capitola. While he was going to school, he rounded up, fed and milked nine to 11 cows every morning and evening, helped to make butter and collected chicken eggs for Augustus Please turn to Page 7
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Santa Cruz County homeless advocates on Jan. 18 released a request for proposals to help address the growing number of people living on the streets. At stake is $889,000 from the California Emergency Solutions and Housing program and nearly $9.7 million from the Homeless
Please turn to Page 6
Transportation commission approves corridor study
Decision paves way for passenger rail By TODD GUILD
The Watsonville 91X Metro bus blends in with southbound traffic on Highway 1. File photo by Tarmo Hannula
SANTA CRUZ — While likely still years in the future, passenger rail service in Santa Cruz County moved a step closer to reality Jan. 17 when the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission unanimously approved the Unified Corridor Investment Study (UCIS), an in-depth look at
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local transportation infrastructure and ways in which to bolster it. By a narrow 7-4 margin, the commissioners also approved a contract with Minnesota-based Progressive Rail to provide the passenger service. The company currently runs freight rail operations in South County. The commission also approved Please turn to Page 6
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Emergency Aid Program. Santa Cruz County and the Homeless Action Partnership are working in cooperation with local cities and service providers in the search, said Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin. Proposals will be vetted by a project selection committee, which will be comprised of “non-
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FEBRUARY 2019
2 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel
APTOS
SOQUEL
CAPITOLA
Publisher
Jeanie Johnson
Editor
Erik Chalhoub
Editorial
Todd Guild Johanna Miller Tony Nuñez Tarmo Hannula
Vanishing art
Sand artist creates latest work
Photography
Tarmo Hannula
By TARMO HANNULA
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CAPITOLA — He has perhaps one of the world’s largest canvases at his disposal for original art — the beach. Recently, Steven Senko used the open flat stretch of damp sand at Capitola Beach to draw one of his giant mandalas with a stick. The temporary installations he patiently draws, usually washed away by the tide, smoothed out by the wind or marched over by beachgoers, are made with that in mind. “It’s a spiritual thing about life and the impermanence of life,” Senko said. “Our lives are too busy. This slows things down. And then it washes away.” Senko said he has been doing the sand art for years and often draws plenty of curious onlookers. He described his latest installation as a “medicine wheel.” “Everything on Earth changes,” he said.
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Mike Lyon, Rob Chalhoub 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 1868.
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Reading project receives grant Staff report APTOS — California Humanities has awarded Friends of the Aptos Library $4,700 for its “Our Community Reads” project. The Humanities For All Quick Grant is a competitive grant program of California Humanities that supports locally-initiated public humanities projects. Our Community Reads, launched last year by the Aptos Chapter of the Friends, invites community members to read the same book at the same time, engaging in a
shared community experience. This year’s selection, “The Death & Life of Monterey Bay,” has received a positive reaction, both from the public and from professionals willing to lend their expertise by participating in the program. “A major goal of Our Community Reads is to foster awareness and to create a passion for engagement and activism,” said Project Director Denise Ward. “We believe that a well-informed and involved community is a healthy one.” A number of events are lined up for Our Community Reads. On Feb. 9, in conjunction with Save Our Shores, the
CHAMBER
OF
COMMERCE
Friends of the Aptos Library will hold a beach cleanup at Rio Del Mar Beach from 10 a.m. to noon. Melissa Mahoney of the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust will present the film “Of the Sea” from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 27 at the Aptos Branch Library, 7695 Soquel Drive. The film tells the story of California fishing communities and presents a story of the future of sustainable seafood. For information and other events, visit friendsofaptoslibrary.org.
February 2019
By KAREN HIBBLE
APTOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The annual Business Showcase is set for Feb. 20 at the Seascape Golf Club. Photo by Expressive Photographics
Join us for the 2019 Business Showcase on Wednesday, Feb. 20 from 4-7 p.m. at the Seascape Golf Club in Aptos. This Showcase brings key members of the community together to connect, learn and give opportunities for local businesses to inspire, while working together in a variety of creative ways. Each year, the Business Showcase provides you with the opportunity to make face-to-face connections with fellow businesses offering you goods and services locally. Admission is just $5! Mark your calendars and join us for a fun evening filled with giveaways, samples, prizes, raffles and much more! For more information, call the Aptos Chamber
at 688-1467 or visit aptoschamber.com. Hosted by the Aptos and Capitola/Soquel Chambers of Commerce. Mention this article at the showcase entrance and get $1 off admission. Sponsored by: Central Coast ABC, nomBat Branding, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Alexis Party Rental, Aptos Capitola Soquel Life, RegisterPajaronian, Woodworm Party Store, 101.7 The Beach, 104.3 The Hippo, 95.5 Bob FM, KPig, KAZU, Bailey Properties, PDNC Inc., Aegis Living, Bay Federal Credit Union, Times Publishing Group, Best Western Seacliff Inn and KSCO.
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LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 3
Nonprofit veterans group receives grants Staff report SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Vets 4 Vets, a Santa Cruz County nonprofit supporting local veterans, received two grants that will assist in providing services to veterans in need. The organizations awarding these grants are Community Foundation Santa Cruz County and Progressive Insurance through their Progressive Keys to Progress Program. Community Foundation Santa Cruz County awarded a $3,000 grant to support the mission of Vets 4 Vets, which includes providing limited emergency assistance to veterans for food, housing, clothing, healthcare, transportation and employment services not met through traditional or existing support means. This grant makes it possible for Vets 4 Vets to connect veterans to more substantial benefits and resources, as well as increase its service capacity from 32 to 75 local veterans in need. It will also help narrow the timeline to direct services. “Vets 4 Vets is extremely excited about working with Community Foundation Santa Cruz County,” said Dean Kaufman, the founder and president of Vets 4 Vets. “We are now able to serve even more of our veterans with these new grant funds, and work in some of the underserved areas of the county. We look forward to continued success in growing our services and working with other organizations in the county to better serve those who served [in the U.S. Military].”
Progressive Insurance, in partnership with Elite Auto Body of Concord, through the Progressive Keys to Progress Program, presented a vehicle to Vets 4 Vets during a ceremony at the Progressive office in Walnut Creek. The 2014 VW Tiguan will allow Vet 4 Vets Santa Cruz to expand its ability to provide consistent transportation services. Some examples of the support provided by Vets 4 Vets that veterans will benefit from as a result of this donation include transportation to Palo Alto, San Jose, and Marina veteran medical offices, and other appointments, as well as moving services. In addition to providing emergency and Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz recently received a vehicle through the Progressive Keys to transportation services, Progress Program. Contributed photo Vets 4 Vets holds ongoing events to build community amongst veterans and raise funds to support its a V4V holiday party, chili cook-off in volunteering or giving, or if you are a April, bowling tournaments twice a year veteran in need, contact Vets 4 Vets at mission. It holds monthly meetings held on the in October and May, movies shown during 420-7348 or www.vets4vetssantacruz.org/ second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. in February and March, beach cleanups, and contact-us. For information about Vets 4 Vets, visit the Veteran’s Hall basement at 846 Front other activities. To become involved through www.vets4vetssantacruz.org. St. in Santa Cruz. Special events include
The nature of change New exhibit opens at Cabrillo Gallery By JOHANNA MILLER APTOS — Two artists have come together to present “Continuum & Flux,” a new art exhibit now open at the Cabrillo Gallery. Natalya Burd creates her paintings on tinted Plexiglass panels, while Kirk Maxson forms thin pieces of metal into various types of plants. But despite their different artistic mediums, both artists’ work touch upon themes of nature and the passing of time. Burd said she was first inspired to make this work years ago, as she was traveling from her home country of Kyrgyzstan to Moscow, Russia. She watched as views swept by the train car window. Recently, she had a similar experience when on a road trip from the West Coast to New Orleans. “I kept seeing these scenes and thinking about memory,” Burd said. “And about how human history and nature are connected.” Maxson spoke about how he grew up in
the countryside, going on mushroom hunts with his mother and being surrounded by nature. Then he moved to a big city. “I felt cut off at first,” Maxson said. “But gradually I began seeing plants in places I didn’t expect — in the sidewalks, along houses. I found a new way to engage with nature.” Pieces by Burd and Maxson are on display side-by-side at the Cabrillo Gallery. Beverly Rayner, program instructor at the gallery, praised both artists for their accomplishments and expressed her gratitude to have their work on display at the college. “I think this will inspire our students to think big,” Rayner said. “That in art, there are unlimited possibilities out there.” Burd and Maxson both said they hope their art will prompt viewers to take time to reflect on their lives and appreciate the natural world around them. “It’s so important to slow down,” Burd said. “Things these days are so temporary. Hopefully people will see this art as a constant.”
This piece by Kirk Maxson, created from thin metal sheeting, is on display at the Cabrillo Gallery. Photo by Johanna Miller
••• “Continuum & Flux” runs until March 1. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 4-6 p.m., with an artist’s talk planned for 5 p.m. The Cabrillo
Gallery is located in Library Room 1002 at Cabrillo College’s Aptos campus, 6500 Soquel Drive. For information, call 479-6308 or visit cabrillo.edu/services/ artgallery.
FEBRUARY 2019
4 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel
MAKERSPACE
ANIMAL SHELTER
TRAILBLAZERS AWARDS Nominations sought for Trailblazers Awards Staff report
A lineup of Ultimaker 3D printers sit ready to use at Cabrillo College’s Makerspace. File photo by Johanna Miller
Cabrillo College Makerspace promoting community memberships Staff report APTOS — Cabrillo College Makerspace is currently promoting its community membership programs and equipment trainings, which began in January at the Aptos campus. Opened last year, Cabrillo’s Makerspace is a digital fabrication lab that is available to students and community members alike. After receiving training, one can utilize the lab’s equipment — everything from 3D printers to CNC routers, laser and vinyl cutters to soldering stations. Community memberships include access to the Makerspace, where trained staff and mentors are on hand to assist. A mandatory safety training is required, and other specialty training sessions are required for use of certain equipment. Monthly and semester-long memberships are available. Makerspace Community Member Hours have now begun. The lab will be open to Monday-Friday, 5-8:30 p.m., and is located in rooms 1301-1302, behind VAPA building 3000, at Cabrillo College’s Aptos campus, 6500 Soquel Drive. To sign up, visit cabrillovapa.com. Contact Makerspace Program Coordinator Mary Govaars for a free tour of the lab at 477-3392 or magovaar@cabrillo.edu.
Animal shelter offering free spay/neuter services for cats Staff report SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) is offering free spay/neuter services for cats, as well as microchipping and vaccinations for $10. Known as the “Dude, Where’s My Cat?” program, it is limited to the first 300 cats. Registration and scheduling can be completed at both SCCAS shelter locations: 1001 Rodriguez St. in Santa Cruz and 580 Airport Blvd. in Watsonville. Cat owners should not bring their animals to register and must bring proof of Santa Cruz County residency. The goal of the program is to reduce the homeless cat population and reunite lost pets with owners. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, cats are 21 times more likely to be returned home from a shelter if they have a registered microchip. The microchip includes information of the pet and the owner, and can be scanned to identify the animal and reunite it with the owner All spay/neuter surgeries are performed at the Santa Cruz shelter location by a licensed veterinarian with a professional focus on spay/neuter procedures. Feral cats residing in the City of Watsonville will receive an ear tip. Feral cats residing in all other areas as part of a colony (group of two or more feral cats) will receive an ear tip and must be registered with SCCAS. For information, visit www.scanimalshelter.org.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The Santa Cruz County Women’s Commission is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Trailblazers Awards. The Trailblazers Awards recognize people in Santa Cruz County who, through their professional or personal efforts, are making differences in the lives of women or girls. Honorees are people who have made significant contributions to improving the lives of women or girls. Past Trailblazers have been recognized for their impact in a range of social, political and economic issues affecting women, including in the areas of criminal and economic justice, education, prevention of violence against women and girls, women’s healthcare, political participation, and/or various organizations that support the interests of women or girls. Trailblazer Award recipients will be honored during the March 26 Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meeting, followed by a recognition gathering tentatively scheduled for March 30. To nominate someone for this award, you can: • Fill out the form online at www.bit.ly/ WomComNom • Visit www.sccwc.org/events to download the form, and email it to commissions@ santacruzcounty.us • Fax it to 454-2411 • Mail it to Women’s Commission, 701 Ocean St., Room 510, Santa Cruz CA 95060 More than one person can be nominated. The deadline to submit nominations is Feb. 15.
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FEBRUARY 2019
LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 5
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County Clerk offering Valentine’s Day weddings Staff report SANTA CRUZ — The Santa Cruz County Clerk’s Office is encouraging couples to sign up for a Valentine’s Day wedding with the Santa Cruz County Clerk’s deputy commissioners of marriage. The County Clerk’s Office will perform wedding ceremonies in the Peace, Love and Happiness Wedding Room, located at 701 Ocean St., third floor, starting at 11 a.m. on Feb. 14. The cost of the wedding ceremony is $100. If approved by the couple, weddings will be broadcast live on the internet via the county’s “WedCam.” The wedding room at the County Government Center will be decorated for Valentine’s Day, thanks to the services of Alexis Party Rental. “Valentine’s Day weddings are so special thanks to the generous support of our amazing local businesses,” County Clerk Gail Pellerin said. “On Valentine’s Day, the entire county building will be buzzing with love as couples, their families, and friends come to share their special day with us.” Couples must reserve a time online at www. sccoclerk.com, by calling 454-2060, or by coming to the County Clerk’s Office, 701 Ocean St., Room 310, Santa Cruz. Ceremonies will be held every 30 minutes until 8 p.m. Couples must obtain a marriage license prior to the scheduled ceremony and have at least one witness present for a public marriage. The office can provide a witness for an additional charge. Confidential marriages do not require a witness. A marriage license costs $90 and licenses are issued by the County Clerk. To obtain a marriage license, each party to the marriage must appear in person with valid identification, complete a form providing personal information, and take an oath.
SC Shakespeare announces new lease Staff report SANTA CRUZ — Santa Cruz Shakespeare announced a new 20-year lease for its theater venue The Grove in DeLaveaga Park. The City of Santa Cruz and SCS worked together to finalize the terms in the fall of 2018. The initial lease agreement in 2016 with the City of Santa Cruz was for a two-year conditional lease. “In 2014 the Santa Cruz community came together to preserve and protect the long-standing cultural tradition of Shakespeare in Santa Cruz,” said Mike Ryan, Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s artistic director. “With this new lease in place, the City of Santa Cruz honors that legacy by providing a long-term home for SCS. We are so grateful to everyone on the city council, as well as city staff, and especially Parks and Recreation, for their hard work, trust and support.” The terms of the lease include the use of the space for the next eight years, and then a lease renewal up to another 10, which grants SCS the use of the space for 20 years (since its inception in 2016). The lease will provide SCS with exclusive use of the DeLaveaga site from June through September of each year for a modest annual rent. The second production is Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” and the festival’s final repertory production will be Shakespeare’s fairy-tale romance “The Winter’s Tale.” All productions run in repertory after opening. Santa Cruz Shakespeare will also continue the tradition of showcasing the season’s intern acting company with its celebratory Fringe production. Tickets go on sale May 15 with a Santa Cruz Shakespeare Member pre-sale starting May 1, and can be purchased online at santacruzshakespeare. org.
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Staff report CAPITOLA — As the federal government shutdown has reached record length, Bay Federal Credit Union is announcing programs to aid members affected. Members impacted by the federal government shutdown can apply for a special emergency loan with no minimum credit score or income documentation needed. The credit union is also offering assistance to members who receive direct deposit from a department or agency affected by the shutdown. Other programs or options for affected members include the ability to skip a monthly auto loan payment with no processing fee required, programs to assist members concerned about making their monthly mortgage payment, and free financial education and counseling services. “This historic shutdown is affecting people all over the country,” said Carrie Birkhofer, president and CEO of Bay Federal. “In the credit union’s tradition of ‘people helping people,’ we want to be sure we are there to assist affected members during this difficult time.” Members who are affected by the shutdown can visit any Bay Federal branch or call 479-6000 or 1-888-4BAYFED to discuss options that can help provide financial assistance.
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FEBRUARY 2019
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Homelessness programs conflicted” members of the homeless services community, Hoppin said. Project selection is expected to be concluded by the end of March, with the first contracts issued in April. The money must be spent within two years. With California homelessness soaring to 134,000 people in 2018 — a quarter of the nation’s estimated homeless population — the state legislature recently passed emergency funding for local communities to address the statewide homelessness crisis. According to the most recent point-
Corridor study
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in-time count, 2,249 Santa Cruz County residents were homeless, a crisis made highly visible due to 80 percent of the local homeless population being unsheltered. A new count was scheduled for Jan. 31. “Homelessness is the critical issue facing our community. These much-needed and long overdue state funds will be spent as quickly as possible to help those in need and reduce community impacts,” Santa Cruz County Supervisors Board Chair Ryan Coonerty said. Watsonville Mayor Francisco Estrada said the funds will help generate new opportunities to serve homeless people.
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a $950 million package of transportation projects called the 2035 Preferred Plan, which for Highway 1 includes adding bus lanes on the shoulders and auxiliary lanes to improve the flow of traffic. It also includes traffic metering on Highway 1 on-ramps. The plan also bolsters the county’s bicycle infrastructure by adding bike lanes along the rail line and improving bike and pedestrian access in intersections. More controversially, the plan includes “high-capacity” public transit service along the tracks, including adding excursion rail services. The SCCRTC estimates that about 100,000 people per day will benefit directly from the Highway 1 improvements. In July, the commission approved a 10year contract allowing Progressive Rail to take control of the 32-mile rail line that runs from Watsonville to Davenport. Santa Cruz County Greenway has long opposed those plans, saying the environmental and financial impacts make them unfeasible for the county, and that the county lacks the proper infrastructure for such a plan. Dozens of people packed the county supervisors’ chambers, who lined up to speak for nearly three hours both for and
against the plans. Marilyn Schultz of La Selva Beach said she recently visited Minnesota, where a community had converted an old rail line into a popular bike trail. “Minnesota is moving forward,” she said. “You’re moving backward. I think (Progressive) is taking you for a ride.” Gail McNulty, who has lobbied extensively against rail services in Santa Cruz County, described herself as a “mother deeply saddened and concerned about our children’s future.” McNulty said that the 2035 Preferred Plan does little to curb greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources. Diane Dryer, who said she has also been active in the issue and has been gathering signatures, said she has seen an “overwhelming” support for keeping the tracks and adding passenger services. “Rail transit is the future,” she said. Laurie Negro, who owns Betty’s Burgers, said that the Christmas train passing her Santa Cruz location made eating there nearly untenable. Negro urged the commissioners to exercise caution when increasing rail services. “I believe a world-class trail would be a benefit to all,” Negro said. As part of the contract with Progressive,
“We are ready to work in partnership with service providers to generate some creative solutions to homelessness,” he said. According to the 2017 count, twothirds of local homeless persons have been in living in Santa Cruz County for five years or more, and one-third are currently employed. Fifty-five percent have a disabling condition, and nearly 600 homeless individuals are either transitionage youth or unaccompanied minors. The RFP was created with “extensive” input from local elected officials, nonprofits, services providers and
interested parties. It includes priorities such as emergency shelters and navigation centers, homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing, support services, rental assistance and housing relocation. ••• To see the request for proposals, visit bit. ly/2Ml6g30 Applications must be submitted to Rayne.Marr@santacruzcounty.us and tonygardnerconsulting@yahoo.com.
the RTC is now responsible for the cost of repairs along a 24-mile stretch of the track, which includes 37 railroad bridges and 22 culverts. It is currently unclear what those costs would be, said SCCRTC Director Guy Preston. Measure D, the 2016 half-cent sales tax created to fund countywide transportation projects, provides about $1.6 million per year for infrastructure preservation of the rail corridor. The UCIS references seeking “new state or federal grant programs, or funding sources such as a new sales tax or parcel tax, or new vehicle registration fees” if costs exceed funding. The county has about $11 million in Proposition 116 funds, along with $4 million in State Transportation Improvement Program funds to put toward the rail project. After the repairs, Progressive will be financially responsible for maintenance along the line. Residents will not see passenger trains traveling through the county any time soon. Progressive now has one year to present a plan detailing the excursion services. That plan must be approved by the RTC before excursion train operations begin. Commissioner Jacques Bertrand worried that a train rolling through the small communities along the way would
lead to a lessened quality of life. Commissioner John Leopold said that the UCIS was launched more than a year ago, and has included numerous testimony from hundreds of people. He said the commission’s decision will support a “multi-modal” transportation system that includes a safe bike bath, and which sought to ease Highway 1 traffic. Leopold also said that the plan helps the county meet its state-mandated obligation to keep and maintain its rail system. Progressive Rail, Leopold said, has been a “good partner,” and if excursion services prove successful, it would be a boon for the county’s tourism industry. Commissioner Greg Caput said he supports the plan to add passenger rail service, along with the Highway 1 projects and the bike path. “We have to move forward, and I think that what we’re doing here today is moving forward,” Caput said. Commissioner Trina Coffman-Gomez said her yes votes reflected her support for Watsonville, where she serves as a city councilwoman. Adding passenger rail services is thought to be a large benefit for South County residents, many of whom sit in daily commuter traffic on Highway 1. “This is not a perfect plan or a perfect scenario,” she said. “This is a way to move forward.”
We forget that the water cycle and life cycle are one. Jacques Cousteau Water Researcher
February is dental health month! Great dental care and outstanding veterinary services — that’s what Aptos-Creekside Pet Hospital is all about. Bring your pet in now for our special DENTAL DISCOUNT, and rely on us for the best in pet care.
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FEBRUARY 2019
History Corner
LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 7 Continued from page 1
Noble. In the winter, Paul hunted and fished, selling salmon for 10 cents apiece. He said it was no effort to catch 30- to 40-pound Sea Bass, Salmon or Yellow Tail. Augustus Nobel also had apple and cherry orchards. Paul would help harvest the fruit and learned to make wooden fruit boxes. They needed 10,000 to 15,000 boxes for apples plus cherries, so Paul became an expert box maker. Paul came to Aptos in 1905. He worked for the MacDonald and Sons packinghouse and Hihn’s Valencia packinghouse in the Village. A total of 225 railroad carloads of fresh apples and 200 tons of dried apples were shipped per year. They were shipped in pine boxes which were built over a small form using 28 nails per box. When he was at his best, Paul was capable of making 120 boxes per hour. He was paid 65 cents per hundred boxes. He entered a contest and was the second fastest box maker in the state. The winner made 1 1/4 more boxes but they were of inferior quality. Eventually, Paul also became an apple packer. The apple season began in July when they would start making boxes and ended in January when the last of the apples were packed. At that point, Paul and his wife would go down to Ojai and pack oranges. In his spare time, Johnston played semi-pro baseball on north and south county teams for almost 30 years. Paul met Christina Jensen, the love of his life, at Mangels Ranch where her parents were the caretakers. They were married Aug. 3, 1913 and honeymooned in San Jose. During World War I, Paul was running a railroad shuttle up to the Loma Prieta Lumber Mill carrying lumbermen and supplies and doing carpentry work. Paul eventually enlisted in July 1918 and was assigned to the Army Balloon Corps. They would send him aloft on a mile-long cable as an observer. Luckily, he was retained in Texas as an instructor because the Germans were shooting observation balloons down as fast as they went up. After the war, Paul joined the Rod and Gun Club, became a member of the State Rifle Team and set a record. Standing offhand, at 50 yards, he fired 48 rounds and hit a bullseye every time at a target the size of a 25-cent piece. He received the U.S. Distinguished Marksmanship Medal. He has received so many marksmanship medals that he had a tunic down to his
Tools to Make Parenting Easier
First 5 Santa Cruz County triplep.first5scc.org 831.465.2217
knees to hold them all. Paul’s next enterprise was as a sign painter. He worked for a company in San Francisco and only came home on the weekend. Later, he owned a sign business in Santa Cruz, but it became so monotonous that he applied to become a postal carrier in 1922, a job he held for 25 years. Paul wanted to be outside all of the time. At the time, the Post Office was a six-by-eight-foot cubby hole inside the grocery store, (Café Sparrow). Later, the Post Office rented space in one of Paul’s buildings. Paul was the only mail carrier. Paul Johnston sorted the day’s mail at 7:30 in the morning after it was delivered by the train and later by the Greyhound bus. The mail route was nearly 100 miles long and took seven hours to deliver. The route included Aptos, Valencia, Day Valley, Pleasant Valley, Rio Del Mar, Seacliff, Capitola and part of Soquel. Paul also delivered the daily newspaper. Every Thanksgiving, even during Prohibition, there were always bottles of wine waiting for him in every mailbox. Paul and his wife Christina owned a large piece of Aptos Village. They had been renting their house at 8024 Soquel Drive from Joseph Martin and his wife. The house was built by Clemente Castro. When Joseph died in 1922, his wife wanted to sell her properties to Paul and his wife Christina. Paul bought the property where the garage is today, and all the buildings to the east, on the bay side of Soquel Drive up to the open space between the next buildings. He bought the property to the west, two years later from George Martin, and the five-and-a-half acres down below at creek level in 1930. Paul and Christina had a number of different businesses occupy their various properties. Paul had the first gas station in the Village in 1928. It was Shell gasoline and there was one pump. Paul leased it to William Bickmore who was an avid photographer. Paul also liked to take photographs of the area. When William died, his son was burning his dad’s photographs. Paul rescued the remaining ones. Paul gifted his own photographs and William Bickmore’s to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. That became the source for many of the historic photographs of our town. Another one of their properties was a pool hall. It had been a bar since the
1880s. A lot of bootleg liquor passed through that bar which became a problem, so Paul eventually turned it into a market. One of their buildings had six apartments, another was a barbershop and a third was a drugstore. Paul was part of the group that formed the first volunteer fire department. He said that it was rated the best volunteer fire department in the state. The fire truck was initially located in one of Paul’s buildings. Even before the first official volunteer fire department, the locals all turned out for any emergency. When the first automobiles came through town, they had to cross Aptos Creek on an old wooden bridge made for horses and buggies. It had a sharp left turn into Aptos Village. At night, many drivers could not make the turn and crashed through the Paul Johnston with a portion of his marksmanship medals. Aptos History Museum archives side of the bridge and into the creek below. Paul said, “We would have to take a car out of the creek about once a week. We eventually put ropes and steps right into the bank so we could go in and pull them out.” In 1927, the company that built Rio Del Mar offered the town a piece of property for a new school. Paul was on the committee that approved the location for the new grammar school that became Valencia elementary. His daughter Anne Lorraine Johnston was in the first class. Stay tuned for Part Two. Our next Museum fundraiser will be March 6 at Café Rio. Dine at this great Aptos restaurant and they will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Museum. Thank you for all of your support and remember, it is never too late to become a museum member. Paul and Christina Johnston at Aptos Station starting their honeymoon. Aptos History Museum archives
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Second District Update - A look at the county’s annual report worked on a number of issues in health and safety, housing, roads/transportation, environmental protections and more. Here is a small overview of the Annual Report, including some numbers to put it into perspective.
By ZACH FRIEND
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SUPERVISOR
The county recently released its annual report, an overview of some of the key things the county accomplished (and addressed) in the previous year. In addition to the completion of a new Strategic Plan and implementation of a two-year budgeting process (that will focus on performance-based metrics), the county
Health and Safety In the unincorporated area of the county, the Sheriff’s Office responded to approximately 112,000 calls for service. The crime rate, according to federal statistics, in Santa Cruz County is about half of the rest of the state of California. Additionally, under a grant aimed at 160 criminal offenders with mental health issues, jail bookings were reduced for these individuals by 72 percent and convictions by 90 percent. The county launched the Whole Person Care project, a program to provide those with multiple health issues, including those that are homeless, with intensive behavioral health support, disease management and housing assistance. The program is expected to reach 1,000 individuals in the first three years of the program. The county clinics continued to be busy with more than 92,000 appointments conducted including over 6,500 at the Homeless Persons’ Health Clinic.
Housing With the housing crisis impacting so many in our community, the county worked to increase the local affordable housing inventory and ensure people are able to stay in their homes (to prevent homelessness). New programs for accessory dwelling unit construction were created to greatly reduce the cost and timeframe for the construction of these small units. About $250,000 was provided in rental deposits and emergency rental assistance to low income families to prevent homelessness, while significant new programs to address youth homelessness and (through the passage of Measure G) provide for funding for navigation centers for those experiencing homelessness were all approved. Roads and Transportation As we have seen with these winter rains, potholes are always present. Public Works repaired more than 4,000 potholes last year and through Measure D resurfaced roads in La Selva Beach and replaced the Casserly Road bridge. Additionally, the county completed $22 million in storm damage repairs from the 2017 storms. Crew striped 30 miles of bike lanes and over 400 free bike helmets were distributed in low income communities while more than 2,000 elementary students were educated on bike safety.
Economy and the Environment Seven county facilities received solar panels, eliminating 637 tons of carbon emission each year. Over 200 million pounds of waste were diverted from landfills through curbside recycling and diversion programs. New park opportunities were created including breaking ground on LEO’s Haven, the county’s first all-inclusive playground for kids of all abilities and Pinto Lake Pump Track was opened, South County’s first such pump track. The Veteran’s Service Office helped approximately 1,000 veterans obtain $450,000 in new monthly benefits and $2 million in one-time benefits. Workforce Santa Cruz County provided job training and counseling to over 5,000 local residents while our partnership with the Small Business Development Center helped over 300 local small businesses to increase local sales numbers. The above is just a snapshot of the Annual Report but also provides a window into the many programs and services the county provides for our local residents. As always, I appreciate your feedback. Feel free to call me with any questions at 454-2200.
Financial Advice
It’s tax season
By GARY E. CROXALL, CFP® and SOREN E. CROXALL, CFP® As you check your mailbox, you’re probably starting to receive the first of several waves of tax forms. We figured it would be a good time to review some of the changes that occurred in the tax code starting in 2018 as well as a few “to do’s” so that you are prepared not only for tax season, but also for the 2019 tax year. A Review of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 — At the end of 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Under that piece of legislation, Congress slashed the top corporate tax rate for businesses from 35 percent down to 21 percent. They also made several changes that affect individual tax filers like you and me. On the broadest level, the individual tax brackets were changed. The top marginal tax bracket dropped from 39.6 percent to 37 percent. However, it’s important to point out while the cuts to corporate tax
rates were made permanent under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the changes to the individual tax rates will revert back to pre2018 levels after 2025 if Congress does nothing between now and then. The area where individual tax filers are most likely to see changes are with the elimination of the personal exemption and changes to itemized deductions. Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, individual tax filers could claim all eligible family members depending on their tax filing status and multiply by the current personal exemption amount (which was $4,050 per qualifying family member in 2017). The personal exemption was eliminated in 2018 in favor of a higher standard deduction. Families who previously had multiple personal exemptions due to dependent children, may be able to offset some of the loss of the personal exemption with changes made to the Child Tax Credit. If you previously itemized in the past, you could find that it may no longer make sense to continue itemizing based on the changes that were done to itemized deductions and the increase in the standard deduction amount. High state tax states like California were acutely affected by the changes to itemized deductions. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act puts a cap on state and local tax deduction (including property taxes) at $10,000. Previously,
you could deduct your state and local taxes without a cap. Also, the maximum size of the mortgage that you can deduct interest on dropped from $1,000,000 down to $750,000 (or $375,000 if you file as married filing separately). Charitable deductions still remain, but you must itemize to take advantage of this, which is why we had written previously about a Qualified Charitable Distribution as a possible alternative for taxpayers older than 70 1/2 with qualifying IRA accounts. Some other miscellaneous deductions that have been eliminated include deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses and also qualified moving expenses (except for members of the armed forces). What Can You Do — The changes to the tax code under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act mentioned in this article are a very broad overview. It’s important that you work with a qualified professional to assess how the tax law changes may affect you personally. Many tax filers may be surprised to learn when they go to file their 2018 tax return that they owe taxes because they under-withheld throughout last year. Do yourself a favor and double check your withholding for 2019 now and make adjustments accordingly. Again, a qualified professional can help you with a tax projection for 2019 if you need it. Also, don’t forget about IRA contributions
before you file your 2018 tax return. You have until April 15 to make “prior year” contributions. For tax year 2018, the maximum contribution limit to an IRA is $5,500 if you are under 50 years old or $6,500 if you are over 50 years old. In 2019, the maximum contribution limit will increase to $6,000 for people under age 50 and $7,000 for people older than age 50. Tax season can be stressful. Be proactive about gathering all of your documents and try not to wait until the last minute. Work with a qualified professional to better understand how recent tax law changes may have affected you. Gary E. Croxall, CFP® Registered Principal of LPL Soren E. Croxall, CFP® 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.
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Guest Columnist
Losing weight: A New Year’s Resolution worth keeping
By JIM TUCKER PT, OCS
Seascape Village Fitness & Physical Therapy
Well it’s been one month since you made your New Year’s Resolutions to lose that extra weight and get back into shape. Have you started exercising more? How’s the diet going? If you are like most, you have settled back into your old, familiar patterns that got you here in the first place. I know how hard it is to change, and the fact is only one in eight people actually achieve their New Year’s Resolution. There’s something in our nature that causes us to seek comfort in familiarity. Our daily routines become deeply ingrained in who we are and are very difficult to change. Not all habits are bad. In fact, it is this tendency to habituate that helps some people succeed because good habits lead to healthy and productive lives. It is when habits become selfdestructive or are unhealthy that we should try to change our behavior. According to reports from the Huffington Post, the number one New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight. That’s not surprising as they also report that about one in every three adults in this country is obese. The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the obesity rates among
adults has more than doubled in the last 30 years and tripled among adolescents. Incidence of Type II Diabetes has skyrocketed as have other obesity-related ailments such as cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, blindness, amputations, stroke and some forms of cancer. Amazingly, most people still do not practice healthy behaviors that can prevent obesity. These behaviors are well-known and encompass two primary areas; diet and physical activity. The CDC sites some startling facts about our nation’s eating and exercise habits. They say that only about 25 percent of Americans eat the recommended, five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and over half of our adult population does not get the necessary physical activity to provide health benefits. The good news is that if you set a New Year’s Resolution you are 10 times more likely to change your life in a positive way. If you are one of the 30 percent who will set a goal to lose some weight this year, then I have some very basic suggestions to help you achieve this goal. It may seem simplified, but the truth is it boils down to three basic behaviors: Eat right, move more, and do this consistently for six to 12 months. Better yet, do it for the rest of your life. The problem for most people is they stick to it for a week or two or maybe a month, but then they gradually fall back into their usual habits. They think, “oh well, maybe I will do it next year?” If this is your year, and you are ready to make a change and lose those extra pounds the following simple strategies could change
Make the pledge to stay alive... don’t text & drive.
28% or 1.6 million crashes each year involve cell phones.
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates 1.4 million crashes each year are caused by drivers using cell phones and a minimum of 200,000 additional crashes are caused by drivers who are texting.
Distracted driving claimed 3,450 lives in 2016 alone. Distracted driving kills. It’s up to you to stay focused and pay attention behind the wheel. This urgent message of safety brought to you by:
your life. First, let’s talk about nutrition. This topic can seem very complicated as there is so much nutrition advice available and so many diets to choose from; it is difficult to make sense of it all. I am going to explain a very simple formula which will work for most people. It involves getting control over three things: what, when and how much to eat. I believe the biggest issue is that we simply eat too much. If you eat more than your body needs you will gain weight. It’s as simple as that. Most people who want to lose some weight can achieve this by just eating less. They may not even have to change what they eat as their problem is about portion size. Try using a smaller plate or bowl, sharing a meal when dining out, or eat more slowly. Eat less and you will lose weight. Eat more vegetables, fresh fruits, lean meats, whole grains and healthy vegetable oils. Reduce or eliminate fried foods and foods cooked in saturated animal fats. Cut down on desserts, sweets and foods with added salts, sugar and preservatives. Reduce the amount of starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, white rice and chips. Eat small quantities every two to three hours. I usually suggest eating three main meals and adding a mid-morning and midafternoon healthy snack. Spreading out your food intake more evenly throughout the day will help keep you energized by stabilizing your blood sugar levels, thus making you feel satisfied all day. Secondly, you should exercise and move your body as much as you can. I suggest a minimum of three hours a week of moderate
to intense exercise. Ideally, one should try to exercise even more as the health benefits are well documented. The more intense the exercise the less frequent you need to do it. If you are unconditioned, do not start with high intensity exercise as your body is not ready for it and you may get injured. Instead start slowly and gradually increase your intensity as you become stronger and more conditioned. Exercise should include a combination of strength, cardiovascular, flexibility, and core training and ideally should be functional in design. Functionbased training involves doing exercises that incorporate natural movement patterns that involve the entire body, unlike traditional machine-based training which focuses on isolating and strengthening individual muscles. Functional training, when performed in intervals, will burn more calories and have a greater impact on one’s ability to do their normal daily activities. Finally, the hardest part; continue these healthy habits for the next 12 months and you will achieve your weight loss goal. Do this the rest of your life and you will live longer. Though this all sounds so simple, I know how challenging losing weight and getting back into shape can be. Get the help and support you need and improve your odds of success by setting a New Year’s Resolution. Make 2019 a great year and start today! ••• Jim Tucker PT, OCS is the owner of Seascape Village Fitness & Physical Therapy, 15 & 16A Seascape Village, Aptos. SeascapeVillageFitness.com
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831.475.6522 Capitolachamber.com
831.688.1467 Aptoschamber.com
2019 Business Showcase Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Seascape Golf Club, Aptos 4:00pm ~ 7:00pm
~LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE ~ Register online at www.aptoschamber.com Bringing Community & Businesses Together For Over 30 Years! Questions: jennifer@aptoschamber.com
FEBRUARY 2019
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Punchy offense the heart of reloaded Hawks APTOS — Forget the recent cold and rainy weather. The first tidings of spring are upon us. Baseball is back. The Seahawks, too. Cabrillo College baseball got back in action on Jan. 25, hosting West Hills College in its season opener. After finishing last year with a disappointing record of 14-24, and missing the playoffs for only the second time in the last nine seasons, the opportunity to take the field once again could not have come soon enough for the Seahawks. “We are trying to move on from last year,” said Aptos alumnus and sophomore catcher/outfielder Jake Keaschall. “The team chemistry this year is just huge, like everybody gets along, it’s great. It’s fun to be out here, actually.” The upbeat atmosphere was palpable during a recent practice at Harbor High’s state-of-the-art turf diamond, as the team worked through a situational hitting game under the watchful eyes and chiding rasps of coach Bob Kittle and his staff. Groups of players cycled through turns at the plate with each getting three swings to attempt to score imaginary runners from second and third base. Several balls disappeared over the outfield fence, a welcome sight after Cabrillo smacked just one home run all of last season. “It’s going to be an offensive team,” said Kittle, now in his 10th season. “Probably more offensive than any team I’ve had in 25 years. We have ways to score in a lot of different ways. We can score with our speed, we can score with our power, we can score with executing bunting. It’s just a lot of weapons, and that’s how you win at this level.” Kai Moody, a shortstop who hit lead-off last year as a freshman for the Seahawks, finished the season with a .333 batting average and led the team in at-bats (159), hits (53) and games played (38). “This year my goal is to commit less than six errors,” Moody said. Last season, Moody led Cabrillo in errors committed with 18, three times more than any other player on the roster. The high rate of mistakes is somewhat due to the nature of playing shortstop, as Moody led last season’s team in total chances (202), assists (117) and double plays turned (18). Keaschall looks to continue to be a mainstay in the line up after he was last season’s most effective power hitter, leading the team in runs scored (24), doubles (10), home runs (1), batting average (.338) and slugging percentage (.432). The former Mariner’s smooth swing and ability to hit for average and power paired with his invaluable positional flexibility makes Keashcall the prototypical player to be featured in this season’s high-powered offense.
Keaschall hopes to hit for .400 after striking out in just nine percent of his plate appearances last year, and is second only to Moody in walks drawn amongst returning players. With 46 players on the opening day roster the Seahawks have depth at virtually every position on the field including 13 pitchers, 13 infielders, 11 outfielders and five catchers. However, for the second consecutive season the Seahawks do not have any left-handed pitchers, a fact that does not seem to worry 10th year pitching coach and co-associated head coach Mike DeTano. “We have a lot of guys who do the same stuff well,” Detano said. “That gives us as a coaching staff a lot of flexibility to monitor guys in high-stress innings. To me, any inning where the pitcher throws over 25 pitches is a high-stress inning.” Of all the arms on the staff, sophomore pitcher and San Lorenzo Valley alumnus, Matt Robustelli seems to be particularly critical to the team’s success this year. After striking out an average of 8.1 batters per nine innings pitched and posting a 3.65 earned run average over 56 and 2-3 innings in his freshman year, Robustelli will need to lead by example with eight of the 13 pitchers on the Seahawks’ staff being freshmen. Robustelli is used to succeeding under the pressure of expectations, as he was named Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Pitcher of the Year in 2016 and 2017. The Seahawks returned three pitchers from last season other than Robustelli: Greg Neiger (4.19 ERA/6.52 K9), James Schwenger (5.56 ERA/4.76 K9) and Cabrillo sophomore catcher Jake Keaschall, an Aptos alumnus, is Danny Cervantes (4.82 ERA/5.30 K9). There are 17 players on this year’s roster hoping to bat .400 this spring. Photo by G.P. Scheppler from Santa Cruz County schools. Redshirt sophomore Rex Gomez (OF) and redshirt freshman Jojo Vargas (C) are products of Watsonville. Keaschall and freshman Eddie Munoz (RHP) both played their high school ball for Aptos, while sophomore Devon Robinson (MIF) played for Soquel. San Lorenzo Valley has three alumni on this season’s team in addition to Robustelli: redshirt sophomores Jonah Shabry (MIF), Greg Neiger (RHP) and freshman Trent Walker (RHP). Freshmen Mekhi Burkett (RHP), Rick Parra (RHP), Anthony Kariganopolous (MIF) and redshirt sophomore Tommy Andersen (C) played for Santa Cruz. St. Francis also has four on the roster, including Cervantes. Josh Kovacs (IF) and David Talavera (MIF) are fresh out of high school, while Conor Bagchee (OF) is a kickback from NCAA Division I Hawaii. “It’s an excellent bunch of guys to be around,” Kittle said. “This is the most fun we have had with a group of guys. They are tight, they pull for each other. That’s going to go a long ways as far as our season.”
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Hill, other local talent boost Cabrillo’s title defense APTOS — The year was 1979. Disco was peaking, sequin jumpsuits were all the rage and the Cabrillo College women’s basketball team entered the season as defending conference champion. History seems to be repeating itself. Much to the delight of head coach John Wilson, Chic’s hit song “Le Freak” echoed off the walls of the Adobe Palace during a recent practice, much like it may have 40 years ago when it was the top jam on the Billboard charts. And Cabrillo, like it did four decades ago, was diligently working on its conference title defense. The Seahawks won a piece of the Coast Conference South championship last season, sharing the honor with the Foothill College Owls. “We would like to remove that ‘co’ from our title this year,” said sophomore guard Teal Maixner. “We want to win it outright.” Cabrillo College sophomore guard Heleyna Hill is second in the state in points per As Wilson and his game through the preseason. Photo by G.P. Scheppler flock of Seahawks cycled through shooting, passing and defensive drills during their recent practice, there was an air of confidence, a grooved ease both with each other and with the target they now wear on their backs as defending champions. Players seem to know their roles and are embracing them, trust and timing is being built rep by rep. It’s a confidence grounded in solid reason. “Every one of these players was one of the best players on their high school team or close to it,” Wilson said. “There’s no reason this team can’t repeat given the talent they have.” At the top of the Seahawks’ deep pool of talent: sophomore transfer Heleyna Hill. Opponents who have faced the star guard this season have described her as potentially the best player in the state. One opponent went so far as to call her “masterful.” Standing at 5-foot-6, Hill is a scoring machine capable of taking over entire quarters with slashing layups, back door passes and a deft shooting touch. Prior to suiting up for the Seahawks, Hill, a Santa Cruz native, went to high school at Archbishop Mitty where she distinguished herself as a four-year varsity starter at one of the state’s premier program’s, winning multiple league and CIF titles. Hill attended NCAA Division I San Jose State for a year where she was on the basketball team, but struggled to find playing time, motivating her to seek opportunities elsewhere. “I had a scholarship but I barely played at all,” Hill said. “I didn’t want to sit out, I wanted to go somewhere where I could be on the court.” One of the best offensive players in the state, Hill averages 24.8 points, 4.9 assists, 4.7 rebounds and two steals per game. Hill is currently ranked second in the state in points scored per game. Her arrival helps offset the loss of last season’s conference MVP and second team all-state selection Pauli Pappas. As conference play tips off, Hill knows she has a target on her back as opposing
coaches are designing entire game plans to neutralize her. During a recent preseason loss to Butte College, Hill found herself under constant pressure, often times having to fight through double teams and trap plays limiting her to just eight points. Other teams around the Coast Conference South may look to replicate that strategy, and it remains to be seen if Hill and her teammates can adapt. Around Hill orbits a team of capable role players sourced from the rich local women’s basketball community. It’s no accident that nine of the 10 women on this year’s roster are from Santa Cruz County. “I really want to get local talent,” Wilson said. “It puts more people in the stands. It’s a community college, I feel that it’s about the community so if we can get as many players locally as possible… Some times we have two or three generations come to the game because the kids are local. But we love outside players as well, because it adds to our community, and helps us build a stronger team.” This season’s only out of towner, freshman guard Drue Chapman (5-foot-7), hooped at South Lake Tahoe High before trading in the slopes for the shore. Sophomore guard Maixner (5-foot-6) and freshman Valarie Jimenez (5-foot-9) played for the Aptos High Mariners, and Nthani Anderson-Bahr (5-foot-8) played at Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz. Freshman guard/forward Savanah Quintana-Martin (5-foot-3) played at Watsonville High against sophomore center Maddy Miller (6-foot), who played for Santa Cruz High. Freshman forwards Kenedi Walters (5-foot-9), an alumna of Scotts Valley High, and Veronica Johnson (5-foot-10), an alumna of San Lorenzo Valley High, complete the front court for the ‘Hawks. Freshman Michaela Thornton (5-foot9), a scoring threat, Soquel alumna and middle school teammate of Hill, rounds out the roster. Listed as a guard on the team website, Thornton seems to fill more of a swing forward role providing an insideoutside scoring threat from the wing (10.3 points per game). This is not a tall squad. At 6 feet, Miller is the tallest player on a team with an average height of 5-foot-6. “We might be at a disadvantage against teams with bigs,” Wilson said. “Bigs that are in the six foot range that are real physical, those might be the teams that cause us the most trouble.” Miller is an able rebounder (8.6 boards per game), but truly shines as a defensive stopper when opponents attempt to drive the lane. A dominant shot blocker since high school, Miller is one of the most prolific in the state with 29 blocked shots already tallied this season. Miller has 87 career blocked shots at the junior college level. “I am more defensive,” Miller said. “That’s where I stand out the most, in my opinion.” Johnson leads the team in rebounding and has proven that she can be a double threat by aver-aging a double-double (10.9 points, 10.3 rebounds per game). Her physical play in the paint complements well with the back to the basket style of Miller, establishing a formidable front court. Maixner starts at shooting guard providing leadership and experience, while Quintana-Martin and Thornton split starting time at small forward. After decades of irrelevance, Cabrillo is looking to become a regionally sourced powerhouse by dominating conference play. With Hill at the tip of the spear flanked by Miller, Johnson, Maixner, QuintanaMartin and Thornton, the Seahawks have all the looks of a repeat conference champion.
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR Feb. 9
Feb. 20
Beach cleanup
Business Showcase
In conjunction with Save Our Shores, the Friends of the Aptos Library will hold a beach cleanup at Rio Del Mar Beach from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is part of Our Community Reads, which invites community members to read the same book at the same time. This year’s selection is “The Death & Life of Monterey Bay.�
Feb. 14 Breakfast meeting
The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly breakfast meeting from 7:30-9 a.m. at Best Western Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court in Aptos. The guest speaker will be Susan Nemitz, the director of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Admission is $25 for chamber members, or $30 for non-members. To RSVP, call 688-1467.
The Aptos and Capitola-Soquel chambers of commerce will hold the 2019 Business Showcase from 4-7 p.m. at the Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive in Aptos. For information, visit aptoschamber.com.
Feb. 23-24
Clam Chowder Cook-Off
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will host the 38th Annual Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-Off. The fundraiser for Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department is a two-day event, with amateur chefs competing on Feb. 23 and professional chefs on Feb. 24. For information, visit www.beachboardwalk.com/clamchowder.
FEBRUARY 2019 Feb. 24
Trusted
Surfer’s Path 10K, 5K
This event covers a portion of the Surfer’s Path Marathon & Capitola Half Marathon course. The start line is located on 41st Avenue near the intersection of Portola Drive. For information, visit www. runsurferspath.com/5k-10k.
Feb. 27
‘Of the Sea’ screening
Melissa Mahoney of the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust will present the film “Of the Sea� from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Aptos Branch Library, 7695 Soquel Drive. The film tells the story of California fishing communities and presents a story of the future of sustainable seafood.
APTOS
SOQUEL
CAPITOLA
Rancho Del Mar work progresses
Work moves forward at the major rebuild and renovation project at Rancho Del Mar in Aptos. The renovation includes new signage, an earth-toned color palette, new landscaping, improved paths of travel, new common area seating and amenities, and a coastal-ranch architectural style. Five new businesses include Peet’s Coffee, Bay Federal Credit Union, Sutter Health Walk-In Care, Sushi Garden Japanese restaurant, and Clean Juice, which will serve organic pressed juices, bowls and smoothies. Reopening soon will be Verizon Wireless. Open for business are Aptos Nails. Erik’s DeliCafe, Senior Benefit Insurance Services, Comerica (relocated within the shopping center), Safeway, Rite Aid, Ace Hardware, Best Cleaners and Susi’s Flowers. Photos by Tarmo Hannula
BEST of
PAJARO VALLEY
• new/used books • children’s books • 1 minute off hwy 1 Watsonville’s Independent Bookstore
• unique gifts • special orders – no charge!
Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm Sunday 11am - 4pm •
Construction workers reconfigure the former Comerica, which relocated within the shopping center.
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Thank You Santa Cruz County for the joyful season provided by your kindness and generosity.
All Seasons Community Toy Box
Program Sponsors:
CAL Fire – Boulder Creek Corralitos & Aptos/LaSelva Fire Department Pajaro Dunes Fire District
2018 Co-Sponsors
Capitola Self-Storage City of Watsonville Ethnobotanica, Inc Hot Spring Spa Malone’s Grille Berman Enterprises/Statewide Properties StorageMart
Financial Contributors
David & Sara Hoyle Holy Smokes Country BBQ & Catering Palace Business Solutions Paul Flood/Provac, Inc
Collection Partners
Ameri-Kleen, Inc. Aptos/LaSelva Fire Station 1, 2 & 3 Bellows Plumbing, Heating & Air Boulder Creek Fire Department CAL Fire Corralitos CAL Fire Pajaro Dunes California Giant Berry Farms Capitola Self Storage Celebrations Childish Santa Cruz Coldwell Banker/Aptos Coldwell Banker/Capitola Coldwell Banker/Mission St Crossroads Fabrics Developmental Learning Solutions Edward Jones/Ivor Thomas Edward Jones/Otto Fleet Feet Fox Shox – Scotts Valley Fox Shox -- Watsonville Head‘n Home Hats Hot Spring Spa John’s Jewelers Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar Kmart - Scotts Valley Kmart - Watsonville Lightspeed Martial Arts Malone’s Grille Merry Maids - Watsonville Monterey Mushrooms - Corporate Center Monterey Mushrooms - Royal Oaks Pajaro Dunes North Association Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust Paradigm Sport
Patchen California Rabobank - Capitola Rabobank - Watsonville Redz Hair Design Roaring Camp Railroads, Inc. Rocky’s Fitness Center Rogers Diner Rossy’s Training Santa Cruz Children’s Dentistry Santa Cruz Martial Arts and Fitness Seascape Resort Seascape Sports Club Skin and Wax by Veronica at La Raux Spokesman Bicycles Starbucks - Freedom Starbucks - Watsonville Toadal Fitness 4 Kids – Santa Cruz Toadal Fitness 4 Kids – Scotts Valley Toadal Fitness 4 Kids – Live Oak Torkc Toyota of Santa Cruz Watsonville Fire Department Stations 1 & 2 West Marine Products Woodstock Pizza
Event Partners
Coldwell Banker/Aptos DeAnza Manufactured Homes East Cliff Brewing Co Finish Line Productions-Jingle Bell Rock GBall Santa Cruz Basketball Girl Scout Troop #15500 Head‘n Home Hats Holy Smokes Country BBQ and Catering Loma Prieta Region - PCA Onewheel Pacific Collegiate School Redroom Cocktail Lounge Roaring Camp Railroads, Inc. Santa Cruz Pickleball Club, Inc. Seascape Resort Seascape Sports Club
North Pole Operational Support
ACE Hardware—Freedom Anbar Self Storage/Uhaul Annieglass Central Electric Co. City of Watsonville Public Works
Watsonville Fire Department
Community Connections Program Elyxir Distributor Launch Pad – Santa Cruz LDS Church – Watsonville Relief Society Pajaro Valley Printing S. Martinelli’s & Co Safeway/Aptos Safeway/Freedom Safeway/Morrissey Blvd Safeway/Soquel Sambrailo Packaging Co Smith & Vandiver, Inc Starbucks/Watsonville
North Pole Meals Provided By
California Grill Carmona’s BBQ Cassidy’s Pizza Cilantro’s Restaurant D’la Colmena El Frijolito Ella’s @ the Airport Golden China Mike’s Hot Dogs Monterey Bay Catering Roger’s Diner Togo’s Sandwiches
Staff & Committee Members
Andrew Salazar Elliot Bastian Kathy Hoover Kevin Barboza Jerry Carry Joseph Clerici Josh Cech Larry Chin Liz Wong Marilynn Bastian Mindi Broughton Masina Hunnicutt Nathan Salazar Capt Rick Pettigrew Rina Vallet & Family DivChief Tom Avila Victor Rodriguez Capt Matt Ryan, Chair Delilah Valadez, Coordinator
“Words cannot express our feelings when we saw the joy, hope and happiness of the families when they received their toys. Parents were assured that for this Christmas their children’s dreams would be fulfilled. We are very appreciative of the Toys For Tots donors and volunteers who helped to make a happy Christmas for these families.” —Fr JMParadyil, Our Lady Help Of Christians Church
With tremendous gratitude from our Distribution Partners
Adult Ed/PVUSD • All Seasons Community Toy Box • Bicycle Exchange • Despensa Don Bosco • MidPen Housing Nueva Vista Community Center • Partnership for Children • Saint Vincent de Paul • Salud Para La Gente Salvation Army—Watsonville • Salvation Army—Santa Cruz • San Andreas Regional Center • Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos Santa Cruz Family & Children’s Services • United Presbyterian Church • Victory Outreach Watsonville
SantaCruzCounty.ToysForTots.org Facebook.com/SantaCruzCountyToysForTots