LIFE Everything Aptos, Capitola & Soquel by Weeklys

MAY 2019 EVERYTHING APTOS, CAPITOLA & SOQUEL Vol. 7 No. 9

APTOS

SOQUEL

Student Gallery

Sports

Cabrillo Students showcase skills

Reyes commits to Chapman

pg. 8

pg. 14

CAPITOLA Photo by Tarmo HANNULA

An artist’s rendering shows what the new Capitola Branch will look like. Story on pg.2

Courtesy Santa Cruz Public Library

Taking shape

HISTORY CORNER

Businesses starting to open, homes selling

By John Hibble Call: 688-1467

By TODD GUILD Of LIFE

Visit us online: aptoshistory.org Visit the museum: 7605-B Old Dominion Court Aptos, CA

Workers from Litefoot Cabinets are busy with interior in the Aptos Village Project. Tarmo Hannula/LIFE

The 100 year old Concrete Ship of Seacliff Beach

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Employees eligible for half of down payment Staff Report

Landed Director of Partnerships Ian Magruder Tarmo Hannula/LIFE

Cabrillo College on April 23 became the first college in California to adapt a program created to help educators and school employees afford new homes. Landed is a down payment assistance

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and homebuyer education program that provides half of the down payment on a home, up to $120,000 per family. In exchange, buyers pay a portion of the change in the value of the home when the home is sold. These proceeds Please turn to Page 7

Inside ...

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Watsonville’s Independent Bookstore

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Cabrillo first college in state to offer homebuyer assistance

Seacliff Beach is unique because it has a fishing pier that extends out to a 100 year old concrete ship. Storms have not been kind to the ship and the last few storms made it hard to imagine what it used to look like. How did it get there and why would anyone make a ship out of concrete? When the United States officially entered World War I. German submarines were taking a heavy toll on our ships. By 1918, our government began an $8 billion ship building

APTOS — Just over three years ago, crews began work on the Aptos Village Project, a massive undertaking that would radically transform the sleepy Mid-County town. Once an undeveloped lot abutting Nisene Marks State Park, the 12-acre property includes two new roads, nearly 50 condos and town homes, a grocery store and several eating establishments.

Front and center in the development is New Leaf Community Market, which will open on May 1 after an earlymorning ribbon-cutting ceremony. New Leaf Community Markets Senior Director Forrest Gonsiewski said the Aptos location – the company’s fourth in Santa Cruz County – was a natural progression for a business model that focuses on locally sourced organic food. “This development was a really

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Capitola Library ................2 Briefs .................................4-5 Guest columns ..................10 Calendar .............................14 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WATSONVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 23 ******ECRWSSEDDM****** POSTAL CUSTOMER APTOS, CA 95003 CAPITOLA. CA 95010

MAY 2019

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New Capitola Library edges skyward By TARMO HANNULA Of LIFE

APTOS

SOQUEL

CAPITOLA

Publisher

Jeanie Johnson

Editor

Tony Nuñez

Editorial

Todd Guild Johanna Miller Tony Nuñez Tarmo Hannula

Photography

Tarmo Hannula

Advertising Sales Tina Chavez Jazmine Ancira

Production

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.

831-761-7300 newsroom@register-pajaronian.com

LifeA.C.S

Construction work is marching ahead on the new Capitola Branch Library at the corner of Clares Street and Wharf Road. After the previous library was demolished at the start of the year, the new structure is moving skyward. “We’re about 10 percent through construction,” said Steve Jesberg, Capitola Public Works Director. “We got started January and, yes, there were some delays due to rain. Most of the foundation has been poured and we’re making great progress. We’re still on target to be done a year from now.” Jesberg said that there are no major changes yet. Workers did find some “small issues underground.” But they were straightened out and the project continued as planned. “The contactor is doing a great job,” Jesberg said. Otto Construction out of Sacramento and Monterey is heading up the project. An estimated 60,000 people visited the library each year, making it one of the busiest in the county. But the aging mobile structure was never meant to be a permanent home for the Capitola Library, and it was showing its age before it was torn down. At the groundbreaking ceremony Mayor Mike Termini said the project’s start was a long time coming. “In a universe of great days, this is the greatest,” he said. The overall cost of the 11,700 squarefoot, single-story library is the $13.1 million. The new library will be a significant leap from the comparatively

Work moves forward on the new Capitola Branch Library at the corner of Clares Street and Wharf Road. Tarmo Hannula/LIFE

puny 4,300 square-feet of the former one. “The big part of this project is the community support we have seen,” Jesberg said. “We got about $600,000 from our community, including residents and businesses. It’s just phenomenal, the support we’ve received for our new library.” Four major donors each kicked in $50,000 and about 20 donors rounded up between $10-15,000 each, Jesberg said. Measure S, which voters passed in 2016 to fund library construction and upgrade projects throughout Santa Cruz County, provided $10 million, while the city’s general fund and redevelopment money

made up $2.6 million, Capitola City Manager Jamie Goldstein said. Gayle Ortiz, who sits on the fundraising committee, said that silent fundraising efforts in the run-up to the campaign garnered $550,000 from such donors as the George Ow family and Marc Monte. The new library will include such amenities as a community room, an expanded children’s wing, study and reading rooms, reading “nooks,” an outdoor reading deck, a fireplace and a space for teens. For information, or to make a donation, visit capitolalibraryfriends.org.

59 percent of students in Cabrillo College region face housing insecurity Staff Report SACRAMENTO – According to a new report released by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and The Hope Center for College, Community and Justice, seven in 10 students responding to the survey experienced food or housing insecurity, or homelessness during the previous year. The California Community College #RealCollege Survey evaluated access to affordable food and housing at 57 schools in the California Community College system in the fall of 2016 and 2018. #RealCollege revealed stark variation across regions with food insecurity at California community colleges ranging from 38 to 59 percent across regions, while rates of homelessness vary by region from approximately 15 to 24 percent.

In Cabrillo College’s Region B, which is comprised of the East Bay, Mid-Peninsula, North Bay, Santa Cruz/Monterey and Silicon Valley, 59 percent of the student respondents experience housing insecurity and 20 percent experience homelessness, while 43 percent experience food insecurity. “Homelessness and poverty are structural problems that confront many of our students on a daily basis,” said Matt Wetstein, Superintendent and President of Cabrillo College and one of 14 CEO’s participating on the statewide Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce. “The data from this survey documents how widespread these challenges are, especially in a region like Santa Cruz County where housing affordability is a critical issue.” The survey also uncovered that there are sizable racial/ethnic disparities in basic needs insecurity among California community college students. The report highlights rates of food insecurity among students identifying as African American or Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native exceeding 60 percent — a rate 10 percent higher than rates for Hispanic or Latinx students, and almost 20 percent higher than rates for students identifying as White or Caucasian. “California Community College trustees are committed to identifying multi-pronged, targeted approaches to the housing, food and affordability challenges confronting our students,” said Jim Moreno, Chair of the California Community College League Board and Trustee at Coast Community College District. Results of the #RealCollege survey supports recommendations put forward by the Community College League of California’s Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce. The Taskforce is supporting Senate Bill 291 introduced by state Sen. Connie M. Levya (D-Chino), a bill sponsored by the California Community College Board of Governors and co-

sponsored by the Community College League of California. The bill would establish a California Community College Student Financial Aid program that would base aid on the total cost of attendance, including housing, transportation and textbooks. “Our CEO task force came together in recognition of the difficult issues students are facing in our system,” Wetstein said. “That is why one of our major recommendations as college leaders is that community college students deserve a larger share of financial aid dollars from the state to address the true cost of attending college. Their spending on books, transportation and meals should be considered part of their entire financial aid package — and not just tuition dollars.” In a joint statement by Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce chairs Pam Luster, President of San Diego Mesa College and Keith Curry, President of Compton College said, “We are proud to collaborate with college leaders statewide who are proactively engaged in discussions and interventions to alleviate the basic needs insecurities that affect our students. Our work is far from over, but as a coalition, we know we can find real solutions.” TheAffordability, Food & HousingAccess Taskforce has also announced the launch of the #RealCollegeCalifornia network. The inaugural #RealCollegeCalifornia will serve as a coalition of colleges that aim to share best practices focused on meeting students’ basic needs, which will receive strategic planning support from the Hope Center. For information on the Community College League of California Affordability, Food & Housing Taskforce visit: ccleague.org/affordability-taskforce. For the full report go to: hope4college.com/reports/.

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New fitness center at Rancho Del Mar By TARMO HANNULA Of LIFE

APTOS — Anytime Fitness, the ninth addition to a chain business of fitness centers that dot the map between Gilroy, Prunedale and Monterey, is slated to open in early July in Aptos. With a wealth of state of the art gear, personal trainers and the latest and greatest in everything from paint colors, floor coverings and lighting, Anytime Fitness is now accepting applications for membership at a tent outside its front door, which is situated near the Ace Hardware and Safeway stores in the Rancho Del Mar Center. “We are about a sense of community; we know most of our members on a first name basis, which is makes the experience here meaningful,” said Pedro Belmontes, director of operations. “We are in a business of experiences. When people walk into this building it’s about how they feel, it’s about their mental state, their spiritual state. From the color of the walls and how we align the machines to the mirrors, we take everything into consideration so that it feels like a beautiful and welcoming space.” Belmontes said the business model is set up so members can freely visit all nine of the local centers (that also include Morgan Hill, Hollister, Marina, Salinas and, soon, Soledad) at no extra charge. “We are growing and we recognize that a lot of our members travel a lot so we strategically place our sites on the highway so that our members can find value in their commute and find convenient locations,”

Belmontes said. “Just the color of our walls reflect a number of cultures like Mexico, India or China these colors are designed to just make you feel a lot better and vibrant in our space; that really does something for a person that is walking through our doors.” Chris Madewell is the vice president and Russ Allen in the owner. “One our chief goals is to leave plenty of room here for people to get creative,” Allen said. “We are all about functionality.” Allen said that Aptos has been “underserved” in the area of fitness centers, and that there is a calling for such a business. “There are not a whole lot of options here,” he said. “We feel that we are coming in here to meet a demand. We strive to attract the best kind of people.” Pedro Belmontes, director of operations for Anytime Fitness, talks about the features of the To start off, Anytime fitness center that will open in July in the Rancho Del Mar Center in Aptos. Tarmo Hannula/LIFE Fitness will have a staff of about six people, which benches and racks, Dynamax Balls, China, Mexico, Canada and Japan. include 3-4 personal trainers. exercise balls, spin and upright bikes, stair They are currently hiring. For information visit The workout equipment includes: climbers, ellipticals and treadmills. Anytime Fitness also has locations in www.anytimefitness.com. dumbbells, barbells, plates, plyo boxes,

State doctor: vaccines essential Health officials battling measles outbreak By TODD GUILD Of LIFE

SACRAMENTO — In the midst of a statewide measles outbreak that has seen more than twice the cases reported a year ago, the California Department of Public Health has a message: vaccines are a safe, effective and important way of preventing a dangerous disease. As of April 25, there have been 38 reported Measles cases in people that ranged from 5 months to 55 years old, CDPH State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith told reporters during a Thursday morning conference call. At this time last year, there were 11 cases, Smith said. The problem cannot be ignored, she said. “Contrary to what some people think, measles is not a benign childhood disease,” she said. “It can have very serious consequences.” Especially at risk are infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems.

During an outbreak associated with Disneyland in December 2014, nearly 20 percent of the adults and children infected were hospitalized, she said. The outbreak is particularly vexing to public health officials in the U.S., where the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, Smith said. Of the cases, 76 percent were in people who either were unvaccinated or are considered “under-vaccinated,” the term used for people that have received only one of two doses of the MMR vaccine Smith said. The current outbreak, Smith said, is a demonstration of what can happen when people choose to reject vaccinations. “We do believe that vaccine hesitancy plays a role in the spread of measles both internationally and in California,” she said. “Getting two doses of the MMR vaccine is the most important way to protect yourself from measles.” While public health officials are closely watching the spread of the disease, finding the source of the outbreak is not as easy. What is known is that 14 cases were in people who traveled to Philippines,

Thailand, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Ukraine, where health officials have reported 40,000 cases. An additional 22 cases are in people who came into contact with the international travelers, Smith said. Two of the cases spent time in international airports. A major part of Smith’s mission – and that of other public health officials – is ensuring that children entering schools are vaccinated. California lawmakers are currently mulling Senate Bill 276, a law that would shift authority for allowing medical exemptions for vaccines for school children to public health officials. Already on the books is SB 277, which all but eliminated exemptions for personal reasons. While is spawned outrage among parents who oppose vaccines, the law led to a 5 percent increase in vaccine rates, which Smith chalked up to a victory. “That demonstrates just how valuable school requirements for vaccination are in ensuring we have good community resistance to measles as it is imported into California,” she said.

Measles • Symptoms begin with a fever that can be very high, and can include a cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. • A rash appears about four days layer, typically on face, hairline and ears, then spreads to trunk arms and legs. • Infected people are usually contagious four to five days before the rash starts, and up to five days after the rash appears. • Anyone who may be infected should contact their doctor and avoid contact with others. The current cases, by county Los Angeles - 6 Placer - 3 Sacramento - 3 San Francisco - 1 San Mateo - 4 Santa Clara - 4 Santa Cruz - 1 Butte, Calaveras, Shasta and Tehama - 16

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BAY FED SCHOLARS

CAT ADOPTION

CENSUS KICKOFF

County officials kickstart oneyear countdown to 2020 Census Staff Report Chair of Bay Federal Credit Union Board of Directors Jim Phillips, left, and Bay Federal Credit Union President and CEO Carrie Birkhofer, right, presented Leslie Lopez-Ezqueda, second from left, and Hannah Levy as the winners of the $1,500 Education Scholarship at the credit union’s headquarters in Capitola on Tuesday. — Contributed

Bay Federal awards scholarships to local students Staff Report CAPITOLA — Bay Federal Credit Union recently doled out $7,500 worth of scholarships to local students. Hannah Levy, Leslie Lopez-Ezqueda and Spenser Burke were winners of the $1,500 Education Scholarship and Camila Martinez and Raelene Rodriguez won the $1,000 Mac McCormac Scholarship, which is named after the credit union’s first employee. “I am so inspired by the potential of each of these outstanding winners,” Bay Federal President and CEO Carrie Birkhofer. “My hope that their educational opportunities will lead them to make a real difference in our communities and our world.” Levy is a Scotts Valley High School alumna who is pursuing a Master’s degree in education at the University of Washing in Seattle.

Your

Spring half price cat adoption special Staff Report WATSONVILLE — The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) is experiencing an overload of adoptable adult cats in its shelter and is seeking forever homes for these cats. To encourage more animal adoptions, the adoption price for all cats will be half price through May 31. Shelter animals are also quite a bargain since their fees include spay/neuter, microchip (including registration), age appropriate vaccinations, routine treatment for fleas/worms and a free pet wellness exam with local participating veterinarians. Adoption is one of the main services Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter offers to our community, and it is a cooperative labor of love with our adopters. SCCAS appreciates and applauds people who make the life-saving decision to adopt a homeless animal. For information and to view adoptable animals, visit the shelter location at 1001 Rodriguez St. in Santa Cruz and visit our website www. scanimalshelter.org.

Natural Look

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — A broad coalition of Santa Cruz County elected officials, community leaders, local nonprofits and residents on April 2 marked the beginning of the one-year countdown to the 2020 Census. The four mayors in Santa Cruz County – Francisco Estrada of Watsonville, Martine Watkins of Santa Cruz, Jack Dilles of Scotts Valley and Jacques Bertrand of Capitola – joined Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Chair Ryan Coonerty at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Cruz to rally the community to stand up and be heard during the 2020 Census count. “It is our constitutional obligation to count every resident, regardless of age, income, gender, health condition, immigration status or any other factor,” Coonerty said. “Millions of dollars in important community benefits are at stake, and this is the time for our community to stand up and be heard.” The county’s annual budget includes more than $138 million in federal funding. Those funds are used to provide community-based healthcare, food and financial assistance to low-income residents, housing, road funding and more. The decennial census helps determine not only the apportionment of federal representation, but the distribution of $675 billion in federal funds nationwide. California, however, is at risk of an undercount due to traditionally hard-to-count communities, including foreign-born residents, renters, individuals living in homes without Internet access, homeless individuals, people living close to or below the poverty line and young children.

41 stAnnual

Mother’s Day Weekend

Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 12 Pre-Sale • Fri. May 10 • 3pm–7pm

Friends of the Garden pre-sale, silent auction, and refreshments. $25 memberships available at the gate.

Public Sale Sat. May 11 • 9am–2pm

Public Sale Sun. May 12 • 10am–2pm

The largest annual college plant sale in Central CA! Over 1000 different organic vegetable starts, perennial edible crops, annuals, bedding plants, culinary & medicinal herbs, cut flowers, natives, perennials, salvias, succulents and vines.

Follow the signs to the Agricutural and Horticulture Tech Center Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Dr., Aptos

All proceeds directly benefit the Cabrillo College Horticulture Program Plant Inventory: http://www.cabrillo.edu/academics/horticulture/plantsale.html

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LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 5

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

SC BANK PREMIER AWARD

Dominican Hospital Receives national award for Environmental Excellence and Innovation

Santa Cruz County Bank Named Super Premier Performing Bank

Staff Report SANTA CRUZ – Dignity Health Dominican Hospital received the Partner for Change Award from Practice Greenhealth in recognition of its work to lead the health care industry in sustainability and environmental stewardship. Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care. Practice Greenhealth has recognized Dominican’s environmental excellence for 12 straight years. “This award speaks to the commitment our hospital family demonstrates to meet and surpass our ecology goals each year,” said Dominican Hospital President Nanette Mickiewicz, MD. “As health care providers, we recognize the interdependence between human health and the health of our environment. Sustainability is central to protecting the health of our patients, staff, and community.” This distinction is part of the Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards given each year to honor environmental achievements in the health care sector. The Partner for Change Award recognizes health care facilities that have implemented a significant number of environmental programs, and continuously improve and expand upon these programs to achieve a top standard of excellence in sustainability.

CAP-SOQ CHAMBER AWARDS

Staff Report SANTA CRUZ — Santa Cruz County Bank, a locally owned and operated full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz County, was recently designated as a Super Premier performing bank by the Findley Report, Inc. for its 2018 financial performance. It was the ninth consecutive Super Premier designation. For a bank to achieve the Super Premier performance rating it must meet four key performance ratios established by Findley Reports, Inc. Super Premier is the highest rating level established by Findley Reports, Inc. Santa Cruz County Bank met the four criteria at a high level of performance: (1) growth, (2) return on beginning equity, (3) net operating income as a percentage of average assets and (4) loan losses as a percentage of gross loans. The Findley reports also profiled Santa Cruz County Bank in its March 2019 Newsletter for exceptional performance. Gary Steven Findley, Editor of The Findley Reports remarked, “One of the true joys in writing the Newsletter and reviewing the performance of all banks in the western United States is recognizing exceptional performance. Santa Cruz County Bank has again been recognized as a Super Premier Performing Bank and remains one of the top performing banks year in and year out.” David Heald, President and CEO of Santa Cruz County Bank commented, “Achieving nine consecutive years as a Super Premier performing bank is a testament to the hard work and focus of our Board of Directors, our management team, and our employees on meeting high service standards and delivering exceptional value for our shareholders.”

Tom Held, Sarah Ryan among Chamber Honorees Staff Report APTOS—The Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce on April 26 held its annual Community Awards and Art & Wine Gala at Seacliff Inn in Aptos. Retired Capitola Police Captain Tom Held was named the Man of the Year, and Capitola Police Sergeant Sarah Ryan was named the Woman of the Year. Other awardees included: - Business of the Year: Vinocruz Wine Bar + Kitchen - Volunteer of the year: Mardel Carnahan - Community Spirit: Trudie Ransom - Lifetime Achievement: Michael Termini - Special Recognition: Gayle Ortiz & Toni Campbell

It ’s closer than you thin

n u F f o n i a t Mouernday camp summ

Arts, Fitness, Yoga and Horse Camps Imagination and Exploration Forest Play and Garden Time

Camps start July 8 Entering grades K –8 Transportation available

New this year: Spanish immersion for grades 5- 8!

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History Corner

Continued from page 1

program to replace those ships. Nicolay Knudtzon Fougner, a Norwegian civil engineer, had been working on reinforced concrete ship technology and had actually built several. He and his brother Hermann convinced the U.S. Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation to embark on a program to build 38 concrete ships. Only eight were completed. By 1919, The San Francisco Shipbuilding Company was constructing the S.S. Palo Alto and her sister ship S.S. Peralta at the

U.S. Naval Shipyard in Oakland. These ships were 435 foot long, 7,500 ton oil tankers. The war ended before they were completed. Concrete does not seem like it would float, but neither does steel. It has to do with water displacement. Concrete hulls are relatively thin. The Palo Alto’s hull is five inches thick on the bottom and four inches thick on the sides. The hull has seven times more steel reinforcing rod than would be required for dry land cement

work. The cement used to build the hull came from Davenport and puffed brick was substituted for half of the required gravel to lighten the weight. It is possible that some of this brick was rubble left over from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The S.S. Palo Alto was launched sideways on May 29, 1919. The hull was completed in 120 days from the first pour. She was outfitted with a 2,800 horsepower steam engine, a fifteen foot, eleven ton, bronze propeller and white Norwegian

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ash decks. She had 14 water tight oil compartments with a capacity of 3 million gallons. Her estimated cost was $1.5 million. The Palo Alto was commissioned in October 1920, eleven months after the war’s end. The Palo Alto made only two short voyages under her own power. On January 2nd, 1921 she sailed from the ship yard in Alameda to the Hunter’s Point drydock and on January 24th from there to Pier 33 in San Francisco. Because concrete ships were brittle, they were not popular in peace time. Palo Alto lay at anchor for the next four years and was sold for the scrap price of $18,750. She was stripped of her engine and propeller and sold to the Seacliff Amusement Corporation in 1929. The Red Stack tug, Sea Scout, towed her to Seacliff Beach where she arrived January 22, 1930. She was drawn up toward the beach and sunk onto the sandy bottom on January 25th. A 630 foot pier was built out to the ship’s stern and she was refitted as a pleasure ship with a dance floor, a cafe, a 54 foot heated swimming pool and concessions,

including slot machines, bingo and other games of chance. The Rainbow Ballroom opened Saturday, June 21, 1930 to a crowd of 3,000 people. According to Dick Firebaugh of Freedom, whose father was the ship’s night watchman, gambling went on below deck. “Bootleg whiskey” was delivered directly onto the ship by rum runners. Rio Del Mar beach was notorious as a landing spot for illegal liquor during prohibition. Dick recalled one night when his father scarred off a rum runner’s boat with the ship’s search light. The ship was open for two summer seasons and was very popular, but the pleasure ship was pummeled by five major storms before succumbing to the 1932 storm that cracked the ship’s hull. That same year, the Seacliff Amusement Corporation went bankrupt. The ship was stripped of its valuables in 1934. The ship was sold to the state in 1936 for one dollar. Aptos centenarian, Ralph Mattison had the running lights and donated them to the Seacliff State Beach visitor center. The relentless pounding of the sea has taken its toll on the Concrete Ship and the pier. After the ship became part of Seacliff State Beach, visitors were originally allowed to walk or fish from the deck. Annual children’s fishing derbies were held. A gangway across the break in the hull, allowed people access to the foredeck. The foredeck was eventually closed in 1958 as unsafe. As a result of heavy weather in January 1978, the pier and the ship were closed for almost 5 years. Rose Costa, Harry Haney and Ed Nelson spearheaded an effort to repair and reopen the pier and the ship which were successfully reopened on July 23, 1983. Continuing assaults by the ocean lead to a permanent closure of the ship in 1998. Originally, the ship sat at the same level as the pier, but it eventually began to settle into the seabed. Heavy weather in January of 2016 broke the rear section of the ship and separated it from the middle and front sections. On January 21, 2017, 34 foot storm swells, the largest recorded since records were kept, caused the rear section of the ship to roll onto its side. The Concrete Ship, S.S. Palo Alto, has gone from Big Band music to Rock and Roll. Celebrate the ship’s centennial with us. Learn about the building of the S.S. Palo Alto and how it came to Seacliff Beach at our “Coffee, Tea and History” presentation, Saturday, May 18, 2:00pm to 3:30 pm, at the Rio Sands Hotel Community Room, 116 Aptos Beach Dr. Kevin Newhouse and Bob Wall will be the presenters. $25 general, $20 museum members, Friends of SC State Parks and students. An historic walking tour to the Seacliff Visitor Center will follow the presentation and will be conducted by Dick Garwood. Reservations only, (831) 688-1467. Specially designed T-shirts to commemorate the centennial of the ship will be available for $20 at the event or now at the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, 7605 Old Dominion Court, 688-1467.

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Aptos Village Project appealing site,” he said. The Aptos location is a mixture of new construction, melded with a nearly 130-year-old building known as the Hihn Apple barn. Workers moved the massive structure in early 2016, lifting and rotating it 300 feet. The new store will include a prepared food section, including pizza by the slice and a ramen bar, with indoor and outdoor seating. “I’m excited to see how the village will evolve,” Gonsiewski said. “I think it’s going to be wonderful. It has a lot of local businesses, and I think it will be a great hub for the community.” Also included in the village is Penny Ice Creamery, whose opening in 2008 sparked a spate of other artisan ice cream shops to open in Santa Cruz. With its flagship location in Santa Cruz and a second in Pleasure Point, the Aptos store will be the third for owners Zachary Davis and Kendra Baker. Davis said he has had his eye on the location for the past five years as planning progressed and property managers vowed to fill the business spaces with local business. “I felt it was a great spot to be a nucleus of the community,” he said. Davis estimates he will open within the next few months.

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Penny has since its inception made its ice cream entirely from scratch, using locally sourced ingredients, Davis said. While that part of the business model has not changed, Davis said he plans to give the new location it own personalized decorative touch. “We definitely don’t do the cookie cutter design,” he said. Also included in the village’s culinary offerings is Cat & Cloud coffee shop and Mentone, a Mediterranean-themed restaurant led by chef David Kinch, whose 3-Michelin-starred Manresa is considered one of the best restaurants in the U.S. Ellen Gil, who has owned Sockshop & Shoe Company in Santa Cruz for 31 years with her husband Eric, hopes to open their new location in the village in the first part of May. She said the opportunity for business owners to purchase their spaces rather than rent made the move a “no-brainer.” The Aptos location will share space with a wine-tasting room, offering the “perfect pairing of wine and shoes,” Gil said. She added that the village has given Aptos a central neighborhood gathering spot, and is ideal for a population increasingly looking to keep their business local.

“It’s going to be a great little center,” she said. “The exciting thing about this project is that it’s going to become its own little community. I think it’s going to be an incredible spot.” The current development is the first phase of the three-phase project. Phase

Two will begin when the first phase wraps up, and is projected to take approximately 18 months. ••• For information, visit www.theaptosvillage.com.

Tools to Make Parenting Easier

First 5 Santa Cruz County triplep.first5scc.org 831.465.2217

A crew of recently hired staff at the New Leaf Community Market in the Aptos Village Project get a tour of the food market Monday. Tarmo Hannula/LIFE

Homebuyer Assistance Continued from page 1

are re-invested to support the program. The Landed down payment support is available to all faculty, staff and administrators who have worked for Cabrillo College for at least two years. Cabrillo College President Matt Wetstein said the program was created to help Cabrillo employees beat the high cost of living in Santa Cruz County. “We believe Landed will be a valuable solution to help improve our recruitment and retention by making homeownership more accessible, and we’re encouraged by the success that the program is already having for K-12 schools across Santa Cruz County,” he said. The Santa Cruz County Office of Education started with the program in November 2017. Since then, more than 500 Santa Cruz County K-12 educators have received home buying or financial wellness resources, and 12 Santa Cruz County educators have already successfully closed on homes, said Cabrillo College spokeswoman Kristin Fabos. The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County become Landed’s first local investor in 2018. Bay Federal Credit Union provides mortgage lender services for the program. “Growing up in Santa Cruz, I’ve seen the dramatic change in affordability

Community Food Hotline

A press conference is staged at Cabrillo College Tuesday to recognize that Cabrillo College is the first college in California to launch Landed, a program that will help employees with down payment assistance on homes. Landed Director of Partnerships Ian Magruder is shown at the podium. Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian

and the need for new solutions to help educators be able to afford to build financial security,” said Landed Director of Partnerships Ian Magruder. Since it was founded in 2015, Landed has helped nearly 200 educators purchase homes in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Denver and Seattle, Fabos said. The partnership with Cabrillo College is Landed’s first expansion into public colleges and universities in California. For information, visit landed.com/ signup.

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MAY 2019

8 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

Plunging into civilian life Operation Surf created for veterans By TODD GUILD Of LIFE

SANTA CRUZ — Andrew Cunningham served in the U.S. Army from 1998 until this year, when a parachuting accident forced his retirement. He is now working through the surgeries and therapies to repair his legs. It was a career he said he loved. Now 43, Cunningham is assimilating into civilian life. To help with that process, the Austin, Texas resident was in Santa Cruz Friday to participate in Operation Surf, a program for injured veterans run by San Luis Obispo-based Amazing Surf Adventures. It was to be his first time on a surfboard. “I’ve been a master in my field,” he said. “Now I’m transitioning to be a civilian, this gives me a chance to see that I can do other things.” Cunningham was one of about 20 veterans who participated in the program, which was launched 10 years ago. The program was designed as a way to offer veterans – many with missing limbs and other traumatic injuries – to challenge themselves with a safe but thrilling activity.

For many participants, the program offers their first time leaving the hospital since being injured, according to Operation Surf organizers. Plunging into the ocean on a surfboard is thought to offer therapeutic benefits, both for veterans looking to heal physical wounds and to quell the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder. According to Amanda Curaza, whose husband Van founded the program, researchers have reported a 36 percent decrease in PTSD symptoms, and a 47 percent decrease in depression. Perhaps more importantly, the program shows a 68 percent increase in “self efficacy,” which is defined as the belief in one’s ability to succeed in specific situations, she said. “We owe it to our veterans,” she said. “Our country does a good job in training our troops, but not in helping them come back.” Founder Van Curaza said he got into surfing about four decades ago when he was struggling with drug addiction. He started his own surf school for young surfers, based in Avila Beach.

U.S. Army Infantry Staff Sgt. James Gmachowki (left) confers with Jay Graybeal, U.S. Navy, prior to the opening ceremony of the 9th annual Operation Surf Santa Cruz at Cowell’s beach in Santa Cruz Friday. Tarmo Hannula/LIFE

Curaza started working with veterans to thank them for their service, and through that process discovered that both surfers and soldiers thrive on the adrenaline rush that comes from participating in sometimes dangerous activities. That connection helps build a bond, which in turn helps the veterans feel comfortable

enough to share their stories, something that can be difficult with traumatic events. “It’s an absolute honor to be able to serve and put together such a team to be able to teach them a lifestyle that has not only changed my life but has changed many others before.”

Cabrillo student exhibit By JOHANNA MILLER Of LIFE

APTOS—The annual student exhibition returns to the Cabrillo Gallery on Monday, bringing with it a diverse range of pieces submitted by current Cabrillo College students. A longstanding tradition at the gallery, the student exhibition is held every spring, with art students voting for their top three favorite pieces in each class to be part of the show. The gallery’s program instructor Victoria May said that it is always interesting to see what students will submit.

Dr. Elizabeth Martin

“It’s exciting, seeing into the minds of our students this way,” May said. “You try to place what and how they’ve been inspired by throughout the year.” May and student assistant Nik Jones were hard at work piecing together Student Exhibition 2019 in late April. Everything from pottery to photography, sculptures to paintings were lined up in the gallery. Labels were placed on each piece to keep track of who submitted what. “It’s fun for us, putting this show together,” May said. “Almost like a big puzzle. It’s always such an eclectic collection of pieces.” Student Exhibition 2019 will run until

Dr. Patricia Wilson

Dr. Molly Tackabury

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May 17. It is Cabrillo Gallery’s final exhibition of the school year. “I think this show helps students make connections between them and professional artist,” May said. “It can give them a bit of confidence.” •••

Cabrillo Gallery is located at Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive in Aptos. It is located in Library Room 1002 and is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and also 7-9 p.m. For information call 4796308 or visit: cabrillo.edu/services/artgallery.

Cabrillo Gallery Program Instructor Victoria May shows off a jacket creation by Janette Hernandez, an art student at the college. Johanna Miller/LIFE

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CCC clears access to New Brighton State Beach Contributed article Camping atop the bluffs at New Brighton State Beach offers stunning views of northern Monterey Bay. For the past couple of years, however, getting down to the beach has been anything but smooth sailing. In 2017 harsh winter weather led to two landslides engulfing the main beach trail between the bluffs and the Pacific Ocean. While parking in the day-use area up top was no problem, the trail to get campers down to the beach was in shambles. “A lot of the steps were just covered in dirt and mud,” said California Conservation Corps member Jessica Ramirez.

Ramirez, who is from Salinas, was among 11 other Corps members from the CCC’s Monterey Bay Center in Watsonville and State Parks on the project. “We’ve been working to uncover the steps and we’re clearing most of the brush near the trail at the bottom,” Ramirez said. Corps members fortified retaining walls, constructed new railings and cleared piles of mud. The crew camped on-site, just a short distance away from the work site. It gave the group of 18- to 25-year-olds the opportunity to work longer hours and finish the trail work in time for spring beach season. “I am so pleased the collaborative efforts of State Park staff and the California

Conservation Corps repaired our beach access trail at New Brighton State Beach prior to the spring break rush,” said Chris Spohrer, Santa Cruz District Superintendent for California State Parks. “The trail looks outstanding — better than before the mudslide.” Corps member Joey Olmeda added, “There was barely a passable walkway when we started.” Excavators were used to dig out the mud and load up wheelbarrows. “Then we’re using the dirt to shore up the bottom side of the trail,” said Olmeda, who is from Watsonville. If another mudslide occurs, the workers say the dirt can now run off downhill instead of covering over all the

steps again. “This is going to be an amazing little hike,” Ramirez said. “It’s going to be better for the campers on-site to easily walk straight to the beach.” It took the crew less than two weeks to clear and rehabilitate the trail. For the visitors using the campgrounds the sight and sound of hard work was a welcome relief. “A lot of people have been thanking us at the campground, people yell at the beach, ‘thank you,’” Olmeda said. “It’s kind of funny.”

Fire officials prep for season, dish tips to stay safe By TARMO HANNULA Of LIFE

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Fire officials are gearing up for the new fire season with heightened awareness aimed at tall grasses and undergrowth strengthened by recent heavy rains. Officials were stunned by a rash of wild land fires in last year’s fire season that ignited around the state, including the devastating Camp Fire in Butte County on Nov. 8. It was the deadliest and most destructive wild fire in California history since 1918, and was the world’s costliest natural disaster in 2018. The blaze killed at least 85 civilians. In all, 153,336 acres (close to 240 sq. miles) burned and 18,804 structures were destroyed. It racked up a tab of around $16.5 billion. “Our focus right now is that residents should be working on their defensible space around structures on their property,” said Angela Bernheisel, Division Chief with Cal Fire in Santa Cruz County. “We

had a lot of rain recently that resulted in a very abundant grass crop. This is the perfect time to get out that weed eater and to start looking at areas close to your home. Focus on piles of wood and move them away from structures. Get rid of those dead branches and begin pruning trees; this is the perfect time to get rid of ladder fuels.” Ladder fuels, typically dead limbs and wood heaps, greatly enhance a fire’s ability to rapidly climb over them and spread into structures and beyond. Cal Fire stresses that people should be prepared, and at the very least, have these three steps in place: • Create a wildfire action plan that includes evacuation planning for your home, family and pets. • Assemble an emergency supply kit for each person in your household. • Cal Fire also suggests “hardening your home,” which means using construction materials that can help your home withstand flying embers that can find

weak spots in the construction and result in your house catching fire. It takes the combination of both defensible space and the hardening of your home to give your house the best chance of surviving a wildfire, Cal Fire said. Another huge step homeowners can make is to choose fire-resistant plants and materials and careful landscape design. This includes: • Create fire-resistant zones with stone walls, patios, decks and roadways. • Use rock, mulch, flowerbeds and gardens as ground cover for bare spaces and as effective firebreaks. • There are no “fire-proof” plants. Select high-moisture plants that grow close to the ground and have a low sap or resin content. • Choose fire-retardant plant species that resist ignition such as rockrose, ice plant and aloe. • Select fire-resistant shrubs such as hedging roses, bush honeysuckles, currant, cotoneaster, sumac and shrub apples. • Plant hardwood, maple, poplar and

cherry trees that are less flammable than pine, fir and other conifers. Check your local nursery, landscape contractor or county’s UC Cooperative Extension service for advice. “That big grass crop will fuel wild land fires,” Bernheisel said. “We’re looking for 100 feet of clearance around your home. That first 30 feet of clearance around your building is the most critical. Reduce vegetation and keep your landscaping irrigated.” Bernheisel added that Cal Fire is just now completing its first big round of seasonal firefighter training this week. “We’ll be staffing up in stages throughout next month or so,” she said. Recently Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered Cal Fire to come up with a list of “urgent fire safety projects” that amounts, so far, to 35 major projects, including tree trimming, around the state. Bernheisel said a great way to gather useful information is to visit www. readyforwildfire.org.

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10 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

Second District Update - New County Homeless Funding

By ZACH FRIEND

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SUPERVISOR

During the last week of January communities around the country conducted a federally-mandated point-in-time (PIT) count of their homeless populations. This count, required by the US Department of

Housing and Urban Development, is used to help governments (at all levels) allocate funding and track progress toward the goal of ending homelessness. In California, while the overall number of homeless remained relatively stable, the number of unsheltered homeless has been growing. The state has approximately 25 percent of the nation’s homeless population. According to the recent PIT count, 69 percent of those counted were unsheltered. Here in Santa Cruz County the problem is particularly acute with over 80 percent of our local homeless population unsheltered. Many of our local homeless population faces substance use disorders, mental health challenges or other barriers that make stabilization difficult. Under this backdrop, what resources are available? New Funding Comes from the State In 2018, the State approved unprecedented funding to address homelessness, allocating $500 million to the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) and increasing funding to the ongoing California Emergency Solutions and Housing (CESH) program. Both programs are administered through the local Watsonville/Santa Cruz City/ County Continuum of Care (CoC), with

the local share of HEAP funds totaling $9,674,883.45 and CESH funds totaling $889,424. Recently, the County and Homeless Action Partnership announced award recipients through the HEAP/CESH funding process to help address the local homelessness crisis. The awards include funding for site acquisition, operation of North and South County navigation centers, safe parking programs, a youth homeless resource center, rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention services, housing navigation, work experience, hygiene services and much more. In total, 35 applications requested more than $30 million, with 22 projects awarded for a total of $8,975,556. The awards were issued based on a priority matrix developed by local elected officials, community members and nonprofits and were selected through a rigorous review process. This funding is on top of the significant work and funding that the County already does through its Health Services and Human Services departments. This funding is an important first step, but realistically is still far from what is needed to address the problem locally.

While the number of unsheltered homeless in the mid-county area are much less than in Santa Cruz city or Watsonville there are many people that are housing insecure (meaning they are one paycheck away from being unable to pay for housing or are living in substandard living conditions) in our area. Significant cost-of-living pressures (in housing and other costs), especially in the senior community, continues to put our neighbors at risk. It’s important to invest in preventing homelessness (by keeping seniors and other at-risk populations from losing housing), than it is to re-house someone that loses housing. Ensuring we have enough local affordable housing, ensuring that we have transition housing, safety net services and more are all part of the equation. The new funding is an important step, but is still just a step. We have a long way to go to put a significant dent in local, state and national homeless numbers. As always, I appreciate hearing your thoughts. Feel free to call me at 454-2200 with any questions or concerns you might have.

Financial Advice

Financially Prepared Children By GARY E. CROXALL, CFP® and SOREN E. CROXALL, CFP® It’s May already and you know what that means… Pomp and Circumstance playing and kids in their caps and gowns graduating from high school and college and moving into the next phase of their life. If your child is graduating from high school, we’ve included some tips to get them prepared for making smart financial decisions when they leave for college. If your child is graduating from college and returning home to live with you, we’ve also included some tips to make sure they don’t become a permanent house guest (unless you want one). Tips for Children Graduating High School If your child is going to college in the fall, you have the summertime to work with them to make sure they have a basic understanding that money doesn’t grow on trees and they need to be careful about their spending habits. If you haven’t done so already, help your child establish a realistic monthly budget and work with them for the next few months to track their spending and compare it to their budget. You can utilize a spreadsheet or for more

tech savvy parents and kids, a budgeting app. You should suggest that your child read a personal finance book as part of their summer reading. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just something that covers the basics of budgeting, saving, and understanding how loans work. If your child has some free time in the summer before they take off for college, consider having them get a summer job. Not only does this teach discipline, it can help them save for expenses they might incur when they get to college. For example, you may be willing to pay for tuition and housing for your child, but any entertainment expenses they incur throughout the school year are their responsibility. Make it clear that the money they earn from their summer job needs to last for the school year and that’s why they need to budget properly. Lastly, tread carefully when allowing children to apply for credit cards or adding them as an authorized user on one of your cards. While credit cards can help establish credit in your child’s name, many children are not mature enough to understand the consequences of not paying as scheduled. You could consider secured credit cards and see if they may be a good fit. These cards require a deposit that would be

used as collateral if there is a default on the payments. Otherwise, you can make payments as scheduled like a regular credit card. Understand the fees and features of these types of cards and understand that some report payment history to the credit bureaus while others may not. Lastly, make sure you apply at a reputable bank and understand the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) associated with the card. Tips for College Grads Moving Back Home If your recent college grad is moving back home, make sure you have a formalized plan in place either prior to them moving back home or as soon as they move back home. This plan should be in writing and lay out all rules, guidelines, responsibilities, and time frame for your child to move out. Consider having you child contribute to maintaining household upkeep, either through paying you rent or through household chores. Also, make sure to enforce house rules. For example, if you don’t want your child coming home at all hours of the night, tell them that if they want to do that, they can rent their own place. Lastly, having a set time frame and sticking to it is probably the most important aspect of your written agreement. Often times, parents think their

kids are just going to live with them until they find “their dream job.” What parents thought might be a few months may turn out to be a lot longer than that. You should have a clear move out date (dream job or not) and stick to it, unless, of course, the plan is to let them stay indefinitely. There is no question about it…everyone wants to help their kids make responsible and smart financial decisions. Helping them and giving them guidance during this time of transition can, hopefully, be a good way to encourage them to make those good choices. 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.

2019 SPCA Summer Camp! Calling all animal lovers! For students entering: 5th through 7th grade 1 through 4 grade June 4-10 July 17-21 June 24-28 July 8-12 July 15-19 July 22-26 July 29-Aug 2 Aug 5-9 st

At the Capitola Mall M/F 9am-3pm. Cost for one week: $275 Register online: https://spcasc.org/events/summer-kids-camp-2019/

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LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 11

Ask Nicole: We are all Michelle Obama I recently listened to Michelle Obama’s book, Becoming. I was fascinated by her life and the depth of skills and experience she had before becoming the First Lady. I was also surprised to hear her describe self-doubts and the number of times she questioned whether she was “good enough” as a child, a student, a professional, and a parent. My first reaction was disbelief, since I’d only seen the confident, public version of Michelle. My reaction was followed by the realization that I often ask myself that same question – am I doing “good enough” as a parent, a partner, a professional, a friend, a sibling, a daughter? Sometimes, I ask that question to remind myself to be present and available. Other times, I ask that question because I’m my own harshest critic, facing the same kinds of self-doubts as Michelle. I know I’m not the only parent who feels this way, so really, we are all Michelle Obama. This monthly column provides tips for anyone who is raising children, based on the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have questions for a future column, email me at triplep@first5scc.org.

Dear Nicole, My sister and I both work full-time, but she manages to volunteer at her kids’ schools, help with homework, and drive them to different activities. Sometimes it feels like she’s comparing her parenting to mine, which never feels good. When my sister brags about how great her kids are (and how it’s because of her parenting), it makes me feel like I’m not doing enough for my kids. But I’m worried that if I take on more commitments, it will make me feel stressed and resentful. What can I do?

• Fatima

Dear Fatima, Thanks for your question! Raising children is one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs a person could have. The job of parenting becomes much harder when it feels like we’re doing it alone or are being judged for our choices and actions. Here are some tips to consider: Keep taking care of yourself so you can take care of others. Self-care is one of the key principles of positive parenting for a good reason. It’s common for many parents to put the needs of their children, partners, other family members, or friends ahead of their own physical, mental, and emotional needs. This can be especially true when parents feel pressure to be a “superparent”

that never gets tired, upset, frustrated, or too busy. When this becomes a pattern, it can lead to burnout, which makes it even harder to be a patient, loving, calm, fair, and positive parent. Setting limits and saying “no” to extra commitments that would make your life more stressful is a form of self-care. Be kind to yourself. When we feel judged or self-doubt, it’s easy to fall into the trap of telling ourselves unhelpful thoughts, such as “I’ll never be good enough,” or “I’ll never be able to do that.” This can stir up emotions such as stress, anxiety, depression, anger, or hopelessness, which can be paralyzing or create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Try replacing unhelpful thoughts with affirmations or coping statements such as, “I’m doing the best I can,” “I can make my own choices,” or “I’m doing what’s best for me and my family.” Talk with your sister. It’s possible your sister is seeking acknowledgement for the care and attention she gives her family, especially if she feels her efforts are overlooked or unappreciated at home. Let her know you understand how hard it is to balance work and family life, and that her kids are lucky to have such a loving, available mother. You can also tell her that it sometimes feels as though she’s comparing your parenting to hers, which sends the message that you’re not doing enough, and it doesn’t feel good.

She might be unaware she is doing this, or that her words have this effect. Let her know you want to support and encourage her choices as a parent, and you’d like the same from her. Final Thoughts: Many parents wonder and worry about whether they are doing enough or doing the right things for their children. While self-doubt is common, too much of it can keep us from learning and growing. In the end, our children will benefit more from being raised by happy, healthy parents and caregivers than having their days filled with endless activities. At least that’s what I’d like to think Michelle would say. Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 15 and 19, who also manages Santa Cruz County’s Triple P Positive Parenting Program, the world’s leading positive parenting program. Scientifically proven, Triple P is made available locally by First 5 Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (Mental Health Services Act) and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit http://triplep.first5scc.org, www. facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@first5scc.org.

A note from Patrice Keet, the Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery: Dear wonderful MOD members & community, I am writing to let you know that I am retiring as Executive Director of MOD in June 2019. Co-founding and leading the Museum from the seed of an idea to the thriving organization you love to visit has been one of the most satisfying experiences of my life. What could be more fun than bringing together a group of creative people who are passionate about early science learning and the power of play; devising and building exhibits, and planning fun programs and special events? That experience is only matched by working side-by-side, dayby-day with fun, flexible, clever and kind staff members; meeting fantastic families; watching babies grow from infancy into

engaged and delightful young children and seeing it all come together in an enriching experience for families. MOD is a solid organization with a dedicated Board of Directors who are using their expertise and experience to recruit the very best next MOD Executive Director to make this transition seamless. Thank you to each and every one of you who has believed in the vision I had and has shared the wonder of your children and grandchildren with me over the past four years. Patrice Keet Executive Director, Santa Children’s Museum of Discovery

Cruz

Sustainability Campaign The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery is ensuring its future with

a Sustainability Campaign. As we move from the efforts of the founding visionaries to hiring a paid Executive Director, we are offering the community several ways to keep MOD a vital and important resource for young children and their families. Through a tax-deductible gift, you can be a part of SCCMOD now and in the future! Free reusable MOD water bottles or museum passes will be given for incoming donations. Casino Night Join MOD for another celebratory gathering on June 8 from 5-9:30 pm for the Executive Director’s retirement party and Casino Night Fundraiser! Come celebrate Patrice Keet’s over four years of service to MOD as Executive Director as we transform MOD into a River Boat-

themed Casino. Tickets to the event can be purchased at modcasinonightfundraiser.eventbrite.com, and cost $100 per person (which includes $100 worth of Black Jack, Roulette, Craps and Poker Table gaming chips, two drink tickets and sumptuous food). Additional activities include photo ops, aerial artists, special prizes for high game earners, silent auction, and retirement festivities. All proceeds benefit MOD’s Sustainability Campaign. For information, contact MOD personnel at contactus@sccmod.org or by dialing 888-424-8035. Or online at SCCMOD.org.

If your mortgage or rent increased to $5,600 per month would you be able to afford it? That's the average monthly cost of assisted living in Santa Cruz County.... Source: Genworth 2018 Cost of Care Study

Contact Croxall Capital Planning For a complimentary consultation on your long term care planning options A: 9057 Soquel Dr. Bldg B, Ste A Aptos, CA 95003 P: (831) 661-4006 E: gary.croxall@lpl.com W: www.croxallcapital.com

Gary Croxall is a registered principal of and securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. CA Insurance Lic. #0532176

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12 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

SPORTS

WITH

Juan Reyes

Aptos native Nikki Hiltz wins B.A.A. mile race By JUAN REYES Of LIFE

Nikki Hiltz made her first-ever trip to Boston to compete at the Boston Athletic Association Invitational Mile on April 13 and did what she’s been doing throughout her prestigious running career. The Aptos native walked away as this year’s winner finishing in 4 minutes, 40.1 seconds in the women’s invitational mile. It was the same exact time as runner-up Emily Lipari, but Hiltz was announced the winner after a five-minute wait. “It was a dive at the line,” Hiltz said. Shannon Osika (4:40.7) took third, Heather Kampf was fourth (4:40.8) and Helen Schlactenhaufen (4:45.6) placed fifth to round off the top-5. Hiltz earned $3,000 for her first place finish. Hiltz said she went from fourth to first place in a quick burst, making up about 50-meters in a flash, and moving ahead of Lipari and Osika, a 2018 runner-up, on the final stretch on Boylston Street. “I know (Lipari) is such a good kicker and I knew I had to run completely through the line if I wanted a shot to beat her,” said Hiltz about Lipari, who happen to be training partners. “It’s kind of crazy, I looked up to her my whole running career and to be competing against her until the very end was an awesome experience.” The race, which begins on Boylston Street, is three loops around a block about 500-meters in distance and ends at the Boston Marathon finish line, where the crowd awaited for the finishers. “I think the crowd brought me home and it was a super close finish,” Hiltz said. Hiltz said most of the runners were

Aptos High alumna Nikki Hiltz, center, won the Boston Athletic Association Invitational Mile on April 13, finishing in 4 minutes, 40.1 seconds. — Photo by Kevin Morris

conservative during the first two laps. It wasn’t until the third and final lap when everybody finally took off. Hiltz eventually passed everybody up, including Lipari and the rest of the pack. “I think the first two laps I was feeling it out,” she said. “I realized, I think taking it wide was the smarter choice and that’s kind of what I did on the final turn.” Hiltz mentioned the course was pretty unique because of the electric crowd and layout of the course was unique because

she never has to turn left so many times throughout a race. Still, Hiltz said the mile race is like an exhibition race to get the crowd and running community hyped up prior to the Boston Marathon, which took place April 8. Hiltz said it was neat to be a part of what she calls the running community, especially those who qualified to run in the Boston Marathon. “I was really enjoying the big crowd and

walking up to the startline,” she said. “So, I really wanted to put on a show just because it was such an enthusiastic crowd.” BAA Invitational Mile Women Nikki Hiltz 4:40.1 Emily Lipari 4:40.1 Shannon Osika 4:40.7 Heather Kampf 4:40.8 Helen Schlactenhaufen 4:45.6

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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:

MAY 2019

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MAY 2019

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SPORTS

WITH

Juan Reyes HS Football: Mariners’ record-setting running back commits to Chapman By TONY NUNEZ Of LIFE

Aptos High’s record-setting running back Marcos Reyes verbally committed to play football at Chapman University, he informed this publication on in April. Reyes, the two-time RegisterPajaronian Football Player of the Year, made his decision after a recent string of visits to college football programs in Southern California. Reyes, a 4.0 student, received walk-on offers from NCAA Division I San Diego State (FBS) and University of San Diego (FCS), but Chapman, an NCAA D-III program in Orange, was the total package. Reyes said he was given plenty of financial aid for academics at Chapman — annual tuition for undergraduates is roughly $54,000. “As soon as I got on the campus it felt right,” he said. “I was vibing with it — with everything about it.” The 5-foot-8, 190-pound human bowling ball in the fall pieced together one of the best seasons in program history. Reyes broke at least 14 records, including the career marks for rushing yards (3,683), points (344), touchdowns (57) and rushing attempts (372). He also broke the records for most rushing yards (1,933), points (218) and touchdowns (36) in a single season as a senior and was named the Most Valuable Player in the Pacific Coast

Athletic League Gabilan division. He had the team accolades, too, as Aptos won a Central Coast Section Open Division III championship and earned the Santa Cruz County’s first-ever CIF Northern California bowl game berth. Reyes was also a standout athlete for the school’s wrestling team in the winter. He finished third at the CCS Championships in his weight division and advanced to CIF State Championships. Currently, he’s playing lacrosse. Reyes said the coaches at Chapman recruited him to play running back for the Panthers, but said he was “ready to play wherever they want me to play.” “I’ll play special teams, defense…I can do everything and anything they want me to do,” Reyes said. “I just want to play.” Another big reason for his decision to attend Chapman. “I don’t want to sit on the bench for two or three years,” Reyes said. “I want to be out there playing…I play football for fun. I wanted to focus on academics in college.” Reyes plans to major in business. “Playing at a D-III, I’ll have more time to take a bunch of classes and hopefully get a feel for everything,” he said. “I got a little taste of D-I on the visits, and I don’t think it was for me.” Chapman went 5-4 last season under coach Bob Owens — three of the team’s four losses were by seven Aptos High’s three-sport athlete Marcos Reyes (6) committed to Chapman University to play points or less. It was the program’s football. — Tony Nunez/LIFE third straight winning season.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR May 1 Aptos New Leaf grand opening

The community is invited to join in the opening day festivities at New Leaf Community Markets in the Aptos Village. The grand opening, which will feature live music, food, beverages and activities for all ages, begins at 7:50 a.m. and will run until 5:30 p.m.

May 3 Micro-Business Summit returns

The fourth annual Micro-Business Summit, the largest small business event in Santa Cruz County, will return to Cabrillo College’s Aptos campus from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are available at 2019microbusinesssummit.eventbrite.cm.

May 5 Cinco De Mayo Aptos Celebration

Celebrate Aptos’ Mexican heritage on

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May 5 from 2-4 p.m. at the Best Western Seacliff Inn and visit the Aptos History Museum across the street. There will be games, salsa dance lessons, fabulous hors d’ oeuvres including, cheese quesadillas, mini ceviche tostadas, chips, salsa and guacamole, taquitos, mini tacos — carne asada and chicken, with flour tortillas — jalapeno poppers, veggie platter, fruit kabobs, and a surprise dessert. There will be a silent auction with unique items, including bottles of Marilyn Merlot and Norma Jean collector’s wines, a split-the-pot raffle and music provided by the Soquel High Jazz Band. Tours of Aptos History Museum are also available. Tickets are $40 for general admission and $35 for museum members. For tickets and information call 688-1467.

May 9 ‘Down to Earth Women’ luncheon returns

The 12th annual Down to Earth Women (DEW) Luncheon will be held on May 9 at Driscoll’s Rancho Corralitos from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This event is for women involved in, or supporting, agriculture in Santa Cruz County and the

MAY 2019 Pajaro Valley. The purpose of the luncheon is to raise funds for Agri-Culture’s Focus Agriculture program, the Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship fund and the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau’s educational programs.

May 11 Capitola Village Sip and Stroll

We are thrilled to announce our second Sip and Stroll Event in Capitola Village. Enjoy this special shopping experience, strolling through unique shops, while sipping locally featured wines and beers in our charming, historic Capitola Village. Each guest will receive a souvenir tasting glass and 10 tasting tickets. Tickets are $22.50 advance online purchase. Online ticket sales end at midnight on May 9. May 16 SCBHS welcoming comments for Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan Santa Cruz Behavioral Health Services the Santa Cruz County Suicide Prevention Task Force is seeking input on its draft Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan, which was released earlier this month. The plan envisions a system of

prevention, intervention and postvention through priorities that include the establishment of new programs and services, an improved understanding of local strengths and needs and better information sharing and collaboration. View and download the plan at www. santacruzhealth.org/MHSA under “Suicide Prevention Draft Strategic Plan 2019.” Comments on the draft can be submitted through May 16 directly through that website under “Submit a Public Comment” or at 763-8203. The Task Force will hold a town hall meeting to receive additional feedback May 16, 5:30-7 p.m. at 1400 Emeline Ave., Building K, Room 206-207, Santa Cruz.

June 1 SS Palo Alto Centennial Celebration

Save the date! California State Parks will celebrate the centennial of the launch of the SS Palo Alto with living history, live music, refreshments, walking tours and more. More details to be released as the date approaches.

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