LIFE Everything Aptos, Capitola & Soquel

NOVEMBER 2018 EVERYTHING APTOS, CAPITOLA & SOQUEL Vol. 7 No. 3

APTOS

Rolling Kitchen

Sports

Food truck owners find success

Marcos Reyes

pg. 12

pg. 3

SOQUEL

CAPITOLA Photo by Tarmo HANNULA

HISTORY CORNER

A sand castle spelling out “Capitola” is one of several castles various teams built as part of the Capitola Beach Festival.

By John Hibble Call: 688-1467

Ella Porter, kid reporter

Visit us online: aptoshistory.org

Local girl earns reporter spot in national publication

Visit the museum: 7605-B Old Dominion Court Aptos, CA

Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden

The title is supposedly an acronym for where the name “golf” came from. I don’t like to be politically incorrect but, this is what is called an “old wives’ tale.” Women have been very involved in golf on the Monterey Bay. Marion Hollins, a championship golfer, developed the Cypress Point Club and Pasatiempo Golf Club. Mary Pickford, famous actress and wife of actor Douglas Fairbanks, played golf in the early days of the Rio Del Mar Golf Course. There was a Rio Del Mar Ladies Golf Club group and, in the 1930s, a program was set up to entertain children on the beach each Thursday from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. so that their mothers would be able to play golf. So, how did the ladies get to play golf, along with the men, in Aptos?

Before Rio Del Mar, there was Aptos-By-the-Sea. On July 5, 1922, Fred and Phoebe Somers of Pomona, purchased the 2,390-acre Aptos Ranch from the heirs of Claus Spreckels, financed partly by pre-selling parcels to Please turn to Page 7

By TODD GUILD

Ella Porter, 10, is an official kid reporter through the international Scholastic News Kids Press Corps.

Photo by Tarmo Hannula

APTOS — When news breaks, rest assured that 10-year-old kid reporter Ella Porter is on the story.

Ella is one of 45 young journalists from 10 countries who were recently chosen to write for the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps.

Scholastic News, a publication for young people, is distributed to classrooms around the world with an

Please turn to Page 6

LEO’s Haven breaks ground

By TARMO HANNULA

Tricia and Bob Potts are joined by their son, Oliver, during an Oct. 13 groundbreaking ceremony for a new all-inclusive park, LEO’s Haven, at Chanticleer Park in Live Oak. Photo by Tarmo Hannula

SANTA CRUZ — A new, first-ever, all-inclusive park was launched Oct. 13 in the Live Oak section of Santa Cruz.

LEO’s Haven, a playground designed to welcome children with disabilities such as blindness, mobility impairment and autism, is the main feature of a proposed $4 million rebuild of the 4.5acre Chanticleer Park that will, among other things, leave open the doors for children with and without disabilities.

The project is the brainchild of the parents of Oliver Potts, who largely has to go through the world in a wheelchair.

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LEO is an acronym for the three Potts children, Lauren, Evelyn and Oliver.

“In the fall of 2013 I took my three children to a play-date at a local park,” said Tricia Potts. “Oliver, who was 3, had just gotten his first wheelchair and I was eager to see how he would navigate the world with his wheels.

Almost immediately, we had a problem — his chair was unable to go over the wood chips we needed to cross in order to reach the other children. I tried my best to get the wheelchair over the landscaping, but after a few Please turn to Page 6

Inside ...

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estimated circulation of 25 million.

By comparison, the San Francisco Chronicle’s circulation is a paltry 227,000.

The newspaper bills itself as offering “news for kids, by kids,” with coverage of a wide range of stories from their hometowns and nationally.

A fifth-grader at Twin Lakes Christian School, Ella’s extracurricular activities include gymnastics and swimming.

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PAJARO VALLEY

Beach festival.......................2 Briefs .................................4-5 Guest columns ...................9 Calendar .............................14 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WATSONVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 23 ******ECRWSSEDDM****** POSTAL CUSTOMER APTOS, CA 95003 CAPITOLA. CA 95010

NOVEMBER 2018

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

Andreas Sievert puts the final touches on a sand castle in Capitola during the inaugural Capitola Beach Festival, a replacement of the long-standing Begonia Festival.

APTOS

SOQUEL

CAPITOLA

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Jeanie Johnson

Editor

Erik Chalhoub

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.

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LifeA.C.S

Beach Festival marks first year rowboat races and more.

Trophies were aplenty for winners of the various events, which drew huge crowds to the village over the weekend.

Laurie Hill, past president of the Begonia Festival, described the weekend as “fantastic.”

“I’m speechless,” she said as she viewed the various sand castle entries. “This festival was created by a very talented team. These events send people home with

By TARMO HANNULA CAPITOLA — The inaugural Capitola Beach Festival, a spin-off of the longrunning Begonia Festival, unfolded Sept.

29-30 in Capitola Village.

The community event included a 5K Fun Run, a horseshoe tournament, Lighted Nautical Parade, a fishing derby, Sand Sculpture Contest, chalk art drawings,

a lot of memories. It’s a unique event and I believe people that come here come away with a lot.”

Andreas Sievert, a member of the sand castle building team, The Castle of Scandinavia, said he found the overall experience rewarding.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” he said. “To see all the people come out and get excited by the sand castles makes it worth it.”

Cabrillo, Digital NEST, PVUSD receive $1M grant foster the research and development needed to bring computing experiences to more students.

This grant will provide the resources to develop Information, Communications and Technology classes to Pajaro Valley, Renaissance and Watsonville high schools.

“Having well-established Career and Technical Education pathways is a priority area at Pajaro Valley Unified School District,” said PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez. “Linked Pathways supports our ability for students to have authentic learning that includes internships, certification and dual enrollment. This program will help ensure that our students are college and career ready.”

“Research from Lopez & Fry demonstrates that while Latinos make up 19 percent of all U.S. college students ages 18-24, they earn only six percent of computer science bachelor’s degrees,” said

Staff report WATSONVILLE — Cabrillo College, Digital NEST and the Pajaro Valley Unified School District recently received a National Science Foundation “Computer Science for All” grant for $999,737 awarded to Education, Training, Research (ETR).

The three-year grant award ends on Sept. 30, 2021.

The project, entitled “A Coordinated, Cross-Institutional Career and Technical Education Cybersecurity Pathway” will provide high school and college students with the opportunity and support to participate in computer science and computer and information systems education. The grant builds on existing partnerships between ETR, Cabrillo College, Digital NEST and PVUSD that

Gerlinde Brady, dean of Career Technical Education at Cabrillo College. “Offering CS and CIS pathways to dual-enrolled high school students who earn college credit while in high school will increase their likelihood of enrolling in college and becoming CS and CIS majors.”

Program activities will include coordination between Cabrillo College and PVUSD high school instructors on curriculum development, delivery of dual enrollment courses, and coordination of extracurricular activities with Digital NEST, including after-school programs, student club activities and competitions, summer camps, and field trips to employers. The grant will also provide resources for student support services such as counseling, faculty advising, peer mentoring, supplemental instruction and student performance evaluation.

November 2018 CHAMBER

OF

COMMERCE

As fall approaches and our hearts turn toward the holidays, please remember to dine and shop locally. The store you save could be your own or your favorite. Gift certificates to local restaurants and events make great gifts. Don’t forget to call and reserve locations for your office parties if you have not done so. Local stores also have a wide assortment of gifts and decorations for our holiday needs.

This holiday season, please join a local family and their children and take this pledge: No texting while driving! Our spokesperson, Lydia Davis, age 8 1/2, has a motto for us: “Please don’t text and drive … I want to stay alive!” Lydia is

By KAREN HIBBLE

APTOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

very committed to helping us all to stay safe. She has encouraged her parents to take the pledge even when she is not in the car. Please join Lydia and all of us who are taking the pledge for the holidays and for the New Year. Don’t text and drive … keep our children and others alive.

Please join us on Dec. 1 for our Holiday Tree Lighting at the Redwood Tree next to the entrance to Aptos Village Park. This will be our 25th year of celebrating the lighting with the children and adults in our community. Santa will arrive by fire truck, there will be lots of music and dancing, and games for the young and young at heart.

Special thanks to Aegis of Aptos who

sponsors this event and brings their residents to see Santa. Special thanks also to Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant for the hot chocolate, Parish Publick House for the use of their parking lot, Ace porta potties, Green Waste, and the Aptos/La Selva Fire District for their help in staging the event.

Also we would like to thank John Fuchs Construction for getting Santa from the North Pole to the event and setting up the magic Santa tent.

Bring your cameras … This is a truly magical night for Aptos.

••• Karen Hibble is co-executive director of the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.

Lydia and Emmett are spearheading a campaign to eliminate texting while driving.

Contributed photo

NOVEMBER 2018

Riding a new wave

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 3 Photos by Tarmo HANNULA

Food truck owners find success

By TARMO HANNULA APTOS — From serving freshly cooked food at banquets, special events, festivals and other community events, the two-man crew inside the ShockWave Food Truck is, well, riding a wave of success.

“From the moment we got up and running it’s been hard to keep up with demand,” said Dave Tindel, who is halfowner with his partner, Steve Geyer. “It’s kind of overwhelming, but we love it. I mean, people seem to like our food; they keep lining up; and it keeps paying the bills, so we’re just going for it.”

On Oct. 12, the duo, with the help of a third prep person, rolled their bulging food truck, with a brilliant photo of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk emblazoned across its side, into the Harvest Festival at Rio Del Mar, a fundraiser for the school.

They anchored in a row of other such food trucks, kicked on the grill and deep fryer and unfolded the menu boards.

Geyer said they serve what they refer to as American fusion food, from burgers and tacos to Philly cheese steak sandwiches.

Once they set the parking brake, the truck can be quickly switched into a mini restaurant, with flip up menu boards, a convenient service window and a counter with a full blown kitchen all under one roof.

“We try to cater to everyone,” Geyer said. “We want to make the masses happy.

If we have to switch things up a bit, fine.”

Geyer said he has been in the restaurant business for the past 35 years.

“I even worked at my dad’s place, the Glass House Pizza, where I made $1.75 an hour as a kid,” he said. “But this is where I began to learn some of the basics of cooking and kitchen prep. I’ve always maintained the idea that ‘what’s more important in life than food and housing?’”

Tindel said he’s dotted around various jobs in Santa Cruz County including a stint

at The Bagelry and at Capitola Produce.

But a huge tragedy fell into Tindel’s lap when his wife, Season, and their daughter, Kaila, 17, were killed in a car crash on Highway 129 outside of Watsonville on Nov. 29, 2014. The crash also mangled their son, Jake, who was 14 at the time, and left him with 27 broken bones. Tindel said Jake died twice in the hospital, among other complications. Jake was in intensive care for about two months and in an induced coma for weeks.

Tindel said that his world collapsed and he was forced to reinvent himself from the ground up, on top of taking care of Jake, who eventually ended up in a wheelchair.

The crisis ended up caving in Tindel’s job at Capitola Produce, which left him without his wife and his daughter, a severely injured son and no job with The ShockWave Food Truck is a rolling kitchen and walk-up service counter. expenses piling high.

After brushing sleeves with a host of food truck mentors, Tindel said he discovered a new direction that he has thrown himself into, full blast.

“One thing I love about doing this is you make so many friends and you make them happy with good food,” Tindel said. “Every time I see their smiles at the end of their meal, it makes it worth it. Sometimes you just barely make it when you count out the money, but that’s not what we’re here for.”

Regarding the hard level of work and the high pace, Geyer said, “It’s the best stress you’ll ever see.”

Tindel said the phone is constantly ringing, people asking for his service.

Meanwhile, Tindel said Jake is fully back on his feet, back on his skateboard and back in the surf; a 100 percent recovery.

“We’re learning as we go through this,” he said. “We try to surround ourselves with good people; we know what we have to do.”

Tindel said he is seeking workers to help Dave Tindel, half-owner of the ShockWave Food Truck, shows up at the Harvest out in food prep and taking orders. He can Festival on Oct. 12 at Rio Del Mar Elementary School. be reached at 212-6151.

NOVEMBER 2018

4 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

DAISY TROOP 15015

HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

LIVE LIKE COCO

Aptos Holiday Boutique set for Nov. 24

Nonprofit launches pen and marker recycling program

Staff report

Girl Scout Daisy Troop 15015 recently helped clean up Hidden Beach Park in Aptos.

Contributed photo

Girl Scouts clean up Hidden Beach Park Staff report APTOS — Girl Scout Daisy Troop 15015 recently met at Hidden Beach Park in Aptos to help with a park cleanup.

Hidden Beach is primarily used by local neighborhood residents — both as a park and a beachfront area. Discussions were made with county officials about the need for the park to receive some TLC. Nine 6-year-old Daisies responded to the call and were willing to serve.

Equipped with vinyl gloves, trash bags and mechanical grabbers, the afternoon started with a talk about being safe. Tips included: using the grabbers to pick up all items, no picking up sharp objects, and always use the gloves.

The girls teamed up in pairs to tackle different sections of the park, and were able to finish the cleanup in two hours later.

APTOS — Aptos United Methodist Church, 221 Thunderbird Drive, will hold its sixth annual Holiday Boutique Saturday, Nov. 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Twenty-five boutique vendors will offer a variety of handmade items including note cards, glasswork, jewelry, herbs and spices, kitchen accessories, leather purses, blankets and quilts, scarves and gloves, seaglass objects, soaps, succulent dishes, totes, stuffed animals, holiday decorations and more. Church members will have baked goods, jams, plants and painted plaques for sale.

The boutique is a partner with Santa Cruz County’s Small Business Saturday.

Aptos UMC is a mission outreach church. Its outreach activities include providing meals for the homeless through the Association of Faith Communities and the Salvation Army, being a partner in the Mid County Homeless Coalition that provides showers for the homeless, being active in COPA (Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action), NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness), Second Harvest, Project Connect, and LGBT Pride Days. The church sponsors missionary Katherine Parker in Nepal, contributes 10 percent of its income to mission projects of the United Methodist church worldwide, and one percent of its income to regional United Methodist mission work.

Holiday Boutique vendors will include Deerhaven Herb and Flower Farm, Etched by the Sea, Fiddle Bug Bags, Flower Creations, Handmade by Andi, Kept in Stitches Studio, Laughing Wolf Creations, Mama Ray’s Kitchen, One of a Kind, Seaglass Creations by Monica, Sew Unique by Vonnie, Snuggle Up and Read, The Crafty Fox and Therapy Beads.

Proceeds from the sale provide the church with funds to continue its ministries in the county and beyond.

Staff report SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The Live Like Coco Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on helping kids in the Santa Cruz area grow up healthy and pursue their dreams, is offering the community a way to recycle used art supplies through TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Boxes for pens and markers.

The foundation works with TerraCycle through the Tom of Maine’s Natural Care Recycling Program.

“The project encourages kids in our community to take small steps towards reducing their environmental impact, which is one of the goals of our foundation,” said Kate Pavao, executive director of Live Like Coco.

The program is being sponsored for another year by Seacliff Design & Construction.

“Last spring, we mailed back more than 50 pounds of used pens and markers to TerraCycle for recycling,” Pavao said. “Thanks to this community effort, we saved them from ending up in our landfill, and also helped our local kids think more about what they can do to reduce, reuse and recycle single-use plastics.”

The Zero Waste Box is placed outside of the Art Factory, an art store in Aptos, where people in the community can dispose of their old pens and markers. Once filled, the boxes are sent to TerraCycle for processing where the waste is recycled for use in new products.

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NOVEMBER 2018

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 5

OUR COMMUNITY READS

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

SC COUNTY SHERIFF’S

Our Community Reads announces book for 2019

County of Santa Cruz receives climate change award

Deputy uses Heimlich maneuver to save infant’s life

Staff report

Staff report

Staff report

APTOS — Our Community Reads announced recently that “The Death & Life of Monterey Bay”

by Stephen R. Palumbi and Carolyn Sotka will be the program’s book for 2019.

This year’s book was selected at a reception hosted by the Friends of the Aptos Library.

Our Community Reads was launched in August 2017 by the Aptos Chapter of the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries to host a variety of community events centered around a book.

To date, the Friends has plans for an author visit, a trivia night with master of ceremonies Zach Friend, and a collaboration with the Aptos History Museum presenting Dan Haifley, an instrumental player in establishing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and executive director of O’Neill Sea Odyssey. More events are in the works.

The Friends is encouraging everyone to grab a copy of the book. The calendar of events will be posted on the website as events begin Jan. 17, and run through mid-March. Most events are free and all are open to the public.

For information, email friendsoftheaptoslibrary@ fscpl.org or visit www.friendsofaptoslibrary.org.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The County of Santa Cruz was awarded the Gold Beacon Award at the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meeting on Oct. 16, in recognition of its leadership role in addressing climate change.

Santa Cruz County is only the third county to ever receive a Beacon Award, and the first county to ever receive a Gold Beacon Award. The county also received four Beacon Spotlight Awards, for reducing electricity and natural gas use at county facilities through energy efficiency projects, and for reducing agency greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Gold Beacon Award is a wonderful recognition of our collective efforts as a county to meaningfully and pro-actively respond to climate change,” said County Supervisor Bruce McPherson.

Santa Cruz County received the awards as a result of its ongoing sustainability initiatives. These include: the completion of energy efficiency and conservation projects, the implementation of the county’s Climate Action Strategy, the adoption of the Zero Waste Plan, the promotion of alternative commuting opportunities, extensive climatefriendly purchasing activity and finally the county’s leadership role in bringing carbon neutral electricity to residents and businesses, as part of Monterey Bay Community Power.

The Beacon Program is a statewide program that aims to provide support and recognition to California counties and cities that are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, and adopt policies and programs that promote sustainability. It is sponsored by the Institute for Local Government and the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative.

DAVENPORT — A Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputy is being credited with saving the life of a choking infant on Oct. 16 after performing lifesaving measures.

According to Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Cleveland, Deputy Bob Gidding was responding to a complaint of illegal camping in the Davenport area when he learned that an infant was unconscious and not breathing just down the road.

Gidding arrived less than a minute later and began a series of rescue back blows, a form of the Heimlich maneuver for Deputy Bob Gidding. infants, Cleveland Contributed photo said.

The baby remained unconscious and Gidding kept applying additional back blows until the baby finally coughed up milk, and opened her eyes.

She remained conscious and alert, breathing freely, and Gidding monitored her until medics arrived minutes later.

The baby was transported with her mother to the hospital for evaluation. Doctors expect her to recover fully, Cleveland said.

Gidding is a 29-year veteran of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. He has been a member of the Corrections Bureau, Crime Scene Investigations, Search and Rescue, Field Training Program, Crisis Negotiation Team, and Cabrillo College Security.

NOVEMBER 2018

6 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

LEO’s Haven

Continued from page 1

yards I realized it was futile. As I struggled to keep my composure in front of the other parents, I wondered, ‘How can Oliver play at a playground like any other kid?’”

Potts said her husband, Bob, suggested she visit an all-inclusive playground, Tatum’s Garden in Salinas, the first such playground in the Monterey Bay region.

Thus far $2 million in private donations has propelled the project toward fruition; however, an outstanding $1 million in matching funds is still in the works, depending on the passage of Measure G on Nov. 6.

At the onset of the groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 13, Bob Potts said he felt “exhausted.”

“I’m just so very, very pleased,” he said.

“We have at last reached a milestone and I am so happy for all the folks that stepped up to make this happen.”

“It’s a great day for Santa Cruz County here at Chanticleer Park,” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold. “We went out to the community and they helped us design this park. Thanks to a group of committed neighbors around this park, they decided to form the group, Friends of Chanticleer Park.

They stepped forward and they became the stewards of this park. They said we want to ‘make this park happen.’ It really became a neighborhood park in a whole new way.”

If all funding comes through, the project is expected to go out to bid and open in early 2020.

Kid Reporter

Continued from page 1

jjohnson@register-pajaronian.com

Calendaremail

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in

events

your

She is ambivalent about math and social studies. She is quite clear, however, about her current life’s passion.

“I figured out when I was in third grade that I really like writing,” she said. “It kinda helped me use my imagination more.

I just kept with it, and I just kept writing more and more.”

Ella’s application to Scholastic, Inc. included a personal biography, along with a feature story on Second Harvest Food

Include

Members of the Potts family are joined by friends and other supporters at the event. Photo by Tarmo Hannula

Bank in Watsonville. She was also required to send in two ideas for future stories. These included one on the California Ocean Alliance, a nonprofit organization based in Aptos, and on a little-known area in which fossilized shark teeth can be found.

Kid reporters range from 10-14 years old. They are chosen based on writing ability, interviewing skills, and attention to detail.

For her current story on wildfires and

what kids can do to prevent them, Ella has so far interviewed a fire chief and a firefighter.

Ella’s fourth-grade teacher Monica Pitts described her as a tenacious student who always accomplishes the goals she sets for herself.

“She is one of my best students,” Pitts said. “She is great at everything she does.

She is kindhearted and loves to write. She is just very well-rounded.”

Ella said she was “really excited” when she learned she had made the cut.

“I didn’t really understand it in the beginning but then when I thought about it I was like, ‘wow. I’m one of 45 kid reporters in the world who got chosen.’”

••• To see Scholastic News, visit www.scholastic.com/kidspress.

NOVEMBER 2018

History Corner

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 7 Continued from page 1

investors and developers. Their plan was to develop the Aptos Beach Country Club, a golf course and to sell residential lots.

In 1925, the Somers and their investors joined forces with real estate developers from San Francisco, Monroe, Lyon and Miller, who would eventually be known as Peninsula Properties. With an influx of new money, work started on the golf course and lodge in April 1925 and the lodge opened in late fall with nine holes. The back nine was completed the following year.

The golf course was designed by Willie Lock, who supposedly invented the 9-iron.

He designed the Los Altos Country Club, Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City and three others. The horseshoe-shaped entrance road to the golf lodge bears his name.

At that time, there were virtually no trees in the area. The Native Americans burned the coastal plain every year to provide pasture for deer and other game animals to graze. More than 4,000 Monterey Pine and cypress trees on the golf course and streets were planted by landscaper Luigi Duarta.

He planted the trees from seed at a nursery he created along Huntington Drive.

The Aptos Beach Country Club and Lodge, as it was known, initially served as the clubhouse for the country club and it actually was a lodge. Guests and potential real estate customers were accommodated upstairs above the main room. The names Aptos Beach Country Club and Aptos-ByThe-Sea were phased out in 1926 in favor of the swankier name, Rio Del Mar. In 1928, the former Spreckels mansion was used as the resort clubhouse for a very short time until it burned in 1929 and the new hotel became the clubhouse when it opened the same year, just in time for the Great Depression.

In 1935, with the repeal of Prohibition and an improving economy, Peninsula Properties expanded the hotel and remodeled the golf lodge. The improvements included a new Tap Room, a card room and additional space for the golf pro. Ornamental iron work and lamp fixtures were produced by the famous Santa Cruz artist, “Otar the Lampmaker,” including two tremendous torchieres of iron and copper with the club’s seal. They weighed more than 500 pounds and graced the main entrance.

There once was a long suspension bridge across the ravine where the 17th fairway approaches the 17th green which was called the “Bridge of Sighs.” It “saves many steps if your tee shot carries the hazard.” It was named after the famous bridge in Venice, Italy which was the last bridge prisoners crossed before entering prison. Tennis courts were added to the Golf Club in 1936. In August 1937, a skeet range was added next to the golf shop.

After enduring the depression, World War II was the next big challenge. The golf course became a vegetable garden planted mostly in corn and was closed from Autumn 1942 to Summer 1957.

The Lodge became a rooming house for army officers stationed at Fort Ord and Camp McQuaide.

A new group of investors purchased the assets of Peninsula Properties in 1955.

Burt Stamp was hired to renovate and redesign the course. The lodge reopened as the Aptos Beach Golf Course in 1957.

The property was purchased again in 1963 by the Aptos Seascape Corporation which renamed it the Aptos Seascape Golf Course. The golf lodge and course were in for a series of upgrades. There were even plans to extend the course into Seascape along the ravines behind Dolphin Drive and Seascape Boulevard. The following year the course was redesigned by the renowned William P. Bell & Son who had built over 400 courses. In 1965 the Lodge building began to be extensively refurbished. They added the Seascape Office to the Golf Lodge, enlarged the dining room, and remodeled the entrance. Ten years later, the Golf Lodge was expanded with a new building that included the banquet facility, locker rooms, a new pro shop, and the cart barn. The Golf Course was remodeled again in 1977 by Clark Glasson. In 1979, the dining room and lounge areas were completely refurbished again.

As the Seascape Corporation began

to scale down their involvement in the area, they sold the golf course property to American Golf Corporation in 1986.

The clubhouse was closed for extensive remodeling and modernization of the dining and banquet facilities. The kitchen was completely rebuilt and updated, and the clubhouse area was re-landscaped. The course was also upgraded. With the sale, the Seascape Corporation had retained the right to seek a permit to build a 101room motel in the area between the driving range and the 9th fairway. A lengthy battle ensued against it by many locals and the application was denied in 1989.

In 1997, the golf course and lodge were remodeled again. The pro shop moved upstairs to its current location, and the front and back nines were switched back to the configuration first intended in 1925. The club was renamed Seascape Golf Club. I am reminded of the adage that a boat is a hole in the water that you pour money into.

I think a golf course may well be 18 holes in the ground that the owner pours money into, in the hopes that golfers will pour more money into them.

The golf course has been sold again. It has been rescued by local residents Robert Ridino and Mark Holcomb, as partners, Actress Mary Pickford plays golf in the early days of the Rio Del Mar Golf to purchase and manage this Aptos jewel. Course in this undated photo. Aptos History Museum archives Please support their new vision for the Grand Lady of Rio Del Mar.

The Aptos Beach Country Club and Lodge in 1926. Aptos History Museum archives

Tools to Make Parenting Easier

First 5 Santa Cruz County triplep.first5scc.org 831.465.2217

NOVEMBER 2018

8 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

Grazing on the Green took place Oct. 6 at Aptos Village Park. The event brought together local farmers, chefs, winemakers, brewers and more. Proceeds benefited Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group.

Photo by Jeanie Johnson

Tech Trek celebrates 20 years Staff report APTOS — Santa Cruz AAUW, American Association of University Women, celebrated the AAUW’s Tech Trek 20th anniversary at Seascape recently.

While members and guests enjoyed lunch, Lois Holcomb, past president, spoke of the beginning of Tech Trek in 1989 with a grant from AAUW and of sending Santa Cruz’s first Tech Trek girl to Camp Hopper at Stanford.

Tech Trek is a week-long STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) related camp held on college campuses in the summer. AAUW’s Santa Cruz branch has been raising money to send seventh grade Santa Cruz County girls to the camp for the past 19 years.

This year Santa Cruz AAUW was able to provide scholarships for six girls: Samantha Rubio-Campos, Maddie

Petersen, Zoe Nguyen, Chloe Millar, Grace Shipp and Brooklyn Llamas.

While at the camp, girls had the opportunity to explore individual STEM specialties, go on field trips and receive mentoring from women in STEM. At the luncheon, each girl spoke to members about camp experiences: coding, marine biology, forensics, and the women mentors who came to the camp to speak about their careers. Among the mentors were an ICU nurse and mother; a woman who heads Pixar’s lighting department and a woman from Amazon who spoke about the creation of artificial intelligence.

A mother of a former Tech Trekker, Sally Hancock spoke about her daughter(an Aptos High graduate and a current Columbia engineering student) who built wells in an African village over winter holidays, on her way to achieving her Tech Trek ambitions.

Samantha Rubio-Campos (from left), Madeline Petersen, Zoe Nguyen, Chloe Millar and Grace Shipp attended the week-long Tech Trek STEM camp this year. Contributed photo

Susan Chollar, a recently retired science teacher, spoke of the teacher’s role in the Tech Trek selection and shared new plans for Santa Cruz Science Fair’s STEM Mentoring Program for County schools.

To help Tech Trek girls continue their STEM interests beyond summer camp, AAUW Santa Cruz is working with UCSC WISE Women. Carolyn Park and Anna Johnston have founded SIS

(Science Impacting Society) as part of WISE and are offering monthly Saturday STEM programs to inspire young women, specifically, to pursue education in STEM fields by providing science related experiences with successful female role models.

For information about AAUW and supporting Tech Trek, visit santacruz-ca. aauw.net.

Art & Play in the Pre & K! November 14, 9:30 am

Parents of toddler, preschool, and kindergarten age children are invited to come for a morning of activities and fun experiences with your child(ren) at the preschool /kindergarten.

For information contact: benna.dimig@mountmadonnaschool.org or 408-846-4042

408-847-2717

MountMadonnaSchool.org

NOVEMBER 2018

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 9

Second District Update - Preparing for winter rains

By ZACH FRIEND

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SUPERVISOR

As we head into the rainy season it’s always good to do some advance preparations for your home or business.

The county is still making repairs to storm damage that occurred just two years ago,

which caused more than $129 million in damage to public roads and facilities in the unincorporated county. If we have a similar winter we can expect additional flooding, mudslides, road damage and downed trees. As we saw, this means that some neighborhoods might have limited access or even be cut off from access for a period of time. What can you do to prepare and what is the county doing ahead of the winter to get ready?

One of the first things that you can do is visit the county’s winter prep resource page: www.santacruzcounty.us/elnino.

While it was originally created for a previous year’s El Nino it has been updated and provides a wealth of information on what to do before, during and after a storm. It provides checklists on what to have on hand at your home, contact numbers and more. This information is also available via the county’s free mobile app (called Citizen Connect), which also allows for the reporting of non-emergency road hazards and more.

In advance of the season, Public Works has been fixing some of the damaged locations and winterizing locations that haven’t already been fixed in an attempt to ensure that no additional damage occurs to those sites this winter. Additionally, Public Works has been clearing culverts,

mowing and clearing brush in an attempt to reduce flooding potential. They are encouraging the community to call them at 454-2160 if you know of any culverts that need inspection or repair or brush that needs to be cleared. Additionally, Public Works is also asking that residents rake (if it’s safe) and clean storm drains to help prevent flooding. This simple task can significantly improve drainage. Road hazards can always be reported via the 24-hour Public Works dispatch number at 477-3999 (option 1).

If you believe that a tree has the potential to impact a power line, PG&E is offering to have their arborists inspect trees and perform maintenance if needed.

You can call them at 1-800-743-5000.

Residents can also sign up for mobile alerts regarding power outages directly from their website. Our local 911 center suggests residents sign up for mobile alerts (called Code Red) from their website, www.scr911.org. These alerts will be used for evacuations, boil-water notices and other critical information.

What can you do to prepare your home or business?

According to FEMA and the Red Cross, here are some tips: • Clear drains, rain gutters and downspouts of debris

• If you have drainage issues around your home, consider having them inspected and addressed • Inspect your roof for leaks • Get flood insurance. If you already have it, check your policy to make sure you have enough coverage • Make copies of all your important documents and make sure the originals are stored safely somewhere outside of your home • Take photos of your possessions (furniture, collectibles, electronics) in case you need them for an insurance claim • Build an emergency kit with water, nonperishable food, flashlight, batteries, radio, and baby items and medicines (if needed) to last a few days • Keep your pets indoors if possible during heavy rain events • Have a plan that your family is familiar with — in case you are unable to get home due to road hazards or need to shelter in place for multiple days, ensure that your family knows how to communicate and possibly a back up location for meeting or lodging As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to call me at 4542200 if I can be of any help to you.

Financial Advice

A look back and a look forward

By GARY E. CROXALL, CFP® and SOREN E. CROXALL, CFP® Sept. 15 marked 10 years since the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The Financial Crisis of 2008 wiped out about 8.8 million jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and caused about $19 trillion in household wealth to evaporate.

While the recession officially started in December 2007, we wanted to review a timeline of some key events and also look forward to the future.

Significant Factors in the Financial Crisis Leading up to the Financial Crisis of 2008 was a variety of factors that lead to individuals and businesses being overleveraged (over borrowing).

Deregulation that started in the late 1990s coupled with predatory lending practices led to too much toxic subprime (lower

quality) debt being on the balance sheets of many financial institutions. People were lured into mortgages they couldn’t afford with introductory “teaser” rates that reset later at a higher rate making the payments no longer affordable. Also, financial institutions bundled the debt and sold it to investors as mortgage-backed securities. Many investors were unaware of the amount of subprime debt that was included in the mortgage-back securities they were buying or just how risky the investment was.

September 2008 — A Scary Time A look at the events of September 2008 reminds us of how quickly things can happen. On Sept. 7, Fannie and Freddie Mac are taken over by the U.S. government. On Sept. 15, Merrill Lynch is purchased by Bank of America. Also on Sept. 15, Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy protection. On Sept. 16, AIG receives an $85 billion bailout package from the government with the government taking 79.9 percent ownership of the company. On Sept. 25, Washington Mutual Bank fails and its assets are sold to J.P. Morgan. On Sept. 29, Congress rejects the first version of the rescue package called the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). This causes the Dow Jones Industrial Average to drop 778 points,

which until 2018, was the single largest one day point drop. By Oct. 3, TARP was passed by Congress.

It’s important to note that even before September 2008 major events had happened. In January, Bank of America had purchased Countrywide Financial.

Countrywide at one point had been the largest home mortgage provider. Also, in March 2008, J.P. Morgan agreed to purchase the struggling investment bank, Bear Stearns.

A Look Forward During the Financial Crisis of 2008, the peak of the S&P 500 was in October 2007 and the bottom happened in March 2009. During that time, the S&P 500 lost approximately 50 percent of its value. Since then the market has come roaring back. However, now at the 10year anniversary, it is important to look forward. Business cycles are inevitable and many market watchers believe the next contraction is coming, we just don’t know exactly when. We don’t believe in trying to time the market, but rather being properly diversified based on your tolerance for risk as well as your goals and objectives for your portfolio. It’s easy to have become complacent since the performance of the U.S. stock market has been strong over the last several years. However, now would

be the time to look at your portfolio and make sure it’s still aligned with your overall goals, the time horizon for meeting those goals, and whether rebalancing or reallocation may be appropriate.

We believe that diversification is essential for the long term, but investors need to keep in mind that even prudent diversification and reasonable asset allocation will not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. However, keep in mind that it may spread your risk so that investments that do poorly may be balanced by others that do relatively better. Given where the overall market averages have climbed to, we think this is now very important.

Gary E. Croxall, CFP® Registered Principal of LPL Soren E. Croxall, CFP® Registered Representative of LPL Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor. 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.

NOVEMBER 2018

10 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

Ask Nicole: Giving thanks

By NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW Dear Josh, I often start this monthly column with a true story about my experiences as a parent. Writing about my own parenting challenges is like giving myself free therapy. I relive memories of difficult situations, work through my emotions in a safe environment (my office, with a lot of coffee), find the humor in nearly every parenting struggle I’ve ever faced, then end up feeling proud that I’ve managed to figure things out and have ended up with two amazing kids. Now that’s something to be thankful for.

This monthly column provides tips for anyone who is helping raise children, based on the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question or idea for a future column, email me at triplep@first5scc.org.

Dear Nicole, I know this isn’t your typical parenting question, but can you share some ideas for being thankful and staying positive? I get upset every time I read or hear the news these days and become very worried about the kind of world my kids are growing up in. My partner tells me to focus on the positive and be thankful for what we have, but that’s hard for me to do. I could use some ideas. Thanks.

— Josh

Your

This is a perfect time of year to remind ourselves of the things we’re thankful for. Researchers have found that people who are thankful tend to feel happier, be healthier, be able to handle challenging situations, and build strong relationships.

The good news is we don’t have to wait for big celebrations or material gifts to practice being thankful. Here are some ideas to try: Identify at least one thing you are thankful for each day. It can be something big and significant — like getting a new job or a promotion — or something that seems small but makes you smile — like waking up to a fresh pot of coffee or getting hugs from your children. When you start identifying one thing you’re thankful for each day, you’re more likely to become aware of and focus on other things that make you feel grateful, peaceful, content or happy.

Build a list of the things you’re thankful for. Write down the things you’re thankful for each day. As the list grows, use it to remind yourself of the things that feel good or are going well in your life. This can help counteract the strong emotions that come up when you hear about or experience negative or stressful events.

Thank your partner for the things they

Natural Look

do for the family. It’s common for parents to get so busy with work, managing kids’ schedules, paying the bills, and keeping up with housework that they forget to notice each other. Saying a simple and sincere “thank you” when your partner does things like make a meal or handles a child’s tantrum is a great way to show you notice and appreciate their efforts. This can make your partner more likely to notice and appreciate your everyday efforts, too.

Express your appreciation to other people who make your life easier or more enjoyable. This could include friends, family and neighbors who provide physical, emotional, spiritual, or other types of support when you need it. It could also include child care providers, teachers, bus drivers, health care providers, librarians, faith leaders, cashiers, wait staff — and anyone else that does something kind or helpful for you and your family. There’s a good chance you’ll make someone’s day, just by showing you appreciate their work.

Set a good example for your children by giving thanks to them and in front of them. One of the ways that children learn how to get along, cooperate, and problem-solve with others is by watching, listening to, and imitating people around them. Let your children overhear you thanking your partner and other people.

When your children do something that

is kind or helpful, say “Thank you,” and tell them what you are thanking them for.

This is a form of giving descriptive praise, which is a helpful parenting strategy that encourages children to do more of the positive behavior.

Final thoughts: Take time to pause and reflect on the things that are going well and make you feel content. When we make thankfulness a daily habit, it can improve our own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. And being thankful is usually contagious — like smiling and yawning. The more we give thanks, the more others will, too. That’s an idea worth spreading.

••• Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 14 and 18, 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 triplep.first5scc.org, www.facebook. com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@ first5scc.org.

PROTECT, REPLENISH, & DEFEND

our endangered groundwater basin from further seawater intrusion.

We want to ensure our drinking water supply is reliable and sustainable for our community.

Learn more at SoquelCreekWater.org/cwp

NOVEMBER 2018

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 11

Public invited to discuss La Selva library improvements Staff report LA SELVA BEACH — Supervisor Zach Friend and the County of Santa Cruz invite the La Selva Beach community and members of the public to attend a meeting and design discussion for renovations to the La Selva Beach Branch Library.

The meeting, taking place on Nov. 8 from 7-8 p.m. at the library, 316 Estrella Ave., is an opportunity to share ideas for the new space, which is a joint project of the county and Santa Cruz Public Libraries.

The county has hired Jayson Architecture

to lead the design of library renovations.

The planned renovations are the latest county library project funded by Measure S, which is funding library improvements throughout Santa Cruz County. The county recently broke ground on a new Felton Library, and the design process for a new Live Oak Library Annex, as well preliminary planning for renovations to the Aptos and Boulder Creek branch libraries, is already underway.

Separate projects in the Santa Cruz and Capitola communities are also moving forward.

La Selva Holiday Fair returns More than 50 unique art and craft vendors will sell handcrafted goods at the La Selva Holiday Fair on Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the La Selva Beach Clubhouse, 314 Estrella Ave. The event will also feature a book sale, bake sale and food trucks. Admission is free. The event is sponsored by La Selva Beach Improvement Association and Friends of the La Selva Beach Library. For information, email cinjack6860@gmail.com. Contributed photo

New businesses moving into Rancho Del Mar Staff report APTOS — With updates nearing completion at the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, owner Terramar Retail Centers announced five new businesses that will be setting up shop.

• Clean Juice, which offers organic pressed juices, bowls and smoothies in a variety of flavors.

• Peet’s Coffee, which offers tea drinks, pastries and other snacks, and roasts their coffee in Alameda.

• Sutter Health Walk-in Care will be staffed by clinicians trained to diagnose and prescribe medication for common ailments.

• Sushi Garden Japanese Restaurant will offer sushi, rolls, teriyaki and other menu items.

• Bay Federal Credit Union will relocate

its Aptos branch to Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center in mid-2019.

Bay Federal will move into 48 Rancho Del Mar, which was recently vacated by Comerica Bank when it moved into another location at Rancho Del Mar Center.

“It has been a longtime dream of ours to have a branch at Rancho Del Mar Center,” said Carrie Birkhofer, president and CEO of Bay Federal. “We are excited to offer this new convenient location to our membership.”

The current Aptos location, located in Aptos Village, will remain open until the Rancho Del Mar branch construction is complete.

Aptos Nails and Verizon Wireless will be re-opening “soon,” according to TRC. In addition, Erik’s Delicafe, Senior Benefit Insurance Services, Comerica, Safeway, Rite Aid, Ace Hardware, Best Cleaners and Susi’s Flowers are all open.

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CROXALL CAPITAL PLANNING Gary E. Croxall, CFP®

Registered Principal of LPL Financial CA Insurance Lic# 0532176

Soren E. Croxall, CFP®

Registered Representative of LPL Financial CA Insurance Lic# 0H25684

9057 Soquel Dr. Bldg B / Suite A Aptos, CA 95003 Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC.

NOVEMBER 2018

12 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

SPORTS

WITH

TONY NUNEZ

Aptos’ Marcos Reyes keeping team accomplishments first during record-breaking run

Aptos senior running back Marcos Reyes (6) stiff arms a San Benito defender during a PCAL-Gabilan division game earlier this fall. Photo by Tony Nunez

By TONY NUNEZ In 20 years, Aptos record-setting running back Marcos Reyes wants people to remember three things about him: (1) he was a nice guy, (2) he was a leader and (3) he treated his guys well.

“That’s what it’s about,” Reyes said.

“That’s why I’m here.”

Over the last three seasons, Reyes has rewritten the Mariners’ record book. Last fall, he tied Mike Allshouse’s single-game rushing record with a 292 yard performance against Monte Vista Christian, and this season he’s eclipsed Allshouse’s career rushing record (2,082 yards) from the early ‘90s and Brooks Nicholson’s career points record (200 points) from five years ago.

He’s also helped the Mariners get off to their first 8-0 start since 1998, and put them in position to win the inaugural Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan division title.

Reyes and Co. will try to inch closer to the league championship tonight in a hotly-anticipated matchup against Palma (7-1, 4-1).

Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m.

If you ask Reyes what is more important to him, the records or a league title, it’s not up for debate.

“Records can be broken,” Reyes said. “A league title is forever.”

That’s not to say his records aren’t something he’s proud of. It’s more a representation of what Reyes values about the game.

Reyes started playing football when he was 6, and primarily played on the offensive line as a guard because of his bulk. He never touched the ball in Pop

Warner, and he wasn’t considered one of the team’s best players — he still considers himself “just another guy.” He was simply a cog in the machine, and that, more than anything else, was what fueled his love for the game.

“I just like the team environment, the competition, being with the guys, working hard, putting in the time,” said Reyes, who also plays linebacker. “There’s nothing like it.”

But Reyes is far removed from being a pudgy lineman.

Today, he’s a 5-foot-8, 190-pound bruiser with deceptive speed who hardly ever goes down on first contact. Reyes said his running style is all his own, although he does try to emulate some moves the pros pull off on Sundays. He’s tried to recreate Kareem Hunt’s burst in between tackles, LeSean McCoy’s elusiveness in the open field and Le’Veon Bell’s vision behind the line — just to name a few traits.

“It’s all a mix,” Reyes said.

Senior quarterback Hunter Matys compares Reyes to Marshawn Lynch. “[Lynch’s] determination to get through holes, and keep his feet running, that’s what Marcos does really well,” Matys said.

“It’s amazing to watch.”

So amazing that his teammates spend a little extra time watching his runs during film sessions. Senior center Hayden Mennie had to hit rewind 10 or 15 times when watching one of Reyes’ runs from last week’s 54-7 win over Christopher in which he carried a handful of defenders for extra yardage.

“I don’t know how many guys hit him,” Mennie said, shaking his head. “I watched it so many times, and I counted over 20 yards after five guys hit him. He just

doesn’t give up.”

Reyes might have a running style in common with Lynch, but that’s where the similarities end. He doesn’t turn interviews into sideshows, he can’t run a 4.46 40-yard dash — he says he might be the sixth fastest guy on the team — and his teammates don’t call him “Beast Mode.”

In fact, his teammates haven’t come up with a nickname for him despite his record-breaking performances.

What do they call him?

“Just Marcos,” Matys said matter-offactly. “We don’t call him anything special.

We don’t really call anyone here anything special.”

How does “Just Marcos” feel about that?

“It doesn’t matter to me,” Reyes said.

“Me and a couple of the other guys call each other ‘boss,’ but it’s a mutual thing.

He’s boss. I’m boss. They’re boss. It works.”

Maybe the only nickname that has stuck to Reyes over the last two years has been “No. 6,” his jersey number that every defense calls out before the play to make sure they know where he is. Team after team has tried to scheme against him, but not many have had much success.

Last year Reyes rushed for 1,274 yards and 16 touchdowns in nine games, and this fall he’s racked up more than 700 yards rushing and scored 18 touchdowns. He also rushed for 395 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore.

There’s little doubt that Reyes improved since the end of last season, but the weapons around him have also stepped it up a notch, making it even tougher for opposing coaches to scheme against him.

Junior fullback Josh Powell has gotten faster and stronger since rushing for 980

yards as a sophomore. Senior wingback Bubba Gallardo and junior wingback Vaughen Holland can take it the distance on any given sweep. And Matys has brought some balance to coach Randy Blankenship’s Wing-T offense with senior receiver Shane Modena and junior tight end Casey Bailey.

“This year they can’t scheme against him. That’s the thing that was amazing last year,” Blankenship said. “They knew he was going carry the ball, and he still averaged over 10 yards a carry. Now, [Matys] might be able to carry the ball.

[Gallardo] might be able to carry the ball or [Holland]…we’ve got a lot of horses.”

Reyes still has at least three more games — two in the regular season and, at minimum, one in the Central Coast Section playoffs — to pile on more yards and points to his marks, and he will probably see more action over the next three weeks than he’s seen all season.

He could very well explode for huge performances, or he could be a very valuable decoy that allows his teammates to make plays. The second option would rob him of chances to bolster his records, or catch the eye of a college scout — he has hopes of playing football in college.

He doesn’t care about that.

Reyes wishes he could say the records and the notoriety mean “everything” to him, but he’d be lying to himself if he did.

“It’s just an accomplishment of what I did in high school,” Reyes said. “I gave it my best shot. I put in the work in the weight room, and I spent my time here.

I’ll be up in the hall of fame in the weight room. That’s something I’ll like — to be remembered.”

For more than just the records, he hopes.

NOVEMBER 2018

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 13

Seascape Fitness

NOVEMBER 2018

14 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Nov. 3-4

Nov. 14

Capitola Plein Air

Networking lunch

The annual Capitola Plein Air Art Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 3 at various locations throughout Capitola.

On Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a competition and sale will be held at New Brighton Middle School Performing Arts Center, 250 Washburn Ave. Forty professional artists will set up easels all over Capitola. For information, visit capitolapleinair.com.

The Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce will hold a networking lunch at Bargetto Winery, 3535 North Main St. in Soquel, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. John Bargetto will present a history of the Bargetto winemaking family. Admission is $20 for chamber members, or $25 for non-members. For reservations, call 475-6522.

Nov. 8 Breakfast meeting

Nov. 17-18 Mineral and Gem Society show

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly breakfast meeting at the Best Western Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court in Aptos, from 7-9 a.m. Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart will be the guest speaker. Admission is $20 for chamber members, or $25 for non-members. For reservations, call 688-1467.

The Santa Cruz Mineral and Gem Society will hold its annual holiday sale at the Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave., Santa Cruz. Doors are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission and parking. The sale will feature rocks, minerals, crystals, gems, jewelry and lapidary arts. For information, visit www.scrockngem. org, scruzmgs@gmail.com.

Espressivo performance

Nov. 24

Renowned pianist Peter Serkin will join the Espressivo Orchestra in concert at Peace United Church, 900 High St. in Santa Cruz, at 7 p.m. Espressivo, a small, intense orchestra of local professional musicians, was founded in 2015 by Michel Singher. For information and tickets, visit www.espressorch.org.

Trusted

NOVEMBER 2018 seaglass objects, soaps, foods, spices, note cards, quilts, plants, kitchen accessories and more.

The boutique is a participant in Santa Cruz County’s Small Business Saturday.

APTOS

SOQUEL

CAPITOLA

Surfin’ Santa Surfin’ Santa and the Reindeer will make their way to Main Beach in Capitola at noon.

Dec. 1 Annual Tree Lighting & Craft Fair The annual event will held from 2-5 p.m. at the top of Aptos Village Park. The event will feature a visit from Santa Claus, Christmas carolers, dance performances and more.

• new/used books

Holiday Boutique Aptos United Methodist Church, 221 Thunderbird Drive, will hold its sixth annual Holiday Boutique from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature a variety of handmade gift items created by small business entrepreneurs and church members. Gift items include jewelry,

BEST of

PAJARO VALLEY

• children’s books

APTOS

• 1 minute off hwy 1

SOQUEL

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Watsonville’s Independent Bookstore

• unique gifts • special orders – no charge!

Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm Sunday 11am - 4pm •

On adopting a senior or special needs dog
 To the Editor,

Life Aptos, Capitola, Soquel welcomes letters and guest columns about local issues.

Letters should be about 300 words or less.

Guest columns should run no longer than about 800 words and should include a one-paragraph biography at the end of the column and a photograph if available.

Letters and columns may be dropped off at the RegisterPajaronian, 100 Westridge Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076. Email is the best way to send columns and letters — newsroom@registerpajaronian.com.

Our fax number is 722-8386.

All submissions must be signed and have a street address and phone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit and condense all submissions.

A little over two years ago we adopted an 11-year-old Maltese-mix rescue dog from a high kill shelter. We had intended only to foster Gary until a forever-home could be found, but as often happens, we quickly fell in love with the little guy.

Gary wasn’t like other dogs. He was special, and not just because he was special-needs. He had a micro-eye that didn’t work at all, and his other eye was mostly occluded. He was slightly deaf and had a palsy when he walked, and often fell over. He growled at most men, and was very protective of me. And each morning he greeted me with effusive cries of joy. He had grand mal seizures every month or so — for which we gave him daily medicine. He wasn’t particularly friendly to my other two dogs, and he slept much of the time. In the winter his arthritic hips ached and he became a bit grouchy. And though he never bit anyone, you had to make sure he was fully conscious and never touch him in his bed, or he’d growl and get fussy. For several years in his last home he lived outside, day and night.

Yet with all of these obstacles, he was still an exceptionally sweet, loving little guy, and all of his issues could be attributed to a history of abuse, neglect and unfortunate genetics. He was stoic and brave, and never complained about his many challenges.

When he fell over or ran into things, he quickly picked himself up like the little soldier he was, and carried on. There really wasn’t an evil or selfish bone in his body. He wore his heart on his paw, and he’d have given you the fur off his back. He was honest, passionately loyal, fiercely protective, and we were blessed to have him in our family for the past two years. We committed to filling those years with love, patience, security and snuggles. But sadly, after months of increasingly aggressive seizures, we had to make the difficult decision to hold him with love as he crossed the rainbow bridge.

He taught us so much about love and patience as he learned to trust us, and we miss him deeply and will forever carry his paw prints in our hearts.

Please consider fostering or adopting a senior or special needs dog. The love you receive in return is greater than the love you give. #DontShopAdopt Tamra Scott-Hunt
 Aptos

Get to the polls on Nov. 6 To the Editor, The Kavanaugh confirmation has divided the country according to words of persons on both sides of the divide. It certainly has, and while I am not happy about that, I do not care whether the divide is healed or not if there is no apology from the Right Wing. The behavior of Congressional Republicans, with one exception only, during this fiasco has been beyond belief.

Getting to the truth requires a comprehensive investigation, but did not happen in this case. Limitations placed on the scope of the FBI investigation rendered it impossible to uncover the truth, yet another unforgivable act by the criminal in the Oval Office.

I believe there are at least two ways to arrive at the truth. Should Democrats gain control of the House of Representatives in the Nov. 6 election, they would have the means to investigate Kavanaugh in January 2019, which could lead to impeachment.

Dr. Blasey Ford could file suit against Kavanaugh, but she has been through enough.

I have heard there is a group of judges who intend to conduct an investigation of Kavanaugh. If they were to find evidence confirming the testimony of Dr. Ford and exposing the lies of now Justice Kavanaugh, he would certainly be removed from the Supreme Court. Seating him on the court was another shameful act by our crooked president and his dutiful Republican followers in Congress.

Get to the polls on Nov. 6. It appears this election has the earmark of being an extraordinary event including the possibility of curbing the nefarious ambitions of our Republican friends.

Thomas Stumbaugh Aptos

NOVEMBER 2018

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