4 minute read
Word from a Friend
by Weeklys
Winning and Giving
Recently, I had the honor of proclaiming a day for the Pop Warner Super Bowl Champion Santa Cruz Seahawks— the first local youth team to win a national championship. The team, family and friends gathered outside of the county building for the ceremony and to share stories about their historic run. The Seahawks, a 12-andunder D-1 football team, are comprised of players from throughout Santa Cruz County. The team went undefeated on their journey that took them to all the way to Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida for the 64th Pop Warner Super Bowl.
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According to their head coach, Jake Clark, the national championship “means a lot for football in Santa Cruz County. When people think of Santa Cruz, they think of surfing and maybe soccer.” But Santa Cruz is more than surfing and soccer, Clark noted. “We have some great football players that come from this area, many of whom have come through our program, and I am just glad we could put Santa Cruz on the map for football.”
On their way to the national championship, the team (including coaches, parents and supporters) put in hundreds of hours of practice, travel, and work. Kelton Forbus, one of the captains of the team, spoke to the amount of time and close relationships the team has put in: “My team is family. I have played football with some of these guys since I was in 6 yearsold.” Forbus also gave credit to his coaches, who, he said, “coached at another level.
“This is what makes our team special,” Forbus said. “We never stopped, and that’s why we are national champions.” Much of the team expects to return next year and defend their title. “I don’t hope, I know I will be back in Florida to defend our national championship” Forbus said. “I want to go out there and compete and play ‘Cali football.’" If you’re interested in learning more about the team or ways you
can support their efforts, please contact league president Ernie Camacho at 831-332-4831.
Red Apple Donates to Memorial
It is no secret that the past two years have been difficult for family-owned restaurants, but that has not dampened the giving spirit of Dan and Gracia Krakauer, owners of the Red Apple Cafe in Aptos. When they first heard about the fundraising By Zach Friend campaign to build a memorial for Santa Cruz County fallen Santa Cruz County Sheriff Supervisor Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller at Willowbrook County Park in
Aptos, the Krakauers quickly offered a unique donation: a portion of all of the restaurant’s sales for the month of February. “The community of Aptos has always come together when one of their own has been in need. The Red Apple Cafe, and Dan and I personally, we’re happy to be involved in the efforts to memorialize Sgt. Gutzwiller’s ultimate sacrifice for our community,” said owner Gracia Krakauer. Local diners were eager to help as the Krakauers’ efforts helped raise over $4,100 to build a memorial for Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was killed in the line of duty on POP STARS Local Pop Warner football team the Santa Cruz Seahawks went undefeated on their way to being the first local youth team to win a national championship.x
Gracia Krakauer
June 6, 2020. He is survived by his wife and two young children.
The proposed memorial will include the installation of a circular seating area in a quiet part of the park that faces south towards a new flagpole. The memorial will feature engraved footprints of Sgt. Gutzwiller’s boots alongside the footprints of his young family. As part of the project, improvements will also be made to the park’s entrance, playground, and sport courts. The project’s supporters selected Willowbrook Park for the memorial site because Sgt. Gutzwiller was a resident of the surrounding neighborhood and could be frequently found there with his dog Shasta.
The Red Apple Cafe’s fundraiser is not the Krakauers’ first contribution in support of Sgt. Gutzwiller’s family. Whether it was donating meals to the family in the weeks after the tragedy or jumping at the opportunity to generously contribute to the memorial, Dan and Gracia represent the best of our community. They put the community first, supporting many local causes and always asking how they can help make our community a better place. The cafe is a local institution, having operated as a family-owned restaurant serving breakfast and lunch 7 days a week since 1988.
As Red Apple Cafe has demonstrated, businesses can come up with unique ways for community members to support the project. “This is a simple, creative way for businesses to get involved and have an impact,” said Mariah Roberts, Executive Director of County Park Friends. The Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriff’s Association is coordinating the fundraising effort in partnership with local nonprofit County Park Friends and they hope to raise $805,000 in community donations and sponsorships through a variety of giving opportunities. Visit www.countyparkfriends.org/ willowbrook.html for renderings of planned park renovations and more ways to get involved.
Kieran Kelly contributed to this column.
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