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APTOS
DECEMBER 2015
SOQUEL
CAPITOLA EVERYTHING APTOS, CAPITOLA & SOQUEL
Vol. 4 No. 5
‘An old fashioned Christmas’ Tree lighting, craft fair returns By ERIK CHALHOUB APTOS — When Santa Claus rode in to Aptos’ annual tree lighting event aboard a fire truck, one little boy last year noticed that something was missing. Where, he asked, are the reindeer? The boy posed the question to members of the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, who host the event. The reindeer are off eating somewhere, they told the boy, and Santa gathers them up after the tree lighting. Performed by John Fuchs, Santa Claus will come to town on Dec. 5 during the Holiday Craft Fair and Annual Tree Lighting from 2-5 p.m. at the Aptos Village Tree. The event will include Christmas carols, free hot chocolate provided by Manuel’s Restaurant, performances by Kristy’s School of Dance, Soquel High School Jazz Band and Twin Lakes Choir, and more. “We love people to just come and enjoy the season,” said Karen Hibble, co-executive director of the Aptos Chamber. “It’s the one time people can get unconnected, Please turn to Page 6
Chase Bank on 41st Avenue in Capitola features a large mosaic mural. Photo by Tarmo Hannula
Capitola Plein Air to be annual event
HISTORY CORNER By John Hibble Call: 688-1467 Visit us online: aptoshistory.org Visit the museum: 7605-B Old Dominion Court Aptos, CA
By TARMO HANNULA
Things that go Homelessness, bump in the night crime decrease And now, for something completely different! Every now and then I get visits or calls from people who want to know something about Aptos history or the museum, or who have read one of these articles and have comments, or who want to expand our knowledge about our history or make a donation. At the end of last July we got a call from a man who had donated some items and wanted to know if they were on display in the museum. I am not going to tell you the man’s name and you will see why. This man was 70 years old and had retired to Grass Valley but he had grown up in Aptos and had spent much of his youth on the property that is now Nisene Please turn to Page 7
Community Assessment Project also shows gap between Latinos, whites By TODD GUILD APTOS — Homelessness in Santa Cruz County has declined 44 percent since 2013, shrinking from more than 3,500 to 1,964 this year. The decrease came thanks to two projects designed to house homeless county residents and one geared toward veterans. It was part of Nov. 23’s release of the annual Community Assessment Project, a comprehensive Please turn to Page 9
CAPITOLA — Creating fine art in the open air was the theme of the day during “The Magic of Capitola En Plein Air,” a juried competition, exhibition and sale of original art on Nov. 7. Under sunny skies, 38 professional and four amateur artists set up their easels around Capitola Village and settled into a day of drawing and painting the many dramatic landscape scenes the village has to offer. “It just struck me one day that artists should convene in the village in a plein air event — it only made sense,” said Stephanie Gelman, who concocted the event that she hopes to stage on an annual basis. “There’s so much talent in our area and today we have some incredible artists out here.” Though artists were allowed to get a running start on their works Nov. 6, the bulk of their compositions had to be done in one day. On Nov. 8, judging took place with the winner taking home a $1,500 purse and second place claiming $750. The body of work will eventually be displayed as a complete exhibit in the village, Gelman said. “I signed up for this one hour before the deadline,” said Judy Miller of Santa Cruz. “I usually do studio work but this gave me an excuse to paint outdoors and I’m glad I did.” Please turn to Page 6
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Sam Farr retires..................2 Briefs ...............................4-5 Guest columns..................11 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WATSONVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 23 ******ECRWSSEDDM****** POSTAL CUSTOMER APTOS, CA 95003 CAPITOLA. CA 95010