MAY 2018 EVERYTHING APTOS, CAPITOLA & SOQUEL Vol. 6 No. 9
Wine stroll in Soquel
Sports
Mariners finish perfectly
APTOS
pg. 2
pg. 12
SOQUEL
CAPITOLA
Cabrillo College approaches six decades Cabrillo College in Aptos is shown in an aerial photo. The first classes were actually held in temporary quarters within the partially abandoned old Watsonville High School in 1959. Freshman enrollment was about 700 students at what was then known as Cabrillo Junior College, according to historian Sandy Lydon.
HISTORY CORNER
Aptos/La Selva fire district welcomes new chief
By John Hibble Call: 688-1467 Visit us online: aptoshistory.org
By ERIK CHALHOUB
Visit the museum: 7605-B Old Dominion Court Aptos, CA
What is the price of knowledge?
Aaron Lowe has been selected as the new chief of the Aptos/ La Selva Fire Protection District. Contributed
APTOS — Aaron Lowe has been tapped as the new fire chief of the Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District, the board of directors recently announced. Lowe was selected from a field of 31 applicants after a five-month nationwide recruitment process, according to fire district officials. His base salary is $190,000, according to a contract approved by the board of directors on April 12.
By JOHANNA MILLER WATSONVILLE — A group of community members came together on April 3 at the Watsonville Public Library to discuss the state of health in Santa Cruz County. The United Way of Santa Cruz County and Applied Survey Research (ASR) hosted the conference, which was held to promote National Public Health Week. Speakers from both
Please turn to Page 6
• new/used books
• unique gifts
• children’s books
• special orders – no charge!
Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm Sunday 11am - 4pm
organizations as well as First 5 Santa Cruz County spoke about their partnership with the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program. Susan Brutschy of Applied Survey Research explained how County Health Rankings & Roadmaps has helped paint a broader picture of the triumphs and shortcomings of health in Santa Cruz County. Every year, the rankings seek to provide Please turn to Page 7
Inside ...
Thank You For Voting Us Best In The Pajaro Valley!
Watsonville’s Independent Bookstore
Please turn to Page 7
Local organizations reveal health rankings for county
Where did the word “museum” come from? The word is from ancient Greece and describes a building or temple dedicated to the Muses. OK, who were the Muses? In mythology, they were the daughters of Zeus, the king of the many gods and goddesses, and Mnemosyne (nee-mossih-nee), the goddess of memory. The nine Muses were goddesses of the literary arts, music, visual arts, culture and science. The Muse, Clio, was the goddess of history. The Muses spark creativity in mortal people. Museums collect, preserve, interpret and display items of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance for the education of the public and for future generations. Above all, museums are storehouses of knowledge. We are lucky to have more than 30 museums in our
• 1 minute off hwy 1
“I’m truly excited about coming to the Aptos/La Selva area,” said Lowe, who begins his new post on April 23. “When this opportunity came up, I was thrilled. It’s quite an amazing opportunity that I did not want to pass up.” As a 24-year veteran of the fire service, Lowe has worked in all operational ranks, from firefighter up to interim fire chief for the City of Chico. He has also served as
BEST of
PAJARO VALLEY
Chamber update ................2 Briefs .................................4-5 Guest columns ...................9 Calendar .............................15 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WATSONVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 23 ******ECRWSSEDDM****** POSTAL CUSTOMER APTOS, CA 95003 CAPITOLA. CA 95010
MAY 2018
2 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel Photos by Jazmine ANCIRA GUERRERO
Sip & Stroll
A selection of wines from the newly opened Soquel tasting room, Vinocruz, was part of the third annual Soquel Village Sip & Stroll on April 21. The event included a number of area wineries who set up stations throughout Soquel Village.
APTOS
Bargetto Winery allowed guests to sample its latest mead and chardonnay.
SOQUEL
CAPITOLA
Publisher - Jeanie Johnson Editor - Erik Chalhoub Editorial Todd Guild, Johanna Miller, Tony Nuñez, Tarmo Hannula Photography - Tarmo Hannula Advertising Sales Tina Chavez, Jazmine Ancira, Mark Pezzini 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.
Contact Us
877-694-9048
newsroom@register-pajaronian.com
Thank you for reading!
CHAMBER
OF
COMMERCE
Please join us for Swing Into Spring on Saturday, May 5 where we will celebrate the Kentucky Derby at Best Western Seacliff Inn. This is our main fundraiser to save our Aptos History Museum from closing. We will enjoy great food, a no host bar with Mint Julips, Derby food, prizes for the best hat, a silent auction, and a chance to
By KAREN HIBBLE
APTOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
watch the races with a group of excited people from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Call today at 688-1467 for tickets and be part of the party and feel good about saving the museum for the generations to come. We will soon be welcoming many new businesses to Aptos as Rancho Del Mar finishes their ”refresh” and Aptos Village construction is completed. We
are excited to welcome New Leaf to our family of grocery stores. Our own Erik’s DeliCafé should be open soon. We miss them. Ace Hardware has a new owner but will still provide the same great level of service and Comerica Bank will relocate to their new location in Rancho Del Mar by late July with the same great service. We will do a celebration and a ribbon cutting when they complete the move. We also want to welcome our new president of Cabrillo College, Matt Wetstein, to our Chamber breakfast on May 10. Please join us in welcoming Matt to Aptos. Let’s also start planning for July 4th. This promises to be a great year. We are going to celebrate by honoring our schools, students, teachers and administrators. More to follow. Enjoy spring. Slow down and smell the flowers. Everyone seems to be in such a hurry and with traffic as heavy as it is, we all need to be careful. Please don’t text and drive. Accidents on Highway 17 are increasing and we don’t want you to be one of them. ••• Karen Hibble is co-executive director of the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.
MAY 2018
LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 3
Volunteer Center celebrates National Volunteer Week Receives California Non-Profit of the Year award Staff report SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Local residents joined the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, fellow nonprofits, and community leaders in celebrating volunteerism during National Volunteer Week, April 15-21. Widely celebrated across the country, National Volunteer Week was established in 1974. Each year during National Volunteer Week, the Volunteer Center and partners host events including appreciation parties, recognitions, and volunteer projects all with the goal of highlighting the amount of work completed by local volunteers. This year’s National Volunteer Week was particularly significant for the Volunteer Center. On April 11, the organization was awarded as the 2018 California Non-Profit of the Year for Volunteerism and Service by the Office of the Governor. “On the heels of our 50th anniversary this is the perfect honor,” said Volunteer Center Executive Director Karen Delaney. “2017 was a year of reflection and local appreciation on how far we have come as an organization. It is wonderful to have this incredible legacy of our volunteers acknowledged at the state level as well with this award.” The Volunteer Center was selected
among 265,678 registered nonprofits in California for the organization’s ability to leverage volunteers in service to their organization and for their long-term commitment to the local community. Founded in 1967, the Volunteer Center opened its doors when Marian McBee, Kathryn Merriam, and Margaret Schaeffer, three local social workers inspired by their passion for helping others, set up shop at a loaned office space in downtown Santa Cruz to develop volunteer programs designed to lift up residents in need. Within a year, they hired a staff member and developed a mentoring program for boys in need of male role models, a tutoring program for adults who spoke no English, a jail visitation program, and two programs addressing the needs of home-bound seniors. What started as a few volunteers has now grown into four facilities countywide, 16 programs, more than 50 staff and over 12,500 volunteers who annually partner with 9,000 residents in need. “Together, our founders launched a powerful movement of local people working together to solve local problems,” Delaney said. “In the last 50 years, more than 200,000 people have step through our doors with a desire to transform our community for good.” Santa Cruz County volunteers are part
Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County Executive Director Karen Delaney (left) accepts the 2018 California Non-Profit of the Year for Volunteerism and Service award by the Office of the Governor as California Volunteers Chief Officer Karen Baker listens on April 11. Contributed photo
of a national movement of more than 62 million individuals who annually step up to volunteer in their local communities. “Dedicated volunteers are the backbone of so many communities across the country,” Delaney said. “Our communities would simply not function at the level they do without volunteers. Ultimately if given
the right tools and the opportunity, people want to make a difference and they are quite effective at it. I look forward to sharing our award, celebrating the achievements of our volunteers, and most importantly, thanking volunteers during National Volunteer Week. I encourage others to look around and thank a volunteer as well.”
Panel touches on cannabis industry Assistant County Counsel Jason Heath (from left), Santa Cruz Mountain Naturals founder Colin Disheroon and County Cannabis Licensing Manager Robin Bolster-Grant spoke on the cannabis industry during the Aptos Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast meeting on April 12 at the Best Western Seacliff Inn. The trio spoke about the challenges facing licensed growers, as well as the latest regulations from both the state and county. Photo by Jeanie Johnson
Aptos High School Class of 1998 Staff report APTOS — Aptos High School’s Class of 1998 will host its 20th reunion on July 7 at Seascape Golf Club, with several additional events planned throughout that weekend. Tickets are $65, and now available to purchase. “We haven’t gathered together in over a decade,” said Alicia Gordon, a member of the reunion planning committee. “We’re looking forward to celebrating with our classmates.” The reunion’s main event — hors d’ouevres, cocktails and dancing — will take place July 7 in the Seascape Golf Club’s banquet room. Gordon said that because so many people have shown an interest in sharing their families with their high school friends, the reunion planning committee is organizing several family-friendly events — and some of them will feature surprise appearances from Class of ‘98 alumni.
Events will include: • A beach bonfire on July 6. • A family picnic day on July 7, which will include games and food for purchase. • The reunion itself, July 7 at Seascape Golf Club. • A tour of the Aptos High School campus on July 8. Specific locations and times are to be determined for the bonfire, family picnic day, and campus tour. All events are open to Class of ‘98 alumni, and to other alumni and staff who’d like to attend. Ticket prices include one adult admission and one child’s admission to each event. Additional children’s tickets are $5 each, payable at the event. People must purchase a reunion ticket to attend any reunion-related event, even if they don’t attend the reunion itself. To buy tickets, send $65 per ticket to Alicia1179@aol.com at PayPal or VenMo. To send a check, email Gordon at the email address above to request a mailing address.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SALES l LEASING l MANAGEMENT CAL BRE# 01843086
Experience. Integrity. Results. 347 Spreckels Drive l Aptos, CA 95003 l 831.688.5100 tel l 831.688.5102 fax l alleninc.com
MAY 2018
4 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel
CABRILLO GALLERY
ELECTION
DOWN TO EARTH WOMEN
Poll workers needed for June election Staff report
Rachel Huang’s acrylic on canvas work, “No Instagram Likes,” is part of the Cabrillo College Gallery’s Student Exhibition 2018. Photo by Beverly Rayner
Cabrillo students showcasing artwork Staff report APTOS — Cabrillo College Gallery’s annual Student Exhibition runs through May 18 at 6500 Soquel Drive, Library Room 1002 in Aptos. The exhibit is an annual comprehensive survey of artwork created in the Cabrillo College Art Studio and Art Photography Departments, spotlighting the creativity of the students. This exhibition celebrates the high quality and wide range of visual art disciplines taught at Cabrillo: color and design, painting, drawing, serigraphy, intaglio, mixed media, ceramics, 3-D design, sculpture, furniture, small-scale metals/jewelry, fiber and book arts, graphic design, lettering and typography, digital fabrication, video, and photography—traditional, alternative and digital. This year’s show also includes the research work of students in Honors Renaissance Art History. For information, visit www.cabrillo.edu/services/ artgallery or call 479-6308.
Kathryn Lukas. Contributed photo
Farmhouse Culture owner to be featured speaker at luncheon Staff report CORRALITOS — The 11th Annual Down to Earth Women (DEW) Luncheon will be held on May 10 at Driscoll’s Rancho Corralitos, 242 Corralitos Road, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The featured speaker will be Kathryn Lukas, owner of Farmhouse Culture, who will speak on “Getting Down with Live-Culture Foods.” Lukas, a Santa Cruz local who started this business in her kitchen, is now shipping her products throughout North America. Also speaking at the event will be a graduate of the Focus Agriculture Program about their experience in the program and Meghan Clifton, recipient of the 2018 Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship. The Mistress of Ceremonies for the event will be Brittany Nielsen, news anchor of KSBW Action News 8. Women are invited to attend this afternoon event. The ticket price is $100. To make a reservation, become a sponsor or make a donation to the event, call 722-6622 or email agri-culture@sbcglobal.net.
Your
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Positions are still available for people who want to work in the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, June 5. To serve in the polls, a person must be a registered voter, a legal resident, or must be a high school student, age 16 or over, a U.S. citizen or legal resident, with at least a 2.5 grade point average. There are three positions available: inspector, electronic voting specialist and clerk. The inspector is the person in charge of the polling place who must have transportation and ability to pick up and return election equipment. The electronic voting specialist (EVS) is the person who manages the voting equipment on Election Day. And, at least three clerks are needed at each polling place to process and assist voters. The department especially needs people who speak Spanish, Chinese or Tagalog. The office is also recruiting 10 people with transportation to serve as stand-by clerks who can be dispatched anywhere in the county on Election Day. Poll workers are paid $110 for clerks and $150 for inspectors, plus an additional $20 for attending the training class and $30 for the EVS training, if they complete their service at the polls. There are 137 voting precincts for the June 5 Primary Election which are located at schools, churches, parks, libraries, fire stations, local businesses, and other public buildings. Poll worker duties include attending the appropriate training classes held in advance of the election, setting up the polling place on Election Day, opening the polls, assisting voters, closing the polls, certifying the work completed, and delivering election materials to the election return center. For information or to apply, visit www.votescount.com.
Natural Look
MAY 2018
LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 5
MEASURE D
RED CROSS
Applications for Measure D Taxpayer Oversight Committee being accepted
Red Cross announces Hero Award recipients
Staff report SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is currently accepting applications from members of the community for the new Measure D Taxpayer Oversight Committee. This independent oversight committee will be tasked with reviewing how the funds generated by the transportation tax are being spent. The responsibilities of the committee will include: • Reviewing expenditures on an annual basis to ensure they conform to the ordinance • Reviewing the annual audit and report prepared by an independent auditor, describing how funds were spent • Producing a publicly available Annual Report of Oversight Activities Members of the Measure D Taxpayer Oversight Committee must be residents of Santa Cruz County who are neither elected officials of any government, nor employees from any agency or organization that either oversees or implements projects funded from the proceeds of the sales tax. The committee will be made up of community members that represent the geographical, social, cultural, and economic diversity of Santa Cruz County to ensure maximum benefit for transportation users, and it shall include at least one person with an accounting or fiscal management background. The deadline for applications is June 1. For information and applications, visit sccrtc.org/ funding-planning/measured/taxpayer-oversight.
Staff report APTOS — The American Red Cross of the Central Coast will be honoring a group of community members for their acts of courage or compassion, at the chapter’s 13th Annual Heroes Breakfast on June 15. A committee of local community leaders selected the 2018 Central Coast Hero Award recipients based on the degree to which their actions uphold the values of the Red Cross and have a positive impact on the residents of the Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. Those to be honored are: • Animal Rescue Hero: Darla Smith • Disaster Services Heroes: James Gruber and Paul Guzman • Education Hero: Mary Gaukel Forster • Environment Hero: Shelby O’Neil • First Responder Heroes: Dan Perry, Forest Gleitsman, Ziad Bawarshi • Humanitarian Hero – Adult: Jessica Berg • Humanitarian Hero – Youth: Matthew Gibbs • International Services Hero: Tammy Renfer • Medical Hero: Arthur Dover, M.D. • Service to Armed Forces Hero: Angel Hernandez The Heroes Breakfast on June 15 will take place at Twin Lakes Church, located at 2701 Cabrillo College Drive. Registration will open at 8 a.m. that day, and the program will run from 8:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. The annual breakfast is a community event that supports the lifesaving programs and emergency services the local Red Cross chapter provides for the nearly 750,000 residents of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties. To purchase tickets to the breakfast, visit redcross.org/centralcoastheroes.
WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS GET 50% OFF VACCINES with your pet’s Wellness Exam Keep your pets happy and healthy by bringing them in for a Wellness Exam. You can take advantage of a special offer: Schedule your pet’s Wellness Exam on any Wednesday and get 50% off most vaccines! Plus, we offer many other outstanding services, including: • Small Animal Surgery • Radiology • Dermatology • Dental • Diagnostics • Preventative Care
Call 831.688.4242 to schedule an exam WEDNESDAY WELLNESS EXAM
50off %
VACCINES
SANTA CRUZ ART LEAGUE
BRING IN THIS COUPON ON ANY WEDNESDAY TO RECEIVE A 50% DISCOUNT ON VACCINES GIVEN WITH WELLNESS EXAM Offer does not include Influenza Vaccine or apply for illness and emergency exams. Offer excludes products and medications. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Pass along to friends and family Promotion Code: ACMAY2018
10404 Soquel Drive, Aptos • aptos-creeksidepets.com
Contributed photo
High schoolers’ artwork on display Staff report SANTA CRUZ — Santa Cruz Art League will present the 63rd Annual High School Show, featuring high school artwork from students all over Santa Cruz County, through May 20. More than 400 pieces from high schools across the county are on display. The art in this exhibition includes a variety of mediums and it has been put into six categories: photography, painting, sculpture, mixed media, drawing and print making. A panel of local judges, who represent a broad range of different artistic styles and mediums, deliberated together to select first, second and third place awards as well as one honorable mention award for each category. Many artists who have had their artwork shown in the High School Show have gone on to become successful artists locally and beyond. A High School Show alumni exhibition is also on display. Santa Cruz Art League is located at 526 Broadway in Santa Cruz. For information, visit www.scal.org.
MAY 2018
6 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel
History Corner
Continued from page 1
John Hibble leads a tour of the Aptos History Museum for local students. Aptos History Museum archives
county. We have three museums in Aptos, four if you count New Brighton State Beach’s Pacific Migrations. The other three are Seacliff State Beach Visitor Center, Cabrillo College Gallery, and the Aptos History Museum. All of our Aptos museums are government supported, except for the Aptos History Museum. To quote Hamlet, “Therein lies the rub.” The history museum has been graced with very reasonable rent since it opened. Our annual Swing into Spring fundraiser generally brings in most of the rent, and together with three or four special presentations, we were able to pay the bills. However, this year, the museum’s rent has been substantially increased, so we need the community’s help to save this
local treasure. You can make a difference. Short term, you can help by becoming a museum member and/or by coming to our annual fundraiser on May 5. It is a Kentucky Derby party at the Best Western Seacliff Inn with mint juleps, a no-host bar, appetizers, a silent auction, live music, and we will watch the Derby together. There will be prizes for the best women’s and men’s Derby outfits. The auction will have amazing items. If we can bring in more income, it will help immensely. You can also donate on the Aptos History Museum Facebook page or visit www.facebook. com/donate/2064329983837793. Long term, we need to have an endowment established through the
Community Foundation, and/or someone who can help us acquire the building with a long-term funding plan. We are looking for a few super heroes to help save Aptos history. Might that be you or someone you know? Would you like to have a museum named after you? We have built our history collection with generous donations of artifacts from the community over the course of 32 years. The museum opened 12 years ago with the help of, all volunteer, labor and staffing. We have provided local history field trips to over 3,000 children and their teachers with hands-on exhibits designed to stimulate young minds. The museum has provided stories and photos to businesses and residents and continues
to be a resource for information. Aptos is an amazing place. Many of you have never seen the museum. Come see what you have been missing at 7605 Old Dominion Court, Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free. Contact 688-9514 or john@aptoschamber.com and help keep the stories of our past alive.
MAY 2018
LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 7
Health Rankings
Photo by Johanna MILLER
Continued from page 1
snapshots of the state of health in areas all over the U.S. ASR General Manager Michelle Luedtke reported data to the crowd, and went on to explain the idea of “health equity,” one of the ranking’s main focuses. “While ‘equality’ means that everyone should have the same thing, ‘equity’ recognizes that resources and opportunities aren’t uniformly available,” Luedtke said. Out of 57 counties ranked in California, Santa Cruz County ranked 16 in Health Outcomes (longevity and quality of life) and 13 in Health Factors (behaviors, clinical care, environment, economic). It also came below the violent crime rate percentage for the state. However, the county’s percentage of alcohol-impaired driving deaths, drug overdose and injury deaths of 35 percent all exceed state findings of 25 percent. Children and youth were a big subject at the meeting, with a speech by First 5 of Santa Cruz County’s Vicki Boriack touching on the importance of quality prenatal care and the county’s issues with low birth weights and teenage pregnancy. Keisha Frost, CEO of the United Way of Santa Cruz County, addressed poverty issues in the area. According to Frost, a recent study revealed that 3 in 20 children in Santa Cruz County were living in poverty, with 5 in 20 of them being children of color. “While there are organizations here doing some excellent work, there are plenty of missed opportunities,” Frost said. “We have been given a chance to set a new course. We need to ask ourselves, ‘How can we change these odds?’” County Health Rankings & Roadmaps is a program created by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. According to Brutschy, the program is a
New Chief
United Way of Santa Cruz County’s CEO Keisha Frost speaks about health in Santa Cruz County at a special conference on at Watsonville Public Library.
powerful tool that local organizations hope to continue using in the future. “Santa Cruz is not a large county,”
she said. “We must work together, to do whatever we can to achieve health and well-being for all.”
To view the full list of rankings for Santa Cruz County, visit countyhealthrankings. org.
Continued from page 1
Tools to Make Parenting Easier a member of U.S. Forest Service’s Incident Management Teams for the past 13 years. Lowe, who grew up in the Bay Area and graduated from Lynbrook High School, said he would visit Santa Cruz County beaches as a child, recalling trips to Seacliff State Beach and seeing the SS Palo Alto. While working at a restaurant in Cupertino years ago, Lowe met firefighters from San Jose and Palo Alto, who encouraged him to consider a career in firefighting. After earning his associate degree in fire service technology and a bachelor of science degree in fire administration, he was hired by the Chico Fire Department, where he has served since. Lowe said the Chico Fire Department has the “same jurisdictional diversity” as Aptos, from its geographic makeup of ocean and cliffs, to the structures and freeways. He also described CFD as a “smaller department,” which responded to about 13,500 calls in 2017. “You have to be very diverse in your skill sets,” he said. Lowe comes to the Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District at a time when its previous chief, Jon Jones, received a vote of no confidence by the Aptos/La
Selva Firefighters Local 3535 in early 2017. The firefighters claimed that Jones lacked the communication and leadership skills to run the department. Later in the year, the board of directors voted to not extend Jones’ contract. Lowe said he plans on being “open and transparent” with not only the firefighters and management, but the community as well. “If you don’t learn from past mistakes, you are destined to repeat them,” he said. “I want to make sure I listen to the concerns of the community and the personnel, board members and the firefighters themselves.” Ron Prince, who has served as interim fire chief, will stay with the district as a consultant on a temporary basis. “We are excited to welcome Aaron to the Aptos/La Selva family,” said Board President Joe Foster. “In addition to his wealth of experience, it was Aaron’s enthusiasm for the position and his desire to be a part of the community that shined through during the selection process.” Lowe will move to Aptos once he starts his new role. He and his wife have been married for 17 years, and have two sons.
First 5 Santa Cruz County triplep.first5scc.org 831.465.2217
A cozy place to be. Your one-stop place for birthday parties, special events, and annual memberships! Call today for more information. Located inside the Capitola Mall 1855 41st Avenue 1 (888) 424-8035 Stay connected!
Community Food Hotline
MAY 2018
8 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel
An artistic journey SC County Bank opens 50th exhibit Staff report SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The opening of “Native Son :: Ed Penniman,” marks the 50th art exhibition for the Santa Cruz County Bank Arts Collaborative since February 2004. Native Son is a solo exhibition of the
“Cowell Beach North” by Ed Penniman
work of Ed Penniman, a Santa Cruz native, whose paintings are on display in the bank’s five countywide locations. Penniman’s familiarity with the coastal landscape of Santa Cruz inspired his first oil painting at the age of 12. He was mentored by his grandmother, Lenora N. Penniman, who was one of the “Santa
Cruz Three” famed women landscape painters of the 1920-40s. He is a dedicated outdoor and studio painter who has followed the painting trail of Winslow Homer throughout the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. His artistic journey has found him in the West Indies, the California Coast, Italy, France, Hawaii, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Mexico, the Southwest and Midwest, the Canadian border, and following Gaugin’s path to Tahiti, Moorea and Rarotonga. “One of the greatest things about being an artist is to immerse myself in nature or foreign culture,” Penniman said. “I love how nature comes alive after I have been painting for a while. The same thing happens with people who see me painting
quietly. Art provides a wonderful crosscultural experience that allows me to penetrate deeper into different cultures and affirm my belief that the family of man is one.” Native Son, curated by Mary Anne Carson, director of the Santa Cruz County Bank Arts Collaborative, and Janet Silverglate, includes 66 contemporary landscape paintings installed in five banking branches across the county, in Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Artwork on display is for sale with 100 percent of sales going directly to the artist. For information, visit sccountybank.com/art.cfm.
Capitola artist Ed Penniman is shown in his studio with his painting that was used for the Evening of Wine and Roses poster in 2013. File photo by Tarmo Hannula
MAY 2018
LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 9
PET
Care
Those creepy, crawly blood-sucking parasites are popping up everywhere! It’s tick season around here and everyone needs to be ready. What is a tick? Ticks are considered an arthropod ectoparasite and are an arachnid. They are related to spiders, mites and even scorpions. They feed exclusively on the blood of the animal they land on. On the central coast of California the type of ticks most often identified are the American dog tick (dermacentor variabilis), the Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), and the Western Blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus). In brief, the tick has a relatively short life cycle. Adult ticks feed on animals, they lay their eggs in fall, then the eggs hatch into larva, larva feeds on small mammals, larva molts into a nymph, nymph feeds on dogs and spreads infections, nymph molts into an adult tick and feeds on animals again. So, besides the creepiness and the idea of ticks sucking blood, why worry? When I ask this question, most people respond with Lyme disease, which is true. Ticks carry all sorts of contagious diseases and cause several serious illnesses. Fortunately, many of these diseases we do not see here in Aptos. However, with animals being transported across the country and often internationally we are starting to see pockets of tick borne diseases that are new to California so we should all take the extra
Ticks
step and understand what ticks are capable of and how to prevent them from latching on. Aside from ticks being super gross, why keep them off of us? It’s true Lyme is one of many tick borne diseases, but ticks transmit bacteria, rickettsial diseases, fungus, protozoa and possibly viruses. They can also cause a systemic reaction triggering debilitating paralysis, toxicosis, hypersensitivity and anemia. The diseases often identified from tick exposure include the rickessial diseases: Anaplasmosis and erhlichiosis, Lyme disease, tick paralysis, babeisiosis, “Rocky Mountain Spotted fever,” tularemia and many more, according to the CDC, and most will affect our pets. The most commonly publicized tick transmitted disease is Lyme disease. Lyme disease is carried and transmitted by the tick species Ixodes. Lyme is caused by a spirochete bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that is spread by a tick bite, not the tick itself. It causes arthritis pain in the joints due to the bacteria infiltrating into connective tissue, muscles, and lymph nodes. It also can cause a fever, kidney disease, heart problems and neurologic disease. Most veterinary clinics offer a blood test to screen for the Lyme bacteria. Early diagnosis and treatment can ward off the unwanted side effects of Lyme disease. In my opinion, the scariest of tick borne
By DR. NICHOLE M BROOKS, DVM
illnesses is tick paralysis. This has been reported in people too! When the tick bites it injects a toxin into the body that it has attached. The poison that is injected into its host is a neurotoxin called holocylotoxin. In short, this neurotoxin interferes with the release of acetylcholine which stops nerves from working and causes a progressive flaccid paralysis, essentially paralyzing the victim. How do you remove a tick? It’s a commonly asked question and can be more complicated than it needs to be. If you search online, “how to remove a tick?”, there are many, many responses and videos all dictating how this process should be done. To keep this conversation short, when the tick is removed, make sure it is dead. If not sure if it is alive or dead it can be simply soaked in a zip lock bag contained with either water or rubbing alcohol. No matter how you decide to remove a tick off your pet one piece of advice is: Do not dig into your pet’s skin to get the head or other parts of the tick out. I can assure you that if you have removed most of the tick … it is dead. Ticks can’t survive without their head and once decapitated they can no longer bite. Your pet has an amazing immune system to dispose of this foreign tissue. A simple warm compress and some topical antibiotic ointment is quite enough to help your pet with secondary infections from the wound. Digging at a tick site only
causes inflammation and infection. If the bite site becomes infected, seek help from your veterinarian to provide treatment and set up time to screen for the contagious diseases spread by tick bites. Tick prevention for our household pets is fairly easy. Many products include tick prevention with their flea prevention. We have made topical, oral and collars for tick prevention. Check the label of your flea medicine to ensure it’s full coverage for ticks. Check to make sure it covers all kinds of ticks and how long tick prevention persists. Talk to your veterinarian or a veterinary nurse, they can help you decide what kind of prevention is most appropriate for your pets. Ticks are problem for everyone, humans and animals. If we keep ticks off our pets, then we can better protect them, ourselves and our families. Remember that tick diseases, even though publicized and many with life-altering side effects, if diagnosed early can be cured. Due to the long term and short term side effects of these diseases, we all recommend screening for the most common diseases every year. And remember, don’t go after your pet’s skin for the left over tick parts! ••• Dr. Nichole Brooks, DVM of Del Mar Pet Hospital, 7525 Sunset Way in Aptos, can be reached at delmarpethospital@ gmail.com or 688-2016.
MAY 2018
10 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel
Second District Update
Finalizing and understanding commercial cannabis regulations
By ZACH FRIEND
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SUPERVISOR
Over the last four years the Board of Supervisors has been working on policies around the dispensing and cultivation of medical cannabis. While work around cannabis in general will be evolving for quite some time, the Board is poised to adopt a commercial cultivation ordinance in early May. Creating a framework for medicinal sales (through local dispensaries) was the first thing addressed by the ordinance a few years ago. While there have been updates to that ordinance, overall the framework for medicinal sales has been established. Creating a framework for commercial cultivation — both on the medicinal side and now, through state law change, the recreational side, has proved more difficult. Lots of questions on the environmental, procedural and social elements of creating a new formal commercial cultivation process have been raised. I’ve had numerous community and neighborhood
discussions on this issue and heard similar issues during these meetings: how will enforcement be done on those violating the ordinance? Will rural neighborhoods and character be preserved? Shouldn’t this be grown in areas zoned for commercial activity (such as commercial agricultural or manufacturing/commercial districts?) Will the regulations the Board is considering be too onerous and drive people back into the black market? What are the traffic, noise, smell and water impacts? How are fire risks mitigated? How much should be grown per parcel and what is a fair minimum parcel size? And much more. These aren’t easy questions to address. During this multi-year process the Board has maintained three overarching objectives: 1. Protect neighborhoods; 2. Protect the environment; 3. Provide enough cannabis to meet the medicinal needs of local residents. After county commissions including the Commission on the Environment, Agricultural Policy Advisory Commission and Fish and Wildlife Commission reviewed it and provided comments the Planning Commission held two extensive hearings to refine input and provide recommendations. The Board of Supervisors held a special meeting in early April dedicated to this issue and created a draft framework. In late April the Board held another public hearing and a first reading of the draft ordinance. Adoption is expected in early May. The ordinance has emerged with the following components (the entire ordinance can be found on the county’s
website). Setbacks: One of the most common complaints regarding commercial cultivation deals with odors and concerns about setbacks from habitable structures. The Board has included 400-foot minimum setbacks from adjoining habitable structures. Minimum parcel sizes: Ensuring that commercial cultivation occurs in the properly zoned locations is key. The Board limited the zoning types that can even be considered for commercial cultivation (ensuring it won’t occur in residential neighborhoods, for example) and also established minimal parcel sizes on other zones. Coastal Zone protections: Protecting coastal resources and character are important. The Board put additional restrictions on cultivation within the Coastal Zone plus a one-mile buffer. For commercial agricultural parcels, for example, no new greenhouse or hoop house construction could occur. This prevents new construction from occurring in this sensitive area. Timber Zones: Significant concerns have been expressed regarding the impact to watersheds, wildlife and timber resources resulting from allowing commercial cannabis operations on timber zoned properties. Proposed regulations note that only sites with existing cannabis cultivation operations or pre-existing non-cannabis commercial uses would be eligible for licensing and permits, greatly reducing the possibility of expansion into timber areas. Riparian Protections: The proposed
ordinance include required setbacks to perennial, intermittent and ephemeral streams. Additionally, it strengthens riparian protection by prohibiting any exceptions to the required setbacks for purposes of allowing commercial cannabis activities. Cottage (Smaller) Cultivation: There has been some concern that the new regulations will make it difficult for smaller cultivators to continue to exist (or drive them back into the black market). The Board has proposed an option for small (500 maximum square foot) commercial grows on limited zones for long-term existing growers without any complaints against them. With a minimum parcel size of 2.5 acres, these limited grows provide options to bring some of these growers into the regulated market. Enforcement and Inspections: Robust enforcement is an important element of having successful regulations. Along with an annual renewal process, site inspections at the time of application as well as regular inspections of the site at least once every three years are built into the proposed ordinance. A team that includes code compliance, environmental planning specialists, the Sheriff’s Office and more are part of the enforcement team. The above are just a handful of the many elements of the new regulations. State regulations continue to evolve and local regulations will also need to be monitored to ensure they are meeting local environmental needs and the needs of the community overall. As always, I appreciate your feedback. If you have any additional questions, please do feel free to contact me at 454-2200.
Financial Advice
Accepting market volatility After blasting off in January with the S&P 500 rising almost 6 percent, February and March have been met with large swings up and down, ending down 0.8 percent on a total return basis at the end of March. With this recent volatility, now is a good time to understand what is going on and how you might be affected.
By GARY E. CROXALL, CFP® and SOREN. E CROXALL, CFP® 2017 was a boring year for the financial markets. It seemed like every day last year the S&P 500 and NASDAQ creeped higher and higher. In fact, 2017 was one of the calmest year for the markets in decades. 2018 has started off a different story.
Factors affecting the market As we write this article (early April) there are several headwinds that the markets are facing. The Federal Reserve has a new chairman, Jerome Powell, and there is uncertainty about if the Fed will increase its pace of rate hikes for the remainder of the year in order to tamp down potential rising inflation. There have been escalating tensions in regards to trade with
the President announcing proposed tariffs against Chinese imports with China swiftly responding with their own proposed tariffs on U.S. imports. Whether or not this leads to a trade war or renewed negotiations remains to be seen, but if there is one thing that markets hate, it is uncertainty. Lastly, while the technology sector got off to a strong start for the first part of the quarter, concerns over consumer’s right to privacy and possible regulatory concerns began weighing down the sector in March. What you can do If you haven’t reviewed your portfolio in a while, now would be a good time to look at your underlying investments and ensure that they are still aligned with your overall goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Last year it was easy to become complacent, but now it’s time to really understand what’s in your portfolio and why you have it. We believe in proper diversification and not putting “all your eggs in one basket.” If after a review of your portfolio, you find that you are too heavily invested in one asset class for your individual goals, consider reallocating. It’s important to work with a financial professional who can help review your overall portfolio and identify areas that may need an adjustment. A financial professional can also help explain potential tax implications of making changes within your portfolio depending on the types of account you own. If you have both short and long term goals, consider the buckets approach for your investments. Short term goals, like savings for a down payment on a home or building up an emergency fund should be conservatively invested. Longer term goals like retirement (depending on your age) can allow you to take the perspective of a longer term time horizon, which may
allow you to ride out the short term ups and downs we are currently seeing in the markets. Although it is never comfortable when the financial markets retreat, it is important to at least try to keep things in perspective. Market pullbacks happen on a regular basis. Although not new, this kind of volatility and market drop just has not happened recently. The market has been up so long that it is easy to forget the reality of the occasional downturns. In fact, before this current downturn the S&P 500 stock index had not fallen 5 percent from its peak since 2016 (June). As we wrote in one of our previous articles: “It is human nature to get excited about the good news, just as it is easy to overreact to bad news.” We encourage individuals to keep a clear focus on their objectives and not to overreact. 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. Indices are unmanaged measures of market conditions. It is not possible to invest directly into an index. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Examples used as illustration only. Investment decisions should be based on individual’s goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk.
MAY 2018
LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 11
Ask Nicole: Preventing parental burnout By NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW Being a parent is hard work, even when you love your kids deeply. In some ways, parenting has gotten easier as my kids have grown older. The days and sleepless nights filled with dirty diapers, tantrums, and shopping-tripsgone-wild are long-gone. I have more energy to enjoy being their mom. In other ways, parenting has gotten harder as they’ve grown older. The exhaustion from constantly being “on” when they were little has been replaced by exhaustion from constantly negotiating family rules and trying to figure out when it’s time to be involved in their business and when it’s time to stay on the sidelines. There have been times over the years when the exhaustion has left me feeling frustrated, ineffective and burnt out as a parent. In those moments, I’ve had to remind myself it’s OK to take a step back and take care of my own needs so that I can step back in and be a positive parent. 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, I enjoy being a mother ... most of the time. I work full-time and have three kids under age 10. They’re great kids but need a lot from me. My husband is also wonderful, but when he’s not working, he just wants to watch TV. Most of the time, I just keep going because I have to. But sometimes I get stressed and lose my temper, and then I feel like a terrible parent, which makes me more stressed and angry and then no one wants to be around me. What can I do to break this cycle? • Luz Dear Luz, I think you just described the daily life of many parents! Being a parent can be extremely rewarding, and it can be extremely demanding, exhausting and stressful. Many parents experience “parental burnout,” especially when they feel a lack of control, overloaded, underappreciated, or isolated. Here are some tips to try: Develop a self-care routine. This might seem impossible or impractical, but taking care of your needs will make it easier to be calm, patient and present. Think about activities that make you feel content, relaxed, relieved or energized — perhaps it’s exercising, listening to music,
Health department issues shellfish warning Staff report SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers not to eat recreationally harvested mussels, clams or whole scallops from Santa Cruz County. Dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins have been detected in mussels from this area. The naturally occurring PSP toxins can cause illness or death in humans. Cooking does not destroy the toxin. Health advisories due to PSP are also in place for Alameda and Contra Costa, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. These health advisories apply to the entirety of the counties including inside the San Francisco Bay.
The warning does not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops or oysters from approved sources. State law permits only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters or dealers to sell these products. Shellfish sold by certified harvesters and dealers are subject to frequent mandatory testing to monitor for toxins. Early symptoms of PSP include tingling of the lips and tongue, which may begin within minutes after eating toxic shellfish. These symptoms are typically followed by loss of balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. In severe poisonings, complete muscular paralysis and death from asphyxiation can occur. For information, call the toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 5534133 or visit tinyurl.com/y9k9p5jc.
sitting in silence, cooking, or socializing with friends. Try building in time to do at least one of those things every day, even if it’s for five minutes at a time. Focus on making it part of your daily routine so that it becomes a habit, like getting dressed or brushing your teeth. Ask your partner for support. Talk to your husband about the stress you’re experiencing. Give him some examples of ways he could support you — helping with chores, watching the kids while you take time for yourself, or helping with morning or nighttime routines — then ask if he’s willing to support you in this way. Let him know that getting this type of support is important for your physical and emotional health and will help you be fully present and available for the whole family. Teach your children to do things independently. It might feel like extra work to teach children how to get dressed, feed themselves, help with chores, or cooperate with each other, but the reward will be worth it when these and other daily tasks require less of your time. Teaching children these skills early in life will also build their confidence and ability to learn new skills and behaviors throughout their lives. Have realistic expectations and be kind to yourself. Recognize when you’re feeling overloaded and resist the temptation to say yes to everything. Remember there’s no such thing as a perfect parent or
partner, and it’s exhausting to try to be everything for everyone. When you’re feeling stressed, take some deep breaths and say, “I’ve got this,” or “I will get through this.” If you lose your temper, give yourself permission to take a “time out” away from the stressful situation. Take a few deep breaths and tell yourself, “I’m doing the best I can. I will try again.” Final thoughts: Parental burnout is a real thing. This is why taking care of yourself is one of the core principles of positive parenting. If it feels foreign to put your needs first, start with something small and do it consistently so that taking care of yourself becomes as natural as breathing air. ••• 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.
MAY 2018
12 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel
SPORTS
TONY NUNEZ
captured a doubles crown for the third straight season — he won the last two with now-alumnus Jackson Ward. APTOS — The Aptos High Mariners The twosome changed into sweats and have been the cream of the crop in the hoodies, received its championship medal Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League all and was long gone before Safari scored the season long. winning point in what turned out to be one That trend continued at April 25’s league of the best matches of the year. championships. The defending champ controlled the Senior Kourosh Safari repeated as the final set from start to finish to hold off SCCAL singles champ with a grueling 6-3, Tierney for the second straight season. 2-6, 6-2 win over Santa Cruz High’s Jack Last season, Safari cruised to his first Tierney, while the Mariners’ duo of Carter title in 6-0, 7-5 fashion. This time around Bond and Jake Kluger breezed through — with some history and a friendship on Soquel High’s pair of Lincoln Cooley and the mind — was different. “I met Jack last year. I didn’t know him. We’re friends now,” Safari said. “It’s a bit different. This is my friend, but I have to beat him. It’s a bit more mixed emotions. I feel kind of bad for him.” Those “mixed emotions” were unnoticeable when the racquets were swinging. Both players were merciless throughout, and hitting several winners that left the other shaking their head. In the end, Safari, with his deadly slicing backhand, proved too much for the upstart sophomore. “I feel like mentally I’ve gotten a lot better in the last two or three weeks,” Safari said. Safari, Kluger and Bond will advance to the Aptos High senior Kourosh Safari uses a backhand to return the ball toward Santa Cruz High’s Central Coast Section Jack Tierney during the SCCAL singles championship match at the Seascape Sports Club in individual championship Aptos on April 25. Safari repeated as champ with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win. Photo by Tony Nunez at Imperial Tennis Courts
By TONY NUNEZ
Casey Valcarcel, 6-1, 6-3, for the doubles title at the Seascape Sports Club. The two victories capped the Mariners’ dominant run through the SCCAL this season. Aptos defended its team title with a perfect 10-0 record in league matches a year after finishing 9-1. “It’s two great seasons in a row and we just kind of keep building on that,” said Kluger, a junior who switched around with Bond at No. 3 and 4 singles throughout the SCCAL season. Kluger and Bond weren’t pushed much in their 40-minute match, as the latter
WITH
in Aptos on May 15. A year after advancing out of the first round, Safari said he has high hopes for his final go-around. “I want to go as far as I can — ideally, I win it,” Safari said. “We’ll just see what happens…I feel like I’ve got decent chances there.” The way Kluger and Bond see it, everything from here on is icing on what has been an incredibly satisfying cake. The two will return to their singles slots in next week’s CCS team tournament, which starts on May 2. The Mariners, who were 13-2, will find out their opponent and where they play at April 30’s seeding meeting. Aptos last year fell 7-0 to Carlmont High in the first round. “Hopefully we pickup a couple of matches, maybe even win one,” Bond said. “It’s definitely a step up, going over the hill.” Bond and Kluger were taking their championship photos as Safari and Tierney moved into the third set. Fresh off an error-filled second set, Safari corrected his mistakes from the getgo in the third. With the title on the line, he jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Tierney battled back to make it 3-2. Safari, however, refocused and forced Tierney into costly errors down the stretch. The latter chucked his racquet into the air in frustration after Safari repeated. The two met at center court in a friendly embrace after. “I talked to him earlier a couple of weeks ago and I said, ‘dude, I’m not guaranteed to win this and neither are you,’” Safari said. “‘For league, I want to win, but if I don’t win, I want you to win.’ We meet in the finals. It’s kinda finicky. It’s like, ‘how do I deal with those emotions?’”
Aptos High junior Carter Bond swings away during the SCCAL doubles championship match at the Seascape Sports Club in Aptos. Photo by Tony Nunez
MAY 2018
SPORTS
LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 13
APTOS SCHEDULE All home games take place at Aptos High School, 100 Mariner Way
Baseball May May May May May
1 @ Santa Cruz, 4 p.m. 4 @ Westmont, 4 p.m. 5 vs. Pacific Grove, 1 p.m. 8 vs. Soquel, 4 p.m. 10 vs. St. Francis, 4 p.m.
Softball May May May May
3 @ Harbor, 4 p.m. 5 vs. Saratoga, 11 a.m. 8 vs. St. Francis, 4 p.m. 10 @ Soquel, 4 p.m.
SOQUEL SCHEDULE All home games take place at Soquel High School, 401 Soquel San Jose Rd.
Baseball May May May May
1 @ Scotts Valley, 4:30 p.m. 4 @ Harbor, 4 p.m. 8 @ Aptos, 4 p.m. 10 vs. Santa Cruz, 4 p.m.
Softball
May 1 @ Scotts Valley, 4:30 p.m. May 3 vs. San Lorenzo Valley, 4 p.m. May 8 @ Santa Cruz, 3:45 p.m. May 9 vs. Harbor, 4:30 p.m. May 10 vs. Aptos, 4 p.m.
California Highway Patrol officer Bryan Mutoza poses as a pedestrian on Portola Drive in Live Oak as part of a CHP operation to heighten awareness to crosswalk safety. Photo by Tarmo Hannula
CHP conducts crosswalk sting Citations to 34 scofflaws By TODD GUILD SOQUEL — California Highway Patrol officers stationed at three locations in midcounty on April 25 wrote out 34 citations to motorists who did not stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk. That “pedestrian” was CHP officer Bryan Mutoza, who was acting as a decoy for a “pedestrian safety enforcement operation,” which might better be described as a crosswalk sting. The locations were Soquel Drive and Hardin Way, Soquel Drive and Robertson Street and Portola Drive and 36th Avenue. During the operation, Mutoza dressed in plain clothes and pretended to be walking in a crosswalk. Meanwhile, three CHP officers waited in their cruisers for a driver to stop as required by law. Or, not. In fact, many people went through the crosswalk despite the fact that Mutoza was in it. In some instances, he said he was forced to jump out of the way. According to California law, motorists must stop for anyone in a crosswalk, no matter where they are within the crossing. Those that violate the law face a ticket that could cost more than $230, not including increases to insurance premiums. “Pedestrian safety is a key issue in our community, and the CHP is committed to
upholding pedestrian safety laws to protect our citizens,” CHP spokeswoman Trista Drake said. According to Drake, drivers should pay attention and be on the lookout for pedestrians, and slow down in areas where pedestrians are likely to be. In addition, motorists should never pass a car that is stopped for pedestrians. Pedestrians, meanwhile, should cross at the corner, at crosswalks or intersections wherever possible. They should also look both ways for traffic before crossing, make eye contact with the driver, and make certain cars are yielding before crossing. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. CHP Sgt. Grant Boles said the effort was sparked by a recent increase in pedestrian injuries and deaths. The latest occurred on April 4, when Celestine Glover was seriously injured as she walked in a crosswalk on Airport Boulevard in Watsonville. “With all the recent distractions that people have in their vehicles, we thought it was important to remind people to look for pedestrians in crosswalks,” Boles said. He added that the CHP will continue to do the crosswalk operations, about once a month.
MAY 2018
14 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel
Valencia Elementary Ask a Broker work begins To ask a question go to: primehl.com/ask-a-broker or call (831) 761-2200
Sergio Angeles | Broker/Owner | NMLS #341672
My parents are ready to buy a home, but my mother wants to buy the land and build their home. Are there programs that can help buy her land to build her home? Is there a possibility for a first time home buyer to buy land to build or is it easier just to buy a home that is already built? — Rosa Machuca
Excellent question Rosa. Like almost every financial question asked the answer is, it depends. Programs that would help you buy the land and build a house on it might be available through a farm bureau that is looking to help a farmer with his crop. For a first time buyer I think it would be more difficult to try something like this. If your parents have the ability to pay for the land cash then they would own the land and could probably get a loan to build a house or get a manufactured home put on the land. This option always sounds nice but takes both access to money and some knowledge of construction. If you have the ability to get a small down payment, anywhere from $10K to $20K then buying a home already built on land is the easiest and less costly way to go. I hope I answered your question. Please feel free to write back or have your parents call me if they have further questions or would like to get qualified for a home loan. I’m fluent in both English and Spanish. Sergio Angeles
Staff report
WATSONVILLE — Workers at Valencia Elementary School have begun a bathroom upgrade project, Pajaro Valley Unified School District spokeswoman Alicia Jimenez said. The bathroom project was originally scheduled to take place during this summer, but was moved to April 20 to allow for the installation of six modular classrooms during the summer. The classrooms will replace the six portable classrooms. The district will use a combination of
Measure L funds and district funding to complete the $1.5 million projects. PVUSD is planning the project to ensure the least disruptive schedule and timeline. As the start date approaches, site administration will reach out to the school community to communicate what to expect during the work. “Our staff and community are pleased to begin with these projects; we look forward to welcoming the students to the 2018-19 school year with safer and new installations,” said Valencia Principal Caryn Lane.
Study finds disparity in coastal restoration projects Staff report SANTA CRUZ — Stream restoration efforts along the coast of Central California are unevenly distributed, with activity more likely to occur in areas that are more highly populated and dominated by residents who are “whiter, wealthier and more educated,” according to an analysis by researchers at UC Santa Cruz. In addition, coastal stream restoration is heavily concentrated in Santa Cruz, Morro Bay, and southern Santa Barbara County, creating “restoration deserts” with virtually no activity, said lead author Bronwen Stanford, a doctoral candidate in environmental studies. “Restoration projects were really unevenly distributed, and a lot of the Central Coast had no projects at all,” Stanford said. “This disparity is troubling for social and ecological reasons. It begs the question: are we overlooking certain communities or certain types of ecological sites?” Stanford’s paper, “Where and why does restoration happen? Ecological and sociopolitical influences on stream restoration in Coastal California,” appears in the May issue of Biological Conservation, which is online now. Stanford’s study looked at 699 sites of publicly funded stream restoration projects between Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara counties that were completed between 1983 and 2017. Stream restoration projects benefit ecosystems by improving fish habitat, water quality, and riparian habitat — the interface between land and rivers or streams. Human-oriented benefits include improved recreational access, flood protection, and educational outreach and training. Stanford’s analysis found that restoration projects target many areas of ecological need. The presence of native fish was the biggest ecological factor driving the distribution of restoration sites, with steelhead present in 95 percent of sites. Water quality and riparian conditions were other environmental drivers. On the social side, Stanford found that stream restoration occurred most frequently in a particular type of community: those with higher percentages of residents who are wealthy, non-Hispanic white, and have college degrees. Stanford identified three mechanisms that could explain the distribution pattern: 1. Communities with higher incomes could be better able to provide matching funds required by most restoration grants. 2. Wealthier residents with higher levels of education might be more adept at securing a disproportionate share of restoration funding. 3. Local demographics may influence the location of restoration organizations, which in turn may influence site selection. Stanford found that restoration is often dependent on the existence of a local organization, and they are more likely to be present in areas with wealthy, white, and educated populations. The results suggest that not all residents are benefitting equally from public funds
spent on restoration projects, and not all areas of ecological need are getting attention, said Stanford. “Most restoration was hyper local — happening within 12 miles of a restoration organization’s office — so we might be missing some really important sites that aren’t right next to an office,” Stanford said. The social disparities didn’t surprise co-author Erika Zavaleta, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz. “We know that other environmental benefits, like clean air and water, are not equitably distributed in California to even greater degrees,” Zavaleta said. “Whatever the cause of this inequity, the outcome is a relative lack of restoration investment in lower-income communities with larger populations of color and with less college education. Environmental quality is foundational to health and well-being, and disadvantaged communities need more investment, not less.” Conservationists, she said, can and should be looking for opportunities to restore sites and take on other environmental projects in communities where these investments are lacking. Stanford, like Zavaleta, suggests a more diverse conservation workforce would help benefit more types of communities, and she called for a regional approach to environmental planning. “We need to think regionally, because we are missing places,” she said. “Areas like the Salinas River watershed are important for fish and other wildlife. They are highly impacted by human activities, and yet had relatively few restoration projects. A regional approach would help us focus on areas of highest need, rather than just communities that are good at applying for funding.” Ross Clark is director of the Central Coast Wetlands Group at Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, which performs restoration work from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara with a focus on the Salinas Valley. He agreed that a regional approach is desirable. The challenge of how to distribute state funding more equitably is complicated, in part because funding waxes and wanes, and priorities shift, he said. “Preferential selection” for state-funded water projects that benefit disadvantaged communities will help, he added. “But there are still huge hurdles to overcome,” Clark said. “To develop a project — to apply for and administer grants — requires a significant amount of infrastructure, staff, programs, and coordination among local agencies and nonprofits. Lower-income areas just don’t have the same levels of support to get these projects.” Clark favors an approach that integrates environmental objectives into long-term water-management efforts that currently tend to be focused on storm water management and water quality, rather than ecological restoration. Adam Millard-Ball, assistant professor of environmental studies at UC Santa Cruz, is the third co-author on the paper.
MAY 2018
LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 15
COMMUNITY CALENDAR May 4
May 10
Micro-Business Summit
Breakfast meeting
The third annual Micro-Business Summit will take place at the Cabrillo College Erica Shilling Forum, 6500 Soquel Drive, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hundreds of local business leaders will gather to network, share ideas and learn how to grow their businesses. Admission is $49. Registration is available at www.microbusinesssummit. com.
May 5 Mini Maker Faire
The Third Annual Santa Cruz Mini Maker Faire will be hosted from 10 a.m.5 p.m. at Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive in Aptos. Part science fair, part county fair,  the event aims to inspire the public through Do-It-Yourself science, technology and art, hands-on workshops, panels, and more. For information and tickets, visit santacruz.makerfaire.com.
Kentucky Derby Party
The Aptos History Museum will hold a Kentucky Derby watching party from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Best Western Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court, and the museum. The event will feature a contest for favorite Derby Hat, a silent auction, live music and more. Admission is $35 general, $30 for museum members. Proceeds benefit the Aptos History Museum. For information and reservations, call 6881467.
May 6 Pancake breakfast
Aptos/La Selva Firefighters’ annual Pancake Breakfast will take place from 7:30-11:30 a.m. at the La Selva Beach Clubhouse, 314 Estrella Drive. The breakfast includes pancakes, bacon, eggs, coffee and juice. Admission is $10 per person, and children under 10 are free.
APTOS
SOQUEL
CAPITOLA
The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly breakfast meeting at Best Western Seacliff Inn, 7:30-9 a.m. New Cabrillo College President Matthew Wetstein will be the guest speaker. Admission is $20 for chamber members, or $25 for non-members. For reservations, call 688-1467.
May 11 Soquel High Tournament
Trusted
MAY 2018
Annual
Golf
The 14th Annual Soquel High Golf Tournament and Barbecue is scheduled for May 11 at DeLaveaga Golf Course in Santa Cruz. All proceeds benefit academics, art, music, athletics and clubs at Soquel High. The tournament will be a four-player scramble and is limited to 144 players. Entry fee of $160 includes green fees, cart, sack lunch, contest prizes and dinner. Check-in begins at noon, shotgun start is at 1 p.m. A barbecue and raffle with prizes donated from local businesses will follow at 5:30 p.m. For information, visit soquel.sccs.net/parents/soquel_high_ fund/annual_golf_tournament.
May 18 Luncheon with Secretary of Natural Resources Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive in Aptos, will host a luncheon with John Laird, Secretary of Natural Resources for the State of California, from 11:50 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $30. To purchase tickets, call 688-1467 or email esme@ aptoschamber.com.
Capitola-Soquel Chamber Community Awards
The 77th annual Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce Annual Community Awards and Art & Wine Auction Gala will be held from 6-9:30 p.m. at Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive. This year’s honorees are Man of the Year Ed Bottorff, Woman of the Year Barbara Gorson, Business of the Year Discretion Brewing, Volunteer of the Year Teresa Green and Nonprofit Organization of the Year UnChained. Dennis Norton will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement
award. Admission is $68 per person, and reservations must be made by May 9. For reservations, call 475-6522.
May 18-20 Congregational Church Soquel 150th anniversary
Business & Service Directory
of
APTOS
SOQUEL
CAPITOLA
The community is invited to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Congregational Church of Soquel, 4951 Soquel Drive. The celebration weekend begins May 18 from 7-9 p.m. with a special slide show presentation from local author/historian Geoffrey Dunn. Special events, presentations, entertainment, food and drink will continue all weekend long. For information, visit ccsoquel.org.
May 23 Golf Tournament
The 29th annual Golf Tournament will take place at Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive in Aptos, from 1-7 p.m. For information and to register, visit www. aptoschamber.com.
May 27 Flower Festival
The College of Botanical Healing Arts will present the fourth annual Flower Festival from noon to 5 p.m. at the UCSC Arboretum Botanical Garden, 1156 High St. in Santa Cruz. The event will include steam distillation, demonstrations and garden tours. Admission is $100 per person, and proceeds benefit the College of Botanical Healing Arts. For tickets, call 462-1807 or visit www.cobha.org.
Ongoing Essential Oil Therapy class
The College of Botanical Healing Arts will hold an eight-week course, “Foundation in Essential Oil Therapy,� from May 7 to June 25, Mondays from 5-9:30 p.m. Course fee is $699. For information, visit www.cobha.org.
A 1950 Chrysler Town and County rolls through Soquel. Photo by Tarmo Hannula
BEST of
PAJARO VALLEY
• new/used books • children’s books • 1 minute off hwy 1 Watsonville’s Independent Bookstore
• unique gifts • special orders – no charge!
Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm Sunday 11am - 4pm •
16 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel
MAY 2018