Aptos High School Restaurant Feature sports inside Zameen Page B1
FEBRUARY 2013
Page B3
Aptos Life Barnes and Noble affiliate to manage Cabrillo bookstore
Aptos Births At Dominican Hospital: SIEMENS
December 28 at 9:29 p.m. to Courtney Faith and Caleb Ryan Siemens of Aptos, a 5-pound, 14-ounce girl, Florence Ryan.
By ERIK CHALHOUB Of Aptos Life
STAYTON
December 27 at 10:17 p.m. to Brittney Suzanne Cadwell and William Joseph Stayton of Aptos, a 7-pound, 13-ounce boy, Charles Timothy.
WALKER
January 13 at 3:22 p.m. to Angela Rae Dicker and Benjamin Harrison Jermaine Walker of Aptos, a 6-pound, 15-ounces boy, Benjamin Harrison Jermaine.
SARSFIELD
January 17 at 12:43 a.m. to Victoria Elizabeth and Mark Edward Sarsfield of Aptos, a 9-pound boy, Chase Owen.
At Sutter Maternity: MARTIN
January 15 at 12:40 p.m. to Trinity Amber (Nickelson) and Jeffrey Lonn Martin of Aptos, a 9-pound, 15-ounce boy, Ivory West.
Marrying on Valentine’s Day? Reserve a spot now Aptos Life Staff Report
$120,000 in donations
By ROSEANN HERNANDEZ Of Aptos Life
APTOS — Caroline’s Nonprofit Thrift Shop in Aptos celebrated a successful 2012 with a gifting reception recently, where donations totaling $120,000 were given to 12 different nonprofit organizations. Children’s Hospice & Palliative Care Coalition, Hospice of Santa Cruz County, Jacob’s
Heart, SPIN (Special Parents Information Network), Survivors Healing Center, Nourishing Generations Education Project, For Kids Foundation, Easter Seals, Dragon Slayers, CASA of Santa Cruz County, Building Rhythm and Adaptive Yoga Program received checks of various amounts at a special event held in a conference room at the Community FoundaPlease turn to Page A3
Learning their lines
By ROSEANN HERNANDEZ Of Aptos Life
APTOS — Community Foundation Santa Cruz County has announced nine academic scholarships available for county students who want to continue their education past high school. Scholarships range in size from $750 to $2,000
and all come from donor funds set up at the community foundation. Deadline to apply is February 24. Scholarships can be used for undergraduate study at a college, university or technical school and several are renewable for up to four years. Please turn to Page A2
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Community Foundation Santa Cruz County announces new scholarships $750 to $2,000
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Aptos Academy students Sally Lin, from left: Miranda Fernandez and Aryana Manson rehearse their lines for the school’s upcoming production of “The Emperor and the Nightingale,” a tale of ancient China, written and directed by Sunny Beville Fish. Check calendar listing for show times. Contributed Photo
Monthly publication dedicated to covering everything in Aptos CA.
Wedding bells will ring on Valentine’s Day at the Santa Cruz County Government Center when the county’s deputy marriage commissioners will perform civil marriage ceremonies. The County Clerk’s Office will perform wedding ceremonies in the 5th Floor Conference Room, located at 701 Ocean Street, 5th Floor, starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14. The cost of performing the wedding ceremony is $100. Weddings will be broadcast live on the Internet at the Clerk’s website at www.sccoclerk.com The conference room will be transformed into a romantic wedding room. Couples must reserve a time by calling 454-2060 or by coming to the County Clerk’s Office located at 701 Ocean Street, Room 210, Santa Cruz. Ceremonies will be held every 30 minutes. Each couple may have no more than 15 guests. Couples must have a valid marriage license prior to the scheduled ceremony and have at least one witness present. A public marriage license costs $90 and licenses are issued by the County Clerk. To obtain a marriage license, the bride and groom must appear in person with valid identification, complete a form providing personal information and take an oath. For more information, call 831-454-2060 or visit the County Clerk’s website at www.sccoclerk.com
Owner Christy Licker stands inside Caroline’s Nonprofit Thrift Shop in Aptos, which recently celebrated $120,000 in donations to local nonprofits benefitting children with special needs. Photo by Roseann Hernandez/Aptos Life
APTOS — Starting in the fall semester, the Cabrillo College Bookstore will be managed by B&N College, an affiliate of Barnes and Noble, giving some stability to the bookstore after the past two years saw three different interim managers. Approved by the Cabrillo College Governing Board in late December, B&N College will manage the bookstore for five years, with an option to renew for another five years, according to Michael Robins, director of purchasing. The agreement is expected to generate $300,000 per fiscal year for the college, plus commission, which would be an improvement for the college on a financial standpoint, Robins said. The bookstore, which has posted a deficit for the past several years, will see positive financial results under the deal, he said. B&N College will assume all financial risk, taking that burden off Cabrillo. “It’s a very good place to be,” he said. Students will have more purchasing options available for them, due to Barnes and Noble’s large inventory, Robins said. They will also have the option to rent a digital textbook, which will be new for Cabrillo. “It’s a safe bet to say that per-semester, per-student academic expense will go down,” he said. In a reflection of the textbook industry, Robins said students can expect a much larger selection of digital textbooks in the fall semester. The bookstore will continue to be called the Cabrillo College Bookstore. The staff of five will be retained, Robins said. While it is still too early to know if staffing will be increased, Robins said the new management is talking about extending the store’s operating hours. After former manager Robin Ellis resigned in 2011, the bookstore went through a period of three interim managers, including a three-month stint with Casey Coonerty Protti of Bookshop Santa Cruz. Soon after Ellis’ resignation, a bookstore subcommittee was formed to select a vendor to manage the store. In November, two companies, Barnes and Noble and Follett Higher Education Group, expressed interest in managing the bookstore. The subcommittee unanimously recommended Barnes and Noble based on a number of factors, including financial terms and textbook pricing. “We’re very hopeful that this will be a mutually beneficial relationship,” Robins said.
A2 - Aptos Life - February 2013
Scholarships
www.AptosLife.com
Continued from page A1
ply by using just one application. Some of the scholarship funds have been The online application is available on the active since the community foundation first foundation website at www.cfscc.org. Also started, while others such as the Judy An- online is a short video tutorial and a Q&A ton Woman of Valor and Dan Wood Scholarship, named after a former trustee of the Santa Cruz City Schools District Board, are more recent, said Luis Chabolla, Communications Officer for the foundation. Chabolla said the scholarships “demonstrate the community foundation’s commitment to education and helping students and their parents get the financial resources to pursue their dreams beyond high school.” It also highlights the foundation’s work to “help our donors set up funds to support the things they feel passionate about.” Though each scholarship has its own eligibility requirements beyond residency – one is targeted to Latinas, another to graduates of Santa Cruz High School – the foundation makes it easy for students to ap-
to help students, parents and counselors through the application process. Since 1988, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County has awarded more than
$644,000 in scholarships and awards to 250 students in the county.
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Dining for History John Hibble, executive director of the Aptos History Museum, and Kevin Newhouse, current occupant of ‘the oldest house in Aptos, smile during a tour of Newhouse’s home as part of the Dining for History Series on Jan. 29. Built in 1860 by founding resident Jose Arano, the house is on the site of the original Aptos Village and served for a time as a general store. Photo by Roseann Hernandez/ Aptos Life
Aptos Life is published monthly. All rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without wri en consent from the publisher. Aptos Life made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. Aptos Life is a division of the Register-Pajaronian and Life Capitola/Soquel. Publishing in Santa Cruz County since 1894.
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Aptos Life - February 2013 - A3
Right: George Blumenthal, chancellor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, commends outgoing Cabrillo College President Brian King at the Aptos Chamber of Commerce breakfast last month. Photo by Roseann Hernandez/Aptos Life
Cabrillo’s Brian King gets warm send off at Aptos breakfast By ROSEANN HERNANDEZ Of Aptos Life
Photo by Roseann Hernandez/Aptos Life
Caroline’s Thrift tion on Jan. 24. Bill Licker, husband of thrift store owner Christy Licker, said some of the beneficiaries were shocked by the amounts. The largesse is testament to the support the store receives from the community. “The community has really taken us in,” Licker said. All items sold at the store have been donated while the shop itself is run entirely by volunteers. Founded in July of 2011 in memory of the Lickers’ daughter, Caroline, who died
Continued from page A1
at 16, the store is a way to “give back” to the organizations who helped them during an extremely difficult time. “She brought a lot of life into our lives and we wanted to continue that legacy,” Licker said. Caroline’s Nonprofit Thrift shop is located at 402 Trout Gulch Road in Aptos. The shop has recently expanded into a new location next door where you can find gently used furniture. For more information, visit www.carolinesnonprofitthriftshop.org/events.html.
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APTOS — Outgoing Cabrillo College President Brian King received a warm send off at the Aptos Chamber of Commerce breakfast in January as he prepared to leave the community college at the end of the month for his new role as chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District in Sacramento, the second largest in the state. King, who served Cabrillo College as president and superintendent since 2004, was recognized for his work by community leaders including 2nd District Supervisor Zach Friend, who presented King with a proclamation, as did the office of Congressman Sam Farr, whose representative called King “truly invaluable.” The organizing committee for the AMGEN tour thanked King for his support of the cycling event, which drew big crowds to the campus as it hosted the Stage 2 finish
line on May 14. “He accepted that whole circus for a day,” said Maura Noel as she presented King with an AMGEN keepsake. Rene Schlaepfer, pastor of Twin Lakes Church in Aptos, said King was one of those parishioners who “calls you out of the blue” and takes you out to lunch to see how you are doing. Schlaepfer also credited King for getting him involved in the Aptos Chamber and with the Second Harvest Food Bank. “He challenged us to get out there in the community,” said Schlaepfer. Meanwhile, a retired community college chancellor took over Feb. 1 as interim president of Cabrillo College, serving in the role for up to six months as the search for a permanent replacement continues. The Cabrillo Board of Trustees approved Lafayette resident John Hendrickson, after the recommendation of a subcommittee.
A4 - Aptos Life - February 2013
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Joey Amrhein applies flouride to an El Salvadoran child’s teeth during Santa Cruz al Salvador’s trip. Contributed
Aptos church joins others on El Salvador trip By ERIK CHALHOUB Of Aptos Life
APTOS — Two members of Christ Lutheran Church in Aptos recently returned from a mission trip to El Salvador to provide medical and dental care to residents of El Salvadoran villages. Watsonville resident Joey Amrhein, council president of the church, and Aptos resident Gino Mininni, a student at Cabrillo College, joined the group Santa Cruz al Salvador, an all-volunteer organization. The group left on Jan. 2, returning Jan. 10. Since 1994, Santa Cruz al Salvador has collected charitable donations from Santa Cruz County and distributed them to organizations and individuals in El Salvador annually in November and January. The funds provide scholarships for youth and adults. The church members were able to participate in a graduation ceremony of students who are supported by various members of local churches in Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara counties.
Amrhein, who previously traveled with the group in January 2012, said the group focused on the El Salvadoran village Guillermo Ungo and surrounding communities such as San Salvador and Suchitoto, providing medical care and education. Many of the residents at Guillermo Ungo comprised of former guerillas from the Salvadoran Civil War, most handicapped, Amrhein said. “It’s a very, very poor community,” she said. “The kids, without our help, will have no education and very little medical help.” The group spoke with the mayor of the village, who told them about the issues the community faces, such as a rising gang problem, and what actions are being taken to remedy them. “They’re trying very hard to get the kids into programs that will benefit the country,” she said. Amrhein and Mininni held a presentation at the church, recently talking about their experiences on the trip.
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Aptos Life - February 2013 - A5
Nisene Marks State Park celebrates 50th year Park thriving despite heavy logging years ago By TODD GUILD Of Aptos Life
APTOS — The late morning sun was slanting through the towering trees at Nisene Marks State Park recently, as dozens of people set out on gentle walks, long hikes and mountain bike rides. Their visit coincided with the park’s yearlong 50th anniversary celebration, which will culminate in May. Many people drive in past the entrance station and park in the parking area near the steel bridge, which is more than a mile in and a perfect place to begin a walk. For Collette Vaughn, who recently moved to Aptos with her husband and two young daughters, it’s the multiple activities available that make the park most desirable. “Everybody can find something to do here,” she said. “I think it’s a great resource.” Her husband Kurt Vaughn said that the fire road is the only place in the park where biking is permitted, but it stretches for miles to the north and allows for long rides. John Weatherall of Morgan Hill was there with his two daughters, the girls’ two friends and family friend Jynelle LaPointe of Aptos. He said his reasons for coming were simple. “I have four kids and not a lot of dough,” he said. Weatherall said he has been coming to the park for years, and said he enjoys mountain biking and hiking, as well as the isolation the park offers, despite being located next to Aptos Village. “You can go for hours without seeing anyone,” he said. LaPointe agreed. “It’s peaceful,” she said. “It’s gorgeous and it’s fun. It’s one of those places you can be free, if you want.” Cabrillo College Historian Emeritus Sandy Lydon called the park “one of the great local treasures.” “For a lot of local people it’s an undiscovered treasure,” he said. Lydon explained that many potential visitors don’t come, assuming they must drive for hours to the Sierra Nevada Mountains to see a truly beautiful park. But just minutes away is Nisene Marks, where the traffic din from nearby urban areas and Highway 1 are virtually nonex-
A family strolls over Steel Bridge in the park. Photo by Todd Guild/Aptos Life
istent. “You walk in, take your sunglasses off and its like, ‘wow! Instant peacefulness,’” Lydon said. “You can go in and clear away the cobwebs from your head. All the noise and stress you feel can be cleared away in 10 minutes.”
as Hoffman’s Historic Site, which once housed about 100 workers. “They were hard on the landscape, there’s no question,” Lydon said. Still, many of the original trees were left behind, and tower over the forest floor and provide a mystic, otherworldly blend of shade and filtered light. Rich history “There are a lot of old-growth trees Nisene Marks State Park began its life as an old-growth redwood forest with massive there,” Lydon said. trees whose trunks measured 16 to 20 feet The Marks family in diameter. A Danish immigrant and single mother The original Native American inhabi- who singlehandedly raised four children, tants were the Ohlones who harvested on Nisene Marks made her money by running the outskirts of the forest. Some artifacts from their time can still be found scattered throughout the park. The land was heavily logged from 1883 until 1923 the Loma Prieta Lumber Co., whose access to technology such as steam engines, oxen, skid roads and a railway allowed them to harvest trees on the steep landscape that would later make the land unattractive to further development. Visitors can still see evidence of the logging operations and mills at sites such
one of the largest poultry operations in the state, Lydon said. The family invested the money in property, purchasing the land that is now Point Lobos National Reserve in Carmel and Toro Park in Salinas. The land that became Nisene Marks had been on the market for years, deemed too steep in places to be developed. The family purchased the land in 1950 from the Loma Prieta Lumber Co. Nisene Marks’s son Andrew Marks was Please turn to Page A6
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A6 - Aptos Life - February 2013
Help for low-income seniors and the disabled By Zach Friend
Santa Cruz County Supervisor
At the Jan. 5th Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, I was proud to lend my support and vote to establish a new pilot program to help low-income seniors and disabled members of our community. The unanimous approval of the Low Income Senior and Disabled Property Tax Postponement Program was the final step in implementing a pilot program that will help low-income seniors in Santa Cruz County stay in their homes. This program would not be possible without the dedicated work by County Treasurer-Tax Collector Fred Keeley and the initial vote of approval by my predecessor, Ellen Pirie. Both worked quite hard to make this pilot program a reality. If the program sounds familiar, it is because there was a similar program previously administered by the State Controller’s Office. However, the program was discontinued a few years ago as part of budget saving measures. Thankfully, for Santa Cruz County residents the Governor signed AB 1090 in September 2011, allowing counties to implement a property tax postponement program if they so desired. Santa Cruz County is the only county in the state that was willing to look into replacing this much-needed tool. What is the Low Income Senior and Disabled Property Tax Postponement Program? Available only to residents of the unincorporated portions of Santa Cruz County, the program sets aside $100,000 in Affordable
Nisene Marks
Housing Funds to help eligible homeowners postpone payment of part or all of their property taxes. Through the pilot program, county residents 62 years of age or disabled who have at least 20 percent equity in their home, have a household income of less than $35,000 and a cap of $7,985 for their 20122013 property taxes are eligible to postpone payment. The program will be administered on a first-come-first-serve basis through the Santa Cruz County Housing Authority. Based on previous experience, the pilot program will provide relief to numerous residents of the county, including a large number in the 2nd District. As I have spent time in our district I’ve heard stories from seniors deciding between paying for medications or food and their property taxes. The recent economic downturn has hit low-income seniors particularly hard and this pilot program is designed to help alleviate some of those difficulties. Our hope is that success in the program will lead other counties to follow the model we are developing. Since it is a pilot program your feedback will be key to improving the program and outcomes. How can you learn more about the program? If you would like more information you can always call my office at 454-2200 or contact the program directly. Applications and instructions can be found at the Housing Authority website www.hacosantacruz.org or by calling them at 454-9455 ext. 329. The deadline for applying is February 28, 2013.
Continued from page A5
hoping to find the same oil reserves that had been discovered in Monterey and in the Santa Cruz Mountains, but two separate drillings revealed nothing marketable and the siblings decided they wanted the land to be in public hands with one caveat: the land would not be developed and would be allowed to return to a natural state. “There was a very strong sense of conservation in the family,” Lydon said. The deal became official in 1962 and 1963. The acquisition, once completed, would be the first major land deal for the fledgling Nature Conservancy, Lydon said. Organizers then spent about 15 years trying to convince the public, which had come to view the land as open game for high-impact uses such a camping and motorcycling, to restrict such use, Lydon said. “It had become sort of a local place,” he said.
The present
Located somewhat off the beaten path, the park has become a Santa Cruz County mainstay, with an estimated 80 percent of its visitors coming locally, Lydon said. The biggest challenge, Lydon said, is convincing the public that the park is not a wilderness — far from it. In fact, it is a “humanized landscape” that needs management and continued protection. “It is a forest in recovery,” he said. “It’s a good example of what can happen when a second-growth and third-growth forest is
recovering. It’s a hopeful thing.” Still, Lydon expressed concern about the state park, in which logging is prohibited and which has not seen a fire since 1923. The problem, he said, is that fires and clearing would remove underbrush that can fuel dangerous wildland fires. “Once a redwood forest has been logged it should be managed,” he said. “Because once you fuss with it, it’s out of balance. Eventually the forest will be at risk.” Moreover, the close proximity to homes doesn’t allow prescribed burns that would clear the underbrush. Those restrictions, Lydon said, hampers the ability to manage the forest. “We want to show people that a redwood forest, when given an opportunity, will respond,” he said. “Once you show folks this, it’s a wonderfully optimistic story that redwood forests can recover.” Nisene Marks State Park is located four miles north of Aptos on Aptos Creek Road. The park offers 30 miles of hiking trails in 10,000 acres, with sites that include Five Finger Falls and Maple Falls. Primitive trail camping is available, but reservations are required. To get there, use the State Park Drive exit from Hwy 1. Go east on State Park Drive to Soquel Drive. Turn right on Soquel Drive. Go 1 mile to Aptos Creek Road. Turn left on Aptos Creek Road into the park. For information, visit www.parks.ca.gov.
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APTOS REAL ESTATE NEWS January 2013
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Aptos Life HOT LIPS contest: Have you kissed your paper today?
Enter to win a gift $50 Gift Certificate, bottle of Champagne, and Mexican Chocolate Truffles from Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant. Place your lip print in the box and mail to 100 Westridge Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076 or fax to 831.722.8386. Must be postmarked or received by Feb 12. Sponsered by:
Aptos Life - February 2013 - A7 LIP PRINT HERE
FEBRUARY 2013
Community
B - SECTION
Calendar of events Mondays Kuumbwa Jazz: Weekly Concert Series. World-class jazz & world music artists perform in concert. Open to all ages. Serving dinner, beer, wine & beverages. Downtown Santa Cruz, CA | 831.427.2227 | http://kuumbwajazz.org/
Wednesdays Wine Wednesdays at Sanderlings. Offering a different Santa Cruz wine, tapas & live music weekly. $15 per person (plus tax & gratuity). Through May 22, 2013 5:30pm-7pm Sanderlings, Seascape Resort Aptos | 800.929.7727 | sanderlingsrestaurant.com Winemaker Wednesdays. Featured local winemaker on hand & a different local winery featured each week. Discounted flights/glasses of featured wine. Free appetizer with flight purchase. FREE Shadowbrook | Capitola | 831.475.1511 | http://www. shadowbrook-capitola.com/ home/home.php
Fridays Friday Night Music in the Bargetto Cellars Enjoy live, local music in our historic cellars. Food and wine by the glass available for purchase. No cover charge. Dress warm!! FREE. Soquel, CA | 831.475.2258 | http://www.bargetto.com
Weekends Docent-led Tours of Elhorn Slough Reserve. Meet at the reserve and then learn about this unique area on a guided tour. FREE Every Saturday and Sunday 10am & 1pm Elkhorn Slough, 1700 Elkhorn Rd., Watsonville | 831.728.2822 | elkhornslough.org SC Museum of Art & History Family oriented art-making workshops led by professional artists on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month visit santacruzmah.org for times
Feb. 5th Branciforte Library Baby Storytime Nursery rhymes, songs, and books for newborns up to 13 months provide the opportunity to learn new games to play with babies and socialize with other parents/caregivers. FREE February 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12 10:15am. Branciforte Library, Santa Cruz | 831.427.7704 | www. santacruzppl.org La Selva Beach Pre-School Storytime Pre-School Storytime is designed for families with children 3-6 years old. Early literacy skills are encouraged through reading, singing, crafts, and fun. FREE February 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12 10:30am to 11:30 am La Selva Beach Library, La Selva | 831.661.4770 | www.santacruzppl.org
Feb. 7 The Aptos Academy student production of “The Emperor and the Nightingale”a tale of ancient China, at 7:00 pm with a Saturday matinee at 2:00pm. Written and directed by Sunny Beville Fish, this is an entertaining play for the whole family. Admission Please turn to page B2
Aptos High’s Shandy Victory (11) defends against St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High’s Aidan Mathews during their game in January at St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High in Watsonville. The Mariners are one of the top three teams in the SCCAL. Photo by Glenn Cravens/Aptos Life
Aptos High’s Lindsay Moore runs with the ball during the team’s soccer game against Harbor earlier this month. The two teams tied, 1-1. Photo by Glenn Cravens/Aptos Life
Aptos High School sports update
By GLENN CRAVENS Of Aptos Life
APTOS — As January came to an end, the Aptos High boys basketball team understood how important the late-month games were as they chased a Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League championship. The boys basketball team completed the penultimate week 2-0 by defeating St. Francis Central Coast Catholic 52-29. After knocking Soquel out of the unbeaten-in-league ranks — the Mariners are the only county team to beat Soquel this season — they continued the roll by casting a dry spell on the Sharks once in each half. Aptos didn’t allow a point to St. Francis for the final 5:24 of the second quarter and the final 5:25 of the third quarter. “This week was huge,” said Aptos center Cole Welle, one of the catalysts for the Mariners. “We had to beat Soquel to get a shot at the league championship, and we had to get momentum early tonight.” Welle scored a game-high 24 points but had to scrap for most of his points, especially in the first quarter, where the Sharks tried to get to him early. He had seven contested points in the first as Aptos took an 11-8 lead after eight minutes. St. Francis’ Aidan Mathews got the Sharks rolling in the second quarter, putting in eight points. He spotted up for a three-pointer twice, and got a screen from a teammate, allowing him to bury a jumper, all from the left side. His second three-pointer put the Sharks ahead 1615 with 5:24 to go in the second quarter. It ended up being the Sharks’ last points of the quarter. Aptos wore the Sharks down the rest of the way, forcing the home team to miss eight shots and cause several turnovers. Aptos then put together 13 points in the final 5:24 to go into half leading 28-16. The Sharks got back on track early in the third quarter thanks to baskets by Mathews and Matt DeVogelaere. DeVogelaere hit a jumper with 5:57 to go, as he and Mathews connected on back-to-back shots. After a time out, the Sharks got a stop, and DeVogelaere got fouled, got to the freethrow line, and made two free throws to cut St. Francis’ deficit to 33-22 with 5:25 to go.
It was all Aptos again after that. The defense shut down St. Francis again while scoring six points to boost its lead to 39-22. “We know that St. Francis has two players who can score, Mathews and DeVogelaere, and if we can stop them, we can stop the offense,” Welle said. Luke Rossi had 11 points for Aptos, while Antonio Andrade scored all six of his points in the final 5:24 of the second quarter. Mathews tallied 11 points, and DeVogelaere had seven points. Welle continues to be the Mariners’ main guy as he makes the case for league Most Valuable Player honors. He’s averaging 18 points a game this season. Andrade, Reyes and Brenkwitz are all averaging seven points a game, with Rossi almost at that mark. The Mariners’ girls basketball team has had their shares of ups and downs in January. While they won’t make the Central Coast Section tournament, they’re aiming to finish the season with 10 wins, which would be a first since the 2010-11 season. Their latest win, a 58-36 game over San Lorenzo Valley at the end of the month, improved the Mariners’ record to 8-13, as they surpassed their win total from a year ago. They’ll have a couple of chances to crack 10 wins, as they face Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz before entering the SCCAL postseason tournament. It’s been an even scoring performance, as Meghan Maxwell, Blanca Otvos, Mariah Rojas and Karsen Welle are all averaging about six points a game. Aptos’ girls soccer team is one of four teams in the hunt for a CCS playoff berth. The rough nonleague schedule has seemed to toughen up the squad, as they have held strong against the rest of the SCCAL. Aptos ended the month going on a seven-game unbeaten streak, a run that included four shutouts. Arguably the biggest win came on Jan. 29, when the Mariners got an early goal from Hailey Birmingham and made it stand up in a 1-0 win against playoff contender Soquel. Aptos has also posted shutouts against Scotts Valley, San Lorenzo Valley and St. Francis Central Coast Catholic. The Mariners will get another crack at Scotts Valley and Harbor, two teams it tied, to start February.
Aptos’ boys soccer team was on the uptick to end the month, as it won two of its final three games, both shutouts. The Mariners got revenge on Santa Cruz by shutting out the Cardinals 1-0 at Trevin Dilfer Field. Arturo Milanes, one of the team’s top scorers, scored the goal in the 14th minute off a pass from Cort Young. Francisco Acosta made four saves in the win over the CCS semifinalist. Aptos, 3-5 in the SCCAL, has a shot at a winning season and a CCS tournament appearance. They still have to face St. Francis, Harbor, Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley to end the season. The wrestling team continues to make its mark on the CCS. While the team remains undefeated in the SCCAL, several players have had top-eight finishes at the rough 2013 Midcals Tournament and the Overfelt Classic. The Midcals tournament was Caleb Phalen’s first-ever top-eight finish, as he took sixth place in the heavyweight division. Phalen went to the heavyweight division after a teammate got ill; coach Reggie Roberts offered the wrestler a chance to try his skills against the huskiest of grapplers. “I had never started before,” he said. “Last year, I kept losing to Riggs Powell and now we have Alec (Bonsall). I went 4-3 here, and I’m proud.” Phalen’s final match was a loss to former junior high teammate and current Watsonville heavyweight Chris Borba. Phalen remembers the days wrestling with Borba, and their match was about on par with how tough their matches were years ago. He said he liked how he kept battling through every match, and he plans to take the knowledge with him as the season continues. “I never gave up, and I never stopped,” Phalen said. “I’m hoping things will work out.” It was a long day for all of the wrestlers, especially those in the consolation bracket. Both Borba and Phalen won their early morning bout by pin, but then they both got pinned in their next match, setting up the local showdown. Aptos’ Miller Clark finished seventh in the 140-pound division, while Ramon Zecarias was eighth in the 122-pound division.
B2 - Aptos Life - February 2013
www.AptosLife.com
Community Calendar is $5.00, children under 4 are free. Call 688 1080 for more information or to reserve seats. 1940 Bonita Drive, Aptos, CA February Mixer with a Twist! Chamber Event. Join us for our first Murder Mystery Mixer at the Rio Sands Hotel in Aptos. All aboard for an adventure with peculiar passengers and conspiring crew members. Help us solve the mystery of the Cement Ship! $5 members, $10 non-mem-
Tax Preparation Individual Corporate Trust & Estate Carl W. Johnson CPA
831-662-8506
by appointment only JohnsonCarlW@aol.com
bers5:00pm-7:00pm. Rio Sands Hotel, Aptos | 831.688.1467
February 8 & 9 The Aptos Academy student production of “The Emperor and the Nightingale”a tale of ancient China, at 7:00 pm with a Saturday matinee at 2:00pm. Written and directed by Sunny Beville Fish, this is an entertaining play for the whole family. Admission is $5.00, children under 4 are free. Call 688 1080 for more information or to reserve seats. 1940 Bonita Drive, Aptos, CA “The Locker Next 2 Mine.” Soquel High School has been selected to premier the latest play by acclaimed playwright, Jonathan Dorf, who will be in residence during the premiere performances. Mr. Dorf’s work has been performed in numerous countries over five continents. Soquel High’s The Knights of the Square Stage will present the world premiere of “The Locker Next 2 Mine,” a one-act dramedy that explores the different ways a high school community deals with the tragic loss of one popular student, and the suicide of another. A portion of proceeds to benefit Suicide Prevention Service of the Central Coast and Women’s Crisis Support 7:30pm Admission $5 each. Groups of ten or more, $3 each. Soquel High School, Soquel
February 13
February 21
Kathryn Gualtieri, “Murder Takes the Stage” Local author Kathryn Gualtieri will discuss her latest Carmel historical mystery, “Murder Takes the Stage,” with fellow Capitola mystery writer, Gayle Ortiz, owner of Gayle’s Bakery. FREE 7:30pm Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola | http://www. capitolabookcafe.com/
“Molly Weatherfield, Carrie’s Story.” Two decades before Fifty Shades of Grey there was Carrie’s Story—a Neo-Victorian S/M novel for smart readers. The first edition was a #1 bestselling erotic novel at Good Vibrations and is regarded as one of the finest erotic novels ever written — smart, devastatingly sexy, and, at times, shocking. FREE. 7:30pm. Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola | http://www.capitolabookcafe.com/
February 18 “Sheila Applegate, Enchanted One: The Portal to Love.” Sheila Applegate has spent the last 20 years as a clinical therapist, author and teacher, sharing her passion of integrating spiritual understanding into every aspect of her clients’ lives. Sheila will also lead participants in a guided meditation as local author Susan Allison shares songs from her album “We Carry the Light.” FREE. 7:30pm Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola | http://www.capitolabookcafe.com/
February 25 “Reyna Grande, The Distance Between Us.” An award-winning novelist “Across a Hundred Mountains, Dancing with Butterflies,” Grande captivates readers with her heartbreaking memoir, capturing all the confusion and contradictions of a childhood torn between two parents and two countries. FREE 7:30pm Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola | http://www.capitolabookcafe.com/
February 20
February 28
Ron Currie, Jr., “Flimsy Little Plastic Miracles.” In this tour de force of imagination, Ron Currie, Jr. (Everything Matters!, God Is Dead) asks why the literal veracity means more to us than deeper truths. FREE. 7:30pm Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola | http://www.capitolabookcafe.com/
“Timber Hawkeye, Buddhist Boot Camp.” A longtime student of world religion, Buddhism, and psychology, Timber Hawkeye yearned for a less complicated depiction of the Buddha’s teachings than what the Tibetan temple had to offer. FREE. 7:30pm. Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola | http://www.capitolabookcafe.com/
Aptos High School Events
Feb. 8
AHS Fashion Show. This events is to support AHS Fashion Club & Spanish Travel Club. $5 per person at the Performing Arts Center from 6-8PM
rus , Aptos Jr. High , Aptos High Treble & Concert Choirs. Cabrillo College Choir. Aptos High School Performing Arts Center100 Mariner Way.
Feb. 23 Aptos High School 3rd Annual Zumbathon. $10 entry, 10am-1pm at the AHS Gymnasium. Proceeds benefit the students at AHS. www.aptoshs.net for more info.
Feb 15 Aptos Choir Festival. 5pm - 7:15pm $5 General Admission Featuring: Valenica , Bradley Elementary , Cabrillo Youth Cho-
Would you like your event listed here. Please email us the info. to info@aptoslife.com
Real Estate
For Sale
Open House With Safeway You are invited to join Safeway and Hamilton Swift & Assoc. for an open house and behind-the-scenes tours of the Safeway store. Learn more about your Safeway.
Saturday, March 2, noon-2pm (Please RSVP for store tours)
APTOS-Charming home,4 Spacious Beds, 3 Baths, 2,200+ sq ft, (includes 1 bedroom GUEST UNIT) HUGE back yard, for $580,000. Call (877) 566-8862 & enter ID# 2014 for pre-recorded information.
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Rio Del Mar-Beach Beauty,3 comfortable beds, 2 clean baths, 1700+ sq ft, updated kitchen, nice deck, walk to beach, for $549,000. Call (877) 566-8862 & enter ID# 1018 for prerecorded information.
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February Special
& We are also pleased to announce
Information Center Hours
Stop by to discuss Rancho del Mar and share your comments.
Stainles s Steel, Side by Side, Ice in the Door
Thursday, Feb. 21, noon-2pm Wednesday, March 13, 4pm-6pm Friday, March 22, 9am-11am Rancho del Mar Shopping Center, Suite 48 (Vacant space next to JC Nails) For questions or to RSVP: Charlie Eadie, Hamilton Swift (831) 459-9992 or charlie@hamiltonswift.com
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Tina Chavez Real Estate Advertising
(831) 761-7359 tinac@register-pajaronian.com
www.AptosLife.com
Aptos Life - February 2013 - B 3
Zameen a friendly, ethnic dining experience By TODD GUILD Of Aptos Life
Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine is tucked into Aptos Center, an easy-to-miss speck in the giant Soquel Ave. strip mall. I decided to try the restaurant at the enthusiastic urgings of my coworkers, going for lunch with Aptos Life photographer Tarmo Hannula. The inviting, brightly colored dining room was never crowded, but was nevertheless full of a constant stream of customers. We were warmly greeted the minute we entered, and instructed to order at the counter, as was the procedure for lunch, and wait for the food to be brought to us. Dinner brings a traditional table service. We pondered the menu as a compilation of Middle East music played softly in the background. A row of small, colorful handmade tiles highlighted the dining room, as did large colorful photos depicting Middle Eastern marketplaces and streets scenes. There was plenty of room to stretch out and the ambient light pouring through the large front windows offered a relaxing mix of light with the overhead recessed lights. The open kitchen affords diners a view of the chef as he works and uses a giant paddle to move dishes in and out of the wood stone oven. We also had the option of several tables on the front patio area, which features a colorful array of potted plants. After considering a menu that offered flatbread pizzas, wraps and sandwiches, soups and salads, both of us opted for entrée platters, which includes a choice of a main dish, an accompanying sauce, a soup or salad and a side dish. The spiced chicken kabob wrap ($8.95), chicken thighs marinated in an “exotic, zesty spice rub,” was my entrée of choice, which I ordered with tzatziki sauce, a simple, cooling mixture of plain yogurt, cucumber and dill. Based on the recommendation of the hostess, I ordered the Moroccan Madness soup and the Moroccan skewered potatoes. Tarmo got the saffron chicken kabob wrap ($8.95) also with tzatziki sauce and the Moroccan Madness soup. But he decided to go for the Persian herb rice as his side. Our drinks came quickly, as did our soup, which was a rich blend of tomatoes and prosciutto, not too rich but quite hearty and most certainly satisfying. Tarmo declared the soup, “a ten, times squared.” To get as full a breadth of the menu as I could, I ordered the creamy smoked eggplant appetizer, a generous portion of eggplant, garlic and onions roasted until quite soft. The dish had a succulent, mild, smoky flavor and came with a generous pile of soft, warm pita bread. The savory spice rub on my chicken strongly flavored the meat, which was tempered by the creamy Tzatziki sauce. My potatoes – cut into large pieces and roasted to perfection were perfect – crispy on the outside and creamy inside. Tarmo’s saffron chicken was significantly milder than mine, but with a much more complex, sublime flavor that boasted hints of citrus. Tarmo’s Persian herb rice was highly flavorful with a surprising, freshness I found a bit too strong, but which Tarmo said he enjoyed. Both of our entrees came with a large Middle-Eastern flatbread, which was warm and perfect for eating the chunks of meat and dipping into the sauces. The plates were also garnished with a small, fresh mixed green salad. Both of us agreed that the meat was tender, moist and well cooked, not an easy feat while cooking kabobs over high heat. We also took advantage of a small condiment bar, where diners can choose from jalapeño olive sauce, mint yogurt, honey and harissa sauce, a fiery Tunisian concoction. The restaurant also has several Middle-Eastern products for sale, including several types of tea, orange blossom syrup and halva, a Middle Eastern dessert. Owner Ed Watson opened the business in August 2007 with his father-in-law, who moved here from his native Iran to attend college. Both wanted to open a restaurant, and
Bonifacio Bio shoves a homemade pizza into a wood stone oven with a peel at Zameen. Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life
briefly considered a chain such as Quiznos. After realizing that Santa Cruz County favors smaller, homegrown businesses, they decided to take the chance on something a bit more original. Thus, Zameen was born, with some recipes handed down from his father-in-law’s family, as well as original dishes from several countries. Hesitant to nail down a specific culinary style such as Persian or Greek for his restaurant, Watson prefers to cast his net over a larger global region and instead describes Zameen as Eastern Mediterranean. The menu takes the original recipes and gives them healthy twists with salads, wraps and other nods to Western cuisine which Watson said helps customers get a taste for a new cuisine. Indeed, the top-notch service, comfortable dining room and diverse menu is the perfect place for those uninitiated in dishes such as kabobs, hummus and tabbouleh. This includes giving the dishes easier to understand names, Watson said. “We want our customers to feel a bit more comfortable about coming in and trying a falafel,” he said. The condiment table is made of brightly colored tiles. Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life In addition, Watson said that all of the sauces and marinades are made in-house, as are many of the ingredients. “Our goal is try to be as fresh as possible,” he said. Zameen has built a loyal following of customers, some of whom come in weekly, as well as out-of-towners looking for a bite to eat, Watson said. Nadine Frush of Soquel said she has visited Zameen several times. “Their food and the atmosphere is excellent,” she said. “They have really nice décor and the light — the sconces are very interesting. The owner is doing a terrific job.” Business has been increasing since the place opened, and with the launch last year of a food truck that feeds hungry UC Santa Cruz students, Watson said last year was his best. Watson hopes eventually to open a booth at farmers’ markets and to start catering private events. “We’re getting busier every day,” he said. Watson attributes some of his success to the affordable menu. “That’s how we’ve survived,” he said. “Good food doesn’t have to be expensive, it just needs to be fresh and consistent, and This Saffron Chicken Kebab Wrap, with Persian herb rice, flatbread and tzatziki at Zameen in Aptos offered a bouquet of pleasing flavors. Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life that’s what we’re trying to do,” he said.
Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine Cuisine type: Mediterranean | Food: +++ | Décor: bright, colorful | Service: Informed, friendly | Atmosphere: Small, open neighborhood restaurant | Price: $$ Hours: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, closed Mondays Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine is located at 7528 Soquel Drive in Aptos. For information call 688-4465 or visit www.zameencuisine.com Key: (per meal) $ = $5 - $10 $$ = $11- 20 $$$ = $30 | + = average, ++ = very good, +++ = excellent