LIFE Everything Aptos, Capitola & Soquel

OCTOBER 2018 EVERYTHING APTOS, CAPITOLA & SOQUEL Vol. 7 No. 2 Santa Cruz Naturals

APTOS

Sports Cabrillo Football returns

New Pajaro location opening soon

pg. 12

pg. 3

SOQUEL

CAPITOLA Photo by Tarmo HANNULA

HISTORY CORNER

Ana Maria Ortega tends to her flower business at Capitola Produce.

By John Hibble Call: 688-1467

Measure would fund clubhouse repairs

Visit us online: aptoshistory.org

A quick look at the Mid-County’s November election

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

Seacliff’s story Seacliff is not only a great name, it is a great location.

Aptos is divided into three parts by Aptos and Valencia creeks. The native Americans lived at the confluence of the creeks. To the north lies Aptos Village and the hills. The eastern part became Rio Del Mar. The coastal plain to the west ultimately became Seacliff.

When Rafael Castro acquired 6,600 acres as a land grant from the government of Mexico in 1833, he chose to build his home at the top of the bluff on the western side of Aptos Creek, overlooking the creek and the ocean. This was a practical decision because it was closer to mission Santa Cruz and the town of Branciforte, and also, because there was no bridge for crossing Aptos Creek in the winter. The house and barn would have been where Highway 1 crosses Aptos Creek today, on the Seacliff side.

After statehood, an enterprising Yankee named Titus Hale leased land from Castro and built a wharf for shipping grain, flour, cattle, hides, fish, game and firewood. The road to the wharf came up the bluff past Castro’s house and connected to the road between Santa Cruz and Monterey, Please turn to Page 6

By ERIK CHALHOUB and JOHANNA MILLER LA SELVA BEACH — The La Selva Beach Clubhouse is a bustling hive centered in the sleepy coastal town, hosting a hodgepodge of classes, community meetings, craft fairs and more.

Jim Rhodes, chair of the La Selva Beach Recreation Department, talks about overdue plans to upgrade the La Selva Beach Clubhouse. Photo by Tarmo Hannula

Please turn to Page 7

Aptos Chamber introduces annual award recipients Staff report

Woman of the Year: Michele Bassi

APTOS — The Aptos Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of its annual awards.

Woman of the Year Michele Bassi, Man of the Year Dan Haifley, Business of the Year Seascape Village Fitness and Organization of the Year Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired will join Mark Dorfman, who received the Outstanding Achievement award, and Community

• new/used books

• unique gifts

• children’s books

• special orders – no charge!

• 1 minute off hwy 1

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

Hero Aptos Feed and Pet Supply at the annual dinner and auction on Oct. 26 at the Seascape Beach Resort.

The event runs from 5:30-10 p.m.

Admission is $85 per person. For reservations, call 688-1467 or email aptoschamber.com.

••• Woman of the Year: Michele Bassi

Michele Bassi is senior vice president of production and business Please turn to Page 8

Inside ...

Thank You For Voting Us Best In The Pajaro Valley!

Watsonville’s Independent Bookstore

But after being constructed in the 1930s, and outlasting the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake and numerous storms, the building is in need of some major work.

The main roof is beginning to sag, and a kitchen wall is leaning by two degrees.

BEST of

PAJARO VALLEY

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

OCTOBER 2018

2 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel Photos by Johanna MILLER

APTOS

SOQUEL

CAPITOLA

Publisher

Jeanie Johnson

Editor

Erik Chalhoub

Editorial

Todd Guild Johanna Miller Tony Nuñez Tarmo Hannula

Photography

Tarmo Hannula

Art and Wine

Capitola Village was already filling up early Sept. 8 for the first day of the 36th annual Capitola Art and Wine Festival.

Locals and visitors alike enjoyed wine tasting from 22 different regional wineries as well as art viewing and purchasing at a multitude of artisan booths. Live entertainment was provided by local dance troupes and bands, and food vendors served up plenty of meals to hungry festival-goers. A Children’s Art and Juice area was also set up for the event’s younger attendees.

Advertising Sales Tina Chavez Jazmine Ancira

Production

Mike Lyon, Rob Chalhoub Life in Aptos, Capitola and Soquel is published monthly. All rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher.

Life in Aptos, Capitola and Soquel made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. Life in Aptos, Capitola and Soquel is a division of the RegisterPajaronian. Publishing in Santa Cruz County since 1868.

Contact Us

831-761-7300

Dancers from Te Hau Nui Dance perform for the crowd at the Capitola Art and Wine Festival.

newsroom@register-pajaronian.com

LifeA.C.S

Plein Air Art Festival returns for fourth year Staff report CAPITOLA — The free Capitola Plein Air Art Festival returns for its fourth year Nov. 1-4.

Forty professional artists will set up easels all over Capitola, painting for three days in the open air. The artists will be working in oil, pastel, watercolor and gouache.

On Nov. 3, the public is invited to take a stroll from Depot Hill, down to the village, onto Capitola Beach, along the Esplanade, Wharf and Riverfront to catch the artists in action. They will all be out painting during the hours of 10 a.m.-2 p.m., rain or shine.

About a third of the artists participating live and work in Santa Cruz County. Last year’s Grand Prize winner, Wendy Brayton, from Petaluma, will be competing again this year. A complete list of participating artists is on the Capitola Plein Air website at capitolapleinair.com.

On Nov. 4, the hundreds of paintings the artists have created will be on display and for sale during the exhibition at New Brighton Middle School Performing Arts Center, 250 Washburn Ave., with free admission from 11

a.m.-4 p.m. Folks who come to the sale get to vote for the People’s Choice Award, view and purchase their favorite artworks, and meet the artists behind the creations.

Noted pastel artist Terri Ford will be judging the competition, with the top two winning artworks purchased by the City of Capitola for its public art collection. The Honorable Mention, People’s Choice and Artists Choice award winners will be for sale to the public.

Linda Cover, who’s Watershed Arts (at the Tannery in Santa Cruz, see lindacover. org) provides art classes for kids and adults, will be facilitating an all-ages, hands-on art project to take home.

The trio Acoustic Madness (@ acousticmadnessmusic) will perform during the Sunday exhibition, covering rock, pop, country, folk and alt-country favorites. A Mediterranean -inspired menu for lunch and treats will be available from Zameen food truck.

Capitola Plein Air Art Festival is a free event, presented by the Capitola Art and Cultural Commission.

For information, visit capitolapleinair.com.

OCTOBER 2018

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 3 Photos by Tarmo HANNULA Louisa Disheroon, dispensary manager of Santa Cruz Naturals, and her husband, Colin, owner and founder, are shown at their Aptos location on Soquel Drive.

From grassroots to brick-and-mortar

New Pajaro location slated for successful cannabis dispensary

By TODD GUILD APTOS — Long before recreational marijuana was legalized in California, Santa Cruz Naturals got its start in 2009 in Boulder Creek. Then, it was a small friends-and-family collective dedicated to providing legal medical cannabis to sick friends and neighbors.

Soon after that, owner and founder Colin Disheroon found the building that would become the business’ Aptos headquarters.

In 2010, California voters narrowly rejected Proposition 19, which would have legalized the plant for recreational use.

Industry insiders did not see the defeat as a failure, but a harbinger of things to come.

Buoyed by the near victory, and seeing a cultural shift in public perception of the once vilified plant, Disheroon waited, certain the issue would came back to voters.

It did in November 2016 in the form of Proposition 64, which was approved by more than 57 percent of voters.

“There was a new wave of energy going into this plant that was once prohibited, and was responsible for the incarceration of so many people,” he said. “Lives destroyed, families destroyed because of bad policies,

and I saw the policies changing.”

Now, adults 21 and over — and anyone 18 and older with a prescription — can walk into dispensaries across California and choose from several strains of marijuana and cannabis-related products such as tinctures, oils and food products.

“It was a significant change, and it was a change that we saw on the horizon,” Disheroon said.

With the success of its flagship dispensary, Santa Cruz Naturals plans to open a second location in Pajaro, with an expected opening date in October.

Disheroon said he plans to hire about 25 people for the new shop, and is currently looking for bilingual employees.

The location, he said, will serve a community that does not currently have easy access to cannabis, and whose residents regularly make the trip north to his Aptos dispensary. He also hopes to offer pricing with the low-income community in mind.

Disheroon said he also sees philanthropic opportunities for his business in the Pajaro location.

“That’s the goal,” he said. “To embrace the whole community.”

•••

A green philosophy

Cannabis Infused Fruit Jellies (left) and Karmamelts, cannabis infused caramels, are a fraction of the various cannabis-based products at Santa Cruz Naturals in Aptos.

Still family owned and operated, Santa Cruz Naturals uses local growers as much as possible, and uses biodegradable packaging in its products.

The business also tries to keep their cannabis as pure as possible.

Because cannabis is not legal under federal law, it cannot be officially labeled as organic by the USDA, which makes such designations.

So the industry instead uses Clean Green Certification, a California-based organization that uses the same strict standards the federal government uses for organic produce, Disheroon said.

The redwood countertops, cabinets and surfboard-marijuana leaf logo were made from reclaimed wood, as is the pine flooring.

“A big part of our goal is to reduce our environmental impact,” he said.

•••

What to expect

Dispensary Manager Louisa Disheroon — Colin’s wife — said that Santa Cruz Naturals customers can expect a “boutique” experience when they enter the showroom.

Indeed, several surprisingly wellinformed “budtenders” stand ready to extol the properties of the several different marijuana strains and products, depending on whether the customers want a sleep aid, a way to ease anxiety or a more “cerebral” experience.

The business even has a customer loyalty program.

“We have a personal experience for our clients,” she said. “We’re here to answer questions for them. We’re here to give them guidance as to what products are going to serve them the best.”

•••

Looking to the future

Now that the laws have changed, however, marijuana retailers have a new worry: corporate industries edging out small-scale growers in a bid for a piece of the budding cannabis industry. It is currently unclear how or when that will happen, but according to Disheroon, a large Canadian company recently purchased a dispensary in Santa Cruz.

Disheroon said he is optimistic about the future of his industry, despite the misgivings federal officials such as U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions about state laws supersede the federal prohibition on marijuana.

“I see policies changing at the federal level maybe in the next six months, maybe in the next year,” he said. “I think it’s going to happen pretty soon.”

••• Santa Cruz Naturals is located at 9077 Soquel Drive in Aptos. It is open from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day.

For information, call 688-7266 or visit santacruzcannabis.com.

OCTOBER 2018

4 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz Chancellor to retire Blumenthal has been at the university since 1972

Staff report SANTA CRUZ — UC Santa Cruz Chancellor George Blumenthal announced Sept. 18 that he is retiring at the end of this academic year.

Blumenthal, 72, has been at the helm of the university for 12 years. He has been there since 1972, when he arrived on campus as an assistant professor.

“I have decided that the time is right for me to step aside and allow someone else to assume the leadership of this remarkable institution,” Blumenthal said in a prepared statement.

“I am tremendously proud of the strides we have made over the past dozen years in advancing diversity, encouraging philanthropy, enhancing town-gown cooperation, and improving the academic standing of the campus,” he said.

During his time, Blumenthal said that undergraduate enrollment of minority students has doubled, and that first-generation college students make up about 40 percent of each freshman class.

“We are literally changing the lives of thousands of students, their families and their communities,” he said.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

CAPITOLA ADVISORY BOARDS

Board votes to waive fees for small ADUs

Youth positions open on advisory bodies

Staff report

Staff report

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 25 waived county fees for small accessory dwelling units under a three-year pilot program.

Voting unanimously, the board directed County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios to bring forward a resolution enacting a three-year waiver program for ADUs that are 640 square feet or smaller.

“The board has taken a number of steps to address the housing crisis, including making it easier to build ADUs through a step-by-step toolkit for homeowners and creating a fund to underwrite the construction of deed-restricted, affordable units,” said Board Chair Zach Friend, who brought the proposal forward. “Fees can also be a barrier to new housing. By eliminating county fees for these affordable-by-design units, we can make a real difference in addressing a crisis that impacts every resident, from seniors to young families.”

The proposal would save an estimated $7,300 for a 640-square-foot unit.

Recent changes have stimulated interest in ADU construction. Through the county’s online toolkit, property owners can determine if they are eligible to build an ADU, research financing and even work through cost estimates using a fee calculator.

For information, visit www.sccoplanning.com/ ADU.aspx.

CAPITOLA — The City of Capitola has expanded opportunities for area students to participate as non-voting members of several of its advisory bodies.

Applicants must live within the Soquel Union Elementary School District or attend Soquel, Harbor or Aptos high schools, and be accompanied to the meetings by an adult if under age 18 The advisory bodies are: • Art and Cultural Commission • Finance Advisory Committee • Historical Museum Board • Traffic and Parking Commission These are non-voting positions that provide experience serving on a government-appointed board. Youth members serve from their appointment in the fall through the school year and can be reappointed.

Check the individual recruitment notices for more information about the duties and meeting schedules for each committee and application deadlines.

Notices and applications are available on the city’s website at www.cityofcapitola.org under the “I Want To” tab. Interested community members may also pick up applications at Capitola City Hall, 420 Capitola Ave., or call 475-7300 and request an application be mailed.

Your

Natural Look

OCTOBER 2018

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 5

DMV VOTING

SHAKESPEARE CLUB

County Clerk urges voters to verify DMV registration

Noted scholars to address Aptos Shakespeare Club

Staff report

Staff report

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Following a voter registration snafu at the California Department of Motor Vehicles impacting an estimated 23,000 California voters, the Santa Cruz County Clerk is advising residents who may be impacted to verify their voter registration information online.

Following a state audit of 1.4 million records transmitted to the Secretary of State’s Office between April 23 and Aug. 5, DMV officials determined that due to a clerical error, some voters’ party affiliations, vote-by-mail options, or language preferences were incorrectly entered into the voter registration database.

In Santa Cruz County, 210 voters may have had their voter preferences incorrectly entered into the voter registration system, and 12 voters have been identified that were erroneously registered to vote in Santa Cruz County. The DMV is sending letters to voters impacted by the errors.

However, the Santa Cruz County Election Office encourages voters who visited the DMV between April 23 and Aug. 5 to confirm their voter registration information. Voters may go to www.voterstatus.sos. ca.gov to verify their voter information online or call 454-2060.

Same day registration is available at the Elections Department and other designated locations. In Santa Cruz County, same day registration centers include the Santa Cruz County Elections Office, 701 Ocean St., Room 310, in Santa Cruz, and the Watsonville City Clerk’s Office, 275 Main St., fourth floor in Watsonville.

For information, contact the Santa Cruz County Elections Office at 454-2060 or info@votescount. com.

APTOS — Four Shakespearian authorities will discuss “The Tempest” as the Saturday Shakespeare Club begins a five–week examination of the play beginning Oct. 6 in Aptos.

All lecture sessions start at 10 a.m., last about an hour, and are held in Christ Lutheran Church, 10707 Soquel Drive in Aptos. During the following hour, selected club members read aloud the portion of the play that was that day’s focus.

Giving the opening lecture Oct. 6 will be Santa Cruz Shakespeare dramaturg Michael Warren, a widely regarded authority on the playwright. An emeritus professor at UCSC, Warren routinely provides overviews that reveal a play’s historical and current relevance.

Speaking on Oct. 13 will be Abby Heald, a lecturer in the Literature Department at UCSC. In past appearances before the Saturday group, Heald has urged her listeners to reevaluate their easy impressions of plays and look for meanings that might surprise, as well as please, them.

On Oct. 20, a DVD featuring Peter Saccio, a noted professor of Shakespeare Studies at Dartmouth College, will be shown. Saccio is also a lecturer on The Teaching Company’s Great Courses series on Shakespeare and wrote the classic “Shakespeare’s English Kings.”

All sessions last until shortly after noon, except for the one on Nov. 3, during which a film of “The Tempest” will be shown, followed by a potluck. Although the club is free to the public, a contribution of $2 per session or $10 for all of them is urged to help pay for facilities and stipends to the speakers’ preferred organizations.

For information, email saturdayshakespeare@ gmail.com.

CHILI COOK OFF

Chefs sought for chili cook-off Staff report SANTA CRUZ — Registration is open for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Chili Cook-Off. The ninth annual Cook-Off takes place along the Boardwalk on Oct. 27. Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Chili, People’s Choice, Most Tasted, and Most Original teams.

Two types of chili are eligible: red (con carne) and vegetarian. The entry fee for amateur cooking teams is $50, and $75 for professionals. Each team receives two Boardwalk All-Day Rides Wristbands, two 2018 Chili Cook-Off T-shirts, and a complimentary parking pass. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Teen Kitchen Project. The nonprofit serves Santa Cruz County, bringing young people into the kitchen to learn to cook nourishing food for individuals and families in crisis due to a life-threatening illness. Admission to the Chili Cook-Off is free. Visitors can watch chefs prepare their chili on the Boardwalk, and for $10 taste up to six different samples as well as vote for the People’s Choice winner. Cooking begins at 10 a.m., tasting starts at 1 p.m., and winners will be announced at 4 p.m. For information including the official entry form and Cook-Off rules, visit www. beachboardwalk.com/chili.

OCTOBER 2018

6 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

History Corner

Continued from page 1

today’s Soquel Drive. Soon, a small town began to spring up around this intersection, including a general store in 1867. By 1870 the store included a post office.

What does all of this have to do with Seacliff? Seacliff is bigger than you think.

Everything west of Aptos Creek and south of Soquel Drive is part of Seacliff, so the original town of Aptos was built in Seacliff, although it was not called Seacliff at the time.

In 1872, the sugar millionaire Claus Spreckels bought a significant portion of Rafael Castro’s property. He invested in a small sugar beet factory in Soquel, and later built a much larger factory in Watsonville.

Local farmers shifted from growing wheat to sugar beets and the Seacliff area was largely planted with beets. Spreckels helped to bring the railroad to Santa Cruz County. A line was completed to Aptos in 1875 and completed to Watsonville the following year. The railroad is why the village of Aptos moved across the creek to its current location. Spreckels also donated to the construction of the first Catholic church in Aptos which was completed in 1875 at the corner of State Park and Soquel drives.

By 1875, Chinese fishermen established a camp at China Beach (New Brighton Beach today), and by 1878, they shipped 177,000 pounds (88.5 tons) of fish on the train. After the Camp San Jose visitor campground opened on the bluff at New Brighton Beach in 1878, the Chinese were forced to move down the coast toward Aptos Creek, eventually abandoning their camp.

In May 1918, a man named Paul Woodside was taken into custody in Solano County on an insanity charge. Although he was not considered insane enough to be committed, the judge asked him to go voluntarily to the Napa State Hospital for treatment. Woodside did not go to Napa, but moved away, ultimately to Aptos. He purchased a one-acre parcel on the bluff which included a portion of the beach in 1922 and lived as a hermit. He wrote that it

was a “spot that is dearer to me than words can express.”

After Spreckels’ death in 1908, the ranch lands were eventually sold off for development. The Santa Cruz Land and Title Company submitted sketches for a 400-acre subdivision in the area in 1922.

Seacliff Park subdivision #1 opened in 1924 to brisk sales. More than $100,000 in lots were sold. It was the Roaring Twenties and the Monterey Bay was the place to be. Simultaneously, lots were also being sold in the Deer Park subdivision, prior to it becoming Rio Del Mar. The Board of Supervisors caused a stir for using county trucks to haul gravel for improving the road to Seacliff Park. Private trucks should have been paid for by the developer, but the Board passed a resolution, excusing it as a general improvement to the whole county.

The Seacliff Company purchased a rightof-way across Paul Woodside’s property below the bluff and began developing the beach. Woodside became very agitated with the influx of people and began threatening workmen and visitors with guns and dynamite. William Morgan of the Seacliff Company was unable to persuade Woodside to sell his cliff-side property.

Ultimately, an arrest warrant was issued, and the Sheriff was called to the property.

Paul Woodside, Sheriff Howard Trafton and Under Sheriff Richard Roundtree all died in a brutal effort to evict Woodside.

Eventually, Woodside’s mother deeded the property to the Seacliff Company and by 1926, the one-acre parcel became Seacliff Subdivision #3.

In 1925, a large sign was posted on Seacliff beach which proclaimed the construction program of the Seacliff Company included an esplanade, pleasure pier, a 2,000-foot seawall, bathing pavilion, a children’s sand garden, dining hall and dance pavilion, automobile parking space, and modern beach bungalettes for rent or lease. The beach boulevard was to join the ends of the “U”-shaped pier, which was to extend 550 feet into the sea and 1,000 feet

Open House October 28 / 11:00 am

• • • •

Preschool – 12th grade

CAIS & WASC accredited Nonsectarian Independent, nonprofit school – celebrating 40 years!

• 355-acre campus among a redwood forest and hilltop meadows • Bus transportation available

408-847-2717

MountMadonnaSchool.org

The Seacliff Beach State Park and concrete ship S.S. Palo Alto are shown in this 1931 photo. Aptos History Museum archives

down the beach. Plans also included an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, an auditorium, a hotel and golf course.

Before the first seawall was even back filled, a storm in February 1926 caused waves to wash over the wall causing serious damage. The metal plates we sometimes see sticking out of the sand were the footings for the original seawall.

In February 1927 the remainder of the seawall was destroyed, and the beach facilities were heavily damaged. The storm damage is what lead the Seacliff developers to purchase a surplus World War I concrete oil tanker for use as an amusement center since there was not enough money left to rebuild the damaged facilities and construct the pleasure pier that had originally been envisioned.

On Jan. 25, 1930, the concrete ship S.S. Palo Alto was towed into position and sunk onto the sandy bottom.

A 630-foot pier was built out to the ship’s stern. The ship was rebuilt to include the Rainbow Ballroom, plus a 54-square-foot swimming pool, a midway, a Ship’s Cafe and Fish Restaurant, gambling, and bootleg liquor, just in time for the Great Depression. During the first two seasons, the

ship was pummeled by five major storms and the owners went broke. The following winter a storm cracked the ship in the middle.

In 1931, the beachfront property north of the pier and the subdivision lots east of the beach, were sold to the State of California which made Seacliff one of the earliest State Beach units in California. State Parks purchased the Palo Alto for $1 in 1936.

Highway 1 was constructed in 1948, splitting Seacliff in two. The Seacliff Inn and the history museum are actually in Seacliff. In 1961, Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center opened on land that was also originally part of the Seacliff dream. The building boom that followed, completed the vision that was Seacliff Park.

OCTOBER 2018

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 7

November election Jim Rhodes, chair of the La Selva Beach Recreation District, said structural engineers have determined the building is not a safety hazard, but will need about $400,000 or more in repairs soon.

To raise funds, the district has placed a measure on the November ballot. Measure P, if approved by voters, would place a tax of $50 per year on all residential parcels in La Selva Beach, for a seven-year period beginning July 1, 2019. The measure is expected to generate about $280,000 before it sunsets in 2026, with the funds being used to renovate the clubhouse.

In addition, the district would be able to request grant funding through California’s Proposition 68, approved by voters in June.

Measure P requires a two-thirds vote to pass, in a district that covers about 800 homes and 1,200 registered voters.

No argument against the measure was filed, according to the Santa Cruz County Elections Department.

The funds would be held in a separate account specifically for renovations, and not for district salaries, Rhodes said, with financial reports posted to the district’s website.

Rhodes said the clubhouse hosts a number of events throughout the week, and is a cherished staple in the La Selva Beach community.

“It’s been an icon in the community forever,” he said. “It’s been a host to all sorts of receptions, anniversaries, classes.”

On a recent Tuesday morning, Jane Reyes was leading a full class on printmaking inside the clubhouse. Reyes, who has been teaching classes at the clubhouse for about 15 years, said she appreciated the central, spacious location that has ample lighting and easy access to the neighboring La Selva Beach Library.

“It’s just a nice environment,” she said.

For information about Measure P, visit www.laselvabeachrecreationdistrict.com.

Here is a look at some of the other candidates and measures on the November ballot: •••

Capitola City Council Three of the five at-large seats on the Capitola City Council are up for election.

Incumbent Jacques Bertrand will be joined by Yvette Brooks, Jack Digby and Sam Storey on the November ballot.

Bertrand was elected to the council in 2014. A semiconductor process engineer by trade, he represents Capitola on the Regional Transportation Commission, the Children’s Network, the Criminal Justice Council and other committees.

A UC Santa Cruz graduate, Brooks works in special education services. She serves on the Childhood Advisory Council, on the board of the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery and recently graduated from the Capitola Leadership Academy.

Digby, who has worked as a union ironworker for more than 20 years, is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He is a graduate of the Harvard Law School Trade Union Program, and is currently an ironworkers apprenticeship and training instructor.

Storey, a Capitola resident since 1979, served on the council from 2006-2014. An attorney-at-law since 1979, he currently sits on the Capitola Planning Commission.

•••

Cabrillo College, Trustee Area 6 Two challengers are facing off in the Cabrillo College Governing Board Trustee Area 6 race: J. Dan Rothwell and Lou Tuosto.

Trustee Area 6 covers Aptos, Corralitos, La Selva Beach and parts of Watsonville.

• J. Dan Rothwell retired from teaching at Cabrillo College in 2016, capping off a career that spanned 47 years as a communications studies college professor, and 30 years as chair of the Communication Studies department at Cabrillo.

“The college has always been exceptional in terms of the quality of the teaching and the quality of the staff,” he said. “In all the years I was at Cabrillo College, I was always proud of the quality of the product we were producing.”

Now, Rothwell wants to use his

Continued from page 1

experience and know-how of the community college to represent Area 6 on Cabrillo’s Governing Board.

Rothwell’s Cabrillo career also included 22 years on the Faculty Senate, 10 years on the College Planning Council, and 10 years on the Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers Council.

“I got to know the inner workings of the college, and all it did was simply reinforce what a great college Cabrillo is,” he said.

He said Cabrillo has steadily veered away from the original 1960 Master Plan for community colleges, putting a cap on the number of times lifelong learning students can take classes, such as for music and art. Instead, Cabrillo is becoming a junior college, only preparing students to transfer and attend a four-year university, he noted.

As a result, Cabrillo’s attendance has experienced a “precipitous drop,” he said. According to Rothwell, Cabrillo’s attendance last year was roughly 12,200 students, about the same as it was when he first started in 1986, dropping from a high of 16,900 years ago.

As a trustee, Rothwell said he would work with his fellow trustees, as well as those from other community colleges, to band together and petition the state legislature to loosen the restrictions and harken back to a community college model.

He added that he will be open-minded in his reasoning, making decisions based on the best evidence and arguments.

“I sometimes take on challenges that seem hopeless,” he said. “If you keep sticking at it and persist, you may start making some impact on the state level. If we do nothing, we will continue to go on the same path.”

• A resident of Santa Cruz County for more than 40 years with experience serving on numerous school boards, the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce, the Capitola Finance Committee and more, as well as being a former Cabrillo College Extension instructor, Lou Tuosto is ready to take the next step.

Tuosto is in the running for the position of Cabrillo College Area 6 Trustee in the November election.

“I’m deeply indebted to Cabrillo,” Tuosto said. “It’s had a huge impact on me and my family. I’m excited to put all my decades of experience to use for a place I’ve loved for so long.”

Tuosto said he wants to improve communication between the college and the community at large. He hopes to work with college-bound students, encouraging them and their parents to consider starting their higher education at Cabrillo.

“I want our community to know the excellent education available at Cabrillo,” Tuosto said. “And that by attending it first you can save money while taking your lower-division courses.”

Tuosto declared he has a plan to keep funding at Cabrillo on a steady place, and is confident that if implemented, it will address the school’s current enrollment challenges.

In addition, the school’s instructors are in need of more support, he said.

“Our teachers are some of the lowest paid employees in the county,” Tuosto said.

“But they decide to remain here. We should give them reasons to continue being loyal to our community.”

Tuosto was sure to point out that he is in a position that doesn’t restrict him on voting on personnel and salary issues, ones that he described as “crucial to the future of the college.” This, along with his prior experience on school governing boards and many community connections, would make him an ideal fit for trustee, he said.

“I’m also familiar with working with large budgets and the education code,” Tuosto said. “I understand how things work. There is a lot to know.”

With an A.A., A.S., B.A.,

and two master’s degrees, Tuosto said he understands the value of a good education.

“I believe that education helps people think more clearly, thoughtfully,” he said.

“They can articulate their positions better.

Schools like Cabrillo make sure of that.”

•••

Aptos/La Selva Fire Three retired battalion chiefs are running for the Aptos/La Selva Fire district board: Orbrad Darbo, John Scanlon and Russell Borelli.

Two seats are open on the five-seat board.

•••

Soquel Creek Water Three incumbents, Carla Christensen, Bruce Jaffe and Rachel Lather, are vying for re-election on the Soquel Creek Water District board.

Only one challenger, Gary Lindstrum, will be on the ballot.

•••

Capitola Measures The City of Capitola will have four measures on the ballot.

Measure I would enact a 7 percent tax on cannabis businesses, and revenue would be

used for general city services.

Measure J would increase the city’s transient occupancy tax from 10 percent to 12 percent.

Measure K would change the office of City Treasurer from an elected position to appointed by the city council.

Measure L, known as the Capitola Greenway Initiative, would direct the City of Capitola to “take all steps necessary to preserve and maintain the Capitola segment of the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission’s Rail Corridor and Trestle over Soquel Creek for bicyclists, pedestrians and other human powered transportation.”

•••

County Measures Measure H is a $140 million bond that would fund affordable housing projects throughout the county. The measure needs a two-thirds majority to pass.

If the bond measure is approved, homeowners will pay an additional $16.77 per $100,000 of assessed value on their property tax bills.

Measure G, if approved by a simple majority vote, would raise the sales tax rate in the unincorporated areas of the county by a half-cent to 9 percent. It is expected to raise $5,750,000 annually.

••• For a full list of candidates and measures on the November ballot, visit www. votescount.com.

Tools to Make Parenting Easier

First 5 Santa Cruz County triplep.first5scc.org 831.465.2217

OCTOBER 2018

8 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

Aptos Chamber Awards Continued from page 1

development at Lighthouse Bank and has more than 26 years of banking experience.

She is currently president of the board at Digital NEST, which assists youth in learning technology to obtain well-paying jobs.

Working with Capitola-Aptos Rotary, she has managed major fundraisers over the past two years, generating $150,000 for LEO’s Haven (including county match), $30,000 for Meals on Wheels and $18,000 for local nonprofits.

••• Man of the Year: Dan Haifley

Dan Haifley has a long history of advocating for the protection of the ocean.

He helped establish Save Our Shores in 1978 and became executive director in 1986. He was also an instrumental player in establishing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, working to get communities to pass ordinances that prevented offshore oil drilling companies from building processing facilities along the coast.

He is retiring in December after nearly 20 years as executive director of O’Neill Sea Odyssey, a nonprofit that gives fourthsixth grade students hands-on lessons about Monterey Bay marine life.

••• Organization of the Year: Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired ••• Business of the Year: Seascape Village Fitness Jim and Kathy Tucker have more than 50 years combined experience in health care. Jim is a Certified Orthopedic Physical Therapist and Kathy is a retired RN; together they own Seascape Physical Therapy and Village Fitness Center.

At Village Fitness they offer private, semi-private, and group training and emphasize safe, sensible and sustainable exercise programs.

Jim evaluates each new client. He takes their medical and physical history and assesses their level of fitness and readiness to begin training.

“Safety is our number one priority,” he said.

He explained the importance of how they teach proper technique for each client, and that what may be the “right technique” for one client, may not be appropriate for another.

Jim believes that today much of the fitness industry promotes “trendy, franchise-style workouts” that promote the “latest and greatest” routines. The problem, he says, is that they forget about the individual client and instead focus on their “one size fits all,” high intensity, and often competitive workout routines. This may be appropriate for some, however for many it is not sustainable and can lead to unnecessary injury and setback, he said.

el creek water district soqu e Conservation Distric c our t& Res cruz county parks santa

presents

wat e r

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u n d ay f y l i fam

Saturday, October 20th 12 – 3 pm • heart of soquel park hands-on discovery activites about water Costume contest arts, crafts & Face Painting

Continued on next page

Vista Center’s mission is to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired to embrace life to the fullest through evaluation, counseling, education and training.

Vista Center was originally established in Santa Cruz County as the Doran Center for the Blind by Ray Westman in the late 1970s. Doran Center merged with the Peninsula Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in 2005, and the two organizations became Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Vista Center Santa Cruz continues its 40-year commitment to people who are blind or visually impaired in the community, and today is a regional, onestop resource providing a comprehensive range of services to help people who are blind or visually impaired learn new skills and strategies to overcome the emotional impact of sight loss and remain independent, employed and mobile.

“We are honored to be recognized by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce for the impact we are making in people’s lives,” said Christy Tall, Vista Center Santa Cruz branch manager. “We are excited about the growth in services we are providing, and the direction our organization is taking. We are building a community where people can feel empowered and motivated to keep doing the things they enjoy and love.”

••• Outstanding Achievement: Mark Dorfman

Mark Dorfman has served as the athletic director at Aptos High School for 27 years.

Students past and present mention his dedication, compassion for all athletes regardless of their on-the-field contribution; his unwavering commitment to the school, team or program, his intellect, his sense of humor, commitment for high achievement in the classroom, and the long hours he dedicates to Aptos High School.

••• Community Hero: Aptos Feed and Pet Supply Aptos Feed and Pet Supply is a familyowned store that is a frequent supporter of animal rescues, shelters and community events.

In the words of one customer, “Aptos Feed is the best — period. Damian Delezene and his crew always go out of their way to help and make you feel like you’re part of the family.”

OCTOBER 2018

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 9

Second District Update - Exploring Proposition 6 road safety, transportation and public transit improvement projects currently underway throughout California. The legislation generates more than $5 billion annually for repairs, maintenance and operations, nearly half of which is directed to cities and counties for street and road repairs. Most of the remaining funds are used for increasing highway maintenance and operational improvements, public transit and pedestrian safety programs.

Specifically, current projects in the state underway with the funding include more than 3,700 road repair projects, 1,500 road and drive safety projects, over 500 bridge and overpass repair and replacement projects, over 300 traffic congestion relief projects, and about 900 pedestrian safety and/or public transportation improvements.

By ZACH FRIEND

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SUPERVISOR

In the last issue I wrote an overview of some local and state ballot measures voters will see in November. I received some additional questions about Proposition 6, which would repeal SB 1, adopted by the legislature to address the nearly $140 billion backlog in statewide deferred road maintenance by raising the gas tax and vehicle registration fees. Some readers were interested in more information about what would happen if Prop. 6 were approved, had some questions about how the funding is protected for transportation and what local projects are being funded through SB 1 that could be eliminated.

Statewide impact If approved, Prop. 6 would eliminate funding for more than 6,500 bridge and

Can this funding be used for other purposes such as backfilling the State’s General Fund?

Put simply, no. In June, California voters passed Prop. 69 which specifically prohibited using these funds for anything other than transportation improvements.

Local impact Locally, the funding has already been used for storm damage repairs and is expected to provide $115 million countywide over the first 10 years for road repairs, bridge and culvert repairs and other safety improvements. Specifically, local projects that are underway (in planning, design or construction) include: a pavement preservation project on 26 lane miles of Highway 17 from Scotts Valley to the Santa Clara County line, roadway reconstruction and flooding prevention improvements on Branciforte Drive in the City of Santa Cruz, replace and upgrade four existing culverts along Highway 1

from north of Swanton Road to south of Waddell Creek near Davenport, shoulder reconstruction, retaining wall construction, and drainage improvements on Bear Creek Road in Santa Cruz County, replace the San Lorenzo River Bridge and the Kings Creek Bridge on Highway 9, upgrade traffic monitoring elements on Highway 1 from north of State Park Drive to south of Highway 1/Highway 17 to provide better information on traffic congestion to motorists, add up to nine new Clean Natural Gas (CNG) buses for Santa Cruz METRO, repair and resurface damaged roadway and bike lanes, replace damaged sidewalks, add pedestrian facilities where none exist on Freedom Boulevard in the City of Watsonville, rehabilitate roadway, install bike lanes, complete accessibility improvements, and construct five miles of trail in Scotts Valley, install LED pedestrian lighting between Water Street and Highway 1 on the San Lorenzo Riverwalk on east and west banks in the City of Santa Cruz and more. Additionally, with the passage of Measure D (our local transportation measure), our county now qualifies for a carve out set of funds under SB 1 for communities with local funding measures. This means we can leverage additional state funds that wouldn’t have been available before Measure D (and won’t be available if Prop. 6 passes).

Lastly, any local storm damage sites in our county are obtaining their local match (so construction can begin) through SB 1 funds.

What does it cost to maintain SB 1?

According to the California Department of Finance, SB 1 costs motorists an average of $9.76/month based on registration and fuel cost estimates. Here’s their math: • Registration: Nearly 50 percent of

all registered vehicles in California are valued at less than $5,000 (transportation improvement fee of $25/year). Forty percent are valued at less than $25,000 ($50/year). In turn, they calculate the average annual additional amount for vehicle registration at approximately $48.

• Fuel: California’s 26 million licensed drivers consume 15.5 billion gallons per year. That is 577 gallons per driver, multiplied by 12 cents per gallon is $69.24 each.

• The annual cost per driver is: Vehicle Registration — $47.85; Fuel — $69.24 — $9.76 per month

What does it cost if SB1 is repealed?

The 2016 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment Report found that, as roadway pavement conditions deteriorate, the cost to repair them increases exponentially. “For example, it costs as much as 14 times more to reconstruct a pavement than to preserve it when it is in good condition.

Even a modest resurfacing is four times more expensive than maintenance in Best Management Practices (BMP) condition.”

The American Road and Transportation Builders of America studied the economic impacts of SB 1 and estimated it would result in “…an annual savings of nearly $300 per household in California” due to “decreased congestion, less money spent on vehicle repairs, safer roads, and an improved infrastructure network.”

I hope this provides more details on Prop. 6 (and the background of SB 1) to answer some of the questions you had from the last article. As always, if I can be of any additional help feel free to call me at 454-2200.

Financial Advice

ANNUITY BASICS

By GARY E. CROXALL, CFP® and SOREN E. CROXALL, CFP® Fifty years ago, the average worker retired with a golden watch and a hefty pension. Today, unless you work in a government related job, the chance of you retiring with a defined benefit pension is pretty small.

Some workers in the private sector may be lucky enough to still be covered under a pension plan if they worked for a company for a long time. However, it’s likely that same pension plan has been frozen by the employer and closed to new employees. Most companies instead have shifted from the traditional pension plans to “defined contribution plans” like 401(k)s. Unlike traditional pension plans where the employer is responsible for planning and providing a monthly income for life to qualifying workers, defined contribution plans shift the burden to workers, who are responsible for saving enough throughout their working years and making appropriate investment decisions. Also, unlike traditional pension plans which typically provide an income for life, defined contributions plans do not have the same benefit. For this reason, the question of how annuities fit into overall retirement planning comes up with more and more frequency.

What is an annuity?

An annuity in its most basic form is a contract between you and an insurance company, whereby you give the insurance

company a certain dollar amount, and in return, the insurance company agrees to pay a certain amount back per the terms of the contract. The payment from an annuity can last for a fixed period of time or a lifetime. Depending on the type of annuity, you can opt to receive income payments immediately or at some point in the future.

There are two general types of annuities: immediate and deferred. An immediate annuity is pretty much as it sounds, you start receiving income immediately. A deferred annuity allows you to defer receiving income until some point in the future, sometimes decades.

Some pros and cons Annuities can be complex products and it’s important to understand some of the major pros and cons. One of the biggest pros associated with annuities is that they can help protect against longevity risk, or outliving your money. With traditional pensions getting scarcer, more people are considering an annuity when looking for a guaranteed source of income (subject to the claims paying ability of the insurance company). Also, annuities that are purchased with non-qualified sources of funds like cash (not retirement assets like a traditional IRA which already is tax deferred) have the ability to remain tax deferred until withdrawals are made.

Depending on the type of annuity you purchase, you should understand the fees assessed and weigh those fees against the benefits the annuity is offering. Also, some types of annuities may have no liquidity at all, while others may be subject to a surrender charge if you need to cancel your annuity contract within a specified period of time. Also, while annuities may be able to grow tax deferred over a period of time, any gain in the contract is subject to ordinary income tax rates upon withdrawal. Withdrawals made prior to age 59 1/2 are subject to a 10 percent IRS

penalty tax and surrender charges may apply. Variable annuities are subject to market risk and may lose value. Annuities need to be a long term commitment to potentially solve specific financial goals.

Gary E. Croxall, CFP® Registered Principal of LPL

Is an annuity something to consider?

Annuities are often misunderstood.

However, there are many different types of annuities available and it’s not a one size fits all. Your situation may be well served by one type of annuity whereas someone else might be better served by a different type of annuity or no annuity at all.

They are just a flexible financial tool and resource to consider within your overall financial plan. A qualified professional can help walk you through the various types of annuities in detail as well as their benefits and drawbacks.

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.

Soren E. Croxall, CFP® Registered Representative of LPL

OCTOBER 2018

10 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

Capitola vintage boutique closes

By JOHANNA MILLER CAPITOLA — BFF Boutique: Vintage and Repurposed Fashions in Capitola Village closed its doors in September.

The shop, located at 115 San Jose Ave. in the Capitola Mercantile, offers “preloved” fashions and accessories for men and women.

Owner Terri Foster said she opened the store, originally located at the Bayview Hotel in Aptos Village in 2014, after retiring from her job with the State of California. She wanted to find something to keep her busy — but also that she was passionate about.

“I’ve always loved fashion,” Foster said.

“I love helping people find the right outfit; a look that works just for them.”

BFF Boutique’s focus on vintage items in particular is deliberate.

“With vintage you get very unique items made from quality material,” she said.

“Most shirts I sell are silk or cotton. It makes a difference.”

Moving from Aptos to Capitola Village was a risk, Foster said, but one she was willing to take.

“Capitola is really special,” she said.

“I’ve really enjoyed being here.”

This is why the decision to close is somewhat bittersweet, she admitted. With rising real estate costs and wages, Foster said that having a smaller business has been challenging in recent years — and not only for her. Other small businesses in the area have recently been closing.

“I think it would’ve been better if we’d had a bit more support,” Foster said. “We had lots of ideas about how to improve things. But if people don’t want to listen — well, you can make suggestions, but sometimes people are just set in their ways.”

But Foster remains positive, and is grateful for her loyal customers. She wants to maintain a presence online through email and her Facebook page.

“They are why I do this,” she said. “That connection with customers is so important to me.”

Foster has also used BFF Boutique for outreach, collaborating with a number of nonprofit organizations such as CASA and Monarch Services. Recently she has worked with Ann Lopez of the Center for Farmworker Families, inviting a group of women into the store to choose outfits.

“I will really miss what I do,” Foster said. “But I am ready to kick back for a while, and look ahead to what comes next.”

BFF Boutique owner Terri Foster closed her store, located in Capitola Village, in September.

Photo by Johanna Miller

See What Unfolds October is dental health month!

Great dental care and outstanding veterinary services — that’s what Aptos-Creekside Pet Hospital is all about. Bring your pet in now for our special 20% DENTAL DISCOUNT.

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Pass along to friends and family Promotion Code: ACOCT2018

Expires: 10/31/18

Call 831.688.4242 to schedule an appointment 10404 Soquel Drive, Aptos • aptos-creeksidepets.com

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100 Westridge Dr., Watsonville

831.761.7300

OCTOBER 2018

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 11 Photos by Johanna MILLER

Mastering the medium Aptos artist specializes in, teaches encaustic art

By JOHANNA MILLER

Artist Nadine Baurin works on a series of encaustic paintings at Terry Dowell’s studio in Rio Del Mar.

Terry Dowell of Aptos shows off the multitude of supplies available for use in her home art studio. Dowell specializes in and teaches encaustic painting, a technique using paint made of molten beeswax combined with pigment.

Encaustic art is created using paint made from heated beeswax mixed with colored pigments.

APTOS — Terry Dowell’s artistic journey has been long and allencompassing. From photography and oil painting to clay sculpture, the Aptos-based artist has pretty much dabbled in most mediums out there.

But one very specific and not-socommon technique caught Dowell’s attention after attending a demonstration, and as they say, the rest is history.

Encaustic painting is a technique using paint made from melted beeswax combined with color pigments. It is one of the oldest art forms, having been around for thousands of years and used by the Ancient Greeks.

“I’m always searching for something that expands my knowledge,” Dowell said.

“I was immediately hooked on [encaustic].

I knew I wanted to pursue it.”

In the past decade, Dowell has made a name for herself not only as an artist but as a teacher of the encaustic method through her business, Rocket Encaustic.

She converted her Rio Del Mar home’s garage into a studio and now leads monthly workshops, as well as offering weekly time slots for students to come practice.

“I’m dedicated to people learning,” Dowell said. “I think it’s really important to have a community of artists, where we can create together and share ideas in a positive way.”

A self-guided artist from a young age, Dowell moved to the area from the East Bay in 2006. She had been involved in art there as well, even owning a large art studio in Pleasanton.

Living in Santa Cruz County, she said,

has become in itself a source of inspiration.

“We live in such a beautiful place,” she said, “with so many creative people. I feel so fortunate to be here.”

With encaustic art, Dowell explained, one can utilize their skills and supplies for most other artistic mediums. Everything from photographs to textiles can be incorporated into a painting. The wax itself can then take on a life on its own.

“I’ve always liked using nature as inspiration,” Dowell said. “And with encaustic, you’re also working with it. You don’t always know what will happen.”

Nadine Baurin, an artist who regularly schedules visits to Dowell’s studio, said she appreciated all that Dowell has done for the community and for introducing her to the encaustic method.

“Terry’s amazing,” she said. “All the supplies she offers to us, not to mention her knowledge and support. It’s incredible.”

About 50 of Dowell’s pieces are currently on display at the county government building, 701 Ocean St. in Santa Cruz, and Dowell will be taking part in the Open Studios Art Tour in October. She hopes to continue to gain more students.

“Art makes a difference,” Dowell said.

“It can make a social statement. It can be spiritual, bringing viewers to tears. It makes a community more alive.”

For information on Dowell’s art and to inquire about classes, visit rocketencaustic. com.

Open Studios will run Oct. 6-7 for South County artists, Oct. 13-14 for North County artists and Oct. 20-21 for all artists. For information, visit santacruzopenstudios. com.

OCTOBER 2018

12 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

SPORTS

WITH

TONY NUNEZ

Cabrillo returns with ‘upgraded’ roster, new coordinator for coach Arbet’s second season

Cabrillo College sophomore quarterback Devon Daich (5) throws the ball during a recent practice in Aptos. Daich is one of several new players who will suit up for the Seahawks this season.

By TONY NUNEZ APTOS — From a quick glance, something is noticeably different with the Cabrillo College football team.

“We look like a college football team now,” said second-year head coach Darren

Arbet. “Things are a little different.”

From their monstrous offensive line, to a defensive backfield that features a handful of athletic studs standing 6-feet-tall and above, the Seahawks have the look of a winner. And they’re ready to prove that their play can match their appearance.

“This year, everybody has that mindset, ‘let’s be that one year where Cabrillo really turns it around, that one year that people remember,’” said sophomore quarterback Devon Daich. “You’ll notice it in little places in practice like on punt or offensive line. You see that spark in people. They really want to make that change.”

So far, Cabrillo sits at 2-1 as of Sept. 25.

The team had a chance to notch its first 3-0 start since 1997, but fell to Hartnell College on Sept. 22 in double overtime.

Cabrillo went 2-8 in Arbet’s first season at the helm, but has since overhauled its roster with talent from near and far. With a full calendar year to recruit, Arbet and offensive coordinator Frank Espy found several talented players as well as some diamonds in the rough. Arbet, the former head coach of the San Jose SaberCats in the Arena Football League, also managed to convince Hartnell College defensive coordinator Justin Hansen to join his coaching staff.

Cabrillo, which has not had a winning season since 2007, will run a 4-2-5 defense under Hansen.

“I think I have two of the best coordinators there is,” Arbet said.

And each coach will have plenty of new weapons to work with.

In total, Cabrillo has 74 players on its roster, including a few kickbacks from four-year colleges at various levels. The team’s overall size, speed, strength and football IQ has improved from last season, according to Arbet.

“They always say it’s about the Jimmies and the Joes,” Arbet said. “We had to get some players in here. We feel like we upgraded our roster, but we’re still going

to have to coach them up and play together as a team.”

Here’s a look at this year’s roster: ••• QUARTERBACKS It’s been a two-player battle for the starting spot between Daich and fellow sophomore Kendall Williams.

Daich (6-foot-4, 210 pounds), a Monte Vista Christian alumnus, last year started for Hartnell and threw for 1,898 yards and 13 touchdowns with eight interceptions.

Williams (6-2, 200) redshirted last year at San Bernardino Valley College and followed former Colonial High (Florida) teammate Ramon Gordon to Cabrillo with hopes of rebuilding the program into a contender.

“We want to go 11-0 with a bowl ring,” Williams said. “I do not want to lose this year at all.”

The two are similar in many respects.

Both are accurate, have good leadership qualities and can also run when the pocket breaks down. But Daich has a stronger arm, and Williams has a little more wiggle when he runs away from pressure.

“The talent level is high,” said Gordon, one of the Seahawks’ options at wideout.

“Sometimes when it’s a good ball, you don’t know whether it’s Devon or Kendall.

When they step on the field their presence is definitely there.”

Cabrillo had a QB carousel last season.

Jeff Schweitzer, Evan Nelson and Nick Martig, who started the year as a punter, all saw time behind center. Despite the shaky quarterback play, Cabrillo still averaged 24.8 points and 373 yards per game in Espy’s spread offense.

OCTOBER 2018

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 13

••• RUNNING BACKS With star runner Terrence Smith now at University of San Diego, Cabrillo will try to replace his contributions to the offense with a committee of backs. Freshmen Cory Glasgow (5-7, 175), Cole Davis (510, 175), Evan Delozier (5-11, 200) and Johnny Soto (5-6, 165) will all get a look.

Glasgow led Tokay High (Lodi) in rushing yards during his junior and senior seasons. Davis rushed for 1,553 yards and 15 touchdowns over the course of his varsity career at Live Oak High in Morgan Hill. Delozier was a two-way star for Watsonville High as a junior and senior.

And Soto last fall helped Santa Cruz High win its first league title since 1993.

LaDale Combs (5-8, 180), a freshman from Michigan, will also see time in the backfield.

“I feel comfortable with all these guys,” said freshman lineman Erick Becerril.

“They all bring something to the table.”

••• RECEIVERS Gordon (5-10, 170), a kickback from NAIA Graceland University in Iowa, is one of the few small-bodied receiving options the Seahawks have. Freshmen Kameron Pleasant (6-1, 200), Weston Kandarian (62, 195) and Romello Cook (6-3, 195), and sophomore Jamarr Porter (6-1, 180) are all big targets that can also move.

The biggest target: 6-foot-6 freshman tight end Carson Spence.

“It’s nice when you have receivers that are taller than you,” Arbet said.

Spence, a star two-way player at Scotts Valley High last fall, had verbally committed to Division I Sacramento State, but had his offer revoked after the school had given out all of its scholarships to other players. He had offers to walk-on at other four-year schools, but decided to stay close to home and earn another scholarship.

“I was bummed that the opportunity went away, but I use it as motivation,” Spence said. “I’m trying to work harder to get somewhere better.”

Gordon’s height won’t stop the speedster

from getting looks in the passing game.

He, Santa Cruz alumnus Nick Gonzales (5-9, 175) and Live Oak alumnus Jaime Martinez (5-9, 185) will have opportunities to make their mark on the game despite their diminutive size.

“He competes,” Williams said of Gordon. “He can go up and get it.”

••• OFFENSIVE LINE Last season at Santa Cruz, Becerril (60, 275) was the biggest offensive lineman on the team. This season, he might be the smallest.

“I love it,” Becerril said. “We’ve got some size. We’re going to be able to move some people this year.”

Tackles Devon Mayo (6-5, 320) and Andrew Torres-Silva (6-5, 285) and guard Charles Taylor (6-1, 350) all return for their sophomore seasons. The Seahawks also added a pair of sophomore twin brothers from Texas in Thomas (6-3, 295) and Thalan Payne (6-3, 310), as well as local freshmen Conner Van Valer (5-10, 260), Jonathan Medina (6-0, 280) and Juan Pablo Rodriguez (5-11, 270). Van Valer is from Scotts Valley, Medina played at Live Oak and Rodriguez graduated from Pajaro Valley High.

Andrew Hill High product Marco Contreras (6-4, 300) and North Carolina native Bryce Void (6-4, 300) are two more big bodies the Seahawks will have at their disposal. Both are sophomores.

“I feel a little more comfortable back there,” Daich said. “I’ve never played behind an O-line that big. It’s good.”

••• DEFENSIVE LINE In Hansen’s 4-2-5 scheme, Cabrillo’s defensive linemen will carry a good portion of the run-stopping responsibilities. Last year’s starting defensive tackles Cameron Moore (6-0, 280) and Eliel Ehimare (62, 290) are all back, and so is starting defensive end Caleb Martin (6-0, 245), an Aptos High alumnus. That trio combined for 11 sacks and 20 1/2 tackles for loss last season.

Sophomore Jake Hampton, a San Lorenzo Valley High alumnus, is

undersized (5-10, 195), but can get after the quarterback with his speed.

“Our defensive line is physical,” Moore said. “We’re all good with our hands and we can get to the quarterback.”

The Seahawks are also hoping freshman Andrew Castro (6-1, 230) can be a nice foil to Martin on the opposite end of the line.

Castro last fall helped Gilroy High finish 13-0 and win league and section titles.

“He’ll do well for us,” Arbet said of Castro.

Arbet took over as the defensive line’s positional coach in the offseason and has asked a lot of his group. Sophomore DeTrale Hardney (6-0, 240), freshmen Damond Carter (6-4, 230) and Jesse Ehimare (6-0, 310) — Eliel’s older brother — will also be a part of the rotation.

“I’ve seen a big improvement with [Arbet] there — things are better because of it,” Martin said. “There’s a different consistency. A different pace. We’re focused.”

••• LINEBACKERS Starting linebackers Travis Schuhe and Trevor Rico are gone. That duo, which finished one-two in total tackles for the Seahawks last fall, has been replaced by freshmen Payton Mitchell (6-1, 220) and Spenser Soares (5-11, 190).

Mitchell, a Christopher High alumnus, and Soares, a Gilroy alumnus, grew up playing Pop Warner football together in Gilroy, and have stayed close throughout the years. They helped their respective high school teams win section titles last fall.

“We’re always barking back and forth, ‘you got this, you got that, make sure you check that,’” Mitchell said. “We have that connection, so we can also get on each other when one of us misses a read or doesn’t fill a gap. It’s good having that connection.”

Cabrillo will also carry sophomore Marquise Grace (5-11, 240) and freshmen Ismail Souza (6-0, 200), Daniel Winters (6-0, 195) and Irepan Romero (5-8, 190).

••• DEFENSIVE BACKS The defensive backfield received a complete facelift during the offseason.

Sophomore Shaq Floyd, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound all-state selection last fall, is the lone returning starter in the unit.

Arbet and his assistant coaches searched far and wide for other athletes that matched Floyd’s size and athleticism. They found 6-foot-3 sophomore DesDamon Lake, 6-foot-2 freshman Aaron Pitts and 6-foot1 freshmen George Taeron and Joseph Lowe. All four are from out of state. Lake is from Ohio, Pitts and Taeron both hail from Michigan and Lowe comes to Aptos from Texas.

“It’s a whole new batch of kids,” said Floyd, who made seven interceptions last season. “Everything is pretty much new for everyone.”

Freshmen Christian Rodriguez and Ralph Martinez and sophomore Cory Riley, whom all measure in at 5-foot-11, will also see action. Rodriguez (Gilroy) and Martinez (Tokay) followed teammates to Cabrillo, and Riley is a sophomore kickback from D-I South Carolina State.

••• SPECIAL TEAMS Aptos alumnus Kieran Woodley will handle the kicking duties for Cabrillo this fall.

Arbet said Woodley, who is automatic from 35 yards out, worked with former San Francisco 49ers kicker Joe Nedney during the offseason, and has hopes of earning a D-I scholarship.

“Having a 35-yard field goal as an option,” Arbet said, “it’s a game changer.”

Hampton is the team’s long snapper and Soares will handle the punting duties.

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OCTOBER 2018

14 - LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel

SPORTS APTOS SCHEDULE Football

WITH

TONY NUNEZ

Oct. 26 vs. Palma, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Salinas, 7:30 p.m.

Girls Volleyball

Oct. 12 vs. Stevenson, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Pajaro Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 at Greenfield, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 vs. Marina, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 vs. San Lorenzo Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Harbor, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 9 vs. Aptos, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 vs. Santa Cruz, 6:30 p.m.

To the Editor,     County Supervisors placed two measures on ballot that are misleading and deceptive. Measure G is a half-cent sales tax increase. Measure H increases property tax. Neither is truthful. Measure G proposes a half-cent sales tax increase for 12 years to boost the General Fund.

It reads: “To continue funding 9-1-1 emergency response, paramedic, sheriff, fire, emergency preparedness, local street repairs... “

No county official can answer how County Fire would benefit if this sales tax wins. Currently, County Fire receives $0 from the General Fund. It is 100 percent funded by County Service Area (CSA) 48 taxes on rural property owners. Measure G would not fund County Fire at all.

Measure G deceives voters, worried about fire safety, to approve a tax increase. In truth, it offsets debt caused by unfunded employee retirement pensions due to hit the county budget in 2019-2020. CAO Carlos Palacios hinted to Supervisors recently that a sales tax increase would offset this estimated $9-$15 million deficit.

Shockingly, he postponed balloting an increase in CSA 48 tax to fund County Fire.

Measure H has no exemptions for seniors, disabled and property owners on fixed incomes. Proponents state “Measure H would be part of the Low Income Senior Property Tax Postponement Program; preventing any current tax burden on those who can least afford it.�

In truth, the program’s restrictive eligibility requirements make qualifying exceedingly difficult and charges those approved 7 percent interest. One must apply annually in a brief time to be considered first-come, first-served.

Mobile home owners cannot apply. The

Oct. 7

Gourmet Grazing on the Monte Foundation Green.

Fireworks Extravaganza Grazing on the Green brings together local community farmers, chefs, winemakers, brewers, spirits distillers, artisans and restaurateurs to celebrate food and drink. It will take place at Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road, from noon to 4 p.m. The event benefits Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group. For information, visit www.sccbg.org/ gourmetgrazingonthegreen.

Oct. 7 Aptos/La Selva Fire open house The Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District will hold an open house at Station #1, 6934 Soquel Drive, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees will take a tour of the fire station and meet local firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics and representatives from other public safety response agencies.

For information, call 685-6690 or visit www.aptosfire.com.

October 2018

Oct. 16 at Mount Madonna School, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 vs. Scotts Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 at San Lorenzo Valley, 6:30 p.m.

legislature can and has suspended the program.

Measure H violates state law (AB 195), failing to disclose the duration of debt. Debt burden is nearly a quarter billion dollars to all property owners, interest up to 12 percent, for 35-plus years. The $140 million principle, split by four cities and unincorporated county, has nebulous expenditures and unspecified administrative costs. The Oversight Committee could approve changes to maximum dollar allocations granted.

Voters passed Measure J in 1978 amidst a county-declared affordable housing crisis, requiring 15 percent affordable units built in developments. Why did Supervisors in 2015 allow not building them?  Developers can instead pay a small fee.

Why don’t County and Santa Cruz City leaders require developers to build affordable rentals in projects when they can?

Taxing housing isn’t a solution to affordable housing problems.

Many American families lost their homes and farms because they could not pay property taxes. Vote no on Measures G and H.

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

Letters should be about 300 words or less.

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

Letters and columns may be dropped off at the Register-Pajaronian, 100 Westridge Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076. Email is the best way to send columns and letters — newsroom@register-pajaronian.com. Our fax number is 722-8386.

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

Trusted

Becky Steinbruner Aptos APTOS

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Oct. 6

Oct. 16 vs. San Lorenzo Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 vs. Mount Madonna School, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 22 at Scotts Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 vs. Santa Cruz, 6:30 p.m.

All home games take place at Soquel High School, 401 Soquel San Jose Rd.

Football

Vote no on measures G and H

Girls Volleyball Oct. 2 at Santa Cruz, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Soquel, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 at Harbor, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 at Everett Alvarez, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 vs. Gilroy, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Christopher, 7:30 p.m.

SOQUEL SCHEDULE

October 2018

All home games take place at Aptos High School, 100 Mariner Way

SOQUEL

CAPITOLA

OCTOBER 2018 Oct. 18 Mixer

The 24th annual Monte Foundation Fireworks Extravaganza will be held from 8-8:30 p.m. at the Capitola Wharf. Donations benefit the new Capitola Branch Library.

For information, visit www.montefoundation.com.

A mixer co-hosted by Cork & Fork, Beach House Rentals and Monet Salon will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. at 312 Capitola Ave. The event will include wine, appetizers, raffle prizes and network. Admission is $5 for chamber members, or $10 for non-members.

Oct. 11

Oct. 28

Breakfast meeting

Halloween Parade

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly breakfast meeting at the Best Western Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court in Aptos, from 7:30-9 a.m.

This month’s speaker is Santa Cruz County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios. Admission is $20 for chamber members, or $25 for non-members. For reservations, call 688-1467.

The Capitola Village Halloween Parade will line up at 1:30 p.m. in the Beach & Village Parking Lot above Capitola City Hall. The parade will begin at 2 p.m., winding through Capitola VIllage to the Esplanade.

Trick-or-treating at Capitola Village shops follows the parade.

Oct. 14

• new/used books • children’s books

Castro Adobe open house The Castro Adobe State Historic Park, 184 Old Adobe Road in Watsonville, will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information, visit www.thatsmypark.org.

BEST of

PAJARO VALLEY

• 1 minute off hwy 1

APTOS

SOQUEL

CAPITOLA

Watsonville’s Independent Bookstore

• unique gifts • special orders – no charge!

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

OCTOBER 2018

LIFE everything Aptos, Capitola and Soquel - 15

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