August 1 2012
C O M M U N I T Y N E W S T H AT M A K E S A D I F F E R E N C E
Vol 21 No. 15
Serving Aptos, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, Freedom, Watsonville, & Pajaro
Big Business Impacting Aptos
Looking North at the New Safeway
Rancho Del Mar Center Renovation Endangers Small Business By Courtney Dimpel s the plans for the Rancho Del Mar Shopping renovation project become clearer, the fate of the 14 local businesses that occupy retail space to be eliminated within the center during the renovation has become even more clouded. Representatives from Safeway and local design firm Hamilton & Swift and Associates held a town meeting in the Santa Cruz Community Center Tuesday, July 17. At the meeting they planned to discuss and take input on their preliminary design plans. The plans include moving the Safeway store and increasing it from 35,000 to 60,000 sq ft. Also to be enlarged were the queuing space and gas station capacity to 18 fueling stations, compared to the current eight. However, the T-shirts and handmade signs with the phrase “No Safeway Megastore” made it apparent that many Aptonians were less interested in the design elements and food selection Safeway would offer in their new store.
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A Young Biker winds through the trees in Nisene Marks Park.
NISENE MARKS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS August sees multiple events to commemorate the Golden Anniversary
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Fire in Aptos Called Arson Near Train Tracks
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will be a full Forest Walk of Discovery. Come join us for these anniversary events. ••• Saturday August 4 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. his all-funds-stay-local fundraiser lunch, birthday cake and history walk with noted local historian Sandy Lydon supports nonprofit Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, a 35-year-old organization that focuses on sustaining the legacy of local state parks
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‘Anything Goes’ at Cabrillo College Cabrillo Stage
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operations until the 1920s (140 million board feet were logged), including a railroad network built by Chinese laborers. Today, Nisene Marks and its 30 miles of trails is a popular mountain biking, hiking and horse-riding destination. The park will feature two special events to celebrate its history. On August 4, there will be a Fundraiser Lunch, including a Birthday Cake, and a History Walk. The following weekend, on August 11, there
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he Forest of Nisene Marks in Aptos celebrates 50 years as a State Park this summer. But the history of this forest goes back much further. The 10,000-acre park is home to the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, evidence of which is still visible. The park is also home to oldgrowth and second-generation redwood forests in mountains that reach 2,600 feet. The forest was the site of major logging
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and beaches in Santa Cruz County. Of 84 similar organizations in California, it is the second largest. Enjoy lunch (and birthday cake) under the redwoods as we take a leisurely stroll through the wondrous mix of second and old-growth redwood forest that straddles one of Santa Cruz County’s most beautiful creeks. Sandy will bring to life the people who played a part in the
Art & Wine Festival Scotts Valley Chamber
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