Aptos Times: January 1, 2019 by Times Publishing Group, Inc.

Serving Our Community For Over 25 Years • Aptos, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, Freedom & Watsonville

Times Publishing Group, Inc.

January 1 2019 • Vol 28 No. 1

www.tpgonlinedaily.com

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Celebrating Aptos History in 2019!

As a child, I remember being told that as you get older, time seems to speed up. I also remember thinking that would ever be case for me. Full Story page 12

Plans for Reopening Rio Del Mar Beach Public Access Disputed RDM Homeowners Sue to Stop County Claiming Lands for Beach Drive Access

On December 18, 2018, an article entitled Reopening Public Access along Beach Drive, written by Supervisor Zack Friend, was published in the Aptos Times. ... continues on page 4

Coastal Commission Responds to Rio del Mar Homeowners Lawsuit

The Rio Del Mar Beach Island Homeowners Association (“HOA”) has consistently acknowledged, for decades, that the County owns and/or controls the *37-foot area seaward of their homes. ... continues on page 4

Noel Smith Wins Golden Quill Award

For the past 14 years I’ve been the editor for the Aptos Times, Capitola Soquel Times and Scotts Valley Times. It has always been my purpose to make each publication truly local in content and design. Full Story page 5

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No. 1

Volume 28

Table of Contents

Cover Plans for Reopening Rio Del Mar Beach Public Access Disputed (RDM Homeowners Sue to Stop County Claiming Lands for Beach Drive Access • Coastal Commission Responds to Rio del Mar Homeowners Lawsuit)

Community News TPG, Inc. Editor Noel Smith Wins Golden Quill Award, By Noel Smith (Letter to the Editor, from the Editor) Choose Your Ride this Holiday Season Volunteers Help Children In Foster Care • CDFW Awards $4.2 Million for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Projects New California Laws Coming 2019: Women on the Board, Cannabis Events, Street Vending Foundation Provides New Pediatric Gym, By Aric Sleeper • County to Open New Safety Center in Aptos PVUSD Board Welcomes New Staff • Introductory session in the Art of Communication • WomenCARE PSA for Cancer Support Group • Santa Cruz County Highest Voter Turnout • Enroll Now for Jan. 5 Smart Driver Class Women’s Adventure Film Tour at the Rio Remembering Kay Metz Possible Tax Relief for Domestic Parters Be A Holiday Hero – Give The Gift Of Life; Red Cross urgently needs blood and platelet donations RTC Receives Highway Safety Improvement Grant for Highway 9 Pedestrian Crossings Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases At Your Service; Fast Facts About Service Dogs Ten Doctor-Recommended New Year’s Resolutions • Leadership Santa Cruz County Launches Search for New Executive Director

6 7 8 9 10

11 13 14 15 16 17 19 24

2 19 Happy new year

from the

Local History 12 Celebrating Aptos History in 2019!, By Kevin Newhouse Health & Fitness 20 Five tips for coping with Chronic Pain 21 Take Steps Toward a Healthier Lifestyle

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Business Profile 22 Fatima’s Fine Jewelry

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Your November Horoscope Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

Featured Columnists 23 Our New Year’s Resolution: Recharge and Replenishment, By Melanie Mow Schumacher 25 Talking With The Community, By Shannon Munz, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Communications Specialist 26 Berries For Color In Winter, by Tony Tomeo 30 Reflections on My 6th Year as Your County Supervisor, By Zach Friend, County Supervisor 2nd District

With more than 500 homes sold since 1996 we have been and will always be committed to helping families make Aptos home.

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 27 — Hannah

www.tpgonlinedaily.com 3 / January 1st 2019 / Aptos Times

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COVER STORY publisher Patrice Edwards editor • associate editor Noel Smith • Lori Landino contributing writers Noel Smith, Camisa Composti, Aric Sleeper, Kevin Newhouse, Melanie Mow, Shannon Munz, Tony Tomeo, Zach Friend layout Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson photography Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson, Brad Hagenking website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti, Eric Spencer production coordinator Maya Tabasz advertising sales Don Beaumont, Melody Shishido office coordinator Cathe Race distribution Bill Pooley, Jordan Parnell

Times Publishing Group, Inc. 9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 The Times Publishing Group, Inc., publishers of the Aptos Times, a bi-monthly publication, the Capitola Times and Scotts Valley Times, each printed monthly, Coastal Weddings Magazine, Coastal Home and Garden Magazine, Aptos’ Fourth of July Parade Official Program Guide and Capitola’s Begonia Festival Official Program Guide, is owned by Patrice Edwards. Entire contents ©2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission PHONE: (831) 688-7549 FAX: (831) 688-7551 GENERAL E-MAIL: info@cyber-times.com Patrice Edwards: patrice@cyber-times.com Publisher’s Assistant: assistant@cyber-times.com Editor: info@cyber-times.com Opinions/Letters: editorial@cyber-times.com Calendar Listings: www.tpgonlinedaily.com Graphics Department: graphics@cyber-times.com Billing Inquiries: cathe@cyber-times.com Classified Sales: sales@cyber-times.com Production: production@cyber-times.com CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT: www.tpgonlinedaily.com mission statement We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc. are dedicated to providing a voice for the individuals and organizations in our community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses. We seek to promote healthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, school news, senior events, community groups and entertainment

“Homeowners Lawsuit” from page 1 A few days later, a lawsuit filed on behalf of the Rio del Mar Beach Island homeowners back on Nov. 15 came to light. Their attorney sent out a press release. “Homeowners in Rio del Mar Beach Island have filed a court action to stop Santa Cruz County from taking over a strip of property abutting their 1950’s era homes and opening private patios to the public. “No legal basis exists for the County’s actions,” the suit filed in Superior Court in Santa Cruz points out, as the County has no easement, recorded title or other legal interest in the land it is trying to open to unlimited public use, literally on the homeowners’ doorsteps. “The County is stating they own it, but they don’t,” says Jim Vaudagna, who, along with his family, has resided on Beach Drive for almost 50 years. “We can’t believe our County government representatives are actually doing this. It’s shocking after both the County and Coastal Commission have issued permits for a 17 foot wide seawall, and individual 20 foot patios in front of our homes.” County officials have for decades issued building permits and approved various patios, staircases, cantilevered decks, and other private improvements as recently as last summer. In 1980 large storm waves washed away the beach frontage, causing the existing concrete patios to collapse.

The Coastal Commission and County issued permits in 1980 to the Rio del Mar Beach Island Homeowners’ Association to construct the 780-foot long seawall at tremendous expense to these homeowners; in approving the Coastal Development Permit, the Coastal Commission did not require lateral (public) access. The County is now claiming ownership of the patios based on a lapsed, then revoked, 1928 offer by the original subdivide to dedicate 37 feet on the seaward side of the homes to the County for roadway purposes. The County never built the road or otherwise used or asserted control over the land, and never recorded any easement. “The homeowners are getting threats from County officials that they’re going to open up our patio areas to 24 hours a day, seven days a week public access,” said Vaudagna. “People would be able to literally walk right up to our sliding glass door any time of the day or night.” John Erskine, an Irvine-based land use and coastal lawyer representing the Rio del Mar Beach Island Homeowners Association, along with Coastal Commission consultant Bonnie Neely, have been in discussions with Coastal Commission staff for more than nine months on a compromise plan to incorporate new public access into a much-needed improvement project for the 1980 seawall. Despite this good faith and seemingly fruitful effort by the homeowners, the County apparently installed unapproved Coastal Access signs

on a private residential gatepost declaring the homeowners’ property to be public and encouraging its use as a boardwalk. “We really have had no choice but to take this to court,” said Erskine. The misleading statements now being made by County officials are inciting an uninformed public. “We feel like we’re defending our homes at this point,” said Vaudagna. The majority of residents of Rio del Mar Beach Island are multi-generational families trying to pay property taxes, maintain and protect their properties and hold on to their families’ beloved beach homes, Vaudagna explained. Many are elderly, long-time (30-plus years) owners who have deep ties to the local community. They have a long history of trying to understand and comply with myriad government rules, regulations and permit requirements, “but what the County is doing now is just way out of bounds,” Vaudagna said. The Quiet Title action filed in November asks the Court to honor the historical use of this property and declare that the homeowners “are entitled to the quiet and peaceful possession of the Property, free of any claim.” n ••• To view the entire lawsuit go to http:// www.tpgonlinedaily.com

a public promenade and all 3 parties have been engaged in talks regarding management of said promenade and negotiating a “lease-back” that would have allowed the property owners to use 8 feet of the County’s property for their use while providing a 12-foot path for public use. Now that a sub-set of the property owners are suing the County, disputing County ownership, those talks have

broken down and the Commission has informed property owners that they will now need to remove all of their unpermitted encroachments from the entire 20’ area that remains between the homes and the rock revetment. On December 18, the County removed walls and fence at either end of the public promenade that were impeding public access, making it clear that this public area is now available for public access. n ••• For more information contact N. Patrick Veesart, Enforcement Supervisor, Northern Districts of the California Coastal Commission via email at Pat.Veesart@coastal.ca.gov

“Response to Lawsuit” from page 1 This is evidenced by the HOA’s acceptance of the Coastal Commission’s 1980 coastal development permit (“CDP”) which authorizes placement of a rock revetment within 17 feet of the County’s 37-foot area, and the County’s 1980 encroachment permit which allows the HOA to place the rock revetment on County property. Since 1980, the Beach Island homeowners have occupied this public street as if it were their own, excluding the public from using it. Since 2017, The County, and the Commission have put the HOA on notice that the County intends to open

4 / January 1st 2019 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

TPG, Inc. Editor Noel Smith Wins Golden Quill Award

Letter to the Editor (from the Editor)

or the past 14 years I’ve been the editor for the Aptos Times, Capitola Soquel Times and Scotts Valley Times. It has always been my purpose to make each publication truly local in content and design. It has been my privilege to promote the efforts of local organizations, businesses and non-profits to make their community a better place to live. I thank all these organizations for their openness in providing us content and information that have made our publications so successful. My background includes a long and varied history of professions. I started out as a linguist in the U.S. Army stationed in Berlin when the Wall went up in 1961. I worked for General Dynamics, received my degree as an Electronics Engineer, and my MBA. I’ve worked overseas and traveled to many countries. I also, because of the “gray ceiling,” became an 18-wheel truck driver for four and one half years and traveled 750,000 miles to all 48 states. After I got off the road I found myself writing articles for the Aptos Times and then became the editor of the three newspapers for which I wish to thank publisher Patrice Edwards for her patience and support. That relationship has given me 14 years of a very satisfying profession. I recently received the 2018 California School Board Association “Golden Quill Award” signed by Michael Watkins, President of CSBA and presented by the Soquel Unified Elementary School District at their December 19th Board

THE

Meeting. This award was in recognition of fair, insightful and accurate reporting on public school news. This was in addition to several awards I’ve received for journalism over the years. At the age of 81, I have suddenly been forced to retire due to health issues. I wish all those organizations and individuals who have communicated and trusted me with their information the best and encourage them to continue to support Times Publishing Group, Inc. n ••• Publisher’s note: Noel Smith is beloved by everyone at Times Publishing. We wish Noel a happy, peaceful retirement and thank him for all the brilliant work. Everyday, fans, friends and business associates send in emails or cards to show their love and support for Noel. He has been an amazing editor and a great friend to us all. Noel will always remain in our hearts at Times Publishing Group, Inc.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Choose Your Ride this Holiday Season S anta Cruz County Friday Night Live Partnership is proud to partner with 98 local restaurants and bars in our collective effort to reduce impaired driving crashes this holiday season. Businesses participating in the CHOOSE YOUR RIDE campaign are committed to a safe and healthy Santa Cruz County. CHOOSE YOUR RIDE coasters and cards are available at participating businesses to remind patrons to plan before they drink, to ensure getting home safely, by designating a driver, taking a cab, or using a rideshare service. The following businesses are offering

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a holiday special with a free non-alcoholic beverage to patrons with designated drivers: Bay Bar & Grill, Beach St. Pizza and Bar, Brady’s Yacht Club, Bruno’s Bar and Grill, Imura Japanese Restaurant, and The Jury Room. According to California’s Office of Traffic Safety, Santa Cruz County reported 239 alcohol related collisions resulting in fatalities or injuries in 2016, and alcohol related collisions increase during the holidays. Results from the 2018 Santa Cruz County Place of Last Drink Study indicate that 41% of individuals convicted of a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) had their last drink at a bar, restaurant or club. The County of Santa Cruz urges the community to remember that driving under the influence is not limited to the influence of alcohol, but includes cannabis, prescription medications, and illicit substances. The California Highway PatrolSanta Cruz Area will enter a maximum enforcement period over Christmas and New Year, with roving DUI units and a DUI checkpoint on New Year’s Eve.

CHOOSE YOUR RIDE partners want to thank our community for driving and celebrating safely this holiday season. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Volunteers Help Children In Foster Care

n 2018, 73 community members completed 35 hours of training and were sworn in as Officers of the Court to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates in the Juvenile Dependency Court of Santa Cruz County. These volunteers have committed to help a child or youth in foster care that has been abused or neglected. The graduating class on December 4, 2018 also marked the retirement of CASA’s trainer of 11 years, Fred Koehler. “What I’ve noticed from training over 600 CASA volunteers is that so many of them find helping one vulnerable child in a very difficult situation is a way they can make a real measurable difference in the world. Volunteers helping babies have a voice in court, being a friend to a schoolage child or being a mentor to an older youth are all ways to make a real tangible

difference. I’ve seen Advocates lives be changed by this process. Watching so many people making a difference in this simple and caring way has opened my heart and has changed my life too.” 195 volunteers have served this year, 230 children and youth in foster care. CASA volunteers devote 2-4 hours a week getting to know one child in foster care, gather information from everyone involved in the child’s life, and are empowered to directly influence life-changing decisions for the child. ••• Community members who were trained as Court Appointed Special Advocates in 2018 are: Natalie Alanis, Monica Ambriz, Laurie Barbin, Susan Barisone, Mitchell Barlas, Sam Basinger, Holly Beale, Rachel Beauregard, Bruce Bennett,

Isabel Bjork, Cassandra Blom, Peter Brown, Jerome Bullert, Sidney Bundlie, Orlando Calderon, Shawn Coats, Stacey Costello, Julia Crawford, Valeria Daki, Cecilia Diaz, Elizabeth Forrest, Lisa Foy, Michael Geluardi, Christopher Goldstein, Nancy Gordon, RoxyGreenspan, Megan Grewohl, Serena Griffith, Susana Gueye, Lacey Harrison, Laurie Hartsfield, Rosalie Hershberger, John Himelright, Jenny Hundemer, Jenny Im, Jazmin Jauregui, Jennyn Jefferson, Haley Kepler, Nate Koretz, Al Linder, Barbara Lockwood, Ellie Lopez, Michael Loredo, Lyndsey Marks, Lisa Martin, Paiton Matyas, Tammy McBride, Peter McGinn, Corina Mejia, Rebecca Meredith, Hannah Mixter, Damian Musante, Caren Nessen, Anna Niebel, Amy Orlando, Lynne Petrovic, Natalie Pinkerton, Patricia Plascencia, William Rentz, John Rodriguez, Gavin Sandford, Davina Santos, Michael Savage, Jillian Schraeder, Ellen Skolnick, Cynthia Smith Brockman, Christi Suchil, Judith Swan, Rebecca Tas, Vanessa Tomasello, Yvonne Van Leeuwen, Suzanne Williams, and Elizabeth Winder.

••• Individuals interested in learning more about becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate can attend an information meeting in January or contact CASA’s Outreach and Recruitment Manager, Cita Rasul, at cita@casaofsantacruz.org, or (831) 761-2956. Upcoming information meetings are: • Tuesday, January 8, 10:00 a.m. at CASA, located at 813 Freedom Blvd. in Watsonville • Tuesday, January 8, 6:00 p.m. at Live Oak Family Resource Center, located at 1740 17th Avenue in Santa Cruz • Wednesday, January 9, 5:30 p.m. at CASA, located at 813 Freedom Blvd. in Watsonville • Thursday, January 10, 2:00 p.m. at The Painted Cork, located at 1129 Soquel Avenue in Santa Cruz • Friday, January 11, 12:00 p.m. at California Coffee, located at 9105 Soquel Drive in Aptos ••• Pictures include just some of the people listed above. www.casaofsantacruz.org

CDFW Awards $4.2 Million for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Projects

he California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) today announced the selection of three projects to restore wetlands that sequester greenhouse gases (GHGs) and provide other ecological co-benefits. The awards, totaling $4.2 million, were made under CDFW’s 2017 Wetlands Restoration for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program Proposal Solicitation Notice. The Wetlands Restoration for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program focuses on projects with measurable objectives that will lead to GHG reductions in wetlands and watersheds while providing co-benefits such as enhancing fish and wildlife habitat,

protecting and improving water quality and quantity, and helping California adapt to climate change. Wetlands have high carbon sequestration rates that can store carbon for decades. “We are fortunate to have the opportunity to fund wetland restoration projects while directly addressing climate resiliency and furthering the science of carbon sequestration,” CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham said. “Wetlands play a vital role in our state’s water storage and as natural carbon sinks, provide significant other benefits.” One of the projects approved for funding is Elkhorn Slough: Elkhorn Slough Tidal Marsh Res-

toration: Hester Phase II ($1,596,779 to Elkhorn Slough Foundation). Elkhorn Slough, one of the largest estuaries in California, contains the state’s largest salt marshes south of San Francisco Bay. The slough provides important habitat for a broad range of resident and migratory birds, invertebrates, fish, marine mammals and other wildlife, and plays a crucial role in the local estuarine and near shore food web. The project includes restoration of an entire cross section of coastal ecosystem from carbon sequestering native oyster beds, 30 acres of historically diked and drained coastal wetlands, and five acres adjacent vegetated buffer. Building upon the success of Hester Phase I, the project will enhance sophisticated GHG science

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and monitoring as well as investigating the novel GHG mitigation strategy of converting plant waste to biochar as a soil amendment. n ••• CDFW program: wildlife.ca.gov/ conservation/watersheds/greenhouse-gasreduction . California Climate Investments: www. caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.

CALIFORNIA NEWS

New California Laws Coming 2019

Women on the Board, Cannabis Events, Street Vending

here were over 1200 bills proposed and placed in the hopper for California in 2018. Governor Brown signed 1,016 into new laws, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Minimum Wage ffective Jan. 1, 2019, the minimum wage will increase from $10.50 to $11 an hour for people working at company with 25 or fewer employees, and from $11 to $12 an hour for those working at a company with 26 or more employees. By 2020, it will be $15 per hour.

AB 626 (Garcia-D): Microenterprise home kitchen operations his bill would, include a microenterprise home kitchen operation within the definition of a food facility, and would define a microenterprise home kitchen operation to mean a food facility that is operated by a resident in a private home where food is stored, handled, and

obtained from an animal shelter or rescue organization.

AB 2989 (Flora-R): Electric Scooters dults 18 or older will be allowed to ride electric scooters without a helmet. The new law also increases the speed limit for scooters from 25 to 35 mph. Riders under the age of 18 must wear helmet.

A prepared for, and may be served to, consumers, and that the operation has no more than one full-time equivalent food employee and has no more than $50,000 in verifiable gross annual sales. SB 946 (Lara-D): Sidewalk Vendors treet vendors will have more freedom to sell food. Cities will not be able to ban sidewalk vendors, but they can set up a licensing system to regulate them. Vendors caught violating local laws will only be punished by fine or citation, and cannot face criminal charges.

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AB 1884 (Calderon-D): Single-plastic straws estaurants will be prohibited from giving out plastic straws unless requested.

SB 1192 (Monning-D): Children’s meals his bill would require a restaurant that sells a children’s meal that includes a beverage, to make the default beverage water, sparkling water, or flavored water, or unflavored milk or a nondairy milk alternative. Other beverages, like soda or juice are available to purchase if customer requests.

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AB 826 (Jackson-R): Women on Board of Directors ublicly held corporations, whose principal executive offices, are located in California to have a minimum of one female, on its board of directors. By the end of 2021, the bill would increase that required minimum number to 2 female directors if the corporation has 5 directors or to 3 female directors if the corporation has 6 or more directors.

AB 1976 (Limon-D): Lactation Accommodation mployers must provide an area other than a bathroom for new mothers to express breast milk.

AB 2504 (Low-D): Peace Officer Training olice officers and dispatchers must undergo special training to understand the LGBTQ community better.

AB 2274 (Quirk-D): Divorce and Pets udges will be able to decide who gets custody of a family pet during a divorce. The judge will consider factors like who takes care or feeds the pet.

AB 485 (O’Donnell-D): Animals Sold at Pet Stores et stores will be prohibited from selling dogs, cats or rabbits that come from breeders. The animals must be

8 / January 1st 2019 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

AB 2215 (Kalra-D): Pets & Cannabis eterinarians will be allowed to discuss the use of cannabis with their clients, but not be allowed to give cannabis to animals.

AB 1775 (Muratsuchi-D): Offshore Oil Production he California State Lands Commission is prohibited from approving or renewing leases for the construction of pipelines that could be used to increase the production of oil and natural gas in federal waters.

AB 2020 (Quirk-D): Cannabis Temporary Event License enues will be able to host special events where people can purchase and consume cannabis.

SB 179 (Atkins-D): Gender of Driver’s License his bill would enact the Gender Recognition Act. For purposes of obtaining a new birth certificate, the bill would delete the requirement that an applicant have undergone any treatment, and instead would authorize a person to submit to the State Registrar an application to change gender on the birth certificate and an affidavit attesting, under penalty of perjury, that the request for a change of gender is to conform the person’s legal gender to the person’s gender identity and not for any fraudulent purpose. The bill would authorize the change of gender on a new birth certificate to be female, male, or nonbinary.

AB 216 (Gonzalez Fletcher-D): Postage Paid Mail-in Ballots Election departments must now include a return envelope with prepaid postage for vote-by-mail ballots. n ••• For a complete list of all the new California laws. http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

COMMUNITY NEWS

Foundation Provides New Pediatric Gym

By Aric Sleeper

or years, Santa Cruz County’s pedi- therapists and patients. The rehabilitation atric physicians, and physical and center’s staff needed equipment to fill the occupational therapists faced an unex- new pediatric gym. The Dominican Hospected issue when treating young children pital Foundation was eager to help and with spectrum disorder, sensory processing provided the funding to make it a reality. “The foundation has always been and motor coordination issues—space. “Part of the way to assess a child is by extremely supportive of rehabilitation watching them in an environment—what work, and we are very grateful for that,” they seek and avoid—and we didn’t really says program director, Leah Santos. “You can do have the space to do so much with each that before,” says “The foundation has piece of equipment,” occupational therapist Beth Ralston. always been extremely says occupational Jen Beck. “We couldn’t get the supportive of rehabili- therapist, “For example, the full picture.” tation work, and we are climbing wall helps When Dominican strengthening Hospital sought a very grateful for that.” with and motor planning, new location to house — Leah Santos, Program Director which is huge problem its outpatient rehafor some kids. But if bilitation center the hospital was able to provide the space for a you can work on those challenges when they’re young, in a safe space, it makes all new pediatric therapy area. After a long search, the hospital the difference.” n acquired the former Sports Authority ••• building on Madrone Street in Santa Cruz. Dignity Health/Dominican Hospital Now remodeled, the new center provides Foundation: 1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz therapists and patients the ample space For more information call 831.462.7712 they need to learn and play. or e-mail guinevere.espinoza-krebs@dignity The space wasn’t the only obstacle for health.org

County to Open New Safety Center in Aptos

he County of Santa Cruz is pleased to announce creation of a Mid-County safety center, which includes the relocation of an Aptos sheriff substation. To be opened in early 2019, the new center is the first multiagency public safety center in the County and will be located in the new Aptos Village development. It will include a relocation of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office substation formerly located in the Rancho Del Mar shopping center, as well as offices for the Santa Cruz County District Attorney, Santa Cruz County Probation Department and County Supervisor Zach Friend. “Establishing essential services within our community helps increase public safety while furthering the connection between residents and their government,” Friend said. “Once completed, I look forward to welcoming residents to these offices.” The 3,200-square-foot space will

including offices, equipment and meeting space and house an outreach center for the DA’s consumer affairs and environmental protection staff, probation staff, office hours for the Board of Supervisors and the relocated public safety substation. “I’m excited that my office, for the first time, will be able to meet with the people we work so hard to protect at a dedicated Mid-County location,” District Attorney Jeff Rosell said. “This is a wonderful contribution to public safety in Santa Cruz County.” Currently in the latter stages of construction, Phase I of the Aptos Village development is expected to open in the coming months. It includes a mix of new market rate and affordable housing, commercial tenants and offices. “Once we move in and get settled, I look forward to hosting a grand opening community celebration for the new substation,” Sheriff Jim Hart said. “This new

center will support public safety by providing deputies a place to conduct business

9 / January 1st 2019 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

and interact with the public, and will be a valuable community resource.” n

COMMUNITY NEWS

PVUSD Board Welcomes New Staff O n Wednesday December 12, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees welcomed new staff and was happy to see that staff promoted from within. “Having effective leadership at PVUSD is key to ensuring that we continue to improve student achievement. Mr. Andrew Singleton, Mr. Harendra Goonetilleke and Mr. Burr Guthrie bring expertise that support our efforts and elevate our students’ experience. We are looking forward to the work ahead,” said Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent. ••• Andrew Singleton Principal – Pacific Coast Charter School r. Singleton will serve students of PVUSD as Principal for Pacific Coast Charter School. Mr. Singleton began his teaching career at PVUSD in 2001 as a Health Teacher at Aptos High for one year. He continued his Andrew Singleton teaching career in Arizona, promoting

to Assistant Director in Administration in 2003 and to Principal in 2005. Mr. Singleton returned to our District in 2014 to serve as principal of Renaissance High School where he promoted a culture of academic and personal excellence. PVUSD and the PCCS communities are pleased to welcome Mr. Singleton as their Principal. ••• Harendra Goonetilleke Systems Engineer – Technology r. Goonetilleke will serve the students of PVUSD as Systems Engineer for PVUSD’s Technology Services Department. Mr. Goonetilleke is no stranger to the PVUSD’s Technology Services Department or PVUSD. He first served our students Harendra Goonetilleke as a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Mintie White Elementary School. He moved on to the Lead Technology and Innovation Coach in the Technology Services Department. In this capacity, he supported large-scale technology related

staff development K-12, collaborated with other departments to implement new initiatives and coordinated numerous implementations of technology based instructional programs. Mr. Goonetilleke brings extensive experience to his new position as Systems Engineer and will continue to do good work for the district as a whole. Both his site experience and district office work will ensure he continues to support our students and the goal of preparing them for college and career. ••• Burr Guthrie Coordinator – Adult Education r. Guthrie is ready to return to PVUSD as Adult Education as Coordinator to support PVUSD model Adult Education program as it expands to Santa Cruz and Davenport. His is joining us from Campbell Adult and Burr Guthrie Community Education, where he served as Program Coordinator since 2010, supporting school

sites and the regional consortium to ensure adequate programs and student access to services. Prior to that, Mr. Guthrie served as Principal in the Berkeley Adult School where he was the educational leader responsible for human resources functions, curriculum evaluation, and student discipline. As an Administrator for Oakland Adult and Career Education, he was responsible for coordinating programs and activities, assisting with student behavior, curriculum development and facilities. Prior to Oakland, he served as Assistant Director at Tamalpais Adult and Community Education. In 2000, Mr. Guthrie worked for PVUSD’s Adult Education program as teacher and department head through 2005. We are pleased to welcome him back to PVUSD where Mr. Guthrie’s experience in staffing, budgeting, curriculum, assessment and accountability will support student achievement efforts. ••• The District is pleased to welcome Mr. Singleton, Mr. Goonetileke and Mr. Guthrie to our team. n

••• Santa Cruz County Highest Voter Turnout anta Cruz County Clerk Gail L. Pellerin certified results of the November 6, 2018 Statewide General Election on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. Santa Cruz County had the highest voter turnout in a midterm election. The last record was set in 1982 with 70.8%. The Elections Code requires the County Clerk to certify results by the 30th day after the election, which is December 6, 2018. A summary of the results as well as a precinct-by-precinct report are posted on the website at www.votescount.com . ~~~ November 6, 2018 Election Statistics Voter Registration...............................159,228 Record number! Total Votes Cast..................................121,700 Record number for a midterm! Turnout Percentage............................ 76.43% Record number for a midterm! Total Precinct Votes..............................38,832 Total Vote-by-Mail Votes.....................82,868 Record number for a midterm! Total Vote-by-Mail Requests............. 111,655 Record number!

Total Provisional Ballots Counted.......5,423 Total Provisional Ballots Cast...............6,410 For additional information contact Gail L. Pellerin at gail.pellerin@santacruzcounty. ca.us or call 831-454-2419. ••• Enroll Now for Jan. 5 Smart Driver Class ARP SMART DRIVER classes are designed to help maturing drivers maintain safe driving skills and keep their licenses longer. California insurance companies are by law to give a discount for three years to seniors who complete this class. Check with your agent to see how this may affect your cost. Regular 2-Day Classes: Watsonville: Jan. 28/29 • May 13/14 Santa Cruz: March 4/6 Capitola: April 10/17 • July 31/Aug 7 1-day Refresher classes: Santa Cruz: Jan. 5 Capitola: Feb. 20 • June 5 Scotts Valley: Mar. 12. Regular classes are 8 hours; two days, 4 hours each. Refresher classes (for those who have taken the Regular class and need to get a new certificate) are 4.5 hours on one day. For more information or to register, call Fred 831.247-30972. Registration is required as space is in each class is limited. n

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Introductory session in the Art of Communication Resource Center for Nonviolence 612 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz Sunday, January 6 • 6:30pm – 8:30pm hese introductory sessions are free in order to make them widely accessible. We always welcome donations in order to cover our costs. The purpose of Nonviolent Communication is to speak and listen in a manner that reduces defensiveness, blame, and subtle demands. The practice of NVC involves listening past another person’s criticism to hear the needs that they are trying to meet. And when we have needs that we want to express, it helps us express them in a way that is more likely to be heard. Marshall Rosenberg developed NVC; Ph.D. It is taught all over the world by over

225 certified trainers (4 are here in Santa Cruz). This introductory session is not intended as a series. We offer the “Basics” series for that purpose. Nevertheless, you are welcome to come to as many of these intro sessions as you like. We recommend it as a way to sample the different styles of our trainers, since the trainers rotate the responsibility of teaching this session. http://www.nvcsantacruz.org ••• WomenCARE PSA for Cancer Support Group re you a woman who has been newly diagnosed with cancer? WomenCARE is here to offer a safe place where women with any type of cancer will find mutual support, shared experience, and open hearts. It’s free and confidential. Meets every Tuesdays at 12:30pm at the WomenCARE office located at 2901 Park Avenue, Suite A1 in Soquel. Call to register (831) 457-2273 We look forward to meeting you! For more information visit womencare santacruz.org

10 / January 1st 2019 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Women’s Adventure Film Tour at the Rio T he Women’s Adventure Film Tour has arrived in the USA for the first time ever and will be in Santa Cruz for One Night Only on January 26! This tour is a celebration of the fantastic women around us who are doing extraordinary things. The films are there to be enjoyed by

women and men of all ages! The event features an all-new set of short films, including the premiere of Katie Walsh’s film, Surfing to Cope about American Brianna Cope. You’ll also experince climbing, skiing, mountanineering, snowboarding and travel films from all over the world. n For more information www.riotheatre.com

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LOCAL HISTORY

Celebrating Aptos History in 2019! By Kevin Newhouse

s a child, I remember being told that as you get older, time seems to speed up. I also remember thinking that would ever be case for me. It was my experience that a school year lasted forever and waiting for special events to come around, like my birthday, felt like an eternity. I understood time as a set measurement. 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year. Would time really feel like it was going by faster as I got older? Well, here we are… a few decades later and I can definitely confirm that theory appears to be true! How did 2018 go by so quickly? How have the past 5,10, 15, 20 years gone by so quickly? As a human being, it can be overwhelming given that we only have a limited amount of time in this life. The faster time goes, the closer we get to…well you know. But as someone who likes to study history, I can fully appreciate the passage of time as a gift. It helps me appreciate the present moment because what happens today will soon be considered history. That is why it is so important that we document, as accurately as possible, the events that are happening today. 100

years from now, future generations will be grateful to have a glimpse into the past. How do I know this to be true? Well, in 2019 we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the launching of the SS Palo Alto, more commonly known around town as “The Cement Ship.” And yes, I am aware that it is a concrete ship but the nickname has been around longer than I have and let’s face it, “The Cement Ship” rolls off the tongue much easier than “The Concrete Ship.” I am amazed with the amount of history we have about the Cement Ship. She was built and launched 100 years ago and we know just about everything about her…how she was built, where the materials came from, how much everything weighed, how much everything cost, what her intended purpose was versus what actually happened, and all the details about how she went from being built as an oil tanker in World War I to becoming an “entertainment ship,” a fishing vessel, an artificial reef, and a landmark in our little town of Aptos. Plus the photos we have in the Aptos History Museum archives are incredible.

I am extremely excited to celebrate the ship’s centennial next year. We have some great events planned that will span over multiple weekends, including an initial celebration kickoff on Saturday, May 18th. There will be a presentation at the Rio Sands Hotel that will feature all the details about the ship’s history and will include some photos that most people have never seen. This will be followed with a short, guided history walk to the Seacliff Visitor Center, directly across from the Cement Ship, where we will have drinks, snacks, and a very special live musical performance by the appropriately named, “Cement Ship.” The next day, Sunday, May 19th, Jon Nordgren, Director of Bands at Cabrillo College, will be hosting a musical performance by The Cabrillo College Symphonic Winds at 3:00pm at Crocker Theater (Cabrillo College) with a piece he wrote in 1995 as part of his Masters thesis at CSUH. It is a tribute piece to the Cement Ship. This performance will be accompanied with a slide show to take us through a visual and audible history of the ship. Then on Saturday, June 1st, we will wrap up the celebration with another gathering at the Seacliff Visitor Center, which will have live music, refreshments, walking tours, and more! Stay tuned for more details about each event, as we get closer to the dates. The centennial of the Cement Ship isn’t the only anniversary we will be honoring in 2019. On October 17, it will be 30 years since the Loma Prieta Earthquake. As many of you know, the epicenter, which is actually just an estimate based on the hypocenter, is located right here in Aptos in the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. The Aptos History Museum will be planning

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a special presentation and possibly even some guided history tours to the epicenter. Again stay tuned for more details in the coming months! So you see, the passing of time is what creates history. None of us have the power to stop time so we are better off accepting and celebrating all the great things in our lives that will one day be a memory in the history books. Take this time to review the past year and make sure you document the things that you believe should be remembered and passed down through the ages. Who knows, in 100 years, you may end up as part of a history presentation! Happy New Year Aptos! May you all be happy, healthy, and safe! ••• For more information about the Aptos History Museum, upcoming events, or becoming a member of the museum, please visit www.aptoshistory.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @aptos_history_museum.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Remembering Kay Metz “Artists were among the first individuals to bring the beauty and value of the Watsonville Wetlands to the attention of the general public. This began with plein air painting sessions on and overlooking the wetland sites, followed by exhibitions in various venues in Watsonville and other locales.” As quoted from the Watsonville Wetlands Watch History Journal ••• ay Metz, painter and printmaker, was instrumental to these efforts, dedicating her passion and talents to raising awareness about the unique beauty and fragile wetland environments undergoing transformation during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. In addition to her work as an artist, Kay served on WWW’s Board of Directors, worked to archive its history, was instrumental in publishing our book, Watching the Watsonville Wetlands,

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COMMUNITY NEWS

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ith a recent change in California tax laws, qualifying locally registered domestic partners who transferred ownership of property between themselves may be eligible for property tax relief. Under Assembly Bill 2663, transfers of real property between local registered domestic partners that occurred between January 1, 2000, and June 26, 2015 may be eligible for tax relief. The benefit is not automatic and a claim form must be filed with the Santa Cruz County Assessor’s Office. If domestic partners had a change in ownership reassessment during the eligible period, the reassessment may be eligible to be reversed on a prospective basis. When a claim is filed with the assessor before January 1, 2019, the benefit would apply for the following calendar year and thereafter. Persons who may qualify are encouraged to review the claim form and file before January 1.

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In Santa Cruz, County Assessor Sean Saldavia has made a downloadable form available on his department’s webpage under “All Assessor Forms,” The form is titled “Claim for Reassessment Reversal for Local Registered Domestic Partners” (form BOE-62-LRDP). “Applications received prior to January 1, 2019, could receive a benefit for the 2019-20 tax bills,” Saldavia said. “Applications received after January 1 won’t be eligible for the benefit until the following year, so we encourage eligible residents to apply today.” The State Board of Equalization is expected to release more information on program specifics soon. At that time, the Assessor ’s webpage will be updated. In the meantime, parties may contact the Assessor’s Office for additional information at 831-454-2002 or by e-mail at asrwebmail@co.santa-cruz.ca.us. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Be A Holiday Hero – Give The Gift Of Life

Red Cross urgently needs blood and platelet donations

mergencies don’t take a holiday. The American Red Cross urgently needs blood and platelet donors to make an appointment now to give and help ensure patients can get the treatment they need at a moment’s notice. In November 2016, a 100-foot maple tree fell on Mike McMahon, causing lifethreatening injuries. He needed 11 units of blood during emergency surgery and another seven units to treat complications after. Six weeks following the accident, McMahon was released from the hospital — just in time to spend the holidays with his family. “I’m grateful for the donors who gave me such an amazing gift — the gift of life,” said McMahon. “I was an occasional blood donor before the accident. Today, I donate as often as I can to help ensure others receive blood when they need it most.”

Now is an important time to give blood and platelets. A seasonal decline in donations occurs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day when donors get busy with family gatherings and travel. In addition, severe winter weather can cause blood drive cancellations and negatively affect the blood supply. Patients like McMahon can’t afford for there to be a shortage of blood. Give the gift of life — make an appointment to donate blood and platelets by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a special thank-you for helping meet the urgent need, those who come to give Dec. 20 through Jan. 6 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. n

••• Upcoming blood donation opportunities Dec. 20-Jan. 15 Santa Cruz Jan 3: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 220 Elk Street Jan 8: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Holy Cross Church, 170 High Street Jan 10: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. SC Fire Station No. 1, 711 Center St. ••• How to donate blood imply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are

15 / January 1st 2019 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Volunteers needed nother way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information and to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position, visit rdcrss.org/ driver. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

RTC Receives Highway Safety Improvement Grant for Highway 9 Pedestrian Crossings T he Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Comission (RTC) received $250,000 in grant money from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) for pedestrian crossing safety projects on Highway 9 (State Route 9/SR9) in the San Lorenzo Valley. SR9 serves as a main thoroughfare for pedestrians to access schools, libraries, parks, commercial areas and homes. There are only four signal lights and one stop sign on the highway, and many of the intersections that pedestrians regularly use for crossings have no safety controls.

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Department, and community leaders, identified five intersections on SR9 with high foot traffic and high pedestrian involved collision rates where the installation of pedestrian crossings with enhanced safety features should be prioritized. The intersections where pedestrian crossings will be improved with the HSIP grant money are: • SR9/Redwood Drive in Felton; • SR9 midblock crossing between Graham Hill Road and Kirby Street in Felton; • SR9/Clear Creek Road in Brookdale; • SR9/Forest Street in Boulder Creek; and • SR9/Pool Drive in Boulder Creek. Improvements at these five locations vary and will include a combination of treatments, including installation of high-visibility striping and signage, advance warning flashing beacons, and Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons. Enhancements in these key locations will improve crossing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists by alerting on-coming vehicles of the presence of a lawful crosswalk and/or that the crosswalk is occupied. “The heavily used pedestrian routes along Highway 9 have a history of motorist and pedestrian collisions. These crosswalk improvements will increase visibility of the crosswalks and pedestrians, alerting motorists to their presence and warning motorists to slow down near crossing locations,” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor

16 / January 1st 2019 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Bruce McPherson, whose supervisorial district covers the San Lorenzo Valley. “Pedestrians will have safer access to transit stops, parks, neighborhoods, businesses and other services they rely on in this rural area.” According to data from the Transportation Injury Mapping System, there were 34 pedestrian involved incidents on SR9 from 2006-2017. Twenty-three of these incidents, including three pedestrian fatalities and four pedestrian severe injuries, occurred at an intersection where the pedestrian had the right-of-way, and in 15 of these incidents, the pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk. The RTC is currently working on the SR9/San Lorenzo Valley Complete Streets Corridor Plan, a planning study that provides a vision, guiding principles, and realistic strategies to improve how people get around San Lorenzo Valley. Data gathered during initial outreach for the plan shows that crossing SR9 is a priority safety issue for pedestrians and bicyclists. In early 2019, the RTC will gather community feedback on the draft Complete Streets Corridor Plan in order to prioritize implementation of a range of identified projects along the corridor. n ••• For more information on the Caltrans’ Highway Safety Improvement Program, visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/hsip. html.

COMMUNITY NEWS

DINNER

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Chile Verde Enchiladas de Pollo con Mole Wed: Sand Dabs w/Garlic Tomatillo Sauce

Chile Verde Enchiladas de La Cocina Fresca Chicken, Beef or Cheese

Thur: Housemade Tamales Chicken or Pork

Chile Verde Ensalada del Mar Crab and Shrimp salad

erably with fine-pointed tweezers. Save the tick for identification. Ticks should be kept alive by placing the tick into a sealable bag or container with a moist cotton ball in a refrigerator or cooler. The person removing the tick should wash their hands before and after removal and apply antiseptic to the bite area. Insecticides, Vaseline, lighted matches or gasoline should not be used to remove ticks because these techniques are ineffective or unsafe. Consult your healthcare provider if you have been bitten by a tick or were in an area where ticks occur and are concerned about Lyme disease. Painful redness that occurs less than 24 hours after a tick bite and does not expand is likely a local allergic reaction to the tick bite. Early Lyme disease can include flu-like symptoms and often an expanding, painless rash. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics and most patients recover without complications, particularly when the disease is diagnosed early. If left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to arthritis and in some cases serious nervous system problems. “Bulls eye” rash of a patient infected with Lyme disease. Note that this rash does not always occur when someone is infected—it is important to look out for flulike symptoms and check yourself for ticks. Santa Cruz County Mosquito & Vector Control can help with tick identification M-F, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit us at 640 Capitola Rd., Santa Cruz. n ••• For more information, call (831) 454-2590 or email PestHelp@agdept.com. Residents can also visit SCCMVC at www.agdept.com under “Mosquito Abatement/Vector Control.” Also visit: https://www.cdph.ca.gov for more information on ticks and tick-borne diseases.

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he Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control (SCCMVC) Division reminds residents that winter is the season for the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus), the primary vector of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses in Santa Cruz County. In 2018, there have been 5 reported cases of Lyme disease in Santa Cruz County so far. The annual average is eleven. Results from Santa Cruz County’s 2017/2018 tick-borne disease surveillance program indicate that approximately 2% of adult Western black-legged ticks tested are infected with the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease. This is consistent with previous years. “Winter is a time of high adult tick activity in our coastal hills, and residents should be aware when spending time outdoors”, SCCMVC Manager Paul Binding said. The risk of being bitten by ticks may be reduced with the following precautions: • Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.   • Walk in the center of trails and avoid logs, tree trunks, trail margins, brush and tall grass.   • Shower and thoroughly check your entire body for ticks after time outdoors. Parent’s  should examine their children, especially on the scalp and hairline.   • Keep your pets on trails as well, and check and remove ticks after time outdoors.   • Use EPA-registered repellent for use against ticks; always follow label directions.  Products with a concentration of 20% DEET or higher, and/or treating clothes and shoes  with permethrin before entering tick habitat are recommended. • Launder clothes (and dry on high heat) soon after activity in tick habitat.  Removing a tick within 24 hours after it attaches can prevent transmission of Lyme diseases and other tickborne diseases.   To reduce the possibility of infection, remove attached ticks as soon as possible. Gently and firmly grasp the tick close to the head and pull it straight out, pref-

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COMMUNITY NEWS

At Your Service

Fast Facts About Service Dogs

ervice dogs work hard each and every day to protect their human counterparts. Not only are they constant companions, but they are hardworking animals that can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, which can help lessen the symptoms of posttraumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, for example. In honor of National Service Dog Month, consider these facts about the fourlegged service animals: Common Misconceptions About Service Animals ecause they’re often cute and cuddly, it’s not unusual for people to forget that service dogs are working animals, not pets, and they have been individually trained to help people with disabilities. Guide, hearing and service dogs typically accompany a person anywhere the general public is allowed, including restaurants, businesses and on airplanes providing support as their owners go about their daily lives. However, a survey by American Humane, the Country’s first national humane organization, suggests that employees are not educated about the unique needs of customers with service dogs. Nearly seven in 10 (69 percent) retail employees said they never received training from their employer on the questions they are legally allowed to ask customers to verify an animal is a service dog. Further adding to confusion is a lack of understanding of the difference between

service dogs and other assistance animals. Emotional support dogs and therapy dogs assist people in their daily lives, but they do not have the same responsibilities as service animals. For instance, therapy dogs provide affection and comfort to their owners, but they do not provide mobility assistance or communicate medical alerts, they should always be allowed to accompany their owners. A Helping Paw t times, these innocent misconceptions can lead to discrimination against those who rely on the support of a service dog. To combat this problem, American Humane and Mars Petcare, the world’s leading pet nutrition and health care business, created resources, such as training videos, to help businesses better accommodate patrons who have service dogs. Aligning with the Better Cities for Pets (tm) initiative, the videos and other resources help provide an understanding of the roles service dogs play to help create a world where pets and working animals are welcome across all communities. “Dogs have incredible abilities, including saving lives and making the world a better place,” said Angel May, corporate citizenship lead at Mars Petcare. “Service dogs are animals that should be celebrated for the good they bring to society, and we hope that increased awareness of the working nature leads to a deeper understanding of their important role.” n

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19 / January 1st 2019 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

HEALTH & FITNESS

Five tips for coping with Chronic Pain P ain can impact nearly every aspect of your daily life from cleaning the house to going to work of playing with your kids. In fact, according to the Institute of Medicine, 100 million Americans, or more than 30 percent of the population of the United States, suffer from chronic pain, which is pain lasting 3-6 months or longer. Most often, chronic pain is treated using prescription opioids. However, the National Institutes of Health estimates 2 million people in the U.S. suffer from substance use disorders related to prescription pain relievers, while 60 people die every day as a result of opioid overdoses, according to the National Safety Council. “The country is facing intertwined crises of opioid misuse and chronic pain management. Non-opioid, non-pharmacological treatments such as acupuncture and other similar interventions can be essential in handling patients’ pain management as a complete lessen dependency on opioid prescriptions and serve as a more effective holistic therapy for chronic pain,” said Dr. Kory Ward-Cook chief executive officer for the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). “The care provided by NCCAOM National Board-certified Acupuncturists is essential in continuing the movement toward greater integrative and complementary pain care, especially as a non-pharmaceutical alternative to harmful opioid prescriptions.”

To help treat your pain with a nonopioid solution, consider these tips: Set Goals for Yourself etting realistic, measurable goals that focus on functional health and quality of life is essential to managing chronic pain. Outline specific measurable goals you hope to achieve, such as exercising 30 minutes three days a week or cleaning at least one room in the house twice a week and track your progress toward reaching them.

Use Relaxation Techniques here are a variety of techniques including meditation and deep breathing, that can help your body relax by slowing breathing, lowering blood pressure and instilling feeling of well-being. Giving your muscles a chance to relax can release tension, which may ease pain. Practicing yoga or tai chi, which involves a series of physical postures in addition to breathing and relaxation techniques, may also help reduce pain. Consider Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment Options ith concerns mounting about the prevalence of opioid use and abuse in the U.S., complementary, natural treatments such as acupuncture can help alleviate pain and reduce the number of opioids prescribed. Using practices derived from traditional Chinese medicine acupuncturists stimulate specific points on the body, most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. For example, National Board-Certifies Acupuncturists whose credentials can be verified through the NCCAOM, are affirmed to have the education and training necessary to competently deliver acupuncture services. Focus on Nutrition well-balanced diet is vital to overall health and well-being and can also influence chronic pain. As food choices can increase of decrease inflammation, which leads to many chronic diseases, consider a diet low in sugar and carbohydrates that includes fresh, organic fruits

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and vegetables; lean grass-fed meats; legumes; nuts; whole grains; and organic dairy products. Keep Track of Progress o effectively manage and treat your pain, consider keeping a journal to note your pain level on a scale of 1-10 each day. Also track your activity during the day – including time on your feet, exercise and even sitting at your desk – so you can identify patterns based on what you do and how you feel afterward. Then use the connections you’ve made to modify your environment and schedule as necessary. n

“The country is facing intertwined crises of opioid misuse and chronic pain management. Non-opioid, non-pharmacological treatments such as acupuncture and other similar interventions can be essential in handling patients’ pain management as a complete lessen dependency on opioid prescriptions and serve as a more effective holistic therapy for chronic pain.” — Dr. Kory Ward-Cook, chief executive officer for the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)

HEALTH & FITNESS

Take Steps Toward a Healthier Lifestyle T here isn’t a better time than now to start getting fit with health information and products so easily accessible. Simply incorporate the basics into your daily routine – good nutrition, adequate exercise and a daily supplement – and start down the path toward better health. Plan a Nutritious Diet he Dietary Guidelines for Americans describes a healthy diet as one that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, nuts, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat milk products. It should be low in saturated fats, trans fats cholesterol, salt and added sugar. • Warm weather makes fresh produce easily accessible. Eat more fruits and vegetables by setting freshly washed and prepared produce on the kitchen counter or at eye level in the fridge. At every meal, make sure half your plate is made up of fruit and vegetable servings. • One-fourth of your plate at every meal should be made up of grains, such as wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal or barley. People who eat whole grains as part of a healthy diet have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases.

• The remaining one-fourth of your plate should be lean or low-fat cuts of meat, plant based protein or seafood. Get Regular Exercise he department of Health and Human Services recommends an adequate amount of exercise every day. This guide can point you to the right amount of exercise to add to your schedule: • Get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week. For best results, spread the time out over several days. • Do strength training exercised at least twice a week. Lifting weights builds muscle, which means the body burns more calories – even at rest. • It’s important to keep in mind that when people are active they produce more free radicals. The antioxidants found in supplements can help buffer the negative effects of the workout. Improving your diet, exercising regularly, taking a daily supplement and getting enough restorative sleep are all important steps to overall wellness. Work to incorporate each step into your daily routine until you reach your goal of good health. n

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BUSINESS PROFILE

strong commitment to customers has helped Fatima’s Fine Jewelry in Watsonville succeed and grow over the last 20 years. The owners–Franco and Fatima–started their business with door-to-door jewelry sales in their local neighborhood. In January 1995, they moved into their first permanent location at the Watsonville Discount Mall. Fatima’s flourished at the mall for two decades, before moving to their current location (at 307 Main Street) in October 2015. The shop is still run by Franco and Fatima, with their daughter (Jazmine) and son (Franco, Jr) helping indirectly with

Fatima’s Fine Jewelry

promoting the store and various tasks. It’s a family run business, that caterers to its community. “Service, hard work, and attention to the customers,” said Franco, are the keys to success that have kept the jewelry shop in business for nearly 25 years. Fatima’s offers a range of gold and diamond products, as well as many services–such as battery replacements and custom work–that customers won’t be able to find online. The repair shop located on site is very popular among their customers and also provides custom work. Additionally, the shop has a wide selection of products that cannot be found in some of the national chain jewelry stores in located in Santa Cruz County. Franco claims that Fatima’s has a selection “three to four times” larger than many of the chain jewelers in the area. Fatima’s carries a wide range of products, including many that are popular among the local Mexican population in Watsonville and the surrounding area. According to Franco, the most popular items in the store include promise and wedding rings, as well as jewelry for quinceañeras and baptisms. Many jewelry customers view their purchase as a piece of lasting value. The products sold at Fatima’s are not only enjoyable to wear, but also serve as a wonderful investment to cherish and enjoy for many years. On a number of online review sites (such as Yelp), Fatima’s Fine Jewelry has very highly rated reviews. Customers praise the exceptional customer service and knowledgeable staff. As the owner, Franco attempts to put himself in the customer’s shoes and offers, “good service, a friendly smile, and a handshake” to all visitors in the store. Fatima’s has been serving families over multiple generations

Fatima and Franco

with the grandparents, parents and even grown children stopping b the store. The entire team at Fatima’s Fine Jewelry in downtown Watsonville would like to invite the community to come pay a visit to Fatima’s, centrally located on Main Street. Franco emphasizes that the shop will customize the jewelry to please the customer’s needs, and offers occasional specials on all types of jewelry products

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and services. Stop by Fatima’s Fine Jewelry in Watsonville and see for yourself all they have to offer! n ••• Fatima’s Fine Jewelry can be found at 307 Main Street, Suite #101 in Watsonville, California (95076). You can call the shop at (831) 768-1887 or reach out by email at Fatima’s fine jewelry@gmail.com. Stop by their website at www.fatimasfinejewelry.com/ to learn more.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Our New Year’s Resolution: Recharge and Replenishment

he Soquel Creek Water District’s New Year’s resolution for 2019 — and beyond — is recharge and replenishment of our groundwater supply. How do we plan to keep this resolution? With several exciting projects and strategies that are part of our Community Water Plan, and its overarching aim of preventing seawater intrusion into the community’s water supply. By achieving and maintaining protective levels for our groundwater basin, we will be able to hold back seawater, which has already been detected in a number of monitoring wells on the coastline. Our work over the next several years includes furthering development of purified water to recharge the underground aquifer, augmenting winter water demand by purchasing a small amount of treated surface water, when available, from the City of Santa Cruz, and of course always continuing to promote water conservation. Through numerous studies, data collection since the 1980s, and hydrological modeling, the District has determined that our water shortfall, or deficit, is about 1,500 acre-feet per year (1 acre foot of water = 325,851 gallons; so our water supply deficit is nearly half-a-billion gallons annually). We are resolved this new year and in future years to make real progress in solving our water challenge and securing a

By Melanie Mow Schumacher

sustainable water future – and at the same time, we should all share a new year’s wish for good rainfall this winter! ••• The New Year’s Goals and New Activities ilot Testing Groundwater Recharge: As part of a State Grant under the Prop 1 Groundwater Program, a pilot test well will be constructed in early 2019 to gather important data about recharge and extraction rates related to replenishing the groundwater supply. The pilot well, on the property of Twin Lakes Church, will also provide for the collection of soil and groundwater samples for analysis of the aquifer’s condition. Pure Water Soquel, a groundwater replenishment and seawater intrusion prevention project that the District has been evaluating since 2015, will purify 1,500 acre-feet of water a year (or 1.3 million gallons a day) of secondary treated wastewater, bringing its quality up to drinking water standards. This project will recycle approximately 25% of the treated water that currently just gets discharged out to Monterey Bay. That purified water will then be piped to three recharge wells in the Aptos area, to bring the groundwater levels up to protective elevations/levels. This will also create a freshwater barrier in the aquifer to protect our mid-District area, where our most productive wells are located. On December 18, the Board certified

the Final Environmental Impact Report and approved the Project and prioritized project development and siting for: tertiary treatment at the Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Facility (SCWWTF) and the advanced water purification (AWP) treatment at the Chanticleer Site; while also coordinating with the City of Santa

Cruz on the potential to site the full advanced water purification treatment at the SCWWTF provided no delay occurs to project schedule; and recharge wells at Twin Lakes Church, Monterey Avenue, and Willowbrook Lane. “Water Wisdom” page 27

Year in Review

ACROSS

1. Bundle of wheat 6. ____-been 9. Urban apartment 13. Peter, South of the border 14. In the manner of, French 15. Photo-editing color option 16. Chieftain 17. Not well 18. Lively 19. *Late McCain 21. *American Duchess 23. “Some Kind of Wonderful” actress Thompson 24. Your majesty

25. Floor cleaner 28. Greek portico 30. *Super Bowl champs 35. Swear, not curse 37. Place for an ace? 39. Type of newspaper 40. Bar order neither red nor white 41. *Halfpipe winner 43. Toothy wheel 44. Be needy 46. Hindu dress 47. Unfavorable prefix 48. Ballpark grub 50. Lion’s share 52. It can be red or black 53. Burden 55. Break bread 57. *First North Korean to cross Demilitarized Zone 60. *October disaster

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64. Acoustic output 65. In the past 67. Tanzania’s neighbor 68. Coral reef island 69. First off sinking ship? 70. Type of closet 71. Not there 72. Dashboard unit 73. Clear the board

DOWN

1. R&R destinations 2. Part of hemoglobin 3. “I Dream of Jeannie” star 4. “He’s ____ ____ nowhere man,” Beatles 5. Strong suit, pl. 6. Age of Aquarius flick 7. Nothing alternative 8. Game ragout

9. Onion’s kin 10. October stone 11. *CA’s Camp ____ 12. “Tit for ____” 15. Schmear 20. Often taken with a bible, pl. 22. Aretha’s first three 24. Arabic greetings 25. *”____ For Our Lives” 26. Convex molding 27. Suggest 29. Sounds of amazement 31. *Cooper’s leading lady 32. Property claims 33. Fill with spirits 34. *April missile strikes target 36. Make one’s way 38. EU unit 42. One born to Japanese immigrants

45. 10 to the power of 100 49. Bearded antelope 51. Take on, as in a project 54. Take gun away 56. Not our 57. Burlap fiber 58. Airy emanation 59. Cairo’s waterway 60. “Like a ____ to a flame” 61. *Starred with Blake in “A Simple Favor” 62. Some have them on the back of their head? 63. Swimmer’s row 64. Follows #29 Down, sing. 66. Year off © Statepoint Media

Answers on 27 »

COMMUNITY NEWS

Ten Doctor-Recommended New Year’s Resolutions W ith the New Year upon us, you may be looking for resolutions that will help to keep you and your loved ones healthy and happy in the year ahead. “This is the perfect time of year to consider your personal goals, and how you can make positive health choices in the coming year,” says American Medical Association (AMA) President Barbara L. McAneny, M.D. “Small lifestyle changes today can have a lasting effect in improving your health.” To help you start the year off on the right foot, Dr. McAneny and the experts at the AMA are offering 10 recommendations to help you determine where you can make the most impactful, long-lasting improvements to your health. 1. Learn your risk for type 2 diabetes by taking the self-screening test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. Steps you take now can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. 2. Be more physically active. Adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity. 3. Know your blood pressure numbers. Visit LowerYourHBP.org to better under-

stand your numbers and take necessary steps to get your high blood pressure — also known as hypertension — under control. Doing so will reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke. 4. Reduce your intake of processed foods, especially those with added sodium and sugar. Also reduce your consumption

of sugar-sweetened beverages and drink more water instead. 5. If your health care professional determines that you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem and antibiotics will not make you feel better if you have a virus, such as a cold or flu.

6. If consuming alcohol, do so in moderation as defined by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans — up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, and only by adults of legal drinking age. 7. Talk with your doctor about tobacco and nicotine use and quit. Declare your home and car smoke-free to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. 8. Pain medication is personal. If you are taking prescription opioids, follow your doctor’s instructions, store them safely to prevent diversion or misuse, and properly dispose of any leftover medication. 9. Make sure your family is up-to-date on their vaccines, including the annual influenza vaccine for everyone age six months or older. 10. Manage stress. A good diet and daily exercise are key ingredients to maintaining and improving your mental health, but don’t hesitate to ask for help from a friend or mental health professional when you need it. The lifestyle choices you make now will have long-lasting impacts. This New Year, prioritize your long-term health by forming great habits. n StatePoint Media

Leadership Santa Cruz County Launches Search for New Executive Director

ollowing the retirement announcement of long-time Executive Director David Vincent, today the Leadership Santa Cruz County organization announces that it has begun its search for a new Executive Director. The application deadline is January 25, 2019 and additional information is available on the Leadership Santa Cruz County website at www. leadershipsantacruzcounty.org. Vincent will remain in his role as Executive Director through June 2019, in order to complete the year with the current class (Class 34) and to facilitate the transition. The applicant is expected to be active and visible in the community

working with other government, business, and nonprofit organizations. This position requires strong organizational skills, planning and program development, group facilitation skills, budgeting, and knowledge of fundraising strategies. It is preferable that the applicant be a graduate of Leadership Santa Cruz County or a similar program. If interested in applying for the Executive Director position, please submit resume and a minimum of three references to: LMurphy@ cityofsantacruz.com. The Executive Director job description and additional information about Leadership Santa Cruz County is available on the organization’s website at www.leader shipsantacruzcounty.org.

Leadership Santa Cruz Board — Chairperson: Sondra Woods, Advertising Director, Santa Cruz Seaside Company; Vice Chairperson: Danny Reber, Executive Director, Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce; Secretary: Angela Alejandro, Principal Consultant, Scotts Valley Consulting, Inc.; Treasurer: Nicole Holtzinger, Branch Manager, Bay Federal Credit Union; Past Chair: Laura Owen, Branch Manager, Bay Federal Credit Union

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

Talking With The Community

By Shannon Munz, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Communications Specialist

ommunity conversations about how best to address the transportation needs of the county have been going on for decades, and as the county continues to grow, these conversations will become even more critical. According to the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, Santa Cruz County, already challenged by significant traffic congestion, is estimated to grow approximately 10 percent to over 300,000 residents by 2035. With this in mind, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) has had to look at ways to address both the existing transportation problems and the future transportation needs of the county. Through the Unified Corridor Investment Study (UCS), the RTC has studied different sets of transportation projects to determine which projects should be prioritized along the county’s three main corridors – Highway 1, Soquel/ Freedom and the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. After nearly two years of study, the draft results of the UCS were released at the end of September. The UCS provides a rigorous analysis of how various groups of projects or scenarios advance the transportation goals for the Santa Cruz community by 2035. (The draft results and four scenarios studied can be found at www.sccrtc. org/ucs.) After wide public outreach to solicit community input on the transportation priorities for the county, RTC staff developed a Preferred Scenario, or preferred package of transportation projects for the county, which was presented to the RTC Board on Nov. 15. This Preferred Scenario is designed to promote the development of a sustainable transportation system that is reliable and efficient, protects the natural environment, provides economic vitality, and improves access for all users. The RTC frequently hears from community members that a range of transportation options is needed with meaningful auto, transit, bike and pedestrian improvements integrated together as part of the overall transportation system. The Preferred Scenario takes all of this into consideration and emphasizes regional projects that include highway improvements, bus service enhancements, passenger rail service, and significant bike and pedestrian improve-

ments including a multi-use pedestrian and bicycle trail within the existing rail right-of-way. ••• Breakdown of projects in the Preferred Scenario: Rail corridor (including rail service and bike/pedestrian improvements on the corridor): $635 million • Passenger rail service between Santa Cruz and Watsonville with local stops and an interregional connection at Pajaro Station: $340 million

• Bike and pedestrian rail trail: $283 million • Bus connections to rail: $12 million Highway 1: $264 million • Three auxiliary lanes (in addition to three lanes funded by Measure D): $142 million • Metering of on-ramps: $113 million • Buses on shoulders: $9 million. Soquel Ave/Drive/Freedom Blvd: $51 million • Intersection improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians: $31 million.

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• Buffered/protected bike lanes: $20 million. ••• The RTC is still seeking community input on the UCS Preferred Scenario. This input will be considered as they develop the final staff recommendation that will be presented to the RTC Board at the Jan. 17 RTC meeting. n ••• Deadlines for public comment to be submitted are: Jan. 16, 2019 12 p.m.: For consideration by the RTC commission in the action on the preferred scenario on Jan. 17, 2019. Community members can send input via email to ucs@sccrtc.org or postal mail to the RTC at 1523 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 95060. If you have questions for the RTC or there are transportation-related issues you would like to see us cover, feel free to contact Shannon Munz, RTC Communications Specialist, at smunz@sccrtc.org. For more information on the RTC, visit sccrtc.org.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Your January Horoscope Times Publishing Group, Inc.

Berries For Color In Winter

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb. 18)

Your mind is open to all the possibilities the world has to offer as January begins. If you’ve been resting on your past achievements and accomplishments, this is a time to think about changes. You can’t wait to get started! Your open-mindedness takes something of a turn mid-month, but you have what it takes to see a totally unique vision and run with it. Will you run up against obstacles? Maybe. But no one ever said trying to change would be easy. Late in the month your confidence is on the rise. You know you’re ready to start anything! Worry about how things will turn out later.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

Your thinking is very organized as the new year begins. This is the time to make sure those around you understand what your plans are, and how they can help you and you can help them move forward. Your feelings are pushing towards the surface mid-month, making it hard to deny how you’re feeling, not that there’s any reason you should. Still, blurting out new information to someone, especially your unknown feelings, may cause more drama than you’re hoping for, but it can still be better to unburden yourself. As January comes to a close, you find yourself in a self-reflective mood. A perfect time to take stock of your inner feelings and goals, and reflect on how to improve things moving forward.

Aries (March 21-April 20)

You can feel success brushing your fingertips as the new year begins. Important people will notice your competitive energy; making it a perfect time to move forward on a stalled project. You also feel courage you need to advance relationships to new and exciting levels. Later in January you find yourself better able to harness all that enthusiasm, producing positive, productive results for whatever you task yourself with. Late in the month your self-confidence is soaring to new heights. People around you are sure to notice and admire your feats. Anything goes!

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

The intensity of the end of the year bleeds out as January begins, leaving you in a much more playful, free-spirited mood. You might have a harder time focusing, but that’s okay when you’re just trying to have fun. Your focus has returned somewhat mid-month. You find challenges aplenty, but your optimistic mood keeps you in a good mood, even while you prepare for anything. Some long-lingering notions or plans seem to be coming to a head as the month comes to a close. You’ve shown some patience, and now you’re ready for the results.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

Your mind is wide open as the new year begins, and it’s hard to keep those little kernels of knowledge to yourself. You welcome the chance to share your thoughts with others. You continue to find joy in knowledge as the month moves on, finding ease in uncovering secrets that cross your path. It won’t be surprising if you find some unusual ones; hopefully they’ll all be positive. As January comes to an end, you find yourself more focused on the practical, helping you finish that important project with or without fanfare. Knowing you did a good job is more than enough.

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

The beginning of the new year is always a good time to set your goals; start small, with monthly tasks, then weekly tasks, etc., and form a solid plan to reach them. Leaving goals unfinished just leads to turmoil. Your creativity is rearing its head mid-January, setting you on a new path. But there’s no hurry here. Set a new goal and let it’s progress fit smoothly in with your other tasks. Late in the month your wanderlust peeks through, leading you to investigate something that comes across your senses. Whatever it is, you can’t wait to find the answer.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 23)

Your calm, no-nonsense demeanor is prevalent through the beginning of January. You have new tasks in front of you, and the easiest way to get them started is to stop, take a deep breath, and start. You find yourself motivated to be your best around the middle of the month, especially in light of some comment or compliment you receive from others. Still, you should only place so much importance on others opinion over your own self-worth. Late in the month you feel much more outgoing and chatty. Your opinion is front-and-center; easy to explain and explore. It’s also a great time if you have anything you want to sell!

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sep. 22)

As the new year begins, you find doors opening all around you. It may be hard to decide which, if any, you should walk through! There’s no rush to decide. Take the time to explore your options. You find relationships that are normally on pins and needles feeling a bit smoother around mid-month. If you hope to patch up some fractured friendships, or just meet some new people, this is probably a good time to try. As January comes to a close, you find yourself in a position to help someone else reach for the stars! Their fate, good or bad, could be in your hands.

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 23)

You are ready to make some major adjustments in your world at the start of the new year. You have some enchanting and difficult choices ahead of you, but what happens will be entirely in your hands. Your thoughts and decisions become easier to focus on mid-January. The better you feel about your choices, the brighter your future will likely be. You find you still have some big dreams as the month comes to a close. There’s no reason to give up on such dreams, even if you have to put them on hold. Make sure you leave room in your schedule to give them some love before moving on.

by Tony Tomeo

n milder climates of California, where many of us expect at least a few flowers to bloom right through winter, autumn foliar color and colorful winter berries are not appreciated quite as much as they are where autumn and winter arrive earlier, and are cool enough to prevent lingering bloom. Coincidentally, the same mild weather that allows winter bloom here also limits autumn foliar color. However, mild autumn and winter weather does not inhibit the production of the various winterberries. Such berries can either provide extra color while bloom might be scarce, or at least keep migrating and overwintering birds well fed while trying to do so. Many of us actually grow colorful berries more to keep wildlife happy than to provide color. Some enjoy using them like cut flowers. It is no coincidence that most colorful berries that ripen in winter are small, red, and profuse. Just like flowers use color to attract pollinators, many types of fruits use color to attract the birds that eat them and subsequently disperse their seed. Bright red happens to work best for that purpose, although there are other options. Small berries happen to be easy for birds to grab and go with.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Your energy is at its peak as January begins. This is the time to pull out those major tasks that may have been on hold, or take on that competitive challenge you’ve been putting off. Confidence and drive give you an undeniable edge. You may find yourself distracted by mysteries mid-month. It’s not unusual for you, but you may find others reacting poorly to your sudden interest in some potentially sensitive subjects. Your intensity remains as the month comes to a close. Your drive and emotion will be written in your face for all to see if you aren’t careful … assuming you want to be careful.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Everything seems aglow as the new year settles in. New is what you’re interested in. New people. New experience. New views. The positive energy abounds. Still, new is only shiny for so long. As you move through the month, your questions turn from new to why, but sometimes why is never answered. Accepting that truth will be helpful. Your energy seems to be waning as January comes to a close. Your instinct is to fight the need for solitude, but a day or two by yourself to recharge isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

The new year starts with goals being reached. Finally! It’s always nice when you receive the recognition you know you deserve. Now you can relax a bit, even though that goes against your nature. Mid-January finds you back hard at work, but be wary of distractions. Now is not the time for mindless repetition. Now is the time to challenge your brainpower! Tackle those difficult problems and keep your mind fresh. Your emotions are trying to poke through as the month comes to a close. Your instinct is to bottle them up, but it’s okay to let them have their moment in the sun.

•••

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Most of the specie that provide winterberries are related, within the family of Rosaceae, and most are evergreen shrubs. Of these, firethorn, which is also known by its Latin name of Pyracantha, is the most familiar and most prolific with berry production. The various specie and cultivars of Cotoneaster are not nearly as bold with their berries, but provide a bit more variety of plant form. English hawthorn and related hawthorns happen to be small deciduous trees that defoliate in winter to leave their ripe berries exposed. Incidentally, as their names imply, both firethorn and the various hawthorns are unpleasantly thorny. The native toyon is a big evergreen shrub that can get almost as big as the smaller hawthorns, and has the potential to be pruned up as a small tree. Hollies are not related to the others, and although very traditional, are unreliable for berry production locally. English hawthorn, the first specie to be imported to North America from Europe was utilitarian plant that produced fruits, vegetables or other horticultural products. English hawthorn, Crataegus laevigata, was likely one of the first ornamental specie to be imported merely because those who were familiar with it appreciated the delightful white spring bloom and the rich red berries in autumn and winter. The biggest trees should not get much higher than second story eaves, but the handsomely coarse texture of the bark, furrowed trunks and almost oaken foliar texture make these relatively small trees seem rather grand. Unfortunately, the stems, are quite thorny. The lobed leaves are about one or two inches long and wide, and might turn orange in autumn. The trusses of small white flowers that bloom in spring resemble those of pear, and like pear bloom, produce a musky fragrance that some might find objectionable. Some cultivars and hybrids bloom with less fragrant pink, double pink or double red flowers. Some produce orange or yellow berries. If birds do not take them quickly, the pendulous trusses of berries can last into winter. n ••• Gardening Guidance columnist, Tony Tomeo can be contacted at https://tonytomeo.com

SCCAS Featured Pet

Kathryn (Kay) Metz, was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1932. She received her BFA from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and her MA from the University of California, Los Angeles. Between 1966 and 1967, she studied at Atelier 17 in Paris under the auspices of the College Art Study Abroad, American Center for Students and Artists, and then with Robert Blackburn in New York. After teaching at several well regarded art institutions she was hired in 1971 to teach printmaking at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is now Professor Emerita after retiring in 1992. Kay has exhibited extensively, participating in numerous group and solo exhibitions internationally. Her work

earned her residence grants at the Huntington Hartford Foundation, Pacific Palisades in 1965 and the MacDowell Colony residence fellowship in 1966-1967. Her works are held in numerous collections, including the New York Public Library; the Library of Congress; the Fresno Art Museum; the Phoenix Art Museum; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chamaliers, France; Grunwald Graphic Arts Foundation, University of California, Los Angeles; and Special Collections, McHenry Library, University of California, Santa Cruz. Kay was a generous and much loved supporter of Watsonville Wetlands Watch. She will be missed by all who knew her. Kay Metz died in Santa Cruz, California on September 27, 2018. n

Hannah

annah ID#A252659 came to the shelter as a stray after being abandoned in a field. Volunteers report that Hannah is a sweet and playful rabbit. She is curious and likes to visit with people when they come into the rabbit

room. Hannah is also good about using her litter box! If you are a rabbit fan, come meet gentle and loving Hannah today! Hannah is a brown and white spayed female rabbit To adopt your new friend, visit one of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter locations, or their website at www.scanimalshelter.org. n ••• Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter has two full-service, open-admission shelters: Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesdays: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Watsonville Location: 580 Airport Blvd, Watsonville, CA 95076  Hours: Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed 12-1) Closed on Sunday SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182

crossword on 23 »

“Kay Metz” from page 13

“Water Wisdom” from page 23 Treated surface water purchase from the City of Santa Cruz. The District and the City of Santa Cruz recently opened the valve to allow treated river water to supply customers in a small portion of the western part of the District. This is the first phase of a pilot project to determine the feasibility of larger-scale use of treated surface water. During this pilot project, the wells that supply that test area will be rested, to allow for natural recharge to take place. While helpful, this possible supplemental supply of water is limited since surface water is dependent on rainfall and is not drought-proof; and, Santa Cruz is still in a “proof of concept” phase with their evaluation of aquifer storage and recovery to meet their own shortfall of water during drought times. What can you do in your own home to help recharge the aquifer? It’s always best to reduce and minimize impermeable paving in your yard to allow water to “pass through,” and to slow, spread, and sink rainwater into the ground. You can also collect rainwater and store that moisture to use in your garden. Here are some websites for tips on rainwater harvesting, and other things you can do in our garden or landscaping to save water and support the aquifer:

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www.watersavingtips.org (click on Resources and Yard and Garden Resources) www.santacruz.watersavingplants.com (click on Resources) www.green-gardener.org (click on About and Rainwater Harvesting) The District even has a rebate to help pay for you to install a rainwater downspout re-direct — this will re-direct and slow the flow of rainwater that runs off of your roof, helping promote infiltration and groundwater recharge. Visit soquelcreekwater.org/conservingwater and click on Rebates. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and vibrant New Year! May we join together in being groundwater guardians in 2019 to protect and preserve our precious water supply. n

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Thursday January 10 2019 JANUARY BREAKFAST MEETING 7:30 – 9 a.m., Best Western Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Ct. Aptos Join us for our January Breakfast Meeting, with special guest speaker Second District Supervisor Zach Friend. Come and learn about the current on goings of Aptos and Santa Cruz County, while enjoying a delicious breakfast from Seacliff Inn. Be sure to bring business cards and promotional items so that you can network with chamber and community members. Price: $20-25 Call (831) 688-1467 to RSVP

Wednesday February 20 2019 2019 BIZ SHOWCASE: “GROW YOUR BUSINESS” 4 – 7 pm, Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Dr., Aptos How will you grow your business in 2019? The Business Showcase brings key members of the community together to connect, learn, and give opportunities for local businesses to inspire, while working together in a variety of creative ways. Each year, the Business Showcase provides you with the opportunity to make face-to-face connections with thousands of potential customers and fellow businesses. A free exhibitor seminar will also be held to help you MAXIMIZE this great marketing opportunity on Thursday, February 7th from 11:50am -1:15pm at the Aptos History Museum. For more info, email ESME@Aptoschamber.com or call (831) 688-1467. Aptoschamber.com

646-8511 or visit www.montereysymphony.org for more Mondays & Wednesdays information. ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION Alzheimer’s Association has free support groups for family caregivers at 1777-A Capitola road. ONGOING EVENTS 2nd & 4th Mondays 2-3:30pm facilitated by Jill Daily Ginghofer, SANTA CRUZ ‘USED’ BOOKSHOP 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 5:30-7pm facilitated by 10 am- 3 pm 2710 Chanticleer Ave. Santa Cruz Francie Newfield & Kathleen McBurney. Grey Bears: Every Monday and Friday is $10-a-bag Call 800 272 3900 for more information. book sale. Fill up a shopping bag with books for only $10! Thousands of titles for $1.50 or less: cookbooks, Tuesdays gardening, sci-fi, mysteries, classics and all sorts of fiction and nonfiction. Non-profit Grey Bears has served OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS MEETING 7 - 8 pm, Christ Lutheran Church, Gazebo, 10707 Soquel Dr., our community for 45 years. Grey Bears provides recycling services and accepts books and other dona- Aptos Do you have a problem with compulsive over- or undertions for our thrift stores. Proceeds benefit our Brown Bag Program, distributing nutri- eating? Anorexia? Bulimia? Compulsive exercising? You are not alone. Drop into a free, friendly OA 12-Step tious food to 3,900 seniors every week. meeting with the solution. All are welcome! For information on other meetings in Santa Cruz County: www. Weekdays CASA ORIENTATIONS TO BECOME ADVOCATES FOR santacruzoa.org/meetings CHILDREN BINGO CASA empowers volunteers to directly influence life-changing decisions affecting children in foster care. Court appointed special advocates are everyday people that, with just a few hours a week can have a lifetime of impact for a child who has been abused or neglected. More info www.casaof santacruz.org or call (831) 7612956 XT.102 Mondays CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP 12-1 p.m., PAMF, 2850 Commercial Crossing, Santa Cruz Katz Cancer Center, PAMF and Hospice of Santa Cruz County invite you to attend a Caregiver Support Group for those caring for someone with a serious illness. When a loved one is seriously ill, it can be a challenge for the entire family. In this ongoing support group, we will share stories, learn tools for coping and receive support from people who care. Contact Hospice of Santa Cruz County Grief Support Program. (831) 430-3078

Second and Fourth Mondays SANTA CRUZ CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m., Alzheimer’s Association, 550 Water Street, Ste. L2, Santa Cruz SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2 (2019) If you have a family member who has been SAVE THE DATE for the 57th Annual Awards Dinner and Auction as we celebrate Italian style – That’s Amore! diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, a caregiver support group can offer you an opportunity to find out more about available comANNOUNCEMENTS munity resources, learn from others who are going ACTORS’ THEATRE PRESENTS: EIGHT 10’S @ 8:00 through similar experiences, and obtain additional Jan 4 thru Feb 3, Center Stage, 1001 Center Street Santa Cruz, educational materials. Open to family members, no Ca 95060 fee. The annual 10-minute play festival is one of the most For more information about this and other support groups anticipated and popular events of the theatre season in the area, please call 800.272.3900 in Santa Cruz! Sixteen awarded-winning short plays, from our annual international play writing contest, are Mondays & Tuesdays performed and directed by some of the best the Santa WOMENCARE ARM-IN-ARM Cruz theatre community has to offer. The Festival 12:30 - 2 p.m. presents 8 short plays on “A” Night, and 8 different plays WomenCARE ARM-in-ARM support group for on “B” Night, running in repertoire. women with advanced, recurrent and metastatic Visit www.sccat.org for show times and ticket availability, or cancers. Meets weekly Mondays & Tuesdays, with call 800-838-3006 for more information. a separate meeting every First and Third Tuesday every month. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE MONTEREY Registration required. Call 457-2273 for more information SYMPHONY The Monterey Symphony is seeking volunteers. If you and to register. No cost to attend. www.womencaresantacruz.org love music and want to be involved, please call (831)

425-4030 For more information, visit www.monarchscc.org Second Wednesdays SANTA CRUZ SONS IN RETIREMENT MONTHLY MEETING Noon, Elks Lodge at 150 Jewell St. This statewide group of retired men invites you to be our guest at our monthly luncheon. You’ll meet kindred spirits, have a fine lunch and learn something new from a top notch guest speaker. Cost: $18. RSVP at 479-7096 Second and Fourth Wednesdays WELLNESS ON THE CANCER JOURNEY 11-12:30 pm, Old Soquel Plaza Learn how to safely support your body and emotions through the journey of Cancer — from diagnosis to softening the impact of chemo, radiation, and recovering well from surgery. We’ll address nausea, low energy, weakness, digestion, immune support, grief, stress and more. Feel free to bring your partner or care team to this free class. Please come fed; water is available. Limited Seats. Please register all attendees on Eventbrite — Wellness on the Cancer Journey or call 831-254-3270 to RSVP. Address given upon registration receipt.

6:30 p.m. Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, 150 Jewell St. BINGO EVERY TUESDAY. Buy-in begins at $21. The Snack Bar is open with goodies and dinner specials.

ADHD SUPPORT GROUP 6:30-8 p.m., Aptos Fire Station, 6934 Soquel Drive, Aptos The Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay Branch of CHADD hosts monthly support group meetings for anyone who would like to learn more about ADHD or has questions or concerns. Come share with those who understand. Second Wednesdays’ meeting is for parents of children, teens, and young adults with ADHD. The group for adults with ADHD, spouses, partners of someone with ADHD meets fourth Wednesdays of every month. Contact: Judy Brenis, jbbrenis@comcast.net, or call 831818-9619.

WRITING/DISCUSSION MEETING 6:30-7:30 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, Gazebo Room, 10707 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003 (At Hwy One and Freedom Blvd) Do you have a problem with food? Please check out our free, friendly 12-Step support group with the solution. All teens and adults welcome! For current times and locations of other meetings: www. santacruzoa.org/meetings. Or call our Hotline at (831) 429-7906.

Last Wednesdays Each Month SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 7-9 p.m., Katz Cancer Resource Center, 3150 Mission Drive Santa Cruz County Prostate Cancer Support Group has been an active group for over 20 years in the community. First meeting of 2018 will be February 28th.

BUSINESS DEBTORS ANONYMOUS 5:15-6:30pm, Calvary Episcopal Church, Parish Hall, 532 Center Street, Santa Cruz. We specifically focus on recovering from debting on one’s business. For more information: 831-425-3272. Tuesdays & Wednesdays SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUPS Monarch Services offers a safe space to meet other survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors, and to listen or share experiences. Childcare provided on site. Spanish – Tuesdays 6:00-7:30 p.m. Servicios Monarca, 233 E. Lake Avenue, Watsonville (831) 722-4532 English – Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 p.m. Monarch Services, 1590 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz (831)

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Thursdays LUCKY STEPPERS MODERN SQUARE DANCE 6:30 pm, La Selva Beach Clubhouse, 314 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach, CA 95076 It’s fun and easy to do! Friendship put to music; family friendly. Class takes place every Thursday Night at our new home in La Selva Beach! (Take Mar Monte off of Hwy 1, turns into Playa Blvd., turn right on Estrella) For more information, contact Sue Harris or Don Benson at (831) 726-7053 or e-mail at caller4u@att.net. FRIENDSHIP PUT TO MUSIC! 6:30 p.m., New Hall, La Selva Beach Club House, 3124 Estrella Ave. Classes every Thursday night. For more information call Sue Harris or Don Benson (831) 726-7053 or email at caller4u@att.net

COMMUNITY CALENDAR To locate additional times and locations of meetings, please go to our website at www.nar-anon.org.

ONGOING EVENTS cont. SAN LORENZO COMMUNITY BAND PRACTICE SESSIONS 7:30-9 p.m., San Lorenzo Valley High School Band Room (F-1) The San Lorenzo Valley Community Band meets every Thursday at SLV High School. Dues are $30 a semester. You must read music. Call Teresa at 336-8637.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH BIBLE STUDY 9:45 a.m: Bible Study 11 a.m.: Worship 7565 Sunset Way, Aptos First Baptist Church of Aptos welcomes you to join their bible study and worship every Sunday. Call (831) 688-5842 for more info

Second and Fourth Thursdays CABRILLO HOST LIONS CLUB MEETINGS 6:30 p.m., Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road. Want to make a difference in our community? Join the Cabrillo Lions Club twice every month and see what you can do to help in Santa Cruz County. Please RSVP cabrillolions@gmail.com

Third Sunday of Every Month SCIENCE SUNDAY Starts at 1 p.m., 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, 95060 Seymour Marine Discovery Center presents a public lecture from a marine scientist the third Sunday of every month. Topics are presented in an entertaining and easy-to-understand format, with up-to-date photos, video, and discussion. Science Sunday does not meet in December. For more info visit seymourcenter.ucsc.edu

Last Thursdays each month MONTHLY ARGENTINE TANGO AT STAR BENE ITALIAN/ARGENTINE RESTARANTE 4:30pm-9:30pm, Star Bene Italian/Argentene Restarante, 21245 East Cliff Dr. This is a night for true “Social Tango.” Order a wonderful meal from the Star Bene Argentine Menu, (or their well known italian menu), and enjoy the ambiance of Argentina and join us in a social tango dance to music from the Golden Age of Tango. Private instruction and classes by arrangement. For more information, call Michael (831) 239-2247. Fridays NAR-ANON SCOTTS VALLEY 6:30 p.m., Camp Recovery Center (Bison Center Room), 3192 Glen Canyon Road, Scotts Valley. Nar-Anon is a twelve step support group for families and friends of addicts. There are no dues or fees to join. Just come to a meeting. You will hear others, who are going through similar problems, talk about how they cope and find recovery. To locate additional times and locations of meetings, please go to our website at www.nar-anon.org. DROP-IN GRIEF SUPPORT 12-1 pm, Hospice of Santa Cruz County, two locations: 940 Disc Dr., SV • 85 Nielson St., Watsonville Hospice of Santa Cruz County is offering a drop-in grief support group for adults grieving the death of a family member or a friend. This group is a place where you can share stories, learn tools for coping, and receive support from people who care. For more information, please call (831) 430-3000. Preregistration is required. First Fridays each month FIRST FRIDAY ART TOUR

The First Friday Art Tour is a Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts event, managed in conjunction with the participating art venues. The event takes place year-round and illuminates some of the most talented

DATED EVENTS Friday January 11 thru Sunday January 13

WOMEN’S ADVENTURE FILM TOUR Saturday January 26 7 – 9:30 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue Santa Cruz, CA, 95062 The Women’s Adventure Film Tour features some of the world’s most inspiring women in adventure. This tour is a celebration of the fantastic women around us who are doing extraordinary things. The Tour is presented by Adventure Film Tours and She Went Wild. Get tickets at https://www.womensadventurefilmtour.com/new-events/2019/1/26/santa-cruz local artists from local galleries. To find out where to participate in a First Friday art tour, visit firstfridaysantacruz.com (Most galleries are open 12-9 pm for First Friday viewings.)

Aptos Artist David Pfost’s plein air watercolor paintings of Santa Cruz County landscapes are on exhibit. Exhibit open until the end of December.

45TH ANNUAL SANTA CRUZ FUNGUS FAIR: MUSHROOMS AS MEDICINE Louden Nelson Center 301 Center Street Santa Cruzm Ca 95060 Did you know that without fungus, we’d have no bread, cheese, beer, or wine? Or that anti-cholesterol medicine was developed from mushrooms? Come to the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair to learn all there is to know about the fascinating world of mushrooms.The three-day event features hundreds of species of local fungi presented in a unique fashion, and draws thousands of visitors each year. The Fair showcases speakers, cooking demonstrations, a special Kids’ Room, and a taxonomy panel for identification of fungi. Many books and mushroom-related items are available for sale, as are wild mushroom delicacies. Fun for all ages! Visit http://ffsc.us for hours and more information, or call 831-222-0000

Saturday January 26 Sunday January 27 SANTA CRUZ SYMPHONY: ENLIGHTENMENT Sat: 7:30 – 10 pm, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium 307 Church Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Sun: 2 – 4:30 pm, Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts 250 E. Beach Street Watsonville, CA 95076 Santa Cruz Symphony with Music Director Daniel Stewart performs Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Theme Variations with Jeremy Tai and the World Premiere by local composer John Wineglass. Visit santacruzsymphony.org or call 831-420-0560 for more information

Second Saturdays Each Month 2ND SATURDAY ON THE FARM 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Ag History Project Center at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Join us every 2nd Saturday on the Farm for free family activities. Each month we select a new theme to highlight historical agriculture with games, activities, and demonstrations that relate. We often have guest appearances from farm animals like llamas, draft horses, sheep, goats, chickens, FRIDAY SHAKESPEARE CLUB OF SANTA CRUZ rabbits, and more! You are sure to find something fun Thursday February 21 and entertaining for the whole family. 10 am - noon, Peace United Church, 909 High Street thru Sunday February 24 This is the oldest women’s club in Santa Cruz. The club meets Check our website and Facebook page for more details. FREE BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR to study the life, works and times of William Shakespeare. 7 – 10 p.m., Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue Santa Cruz, CA, Members share group readings and insights, discuss history, Sundays 95062 NAR-ANON SANTA CRUZ and universal themes found in his plays and writings. Journey to exotic locations, paddle with the wildest 6:30 p.m., Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center (Sutter For more information please call 831-684-2832 waters, and climb the highest peaks. Get your tickets Room), 2900 Chanticleer Avenue, Santa Cruz today and be taken away to the most captivating places Fridays thru Sundays Nar-Anon is a twelve step support group for families on earth. and friends of addicts. There are no dues or fees to join. For more information visit recreation.ucsc.edu or call (831) PLEIN AIR WATERCOLOR Just come to a meeting. You will hear others, who are PAINTINGS EXHIBITION 459-2806. Tickets available online at brownpapertickets.com beginning December 15 or in person at the Bicycle Trip (cash Noon-10 p.m., Mutari Chocolate House and Factory, 504 Front going through similar problems, talk about how they cope and find recovery. or check only). n Street, Santa Cruz FRIDAY SHAKESPEARE CLUB 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Peace United Church of Christ at 900 High Street, Santa Cruz Curious about Shakespeare? The Friday Shakespeare Club members discuss the life, times, and influence of William Shakespeare. For information, call 831-684-2832, or go to fridayshakespeare.org or facebook.com/fridayshakespeare.

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Business Guide

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Reflections on My 6th Year as Your County Supervisor

Habitat for Humanity ReStores are nonproﬁt home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price.

Open to the public: Tuesday-Sunday: 9am-5pm Donation Hotline: 831-824-4704

s I begin each New Year as your County Supervisor, I like to report back in this column on some of the things we’ve accomplished because of your partnership and communication of priorities. Here is a very small overview of what we accomplished in 2018: Community Meetings: In 2018, we’ve held over 70 open office hours in Aptos, Corralitos, La Selva Beach and Watsonville and held or attended nearly 50 community and neighborhood meetings in Seacliff, La Selva, Aptos, Watsonville, Capitola and Corralitos. In addition, I’ve written over 50 columns in local papers and neighborhood newsletters to communicate with our district about county happenings. Housing: The Board focused extensively this year on making the construction of affordable housing easier. One of my main focus areas was on reducing the burden for constructing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). ADUs (sometimes called “granny units”) are one of the quickest ways to improve the housing stock — especially the affordable housing stock. The Board adopted a proposal I brought forward to waive nearly all

By Zach Friend, County Supervisor 2nd District

County fees associated with smallsized ADU construction for the next three years. Additionally, the Board continued to streamline the process so that most permits for ADUs can be done over the counter. The Board prohibited these ADUs from becoming vacation rentals to ensure the units become long-term rentals or an on-site living location for seniors aging in place, for example. Additionally, the Board approved density bonuses to incentive affordable housing construction — maximizing available land space for smaller, affordable (often deedrestricted affordable) units. Local Roads: While we continue to repair the over $130 million in damage to local roads and County facilities after the storms a few years ago we have also begun road work associated with the passage of Measure D. Many roads in La Selva were repaired this first year with work coming in the next few years to Seacliff, Rio Del Mar and part of Corralitos. Storm damage repairs planned for the coming year, which require funding and sign-offs from state and federal agencies as well, can be found on the Public Works website (under the SB1 funding link).

719 Swift Street, Santa Cruz

www.habitatmontereybay.org

TO ADVERTISE IN THE BUSINESS GUIDE SECTION

call our offices 831.688.7549

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Public Safety: Additional Sheriff’s deputies were hired placing more front line staff on the streets in our district. With the passage of Measure G in November the Sheriff’s Office will be creating a new directed enforcement team with Behavioral Health staff to address individuals that are high impact (meaning they consume a lot of resources) but also refuse services. This will allow the Sheriff’s Office to address these individuals in a new way. As a note, overall crime rates in the unincorporated area are at some of their lowest levels compared to the last forty years. Economic Vitality and Reserves: The Board again continued to increase our reserves, something that we have done the last few years, which has led to improved bond ratings and lower borrowing costs. The reserves will also help provide some protection of services during a recession should one come in the next few years. Moving Forward: The above is just a partial list of what we’ve done this year and I know there is a lot more to do on all of these issues in 2019. We made significant progress on parks (with a new pump track at Pinto Lake Park and Measure G funding that will allow us to build LEO’s Haven all-inclusive park and make improvements in our district to Aptos Village Park and other parks), moved through a strategic planning process that guides decision making (including moving toward a two year budget process for better data collection and programmatic review), began to upgrade our libraries as a result of Measure S and much more. This past year we estimate that we addressed over 750 direct requests for service to our office on transportation and road issues, neighborhood public safety concerns, storm damage, environmental issues, health and human services, technology services and more — all from your emails, visits during office hours and calls to us. n ••• We’d love to continue to hear from you to prioritize what we do. Call us at 454-2200 and have a great New Year!

Adult & Medical Cannabis Boutique

31 / January 1st 2019 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Providing compassionate, customized dental care to the Aptos and Santa Cruz community

Deluxe Foods of Aptos

Supporting the Aptos community for 40 years Mon. thru Sat. 8am to 9pm • Sun. 8am to 8pm Peet’s Coffee Available Mon. thru Fri 6am • Sat & Sun 7am

give us a call

(831) 688-3012 or visit

delcoredental.com

Academic Aptos

• Private Tutoring • SAT Test Preparation • Study Skills

831-687-0707 ATAptos@gmail.com

Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 2-8 p.m. 783 Rio Del Mar Blvd., Ste. 23B

FOOD & DRINKS Deer Park Wine & Spirits Deluxe Foods Panda Inn Mangiamo Pizza & Wine Bar Red Apple Cafe

Buy 2 Hours Get One (1) FREE ($72 Value)

(Above Deluxe Foods/CVS Pharmacy)

Insurance BUSINESS SERVICES Scurich Ship Smart Anderson & Company – HOA Management Employnet Galapagos Travel PDM International SAR Asset Mgmt. Inc.

Stearns Lending Wavestaff, Inc.

BANKS Bank of America US Bank

783 Rio Del Mar Boulevard, Aptos, CA 95003 (Located inside Deer Park Marketplace)

(831) 688-7442 www.deluxefoodsofaptos.com

Shapes Opticians PERSONAL SERVICES Eye Highlights for Hair Agape Dance Academy Aptos Academic Trainers Body in Motion Brian Del Core, DDS CVS Pharmacy Del Mar Cleaners

J-Bella Nails Klub Nico Laser Hair Solutions Royal Paw Spa Santa Cruz Dance Supply