FEATURED COLUMNIST
For the Love of … Podcasts About Water!
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ere we are in February, the month of love! This pandemic Valentine’s Day may be a bit different so I hope everyone can find creative, safe, and socially-distanced ways to express their love and gratitude. As for Soquel Creek Water District, we continue our traditional February article with a “For the Love of…..” theme. Over the years we’ve covered music, books, and movies. This year we’d like to let you know about some water-related podcasts that may enhance your own love of water! Podcasts are digital audio files available on computer and mobile devices and can be very entertaining, educational, and even inspirational. A recent study in January 2020 identified more than 850,000 active podcasts being created, which is pretty startling growth considering there were just 500,000 active podcasts in 2018 (Podcast Insights, 2020). With over 70% of the US population aware and listening to podcasts, we wanted to share a few water-related podcasts with you: • The Water Values Podcast series takes you on an exploration of water issues aimed at uncovering the true value of water. Each episode (there are over 180!) covers a different aspect of water, so you can pick and choose. Subjects include: Water Treatment; The Birth of the Western Water Market; Water Use
By Rebecca Gold Rubin
in Vertical Farming, Water Reuse; and more. • Words on Water series by Water Environment Federation features conversations with people who work on water issues and discussions about the opportunities and challenges facing one of Earth’s most precious resources. Topics include infrastructure, innovation and technology, workforce, resource recovery, management, research, and public awareness. Words On Water is produced by the Water Environment Federation, a nonprofit education and technical organization with over 170 podcast episodes. • Meet the Ocean is an educational podcast that improves science communication through storytelling. Its content is great for all ages. There are over 80 podcasts to choose from and topics and interviews provide journeys to the polar regions and other far-off destinations. A few of the highlights include: Blue Whales in Antarctica; Becoming the Glacier; World Oceans Day; and The Marine Mammal Center, among others. • WQA Radio, from the Water Quality Association, focuses on residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment. You’ll hear leading voices in the treatment industry, and members of WQA. With almost 200 episodes, they have covered the Flint
water crisis, women in the industry, and treating water for beer. • Water You Talking About, is a podcast series of over 30 episodes that are produced by doctoral students researching urban water technologies. A recent episode focused on how the sewers of Paris have captured the imagination of writers, engineers and politicians; another featured stories of the water legends throughout time who have made water systems great. Happy Valentine’s Day and while
we focus on keeping our social pod small during this pandemic, may we keep ourselves entertained with some podcasts. n ••• As always, if you have any questions about this month’s topic or anything else related to Soquel Creek Water District, feel free to contact us at outreach@soquelcreekwater.org or visit soquelcreekwater.org. We also encourage community members to access our ‘Current and Upcoming Projects’ webpage www.soquelcreek water.org/NeighborhoodProjects and to sign up for updates on the Pure Water Soquel Project at https://tinyurl.com/pwsconstruction.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Santa Cruz Elks Adopt-a-Family Success
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espite challenges presented by COVID-19, the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge #824 Adopt-a-Family effort was a success. More than $5,000 was spent on clothes, toys and food for local families in need. Through the holiday program, the Lodge supported several local organizations including the Jesus Mary Joseph Home, Siena House, Santa Cruz Volunteer Center, and Walnut Avenue Family and Women’s Center. Wrapped gifts were delivered to 19 families with 39 children, and unwrapped gifts of
new jackets and toys were provided to Walnut Avenue Family and Women’s Center. Founded on Feb. 16, 1868, the Elks are a charitable organization dedicated to helping veterans, giving scholarships, and all around bettering our communities. The Elks created the first veterans’ hospital and gave it to the US government. It is also the largest private provider of college scholarships in the United States. n ••• The Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, established 1903, is located at 150 Jewell St. in Santa Cruz. To learn more about the lodge and membership, visit www.santacruzelks.org.
From left: Sachiko and Jim Miller, Michael Szeles, John Scally, Kristina, and Stella Sofia Salciccia.
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / February 1st 2021 / 27
