Aptos Times: April 1, 2021 by Times Publishing Group, Inc.

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April 1, 2021 • Vol 30 No. 7

Exploring A Medical Mystery

When Whitney Dafoe had to give up his life as a photographer and world traveler at age 27, medical tests were unable to identify why he had lost so much weight and had so little energy. He couldn’t escape his swollen glands, his brain fog, the dizziness, fevers and stomach pain. Full Story page 5

County Enters Orange COVID Tier Full Story page 7

The Traffic Light Is On

A Sight To See Monterey Bay is blessed to be habitat to killer whales, the largest members of the dolphin family. Tim Zoliniak, a real estate agent in Watsonville, and a captain with Sea Goddess Whale Watching in Moss Landing, took these photos of killer whales on a March 21 outing.

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On March 30, the recently installed traffic signal at the intersection of Soquel Drive and Aptos Creek Road, one of the Aptos Village improvements, began operating. Full Story page 4

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No. 7

Volume 30

Table of Contents

Cover A Sight To See, Photos by Tim Zoliniak

4 5

Community News The Traffic Light Is On Exploring A Medical Mystery: “The Puzzle Solver” Follows A Father’s Fight For His Son, By Jondi Gumz Capitola Coast Lions Club Supports Common Roots Farm, By Krista Brassfield County Enters Orange COVID Tier, By Jondi Gumz Close Call at Nisene Marks, By Jondi Gumz Aptos Teen Wins Lions Speech Contest • Western Food Virtual Safety Summit • From Homelessness to Mental Health • Santa Cruz Public Library Tech Talks • Invasive Species Art Contest Mr Z’s Crepes & Teas Aims to Please, By Jondi Gumz Q&A With New President/CEO Krista Snelling: First Woman to Lead Locally Owned Santa Cruz County Bank Who was Cabrillo?: Dr Iris Engstrand Shares Research on College Namesake, By Jondi Gumz Amazon Pays $2 Million to Settle False Advertising Allegations • Boardwalk To Open April 1 Soul Salad: Featuring Organic, By Jondi Gumz Electric Rail to Pajaro: $478M, By Jondi Gumz • Poll: 52% Strongly Support Electric Rail, By Jondi Gumz Time to Talk About Sexual Assault  Coastal Oak Interiors: Showcasing Aptos Lifestyle, By Jondi Gumz • Robert Singleton Leaves Santa Cruz County Business Council CDC Changes School Desk Guidance: Science Says Three Feet Between Student Desks Plus Masks Provide Safety

6 7 8 9 10 11 13 17 20 21 23 24 31

Local Sports 14 Aptos, Scotts Valley Split Cross Country Titles, Photos By Patrice Fernald In Memoriam 15 Charlotte Mulcaster: June 1, 1945 ~ March 5, 2021 15 Stephanie Bell, 25: Struck and Killed on Freedom Boulevard Letters to the Editor 23 Proposed Ban on Rodeos, Circuses at Fairgrounds Raises Questions •  Bay Area Health Officers’ Statement About COVID-19 Vaccines

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – The Fire & Light of Aries, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

Featured Columnists 18 New Road Rules with Countywide Impact: 36 Days to Comment, By Bruce McPherson, Supervisor, Fifth District 25 People Love WaterSmart: Convenient, User-Friendly, Great Information!, By Rebecca Gold Rubin 27 Can I Get Refunded for My Wedding Rental?, By Christopher Elliott 30 Exploring Criminal Justice Reforms, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – High Energy, Lotsa Love

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

publisher editor

contributing writers Jondi Gumz, Krista Brassfield, Risa D’Angeles, Bruce McPherson, Rebecca Gold Rubin, Christopher Elliott, Zach Friend layout Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson photography Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson, Brad King website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti production coordinator Camisa Composti media consultants Don Beaumont, Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine office coordinator Cathe Race distribution Bill Pooley, James Hudson

Working On The Signal O n March 30, the recently installed traffic signal at the intersection of Soquel Drive and Aptos Creek Road began operating. The traffic signal is one of the improvements along with sidewalks, curbs, new paving, bike lane striping and raised utilities coinciding with the increased traffic from the Aptos Village development of stores plus 69 homes (with live-work units yet to be built). The County of Santa Cruz Department of Public Works advised motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians to heed the signal. Aptos Creek Road, which is the gateway to the 10,000-acre Nisene Marks State Park, has seen a huge increase in traffic at this intersection from cars and cyclists in the last year since the COVID-19 pandemic inspired many people to seek refuge outdoors. Visitor parking is a challenge because Nisene Marks has only 138 parking spaces, and most of the additional parking envisioned in the 2005 master plan has not been installed. Once the signal is energized, there will be “fine tuning of fiber optic

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Mark Futhey, left, with Cal West Lighting and Signal Maintenance, and Randy Evans, foreman with Collins Electrical, pause for a photo March 24 as they prepped to turn on a new traffic signal on Soquel Creek Drive and Aptos Creek Road. synchronization of the five area signals,” according to county Public Works. Railroad signal work was to conclude at the end of March. The railroad crossing will not have a signal arm. Ade Sogbesan, engineer with the California Public Utilities Commission assigned to the area, said the daily traffic count on Aptos Creek Road is

D I D YO U K N O W? 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 ©2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission

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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 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 Cover grass graphic courtesy of freevector.com

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much lower than the 16,000 a day in 2018 on Soquel Drive near Spreckles Drive, so further warning devices are not justified. The project, which began in June 2020, is nearly complete. n ••• For the latest project information, visit aptosvillageimprovement.blogspot.com.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Exploring A Medical Mystery

“The Puzzle Solver” Follows A Father’s Fight For His Son By Jondi Gumz

hen Whitney Dafoe had to give up his life as a photographer and world traveler at age 27, medical tests were unable to identify why he had lost so much weight and had so little energy. He couldn’t escape his s w o l l e n glands, his brain fog, the dizziness, fevers and stomach pain. For three years, he searched for answers. He tried all kinds of remedies to no avail. Then a doctor who had seen other people with the same symptoms

diagnosed Whitney with chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. As for treatments, the doctor had nothing to offer. It was 2010, and many medical practitioners didn’t believe in the disease. They assumed the problem was in the patient’s mind. Fortunately, Whitney Dafoe’s parents, Ron Davis and Janet Dafoe, did not accept that conclusion. Neither did Aptos journalist Tracie White – more on that later. Davis, a renowned professor at Stanford University and key contributor to the Human Genome Project, decided to test his son’s blood. He worked out of his own garage. Research funding from the National Institutes of Health was, to say the

least, skimpy -- $6 million compared to $100 million for multiple sclerosis. Funding Research When Davis received the Gruber Prize for his pioneering work in genetics in 2011, he decided to use the $500,000 to fund research into the mysterious illness, looking for tests, treatments, and he hoped, a cure. He tapped three Nobel Prize winners to be on the scientific advisory board of the Open Medicine Foundation, founded in 2012 by Linda Tannenbaum, whose daughter has the same condition as Whitney, to push for research. Davis went after NIH grants, appealing after being rejected to NIH director Francis Collins, formerly director of the Human Genome Project. “Puzzle Solver” page 8

Whitney Dafoe, after taking Abilify for myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome, puts his arm around his sister Ashley Haugen, holding his niece.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Capitola Coast Lions Club Supports Common Roots Farm

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he Capitola Coast Lions Club is a new Lions club that formed during 2020 and is open to residents from all over Santa Cruz County. The club joined together with the Common Roots Farm, a nonprofit in Santa Cruz that may not be well known. The main goal of the Lions club is to support the farm and help raise funds and awareness surrounding their mission to welcome and accommodate people with disabilities, particularly developmental disabilities. The farm accomplishes this in two ways: Designing for universal access in as many areas as possible (such as their wheelchair accessible greenhouse, raised bed area and planned accessible perimeter path), and by cultivating a culture of inclusion. It is a production farm that is a safe, educational environment and allows the experience of farming, accessible to people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Since the club’s inception in August, members have volunteered to help those displaced by the fires and participated in a sunset cruise to honor the men and women of the Air National Guard who worked tirelessly to assist homeless families across the state since the start of the COVID 19

pandemic and during and after the devastating fires. Members conducted a Holiday Toy Drive and a Food Drive. On March 9, the Capitola Coast Lions club hosted its first Student Speakers Contest, the club level round of California Lions Student Speakers Foundation’s 84th Annual Contest for high school students. The winner is scheduled to compete at the next round at the end of March, hoping to advance in the contest. The Capitola Coast Lions will be participating in upcoming beach cleanups at Rio del Mar Beach with the Aptos Leo Club. Members hold ongoing, weekly service projects at the Common Roots Farm and on Saturday, April 10, the club plans to build obelisks for plant starts and a table from recycled wood pallets. They will participate in a restoration project with the Watsonville Wetlands on Saturday, April 24. The club is looking forward to hosting a CPR class during the summer and the club’s treasurer Ana E. Mickey is looking into establishing a food pantry to help individuals and families who are struggling. Also on the radar is the club’s desire to funds needed to build for a new barn for the Common Roots Farm. “Common Roots Farm” page 9

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Lions Fred and Dylan Flint appreciate the club’s partnership with Common Roots Farm in Santa Cruz.

COMMUNITY NEWS

County Enters Orange COVID Tier By Jondi Gumz

ith 150,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered and new cases down to levels of last June, Santa Cruz County moved into the Orange Tier on March 31, allowing businesses to expand operations after three weeks of restrictions. Restaurants, movie theaters and museums and places of worship can operate at 50 percent capacity and retail stores can operate at full capacity – no lines to get into the grocery. Wineries can operate indoors at 25 percent or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Gyms and fitness centers can increase indoor capacity to 25 percent; yoga and dance studios can open indoors at 25 percent capacity. Indoor pools, climbing gyms, and bowling alleys can open. Live-audience events can be staged outdoors at 33 percent capacity. Breweries and bars can open outdoors. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk plans to reopen rides April 1 under state guidelines allowing any California visitors at amusement parks with capacity at 25 percent. As of June 1, the state will allow overnight sleepaway camps, another return to normalcy. PVUSD Change n March 24, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District announced that new state guidelines reducing the space between student desks from six to three feet will allow in-person instruction four afternoons a week, with distance learning remaining the norm for mornings. The new schedule takes effect April 5 for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, April 12 for second through fifth grade (and sixth grade at elementary schools) and high school seniors, and April 19 for grades 6-8 and 9-11. High school cross country teams, following safety protocols, were the first to complete their season – and it was COVID-free. On March 26, the state announced guidelines to graduation ceremonies, something parents have been awaiting eagerly. The Orange Tier allows youth and adults to play football, basketball, water polo and soccer outside and participate in gymnastics, and singles pickleball and tennis indoors. Cabrillo Aid he potential for economic turnaround is huge. Cabrillo College in Aptos is getting $16 million in federal COVID relief in the $1.9 trillion package signed by President Biden, and millions more is going to county and municipal government. From mid-November to mid-March, the pandemic kept restaurants, gyms and movie

theaters from opening indoors, eliminating thousands of jobs and sending unemployment up to 8.4 percent. The move to the Orange Tier came as Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel Newel had predicted with the spread of the contagious coronavirus slowed to a trickle. The adjusted case rate has fallen to 2 per day per 100,000 people with the test positivity rate down to .8 percent. If the case rate is below 1 per day per 100,000 people, the county would qualify for the Yellow Tier, which has fewer restrictions. The Aptos Chamber of Commerce scheduled its business showcase for Sept. 29. The Seymour Center in Santa Cruz announced in-person Ocean Explorers summer camp for kids, with applications due April 7. Capitola Beach Co. plans to offer surf lessons and rentals on April 1. Pajaro Valley Arts is seeking artists for the summer outdoor sculpture show at Sierra Azul in Watsonville. Santa Cruz Shakespeare plans a small outdoor live season in July and August. Arts Council Santa Cruz County plans to resume Open Studios in October. CineLux is already open in Capitola and Scotts Valley. Family members can visit loved ones at nursing homes and assisted living centers. Restrictions to prevent the contagious coronavirus from spreading kept them apart for a year. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 57,500 Californians. Deaths in Santa Cruz County have plateaued at 200, with 51 percent of deaths at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Locally, 79 percent of those who died were age 70 or older and 78 percent had other health conditions. A year after the pandemic began, with 17 million vaccine does administered and case rates plummeting, 36 counties are in the Red Tier and 17 in the Orange Tier. Fall: In-Person Instruction ountywide, public schools had reopened for in-person instruction on a hybrid schedule, which brings back half the students to campus on alternating days. The reason was the federal and state six-foot distancing requirement between desks. Private schools with smaller class sizes have brought all the students back because they had the space to meet the distancing requirement. On March 19, the federal Centers for Disease Control changed its guidance to say three feet of distance is protective, and the state agreed March 20. Research is scanty on how much distance is protective and Indiana changed its

requirement to three feet, in line with the World Health Organization guidance. An MIT study this summer concluded distancing rules are based on outdated science and factors such as ventilation and occupancy and exposure time made a difference. In a March 24 letter to parents, all of the local school superintendents said switching from a hybrid schedule to full reopening “would require vast environmental changes to classrooms and redesign of our instructional programs,” with some conditions requiring negotiating with bargaining units. The letter added, “However, we are confident that as long as community transmission of COVID-19 remains low, all public schools in Santa Cruz County will be fully open for in-person instruction in the fall 2021.” Newel said all K-12 educators in the county have had an opportunity to receive their first dose of vaccine. Two cases of the B117 variant, which spreads more easily, were reported in January and February but Newel said a large surge of

cases forecasted for March and April due to virus variants is unlikely. On Tuesday, the county reported only three people hospitalized with COVID, including one in intensive care, only 188 active cases, and 123,000 negative test results. With 150,000 doses given to county residents, that’s more than half of the population. The state required 70 percent of doses go to people age 65 and up who are at greater risk of dying, 30 percent to people in riskier jobs – and 10 percent set aside for educational and child care workers. Newel urged everyone to get a vaccine once they are eligible and in the meantime, wear masks and practice social distancing in public so as to protect unvaccinated elders and those who are medically vulnerable. Vaccine Signup nyone who wants a vaccine appointment is advised to register at MyTurn.ca.gov, the new app, but there is no guarantee of an appointment as the state keeps expanding eligibility ahead of available vaccine supplies.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Close Call at Nisene Marks By Jondi Gumz

hen a hiker at Nisene Marks State Park was reported injured just before noon on March 13, Central Fire responded with a fire engine, paramedics on board, ready to help for any medical emergency. Resident Todd Marco captured on video the fire engine slowed by the cars and pedestrians jammed onto Aptos Creek Road, the narrow one-lane road going to the state park, because there are no footpaths or bike paths. “Traffic jam at Mangels Hairpin Turn,” wrote Marco, who posted the video for the Gateway of Nisene Marks private group on Facebook. “All the cars blocking the way drove right past the ‘Lot full’ sign.” State Parks puts out a sandwich board

“Puzzle Solver” from page 5 In 2015, the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy Sciences), a prestigious organization advising the nation on health, issued a report saying ME/CFS was a biological disease affecting an estimated 800,000 to 2.5 million people in the U.S. and that more research as needed. After two years of research testing his hypotheses, Davis had an a-ha moment. His son, who was being fed intravenously, was not surprisingly deficient in vitamins and minerals, but he was also deficient in amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleotides -- the biochemicals needed to make ATP, the fuel needed by every cell in the body. Whitney was having trouble making ATP, and his father suspected defective molecular pathway were the reason why. Medical Assignment his is where Aptos science writer Tracie A. White came in. She was assigned to write about Davis and his quest to help his son for Stanford’s School of Medicine. Her story, “The Puzzle Solver,” was picked up by Longreads.com, where a literary agent told her it could be a book. White, 60, had won awards for her Tracie A. White science writing but had never written a book. “I knew the emotional toll it would take to delve into the story, but the family really wanted to get their story out,” she said.

saying “Lot full” when the 138 parking spaces in the 10,000-acre park are taken, but often it is ignored, and then cars create

congestion trying to turn around when there is no designated turnaround area. In fact, two weeks later, at 3 p.m.

So she took nine months off to write the first draft of the book, doing most of the research before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. She tracked down a couple who were among a cluster of cases near Lake Tahoe in 1984. Some called it a “hoax” but the couple were so ill they both had to resign their jobs. Man Of Science She explored Ron Davis’ childhood in Illinois, sickly with strep throat and rheumatic fever, spending hours on the couch entertaining himself --imagining himself to be an ant crawling through the circuits in the walls and creating 3-D images in his mind. At 14, he experimented with building model rockets in his family’s basement. When Popular Mechanics didn’t have the information he needed, he picked the lock to the library at Eastern Illinois University and read scientific journals, with a flashlight, to learn how to make fuels for his rockets. That’s where he first read about something much more interesting to him, DNA. His guidance counselor said he wasn’t college material but his biology teacher, Charles Compton, persuaded him to apply anyway. White said Davis is quiet, not prone to talking about himself. “He’s about the science,” she said. “But he’s willing to do anything for his son.” She titled her book proposal “The Invisible Patient” because so many people with the syndrome had been dismissed. Whitney, however, communicated in

no uncertain terms he did not like that title, flipping his blanket and dropping his foot on the floor. “I could not argue with him,” White said. “The Puzzle Solver” is the title she came up with for her Stanford Medicine magazine story, honing in on how Davis has a mind that can see a problem differently to develop a solution. The pandemic ended her visits with the family but she reports Davis and his wife are happy with the book. “They are still working hard every day to tell Whitney’s story and advocate for more funding research for this awful disease,” White said. Whitney is still using a feeding tube and cannot talk. But he has been taking Abilify, a drug developed for schizophrenia that in much tinier doses anecdotally has been shown to help people with chronic fatigue, enabling him to type and send messages via cellphone and connect with friends on Facebook. “He was able to put his arm around his sister and his niece who is 1-and-1/2,” White said. She said chronic fatigue symptoms have been reported by COVID-19 “long haulers,” people who have symptoms months after the acute phase is over. That may bring more attention to chronic fatigue syndrome. There’s no test, which Davis is working on, and more money for research is needed. White is doing her part. ••• Editor’s note: Tracie White, an awardwinning journalist and a science writer for

8 / April 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Saturday, March 27 — a busy time at the state park — another car passed the “Lot full” sign only to discover there were no spaces. The driver then tried to turn around on a section of Aptos Creek Road near residents’ mailboxes and backed into a ditch, blocking the road for nearly an hour until a tow truck came to get it out. Resident concerned about safety on Aptos Creek Road wondered about the outcome of the March 13 call, which was reported to be 13 minutes. Central Fire Marshal Marco Mack provided the answer by email. “A State Parks officer was the first to make contact with the hiker who refused medical treatment,” he wrote. “Close Call” page 10

Photo Credit: Mark Tuschman

Ron Davis, 79, joined the Stanford faculty in biochemistry in 1972 and has won a slew of awards for his research. Stanford Medicine, has lived in Aptos since 1990. She is married to Mark Dorfman, athletic director at Aptos High School for 30 years. The 2015 report: https://www.nap.edu/ catalog/19012/beyond-myalgic-encephalomyelitischronic-fatigue-syndrome-redefining-anillness ••• Cover Photo: Whitney Dafoe, wearing earphones and bundled in a stretcher, looks toward his dad, Ron Davis, a renowned geneticist at Stanford University. • Photo credit Ashley Haugen

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Aptos Teen Wins Lions Speech Contest illian Wiesner, 14, a freshman at Aptos High School, won the March 9 speaking competition sponsored by the Capitola Coast Lions Club and the March 27 Lions zone contest. She advances to the Lions region contest April 6. Jillian Wiesner This year’s topic is “Distance and Online Learning; Pros and Cons.” “I love speaking on what I am passionate about,” Jillian said. Jillian competed against Eleanna Guerrero and Lizbeth Torro Medina from Soquel High School, Trevor Allshouse from Delta High School and Samuel Moore from Monte Vista Christian High School. Judges Patrice Edwards, Chris Sartain, Stephanie Knauss, David Wendt, and Daniel Jadick rated Jillian’s speech highest, for its originality, main points supported by evidence, conclusion, emphasis, enunciation, pronunciation, sincerity, enthusiasm, poise, logic, organization, and persuasiveness. Capitola Coast Lions Club President Fred Flint said he was impressed by the expression and creativity of all of the local students. The contest took place outdoors at the Redwood Village owing to COVID safety precautions. At the top level of the six-level statewide competition, the winner attains $21,000 in college scholarship money. For information on Capitola Coast Lions Club, email coastlionsclub@gmail. com or visit https://e-clubhouse.org/ sites/capitola_coast/. ••• Western Food Virtual Safety Summit May 5-6 he 16th Annual Western Food Safety Summit at Hartnell College will go virtual on May 5-6 on Zoom focusing on

“Common Roots Farm” from page 6 Lions Club President Fred Flint said he is excited about leading a strong group of service minded individuals that are focused on making an indelible impact in their neighborhoods by restoring the environment, enhancing the local biota, participating in hunger projects, supporting the Common Roots Farm and serving the community. n ••• If you are interested in learning more about the Capitola Coast Lions Club and would like to join them, contact Membership Chairperson Elaine Cole at coastlionsclub@gmail.com. Check out

innovations in soil and water management, equipment and technology amid the ongoing pandemic. The registration fee is $295 at westernfoodsafetysummit.com and the deadline is April 15. Space is limited. Morning keynotes will be delivered May 5 by Tim York, chief executive officer for the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, and May 6 by Dennis Donohue, director of the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology in Salinas, which is presenting the summit with the Hartnell College Agricultural Business & Technology Institute. Co-chairs are Jess Hogg, quality assurance manager for Scheid Family Wines and Clint Cowden, Hartnell’s dean of career technical education and workforce development. Talks include: • “Lessons Learned From Field-Based Research Following the 2018 (E. coli) Outbreak,” by Dr. Channah Rock, professor of environmental sciences and water quality specialist with University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. • “Developing a Comprehensive Irrigation Water Treatment Program,” by Bob Mills, director of food safety/ technical services at The Harbinger Group, LLC Misionero. • “Data Sharing – a Different IndustryFDA Approach to Conduct Product Testing,” by Sonia Salas, assistant vice president for food safety, Western Growers. For sponsorship info, contact Cowden at (831) 755-6702 or ccowden@hartnell.edu. ••• From Homelessness to Mental Health nterim Inc. will host a free virtual event, “Housing, Healing, Hope: The Path from Homelessness to Mental Health,” from 4:30-5:30 p.m. May 20 to shine a light on its support services for local homeless living with mental illness. Emcee will be Joe Livernois, board president of National Alliance on Mental

Illness Monterey County, a nonprofit that lends support, education, and advocacy to families dealing with mental illness. He is co-founder of the online news platform Voices of Monterey Bay and former executive editor of the Monterey County Herald. Speakers will include Interim, Inc. staff who work with homeless individuals, and clients will talk about how their mental health diagnosis does not limit their lives. To receive an Evite to the event, visit www. interiminc.org. ••• Santa Cruz Public Library Tech Talks earn more about using your phone or tablet at the Santa Cruz Public Libraries’ series of Tech Talks. All classes are free and run from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Zoom. Registration is required. Topics are: • April 8: Android 101 basics, tips and tricks. Register at bit.ly/SCPL-Tech408. • April 15: iPhone 101 basics and tips. Register at: bit.ly/SCPL-Tech415. • April 22: News feeds, news apps, and local happenings for Android and iOs. Register at bit.ly/SCPL-Tech422. • April 29: Password management for iPhone. Register at bit.ly/ SCPL-Tech429. If you are new to Zoom, see the tutorial at santacruzpl.org/digitallearning. ••• Invasive Species Art Contest he California Department of Fish and Wildlife announce the eighth annual California Invasive Species Youth Art Contest. This year ’s theme, “Be An Invasive Species Detective,” encourages students to think about how paying attention to their surroundings can protect against the spread of invasive species. The deadline for entries is May 5.

The top three winners in each division will receive awards and have their entries announced on CDFW’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ CaliforniaDFW. Completed entries and entry forms should be submitted electronically. See instruction: on the CDFW website: https:// wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/ Action-Week/Poster-Contest There are three age divisions, grades 2-4, 5-8 and 9-12. All types of media are encouraged, including (but not limited to) drawings, paintings, animations, comic strips, videos and public service announcements. The contest is part of California Invasive Species Action Week June 5-13. The goal is to encourage public participation in the fight against California’s i n v a s i v e species and their impacts on natural resources. “Detectives look for clues and use “Be A Habitat Hero” — 2020 observation to Invasive Species Program Choice Award Winner by Ava McQuain solve crimes,” said Elizabeth Brusati, an environmental scientist with CDFW’s Invasive Species Program. “We want young people to look for ways to stop the spread of invasive species. Helpful actions could include choosing native plants for landscaping, not releasing unwanted pets into the wild, reporting invasive species sightings, and taking precautions to clean, drain and dry gear after visiting water bodies.” n

https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/capitola_ coast/ or the club’s Facebook page, https:// www.facebook.com/CapitolaCoastLions. For information on Common Roots Farm, see www.commonrootsfarm.org. For information about California Lions Clubs visit www.californialions.org. California Lions Clubs are part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organization, with more than 1.35 million members in 210 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1918, Lions Clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Mr Z’s Crepes & Teas Aims to Please

By Jondi Gumz

u Patel missed the crepes she enjoyed while living in London. Her children Riya and Rohan were extremely fond of boba tea. So even though Ru and her husband Rocky already owned Baskin-Robbins ice cream shops in Watsonville and Capitola, they created Mr Z’s Crepes & Teas. They opened the first Mr Z’s in Watsonville, where they live. In March they opened the second Mr Z’s in Aptos. “It’s a great market for us,” said Rocky, whose closest competition is The Crepe Place in Santa Cruz. His menu features savory crepes, with buckwheat and gluten-free options, filled with a variety of fillings, Mediterranean with olive tapenade, feta cheese and balsamic drizzle, or turkey with bacon, butter lettuce, and avocado, or ham, green apples, Swiss cheese and Dijon mustard. Prices range from $11 to $13. Sweet crepe choices, $7 to $9, include sweet lemon, S’mores, Nutella strawberry or banana, and seasonal berries with house-made whipped cream. Acai bowls, $10, are on the menu at Riya’s request. Tropical, very berry, and raspberry Nutella are available along with protein and detox options. Boba tea, invented in Taiwan in the 1980s, has a reputation of being habitforming for its chewy tapioca balls steeped in sugary carmelized syrup. Here, it can be black, oolong or jasmine tea, with milk, and flavors from honeydew, horchata, lavender, lycee, passionfruit or strawberry, to name a few. A fruit tea version means no milk. The price is $4 to $5.

“Close Call” from page 8 “The video does show a slight delay in the engine’s response,” he added. “However, pedestrians and motorists on the road are seen clearing the road for our response almost immediately. Traffic on this road is definitely a factor and could be improved. Fortunately, this was no more of a delay than we would experience in the Aptos Village or other high traffic areas.” Residents who live on Aptos Creek Road and nearby have been talking with State Parks Sgt. Joe Walters, who manages 29 parks, looking for solutions to the problems they see. State Parks moved the station kiosk to create two lanes and improve traffic flow

Mr Z’s Crepes & Teas is where Juicy Sweet used to be, next to Aptos Natural Foods in the Aptos Center. The remodel took a month and a half. The Patels now have 35 employees and they are hiring for the Aptos location.

Spokes-Animal reating the Mr Z concept was a thoughtful process that began in 2016. “We worked on it for a whole year,” Rocky said, explaining that he and his wife wanted a “spokes-animal.”

Ru, whose father was raised in East Africa, recalled going on safari in the Serengeti and seeing a breathtakingly huge herd of zebras. That was her inspiration. She worked with a designer, putting aviator glasses on Mr Z, giving him “a cool personality” that she believes the zebra has. “I know my dad would appreciate it,” she said. The couple opened Mr Z’s Crepes & Teas in October 2019 at The Hangar, a building at the Watsonville Municipal Airport remodeled by Aptos brothers Kevin and Brian Dueck into a gathering spot with a cluster of food and drink places. The COVID-19 pandemic broke out the following January and by mid-March, when a “shelter in place” order was issued, the Patels had to make changes for their new business to survive. Fortunately, Mr Z’s is a “quick serve,” not a sit-down restaurant, so it was tailored to what people wanted. It was on Instagram, the app popular with young people. But there was no website. “We had to get online ordering, contactless payment and delivery,” Rocky said. Ru, who says she’s not a “techie,” stepped up and built a website. “We learned that perseverance is important,” she said. “No matter what challenges you face, find a solution.” n ••• Mr. Z’s Crepes & Teas is at 7518 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. For information see https://mrzsteas.com/ or call 831-661-5157. To apply for a job, email resume to mzzsteas@ gmail.com.

but the problem of people ignoring the “Lot full” sign and creating congestion trying to turn around is unsolved. The turnaround options are fewer since a dirt lot destined to be a county park was fenced off by the Aptos Village developer to reduce trash accumulation and illegal parking next to the site of the next phase of construction, which is to start soon. The idea of a radio signal to alert visitors to the parking situation before they get too far along Aptos Creek Road appears impractical because the station kiosk has no power and no cell phone reception. Aptos resident Becky Steinbruner suggested the dirt lot be made available for

visitor turnarounds with a “no parking — fire turnaround” sign. As Mack sees it, the dirt lot is unpaved and doesn’t meet standards for emergency vehicle traffic. “Designated emergency vehicle turnarounds have to meet requirements for dimensions, turning radiuses and compaction to support the weight of the vehicle,” Mack said via email. “That area would be more appropriate for private vehicles to turn around.” Steinbruner said residents may be willing to pay for installing a radio-linked digital sign and kiosk that would provide visitors with a real-time number of parking spaces available in the park. She is concerned about access on

Aptos Creek Road to the state park during fire season. “With a potentially serious fire season approaching, it is crucial that emergency response units be able to access any and all incidents in the park as quickly as possible,” she said. With the future county park site fenced off, residents are wondering when the park might become a reality. The Planning Commission required the land be dedicated to the county five years after the final map was approved. That was before the project was broken into phases. The first phase map was approved in 2015 and the second phase was approved in 2020. n

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Ru and Rocky Patel, owners of Mr Z’s Crepes & Teas in Aptos, with their namesake “spokes-animal” behind them.

10 / April 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Q&A With New President/CEO Krista Snelling

First Woman to Lead Locally Owned Santa Cruz County Bank

rista Snelling, the new president and CEO at Santa Cruz County Bank, describes herself as a math geek and an extrovert. She double-majored in math and economics in college and went to graduate school at UC Davis to get a doctorate in economics. A year in, she realized she should pivot out of academics. She got her master’s degree, bypassed accounting, and took a job in the audit division at Arthur Andersen. She enjoyed the work. Her next move was the KPMG audit division. Her experience working with a client company seeking to go public with an initial public offering led to a job at a bank seeking to go public. The bank then grew through three acquisitions. She left Sacramento, with her husband and two teenagers to join her in the summer, recruited to become the first woman president at the locally owned Santa Cruz County Bank, succeeding David Heald on March 1.

“I’ve been a math person, I loved numbers — banking is a great place to be,” she said with a smile, holding up her calculator. Founded in 2004, Santa Cruz County Bank has achieved 10 years of record earnings, top ratings statewide and nationally, grown to $1.4 billion in assets, acquiring local competitor Lighthouse Bank and most recently expanding into Monterey. Snelling talked with Times editor Jondi Gumz about the impacts from the pandemic and the future for women in banking. ••• Competing with three major national banks, Santa Cruz County ranks fourth in the county with 14% of deposits. What’s your strategy to grow deposits? t absolutely is a priority. What we’re going to do, the same as always, is build relationships… Not just making loans, but understanding the needs of the business

rather than having it be transactional. Competing is easier to do now. One of the initiatives we have is the future of online banking and mobile banking — making sure we’re right there relative to the majors. Use technology to level the playing field, we have the community focus, you get the whole package. A Harvard analysis found community banks issued almost two million forgivable Payroll Protection Program loans worth nearly $200 billion in three months, representing 45% of the total number and 41% of the dollar value, while controlling only 12% of banking assets. Can you talk about PPP and community banks? verything I’ve heard is that community banks crunched above their weight on PPP. The feedback from customers was working with community banks was a lot easier because of having access to decisionmakers and speed to serve.

“Snelling” page 16

Krista Snelling

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Who was Cabrillo?

Dr Iris Engstrand Shares Research on College Namesake

By Jondi Gumz

s Cabrillo College explores whether to rename the college — or not — in response to a request made in the wake of widespread social unrest, the question naturally arises: Who was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo? To answer that question, the college turned to Dr. Iris Engstrand, history professor emerita at the University of San Diego, author of 21 books on Spain, California and the West, and recipient of the Order of Isabel la Catolica from Juan Carlos, King of Spain, for outstanding contriDr. Iris Engstrand butions to the history of Spain in the Americas. Engstrand shared her research in an online talk with more than 130 participants March 18. ••• abrillo was born in Palma del Rio, Spain. He has been celebrated as a Portuguese navigator but Engstrand cited documents unearthed in the past decade by researcher Wendy Kramer starting with a 1532 deposition in a lawsuit over theft of gold from a ship headed from the New World to Spain. Cabrillo, who was aboard to return to Spain and marry a lady from Seville, denied Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo taking the gold. Upon arrival in Seville, a hearing took place where Cabrillo had to truthfully state his name and his birthplace – Palma del Rio. “You’re not going to lie in a deposition,” said Engstrand. Since her initial discovery, Kramer, a scholar at the University of Toronto, has found 25 references to Cabrillo’s life in Palma del Rio. He was born in 1499, but his birth date is not known. Cabrillo’s birth name was Juan Rodriguez — comparable to John Smith today — so he added Cabrillo as a surname. Ship Builder Here are more of Engstrand’s findings: • He was 13 or 14 when he decided

to join a Spanish fleet of warships to the Americas. Likely he was seeking opportunities and riches not available in his homeland, which had been occupied by Moorish invaders for 700 years. • He had trained in the crossbow and he became known as a ship-builder, building galleons that were perfect for exploration. After building ships for Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortez he changed allegiance to Spanish conquistador and military leader Pedro de Alvarado to conquer Guatemala, where Cabrillo got rights to work the land. • He had two daughters and acknowledged them (they were included in probate of his estate) but continued as an explorer, being commissioned in 1542 to sail three ships to map the coast and search for a shorter shipping route to China — an important destination since the overland travels of Marco Polo — to establish trade relations. This exploration led to Cabrillo’s death. • He took possession of today’s Ensenada Sept. 17, sailed into San Diego Bay Sept. 28 and named it San Miguel after his ship, establishing friendly relations with natives. Along the coast, when natives appeared, Cabrillo ordered his men not to shoot their arrows. But he never set foot in Santa Cruz, dying Jan. 3, 1543 on the Channel Islands, likely a bacterial infection after a fall that broke his arm. Questions s for claims that Cabrillo was involved in criminal activity, Engstrand said, “None of the generalizations were true.” She addressed each question one by one: Was he involved in genocide? No, he was a soldier under command of the Spanish military for part of his life. Was he a murderer? No, in today’s laws of war, we do not call sailors murders if they are following orders, and there are no records of him personally murdering anyone. Was he a slave trader? No, Queen Isabella outlawed slavery in the New World, but Cabrillo did have slaves in Guatemala. In pre-industrial times, slavery was the only source of labor. The Portuguese got their slaves from Africa.

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LOCAL SPORTS

Aptos, Scotts Valley Split Cross Country Titles

Photos By Patrice Fernald

he Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League championship for 2021’s COVIDshortened cross country season saw Aptos High School and Scotts Valley High School split the varsity team titles, while the Falcon’s Ashlyn Boothby and Jeremy Kain swept the individual titles. The races took place March 25 and 26 at Pinto Lake Park. Kain’s time of 14:49 edged out Aptos’ Ben Laughlin by one second, and the Scotts Valley boys also edged the Mariners as a team 29-31. Boothby took the girls race in 17:31,

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being paced by her sister Amber, who finished second at 17:59, but Aptos had six runners in the top 11 to win the team title with 28 points, 9 less than Scotts Valley’s second-place finish. Soquel High varsity placed third in the both races, with San Lorenzo Valley and Harbor finishing fourth and fifth, respectively for the girls. For the boys, Santa Cruz finished fourth and SLV fifth. Third through fifth for varsity girls was Isabel Sanchez, Santa Cruz; Layla Ruiz, Watsonville; and Susana Estrada, Aptos. For the boys, 3-5 was Patrick Goodrich, Scotts Valley; Aidan Tomasini and John G. Eikemeyer of Aptos.

For the girls, Soquel’s top finisher was Emma McCain at 7; Monserrat Ramirez of St. Francis placed 12, Brenda Solis-Lemus of SLV placed 24; and Santa Cruz’s Maya Kingsly placed 30. In the boys’ race, Julian Vargas was St. Francis top finisher in sixth place; Soquel’s Eli Ainsworth finished eighth; Casey Crouch from San Lorenzo Valley finished 12; Jim Ratliff of Santa Cruz came in 14th; Monte Vista Christian School’s James Pozio placed 16th; and Domingo Martinez of Watsonville came in at 17. Scotts Valley dominated the Freshmen boys race, while Aptos won JV girls and MVCS took the JV boys races. n

Down the home stretch, junior Jeremy Kain of Scotts Valley (right) maintains a lead over Aptos senior Ben Laughlin to win the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Cross Country Championship by one second.

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Starting April 1, people age 50 and up will be eligible to make an appointment. Starting April 15, anyone 16 and older will be eligible. With the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine now being delivered along with the two-shot Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, the In-club At-homewith with a Coach In-clubwith withaaCoach Coach At-home a Coach supply picture is expected to improve. lub with a Coach At-home with a Coach One new option is Kaiser Permanente’s vaccine clinic at the Kaiser Arena in Santa It’s time to get off the couch! Make your comeback Cruz, which gives members priority but today with a Curves coach by your side! allows non-members to register. Sign up for the Curves 6 Week Call Us Today! Challenge you’ll get: Sign up for the Curves 6andWeek OptumServe in Watsonville is expected FREE RESISTANCE Street Address ONLY BAND * to restart first doses in April. It’s time to0000 get off the couch! Make your comeback Challenge and you’ll get: $X.XX City, State A DAY! 00 0000 0000with a Curves today coach by your side! To check availability at CVS, RiteAid in-club or virtual ✓ COACHING COACHING Sign up for the Curves 6 Week and Walgreens, visit santacruzhealth.org and W TO GET STARTED! Real access Strength forto Real Women and you’ll Challenge MyCurves Onget: Demand in-club or virtual ✓ WORKOUT click on the vaccine button. n ✓ COACHING in-club or virtual Franchise opportunities available.ONLY For more information: Curves.com/BuyCurves eet Address and Curves ✓ WORKOUT access to MyCurves On Demand Franchise opportunities available.Club For more information: Curves.com/BuyCurves ••• * WORKOUT and Curves Club GET READY FOR $X.XX , State 0000 included for home workouts EQUIPMENT included for home workouts ✓ EQUIPMENT ✓ access to MyCurves A DAY! ✓ TRAINING PLAN for all fitness levels 0000 0000 On Demand CHART for tracking progress PLAN forand all✓fitness levels ✓ TRAINING WITHCurves Club CHART for tracking progress ✓ THE “Cabrillo” from page 13

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offer or discount. cash value. Offer expires 12/31/21. Club instructions: 2021Hybrid *Offer expires 12/31/21. Available to newother members, who sign upNo for a 6-week Curves Fitness membership, payableSelect up front in full at the time of signing. 6-week Curves Fitness embership valid only at the club where the membership is purchased. Offer excludes CurvesSmart® and Curves Nutrition Program. Valid at participating locations only. Cannot be © 2021 Curves. All Rights Reserved combined with any other offer or discount. No cash value.

County COVID Deaths 200

Dominican Oaks: 2 • Driftwood: 2 Hanover House: 2 • Maple House II: 2 Rachelle’s Home 1: 2 • Paradise Villa: 1 Rachelle’s Home II: 1 • Valley Haven: 1 Westwind: 1 Total: 102 • Not at a facility: 98 COVID Cases by Town Aptos: 763 • Ben Lomond: 111 • Boulder Creek: 141 Capitola: 435 • Felton: 144 • Freedom: 956 Santa Cruz: 3,654 • Scotts Valley: 408 Soquel: 342 • Watsonville: 7,927 Unincorporated: 245 • Under investigation: 237 Total: 15,363 Source: Santa Cruz County Public Health ••• For details on what can open in the Orange Tier, see https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy. Editor’s Note: Would you like to share your family’s COVID-19 story? Email Jondi Gumz at info@cyber-times.com or call 831-688-7549 x17.

Should Cabrillo Be Remembered? “Cabrillo discovered the winter wind pattern … a forerunner of useful navigational information worth of being remembered,” Engstrand concluded. “Cabrillo is the person who gave California to the world … he was a navigator and made some good discoveries … People just have make up their mind — it was a different world.”

Four talks are planned for Thurs. at 6 p.m. in April: April 8 Topic: Native American Panel on Impacts of Colonization https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/91997981867 April 15 Topic: Sandy Lydon, Retired Cabrillo College History Professor — How and Why Cabrillo College Got Its Name https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/93990699782 April 22 Topic: Student Debate: Should Cabrillo Change its Name? https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/98813902824 April 29 Topic: President’s Essay & Art Competition Entry Awards (PEACE Awards) https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/97432344983 ••• Visit tinyurl.com/cc-name-exploration for more information.

As of March 30 Age 90 and up: 55 • 80 to 89: 61 • 70 to 79: 42 • 60 to 69: 27 • 50 to 59: 5 • 40 to 49: 6 • 30 to 39: 4 Race/Ethnicity White: 111 • Latinx: 72 • Asian: 15 • Black: 1 Amer. Indian/Alaskan Native: 1 Underlying Conditions Yes: 155 • No: 45 Gender Male: 97 • Female: 103 Skilled Nursing/Residential Care Santa Cruz Post Acute: 20 8 Watsonville Post Acute: 18 • Pacific Coast Manor: 14 Hearts & Hands Post Acute: 8 Sunshine Villa: 7 • Aegis: 4 • Maple House 1: 4 Valley Convalescent: 4 • Watsonville Nursing Center: 4 Montecito Manor: 3 • De Un Amor: 2

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Was he a sex trafficker? No, few areas today do not have sex trafficking. It is endemic to the global world. It is not fair to TRAINING PLAN single out Cabrillo. for all ﬁtness ONLY levels Where did the rumors about re slave mation: Curves.com/BuyCurves In-club with a Coach At-home a Coach $3with trading begin? It’s very hard to pin down. . 7 * CHART 8 Curves Fitness hip, payable up front in full at the time of signing. A with club with a Coach At-home a Coach The natives were under the control of the D6-week A for tracking d Curves Nutrition Program. Valid at participating locations be Y! only. Cannot No cash value. progress Spanish but they were fed. We’ve done research in the actual archives, but we Take controlOwned of your health fitness with d Locally andand Operated Curves in-club or at-home! Get up and get moving! don’t know exactly how the natives were 7000 Soquel Dr. Aptos, CA 95003 Call Us Today! treated. It’s time to get off(831) the couch! Make your comeback 688-2348 FREE 831.688.2348 today with a CurvesRESISTANCE coach by your side! BAND Engstrand said Cabrillo was a man of 7000 Soquel Dr. Aptos aptoscurves@gmail.com AptosCurves@gmail.com Sign up for the Curves 6 Week W TO GET STARTED! his times, not ours. In the bishop’s letter, Challenge and you’ll get: www.facebook.com/CurvesAptos eet Address ONLY the mayors rounded up women to serve * $X.XX Real Strength for Real Women y, State 0000 them and they operated under the law of DAY! 0000 0000Franchise opportunities A available. For more information: Curves.com/BuyCurves Pedro Alvarado, not Cabrillo. *Offer expires 12/31/21. Available to new members, who sign up for a 6-week Curves Fitness membership, payable up front in Cabrillo did have a relationship out full at the time of signing. 6-week Curves Fitness membership valid only at the club where the membership is purchased. Offer of wedlock with an indigenous woman, excludes CurvesSmart® and Curves Nutrition Program. Valid at anchise opportunities available. For more information: Curves.com/BuyCurves participating locations only. Cannot be combined with any other but it does not seal the deal on sex offer or discount. No cash value. trafficking. © 2021 Curves. All Rights Reserved

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14 / April 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Cabrillo is the person who gave California to the world … he was a navigator and made some good discoveries … People just have make up their mind — it was a different world.” — Dr. Iris Engstrand

IN MEMORIAM

Charlotte Mulcaster

June 1, 1945 ~ March 5, 2021

harlotte (Kelley) Mulcaster cherished wife, mother & friend of many passed away in the early morning of March 5, 2021 at home in Murphys, CA. She was born June 1, 1945 in Madera, CA. Charlotte was a fierce warrior who lost her battle with Multiple Myeloma (Cancer) after a 3-1/2 year battle. Cared for in her final days by her loving husband Larry Mulcaster, daughters Kimberly Lane Mueller, Krista Nicole Hefner and the kind and gentle people of Adventist Hospice Sonora. An amazing artist working in oil on canvas, watercolors on paper, sculpting clay who was also an accomplished print maker. She was a respected member of the art communities of Santa Cruz and Calaveras county’s with many friends. Her work was selected for a number of juried shows and is in private

collections throughout the United States. She is survived by siblings Gloria Kelley of Madera, CA and Ronald Kelley of Fresno, CA, her grandsons Paul Kammer, Calvin Kammer, Cameron Derr, son-in-law John Mueller, step children Sean, Jennifer and Christopher Mulcaster all of whom loved her dearly. Charlotte loved her Havanese dogs, El Greco and Leonardo who followed her everywhere. Gone now to be with the Lord, she’s no longer in pain. She was a sweet and loving person who saw the good in everyone. Our thank you to all for your love and kindness during this trying time. ••• There will be a Celebration of Life Memorial held for Charlotte at 1:00 PM on May 8, 2021 at the Beautiful Ironstone Vineyards & Winery in Murphys, CA, 95247. It is open to all!

Stephanie Bell, 25: Struck and Killed on Freedom Boulevard

teffi Bell, 25, of Aptos, was on the job doing inspections for Davey Tree Service off the roadway at the curve on Freedom Boulevard in Aptos when she was struck by a car March 9 and died instantly, according to Fire Capt. Steve Hickey of the Alameda County Fire Department, who Stephanie Bell works with Steffi’s dad, firefighter/paramedic Shane Bell. She was an only child. Her mom Debi Bell said, “Stephanie was the light of our lives. She worked for the community helping young girls discover the beautiful ocean and to protect and conserve the natural resources we are so blessed with.” Steffi was a cheerleader at Aptos High, an instructor at the Seymour Marine Center in Santa Cruz, and a proud graduate of the University of Hawaii, where she was

instrumental in research and the establishment of a sanctuary in Hilo for the Pueo owl, endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and now an endangered species. Her undergraduate research will be published. She had plans to obtain her master’s and doctorate in marine biology from the University of Hawaii. More than 400 people contributed to a GoFundMe campaign for her parents, raising more than $47,000. Stephanie’s memory will live in our hearts forever. Shane and Debi Bell shared their thoughts with the Aptos Times: “We wanted to reach out to everyone and thank you for all the love and support you have given it is so important to us during this difficult time. To our family here by our side every step of the way, I wanted to thank all that have stepped up to fill my shifts so I can be home for Debi, as you all know Steffi was our only one and I need to be as close to Debi as possible. Your amazing gift of your time, being away from your families, will never be forgotten. “Bell” page 20

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / April 1st 2021 / 15

“Snelling” from page 11 The PPP loan is a perfect example of the value community banks bring. Customers who had relationships saw the value of having those relationships. At larger banks, the decision-makers are elsewhere, where you are in the queue is harder to get your hands on than at a bank where you have a relationship. I know who to call and can get back to them real quick. What changes from the pandemic do you think will be permanent? Any idea when employment might recover locally? here’s a lot of flexibility in where and how people work. People have gotten used to using technology. That entire landscape has changed. People at tech companies are leaving California, going to cheaper areas to live. People have seen they’re just as effective as they were before. It’s going to change the commercial landscape. I am so happy to see the Santa Cruz numbers improving week by week. I feel there’s a lot of pent-up demand for tourism in this area … People stuck at home for a year want to get out. When will it happen? I’m not sure. I’m happy because I live here now. What advice do you have for local business owners? e flexible, adaptable, willing to pivot. The companies and people who’ve made it are people who did that … I think a lot of that is going to continue. I heard a story on NPR about restaurants with outdoor dining. Now people can eat inside, but they’re saying we want to keep these outdoor spaces. I hope a lot of that lasts. I live in Capitola, I walk to the village all the time, you see pedestrianized outdoor areas. To do that, we had to give up parking spaces, isn’t it worth it? What’s your impression of the local housing market? The median home price was $1.1 million in January and February with listings historically low. ll I’ve been hearing is it’s tough out there right now. Houses are selling really quickly, multiple offers, low inventory. I’ll be entering the fray this summer … It’s kind of stressful. It’s great for the seller. Sacramento is seeing the benefit of a lot of Bay Area people coming in — tech people. What is it like being a successful career woman in banking — not so long ago considered a man’s world with deals made on the golf course? have been given a lot of really great opportunities in the banking community. I have had lot of really great mentors, but I’ve never had a woman as a mentor. I’m pleased to say anyone who works around me will not have that experience … I look forward to mentoring women and men in the future.

Tea with Teachers:

Middle and High School Panel Tuesday, April 6 / 7:00 – 8:00pm RSVP to admissions@mountmadonnaschool.org for the Zoom link

Independent, nonprofit school CAIS & WASC accredited Nonsectarian Bus transportation Take a virtual campus tour:

408-847-2717 / MountMadonnaSchool.org 16 / April 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Women CEOs in Banking 2013 38 women held the CEO spot at public banks in the U.S. 2018 40 women held the CEO spot at public banks in the U.S. This represents 4.3% of bank CEOs. Size Matters Most of these female CEOs lead banks with less than $1 billion in assets.

Can you give an example of mentorship that made a difference? ’ve lived in Sacramento my entire life, and I have mentors and friends and colleagues and confidants in this network. When this opportunity came up, I said, OK, team, circle around. Everyone was so supportive. My son is going to college in the fall, but my daughter is still in high school, I can’t imagine making a life change without having that network to advise me. With COVID and remote school for my teens for 9 months, their lives were not the same. When people hear they’re moving to Santa Cruz, they say, “Oh, you’re so lucky!” How does having a woman in top bank leadership make a difference in the community? Can you give an example from your experience? t Five Star Bank, I started a group of all women customers of the bank, either business owners or decision-makers, executives. We would get together. The group got really big, 40 people from C suites … A lot of these women had spent a lot of time being the only woman in the room — seeing the energy and positivity in the room, it was amazing. And people got business out of it. A woman who owns recruiting firm, one with an employee benefit company, and a CPA met each other at this event, and they hired each other. We met three times, then COVID happened. I would like to start something like that here … It’s one of things I’m most proud of. With state law mandating women on corporate boards, do you foresee another woman joining the board at Santa Cruz County Bank? How can banks encourage women to move into leadership positions? he bank is always looking, always looking for great people, communityminded, high impact, to join the board. Encourage women to step into leadership roles that get offered and to be ambitious and ask for what they’re worth. Any mentor should do that for you. It’s really meaningful for a woman to have another woman give that kind of encouragement. I was so happy when I announced I was moving here, two women at my old bank got promoted into the C suite. I had helped them and mentored them. They were ready, so ready. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Amazon Pays $2 Million to Settle False Advertising Allegations O n March 25, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell announced Amazon.com, the online retail giant, will pay $2 million in penalties, costs, and restitution to the state’s Consumer Protection Trust Fund to settle a consumer protection lawsuit alleging false advertising involving discount prices. Amazon.com commonly uses “former price” advertising to communicate to consumers that the price on its platform is discounted. Some advertised “former prices” were misleading in that the “former price” was not timely nor supported by sufficient number of sales, and that “former prices” in which the product is sold by a manufacturer, supplier, or other seller, insufficiently

disclosed that the “former price” was not necessarily the prevailing market price or regular retail price at which the product could be purchased. The state’s Business & Professions Code says the former price must be the prevailing price over last 90 days, and Amazon faced challenges in trying to meet that standard, Doug Allen, who heads the Santa Cruz County Consumer Fraud Unit, where the case originated. He said he and his wife Francisca Allen, who worked in the Santa Clara County Consumer Protection Unit before joining the Santa Cruz office, were contacted by a third party watchdog about the Amazon problem. “We worked for several years on it,”

he said. “We sampled products in the hundreds.” Attorneys in Santa Cruz worked with District Attorney offices in San Diego, Alameda, Santa Clara, Yolo, and Riverside on the complaint. Some of the $2 million will go to reimburse the prosecutors for their time. According to Rosell, Amazon worked “promptly and cooperatively” throughout the investigation, improved its system to validate “former pricing,” and improved disclosures to shoppers. Amazon has already made changes in pricing disclosures required by the

stipulated final judgment. These changes include a hyperlink to bring the consumer to clear definitions for the referenced pricing terms. Rosell said, “Our office is committed in the protection of consumers, even against the largest companies in the world, by ensuring they are not being misled and have the information needed to make informed purchasing decisions.” n ••• To file a consumer complaint, go to https://datinternet.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/Home/ ConsumerProtection.aspx

Boardwalk To Open April 1

he Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, entertaining locals and visitors since 1907, is hiring for a fun and safe spring and summer season as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes and state guidelines allow amusement parks to open April 1 after being closed last summer. There are hundreds of open positions including rides, games, food service, parking and ticket sales. Positions also are available at the Boardwalk Bowl, Carousel Beach Inn, Sea & Sand Inn, all part of the family-owned business. Safety procedures include

temperature checks, personal protective equipment and sanitization. n ••• To apply see https://beachboardwalk. com/Jobs/Jobs-FAQ. For questions, email employment@ scseaside.com or call (831)460-3377 ext. 6.

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

New Road Rules with Countywide Impact: 36 Days to Comment

s our community continues its recovery from last summer’s CZU Lightning Complex fire, a new concern has emerged. Proposed changes to fire safe regulations by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection could directly impact numerous properties throughout Santa Cruz County, not just in the burn zone. On March 22, even after my office and other County Supervisors and residents from around California expressed our concerns to the Forestry Board, a majority of its members voted to publish the proposed rulemaking, which until then had been less formally under discussion for months. The vote officially began a 45-day window to receive public comment, which many who spoke to the Forestry Board that day had sought to delay in order to provide more time for shaping the regulations. The changes, which include new road, access and turnaround restrictions, could make it much more difficult to build or rebuild in our rural and mountainous areas. We recognize that we have a critical need to improve safety and reduce risk for our residents and our first responders. However, we also need to support our community’s ability to rebuild and recover after the fire while maintaining some local control over how we address safety concerns through alternative means. This is not a challenge that began overnight. Our mountainous areas began

By Bruce McPherson, Supervisor, Fifth District

developing in the 1800s, and the road network that supports our rural neighborhoods is shaped by topography. Our ability to make wider roads or make new throughconnections between dead-end roads is limited, and therefore a one-size-fits-all approach does not make any allowances for that. Santa Cruz County supports the current process that allows local fire departments, together with local government, to identify alternative means and methods for meeting safety standards when sitespecific conditions require it. Retaining our ability to do that is essential. And rebuilding after the fire will not be possible for many families unless disaster rebuilds are exempt from the minimum standards. In our formal comments to the Forestry Board, we will stress the importance of applying the proposed exemption for primary residences and accessory dwelling units to all portions of the code, as well as the importance of maintaining our ability to address site-specific issues through local agencies. I appreciate all of the constituents who have contacted my office about this issue, and we will continue to monitor it closely. We are seeing a lot of progress in the initial stages of our rebuilding process with Four Leaf, the highly experienced firm hired by the County to operate its Rebuilding Permit Center. As more properties complete

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the debris removal processes, rebuilding permits are coming in. And along with Supervisor Ryan Coonerty, whose district was also impacted by the fire, my office received approval by the Board to request a temporary suspension of local rules to allow timber operations on the weekend in an effort to speed up the clearing of dead and damaged trees on timberland. Meanwhile, the economy is opening up more as our COVID-19 indicators continue to improve, with our County expected to move into the Orange Tier (moderate spread) this week and then the Yellow Tier (minimal spread) several weeks later. As of March 29, more than 149,000 County residents have received at least Station with a new partner, Grey Bears. one dose of the vaccine, and of the more The most recent participation numbers than 70,000 doses of vaccine received by tell the story. For the 12-month period the County, all but ending in Febabout 8 percent has ruary, the operation Proposed changes to fire been distributed with yielded more safe regulations by the the rest allocated for than $306,000 in Board of Forestry and future use. redemption value All residents paid to customers. Fire Protection could over the age of 50 directly impact numerous More than 3,600 will be eligible April unduplicated cusproperties throughout 1 and then anyone tomers were served Santa Cruz County, not over 16 will be eliacross nearly 7,100 just in the burn zone. gible April 15. We transactions, and the know it has been difweight of redeemed ficult for many residents to schedule an materials exceeded 419,000 pounds. appointment with their healthcare proMany thanks go to Grey Bears and vider or other vaccine distributors, but we the Department of Public Works for their anticipate more vaccine will be available in collaboration on making this a successful coming weeks. venture. n For more information on how to schedule ••• an appointment, visit the County’s COVID-19 As always, if District 5 residents have any website at santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus and comments or questions, please contact me at bruce. click on the Vaccine section. mcpherson@santacruzcounty.us or 831-454-2200. Lastly, I’d like to close with some Editor’s note: Public comments great news. We were fortunate in 2019 regarding Board of Forestry and Fire to reopen the California Redemption Protection matters or actions should be Value center at the Ben Lomond Transfer submitted to publiccomments@bof.ca.gov.

Page 19

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Soul Salad: Featuring Organic By Jondi Gumz

hen Leah DiBicarri moved West from New York City, she asked her beloved, Aptos native Jeff Hickey, “Where are the salad places?” She was used to having an array of choices, but even though Santa Cruz County is known for organic produce, she couldn’t get what she wanted – until now. That’s because the couple have opened the first restaurant in Aptos devoted to salad made with organic produce – and it’s a hit. In the first two weeks, with limited hours, “we served almost 600 pounds,” Hickey said. “We knew there was a need for something like this in the county.” Hickey, 39, worked in construction and actually created the interior of the restaurant, formerly a sushi bar. DiBicarri, 32, is an occupational therapist, working at Natividad Medical Center. She sees firsthand the importance of good nutrition. “You are what you eat,” she said. She persuaded him to eat more like she did.

Leah DiBicarri and Jeff Hickey, proprietors at Soul Salad in Aptos He watched the documentary “Forks Over Knives,” which convinced him to stop eating eggs, bacon and hash browns for breakfast and steak for dinner. He lost weight and kept it off, and he liked how his body changed.

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Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

But neither had experience running a restaurant. So they got advice from Keith Holtaway, an adviser at the Santa Cruz Small Business Development Center, and co-founder of Pizza My Heart. Hickey enjoyed experimenting with recipes for the menu. “I have 70 toppings I can mix and match,” he said. The Shanti, $11, features baby spinach,

“Bell” from page 15 “We would like to thank Steve Hickey for being the point man, shoulder to cry on and overall go to guy with the go fund me page for our Stephanie and her humanitarian causes. Mike and Matt Blair, where do I start, your incredible gift of your home at Sunset Beach allowed our family a place to stay so they could provide the support, and comfort including staying so we could lay our beautiful daughter to rest. We will always be in your debt and will always be your friend, we love you guys. And everyone from the union, the honor guard, and the organization that was on the ready five in case we needed you, thank you. “Steffi was a bright light in our lives, she loved to laugh and was always kind to everyone, she even had my sense of humor. Many of us say we look up to our parents, an uncle, or auntie but we looked up to our daughter, because she taught us so much, she always told me to look for the good in people, to help them if they needed it, and she always said, “It’s always nice to be nice.” “She spent a lot of her time while away in

greens, avocado, coconut chips, mango, dried cranberries, cucumber, chickpeas, celery, carrots, chia seed with turmeric ginger vinaigrette. The Santorini, $11, Romaine, pickled onions, feta, shredded carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, chickpeas, dolmas, pepperoncini, seed mix with tahini. The portions are, in a word, generous. Meat-eaters can order a Surfer, $14 salad with sliced steak, or a Cobb, $14, salad with roasted organic chicken. The steak is not organic or pasturefed but Hickey hopes to find an affordable vendor. Why is organic important to him? “You have nutrients in the soil,” he said. “You can’t deplete the soil — All the organic farms I buy from, they really care.” Attorney Shelley Lawrie, eating a salad with arugula, pear and bacon, enjoyed every mouthful. “I was so impressed,” she said. “Oh my gosh, how fresh everything is.” n ••• Soul Salad is at 7957 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday; closed Tuesday and Wednesday. To view the menu or order online, go to https://www.soulsalad.com/

college at the University of Hawaii. Her undergraduate research and creative will be published, “The Effects of Anthropogenic Noise on Coral Health” and “Mortality Distribution of the Hawaiian Short-eared Owl.” Her love of the oceans and wildlife was world reaching, and the scientific community will miss her greatly. “Debi and I will be donating a large sum of the GoFundMe money to help young students that want to enter the sciences called the STEM program is stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. We will also donate to the University of Hawaii foundation in her name on Coconut Island UH research lab for students. “Again, thank you for all your love and support. To all the parents, please tell your kids you love them every day, support them, hug them, spoil them. You never know.” n ••• To read the GoFundMe drive created by Alameda County firefighters, see https://www. gofundme.com/f/stephanie-bell-memorial-fund Editor’s Note: CHP said the driver of the car that hit Steffi was Pinky Higgins, 55, of Aromas. The incident is still under investigation.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Electric Rail to Pajaro: $478M

By Jondi Gumz

s supporters envision a new era of electric commuter rail or light rail on the little-used Santa Cruz branch line through Capitola and Aptos to Watsonville, the question — how much would it cost? — hasn’t been answered, until now. A new report from the staff of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (also known as RTC) estimates the cost of construction and rail vehicles at $465 million to $478 million and the annual operating cost at $25 million, with service potentially starting 14 years from now. The report, described as a 25-year business plan, details potential federal and state revenue sources, estimating a $200 million shortfall for construction of the 21.9-mile route from Pajaro to Westside Santa Cruz and a $125 million shortfall for operations and maintenance, necessitating a sales tax measure requiring support by

two-thirds of county voters or some other taxes or fees. Funds could come from vehicle registration fees, a local fuel tax, property tax, income tax, transient occupancy tax on hotel rooms and vocational rentals, student fees, vehicle miles traveled charges or parking fees, the report noted. The biggest federal funding program limits the federal share to 60% of the cost. The 66-page business plan will be presented to the 11-member RTC commission for review, input, and acceptance at its April 1 virtual meeting at 9 a.m. To view, see: https://sccrtc.org/projects/ multi-modal/transitcorridoraa/ In February, the RTC accepted an earlier study identifying electric passenger rail as the preferred alternative, providing the most benefit to county residents, businesses, and visitors in terms of improving the economy, equity and the environment. The business plan assumes 7,150 riders each weekday and 2,800 per day on Saturday and Sunday starting in 2040. That

Poll: 52% Strongly Support Electric Rail

By Jondi Gumz

poll of 618 active voters found 52 percent said they “strongly support” continuing with the plan for electric light-rail passenger train service on the 32-mile Santa Cruz County branch line, according to Santa Cruz County Friends of the Rail & Trail. The poll found 21 percent “somewhat support” the plan, 14 percent “strongly oppose” it, 4 percent “somewhat oppose it” and 9 percent didn’t know or didn’t answer. The margin of error was 4 percent. The poll was conducted in mid-February by California-based FM3 Research, the firm that did polling for the successful

amounts to 7 percent of the 100,000 vehicles a day using Highway 1 in Capitola. The plan assumes passengers would pay $4.50 per ride CHECK per day? Fares typically cover 20% to 40% of rail

2016 Measure D tax for transportation. That was before the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission staff produced a cost estimate for a 22-mile electric passenger train of $478 million to build from Pajaro to Westside Santa Cruz and $275 million a year to operate, with 7,150 boardings a day on weekdays. To FORT Board Chair Faina Segal, a Watsonville native, the poll showed 74 percent “favorable,” adding “strongly” and “somewhat” support together. “Poll” page 25 operation costs in the U.S., offering affordability to underserved communities, the plan notes. “Electric Rail” page 22

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / April 1st 2021 / 21

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“Electric Rail” from page 21 Assuming construction costs at $478 million, that would include construction, $364 million; vehicles, $64 million; final design and permitting, $34 million; preliminary engineering, preparing environmental documents, $17 million; initial and final conceptual design, cost estimates and ridership projections, $5 million; identifying critical design issues and governance strategy, $600,000. As for right-of-way acquisition, no costs are anticipated as the RTC owns the branch line, which extends 32 miles from Davenport to Watsonville. The plan expects passenger service to terminate in Westside Santa Cruz. The timetable assumes the initial operating plan will be ready in fiscal year 2022-23, environmental documents in fiscal year 2025-26, construction starting in 2029-30 with rail vehicle acquisition in 2031-32, with both finishing in 2034-35. Federal Funding Sources he biggest federal funding source for construction is the Federal Transit Administration New Starts and requires a local match before a grant is awarded. The assumption is $100 million. Grants are not provided until 30% of the preliminary engineering is complete to provide confidence on cost estimate accuracy. Typically, the project sponsor must front these costs for two to four years until the grant arrives. The second construction source of funding is the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development transportation discretionary grants, which may require a 20 % non-federal match. The assumption is $15 million. The third federal source, which can be used for pre-construction construction and vehicles, is the Surface Transportation Block Grant, for which a 11.47% non-federal match is required. The assumption is $9 million. Funding is considered unlikely from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement program, Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment and Railway Highway Crossing Section 130 to eliminate hazards. The assumption is $0. State Funding Sources he largest state funding source for construction and vehicles is SB 1, Solutions for Congested Corridors Program. The assumption is 52 million.

The second largest state source for construction and vehicles is the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. The assumption is $30 million. Next is the SB 1 Local Partnership competitive grants for construction and vehicles, which require a one-to-one match of state funds. The assumption is $25 million. SB 1 State Rail Assistance could fund any part of the project from environmental review to maintenance. The assumption is $17 million. State Transportation Improvement Program dollars, which goes to projects selected by the Santa Cruz County RTC, can fund all parts of construction. The assumption is $10 million. Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities grants fund projects that benefit low-income communities by increasing access to key destinations with low-carbon transportation. The assumption is $10 million. Sustainable Transportation Equity Project funds can be used for construction and vehicles to increase access to key destinations. The assumption is $7 million. Operations Funding Sources ith operations estimated at $275 million a year, all of these funding sources are smaller than those for construction. Here are the funding assumptions: • Federal State of Good Repair Grants: $2.25 million a year for seven years. • State Transit Assistance: $220,000 a year • State SB 1 Local Partnership: $150,000 a year once final designs. • SB 1 State Rail Assistance: $500,000 a year. • Local operations funding • Measure D 2016 county transportation sales tax: $1.6 million a year to preserve the rail line once it is built. • Rail Line lease/concessions/ads: $750,000 a year. • Fare revenue: $105.5 million a year • Maintenance paid by freight operator: $0. The report suggested private financing as a possibility, forming a partnership with a private partner to accelerate the project or lower costs. Such arrangements usually are made near the completion of environmental documents. If the 11-member RTC Commission is interested, staff would issue a request to see if any private entities are interested. n ••• To read the business plan, see https://sccrtc. org/projects/multi-modal/transitcorridoraa/

COMMUNITY NEWS

Time to Talk About Sexual Assault D id you know April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month? In 2020, local nonprofit Monarch Services assisted 520 sexual assault survivors in Santa Cruz County. April is a chance for community members to proactively discuss sexual assault, demonstrate support for survivors, raise awareness and brainstorm prevention techniques. This year, Monarch Services is

partnering with the Santa Cruz City Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Sexual Assault Response Team and Kidpower to host and promote community awareness events. All events will be virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The dates: • April 6: Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action https://bit. ly/3sg3IHP Wear teal in solidarity with survivors.   • April 14: Sexual Assault, Consent and Bystander Intervention https://bit. ly/2P7HdpA  9:30 to 11:15 a.m. Presented by Monarch Services

• April 16-22: Virtual Documentary Screening of “The Bystander Moment: Transforming Rape Culture at its Roots” at https://bit.ly/3r0SBRA  Available for online viewing from April 16-22. No registration required. Presented by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and the Sexual Assault Response Team. Supported by the Santa Cruz Commission for Prevention of Violence Against Women. • April 20: “The Bystander Moment” Virtual Conversation at https://bit. ly/30Wqc4x  6-8 p.m. with educatoractivist Jackson Katz, Sheriff Jim Hart, and activist-writer Ann Simonton.

Presented by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and the Sexual Assault Response Team. Supported by the Santa Cruz Commission for Prevention of Violence Against Women. Limited to 250 registered attendees, recording available afterward. “Denim Day” page 27

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Proposed Ban on Rodeos, Circuses at Fairgrounds Raises Questions

Editor’s note: This letter was sent to Santa Cruz County Fair Board of Directors and Dave Kegebein, county fairgrounds manager. ••• t has been brought to my attention that the Santa Cruz County Animal Services is bringing a new model ordinance to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors for approval soon. I understand it is going before the Santa Cruz County Fair Board prior to the SC County Supervisors. I have reviewed different editions of the document and have many concerns. One of my biggest concerns, that would directly affect the fairgrounds, is proposed ordinance 6.04.250 Prohibition on using live animals for entertainment and purposes. This ordinance states: “The use of animals as a form of amusement or entertainment in events such as circuses or rodeos is detrimental to the safety of the animals and the public, including children and trainers.” This statement is very subjective and when left up to interpretation could be an issue for the Santa Cruz County Fair for all animal events. “Wild animals pose a significant danger to audience members, trainers, and the public at large.” I want to clarify that horses and cattle are not wild animals. They are domestic animals, livestock. To group together circuses and rodeos based on the use of “wild animals” is false representation of the groups. Additionally, to limit all circuses would be unfortunate as most events that call themselves circuses only have domestic animals in their acts.

There are many types of circuses that use domestic livestock, including horses that would be great for the fairgrounds to host, such as Cavalia. I enjoy taking my daughters to the reptile and insect tents and visiting the camels during the fair. In the ordinance, “Wild Animals” would include these species. Does this mean the snake wrangler and camel rides will be prohibited? “Travel or confinement impairs the animals’ physical, psychological, and social needs, while close confinement, lack of exercise, pressure to perform, and other physical requirements of performing render the animals unable to express natural behaviors and socialize appropriately.” This is false information about how rodeo livestock are handled and maintained. When not at a rodeo, rodeo livestock live in large pastures and are under great care. “This section does not apply to equestrian events except for those banned by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).” The USEF should not be the only governing body for equestrian events. The USEF excludes many events and breeds, including the largest breed associations in the United States, the American Quarter Horse Association and the Jockey Club that registers Thoroughbreds. It also excludes many disciplines, such as cutting, reined cow horse, roping, team penning, team sorting, gymkhanas, and barrel racing. These disciplines are represented under American Quarter Horse Association

(AQHA), National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA), among many other associations. Not being more inclusive of the governing body(ies) for equestrian events in this ordinance will have a negative impact on revenue for Santa Cruz County fairgrounds, as many events not governed by USEF are hosted at the fairgrounds. I am afraid blanket ordinances banning one type of event like circuses and rodeos will inadvertently ban many events that the fairgrounds currently supports and hosts. I sincerely hope the Santa Cruz County Fair Board thoroughly reviews all aspects of the new model ordinance presented by Santa Cruz County Animal Services. I am afraid our ranching and farming heritage, and the future of what county fairs represent are at risk. There is a lot at stake for the Santa Cruz County Fair if the model ordinance gets passed as it is being presented at this time. — Kristi Locatelli ••• Bay Area Health Officers’ Statement About COVID-19 Vaccines s local health officers, we fully support all three currently available vaccines for COVID-19. All three vaccines are safe and have been shown to be highly effective at preventing symptomatic illness and hospitalization. The clinical trials for all three vaccines demonstrated that they were 100 percent effective in preventing deaths from COVID-19. There is also growing evidence

that all three vaccines help prevent asymptomatic illness, too. This means that people who have been vaccinated are not likely to spread of COVID-19 to others who are not vaccinated. There has been much debate about the advantages of one brand of vaccine over the other, but it’s difficult to compare their efficacy. The different brands of COVID- 19 vaccines have not been studied in head-tohead comparisons. The vaccines have each been studied in slightly different groups of people and tested at different phases of the pandemic. The rates of community transmission and presence or absence of COVID-19 variants differed across studies. What we can say with certainty is that all three vaccines provide levels of protection that are comparable to some of the best vaccines we have for other serious infectious diseases for which we routinely vaccinate people. With COVID-19 continuing to circulate as we work toward community immunity, our collective medical advice is this: the best vaccine is the one you can get the soonest. The different vaccines have different storage requirements and with supplies of vaccine currently limited, the same brand may not be available at each vaccine site consistently. If you have questions about vaccine, speak to your medical provider if you have one. You can also learn more about vaccines on the state’s COVID-19 website. — This statement has been approved by health officers representing the city of Berkeley and the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Coastal Oak Interiors: Showcasing Aptos Lifestyle

By Jondi Gumz

eal estate agent Shanne Carvalho says his new retail store in Aptos came about because of Teri Mackay. She’s the professional stager who has the knack of selecting the right furniture with the right pillows and the right photos — all from local vendors — to create the perfect look. So many people asked if they could buy items they saw in homes she staged for sale that Carvalho agreed this could be a business. So Coastal Oak (Carvalho means oak) Interiors opened in November in Aptos Village Square. In March, Carvalho, 46, hosted a ribbon cutting with the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, the first of three such events in one week. It was a burst of economic activity as new COVID cases plummeted, putting the county in the less restrictive Red Tier.

Art for your walls at Coastal Oak Interiors.

Naturally, attendees wore masks. Watsonville contractor Frank Contreras redid the space, installing stylish pillars that provide display space for small items, and creating plenty of light. Mackay sees the shop as a showcase for local artists such as Liz Lyons Friedman and photographer John Gavrilis. Friedman, of Aptos, met Mackay at the Sip and Stroll in Aptos Village three years ago. She welcomed the opportunity to sell her work in the new shop, especially after Open Studios, the October art show extravaganza, was cancelled because of COVID. “I’d been in all the shows since 1986,” said Friedman, who is hoping to be in Open Studios this fall. She has paintings of sunsets,

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

inspired by real life sunsets, for which is Aptos is famous. Gavrilis’s photo of the pastelcoloredVenetian Court naturally draws the eye. So do the colorful Murano glass bead hangings by Monica Ansaldo. Mackay said her strategy is to stage one item, store one and sell one — so if you see something you like, buy it before someone else does. For shoppers who want to move to Aptos, Carvalho can help. His real estate office, brokered by exp Realty, is in the same shopping center a few steps away. n ••• Coastal Oak Interiors is at 7960 Soquel Drive Suite D, Aptos. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; that could change in May. See www.coastaloakinteriors.com or call 831-889-8290.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Shanne Carvalho, owner of Coastal Oak Interiors, with stager and buyer Teri Mackay.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Liz Lyons Friedman with her paintings showcased at Coastal Oak Interiors.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Monica Ansaldo with her “Boho” Murano glass bead hangings.

Robert Singleton Leaves Santa Cruz County Business Council

he Santa Cruz County Business Council is seeking a new executive director with the departure of Robert Singleton after four years for a senior government partnerships position at Bird Scooters for the Rockies/Pacific Northwest region. Singleton was the Business Council’s policy analyst before being promoted in 2017 following the departure of then-CEO Casey Beyer to run the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce. The Santa Cruz County Business Council is a 501c(6) advocacy organization that

The SCCBC has more than represents the largest employers 80 dues-paying membership in Santa Cruz County, with a organizations, including a diverse focus on housing development, executive officer team represented transportation, homelessness and by Looker/Google Cloud, UC water infrastructure. Santa Cruz, Cruzio Internet, The organization also serves Marianne’s Ice Cream, and as the general public affairs arm Kindpeoples. of the county-wide business Robert Singleton During Singleton’s tenure, community, joining coalitions, drafting letters of support, and working to the Business Council worked with its member place members of the business community companies and partner organizations to into positions of influence or to engage key advocate on behalf of many new housing developments, ballot initiatives–including stakeholders.

24 / April 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Measures D, H, L, M (oppose) R, Y, and Z; larger land use plans like the Downtown Plan and Sustainable Santa Cruz County Plan, Student Housing West at UCSC and the in-concept approval of the downtown mixed use library/housing/parking development. “He will be deeply missed,” said Stacy Nagel, 2021 board chair. n ••• A hiring committee of members will oversee recruitment. Those interested can email a resume and cover letter to robert.singleton@ sccbusinesscouncil.com.

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People Love WaterSmart

Convenient, User-Friendly, Great Information!

he Soquel Creek Water District’s new WaterSmart Customer Portal is an easy-to-use, free online tool giving you more control over your water use and billing, leak detection, and more. Along with our new, intelligent meters (i-Meters) which are now installed for most of our customers, the WaterSmart Customer Portal is part of the District’s overall upgrade to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure. This is a huge improvement over the District’s former electronic metering system that only produced one water consumption reading per month. With daily and hourly water consumption information, you now have access to the most up-to-date technology for managing water use and billing. Leak detection is much more timely, compared to the old system, by notifying customers within as little as 48-72 hours (in most cases) after a potential leak is detected. The Portal has the ability to notify you via email, text, or phone alert about potential water leaks in your system, so you can find and fix that leak before it becomes a bigger problem. Once registered, you can also set-up alerts for when your water use level or your bill amount reaches your designated thresholds. That’s kind of an “early warning system” to give you important information sooner so you can minimize water loss due to a leak, reduce potential water damage, and get fewer surprises in your water bills. Plus, with a single log-in “Poll” from page 21 “This community, especially those who are active voters, are very clearly saying they want planning for rail service to continue,” she concluded. “Highway 1 commuters, including essential workers, need an option to free themselves of gridlock that robs them of time with their families,” Segal continued. “A zero-emissions light rail service will give our county an important tool in the fight against climate change. Rail service will also help improve public transportation for local seniors and those with disabilities.” The greatest support appeared to be in supervisorial District 4, which includes Watsonville, where residents deal with daily traffic jams on Highway 1 to and from work. The least support appeared to be in

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

you’ll be able to pay your water bill, see how much water your irrigation system uses, identify watersaving opportunities, access conservation resources like waterwise landscaping ideas, and even apply for conservation rebates. Many District customers are already signed up for this user-friendly, self-service web portal, and we’re hearing great things about their experience. “I easily set up an alert for my water use threshold, and it’s already been superhelpful on several occasions,” says Paul N., a District water customer in Aptos. “Early-on I got an alert about going over the threshold, and that prompted me to go out and find a leak in my irrigation system. More recently, I had some cement work done, and when the crew was using a lot of water — there

District 1, which includes Live Oak, which would access the train, and the Summit, which would not, and District 2, where train tracks run through Aptos. The most opposition appeared to be in District 2, which includes Capitola, which is bisected by train tracks, and Aptos, followed by District 1, then District 5, Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley, which are the farthest from the branch line. The announcement of the poll results did not include breakdowns of the “strongly” and “somewhat” in each supervisorial district. The Times requested that information and was told it is not available. The poll asked about two other options: 19 percent were in favor of pausing the electric rail planning and keep building a trail alongside the rail line, and 17 percent were in favor of removing track and converting the corridor into a trail for walking and biking. n

was a text alerting me to that unusually high use!” Paul notes that the system is easy to use and has provided him with everything he needs to monitor his water use. For JoAnn G., a water customer

in Aptos, the new system is a vast improvement over her earlier efforts to track water use. “I used to save my paper water bills for 12 months at a time, so I could compare month-to-month and see where I’m over-using. Now, it’s all right at my fingertips!” “WaterSmart” page 26

In the Garden

ACROSS

1. Great divide 6. World’s oldest national broadcaster 9. Pasturelands 13. Chinese fruit 14. #9 Across, sing. 15. Clemency 16. One in advertising 17. “____ the land of the free ...” 18. Characteristic of birds 19. *Ongoing job in the garden 21. *Without synthetic fertilizers 23. 2nd tallest bird 24. Theatrical production 25. Curiosity killed it?

28. Additionally 30. Capital of Poland 35. Passage into a mine 37. Prefix in levorotary 39. Mid-century modern, e.g. 40. Toothy wheel 41. *Some are heirlooms 43. Make like a cat 44. Erasable programmable read only memory 46. Stanislavski’s rifle, e.g. 47. Unwanted correspondence 48. Motionless 50. Catch-22 52. “Are you sure?” in a text 53. Freight horse cart 55. Opposite of don’ts 57. *6 or more hours of sunshine

61. *Radicchio or frisée 65. On foot 66. Negative vote 68. 2020 NFL MVP 69. Morrison’s “The ____” 70. Hockey great Bobby 71. Respectable and quiet 72. Sports award 73. Affirmative response 74. Infernos 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

DOWN

Old bathtub foot Opposite of seek Ne plus ultra *Opposite of #57 Across Minimum, pl. Influencer’s journal *Stinging pollinator Holiday song Bulgarian money

10. Julia Roberts’ Academy Awardwinning role 11. Popular smoothie berry 12. Update an iPod 15. Inhabitant of Hungary 20. Nothing, pl. 22. Like sashimi 24. Lack of money 25. *Tomato supports 26. Highly skilled 27. Miss America’s headdress 29. Slowly leak 31. Moves at the gym 32. Monument to Buddha 33. Orderly arrangement 34. *Wiggly plowers 36. Faster than a walk 38. *Some plants and flowers emit a good one

42. *Type of digger 45. Centers, old-fashioned 49. French vineyard 51. *Last of 3 numbers on a bag of fertilizer 54. Be a pest 56. Washington, e.g. 57. Grow dim 58. Extraterrestrials’ rides 59. Pilot’s stunt 60. Type of parrot 61. “Musical” constellation 62. Russian mountain chain 63. *Type of garden hose that saves space 64. Goes with “odds” 67. Am is to I as ____ is to we © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / April 1st 2021 / 25

The Fire & Light of Aries

Esoteric Astrology • April 2021 • By Risa D’Angeles

e are in the full light of Aries now, following Easter and the Aries full moon festival. The Aries energy will continuetill the end of April, when Taurus begins. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac. It is the initiating idea, a new idea for the new spiritual year. Aries is apoint of light faint and flickering, seeking what can receive its divine expression. Aries drops an electric fire to the Earth. Electric fire is that aspect of God that creates heat and a fire that can burn and destroy. As the firstzodiacal sign, Aries, with mars, calls each individual to courage, to bravery, to fiery impulses, to fearlessness. This is the path of Earth experienceunder Aries. With Mars, the personality ruler of Aries, what we experience is the fire of challenge, war, strife, and conflict. These are the keynotesof the life of the personality. Later, Mercury, the fire of knowledge comes forth and illuminates the mind. The Plan for humanity is patterned not through the energy of ARIES

Everything changed for you when the Sun entered Aries. Your energy lifted and became more available. You were no longer drowning in the waters of Pisces. You feel more impatient now, wanting to move forward, engage in new enterprises, make new impressions in the world. You might feel the need to assume leadership over everyone and everything. Careful. Be kind. Be a gracious and benevolent leader, and understand you move and think more quickly than others. Always have love.

LEO

You may feel a longing for things far from your usual life and ways of living. Other cultures, people, places and things are summoning you in subtle persistent ways. We have been hidden away for a year now. So, you’re restless for new realities, new journeys, a new adventure. You need new activities, conversations, goals, new subjects to study. An outer fire blends with your inner Leo fire. Everything you seek will appear. Careful with legal issues. Cultivate patience.

TAURUS

You tell everyone you’d rather remain at home and research and not go out and about for a long long time. You want to catch up on tasks not tended to the past many years. Needing to maintain reserves of energy to get through each day, you need privacy and long solitary walks. Many previously learned behaviors may arise. Observe them. Consider, are they useful? If not, eliminate them. You may dream more. Record all dreams. Over time they tell you a story.

VIRGO

You may be called to be more helpful and cooperative and it may be a challenge. But you can do this. Relationships will actually be the challenge, possible, due to confusion, activating a wound. It may be good to consult with someone concerning how to accommodate more easily and settle differences and how to allow everyone to be heard. Careful with impatience and ending things too quickly. Reconcile with those you have had differences. It’s always good to love more.

GEMINI

You need to recite mantrams and positive affiliations as well as sharing with groups of friends, seeking their cooperation in either working on a project with you or listening to you with care and intention so you can clarify your thinking. If leading a group, mentor them in cooperation, organize them as a team to achieve a particular goal. Ask each member their hopes, wishes, dreams and aspirations for the future. You’re achieving Aquarian goals, guiding people to ack with intelligence and benevolence. CANCER

You want to be recognized for your knowledge, abilities, and what you accomplish each day. It’s good to want this recognition for it stimulates your ability to share and provide information to others. Many are in need of real and true information. You always ask the question, “What is real and true?” When we ask, the answers are always given. For those seeking new work or a profession, after mid-May it’s easier to step forward into the world. It is waiting for you.

Mars (war, strife, separation), but through the energy of Mercury (knowledge, the Mind, harmony, unification). It thus furthers us to develop ourmental faculties, for they are the same pattern and prototype as the Mind of God, from which humanity issued forth. Upcoming astrological events: Easter, the Resurrection (Aries) festival is Sunday, April 4th. It’s a practical day with Capricorn moon. Sunday, April 11this the first spring new moon, 22 Aries. At new moon times we support and endeavors of the New Group of World Servers, extending kindness to all the kingdoms. Mercury leaves Aries (fire) and enters Taurus (earth) April 14th. We begin to seek comfort everywhere. Saturday, April 17this a very complex day. Every planet and star seems to be activated that day. Care and mindfulness is needed. Monday, April 19th, Sun enters Taurus and the Forces of Enlightenment sweep into the Earth, preparing us for the Taurus Festival, the Wesak Buddha Full moon festival, Monday, April 26th, the most important full moon for the year.

LIBRA

Life seems to be accelerating, moving faster each day. Sometimes those around you move too quickly and you feel left behind. Perhaps you’re working too hard and too long. Even though you may have abundant energy, tend to your health making this an important priority and a consistent daily practice. Careful with inflammation and infections, too. Begin to slow down on grains and sweets. Eat apples and drink celery juice in the morning. Be calm with co-workers.

SAGITTARIUS

There’s so much energy flowing through your body and mind you simply can’t seem to slow down and you think perhaps you have no selfdiscipline. Use and direct the unbounded energy for creative activities. You could also take up a sport and/or find children, or those who are childlike, to play with. Romantic things are good too and your love life may call forth a deeper level of passion. Make sure you get enough sleep. Don’t risk anything taking changes. Do play (innocently) more. Reveal yourself more, too. It has unsuspecting consequences. CAPRICORN

Much of your energy is focused at home or where your domestic self resides. You’re highly instinctual at this time and protective. It’s important that you feel secure because you are called to make important decisions concerning family and the home. When feeling unusually moody or frustrated tend to home repairs and re-arrange family activities. Step back if arguments begin. Old emotional issues may resurface. They’ve arrived for review. Soothe them with prayers. Then they disappear. AQUARIUS

So many ideas and plans on your mind that you feel a bit overwhelmed and scattered and so you try to share these ideas with others but so many errands and tasks come in between you and sharing with others that you feel frustrated and can move into arguments if you’re not careful. Realizing you could feel impatient and impulsive, be careful driving and when using machinery, scissors or knives (while cooking). Your inventive original mind slowly reveals your future. You adapt to all the changes around you with skill and humor.

SCORPIO

Intimacy is important for you at this time. There are many types of intimacy — from friendship to lovers, intimacy of the mind, the heart, and physical intimacy. Things held in common with another is an intimacy. Knowing your values is an intimate level concerning the self. Sometimes, intimacies end and new intimacies begins. Both affect you deeply. Be aware of your subtle and hidden feelings. Realize what you need. Ask for it. Intimates will respond with care. •••

Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com 26 / April 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

PISCES

As the new spiritual and astrological year begin, it’s good to create a new journal of values (past, present and future) and aspirations). Draw in your journal too and paste in images. We can ascertain true values by deciding what we need. Tend to monetary issues — bank accounts, taxes, insurance, inheritances, precious metals, etc. With Venus in Aries, money, values and resources need close attention. Don’t impulse buy. It’s important also, to acknowledge your value and worth. What about yourself do you value?

Customers have let us know they are very happy with the WaterSmart Customer Portal, using words like, “Convenient,” “User-friendly,” “So cool!” and “Useful, timely information.” “WaterSmart” from page 25 She goes on to say, “We’re dedicated to water conservation, and the WaterSmart portal makes it much easier. I re-started my garden that hadn’t been used for a few years, and I can quickly get accurate information about its impact on water use. It even shows precipitation information, so I have the whole picture. I especially like that it’s a one-stop-shop for everything – water use detail and alerts, conservation education tools and rebates, and bill paying.” Other customers have let us know they are very happy with the WaterSmart Customer Portal, using words like, “Convenient,” “User-friendly,” “So cool!” and “Useful, timely information.” Are you signed up to access your WaterSmart Customer Portal? First, make sure we have your current email address on file, as that’s an important tool in the functionality. Call us at 831.475.8500, or email us at custserv@soquelcreekwater. org to update your information. Then, go online to SoquelCreekWD.watersmart. com. Make sure you have your water account number as it appears on your water bill or on your WaterSmart welcome letter. Follow the prompts to register, and that’s it! Our Advanced Metering Infrastructure ois funded through the District’s Water Demand Offset Program, which requires that new building developments offset their projected water demand by funding new conservation or supply projects within the District. Those fees have funded other water-saving programs like rebates on the installation of thousands of ultra-high efficiency toilets, urinals, showerheads, and aerators, and turf replacement rebates. Tracking your water use and your billing trends has never been easier, or more information-rich! We’re happy to be providing you with the latest technology to help you use water efficiently, support sustainability of the groundwater basin, have better control over your water use billing, and save money. 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.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Can I Get Refunded for My Wedding Rental? By Christopher Elliott

he COVID-19 outbreak cancels Mike Feehrer’s wedding. But Relics Rental, a wedding rental business, wants to keep the $3,534 he paid. Can it do that? ••• need your help getting a refund of $3,534 from Relics Rentals, a wedding rental business. The State of Illinois closed all restaurants and bars last March. Our wedding, which was scheduled for March 28, was canceled. We still got married, but just with a priest and no reception. I called Relic Rentals, but it would not provide a refund. A representative offered a $3,534 credit for that amount to be used over the next year or a refund of our deposit, which is about 50 percent of the total amount. I explained that I would not have an occasion to use the credit. The representative said the business had “damages and costs” associated with providing the services. My fiancé, Amy, spent about 30 minutes on the phone with Relic Rentals. The representative also claimed other wedding vendor companies were not giving refunds. That’s not true. All our vendors, including our caterer, florist and hotel, have all issued full refunds. I propose a full refund, less $250, to

“Denim Day” from page 23 • April 28: Denim Day at https://bit. ly/31uN23r   Virtual rally on YouTube. Connect with the online movement to end sexual violence. • April 29: Protecting Kids from Sexual Abuse Without Scaring Them at https:// Jackson Katz bit.ly/3tzutXR Presented by Santa Cruz Commission for Prevention of Violence Against Women, Kidpower and Monarch Services.  6-7 p.m. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced sexual violence in their lifetimes. Preventing sexual assault requires the collective voice and power of individuals, families and institutions.

compensate the company for the time. I think that’s a fair solution. But when I call the company, it just goes to voicemail. Can you help me? — Mike Feehrer, Plainfield, Ill. ••• ’m sorry about your canceled wedding. In a situation like this, I believe the business should offer either a credit or a full refund. And you’ve already tied the knot, so it’s not like you’re going to have a big ceremony anytime soon. As I read the correspondence between you and Relic Rentals, I could see both sides. You’re trying to keep your money during a challenging economy. Relic wants to protect its business. We’ve seen this countless times in the last year. A company tries to hold its customers to original agreements even in the face of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. And it doesn’t always end well. I should note that Relic Rentals was accommodating when it offered to refund your deposit or give you a one-year credit. Its normal policy is no refunds or credits, according to its website. And you agreed to that policy when you paid your deposit. As a reader, I sympathize with Relic and

wish it the best of luck in getting through the pandemic. But as a consumer advocate, I believe its refund policy is, well — a relic. I contacted the company on your behalf. Jan Oelke, the owner, responded. “While current events have obviously required dramatic alteration to long-developed plans for weddings and events, those engagements and clients have been the recipients of time, work and resources to date,” she told me. “It is the policy of Relics Rentals to work with the client in rescheduling or postponing their rental reservation. However, simply canceling an event and refusing to reschedule or postpone is not a requirement of the current environment and it does fall under the

cancellation portion of our standard policy as outlined in our contract.” Oelke said the company offered other clients a credit for future rentals and services, valid 365 days from their original event date. She offered you two options: Either a credit or a 50 percent refund of the total rental reservation. You filed a credit card dispute under the Fair Credit Billing Act, but your bank sided with the merchant. You received a $1,767 refund from Relics Rentals. n ••• Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer for Elliott Advocacy. Email him at chris@ elliott.org or get help with any consumer problem by contacting him at http://www.elliott.org/help

Actions you can take to address sexual assault:   • Promote social norms that protect against sexual violence -- end “rape culture,” stop blaming the victim, halt harassment at work. See unwomen. org • Be an active bystander when you see a potentially violent situation   • Create a culture of consent in your home and social circles   • Use social media to raise awareness among peers   • Listen to and validate survivors of trauma n ••• Monarch Services has a 43-year history of providing advocacy and resources to community members in Santa Cruz County affected by violence. Services include court accompaniments, restraining order assistance, counseling, emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis line, outreach, education and support groups. Monarch Services is the only rape crisis

and human trafficking center in Santa Cruz County and includes an emergency response team. All services are available in Spanish and English and are free or low cost. For information, call   (831) 722-4532 or (831)

425-4030 or visit http://www.monarchscc.org/ The 24-hour Bilingual Crisis Line is 1(888) 900-4232. Learn more about Jackson Katz at https:// www.jacksonkatz.com/

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / April 1st 2021 / 27

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

JOB BOARD ONLINE The Santa Cruz job market is picking up steam. Startups to established enterprises have open positions across countless work areas and industries. Software engineers, recruiters and more are all in high demand. As the local economy regains momentum, there are increasing opportunities for new hires. Joby Aviation has more than 100 open roles! ProductOps, Amazon, Blix, Santa Cruz Bikes, Zero Motorcycles and many more are looking for their next top hires. Every week Santa Cruz Works features a fresh catch of new jobs in at https://www.santacruzworks.org/jobs where employers and job-hunters can post for free. Details: https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/companieshiring-in-santa-cruz-and-beyond

OPEN STUDIOS APPLICATION DEADLINE Friday, April 30, Midnight Arts Council Santa Cruz County is making plans for the 2021 Open Studios Art Tour following guidelines for health and safety. The dates are: South County Oct 2-3, North County Oct 9-10, and all county Oct 16-17. All Santa Cruz County visual artists over age 18 are invited to apply to be a part of this event where local artists invite the public to experience art at the source. The deadline to apply is midnight, April 30. Open Studios & Events Director Ann Ostermann will host drop-in sessions via Zoom on March 23, April 3 and April 15 to assist artists in applying. For details, guidelines and FAQ, see https://santacruzopenstudios.com/

BUSINESS CLASSES ONLINE March and April Gavilan College and El Pajaro Community Development Corp. are partnering to offer free online business classes in Spanish. The class is open to Santa Cruz County residents. The classes are 10-week training sessions that include business planning and 10 hours with a business advisor and will be from 9-11:50 a.m. Saturdays. If interested, you can enroll in: Entrepreneurship (BUS 700 40840), March 13- April 17, 2021, or Small Business Ownership (BUS 701 40841), April 24-May 22. For information, call Gavilan College Continuing Education at (408) 465-9520 or call El Pajaro Community Development Corporation at (831) 722-1224.

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by April 9 need an internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone. To participate, view the calendar at https://communitybridges.org/ SCWOL/ and find a class. That day and time, click on the link in the calendar to be connected. If you have a problem connecting, call Clara Munoz at (831) 458-3481. RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES March is Red Cross Month, and the Red Cross is thanking donors for stepping up to meet the constant need for blood amid the pandemic. All who come to give March 15-26 will receive a Red Cross T-shirt while supplies last. All blood types are needed, especially Type O. Donors must be 17 and weigh at least 110 pounds. To make an appointment, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit  RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Dates: April 4: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St., Santa Cruz. April 3: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St., Watsonville. April 8: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St., Watsonville. PARENT SUPPORT GROUP PVUSD, PVPSA and Kaiser Permanente offers support groups for Pajaro Valley families at 3 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month. The next dates are: April 29, May 20 and June 3. To register, email marisol.maciel@pvpsa.org SECOND HARVEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION Second Harvest Food Bank drive-through food distribution schedule: Watsonville: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 2 • April 16 • April 30 Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Fridays, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. April 9 • April 23 Food hotline: 831-662-0991.

ITALIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES Learn the language of “la dolce vita” with native Italian-speaking instructors. Whether you are new to the Italian language, totally fluent, or everything in between, the classes the Dante Alighieri Society of Santa Cruz is offering for spring-summer 2021 are for you. GARDENERS CLUB The online 10-week session begins the week of The Gardeners’ Club is looking for people who share April 19, so register now to secure your spot and take their love of plants and want to know more about advantage of the early bird discount which ends April 1. gardening. See: https://www.dantesantacruz.com/services The website is at http://www.thegardenersclub.org/ and Questions? Email: dantesantacruz1265@gmail.com there is a monthly newsletter. Dues are $15 per calendar year. For information call CAREER MONTH AT CABRILLO Cherry at 831-475-0991. Four free job fairs are available for current students at Cabrillo Make check to “The Gardeners’ Club” and mail to P.O. Box College in the month of April. The fairs take place from 3-5 3025, Ben Lomond, CA 95005. Meetings, when they are p.m. four Thurs. starting April 8. Registration is required. allowed, are at 7 p.m. on the 2nd Thursday of each month at April 8 — global & human studies the Aptos Grange, 2555 Mar Vista Drive, Aptos. April 15 — entrepreneur, business & creative April 22 — health & public safety SENIOR CENTER WITHOUT LIMITS April 29 — science tech engineering math This new program from Community Bridges brings There are also four resume workshops on April 6, 12, 19 and enrichment activities like yoga, art, music, tai chi, 27 and four career coaching classes on April 7, 16, 20 and 26. cooking, tech and support groups to seniors age 60 Students can register and employers can post jobs at https:// and up in their homes at no cost. To participate, you www.cabrillo.edu/career-services/ 28 / April 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

For a recording of the March 18 speaker or more information on support groups and classes, https://www.namiscc.org/

Third Thursday of the Month PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM CALL FOR ARTISTS: 15TH ANNUAL PVA SCULPTURE 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting EXHIBITION BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support Zoom Deadline to Apply is Monday May 3 group offers a free support group, moderated by a licensed grief Curators Susana Arias and Hedwig Heerschop of Pajaro counseling therapist, on the third Thursday of each month. Valley Arts & Jeff Rosendale of Sierra Azul Nursery and Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport Gardens invite your participation in the 15th annual or call 831-471-7255. Pajaro Valley Arts sculpture exhibition, taking place in Fourth Thursday of the Month the beautiful two-acre Sierra Azul Nursery demonstration First Sunday Every Month gardens, 2660 East Lake Ave., Watsonville. Submit online to Hedwig@pvarts.org. MONTHLY OUTDOOR MARKETPLACE IN SANTA CRUZ! The show will be June 1 through Oct. 31 outdoors and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Old Wrigley Building Parking Lot, 2801 pieces submitted must be weatherproof (to be insured), Mission Street, Santa Cruz 95060 and of a scale suitable for outdoor display. Summer The Westside Marketplace is an exciting, new coastal weather includes sunshine, fog, wind and rain. monthly market where local Sculptures larger than 30” is encouraged. Pieces with art, handmade and vintage bold negative and positive elements and pieces 5 to 6 shopping meet delicious feet tall show best in the garden. food! This collaboration There is a $30 participation fee for artists selected between Food Trucks A Go and sales are subject to a commission, 30% for PVA Go and the SCM Makers members, 45% for non-members. Market presents a great mix of creators of all kinds! Questions: 831-722-3062. There is also live music at each event! The upcoming outdoor market is on Sunday, April 4 at the Old Wrigley Building parking lot. Rain ONGOING EVENTS dates are scheduled for the following Sundays. First and Third Monday Each Month Come hungry to sample an amazing array of SENIOR LIFE ONLINE food from the food vendors and shop local with 40 artists, makers and vintage sellers at this new 4 p.m., Online Meeting monthly event. Join a local group of senior citizens for “Senior Life The Market is free to attend and is 100% local — Online,” a free online (Zoom) program featuring a presentation by a local expert. Senior Life Online meets all vendors are based in Santa Cruz County! All local and state health guidelines will be on the first and third Monday of each month at 4 p.m. followed. Please wear your mask, maintain social View the schedule at http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org/ distance while you shop and stay home if you don’t current-activities/. feel well. Hand sanitizing stations will be available. Recent presentations included talks about preventative For more information, go to the event page: https://www. care for dogs and cats, an update from the Scotts Valley facebook.com/events/170470481551895; Food Trucks A Water District, goal setting, trusts and estate planning, Go Go: https://www.foodtrucksagogo.com/; or SCM Makers COVID-19, genealogy, Scotts Valley history and Santa Market https://scmmakersmarket.com/ for a list of all of the Cruz history. vendors. To participate, you need an Internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone. A one-time preregDATED EVENTS istration is required at https://tinyurl.com/SVSLA-5. Questions? Call George at (831) 334-7763. Thursday April 1 Senior Life Online is sponsored by Scotts Valley Senior Life EASTER COOKING DEMO Association (SVSLA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to promote healthy living for senior citizens. Information is at 4 – 4:30 p.m., Chef Brandon Miller, Zoom Class Chef Brandon Miller will offer Easter cooking tips http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org. and tricks via Zoom. It’s free and open to everyone. One viewer will win Easter Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday dessert from The Chef’s NAMI RECOVERY SUPPORT Stash in Carmel. 1-2:30 p.m., confidential Zoom meetings. Miller will show how to National Alliance on Mental Illness Santa Cruz County make a Bread Pudding with offers the “Connection Recovery Support Group,” a free, day-old pastries such as peer-led support group for any adult 18 or older who has croissants, crumpets, and experienced symptoms of a mental health condition (no Danishes, a dessert using less sugar that he showcased diagnosis required). You will gain insight from hearing the challenges and at Mundaka. Then he’ll show how to make a French Tart Brandon Miller successes of others. Groups are led by trained leaders who’ve been there. It’s confidential and drop-in friendly. Dough recipe (no rolling the dough) made famous by chef David Lebovitz. The To attend, complete the registration form. You will trick is putting butter and water in a bowl in the oven, immediately get an email with the Zoom link. You will heating it up and adding flour. need to do this only once, and will be able to use the He’ll share his secret for stocks and soups, a “contained same link for all groups in the future. Register at: https:// bouquet garni,” in which he takes a leek, rolls out the outer tinyurl.com/nami-zoom-register (Full URL: https:// leaf, then packs it full of herbs such as rosemary, thyme, zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMld-6trTgjEtOukidbv3qC- parsley and bay leaf, then ties up the whole package and QQTitZ92kXFf) puts it in the stock. After the stock is infused with flavor If you are unable to register, do not have an email from the herbs, just take the leek and toss it. address, or have other questions, call the office at (831)- To view, go to https://zoom.us/j/92172302792 with meeting ID: 824-0406 or email anastasia@namiscc.org. 921 7230 2792.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Friday April 16

DATED EVENTS (cont.)

PVA POETRY READING 6:30-8:30 p.m., Pajaro Valley Arts Zoom. Pajaro Valley Arts Presents a free poetry reading, “Pandemic Take Aways,” featuring Alex Rocha, Gabriel J. Medina and Claudia Meléndez Zoom link: https://cccconfer. Alex Rocha zoom.us/j/91026783529 Meeting ID: 910 2678 3529 Contact: Shirley Flores-Munoz, shflores@cabrillo.edu

Tuesday April 6 FARMWORKER JUSTICE 6 p.m., Democratic Club of N. Santa Cruz County Online The Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County will meet via Zoom and hear Elizabeth Strater, director of strategic campaigns at United Farm Workers, discuss her work to protect the health and safety of farmworkers and to advocate for a safe and just food supply. She’ll discuss digital campaigns and how people Elizabeth Strater can support justice for farmworkers. Members of the public are invited. Visit www.svslvdemocrats.org for Zoom link. Social time is 6 p.m.; the meeting officially starts at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday April 20 VEGAN COOKING DEMO 4-5 p.m., Zoom Class Join Café Carmel chef Sarah Cook for a virtual cooking demo spotlighting a vegan dish 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, April 20. The demo is free and open to everyone. To join Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92835341968?pwd= RXdpcG9PcUJIRnVUa2psZjFLMlFjUT09 Meeting ID: 928 3534 1968 Passcode: 495514

Tuesday April 6 WALLACE STEGNER LECTURES*: JOSÉ ANDRÉS 7 p.m., Online Lecture Chef, restaurateur and humanitarian José Andrés will appear in conversation with Bay Area food personality Jesse Ziff Cool to discuss his work as founder of World Central Kitchen, helping to feed those in need throughout the course of the pandemic. Andrés is a Michelin-starred, James Beard Award-winning José Andrés Spanish-American chef, as well as the author of three cookbooks and the New York Times best-selling We Fed an Island, which describes how Andrés and his team cooked for thousands of hungry people in Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Andrés advocates for sustainability in the restaurant industry. https://openspacetrust.org/wsl-2021/ ••• *Cost for the Wallace Stegner Lecture Series is $30. The price gives you access to four lectures, plus the ability to watch recordings until April 30. This includes January’s Dolores Huerta & Luis Valdez and April’s José Andrés ectures.

WEAR A MASK POSTER DESIGN CONTEST DEADLINE

Monday April 22

OCEAN RECORD-KEEPING TALK 6-7 p.m., Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Zoom Session Wednesday April 7 Must register by 5 p.m. to receive link. On April 22, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Over the past year, we have all learned to live with COVID-19. For most of us, this has meant wearing a mask welcomes Dr. Emily Miller from Monterey Bay Aquarium as a method of protecting ourselves and others. We wear masks because we value our family members, Research Institute. Attendees must register at https:// doctors, nurses, essential workers and many others in our community. www.pgmuseum.org/event-calendar Pajaro Valley Arts invites you to design a poster that tells your story. All members of the community are A research technician, Miller will present a talk titled invited to participate. There is no entry fee. Images of your poster will be placed in the pvarts.org online “Marine Algae as Ocean Record Keepers.” She will cover gallery. Two $50 gift certificates to Kelly’s Books in Watsonville will be awarded, one each in the youth and how her team used older algae specimens to extend the adult categories. Bakun upwelling index back to 1878, 70 years before The poster can be a drawing, painting, photograph or collage. monitoring of upwelling began in Monterey Bay. Photograph your poster using a jpeg file format. Email entry form and jpeg of poster to Hedwig@pvarts.org by April 7. Her goal is to document patterns to help understand the shifts in the foundation of the food web to make wildland firefighting during this hands-on field training more informed conservation decisions in the future of Monterey Bay. in Davenport. Until now, this process has been largely limited to instrument Training will cover fireline construction, communications, prescribed fire ignitions, operation of records and observations that begin around 1950. The talk is a firefighting pump, installation of a hose-lay and free, but the suggested donation is $15 per person. more. Wednesday April 7 You will be prepared to participate in local Saturday April 24 NEW TECH MEETUP cooperative burns hosted by the new Central Coast DUCKY DERBY Prescribed Burn Association (calpba.org). If you 7-8:30 p.m. Santa Cruz Works Online do not have wildfire or prescribed fire experience, 2 p.m., Online Fundraiser There is no better place to see what is going on in SC This fundraiser for Omega Nu’s scholarship program will the one-day workshop will be a prerequisite for Tech than at the Santa participation in future CCPBA burns so don’t miss be a virtual event at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 24. Cruz Works New Tech Info: http://www.duckyderbysantacruz.org/#duckyderby out. Meetup. The training can certify you as a Basic Wildland Red Dot Tumblers • by Peter Vizzusi Santa Cruz Works produces as many as 5 events Thursday May 6 Firefighter 2, with pre-completion of online every month — including the Santa Cruz New Tech Gallery Hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. coursework plus an “arduous pack-test” prior REGIONAL ECONOMIC SUMMIT “meetup” — to learn about new tools and practices or by appointment only. To request an appointment for you and/or to attending the in-person field day if you are 9:30 a.m. to Noon, Online Event to ignite your entrepreneurial flame and clinics where your group (no more than 10) visit: pvarts.org/appointment/ interested. The Monterey Bay Economic Partnership’s 7th Annual you can learn new skills. Cost: $20 with scholarships available upon request. Space is Regional Economic Summit will take place online. Visit www.santacruzworks.org for more details. Saturday April 10 limited. This virtual event will explore how our region is doing Full Details and Registration at: https://ucanr.edu/survey/ PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE economically and opportunities to reimagine our region Friday April 9 survey.cfm?surveynumber=33128. 5 p.m. while taking advantage of relief and stimulus funds, plus For questions email Jared Childress (childress.ember@gmail. new ways to help workers upskill and reskill. The second installment of your tax bill is due Feb. 1 and thru May 23 com) or Devii Rao (drorao@ucanr.edu). n becomes delinquent after Dee Dee Myers, senior advisor to the Gov. Newsome TAKE AWAYS — ART TO GO 5 p.m. with penalties if not and director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Appointment Only, 37 Sudden St., Watsonville Wednesday April 14 received by the Santa Cruz Economic Development (GO-Biz), will share what the Pajaro Valley Arts invites you to a fundraising County Tax Collector by that date and time. state is doing to keep companies in California, insights exhibit, Take Aways: Art to Go! This is an invitational Drop boxes for checks are available at the county Governmental HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF LINKEDIN into the current legislative session, implications for our 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m., Santa Cruz Works Online exhibit featuring 76 local artists from Santa Cruz Center, 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz. Social media coach Karen Kefauver will talk about how region, and how the budget surplus is being used to County. to make the most of the business network LinkedIn. Free provide relief to businesses affected by the pandemic. Sunday April 11 Works includes sculpture, drawing, ceramics, fiber, Register at https://tinyurl.com/MBE-dee-deeif you give your contact information to the Santa Cruz PRESCRIBED BURN WORKSHOPS mixed media, encaustic (wax), printmaking, photogmyers (full URL: https://mbep.biz/events/ Small Business Development Center. raphy, glasswork, and are priced to fit many budgets. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Davenport • Registration due by April 4. save-the-date-7th-annual-regional-economic-summit/?mc_ RSVP at www.santacruzworks.org Learn the fundamentals of prescribed firelighting and Curators are Jane Gregorius and Chris Miroyan. cid=629c9a71e4&mc_eid=66244ddae7) n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / April 1st 2021 / 29

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Exploring Criminal Justice Reforms

he Criminal Justice Council of Santa Cruz County was created more than 30 years ago in an effort to provide increased coordination and cooperation between criminal justice partners — government, non-profit, educational and others — to reduce youth involvement in gangs. The Criminal Justice Council, or CJC, focuses discussions on prevention and intervention as well as reentry programs — rather than simply a suppression model. For example, a little over a year ago the CJC hosted a conference on the role of women and girls in gangs. The conference afforded criminal justice and community service providers and the community at-large an opportunity to hear from experts on the role of women and girls in gangs as well as a panel of young women with lived experience in gangs. This is a rarely-discussed facet of gang involvement and one that the CJC felt was important to highlight in order to improve how communitybased outreach occurs to women/ girls in gangs. As a result of the conference, agencies began looking into outreach efforts to this population and ways they could improve reaching women and girls who are in, or may join, gangs. Additionally, the CJC has worked with school districts, nonprofits and others on intervention and prevention programs to reduce youth involvement in gangs in general. From supporting educational efforts, nonprofit sporting leagues, conferences that provide viewpoints from those with lived experience and more. The CJC does these events

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

with volunteers and small contributions from the member agencies. Who Is On The CJC? wide variety of community public safety partners serve on the CJC. Local police chiefs, the county sheriff, the chief probation officer, district attorney, leadership of two local nonprofits, two local judges, the public defender, the county superintendent of schools, the president of Cabrillo College, two county supervisors, elected representatives from the local cities and more participate. It’s a diverse group that, having participation from local education and nonprofit social program providers, helps create discussions beyond just backend suppression activity toward front-end prevention opportunities. Focus This Year his year, the CJC decided to focus our efforts on law enforcement policies and procedures and working to standardize (where possible) some policies across the county. Many local agencies have begun to implement reforms — including policies around warrants and community contact. But often these policies aren’t known and if they don’t exist there isn’t necessarily a standard in understanding where the gaps are or how current policies can be improved. With these diverse perspectives at the table this year, CJC is hoping to create a model for criminal justice efforts such as communicating existing policies and creating greater criminal justice reforms — including policy and procedure updates. To Learn More he CJC meets quarterly and these meetings are open to the public. Over the last year (and into the foreseeable future) these meetings have

30 / April 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

been virtual. The next meeting of the CJC is on May 13 at 3 p.m. As an all-volunteer organization we are still working on a website with more information on the CJC and future/upcoming meetings (the website is santacruzcjc.org) but you are always welcome to call my office and we can provide you with the link for attending. For the last few years I’ve served as

chair of the CJC and would be happy to provide additional information. n ••• If you have any questions about the CJC, or any other matters in our district, please don’t hesitate to call me at 454-2200. I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/supervisorfriend regarding COVID updates and other Countyrelated matters.

The conference afforded criminal justice and community service providers and the community at-large an opportunity to hear from experts on the role of women and girls in gangs as well as a panel of young women with lived experience in gangs. Local News ... Local Sports ... Local Politics ...

SCCAS Featured Pet

COMMUNITY NEWS

CDC Changes School Desk Guidance

Science Says Three Feet Between Student Desks Plus Masks Provide Safety

High Energy, Lotsa Love

crossword on 25 »

iya, hiya, hiya!! I’m Flipper (A279631), but I call myself FLIPS! Why? Because watch this! *does jump-spin.* Cowabunga dude! Or, um, whatever the people here say. Give me a break, I’m from Modesto! Anyways…HIYA! I’m Flipper, aka FLIPS, and I’m buzzing with excitement for a new home! Shelter staff says I’m a 9 month old, 47lbs, Keeshond mix that is compact and full of energy! Sounds like what they meant to say is, “When you ADIPT the FLIP, it’s time to ZIP”…wait…I don’t know if that… PLAYTIME! That’s what I’m about! Play by myself? I’m my favorite entertainment! Play with other dogs? It’s a tumblin’ fun time! Play with all the humans? Let there be toys! When it’s play time, it’s Flip time; and ain’t no Flip time like a quick zip Flip time! In other words, I’m looking for a fun, fun, fun new family that can keep up with me physically and mentally! Sure I’m young. I may pull a bit on leash, chase all the squirrels, and get super excited … but for the warmth of a new home I’m willing to learn! Just give me patience and love, and I’ll give you lots of fun!! So come meet me for play time! You can email Jill at jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us to set up an appointment. Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals on our website and then visit the Shelter to turn in your application. All adoptions require proof of home ownership or landlord approval. Please have this information prepared. If an animal is in Foster Care, please bring in your adoption application and schedule an appointment to meet the animal. Call 831-454-7200 x0 during business hours or visit www.scanimalshelter.org for more information! n ••• Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter: Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Watsonville Location: CURRENTLY CLOSED 580 Airport Blvd, Watsonville, CA 95076  SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us

Editor’s Note: On March 20, the California Department of Public Health updated its K-12 Schools Guidance allowing three feet instead of six feet between student desks in classrooms for in-person instruction with students wearing masks. This guidance at https://www. cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/ COVID-19/COVID19-K12-Schools-InPersonInstruction.aspx aligns with the latest science reflected by the March 19 update from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here is the federal update. ••• n March 19, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated K–12 school guidance to reflect the latest science on physical distance between students in classrooms. CDC now recommends that, with universal masking, students should maintain a distance of at least 3 feet in classroom settings. CDC has updated its operational strategy to say: • In elementary schools, CDC recommends all students remain at least 3 feet apart in classrooms where mask use is universal — regardless of whether community transmission is low, moderate, substantial, or high. • In middle and high schools, CDC recommends students should be at least 3 feet apart in classrooms where mask use is universal and in communities where transmission is low, moderate, or substantial. • Middle school students and high school students should be at least 6 feet apart in communities where transmission is high, if cohorting is not possible. Cohorting is when groups of students are kept together with the same peers and staff throughout the school day to reduce the risk for spread throughout the school. This recommendation is because COVID-19 transmission dynamics are different in older students – that is, they are more likely to be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and spread it than younger children. The updated Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ schools-childcare/operation-strategy. html#anchor_1616080121423 is part

of CDC’s existing resources for K–12 schools to open and remain open for inperson instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. This update removed recommendations for physical barriers, clarified the role of community transmission in decision-making, clarified that ventilation is a component of strategies to clean and maintain healthy facilities, and added guidance on interventions when a cluster of three cases occur. Since release of the Operational Strategy on Feb. 12, 2021, CDC has continually reviewed the evolving evidence on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in K–12 schools, as well as the latest science on the effectiveness of different prevention strategies within schools. The updated guidance complements CDC’s existing guidance, resources, and tools for K–12 schools. Three studies, published in the March 19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, address spread of SARS-CoV-2 in schools. Taken together, these studies build on evidence that physical distancing of at least 3 feet between students can safely be adopted in classroom settings where mask use is universal and other prevention measures are taken. “CDC is committed to leading with science and updating our guidance as new evidence emerges,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. “Safe in-person instruction gives our kids access to critical social and mental health services that prepare them for the future, in addition to the education they need to succeed. These updated recommendations provide the evidence-based roadmap to help schools reopen safely, and remain open, for inperson instruction.” n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / April 1st 2021 / 31

everything...so close to home. 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

Senior Hours: Wed. 7:30a.m.- 8a.m.

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

(831) 688-7442 www.deluxefoodsofaptos.com

Support small business with your Recovery dollars We will quickly and carefully fill your Doctor's prescription for eyeglasses

(831) 688-1516 • www.EyeShapesAptos.com Hours: Tues.–Fri. 10-5 | Sat. by Appointment

Deer Park Marketplace #37 | Rio Del Mar/Hwy 1 Aptos | Above Deluxe Foods | Open at 10 Tuesday-Friday

BANKS: Bank of America BUSINESS SERVICES: Anderson

& Company / HOA Management Employnet / Galapagos Travel PDM International

Peak Accounting Services / SAR Asset Mgmt. Inc. / Scurich Insurance Cecy Insurance Services FOOD & DRINK: Deer Park Wine & Spirits / Deluxe Foods

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Panda Inn / Mangiamo Pizza & Wine Bar / Red Apple Cafe PERSONAL SERVICES: Agape Dance Academy / Brian Del Core, DDS / CVS Pharmacy

Del Mar Cleaners / Eye Shapes Opticians / Highlights for Hair J-Bella Nails / Klub Nico / Laser Hair Solutions / Royal Paw Spa / Santa Cruz Dance Supply

Aptos Times: April 1, 2021

Articles inside

mation!, By Rebecca Gold Rubin Can I Get Refunded for My Wedding Rental?, By Christopher Elliott

Letters to the Editor

Bruce McPherson, Supervisor, Fifth District People Love WaterSmart: Convenient, User-Friendly, Great Infor

Exploring Criminal Justice Reforms, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second