Family Owned For Over 30 Years • Aptos, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, Freedom & Watsonville
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Volunteer Center Restarts Helping Hands
For aging adults isolated at home, getting to essential appointments or doing simple home repair is challenging even in “normal” times. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these tasks became nearly impossible for such adults. Full Story page 13
World’s Shortest Parade is Back! Full Story page 4
Little League District 39 Champs Aptos Little League 50/70 Team won the California District 39 Championship on June 24 at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz. Aptos defeated Capitola-Soquel Little League in
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July 1, 2021 • Vol 30 No. 13
the best of three games and will go on to play in the California Sectional Tournament in Santa Clara County starting July 1. Full Story page 15
Churchill Wins CCS High Jump
Elizabeth Churchill, an Aptos High junior, set personal records in three events and won the high jump at the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships, in a crazy year where COVID-19 put the season in jeopardy. Full Story page 11
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No. 13
Volume 30
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Table of Contents
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Cover Little League District 39 Champs 4 5 7
8 10
12 13
16 17 19 20 24 25
Community News World’s Shortest Parade is Back!: Fourth of July • Sunday • Parade starts at 10 a.m. Cowell Beach Water Quality Success Continues • Capitola Beach on National Bummer List Successes, Pitfalls, and Plans for the Future: Grand Jury Report on Distance Learning During the Pandemic in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District • Pajaro Valley Students Heading Back To Campus County Fair Returns September 15-19 • California Rent Deal Could Help Tenants, Landlords, By Jondi Gumz Red Cross Honors Megan Erk, Diane Bridgeman • Nominate a Health Hero • State Earmarks $30 Million for Highway 1 Improvements • Santa Cruz County Jobs Friendly Dog Needs A New Home Volunteer Center Restarts Transportation & Helping Hands, By Trea Robinson • Here Are Some More Ways To Volunteer: Jacob’s Heart / MAH Museum Volunteers Blood Desperately Needed The Lost Freeway Tape: The Story of a New 40-year-old Recording, By Ron Kaplan Cabrillo Stage: Live Music in the Great Outdoors, By Mindy Pedlar Grand Jury: Minimal Jail Staffing Leads to Injustice Acosta Rebuts Call to Remove Her From PVUSD Board Youth in Action Summit: Presented By Friday Night Live • City of Santa Cruz to Receive $14.5M for Homelessness Response
Local Sports 11 Aptos’ Churchill Wins CCS High Jump 15 Little League District 39 Champs, By Steven Allen
Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Hiding Away Under its Shell, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29
23 24 27 30
Featured Columnists Stage 3 Water Cutback: What You Can Do, By Rebecca Gold Rubin Sunday Brunch: You’re Invited To Add One!, By Ron Kustek Perennial Plants Perform For Years, By Tony Tomeo Addressing Fireworks in our Neighborhoods and Beaches, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District
SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 25 – Randy the Bunny
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz
World’s Shortest Parade is Back!
publisher editor
contributing writers Jondi Gumz, Trea Robinson, Ron Kaplan, Mindy Pedlar, Steven Allen, Risa D’Angeles, Rebecca Gold Rubin, Ron Kustek, Tony Tomeo, 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 Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine, Tara Carcamo office coordinator Cathe Race distribution Bill Pooley, James Hudson
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Fourth of July • Sunday • Parade starts at 10 a.m.
e are happy to announce that the 4th of July Parade will be happening this year! Sign up as soon as possible. Note: County Covid regulations will be in effect. Call 831-688-1467 with any questions. Sign up for the parade: https:// tinyurl.com/WSP-sign-up-2021 Look around town for the official Fourth of July Parade Program. ••• Business Decorating Contest Voting: July 1st-5th Theme: Red, White and Blue he public will vote on their favorite decorations starting July 1st on the Aptos Chamber website. This Year’s Business Decorating Participants: • Jet Set Bohemian • Santa Cruz Warriors • Discover Real Estate • Bay Federal Credit Union • Sockshop and Shoe Company • Sereno Real Estate Voting begins July 1st and ends July
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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 Soquel 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 Summer Festivals 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 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 4 / July 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
5th. Visit www.aptoschamber.com starting July 1 to cast your vote! ••• 4th Of July T-Shirts LIMITED SUPPLY LEFT top by the Aptos Chamber, Aptos Feed, Santa Cruz County Bank Aptos, and Deluxe Foods to pick up your shirt today. Cost: $15
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••• PLEASE NOTE: here will be no PANCAKE BREAKFAST or PARTY IN THE PARK This year. Only the Fourth of July Parade. ••• The Aptos Chamber office will be closed on Monday, July 5th. We will reopen on the 6th. Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Santa Cruz Community Credit Union Ribbon Cutting! ••• Save the Date • 2021 Business Showcase: Wednesday, September 29 • 2021 Annual Dinner: Friday, November 5 ••• Leave Your Mark in Aptos Now & Always! ound 3 of the Personalized Brick program are now available in limited supply. Now is the time to buy a piece of history. Price per brick is $250 and includes engraving and installation. Proceeds benefit the Aptos History Museum and Aptos Chamber of Commerce. • 3 Lines per Brick • Character Max Per Line = 15 (letters, spaces, symbols, numbers, etc.) • Available Symbols ( ? ! & + / , . “ # : ; ) • One Size Letters Available (3/4”) ALL CAPITALS ••• Welcome New Member! Julie Pimentel: DeLaveaga Collision DeLaveaga Collision is dedicated to completing your collision repair needs. Formerly KEENER AUTO BODY, DeLaCo is now woman owned but still run by the same great team.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
OUTDOOR MUSICAL FESTIVAL JULY 2 - AUGUST 1, 2021
JULY 9 - 11
Cowell Beach
list over two years now demonstrate the positive power of government working with a focused group of community organizations.” Cowell’s Working Group was launched in 2014 at the direction of the Santa Cruz City Council. It includes representatives from the City, Santa Cruz County, Save The Waves Coalition, Sierra Club and Surfrider Foundation with the mission to study and develop recommendations to improve the water quality at Cowell Beach. “Clean Beach” page 8
JULY 16 - 18
or the second consecutive year, Cowell Beach is not included on Heal the Bay’s “Beach Bummer” list. The environmental nonprofit’s annual Beach Report Card (https://healthebay.org/ beachreportcard2021/), shows the iconic City of Santa Cruz beach — located west of the Municipal Wharf — continues with water quality success in weekly levels of ocean bacterial pollution. This water quality, measured by independent analyses reported in 2020 by the City of Santa Cruz Environmental Laboratory and Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Department, derives from the continuing combined efforts by City of Santa Cruz staff and Cowell’s Working Group. Their work previously revealed and addressed the issue of birds roosting on or near the Wharf as a major source of past water quality issues. “This is such great news,” said Mayor Donna Meyers. “The changes in bacteria data measurements which have kept Cowell Beach off of the ‘Beach Bummer’
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
JON NORDGREN
JULY 2 - 4
Cowell Beach Water Quality Success Continues F
JULY 23 - 25
Capitola Beach on National Bummer List
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Capitola Beach
California was 41 percent lower than the historical average. Capitola Beach east of the jetty rated B. In Aptos, Seacliff State Beach, which is under repair, was rated an A and Rio Del Mar State Beach was unrated for summer. In Santa Cruz, Seabright Beach and Twin Lakes Beach and Mitchell’s Cove were rated A for summer. Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz left the Beach Bummer list for the second straight year after work on the wharf. n ••• To view the 2021 Beach Report card, visit https://healthebay.org/beachreportcard2021
JULY 30 - AUG 1
eal the Bay’s Beach Bummer List ranks Capitola Beach west of the jetty as the third most polluted in California for 2021 based on levels of harmful bacteria in the ocean. It’s not the first time. Soquel Creek discharges into the ocean at Capitola Beach, bringing bacteria from throughout the watershed, resulting in a rating of F from Heal the Bay. Polluted waters pose a significant health risk to millions of people in California. People who come in contact with water with a C grade or lower are at a greater risk of contracting illnesses such as stomach flu, ear infections, upper respiratory infections, and rashes, according to Heal the Bay. Beaches and rivers usually have highrisk water quality following a rain event. Less rain typically means that reduced amounts of pollutants, including bacteria, are flushed through storm drains and rivers into the ocean. However, this wasn’t the case this past winter. Rainfall across coastal counties in
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“Aptos Chamber News” from page 4 This team has been serving the Santa Cruz area for nearly 30 years. Our techs are iCAR certified and stay up-to-date on repair processes and new technologies! DeLaCo’s success rides on the goal of providing the finest auto collision repair services possible. We accept all insurance and can assist with out-of-pocket jobs. Stop by or give us a call! 1215 Water St., Santa Cruz, CA 95062 • 831-458-3351 • www.delaveagacollision. com • info@delaveagacollision.com ••• Thank you renewed members! Ohana Wealth Management ur mission is to get to know and understand your needs, wants, and long-term goals. We want to help you develop, implement, and monitor a strategy that’s designed to address your individual situation.
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Deer Park Wine & Spirits e specialize in fine wine and spirits! At Deer Park Wine & Spirits, we are committed to finding the right product for all your beverage needs. Nigel Belton Consulting Arborist ffers tree inventories and management plans, Tree inspections, tree health and structural condition assessments and hazard evaluations, Tree preservation and protection reports concerning residential, municipal and commercial development projects, Tree management reports for property owners, Home Owners Associations, institutions and municipalities, The provision of Arborist Report and Expert witness services n ••• Aptos Chamber of Commerce 7605 A Old Dominion Court Aptos, CA 95003 www.aptoschamber.com
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Successes, Pitfalls, and Plans for the Future
Grand Jury Report on Distance Learning During the Pandemic in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District
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n March of 2020, schools began closing across California as the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic hit home. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD), the largest in Santa Cruz County serving over 20,000 students, made plans to close for two weeks. PVUSD moved quickly, creating and putting plans in place that provided for distance learning and a way to communicate with students, teachers, and families. As it turned out, students were out of school for approximately one year. PVUSD is to be applauded for its agile and broad response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Within five days the district furnished the students with computers and internet access. Teachers and students received training in distance learning. Social services were provided to families. Students, parents, and teachers have been surveyed numerous times, providing information on what worked and what did not. PVUSD should analyze and apply
these findings, and continue with evaluations when schools reopen. The findings should be documented and shared so that distance learning can be further improved in the upcoming school year and beyond to help students succeed. In our unpredictable world, distance learning is here to stay. Background he COVID-19 pandemic has forced students everywhere to employ new ways of learning when their schools closed down. The focus of this investigation is on PVUSD because it serves nearly half of all students in the county, contains the greatest percentage of low-income and Latinx families, and is in the area with the highest COVID-19 case rate in the county. Within five days of the schools’ shutdown and the implementation of distance learning, PVUSD updated its webpage with information for the community and equipped all students with Chromebook computers and school supply bags to help prepare them for remote learning. Students without internet connection
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Pajaro Valley Students Heading Back To Campus
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he Pajaro Valley Unified School District released the results of a May survey, showing that 65 percent of the community is planning to return to campus for the 2021-22 school year. Over 3,000 parents and students responded, including 37 percent from high school families. 30 percent of the people responding were students. Only 13 percent of the respondents planned to use Pajaro’s distance learning program — PVUSD Virtual Academy — while the other 22 were still considering their options. Approximately 40 percent felt it was important for employees and students to still be monitored via screenings (students) and testing (teachers) despite CDPH no longer requiring it, and over 50 percent felt mid-to-high levels of anxiety about returning to “pre-COVID” activities. Over 70 percent of the people answering the survey said COVID-19 had mid-to-high impact on their mental health, while 80 percent felt they had mid-to-high levels of support from family, friends, councilors, co-workers, etc. 64 percent said they didn’t need any extra support at this time.
Other highlights from the survey included some lists showing what key impacts the last year had on them. Here are some of the top answers: • Highest Loss/Change: Important Experiences • Most Important Academic Support: Continued Access to Chromebook • Most Important Culture/Climate Practice: Peer-to-Peer Connection Activities • Most Important Health and Safety Strategy: PPE The survey also had a list of feedback suggestions and plans, including: • Establish restorative start for first 3 weeks of school • Launch Parent Engagement and Wellness centers • Higher additional support staff, including counselors, mental health clinicians, intervention teachers and instructional assistants for students up to first grade • Develop learning hubs at secondary schools • Expand investment in community partners n
at home had Safe Spaces provided. These spaces gave students secure and safe places to do their school work and also served as a location for resources, with school staff working to meet individual student needs for food, clothing, and counseling support. Additionally, 500 hotspots, some in school busses, were made available throughout the district to ensure that all students had access to internet connections. Community programs provided families in need with meals, clothing, rental assistance, and counseling. Agencies collaborated to take care of their community by removing obstacles and finding innovative solutions. Funding through the CARES Act helped to improve and upgrade some of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in the district’s schools. It should be noted that planning for school closures had been ongoing for
months, beginning as early as January 2020. Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez sent the first communication to the educational community about COVID-19 on January 24,2020. The effect of the pandemic has been more severe for students living in poverty, are of color, LGBTQ, or have learning and/or social-emotional problems. Teachers, too, have struggled, having to quickly learn new approaches to teach and communicate with students and families, often while parenting their own children in the home. The Grand Jury wanted to find out how distance learning has worked for all concerned. It will be important for PVUSD to process the lessons learned so that distance learning can be utilized in the best possible way in the future. “Grand Jury” page 9
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COMMUNITY NEWS
County Fair Returns September 15-19 T he Santa Cruz County will return Sept 15-19 at the county fairgrounds in Watsonville, after a year in which the infectious new coronavirus COVID-19 squelched all gathering events. “We intend to gather in person and put on a full and joyous celebration of community,” said Santa Cruz County Fair CEO Dave Kegebein in an announcement June 21 after Gov. Newsom opened the state for business as normal since COVID-19 case spread was down dramatically across the state as 40 million vaccines were administered and close to 19 million people were fully vaccinated. “The 2021 fair will look a lot like the
last fair we put on in 2019,” Kegebein added. That includes the animals, the rides, Fair food, strolling through the exhibit halls, motorsports on Wednesday and Thursday nights, music on the main stage, everything fairgoers love will be back, according to Kegebein, who said volunteers are eager to get started. Tickets will be available soon along with updates on the Fair website as the army of volunteers build their departments around the theme of “Cool Shades and Tractor Parades.” n ••• Updates and online tickets will start appearing at santacruzcountyfair.com
“We intend to gather in person and put on a full and joyous celebration of community. The 2021 fair will look a lot like the last fair we put on in 2019.”
— Santa Cruz County Fair
California Rent Deal Could Help Tenants, Landlords
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By Jondi Gumz ood news for renters and landlords — a state deal announced June 25 extends the eviction moratorium
until Sept. 30 and pay landlords all the back rent that went unpaid during the pandemic. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the deal Monday, June 28. The deal is in AB832. Some tenants lost their jobs, others had COVID-19 medical bills or other financial hardship and thus didn’t pay rent. Tenant lawyers say evictions for other issues are still happening. Landlords were offered another deal earlier to pay to 80 percent of back rent,
“Clean Beach” from page 5 “Santa Cruz beachgoers can continue to enjoy a healthy ocean thanks to all of the group’s efforts at Cowell’s,” said Save The Waves Coordinator Shaun Burns. “It’s a great win for the community and the World Surfing Reserve, and we’ll continue to work hard to improve our local beaches.” A critical factor in the Cowell Beach water quality success has been the installation of bird screening designed to reduce pigeons and gulls roosting and defecating under the Wharf. Another important
Neary Lagoon sliding gates 8 / July 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
requiring them to forgive the remainder. But it wasn’t popular, perhaps due to bureaucratic requirements. The state paid out only $61 million of the $659 million counties requested in aid, indicating a need was not met. Both deals relate to residential properties; it’s not clear whether there will be additional aid for small businesses or restaurants/food trucks that did not get forgivable loans or outright grants from the federal government. The Santa Cruz County is doing
installation has been the sliding gates placed at Neary Lagoon to keep bacteria-infested water there from flowing through a storm outlet vault and onto Cowell Beach during summer months. A third installation of a steel plate at the Neary outfall pipe below sea level has diverted the flow of bacteria-laden water to the Wastewater Treatment Facility for treatment and disinfection. “These installations, in combination with now routine City cleaning and management practices at the Neary Lagoon outlet and Cowell Beach vault, plus Main Beach cleaning and management practices, have radically reduced bacteria count,” said Laboratory and Environmental Compliance Manager Akin Babatola who has led the City’s scientific efforts. The City and Cowell’s Working Group will continue their efforts with plans to further monitor water quality and enhance public understanding of the situation at Cowell Beach. n ••• More information on Cowell Beach water quality improvement is available at http://www.savethewaves.org/ cowells/
better as of May with unemployment at 6.8 percent and a big jump from April in farm jobs and hospitality and food service jobs, though those categories often are low-paying. Capitola Produce is looking for a clerk, paying $13 an hour to start. The city of Capitola is surveying residents about accessory dwelling units: Budgeting, style preferences, and the amount of time to permit and build. To view that survey, visit www.cityofcapitola. org/ n
Bird screening installation at the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.
“Grand Jury” from page 7 On March 14, 2020, there were seven cases of COVID-19 in Santa Cruz County. One of them was an employee at Rio Del Mar Elementary School, part of PVUSD. That same day, the PVUSD Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting to unanimously approve a plan to close all district schools for two weeks, and allow most employees to work from home. As part of this mandate, PVUSD technology employees were tasked with disinfecting some 15,000 Chromebooks for students to use at home. The district, along with local company Cruzio and Equal Access Santa Cruz County, provided internet access to the district’s students, some of whom lived in remote areas of the county. Schools across the state were planning to close for one to two weeks. However, PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez said at the time, “This is not going to go away in a few weeks, so we need to have continuity of learning.” Scope and Methodology he Grand Jury conducted interviews of administrators, teachers, students, and parents. We listened to webinars featuring these groups. We requested and examined documents and monitored newspapers, Facebook postings, and internet sources for updates on local school issues. Investigation he PVUSD, with over 20,000 students, is a large school district managing, 16 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 3 high schools, 8 charter and alternative schools, and 1 adult education school. On January 28, 2020 the PVUSD Superintendent sent out a note to staff and families informing the district about the potential of a COVID-19 pandemic, what individuals could do, and what actions PVUSD and the County Public Health Division was taking. This was one of the earliest efforts to keep the community informed about COVID-19. Dr. Rodriguez’s FAQs, which provided updated information on COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, safety protocols, internet access, and school closures, continued consistently throughout these early days and beyond. On March 14, 2020, when the schools were ordered to stop in-person learning, it was not a complete surprise to the PVUSD administration, faculty, students and parents. Within five days of the schools’ shutdown and the implementation of distance learning, PVUSD equipped the district’s students with Chromebook computers and school supply bags to help prepare them for remote learning. However, despite the tremendous success in providing the majority of students internet access, approximately 400 students don’t effectively participate. These
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students live in rural areas of the county. Some did not pick up their Chromebook or have reliable internet access, and some the district was unable to locate. Social Anxiety he social-emotional issues that students experienced during the pandemic have been worrisome for administrators, teachers, and parents. Some students hesitate or avoid turning their computer cameras on because of privacy issues; they don’t want others to see how they live. Some are lonely, tired, depressed, or are being abused. Some have no one at home who can help with schoolwork and computer issues. Some have experienced serious illness and deaths in their families. Some are in desperate need of food, clothing, and housing. Others need to care for younger siblings while parents work, or need to work themselves to help out financially. Teachers have been trained to look for signs of distress, and reach out to students and families via the Internet, mail, and phone. Home visits and support from PVUSD Student Services, Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, and other social service agencies have increased. More funding and support for qualified outreach staff will be needed to effectively continue these services. Some students, however, have thrived with distance learning. They say they have more time to focus on schoolwork and have fewer distractions and social pressures. Some like the ease with which they can communicate with teachers. Remote learning can be a complement to in-person learning, allowing students to explore additional areas of interest. It can also be used to help students needing extra help academically. Governor Newsom has said it will definitely be a part of California’s educational system, even when schools reopen, and that money is available to help with funding. The pandemic offers an opportunity to think “out of the box.” “What we’re hearing very broadly from schools all across the state is that they do want to have some level of flexibility to continue to provide distance learning for some families,” said Kevin Gordon, president of Capitol Advisors, a lobbying firm representing hundreds of California school districts. Parents Participate More he role of parents has also changed during the pandemic. They are more involved now than ever before. Virtual communication has made it easier to participate. The Superintendent’s office is concerned with the emotional needs of parents as well as the students. Parents can join live meetings and provide feedback. PVUSD sends out updates on the web at least once a week to provide current information and resources. Teachers have received continued support for digital
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training throughout this timespan of distance learning. PVUSD provides a Digital Learning Resources website that provides direct assistance for teachers with technical support and access to tools and resources. The site also provides direct coaching support through the County Office of Education Teacher On Special Assignment (TOSA) program. Parents and students have access to the website with online activities and distance learning support. Teachers have continued to receive training and support throughout the pandemic. They have put in hours of unpaid time to participate in trainings. While everyone — teachers, administrators, students, and families – is striving to make remote learning work, it has left many of them tired and frustrated. Multi-Lingual Support VUSD has put a good deal of effort into reaching students and families who speak Spanish and Mixteco bajo, with multi-lingual family support staff and phone-based and in-person technical help. The PVUSD superintendent has said it is important to listen, provide information, and engage families in their preferred language. As schools reopen, safety protocols are a big challenge, as well as how to continue to help students academically, socially, and emotionally. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has laid out safeguards such as masks, physical distancing, sanitizing, ventilation upgrades, testing and contact tracing. Randi Weingarten, AFT president, said: We must reimagine learning beyond COVID-19 and create the conditions to help all children thrive. Rather than the traditional spring state testing, we should assess and respond to students’ wide-ranging needs; support our most vulnerable students; focus on educators’ professional learning and growth to
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meet these unprecedented challenges; and promote equity and excellence in all of our public schools. The PVUSD Board of Trustees has approved a plan to ease graduation requirements for high school students who have experienced learning loss. It was found that 85% of the seniors at Aptos High School are on track to graduate this year, along with 66% of those at Pajaro Valley High and 65% at Watsonville High – all percentages down from previous years. As one local parent said, “Hopefully the focus won’t be on catching students up academically, but rather that they talk about the experience. There is a lot to be learned.” Conclusion he PVUSD Board of Trustees approved a plan to close all district schools for two weeks beginning on March 16, 2020. The District moved quickly, putting previously thought-out plans in place that provided for distance learning and a path for communicating with students, teachers, and families. PVUSD is to be applauded for its agile and broad response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first five days after the schools shut down the district furnished the students with computers and internet access. Teachers and students received training in distance learning. Critical social services were provided to families. PVUSD can learn from the immediate and commendable actions taken to put distance learning in place. This is the time to evaluate what worked and what didn’t. Classes look different as safety measures are established and there are new concerns as students and teachers have returned to the classroom. PVUSD services need to be provided as the community heals from COVID-19, especially to those most vulnerable and difficult to locate. n
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Red Cross Honors Megan Erk, Diane Bridgeman O n April 27, the American Red Cross of the Central Coast honored chapter volunteers from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties giving Dr. Diane Bridgeman of Santa Cruz the top honor, the Clara Barton Award. Named after the founder of the American Red Cross, the award recognizes a volunteer for service in a series of leadership position over a number of years. A volunteer in Santa Cruz County since 1991, Dr. Bridgeman has been a staple of the local chapter ’s Disaster Cycle Services and Service to the Armed Forces teams. She has also made significant contributions to the International Services department. “A member of our chapter for 30 years, Dr. Diane Bridgeman is really the embodiment of compassion turned to action,” said Michele Averill, CEO of the local chapter. “As the territory lead for Red Cross mental health services, Dr. Bridgeman is constantly called upon to take care of our local workforce, aid residents affected by disasters, and provide compassionate support to our local communities during incidents that involve mass casualties.” The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Megan Erk of Aptos. She stepped up as COVID-19 broke out in March of 2020. She jumped in to support American Red Cross blood drives with thoughtful reassurances of safety to donors and the broader community. She became an active board member at the chapter level as well as on the regional executive board. When wildfires broke out last fall, and when there was potential for mudslides during the winter, she
Photo courtesy of American Red Cross
Aptos’ Megan Erk, on deployment due to a Texas Hurricane.
took on the Emergency Operations Center liaison role, working 18-hour days to ensure the Red Cross communicated with the county, partners, and survivors
honestly and deliberately. She has now been promoted to the Pacific Division External Relations Lead, proving her professional and thoughtful communications approach. Other volunteers also were recognized at the virtual event: • Disaster Cycle Services Award / Exceptional Leadership — Edmund Tang (Santa Cruz) • Disaster Cycle Services Award / Extraordinary Commitment and Dedication — Al & Virginia Becker (Santa Cruz) • International Services Award — Jill Hofmann (Santa Cruz) • Biomedical Services Volunteer of the Year Award — Ben Roumimper (Santa Cruz) • General Support Services Award — Lee Hedgepeth (Monterey) • New Volunteer Award — Ann Bennett Young (Santa Cruz) • Good Neighbor and Partnership Award — Denise Acosta, The Salvation Army of Santa Cruz Other volunteers were celebrated for the large number of hours they devoted to Red Cross service during the 2020 calendar year. The annual event is designed to acknowledge all of the local Red Cross volunteers. “Our dedicated and wonderful volunteers have continued to support the mission of the Red Cross, even during this challenging time of COVID-19,” said Averill. “Their selfless contributions of time and energy make the work of the Red Cross possible.” n
COMMUNITY BRIEFS Nominate a Health Hero f there ever was a time to celebrate a health hero, this is it! Our Pajaro Valley community is coming through COVID now because we each stepped up to help ensure our own and other’s safety. But some individuals stepped out beyond their role, their job, or their service in the care of others’ health and well-being during the pandemic. And still others have played a role over many years in transforming the health outlook of the Pajaro Valley. Help us honor those who have contributed in truly unique ways to a healthier, more equitable community, and nominate them for the Community Health Trust’s annual Phil Rather Award for Leadership in Healthcare (https://pvhealthtrust.org/ honoringthelegacy/) Since 1999, the Community Health Trust has recognized the work of individuals and organizations with the Rather Award, named in honor of Mr. Rather’s legacy of service to the Pájaro Valley community. Over three decades Phil Rather advocated for access to healthcare for Pájaro Valley residents, especially those
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facing economic and social barriers. And he championed the creation of the Community Health Trust’s Diabetes Health Center (https://pvhealthtrust.org/programs/diabetes-health-center/) which has filled a significant gap in diabetes prevention and self-management education services for the community. If you know someone who, like Phil Rather, has taken action to build a culture of good health and well-being in the Pajaro Valley, nominate them today! (https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/N6LC89Q) ~~~ We would love to hear from you. Take our short surveys to hear what’s important to you as a donor and to provide input on our 2021 signature annual event, An Evening of Wine & Roses! You could even win a chance for free tickets to the event. Donor & Partner Survey: https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/NPPLX2L •••
10 / July 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
State Earmarks $30 Million for Highway 1 Improvements n June 30, the California Transportation Commission allocated more than $30.3 million for the 41st Avenue to Soquel Avenue Auxiliary Lanes Project on Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County. The project will include auxiliary lanes from 41st Avenue to Soquel Avenue and a pedestrian/bicycle overcrossing at Mar Vista Drive. The final environmental impact report was released in mid-May and is posted at https://sccrtc.org/projects/ streets-highways/hwy1corridor/ bayporter-statepark/. Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, accounts for $29.8 million of this investment. “This major allocation by the California Transportation Commission will improve safety for pedestrians and bicycle riders in the communities of Santa Cruz and Capitola. This important project is moving forward as a direct result of SB-1 and our commitment to multi-modal transportation,” said Caltrans District 5 Director Tim Gubbins.
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••• Santa Cruz County Jobs Report posted June 18 May unemployment 6.8% May 2021 Change from a year ago Leisure & hospitality 9,500 Up 2,000 Trade/transportation/ 16,200 Up 2,000 utilities Manufacturing 7,100 Up 700 Private ed. & health 17,100 Up 700 Other services 4,500 Up 500 Prof. & biz services 10,500 Up 300 Construction 4,500 Up 300 Financial 3,100 0 Information 500 0 Government 19,400 Down 900 Nonfarm 92,400 Up 5,600 Farm 9.900 Up 900 Total 102,300 Up 6,500 Labor Force 132,000 Up .5% Employed 123,000 Up 9.3% Unemployed 9,000 Down 52% Count is on the 12th of the month. *Includes commuting to jobs outside county Sources: California Employment Development Department
LOCAL SPORTS
Aptos’ Churchill Wins CCS High Jump E lizabeth Churchill, an Aptos High junior, set personal records in three events and won the high jump at the Central
Elizabeth Churchill
Coast Section Track and Field Championships, in a crazy year where COVID-19 put the season in jeopardy. Elizabeth ignored that and stuck to her routine. Her dad Kurt said she went to practice every day “and it paid off.” She was the only Santa Cruz County Athletic League athlete to place first in the competition, which took place June 19 at Soquel High. Her top event, the high jump, she made it over the bar at 5-foot-6-inches. She took second in the 100meter hurdles in 16.09 seconds. Her previous best was 16.62. She took seventh in the long jump, leaping 16 feet, 8 and 1/4 inches. Elizabeth garnered 20 points for the Aptos girls, which tied for sixth place. Nice going! n ••• Photos courtesy of Kurt Churchill
Elizabeth Churchill is all smiles as she stands in the center of the podium during the medal ceremony.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
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Friendly Dog Needs A New Home
f you need a pandemic puppy, this fourlegged shepherd/pit mix could be your new buddy. Fawn’s caretaker passed away recently and she is now in a foster home. She is a healthy Australian Shephard/ Pit mix, around 10 years old, weighing 58 lbs. She is spayed, up-to-date on vaccinations, and is house trained. Fawn enjoys walks, but is just as happy to hang out at home to take a nap or watch TV with you — just don’t forget the belly rubs! Fawn is very friendly, but gets excited when meeting other dogs. Once she is properly introduced, she becomes her usual playful self. She has been in training — mainly working on leash manners. Her trainer says Fawn is a kind, calm, and goofy dog who “has bursts of puppy energy that are absolutely adorable. Her ideal home would be with no cats. If you are looking for a loyal companion who loves to snuggle and is eagerly waiting to find love again, please call
Kay Patel at 831-818-6888 or email her at kaypatel1039@gmail.com. n
COMMUNITY NEWS
Volunteer Center Restarts Transportation & Helping Hands
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By Trea Robinson
or aging adults isolated at home, getting to essential appointments or doing simple home repair is challenging even in “normal” times. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these tasks became nearly impossible for such adults. The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County Transportation Program & Helping Hands Program have served to address the needs of ambulatory seniors and the disabled by offering rides throughout the county and donationbased home repairs. Earlier in the pandemic, the Volunteer Center was not able to mobilize volunteers for these programs due to restrictions. With restrictions easing, these programs have begun serving this vulnerable population again and there is a long waiting list of seniors eagerly waiting for support. “We are excited to be able to once again help our older adult community with safety modifications and essential rides. Our waitlist for both Helping Hands and Transportation is huge and it continues to grow as we struggle to catch up on the requests that came in during the pandemic,” said Senior Program Manager Tara Ireland. The Transportation Program matches volunteer drivers with seniors age 55+ and disabled individuals for essential trips to medical appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks. Rides are provided throughout Santa
Here Are Some More Ways To Volunteer
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Jacob’s Heart
acob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services is looking for volunteers. Ann, Diane, 1998-2018 2 0 A N N I V E R S A R Y and Mamiche — three amazing volunteers — have created card kits for children to take home. Summer is just around the corner. If you don’t have any plans, come volunteer with us. TH
“Jacob’s Heart” page 16
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MAH Museum Volunteers
ow that the state and county have relaxed COVID restrictions, volunteers are invited to help the Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. A couple of ways to do that: •••
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“MAH” page 16 Cruz County including Watsonville, San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley, and Santa Cruz. “Volunteer” page 16
The plays in our 2021 season explore the enormous impact an individual can have on history. Witness the political intrigue of RII and the passionate struggles of The Agitators. You will want a front row seat as we joyfully regather in The Grove. —Mike Ryan, Artistic Director
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santacruzshakespeare.org Box Office: 831-460-6399 Dave Kjos and Mark Null are two of the Helping Hands volunteers who provide safety checks for seniors. More volunteers are needed.
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 1st 2021 / 13
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LOCAL SPORTS
Little League District 39 Champs
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By Steven Allen
020 was not a good year for baseball. Schools were closed, social distancing protocols were in place and field space was hard to come by. Little League was put on pause and many 11 and 12 years olds didn’t know when they would get the chance to again play baseball. Things changed in spring of 2021. Restrictions started to ease, teams were allowed to form and eventually begin to practice, despite new rules put in place for masks and distancing. California Little League District 39 voted to bring back a little known division for 12 and 13 year olds knows as “50-70” Intermediate Division. 50/70 stands for field dimensions of a 50’ pitching distance and 70’ base lines. The goal was to allow the kids who lost out in 2020 to have one more year of Little League. Aptos formed a 50/70 team and competed all season with teams from Cap/ Soquel, Santa Cruz, Live Oak and SLV. Aptos came out on top of the regular season and managed to finally beat their longtime rival, Cap/Soquel last week in the 50/70 All Star Tournament held at Harvey West Park. The Aptos Intermediate All Star Team will now go onto battle teams from California District 59, District 12 and District 44, in the Regional Tournament, which will be held this week in East San Jose. If Aptos can get through this completion, they would
Aptos Little League 50/70 team with their District 39 championship banner. go on to play in the California Section Tournament later in July. The experience of again playing baseball has been wonderful for the kids, parents and fans. We are so happy
that Aptos was able to end their Little League experience on a high note. Thank you to the Little League Board of Directors, School Board, parents, coaches and volunteers for helping make this happen. n ••• Aptos 50/70 Intermediate All Star Team Players Derek Allen Isaiah Work Ace McDaniel Chase Bauen Luke Williams Michael Slaughter Cameron Cassidy Sam Garroutte Maverick Tidd Jack Williams Brady Reynolds Loren Smith Soren Grant Coaches Ed Work Steve Allen Joey Cassidy
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Blood Desperately Needed
he American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage that is negatively affecting blood product availability across the country. Blood and platelet donors are needed now to help ensure hospital shelves are stocked with blood products over the Fourth of July holiday and beyond. As a thank-you, all those who come to give July 1-6 will receive a Red Cross embroidered hat by mail, while supplies last. And, donors who come to give July 7-31 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, plus a chance to win gas for a year, a $5,000 value. n
“MAH” from page 13 MAH Community Events mail Jamie at jamie@santacruzmah.org to volunteer at these events. • Saturday, July 24, 9am-1pm & 2-6pm. Race Through Time • Thursday, Aug. 5, 6-10pm. Private opening/member event • Saturday, Aug. 28, 10am-2pm. Family Slime Time! • Sunday, Aug. 29, 10am-2pm. Family Slime Time! • Sept. 16-19, time to be determined. Frequency: A Festival of Light, Sound, & Digital Culture
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EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURES WITH CONFIDENCE
“Jacob’s Heart” from page 13 • Visit the volunteer center, open 10 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday at 680 W. Beach St., Watsonville. There are tons of supplies you can use to make creative kid’s cards or decorate grocery bags.
“Volunteers” from page 13
Endless opportunities await your student at Kirby School. Visit kirby.org and contact our Admissions team to learn more about our Test-Free Application process and to schedule a tour. Kirby School 425 Encinal Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 KIRBY.ORG 831-423-0658 admissions@kirby.org 16 / July 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
“It is one of the founding programs of our organization and has been 100% volunteer run since its inception. All drivers and ride dispatchers are community volunteers,” said Executive Director Karen Delaney. Drivers can choose to make as little as one trip a month, or they can drive as often as they wish. They choose their own hours and destinations. All rides happen on weekdays during business hours, and drivers may receive mileage reimbursement. Helping Hands program volunteers play a crucial role in helping low-income senior homeowners, disabled older adults and veterans age safely in their homes.
••• Here are the July blood drives: Aptos July 10: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive Santa Cruz July 7: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Holy Cross Church, 170 High St. July 13: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hotel Paradox, 611 Ocean St. July 14: 1- 6 p.m., Simpkins Family Swim Center, 979 17th Ave.
••• First Friday Celebrations he MAH is a stop on the First Friday Art Tour. Join the MAH in welcoming art lovers from across Santa Cruz County. • Aug. 6th, 1-5pm & 5-9pm, First Friday: Santa Cruz Speed Wheels Opening • Sept. 3, 1-5pm & 5pm-9pm, First Friday: Do You Know My Name Opening • Oct. 1, 1-5pm & 5-9pm, First Friday: Queer Santa Cruz Opening • Nov. 5, 1-5pm & 5-9pm, First Friday: Dia de los Muertos • Dec. 3, 1-5pm & 5-9pm, First Friday: Teen Art Market n
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• If you don’t have much time but would still like to help, you can pick up supplies and work at your own convenience from home. • Come tour the beautifully renovated center and find out other ways that you can get involved. Call Paola Montes at 831-724-9100 or email volunteer@jacobsheart.org.
Volunteers provide home safety checks and basic modifications that prevent falls in and around the home and allow for seniors to engage in the activities they enjoy. “Our volunteers are the hearts and hands of our programs. The services and connections they provide literally save lives. We could not operate these valuable programs without them,” said Ireland. If you would like to give your time to a local senior in need, please reach out to either of these programs via the phone numbers below. • Helping Hands: 831-427-5070 x105 • Transportation: 831-427-3435 ••• For more information, visit https://sc volunteercenter.org/programs/
COMMUNITY NEWS
The Lost Freeway Tape
The Story of a New 40-year-old Recording By Ron Kaplan On June 16, 1981, before pitching his songs to an Artist & Repertoire Representative from a major record label on Hollywood Boulevard, Ronald Steven Kaplan employed the technique utilized by other musicians of recording on cassette tape his chosen songs for presentation to the A&R Rep by mailing himself a date and time stamped, sealed, registered and certified envelope to protect the publishing & copyrights of this material. As an archival artifact, and complement to his recently released October 2020 book entitled Song of Ron, including the poetic lyrics of these songs and others written between 1976-1983, he decided to make this recording: The Lost Freeway Tape available to the public as well, and is the perfect musical companion to accompany it. (https://ronaldstevenkaplan.hearnow. com/) What makes this material unique and
of special interest is that with the exception of the song L.A. Reggae, is that these songs were recorded in one take on a warm summer’s day with an open window allowing the background sounds of the never ending traffic flow where the 101 and 405 freeways intersect in Los Angeles. And, if you listen very carefully, in addition to the sounds of traffic, you will hear an occasional bird chirping in, a typewriter, and a chuckle from Ron’s future bride to be. A c c o r d i n g l y, Singer/Songwriter Ronald Steven Kaplan stated “It can be said that all songs are love songs... At least that
was what I thought when listening to the radio going through what was once known as a ‘break-up’. And in those songs were tales of Book Cover Song of Ron found love and lost love as an ever present theme across cultures and genres.” “It was then that I turned off the radio and began to learn to play the guitar and write my own songs. So when I look at this collection of my songs I can see that trend. In the beginning it was about love lost, love celebrated, and love sought. And as my mind expanded beyond the world of feelings I began to write on issues,
Ron Kaplan
and ideas, and eventually humor, with humanity at heart, in the process of being human.” n ••• Ron Kaplan lives in Aptos. His art and music can be found at http://ronkaplan.com
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18 / July 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
COMMUNITY NEWS
Cabrillo Stage: Live Music in the Great Outdoors
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By Mindy Pedlar
’m listening in on a rehearsal of the Cabrillo Stage Big Band. What a joy it is to hear live music again! The musicians preparing for ACT 1 of the Cabrillo Stage Summer Musical Festival that will present five different productions over the five weekends in July in the Cabrillo College outdoor amphitheater. Artistic Director and Conductor Jon Nordgren says, “On this very special Independence Day weekend, as we throw off the shackles of the pandemic, we celebrate America with a tribute to popular Big Band Jazz inspired by Broadway. You will hear some of your favorite arrangements from the likes of Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Glen Miller, along with vocal performances by the Stars of Cabrillo Stage including our host Andrew Ceglio.” ACT 1 runs July 2-4. Andrew is also directing, choreographing and appearing in Tomfoolery, Act 4 of the 5-weekend series. He muses, “The opportunity to work not only on this show but on some of the greatest hits of the Tom Lehrer songbook has been an absolute dream come true for me. Mr. Lehrer’s material requires a certain level of intelligent witticism as well as a heaping dose of frivolity, both of which I heartily enjoy. But most importantly, being able to collaborate with one of my favorite Musical Directors of all time, Michael McGushin, not to mention a phenomenal cast of seasoned theatre veterans and colleagues, makes this an experience that people will not want to miss. The pure fun and joy we are having with crafting this production for an eager audience of Tom Lehrer fans will
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be something that I know will be reflected in the quality of the work.” Act 4, Tomfoolery, runs July 23-25. With Covid restrictions still in place for many venues including colleges, Nordgren has found a way to bring music back to our community. His concept uses the outdoor Cabrillo College amphitheater, scaling back the visual elements to create a rustic country festival feel with performances by troupes of actors, singers, dancers and musicians. The lighting will be outdoor daylight with Skip Epperson’s sets — including color-themed flags decorating the entire amphitheater. Moreover as Nordgren has reported, “The highest production values will be embodied by the incredible talent of our performers.” Don’t miss Act 2, Circus-Knives, Blood and Water July 9-11, Act 3, Cabrillo Stage Pit Orchestra July 16-18 and the season finale Act 5, Pirates of Penzance July 30-Aug 1. All performances are in the Cabrillo College Outdoor Amphitheater. Live streaming is available for ACTS 1, 2, and 3. Observing COVID-19 safety protocols, seating is limited. Tickets in the bleachers are sold as Box Seats in sets of 2 ,3, 4 or 5 seats. Lawn seating is available in circular pods of 2, 3, 4 or 6 seats. Prices range from $50 for 2 seats to $215 for 6 seats, depending on placement within the amphitheater. Evening performances begin at 6 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m. n ••• Tickets are available online at cabrillostage. com. Box office hours are Thursday – Saturday, 12-6 p.m.; call 831-479-6154.
Andrew Ceglio, director/choreographer for Tomfoolery.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Grand Jury: Minimal Jail Staffing Leads to Injustice Editor’s note: This is excerpted from the 29-page report by the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury on county jail operations. Email your feedback to Jondi Gumz at info@cyber-times.com ••• he Sheriff’s Office’s senior leadership believes that more staffing is most needed to improve performance and safety. For the past several years the Corrections Bureau has operated with the minimal staffing thought to be necessary, and mandatory overtime to staff each shift has been more the rule than an exception. The Main Jail day shift includes the Watch Commander (a sergeant), two Senior Corrections Officer for housing and booking, and 13 corrections officers assigned to specific posts in the facility. The night shift has the same number of senior people as working on days, but with one less CO, as at night there is only one CO in the Control Room instead of two. Assignments for each shift are noted on a chart with the names of the CO assigned to each position on that shift. Beneath these levels is a “red line” below which are slots for three additional COs, but they are never filled. A substitute is called in whenever a CO assigned to work one of the slots calls in sick, is injured, or otherwise is unable to work. Normally COs get three days off for every three 12-hourshifts they work. Often
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this results in filling the shift roster with COs being required to work mandatory overtime. As a consequence it is not uncommon for COs to put in five, and even six shifts per week. The work is both stressful and exhausting. COs are responsible for filling out reports and other paperwork that document their activities. The COs assigned to housing units supervise them from a control booth outside the locked units. But COs are constantly going in and out of the units like yo-yos. Their duties include mandatory hourly safety checks, serving three meals per day, collecting dirty laundry and distributing clean laundry, distributing and collecting grooming supplies, distributing commissary items purchased by inmates, dealing with
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requests by individual inmates, supervising inmate movements in and out of the housing units, supervising open time, assuring that inmates are in their assigned cells when it’s time for “lock down,” and often responding to calls for assistance from other COs when needed. Intake, booking, and release Cos deal with all movement in and out of the facility including new bookings, releases, and inmates being processed in and out for court appearances, as well as assisting COs in the various housing areas as needed. When the CO assigned to a specific area is not at the control booth he/she will not hear a call from an inmate’s in-cell intercom. Employee turnover among COs is frequent. Many Cos see their employment as a stepping stone to law enforcement, and will leave if they are able to switch into the SO’s Operations Bureau or another agency. Further, the pay scale for beginning COs in Santa Cruz County is at the lower end of pay scales in neighboring counties. It is $579 less per month than in Monterey County and $1240 per month less than in Santa Clara County. Many COs have long commutes to work in the Main Jail. Few, if any, can afford to live in close proximity given the extraordinary cost of housingin most of Santa Cruz County, and a good number of COs live “over the hill” or beyond into the Central Valley where affordable housing isi n greater supply. Management has lauded the dedication and competence of the COs. Yet low morale, butnout, and employee retention are both persistent and problematic. Budget and Board of Supervisors’ Oversight he budget for the Sheriff’s Department is reviewed annually by the BoS. In
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June 2020county budget reviews were conducted; the adopted budget detail may be found in the “The County of Santa Cruz Adopted Budget | Fiscal Year 202021.”[70] In particular, the Sheriff’s budget was reviewed on June 23, 2020 as item no. 52.[71] The Board Letter, which introduced the proposed Sheriff’s budget, stated that: Over the next year, the department will be focused primarily on public safety and the community we serve as well as providing care and resources for the population in our correctional facilities.[72] (Justice in the Jail: Published June 17, 2021/Page 13 of 29) An examination of the specifics of the Corrections Bureau budget, found on pages236-238 of the County budget document, shows the following: • The 2020-21 Corrections Bureau budget is increased approximately $2.2M over the 2019-20 budget. • Salary and benefits increases account for all of this increase. • Total staffing equals 151 positions, 11 positions remain unfunded.[73] The total staffing (151) does not mean that there are 151 people available to work. The number of people able to work is reduced by the number of unfilled positions due to resignations, terminations, and retirement, or people unavailable to work due to illness, injury or vacation. What is apparent is that for many years the Main Jail has operated with the fewest possible number of people on the job each day, and then only by requiring COs to put in mandatory overtime to the extent that it has had a negative effect on both morale and performance. Poor morale and overworked, tired workers lead to mistakes. The Grand Jury is aware that there are many competing interests for limited county resources. Both the COVID-19 pandemic and the CZU Lightning Complex Fire imposed unprecedented and unforeseen pressure on those resources. However, we note that the county is currently defending three civil actions related to events in the jail at a substantial cost to the County. Might these resources be better spent on prevention, i.e., on adequate staffing? Board of Supervisors’ Oversight he BoS is ultimately responsible for setting the county budget and overseeing how public funds are spent, including if they are spent properly, wisely, and are sufficient fordoing whatever needs to be done.
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COMMUNITY NEWS Historically the BoS receives information regarding events, issues, and needs of the SO’s Corrections Bureau through various sources. They include informal one-on-one communications with the Sheriff, articles appearing in the local press, or what individual supervisors may read or be told by others. When serious events occur, the Sheriff may call individual supervisors, and if necessary, appear before the BoS in closed session. But there is no formal structure or transparency by which the BoS is timely and regularly kept informed about the Corrections Bureau.[42][74][75][76][77] As a result, all the public ever knows is what appears online, in the local press or on the local news. Stories concerning the Corrections Bureau make the news almost exclusively when bad things happen in the jail, of which there have been far too many. In fact, the only established recurring process or communication concerning the operation of the Corrections Bureau occurs when it is time to address budgeting. The process involves the Sheriff interacting with the County Administrative Officer concerning the budgetary needs of the SO including its Corrections Bureau. The Sheriff will make a written and/or oral presentation to the BoS when the SO’s budget is on the agenda. When special circumstances have warranted it, the Sheriff has gone to the board and requested and obtained special allocations.[42] One example is the approximately $1.5M allocated in February 2020 to replace the defective and outmoded emergency backup generators by late 2021. [12] The money’s there, but it will be another year and a half before the Main Jail has adequate backup power capacity to run essential systems.[17][42] This illustrates why ad-hoc, informal communications cannot provide the oversight and transparency that could — and would — make for better, more efficient, and less costly operations. Grand Jury Oversight t might be argued that an oversight board is not needed because of the Grand Jury. California law mandates that every county in the state impanel a Civil Grand Jury each year. Each year, the County Superior Court convenes a Civil Grand Jury of 19 jurors with a term of one year. Like most juries, grand jurors are individual citizens who volunteer their time and energies. Their responsibilities include examining resident complaints, inquiring into the “public prisons in the county,” and conducting investigations and producing reports on topics they select intended to improve the operations of a wide range of local governmental boards, agencies and departments. [78]
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The Grand Jury’s oversight broadly encompasses every aspect of local government, including county, city, education, and other aspects of local concern. On the other hand a Sheriff Oversight Board or an Inspector General will develop an ongoing and in-depth understanding of the SO’s entire operations including corrections, financial needs, funding opportunities, and state requirements. The Case for a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General, as Provided in Assembly Bill 1185 (Government Code §25303.7) Assembly Bill No.1185, which added § 25303.7 to the Government Code, was enacted and signed by Governor Newsom on September 30, 2020,and became effective January 1, 2021. It allows the board of supervisors in each of California’s 58 counties to establish either an appointed “sheriff oversight board” or “inspector general” to assist the board of supervisors in its duty to supervise the conduct of county sheriffs. The law specifically states that such oversight shall not obstruct the “independent prosecutorial functions of the sheriff and district attorney.” Nor does the law limit the board’s budgetary authority over the sheriff.[79] (Appendix D has the full text) Thestatutemakesnoprovisionregarding compensating a sheriff oversight board or inspector general. The BoS can appoint citizens willing to volunteer their time or it can establish compensation as it does for any board-appointed advisory board or commission. There is no requirement that costs associated with an oversight board or inspector general come out of the sheriff’s budget. Even before AB 1185 was enacted, the counties of Orange, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Sonoma, and Santa Clara each had adopted provisions creating independent bodies to monitor county corrections and law enforcement functions. Since AB 1185 was signed into law, San Francisco County’s voters adopted it, and Santa Clara, Sonoma, and Los Angeles Counties amended their respective ordinances to give their oversight board subpoena power as authorized in Government Code § 25303.7. An oversight board or an inspector general would have similar investigatory powers, as does the Grand Jury, but with both significant differences and additional advantages: • It would not cease to exist, and need to start fresh each year with a new group of citizens. • It could act as an advocate for the Sheriff’s needs for resources before the Board of Supervisors. “Grand Jury” page 22
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“Grand Jury” from page 21 • It could issue periodic reports calling attention to issues of public interest concerning the operation of the Sheriff’s Office including its Corrections Bureau. • It would provide the public with greater transparency of the operations of the Sheriff’s Office, which every year consumes the single-largest slice of all local and state taxes expended by the county.[81] • In the end it will save money because oversight will bring about more efficiency, improved morale and working conditions, and reduce human error. Conclusion ased on everything learned in this investigation we believe that it is critically important that everything be done to assure the health and safety of jail staff and inmates alike, and to go the extra mile to compensate for the reported structural deficiencies of the Main Jail. This paramount need includes the SO and the General Services Department making every effort to prioritize maintaining the necessary equipment and systems and upgrading them when necessary as expeditiously as possible. This need includes assuring that the Correction’s Policy Manual is current,and that necessary amendments be adopted to better control inmates’ access to potentially dangerous items. This need includes providing the Corrections Bureau with sufficient personnel to both fully staff the facility and reduce the dependence on mandatory overtime that is detrimental to both morale and efficiency. Last, but certainly not least, we believe that it is essential and in the public interest to improve oversight by adoption of a Sheriffs Oversight Board or Inspector General as authorized by Government Code § 25303.7. The Grand Jury strongly recommends that the issue be brought up before the Board of Supervisors. If the Board won’t adopt it, put it on the ballot and let the voters decide. Findings F1) The Board of Supervisors has failed to assert and exercise proper oversight within their purview of the Main jail. F2) Adoption of a Sheriffs Oversight Board or Inspector General under Government Code § 25303.7 will provide necessary public transparency and structure to support the Board of Supervisors’ supervision of the Sheriff’s Office Corrections Bureau. F3) Adoption of a Sheriffs Oversight Board or Inspector General under Government Code § 25303.7 will provide an effective advocate before the Board of Supervisors and the public regarding the Sheriff’s needs. (Justice in the Jail: Published June 17, 2021 Page 16 of 29) F4) The Correction’s Policy Manual must provide timely, comprehensive, applicable, and consistent guidelines for jail operations that serve to assure the safety of inmates and staff. F5) The policies in the Correction’s Policy Manual regarding razors do not sufficiently assure that razors cannot be used by inmates to harm themselves or others. F6) Events of violence and death in the Main
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Jail contrast negatively with the Sheriff’s Office mission, visions, and goals. F7) Old and outdated equipment and systems in the Main Jail are detrimental to safe, efficient, and effective management of the facility. F8) Long delays in replacing the backup power generators put staff and inmates at risk in the event of a power failure. F9) Limited staffing and requiring mandatory overtime of Correction Officers at the Main Jail are detrimental to performance, staff morale, and contribute to human error which can threaten the health and safety of staff and inmates. Recommendations R1) Within six months the Board of Supervisors should either establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General as provided in Government Code§ 25303.7, or alternatively place the issue before the voters in the county.(F1–F9) R2) Within six months the Board of Supervisors should agendize and open for public comment issues raised by Government Code § 25303.7.(F1–F9) R3) Within six months the Sheriff should propose for the Board of Supervisors’ review and approval an increase in Correction Officer staffing and associated budget to reduce the need for mandatory overtime and to sufficiently staff the Main Jail.(F1, F9) R4) Within six months the Sheriff should amend the Correction’s Policy Manual to remove inapplicable provisions and to add provisions relating to razors that more effectively limit and control the conditions of their use by inmates. (F4, F5) R5) Within three months the Sheriff’s Office and the General Services Department should establish formal protocols for regular monthly meetings to review the status of all correctional facilities, including providing estimates of completion for any repairs and/or replacements that are outstanding, and prioritizing items that directly affect the health and safety of inmates and/or staff. Such meetings should be documented and open to inspection by the County Administrative Officer and the Board of Supervisors. (F7, F8) R6) Within 60 days the Sheriff’s Office and the General Services Department should provide a written report to the Board of Supervisors and the Chief Administrative Officer providing both the specifications for, and a timeline for, completion of each stage of the project to replace and/or repair the backup emergency power system, and thereafter update such report every thirty days until such project is completed. (F7, F8) (Justice in the Jail: Published June 17, 2021 Page 17 of 29) Commendations C1) The Grand Jury commends the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Chief Deputy of the Corrections Bureau for their aggressive, efficient, and entirely successful actions that prevented any outbreak of COVID-19 in the inmate population. C2) The Grand Jury commends the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office and the Chief Deputy of the Corrections Bureau for adopting innovative programs designed to promote reentry and reduce recidivism. C3) The Grand Jury commends the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office and the Chief Deputy of the Corrections Bureau for fully cooperating with our investigation and providing requested documents and information. n
FEATURED COLUMNIST
Stage 3 Water Cutback: What You Can Do
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ecurring droughts are something we’ve all learned to live with here in California, and unfortunately this year is shaping up to be one of the worst. As of last month, 94% of California is reported to be in a “severe” (or worse) drought condition, while 73% of the state is in the “extreme” drought category – and that includes right here in the Santa Cruz midcounty region. While the overdrafted groundwater supply we rely on to serve our customers may not be as immediately impacted by the current drought as surface water supply sources, it does have a negative impact over time. Thus, we remain in a Groundwater Emergency and Stage 3 Water Curtailment due to historical groundwater overdraft and seawater contamination occurring at the coastline. The community is already doing a remarkable job of daily water conservation – and during a drought, that commitment to saving water is even more important. Using our WaterSmart Customer Portal, considering smart irrigation controllers, and maintaining your irrigation system are three things that can really help. Our WaterSmart Customer Portal is
By Rebecca Gold Rubin
an online tool giving you more control over your water use and billing, leak detection, and more. It can notify you about potential water leaks so you can find and fix the leak before it becomes a bigger problem. You can also set up alerts for when your water use level or bill amount reaches your designated thresholds. With that information, you can minimize water loss due to a leak, reduce potential water damage, and get fewer surprises in your water bills. You can also pay your water bill, see how much water your irrigation system uses, identify watersaving opportunities, access conservation resources, and even apply for conservation rebates. Visit soquelcreekwater.org/ watersmart for more information and to register for this free online service. July is Smart Irrigation month! So, you might consider installing a smart irrigation controller that automatically adjusts your watering schedule based on daily weather changes will help you save water. Smart irrigation controllers, also known as weather-based irrigation controllers, use current weather information to create appropriate irrigation schedules that adjust as the weather changes. They are most cost-effective for
medium-size or larger landscapes; however, they can be used for any size landscape. The District offers rebates of up to $125 when you buy and install a weather-based irrigation controller. Visit soquelcreekwater.org/rebates to learn more about this and other rebates available when you install water-saving tools. Smart irrigation controllers reduce
landscape water use by an average of about 8% as part of a well-maintained irrigation system. But they can’t correct common irrigation problems — to really benefit from a weather-based controller, you should ensure your existing irrigation system is working well. “Stage 3” page 26
The 4th of July
ACROSS
1. Steps to the river, in India 5. Hot springs resort 8. Meal in a shell 12. Driver’s misbehavior? 13. *Grilling technique 14. Medal of Honor descriptor 15. Cracked open 16. What Knave of Hearts stole from Queen of Hearts, sing. 17. Raise one’s rank 18. *July 4th pyrotechnic display 20. Hubble Space Telescope operator, acr. 21. Chip dip
22. i topper 23. *Main Street tradition on the 4th 26. Superlative of fumy 30. Ribonucleic acid 31. Store as fodder 34. Moonfish 35. Rose oil 37. Number cruncher 38. Fairytale garden dweller 39. Indian Lilac tree 40. Extinct type of zebra 42. Steampunk decoration 43. Did 2 + 2 (2 words) 45. Crocheted blanket 47. Swedish shag rug 48. Ancient port city in Israel 50. Smiley face 52. *First President to hold July 4th celebration at the White House
56. Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and ____” 57. Medicinal succulent 58. Hit the bottle 59. Earthenware pots 60. View from a highspeed train? 61. Observer 62. “Glengarry ____ Ross” 63. G, in solfa 64. “The Fountainhead” author
DOWN
1. Former tennis pro Steffi 2. One who’s made the pilgrimage to Mecca 3. Petri dish filler 4. Mother of Calcutta 5. Roebuck’s partner 6. a.k.a. anorak 7. A in B.A.
8. *”No ____ without representation” 9. Unfortunately, exclamation 10. *Drink to wash down burgers and hot dogs? 11. Table scrap 13. Steal, past participle 14. What haters spew? 19. Crane or heron 22. Expecting woman’s date 23. Life force in Sanskrit 24. Chipped in 25. What Motion Picture Association of America did 26. *Most popular July 4th decoration 27. Notable period 28. Polynesian island country 29. Feudal lord
32. Fish a.k.a. porgy 33. Beer acronym 36. *Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to Be an ____” 38. Blooper 40. Sine ____ non 41. Old-timer 44. Force units 46. Wedding tossable 48. Jiggly dessert 49. Run _____ of the law 50. Type of sea bird 51. Agitate 52. Kickboxing moves 53. Miso bean 54. U.S. ____ in golf or tennis 55. Egghead 56. Leisurely run © Statepoint Media
Answers on 25 »
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 1st 2021 / 23
FEATURED COLUMNIST
Sunday Brunch: You’re Invited To Add One! By Ron Kustek
S
ince things have opened up, we’re all trying to get back to the way things were. But after having friends in town on multiple occasions for the weekends, we were amazed that no one is offering Sunday Brunch anymore! Seriously? So that we’re all on the same page, let’s make sure we have the common understanding of Brunch. According to Wikipedia, Brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch, and regularly has some form of alcoholic drink (most usually champagne or a cocktail) served with it. It is usually served between 10 o’clock in the morning and midday. The word is a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch. Brunch originated in England in the late 19th century and became popular in the United States in the 1930s. Oxford defines brunch as “a late morning meal eaten instead of breakfast and lunch”. So brunch means a different meal than breakfast or lunch — so just offering the same breakfast items on Sundays, or the same lunch menu on Sundays, is not brunch. For customers: Good luck finding one! Café Sparrow once had what many considered the best champagne brunch
in all of Santa Cruz County, but they’ve decided to remain closed on Sundays. Equally confusing is the choice of our local resorts Chaminade & Sanderlings, which only open on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. with their standard lunch menu, just like Palapas and Persephone in Aptos Paradise Beach Grille and the Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola. East End Gastropub and The Crow’s Nest DO serve brunch on BOTH Saturdays and Sundays along with The Harbor Café’s daily breakfast & specials. Additionally, Parish Publick House in Aptos is planning on bringing back
their Sunday brunch (no specific date promised). For businesses: What happened to yours? For you business owners this question should be food for thought, as breakfasts and/or brunch offerings are usually the most profitable meals a restaurant can serve. Also, we are not talking about a ‘brunch buffet’ as this mode of eating will not likely be an option anytime soon. The question becomes, as there is so much pent-up demand for eating out, socializing and for supporting local
small businesses, then why aren’t more of our nicer sit-down restaurants offering a Sunday Brunch? I guess they’ve chosen to leave this market opportunity to a few of our local cafes and diners. If one did a simple yelp search for “Best Sunday Champagne Brunch in Santa Cruz” you’d find that many of the places listed don’t have a brunch at all, let alone on Sunday, or a Champagne Brunch. Then again, this is so Yelp can charge those establishments for every click one does to get more details. Nonetheless, this simple search can show a simple opportunity, for locals and tourists alike, who are thirsty and hungry customers waiting for some of our better full-service dining establishments to satisfy this business opportunity! Now, perhaps when this article was written mid-June, some of the establishments mentioned may have been planning their new Sunday Brunch menu, so I may have missed some business and if so, I welcome hearing from you! n ••• Ron Kustek is a former senior marketing executive at The Cola-Cola Co., and entrepreneur who is currently teaching business at Cabrillo College. Contact him at RoKustek@ Cabrillo.edu
COMMUNITY NEWS
Acosta Rebuts Call to Remove Her From PVUSD Board Editors’ note: The following statement was released by Georgia Acosta in response to the petition to have her removed from the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Education, in the wake of the turmoil prior to her stepping down as Board president. ••• , Georgia Acosta, am blessed to be a Cancer Survivor. While battling this dreaded disease these past few years, my commitment to you has never wavered. Fact: I have attended over 85% of PVUSD meetings. Additionally, having survived multiple surgeries and Cancer treatments, I still actively participated with the California
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School Board and National School Board Associations. My primary focus has always been to benefit the students, families, employees and taxpayers of the PVUSD. I have always had an independent voice in education with real financial accountability; protested the financial improprieties with your tax dollars; met with Congressman Jimmy Panetta advocating for funds for PVUSD; had enough intimidation and bullying being used against dissenting opinions; remained outspoken about the improper hiring practices of the PVUSD Superintendent; fought against hiring unqualified employees and non-credentialed teachers; objected to inappropriate
24 / July 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
PVUSD relationships with District Leadership/Superintendent; supported working families that need the children safely back to in-person instruction.” Stop the Witch-hunt that could Cost Taxpayers up to $100,000! n ••• Supporters of Georgia Acosta Greg Caput; Carmen Caput; Edward Lake; Jose Barba; Ivan Rodriguez; Linda Haines; Francisco Salinas; Susie Juarez; Peter Knego; Anthony Banovac; Ann McGrath; Kathy Oliver; Russell Gray; Mato Paljetak; Ray Munoz; Juan Gutierrez; Manuel Lara; Duncan Edwards; Nancy Shott; Maria Jimenez; Jimmy Bacon; Jaime Raygoza; Joyce Cuthbertson Parr; Ed Kelly; Barbie Gomez; Ari Parker.
Georgia Acosta
COMMUNITY NEWS
SCCAS Featured Pet
Youth in Action Summit
Presented By Friday Night Live anta Cruz County Friday Night Live invites all youth entering grades 6-12 to join the annual Youth in Action Summit 2021 on July 13-14, with the theme of “Building Confidence and Embracing our Identities!” This free, interactive networking and skill-building event is designed and led by the youth of Friday Night Live and will take place via Zoom. Space is limited, and registration by July 12 is required at https://tinyurl.com/YAS2021REG. Issa Bunch, youth facilitator, shared, “My absolute favorite part of our Youth in Action Summit is where every participant reflects on their experience and who made it extra special; did someone make you feel welcome, brighten your day, or made you laugh? These compliments are shared anonymously so if you get a bit nervous like me, no need to worry. I love this activity; I still keep the affirmations that were given to me; so many memories! And we are looking forward to making more memories this year, with you!” Participants can earn community service hours, strengthen and practice new skills, make friends, and have fun! Through peer-
lead games and activities, youth identify what they value, discover their unique leadership style, and learn how they can address community issues that impact them. Participating youth are eligible to apply for an internship opportunity with the County of Santa Cruz Friday Night Live to practice the leadership skills they learned at this event and build future job skills. Community service hours and stipends are offered. If you have questions, would like more information, or would like to register after July 12, call, text, or email Friday Night Live staff member Monica Nicholas at monica. nicholas@santacruzcounty.us or call/text (831) 359-8450. The Youth in Action Summit is developed and led by the Santa Cruz County Friday Night Live Partnership Youth Council. Friday Night Live builds partnerships to promote positive, healthy youth development, and engages youth as active leaders and resources in their communities. n ••• For more information about Friday Night Live, visit https://tinyurl.com/SCC-FNL
City of Santa Cruz to Receive $14.5M for Homelessness Response
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hanks to the efforts of Senator John Laird and Assemblymember Mark Stone, the City of Santa Cruz is set to receive more than $14.5 million to support homelessness response efforts within the City. “Working with Assemblymember Mark Stone, we secured $14.5 million for the City and County of Santa Cruz to improve and expand the city’s response to house and provide services to those experiencing homelessness,” said Senator Laird. “These funds will not only provide emergency funding to the City and County of Santa Cruz for much-needed infrastructure and support to resolve current unsanctioned encampments on Caltrans and city public land while improving State, County and City coordination.” In collaboration with the County, the City will use the funds to support the goals
of the countywide, three-year Housing for a Healthy Santa Cruz plan (https:// tinyurl.com/SC-3-year-housing-plan) “It’s no secret that we are in the midst of an affordable housing crisis in the City of Santa Cruz. This investment will allow us to stand up much-needed services for unhoused residents, such as safe sleeping and storage. It will also bring us closer to our goal of creating a navigation center that provides emergency shelter and helps to create pathways to County support services and stable housing for Santa Cruzans in need,” said Mayor Donna Meyers. Last evening, the budget was approved by both the Senate and Assembly and is now awaiting final approval by Governor Newsom. Further details regarding disbursement will be determined following the Governor’s signature. n
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Randy the Bunny
iya, I’m Randy (A279912), a male tricolor shorthaired rabbit! I have been at the shelter since March and am ready to find my furever home! The shelter says I’m one smart boy! I like to keep my space nice and clean, and I meticulously use the litter box! Because of course, a cleaner home means more room for food! Whether it’s timothy hay and bananas, or carrots and kale, munching and crunching is my favorite hobby! But I have to admit, I’m also pretty spunky! Once I get comfortable, I’ll play all day long and hop around with excited binkies! But with that said, like many of my fellow buns, I also prefer a safe and secure spot to rest. Give me that and I’ll be one happy flopper! So what do you say? Want to come witness this cuteness? 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
crossword on 23 »
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Tuesday July 13 • Wednesday July 14 • 1– 3 p.m., Online Seminars; Register by July 12
The 4th of July © Statepoint Media
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 1st 2021 / 25
Hiding Away Under its Shell
Esoteric Astrology • July 2021 • By Risa D’Angeles
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s summer begins, we are influence by Cancer, sign of mother, family, home, the embryonic waters nurturing new life. Cancer, its light flowing through the moon, nurtures the masses of humanity. In our very earliest incarnations on Earth everyone entered planet Earth under the sign of Cancer. Cancer therefore has a deep and abiding connection with the human race. Cancer is called the “Gate Into Matter” — the doorway through which humans (from the spirit world) appear on Earth. Cancer guards and guides all of humanity. Cancer people (Sun, Moon, Ascendant) intuitively understand the common everyday person’s basic wants, needs and motivations. Cancer rules (oversees, protects) home, (the parent who is the) mother, family, tribes, birth, childbirth, the sea, women (in general), instincts, inherited tendencies, domestic life, cooks,
kitchens, nurturing, gestation, protectiveness, baskets, the sea, the demarcation line between water and land, moody feelings and all places of refuge and repose. Cancer receives and distributes Ray 3 (new ideas) and Ray 7 (taking root, anchoring in the world, the great sea of life). Cancers are very intelligent. Cancer is the “Light within the form — awaiting the Light of the Soul.” Cancer lives half on earth and half in the water. Often Cancer hides away under its shell, silently waiting for the environment to be safe and trusting. Cancer rules our treasures, our private life, conception, heredity and one’s spiritual security (ashram or sangha). Cancer is always seeking home for its refuge. Cancer has unrealized gifts buried deep within. Cancer’s gifts of nurturing and nourishment are profound and mysterious. What they don’t realize is they need nurturing and nourishment, too. n
ARIES
LEO
SAGITTARIUS
Opportunities are presented along with challenges. You find the courage to meet each one because of your nature — fiery, willing, enthusiastic. This year and for many more, you will experience vast changes, radical shifts, a state of impermanence that, in the end, will constitute unusual creative endeavors and ways of being based on new rhythms and archetypes. Keep moving, pausing for rest here and there only when needed.
As work comes with more responsibilities, you will notice how strong and courageous you are, able to assume multiple tasks with skill and agility. Many people seek your help, trusting your constancy, sense of rightness and patience. Simultaneously, you’re harboring secret thoughts, hopes, wishes and dreams. It’s important to take time away from the world. Step into the shadows. What do you see and feel there? Who will join you?
You need the same things Libra needs, but more so. Something of fantasy may come and stay a while. You may not know what it is. It will have two faces. Don’t be confused. Be spontaneous, curious yet cautious. Careful with money. The usual warning, but more so, again. As home feels like it’s dissolving away, your creative expression takes on Aquarian tones, work becomes ever more expanded. You can do all of this with poise and equanimity. And joy. Joy is a choice. You seem to need community now.
VIRGO
Take time to consider what you would like for the future. Create a picture/photo journal depicting how You’re the lucky one this year. You drew the lucky card you want your life to be. Begin before your and all that you’ve wished for begins to birthday so that when it arrives you have a appear. Know however, this includes lots clear idea of your new coming year. Don’t be of work, much pondering, thinking and study, detailed planning, and waiting for predictable. Be groundbreaking, inventive and original. Use right timing (astrological) to occur. Your good judgment nothing from the past — no beliefs or plans — to create your has others seeking your advice and insight. You may possible future. The past needs to be transcended completely. travel this year for information, comfort and beauty. And So a new future can present itself that you yourself create. perhaps a wedding. Plan now. TAURUS
CAPRICORN
Here are the energies for Caps as they enter the summer months. A shift in self-identity, something precious being found, small joys in daily life, new thinking, refining tasks and communication, a change at/of home, pursuing the Art of Living, little gardening tasks, summer walks in different neighborhoods, an ice cream maker, nurturing intimate relationships, enlivened through travel, bringing forth balance through Right Relations in the world. And finally, and most important, having an interlude of rest.
LIBRA GEMINI
Notice if (and when) much of the past, including people and events, begins to slip away. This is not good, bad or something to be frightened about. It means you’re traveling onward; your life itself is clearing any limitations and hindrances. A healing is occurring and patterns of thought no longer useful are being released. “Healing”, the Tibetan writes, “allows for the Soul to be free”. You need to be free.
You need to run away at times to places far away. You need to travel, have many adventures, find new people to communicate with, see new art and artifacts, bathe in warm blue pools at midnight. You need environments and communications to be more harmonious. You need a new garden to work in. You need to think the impossible. Know that ideas become ideals and slip into form and matter when we visualize. You need change, a feeling of being submerged in a completely new reality. What do you think you need?
AQUARIUS
You’re interacting and making contact with many different groups of people. This is your spiritual task. To be an acquaintance to everyone, gathering and dispersing information about the future endeavors of humanity. The Hierarchy looks down on Earth seeking to find who carries the “light” within. You carry that light. Therefore you’re sent here and there to disperse that light. Rest a while sometimes. Play more. Share. Visualize. What you need eventually appears.
CANCER
Summer belongs to you. Are you communicating with friends and neighbors? Do not be involved in gossip. It’s good to be somewhat secluded or helping others in need. Be aware of power struggles with others. There’s a projection from you of being in charge and it’s possible you’re not listening to others’ communication. This creates separation and misunderstandings. You must ask yourself what’s most important in relating to others. Be restorative with others.
PISCES
New and different worlds are becoming acquainted with you along with new and different experiences. An As daily life changes, and continues to, all relationships unexpected endeavor is being introduced and begin to shift and change. This includes considered. An impression from above. Follow all the ways you can think relationships this path and do the work needed each day. It (interactions, partnerships) can improve and expand. Daily life becomes different will eventually heal hurts and separations. A depth of commuand unusual. What’s unusual eventually becomes the nication is available at this time. Use this opportunity to make usual, but it will take a bit of time. The past, showing contact with all (people, kingdoms, events) that you value. If up on your doorstep, arrives in order to eventually dis- some cannot be contacted, visualize the two of you, heart to heart. Love happens then. appear again. Perhaps for the last time. We hope. ••• SCORPIO
Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com 26 / July 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
“Stage 3” from page 23 Maintaining your irrigation system will help ensure you are watering as efficiently as possible — in fact, landscape irrigation issues are one of the top three causes of water leaks and waste. The first step is to monitor your water bills (it’s easy with the WaterSmart Customer Portal!). Here are some of the basic things you can do to keep your irrigation system running smoothly: • While the irrigation is running, look for and fix or adjust overspray onto hardscapes or other run-off, broken heads or leaking seals, obstructed or misdirected heads, and dying or drowning plants. • Know how to use your irrigation controller and consider purchasing a “smart” one that automatically adjusts for recent rainfall and time of year. • Create a map of your yard showing each irrigation zone and its valve number — this will save time when trouble-shooting any problems. • Add mulch to help hold moisture in the landscape and prevent erosion on slopes. • Irrigate when the sun is down (but inspect your system when the sun is up). • Adjust your irrigation schedule with the four seasons. The drought we’re now experiencing emphasizes the importance of the District’s Pure Water Soquel supplemental water supply project (soquelcreekwater. org/PWS), and we’re happy to report that construction of eight miles of that project’s pipelines is now underway. This is the “conveyance system” that will transport water to the Pure Water Soquel advanced purification facility to be built, and then carry that ultra-clean water to the seawater intrusion prevention wells where it will be pumped underground to replenish our overdrafted groundwater basin. This construction began in late May at two locations, as crews started installing pipeline in Santa Cruz on California Street through the Laurel Street intersection, and on Soquel Avenue near Chanticleer Avenue. Construction of the pipeline system is anticipated to continue at various locations into 2023. Be sure to visit soquelcreekwater.org/ PWSconstruction for information about ongoing and upcoming construction for Pure Water Soquel, including maps and schedules, and to sign up for email construction updates. Visit our website at https://www. soquelcreekwater.org/186/Stage-3-WaterShortage-Emergency for a list of our current water use restrictions and directions on how to report water waste in our community. We thank our customers for continuing to conserve water and being diligent about preventing water waste. n
FEATURED COLUMNIST
Perennial Plants Perform For Years
P
By Tony Tomeo
erennial” is a simple adjective that describes something that last for more than a single year. Horticulturally, it is not this simple. After all, every plant that is not an “annual.” which completes its entire life cycle within only one year, is technically a “perennial.” Those that develop lignified (woody) parts instead conform to such categories as tree, shrub or vine. Even these categories are not as simple as they seem to be. Palms are trees, but without woody stems. Technically, they are merely very large perennials. Some consider them to be “herbaceous trees.” Yucca trees conform to the same category; while terrestrial yuccas are usual perennials. Sweet peas are annual vines. Perennial peas are perennial vines. Many annual bedding plants, such as begonia, chrysanthemum, primrose, cyclamen and even busy Lizzie, are technically perennial. They could survive for a few or several years if they get such a chance. All ferns, including tree ferns, are perennials. So are bamboos, ornamental grasses, and many succulents. ‘Biennials’ are perennials that live two years. Many of the most popular perennial plants have an indefinite life span. It is impossible to know how long they can survive. They are constantly replacing themselves with new but genetically identical parts. For example, bearded iris migrate and propagate by rhizomes that could have been propagating for centuries. New plants are identical to their original. However, many perennial plants with potential to propagate indefinitely might eventually get shabby. New Zealand flax, after many years, may slowly migrate
Feral perennial pea might bloom white.
outward from where it started growing, leaving a bald spot in the middle. Outer shoots relocate easily to patch such bald spots, or unite as a fresh clump. Crowded lily of the Nile benefit from thinning. Bulbs and bulb like plants are generally perennial, even if unreliable as such in the mild local climate. (Many bulbs and bulb like plants prefer more chill through winter than they get here.) Most of these sorts of perennials are dormant for part of the year, so die back to the ground. Hostas are bare through winter. Florists’ cyclamen are bare through summer. ••• Perennial Pea lthough rarely planted intentionally in home gardens, perennial pea, Lathyrus latifolius, is somewhat common near rural roadside ditches and in riparian situations. It naturalizes to a minor degree, generally where the soil retains a bit of moisture after the rain finishes. It can eventually become somewhat overwhelming in unrefined but irrigated landscapes. Bloom is typically rich purplish pink during late Perennial pea has potential spring or early to naturalize. summer. A few specimens might bloom white or pale pink. Seed for varieties that bloom in any of these three colors, as well as red, is available online. Flowers resemble those of annual sweet pea, but are more abundant, and lack fragrance. Their delicate foliage might be slightly bluish green. Vines might be lean through their first season from seed, but can get six feet long. By the middle of summer, they begin to die back to their plump perennial roots. They last longer with watering. Without watering, they may finish before July. Vines that grow from mature roots as winter ends after the first season should be bigger, fuller and perhaps voracious. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.
A
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WE DELIVER
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
ANNOUNCEMENTS
RIO DEL MAR FLOOD PROJECT BALLOT DEADLINE Rio Del Mar residents are reminded to mail their ballot on the Rio Del Mar flooding project assessment. The certification date is expected to be the Aug. 24 Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meeting.
SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE IS BACK! Featuring professional actors from around the country and inspired by deep local roots that go back more than 40 years, Santa Cruz Shakespeare stages bold productions of the plays of Shakespeare and other great playwrights that stimulate audiences’ senses and spark their imagination. Santa Cruz Shakespeare performances take place in The Audrey Stanley Grove (or just “The Grove”) at Upper DeLaveaga Park in Santa Cruz. ••• The Agitators: July 20- August 29 RII (Richard II): July 21- August 29 Tickets start at $25.00 For more info about SCS, visit https://santacruzshakespeare. org/season-2021/, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Due to limited capacity at the venue, people are encouraged to purchase tickets early.
First and Third Monday Each Month SENIOR LIFE ONLINE 4 p.m., Online Meeting Join a local group of senior citizens for “Senior Life Online,” a free online (Zoom) program featuring a Second Saturdays presentation by a local expert. Senior Life Online meets Scotts Valley, 10-11:30 a.m. via video or phone — on the first and third Monday of each month at 4 p.m. Facilitator: Diana Hull. View the schedule at scottsvalleyseniorlife.org/currentRegister by calling 800-272-3900 or email ymflores@alz.org. activities/. ••• To participate, you need an Internet connection Second Wednesdays and a computer, tablet or smartphone. A one-time Spanish, 7-8:30 p.m. via phone — Facilitator: Yuliana preregistration is required at https://tinyurl. Mendoza. com/SVSLA-5. Questions? Call George at (831) Register by calling 831-647-9890 or email ymflores@alz.org. 334-7763. Senior Life Online is sponsored by Scotts Valley Senior SENIOR CENTER WITHOUT LIMITS Life Association (SVSLA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose This new program from Community Bridges brings mission is to promote healthy living for senior citizens. enrichment activities like yoga, art, music, tai chi, cooking, Information is at http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org. tech and support groups to seniors age 60 and up in their homes at no cost. To participate, you need an internet Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone. NAMI RECOVERY SUPPORT To participate, view the calendar at https://communitybridges. 1-2:30 p.m., confidential Zoom meetings. org/SCWOL/ and find a class. That day and time, click on the National Alliance on Mental Illness Santa Cruz link in the calendar to be connected. If you have a problem County offers the “Connection Recovery Support connecting, call Clara Munoz at (831) 458-3481. Group,” a free, peer-led support group for any adult 18 or older who has experienced symptoms SECOND HARVEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION of a mental health condition (no diagnosis required). Second Harvest Food You will gain insight from hearing the challenges Bank’s drive-through food and successes of others. Groups are led by trained distribution will continue leaders who’ve been there. It’s confidential and operating at the county drop-in friendly. Fairgrounds 9 a.m.-Noon on To attend, complete the registration form. You the following Fridays: will immediately get an email with the Zoom link. July 9 • July 23 You will need to do this only once, and will be able Aug. 6 • Aug. 20 • Sept. 10 • Sept. 24 to use the same link for all groups in the future. Food hotline: 831-662-0991. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/nami-zoom-register (Full URL: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMld6trTgjEtOukidbv3qCQQTitZ92kXFf) ONGOING EVENTS If you are unable to register, do not have an email Ongoing thru July 31 address, or have other questions, call the office at SUMMER READING (831)-824-0406 or email anastasia@namiscc.org. For a recording of the March 18 speaker or more All ages are invited to register for the Santa Cruz Public Libraries’ Summer Reading Program June 1 – July 31 and information on support groups and classes, https://www. earn prizes and entries to a raffle of local merchant gift cards. namiscc.org/ Go to santacruzpl.org/srp, call 831-427-7713, or text Tuesdays 831-264-0647 to sign up and for more information. FARMERS’ MARKET AT RAMSAY PARK Kids up to age 18 get a $10 Atlantis Fantasyworld gift certificate toward a collection of comics and graphic novels. 2–6 p.m., Ramsay Park, Watsonville After reading for 5 hours, kids up to age 11 get a new El Mercado is a new farmers’ market hosted by Community book selected by librarians, kids 12-18 get a tote bag Health Trust of Pajaro Valley. with goodies, and adults get a tote bag and a raffle ticket. There will be healthy locally grown produce, a veggie Prizes include a free scoop from The Penny Ice Creamery. Rx redemption site, cooking demonstrations and Grand prize is family membership to the Monterey Bay wellness screenings. Aquarium or the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. Sponsors include Lakeside Organic, Salud Para La Gente and The Beanstack online platform with mobile app Kaiser Permanente. Visit pvhealthtrust.org/elmercado for more info. will track summer reading and allow readers to claim rewards. Paper reading logs are available. ROTACARE RETURNS! Summer reading events include magic shows, circus acts, 5:30-8 p.m., Behind Star of the Sea Church, 515 Frederick St. NorCalBats, musical performances, and STEAM projects. See Santa Cruz santacruzpl.org/calendar. The Free RotaCare Santa Cruz Clinic is reopening at its new location. Ongoing Through Labor Day For more info, call 831-204-6040 or visit https://www. LOCH LOMOND RESERVOIR OPEN rotacarebayarea.org/santacruz Hours: August–Labor Day: 7 a.m-8 p.m. • June & July: 7 First Tuesdays Of The Month a.m.-8:30 p.m. • Closed Wednesdays FIRST TUESDAYS FREE Loch Lomond Recreation Area is owned and operated by the City of Santa Cruz Water Department, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, 1156 High St, primarily storing water for Santa Cruz residents and Santa Cruz offering boat rentals, picnicking, fishing and hiking. Community Day at the UCSC Arboretum means free After Labor Day, the Reservoir will remain open on weekends admission on the first Tuesday of every month 9 a.m-5 through the second weekend of October, open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. p.m. Vehicle entrance fee: $8 • Season pass: $80 Guests are invited to explore the biodiversity of the gardens, Info: www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/ enjoy bird watching or relax on a bench in the shade. water/watershed/loch-lomond-recreation/park-map https://arboretum.ucsc.edu
Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by July 9 significant cactus plant that symbolizes resilience and sustenance for many Latinx cultures. An inaugural Rydell Visual Arts Partnership awardee, Pencas del Corazón celebrates the culmination of a year-long project between lead artists, Yesenia Molina and Irene Juárez O’Connell, the Watsonville community, and Arts Council Santa Cruz County. Contributors include: Guillermo Aranda, Janet Johns, Salvador Lua, Gabriel Medina and Mayra Ruiz-Valtiera. https://pvarts.org/pencas-del-corazon-heart-of-the-cactus/
SCULPTURE IS: IN THE GARDEN 2021 On display thru Oct. 31 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden, 2660 East Lake Ave., Watsonville Sculpture IS: In the Garden 2021, is the 15th sculpture exhibit in partnership with Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden. The jurors, Susana Arias and Jeff Rosendale, selected more than 100 sculptures created by 42 artists and collaborators. Visit the stunning two-acre demonstration garden, relax under the umbrellas, and spend an afternoon enjoying the outdoor exhibit. Admission is free. Visitors can see works created by: FREE FAMILY MOVIE NIGHTS Jamie Abbott • Cristy Aloysi • Susana Arias • Jeff Arnett Brought to you by Santa Cruz County Department of Parks, • Nessy Barzilay • Michael Bashista • Lucia Bruer • Trudi Open Space & Cultural Services. Register at scparks.com. Burney • Jay Capela • Lee Cavanaugh • Paul Cheney • Movies begin at dusk. Bring blankets, jackets and Kathleen Crocetti • Sally Diggory • Franco Di Majo • Barbara low-back chairs. Downs • Scott Graham • Leonard Groner • Roy Holmberg Dates and Locations: • William Hufmann • Kristen Kolbek • Marilyn Kuksht • July 9: Finding Nemo, Anna Jean Cummings Park, 461 Soquel San Jose Road, Soquel. And bring your dog! Ron Lion • Lyn MacDonald • Mike McClellan • Kirk McNeill July 23: Onward, Highlands County Park, 8500 Hwy • Susan Megorden • Annie Morhauser • David Mudgett • Geoffrey Nicastro • Nancy Niles • Jeff Owen • Jane Reyes • 9, Ben Lomond. Pierre Riche • Jewel Rogers • Mandy Spitzer • Judy Stabile • Richard Starks • Aaron Vanderkerckhove • Susan von LITERACY PROGRAM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS Nearly every day someone reaches out to the Literacy Schmacht • Jenni Ward • Lea de Wit • April Zilber Program, part of the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, to ask about learning English. Some want to BLACK HEALTH MATTERS: FRESH AIR ’21 THIS SUMMER get a job, advance their career, or to be able to talk with their child’s teacher. The Literacy Program aims Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center’s Black Health to connect these motivated adults with a volunteer Matters Initiative is kicking off a summer of free tutor. programming, Fresh Air ’21, to address and elevate the Tutors impart more than English. They provide a mental health and wellness of the Black community of wealth of information about how life works in Santa Santa Cruz County. Cruz County. They may assist students in gaining the Black Health Matters, with Santa Cruz County Parks basic skills to go shopping, engage socially, navigate and County Parks Friends, will produce a diverse the local landscape, or they may provide insight and accessible lineup of COVID-mindful events and about work norms. And tutors provide basic training experiences led by and for Black residents (and allies) in for students to further their education and to obtain beautiful outdoor spaces. citizenship. From movement classes, guided nature hikes, and selfTraining is offered four times a year. There is a one-time $50 materials fee. To volunteer, call 427-5077. Then participate in care workshops, to weekly virtual content, community gatherings, and celebrations, this summer-long campaign a one-hour online orientation: https://scvolunteercenter.org/ is geared toward having a seat at the table for all. programs/literacy-program/volunteer/ Register: https://tanneryworlddance.com/bhm-happenings/ TWDCC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twdcc_ HEART OF THE CACTUS dance/?hl=en On Display Thru Aug. 1, viewing by appointment at Pajaro Valley Arts Center, 37 Sudden St., Watsonville ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION Pencas del Corazón/Heart CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS of the Cactus — comAlzheimer’s Association is munity artwork created in offering video and phone a series of virtual pop-up meetings for caregivers events guided by local throughout the month: visual and performing Second and Fourth Wednesdays artists and curators — is Santa Cruz, 2-3:30 p.m. via phone — Facilitators: Jill on display at Pajaro Ginghofer and Laurie McVay. Valley Arts Center First and Third Wednesdays beginning June 16 through Aug. 1, with galley hours Santa Cruz, 5:30-7 p.m. via video or phone — FaciliFriday-Sunday by appointment. tators: Francie Newfield and Kathleen McBurney. Pencas del Corazón is a tribute to the culturally 28 / July 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
COMMUNITY CALENDAR ONGOING EVENTS
Highlights include lunch at noon, 18 holes of golf with shotgun start at 1 p.m., auction, opportunities to spread awareness about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County. Guests must adhere to current safety guidelines.
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Tuesdays thru July 13 GRIEF SUPPORT 1–2 p.m., Outside St. Joseph’s Church, 435 Monterey Ave., Cap. Grief Ministry with Doreen Alfaro will offer four Tuesday sessions in coping with grief. Meetings will take place outside by the Grotto of the Virgin Mary at St. Joseph’s Church. Come share your grief experiences. Come pray. Come gain some insight on how to copy with grief. Come for all for four sessions or drop in. Covid protocols to be followed. If interested contact Doreen Alfaro at 408-893-8399 or dmalfaro@comcast.net Fridays MIDTOWN FRIDAYS Ongoing thru Oct. 29, 1111 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz (next to the fire station) Event Santa Cruz is hosting a Friday festival through the end of October. Called “Midtown Fridays,” the event will have a featured musical act plus food, artists, vendors, and more. Admission is free. Scheduled Musical Acts: July 2: Dylan Rose Band July 9: John Michael Band July 16: Eric Morrison & the Mysteries July 23: Fuse (Ted Welty, Don Caruth, Rob Ouse & Ryan Price) July 30: Andy Pancakes featuring Tammi Brown https://www.eventsantacruz.com/event/midtown-fridays/ Saturdays ECOLOGICAL RESERVE TOURS AT ELKHORN SLOUGH Tours start at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.,1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville Volunteers lead walks highlighting the natural history of the Elkhorn Slough. Capacity is limited due to physical distancing requirements, and individuals must sign up on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups of six or more should call ahead at (831) 728-2822 or visit https://www.elkhornslough.org/ group-reservation/ to reserve a tour. For more information, visit http://www.elkhornslough.org/ esnerr/tours/
Wednesday July 14
BOOMERIA 2021 • SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL Saturday July 10 1-5 p.m., Boomeria, 60 Verde Dr., Bonny Doon Four wonderful organists will play delightful music for up at the Boomeria chapel in the redwoods of Bonny Doon as part of the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival. William Visscher, Vlada Moran, Ann Thiermann and Linda Burman-Hall will share a four-hour concert to help raise funds to maintain the Boomeria organ. Bill Visscher Vlada Moran Ann Thiermann Linda Murman-Hall The festival will also feature fine wine, fencing demonstrations, a brass ensemble and a Drehorgel (Barrel Organ) Most importantly, it’s a chance to be in the physical presence of friends, old and new Tickets can be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/boomeria-tickets To directly support the Boomeria Organ, visit https://tinyurl.com/Boomeria-organ-gofund
returns at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz, the first post-pandemic reopening event in the city. The chip-timed 5K run will have socially-distanced starts from 8 to 10:50 a.m., with no 10K or kids’ 1K, but the race will be live again instead of virtual. Registrations are capped at 500 to comply with safety regulations. Register at www.SantaCruzFirecracker.org. The club aims to raise $10,000 in sponsorships to cover the costs of this year’s return to live racing so all DATED EVENTS race revenues can go to this year’s key beneficiaries: Sunday July 4 Teen Kitchen, American Red Cross of the Central Coast, WORLDS SHORTEST PARADE and other nonprofits. Email RaceDirector@SantaCruz10 a.m., Soquel Drive between State Park and Aptos Village Square Firecracker10k.org to inquire about sponsorships. For information, call the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, To learn more, visit www.SantaCruzSunriseRotary.org. 831-688-1467 SPIRIT OF WATSONVILLE ACTIVITIES RETURN SCOTTS VALLEY FOURTH OF JULY PARADE Activities begin at Noon throughout the city 3–4 p.m., Scotts Valley Drive, between Carbonero Way and El Mayor Jimmy Dutra will host a bike ride with Bike Santa Pueblo Rd. Cruz County, Friends of Watsonville Parks and ComFor information, call Donna Lind at 831-438-4251 munity Services and Santa Cruz METRO, starting at 12: 45 p.m. in the alleyway between the 2nd Street Parking BOULDER CREEK VIRTUAL PARADE Garage and the Post Office. 11 a.m. Community Picnic, Sequoia Retreat Center, Ben Lomond One of the Metro’s new electric buses will lead the way. Boulder Creek Business Association presents a Come at noon to help decorate the bus and your bike; virtual parade on their website at bcba.net. Help to prizes for the most spirited adults and young people. celebrate the 4th of July by uploading your own video The Watsonville Band will give a free concert — Red, contribution. Deadline to submit videos is June 18. White and Blue — at the City Plaza at 2 p.m. Downtown merchants will be hosting sidewalk sales To view a list of homes and businesses registered and decowith live music and goodie bags for kids. rated for July 4, go to https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/2209/ Auction fundraiser community picnic at Sequoia Retreat Center, Spirit-of-Watsonville-2021-4th-of-July-E with music by Joshua Lowe, to rebuild the historic Alba School House. Visit fb.me/e/KAq9DV9V for more information. WESTSIDE MARKETPLACE IS OPEN ON THE 4TH! SANTA CRUZ SUNRISE ROTARY FIRECRACKER 5K RUN RETURNS 8 a.m., Harvey West Park, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary’s Firecracker 5K Run
the food vendors and shop local with 30 local vendors! The Westside Marketplace on the first Sundays of the month is where local art, handmade and vintage shopping meet delicious food! This collaboration between Food Trucks A Go Go and the Santa Cruz Mountains Makers Market presents a great mix of creators of all kinds! Live music by Papiba & Friends from 2-5pm! The Market is free to attend and is 100% local. Pups on leashes are welcome! Updated event info can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ events/211037987416328
CONTINUING EDUCATION: HOW TO WORK WITH ALL PEOPLE AND STAY SAFE 7-8:30 p.m., Online Class With past activations have you had challenges working with unusual people? How may you stay safe? Presenter Lesa Pascali, Marriage and Family Therapist, offers answers. Come prepared with description of incidents you may have handled better or specific questions of interest. Lesa has worked for the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff and at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office as a Criminal Investigator. She also has counseled Veterans who face various challenges including PTSD, trauma, learning disabilities, and personal loss and also with individuals and families whose lives have been affected by family members suffering from neurological imbalances. In the past year she has presented seminars regarding the stress on mental health during the Covid outbreak and lockdown. Visit https://santacruzcountycert.org/contact-us/ to learn more about CERT training. ••• Continuing education classes help CERT team members refresh skills learned in the Basic classes as well as learn new skills. Attendance counts towards the 20 hours of CERT training required for renewal of the DSW badge and CERT recertification every five years. At all the evening continuing education sessions, CERT recertification will take place for those who need to update their badges. (with covid-19 precautions, email certauxiliary@ gmail.com about procedures to follow for recertification.) Unless otherwise specified, each Continuing Education class must have a minimum of 10 registered one week before the class begins, or it may be cancelled. You will be notified if the minimum has not been met. Visit https://www.ready.gov/cert for more information.
Thursday July 15
DISCUSSION ON HEALTHY AGING 5-6:30 p.m., Online Seminar The Alzheimer’s Association with the Watsonville Public Library present: “Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body,” a webinar to be offered by phone and online. Tuesday July 6 Learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, N.COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB: BROADBAND ACCESS exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to incorporate these recommenda6 p.m., Online Zoom Meeting tions into a plan for healthy aging. Denton Murphy, California Democratic Party Rural Call 800.272.3900 to register; or register at tinyurl.com/ Caucus member, will be the guest speaker for the EHLBB071521 or visit ALZ.org/CRF Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County. Once you register, you will receive an email with the call-in Murphy will talk about federal funding allocated for information. broadband infrastructure to improve access in areas dealing with fragile networks and poor connectivity. Saturday July 24 Murphy will also discuss how people can urge their elected representatives to bring affordable robust internet Sunday July 25 access to all Santa Cruz County residents. ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL Members of the public are invited. For zoom meeting link, visit www.svslvdemocrats.org. Social time starts at 6 p.m. and club Opens 10 a.m. each day, Monterey County Fairgrounds The Artichoke Festival returns to the Monterey County meeting begins at 6:30 pm. Fairgrounds on July 24-25, with the theme, “Thistle be a Good Time!” Friday July 9 The 61st annual event expects 8,000 visitors; safety BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS GOLF FUNDRAISER and social distancing protocols will be followed. 12 Noon, DeLaveaga Advance tickets are available at www.ArtichokeFestival. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Wrigley Building parking lot, 2801 Mission St. Come July 9 at noon for a day of fun and camaraderie org, with an early bird family package for $30 available The upcoming outdoor market on the Fourth of July on the greens of DeLaveaga raising awareness and until July 10. Individual prices range from $15 for is taking place! Food vendors include: Pana, Taquizas funds in support of programs that benefit the youth adults; $5 for youth 6-12, $10 for active military and Gabriel, Nomad Momo and Aunt LaLi’s. throughout Santa Cruz County. seniors (62+). Children under 6 are free. n Come hungry to sample an amazing array of food from
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 1st 2021 / 29
FEATURED COLUMNIST
Addressing Fireworks in our Neighborhoods and Beaches By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District
W
ith Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer the number of complaints for fireworks (and other explosives) begin to increase. This year it seems the level of explosive and type of firework has become even more sophisticated. While this issue isn’t unique to our area, it nonetheless has a lot of impacts on our neighborhoods and local beaches. The largest number of complaints come around July 4th (although fireworks occur throughout the summer) with the majority of calls from the coastal areas of our district including Rio Del Mar, Seacliff and La Selva Beach. The exact location of the discharge is often difficult to pinpoint, as the sound reverberates throughout the coastal area, but there are some known hotspot locations on state beaches and some county beaches in the unincorporated area. Additionally, the railroad tracks are a popular spot for setting off M-80s or other types of commercial grade explosives. Over the last few years the Sheriff’s Office, State Parks and others have tried different enforcement approaches while the County has done a significant educational (including paid advertising outreach) to address the issue. Some of this enforcement, specifically along the coast, has caused concerns about increased fireworks activity in the more rural areas. Others have believed that when the enforcement is most directed there is a decline in activity along the coast. Some have contacted my office to express concern about the usage of law enforcement resources for fireworks in general (believing this is a low priority issue). The County’s position has been that
since fireworks, even safe and sane fireworks, are illegal in the unincorporated area, there should be enforcement on this issue. Realistically, there are significant barriers to effective enforcement: the difficulty in pinpointing the exact location of the discharge, the delay between the report and arrival of law enforcement (as people that are discharging them often leave the scene), call prioritization (if there are other active calls that officers are on then the won’t be able to respond immediately) and more. But the County is still committed to helping to reduce the issue. Fireworks and some of the noise-based explosives are sold legally in neighboring jurisdictions and often brought illegally into our community and fired off on the beaches, in the neighborhoods and even along the rail corridor
30 / July 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
Local Local Local
and local parks. Over the last few years the County has increased the fines for fireworks (fireworks violations are subject to triple fines around July 4th, which means a citation can cost well over $1,000 after court costs are added on.) Additionally, working with local community groups and the Sheriff’s Office the County adopted a set of policies and approaches a few years ago that are still in place today. This includes: improved tools of enforcement, better education locally, and outreach to neighboring jurisdictions that sell fireworks. Specifically, the plan included: • Making triple fines for fireworks permanent on July 4th and other holidays (meaning possession of fireworks will cost you well over $1000 in fines and court costs) • Producing public service announcements and other media outreach to local and regional media outlets about enforcement plans and the danger of
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fireworks before the summer as well as paid media purchases on social media • Expanding digital signage near hot spot neighborhoods about enforcement • Working with 9-1-1 dispatchers regarding how these calls are handled and also for education to the caller about the best information to provide to ensure proper enforcement • Working with vacation rental owners to educate them about visitors bringing illegal fireworks and also the consequences associated with it (sending letters to all vacation rental owners for them to provide to renters letting them know about the regulations and that they can lose their permit over violations) • Increasing police patrols • Sending letters to neighboring jurisdictions that sell fireworks encouraging them to partner with us on the issues their fireworks cause • Coordination between Central Fire, Sheriff’s Office and State Parks for improved and increased education and enforcement during July 4th and other peak times. Illegal fireworks activity will continue but the goal is that this approach have a positive impact on the environmental and other issues it causes. n ••• As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to call me at 454-2200 with your questions and comments.
The largest number of complaints come around July 4th ... with the majority of calls from the coastal areas of our district, including Rio Del Mar, Seacliff and La Selva Beach.
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 1st 2021 / 31
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