Aptos Times: November 1, 2021

Family Owned For Over 30 Years • Aptos, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, Freedom & Watsonville

Times Publishing Group, Inc.

November 1, 2021 • Vol 30 No. 21

Covid Update page 7

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When Lumber Barons Reigned in Aptos

They came with axes. They came with oxen. They came with greed.

Nearly 150 years ago, a group of venture capitalists began the clear-cutting of what became The Forest of Nisene Marks, a beloved state park today.

Full Story page 5

New Seacliff Hotel Proposal Full Story page 8

300 Wins for ‘Coach B’

Aptos High School football coach Randy Blankenship chalked up his 300th varsity win in October, becoming the 12th in California to do so — in other words, a rare feat.

Blankenship, 68, has been a high school head football coach since 1984 and in Aptos since 2010 — in other words, experience and longevity.

When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in 2020,

halting high school sports and then restarting with restrictions not seen in a century, he adapted – in other words, persistent.

He’s a guy who thoroughly enjoys coaching high school football players — even if he has to wear a mask.

He’s a guy who wants to impact the lives of his student athletes. ... continues on page 4

Live Earth Farm: Learning Where Food Comes From

When young students visited Live Earth Farm in Watsonville, they applied all their senses — sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.

Full Story page 11

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No. 21

Volume 30

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Table of Contents

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Cover

300 Wins for ‘Coach B’

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Community News Live Earth Farm: Learning Where Food Comes From SOS to FDA: Cut Baby Food Toxins Four COVID Deaths; New Cases Slow, By Jondi Gumz New Seacliff Hotel Proposal, By Jondi Gumz $3 Million Grant For County Behavioral Health • Kimberly Petersen Promoted to Deputy Director • Redistricting Comments Due Nov. 2 on Redistricting • New SC Symphony Executive Director Meet Aptos High’s New Deputy: Paul Lopez • Cal Fire’s San Mateo Santa Cruz Chief Ian Larkin Retires • Caltrans Safety Plan Wins Award When Lumber Barons Reigned in Aptos, By Derek R. Whaley Second Harvest Food Bank: Helping The Community Bring Comfort to Those In Need Our Community Reads in 2022: ‘Red Letter Days’ $800,000 Grant Targets Domestic Violence, Suicide Sierra Ryan Named County Water Resources Manager Aptos Village: Hillside Weeds Gone, By Jondi Gumz Mako Robotics in Watsonville for Hip, Knee Replacement PVUSD: State of the District

Letter to the Editor 20 Kudos to Edita McQuary

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Words Are Magic!, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

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Featured Columnists Zigni: Ethiopian Red Stew, Recipe by Lakia Queen Embracing the Season of Thanks and Gratitude, By Rebecca Gold Rubin Should National Parks be Returned to Native Americans?, From the Editors of E—The Environmental Magazine 25 Breaking the Silence, By Jasmine Najera 25 Autumn Leaves Fall, So Clean Your Gutters, By Tony Tomeo 30 County Strategic Plan: How Are We Doing?, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Snuggling Into Your Heart

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COVER STORY Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

publisher editor

contributing writers Jondi Gumz, Derek R. Whaley, Risa D’Angeles, Lakia Queen, Rebecca Gold Rubin, Jasmine Najera, 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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“300 Wins” from page 1 He’s a guy who believes in the wing-T offense, a formation defensive coaches are not used to seeing, one that relies on deception and finesse-- and his players make it work.

In 2020, ScorebookLive.com reported Blankenship is the second active winningest coach in California high school football, about 20 wins behind No. 1 Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei. He has been chosen Coach of the Year in four different sections — Sac-Joaquin, Central, San Diego and Central Coast.

Career Moves e started out as a rookie assistant coach at Mira Loma High School in Sacramento 43 years ago.

His first job as football head coach was in Nevada Union High School, where he racked up a 69-19-2 record, with 9-6 in the playoffs and six league titles in seven years. He’s in the Nevada Union Athletics Hall of Fame.

Next he went to Clovis West in Fresno, winning four section titles with the Golden Eagles from 1992 to 1998 and 1998 State Coach of the Year. His team was invited to the Santa Ana Bowl (where Bruce Rollinson’s Mater Dei team won).

Then he coached two years at Fallbrook, winning a section title in 2000 and ranking No. 11 in the state.

He coached in the football-fanatic state of Texas at Granbury High, a small town outside Dallas-Fort Worth, thinking it would be good preparation if he went into college coaching.

He told CalHiSports.com he decided to leave when an assistant superintendent lost her job over a school board dispute.

Blankenship got hired at Capistrano Valley in 2002, but didn’t stay long. He told CalHiSports.com he was one of 626 employees in the district to get a pink slip.

Fortunately, he got a call about coaching and being athletic director at Madera in the Central Valley. This meant his new team would be playing his old school, Clovis West, and other football powers in the league.

Those five years were challenging, with more losses than wins. Only one team made the NorCal rankings.

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Coach Randy Blankenship loves football and wants to impact the lives of his student athletes.

Aptos In 2018, when CCS had three Open he beach is what brought Blankenship Divisions, Aptos made the Open 3 bracket and won the title in a thriller, 35-34, over to Aptos.

The Mariners play at the Trevin Dilfer Sacred Heart Prep of Atherton. The Marfootball stadium, honoring the son of Aptos iners got into the NorCal regionals – a first alum and Super Bowl winning quarterback for a team from Santa Cruz County, the Trent Dilfer. At age 5, Trevin died of heart season ending with a 28-20 loss to McClydisease. monds of Oakland.

The Aptos community is what kept This year’s team is 7-1 and tied for him here.

2nd place behind undefeated Salinas in He appreciates the support from the Gabilan division of the Pacific Coast parents, students and the community.

Athletic League, which includes Palma and He’s led the Mariners to six straight Hollister. league titles and three Central Coast The season will end with a non-conSection championships (2013, 2014, 2015). ference game under the lights at Monte Vista in Watsonville at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5.

When he’s not coaching or getting [Coach Randy Blankenship] led the Mariners to six ready for next season, he and his wife Rhoda enjoy going to the beach. And they straight league titles and three Central Coast Section have three grandchildren. championships (2013, 2014, 2015). ... This year’s team is If you see Coach B, tell him “Congratulations!” n 7-1 and tied for 2nd place behind undefeated Salinas in ••• Photos Credit: Denise Russo the Gabilan division of the Pacific Coast Athletic League, Cover Photo: Aptos High football coach which includes Palma and Hollister.

Randy Blankenship celebrates his 300th win in October with his team.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Live Earth Farm: Learning Where Food Comes From W hen young students visited Live Earth Farm in Watsonville, they applied all their senses — sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.

Mount Madonna School preschool and fourth grade students enthusiastically engaged with resident livestock and friendly farmers as they explored fields, pens, corrals and gardens during a busy morning of planting seeds, harvesting produce and tending to farm animals.

“Our students had a hands-on experience of life on an organic farm,” said

preschool teacher Danielle Barr. “The farmers were knowledgeable, patient and inspiring. Students learned about harvesting and growing black beans, caring for goats, chickens, ponies, pigs and a sweet cow named Molly. Students were able to put their hands in the dirt and discover the magic that happens with nurturing a seed all the way to harvest. We tasted two kinds of apples, and grapes off the vines and they were delicious!”

This farm tour involved learning about the life cycle of plants by close examinations of flowers, by planting seeds, harvesting strawberries and tasting six other edible plant parts. Animal life cycles were introduced through interactions with milk goats and chickens, and students explored other biological topics including animal adaptations and the presence and role of insects.

“My favorite part was when the educator, Emma, had the children sit on a deck with the view of the entire Pajaro

Valley and asked them what they felt in that moment,” said preschool teacher Jasmine Horan. “She asked them to imagine what it was like before the farms, and told us the importance of organic agriculture and using the land in a good way. It was a memorable and peaceful moment from a very rich and joyful day at the farm.”

The farm experience was intended to teach students about where food comes from and sustainability, and to inspire new projects in the preschool students’ class garden on campus.

“The farm trip was a great opportunity to get to know our little buddies better, and for the fourth graders to practice being positive role models,” said fourth grade teacher Nick Cabassa. “It was also a great way for my class to see the inner workings of a local business.

We spend a lot of time studying California and its resources both local and statewide. Visiting Live Earth Farm was

an opportunity for the students to see, firsthand, the people and businesses that make up our diverse state.” n

We are proud to be the Aptos Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year!

We couldn’t do what we do without your support and are proud to be part of Santa Cruz County for over 35 years.

We donate 10% of our after-tax profits back into local organizations year-round, and continue to be committed to responsible sourcing, local partnerships, and investing in comprehensive benefits and development opportunities for our staff.

Half Moon Bay • Downtown Santa Cruz Westside Santa Cruz • Capitola • Aptos

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SOS to FDA: Cut Baby Food Toxins O n Oct. 20, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, with a multistate coalition, urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to act swiftly to reduce the concentrations of toxic heavy metals in baby foods.

In February and September 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives released alarming reports showing baby foods manufactured by seven popular brands, including Gerber, Beech-Nut, and Earth’s Best, contained elevated levels of lead, inorganic arsenic, cadmium, and mercury.

“No parent should have to worry that the foods they are feeding their baby might affect their brain development or make them sick down the line,” said Bonta.

“Lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are toxic metals with devastating health impacts on infants and children, especially in our most vulnerable communities. … I’m calling on the FDA to push manufacturers to lower the concentration of these toxic metals in baby foods. Nothing less than the health and wellbeing of our children is at stake.”

He contends nationwide standards are necessary to push manufacturers to do more to reduce heavy metal contamination.

The coalition asks the FDA to immediately set interim proposed action levels, which represents the limit at or above which the FDA will take legal action to remove products from the market, for these four toxic heavy metals in baby foods.

The negative health impacts of heavy metal exposure are well documented.

For example, impacts of lead exposure in children include behavioral issues, reduced IQ, slowed body growth, hearing problems, and kidney damage. There is widespread scientific consensus that there is no safe level of lead exposure. Cadmium exposure can cause damage to the liver, lungs, male reproductive systems, and kidneys. Inorganic arsenic exposure increases the risk of lung and bladder cancer. Heavy metals bioaccumulate in the body over the course of a lifetime.

Will you help make sure no one in Santa Cruz County goes hungry this holiday season?

Every $1 provides 4 healthy meals www.thefoodbank.org 800 Ohlone Parkway, Watsonville CA, 95076 Holiday Food & Fund Drive Presenting Sponsor

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The only action level for baby food, finalized by the FDA in August 2020 is inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal, 100 parts per billion.

The attorneys general urged the FDA to review and further reduce action levels for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal.

How does arsenic, a known poison, get into the cereal? Rice plants may be exposed to arsenic naturally present in soil as well as in water used for irrigation.

This accumulation of arsenic in the rice plant results in arsenic in infant rice cereal, according to the National Poison Control Center. See www.poison.org The attorneys general lauded the agency for announcing its “Closer to Zero” Action Plan for Baby Foods in April 2021, but they believe many of the timelines are too far off when action to protect children is needed in the near term.

They advocate for “a science-based, data-driven, and achievability-focused methodology” — developed based on a statistical evaluation by the New York Attorney General’s Office — for determining interim proposed action levels for heavy metals in baby food.

They recommend the FDA use testing to identify the “best performer” with the lowest mean concentration in parts per billion of each of the four contaminants, then use that statistic as the interim action level.

The baby cereal with the lowest overall arsenic, lead and cadmium levels is the HappyBABY Oatmeal Baby Cereal, Organic Whole Grains (available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2pBCSya), according to Tal Ditye, a mom with a doctorate in neuroscience and founder of Mommyhood101.com.

“Baby Food Toxins” page 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

Four COVID Deaths; New Cases Slow

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By Jondi Gumz

he coronavirus COVID-19 Delta variant is spreading much more slowly in Santa Cruz County, with new cases down 23 percent, fewer people hospitalized, yet four more deaths, bringing the total fatalities to 220.

All four who died had underlying conditions.

Two were white women in their 90s; one fully vaccinated and one not. Two were Latinx, a man in his 60s and a man in his 50s; neither was vaccinated.

As of Oct. 20, there were 324 active cases, down from 355; statistics are updated on Mondays and Thursdays.

Hospitalizations in the county, which had been as high as 21, stand at 4, including one in the ICU, unchanged from two weeks ago.

On Wednesday, dozens of cars lined up at the former drive-in on Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, where Sutter Health was offering the Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot for Covid-19, granted emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sept. 22.

The authorization covers people 65 and up, people age 18 to 64 at high risk of severe Covid-19 or whose occupation/ institutional exposure puts them at high risk of Covid complications.

The CDC tracker reports 79 percent of those eligible are fully vaccinated in Santa Cruz County, 177 cases and a test positivity rate of .98 percent, lower than that statewide rate of 2.2 percent.

More signs of business confidence: Linda Meltzer, owner of Magnolia Fine Gifts & Gallery in Aptos has expanded into the former Mulberry Gallery space; Sonya Yampolsky, owner of Jade Allen, a luxury clothing boutique in Capitola, opened her second shop at Aptos Center. Molly Bravo , owner of Wylder Space in Felton, will debut a lunchbox menu for cooler weather with sandwiches and soup on Nov. 1.

Business mixers are back. Think Local First, which advocates shopping at locally owned businesses, hosted a mixer Oct. 21outside KSCO radio. The CapitolaSoquel Chamber is hosting business mixers again, and Capitola Wharf and Village businesses will host Sip and Stroll Nov. 13.

Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz has live events scheduled through December.

Numbers posted Friday show a healthy 105,100 jobs in Santa Cruz County in September, and unemployment down to

5.4 %. Hospitality jobs were up 1,400 from a year ago; professional and business services up 500.

With more people commuting out of the county to work, joblessness dropped from 10,900 a year ago to 7,200 even as the labor force grew.

Delivery jobs are available. UPS in Capitola is offering $38 an hour for a fulltime seasonal personal vehicle package driver. The U.S. Postal Service offers $17.78 per hour to new hires.

Capitola needs a part-time assistant to the city clerk, starting at $27 per hour.

Jobs paying $85,000 or more a year, according to Indeed.com, include: Pool repair technician in Aptos, labor relations advocate at UC Santa Cruz and nurse case manager at Watsonville Community Hospital, which has a $15,000 signing bonus. Santa Cruz Metro offers a $4,000 signing bonus and training for drivers The New York Times advised people to shop earlier this year because of expected shipping delays due to pandemic-induced supply chain problems.

Of course, shopping local is one way to avoid that problem.

For The Kids n Oct. 1, Gov. Newsom announced plans to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of vaccinations required to attend school in-person once the vaccine gets full approval from federal regulators for middle and high school grades.

On Oct. 7, Pfizer and BioNTech asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize their COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. That would provide relief to parents who want their younger children vaccinated.

About 3,000 children took part in clinical trials, which found no cases of myocarditis, heart disease.

By Oct. 27, an advisory panel recommended in favor, though several panelists said the data does not support a mandate for kids 5 to 11.

Younger children would get two shots, each a third of the adult dose, three weeks apart. The CDC will discuss the recommendations next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Dr. Faris Sabbah, superintendent of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, told familes in an Oct. 15 letter that more than 70% of the kids age 12-17 are fully vaccinated. He anticipates vaccine clinics at schools for those age 5 to 11 in November,

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Peggy Bascou (left) and Hollie Wendt designed a new gift shop at Staff of Life. once the FDA authorizes emergency use for younger children.

With Inspire Diagnostics, his office has conducted more than 38,000 PCR surveillance tests for COVID at no charge to those tested.

He launched a new website santacruzcoe.org/coviddashboards, to report on active cases and test results. This dashboard links to individual school districts including Pajaro Valley.

State guidelines require students and school staff working with them to be masked indoors although Santa Cruz County lifted its indoor mask mandate Sept. 29.

Testing sites are open at Cabrillo College in Aptos, parking lot K, from 3-6 p.m.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and at the PVUSD District Office parking lot, open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays.

Students and their families, and staff and their families are welcome to use this free service. Those needing a test simply fill out the registration one time at http:// sccoe.link/inspiresc and go to either site.

No appointment is needed.

Impact ajaro Valley Unified School District saw a drop in enrollment this year, a statewide phenomenon.

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“COVID Update” page 8

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COMMUNITY NEWS

New Seacliff Hotel Proposal

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By Jondi Gumz

proposal by a well-known San Jose hotelier to build a 19-room hotel at 270 North Ave. within walking distance of Seacliff State Park, shelved after the recession, is moving forward.

Prakash Patel, president of Lotus Management, a family-owned business that owns the Four Points Sheraton in Scotts Valley, Fairfield by Marriott in Santa Cruz and the Holiday Inn Express in Watsonville, proposes to build the Seacliff Village Hotel on an empty lot across from Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant and a short walk to Marianne’s Ice Cream.

Plans call for a three-story building with ground-level parking and two floors of rooms above, a breakfast area, laundry facilities, and a rooftop deck with ocean views.

An earlier proposal for a three-story 12-room hotel with a restaurant and gym was approved in 2009 but was never built.

Patel said the restaurant would not be a money-maker, so he added rooms instead.

The 13,370-square-foot lot is zoned is for visitor accommodations and outside the flood hazard zone. It is bounded by the rail line to the north and single-family homes to the east.

North Avenue and Broadway, which visitors would use to reach the hotel, are

270 North Ave.

“COVID” from page 7 Factors include the switch to online instruction in 2020, the postponement of sports, and the loss of popular activities such as theater and singing groups, all for safety reasons. Some parents worried about long-term side effects do not want to vaccinate their children. In other cases, if the children

Seacliff Village Area Hotel • Rendering provided by Lotus Management Inc.

in poor condition and lack sidewalks. Patel proposes to resurface both streets and provide a sidewalk and gutter on one side.

Santa Cruz County planner Matt Johnston proposes a “negative declaration.” He believes the development would not have a negative impact on the environment and no environmental impact report is needed.

Comments are due Nov. 15 to county planner Randall Adams at randall.adams@ santacruzcounty.us. The date of the public hearing has yet to be scheduled.

The 137-page initial study analyzed soils and transportation in detail, but not water supply, aesthetics or cultural resources among the 21 categories on the environmental checklist. No native American tribes requested consultation, and if artifacts are found during excavation, the project would be halted temporarily to investigate.

The hotel is designed as a “infill” project to be consistent with the countyadopted Seacliff Village Plan.

The proposed 19-room hotel is “below

the threshold to require a traffic study,” less than 110 expected trips per day, traffic engineer Keith Higgins concluded in a June 2021 letter5. Using the Institute of Traffic Engineers manual 2017 edition, he projected 83 trips per day at 100 percent occupancy, including 10 each at the morning and afternoon peaks. A 20-trip peak triggers a traffic study.

The site is three blocks from the Highway 1 exit ramp at State Park Drive.

The manual says studies show hotels employ .9 employees per room, in this case 17 employees.

Soil engineering firm Quantum did a geotechnical investigation in September 2019 because the site is 6.6 miles from the San Andreas fault zone.

The county’s study concluded: Seismic shaking can be managed through proper structure and foundation design.

The hotel would connect to the Santa Cruz County Sanitation District, which reported in September 2021 that capacity is sufficient, and obtain water from the

Soquel Creek Water District, which indicated supplies are adequate and issued a “will serve” letter in March 2019, then granted an extension until March 5, 2022.

Roof downspouts and pervious pavers are planned to keep storm water runoff at the pre-development level.

The flood elevation of an open drainage channel slightly encroaching on the northwest corner of the property, analyzed for a 50-year storm, was determined to be 106.77 feet.

PG&E and Central Coast Community Energy (formerly Monterey Bay Community Power) would provide power with a new distribution connecting the property to the network in the area.

To be built, the project needs the approval of the county supervisors and a development permit from the California Coastal Commission. n ••• Read the study at: http://www.scco planning.com/Portals/2/County/Planning/env/ IS%20With%20Attachments%20201003.pdf

have had COVID, the parents contend they have natural immunity.

The Idaho Statesman and the Deseret News in Utah reported parents are leaving California because of SB 277, the 2015 law banning all but medical exemptions for vaccines.

One mom spoke to the Statesman but the mom who shared her story with the Deseret News her name be withheld

to protect the medical privacy of her children. n Total cases: 20,030 ••• COVID Deaths: 220 As of Oct. 24

35-44: 7 • 25-34: 5 Underlying Conditions Yes:174 • No: 46 Race White 122 • Latinx 80 • Asian 15 Black1 • Amer Indian/Alaskan native 1 Gender Male: 111 • Female 109 Aging Facility Yes: 105 • No 115

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Age 85 and older: 98 • 75-84: 47 • 65-74: 40 60-64: 13 • 55-59: 3 • 45-54: 7

COMMUNITY BRIEFS $3 Million Grant For County Behavioral Health he County of Santa Cruz Behavioral Health is pleased to announce a $3 million grant from the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to address mental health-related issues for people experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz County.

The two-year grant will help provide services to those experiencing serious mental illness, severe emotional disturbance, co-occurring disorders and homelessness. The grant will be supported by Behavioral Health Division in conjunction with the County’s Homeless Person’s Health Project(HPHP) and Housing for Health Division (H4H).

“Homelessness is a concern for everyone who lives in Santa Cruz County,” Behavioral Health Director Erik Riera said. “This highly competitive grant will provide much-needed funding to assist those who are experiencing homelessness connect with services and support an individual’s path to recovery, whether that be addressing substance use disorders, mental illness, or both. This will allow us to take a compassionate approach to care including comprehensive contacts in the community through a multidisciplinary team who will work together to support the individual in getting the help they need and deserve.”

The project provides direct services including medication management, peer support services and case management to vulnerable members of the community, and will focus services within the geographic region of the cities of Santa Cruz and Watsonville, both areas with data supporting high concentrations of people experiencing behavioral health challenges and homelessness.

Field-based community services will be enhanced with a mobile health clinic. Through direct, integrated services, project team

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“Baby Food Toxins” from page 6 Ditye recommends parents avoid rice cereal for their infants because of the contamination and choose oats or barley instead. Happy Baby also makes an oats and quinoa mix. Her review covers vegetable puree, fruit puree and formula.

By the way, all of the packaging makes the baby food product appear to be a good choice.

The coalition’s 37-page letter was addressed to Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting FDA commissioner of FDA and Dr. Susan Mayne, director, FDA, Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition.

The petition was filed by attorneys

members will work with clients to establish stable, ongoing connections to health, behavioral health, and housing providers.

Behavioral Health Director of Adult Services Karen Kern and Director of Community Engagement Cassandra Eslami secured the grant on behalf of the community.

••• Kimberly Petersen Promoted to Deputy Director imberly Petersen has been named deputy director of the County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department, succeeding Emily Balli, who is retiring at the end of 2021.

Petersen began her career with the county in 2005 as a benefit representative and is currently a division director overseeing employment and benefit services.

She has been a staff development trainer, associate human services analyst, and program manager.

“I’m very excited to have Kimberly move into this new role,” Human Services Department Director Randy Morris said. “Because of her experience, she understands all aspects of a department that impacts the lives of one out of every three Santa Cruz County residents, and is committed to their health, safety and well-being.”

Petersen said, “I’m honored … Human Services has a great team of dedicated professionals and partners working to help families and individuals of all ages who struggle with food, housing, and financial stability, and to keep at risk children and seniors safe in their homes.”

Petersen has a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in Spanish, and a master’s in international policy studies with a specialization in human rights.

She taught English oversees in both Germany and Ecuador, and served as aide

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general of 22 states: California, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. n ••• Read the petition at: https://tinyurl.com/ baby-food-toxins.

(Full URL: https://oag.ca.gov/system/ files/attachments/press-docs/NYOAG%20 et%20al%20-%20Baby%20Food%20 Petition%20to%20FDA%20%2810-212021%29-with%20appendices.pdf) Read the blog with https://mommyhood101. com/nontoxic-baby-foods-and-formulas

to former Congressman Sam Farr. She also spent four years on the Watsonville City Council, including one year as mayor.

••• Redistricting Comments Due Nov. 2 on Redistricting embers of the public may submit proposed redistricting plans and maps for the five Santa Cruz County supervisorial districts until Nov. 2 using software under the “Mapping & Data” tab on http://santacruzcounty.us/Redistricting2021.aspx.

The target population is 54,270.

Current population: District 1 (Capitola-Soquel-Summit) is 54,147; District 2 (Aptos) 54,740; District 3 (Santa Cruz-Bonny Doon) 56,380; District 4 (Watsonville) 53,878; District 5 (Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley, decimated

by CZU wildfire) 52,207. As for Latinos, District 4 has 43,185; District 2 has 19,036, District 3 has 13,390, District 1 has 11,916, District 5 has 7,049.

Boundary changes are considered after every census.

Two proposed changes are being considered by the Board of Supervisors. One would shift the Apple Hill neighborhood bordered by Main Street, Highway 1 and Harkins Slough Road in Watsonville from District 2 to District 4.

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The other would shift the neighborhood between the Small Craft Yacht Harbor, 7th Avenue and south of the Brommer Street Extension from District 3 to District 1.

One special evening meeting took place in person and via Zoom Oct. 26. A public hearing is set for Nov. 16, and the public can participate and comment until a plan is adopted by the supervisors in December.

••• New SC Symphony Executive Director anta Cruz resident Gary Reece, who was interim executive director at the Santa Cruz Symphony for two months and berfore that a board member, is the new executive director.

His career was in banking, business development and finance, an asset for the Symphony, which will be seeking addiGary Reece tional funding from donors and foundations. He has been successful in receiving Symphony grants from the federal government and private foundations.

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“Briefs” page 10

Plenty of Free Customer Parking

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688-8077

Kumon Math & Reading Center

Epicenter Cycling

Learning for the Long Run

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508-8200

662-8100

Village Liquors

Dentistry for Animals

For All Your Beverage Needs

Dr. Judy Force, DVM

688-5691

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Meet Aptos High’s New Deputy: Paul Lopez D eputy Paul Lopez of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is the new School Resource Officer at Aptos

High.

He grew up in San Jose where he spent most of his time participating in organized sports. He also volunteered coaching youth football with the Police Activity League in San Jose after graduation. At college, he became interested in a career in law enforcement.

He put himself through the police academy and was hired by the City of Scotts Valley as a police officer in 2006. At Scotts Valley, he worked as a patrol officer, field training officer, juvenile detective and school resource officer.

As a juvenile detective, he oversaw the

department’s diversion program, which worked with youth first-time offenders of nonviolent crimes on a one-on-one basis to keep them out of the criminal justice system.

He also oversaw the Scotts Valley Police Department’s Junior Police Academy for two years and taught the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program for two years to all 5th grade classes in the city.

He was the school resource officer at Scotts Valley schools for several years. He has attended a one-week training specific to School Resource Officers.

Lopez joined the Sheriff’s Office in March 2020.

He understands the role of today’s school resource officer is an important and

complicated one. He sees the position as more than just an agent of law enforcement in schools but also being an educator and mentor to students. He looks forward to working with the community, staff, and students at Aptos High.

He is married with two children. n ••• Editor’s note: Thanks to Sgt. Daniel Robbins for providing this information.

Deputy Lopez began his assignment Oct. 18 in wake of a fatal stabbing Aug. 31 of a student at the Aptos High campus and two fellow students under the age of 18 arrested, with their case in Juvenile Court, where records are confidential and not open to the public. A school resource officer assignment usually lasts three years.

Deputy Paul Lopez

Cal Fire’s San Mateo Santa Cruz Chief Ian Larkin Retires

C

al Fire Chief Ian Larkin, who since 2016 oversaw the San Mateo Santa Cruz Unit, where 86,500 acres burned in 2020 after lightning strikes, is retiring Nov. 5.

He has served with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for 28 years.

His replacement is yet to be named.

Born and raised in Watsonville, he now makes his home in Scotts Valley with his wife and two daughters.

Larkin began his fire service career in 1988, as a paid call firefighter with the Salsipudes Fire Protection District in Santa Cruz County and began his professional career as a Firefighter I with Cal Fire in the San Mateo – Santa Cruz Unit (CZU) in July 1990.

In October 1991, he took a permanent firefighter/operator position with the “Briefs” from page 9

“Gary really stood out as a candidate because of his background in business management,” said board president Linda Burroughs. “This is critical for arts organizations because they must know how to operate with budgets, staffing, legal requirements, contracts, financial management, and best business practices.”

Reece was a financial management consultant and a partner in a commercial development business. He served on the boards of Santa Cruz County Bank, Cabrillo College, McPherson Center

Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection District, returning to Cal Fire on July 1, 1993, in the San Benito Monterey Unit as a fire apparatus engineer through an agreement with the Aromas district. He was assigned to the Aromas Station and the Peninsula Battalion at the Pebble Beach and Carmel Hill Fire Stations.

In November 1996, he promoted to a permanent fire captain position in the San Benito Monterey Unit, worked in the Monterey Emergency Command Center beginning February 2000, then returned to the Aromas Fire Station in September 2001.

In December 2004, he returned home to Santa Cruz County as a fire captain specialist-rraining officer in the CZU Training Battalion, where he made significant impacts to the Santa Cruz County Fire Department volunteer firefighter training

program and development of the Ben Lomond Training Center.

In February 2007, he promoted to battalion chief-operations, responsible for Battalion 3 of CZU’s South Division, which covers stations from Saratoga Summit to Davenport.

In January 2012, he promoted to division chief as the unit administrative officer and promoted again to deputy chief of operations in March 2013, overseeing all of the Santa Cruz County Fire Department Operations, as well as CZU’s Battalions 3 and 4, Training, and the Emergency Command Center.

He also served as interim CZU Unit Chief following the transfer of Chief Scott Jalbert in April 2016.

Larkin is a registered fire instructor with the Office of the State Fire Marshal in several fire service disciplines.

He has been a member of Cal Fire Incident Command/Incident Management teams since 2011, held the position

of Resource Unit Leader on Incident Command Team 1, Plans Section Chief Trainee on Incident Management Team 6, and currently serves as the Deputy Plans Section Chief on Incident Management Team 2. n

for Art & History, and the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce. A longtime Santa Cruz Rotary member, he is a past club president and assistant district governor.

Burroughs also cited Reece’s ability to lead a team, motivate staff, create a positive working environment, and collaborate with the board, staff, maestro and musicians.

Maestro Daniel Stewart said of Reece, “He is a proven and accomplished leader, and he brings a wealth of experience to us, including his understanding of our community, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail.”

••• Caltrans Safety Plan Wins Award he Caltrans 2020-2024 Strategic Highway Safety Plan is one of seven to be honored by the Federal Highway Administration and the Roadway Safety Foundation for the 2021 National Roadway Safety Award.

Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin said, “Caltrans is irrevocably committed to achieving zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2050, and seeing deep, quantifiable and consistent reductions in those numbers.”

In summer 2020, state transportation

leaders from a wide range of organizations recognized a bolder and more focused approach was needed to combat troubling traffic safety trends.

This important change ― referred to as “The Pivot” ― led to focusing on high-priority areas, expanding highway safety plan membership, and adopting four guiding principles: • Integrating equity into all aspects of the plan.

• Implementing a safe system approach.

• Doubling down on what works.

• Accelerating advanced technology. n

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

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Ian Larkin

COMMUNITY NEWS

When Lumber Barons Reigned in Aptos

T

By Derek R. Whaley

hey came with axes. They came with oxen. They came with greed.

Nearly 150 years ago, a group of venture capitalists began the clearcutting of what became The Forest of Nisene Marks, a beloved state park today.

But by 1902, the decimation along Aptos Creek was complete, leaving behind nothing but broken trees and barren hills as far as the eye could see.

In his new book, The Reign of the Lumber Barons, local researcher Ronald G. Powell chronicles the golden age of the lumber industry in the hills above Aptos and Corralitos at the end of the nineteenth century. Through first-hand accounts, newspaper clippings, and personal explorations, he examines how Santa Cruz County’s entrepreneurs systematically harvested tens of thousands of old-growth trees to produce lumber used in the development of the Bay Area.

The stories of the county’s lumber barons are revealed in detail, with

highlights of their lives and careers in relation to their activities on the former Mexican land grant known as Rancho Soquel Augmentation. The

book examines John Brown, Charles Ford, John Porter, William Dougherty, Frederick Hihn, the Grovers, Timothy Hopkins, and many others.

Yet this new history also uncovers the lives of those who lived in the logging towns and camps of the Santa Cruz Mountains — places such as Loma Prieta and Valencia. These were normal people, living normal lives with their families.

This is a sequel to 2020’s The Tragedy of Martina Castro and is part two of The History of Rancho Soquel Augmentation series. Based on archived manuscripts produced by Powell prior to his death in 2010, this series has been masterfully edited and enhanced by local historian Derek R. Whaley, who has expanded the original text and updated sources throughout.

The Reign of the Lumber Barons: Part Two of The History of Rancho Soquel Augmentation by Zayante Publishing is available now on Amazon. com. The price is $24.99 for the print version, $9.99 for the ebook on Amazon. n “Lumber Barons” page 13

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / November 1st 2021 / 11

COMMUNITY NEWS

Second Harvest Food Bank

Helping The Community Bring Comfort to Those In Need

W

hen family and friends gather to celebrate and give thanks, thoughts often turn to those who are not so fortunate.

Generous folks may be interested in helping those who struggle with food insecurity, but it can be difficult to know the best way to help.

Since tens of thousands of people in Santa Cruz County fight hunger on a daily basis — and not just during the holiday season — how can one person make an impact when the need is so great?

••• The Food Bank Makes Donated Dollars Go a Very Long Way ou may have heard that Second Harvest can provide four healthy meals for one dollar, but how do we do that?

Because the food bank purchases food in large quantities to supplement our donations, we receive deep discounts that enable us to make a dollar go much further than the average consumer can.

Y

Donate in Someone’s Honor onations may be made in honor of someone special.

In lieu of a traditional holiday gift, this option is a nice alternative for those hardto-buy-for folks who “have everything” or would prefer not to receive a material gift.

Instead, donors may choose to give Second Harvest a monetary gift in any amount. Fill out the online form, click Next, and you will be given the option to an honoree’s name.

Host a Virtual Food Drive fun and interactive way to give to the food bank is to create your own Virtual Food Drive.

When you register, you will receive your own customizable page on our website which posts your goal and tracks the amount you have raised. You will be able to send this link to all of your friends and family so they will easily be able to donate to your fundraiser online.

Be sure to let people know that Second

D

That’s why, if given a choice between receiving a $10 bag of groceries or a $10 donation, the food bank will choose the monetary donation because we stretch that $10 into 40 nutritious meals.

Give In a Way That Fits Your Style And Your Budget here are multiple ways to donate to the food bank.

Choose to make a single donation or become a sustaining partner. A sustaining partner can customize the frequency and the amount of a regular, ongoing gift, and preferences may be updated at any time.

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Harvest provides everything you need in an online toolkit and you may also contact us if you need any assistance. Visit www. thefoodbank.org/hffd to create your online fundraising page. n ••• For more information, visit http://www. thefoodbank.org/hero or contact julie@thefoodbank.org

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Our Community Reads in 2022: ‘Red Letter Days’ O n Oct. 12, a group of community members attended a virtual “Pick THE Book Party” to choose the book for the 2022 Season of Our Community Reads.

OUR COMMUNITY READS selection for 2022 is Red Letter Days by Sarah-Jane Stratford.

The topics and themes of Red Letter Days are quite timely and will offer many opportunities for a broad range of interesting and lively events.

We are very excited about this selection and encourage everyone to grab a copy and enjoy this great read.

The calendar of events is just now being developed for February 2022 so stay tuned!

Visit our website for more details about Red Letter Days and about the other books that made it into the list of finalists for the 2022 Season of Our Community Reads.

Aptos Chapter of the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Library Patty Bernstein, Jim Bourne, Shelly Bodamer, Dinah Davis, Bobbie Edgin, Pat Emard, Kris Franceschi, Melanie Freitas, Gale Farthing, Ofelia García,

“Lumber Barons” from page 11 Editor’s note: I asked Derek R. Whaley, editor-in-chief of Zayante Publishing, who lived in Santa Cruz until 2014 and now lives in New Zealand, if he had a photo of Ron Powell to share. He did not, and his email to me explains why: “Regarding Ron Powell, he actually passed away in 2010. He donated his entire manuscript and research collection to UC Santa Cruz but also released it to the public domain. Stanley Stevens, the emeritus UCSC McHenry Library Map Librarian, made me aware of the collection. At the time (mid-2019), I was researching and writing a sequel to my own Santa Cruz Trains: Railroads of the Santa Cruz Mountains local history book but I temporarily shelved that project so that I could publish Powell’s work. His manuscripts were really rough drafts and a few of his sources

Teri Handzel, Coni Hendry, Sandy Laue, Diana Mejia, Eileen Miller, Ginny Morris, Lynn McNussen, Debby Peronto, Jodi Pratt, Susan Schenck, Denise Ward, Tricia Wynne and April Zilber. n ••• https://www.friendsofaptoslibrary.org/ our-community-reads-2022.html

were dubious at best, but most of his research was top-notch and he also made several important discoveries relating to the logging history of The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. Thus, my task has been cleaning up his rough draft, correcting and updating sources, and turning the work into something publishable. The first book in the series, The Tragedy of Martina Castro, released last October, and the third book, The Shadow of Loma Prieta, will be out sometime next year.

“The bad news is that I don’t have a photograph of Powell. I have talked with one of his children once, but they are not involved in the project and I have been unable to find a photo of him elsewhere.

Is it strange that I don’t know what the author of the books I’m publishing looked like? Perhaps, but I also work in medieval history so I’ve grown used to not knowing who the authors looked like.” n

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COMMUNITY NEWS

$800,000 Grant Targets Domestic Violence, Suicide A federal grant of $800,000 has been awarded to launch the “Building Hope & Safety-Santa Cruz” project to address suicide prevention in Santa Cruz County.

The project is funded through the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, which awarded grants for COVID-19 suicide prevention.

The 16-month grant will provide services to those experiencing domestic violence and are at-risk of suicide, especially due to increased strains related to COVID-19.

The project will be supported by Behavioral Health Division in conjunction with Monarch Services and Applied Crisis Training and Consulting.

“Our county has mourned 4 tragic femicides related to domestic violence in just the past 10 months,” reported Delphine Burns of Monarch Services, a nonprofit in Santa Cruz and Watsonville focused on preventing domestic violence and assisting survivors of domestic violence. “We, at Monarch Services, have also seen our service numbers nearly double and our number of crisis line calls triple from 2019 to 2020, as the need for domestic violencerelated services has escalated significantly.

“The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for community behavioral health are far reaching,” said Erik G. Riera, Director of Behavioral Health. “The risk of suicide and potential for negative mental health outcomes has been escalated by

trends such as economic instability, high unemployment rates, increased social isolation from shelter in place orders, decreased access to community and religious supports, and a projected increase in child abuse and domestic violence due to the pandemic. We are grateful for this opportunity to receive funding to implement the Santa Cruz County Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan.”

The project provides direct services including emergency housing assistance, training in suicide prevention and safety planning, crisis services, counseling, outreach, newly created behavioral health resource pocket guides, and a public education campaign all intended to support those at risk of suicide and domestic violence.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call either the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255, the County of Santa Cruz -Behavioral Health 24-hour Access Line at 1-800-952-2335, or 911 if it is a life threatening emergency. n

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16 / November 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Sierra Ryan Named County Water Resources Manager S ierra Ryan has been selected as Santa Cruz County’s next water resources manager, succeeding John Ricker who retired in 2020.

Sierra Ryan

“I’m honored to be chosen to serve in this capacity,” Ryan said. “Water is one of our most precious resources, and responsible stewardship of our water is key to our communities, our environment and the ecosystems that depend on water for their survival.”

Ryan has 14 years of experience working with water and environmental health issues in Santa Cruz County, including serving as a resources planner for the last 7 years with the County of Santa Cruz. She has experience working closely with water purveyors and other stakeholders to protect and enhance water resources in Santa Cruz County, including providing technical assistance and guidance on the development of local groundwater sustainability plans.

The County Water Resources Manager monitors and evaluates water resources issues within the county, tracks and evaluates water-related legislation, makes policy recommendations, and works with a wide variety of individuals and groups, including elected officials, community groups, consultants and other government agencies, to assure the sustainability of local water resources. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Aptos Village: Hillside Weeds Gone

A

By Jondi Gumz

hillside of weeds posing a wildfire hazard at the site of a future park for Aptos Village is no more, thanks to builder Swenson, which mowed the hillside next to where phase 2 of Swenson development will be along Aptos Creek Road.

“It looks great now,” said Aptos resident Todd Marco, who founded Nisene Rio Gateway, a Facebook group with 400 members to advocate safety measures for the community.

Jessie Bristow, Swenson project manager, said the parcel will be offered

to the county of Santa Cruz as a park, as this was a condition of The Aptos Village approval.

The site will remain as passive open space, according to Bristow, until acceptance of the offer of dedication of the park, or five years after recordation of the Phase 2 map.

Site improvements will be provided when Phase 2 construction starts, he added.

Aptos resident Becky Steinbruner twice emailed Central Fire officials, asking for weed abatement on the lot to reduce the wildfire risk to Nisene Marks State Park and properties on Mattison Court.

Central Fire Marshal Mike DeMars said via email, “This continues to be a work in progress. We have coordinated with Swenson Builders to clear the adjacent lots. We are currently trying to determine who is actually responsible for this strip of land. It does not appear to be Swenson or part of the Aptos Village project.”

He added, “Our inspectors have surveyed the area and, although it could use some trimming, it does not appear to be a major threat compared to other areas that we are working on. Between these weeds and the homes on Mattison Court, there is quite a bit of green foliage that will not burn as readily.”

If visitors to Nisene Marks State Park or Aptos Creek Road homeowners are trapped, “there is an accessible secondary egress road through Mesa Grande Terrace that can be utilized,” he pointed out.

He recommended residents concerned about fire hazards focus on improving defensible space in their neighborhoods.

“Encourage your neighbors to be alert and register their phones with SCR 911,” he added. “This will hopefully provide enough early warning to residents if there is an evacuation order.

Also, become familiar with Zone Haven to determine evacuation routes. This information is available on the SCR 911 website also.” n Photos Credit: Becky Steinbruner

We’re Proud to Be First!

We are the first and only hospital in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties to offer the Mako SmartRobotics™ System, which transforms the way total hip and knee joint replacements are performed. Our surgeons can now use the Mako system to create a personalized surgical plan based on a patient’s unique diagnosis and anatomy.

If you suffer from painful arthritis of the knee or hip, schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained, Mako-certified orthopedic surgeons: • Faisal Mirza, MD (831) 728-4227 • Kris Okumu, MD (831) 728-4227 • Christian Heywood, MD (831) 475-4024 We offer all private rooms. Watsonville Community Hospital is in-network for Kaiser Permanente members and other health plans.

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / November 1st 2021 / 17

18 / November 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Mako Robotics in Watsonville for Hip, Knee Replacement

W

hen orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Kris Okumu, told Yolanda Celis he would be assisted by robotic technology during her total hip replacement surgery at Watsonville Community Hospital, she was surprised.

“Dr. Okumu showed me beforehand how robotic technology would help him align my new hip joint perfectly,” said Celis, a grandmother and lifelong Watsonville resident who, prior to surgery, had experienced excruciating pain in her right hip joint for a year.

“I never dreamed they had that kind of technology here in this community,” she said. “I could barely walk or put pressure on my right leg before the operation. I was in so much pain that I didn’t think anyone could help me. Today, the constant stabbing pain is completely gone. Thanks to Dr. Okumu and robotics, I feel wonderful!”

Robotic-arm assisted technology for total joint replacement surgery was life-changing as well for Socorro Martinez Cordova, whose left knee joint was replaced by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Faisal Mirza in February — with the hospital’s Mako SmartRobotics System.

Martinez Cordova, a grandmother, is so pleased with the results she is going to have Dr. Mirza replace her right knee joint.

“I had severe pain in my knee for about five years,” she said. “After the surgery, the pain is gone. I’m very grateful to Dr. Mirza and everybody at the hospital who treated me so well. And I’m grateful we have the robotic technology available in Watsonville.”

Dozens of patients have had total hip or total knee replacement surgery performed by Okumu or Mirza at Watsonville Community Hospital using the Mako System.

Asked about the cost of the Mako System and training for surgeons, Watsonville

Dr. Faisal Mirza (left) and Dr. Kris Okuru have completed 3,500 joint replacement surgeries with the Mako System, a robotic tool they say provides precision.

Community Hospital provided this response: It “represents an investment of over $1 million in our community. Training for Mako certification includes performing the robotic-assisted joint replacement procedure on a cadaver and may be completed at a national or regional training program. The training is conducted by a Mako-trained surgeon.

Yolanda Celis To complete the certification process, the trainee physician must also observe surgeries performed by Makocertified surgeons.

“Between them, Drs. Okumu and Mirza have performed over 3,500 total joint replacement surgeries, more than 30 of them assisted by the advanced Mako technology, with superior patient outcomes.”

The manufacturer Stryker, a publicly traded company with 40,000 employees founded in 1941 and based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, notes published clinical studies in 2018 and 2019 comparing robotic-arm to conventional hip and knee replacement with favorable outcomes.

Watsonville Community Hospital is the only hospital in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties to offer this advanced robotic technology to assist specially trained orthopedic surgeons in performing total hip and knee replacement surgery.

COVID Delay he hospital acquired the Mako in July 2020; deployment was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mako system allows surgeons to make a patient-specific surgical plan before the procedure. A CT scan of the patient’s knee or hip joint is taken to develop a 3-D virtual model of the joint. Using the model, the surgeon can evaluate the patient’s bone structure, disease severity, joint alignment, and health of surrounding bone and tissue to help determine the optimal size, placement, and alignment of the implant.

In the operating room, Mako provides data during the procedure, allowing the surgeon to continuously assess the movement and tension of the new joint and readjust the surgical plan if needed.

The surgeon guides Mako’s robotic arm, which is fitted with a surgical cutting tool, to precisely remove diseased bone and cartilage. The implant is then placed into the knee or hip joint.

“Robotic Surgery” page 23

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A mother and Santa Cruz resident, she strives to touch the hearts and minds of everyone she comes in contact with; to share stories with others from all walks of life and with different cultural perspectives to find the common thread that connects us.

She is a core member of Santa Cruz County Lakia Queen Community Coalition to Overcome Racism, a local nonprofit that seeks to dismantle racism through educational events and forums.

She studied literature at UC Santa Cruz with an emphasis in world literature cultural studies and feminist studies with an emphasis in law, politics, and social change. Formerly project administrator at New Teacher Center and administrative assistant at UCSC Women’s Center, she was vice chair for the Santa Cruz Commission for Prevention of Violence Against Women.

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1/2 teaspoon of ginger, grated 2 tbsp of berbere spice 2 tbsp of tomato purée 3 plum tomatoes, chopped 500ml of veggie stock salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper 1. Season the firm tofu with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan and sear the tofu on a high heat until evenly browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.

2. Turn the heat down and add the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil. Sauté the onion, peppers, ginger and garlic with the berbere spice for 20 minutes, or until soft.

3. Add the tomato purée, stir well and cook out for a 15 minutes.

4. Return the tofu to the pan along with the chopped tomatoes and stock and cover with a lid. Simmer on a very low heat for 1 hour, then remove the lid and simmer for a further half an hour, or until the sauce has thickened.

5. Taste to check the seasoning and serve hot. n

Share A Recipe!

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o you have a recipe that is a family favorite? Or maybe one from your childhood you would like to share? The Capitola-Soquel Times will be publishing one recipe each issue from a community member.

Feel free to add a little history to the recipe if you want (approximately 75 words). Every issue we will randomly choose a recipe to publish.

Find your favorite and send it to cathe@cyber-times.com today!

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Kudos to Edita McQuary hank you for publishing Edita McQuary’s story. It should go to the New York Times!

The public needs access to more of such real life experiences where

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desperate persons are given a leg up by compassionate individuals and humane systems.

Thank you, and many thanks to Mrs. McQuary.

— Raymond Lawrence, Santa Clara

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

22 / November 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

PVUSD: State of the District

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n Oct. 20, Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, superintendent of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, hosted a state of the district presentation.

She pointed out high expectations and sustained excellence are core values and along with innovation, equity, integrity, empowerment.

With the COVID-19 pandemic providing challenges in 20-21, she said it was a year in which “we came together as a community to persist in our mission.”

Peggy Pughe While the district has set goals for academic achievement, there is an expanded definition of success and a focus on the whole child and the whole family.

The mantra for this year is CARES — Connect, Accelerate, Recover, Enrich, Succeed. Each month, employees who put this philosophy into action are recognized. Honorees include Veronica Moran in Business Services, Jack Boucke, teacher at Radcliff Elementary and Peggy Pughe, Aptos High principal.

Enrollment is down: from 19,772 before

“Robotic Surgery” from page 19 More Precise or Dr. Mirza, advantages of the Mako System include providing data that enables more precise cuts and a better fit for the implant.

“With the Mako, you can convert what you feel when you move the knee or hip to test for range of motion and instability into a numerical value,” he explained. “This allows for more precise balancing of the knee or hip, which traditionally is done solely by feel.

And with the Mako, the smooth precision of the cuts we make is second to none.”

“In the case of hip replacement, for example, getting leg length correct is critical,” explained Dr. Okumu. “A surgeon using the traditional method of surgery can get pretty close, but with robotics, you can get within a millimeter or less. The same goes for knee replacements when you’re making cuts in the bone to fit the implant. Mako technology allows for a more accurate cut, so the implant fits exactly how you want it to fit.”

The two surgeons say anecdotal evidence from their own practices indicates that patients who undergo total joint replacement surgery using the Mako may experience less pain afterward and heal quicker.

“With Mako, you only use one cutting tool to prepare the hip socket for the artificial socket that holds the implant, as opposed to the traditional way where you move multiple instruments in and out of the operative area,” Dr. Okumu said. “There’s less chance

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the pandemic to 19,176 students with 66% English learners, 85% living in poverty, 17% without permanent housing, 10% migrant students and 15% in special education.

The district has $102.5 million in one-time funding – federal and state COVID relief funds – with strings attached and spending deadlines ranging from 2021-2024.

PVUSD, one of the largest employers in Santa Cruz County, has 2,470 staff with 990 teaching positions.

Retirements, resignations and leaves of absence — 91 before June 30 and 50 after — created a classroom teacher shortage when school started in August, compounded by higher teacher absences every day, averaging 38 on Fridays. Complaints came to the school board.

PVUSD raised the rate for long-term substitutes to $240 a day after 10 consecutive days, compared to $185 per day in the county after 20 consecutive days.

PV’s daily sub rate is $180 vs. $130 in the county. Two percent of teacher positions were vacant as of Sept. 21.

Rodriguez says 87% of this year’s budget — not counting one-time funds — goes to salaries and benefits, 8% to services and operating costs, 4.6% to books and supplies, and .2% to capital and other costs.

of damage to surrounding tissue, less chance of bleeding, and the procedure moves along faster. That’s good for patients because they require less anesthesia, experience less bleeding, and, theoretically, can recover sooner because there’s less trauma to tissue.”

Mirza and Okumu are members of Coastal Health Partners, a multi-specialty medical group serving Santa Cruz County and affiliated with Watsonville Community Hospital.

Past Problems s of August 2019, nearly 2,000 Stryker hip replacement lawsuits were in state and federal courts, according to Drugwatch.com, founded in 2009 in Orlando, Florida to monitor harmful drugs, medical devices and procedures.

Stryker agreed to a confidential settlement of lawsuits over its LFIT V40 Femoral Head in 2018, according to Drugwatch, and Stryker paid $2 billion in 2014 to settle Rejuvenate and ABG II hip lawsuits.

Lawsuits against Stryker claim faulty hip implants caused severe pain and complications that required surgery to repair, according to Drugwatch. The lawsuits blame metal parts in the implants for releasing toxic metal ions into the body – chromium, cobalt and titanium that can cause tissue damage and loosen the implants, according to ClassAction.com, a monitoring website that refers viewers to Morgan & Morgan, a personal injury law firm. n ••• For more information, see www.mycoastalhealthpartners.net or call (831) 728-4227.

She says 58% of the salaries and benefits go to certificated staff (teachers), 33% to classified staff, 5% to site certificated management, 2% to classified management, and 2% to district certificated management.

There are 13 nurses, 14 mental health clinicians, 18 social emotional counselors, 19 psychologists, 24.5 academic counselors — more than last year — and a new family engagement and wellness center.

In 2021, all students at all schools receive free breakfast and lunch.

All school sites have tech support, and 20,000 Chromebook laptops have been provided to students to take home, with 4,000 “hotspots” for Internet access.

Save the Music for elementary students

is at 7 schools and will expand to all 16 elementary schools by 2023-24.

Life Lab Growing partnership between Pajaro Valley Unified School District and Life Lab, a nationally recognized nonprofit creating hands-on garden-based learning, is expanding.

Garden classrooms, now at seven schools impacting 4,000 students, are to be available at all 16 elementary schools by the fall of 2024.

“PVUSD has seen the significant impact Life Lab has had on students who participate in the program,” Rodriguez said.

“State of District” page 30

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On an Old Map

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ACROSS

1. *Core of Persia today 5. *Belgian village where Roman soldiers enjoyed warm mineral springs 8. Pitch symbol 12. More luminous star 13. Abbott and Costello or Rocky and Bullwinkle 14. Eurasian goat-like antelope 15. Team’s ranking 16. Make someone angry 17. Mix in 18. *Formerly Ceylon (2 words) 20. What tide does half the time

21. Reggae subgenre 22. Back then 23. ____ profundo 25. Depleted (2 words) 28. Wet firecracker 29. Catch in a net 32. Hip bones 34. Dormer without D 36. Schiller’s poem 37. “It is silent” in sheet music 38. Discharge 39. Admirer 41. Earlier in time than, archaic 42. Not out (2 words) 44. Pinocchio and his kind 46. Evergreen creeper 47. “A League of Their Own” member, e.g.

49. Command to a fly

51. *Formerly Siam 54. Rain forest ruminant 55. Irish for Ireland 56. It’s under a fig leaf?

58. Shockingly graphic 59. Impersonator 60. Manlike man-eater of fairy tales 61. Crunchable information 62. Popular ‘60s drug 63. A ____ ____ move 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

DOWN

Opposite of outs Fish eggs, pl.

Affirm solemnly Lowest points Seeking damages Kenosha Kickers’ music 7. On the sea

8. *Once named Kampuchea 9. Trunk appendage 10. Shining armor 11. Facsimile machine 13. Fire-starter in fairy tales 14. Trojan War military action 19. Red-dot pointer, e.g.

22. Cigar residue 23. *Myanmar, formerly 24. “____ One” on a ticket 25. Consumer 26. Stomach sore 27. Boat stops 28. John’s and Jane’s last name?

30. Pie a la ____ 31. *Tokyo, formerly 33. Absorbed, as in a cost

35. *Abyssinia, now 37. Jury duty event 39. Comedian Schumer 40. Has more elm trees 43. Roundish 45. Not digital 47. Ox prod, pl.

48. Propelled like Argo 49. Arctic jaeger 50. ‘80 TV series “____ to ____” (1 word) 51. Bluish green 52. Canceled 53. “American ____,” Jeanine Cummins’ bestseller 54. Like one of the Testaments 57. Modern, prefix © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / November 1st 2021 / 23

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Embracing the Season of Thanks and Gratitude

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

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hanksgiving and the holidays are quickly approaching! Despite (or perhaps because of) the challenges and difficulties of the last year-plus, it’s nice to bring to mind and share some of the things for which we’re grateful.

Doing this can be a heartening and restorative exercise, something that renews our appreciation for family and friends, reminds us of the many positives in our lives and our work, and replenishes our spirit. And that’s a large part of what the holidays are all about, isn’t it?

At the Soquel Creek Water District, we have much to be grateful for, in particular the many partnerships and cooperative relationships – both formal and informal — that help us to better serve the community, every day.

At the local level, our highly-valued partners and networks range from arts and environmental education groups to the business community; from schools and colleges to the local fire district; from museums to local agencies, cities, the county, and elected officials; and more.

These are among the relationships that bring us closer to the local community, so we can better share information and gather input and knowledge, communicate about the water supply and our services, and ensure we are staying on course in our work.

On another level, we’re very thankful for our partnerships with the state and federal agencies, which continue to recognize the value and necessity of the Pure Water Soquel project, understand the District’s role, and have been so generously supportive.

We have built these relationships over time by meeting and getting to know the individuals involved with those agencies, sharing our long-term objectives and action plans, and describing how we intend to make the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin sustainable.

These agencies have responded with great support, providing significant grant funding and low-interest loans which have enabled us to proceed with Pure Water Soquel. Because of those partnerships, the entire community is closer to meeting the serious challenges in our water supply issues.

From an “inside the District” perspective, we are grateful for the members of our Board of Directors, our standing committee members, our staff members, and our community partners.

From the policy-level decision-making to the on-the-ground functional efforts, there is a tremendous shared commitment to the objectives and mission of the District.

This dedication unites us, and encompasses the critical functions of reliably providing water to our customers, the maintenance

and build-out of our water service infrastructure, the District’s financial, customer service, and communications functions, and the supplemental water supply projects that the District is building and/ or exploring.

We can’t let the season of thanks pass without a grateful affirmation of our natural earth and the water that sustains us.

Water is the driving force in nature. It’s the lifeblood of humanity, our nations and our villages, our economies, and the wellbeing of families and individuals.

There is no new water — all the water that we use today has already been recycled through the natural water cycle.

It is precious, and we particularly recognize the value of water right now, as we

are experiencing a drought of historic magnitude. To be thankful for water isn’t really enough — we must protect and enhance our water supplies, for the good of all people, the environment, and the wildlife and critical habitats.

And last but most importantly — we are continually thankful for our customers.

Through your enthusiastic and productive involvement, our Community Water Plan was created, which continues to help guide our policies and actions toward the crucial development of supplemental water supplies.

Soquel Creek Water District is proud and grateful to be your community partner for reliable water. Happy Thanksgiving to all, and our best wishes for the holidays. n

Should National Parks be Returned to Native Americans?

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From the Editors of E—The Environmental Magazine

rior to white settlement, as many as 15 million Indigenous people inhabited what would come to be called the contiguous United States; by the 1890s only about 250,000 remained. Today, roughly five million Native Americans live in the Lower 48, but they control only about 2 percent of the lands. Recently tribal activists have renewed efforts to remedy this historical misappropriation by demanding that control of the national parks be given back to the tribes.

“The national parks are sometimes called ‘America’s best idea’, and there is much to recommend them,” reports Leech Lake Ojibwe tribal member and author David Treuer in a recent op-ed in The Atlantic. “But all of them were founded on land that was once ours, and many were created only after we were removed, forcibly, sometimes by an invading army and other times following a treaty we’d signed under duress.”

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

Indeed, Indians were extricated from Yellowstone, Glacier and Yosemite national parks despite their ancestors having lived there for 10,000 years. But what happened in these landmark parks was just the tip of the iceberg, as Indigenous peoples were “robbed” of hundreds of other naturally significant sites from coast to coast as well.

“Apostle Islands National Lakeshore,

in Wisconsin, was created out of Ojibwe homelands; the Havasupai lost much of their land when Grand Canyon National Park was established; the creation of Olympic National Park, in Washington prevented Quinault tribal members from exercising their treaty rights within its boundaries; and Everglades National Park was created on Seminole land that the tribe depended on for food,” reports Treuer.

“National Parks” page 26

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Breaking the Silence

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By Jasmine Najera

s a member of the Santa Cruz County Commission on Justice & Gender and co-board chair for Monarch Services, I want to break the silence, stigma, shame and guilt around being a domestic violence survivor — and share my story.

I am a survivor of domestic violence.

I was only 18, a freshman at UC Santa Cruz and incredibly isolated in my secret.

My explosive, violent boyfriend attacked me on my birthday.

I remember feeling deeply ashamed and embarrassed, and heavy with guilt.

I remember I couldn’t hide the bruising on my face and I was outed.

Eventually I reached out to Defensa de Mujeres (now Monarch Services), with the encouragement and support of my Aunt Olga.

I had tried to cover my tracks but it was obvious something was wrong.

I did not end the relationship immediately, but once I did, I was not free.

Up to last year, I experienced vague veiled threats via social media — from a relationship almost 30 years ago!

This person physically harmed not

only me, but also others whom I knew and loved.

I have been on my own path of healing, which like grief is not something you address and put to rest, it pops up and I still deal with reminders and triggers.

But I am in a much better space thanks to receiving support and therapy and by committing my time to support other survivors of domestic violence and those who work to support them.

I know from experience: When you speak up and break the silence, it allows others to feel safer and in community with people who have similar experiences.

I have also realized my healing is tied to the healing of others. By creating space for others and using my voice and experience in transparent ways, I can help others and in turn continue on my own journey of healing.

Owning and telling our own narratives around our collective healing from domestic violence is imperative, and we must create a community that works to stop the cycles of violence and create spaces for support and healing.

This year’s national campaign theme, #Every1KnowsSome1, highlights how

I have been on my own path of healing, which like grief is not something you address and put to rest, it pops up and I still deal with reminders and triggers. widespread domestic violence is. Our local effort is talking about how we heal and break the cycles of violence and trauma.

People deserve to be supported in their healing process -- not shamed and silenced.

Domestic violence is a societal problem rooted in patriarchy and the subordination of women.

Experiencing abuse has lifelong impacts and can be passed on generation to generation, especially if there is no healing.

People who cause harm also need help healing. We believe that together, in community, we can continue to heal if we share our stories and see each other, in each other.

The Commission on Justice & Gender is leading a Healing Campaign as part of our commitment to create opportunities that encourage people who have healed

from surviving or witnessing domestic violence to share their stories, increase visibility, share experience and healing. If you are interested in participating, or know someone who may be, you can share this letter: http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ Portals/0/County/Commissions/jag%20 commission/Resources/Healing%20 Campaign%20Letter%20Oct%202021.pdf To learn about the Santa Cruz County Commission on Justice & Gender and other resources, see http://www.co.santa-cruz. ca.us/Government/Commissions,Commit teesAdvisoryBodies/CommissiononJusticeandGender.aspx n ••• Jasmine Nájera is a licensed clinical social worker, mother, wife, survivor, advocate, mentor and leader.

Autumn Leaves Fall, So Clean Your Gutters

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By Tony Tomeo

utumn is also fall for a reason. It is the season during which most deciduous foliage will fall. Some deciduous trees that lack good fall color may look neater without their shabby old foliage. Sadly though, the splendidly colorful deciduous trees must shed also. All that collective debris that succumbs to weather and gravity gets messy, and can clog gutters.

Evergreen plants shed too. They are just sneakier about it. Some shed old foliage during spring or summer while simultaneously replacing it to stay evergreen. Some shed slowly but steadily for several months, rather than concentrating the mess within a brief season. Many shed during autumn though, as wind and rain dislodge their lingering older foliage.

Whether deciduous or evergreen, various plants shed at various rates. Monterey cypress shed so steadily through the year that they are never caught in the act. Fruitless mulberry can defoliate in just a few days if frosted suddenly enough. Sudden defoliation seems to be messier, but can be an advantage.

Fall color will soon fill gutters.

For example, gutters may need cleaning just once.

Weather is also variable. Rain began a bit early this year. The associated dampness can accelerate defoliation for some species. Other species respond more to temperature. An early chill may accelerate their shedding. It is therefore impossible to predict when it will be necessary to rake fallen leaves or clean gutters.

There are simply too many variables.

Unfortunately, the weather that causes leaves to fall is the very same weather that makes raking and cleaning gutters so unpleasant. No one wants to work in the garden while it is cold.

Nor does anyone want to get onto a dangerously wet roof to clean gutters. There is no need

to rake or clean gutters before rain and cool weather cause debris to fall.

It should be obvious when it is necessary to rake leaves from lawn, pavement and street gutters. Bigger leaves tend to be more problematic by clogging drainage.

Smaller leaves may just as easily stain pavement or decking though. Roof gutters are not so visible, but probably need cleaning while raking is necessary nearby, and hopefully before clogging.

••• White Alder fter a forest fire, white alder, Alnus rhombifolia, might be the first trees to regenerate into freshly deforested riparian situations.

It grows quickly to exploit such an opportunity, and temporarily dominate a recovering ecosystem. Individual trees do not live for much more than half a century though.

Then, they relinquish area to slower but more enduring trees.

Years ago, white alders did the same in new landscapes that needed shade. They grew fast to

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provide shade while preferable trees matured slowly. They subordinated and then vacated their landscapes as the preferred trees grew.

Unfortunately, this technique is not so practical within municipalities that require but rarely grant permits for removal of trees.

Although native, white alder is not prominent everywhere within its natural range. It might seem to be rare in Southern California, with only a few sporadic trees to provide seed for regeneration after a fire. Farther north, large and sustained colonies resist encroachment of other trees. Mature white alders can get forty to eighty feet tall, or taller where crowded by taller trees. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com

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

Words Are Magic!

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Esoteric Astrology • November 2021 • By Risa D’Angeles

riday night, October 22, the Sun entered Scorpio, our most mysterious of signs (except for Pisces).

We look forward to that ‘something wicked our way comes’, when Scorpio arrives! And if it isn’t “wicked” we shake in our boots knowing the Nine Tests have arrived, also in Scorpio. It’s such a dramatic, deeply intense, the underbelly of reality commanding sign (ruled by Pluto and Mars). No one forgets a Scorpio.

At most, Scorpio is a most captivating sign.

It is also the most inscrutable of signs. Before we enter Capricorn, Scorpio offers us points of crisis and moments of reorientation, two deeply important functions of Scorpio and of great value for us to understand (concerning ourselves as Scorpio Sun, moon or ascendant [rising sign], and friends and family who may be Scorpios).

Our lives on Earth are our chosen Spiritual Adventure. There comes a lifetime when we have divine curiosity. We want to understand the underlying motives of livingness (our lives and others’). We ARIES

A shift is occurring, a threshold to be crossed, new realities, new work and responsibilities to appear. You emerge from your foundations and face the Sun, hidden by Scorpio waters. Although not a Scorpio you and the sign of Discipleship share the influences of Mars and Mercury. So you are both in the same “planetary families”. Both have work to do that’s transformative that helps humanity. The key is communication.

Use it for Goodwill, for knowledge, to dispense intelligence.

Use it to uplift.

want to step out of the “cloud of unknowing”. And, no matter what, we are eager to progress forward sanely, with strength and serenity.

When thinking in this way, we are stepping upon the Evolutionary Path or the Path of Return (to heaven). We want to be practical, to understand what is of value to us. We are given power and want to understand the extent of that power (Pluto). We want to pass all of the Nine Scorpio tests offered to us by Mars. Mercury helps by informing us that we must be very careful of our thoughts and speech for they can destroy as well as create.

“Words are magic”, Mercury tells us.

It is only through understanding these principles along with the nature Scorpio and the nine tests that true insight is cultivated. Then, we are called to be Disciples.

We want to feel optimism and understand what being a World Disciple means. Scorpio calls all Disciples. It calls all disciples to step forward.

To stand with the Forces of Light, flaming swords held high. Scorpio is the warrior emerging from all battles triumphant. n

LEO

SAGITTARIUS

Jupiter is now moving forward in Aquarius, your opposite sign.

Leos are being called to serve in many and greater ways as the new era unfolds. Be aware that all Leos must begin to cultivate all their talents and gifts. Identity comes first. Identifying yourself through what you create is a hint. A new sense of self-expression comes through your creations. Sometimes you feel dramatic, exaggerated, and embellished, desiring a more glamorous and stylish life while also hiding away. We see and recognize you, Leo.

Communication is and will be an important theme this month and next. During Scorpio each year your communication enters into a state of retreat, a rest time.

You enter into a more spiritual world which heals and comforts with its inner tending. You may feel somewhat nebulous and uncertain, as if veils have fallen between you and the world? It’s a protective mechanism. So you aren’t disturbed. Allow nothing piercing and sharp into your world.

TAURUS

VIRGO

CAPRICORN

Have cash on hand and structure your money in careful ways in the coming weeks and months. Purchase no non-essentials. Tend to debts immediately, paying more than minimum on credit cards.

Consider purchasing silver and gold to back your dollars, keeping your money safe. A good source for coins is the Money Changer (https://the-moneychanger.com). They are intelligent, reliable, trustworthy and a source of invaluable monetary information. The value of the dollar is changing.

There seems to be no rest and each day provides new challenges, including that of health. Sometimes your back hurts, sometimes your head.

Don’t let your heart hurt even if things seem somewhat dismal and dreary – weather, world or finance-wise. Help arrives when one asks for help.

Unusual events occur, especially as you continue your intentions for assisting all aspects and endeavors of humanity. We work with you in morning meditation.

Communication on all levels and aspects is most important at this time as Mercury slowly moves forward in Libra.

Mercury rules communication and it’s asking you what creative endeavors you are participating in, what thoughts, ideas and intentions you have concerning your talents and abilities. Soon Mercury will be in Scorpio and we will be talking about the Nine Tests. You already know to use communication to radiate love outward into the world.

GEMINI

LIBRA

You may be seeking love, or if already in love, seeking a closer connection. Remember that making contact, true and kind and good, releases love. Can you make that type of contact? You’re also seeking more harmony and balance and right relations which your heart longs for. Have the objective to radiate love at all times.

Use no harsh or critical words. Also have the intention to always listen and understand. Aquarius often goes right to the heart of the matter.

SCORPIO

There is and will continue to be daily increased work and responsibilities. You must summon all your abilities to maintain health and strength in order to meet the present world needs.

Complete all tasks put off since summer. Do you also need new shoes and a new bed? I heard you need a new car, too. Relationships have been testy, money’s been perplexing, and change has been ceaseless. Who listens to you? Where is your home? Call in the Soul. It’s our guardian, guide, healer and comforter.

AQUARIUS

The new era energies impel you toward your task as mes- With Mercury and Mars in the sign the scales, some Libras are senger - constantly offering information, pondering better communication in their relamore praise of others but most of all identitionships and better ways to display love. It’s fying your creativity. It seems that you bridge good to tie up all unresolved communication so many realities, especially between Spirit situations. Tend to shared money and finances and matter. This building is Gemini’s purpose. You connect and invest in real things. Release all relationships that are not people here and there in various multi-faceted ways, opening good or kind or respectful. A new world is continuing to unfold the minds of others to see a new light, a new day, a new with new laws and principles. Always say yes to what’s offered, life ahead. Although you may not understand how, you are giving love a chance. blessed. We bless you.

CANCER

How are the issues of resources, values, finances and money appearing in your life? Are you tending to resources for yourself and/or others? It’s most important that you focus time and energy upon your own needs so you can be strong and able in all ways for the coming times. It may be your concerns have deepened for family and children? This will continue until your focus shifts toward how and what you create. Balance and harmony then appear.

During Scorpio you can come out from the shadows or retreat, becoming more hidden and complex. Others understand you less and that’s good because you have important work to do, part of which is a new self-identification. This happens yearly around Halloween. You drop into the dark underbelly of life, the dark waters to renew yourself and emerge only when comfort calls. Your communication becomes even more potent. Some understand this. You’re searching for Persephone.

•••

Since we live in a time of “historical reconsideration,” he says, the national parks should be returned to Native control.

“Indians should tend—and protect and preserve—these favored gardens again,” he writes, adding that not only would making such a transition be good for tribes, it would also be good for the American people and the parks themselves, which he says have been mismanaged in recent decades and currently face insurmountable federal maintenance and other backlogs.

“All 85 million acres of national-park sites should be turned over to a consortium of federally recognized tribes in the United States,” urges Treuer, excepting “a few areas run by the National Park Service, such as the National Mall.”

The total acreage would be a far cry from the 90 million acres taken from tribes by 1887’s General Allotment Act, he maintains, which regulated land rights on tribal lands (and served to further splinter already displaces tribal communities). It would ensure unfettered access to tribal homelands and would go a long way toward restoring the dignity of America’s original peoples.

“To be entrusted with the stewardship of America’s most precious landscapes would be a deeply meaningful form of restitution,” he concludes. “Alongside the feelings of awe that Americans experience while contemplating the god-rock of Yosemite and other places like it, we could take inspiration in having done right by one another.” n ••• Read “Return The National Parks To The Tribes,” theatlantic.com/magazine/ archive/2021/05/return-the-nationalparks-to-the-tribes/618395.

••• EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https//earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

PISCES

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

“National Parks” from page 24

Photo Credit: Roddy Scheer

Yosemite National Park, famous for geysers and hot springs, became the first national park in the U.S. in 1872. Indigenous rights activists are calling on the U.S. to return control of Yellowstone and most of the rest of the nation’s national parks over to the tribes.

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

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS THE RED CROSS STILL NEEDS YOU Thousands have answered the call to give to the American Red Cross, but 10,000 donors are needed before the holidays.

Donors of all blood types — especially type O — are urged to make an appointment: Use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Donors who give from Nov. 1-12 will automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Hawaii, courtesy of Amazon Prime Video. Donors from Nov. 1-23 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Locations: Watsonville Oct. 30 and Nov. 3: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St. Santa Cruz Nov. 4: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St. Ben Lomond Nov.19: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9545 Lovecreek Road.

Scotts Valley Nov. 20: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., St Philip’s Episcopal Church, 5271 Scotts Valley Drive.

READING TUTORING RETURNS TO LIBRARIES 3-5 p.m., Wednesdays: Capitola / La Selva Public Libraries • Thursdays: Downtown Santa Cruz Public Library The Santa Cruz Public Libraries’ reading comprehension program, R.E.A.D. (Reach Every Amazing Detail) has returned.

R.E.A.D. offers one-on-one reading comprehension instruction for students in grades 2 to 12 with 25-minute sessions with a California-credentialed teacher.

Appointments are required. Call Telephone Information, 831-427-7713, to make an appointment.

Holiday breaks will take place on Veterans Day, Nov. 11; Thanksgiving, Nov. 24 and 25; Winter break, Dec.13 to Jan. 25, resuming Jan. 26; and Spring break, April 5 & 6.

SENIOR CENTER WITHOUT LIMITS This new program from Community Bridges brings enrichment activities like yoga, art, music, tai chi, cooking, tech and support groups to seniors age 60 and up in their homes at no cost.

To participate, you need an internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone.

To participate, view the calendar at https://communitybridges. org/SCWOL/ and find a class. That day and time, click on the link in the calendar to be connected. If you have a problem connecting, call Clara Munoz at (831) 458-3481.

and artists to present this hybrid program, honoring ancestors and dearly departed.

This free family event includes live music and dance performances, community altars, and screening of “Coco.”

Through Nov.2, enjoy a selection of curated Day of the Dead The Watsonville Family YMCA season is Jan. 29 thru films, crafts tutorials for children by local artists, and podcasts

by Digital NEST at https://watsonvillefilmfest.org/dia-deMarch 19, 2022 To register, call (831) 757-4633 or go to centralcoastymca.org. muertos?mc_cid=3d8bce37ba&mc_eid=f3340014a9

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by November 8 Baja. Pacific Grove has celebrated the annual return of the butterflies with a festival and parade since 1939.

Since the 1980s, however, the western population has declined by more than 95 percent.

In 2020, only 2,000 butterflies were spotted from Mendocino County to the Mexican border, compared to the tens of thousands seen in the past. Last year, none were seen in Pacific Grove.

For information visit www.pgmuseum.org.

Tuesdays GRIEF THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS November 9 thru December 14, phone or online.

Hospice of Santa Cruz County offers individual grief support sessions (via phone or Zoom) and a special group, Coping with Grief though the Winter Holidays, PROPERTY TAX BILL DUE meeting virtually via Zoom on Tuesday evenings.

The Santa Cruz County has mailed out property tax bills, Call (831) 430-3000 for more information and to register. and the first due date is approaching.

FARMERS’ MARKET AT RAMSAY PARK Your bill can be paid 2–6 p.m., Ramsay Park, Watsonville in two installments. The El Mercado is a new farmers’ market hosted by Comfirst installment is due munity Health Trust of Pajaro Valley. on Nov. 1 and becomes There will be healthy locally grown produce, a veggie delinquent after Dec. Rx redemption site, cooking demonstrations and 10, and a penalty is wellness screenings. charged. The 2nd installment is due Feb. 1 and Sponsors include Lakeside Organic, Salud Para La Gente and becomes delinquent after April 10.

Kaiser Permanente. Visit pvhealthtrust.org/elmercado for more info.

Penalties will be incurred if not paid before becoming delinquent.

ONLINE SEMINARS ABOUT NURSING HOME LAW California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform offers three recorded legal seminars: Wednesday, Nov. 3: Medi-Cal Updates and the Future of Estate Planning for Long Term Care Wednesday, Nov. 10: The Role of Counsel for a Conservatee Wednesday, Nov. 17: Elder Financial Abuse Litigation: A Panel of Experts To register, visit http://www.canhr.org/ CANHR, a nonprofit, offers consumers a free fact sheet on nursing homes at http://www.canhr.org/factsheets/index.html, and will host The Elder Law Conference April 29-30, 2022, in Monterey.

Third Thursday Each Month PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third Thursday of each month.

Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport or call 831-471-7255.

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/

TRUNK OR TREAT The Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office and the Santa Cruz County Probation Department announce a Trunk or Treat event at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, following COVID-19 guidelines, Friday, Oct. 29, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. or until supplies last.

Participants from 30 agencies, law enforcement, local businesses, and nonprofits with decorated cars, will hand out treats to the children driving by with their family.

Saturday October 30 ‘A BUSHEL OF FUN!’ HARVEST DINNER 5:30 p.m., J.J. Crosetti Building, Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Highway 152, Watsonville You’re invited to the Agricultural History Project’s 36th Annual Harvest Dinner, “A Bushel of Fun,” at the Santa Cruz County.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for cocktails and bidding on silent auction items. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., followed by a live auction. Proceeds go toward preserving the mission of the Agricultural History Project, which honors and promotes knowledge about agriculture on the Central California Coast.

Cost: $100 per person. To purchase tickets, visit www. aghistoryproject.org or call (831) 724-5898 n

Tuesday November 2

GENEALOGY AT FAMILYSEARCH.ORG 7 p.m., Online Seminar Terry Jackson’s family submitted family histories to what is now called FamilySearch for many years. With information online, it has provided interesting stories and cleared up family mysteries.

A 35-year resident of Seaside and a retired social worker, Jackson will demonstrate how FamilySearch can help locals, sharing examples from his research.

The workshop, presented by the Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County, takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 2 via Zoom. To register, visit or call 831-4277713.

Second Sundays The descendant of Mormon immigrants, Jackson’s SANTA CRUZ ANTIQUE STREET FAIRE 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Pacific Ave. between Lincoln and Cedar Streets paternal grandmother’s parents arrived in the 1890s; his paternal grandfather’s forebears came in the The Santa Cruz Antique Street Faire features more than 40 1850s. outdoor vendors.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/santacruzantiquefaire/ for more His maternal ancestors were early converts to information Mormonism and were among the first Mormon settlers in what became Utah and Idaho.

All the family lines he has traced from the U.S. have gone back DATED EVENTS to English, Scottish, and Irish roots.

TWO NEW GRACE HARBOR SHOPS The Rustic Table Restaurant and Lighthouse Treasures Shoppe are open at 55 Brennan St., Watsonville, sharing space with Grace Harbor Women’s Center, a satellite of the nonprofit faith-based Teen Challenge Monterey Bay and Pajaro Rescue Mission.

MONARCH BUTTERFLY COUNT BEGINS Grace Harbor is a shelter and recovery program for women (and their children) facing life controlling issues The annual monarch count (November through February) at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History such as drugs and alcohol. started early when clusters of the Hours at Rustic Table, a professionally trained studentrun restaurant with dine-in and pick options, are Monday orange-and-black butterflies through Saturday 8 am-3 pm. were spotted in the Pacific Hours at Lighthouse Treasures Shoppe, a secondhand Grove Monarch Sanctuary. On retail store run by Teen Challenge student and staff, are Oct. 15, volunteers counted Monday through Saturday 10am-5pm.

1,316 monarchs.

Friday October 29 The phone for both places is 831-761-3191.

The program facilitates DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FILM FESTIVAL weekly counts at the sanctuary, 4-8:30 p.m., Watsonville Plaza. where adults alongside middle, ONGOING EVENTS Consuelo Alba and the nonprofit Watsonville Film high school, and college students record the numbers Festival team invite you to celebrate Día de los Muertos Through December 19 of butterflies they spy in their overwintering grounds, in person 4-8:30 p.m. at the Watsonville Plaza. The which is full of eucalyptus, Monterey cypress and YOUTH BASKETBALL SIGNUP pine trees. The data collection is part of the statewide Central Coast YMCA Youth Winter Basketball League Festival is also available free to view online from Oct. 27 through Nov. 2.

Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count covering nine is for boys and girls ages 3-14, with multiple ageThis year Watsonville Film Festival partners with other sites in Monterey County. specific levels. Every child gets to play. The YMCA The butterflies feed and huddle to keep warm before encourages fair play, positive competition, and family Hospice of Santa Cruz County, City of Watsonville, Santa Cruz County Office of Education and other organizations mating and moving on in their annual migration to involvement.

28 / November 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Friday October 29

Thursday November 4 and Thursday November 18 TECH TALK AT THE LIBRARY 11 a.m. to noon, Zoom Seminars Santa Cruz Public Libraries offers two free Tech Talks this month for Apple and Android devices. Topics are: Nov. 4: News Apps and Strategies Nov. 18: Media Manipulation Check the library’s calendar, top of the website, at www. santacruzpl.org to register and receive the Zoom link.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Friday November 5

LA SELVA BEACH HOLIDAY FAIR & LIBRARY OPENING CELEBRATION 10 a.m.-4 p.m., La Selva Beach Clubhouse, 314 Estrella Ave La Selva Beach Improvement Association and Friends of the La Selva Library present 28 unique art & craft vendors sell handcrafted goods at the La Selva Beach Clubhouse, brining back an event that was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The event is also celebrating the newly remodeled La Selva Beach Library and features a big used book sale, live music and a magic show. Bake sale and prize raffle benefit La Selva CERT. Ate3One and other food trucks will be operating.

Free admission!

Email BooksandBrewsLSB@gmail.com for more information.

LANDLORD APPRECIATION 10-11 a.m., Santa Cruz Police Community Room, 155 Center St., Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County housing officials will host a Landlord Appreciation Event on 10-11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 5, at the Santa Cruz Police community room, 155 Center St., Santa Cruz, to meet property owners and talk about programs to provide money and support for landlords and tenants.

The county’s Rehousing Wave effort aims to permanently house more than 800 people who received temporary shelter during the pandemic. Benefits for landlords include financial incentives such as $1,000 rental agreement signing bonuses, guaranteed on-time monthly payments and 24-hour tenant support services.

For questions, email SantaCruzLL@abodeservices.org. Registered landlords will be entered to win $25 gift cards to local businesses.

Saturday November 6 MAYOR’S BIKE RIDE 10 a.m., Monterey Park, Capitola Capitola Mayor Yvette Lopez Brooks will lead a familyfriendly bike ride through our community with Bike Santa Cruz County. Meet at Monterey Park between 9:30 and 10 a.m. to roll out right at 10 and return by 11:30 a.m.

Kids welcome (Under 18 years, helmets required).

Weather permitting: rain will cancel this event.

Sunday November 7 TEDX MERIT ACADEMY 1-3 p.m., Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz Merit Academy of Soquel will present student speakers for a TEDx event Sunday, Nov 7, at the Rio Theatre.

Topics for the 2-hour event include: • How to protect yourself from water contaminated by fracking wells • How to use safe pesticides by using cordyceps mushrooms • How some building materials such as vinyl gutters & siding are flammable • How to save premature infants by using an inexpensive incubator • How to prevent diabetes by knowing your glucose numbers • How to reduce carbon dioxide by reducing transportation and using 100% recycled plastics • How we need to rethink how we live to stop devastation caused by climate change Tickets in advance http://tedxmeritacademy.com/tickets/ are $20; tickets at the door are $25.

CAPITOLA PLEIN AIR Monday November 1 thru Sunday November 7 Display Day: Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., New Brighton Middle School, 250 Washburn Ave., Capitola Capitola Plein Air is back after a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic. During the first week of November, 40 professional artists will arrive in Capitola to paint the village. Artists set up their easels on the wharf, shore, and streets of seaside city to paint live.

On Sunday, the free to the public painting display, sale, and competition takes place at New Brighton Middle School, 250 Washburn Ave., Capitola. The public votes for the People’s Choice Award.

For information, visit https://www.capitolapleinair.com/ Image: Blues of Depot Hill • 2019 Plein Air winner, by Cleo Vilett

Wednesday November 10 CELEBRATING THE MARINE CORPS’ BIRTHDAY 5-7 p.m., Veterans’ Hall, Downtown Santa Cruz Celebrate the birthday of the Marine Corps before Veterans’ Day. Info: https://www.veteranshall.org/event-directory/

Thursday November 11

JOURNEY FOR CHANGE 11-MILE WALK Starting at 8 a.m. at Natural Bridges State Park Parking Lot, Santa Cruz A nonprofit with a mission to reduce suicides among CABRILLO COLLEGE VETERAN AWARENESS WEEK Nov. 8: Veterans Information Center Open House veterans, will host an 11-mile walk to raise awareness to save lives.

— 9-11 a.m., Room 913: With Companion’s baked The walk will stop at the Veterans Hall, which is hosting goods and coffee. an “open door day” providing information and resources Nov. 10: Spirit Day — 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Room 913: in its auditorium, 524 Front St., downtown Santa Cruz.

Wear your favorite pro-veteran shirt.

The next stop will be Cabrillo College in Aptos, where To donate to the Cabrillo Student Veteran Endowment visit veterans can take part in a drive-though BBQ, courtesy https://foundation.cabrillo.edu/donate/.

Questions? Email flchacon@cabrillo.edu. of the Veterans Information Center on campus. Please RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/vets-barbecue (Full URL: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQ_ Tuesday November 9 oKY13oXI5Y1iNeMc9Lb0ZX-uByjjrBy5Ki2hDlx4tkWTA/ CAPITOLA SOROPTIMIST CLUB MEETS 4-5:30 p.m., Point Chophouse, 3326 Portola Drive, Pleasure viewform) Buzz Gray, a veteran who started Journey for Change after Point recognizing his own post-traumatic stress disorder 47 years Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea will have its monthly club meeting at The Point Chophouse. after leaving Vietnam, says 22 veterans every day die at their own hand. He wants to federal law to identify suicide risk Members will discuss the search for eligible factors and implement mental health interventions before candidates for Live Your Dream award plus recent and servicemen and servicewomen are discharged from active duty. future fund-raising activities.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/journeyforveterThe meeting is free and open to the public.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/sicapitola, www. anchange and the Santa Cruz County Veterans Service Office, 831-454-7276. best4women.org, or email info@best4women.org.

Monday November 8 thru Friday November 12

GET YOUR VETERANS’ ID 11 a.m., Mello Center, Watsonville County Veterans Services will help veterans obtain a veterans ID. Eligible veterans can have the word “VETERAN” added to the front of their driver’s license/ID card to indicate service in the U.S. military. Please bring your DD214. Or if you served in the National Guard or Reserves, bring your DD Form 256 or DD Form 25.

MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR: SANTA CRUZ 7 pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz Mountainfilm on Tour brings a adventure-packed and inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado, to the Rio Theatre. Mountainfilm’s mission is to use the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world.

The Rio Theatre has been organizing Mountainfilm on Tour for several years and has been working with local schools to host Mountainfilm in Education to area students.

••• List of films: A VERY SHORT GUIDE TO UNION GLACIER CAMP • NOW IS THE TIME • THE MYSTERY • RESILIENCE • INVISIBLE BEAUTY • ERIC AND THE BEES • TABIRA • COMING HOME - AG TEACHT ABHAILE • ONE STAR REVIEWS: NATIONAL PARKS For tickets and details about the films, visit https://www.riotheatre. com/events-2/2021/11/13/mountainfilm-on-tour-santa-cruz

Sunday November 14

A CULINARY TOUR OF ITALY 5:30-7 p.m., Zoom class Chaney Janssen and Meghan O’Connell, of Destined for Grapeness, will complete their virtual tour of Italy Sunday, Nov. 14, with a cooking lesson from Umbria, home to porcini, morels, and truffles.

The presenters will taste a delicious Umbrian wine Thursday November 11 and walk you through preparing a simple and delicious, thru Sunday November 14 vegetarian meal — from the comfort of your own home.

The 90-minute class starts at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom.

VETERANS DAY FUNDRAISER Participants receive a PDF in advance with the 12 p.m.-5 p.m., Twisted Roots Wine Tasting Room, 12 Del Fino shopping list and suggestions on where to buy the wine.

Place, Carmel Valley Free for Dante Alighieri members; $15 non-members Twisted Roots Wine will host a fundraiser starting on Veterans (only one ticket required per household).

Day and running through the weekend at its tasting room.

Register at https://www.dantesantacruz.com/event-details/ Part of the proceeds from sales of wine at the tasting mushrooms-umbria-final-destination-in-3-part-series room Nov. 11-14 will be donated to the Veterans Transition Center, a Marina nonprofit whose mission is “to empower Wednesday November 17 veterans to transition from crisis to self-sufficiency.”

Since 1996, Veterans Transition Center has operated on DIGITAL NEST 7TH BIRTHDAY the former Fort Ord complex to provide homeless veterans 6-7 p.m., YouTube live stream and their families with food, clothing, case management, Jacob Martinez, founder and executive director of Digital life skills, substance abuse counseling, benefit enrollment, NEST, the Watsonville nonprofit that has empowered medical referrals, employment training, and housing.

2,200 young people to develop essential workplace Details: (831) 594-8282, email info@twistedrootsvineyard.com skills, invites you to celebrate its 7th birthday. The event or see www.twistedrootsvineyard.com. will be streamed live on YouTube: https://www.youtube. com/channel/UCeBTOd4a5se6Paea6S09row Saturday November 13 Attendees will hear about accomplishments and four members will share their personal passions about the BOWL FOR VETERANS future and what it means to them, their families and their 10 a.m. and Noon, Boardwalk Bowl, 115 Cliff St, Santa Cruz community.Digital NEST Development Manager Jenna The Terry Plank Memorial bowling tournament at Rodriguez will co-host.

Boardwalk Bowl will be raising money for Vets 4 Vets.

Visit www.digitalnest.org for more info.

All proceeds support local veterans.

To bowl, please RSVP Dean at scveteranadvocate@gmail.com “Calendar” page 31 or call (831) 420-7348.

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

FEATURED COLUMNIST

County Strategic Plan: How Are We Doing?

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

T

here is no question the Santa Cruz County of today is different than it was 30 years ago and we know some elements will be different 30 years from now. How do we invest in the current and future needs of the county? Where can the County improve? Where should we focus our efforts?

The Board of Supervisors adopted a countywide strategic plan to provide a framework to answer these questions. After a yearslong effort, which included input from thousands of County residents, the board approved a six-year strategic plan with six main focus areas. Each of the strategic plan’s six focus areas contains four goals, for a total of 24, which are presented online at www. sccvision.us.

As outlined in the strategic plan, the County develops two-year operational plans containing countywide strategies, department objectives and key steps for achieving the 24 strategic plan goals. These elements are broken into three parts:

• Countywide Strategies: Approaches for achieving strategic plan goals.

• Department Objectives: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound (SMART) actions that work towards strategic plan goals and countywide strategies.

• Key Steps: Critical activities or steps necessary to achieve each department objective.

The Board of Supervisors recently received an update on the operational plan as it is meant to be a document that is reviewed, flexible and updated. The board wanted the community to have a transparent view of the goals, successes and challenges surrounding the objectives.

Through the strategic plan website www.sccvision.us, the County tracks progress on each objective, as well as local, state and national indicators that demonstrate progress toward achieving the County’s goals, mission and vision.

The website is updated twice yearly in June and December. It provides significant data and an opportunity for members of

the community to see whether the County is meeting its targets and objectives.

The 2019-21 Operational Plan consisted of 180 objectives.

County departments successfully completed 134 (74%) of objectives, and amended or consolidated the remaining 46 (26%) objectives into the 2021-23 Operational Plan.

The 2021-23 Operational Plan includes 147 new objectives that focus primarily on recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, CZU fires and climate resilience, and build a significant equity lens into County plans, programs and expenditures.

Why is a strategic plan helpful? orking with the community to identify our community’s strategic direction prioritizes use of limited resources, set expectations and measurable objectives, help cope with environmental uncertainty and change, and provide an objective basis for programmatic and policy evaluation that previously did not fully exist.

Additionally, having measurable performance metrics provides the community with something tangible to review the success of programs and policies.

W

“State of District” from page 23 Judit Camacho, co-executive director of Life Lab with Don Burget, said, “As a child of farmworker parents, a parent of Life Lab summer camp participants, and a 20-year advocate for the advancement of underserved communities in science, I am deeply grateful that Pajaro Valley students will have these joyful and healing learning environments.”

Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen is to open in 2022 at Starlight Elementary as a new learning space.

PVUSD partners with Latino Youth Film Institute for lesson plans

SPECIALTY SCREEN & GLASS SHOP Contact us for a free on-site consultation.

831-476-2023 Skylightplace.com

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

Local Local Local

It supports data-driven decisionmaking and informs the budget process.

Are our investments working? Should programs be reformed or improved? How do we best invest in improved outcomes?

As a result, the Board of Supervisors created a two-year budget combined with a two-year operational plan to carry out the County’s strategic plan goals. This aligns the budget and operational plan to provide funding alignment to meet specific community objectives. n ••• As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue).

I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/supervisorfriend and you can always call me at 454-2200.

Editor’s note: Currently posted are performance measures for substance abuse disorder services, with 40% completing treatment, Probation interventions with 142 individuals in “Courage to Change,” 222 receiving job training and 27 receiving therapy, CalFresh food stamps benefit application with 94% processed on time, and Zero Waste efforts by Public Works reporting 60% of solid waster diverted from landfill. A dashboard for Parks is coming soon.

for elementary and middle school students.

The college-prep Career Technical Education courses, which have provided workplace skills to 3,600 high school students, is to be updated where needed.

The superintendent pointed out ways to stay in touch, with the Pajaro Valley USD app, PVUSD.net website, or social media @PajaroValleyUSD on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

Trustee Georgia Acosta, who as school board president led a January vote to fire Rodriguez as superintendent – a vote reversed soon after-- remains on the school board. Opponents who wanted to recall her needed to turn in 2,148

News ...

Sports ...

Politics ...

Welcoming Committee

signatures by Sept. 27 to the Elections Department to force a vote but nothing was turned in.

View the PowerPoint at https://drive. google.com/file/d/1vnLj9YtMKDacNNCum Xg26u2umVsIy1um/view

SCCAS Featured Pet

M

Snuggling Into Your Heart

crossword on 23 »

r. Snuggles is ready to snuggle his way into your heart!

This sweet guy came into the Shelter when his previous owner was unable to keep caring for him.

Mr. Snuggles was with his previous owner all the time so he doesn’t like being left alone. Mr. Snuggles is 10 years young and ready to find a family to settle down with. Mr. Snuggles is the definition of a “Good Boy” and he has joined small dog playgroup at the Shelter and likes to coexist with the other pups.

A home with another mellow dog may be a fit provided they meet at the Shelter first. This good boy even visited Santa Cruz Subaru for a special adoption event, and he was a social butterfly and made tons of friends.

Mr. Snuggles has not lived with cats but with a slow introduction and management — we are thinking he could coexist nicely. He has enjoyed spending time with volunteers and staff while at the Shelter, but he is ready to find his forever home!

So, what are you waiting for? Come meet this handsome guy today at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter!

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

Alexandre Desplat’s Grammy-nominated score live while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen.

Wednesday November 17 In the epic finale, the battle between the good and INTERFAITH MEMORIAL SERVICE & CANDLE LIGHTING evil forces of the Wizarding World escalates into an 6:30 p.m., Online or at Resurrection Catholic Community, all-out war.

7600 Soquel Drive, Aptos The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe.

Hospice of Santa Cruz County invites you to the Inter- It is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic faith Memorial Service & Candle Lighting in-person (masks required) at Resurrection Cathlic Community or showdown with Lord Voldemort.

Ticket prices range between $50 to $100 and can be online: hospicesantacruz.org/event/fall-interfaith-21 purchased at: www.symphonysiliconvalley.org or by phone: This is an opportunity to pause during the busy 408.286.2600 ext. 23. COVID vaccination cards for those over holiday season and tune into what counts: Remembering a beloved family member or dear friend who has 12 years of age will be checked for entry as required by the City of San Jose. died. Whether your loved one recently passed, or is someone who you have carried in your heart for many years, this memorial service nourishes hearts and spirit Friday November 26 by honoring both the sadness and joy that comes with MEET SANTA AT THE MALL remembrance. Services are free.

Time TBA, Capitola Mall, 1855 41 Ave., Capitola Attendees are welcome to bring a photograph or object of your Santa is arriving at Capitola Mall the day after loved one for the remembrance table. Children and families Thanksgiving. are welcome.

Santa’s Christmas Cabin will be between Macy’s and the new Food Hall until Dec. 24.

Saturday November 20 For days and hours, see shopcapitolamall.com.

Sunday November 21 ••• Visitors to the mall will find new stores: Santa Cruz HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Special, Knotty and Grain, Vintage Nouveau, PART 2 IN CONCERT Saturday: 2:30 p.m. / 7:30 p.m. • Sunday: 1:30 p.m., San Jose Seconds, Flair, Tragically Hip and Hadbro ColCenter for the Performing Arts, 255 S. Almaden Blvd., San Jose lectables. Coming soon: Exit Escape Rooms.

Upcoming holiday shops: Go! Calendars - Games The Harry Potter Film Concert Series returns to San & Toys and Tibet Creations.

Jose Center for the New in the Food Hall: Ramen Kaito, East West Performing Arts with Harry Potter and the Pizza Company, Tako Mex and Yumi Poke.

Deathly Hallows – Part Local food trucks Taquizas Gabriel and 2 - In Concert.

Saucey’z park at the far east end of the parking John Jesensky will lot across from Kohl’s. For days and hour, see their conduct Symphony Silicon Valley in performing Instagram pages. n “Calendar” from page 29

Campbell

On an Old Map

408-378-4921

© Statepoint Media

408-727-0822

900 DELL AVE.

Santa Clara

2550 LAFAYETTE

Morgan Hill

408-779-7368 95 E. MAIN AVE.

Santa Cruz

831-477-7133 3700 SOQUEL AVE.

www. ATool Shed.com 1-800-A-TOOL-SHED

Hollister

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Salinas

831-424-7368 210 W. MARKET ST.

Watsonville

831-722-0334 285 W. BEACH ST.

WE DELIVER

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

everything...so close to home.

Deluxe Foods of Aptos

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

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

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

(831) 688-7442 www.deluxefoodsofaptos.com

(831) 688-1516 EyeShapes@sbcglobal.net

Hours: Tues.–Fri. 10-5 | Sat. by Appointment Deer Park Marketplace #37 | Rio Del Mar/Hwy 1 Aptos | Above Deluxe Foods | www.EyeShapesAptos.com

deer park c e n t e r

Highway 1 & Rio Del Mar Boulevard, Aptos

BANKS: Bank of America BUSINESS SERVICES: Anderson

& Company-HOA Management Employnet / Contractor Advertising Galapagos Travel

PDM International Peak Accounting Services / SAR Asset Mgmt. Inc. / Scurich Insurance Cecy Insurance Services FOOD & DRINK: Deer Park Wine

& Spirits / Deluxe Foods Panda Inn / Mangiamo Pizza & Wine Bar / Red Apple Cafe PERSONAL SERVICES: Agape Dance Academy / Brian Del Core,

DDS / CVS Pharmacy Del Mar Cleaners / Eye Shapes Opticians / Highlights for Hair J-Bella Nails / Klub Nico Laser Hair Solutions