Aptos Times: December 1, 2021

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

Times Publishing Group, Inc.

December 1, 2021 • Vol 30 No. 23

Covid Update page 7

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Live Nutcracker Ballet Returns

Agape Dance presents the best Nutcracker Ballet in Santa Cruz County, performing live Dec. 17, 18 and 19 at the beautiful new Monte Vista Performing Arts Theater, 2 School Way, Watsonville.

Shows are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m.

Saturday and 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The Petite Nutcracker featuring youngsters ages 3-7 and their favorite dances is at 10-11 a.m. Saturday.

Full Story page 12

Connecting Families With Families Full Story page 5

Second Harvest Drivers Hit the Road Employees Deliver Healthy Food to 75,000 People Countywide

They cover our county acting as the virtual spokes in Second Harvest Food Bank’s hub and wheel food distribution system, providing approximately 75,000 people healthy meals each month to fight food-insecurity.

The trucks they drive are mobile billboards for a nearly 50-year-old nonprofit.

People wave to Second Harvest drivers. Our communities recognize the food bank as feeding hope by helping people get through rough times. ... continues on page 4

Aptos High Sports Medicine: 200 Grads

In the fall of 1990, under the direction of newly-minted Head Athletic Trainer Diana Roberts and Athletic Director Mark Dorfman, and with the support and guidance of Dr. Joe Fogel, Aptos High started the first Student Athletic Training Program in Santa Cruz County.

Full Story page 6

RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER Times Publishing Group, Inc. 9601 Soquel Drive Aptos, CA 95003 Inc.

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No. 23

Volume 30

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Table of Contents

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Cover

Second Harvest Drivers Hit the Road: Employees Deliver Healthy

Community News

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Connecting Families With Families: Aptos Adopt-A-Family: Making the

Food to 75,000 People Countywide

Holidays Brighter for Those in Need 6 7 8

Aptos High Sports Medicine: 200 Grads

Mask Indoors for Holidays: By Jondi Gumz

County to Focus on DUI Education, Bike Safety

10 Diversity in District Attorney Offices

11 How to Make Your Holiday Meaningful 12 Live Nutcracker Ballet Returns

15 Yolande Wilburn to head Santa Cruz Public Libraries, By Jondi Gumz 17 ‘Nisene Marks’ No. 1 at Capitola Plein Air, By Linda Segal 18 Griffin Starts Work at Amah Mutsun Land Trust

20 A Playground for Everyone, Story and Photos By Kieran Kelly

23 Santa Cruz Chamber Players, Bravo, By Edita McQuary • Help Your Favorite Nonprofits at Santa Cruz Gives

25 Our Community Reads ‘Red Letter Days’

In Memoriam

13 F.W. de Klerk: Acknowledging Injustice

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – December’s Festivals, Dedications & Celebrations, By Risa D’Angeles

Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

Featured Columnists

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Fresh Pomegranate Relish, recipe from Liz and Kelvin Jacobs

24 Water District Efforts Yield Many Accomplishments in 2021, By Rachél Lather, President, Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors

24 Keep Your Chimneys Clear of Trees, Vines, By Tony Tomeo

30 Criminal Justice Council: Police Use of Force, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Cider is Ready to Spice Up Your Life!

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COVER STORY Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

publisher editor

contributing writers Jondi Gumz, Linda Segal, Kieran Kelly, Edita McQuary, Risa D’Angeles, Rachél Lather, 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

Times Publishing Group, Inc. 9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 The Times Publishing Group, Inc., publishers of the Aptos Times, a bi-monthly publication, the Capitola Soquel Times and Scotts Valley Times, each printed monthly, Coastal Weddings Magazine, Coastal Home and Garden Magazine, Aptos’ Fourth of July Parade Official Program Guide and Capitola’s Summer Festivals Official Program Guide, is owned by Patrice Edwards.

Entire contents ©2021. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission

“Second Harvest Drivers” from page 1 Drivers hit the road daily. They stage the pallets of food to fit the truck, the day’s sales orders and stops they’ll make on their route. Starting from Second Harvest in Watsonville, they follow their route sheets to 50 food pantries from Ben Lomond to Davenport, Santa Cruz to Corralitos and everywhere in between.

Transport team members unload and help distribute food at partner locations, regularly meeting the people they’re serving and experiencing our community’s love for their essential work.

They also visit neighboring counties’ food banks to deliver or acquire supplies. Drivers fan out across the county and beyond to pick up food bank donations from Lakeside Organics, Big Lots, Orowheat and Mastronardi Produce among others.

Behind the food bank’s drivers are others at Second Harvest managing the logistics and finances of continuous supply and the essential warehouse team, sorting and staging loaded cargo pallets for daily food deliveries.

Pandemic Challenges Overcome hile the truck-driver shortage nationally has been widely reported, that problem is primarily in the long-haul sector, where drivers are away from home for many days at a time. Second Harvest drivers are home every night after work.

During the early stages of the pandemic, Second Harvest was greatly challenged to maintain vastly increased food distribution from averaging 55,000 meals per month, to a pandemic peak of approximately 105,000 people being served.

The fairground and boardwalk distributions were greatly supported by National

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PHONE: (831) 688-7549 FAX: (831) 688-7551 GENERAL E-MAIL: info@cyber-times.com Patrice Edwards: patrice@cyber-times.com Publisher’s Assistant: assistant@cyber-times.com Editor: info@cyber-times.com Calendar Listings: www.tpgonlinedaily.com Graphics Department: graphics@cyber-times.com Billing Inquiries: cathe@cyber-times.com Classified Sales: sales@cyber-times.com Production: production@cyber-times.com CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT: www.tpgonlinedaily.com mission statement We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc. are dedicated to providing a voice for the individuals and organizations in our community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses. We seek to promote healthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, school news, senior events, community groups and entertainment 4 / December 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Second Harvest Food Bank drivers (from left): Jorge Gasca, Kevin Mendez, Miguel Hernandez (in truck), Agustin Tarelo, Alex Jimenez, and Misael Robledo. Not pictured: David Garcia and Peter Vasquez.

Guard members from all over California.

As reported, it was an impressive and essential effort that helped thousands in need.

A driver shortage, the loss of essential volunteer workers due to Covid restrictions, combined with a 100 percent increase in food demand, meant 12-hour work days, explains Kevin Mendez, logistics manager at Second Harvest.

Mendez started at the food bank earlier this year from a similar position with a for-profit produce supplier. The driver shortage now corrected, is presently a seven-member team, typically working a 40-hour week with only occasional overtime, Mendez adds.

What The Drivers Say he expanded Second Harvest driver team includes: David Garcia, Jorge Gasca, Miguel Hernandez, Alex Jimenez, Misael Robledo, Agustin Tarelo and Peter Vasquez Jr. “Working here is gratifying because you’re helping people and treated well,” says Miguel Hernandez, a 14-year veteran food bank employee.

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“This is a large team effort,” adds Peter Vasquez, who joined Second Harvest seven months ago. “The drivers and warehouse crew make it all happen, not just the drivers. People wave to us. It feels good.

This is a good job for a young person starting out. Good benefits and time off.

And the community knows us.”

“Of all the jobs I’ve had, this is the most satisfying,” Alex Jimenez acknowledges.

“We work as a team and independently (while on the road) and I’ve become selfmotivated to do my best when you see and meet people, knowing they will have food.”

Another recent team addition, Jorge Gasca, puts it this way. “Every time we visit a food distribution partner’s site, people tell us how they value the food they’re receiving. It’s a good workplace environment. Very different from a forprofit company.” n ••• Cover Photo: Second Harvest Food Bank driver Alex Jimenez delivering food pallets to People’s Pantry at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Connecting Families With Families

Aptos Adopt-A-Family: Making the Holidays Brighter for Those in Need

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or 29 years, Aptos Adopt-A-Family has been here for the community during the holidays.

Our program was started in 1992 when Patrice Edwards and a friend stepped in to help a family who had lost their financial stability due to an illness in the family.

They raised money, helped them get through the holidays, and Aptos Adopt-AFamily was born.

Over the years we have helped hundreds of people celebrate their holiday without stress. There have been thousands of gifts, including wheelchairs, a handicap accessible van, lifts, food, clothes, toys,

bikes, rent—gifts that helped many a family enjoy their holiday.

Aptos Adopt-A-Family focuses primarily on families that are having financial challenges due to a medical catastrophe within their family.

Death or illness in a family is devastating and can emotionally and financially cripple. Our program can step in and put the family in contact with one of the many people who have already called us and are ready to adopt a family.

Our sponsor will provide their “adopted” family with gifts for the holiday and any medical products, services, and goods for the home. They do the shopping and wrap the gifts (this is optional) and deliver them to the Times Publishing Group office. The adopted family comes and picks up the gifts.

Though the adopted family’s identity is anonymous, some of them choose to meet their sponsor. Some families even go holiday shopping together!

Several of these families have stayed

friends over the years. Adopt-A-Family also helps by including gift certificates to local stores and helps with any gifts the sponsor is unable to provide.

Aptos-Adopt-A-Family depends on the community for funds. Please donate knowing that 100% of your donation goes to the families. If you would like to donate, please send your donation to:

Times Publishing Group, Inc. Attn: Cathe Race 9601 Soquel Drive Ste. A Aptos, CA 95003 ••• If you are interested in adopting a family or know of someone who needs help, please call 831-688-7549 x10 or email cathe@cyber-times.com. n

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Aptos High Sports Medicine: 200 Grads

n the fall of 1990, under the direction of newly-minted Head Athletic Trainer Diana Roberts and Athletic Director Mark Dorfman, and with the support and guidance of Dr. Joe Fogel, Aptos High started the first Student Athletic Training Program in Santa Cruz County.

Since then, more than 200 students have participated in the program, and 97% of the participants have gone on to

2- and 4-year colleges and universities. In addition, subsequently, every high school ASK in the county has established their own student athletic training program.

Four Aptos High students, Abel Corona, Suzanne Dunbar, Carrie Helber, and Trish Van Lanen gambled and enrolled in the new program in fall 1990.

To prepare them for their new class and responsibilities, Mark Dorfman drove

the four students to Los Angeles over the summer, where they took a threeday athletic training seminar at UC Irvine.

The students stayed in the dorms and attended three days of lectures and workshops, including CPR certification.

Once back in Aptos, the four helped Diana Roberts in the Athletic Training Room and on the sidelines of games and practices, taping, icing, and hydrating athletes, all under her watchful eye.

All four matriculated to college. Abel graduated from UC Davis, Suzanne Photo Credit: Denise Russo Photography from Seattle Pacific UniStudent trainers (from left): Bottom — Alia Gonzalez, Jaylen Dang, versity, Carrie from CSU Anthony Smith, and Guin Lines. • Top — Jillian Weisner, Nadia RamirezLong Beach, and Trish Cerrillos, Riley Carrera, Lexiss Herrera, and Leyla Martinez. from San Francisco State (where she played volleyball for four UC Santa Barbara, CalPoly SLO, San Franyears). cisco State, San Diego State, San Jose State, Suzanne and Carrie continued as Fresno State, Chico State, Arizona State, the trainers at their respective colleges, and University of Maine, the University of WashSuzanne also got a job as an aide at Adams ington, the University of San Diego, Boise and Schmidt Physical Therapy in Capitola. State University, Santa Clara University, These four were the groundbreakers in a Mills College, St. Mary’s College, University groundbreaking program. of San Francisco, and many more.

Today, Abel is a dental hygienist, Like Abel, Suzanne, and Carrie, many Suzanne is in senior management for a of the graduates stayed in the health cardiac management program for doctors field, becoming doctors, nurses, physician and medical clinics, Carrie works in man- assistants, physical therapists, X-ray techagement at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in LA, nicians, and athletic trainers. and Trish is an accountant. Three out of It’s not a program for the faint of heart. four into the medical field. Maybe not a In addition to working in the training grand slam, but definitely a triple. room after the school day ends, the The program has grown and thrived, student trainers also work the sidelines at and the Aptos Student Athletic Training afternoon and evening practices and games Program has seen its students attend col- throughout the week, including Saturdays. leges and universities all over the state and “Sports Medicine” page 9 the nation, including UC Berkeley, UCLA,

Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair

Dec 3 & 4 - Noon to 9pm

With Holiday Lights Walk Thru Each Evening Visit fairgrounds-foundation.org for complete information for both events • Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds 6 / December 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Mask Indoors for Holidays H

By Jondi Gumz

osting family for the holiday? Keep your mask on if you are indoors.

That’s the order as of Nov. 22 from Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, who wants to stave off a surge of cases and hospitalizations as the holidays and winter approaches.

The order applies when you are indoors and not eating, regardless of vaccination status, at work and also at home when non-household members are present.

It will remain in effect until rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Health Officer, taking into account hospitalizations, variants of concern, case and vaccination rates.

Santa Cruz County reports 517 active cases, up from 408 two weeks ago, 11 hospitalizations — down from 13 — including two in intensive care.

The county reports 20,864 cases since the pandemic began, 622 hospitalizations, and 223,602 negative test results. Statistics are updated twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.

Of the active cases, 23 are in the 19,000-student Pajaro Valley Unified School District, according to santacruzcoe.org/coviddashboards.

There are zero active staff cases.

Aptos High has 5 cases, and Aptos Junior High 4 cases; two each at E. A. Hall Middle School, Mintie White Elementary, Pacific Coast Charter School and Watsonville High.

There is one each at Valencia Elementary, Radcliffe Elementary, Hall District Elementary, H.A. Hyde Elementary, Rolling Hills Middle School and Pajaro Valley High.

One of the questions recently fielded

by Pajaro Valley Superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez was: Since a San Diego state judge ruled Nov. 12 in the Let Them Breathe lawsuit that the Newsom administration set forth guidelines without language authorizing schools to shift students declining to wear a mask into independent study, what will happen if a student declines to wear a mask?

Rodriguez answer is the Pajaro Valley school district is following July 28 guidance from the state Department of Public Health, which requires students to wear a mask indoors and adults sharing spaces with students to mask indoors. The next step is a conversation with the parent/ guardian about the Virtual Academy (online schooling) or “possible medical exemption through licensed physical if there is a true need.”

The CDC said people are free to “mix and match” vaccines.

Employer Mandate eaths are still rising — 775,000 in the United States, 73,000 in California -- Santa Cruz County is unchanged at 222 — and part of President Biden’s strategy is to mandate vaccines or weekly tests for employers with 100 more employees (part time as well as fulltime — independent contractors are not counted). He gave businesses until Jan. 4 to comply.

Attorneys general from 27 states sued. One argument is the president set legislative policy, which is the job of Congress, and another is Congress did not give federal Occupational Safety and Health administrators the power to end pandemics.

On Feb. 5, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration published an emergency temporary standard on the vaccine mandate in the Federal Register.

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Staff with Inspire Diagnostics set up for testing for K-12 students and staff in parking lot K at Cabrillo College, where drive-through vaccine clinics — no appointment needed — take place Monday through Friday 2:30-5:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Gov. Newsom announced plans to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of vaccinations required to attend in-person school once it gets full approval. At this point, the vaccine is not a state requirement, but is highly recommended by health officials.

“Everyone who has not been vaccinated should get their first dose as soon as possible, and anyone who was vaccinated more than six months ago should seek out a booster,” Dr. Newel advised.

For a list of COVID vaccine providers including local pop-up clinics, visit www. santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine.

80% One Dose ealth experts had surmised that once 70 percent of the population (or 80 percent or 85 percent) was vaccinated against COVID-19, the new coronavirus would fade away — the world could return to normal.

That hasn’t happened.

California reports 75.8 percent have one dose; Santa Cruz County has 80.6 percent with one dose and 70.8 percent fully vaccinated.

Studies show protection from Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccine begins to wane after a few months, which is why booster shots have been made available to those 18 and older whose shots were six months ago.

Dominican Hospital’s vaccine clinic has been providing COVID-19 booster shots every Thursday since they were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

On Nov. 18, Dominican vaccinated about 500 people and will resume Dec. 2 after closing on Thanksgiving, according to Kevin Kimbrough, Dignity Health external communication manager, said.

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To make an appointment, see myturn. ca.gov.

Although protection wanes, studies show the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are highly protective against hospitalization.

“COVID Update” page 9

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

Fresh Pomegranate Relish T ired of the same old cranberry sauce for your holiday dinner?

Pomegranates are in season, giving you loads of healthy nutrients, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, potassium, folate plus the all-important fiber and even a bit of protein.

The trick is cutting into the pomegranate to reach the seeds without squirting the red juice (which can stain) all over. Check YouTube to watch a video on how to cut the fruit open — with ease.

Liz and Kelvin Jacobs, owners of Wild Fish restaurant in Pacific Grove, tell you who caught the fish before you order.

Natives of England, a food writer and a chef, they owned an inn and restaurant in Devon before moving to the Mendocino coast and opening their first Wild Fish there.

Fans of the Monterey Jazz Festival, they opened in Pacific Grove in 2018, and offer live jazz on Fridays and delivery, takeout and seating outdoors.

This recipe, shared at a November media tour, highlights local suppliers Minazzoli Ranch (pomegranates), Alberto’s Farm (cilantro and jalapeno) and Rancho Grande (lemons).

••• Ingredients 1 to 2 pomegranates, arils removed (2 cups) 1 cup coarsely chopped cilantro or flatleaf parsley, plus more for serving

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1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling ½ teaspoon kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 1 tablespoon (15 g) finely chopped jalapeno 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon honey Directions To make the fresh pomegranate relish: Mix the jalapeno, honey, salt, and lemon juice in a small bowl and allow to marinate for about 5 minutes.

Stir in oil, then add the pomegranate seeds, and chopped cilantro. Serve the pomegranate relish immediately or refrigerate until serving. Allow to sit at room temperature before serving, so the oil won’t set. Enjoy! n

Liz and Kelvin Jacobs, owners of Wild Fish restaurant in Pacific Grove.

COMMUNITY NEWS

County to Focus on DUI Education, Bike Safety

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he County of Santa Cruz Public Health Division has been awarded three state grants totaling $448,000 for programs to reduce driving while impaired and improve safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and children in cars.

In 2018, Santa Cruz County was ranked third worst in the state of 58 counties with 127 bicyclists injured or killed, and 12th worst with 125 pedestrians injured or killed, according to the state Office of Traffic Safety.

The county ranked 10th for drivers under 21 drinking and injuring or killing 13 individuals. In 2017, 13 individuals

were injured or killed by drivers under 21 who had been drinking.

The state combines injuries and fatalities into one category, and a breakdown Is not available. Data for 2019 and 2020 have not been posted.

Impaired Driving Education: $225,000 • Providing “Driving Under the Influence” place of last drink surveys to law enforcement for educating bars and restaurants.

• Offering bilingual/bicultural impaired driving and traffic safety education for high-risk adults.

• Educating merchants who sell alcohol about best practices for limiting youth access to alcohol.

“DUI Education” page 10

“Sports Medicine” from page 6 Under the direction of our Head Athletic Trainer, the students, through observation, lectures, discussions, and hands-on experiences, learn how to diagnose and treat athletic injuries, including muscle pulls, sprains, shin splints, cramps, and hyperextensions.

They learn how to give immediate care, and how to rehabilitate injuries through longterm care. They also learn about hydration, taping, communication and more.

Today, the program is led by Hilary Beymer, a certified athletic trainer who is in her 7th year at Aptos High. She is supported by team doctor, Dr. Nicholas Abidi and his OrthoNorCal team.

Hilary has nine student trainers under

“COVID Update” from page 7 On Nov. 6, a federal appellate court in Louisiana temporarily blocked the mandate.

Due to the legal challenges, the future of the mandate is not known.

Andrew Metcalf and Stephen Woods, attorneys with Ogletree Deakins in St. Louis and Greenville, S.C., told SHRM, an organization of human resource specialists, that employers may want to plan for the mandate while awaiting the outcome in the courts.

Kids 5-11 fter Pfizer was granted emergency use authorization for its COVID vaccine for kids age 5-11, the Dignity Health Medical Group–Dominican pediatric practices in Aptos and Capitola began offering the Pfizer vaccine to their patients 5 years and older.

Drugstores also have Pfizer vaccine for kids 5-11. Rite Aid in Aptos has appointments in December.

Safeway in Aptos is offering Pfizer and Moderna booster shots. See Vaccines.gov or santacruzhealth.org.

Dr. Faris Sabbah, Santa Cruz County superintendent of schools, is working with all nine school districts to offer vaccine clinics for kids age 5 to 11. For Pajaro Valley appointments, see: https://santacruzcoe. org/vaccines/pvusd/ Some parents are worried about myocarditis, heart inflammation, which has been reported in adolescent and young adult males. It is a rare condition and Dr. Steven Black, co-director of the Global Vaccine Data Network, a consortium researching vaccine safety, told The New York Times that physicians will know to look for it.

Some parents worried about longterm side effects do not want to vaccinate their children. In other cases, if the children have had COVID, the parents contend they have natural immunity.

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her supervision this year, and they are instrumental in helping her to keep our student-athletes healthy and safe.

Aptos High has grown into the largest athletic program in the county, offering more sports and more teams to more students than any other school in the county, including Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz.

Over 1,000 AHS students participate in its athletic program each year. In a single day, Aptos could have up to 10 athletic contests on campus, and triple or quadruple that for a week.

With the assistance of her studenttrainers, who prep contest sites, prepare ice buckets and water bottles, refill first-aid kits, labor in the Athletic Training Room, and work the sidelines at practices and games, Hilary is able to manage all the events

Testing ith Inspire Diagnostics, the County Office of Education has conducted more than 38,000 PCR surveillance tests for COVID at no charge to those tested.

Testing sites are open at Cabrillo’s parking lot K, 2-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; the PVUSD District Office parking lot, open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays, and the county Office of Education, 400 Encinal St., Santa Cruz.

Juan Straub, Inspire project manager, said 230 people got tested on Nov. 10 despite the rain.

Students and their families, and staff and their families can use this free service. Those needing a test simply fill out the registration once at http://sccoe. link/inspiresc and go to any site. No appointment is needed.

The CDC tracker report test positivity in Santa Cruz County at 1.37 percent, lower than the statewide rate of 1.9 percent. The state rate has been declining.

Business Rebound umbers posted Nov. 19 show a healthy 105,100 jobs in Santa Cruz County in October, and unemployment at 5.2%, down from 7.4% a year ago.

Many businesses have “help wanted” signs. Mr. Z’s Crepes in Aptos asked customers to be patient because of short staffing.

REI, the co-op outdoor gear and clothing store, opened Nov. 12 in MidCounty at the former Toys R Us, 1662 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, with a threeday celebration.

“REI welcomed more than 300 people in the first minutes our doors opened on Friday and 150 patiently waited this morning (Nov. 13),” said Megan Behrbaum, REI communications manager.

Supply chain problems induced by the pandemic have delayed the start of Aptos library construction project.

The New York Times advised people

thrown at her. Hilary believes unequivocally that the assistance provided by her student trainers improve the health and safety of the Aptos student-athletes.

Recent grad A.J. Pichardo, now attending University of Las Vegas, has this to say: “The sports medicine program at Aptos High was one of my favorite parts of my high school experience. Not only did it give me hands-on experience in a field that I am now majoring in, but it also gave me a fun opportunity to get involved in my community.

Even during the pandemic, the program allowed me to continue to connect with other students as well as school faculty and staff and maintain my identity at Aptos High. The coaches, as well as our athletic trainer Hilary, taught me responsibility and how to work with urgency in sometimes

“The sports medicine program at Aptos High was one of my favorite parts of my high school experience.”

— A.J. Pichardo

stressful environments. I’ll always value the lessons this program has taught me.”

Congratulations on a terrific 30 years, and thank you all. n ••• Editor’s note: Thanks to Travis Fox, Aptos High athletic director, and Mark Dorfman, retired athletic director, for providing this report.

Cover Photo: Student-trainer Anthony Smith checks on a Mariner cheerleader.

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The winners of the Rural Health Day poster contest, sponsored by Mee Memorial Hospital Foundation.

TOP: First Place — Valeria Sánchez Bravo, 8th grade, Harden Middle School, Salinas.

BOTTOM: Second Place — Alexa Ballestero, 6th grade, Sol Treasures, Greenfield. to shop earlier this year because of expected shipping delays due to supply chain problems.

Or avoid that problem and shop local. n

Total COVID cases: 20,864 ••• COVID Deaths: 222 As of Nov. 22

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2021 / 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

Diversity in District Attorney Offices O n Nov. 4, the California District Attorneys Association hosted its second Diversity Project Town Hall entitled, “Journey to Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in California District Attorney Offices” to discuss steps prosecutor offices can take to create work environments that reflect their multicultural communities.

Panelists were selected from large and small offices from Southern California, Northern California, and the Central Valley: • San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Leonard Trinh immigrated from Vietnam and now is his office’s Hate Crimes prosecutor.

• Nichelle Holmes, a Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney, grew up in Richmond and she is co-president of the Bay Area Black Prosecutors Association.

• Yolo County Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney Melinda Aiello grew up in a middle-class family with a father who was a police officer. She said, “I haven’t had the experiences some of you have had, but I want to work to right the wrongs and rebuild faith in the system.”

• Shaddi Kamiabipour came to the United States from Iran. She began her

Leonard Trinh

Nichelle Holmes

Melinda Aiello

career at the Public Defender’s office and is now a senior deputy district attorney in Orange County, where she specializes in medical provider fraud prosecution.

• Moderator was Marin County Assistant District Attorney Otis Bruce. Raised in the segregated rural South in the small town of Soso, Miss., he started as a volunteer legal intern and rose to become Marin County’s first African-American prosecutor.

He was the first ethnic-minority president of the Marin County Bar Association and is a co-founding member of the Bay Area Black Prosecutors Association.

The Town Hall was broadcast over Zoom, which allowed nearly 300 prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates, support staff, law school students, undergraduate students, and school administrators to participate.

Bruce opened the discussion, noting

Shaddi Kamabipour

there are 1.3 million attorneys in the United States, and 37% are female, 4% are black, and 5% are Hispanic.

“We need to focus on how to address this disparity by engaging, being active, and remedying this problem,” he said.

Aiello added, “Varying viewpoints lead to better decision making, and diversity in the workplace leads to greater faith in the criminal justice system.”

Bruce asked panelists how they engage the public to increase their trust.

Trinh said, “I encourage Asian Pacific Islander groups to report hate crimes.

I’ve found many are distrustful of law enforcement and seeing someone who looks like them, builds trust.”

Bruce’s next questions: What are you doing to make a difference, and what advice do you give give young prosecutors?

Kamiabipour said she tries to set an example by treating individuals charged with crimes as people and by seeing their families as people.

“DUI Education” from page 8 • Collaborating with local partners on the DUI Impaired Driving Resource Center that offers restricted drivers’ licenses, high-risk driver auto insurance, interlock devices and education.

• Distributing information on safe driving to youth and adults.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety: $170,000 • Delivering bicycle and pedestrian safety classroom presentations in schools.

• Distributing bicycle helmets and lights to low-income community members.

• Conducting walking field trips and on-bike safety trainings.

• Participating in community outreach events to increase traffic safety awareness.

Child Passenger Safety: $53,000 • Collaborating with local partners to conduct car seat checkup events.

• Offering Child Passenger Safety Technician certification training.

• Distributing child safety seats to parents and caregivers, including car seat inspections and education.

“This funding will help ensure the safety of our most vulnerable road users and plays a vital role in reducing the number of deaths and injuries on our local roadways,” said Dr. Gail Newel, Santa Cruz County health officer.

The grants run from Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 10 / December 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

2022. Funding comes from California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Santa Cruz Enforcement he Santa Cruz Police Department has been awarded an $85,000 state grant for a program to deter speeding and driving while impaired, behaviors that increase the risk of crashes.

T

Otis Bruce

Holmes said she tells new attorneys that “they must listen, have courage, and stand behind those things you believe in.”

Aiello said she is proud Yolo County has instituted “race blind charging” to avoid implicit bias in the office’s charging decisions. Her office has launched a data transparency portal that allows the office and community to see the racial disparity in the criminal justice system in Yolo and to use that data to drive policy change.

Bruce concluded: “Make a list. Are you merely present or is your presence, your work, and your service making a difference? Don’t stop when you are tired, stop when you are done.”

Jeff Reisig, Yolo County District Attorney and 2021-22 president of the California District Attorneys Association, said more Town Hall meetings will take place.

“This is just the beginning of the critical conversation prosecutors must have about diversity, equity, and inclusion,” he said.

The California District Attorneys Association is a statewide training and advocacy organization representing elected district attorneys, city attorneys with criminal divisions, and more than 3,500 prosecutors. n ••• To view the virtual Town Hall see https:// www.cdaa.org/public-videos

“This funding allows us to provide necessary traffic enforcement measures with the goal of reducing serious injury and fatal crashes on our roads,” said Santa Cruz Police Department Lieutenant Wes Morey.

The grant will pay for additional enforcement measures, including: • DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on suspected impaired drivers.

• Enforcement focused on distracted drivers suspected of violating California’s hands-free cell phone law.

• Bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement.

• Enforcement focused on top violations that cause crashes: Speeding, failure to yield, running a red-light or stop sign, and improper turning or lane changes.

• Community presentations on issues such as distracted driving, DUI, speeding, and bicycle and pedestrian safety.

• Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement and Drug Recognition Expert.

In October, the City of Santa Cruz Street Smarts campaign received a $60,000 state grant to resume and expand middle school biking and walking safety programs.

Plans call for 16 “pop-up” events for bike light installation.

Also funded: Helmet fitting inspections and distribution of helmets to those in need, workshops that educate youth on safe bicycle riding and community and school presentations on best practices for biking and walking. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

How to Make Your Holiday Meaningful W ith the heart of the holiday season upon us comes the biggest time of giving of the year.

Santa Cruz County has always been a place that supports local businesses, local nonprofits and local causes. With supply chains in upheaval and the need greater than ever due to the persistent pandemic wreaking havoc, there has never been a better time to give back to the local Santa Cruz County community.

“It’s that time of year again when our community members reach out to us looking for ways to connect and make their holiday celebrations more meaningful,” said Christina Thurston, director of volunteer connections at the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County.

Each year, the Volunteer Center posts an online Holiday Volunteer Guide, available at www.scvolunteercenter.org.

“We regularly update the guide throughout the holiday season as new projects become available, so we encourage folks to check back regularly or give us a call if they can’t find what they are looking

for and we are happy to match them with an opportunity,” said Thurston.

One long-running effort is the Volunteer Center’s Adopt a Family Project, started almost 40 years ago to help families struggling to make ends meet during the holidays. Each year, the project serves about 400 families.

Partner nonprofits provide a short bio about each family and a list of items each family member requests.

Volunteers then set to work connecting these families with donors. Often, requests include necessities like sheets, towels and grocery store gift cards along with gift requests for children.

Many families are awaiting adoption but Thurston is confident that the community will come through.

Volunteers will be at the Adopt a Family Phone Line until Dec. 9.

Call Adopt a Family Hotline at 831-457-9834.

“For local families that are struggling, the holidays become a very worrisome time, especially now during Covid-19,”

Thurston said. “It is truly heartbreaking to read through the family stories and to know that without this project these children might not have a warm jacket, let alone gifts or toys.”

Ways to support the project include adopting a whole family, buying individual items, volunteering in the warehouse to wrap and sort gifts, or donating funds.

For information, visit https://scvolunteer center.org/programs/adopt-a-family/ Many deserving projects and programs in Santa Cruz County need

volunteers or financial support this holiday season.

Trea Robinson, director of community engagement at the Volunteer Center, recommends those wanting to make a meaningful donation visit www.santacruzgives.org.

“You’re guaranteed to find a cause you care about,” she said. “You can give to one or give to many — all with one transaction.” n ••• For more information see www.scvolunteer center.org or call 831- 427-5070 or email connect@scvolunteercenter.org.

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

Live Nutcracker Ballet Returns A gape Dance presents the best Nutcracker Ballet in Santa Cruz County, performing live Dec. 17, 18 and 19 at the beautiful new Monte Vista Performing Arts Theater, 2 School Way, Watsonville.

Shows are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The Petite Nutcracker featuring youngsters ages 3-7 and their favorite dances is at 10-11 a.m. Saturday.

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A r t i s t i c Director Melanie Useldinger is thrilled to offer live performances of the full-length Nutcracker at a state-of-theart theater with great views from all seats and at a school with a high-caliber arts program growing its dance division.

Last season, because of pandemic restrictions to prevent illnesses, Agape Dance filmed a troupe of dancers and created its own Nutcracker Movie, which aired at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk drive-in theater.

This year, Useldinger joins director Conrad Useldinger and choreographer Kelly Beach to create a fresh new version of the beloved ballet featuring Agape dancers and alumni portraying Clara, the Nutcracker Soldier and the ever mysterious

Drosselmeyer bringing Clara’s dreams to reality.

The sweet Sugar Plum Fairy, frosty Snow Flakes, tasty Ginger Snaps and the dramatic Nutcracker Soldiers all come to life on stage. Plus Tchaikovsky’s vivid music score, stunning costumes, lighting and sets to create the best Nutcracker experience in Santa Cruz County. n Tickets are $20-$40 at: AgapeDance.com.

Information: 831-359-0850.

Coldwell Banker Realty Proudly Supports Toys For Tots Program

In keeping with the holiday spirit, you are invited to show your support to the local Toys for Tots Program by delivering an unwrapped gift to one of our participating office locations or by making an online donation. This charitable organization has been bringing smiles and hope to children everywhere for 74 years! Don’t miss this opportunity to make a real difference in the community. Contact your local Coldwell Banker® agent for event and donation details!

Charity Drive: November 9th - December 17th 12 / December 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

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F.W. de Klerk: Acknowledging Injustice F .W. de Klerk, South Africa’s last apartheid president, died Nov. 11 at 85.

He was responsible for freeing Nelson Mandela — who would later become his successor — from prison. DeKlerk and Mandela were jointly awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Mount Madonna School students interviewed de Klerk during their 2013 Sawubona-Ngikhona (I see you/Yes, we see you too) learning journey to South Africa.

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“The fact that our students were able to travel to South Africa and interview various individuals involved in the transition from apartheid to post-apartheid South Africa was an amazing learning experience and one that I hope helped them understand the importance of the truth and reconciliation process, said Values in World Thought teacher and Director of Upper School Shannon Kelly (’92). “The ability to acknowledge and face injustice is the first step in the healing process. I appreciate that Mr. de Klerk helped my students see that lesson in action.” n

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Yolande Wilburn to head Santa Cruz Public Libraries

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olande Wilburn is poised to be the search functions for patrons and next director for the Santa Cruz reduce staff time spent on catalogue Public Libraries, sucmanagement. She was ceeding Susan Nemitz. involved in the California Pending approval Dec. Library Association’s 2 by the SCPL joint powers Advocacy & Legislation authority board of directors, Committee, proposing Wilburn would be the first library database-sharing woman of color to the lead for youth, which State the system in its 153-year Librarian Greg Lucas then history. Her first day would championed. be Jan. 3.

Wilburn grew up Santa Cruz Public spending many hours at Libraries consist of 10 the Chicago Public Library. branches, a $15 million Later, she worked there as Yolande Wilburn budget, 98 full-time equivpage. She earned a bachealent staff, 438,466 items in the collection lor’s degree from the University of Illinois. and circulation of 672,684 for physical items She got a master’s in library and and 467,875 for electronic materials. information science at San Jose State UniWilburn’s specialty is meeting the versity before returning to Chicago Public needs of the community via library services. Library where she won a MacArthur FounShe comes from Torrance, population dation grant to create the library’s first 146,860, where she was city librarian for two makerspace — which won the 2013 Social years, overseeing six branch locations with Innovator Award.

573,000 items, circulation of 658,246 and a She went on to work at Higher Col$7 million budget. leges of Technology in Dubai, United Arab During the pandemic, she read Emirates, where students commonly used children’s storybooks in “virtual sto- ebooks. rytime” on YouTube and implemented “Wilburn” page 25 Polaris and Vega software to improve

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COMMUNITY NEWS

‘Nisene Marks’ No. 1 at Capitola Plein Air

A

By Linda Segal

fter a two-year hiatus, 35 invited artists enthusiastically returned for the sixth annual Capitola Plein Air. From Nov. 1-6, they delighted inquisitive passersby with their unique styles and perspectives.

Everchanging weather afforded them opportunities to capture the textures and hues of every condition, from fog and rain to brilliant sunshine.

They quickly got to work, spreading out across Capitola’s city limits, along with Pleasure Point, New Brighton Beach, and Awe Steel Bridge Nisene Marks.

Santa Cruz artist Maggie Renner Hellmann describes the experience this way.

“Painting outdoors ‘en plein-air’ is...challenging and exhilarating. Light and mood change quickly ... I must capture the threedimensional landscape with passion, intuition and energy, onto a two-dimensional canvas ... as required in expressive plein-air painting.”

On Nov. 7, the fruits of their labors of love were on display at New Brighton Middle School in Capitola. Several hundred attendees were treated to a free gallery viewing of more than 200 original paintings of our local environs.

Hopeful art buyers were rewarded, as were the artists, since this year’s show produced record sales.

Prior to the viewing public’s arrival, judge Patty Beiderman declared overall prize winners and honorable mentions. First and second place pieces will become part of the City of Capitola’s art collection and be on display in City Council chambers.

First Place Barbara Tapp, “Awe Steel Bridge” Second Place Steven McDonald, “Incoming” ••• Honorable Mentions: Chad Hunter, “The Venetian” • Sally Bookman, “San Jose Avenue” • Marie Massey, “Capitola Splash” • Durre Waseem, “After the Rain in Capitola” • Bonnie Carver, “A Touch of Class” • Joe Ortiz, “Two Trees, Two Bushes, Two Shadows” • Randall Stauss, “Sweet Capitola” • Paul Rickard, “After the Rain: Nisene Marks” • Annette McGowan, “Capitola Bike Rail” • John Crawford, “Private Beach” • Kristian Matthews, “Days End” • Mark Monsarrat, “Depot Hill Overlook” ••• Special Recognition Awards from local businesses: Meisha Grichuhin, “Patterns in the Sand” Capitola Village/Wharf Business Improvement Area Paul Fortis, “Capitola Bridge” Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce “Plein Air Results” page 18

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Griffin Starts Work at Amah Mutsun Land Trust

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

atherine “Kate” Griffin started work Amah Mutsun people and the cultural and Nov. 15 as the Amah Mutsun Land spiritual stewardship of their Territory.”

Trust’s executive director.

The Amah Mutsun Land Trust was She spent eight years at California established in 2014, to protect and conserve Indian Legal Services, including two years as sacred sites, restore and steward native ecoexecutive director. systems, and research and share information “She understands the historic trauma about Mutsun history, culture, traditions, Native people have suffered and the and ceremonies that were lost contemporary cultural and political with the brutal removal from their challenges they face,” said Valentin homelands by the Spanish and the Lopez, Land Trust president and genocide that continued during the chairman of the Amah Mutsun Mexican and American periods.

Tribal Band. “This combination of AMLT is a 501(c)(3) charitable cultural understanding and nonorganization governed by a Board of Directors, the majority of which profit acumen was exactly what we are appointed by Amah Mutsun were looking for.”

Tribal Council. The Land Trust He cited her experience in operKate Griffin holds two conservation easements ating, fundraising, and transforming nonprofit organizations into becoming better and and is currently developing a “Cultural Conmore effective. servation Easement” at the 500-acre Nyland She comes from New Hampshire where Ranch in San Benito County with The Trust she was a network and community builder for Public Land, the Land Trust for Santa for Bringing Theory to Practice, a National Cruz County, and the San Benito Agricultural Higher Educational Initiative hosted by Elon Land Trust.

University. She has also held leadership roles AMLT works with the California in rural and urban nonprofit organizations Department of Parks and Recreation on focused on improving internal operations, projects, including at Quiroste Valley State innovation, learning, and transforming big Cultural Preserve, which is dedicated to preideas into on the ground achievements. She has serving Indigenous history and culture. a doctorate from the University of Minnesota AMLT also manages a Native Stewin American studies. Her dissertation was on ardship Corps that reduces fuel loads and “Politics and Place in African American and restores native habitat in the Santa Cruz American Indian Women’s Literature.”

Mountains, operates a native plant greenShe said: “I would be honored to serve house at Cascade Ranch, and maintains as AMLT’s Executive Director and to be in native plant gardens at San Juan Bautista partnership with the Tribe, the Land Trust, State Park, Castle Rock State Park, and at Pie its staff and allies in work that promotes the Ranch on the Santa Cruz coast. n

“Plein Air Results” from page 17

Local artist Lupe Santos won an award from Times Publishing Group, Inc., for a painting entitled, “Bougainvilleas.”

Coraly Hanson, “God’s Glory” Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors Lupe Santos, “Bougainvilleas” Times Publishing Group, Inc. Tanvi Buch, “Classic Capitola” Palace Arts ••• Artists’ Choice Duree Waseem “After the Rain in Capitola” People’s Choice Coraly Hanson “Park Avenue Vista” ••• The City of Capitola and Capitola Art and Cultural Commission, which sponsor the event, recognize and thank Capitola Village/ Wharf Business Improvement Area members for offering generous discounts to the artists all week. Very special thanks go to Shadowbrook Restaurant for hosting the midweek Artists’ Reception on their creekside patio.

Thank you to additional contributing sponsors: Best Western Plus, Fairfield Inn and Suites, Gayle’s Bakery and Rosticceria and Shadowbrook Restaurant, all in Capitola. n

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2021 / 19

COMMUNITY NEWS

A Playground for Everyone

A

Story and Photos By Kieran Kelly

fter much anticipation, the newly renovated playground at Hidden Beach County Park officially reopened to a crowd of excited children on Nov. 22.

The park, which had closed for two months of construction, now features new play structures and swings with a rubber play surface designed to improve accessibility for children of all abilities.

The Hidden Beach project follows on the successful completion of the LEO’s Haven inclusive playground at Chanticleer Park in Live Oak. “If we start planning for our parks with every user in mind, we get a more valuable result for the community,” said Brenda Gutierrez, parks advocate and member of the Santa Cruz County Commission on Disabilities.

Those gathered to mark the occasion included the classmates and family of Jett Ramsey, a local boy who passed away at age 5 from brain cancer in April 2020.

Jett and his siblings frequently played

at Hidden Beach Park and after his passing, friends and neighbors organized a successful fundraising campaign in his honor to replace the aging playground.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony came one day before what would have been his seventh birthday.

As part of the renovation, a nearby plaque honors the memory of Jett for those who loved him.

“It takes a village to get through what we have been through, and we wouldn’t haven’t been able to do it without the community’s support,” said Amy Ramsey, Jett’s mother.

Frank DeBernardo, a neighbor and friend of the Ramsey family, worked with County Park Friends, a local nonprofit, to raise $86,500 from the Aptos community to help fund the project.

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend secured matching funds through the Santa Cruz County budget to ensure the project came to fruition.

“Hidden Beach Park is a perfect

20 / December 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Parents and kids attend the ribbon-cutting at newly renovated Hidden Beach County Park in Aptos. example of a community-driven partnership. From the commitment of neighbors, nonprofits, local businesses, and the County, an investment was made that will benefit families for a generation.

It’s a beautiful testament to Jett and a testament to the love and commitment of our community,” said Supervisor Friend.

“Hidden Beach” page 25

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

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Santa Cruz Chamber Players, Bravo

By Edita McQuary

I

t seems we are slowly getting out of our pandemic mode and to nearly normal!.

After showing our vaccine cards and I.D.’s, we were allowed into Christ Lutheran Church to enjoy the season opener of the Santa Cruz Chamber Players Concert series.

On Nov. 4, Concert 1 of the 2021-22 season started off with “A World Tour of Nationalist Trios.”

Featured was the Verve Trio with Chia-Lin Yang, concert director, on piano, Ebert Tsai on violin and Brady Anderson on his 131-year-old German cello.

It was an excellent performance!

Enjoying the concert of music by Joaquin Turina, Astor Piazolla and Antonin Dvorak were about 60 or so people, appropriately masked and distanced. The performance was repeated on Sunday afternoon at the same venue.

There are five more concerts in the series.

The Santa Cruz Chamber Players concert series is an annual celebration of quality chamber music performed by professional musicians who live and work in our community.

Presented in an informal environment, the concerts are designed to be artistically invigorating and appealing to music lovers of all ages and musical tastes.

Each concert has its own director and features different combinations of instruments, music of divergent styles, and distinct historical periods.

The group aims to keep the performance of chamber music alive for future generations.

The next concert will be “Gabriel Faure and His Circle of Influence” on Jan. 29 and 30 featuring The Nisene Ensemble: Cynthia Baehr-Williams, concert director and playing violin, Chad Kaltinger, on viola, Kristin Garbeff, cello and Kumi Uyeda, on piano.

Be sure to mark your calendars.

Our very generous local philanthropists, Pat and Rowland Rebele, have extended a challenge to match up to $7,500 in new or increased donations to the Santa Cruz Chamber Players. n ••• For season schedule and tickets, see: scchamberplayers.org.

Help Your Favorite Nonprofits at Santa Cruz Gives

S

anta Cruz Gives, a countywide crowdfunding holiday campaign, will raise funds for 80 local nonprofits in its seventh season, which runs until midnight Dec. 31.

The campaign is at SantaCruzGives. org.

The website allows donors to browse profile pages to learn about each nonprofit’s mission and “Big Idea,” a project for 2022 to be funded with donations, then use a shopping cart to give. The minimum donation is $5.

Some of the local nonprofits and their “Big Ideas” are: Nourishing Generations, which brought healthy cooking lessons on Zoom this year to women diagnosed with cancer, wants to train people in Live Oak and Watsonville about healthy cooking and spread the word to their neighbors.

Teen Kitchen Project in Soquel prepared and delivered 1,700 medicallytailored meals, a 150% increase, in 2021, and aims to raise money to buy two cargo vans for deliveries.

Valley Churches United aims to raise money to provide 12,500 pounds of food for those in need, as numbers surged after the devastating CZU lightning wildfire.

Community Action Board aims to raise $5,000 for two immigrant youth to renew their DACA status, buy ingredients for six potluck meals for 12 seniors at

the Davenport Resource Service Center, provide gift cards to 50 farmworkers worried that vaccination will mean missing work, and financial assistance to four families who are homeless and 20 families of Day Worker Center members who lost work due to COVID. The current leaders on the site are: The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation, which is increasing its free and low-cost spay and neuter services, jumped to an early lead, raising more than $61,000.

Coastal Watershed Council, which has a vision to make the Riverwalk the Central Park of Santa Cruz, raising more than $42,000, Dientes, which is building a new dental clinic in Live Oak, raising more than $40,000.

Organizations were encouraged to raise challenge grants from major donors to launch their campaign.

“It lets the public know that major donors, who generally do their homework before giving significant funds to nonprofits, support the work,” said Santa Cruz Gives coordinator Jeanne Howard, adding that as of the Nov. 17 launch, “We already have $439,578 in challenge grants and $120,500 in matching funds.”

The selected nonprofits will receive

donated funds, matching funds, and be eligible for three special awards: Most Donors Overall, Most Innovative Program, and Most Creative Campaign. Three nonprofits in each category will be awarded $1,000.

During the 2020 pandemic year, donations to Santa Cruz Gives totaled $709,617, a 73 percent increase over 2019.

Rounding out the top 10 in fundraising: Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farm, Friends of Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Senderos, CASA of Santa Cruz County, Homeless Garden Project, Regeneration and Soroptimist of Capitola.

And 70 more worthy nonprofits are in the campaign. They cover the county geographically and represent a variety of needs: Youth, seniors, animals, the environment, education, health and wellness, food and nutrition, housing and homelessness, the arts, veterans, families, and people with disabilities.

The 80 were selected by a sixmember committee with diverse nonprofit experience.

Previously, participation was limited to provide potential for each nonprofit to raise sufficient funds for the staff time spent on the campaign.

The number doubled this year due to

the retirement of the long-running Human Race, a major local fund-raiser.

Karen Delaney, executive director of the Volunteer Center, the producer of the Human Race, explained, “Santa Cruz Gives has better technology, a wider reach and more of the money raised goes to create good, less to put on the event.”

Visit https://scvolunteercenter.org/events-2/ human-race/ for more information.

“If any of the local nonprofits tried to create a platform like this for fundraising, it would not be economically feasible,” said Delaney. “Only large national organizations have had a tool like this at their disposal.

Santa Cruz Gives puts this tool into the hands of local nonprofit community.”

Nonprofits in Santa Cruz Gives report that a majority of donors are new and younger, broadening the base of support.

Good Times and the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County are the presenting sponsors. Additional sponsors include Community Foundation Santa Cruz County; three funds at the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County: The Applewood Fund, The Joe Collins Fund, and the Bud & Rebecca Colligan Fund; and Driscoll’s, Inc. Other business sponsors are Santa Cruz County Bank, Wynn Capital Management, Oswald, The Pajaronian, and Press Banner. n See the FAQ at SantaCruzGives.org for information or contact Jeanne Howard at 831601-1691 or Jeanne@santacruzgives.org.

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

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Water District Efforts Yield Many Accomplishments in 2021

By Rachél Lather, President, Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors

A

nother year is soon coming to a close — already! We’re in the midst of the holiday rush, but as we approach the new year I want to briefly pause, and take a look back at a very successful 2021 for the Soquel Creek Water District. Together with you — the community — as our partners for a reliable water supply, we can all be very proud about the progress and accomplishments the District has made during the last 12 months.

Of course, the world is still dealing Rachél Lather with the pandemic; but with the progress that’s been made in battling Covid-19, especially in the Bay Area, many of us have returned to some semblance of normalcy in our everyday work lives. If 2020 was a struggle (and it was!), then 2021 in many ways brought about a rededication to our goals and objectives, a strengthened attention to our core services, and a laser-like focus on the District’s efforts toward long-term water supply resiliency and reliability.

I want to point to one particular accomplishment for 2021 that really has the most far-reaching impact for our community — we started construction in earnest on our Pure Water Soquel Groundwater Replenishment and Seawater Intrusion Prevention Project.

Eight miles of pipelines are being laid as we speak, to connect the Santa Cruz

E

Wastewater Treatment Facility with the very-soon-to-break-ground Advanced Water Purification Center, and from that facility to three seawater intrusion prevention wells (which were also substantially completed during 2021).

Getting underway with construction is a monumental accomplishment, especially for a relatively small district that is taking on the gigantic task of replenishing the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin — our only source of drinking water.

Related to Pure Water Soquel is another remarkable achievement, as part of the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Management Agency. Earlier this year the state approved that agency’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan — one of the first two sustainability plans in the state to be approved by last summer under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which requires groundwater basin sustainability by 2040. Pure Water Soquel is a big part of that plan, and with this approval the roadmap is set toward groundwater sustainability for the future.

Another 2021 accomplishment — one that is very public-facing — is the unveiling of a brand-new District website that is streamlined, cleaner, easier to navigate, and designed to better serve our customers.

As many people in our tech-savvy community know, putting together a new website can be a major undertaking, especially for a public agency. Ours has an entirely new look-and-feel, countless major improvements, and a great deal of

improved functionality — it’s your onestop-shop for everything about your water!

Here are just a few of the District’s other achievements during 2021: • Replaced a major primary water pipeline in Soquel — part of our core service of maintaining and improving the reliability of water delivery to your homes and businesses.

• Upgraded 90% of our customers’ water meters to Advanced Metering Infrastructure — providing for hourly water consumption information and a new customer portal, giving you access to the latest technology for managing your water use and billing.

• Created the Vaidehi Campbell Williams Memorial Garden, honoring a beloved staff member who we lost in the tragic fire aboard a diving boat off the Channel Islands, which also took 33 other lives.

• Adopted the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, a crucial long-range planning document that assesses current water demand, projects future demand over a minimum 20-year planning horizon, and identifies a mix of water resources and conservation efforts to meet future demand.

• Received award for financial reporting, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association recognizes the quality of the District’s comprehensive annual financial report.

• Repaired a significant water main break in the area of Maplethorpe and Victory Lane • Completed a very positive Water Quality Report. Our Consumer Confidence/Annual Water Quality Report shows results of our groundwater testing for 181 different constituents; all tests showed that our water is in compliance with state and federal drinking water health standards.

And in the middle of all these accomplishments, let’s not lose sight of the fact that 2021 is also the District’s 60th birthday!

It was 60 years ago on October 19 that the Soquel Creek (County) Water District Board of Directors met for the first time, in the old Soquel Firehouse.

As I reach the end of my term as the board president, I am so proud and gratified to be part of this mature, 60-year-old agency, with the knowledge that we are going strong, we are making a difference in people’s lives every single day, and we are absolutely positioned to provide a safe and reliable water supply for another 60 years, and beyond! n ••• Ms. Lather has served on the Board of Directors since 2016 and was sworn in as President of the Board on December 15, 2020, for 2021.

A resident of Aptos and a civil engineer with more than 40 years of experience, Ms. Lather serves on the Board’s Water Resources Management and Infrastructure Committee, and as an alternate on the Public Outreach Committee and the Finance and Administrative Services Committee and is also the Santa Cruz LAFCO Vice-Chair.

Keep Your Chimneys Clear of Trees, Vines

By Tony Tomeo

ven as autumn weather cools, smoke rising from a simple old-fashioned brick chimney is a rare sight nowadays. A smoking stovepipe is rarer.

Modern building codes forbid the installation of new fireplaces or wood stoves within most municipalities here. Modern air quality ordinances severely limit the use of existing fireplaces and wood-burning stoves.

Furthermore, existing fireplaces and wood stoves are neither as popular nor as common as they had been. After an earthquake, a faulty chimney is likely to justify removal rather than repair.

An unused wood stove wastes too much space. Old orchards that generated inexpensive firewood as they relinquished their space to urban development are extinct.

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

There are a few advantages to these modern trends. Modern homes consume so much less energy for heating than older homes because of efficient insulation.

Insulation of older homes retains heat that fireplaces generate, so that less wood is needed. Almost every surviving chimney has a spark arrestor. Modern roof materials are noncombustible.

“Clear Chimneys” page 26

Modern homes lack old fashioned fireplaces.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Our Community Reads ‘Red Letter Days’ T he book selected for the 2022 Our Community Reads is Red Letter Days, by Sarah-Jane Stratford. This is an engaging story about two daring women who escape McCarthy-era Hollywood for London, where they find creative freedom and fight the injustices of the Red Scare.

This well-researched historical fiction details what it was like to live during the era of the late 1940s and early 1950s when people were “turning in” names of friends and neighbors to the FBI and the House Un-American Activities Committee if they suspected them of any

“Wilburn” from page 15 She then returned to California as manager for the County of Los Angeles Public Libraries, overseeing renovation at A C Bilbrew Library, which houses the county’s African American Resource Center, hosting a Black Books Expo, and opening the Manhattan Beach Library.

Next she spent three years in the Nevada County Community Library system, first as a deputy director and then program manager before being named library director. She oversaw six branches and two service locations in the Sierra Nevada foothills, completing an outdoor amphitheater, forging a partnership to provide musicians for the Summer

union activity or involvement with the Communist party.

This book lifts the curtain on a dark period of our country’s history and reminds us of the dangers of fanaticism and political hysteria. Those who chose this book call it “a vital read during these troubling times.”

Four Friends of the Library groups — Aptos, La Selva Beach, Capitola, and Felton — plan to host events that allow participants to delve into the themes of this book.

Events will include panel discussions, films, trivia, and more. All events will be free and open to the public. Because of

COVID restrictions, there will most likely be a combination of in-person and virtual events.

The Friends encourage everyone to grab a copy and start reading. The calendar of events, starting at the end of January and running through the beginning of March, will be posted on the www.santacruzpl.org. n ••• For information on how to get involved email: friendsoftheaptoslibrary@fscpl.org.

Learn more about projects of the Friends of the Aptos Library at: http://www.friendsof aptoslibrary.org

Reality TV

Learning Program concert series, and participating in the Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries.

“Yolande’s talent and experience align perfectly with the direction of our library system,” said Carlos Palacios, Library Board Chairman and county administrative officer, in announcing her selection.

“Through Measure S, we are in the middle of the largest public investment in our system’s history, and Yolande is the best choice to carry this work forward.”

Wilburn said, “I sincerely look forward to working closely with patrons, staff and our community to make our system the best it has ever been. I’m grateful for the faith the selection committee has placed in me, and I’m ready to get to work.” n

“Hidden Beach” from page 20 The gleaming new playground and swings were clearly a hit with the kids who tried them out, as well as some relieved parents.

“Hidden Beach is a great combination of a playground right next to a beach. We love bringing our twin 3-year-olds down here to run around and get the wiggles out,” said local parent Andy Thomas.

The new playground at Hidden Beach County Park is the latest in a series of updates to county parks around Aptos in recent years, including the new skatepark unveiled at Seacliff Village County Park, a new playground and other features at Seascape Park, improvements at Aldridge Lane Park in Corralitos, and the bike jumps and permanent restrooms at Polo Grounds Park.

As Mariah Roberts of County Park Friends explains, “Our parks support us and we need to support them. County Park Friends is the County’s partner for raising funds to improve our local parks and we’ve

ACROSS

1. “Oh, my!”

5. Say untruth 8. Left or right 12. Spiritual leader 13. *”____ing Up with Marie Kondo” 14. Great reviews 15. Related 16. Double reed woodwind 17. Fourth deck 18. *”The ____ ____,” MTV’s trailblazing reality show 20. Affirm with confidence 21. I to Greeks, pl.

22. ____ Baba 23. Powerball and such 26. Swaggering show of courage

Pierce and Royce Jones venture on the slide. had great success at LEO’s Haven and now at Hidden Beach as well.” n

30. Spermatozoa counterparts 31. Based on two 34. Has a mortgage 35. ____ dog, gin and grapefruit juice cocktail 37. DNA transmitter 38. *”The Real Housewives” is full of this type of conflict 39. Write on a tombstone 40. Unwholesome atmosphere 42. Hairpiece, slangily 43. Stitched again 45. Unit of electric current flow 47. Solemn pledge 48. Like nose during hayfever 50. Uncouth one 52. *”Who ____ ____ ____ a Millionaire?”

56. Front of cuirass 57. Sixth month of civil year 58. “Jack and the Beanstalk” instrument 59. Travesty 60. Italian money 61. *”Vanilla Ice Goes Amish” and “Cleveland Hustles” state 62. *”____house Masters” on Animal Planet 63. *Not Khloé or Kourtney 64. Common allergens 1.

2.

3.

4.

DOWN

Gelatin substitute Gospel writer “Tosca” song, e.g.

Like sunroom, hopefully 5. Balance in the sky

6. *”Pop ____” and “American ____,” pl.

7. Gave the once-over 8. *”Outwit, Outplay, Outlast” show 9. Not active 10. Point of entry 11. Sixth sense 13. Foot, to a child 14. Aussie bear 19. Buzz Lightyear’s buddy 22. Brow shape 23. *”The Biggest ____” 24. Egg-shaped 25. Same as talcums 26. Civil rights concern 27. In the know 28. Raise objections 29. Missouri River tributary 32. Like a desert 33. Crime scene evidence 36. *Singing competition (2 words)

38. Curses 40. Feline sound 41. “I think I can, I think I can...”, e.g.

44. “For better or for ____” 46. “Monty ____’s Flying Circus” 48. r in a circle, pl.

49. Deprive of weapons 50. *Star of wilderness reality shows, ____ Grylls 51. Fairytale beast 52. Street-crossing word 53. Hawaiian island 54. Londoner, e.g.

55. Narrative poem 56. Back of a boat © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

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

December’s Festivals, Dedications & Celebrations

D

Esoteric Astrology • December 2021 • By Risa D’Angeles

ecember is filled with festivals and celebrations, days dedicated to this and that, from cupcakes to poinsettias, French toast to candles, volunteering to mourning to neutrality. In between are festivals of light, festivals dedicated to saints and to the holy ones who guide and guard our lives.

Then there are the new and full moons, planetary transits, a retrograde (Venus) and a solstice. Below are calendar guides, social and spiritual for December. It’s fun to follow along. Notice how all the festivals overlap. It’s a busy time!

Each Sunday night in December we light a new Advent candle. Advent (Latin “adventus” meaning “something’s coming”). Each night ‘til Christmas we light candles illuminating the dark half of the year.

Saturday, December 4 — new moon festival solar eclipse (12.22 degrees Sagittarius). Something essential falls away, it’s work complete. Hanukkah, Hebrew eight-day festival of Lights ends December 6 - feast of St. Nicholas, the original Santa Claus. The next day, December 7 is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Monday, December 13 — Saint Lucy Day. Lucy walks through town with candles on her head heralding the dawn.

Wednesday, December 15 — Human Rights and cupcake day. Both are essential.

Saturday, December 18 — the Long Cold Winter’s Before Yule full moon Sagittarius solar festival, 27 degrees - the smallest (14% smaller) full moon of ARIES

Gradually certain spiritual components and aspiration will enter your consciousness. They will work into and align with your goals, many of which are appearing now in large numbers.

It’s good to give thanks for your great mind and for the transformative affect you have on those you meet in the world. Be aware that you are always a force that influences others. You must link that force with love.

And gratitude.

the year and remains above the horizon for everyone to see for the longest time!

Sunday, December 19 — Venus retrogrades until the end of January. During Venus retrograde all values and resources shift.

Tuesday, December 21 — Winter Solstice. The Sun enters Capricorn, resting for three days at the Tropic of Capricorn.

Christmas Eve and the Festival of Seven Fishes are Friday, December 24. Saturn squares Uranus (in the heavens, so the unexpected could occur.

Christmas is Saturday, with Venus retrograde joining Pluto, it may be a very intense and transformative Christmas. Plan on it.

December 28 is Pledge of Allegiance Day and Call a Friend day.

And as always, the last day of December is New Year’s Eve. The new year of 2022 begins with a practical Capricorn new moon as Venus retrograde re-enters Aquarius! Our values and resources will definitely be changing in the new year to meet the new Aquarian era as it continues to surprise us.

December’s Calendar of Events: https://www.calendarr.com/ united-states/calendar-december-2021/ Catholic Feast days & liturgy for December: https://www.vercalendario. info/en/event/catholic-liturgy-month-december-2021.html

LEO

SAGITTARIUS

Your abilities are in the spotlight for everyone realizes without you the work needed for the new era would not materialize. There’s praise for your ongoing accomplishments, praise for the connections you make and for the important people and events you cultivate. In return be sure to provide even greater praise for everyone around you. This brings forth trust, gratitude, pleasure, care and a love not often experienced. Soon you will tend to even greater tasks.

There may be new friends’ groups, acquaintances, contacts and colleagues and each one becomes a learning and lesson. Some Sag’s are seeking teachers and teachings that will bring harmony and balance into their lives. Some Sags are becoming teachers, professors. All Sags are in a state of seeking a new state of equilibrium. This is because new goals are being formed. They’re not visible yet. But in time they will appear. In all the silence of Sagittarius, speak words of gratitude.

VIRGO

CAPRICORN

TAURUS

It is important to conserve your strength, rest whenever Tend to family, parents and elders and the principle of caring will Assessing what you have and being always and ever thankful possible, and economize all actions each be returned to you a hundred-fold. Perhaps you creates an expansion of inner happiness and day. This is vital for the well-being of all feel unrecognized or unseen during these times. joy. Then life is almost overabundant. This that you are to bring forth for the greater However, this will not last. You will emerge out cultivation of abundance prepares you for the good. It’s also useful to consider what from under any shadows into the light of day transformations that has been and continues assets you have, especially what is hidden away and/ where three lights meet.

There will be new projects to focus on. for all Capricorns.

Seeing and experiencing life as abundant aids or in storage, in boxes, room drawers, safes, or simply lying about on tabletops. These resources await your Now the groundwork is being prepared. Like seeds underground others. You become their mentor in understanding life (filled with both happiness and suffering). You know both. gratitude and attention. They need a new home. Careful sprouting new shoots, your life settles into a new security. with impatience.

GEMINI

You begin to sense a certain level of dignity, selfconfidence and self-assurance in relation with others. It’s as if the sun has begun to shine on all your interactions. You begin to cooperate more and hide less, allow changes of environment to expand your interests, and realize that even enemies and those you don’t resonate with have a certain purpose in your life. Tend to commitments, consider suggestions and learn how to be a better friend.

CANCER

Daily routines begin to take precedence in terms of diet and health, scheduling tasks and chores, and utilizing your energy more effectively. You’re grateful for this awareness. It allows you to nourish yourself while also ordering and organizing the environment. Perhaps your garden called you to attention and the miracle of what each plant presents has shifted your emphasis to the devas. Cultivating your garden you fall in love again.

LIBRA

AQUARIUS

A new self-reliance appears and a new practicality. You reserve your energy for important matters; tend to money with confidence, firmness and decisiveness. Do not overlook your health, become overworked or let your physical body become cold. Tend to yourself and all parts of your life very carefully. Later you will plan holiday parties, inviting people to your home. I see flowers, holiday wreaths and colorful lights everywhere in your home. You are at your best during these festival days.”

For two-and-a half-years or more you will attempt to read more, study, learn and expand your mind.

This brings new prospects, new goals and new people to your life. You recently find yourself making compromises. Although it’s unusual, you feel secure enough in your willingness to help others. Aquarius is about serving humanity and you are learning this. Everyone becomes your friend. The world itself is your companion.

SCORPIO

PISCES

Whatever you ask for seems to come your way. You simply need to state your needs and whatever it is races towards you. Be careful therefore what you seek and ask for. It’s prudent to supervise your money and all life matters carefully. With the first be sure to share generously, giving to those in need. With the second use speech to always radiate goodwill into the world. Both take discipline, which you possess more than most. Something secret or spiritual hovers around you.

•••

Concerned with the future and experiencing constant change you focus intently on work in order to feel useful, responsible and to create order and consistency in your life.

However the changes continue, the future is distant, things dissolve away and health becomes something to tend to. Maintain physical warmth (don’t get cold), create a daily exercise schedule, walk in the sun’s light each day, and maintain a direct and constant contact with Divinity.

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

“Clear Chimneys” from page 24 Nonetheless, vegetation that gets too near to a chimney that is in use can be hazardous. Even if clearance was adequate last winter, trees, vines and large shrubbery grew since then. It does not take long for such vegetation to overwhelm a chimney, or encroach a bit more than it should. It does not take too much vegetation to be hazardously combustible.

Clinging vines like English ivy and Boston ivy sometimes climb up and then over the top of a chimney. Although not especially combustible, they will burn directly over a fireplace or wood stove.

Just like gutters do, vines can accumulate leaves falling from deciduous trees to become more combustible. Birds or rodents can build combustible nests in them.

Evergreen trees and big shrubbery are similarly combustible over a chimney.

Deciduous trees are generally not as hazardous. Conversely, cypress, pine, cedar, eucalyptus, large junipers, and ungroomed palms are very combustible.

Eucalyptus foliage will burn while fresh, if it gets hot enough. The other trees tend to accumulate very combustible detritus.

••• Mediterranean Fan Palm ot all palms are trees. Some lack trunks, so develop more as shrubbery. Some develop many slender stems, like bamboo.

The thin canes of most rattan palms sprawl onto other vegetation for support, as vines.

Mediterranean fan palm, Chamaerops humilis, develops multiple stout trunks, but grows so slowly that it can function as big sculptural shrubbery.

Old trunks can eventually get as high as twenty feet, and generally lean randomly. If they The strikingly silver Atlas get too tall, smaller Mountain palm. and more vigorous trunks can replace them. (An arborist can remove the bulky and thorny old trunks.)

New trunks develop from basal pups, which can can get too densely foliated without occasional thinning. Removal of such pups might be difficult.

Mature trunks might be as wide as ten inches, with dense coats of basal petiole fiber and thorny petiole stubs. Thorough grooming can eliminate the stubs. However, petioles that suspend the evergreen palmate leaves are outfitted with the same wickedly sharp teeth. Leaves are about two feet wide.

Atlas Mountain palm, Chamaerops humilis var.(iety) argentea has strikingly silvery foliage, and grows even slower. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

N

ORTHODONTICS NANCY M. LEUNG, D.D.S., M.S.

Specialist in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics

Now Accepting New Patients!

Initial Exam Complimentary Aptos Office

9515 Soquel Drive, Ste: 103 Aptos, CA 95003 831-685-2800 Conveniently located next to Aptos Junior High

Also in Watsonville 56 Penny Lane, Ste: B Watsonville, CA 95076 831-722-5022

www.SmileCrewOrtho.com

Campus Tour December 10, 10:30am Join us for a campus tour and stay for the preview show!

Matilda Jr. Performances on

December 11 & 12, 2:00pm Bus transportation / Nonsectarian CAIS & WASC accredited / 375-acre campus

408-847-2717 MountMadonnaSchool.org

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

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS GIVING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON With the heart of the holiday season is upon us comes the biggest time of giving of the year.

Santa Cruz County has always been a place that supports local businesses, local nonprofits and local causes. With supply chains in upheaval and the need greater than ever due to the persistent pandemic wreaking havoc, there has never been a better time to give back to the local Santa Cruz County community.

For those looking for ways to connect and make their holiday celebrations more meaningful, the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County can help. Each year, the Volunteer Center posts an online Holiday Volunteer Guide, which is available at www.scvolunteercenter.org.

For more information see www.scvolunteercenter.org, call 831427-5070, or email connect@scvolunteercenter.org.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES The Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region has experienced a 48 percent decrease in new blood donors this year as fewer blood drives took place due to the pandemic.

As the holidays approach and the need for blood increases, you can make a difference.

••• Santa Cruz November 27: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Live Oak Grange #503, 1900 17th Ave. December 2: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St. December 15: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St. Scotts Valley December 3: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Scotts Valley HS, 555 Glenwood Drive Ben Lomond December 4: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. — Highlands Park Senior Center/San Lorenzo Valley, 8500 Highway 9 ••• Those who come to give Dec. 1-16 will get a $10 Amazon. com Gift Card by email, and be automatically entered for a chance to win a private screening of the new film, The Matrix Resurrections, for 50 people.

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.

STATE PARKS FRIENDS SALE The Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks once-a-year ParkStore Holiday Sale will take place over the first two weekends in December.

The first weekend — Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 4-5 — will be exclusively at the ParkStore Online at https:// thatsmypark.org/collections/.

The second weekend, Dec. 11-12, will be in-person from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations: • Seacliff State Beach, 201 State Park Drive, Aptos • Natural Bridges State Beach, 2531 W. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz • Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, 144 School St., Santa Cruz

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by December 10 • Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz Members will receive 30% discounts on select iconic Michael Schwab illustrated apparel, plus maps, nature guides, local history books, and educational toys. Non-members receive 20% off.

Proceeds benefit local state parks.

women (and their children) facing life controlling issues such as drugs and alcohol.

Hours at Rustic Table, a professionally trained studentrun restaurant with dine-in and pick-up options, are Monday through Saturday 8 am-3 pm.

Hours at Lighthouse Treasures Shoppe, a secondhand retail store run by Teen Challenge students and staff, are Monday through Saturday 10am-5pm.

The phone for both places is 831-761-3191.

PROPERTY TAX BILL DUE The Santa Cruz County has mailed out property tax bills, and the first due date is approaching.

Your bill can be paid in two installments. The first installment was due on Nov. 1 and becomes delinquent after Dec. 10, and a penalty is charged.

The 2nd installment is due Feb. 1 and becomes delinquent after April 10.

Penalties will be incurred if not paid before becoming delinquent.

ONGOING EVENTS

SUPPORT FOR MOTHERS OF SURVIVORS Survivors Healing Center is offering online women’s support groups and mothers of survivors of childhood sexual abuse support group. The goals are to empower through a healing process and prevent sexual abuse of children and youth.

You are not alone. You are not to blame.

More information: (831) 423-7601 or www.survivorshealing center.org LA SELVA BEACH LIBRARY ACTIVITIES The La Selva Beach public library is now open Tuesday thru Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday).

Tues-Thurs: 11-6 • Fri-Sat 12-5. Book drops open 24/7.

Contact us by phone: 831.427.7713; text: 831.264.0647; online chat: https://www.santacruzpl.org/contact/?display=chat; or send a question at https://www.santacruzpl.org/contact/ Preschool Storytime: Tuesdays, 11 am – noon outside on the patio. Dress for the weather.

R.E.A.D Reach Every Amazing Detail: Wednesdays 3- 5 pm. One-on-one reading comprehension instruction for readers 2nd through 12th grade with California credentialed teachers. Sessions last 25 minutes. By appointment only.. Call 831-427-7717 or email pro@santacruzpl.org Stories for Bedtime: New programs every other Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Facebook, presented by SCPL Librarian Jackie. The episode then is added to the library’s YouTube Channel after that. See Storytimes for Children playlist at the SCPL YouTube page: https:// www.youtube.com/user/santacruzpl Passionate Readers Book Discussion: 4th Thursday at 10:30 am.

In-Person Tech Help: Fridays 10 am to noon. Techsavvy staff will help you troubleshoot your issue with a 25-minute (or less) appointment. Make an appointment: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/appointments/laselva Advance appointments are prioritized. Visit information desk or call 831-427-7713 for help making an appointment. Arriving later than 5 minutes after scheduled time may result in appointment cancellation.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/la-selva-library-events for more details and future events.

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.

Grace Harbor is a shelter and recovery program for

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

Proceeds help fund community outreach.

Participating artisans: Barbara Coy-Bulicz, Bluebird Creek Art & Design, Cards by Andi, Crecia Munson, Elegant Braid, Greek Goddess Handknit Designs, Handcrafted by Jerry, Kit and Caboodle Homestead, Laughing Wolf Creations, Midwestern Pottery, One of a Kind, Racing the Clouds, Radiance Art & Glass, Rockin’ Rose Creative, Rose Giannetto, Seaglass Creations by Monica, Shirley Anderson, Sky to Sea, Snuggle Up and Read, The Crafty Fox, Therapy Beads, Toes by Clydesdale, Whimsical Works.

Watch for signs from Highway 1.

Tuesday November 30

MUSIC STUDENT RECITAL 12:40 p.m., Samper Recital Hall, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos Ongoing Through Sunday December 12 Cabrillo College music students present a recital of solo music in a variety of styles at Samper Recital Hall.

MI CASA ES TU CASA EXHIBIT Tickets available at the Box Office on the day of the event. Call Pajaro Valley Arts, 37 Sudden St., Watsonville Mi Casa es Tu Casa is Pajaro Valley Arts’ annual exhibit 831-470-6154 for more information. inspired by Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead, a traditional holiday in Mexico that remembers community Tuesday November 30 members and family who have passed away. thru Saturday December 4 Altars/Ofrendas are built in homes, churches, schools, HOLIDAY CASH MOB FOR APTOS BUSINESS cemeteries, and museums that honor and remember Times and Locations: See Below the dead.

Live Like Coco is partnering with Aptosia, a Facebook group with 19,000 members, on a Ongoing thru December 17 Holiday Cash Mob Nov. 30 to Dec. SECOND HARVEST FOOD DRIVE AT MT. MADONNA 4 to support five local businesses Second graders taught by teacher Prema Gammons at along with plans to build a reading Mount Madonna School are leading a campaign to collect garden at the Aptos branch library in food for Second Harvest Food Bank to feed those in need. memory of children our community They put up posters they created to ask classmates to help. lost too soon.

Coco Lazenby Collection barrels are at the upper and lower campus A cash mob occurs when people school offices. Donations will be accepted through Dec. show up at a pre-arranged time to make purchases at a 17. They’ve already raised $52. local business.

To make a monetary contribution, visit https://give.

Here is the schedule: thefoodbank.org/teams/16653-mount-madonna-school.

Tuesday: Marianne’s Ice Cream, Seacliff, 3 to 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Pacific Coffee Roasting Co., Aptos, Tuesdays 1 to 4 p.m.

GRIEF THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS Thursday: Cantine, Aptos, 3 to 8 p.m.

Friday: Wonderland Toys & Classroom Ongoing thru December 14, phone or online.

Resources, Aptos, 3 to 7 p.m.

Hospice of Santa Cruz County offers individual grief support sessions (via phone or Zoom) and a special group, Saturday: Sockshop and Shoe Co., Aptos, 11 a.m.

Coping with Grief though the Winter Holidays, to 2 p.m. meeting virtually via Zoom on Tuesday evenings.

These local businesses have agreed to make donations Call (831) 430-3000 for more information and to register. to Live Like Coco, which is spearheading the library project as part of the rebuild, which is to begin soon.

Third Thursday Each Month Live Like Coco will host a table at each event, PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM selling tickets for a drawing that includes a Little 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting Free Library.

BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support “We have agreed to sponsor the Children’s Reading Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated Garden there, envisioning a special memorial that by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third honors Coco as well as the stories of other children our Thursday of each month. community lost too soon,” said Kate Pavao, Coco’s mom Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport and executive director of the Live Like Coco Foundation. or call 831-471-7255.

Sponsors who give $1,000 or more will be honored on a plaque in the library.

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/ DATED EVENTS events/493936378410085 Saturday November 27 To learn more about Live Like Coco and Coco Lazenby, visit http://livelikecoco.org HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Aptos United Methodist Church, 221 Wednesday December 1 Thunderbird Drive, Aptos Aptos United Methodist Church will host its annual CABRILLO IMPROV FOLLIES Holiday Boutique the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

7 p.m., Black Box Theater at Cabrillo College, Aptos The boutique features hand crafts at reasonable Cabrillo College Theatre Arts Department presents prices, local artisans offering ornaments, greeting cards, an evening of improvisation in the Black Box jewelry, functional pottery, stained glass, children’s Theatre. Students in the Improvisation class will books, stuffed animals, home decor, candles, tote bags, perform fun and thought provoking skits as their woodworking, soaps, hand-knitted items, rugs, plus final exam. church booths selling homemade jams, baked goods, Tickets available the day of the event; box office at Crocker poinsettias, and cyclamen plants.

Theater opens at 6 p.m. Call (831) 479-6154

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Thursday December 2

the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley — opposite the Watsonville Community Hospital main entrance.

PUBLIC HEARING ON DISTRICT ELECTIONS More than 20 artists will show and sell artwork and 1 p.m., online and at Central Fire Administration, 930 17th crafts, plus live music by Jesse Martinez and free cider Ave., Santa Cruz and cookies. The spacious, airy room will be lit up with a To comply with the California Voting Rights Act and Christmas tree and beautiful decorations. avoid a lawsuit, Central Fire District plans to switch from Watch Chris Martinez demonstrate how to turn wool into yarn and Lynn Stewart turn yarn into lovely knitted at-large board member elections to district by district items. Christine West has handmade greeting cards and

by November 2022. Local governments have faced an exquisite shadow boxes. Sonia Westphal will show her estimated $16 million in settlements and court awards. quilts and purses.

Central Fire includes 76,649 residents in Aptos, La Claudia Harden will display her hand-painted Ukrainian Selva, Rio Del Mar, Capitola, Soquel and Live Oak, 22% eggs and Barb Scoles will show her hand-carved Santas.

Hispanic and 67% white, with 59,107 of voting age, Louise Coombs has hand-sewn masks in all sizes and 14% Hispanic and 79% white.

The first public hearing was Nov. 18. Hearings also are colors. Local authors Debra Smith and Joyce Oroz will have their books on hand. There will be pottery, gourmet scheduled for Jan. 13 at 9 a.m., and Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. items by Julie Conrad, wind chimes, glass art and Maps are to be released by Jan. 6, with map handmade jewelry. Oh yes, and baked goods! adoption by April 17. Lines for the five fire district board members could follow city or school district Friday December 3 boundaries or the freeway, mountain and coast.

AUCTION FOR HOMELESS GARDEN PROJECT Another question is whether residents prefer to have one representative on the fire board for their com6-8 p.m., Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St., SC munity, or more than one.

The Homeless Garden Project presents Sustain Auction: For info, call (831) 479-6842 or email PublicComments@ a First Friday Holiday Reception and Fundraiser at the centralfiresc.org Resource Center for Nonviolence.

Visit https://www.centralfiresc.org/2279/Re-DistrictingFeaturing wine and light fare from Soif restaurant, Process-2021-2022 each ticket will include a gift bag of organic products, a live auction, remarks from outgoing Santa Cruz Thursday December 2 Mayor Donna Meyers and incoming mayor Sonja Friday December 3 Brunner (invited) and a garden trainee talking about his experience in the transitional employment program.

HOLIDAY ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR Executive Director Darrie Ganzhorn said, “Sustain 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Community Health Trust (Kathleen King invites us to gather safely in person and celebrate the Room), 85 Nielson St., Watsonville success of our trainees, as we raise funds to grow our After a year-and-a-half of distancing, the Watsonville Silver Circle will roll out its Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair at program and operations at a critical time.”

The auction includes a weeklong stay in Galway, Ireland, a sail on the SF Bay, a private flight to Napa’s wine country, and a stay at Yosemite.

Proceeds benefit the transitional employment program.

Tickets are $100 per person or $50 without gift bag.at www.homelessgardenproject.org Covid protocols require proof of vaccination and ID, or negative PCR test within 48 hours, and indoor masking.

BIG BAND JAZZ 7:30 p.m., Crocker Theater, Aptos The Cabrillo College Jazz Ensemble plays Big Band Jazz at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3 at the Crocker Theater.

All patrons are required to wear a face mask covering their nose and mouth indoors and throughout the performance, regardless of vaccination status.

Tickets are $12; students, $10, seniors, $8. For tickets, see https://www.cabrillo.edu/vapa/

Friday December 3 Saturday December 4 HERITAGE HOLIDAY CRAFT & GIFT FAIR The Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair will take place noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3-4, at the county fairgrounds in Watsonville, filling the Harvest, Crosetti, and Fine Art buildings.

Besides handmade crafts and gifts, there will be antiques, collectibles, toys, and more. Many crafters return year after year. Food favorites will be available for sale in the Heritage Holiday Kitchens.

Admission $6 per person; kids 6 and under are free. Parking is free. Shuttle service to the building doors until 5 p.m.

New this year, Holiday Lights at the fairgrounds will offer a walk through the lights each evening. Those

attending the Holiday Fair earlier in the day can get a hand stamp to re-enter that evening when the entire Fairgrounds turns into a lighted holiday spectacular — fun for the whole family.

Info: https://fairgrounds-foundation.org

Saturday December 4 HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR/TREE LIGHTING 1-5 p.m., Aptos Village Green The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will host the return of its annual Holiday Craft Fair and Tree Lighting Ceremony at Aptos Village Green.

Call 831-688-1467 for more information.

Saturday December 4 Sunday December 5 ART IN THE CELLARS 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Bargetto Winery, 3535 N. Main St., Soquel Bargetto Winery will host their annual “Art in the Cellars” Holiday Festival. Wine tasting with purchase of $15 glass; food available for purchase.

Visit https://bargetto.com/pec-events/annual-art-inthe-cellars-holiday-festival/ for more information.

Admission is free; dress warmly.

Thursday December 16 BREAKFAST WITH REP. PANETTA 7:30-9 a.m., Best Western Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Ct, Aptos Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) will speak at a breakfast presented by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce at the Seacliff Inn. Price is $25 for members and $30 for non-members.

Register at 831-688-1467. n

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

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Criminal Justice Council: Police Use of Force

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

Editor’s note: Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart says, “Good policy drives good law enforcement.” In Santa Cruz County, the four cities and the county all have policies that shooting from a moving vehicle and chokeholds and require officers to use de-escalation and intervene if they see the use of excessive force.

••• he Criminal Justice Council of Santa Cruz County recently released its first report — an analysis of local police agency policies and procedures — in particular around use of force.

This regional transparent analysis is believed to be the first such comparative regional look into these policies in the nation.

Here is an overview: What is the Criminal Justice Council? he CJC was created over 30 years ago in an effort to provide increased coordination and cooperation between criminal justice partners — government, non-profit, educational and others — to reduce youth involvement in gangs.

The CJC focuses discussions on prevention and intervention as well as reentry

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programs — rather than simply a suppression model.

For example, the CJC has held a conference on the role of women and girls in gangs, which afforded criminal justice and community service providers an opportunity to hear from experts on the role of women and girls in gangs as well as a panel of young women with lived experience in gangs.

The CJC also has worked with school districts, nonprofits and others on intervention and prevention programs to reduce youth involvement in gangs.

From supporting educational efforts, nonprofit sporting leagues, conferences that provide viewpoints from those with lived experience and more. The CJC does these events with volunteers and small contributions from the member agencies.

Who is on the CJC? ocal police chiefs, the County Sheriff, the Chief Probation Officer, District Attorney, leadership of two local nonprofits, two local judges, the public defender, the County Superintendent of Schools, the president of Cabrillo College, two County supervisors, elected representatives from the local cities and more participate.

It’s a diverse group that, having participation from local education and nonprofit social program providers, helps create discussions beyond backend suppression activity toward front-end prevention opportunities. I serve as Chair of the CJC and other members of the executive board include the County Superintendent of Schools, the District

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

Local Local Local

Attorney, leadership from the courts, a member of the Scotts Valley City Council and the Watsonville Police Chief.

What did the CJC focus on this year? his year, the CJC decided to focus our efforts on law enforcement policies and procedures -- in particular around use-of-force, privacy (technology), information release, independent oversight and a small look on behavioral health response (next year the focus will be exclusively on behavioral health and the criminal justice system). The purpose is to see where there is alignment, where there are gaps and where there are opportunities to improve.

While it was not a comprehensive look at local agency policies it was an in-depth look at specific elements -- and provides a transparent overview of the policies that work to ensure officers respond safely and responsibly in key situations.

As we noted in the report, while the purpose was to evaluate alignment of policies, the goal is not to necessarily have a standardized set of policies across jurisdictions. Local agencies and the communities they serve may have reasons why they have specific policies, don’t have specific policies or have policies that differ from other agencies within the county.

This analysis is to provide a transparent look at those policies and provide a starting point for evaluation by local law enforcement, elected leaders and the communities they serve.

The CJC created an ad hoc committee to work on the analysis and partnered with Applied Survey Research to produce the report. All local law enforcement agencies – Capitola, Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Watsonville and the Sheriff’s Office -- participated voluntarily, openly, and transparently to provide the policies and answer any questions.

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What Were the Key Findings? ne is that there is widespread policy alignment between law enforcement jurisdictions in Santa Cruz County.

For example, on nearly every policy issue regarding use of force, technological deployment and release of information to the public, local law enforcement agencies had updated and modern policies. Some agencies are looking to update or add policies as a result of this review and all are planning to work with their respective elected city councils or the Board of Supervisors on looking at the findings and seeing if adjustments are needed.

While not all jurisdictions have a dedicated unit with sworn officers responding to behavioral/mental health calls, all of the agencies are supportive of the creation of an independent agency that would aid in response to these calls.

Another key finding: All local agencies require de-escalation, ban chokeholds, neck restraints and similar methods, require less lethal force before deadly force when reasonable to do so, have polices that require release of body-worn footage and more.

How Can You Learn More? he CJC meets quarterly and these meetings are open to the public. Over the last year (and into the foreseeable future) these meetings have been virtual.

Information (including the 2021 report and policies that informed the report) can be found at santacruzcjc.org. For the last few years I’ve served as chair and would be happy to provide additional information if you have questions.

If you have any questions about the CJC, or any other matters in our district, please don’t hesitate to call me at 454-2200.

I’m maintaining regular updates on social media as well at www.facebook.com/ supervisorfriend.

••• To view the 5-page report, visit https:// tinyurl.com/CJC-2021-Final

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Cider is Ready to Spice Up Your Life!

crossword on 25 »

ider is a loving, smart, and hilarious boy who is going to make his future family so happy!

His tail is always wagging, and he has the cutest little prancing walk.

He’ll sit for treats and food (with his tail still going a mile a minute.)

Cider loves running around and playing with the other dog in his foster home but is equally happy to curl up in an available lap or soft space to spend down time with you. He’s a great little co-working buddy!

He’s also great with the foster family cat and will gently try to cuddle with him, but also catches the hint and leaves him alone when the cat isn’t feeling it.

Cider can be a little nervous and bark at new people, but once he realizes you’re a friend he’ll greet you excitedly with kisses and cuddles. He’s been a quick learner with potty training and sleeps quietly through the night in his crate and pen. He’d do great with a patient adopter who can help him work on his confidence with new people and places and help him with his puppy training through positive reinforcement.

Cider is available at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter located at 1001 Rodriguez St. and we are open everyday (excluding holidays) from noon-5pm.

We will be closed Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th.

For more information on adoptions and resources please visit www.scanimalshelter.org. 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

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

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

Serving the Agricultural Community Since 1924

783 Rio Del Mar Boulevard, Suite 7 Aptos, CA 95003

(831) 661-5697

www.scurichinsurance.com

deer park c e n t e r

Highway 1 & Rio Del Mar Boulevard, Aptos

Wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season 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 DeluxeFoods / Panda Inn

Mangiamo Pizza & Wine Bar Red Apple Cafe

PERSONAL SERVICES: Agape Dance Academy Black Cat Tattoo Brian Del Core, DDS CVS Pharmacy

Del Mar Cleaners Eye Shapes Opticians Fig St. Design Highlights for Hair J-Bella Nails / Klub Nico Laser Hair Solutions Rad Academy Royal Paw Spa