COMMUNITY BRIEFS Student Speaker’s Contest he Capitola Coast Lions will host their annual Student Speaker’s Contest for local students in grades 9-12 at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, at Capitola City Council chambers, 420 Capitola Ave., Capitola. High school studenrs are encouraged to enter. The theme is ‘How Can Kindness Reunite our Country.’ This will be the first round out of a sixlevel contest. The winner will advance to the zone contest in Santa Cruz County, date, time and location to be determined. The Multiple District Four California Lions Clubs International is sponsoring the program through the Student Speakers Foundation. The goal is to emphasize the importance of public speaking as a critical skill for young people. This year the foundation will provide scholarships totaling $105,000. Each of the 15 District winners will receive a $4,500 scholarship, each of the four Area winners will receive an additional $6,500 scholarship and the winner of the MD4 contest will receive an additional $10,000 scholarship. For information, visit: https://md4lions.org/ student-speakers-contest Contact the Student Speaker Chairperson Krista Brassfield at coastlionsclub@ gmail.com by Feb. 1 to enter. The goal of the Capitola Coast Lions Club is to raise funds to buy an electric farm cart for Common Roots Farm. Email
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coastlionsclub@gmnail.com if you would like join the club and help volunteer in the Seed to Salad Garden, build tables from recycled lumber or remove invasive species in the riparian corridor. ••• Clean California Initiative s part of the Clean California Initiative, Caltrans is offering stipends to groups participating in Adopt-A-Highway. Stipends will be offered up to $250 per eligible litter clean-up event per site, maximum 12 payouts a year. These stipends will include $250 for cleanups on adopted highway segments. In addition,$250 will be issued following a cleanup of all sides of ramps and quads, $125 for one on/off ramp and $62.50 for a single ramp. An incentive stipend for up to $250 will be issued for cleanups of non-traditional adoptions such as “Park and Ride locations” and bicycle paths under the discretion of the local Adopt A Highway coordinator. Adoptions usually span a two-mile stretch of roadside and permits are issued for five-year periods. Groups in good standing may renew their permits indefinitely. Participation is free for all volunteers, and signs identifying your group are included at no charge. Learn more at: https://dot.ca.gov/ programs/maintenance/adopt-a-highway • https://cleancalifornia.dot.ca.gov/ •••
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8 / February 1st 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
RTC Tax Oversight Committee Deadline he Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is accepting applications for the Measure D Taxpayer Oversight Committee for representatives from Districts 2 & 4 with the deadline Feb. 11. This independent oversight committee must review how the funds generated by the transportation tax are being spent. The committee must review Expenditure Plan expenditures on an annual basis to ensure they conform, reviewing the annual audit and report prepared by an independent auditor describing how funds were spent and producing a publicly the Annual Report of Oversight Activities, which will be available to the public. Members of the Measure D Taxpayer Oversight Committee must be residents of Santa Cruz County who are neither elected officials of any government, nor employees from any agency or organization that either oversees or implements projects funded from the proceeds of the sales tax. The committee will be made up of community members that fairly represent the geographical, social, cultural, and economic diversity of Santa Cruz County to ensure maximum benefit for transportation users, and it shall include at least one person with an accounting or fiscal management background. Applications are at https://sccrtc.org/ applications-for-measure-d-oversight-
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committee-being-accepted-for-districts-2-4representatives/ For more info on the Measure D Taxpayer Oversight Committee, visit sccrtc.org/ meetings/measure-d-taxpayer-oversightcommittee/ ••• Santa Cruz County Jobs Report posted Jan. 21 December unemployment 5.4% Dec 2021 Change from a year ago Leisure & hospitality 9,600 Up 1,500 Private education & health 17,900 Up 1,200 Government 20,600 Up 1,200 Other services 4,600 Up 300 Professional/business 10,600 Up 300 services Construction 4,500 0 Information 500 Down 100 Trade/transportation/ 16,300 Down 300 utilities Financial 3,100 Down 100 Manufacturing 6,900 0 Farm 5,800 Down 100 Nonfarm 94,600 Up 2,800 Total 100,400 Up 3,900 Labor force 131,100 Up 2% Employed* 124,000 Up 5% Unemployed 7,100 Down 32% Count is on the 12 of the month * Includes commuting to jobs outside county Source: California Employment Development Department n
“Willowbrook” from page 5 The bench will face towards a new flagpole that will be installed near the park’s southern entrance. The memorial area will feature a plaque honoring Sgt. Gutzwiller and engraved bricks for donors to the project. “Damon was a local who grew up to serve his community and often visited Willowbrook Park with his family,” said Lt. Nick Baldrige, president of the Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association.
How To Help
Campaign goal is $805,000 Donors gave at a variety of levels: Partner donation $25,000 Playground $25,000 Friend donation $10,000 Memorial champion $5,000 Memorial bench $2,500 area pavers Memorial area $275 engraved brick Memorial bridge $150 area plaque: If you would like to be a part of these memorial efforts through legacy dedications, visit countyparkfriends.org/willowbrook
Rendering by SSA Landscape Architects
‘The Deputy Sheriffs’ Association is proud to support this project in honor of our fallen brother and his beautiful family. May we never forget his service.” In a nod to Sgt. Gutzwiller’s young children, the park’s playground will be updated with new features to ensure kids of all ages and abilities can enjoy the park. The park’s existing sport courts will also be resurfaced and re-striped for tennis and pickleball enthusiasts. According to Supervisor Friend, “This memorial will ensure Damon’s sacrifice is never forgotten and provide a beautiful new reflection space at the park along with improvements that will benefit the community for years to come. Damon and his family have paid the ultimate price on behalf of the community, and this will be a fitting memorial for his service.” n
