Student Speaker’s Contest • Clean California Initiative • RTC Tax Oversight Committee Deadline • Santa Cruz County Jobs

Student Speaker’s Contest

The 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 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

As 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/ •••

RTC Tax Oversight Committee Deadline

The 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-oversightcommittee-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 Employed*

131,100 Up 2% 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.

‘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

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

“COVID Update” from page 7

Responding to AptosTimes query via email, the California Department of Public Health estimates Omicron comprises 91% of cases statewide and Delta 6.5% but the state does not have a breakdown of Omicron hospitalizations or deaths.

Not all COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalization are sequenced, the state emailed in response to Aptos Times query, and the proportion of cases due to the Omicron variant who die is still being determined.

Santa Cruz County reports 79.15 % of residents has a least one dose of vaccine and 72.65 % are fully vaccinated.

Less Deadly?

Omicron may not be as deadly as Delta, which raged in 2021.

Scotland reported 92 deaths on Jan. 20, 2021, and 4 deaths on Jan. 23, 2022, according to the Johns Hopkins University database.

Santa Cruz County reports 237 Covid deaths, up from 225 as of Dec. 15.

One statistic is similar then and now: 79 percent of those who died had preexisting conditions.

Who do people fear Omnicron?

It could be they have a pre-existing condition (diabetes, obesity, asthma, high blood pressure). Half of Americans do, so they are at higher risk for severe Covid illness. So are people 85 and older.

Some people who got Covid experience “long Covid,” with symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog months afterward.

A 2022 study in the journal Cell by researchers who followed more than 200 patients found biological factors that might help predict “long Covid.” At diagnosis, many acute patients had low cortisol, which could be addressed.

Omicron left less serious illness in South Africa, but Israeli expoerts are not sure that is the situation in their country.

Pajaro Valley Schools

Pajaro Valley schools, which have 19,000 students, report 1,247 active student cases and 138 staff cases in January.

The PV superintendent has no plans to survey students to see if the district has the 70% herd immunity, explaining that student health information is protected by privacy laws.

Watsonville High has 125 student cases, the most in the district, and 11 staff cases.

Aptos High has 110 student cases and 10 staff cases.

On Jan. 12, Aptos High Athletic director Travis Fox suspended indoor sports temporarily because testing results did not arrive before game time.

In Aptos, Rio Del Mar Elementary has 23 student cases and 10 staff cases; Mar Vista Elementary has 13 student cases and 2 staff cases.

Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Pajaro Valley schools superintendent, attributed the higher exposure to the Omicron surge, calling it a “temporary state.”

She downsized Inspire Diagnostics PCR drive-through testing hours at the district office (294 Green Valley Road, Watsonville) to 1-5 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays, as of Jan. 24, so company staff could spend more time at schools. The state requires testing of all students twice a week.

Responding to a question, Rodriguez told parents and staff in her Jan. 21 newsletter, that “substantial” means that you must assume all student and staff are exposed.

With more Pajaro Valley school staff sick or staying home due to exposure, finding qualified teachers to fill in has been challenging.

Rodriguez was at MacQuiddy Elementary one day to sub for a second grade teacher. And 16 other administrators were in classrooms that same day, she said, adding, “We know that in-person teaching is the best for our students.”

The tests are supposed to be free but at least one individual told Rodriguez that a charge from an insurance company showed up.

Rodriguez explained that Inspire provided a letter, posted at reopening. pvusd.net, which says staff and families will not be charged.

Testing

With active cases skyrocketing in Santa Cruz County, there is greater exposure and great demand for testing, delaying results.

Test results may now take 48 to 96 hours, according to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, which partnered with Inspire Diagnostics to provide 210,000 tests so far.

Cases reported to the Office of Education peaked at 3,912 on Jan 21, dropping to 3,225 on Jan. 25.

The County Office of Education offers drive-though testing for students, staff and families at these locations:

Cabrillo College, Aptos, Parking Lot K, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville, Mon. to Fri. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sat. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 399 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, Monday to Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.

Self-tests are, or will be, available. Journalism coach Roy Peter Clark, at Poynter.org, cautions that the directions are not as clear as users might want.

Masking Guidelines

PVUSD has updated masking guidelines to meet the new CDPH Guidelines which notes the importance of wearing a face covering which has multiple layers.

N95 masks were provided for PVUSD staff.

To a complaint that not enough masks were received, Rodriguez advised talking with the site administrator.

On Jan. 26, the California Department of Public Health reported 18.7% test positivity rate statewide, down from 23%.

For test options see: https://tinyurl. com/get-tested-santa-cruz.

Ella’s at the Airport, the popular restaurant in Watsonville, closed briefly so owner Ella King could visit her parents in Texas during the holiday, but the shutdown was extended as employees reported positive coronavirus tests.

Ella’s has since reopened, and is appealing the airport manager’s denial of her request to transfer her lease to the operator of Nancy’s Airport Café in Willow. After a long discussion, the City Council narrowly approved her appeal.

Isolation Shortened

Based on federal recommendations, the state has updated isolation guidance for those testing positive, shortening the requirement from 10 days to five days.

Additional information about testing, isolation guidance and masking, see the Jan. 7 letter from school superintendents on the county Office of Education website.

Boosters for Kids 12-15

Dr. Cal Gordon, Santa Cruz County deputy health officer, recommends booster shots for children ages 12-15 as protection for Omicron, as the state allowed on Jan. 6. A third dose is available for eligible immunocompromised children ages 5-11.

Booster shot appointments can be scheduled at https://myturn.ca.gov/ and are by checking with your local doctor and pharmacies. For a list of local COVID-19 vaccine providers, visit www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine.

Those needing assistance in scheduling an appointment can call the Community Bridges Helpline at 831-2198607 or 831-440-3556 (English, Spanish, Mixteco and Triqui).

For local information on COVID-19, including on where to tested, go to www. santacrushealth.org/coronavirus or call (831) 454-4242 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. n •••

Total COVID cases: 6,677

•••

COVID Deaths: 237

As of Jan. 24

Age

85 and older: 100 • 75-84: 53 • 65-74: 43 60-64: 15 • 55-59: 3 • 45-54: 10 35-44: 8 • 25-34: 5

Underlying Conditions

Yes: 188 • No: 48 • Unknown: 1

Race

White 133 • Latinx 85 • Asian 16

Black 1 • Amer Indian 1 • Unknown 1 Gender Men: 122 • Women: 115 Location At facility for aged: 111 Not at a facility: 126

Plenty of Free Customer Parking

Wilder Associates Inc.

Property Management Specialists 662-0291

Joy of Movement Pilates & Gyrotonic®

More Zest for Life 688-8077

Kumon Math & Reading Center

Learning for the Long Run

508-8200

Epicenter Cycling

Trek Bicycles for All Types of Riders 662-8100

Village Liquors

For All Your Beverage Needs

688-5691

Dentistry for Animals

Dr. Judy Force, DVM 768-7148