Seacliff Inn Refreshed: Aptos Hotel Becomes A Tapestry Collection by

Seacliff Inn Refreshed

Aptos Hotel Joins A Tapestry Collection by Hilton in June

Pacifica Hotels, the largest owner and operator of boutique hotels along the Pacific Coast, announces Seacliff Inn in Aptos will join Tapestry Collection by Hilton.

The classic California property has long been a favorite among families, beach lovers, and road trippers for its idyllic location, breathtaking views, and proximity to area attractions.

Seacliff Inn will become part of Tapestry Collection by Hilton on June 1, with a remodel and rebrand that will conclude in late 2022.

As part of this transition, Seacliff Inn is undergoing an extensive rebrand and remodel that focuses on the use of natural materials, landscaping enhancements, and the introduction of modern accents that will transform the beloved property into a refuge for travelers and destination for the community.

Keeping true to its boutique hotels roots, Seacliff Inn’s unique personality, personalized services, and unmatched experiences will continue to provide the home-away-from-home stay travelers have been searching for.

The neighborhood-centric, boutique hotel is centrally located between Pacific Ocean beaches, world-renowned surf destinations, and towering redwoods that bring together the Hwy. 1 family vacationers, the Silicon Valley corporate retreaters, and the nature-loving adventure seekers.

Seacliff Inn brings 148 guest rooms and suites, flexible venues, and a longstanding local’s favorite restaurant, Sevy’s Bar + Kitchen, to Aptos with an excitement to rekindle nostalgic connection.

“We are thrilled to transition to a Tapestry Collection by Hilton property and continue our partnership with Hilton,” said Matt Marquis, CEO at Pacifica Hotels. “This boutique property is truly a gem within our collection, and it is the perfect time for the hotel to receive a new, elevated look while maintaining its local charm. We are ready to welcome back the community and travelers from around the world to see the newly re-imagined space and continue the service they’ve come to know and love for many years.”

Featuring serene accommodations, Seacliff Inn is a down-to-earth haven for the not-so-average traveler and includes 148 rooms styled for the modern refuge or the immersive coastal road trip alike, with either a balcony or patio; comfortable workstations; app streaming; flat screen TVs and contemporary amenities.

Looking to connect guests to the spirit of their surroundings, the new space celebrates Central California through its locally inspired design with warm wood tones, natural accents, and coastline inspired hues throughout.

A longstanding local favorite, Sevy’s Bar + Kitchen — formally Severino’s Bar and Grill, has been an Aptos gathering spot for 36 years.

Sevy’s redesigned layout includes a new bar, updated interiors, and fully refreshed outdoor seating and décor. True to its local nature, Sevy’s offers farm-fresh cuisine, classic cocktails, live entertainment, and a friendly face at every table.

“Sevy’s has always held an important place in the Aptos community, and we are ecstatic to be giving it a fresh look without losing its original magic,” said Thomas Gregory, Senior Director of Food and Beverage at Pacifica Hotels. “Our goal is to make Sevy’s the place to be any night of the week with live music, trivia, and other weekly events – something for everyone. We are stepping up our culinary and cocktail programs to bring in new flavors and fresh ingredients; keeping with the traditional roots the community has always loved.”

Belonging to the heart of Santa Cruz County, our Aptos hotel has 148 guest rooms and suites, an expansive outdoor pool and stands on six acres of landscaped grounds with winding garden paths and entices you inside with all-new guest rooms and suites, perfect for tech travelers from Silicon Valley and family escapes from the LA traffic alike.

Seacliff Inn’s onsite restaurant, Sevy’s Bar + Kitchen, offers offer farmto-table menus that feature ocean-fresh seafood, bountiful salads, Angus choice steaks, and other delights created from locally sourced ingredients on the Central Coast. Curated onsite amenities include flat-screen TVs, free high-speed Wi-Fi, outdoor pool & lounge chairs, and much more.

Seacliff Inn is located at 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos, CA 95003. Reservations can be made at www.seacliffinn. com or by calling 831-688-7300. The completed full refresh will conclude in late 2022.

•••

Pacifica Hotels was formed in January of 1993 to consolidate the hospitality operations of Invest West

Financial Corp., which has been involved in the acquisition, development, refurbishing and operating of quality hotel properties and other commercial real estate properties for over 30 years.

Today, Pacifica Hotels is the largest owner and operator of boutique hotels on the Pacific coast.

Pacifica’s 33 independent and flag properties in key California cities from San Diego to San Francisco, and Hawaii, feature outstanding locations, AAA 3-diamond ratings, upgraded amenities and high standards of guest service. For complete hotel descriptions and reservations, visit www. pacificahotels.com. n

“COVID Update” from page 8

The CDC did not explain mask exemptions for people eating, drinking or taking medication or for children under age 2. By not explaining, the CDC action was arbitrary and capricious, the judge ruled.

The CDC did not conduct a study to generate scientific evidence that wearing cloth masks slows spread on an airplane.

Santa Cruz County, which updates its dashboard on Monday and Thursday, reports 1,715 active cases, on the rise but down from the peak of 10,000.

Omicron Less Deadly

The Omicron variants are less deadly than the Delta variant, which raged in 2021.

Santa Cruz County reported 37 Covid deaths after Omicron, compared to 225 as of Dec. 15, before Omicron.

One statistic is similar: 79% to 81% of those who died had pre-existing conditions.

Why do people fear Omnicron?

They may 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.

California reports 83.5% of residents age 5 and up have had at least one shot.

On the CDC Covid tracker, Santa Cruz County reports 91% of residents age 5 and up have at least one shot and 83% fully vaccinated.

Pajaro Valley Schools

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District reports 218 active student cases and 59 staff cases in May. Aptos High has 36 student cases and 2 staff cases. Aptos Junior High has 17 student cases and one staff case. Valencia Elementary has 17 student cases and 2 staff cases. Rio del Mar Elementary has 16 student cases and 1 staff case. Mar Vista Elementary has 4 student cases and 1 staff case.

Santa Cruz County Office of Education, with Inspire Diagnostics, has provided 501,100 tests.

Cases in local schools peaked at 4,407 on Jan. 27, dropped to 44 on April 1, then rose to 893 on May 23. The 14-day positivity rate, 12.25% on January, dropped to .79%, then rose to 5.4%.

Fully vaccinated means having two shots (Pfizer or Moderna) or one Johnson & Johnson shot. All were developed for the initial Wuhan Covid-19 strain.

For Omicron, a booster shot is needed after the Pfizer vaccine, because protection against hospitalization wanes after three months, a Kaiser Permanente study of 11,000 hospital admissions and emergency room visits found.

Adverse Effects Database

In a 2022 report in the Journal of American Medical Association online, Dr. Matthew Oster of the CDC reported the government’s VAERS database received 1,991 reports of myocarditis after one dose of mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine and 1,626 met the CDC’s definition for probable or confirmed myocarditis.

Oster’s conclusion: “The risk of myocarditis after receiving mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines was increased across multiple age and sex strata and was highest after the second vaccination dose in adolescent males and young men. This risk should be considered.”

Public health officials say the scientific consensus is that Covid vaccines are safe, but some are skeptical about relying on science from drug-makers, which saw profits rise in 2021. They point to the U.S. government database, https://vaers. hhs.gov/, where health care providers are to report adverse events after a vaccine.

The reporting site was created after Congress passed a law in 1986 protecting vaccine manufacturers from civil personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits resulting from vaccine injuries.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar invoked the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, a 2005 law allowing him to provide legal protection to companies making or distributing critical medical supplies such as vaccines unless there’s “willful misconduct” by the company. This protection lasts until 2024.

The VAERS database lists reports of injuries after a vaccine, but there’s been no follow-up study to evaluate if the injury was cuased by a vaccine.

Renz Law, representing military whistleblowers, sued the federal government to lift the vaccine mandate for military personnel and appeals for passage of legislation repealing immunity for vaccine manufacturers.

“If vaccines are truly safe and effective no one should oppose this,” the lawsuit reads.

After mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were mandated for the military in 2021, cases of heart attack, pulmonary embolism, cancers, and myocarditis spiked dramatically, according to the Defense Military Epidemiological Database queries by the whistleblowers.

The Department of Defense’s response was that a glitch in the database affected the data from 2016-2020.

Testing

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

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 Office of Education, 399 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

See: https://tinyurl.com/get-testedsanta-cruz.

Booster shots: https://myturn.ca.gov/

Vaccine providers: www.santacruz health.org/coronavirusvaccine.

Local information: www.santacruz health.org/coronavirus or (831) 454-4242

from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. n ••• Total COVID cases: 1,715

••• COVID Deaths: 262 As of May 23 Age 85 and older: 113 • 75-84: 61 • 65-74: 46 60-64: 15 • 55-59: 4 • 45-54: 10 35-44: 8 • 25-34: 5 Underlying Conditions Yes: 212 •No: 50 Race White 150 • Latinx 89 • Asian 16 Black 3 • Amer Indian 1 Hawaiian 1 • Another 2 Gender Men: 135 • Women: 127 Location At facility for aged: 116 Not at a facility: 146

“Salutatorians” from page 5

I also found that being in a physical classroom is a lot more engaging for me, personally, as I learn. But, I discovered ways to adapt to the new learning environment I had found myself in.

What did you enjoy most at Aptos High?

There was a lot to enjoy at Aptos High, such as spirit weeks or our school plays. There are also wonderful teachers who make class fun and enjoyable, as well as supportive staff and an overall friendly community.

Parents: Pang Choy and Mei Lu. ••• Ava Hymes

What will you do after you graduate? Do you have a major in mind?

I plan to attend UCLA and major in environmental science.

What activities did you participate in at Aptos High?

I played varsity soccer for all four years of high school. I also dabbled in track and field, Surfrider Club, and sustainable fashion club. How did Covid affect your high school experience?

The Covid shutdown forced me to become a more independent and self-motivated student, as my schedule was much less structured than I was used to. It was challenging not to see friends and teachers at school every day and to have athletic seasons cut short, but I think it has made me appreciate my senior year even more.

What did you enjoy most at Aptos High?

I enjoyed the friendships I have made, and going to CCS with my soccer team.

Parents: Alan Hymes & Lindsey Macbeth-Hymes n

“Pastor Retires” from page 6

“That was a wonderful process,” Jane remarked. “There were several processes the church has gone through that has really contributed to people’s growth.”

Jane enjoyed coordinating parishioners’ creative abilities in projects and committees, and with the church musical director, David Larstein.

“I have a pretty good eye and ear for how we can put things together,” she said. “I can help weave other people’s creativity. It is important that a church is a place to exercise your gifts.”

It is unusual for a pastor to stay at the same church for 42 years. Jane said some of her colleagues wondered whether she ever got bored, but she had many reasons to stay interested and engaged in LSBCC.

“There are seasons in your life, there are seasons in the church life in terms of different projects or directions that are going on at the same time, so there is change,” she said. “One of the joys of that is that you are pastoring several generations of family… on the one end there’s the care for the elders and the memorial services and on the other end there are baptisms for grandchildren. That was really a joy for me, being involved in people’s lives over time and over generations.” n