Aptos Times: November 1, 2022

Erica Padilla-Chavez, Second Harvest Food Bank CEO, said, “While we have made strides in Covid recovery, the need for food assistance has not decreased to prepandemic levels. With inflation, many families and working people are not making ends meet. This year’s food and fund drive is crucial to making sure no one goes hungry in Santa Cruz County.”

The goal this year is to raise enough money to serve 5 million meals.

During the annual drive, businesses, organizations, schools, and neighbor hoods are encouraged to form teams and gather funds to help achieve this goal.

All funds raised during the holiday drive - 100% - go to provide food to dis tribute at Second Harvest’s 160 agency and partner locations in Santa Cruz County.

Every $1 raised will provide four healthy meals for neighbors in need.

At the rally, teams can sign up to be part of the holiday drive and hear about creative ideas to raise funds, such as mini-barrel donation stations and virtual campaign pages where people can donate online.

They’ll also hear from the event’s co-chairs, UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive and Community Foun dation Santa Cruz County CEO Susan True, about the importance of making sure all Santa Cruz County residents have access to healthy food, both during the holidays and year-round.

Reservations are required to attend the rally. See https://give.thefoodbank. org/campaigns/23600-holiday-foodfund-drive-2022-kickoff

Cost to attend is $15, which includes

to-go box lunches provided at the end of the rally.

Founded in 1972, Second Harvest Food Bank has been meeting the needs of hungry people locally for 50 years.

Second Harvest was the first food bank in California and the second in the nation. provide nourishment for all com munity members. Its network of nearly 100 local agencies and programs feeds 85,000 people in Santa Cruz County every month.

The Holiday Food & Fund Drive will continue through Jan. 15, 2023.

Information on how to sign up a team for Holiday Food & Fund Drive 2022 can be found at https://www.thefoodbank. org/holiday-food-fund-drive. n

Cover Photo: Alex Jimenez and Jennifer Welling

Patrice Edwards

Jondi Gumz

Jondi Gumz, Dean Kaufman, Kieran Kelly, Emilio Menze, Risa D’Angeles, Rebecca Gold Rubin, Michelle Rodriguez, Zach Friend

Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J.

artists

Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin

Teri Huckobey, Brooke

Bill Pooley, Taylor Brougham

Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti

Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin, Brad King website

photography

Tina Chavez shows off a small portion of the food collected during Second Harvest Food Bank’s annual holiday food drive.

Susan True & Cynthia Larive

Michele Bassi, Second Harvest Food Bank board chair.

Pajaro Valley Teacher to Run in NYC Marathon

Jennifer “Jenni” Newton, 27, a teacher with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, is training to run the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon on Nov. 6. That’s 26.2 miles.

What makes her effort especially ambi tious is that she found out last year that she has type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition that doctors do not know how to prevent.

People with Type 1 must monitor their blood sugar regularly and take insulin when necessary.

Worldwide, cases of Type 1 diabetes have recently been rising steadily, a trend not explained by genetics, so scientists suspect environmental factors.

Jenni is one of nearly 50 runners chosen for the Beyond Type Run Team, a program of global diabetes nonprofit Beyond Type 1.

It’s perfect timing, too, because November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.

Her goal is to prove to her students and other people living with type 1 dia betes that anything is possible.

How did you hear about the Beyond the Type Run Team?

Iheard about Beyond Type 1 because from when I was a kid.

I remember (singer) Nick Jonas started the organization to raise awareness for it so I Googled it shortly after diagnosis and applied to do the NYC marathon and got accepted.

I was not prepared to run the marathon at that point, so I had to postpone to 2022.

Will the team run as a group?

I will be running with a group of 50 other Type 1 diabetics through New York City in the NYC Marathon through Beyond Type 1, which is a nonprofit organization that provides education and support to Type 1 diabetics ... fun fact: Nick Jonas, who started it, has Type 1 as well.

Do you know anyone on the team? How many from California?

There are at least 10 runners from Cali fornia this year (some may have been added in late).

What’s your goal in participating?

My goal for this run is to finish the race, encourage Type 1 diabetics that they can do amazing things ... and to also be a

part of showing everyone (not just Type 1 diabetics) that just because life might be hard, God can still use the hard parts of our story to bring hope to others.

You can do hard things. When were you diagnosed? Tell me about that diagnosis.

Iwas diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2021, during my first year of teaching. Is this the same kind of diabetes that actress Mary Tyler Moore had? Yes, Mary Tyler Moore also had type 1 diabetes.

What’s the cause?

Type 1 is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to stop working. Type 1 is NOT caused — or can be removed by — lifestyle choices (eating lots of sugar/ carbs and lack of exercise) and can come up at any age and with any type of diet. How are you managing it?

Talk about the new resources available.

In order to stay moving and grooving, I have to check my blood sugars, give myself insulin, exercise, and plan ahead.

The Dexcom G6 that I wear tracks my blood sugars every 5 minutes and sends it to my phone and watch. While training

your holiday feast

for my marathons, it is super helpful to wear it because I’m not forced to stop and finger prick constantly. I am able to make decisions in live time (water and snack intake). n

For more about Beyond Type 1, see https:// beyondtype1.org/2022-tcs-nyc-marathon/

of profits go back to the community

County Fair Upheaval

By Jondi Gumz

Morethan 75 people came angry and frustrated to the Santa Cruz County Fair board meeting in Watsonville Tuesday afternoon, with another 68 on Zoom, watching how the leadership would carry on after firing longtime CEO Dave Kegebein Oct. 4 in the wake of a critical state audit.

Kegebein, in 11 years had orchestrated a financial turnaround with $1 million in the bank for the fairgrounds, a state agency known as the 12th District Agricultural Association, but the audit found the fair had no receipts for $163,442 of purchases from 2017 to 2021 including $31,345 of fuel for his truck, one of a dozen lapses in requirements which Kegebein called “red tape compliance.”

Only four board members attended in person, Don Dietrich, Dana McRae, Stephanie Fontana and Tony Campos with Lupe Flores and Michael Pruger par ticipating via Zoom. Fair board member Bill Barton of Aptos, appointed in 2014 at age 70, resigned his seat.

One surprise: Leaks were discovered in the Heritage Building during the unsea sonable September rain, and it’s not yet known whether the roof can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

Another surprise: The 1955 live stock barns, deemed unsafe by the state Department of Food and Agriculture and unusable for the 2022 fair, have been des ignated historic by another state agency, along with the entire 102-acre fairgrounds property. This is due to an error made in a

map when historic designation was sought for the Rodgers House in 2000. It’s not known if this status can be changed.

Dietrich, the board president turned acting CEO, will continue in that role, as none of the other board members volun teered and it may take six months to recruit a replacement manager.

During public comment, the board got an earful from Kegebein and his supporters.

Kegebein delivered a check for $33,582, the amount in the state audit spent on fuel and maintenance on his truck, and contended Dietrich had taken advantage of the fairgrounds shop building for per sonal use, a charge Dietrich said he would respond to at the next meeting, which is Dec. 6.

One credited Kegebein with negoti ating a line of credit when the fairgrounds was “practically in bankruptcy” to save it.

“Who made the motion to fire Dave?” asked fair volunteer Paul Vitale, his comment applauded.

“Who is behind this heartless direction has yet to be determined,” said former fair board president Dave Cavanaugh, urging attendees to appeal to state officials. “Fight back.”

The two fair board members who voted against firing Kegebein, Loretta Estrada and Jody Belgard, were dismissed by the governor’s office, which makes the appointments.

Their replacements, Nicolas Calubaquib, 42, of Aptos, and Rachel E. Bickert Wells, 29, of Felton, named Oct. 21, did not attend.

During public comment, Estrada, a fair board member for 34 years, said she

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Fair board members Stephanie Fontana, Dana McRae, Don Dietrich, and Tony Campos listen to public comment Tuesday.

Don Dietrich

and Belgard, on the board for 16 years, lost their seats for supporting Kegebein.

She said she will continue to support the fair and the fairgrounds foundation.

“I’m truly heartbroken about what’s happening to Dave Kegebein and the fair grounds,” said Jeanette Crosetti. “I believe the state has a hidden agenda.”

Mary Bannister, the volunteer fair board secretary, resigned the day before the meeting.

That left board president Dietrich to run the meeting, give reports and take minutes, which he said was “impossible.”

He struggled with his agenda presen tation of a contract under “other financial documents,” with former mayor Dennis Osmer saying items not properly noticed run the risk of being nullified. That item was postponed, and board member Fontana asking for an explanatory nar rative to accompany it.

“I hear you,” Dietrich said. “I’ll try to do better next time.”

During public comment, former city councilwoman Trina Coffman-Gomez said the meeting was the most disorganized she’d seen.

Also on the agenda, an independent accountant’s review of the fair’s 2019 finances by McGilloway, Ray, Brown & Kaufman of Salinas. Omitted from the review was man agement discussion of postemployment benefits, typically a requirement.

“Why is it still a draft from 2019?” asked Osmer, contending this review con flicted with the 2021 state CDFA audit.

Dietrich said he negotiated with the Fairgrounds Foundation, which raises money for fairgrounds facilities, to lower the share of revenue on gross sales paid to the fair from 15% to 12%.

The reason, he said, was to ensure the upcoming Holiday Lights event makes a profit.

No one objected.

“I think this event is very important to the public,” Dietrich said. “I don’t want the foundation to cancel.”

Dietrich said the fair has no agreement with the County of Santa Cruz regarding 38 acres at 188 Whiting Road next to the fairgrounds which the county would like

to acquire for parks and recreation. Asking price is $2.65 million.

The county has no funds to buy it but twice sought grants, which were turned down, explained Kim Namba of county parks.

John Eiskamp of the Ag History Project at the fairgrounds said proponents interviewed people at Second Saturday on the Farm, but there’s no agreement.

Dietrich said he was in Sacramento last week to learn about state Resilience Center funding for fairgrounds’ climate change projects, but most of the money will go to the Central Valley.

Dietrich said state rules do not allow him to be board president and interim manager, so Fontana, the most senior member, took over running the meeting.

Dave Kegebein suggested getting a list of potential fair CEO candidates from CDFA, which Dietrich supported.

CDFA branch chief Michael Fran cesconi, on the Zoom call, said he did not have a list on his desk but he could reach out to the industry.

Coffman-Gomez suggested putting the recruitment on the Santa Cruz County Fair website.

To support the fair, Jeanne Kegebein, who runs the Fairgrounds Foundation and is Dave Kegebein’s stepmother, urged people to attend the Holiday Lights event, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, Nov. 25 through Dec. 25.

The state audit did not appear on the board agenda for Oct. 4, the date Kegebein was fired. The short agenda, posted Sept. 24, listed a closed session with CDFA Legal to discuss personnel.

After the meeting, Dietrich said he was “heart-broken about Loretta.”

He said he saw the state audit in his official county fair email, which he checks regularly.

Under the state’s Bagley-Keene Act, he is allowed to communicate with one other board member, not the whole board, he said.

Estrada said she saw the audit only minutes before Kegebein was fired.

As for her fair email, she told Aptos Times, “They knew I’ve never used the state email.” n

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

County fair board meetings are usually sparsely attended but not on Tuesday.

CDC Advisory: Add Covid Shot to Kids’ Vaccine Schedule

By Jondi Gumz

On Oct. 20, an advisory committee to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted unanimously in favor of adding the Covid vaccine to the recommended immuni zation schedule for children and adults. The existing schedule recommends 27 doses of vaccine between birth and age 6.

Starting at 6 months, children should get the Covid vaccine, plus boosters, according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The new bivalent boosters mix vaccine for the original strain of SARS-CoV-2, which is no longer circulating, and the currently dominant Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, which are far less deadly.

The CDC, which is expected to sign off on the recommendation, plans to provide a recommended vaccine schedule in 2023.

To expedite the review process, federal officials asked drug-makers to test on mice rather than humans. Pfizer submitted data based on 8 mice.

The CDC said its recommendation is not a mandate, adding that the decision on which vaccines are required to attend school is a state or local decision.

“Local control matters,” said Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at the ACIP meeting. “And we honor that the decision around school entrance for vaccines rests where it did before, which is with the state level, the county level and at the municipal level, if it exists at all.”

Kansas officials have no plans to require the COVID-19 vaccine to attend school.

Texas has a law that protects parents’ rights to decide vaccinations for their children.

Florida’s Surgeon General Joseph Ladopo, M.D., recommended against Pfizer and Moderna’s Covid-19 mRNA vaccines for 18-39-year-old men after a state health department analysis found an “84% increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days following mRNA vaccination.”

California

In California, SB 277 has required students be vaccinated to attend public school

since 2016 with no exemptions for personal belief. Homeschoolers are exempt.

Covid cases in kids declined in October, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children represent about 13% of new Covid cases.

Dr. Tom Shimabukuro reported during the ACIP meeting that a boy died 13 days after his first dose of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine. The boy had a fever, then abdominal pain and vomiting in the emer gency room before he died. The autopsy showed the cause of death was heart inflammation known as myocarditis, with tests finding no evidence of viral infection.

The death was reported to VAERS, the federal Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System, and verified by the CDC.

The committee members did not ask questions or discuss the death, but deter mined the Covid vaccine benefits outweigh the risks.

The CDC stopped reporting Covid cases on Sept. 21. The agency recognizes an estimated 95% of Americans 16 and older have some immunity, either from vacci nation or infection.

On Oct. 21, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky tested positive for Covid despite being “up to date with her vaccines.” She reported she has “mild symptoms” and is isolating at home.

This prompted Dr. Vinay Prasad of UC San Francisco to ask, “What is the vaccine efficacy of the bivalent booster you have received? What is it for any symptomatic disease? What is it for severe disease?”

He said there are no answers “because the leadership at the White House has per mitted this product to come to the US market without any credible evidence that it has any vaccine effectiveness. We simply don’t have human randomized data for clinical endpoints. All we have is human data on antibody titers, which is a surrogate end point of no value in the current moment.”

Vets 4 Vets Connects

By Dean Kaufman

share a story about how

Veteran Connect

to our local

families.

making

A primary purpose of Vets 4 Vets is to break isolation and give veterans a chance to connect and have a good time.

In late July, Vets 4 Vets resumed its member activities through our Veterans Connect program. Since then we have played disc golf, hiked, and had a Cornhole tournament.

inspired

camaraderie and good con versation. All of these things are important to the mental health and well being of our veterans and our Santa Cruz community.

Two weeks ago, our Cornhole tournament drew 17 par ticipants ready to play, including 3 new veterans. We gathered at VFW Post 7263 and began tossing the bags at 6:30 p.m. Dean Kaufman, an Army vet, defeated Tom Holmes, a volunteer with V4V and

finished the tournament with a win.

Pizza was donated by Woodstock’s Pizza and drinks were provided by Vets 4 Vets. Post VFW 7263 donated the venue.

Our Veterans Connect program is helping veterans get together, be outdoors and have a great time.

Thank you for caring about the mental health of veterans. If you would like to help a veteran by volunteering, see https://

www.vets4vetssantacruz.org/new-page or if you would like to donate see https:// www.vets4vetssantacruz.org/donate

Thank you for being part of the Vets 4 Vets community. n

Dean Kaufmann is founder and board member of Vets 4 Vets, which plans a Veteran’s Day event Nov. 11, a bowling tournament fundraiser on Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. and noonat Boardwalk Bowl and a holiday potluck in December. For information, see https://www. vets4vetssantacruz.org/

PVUSD Classified Employees: 12.5% Raise +$2,300 Bonus

OnOct. 21, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District and the California School Employees Association jointly announced a three-year contract agreement for classified employees with pay increases of 12.5% and bonuses of $2,300.

Negotiations are continuing on rec ognition, leaves, holidays and bilingual

pay, floater bus driver positions and transportation.

The tentative agreement includes:

2021-2022 Salary: Ongoing increase of 4.5% to the salary schedule retroactive to July 1, 2021, retro payment date to be decided before the board vote on the contract.

One-time payment of $1,800 for

employees who worked 75% of the school year.

2022-2023 Salary: Ongoing increase of 8% salary schedule, retroactive to July 1, 2022, retro payment date to be decided before the board vote.

One-time payment of $500. Health benefits will not change for 2021-22 or 2022-23.

The District and CSEA began negotia tions on July 19 and reached an agreement on pay and health benfits in one session on Aug. 30. The District and CSEA have scheduled additional talks for Oct. 25 and Nov. 1

CSEA Chapter 132 was scheduled to meet 5 p.m. Oct. 26 to provide negotiation updates. n

Prasad recommends requiring Pfizer to “randomize nursing home residents. They are the highest risk population”…and look at “all cause mortality,” adding people as time goes on and halting if safety signals erupt. He also suggested an “open-ended randomized control trial among people 40 years and older…Is it possible the booster helps people over 60 but not under 60? Over 70? The trial I envision would have power for that. Here the primary endpoint would be severe disease.”

Omicron Less Deadly

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

Santa Cruz County reported 49 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 medical conditions.

Why do people fear Omnicron?

They may have a medical 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.

Thanksgiving

Another sign of normal: The veterans who put on the Thanksgiving Day dinner prepared by India Joze Schultz at the Santa Cruz Vets Hall will bring the event back this year. Volunteers can contact organizer Steve Pleich at: vetshalldinnrr@ gmail.com

In Santa Cruz County, one death was reported after a month of no fatalities. The last seven deaths were people who were vaccinated, according to the county dashboard, all 65 or older with medical conditions.

The number of active cases in Santa Cruz County is 642, not escalating as students returned to school. Santa Cruz County updates the numbers on Mondays and Thursdays.

On Wednesday, the state reported 14 people in Santa Cruz County hospi talized with a positive Covid test, none in intensive care.

With 63,000+ county cases since the pandemic began, natural immunity may be a factor.

Wastewater data in Santa Cruz County shows Covid-19 Omicron levels plunging since July 26, then stable for the past month.

According to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, cases in local schools peaked at 4,407 on Jan. 27, dropped to 44 on April 1, rose to 1,025 on May 23, dropped to 442 on June 11, and now 182.

The 14-day positivity rate, 12.25% on January, dropped to .79%, rose to 9.63% and is now 1.4%.

The Santa Cruz County Office of Edu cation has completed 540,700 tests with Inspire Diagnostics.

Pajaro Valley Unified reports 53

active student cases and 13 staff cases. That includes 3 students and one staff at Aptos High and 13 students and one staff at Aptos Junior High, 3 students and one staff at Valencia, 0 students and 2 staff at Rio del Mar, and 2 students and one staff at Mar Vista.

The very contagious variant BA.5 and waning immunity from vaccines boosted cases this summer.

The CDC reports BA.5 comprises 67.9% of cases as of Oct. 14, with new subvariants BA.4.6 at 12.2%, BQ.1 at 5.7%, BQ.1.1 at 5.7%, and BF.7 at 5.3%.

On Oct. 13, Health and Human Ser vices Secretary Xavier Becerra extended the Covid emergency for another 90 days.

With the U.S. averaging about 196 deaths a day, compared to 3,000 last winter, there is no evidence the Omnicron sub variant causes more serious illness.

Most of the nation is rated low trans mission on the CDC color-coded map.

The Biden administration made a $3.2 billion deal to buy 105 million doses of Pfizer’s bivalent Covid booster, and Pres ident Biden got his booster Tuesday.

Pfizer’s bivalent vaccine has emer gency use authorization for children age 5 years and up and Moderna’s bivalent has emergency use authorization for children 6 and up. Both are available in Santa Cruz County.

“We are anticipating another winter surge,” said Dr. Cal Gordon, deputy health officer for the County of Santa Cruz.

Interested parents should contact their healthcare provider. For a list of pro viders with Covid-19 vaccine and walk-in clinics, see www.santacruzhealth.org/ coronavirusvaccine.

Emergency To End Feb. 28

On Oct. 18, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced California’s state of emer gency due to the Covid-19 pandemic will end Feb. 28.

On Sept. 12, the state health department reduced its Covid updates from daily to weekly, on Thursdays.

On Oct. 20, the state reported 1,500 hospitalized with a positive Covid test, and a 4.4% positivity rate, down from 20,000 and 23% in January.

The state said about half the hospital izations are due to Covid, with the other half coming to the hospital for another reason and testing positive.

California reports 72.4% of the popu lation have had at least one shot.

On the CDC Covid tracker, Santa Cruz County reports 89.3% of residents have at least one shot ,80.7% with a primary series (two Pfizer or Moderna or one Johnson & Johnson) and 61.4% who’ve also gotten a booster.

Lawsuits

On Oct. 24, Staten Island Supreme Court Justice Ralph Porzio ruled that the October 2021 Covid vaccination requirement for unvaccinated sanitation

workers who sued New York City is “arbi trary and capricious,” and that workers should be rehired with back pay.

He wrote, “We have learned through the course of the pandemic that the vaccine against COVID-19 is not absolute.”

Feds for Medical Freedom, which had their day in the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth District, on Sept. 13 in New Orleans challenging the Covid vaccine mandate for federal workers, is awaiting a decision. The group, which has about 6,000 members, contends the president overstepped his authority. For updates, see feds4med freedom.org.

Dr. Mark McDonald, MD, a Los Angeles psychiatrist, and Dr. Jeff Barke, MD, an Orange County primary care phy sician, are suing to stop Assembly Bill 2098, from becoming law. AB 2098 makes it a disciplinable offense for a physician to pub licly challenge public health Covid edicts. The doctors say this is unconstitutional. Children & Covid Covid has claimed the lives of many elders, those 85 and older with medical conditions, but relatively few children, 442 children age 4 and under, according to the federal Centers for Control & Prevention.

More than 1 million people in the U.S. have died of Covid, so young children rep resent a tiny percentage of deaths.

Could it be that young children represent an untapped windfall for the drug-makers?

It all depends on whether these vaccines are added to the CDC vaccine schedule for children. See https://www. cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/ child-adolescent.html

Data Analysis

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.”

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart, which can lead to clots, a stroke or heart attack.

Public health officials say the scien tific consensus is that Covid vaccines are safe, but some are skeptical about relying on science from drug-makers, which saw profits rise in 2021.

Analysts say Pfizer has been one of the largest winners in the last two years, doubling revenue to $81 billion in sales in 2021 due to its Covid vaccine. This year, it’s selling Paxlovid, a Covid pill that has a higher price per dose.

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

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 Edu cation, 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-tested-santa-cruz.

T

he CDC was expected to analyze data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System for “safety signals” from Covid-19 vaccines.

This database, https://vaers.hhs. gov/, is where health care providers are to report adverse events after a vaccine. It 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.

An early briefing document said the CDC will perform “data mining on a weekly basis or as needed” to evaluate safety but the CDC Freedom of Information officer said “data mining is outside of the agency’s purview.”

Myocarditis

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

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

Vaccine providers: www.santacru zhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine. Local information: www.santacru zhealth.org/coronavirus or (831) 454-4242 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Active COVID cases:

and older: 120

15

65-74: 49

55-59: 4

8

Underlying

224

37

25-34:

No:

45-54: 10

No: 237

White 161 • Latinx 90 • Asian 16

3 • Amer Indian 1 Hawaiian 1

Another 2

139 • Women: 135

facility for aged: 117

at a facility: 157

How Do You Spell the Sound of Crickets

Seacliff poet Paola Bruni is co-author of a slim book of poetry, “how do you spell the sound of crickets,” with Jory Post, who died of pancreatic cancer in January 2021 at 70.

The two made acquaintance at a workshop on writing letters in poetry form in 2019 where they were paired up to write letters to each other.

Post, who published his first collection of poems at 69, challenged Bruni to write 50 poems — 25 each — before his time was up.

So began their letter exchange.

Bruni, in her preface to the book, admits there were times when she “felt burdened by the strange and complex weight of our writing.”

She adds, “I didn’t want to be sen timental or sad. I didn’t want to be inhibited. Easier said than done.”

As for Post, Bruni writes, “I believe that Jory was placed on this earth to write.”

He was co-founder of Santa Cruz Writes (a program to encourage young writers) and phren-z literary magazine.

He filled journals with notes on his experiences in treatment, turning them into poetry.

In “take me when I’m empty,” he writes, “Keep me alive.”

Although he did not live to see the book in print, the words that he wrote are alive on the page.

Here is an excerpt from a poem by Paola Bruni:

Forgiveness

But what of sharp words – fissures

and hammers, pointy ends of the uttered? Feral thoughts splitting out—egoic mind dealing its dung of defense. How small am I inside this creature self, animal of want and must have. Sifu says I’m a sieve, leaking chi, I want to touch everyone, to lure, be loved despite offenses, agendas, failures. I’m working on forgiveness. Did you know the Chinese hanzi

for the term martial arts are characters for stop and fighting?

Paola Bruni has lived at Seacliff Beach for 20 years. The book costs $14 and can be purchased at: Bookshop Santa Cruz, Two Birds Books, Kelly’s Books, and at https://www.paola bruniwriter.com/, through Paper Angel Press https://unrulyvoices.com/product/how-do-youspell-the-sound-of-crickets/ and on Amazon.

Photo Credit: Annie K. Rowland

Paola Bruni

Photo Credit: Jon Silver

Jory Post

A

Tribute to Harvey Segall

By Emilio Menze

OnAugust 1st of this year, another friend of mine went to Heaven. Harvey Segall, who was my boss at Video USA, passed away at the age of 92. Harvey was much more than my employer, he was my friend, mentor and I con sidered him one of my grandpas. I learned SO much from him about the work environment and just life in general.

Harvey had spent time overseas in the military as a young man and went on to have over 12 careers including IBM, teaching business at a college in Tacoma WA, owning a tanning salon, and of course Video USA. Even in his late 80’s/early 90’s the man had more work ethic than anyone I’d ever met. My work ethic is entirely a result of the example he set. He was someone who made things happen and got things done. No matter what.

He was highly intelligent, gen erous, hilarious, and always willing

to help a friend. One time I locked my keys in the car while at the gym and called him to get a ride. He dropped everything immediately to come pick me up in the rain!

I used to always tell him that by owning and operating the last video store around, he was doing some thing amazing for Aptos…he made a ton of people happy and entertained a whole community. It was important and mattered. I loved that job so very much.

Harvey loved sushi, going to see musicals at Cabrillo College, and being an active and supportive member at Temple Beth El. He took great pride in owning and operating Video USA, bringing entertainment and happiness to this community.

Harvey was with family when he passed and he did not suffer. I’m so grateful to have had him as my boss for over 10 years and even more as my friend.

Rest In Peace old friend. n

Harvey Segall

Sen. Padilla, Local Leaders Praise Pajaro River Levee Project

By Kieran Kelly

Along the banks of the Pajaro River in Watsonville, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and senior representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers joined Pajaro Valley’s elected officials and several residents to celebrate the funding of a historic project to rebuild the Pajaro River levee.

The communities of Watsonville and Pajaro have suffered six floods since the river’s levees were first built in 1949, most significantly in 1995 when flooding caused more than $95 million in damages and two deaths.

Levees nearly broke again during the federally declared storm disasters in early 2017.

“We thought this day would never come, and for over 70 years two federally disadvantaged communities— communities that earn less than half the

national average of income—have been stuck between two false choices,” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend, who chairs the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency. “One,

praying for drought, because of a life safety component, protected by a river levee with the lowest level of flood pro tection of any federally funded levee in California. While also praying for rain in

order to have the economic protections for the agricultural valley - now, we can ask for normalcy in our community.”

The $400 million Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project is the first project of its kind in California.

The project is designed to deliver up to 100-year flood protection for portions of Watsonville and Pajaro by strengthening the levees along the lower Pajaro River and its tributaries.

The current federal levee system along these waterways only provides an eight-year level of flood protection, which is among the weakest of any federal levee system in California.

Martha Guzman, regional adminis trator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 9, shared President Joe Biden’s support for the project.

“Levee” page 19

It’s time ... to add the space you’ve been dreaming of!

County supervisor Zach Friend (left) and US Senator Alex Padilla

on the Green Success

Photos

Brooke Valentine and Keiki McKay

LETTERS TO THE

letter to the Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz County Fair.

to the absence of approxi mately

The majority of our

are engaging in an unlawful

out” that violates the CSEA Col

drivers did not give any notice to the District that they would be engaging in a work stoppage. The bus drivers who are calling in sick have not communicated directly with District Administration about the reasons that they are refusing to come to work. The bus drivers were instructed on Friday that their “sick out” was unlawful and that they must return to work, but many of the drivers called in sick again on Monday.

It is with a very heavy heart that I submit my resignation as Fair Board Recording Secretary, a position I have held for over 10 years.

I volunteered for the position in about 2010 when Dave Kegebein was creating a team to rescue the Fairgrounds from impending collapse.

Prices On Michelin

BF Goodrich Tires

Goodrich Tires Prices On Michelin

The District has reached out to CSEA leadership and discussed the violation of the contract. CSEA has informed the Dis trict they will be reaching out to members who are participating in the work stoppage and instructing them to comply with the contract.

The District hopes drivers will return to work and prevent future disruptions in transporting over 5,000 students to school.

To clarify, the District and CSEA have been working together collaboratively in contract negotiations and have made significant progress. In fact, in August we signed a Tentative Agreement for a 12.5% salary increase for all CSEA members, including the bus drivers. The District has not been informed that the “sick out” is due to a breakdown in negotiations between the District and CSEA.

Student safety and well-being is our top priority. We know that families rely on us every day to transport their children to and from school. Please be assured that we are doing everything that we can to get regular bus service running again.

— Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, PVUSD Superintendent of Schools

Volunteer Fair Board Recording Secretary Resigns Editor’s note: Mary Bannister submitted this

The Fairgrounds is a community resource, a critical emergency response facility for people and livestock and an entertainment venue for hundreds of annual events, supported by the dedi cation of over 700 local volunteers. As I have worked alongside Dave for over 10 years, and witnessed him resurrect the Fairgrounds through his unwavering com mitment to the facility and the community it serves, his recent firing by the California Department of Food & Agriculture leaves me no choice but to step away from a position that I was honored to hold.

And beyond the questionable firing of Dave, longtime Fair Board Directors Loretta Estrada and Jody Belgard were replaced last week in retaliation for them supporting Dave by voting against his firing. Their roles as Board members paled in comparison to the hundreds of hours they spent annually doing every imaginable job to enhance the grounds, including weeding and sweeping. That in supporting Dave, Loretta and Jody got the boot, and another pillar, Bill Barton resigned his board seat, demonstrates how utterly outrageous these State actions are.

The State of California all but abandoned the State Fairs a decade ago – we were able to succeed when they had no interest, and now they step in and create chaos – why? I have not heard a reasonable explanation nor their long-term vision for our Fair facility and the community it serves.

I am honored that I was able to hold the position of recording secretary. Out of this chaos I am hopeful that the fair grounds continues to function as the vital community resource it’s been under Dave Kegebein’s leadership. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you all. n

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Farthing

Jodi Pratt

of

the

at the New Leaf Aptos party.

Inspector General

To Be Chosen for Sheriff’s Office

Cruz County supervisors have

plans to recruit someone

be the first Inspector General for the Sheriff’s Office. Those interested must apply by Nov. 10.

Inspector General is expected to start work Jan. 1 with a budget of $100,000 covering six months of operations, until the fiscal year ends June 30.

Sheriff Jim Hart supports the idea, contained in AB 1185 to provide

“Levee” from page 14

“On behalf of the Biden Adminis tration, if anyone ever asks you ‘what is climate equity, what is climate justice?’ — this is environmental justice,” said Guzman, referring to the levee rebuilding project.

Full funding for the project was made possible with an additional $82 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law by President Biden in 2021. This funding comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom approved SB 489, authored by State Sen. John Laird, which advanced state funding to local agencies to expedite the project’s planning and construction.

Lastly, the region’s congressional del egation successfully advocated for $149 million in federal funding for the project, with more expected. These combined efforts have saved local residents at least

oversight and boost public trust in law enforcement.

During community meetings, residents wanted oversight and transparency of the jail, which is part of the Sheriff’s Office.

A committee chosen by the County Administrative Office will will rank the candidates and send the ranking to the County Administrative Office, which will recommend a finalist to the Board of Supervisors. n

$42 million in local costs. Once completed, the project will provide lasting protection to historically disadvantaged communities.

“Between the climate change challenges of the future, to the aging infra structure of the past, it’s past time we act and taking action we are,” said Sen. Padilla. “The people of this community, like any community, deserve the piece of mind to work, to lay your head at night, without worrying whether these levees are going to hold are not when they are needed.” n

Editor’s note: Mark Strudley, interim executive director of the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, created in 2021 to finance the project, said construction is to start as early as 2025.

The Army Corps of Engineers will likely lead the bidding process, so Strudley is not sure when bids will go out, but if the proposed schedule holds, it will be prior to the 2025 con struction season.

20th District Congressman Jimmy Panetta speaks at the Pajaro levee celebration.

PVPSA Names Jasmine Nájera CEO

Jasmine Nájera is the new CEO of Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student Assistance, earning a promotion from interim CEO.

Dr. Nancy Bilicich, president/chair of the PVPSA board, said, “It was a unan imous decision.”

Nájera is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who worked with the Health Ser vices Agency of Santa Cruz County for 20+ years.

She has experience in Adult Behav ioral Health and Children’s Behavioral health and worked as a mental health client specialist, forensic services super visor, forensic services program manager, and children’s behavioral health supervisor.

Since the beginning of 2022, she became clinical intern supervisor for PVPSA, and in August interim CEO.

“I look forward to this transition into the leadership role at PVPSA where I can continue to support our incredible staff in delivering high quality Behavioral Health services in the Pajaro Valley. I will continue to develop and foster our partnerships and collaborations to best support and uplift the children, youth and families in our community,” said Nájera. “I am also passionate about mentoring and coaching staff in ongoing professional development to ensure that our team continues to grow in their service to our community.”

A lifelong resident of Santa Cruz County, Nájera serves on the Pajaro Valley Health Care District board, and chairs the Monarch Services board. She received her master’s in social work from the University of Texas at Austin in 2005

and a bachelor’s in history from the UC Santa Cruz in 1997. She is married and the mother of two.

PVPSA has been providing com prehensive health education, mental health services, substance abuse and intervention and prevention services, and direct counseling to the students and families of the Pajaro Valley since 1991. With a commitment to addressing the social determinants of health, the agency uses an upstream approach to achieving community health and wellness. n

Jobs in Santa Cruz County Sector

Sept. 2022 Change from Sept. 2021

Government 22,300 Up 1,800 Private education 17,600 Up 600 & health

Manufacturing 7,800 Up 300

Construction 5,100 Up 300 Other 4,800 Up 300 Trade/transportation 16,500 Up 200 /utilities

Professional/business 10,700 Up 100 services

Financial 3,300 Up 100 Leisure/hospitality 13,000 0 Information 600 0

Nonfarm 101,700 Up 3,700 Farm 9,800 Down 100

Total 111,500 Up 3,600

Labor force 137,600 Up 1.9% Employment* 132,900 Up 3.7% Unemployment 4,700 Down 31.9% Unemployment rate 3.8% 5.1% Count is on the 12th of the month *Includes commuters out of the county Source: California Employment Devel opment Department

Unemployment in Santa Cruz County ticked down from 3.8% in August to 3.4% in September as the labor force dipped from 138,400 to 137,600.

Unemployment hovered around 3.8% in the summer compared to 17+% in 2020, fueled by pandemic restrictions.

Construction, a typically higher-paying sector, is healthy with more than 5,000 jobs. So is manufacturing, at 7,800 jobs.

CHP: Smart Start for Young Drivers The California Highway Patrol is launching new Start Smart classes for teens who are new drivers and their parents.

page 25

2023.

Medicare

We do not offer every

in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1–800–MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Jasmine Nájera

Bobbie

Divine Boutique & Salon

now offering Spa Parties

Grab

a

of

and

at

Measure Q: Pro and Con

Argument In Favor

Vote Yes on Measure Q to Protest Farmland and Prevent Sprawl

added

■

■

■

■

■

■

■

In 2002 and 2013, the people of Wat sonville voted overwhelmingly to protect farmland and prioritize future devel opment within the Urban Limit Line. In so doing, residents clearly stated they do not want urban sprawl left to the political whims of future City Councils.

Voting Yes on Measure Q will reaffirm and extend these essential protections previously adopted by the citizens of Watsonville.

Watsonville is a special place. It must not become another sprawling city like San Jose. Our local agriculture businesses and industry provide thousands of essential jobs. Our world-class farmland feeds our community, region, and beyond.

Future development for housing and commercial should align with our existing Downtown Specific Plan and be prioritized on the city’s many vacant and under-utilized properties instead of sacrificing essential farmland for sprawl.

54 other Central Coast and Bay Area communities share Watsonville’s belief that urban limit lines are an essential tool to prevent urban sprawl and protect pre cious farmland. Renewing our established boundaries by supporting Measure Q will preserve our community’s distinct character.

Voting Yes on Measure Q will ensure our valuable farmland remains protected and Watsonville grows in a sensible manner approved by voters, not the City Council.

Over 3,000 people signed the petition to place Measure Q on the November ballot. A broad and diverse community coalition of farmers, retirees, small business owners, non-profit leaders, environmentalists, elected officials, and community leaders joined together to reaffirm our collective belief that the people of Watsonville should decide our future.

Please join our community coalition by voting YES on Measure Q, Watsonville Planned Growth and Farmland Protection Initiative. Help keep Watsonville healthy and vibrant in a manner that will ensure a livable city for future generations.

Vote YES on Measure Q.

Sam Earnshaw; Member, Committee for Planned Growth and Farmland Protection

Greg Caput, Santa Cruz County Super visor District 4

Peter Navarro, Watsonville Farmer

Measure Q: Argument Against

T he Watsonville Planned Growth and Farmland Protection Initiative (Measure Q) was created by special interests with no public input or review.

To get Measure Q on the ballot, the Committee collected voter signatures by disingenuously claiming that it pro tects the wetlands, but our wetlands are already protected by local, state, and federal regulations and Measure Q con tains no reference to wetlands.

Measure Q would extend the current Urban Limit Line (ULL) to “protect our economy and environment,” but it would lock the City into the same failed policies of the fast two decades for the 20 years.

20 years ago, a yearlong community visioning process produced the current Urban limit Line. However, today it’s clear that this decision had serious unin tended consequences.

The current ULL limited sites for jobs in Watsonville and Measure Q would continue to do so.

That’s why we are stuck commuting to Santa Cruz on crowded Highway 1, day after day, losing hours away from our families and burning expensive gas.

The current ULL limited the sites available for housing and Measure Q would continue to do so.

Limited housing rental and own ership opportunities make it harder for families and seniors to live in our com munity. The Measure Q claims to focus on ‘infill development,’ but it will not produce any additional housing.

Fortunately, there’s an alter native that gives residents a voice in determining where housing and job development could occur and continues to protect our wetlands and our agricul tural character:

Measure S allows the community to participate in the future planning and growth of our City, including housing and businesses that we need to thrive today.

Vote ‘no’ on Measure Q and ‘yes’ on Measure S to put the community’s pri orities first.

Daniel Dodge, Jr,. Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee

Eduardo Montesino, Mayor-pro temp, City of Watsonville

Nahara Villalobos, Community Member/Student

Rebecca J. Garcia, City of Watsonville

Lowell Hurst, City of Watsonville n

Nita Gizdich, Watsonville Farmer

Felipe Hernandez, Member, Cabrillo College Board of Trustees

Measure S: Pro and Con

Argument in Favor

are proud of Watsonville, espe cially our robust agricultural valley and precious wetlands.

W

20 years ago, after a yearlong public visioning process by a diverse group of stakeholders, Watsonville voters adopted urban growth limits. The intention was to create much needed housing while preventing development on prime agricultural land and urban sprawl.

20 years later, it’s clear: Measure U did half the job it was intended to do. It limited development, but never led to the full vision of the measure,

Today, we are faced with disap pearing jobs, lack of affordable housing and very few youth facilities and com munity parks. We deserve the same access to natural outdoor areas and facilities as residents who live in neigh boring communities. We can attain these basic community needs-without sacri ficing what makes our valley so special. We can preserve and protect our prime agriculture land and wetlands and still provide our community the necessary resources and facilities.

We need to plan for Watsonville’s future together. The Planning for Wat sonville’s Future Measure allows for the residents to decide if and how to extend the Urban Limit Line and whether it would potentially give the Watson ville City Council the ability to amend the Urban Limit Line through the 2050 General Plan after implementing your input and voices. This measure could potentially create more housing, jobs, allow for the Redman House to be restored and a brand new Watsonville welcoming center. This center would highlight our communityand showcase our agricultural land and wetlands.

Planning for Watsonville’s Future Measure protects our quality of life, including our agricultural heritage and wetlands. It will also potentially provide more opportunities to create jobs, affordable housing, and much-needed parks and open space for Watsonville residents.

A ‘Yes’ vote on the Planning for Watsonville’s Future Measure will give all of us a voice in the decision-making process for the future of our beautiful city.

Vanessa Quiroz-Carter, City Council member, District 2

Kristal Salcido, Candidate, District 4

Maria Orozco, PVUSD Board Trustee Jimmy Dutra, City Council Member, District 6

Measure S: Argument Against Vote No on Measure S to S top Sprawl

Measure Sis poorly crafted, hastily planned and misleading. Just read the ballot language:

Shall the City of Watsonville maintain the restrictions on growth approved by the voters in 2002 until 2040, with the exception of any property identified by the City Council during the General Plan update...

“With the exception of,” means that future City Councils may identify any property, including farmland, outside the established Urban Limit line for devel opment and sprawl without approval from voters.

For decades, residents of Watsonville have said loud and clear that future growth must be decided by the voters. Now, four members of the current City Council seek to undo decades of community values by crafting a poorly worded and misleading ballot measure that will give future City Councils the power to develop farmland without a vote of the people.

This is disingenuous and wrong. It was placed on the ballot with virtually zero community outreach and dialogue. In fact, three members of the City Council voted against placing this misguided measure on the ballot.

Housing is essential and our com munity needs more affordable housing for working people who are raising families in Watsonville and sending their kids to local schools. We don’t need massive developments of single-family homes that nobody in our community can afford, especially not at the cost of losing valuable farmland.

In fact, Watsonville has adopted a Downtown Specific Plan which calls for infill housing and development within the boundaries of the Urban Limit Line. This type of housing is more affordable and closer to existing jobs, transportation systems and essential community services.

Please join a broad coalition of farmers, non-profit leaders, small business owners, elected officials and community leaders in opposing Measure S.

Stop Sprawl-Vote No on Measure S

Sam Earnshaw, Member, Committee for Planned Growth and Farmland Protection

Greg Caput, Santa Cruz County Super visor District 4

Nita Gizdich, Watsonville Farmer

Felipe Hernandez, Member, Cabrillo

College Board Trustees

Betty Bobeda, Former Mayor, City of Watsonville n

Joy

Dentistry

Much to be Grateful For During This Season of Thanks

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

The holidays are just around the corner! Does it feel like 2022 has just flown by incredibly quickly? Suddenly, Thanksgiving is approaching — a time when many people take a pause to appreciate family and friends and renew our gratitude for the many positives in our lives, our work, and our communities.

Here at Soquel Creek Water District, we are thankful every day for the opportunity to serve the people in our District by providing a safe, high quality, reliable, and sustainable water supply to meet our community’s present and future needs in an environmentally sensitive and economically responsible manner.

When I stopped and thought about some of the positive things, we’ve experienced this year at the District it gives me even more to be grateful for, and a renewed optimism for the future of our water supply.

Perhaps at the top of the list of things for which the District is grateful is the generous

State and Federal support we’ve received this year.

This past summer our Pure Water Soquel project was awarded a $21 million U.S. Bureau of Reclamation “WaterSMART” Grant, which was part of President Biden’s bipartisan infra structure law for the planning, design, and construction of water reuse projects.

Then, just last month, the project received an additional $13.25 million grant from the California State Water Resources Control Board.

This is in addition to previous years’ awards of $52 million in Proposition 1 grants, and several substantial low-interest loans from the California Seawater Intrusion Control Program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program.

“Thanksgiving” page 26

Aptos Chamber Award Winners

Chamber of Commerce

its annual awards at a dinner

auction at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4

Seascape Beach Resort, 1 Seascape Resort

Aptos. The cost is $100 per person.

see www.aptoschamber.

831-688-1467.

Man of the Year

Danny Braga

treasurer of Aptos Sports Foun dation, past president and treasurer of Aptos Seascape Members Club as well as advisor for Small Business Development Center. During Braga’s 15 years with the Small Business Development Center, he assisted 161 businesses through 1,500 hours, creating 148 jobs, increasing sales by $13 million, and obtaining $21.7 million in funding.

Woman of the Year

Peggy Pughe

She is Pajaro Valley Unified School Dis trict’s executive director of teaching and learning. She was principal of Aptos High School from 2016-2022 and president of the Aptos Chamber of Com merce from 2019-2021.

With 25 years serving students, families, staff and the community, Pughe is a dedicated educator deserving of recognition.

Business of the Year Santa Cruz Community Credit Union

Opening one branch in downtown Santa Cruz in 1977, the credit union has become a $184 million financial cooperative with more than 14,000 members, branches in Santa Cruz, Soquel, and Watsonville. It has been certified as a low-income and Community Development Financial Insti tution for more than 25 years.

Organization of the Year Grey Bears

Established in 1973 to address the problem of “undernourishment of Santa Cruz County’s elderly poor,” Grey Bears’ Healthy Food program has delivered 110 million pounds of food and served 1 million meals to seniors, veterans, families, volunteers and farmworkers. Their reuse and recycling programs have diverted 250,000 tons of household mate rials from landfills.

Outstanding Achievement Watsonville Community Hospital

Emerging from Chapter 11 bank ruptcy protection, Watsonville Community Hospital is now owned by the Pajaro Valley District Healthcare Project, a nonprofit that led a com munity fundraising drive to purchase it and prevent closure.

Community Hero Dr. Art Dover

Awell-known local pediatrician for 35 years with a diploma in tropical medicine, Dover has been a strong sup porter of the Rotary Polio Plus Project which has reduced the number of polio cases from 300,000 per year to fewer than 100. n

“Briefs” from page 20

In 2020, California reported 6,644 fatal and injury crashes involving teen drivers between ages 15 to 19, which have the biggest percentage of distracted drivers at the time of fatal crashes.

Parents or guardians are required to attend with their teenage driver as they participate in this two-hour Start Smart class, completion of which may lower the cost of a young driver’s vehicle insurance. Classes are free.

Parents and teenagers can register for Start Smart by calling the local CHP office in Aptos, (831) 219-0200.

For information see the free CHP Start Smart mobile app, which has the

California Driver Handbook and a trip logger for young drivers to track their driving time.

Funding was provided through the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin istration. n

Danny Braga

Peggy Pughe

Parents or guardians are required to attend with their teenage driver as they participate in this two-hour Start Smart class, completion of which may lower the cost of a young driver’s vehicle insurance. Classes are free.

Scorpio: We Rise by Kneeling, Conquer by Surrendering

Sunday, October 23, the Sun left Libra to enter the deep transforming waters of Scorpio. The Light began to shine on the 8th Gate and Hercules (humanity) was given his eighth labor. As the Gate opened we hear the words spoken by the Teacher, “We rise by kneeling; we conquer by surrendering, we gain by giving up. Go and conquer the Hydra, Hercules.”

Six and a half hours prior to Sun entering Scorpio, Saturn (the Lawgiver), retrograde since June 4th, turned direct at 18 degrees Aquarius (sign of humanity’s freedom). With Saturn retrograde, we organized and structured our inner lives. Saturn direct calls us to truth, the Rule of Law, and the new structures needed for the new Aquarian era.

Saturn direct gets the work done, work that has been waiting a long time to be completed. Saturn is practical. It’s earth. Saturn is the taskmaster, karma, the Dweller, awaiting the Angel of the Presence. The Dweller is all that needs purification everywhere. It is what is not forgiven, not redeemed, all that we have yet to love. The Angel of the Presence is Venus, who shines

ARIES

Mars is what propels you. It’s your physical energy. During this time, you may experience communication and interactions slowing down, not working in ways expected. It’s good to understand retrogrades. Because there can be anger and frustration. It’s good to allow setbacks to be taken in stride. And to know different opportunities will be offered. When inter ruptions occur at work, just refocus and review everything. Something from the past becomes important. Remain poised.

TAURUS

The task for Hercules in the sign of Scorpio is to lift up instincts and intellect to the intuition; holding intuition close to the heart. Your intuition is very keen. You are able to sense the false, deceptive and unreal. Things you planned on doing may experience setbacks. Simply reorient yourself to a different agenda. One that changes day to day. Review previous studies, cultural interests and important goals. Do you have the same aspirations?

GEMINI

During retrogrades our enthusiasm for interactions in the world slows down. Life becomes an internal drama, we’re more cautious, we question more, we wonder about past choices and should we redo them? We want to refine and perfect, refocus and review, reorganize and reorder. Especially our old ways of thinking and old beliefs. Money and communication with inti mates can become complicated. Look at finances once, twice, three times. Review everything.

CANCER

Finances, insurance, shared resources — all these may need to be explored once again. Review all previous transactions. Fix what’s broken. And don’t allow any buried anger to surface and hurt others. Have the intention to manage emotions with equanimity and poise. Communication may be difficult. Some thing may become an obsession. Reassess how you approach relationships. Find ways to have more kindness, less protection under your shell. Reach out and touch the heart of everything.

Risa D’Angeles

a light on the unredeemed shadows. It is the light of Love, which “underlies all the happenings of our lives and times.”

On Sunday, October 30, as Saturn patiently moved us law fully forward, Mars, planet that impels and propels us to act (at times irrationally), stopped in its tracks (25 degrees Gemini) and began 72 days of retrograde (looking back). Mars retrograde continues until January 12, 2023 (8 degrees Gemini).

Mars retrogrades every two years, thus it is considered a rare retrograde. As Mars is our energy, during Mars retrograde our energy turns inward and some may feel rather exhausted. The purpose of Mars retrograde is to give us time to assess and reassess all past actions, desires, aspira tions, beliefs, devotions and visions. The word Karma becomes a keynote of discussion. It’s the planet of passion, instinct, desire, aspiration, actions, anger, war and aggression and wild impulses. Mars is also our strength and courage.

And Mars, as a planet, is rather fierce! Mars, ruling Scorpio says “Warrior am I and from the battle I emerge triumphant!” (more on Mars retrograde next time) n

LEO

You may be looking deep within the self, assessing com munications in past relationships. Nothing is clear or direct. There is such a focus upon the past that the present doesn’t seem to exist. Assessing one’s behavior within relationships is important at this time. Relationships with everything, not just lovers. This is very important inner work. Daily schedules and agendas may change. Notice setbacks, hindrances. Work around them with agility and poise. You’re always the leader.

VIRGO

You may feel less than enthused about your present daily life. Projects and routines may have lost their luster. Work may seem difficult, unexciting. Expressing the self may be frustrating. It’s a good time to re-organize all levels of everyday life. Experiment with different time schedules, ways of eating, exercise, walks and chats in the garden. Notice any anxieties, confusion, preoccupations or changes of heart. Keep a journal of daily life contemplations and revelations.

LIBRA

It’s time to return to your artistic abilities, a creative project pre viously set aside. It’s time to reconsider leisure, work, travel, creativity and self-identity. Time to consider new approaches to interactions with friends, groups. Time also to consider the future. Are you remembering and questioning something? These will produce feelings, deep and complicated. There could be exhaustion, too. It’s time to rest more. It’s also time to con template, to ponder, to understand more and to forgive.

SCORPIO

All Scorpios are deeply affected by Mars and Mercury retrogrades. Mars brings the Nine Tests of Discipleship. And Mercury informs Scorpio (especially) to be careful of thoughts and words, which either create or destroy. In the meantime things around the home begin to have a life of their own. Breakdowns may occur, things long waiting to be fixed won’t wait anymore. Family situations occur, emotional issues from the past appear. Siblings call needing help. Daily routines aren’t anymore. No matter the situation, carry on, Scorpio.

These funds all support Pure Water Soquel and directly sustain our efforts to replenish the overdrafted ground water basin, prevent further seawater contamination of our water basin, and provide a safe, high-quality, droughtproof water supply for current and future generations in the Santa Cruz Mid-County region. We are indeed grateful to have achieved this mile stone that significantly benefits all our customers, and all who utilize the over drafted groundwater basin.

SAGITTARIUS

Here are the areas of life that may be affected in some ways. Observe them. And go on your way. Creativity, recreation, pleasure, children, hobbies, love affairs, enthu siasm, creative projects, leisure. Or perhaps ideas, thoughts, self-expression, social interactions, communication, money making and security. In all these things, one after another, something may occur that makes you rethink past actions. You will revise some things, eliminate many others. In between times use mantras to reorganize your thinking.

CAPRICORN

Is the issue of money or resources up for review and dis cussion? Do you feel that you are a resource for your family and friends? Things may appear quite close and personal. Emotions may be up and down. Are you responding or reacting? What needs refining, reorganizing, rethinking and/or repaired? What is creating frustration? What are you concerned about and need answers for? Is there a need to redo or coordinate something? What new initiatives do you want to put into place? Questions are good.

AQUARIUS

It’s important to realize that everything you have done has been perfect. And according to plan. Aquarians are sometimes hard on themselves, thinking they don’t do enough, aren’t enough of something. They worry a lot, too. However, it’s important to know that Aquarians are quite different than most of humanity. Aquarians come from another star system, from the future. They don’t perform or accomplish things like the rest of humanity. They have different tasks altogether. Aquarius, you’re perfect.

PISCES

You’re hidden away for a while, Pisces. As it should be. It’s time for resting more, contemplating the future, reaf firming dreams or letting them go. Something has changed in your work. A new level of study has appeared after many months of preparation. It’s important to tend to health now, to assess what’s needed for your well-being. Focus on the little things that make up each day. Accomplish each task with order and strive to do your very best. One’s best is better than perfect.

We are also grateful for the progress being made on construction of Pure Water Soquel. This includes building the advanced water purifi cation center at Chanticleer Avenue and Soquel Avenue; the installation of eight miles of pipeline under numerous city and county streets to carry recycled or purified water; and construction of three seawater intrusion prevention wells where purified water will be pumped underground to replenish the aquifer and prevent further seawater intrusion.

And in the midst of all this work, we are so very grateful to our community for their patience with construction in the streets, detours, dust, and noise –thank you!

Another very positive occurrence this year for which we are thankful is the District’s involvement in a remarkable mini-documentary, “A Refreshed Per spective.” It’s all about Pure Water Soquel and was produced for us by BBC StoryWorks and presented by the International Water Association.

The mini-documentary is part of their international online series called “Beneath the Surface: The Journey of Water” which includes short films that profile the innovations and innovators who are advancing positive change toward water sustainability. The series includes 16 unique stories from around the world, and ours is one of only two from the United States (others from around the world represent Spain, Uganda, Brazil, Scotland, Sweden, Por tugal, and more). We are very grateful to be part of this select group of water sustainability innovators! If you haven’t seen it yet, just go to purewa tersoquel.com to view it.

The District has a deep appreciation and gratitude to all who are part of the effort that has put us firmly on the path to a sustainable, drought-proof water supply with Pure Water Soquel. And finally, we are proud and grateful to be your community partner for reliable water. Happy Thanksgiving to all, and our best wishes for the holidays. n

COLUMNIST

PSAT & SAT Tests, Short Lunch, Doritos & Teacher Shortage

provide the highest level of network

has installed a “best-in-class” next generation firewall and maintains sub scriptions that constantly update it with the latest threat signatures. We take cybersecurity very seriously and continue to invest in high level security systems and technical training for our technology staff.

We are also providing cybersecurity training for all PVUSD staff to make staff more aware of the various types of cybercrime and to be able to identify phishing, malware, and other types of cyber-attacks so they are less likely to fall prey to them. Due to security concerns, we will not list the specific security systems that we have implemented to secure our network, servers and infrastructure.

Why do students take the PSAT in both 10th and 11th grade? Other schools offer it once. The College Board recommends students take the PSAT in 11th grade, however, PVUSD also allows 9th and 10th graders to sign up for the test.

PVUSD supports students who desire to take the PSAT multiple times as there are benefits beyond the main purpose of excellent practice for the SAT.

Some of those benefits are: PSAT scores can be an indicator of AP course readiness, and the PSAT begins the qualification process for many scholarships, including the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Can you share with us why Aptos High School does not host ACT / SAT exams on site as some of our other local high schools such as Soquel High and Santa Cruz High? Also, is there a reason why class rankings are not able to be provided? Some scholarships for college require this. Both the ACT and the SAT are managed and administered by outside nonprofit organizations, not by PVUSD schools. There have been years when the SAT and ACT have been offered in PVUSD schools, but since March 2020, none of the schools have renewed the test center application.

Aptos High School specifically has not been a test center for over 15 years. The requirements for being a test center include having a secure space, having a test coordinator, test monitors, and room monitors. Compensation is provided for being a test center from the College Board and ACT but finding the staff for the test center is up to the education center providing the test.

Many staff changes and challenges have occurred in every sector since March 2020 and at this time, none of our PVUSD schools have the staff capacity or designated test coordinator to take on this endeavor.

Next year at Aptos High School, we will begin recruiting staff and start the application to be a test center. If all the criteria are met to be a qualified test center, we will inform the PVUSD community by August 2023.

Regarding class rankings, these are becoming less common in high schools. Research done by multiple universities signified class rankings as having a negative impact on student mental health and keeping students from enrolling in classes that reflected their interests.

Admissions officers and scholarship providers are aware of this trend. It is completely acceptable to notate on your application that your high school does not utilize class rankings.

I do not understand the differences in the bell schedules between our middle schools and our high schools. Why do middle school students get a 20-minute break, a 40-minute lunch, and only a 6 hour and 15 minute school day from start to finish, while our high school students only get a 10-15 minute break, a 30-35 minute lunch (not enough time to get and eat lunch!), and a 7 hour and 15 minute school day from start to finish? Our high school students need more time to eat and recoup from their strenuous course-loads and extra-curriculars, and they are exhausted getting out of school at nearly 4 p.m.

California Education Code Sections 46200 and 46201 establish the minimum number of annual instructional days and minutes that must be offered for the district to receive the state Average Daily Attendance funding.

The following table contains the state minimum of instructional minutes per year. As you can see, the California Department of Education has the high school minimum instructional minutes higher than the middle school.

Within PVUSD, each school staff develops their bell schedule to meet the minimum instructional required minutes, in conjunction with the district transportation department.

My daughter really enjoyed the last Saturday activity that you did. What are you doing in October?

Expanded Learning Opportunities Pro gramming Intersession Passport Pajaro Day 2 occurred Oct. 22.

Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AMERICAN PICKERS COMING TO CALIFORNIA

The TV show American Pickers on the History Channel plans to return to California in January. The crew is looking for leads on interesting characters with fascinating items — something different, unusual, of unique items — something they’ve never seen before with an extraordinary story.

The team will follow all guidelines and protocols for safe filming outlined by the state.

Collectors interested in being considered for the show should call (646) 493-2184 or email at AmericanPickers@cineflix.com. Include full name, city/ state, contact information, and a brief description of the collection.

The Pickers only pick private collections, so NO stores, malls, flea markets, museums, auctions, businesses, or anything open to the public.

AFFORDABLE DENTAL CLEANINGS

The Cabrillo College Dental Hygiene Clinic in Aptos offers affordable cleanings and X-rays. There are 24 chairs, hospital-grade air filtration systems, lasers, intraoral cameras, and pan oramic imaging, and treatment by dental hygiene students.

Fees are: Oral assessment, $20; cleanings, $50$100, X-rays, $30-$60, and sealants, $25 per tooth. Payments must be by cash or check.

Appointments are three hours long, and multiple appointments are required to complete your dental treatment. Proof of vaccination is required.

Appointment times for fall: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. and Wednesday, 1:15 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 831-479-6431.

POLL WORKERS NEEDED

Have you thought about being a poll worker for the Nov. 8 election?

As a poll worker, you help ensure a safe, fair, and efficient election for all voters. Poll workers support early voting locations, ensure technology functions, and help minimize delays at polling places on election day.

Fill out the form at: https://www.votescount.us/Home/ ElectionOfficerRequestForm.aspx

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

Second Harvest Food Bank will provide community distributions at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave. Watsonville, on Mondays from 4 to 7 p.m. to accommodate working families.

Dates are:

• Nov. 7 & 21

• Dec. 5 & 19

Volunteers are welcome — and needed. Volunteers are asked to arrive at the fair-grounds before 3:30 pm for training. Second Harvest Food Bank will provide a light dinner and volunteers can take food for themselves or others.

If you are interested, email Stephanie Russo at stephanier@ thefoodbank.org, or call (831) 232-8186.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES

The American Red Cross urges blood donors of all types and those who have never given before to book a time to give blood now and help keep the blood supply from dropping ahead of the holidays.

People of all blood types are needed, especially platelet donors and those with type O.

Blood Drives

Nov. 3: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St. Santa Cruz Nov. 12: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. — Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos Nov. 15: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. — Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St., Watsonville Book by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767). Those who give Nov. 1-22 will receive a $10 e-gift card by email to a merchant of choice. See rcblood.org/perks

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 info: (831) 423-7601 or www.survivorshealingcenter. org

EQUAL ACCESS SANTA CRUZ

Cruzio’s partnership with Pajaro Valley Unified School District supports the commitment to bridge the digital divide.

Many families are now able to apply for free or reduced Internet access. Visit http://getequalaccess. cruzio.com/ to apply and use the code EASCPVUSD

CHILDCARE RESOURCES

The Child Development Resource Center, a program of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, has launched a new website to better assist local families searching for childcare.

See https://childcare.santacruzcoe.org/.

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays

BRIDGE CLUB

10:30 a.m.-Noon, Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road Ongoing thru Aug. 8

The Capitola Branch Library will host Bridge Club sessions on Mondays.

Everyone is welcomed from beginners to social players. Make new friends and sharpen your mind.

Bridge Club is a partnership between Santa Cruz County Parks and Santa Cruz Public Libraries.

Register at scparks.com or in-person the day of the event.

Tuesdays

PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM

6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting

BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated by a licensed grief counseling therapist. Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/ griefsupport or call 831-471-7255.

Every Fourth Saturday COMMUNITY WRITERS

Calling all writers! Monthly virtual open mic for poets and prose writers.

From 2:30 - 4: 30 p.m. via Zoom. Sign-up to read ahead of time at the email communitywritersscco@ gmail.com or come at 2:15 p.m.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Time limit 5 minutes for any original work. Free.

All levels of writers welcome.

Zoom: 532 385 492 • passcode 42020 communitywritersscco@gmail.com

DATED EVENTS

Friday October 28

MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR AT RIO THEATRE

7 p.m. (Doors open 6 p.m.), Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz

Mountainfilm on Tour brings a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado.

The Rio Theatre will host the films in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for children and students at RioTheatre.com and the day of the event. A portion of tickets sold will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank.

See the complete playlist at https://www.riotheatre. com/events-2/2022/30/mountainfilm

TRUNK OR TREAT

5-8 p.m. Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s headquarters, 5200 Soquel Ave.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office will host Trunk or Treat. This is a free, fun-filled, spooktacular evening of trunk or treating, games, candy, decorated trunks, and food vendors.

Free parking and shuttle service at the Capitola Mall, 1855 41st Ave., Capitola. https://www.facebook.com/SantaCruzSheriffsOffice

Saturday October 29

AG HISTORY PROJECT HARVEST DINNER

4-8:30 p.m., J.J Crosetti Building, Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave Watsonville

Event starts with a no-host bar and silent auction Dinner begins at 5:30 and is hosted by Five Star Catering. An exciting live auction follows the dinner. Reservations: $100 Per Person

DRUG TAKE BACK DAY

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sheriff’s Office, 5200 Soquel Ave., Live Oak The Sheriff’s Office will participate in a “no questions asked” and anonymous prescription medication take back event.

In addition to prescription medications, vape pens and other e-cigarette devices will be collected as long as the batteries are removed. If you have unneeded medications or vape pens, come down to the Sheriff’s Office headquarters and drop them off for safe disposal.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs while educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

Last year’s Take Back Day, the DEA reported nearly 745,000 pounds of unneeded prescriptions were collected.

PUPPETRY AT THE MALL 1-4 p.m., Capitola Mall Live performances and free puppetry crafts

Sunday October 30

MI CASA ES TU CASA: LIFE CHANGES, LIFE CONTINUES OPENING RECEPTION

1-3 p.m., Pajaro Valley Arts, 37 Sudden St., Watsonville Mi Casa es Tu Casa is Pajaro Valley Arts’ annual exhibit inspired by Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead, a tradition in many parts of the Americas that com memorates community members and family who have passed away.

This year, curators José G. Ortiz, Graciela Vega, José G. Nolasco, and Juan Carlos Padilla invited the community to consider the aftermath of the pandemic by exploring the themes of home, work, gatherings, health, and spirit, while commemorating the resilience, struggle, and humanity of our loved ones.

El Sistema, Ballet Folklorico Olin, and Activities 4 All will perform.

The exhibit will be on display through December 4. Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 11.00am – 4:00pm https://pvarts.org

Monday October 31

APTOS COMMUNITY HALLOWEEN PARADE

3 p.m., Aptos Village Green (in front of New Leaf Market), 448 Granite Way

Show off your Halloween costumes. Children of all ages are invited to a parade around the Aptos Village Green. Village businesses will offer treats after the pa-rade. This is a free family-friendly celebration. Rain will cancel the event.

For information, contact the Aptos Chamber of Commerce at (831) 688-1467 or chamberaptos@gmail.com.

TRICK OR TREAT AT MALL

4 p.m.-6 p.m., Capitola Mall

Children in costume will be given a free Halloween tote bag. There will be a face-painting booth and a Halloween Imaginarium

Thursday November 3

CASA BENEFIT AT ERIK’S DELI

All Day, Various Locations

Celebrate National Sandwich Day, Thursday Nov. 3 at the Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, or Watsonville Erik’s Deli locations (not Aptos or Capitola) and Erik’s donates a significant portion of the days proceeds to CASA of Santa Cruz County!

Last year CASA received $2,500 just from you all eating a Pilgrim’s Progress, Raging Bull, or a traditional, the Holiday Sandwich!

Scotts Valley: 222 Mount Hermon Rd

Santa Cruz: 1664 Soquel Dr

Watsonville: 1074 S Green Valley Rd https://eriksdelicafe.com

ACCLAIMED POET TRETHEWEY SPEAKS AT UCSC

6-7:30 p.m., UC Santa Cruz Merrill College Cultural Center, 641 Merrill Rd

The 13th annual Morton Marcus Poetry Reading will

Poet Gary Young will host, and the evening will include an announcement of the winner of the Morton Marcus Poetry Contest (recipient receives a $1,000 prize).

Seating will be first come, first served; registration required.

This event is a part of Conversations: Power Forged, the Fall UCSC Living Writers course, which features poets, novelists, academics, curators, and artists in conversation with one another, across genre and media to open up a space between them, and all of us, within dialogue, collaboration, and difference which poet and activist Audre Lorde describes as that raw and powerful connection from which our personal power is forged. Guests will explore just how.

Purchase poets’ works at: www.bookshopsantacruz. com

The Morton Marcus Poetry Reading honors poet, teacher, and film critic Morton Marcus (1936–2009). Marcus was the 1999 Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year and a recipient of the 2007 Gail Rich Award. Among his published works are 11 volumes of poetry, including The Santa Cruz Mountain Poems, Pages from a Scrapbook of Immigrants, Moments Without Names, Shouting Down the Silence, Pursuing the Dream Bone and The Dark Figure In The Doorway; a novel, The Brezhnev Memo; and a literary memoir, Striking Through the Masks. He taught English and film at Cabrillo College for 30 years, was the co-host of the radio program, The Poetry Show, and of the television film review show, Cinema Scene. Learn more at: www. mortonmarcus.com

The Morton Marcus Poetry Archive can be found at UCSC Special Collections.

Friday November 4

CABRILLO YOUTH STRINGS CONCERT

7 p.m., Samper Recital Hall, VAPA 5100, Cabrillo College, Aptos (intersection of Cabrillo College Drive/Soquel Drive)

The Cabrillo Youth Strings Music Program presents a fall concert featuring tango, bossa nova, English folk song, French music, and fiddle tunes.

String orchestra music will be performed by local youth at Samper Recital Hall.

Admission is: $12.50 general, $10.50 students/ seniors, $3 for students ages 6-18; children 2-5, free.

Facial coverings are required. For information about joining the orchestral, chamber or private lesson programs, call 479-6101 or visit www.cabrillo. edu/cabrillo-youth-strings

Saturday November 5

WINE & ROSES

3-6 p.m., Crosetti Hall, Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Watsonville.

Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley presents an evening of “Wine and Roses,” at Crosetti Hall.

This is the 39th annual silent auction and fundraiser in support of health and wellness services for the Pajaro Valley!

Proceeds will benefit the Community Health Trust’s following services: Community grants & scholarship programs, the Diabetes Health Center, El Mercado, El Mini Mercado, VeggieRx, The Food, Farming, & Health Policy Council and Community Gardens.

Tickets are $160 for two and $100 for one at https:// pvhealthtrust.ejoinme.org/WR2022Admission

SEVENTH ANNUAL CAPITOLA PLEIN AIR

Monday October 31 thru Sunday November 6

The Capitola Arts and Cultural Commission will welcome 30+ artists to paint outdoors Oct. 31 – Nov. 5 as a part of the 7th Annual Capitola Plein Air.

These artists will set up their easels to capture on canvas their impression of the sites, images and natural surroundings of Capitola, Nisene Marks, and Pleasure Point.

• Saturday, Nov. 5: Artists will paint in and around Capitola Village. 10 am-2 pm

• Sunday, Nov. 6: Paintings on display at Capitola’s Jade Street Community Center 11 am – 4 pm Free admission, Each artist will produce 3-8 paintings that will compete for prizes and be available for sale. Jazz music by Renata Bratt and Brian Fitzgerald, an art activity for all ages with Watershed Arts’ Linda Cover, and lunch from Sauceyz’s Food Truck.

LAVENDER SALE

8 a.m.-Noon, Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos

The Mid County Senior Center Lavender Ladies will be having their annual Lavender sale at the Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College.

The Lavender Ladies are only at the farmers market for one day a year, so come out and show your support.

It is a wonderful experience to visit with the ladies and pick up handmade products either for yourselves or as gifts for others.

All proceeds benefit Mid County Senior Center.

Tuesday November 8

ELECTION DAY

7 a.m.-8 p.m.

To find a place to vote on Election Day or drop off your mail ballot, see https://www.votescount.us/Home/Elec tions/November2022CaliforniaGeneralElection.aspx

Wednesday November 9

AUTHOR AIDA SALAZAR

6 p.m., Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave

The Live Like Coco Foundation co-sponsors a visit by acclaimed Oakland author Aida Salazar.

She will share her tender-hearted middle grade novel in verse, A Seed in the Sun, in which a young girl with big dreams meets activist Dolores Huerta and joins the 1965 protest for migrant workers’ rights. Free but RSVP at https://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/ aida-salazar

Thursday November 10

CABRILLO PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO CHAMBER

7:30-9 a.m., Seacliff Inn

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast at Seacliff Inn will feature the Cabrillo College president, Dr. Matt Wetstein.

Cost — in advance: $25 members / $30 general admission. • at the door: $35. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/chamber-breakfast-nov-10-2022

Sunday November 13

FOMENT OPENING RECEPTION

1-5 p.m., Studio Judy G, 430 Main St., Watsonville. Studio Judy G presents Foment, an exhibition of artwork by San Francisco Art Institute alumni and staff.

Foment features artwork by more than 50 practicing artists from around the world. Each one attended or taught at the San Francisco Art Institute, which closed permanently, after 151 years of operation, in July 2022.

The San Francisco Art Institute was a private college of contemporary art in San Francisco, one of the oldest art schools in the United States and the oldest west of the Mississippi River. In the 1970s and 1980s, the school became a hub for the punk music scene, with bands such as the Mutants, the Avengers, and Romeo Void all started by SFAI students. Studio Judy G’s most recent exhibition, Three Punk Painters and My Mom included works by the lead singers of the Avengers and Romeo Void.

Among the well-known SFAI alumni and faculty are: Annie Leibovitz, Jerry Garcia, Angela Davis, and Mark Rothko. Studio G owner Judy Gittelsohn is an SFAI alumni and the Monterey Bay SFAI alumni liaison. She lives in Watsonville.

Exhibit on display November 3 through December 3. Information: www.studiojudyg.com or (831) 288-0010.

Tuesday November 15

SEACLIFF INN BLOCK PARTY

5-8 p.m., Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos In celebration of the newly renovated hotel and restaurant, Seacliff Inn will host a Grand Re-Opening Block Party.

Enjoy complimentary handcrafted cocktails, beer, wine + snack on all-new menu items including Cavatappi mac & cheese, bacon wrapped shrimp, and Durham Ranch beef sliders.

Mingle among live music, face painting, lawn games, a photo booth and more! Bring your friends, family, kids, and neighbors.

RSVP at https://www.seacliffinn.com/

Saturday November 19

LA SELVA BEACH HOLIDAY FAIR & BOOK SALE

10 am-4 pm, La Selva Beach Clubhouse & Lawn, 314 Estrella Ave.

More than 50 unique art & craft vendors sell hand crafted goods for all your holiday needs at La Selva Beach Clubhouse & Lawn.

Friends of the Library will host a huge used book sale and prize raffle. Bake sale to benefit La Selva CERT. Ate3One food truck will provide eats. Free admission!

Sponsors: La Selva Beach Improvement Association and Friends of the La Selva Library. Info: BooksandBrewsLSB@ gmail.com

Saturday November 26

HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 221 Thunderbird Drive, Aptos Aptos United Methodist Church will host its ninth annual Holiday Boutique. Road signs will direct customers from Highway 1 to the church in Seascape.

Local vendors will offer a wide variety of gift items for sale while church members will sell jams, baked goods and plants.

The boutique attracts customers from across Santa Cruz County and beyond as it provides an opportunity to shop for one-of-a-kind handcrafted items. n

feature former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey at UC Santa Cruz Merrill College Cultural Center.

Photo: The City of Capitola purchased this plein air painting by Chris Potter in 2018.

Natasha Trethewey

Deliria by Annie Reiniger-Holleb

Crop Report: Value Up 3.5% and Berries Are No. 1

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

The most recent Santa Cruz County Crop Report, an annual look at crop production values in our area, showed a nearly 3.5% increase in overall crop production values compared to the previous year.

What is the purpose of the report?

The Annual Crop Report is required under the California Food and Agri cultural Code and represents estimated acreage, yield and gross values of agricul tural products in Santa Cruz County.

Agriculture, along with tourism, is one of the largest employment sectors and economic gen erators in our region so this report helps provide an understanding of the health of this industry.

The data is provided by farmers, ranchers, commissions (that review their own industry’s production), packing houses and more. The report looks at the

Growers noted that excellent conditions also made last year a banner banner year for wine grapes, with high yields leading to a gross value increase of 65 percent, to $7,926,000. Wine grapes overall, however, account for about 1 % of the total crop value — matching with timber and livestock.

gross values and not the costs incurred by growers including labor, land preparation, irrigation, pest management, transpor tation, cooling, marketing, equipment and more.

What did the report show?

Berries continue to be king within Santa Cruz County with strawberries remaining the top crop, with an estimated value of $211,062,000 — nearly one-third of the overall estimated crop value of $657,370,000.

When you include all berries, including strawberries, raspberries and blackberries (which has seen a strong growth in our area), 60 % of the total gross production value in Santa Cruz County is accounted for.

By comparison, nursery stock, including cut flowers and cut greens, make up about 20 % of the overall production value in our area. Nursery stock saw a sig nificant increase in gross value from the previous year, an increase of 14 % in gross value, to $136,730,000.

Growers noted that excellent condi tions also made last year a banner banner year for wine grapes, with high yields leading to a gross value increase of 65 percent, to $7,926,000. Wine grapes overall, however, account for about 1 % of the total crop value — matching with timber and livestock.

Apples, once the dominant crop in the Pajaro Valley, account for about 2 % of the overall production value. The production of timber, as measured by board feet, doubled from 2020 to 2021 — however, the overall production value increased by about 34 %.

Vegetable production was also up, with an overall value of $95,848,000, a 7.1 % increase from 2020.

Organic farming saw declines in

2021 in total acreage and in value, with an estimated gross value of $110,310,000 representing an 18.7 % decline from the previous year. Organic acreage and value can change from year to year and some of this change can be attributed to crop rotations and types of commodities grown.

One additional fun fact: Our district (the 2nd District) has more agricul tural land than any other district in the County.

Where are the crops exported?

While many crops are sold locally or domestically in general, a significant amount of local crops are exported.

From cut flowers and cut greens, to book chop, carrots, celery, lava beans, kale, raspberries, spinach and strawberries — in fact, over three dozen different crops are exported from our County.

Zealand to Japan, the Netherlands, Peru, South Africa, and Ukraine.

How can you learn more?

The full report is available at www. agdept.com - which is the website for the Santa Cruz County Department of Agriculture.

The purpose of the County Ag Department is to serve the public’s interest by ensuring equity in the marketplace, promoting and protecting agriculture, assuring environmental quality and pro tecting the health, safety and welfare of Santa Cruz County’s residents.

If you have any trouble finding the report please don’t hesitate to call me at 454-2200 and I would be happy to send it to you. As always, if you have any questions about this issue, or any other matters in our district, feel free to call me. I’m maintaining regular updates on social media as well at www.facebook.com/

Michelle Lopez-Rubio, Aptos High School, “Sacrificing My Father’s Hands” 1st place in 20th Congressional Art Competition, May 2022

SCCAS Featured Pet

Have Some Flap Jacks!

This week the Pet of the Week for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is Flap Jacks!

This one-year-old Belgian Malinois mix has been at SCCAS for about a month and is looking for his new best friend. When he first came to the Shelter as a stray, he was a bit nervous, but has blossomed with all of the TLC from staff and volunteers.

He loves to play but tends to bark at dogs before greeting, but once he has had a slow introduction, he has a great time and is in some fun play groups with Shelter buddies. Flap Jacks is working on his manners and life skills but is making amazing progress. At events he is lovely- has meet people out in public and been so sweet and relaxed.

Riding the car is also something that Flap Jacks is great at, and he tends to lay down and entertains himself while riding along. A home with another playful dog might be a great fit provided that the dogs meet at the Shelter first.

Flap Jacks should not live in a home with cats, and children should be older and respectful.

Come to the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter at 1001 Rodriguez in Santa Cruz to meet Flap Jacks — an amazing dog looking for an amazing home!

Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals on our website and then visit the Shelter to turn in your application. All adoptions require proof of home ownership or landlord approval. Please have this information pre pared. If an animal is in Foster Care, please bring in your adoption application and schedule an appointment to meet the animal. Call 831-454-7200 x0 during business hours or visit www.scanimalshelter.org for more information! n

Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter: Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. –

SCCAS

“PVUSD Q&A” from page 27

Aligned with our commitment to Whole Child, Whole Family, Whole Community and our Expanded Learning Opportunities Program Plan, Intersession Saturdays are intended to be available to TK-6th graders, however, our Intersession Saturday on Oct. 22 had many opportunities available for the whole family.

On Oct. 22, we had Camp WOW with the City of Watsonville,YMCA Enrichment Day Camp, Gilroy Gardens Kid Go Family Night, Science Workshop, Día De Los Muertos Nichos Class, and a Wetlands Res toration Day.

On Oct. 29, Camp WOW will be hosting a Fall Fun Day Camp that will include a field trip to the Downtown Candy Crawl. Details for all events can be found on our second Intersession at https://asp.pvusd.net.

Questions can be emailed to extend edlearning@pvusd.net.

Are the SROs on campus every day? Are they there the entire school day (same hours as the students)?

On May 11, the PVUSD Board of Trustees approved the adoption of the School Resource Officer (SRO) and Mental Health Clinician pilot model.

The model includes one full-time Mental Health Clinician paired with one SRO at Wat sonville High School and Aptos High School. Our Mental Health Clinician and SRO are on campus Monday-Friday and are present during school hours. Why are our children being fed Doritos for lunch?

Prior to March 2020 and the COVID pandemic, a USDA school meals com pliant formulation of Doritos was offered to students as an a la carte item available for purchase at secondary schools.

The USDA school meals formulation of Doritos contains less fat and sodium and higher amounts of whole grains (50% minimum) than traditional Doritos. Since March 2020, a la carte sales have been discon tinued to encourage students to eat whole meals.

As supply chain issues continue to create shortages for the Food & Nutrition Services Department, they have on occasion had to substitute the regular tortilla chips served (also a USDA school meals-compliant reduced fat/sodium, higher whole grain formulation) with a USDA school meals compliant formu lation of brand name chips such as Doritos.

What is the district doing to address the staph infection as well as the hand, foot and mouth disease infections at schools?

PVUSD Board policy regarding infectious diseases (such as staph or hand, foot and mouth) encourages parents and guardians to inform school staff if their child has an infec tious disease so that school staff may work to minimize exposure to diseases in the school setting.

When there is a communicable disease at a school site, the site administration is notified. An exposure notice is sent home to the families. This notice explains when your child was exposed, signs and symptoms of the illness, information about how to prevent further spread of the virus and any next steps the families can take.

Consultation with your primary phy sician is also recommended. If there are clusters of students at a site who have been identified with the same illness, the school nurse contacts County Health for guidance and support.

Administration works with Mainte nance to do an enhanced cleaning of the classrooms, locker rooms, or area that needs to be disinfected.

It is very confusing all of the work that we are doing with both MTSS and Wellness Teams. Why are we doing both?

Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS)

is an integrated, comprehensive framework that focuses on core instruction, differentiated learning, student-centered learning, individualized student needs, and the alignment of systems necessary for all students’ academic, behavioral, and social success. The Wellness Teams and referral process is part of the MTSS framework.

The Wellness Referral process is the first step in helping identify students’ concerns.

Whether the concerns are academic, socioemotional, or behavioral the Wellness Referral process allows us to gather information about the efforts made to address the noted concerns and helps us to identify action steps.

Following the MTSS process can be one of the possible outcomes of the Wellness Referral. Please speak with your site admin istrator if you need additional clarification and or assistance.

Hello Dr. Rodriguez, I am a student at Wat sonville High School and I do not have a permanent teacher for two of my classes this year. I know last year there were teachers on special assignments covering these unfilled positions. Will this be taking place this school year?

The District and Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers worked on a memorandum of understanding for the 2021-2022 school year which temporarily transferred the Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAs) into the classroom to mitigate the increased number of vacancies due to the teacher shortage.

Part of the agreement included the com mitment to return them back to their TOSA positions for the 2022-2023 school year to continue their important work in the District supporting teachers.

The District has a significantly lower number of teacher vacanciescompared to last school year, however, we are still seeing the impact of those vacancies at a few sites in the District and Watsonville High School is one of those still being impacted.

The District would like to utilize our TOSAs in a different capacity this year by having them added to the emergency sub rotation at our most impacted sites. By adding them to the rotation the load on the teachers who are covering during their prep would be reduced as well as provide the stu dents with fully credentialed teachers.

The District has proposed this solution to PVFT and we hope to reach an agreement.

Currently, TOSAs are supporting uncovered teacher absences District wide, however, as previously mentioned we do see a higher need to place them at our most impacted sites. The Human Resources Department is actively recruiting both classroom teachers and substitutes. n