Aptos Times: April 1, 2023

What Bird Are You?

Aptos High Alum Amy Bobeda Releases New Book

Aptos High School alumna Amy Bobeda announces the release of her new book What Bird Are You? with awardwinning Finishing Line Press this spring.

Work in this illustrated collection of poetry and essays travels from Sunset Beach across the Valley of

Birds, north to Bolinas, and beyond navigating the worlds of clay, mythology, and birds in an increasingly fragile ecosystem, building new stories from the memories of my parents’ lifelong careers teaching in Cabrillo’s ceramics department. ... continues on page 4

Cabrillo Stage Team Gets to Work

This season’s production is The Hunchback of Notre Dame, based on Victor Hugo’s timeless novel, showcasing songs from Disney’s Academy Award-nominated score, with new songs by Menken and Schwartz performed by a live orchestra, the cast and a full onstage choir.

Full Story page 5

Radio Daze at Aptos High Full Story page 4

Miracles in the Storm

Living in Santa Cruz County has been quite a wet and wild experience this winter. We have experienced storm after storm oversaturating our ground, flooding our creeks and rivers, blowing down our trees.

Full Story page 11

Bay Federal Credit Union Honors Employees • Hillcrest Residential:

10 Homes Sold • Delta Dental Awards $5 Million To Treat Santa Cruz County Elders

12 Technology, Engineering & Art for Eighth Grade

15 Trees Crash in Mangels Gulch: Nisene Marks Closed To Vehicles Due to Road Failure, By Todd Marco

16 Visiting Capitola Library

17 No-Cost Chipping: Boost Storm Cleanup & Wildfire Prep

22 Good Friday: Surfers To Create Crown of Thorns, By Simon Cassar

24 New Advocates for Children • No Water, No Toilets as Pajaro Evacuation Ends

25 Youth Resource Bank: Investing in Children, By Jo Ann Allen

27 How to File Damage Claim with PG&E

In Memoriam

18 Claire Vessey, Co-Founder of Vessey Drugs

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Never Again, Completely and Forever More, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

Featured Columnists

11 Miracles in the Storm, By Joyce and Barry Vissell

20 SB 277: Include Undocumented Families in Our Safety Nets, By Maria Cadenas

23 Taking Earth Day to Heart Every Day, By Rebecca Gold Rubin

30 Pajaro River Levee: Next Steps, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Meet Hazel and Eros

publisher

Patrice Edwards editor

Jondi Gumz

COMMUNITY NEWS

Radio Daze at Aptos High

By Mercy Nigh and Ben Ford

contributing writers

Mercy Nigh, Ben Ford, Mindy Pedlar, Jondi Gumz, Todd Marco, Simon Cassar, Jo Ann Allen, Risa D’Angeles, Tony Tomeo, Joyce and Barry Vissell, Maria Cadenas, Rebecca Gold Rubin, Zach Friend layout

Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin graphic artists

Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin

production coordinator

Camisa Composti

Aptos High School is very excited to present Radio Daze, directed by Stacy Aronovici and associate director Catherine Leal. World War II has sent the United States into despair and many citizens turn to the radio for relief.

Connie Carol (Saana Kayser, a junior) and Dash Darling (Jimmy Glassman, a senior) have been the stars of the radio soap opera Dreams and Delusions for years, but are growing out of their characters.

In an attempt to revive the show,

media consultants

Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine

office coordinator

Cathe Race distribution

Bill Pooley, Taylor Brougham

COVER STORY

“Birds” from page 1

up-and-comer writers Jack Kelly (Ben Ford, junior) and Eugene Eubanks (Riley Page, junior) make some major changes. While

successful amongst the audience, these changes cause discord within the station.

To make matters worse, a misunderstanding between the daughter of the show’s sponsor, Daisy Airheart (Laurel Southall, junior), and the station gives the sponsor more intel than intended.

The sponsor, however, is not the only undercover spy in the station. Love is in the air as this family-friendly comedy has several blossoming relationships and plenty of action! A German spy? A secret government official? Come watch the mystery unfold!

“Radio Daze” page 7

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We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc. are dedicated to providing a voice for the individuals and organizations in our community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses. We seek to promote healthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, school news, senior events, community groups and entertainment

Bobeda is a poet, artist, and teacher, with a master’s degree in creative writing & poetics from Naropa University in Boulder, Colo., where she is the director of the Naropa Writing Center.

“I’ve never seen a bird that hasn’t made me want to live,” Amy Bobeda writes in her second full-length collection of poetry, essays, and playful illustrations.

Sequestered during the 2020 lockdown, some sought the company of

Netflix and loved ones or the challenge of baking the perfect bread; Amy Bobeda sought the company of birds.

From local bald eagles to East Coast cardinals, the book is a murmuration of bird songs mapping Ohlone lands of the Pajaro Valley, famous birds of Twitter’s Manhattan Bird Alert, the Acoma Reservation, and daily life in Colorado’s first “Bird City.”

Uncovering childhood memories rooted in her mother’s obsession with sculpting porcelain birds, and a home filled with her

father’s radio-control airplanes, Bobeda uncovers her own origin stories carry wings.

This collection of essays and poems explores what it means to live as a writer caught between the world of potters and the world of birds in ecosystems more fragile than unfired porcelain.

Andrew Schelling of The Jack Kerouac School and author of The Facts at Dog Tank Spring gives it a favorable review.

Local readers are sure to appreciate this poem on the storm-battered Cement Ship of Seacliff: the cement ship, age 10 straddling Seacliff and Rio del Mar I take my sister’s picture just before the fenced-off hull, her face sepia like the pouch of pelicans pirating the ship behind the fence my father says when I was a kid we could walk all the way to the end I stick my nose in chain link and enter the picture in the county fair. For the next decade when people ask how old is your sister I say twenty-seven because the way her curls meet the wind against the cement ship twenty-seven forever. n

•••

The book costs $20.99 at https:// www.finishinglinepress.com/product/ what-bird-are-you-by-amy-bobeda/

•••

Cover Photo: Birds find a perch on the old Cement Ship • Credit: John Hunter

Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti

Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin, Brad King website

photography

Amy Bobeda

Riley Page, Ben Ford , Leah Moos, Demetrius Sosa

Cabrillo Stage Team Gets to Work

By Mindy Pedlar

This season’s production is The Hunchback of Notre Dame based on Victor Hugo’s timeless novel, showcasing songs from Disney’s Academy Award-nominated score, with new songs by Menken and Schwartz performed by a live orchestra, the cast and a full onstage choir.

In celebration and acknowledgement of the work ahead, Andrea has gathered those who will help her bring this magnificent show to life — the creative directors, designers, stage managers, box office and administrative staff — for a quick photo before decision day begins.

At 10 a.m., the stage fills with nearly 60 talented performers who have been

called back to attend Cabrillo Stage’s final round of auditions.

Each singer/dancer/actor had been emailed sheet music and a YouTube link featuring Brance Souza performing the dance combination to review. Those called back for a specific character had also been sent sides (theater lingo for portions of the script).

Audition accompanist, Jonathan Dryden, is at the baby grand piano; Cheryl Anderson, choir director, gives a reassuring smile to the group as Michael J. McGushin, musical director/conductor, invites them to stand and sing 18 measures of the dramatically thrilling, “Finale Ultimo.”

“Teamwork” page 7

Andrea Hart (fourth from left), Cabrillo Stage’s new Artistic Director.

Seacliff Pier Soon to Disappear

By Jondi Gumz

On March 20, yellow excavators began ripping into the old wooden pier at Seacliff State Beach — deemed unsafe after January’s epic storms, which destroyed half the pier.

State parks officials said it was in imminent danger of collapse, although here it is the end of March, and it hasn’t yet fully fallen into the ocean.

The 500-foot pier was what connected locals to the Cement Ship, formally known as the S. S. Palo Alto, towed here in 1930 and outfitted to offer pleasures such as dancing, swimming in a pool, a cafe, carnival concessions, slot machines, and it is rumored gambling downstairs.

Birds found the ship a convenient pooping place, and it was closed in 2001. A big storm in 2017 made the ship roll over and then break apart.

The Cement Ship and the pier have been the subjects of countless photographs, especially as the sun is setting.

“Seacliff Pier” page 9

The lifeguard tower is removed from the Seacliff pier.

State School Chief Visits PVUSD

On March 24, with many families in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District facing adverse circumstances, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond received a warm welcome.

He witnessed the outcome of efforts to ensure students are in school, touring Pajaro Middle School, the site most impacted by devastating flooding, and visiting more than 400 Pajaro Middle students co-located at Lakeview Middle School.

Pajaro Middle School’s parking lot is serving as a place to support families’ reentry into their community, which lost toilet and water service when the sewer main broke.

“The visit of Mr. Thurmond, a key state official, to PVUSD was an opportunity to share the work being done to support the ‘Whole Child, Whole Family, Whole Community,’ regardless of the many tribulations we have all faced, so that our students can explore their passions, interests and talents in a caring, safe and engaging environment,” said Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, who has lead the district for

“Teamwork” from page 5

The sound is amazing, powerful and beautiful. Anderson is beaming and McGushin says, “Wow, I wish I could hire you all.”

It was an excellent start to a long, but creatively fulfilling day.

Brance Souza, choreographer, led the dance call, reviewing the steps to the lively and challenging dance combination he created. As the day progressed, actors read specific scenes coached by the director, Vinh G. Nuygen.

“Radio Daze” from page 4

There will be one weekend of performances:

Thursday, April 13 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 pm)

Friday, April 14 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 pm)

Saturday, April 15 at 3 pm (doors open at 2:30 pm)

Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 pm)

Performances will be in the Aptos High School Performing Arts Center, 100 Mariner Way, Aptos.

Tickets at door, pay what you can; suggested donation $10. n

almost seven years, with a steadfast commitment to lifting up the aspirations of every student.

She added, “We highlighted the

And though it made the casting decisions more difficult, the creative team felt fortunate to have so many exuberant, talented and qualified singer/dancer/actors from which to choose.

By the end of the day, choices have been made and casting is nearing completion. On with the show! n

Tickets are available online beginning April 1. All performances are in the Crocker Theater on the Cabrillo College campus in Aptos. Box Office opens for phone & walk in sales June 15, Thursday – Saturdays 12pm-6pm 831-479-6154.

impactful work we have been undertaking within PVUSD to prepare our students for success through intentional use of data to grow equity of outcomes.”

Pajaro Valley is the largest school district in Santa Cruz County with more than 17,000 students.

Her philosophy is that schools are a place where students make life-long friends, develop relationships with caring adults, with resources to meet their aspirations, and where safety and socioemotional wellbeing are always a priority.

Rodriguez shared an album with images and videos of Superintendent Thurmond’s visit at https://tinyurl.com/ pvusd-thurmond-storm-damage

She said his visit “brings attention to the needs of our families impacted by the flood as well as to the PVUSD’s collective work on behalf of the students served and the important role of K-12 education as a quality-of-life indicator in the Pajaro Valley.”

She said PVUSD’s attention has been where it matters most for students -- robust, high-quality developmentally informed, inclusive, and rigorous, joyful programs.

“School Chief” page 9

Photos Credit: Stacy Aronovici

Jimmy Glassman and Saana Kayser

Oldest People on Earth Share Their Voices

Grammy Award-winning music producer Ian Brennan announces his latest project: The first album ever to feature the wisdom and voices of those over 100 years old.

This album, The Oldest Voice in the World (Azerbaijan) “Thank you for bringing me back to the sky” (Six Degrees Records, release date: April 7), consists of 22 pieces with five bonus tracks featuring artists Brennan has collaborated with: The Kronos Quartet, Tinariwen, Malawi Mouse Boys, Yuka Honda, and The Good Ones (Rwanda).

In late 2021, Brennan and his wife, Italian-Rwandan filmmakerphotographer Marilena Umuhoza Delli , traveled to the southern mountains of Azerbaijan, where legend has it that the world’s oldest man hailed from there — having survived to age 168.

Brennan and Delli made the ambitious excursion to these remote rural villages amid a deluge of social media posts on best practices for “staying young.”

Upon their arrival in Azerbaijan, the couple found villagers had been ravaged by Covid-19 and most residents over 100 had died in recent months, including the oldest known woman in the country.

Traversing from village to village, they came to discover centenarian after centenarian living without indoor plumbing, sleeping on floor-bound mattresses, and what seemed to Brennan, that the Talysh people were almost anticipating their arrival with such a warm reception.

Brennan is known for scouring the far stretches of the globe to document singers in an uninhibited, authentic fashion.

From recordings in regions such as Rwanda, Malawi, South Sudan, Karachi, Comoros, Palestine, Ukerewe Island,

Cambodia, and Romania, this latest project brought him to a region where no outsiders wander.

The villages were so remote, Brennan’s Azerbaijani-speaking companion from the city advised that the locals’ words were completely unintelligible.

Even the Talysh speaker from the valley below could make out less than 80% of what was being said in the remote mountain villages.

As the couple began meeting the centenarians, one theme was ever-present. Most would sing of their mother, and their secret to life was simple, “I was loved.”

Voices were recorded in their natural living environments. For instrumentation along with their voices, Brennan used the wood-burning furnace providing heat for the house, a walker, their own footsteps, a broken bedroom door, or the farm flour grinder.

“The texture of their singing was as if they had voices featuring distortion boxes built by time,” says Ian Brennan. “While recording, I removed my headphones more than once thinking there was some malfunction in the machinery, only to realize that what I was hearing was the singer’s pure tone. This project was a rare instance in music where the majority of people did not make the cut due to being too young -- a mere 90 or 86 failed to impress.”

Brennan and Delli experienced raw emotion.

A former shepherd was overcome and shakily stood up to leave the room after having sung a song his mother used to sing. Brennan recalls, “We feared our visit had caused him unnecessary upset. But when he returned, he beamed, grabbed my hand and kissed it repeatedly, and said ‘Thank you for bringing me back to the sky.’” n

Goats On Assignment: Controlling Vegetation Along the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line

As of March 20, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will be deploying goats to control vegetation overgrowth on 2.6 miles of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line corridor.

Goats will be used in four locations to control weeds and potential fire hazards, clear certain drainage ditches to prevent clogging which may damage infrastructure or neighboring properties, reduce the debris degrading the railroad ties, and to clear certain invasive growth areas which impede visibility for safe travel and for police to patrol for illegal activities.

Goats are quieter, more energy efficient, require less person-power, and could reduce the need for and/or enhance the effectiveness of herbicides, according to

the RTC, which added this could also reduce the overall maintenance cost of the corridor.

Work will take place in these locations starting in Aptos:

• Aptos (Doris Ave. to Sandalwood Dr.)

• Capitola (Coronado St. to Wesley St.)

• Live Oak (38th Ave. to 17th Ave.)

• La Selva Beach (South of the San Andreas Road overcrossing)

This work will require the use of electric fencing, goat herders, and herding dogs, all of which will also be contained within the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line right-of-way where the work is being done.

The public is asked to not disturb the electric fencing, enter the fenced area, or pet/feed the goats or dogs.

County Goal: 4,634 More Homes Public Input Sought on Where & How

The County of Santa Cruz is creating a new Housing Element to increase housing access and meet state goals for housing production — 4,634 by Dec. 31, 2031 — and is seeking public participation.

The County is establishing a Community Panel of individuals, including those impacted by local housing costs, to provide input on the Housing Element process. The Community Panel will reflect a cross-section of county residents, including community members most affected by housing instability and/or unaffordability and with a focus on those living/ working in unincorporated areas. Historically

marginalized communities are encouraged to apply. The deadline is March 31.

Separately, the County is conducting outreach to community groups, local businesses and partner agencies struggling to find and retain employees and/or pay staff sufficient wages to afford local housing and reduce greenhouse gases associated with long commute times.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development issued a “Regional Housing Needs Allocation” for unincorporated Santa Cruz County of 4,634 homes for the upcoming eight-year Housing Element, including 1,492 very low-income units.

The Housing Element must undergo environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act and receive state approval by Dec. 15, 2023 to avoid significant penalties and/or suspension of local permitting authority. n •••

To apply, see www.surveymonkey.com/r/ CGBD6D9. Members receive $25 gift cards for each meeting attended. To follow the process locally, visit www.santa cruzcounty.us/2023HousingElement

For more info, visit www.hcd.ca.gov/ planning-and-communitydevelopment/ housing-elements

“School Chief” from page 7

Early years are followed by intentional programming and support systems, allowing students to thrive in their education through arts, in the garden, through project-based learning, through relevant Career Technical Education with real-world pathways, with meaningful ethnic studies courses for the study and reflection of social construction of race and racism impacting community experiences, and with effective social emotional systems.

Integral to this operation is close to 100 partners.

“Seacliff Pier” from page 6

Most people in Aptos are nostalgic about the pier and the ship — they fished there when they were young. Not Michael Kram of Royal Oak. He called it “a gambling boat for rich people,” and he doesn’t want any more money spent on it.

Granite Construction of Watsonville is the demolition contractor.

Gabe McKenna, State Parks public safety superintendent, estimated the demolition would take six weeks.

During this time, public access will be limited from the waterline to the bluffs for safety reasons Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

However the Visitor Center and ParkStore will remain open, normal hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

From March 29-31, the Visitor Center was closed so a new roof could be put on. That was among the damages during the storm.

The campground closed again March 27-29 as yet another storm blew through; a decision on reopening is due on March 29.

Rodriguez has received recognition at local, state and national levels for her visionary educational leadership and equity-focused systems transformation work.

She was selected by Thurmond, to serve on two of his transition committees working to reimagine policies and goals in bilingual education and closing the achievement gap.

She received the 2021 Region 10 Superintendent of the Year award, the 2020 Phil Rather Award from the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust, and the 2022 Community Hero Award at the Community Indicators Consortium’s Impact Summit. n

State Parks has not released an estimate of damages at Seacliff State Beach but damages in state parks across Santa Cruz County were estimated at $40 million, according to Chris Spohrer, superintendent for the Santa Cruz District of state parks.

The entire job, which began last Monday, is expected to be finished by the end of April. The wood, Douglas fir covered generations ago by creosote, coal tar commonly used years ago as a preservative and today is restricted from some uses by the European Union because it is carcinogenic, will be buried at a landfill in Marina.

Because of the storm damages, Seacliff State Beach is closed to vehicle traffic. However, people can park in the upper lot, then walk in and view the ongoing demolition from the bluffs.

Planning meetings on the future of the park facilities will take place this summer and be open to the public. Dates are to be announced soon, with a plan to be ready in a year. Construction will likely begin in 2024 or 2025.

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

has established the Seacliff State Beach Recovery Fund to support short-term support, followed by investments in long-term recovery work.

To donate, see https://thatsmypark.app.

neoncrm.com/np/clients/thatsmypark/ donation.jsp?campaign=158 n

To join the State Parks Seacliff mailing list, visit parks.ca.gov/SeacliffStateBeach

Bay Federal Credit Union Honors Employees

Each year, Bay Federal Credit Union honors employees who most consistently go above and beyond and who embody the credit union’s values. This year, Elsa Lopez-Limas and Jack Baldwin are winners of the 2022 Service Excellence Award, the most prestigious award for employees.

Limas, a financial services officer at the River Street Branch, was recognized for being one of Bay Federal’s greatest treasures with her positive energy and compassion for anyone going through a hard time. Baldwin, the service desk supervisor, was recognized for being friendly and uplifting no matter what technological challenge is at hand.

“Our employees are an integral part of what makes Bay Federal special,” said Bay Federal President and CEO Carrie Birkhofer said. “Elsa and Jack not only provide exceptional member service, but they take initiative beyond their daily duties to help their coworkers, our members, and the community. They are the credit union philosophy of People Helping People come to life.”

The Wind Beneath Our Wings Award celebrates collaboration between back office departments and frontline branch staff; the Community Champions Award honors employees who go above and beyond when volunteering in the community; and the Pacific Spirit Award honors employees who represent Bay Federal’s values and demonstrate dedication, initiative, and a positive outlook.

Employees who made significant contributions by proposing efficiencies get BayIDEAS Awards, those who regularly collaborate with others get the Collaborator Club Award, and newcomers who make positive impacts get Rookie Awards.

Here is the awards list:

Member Experience Champions: River Street Branch

Member Heroes: Judith Godinez,

member service representative, Salinas, and Courtney Kuljis, Member Service Center representative

Sales Super Stars: Art Ruvalcaba, financial services officer, Scotts Valley, and Kaila Wiseman, home loan consultant

Service Supervisor: Aldo Espinoza, Salinas

Service Manager: Albert Vizcarra, Salinas

AVP/Branch Manager: Rueben

Munoz, Watsonville

Rookie Awards: Abra Larr, ,ember support representative, MSC; Andrew Berteaux, member services supervisor, Aptos; Holga Nugent, Member Service Center manager

BayIdeas Awards: Paul Henry, senior deposit production specialist; Nayeli Arriaga, service desk specialist, technology

Hillcrest Residential: 10 Homes Sold

Hillcrest Residential Development, the 144-unit subdivision to be built off Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville, has announced the first 10 homes sold will mean a donation of $1,000 per home to local nonprofits, including Second Harvest Food Bank.

The donation program was announced at the Feb. 17 groundbreaking.

The developer is Landco Hillcrest LLC. Mark Lester, an Aptos High School alumnus, is Landco’s CEO.

Each home will have three bedrooms and an attached two-car garage with electric vehicle charging connections, solar panels and EnergyStar appliances; there will be 76 townhomes, 63 duplexes, and 5 detached single-family homes.

Buyers can choose interior colors, materials, moldings, and trims.

Every home will have a private outdoor space, such as patio, yard, deck, or balcony. The neighborhood will include picnic, turf, play, and birdwatching areas, and a hiking trail encircling the wetlands.

Home prices will range from $850,000 to $1,100,000, with 29 homes available at below-market rate for buyers eligible for the City of Watsonville’s Affordable Housing Program based on their income.

Completion of the first phase is expected in summer.

Hillcrest, on an 11-acre plateau overlooking Watsonville’s wetlands, is the first major residential project to break ground locally in 17 years. The site was formerly a wrecking yard.

“The Hillcrest project will deliver

abundant and vitally important community benefits, including essential affordable housing stock, high-paying construction jobs, significant impact fees for local parks and schools, and recurring property tax revenues for both the City of Watsonville and Santa Cruz County,” Lester said. n

Collaborator Club Award: Andrew Berteaux, service supervisor, Aptos

Pacific Spirt Awards: Bailey Meyer, member services supervisor, Scotts Valley; Catherine Schneider, senior Member Service Center specialist; Jesus Flores, senior collections representative; Josie Daly, consumer lending specialist; Kelsey Robinson, education and development specialist; Maria Garcia, accounting services specialist; Melanie Otts, deposit production specialist; Michelle Asistin, senior loan services specialist; Mirna Quintero, digital lending officer; Philippe Nivelle, senior Treasury analyst; Ryan Borella, member services specialist, Capitola; Jeanette Larkin, human resources generalist

Wind Beneath Our Wings Awards: Behnaz Zandkarimi, deposit production manager; Mindy Cinelli, education and development manager

Community Champion Awards: Joey Miranda, human resources and payroll specialist; Corey Spadaccini, member relationship specialist, Scotts Valley; Cassy Rozinski, lead member services representative, Scotts Valley n

Delta Dental Awards $5 Million To Treat Santa Cruz County Elders

On March 22, two Santa Cruz County nonprofit health care organizations — Dientes Community Dental Care and Salud Para La Gente — were announced as new members of the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation’s Senior Oral Health Coalition Program. Dientes and Salud will receive $5 million in funding from the Community Care Foundation over the next five years.

The multi-year program launched in April 2022 to address the oral health crisis among older adults in the U.S. and increase equity and access to care, particular for people of color

Why should the oral health of older adults be prioritized?

• The 2021 National Institutes of Health “Oral Health in America” report cited adults age 65 and older as the most critically underserved for oral health care in the U.S.

“Dientes” page 16

Elsa Lopez-Limas Jack Baldwin

Miracles in the Storm

Living in Santa Cruz County has been quite a wet and wild experience this winter. We have experienced storm after storm oversaturating our ground, flooding our creeks and rivers, blowing down our trees. The weather experts refer to it as an almost nonstop atmospheric river pounding our coastline.

The good news: Our drought is finally over. The snowpack in the mountains is more than adequate. The reservoirs are full.

The bad news: Flooding and destruction of property have displaced thousands. People have drowned or have been killed by falling trees. The ocean caused so much coastal damage that President Biden made a visit to our tiny town of Aptos, speaking in front of our destroyed pier.

Yet in all of this devastation, miracle stories abound. Joyce and I deeply believe in angels, great beings who are tireless in

their protection of all of us. Just because some “bad” things are allowed to happen, we may not know how many catastrophes are prevented because of angelic intercession. Or why? But sometimes the sheer number of miraculous details become too hard to explain away as random happenings.

Here’s what happened to us on Tuesday, March 21. I was in the middle of a counseling session with a woman, while her husband sat in their car in our driveway watching their 4-year-old daughter. Our cell phones all beeped with a severe wind warning. The wind became so strong, reaching 80 mph, that we could not hear each other speak. Then the ground shook, followed by a thunderous crash. Moments later, there was a loud knock on the door and the man stuck his head in and said to me, “Sorry for interrupting but you better come out and see what happened.”

By Joyce and Barry Vissell

I ran outside and around the garage to the driveway. For the 33 years since we built and lived in our home, we have coexisted with a giant Monterey pine tree on the side of our driveway. It was a beautiful and majestic tree, providing welcome shade on warm summer days. But it wasn’t all good. Also on those warm summer days, it rained sap onto our driveway, so parking underneath the tree could really mess up your vehicle.

Then there were the squirrels. As cute as they are, and as much as we love them, they loved to chew through the branches that held pine cones in place. It’s interesting to us living here on the central California coast that the largest trees on earth, the mighty redwoods, have the smallest cones, maybe one inch long and weighing perhaps less that an ounce.

However, the Monterey pines, although not the smallest coniferous tree, have perhaps one of the heaviest cones. Especially before they open to release their seeds, they can weigh over a pound each.

Thank you, Doctor.

It cannot be said enough. The lengths you go to care for your patients and comfort their families are beyond extraordinary. Your actions are heroic. Regardless of the situation, your kindness, bravery and humanity never rest. Nor will our gratitude.

On Doctor’s Day, and every day, we thank you.

And this is for some reason the squirrel’s favorite time to release their bombs.

Massive Monterey pine uprooted by the storm lifted up the 250-gallon propane tank, but there was no gas leak.

2023

Technology, Engineering & Art for Eighth Grade

Mount Madonna School eighth grade students have been working in their Technology, Engineering and Art class to create clay lamps that, when finished, will be wired and functionable.

Teachers Angela Willetts and John Welch have shared lessons introducing students to techniques for working with clay, and broadened their understanding of the electrical “path” — from power generating plant to the lightbulbs that will illuminate each lamp.

“Part of being a good designer is understanding the qualities and limitations of materials,” said Willetts. “In this project, the students had to solve a lot of problems because of the special properties of clay. It has to be joined correctly or it will break in the firing. Only certain kinds of shapes will work because the clay contains a lot of water and will sag and crack under the pressure of gravity.”

Willetts continued: “The students learned three hand-building techniques: Coil, slab and pinch. In some cases, they had to combine techniques to get the shape they wanted. They worked out their ideas first with a prototype to see if the shape would hold. In many cases, it didn’t, and it was back to the drawing board! This kind

of learning-by-doing problem solving is an important skill in design and innovation.”

In designing their lamps, students practiced the design process.

“They first thought about who would be the user of their lamps and talked to them to find out their needs and what they liked,” said Welch. “Students brainstormed and did internet research to broaden their range of ideas.”

“Tech Art” page 14

Including:

n Sofas

n Chaises

n Fire Pits

n Umbrellas

n Love Seats

n Dining Sets

n Custom Cushions

n Heaters

We also do complete patio furniture restoration and repair.

“Miracles” from page 11

We have had several broken windshields, dented vehicle roofs, not to mention the major risk of a broken skull. We have even wondered if the squirrels sometimes planned their attacks, aiming their bombs just for the fun of it.

People have over the years urged us to remove this tree, fearing the possibility that it might fall on our house or the apartment above our garage. But I have studied that tree carefully. I’m not an arborist, but in my time, I have taken down many a tree that needed to be removed. This particular giant was clearly leaning away from our buildings. I knew it would fall someday, but I calculated its trajectory as nearly missing our 250-gallon propane tank and landing well above a mobile home down the hill on our property.

The behemoth did fall mostly where I predicted, but nature had other plans. The massive root system pulled out of the earth, leaving large sections of asphalt pavement in disarray, looking more like the aftermath of an earthquake than a tree falling down. The roots lifted the nearly full propane tank into the air, where it perched at a 45-degree angle, amazingly still attached to the gas line coming out of the ground. Miraculously, there was no leaking, hissing, or smell of propane gas.

The huge root system also unearthed an electrical conduit, lifting it eight feet into the air. Inside was the power line connecting the garage solar panels and generator to our main service panel. Again, miraculously, the power line was still

attached to the panel, although the conduit broke off the panel and the exposed wires were pulled out about three inches.

Then there was the final miracle. From where I stood, I couldn’t see my new truck parked in front of our camper. I feared the worst, imagining both with severe damage from the tree falling not perfectly where I planned it would fall. I always remember one of my mother’s favorite Yiddish sayings, “Mann tracht, und Gott lacht,” meaning man (or woman or they) plan and God laughs.

I rushed over, squeezed past all the branches, saw branches actually touching both the truck and the camper, without even a scratch on either vehicle.

That’s simply too many miracles to ignore. Yes, many would say we were just lucky. But we don’t believe that for a minute. We deeply trust that, at least this particular time, we were protected by spiritual forces that we cannot explain. And we feel we have a clear choice to be thankful for this protection, and for all the protection we have received in the past, or will receive in the future. n

Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors in Aptos who are passionate about conscious relationship and personal-spiritual growth. They are the authors of 9 books and a new free audio album of sacred songs and chants. Call 831-684-2130 for further information on counseling sessions by phone, on-line, or in person, their books, recordings or their schedule of talks and workshops. Visit their web site at SharedHeart.org

“Tech Art” from page 12

Next, students made prototypes and drawings of their lamp design. This included planning for enough “holes” or open spaces for line to shine through, as well as sturdy bases and needed openings for the light fixture and bulb, and space for the cord to enter the lamp, while still allowing it to sit stably on a flat surface.

As they completed their designs, the teachers gave each student a block of gray stoneware clay from which to fashion their lamp. While the clay was drying, students

spent a week learning about the different ways electricity is generated and how it arrives at a wall outlet.

“They learned the difference between AC and DC electricity and how their light fixtures work,” said Welch, “and about processes that make electricity safer, so that when they wire up their lamps, they will understand what all the parts are for, why they have to be careful, and how they connect to the larger whole. Additionally, a certified electrician will inspect their work, to reinforce students’ sense of the importance of safety.” n

Trees Crash in Mangels Gulch

Nisene Marks Closed To Vehicles Due to Road Failure

By Todd Marco

Following massive damage along the coast and throughout flooded communities earlier this season, the most recent set of storms have also brought headaches and roadblocks to our more rugged inland terrain.

As dangerously high winds whipped across towering trees on saturated soils, the forces of nature and gravity conspired to shake homes and nerves throughout Aptos.

A stone’s throw from a home recently crushed by a fallen tree, a massive old growth Douglas fir crashed down upon the narrow bridge over Mangels Creek, in the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park.

On its way down, the tree crashed into three other trees -- knocking one off-kilter, smashing another in half, and snapping a recently fallen redwood like a pencil -before exploding to pieces on the Mangels Creek Bridge.

That snapped redwood had touched

down upon a neighboring house in the prior storm, and this successive cascade of damage is just a tiny snapshot of what has

been wrought across Santa Cruz County this harrowing season.

Of course, there are silver linings

and rainbows to celebrate too. Our badly depleted reservoirs now seem full to the brim, and we’re likely to enjoy a lush and rejuvenating spring in the coming weeks.

As for damage control and mitigation, State Parks and emergency crews have been quick to act.

Heavy machinery was quickly brought in to clear debris from the clogged Mangels Creek Bridge, preventing a potential washout from destroying the bridge completely.

The following storm brought more trees down in Mangels Gulch, crashing upon Nisene Marks Park’s most narrow & treacherous section of roadway, causing a mudslide that has dangerously undercut the road. Had State Parks not resurfaced the road this past Fall, the damage may have been much worse.

“Nisene Marks Road Failure” page 19

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Come by our showroom to discuss your project in detail and view samples from our large collection!

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Visiting Capitola Library

Proud partnership with:

“Dientes” from page 10

• A survey commissioned by Delta Dental further underscores this health crisis, revealing that 80% of older American adults do not get to the dentist as often as recommended, with access being one of the main barriers.

• The number is even lower in Santa Cruz County, which Dientes and Salud serve, where a 2022 oral health needs assessment revealed that only one in four seniors with Medicaid

were able to get the dental care they needed.

•••

Dientes and Salud provide comprehensive dental and health care services for the underserved.

As members of the Senior Oral Health Coalition Program and co-founders of Santa Cruz County’s Oral Health Access coalition, Dientes and Salud will collaborate with the Community Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California, to establish programs that focus on the oral health of older adults. n

On March 24, Assembly member Dawn Addis (D-30th District, right) visited the newly rebuilt Capitola Branch Library and got a tour with Library Director Yolande Wilburn (left) and Library Advisory Commissioner Tricia Wynne, discussing library programs and services and legislative issues. The California Library Association’s top issues are funding for capital improvements and infrastructure, continued funding for programs and resources, and equitable access to critical library and information services. One local program, a collaboration between the Library and the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Library is Recover and Thrive, a pilot program to focus on enhancing learning for students K-12.

No-Cost Chipping

Boost Storm Cleanup & Wildfire Prep

The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County announces the Spring 2023 No-Cost Community Chipping Program for Santa Cruz County residents who live in the Wildland Urban Interface, with potential for wildfire to impact their properties.

Pre-registration opens on April 1 at 6 a.m. and goes through April 30.

Chipping starts May 9. Residents who live in recognized FireWise neighborhoods get early bird registration. Register at https:// www.rcdsantacruz.org/chipping-programs

This program is funded through CalFire grants.

Winter storms over the past several months have resulted in large amounts of downed branches and trees around homes and roads throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains. The rains may also promote lots of new vegetation growth this spring. While we are currently experiencing very wet conditions, as we get into summer, the smaller diameter storm debris could quickly turn into wildfire fuel if not properly managed.

This program incentivizes the cleanup of flammable material and the creation of defensible space around homes in high wildfire risk areas by offering no-cost chipping for residents who trim vegetation within 100 feet of occupied structures or 10 feet on either side of a private road and stack downed wood.

“We mostly want to clear the potentially flammable material near our roads and around our houses and create space between the ground and lower tree branches called ladder fuels” explained Laurel Bard, who

manages the chipping program for the RCD. “However, we want to be mindful of not over clearing or leaving bare ground, which can lead to overly dry soils in the summer and serious soil erosion in the winter.”

Having defensible space does not mean you need a ring of bare dirt surrounding your property; with proper planning, you can have a fire safe home and a beautiful landscape.

The general concept is that trees should be kept farthest from the house, shrubs can be closer, and lawns and bedding plants can be the closest. If your landscaping has a different configuration than this, you can improve defensibility by keeping larger trees limbed up and shrubs free of dead, dry material.

How does the program work?

Signups are first-come-first served, and each household must complete a two-part registration process to be enrolled and confirmed into the program.

“Chipping” page 26

The recent storm toppled a tree onto a home on Cathedral Drive, Aptos.

Beneficial Plants for California’s Mediterranean Climate

Claire Vessey, Co-Founder of Vessey Drugs

Acelebration of life for Claire Rose Vessey of Aptos will take place later this year for her family and friends.

She passed away peacefully at her home on Jan. 31, surrounded by family and friends. She lived 90 remarkable years, gracing all who knew her with kindness, love of family and her sweet smile.

For the past several years Claire had lived with cognitive impairment. Even so, she was always happy and enjoyed life. She sang songs, read books, enjoyed her chocolate and especially her gelato. She adored pictures of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and whenever possible, she loved seeing them.

Claire was born on Jan. 14, 1933 in Cherokee, Kansas, the youngest of five children of John and Clementina Doris, who had immigrated from Italy after World War II. After the death of Claire’s father, the family moved during the Depression to California, and she spent her childhood in Hollister, surrounded by her large and loving Italian family.

She met Robert E. Vessey at Hollister High, and they married in 1951. They had four children together: Richard Carroll (1952), JoAnne Marie (1954), Bruce Eric (1959), and Robert Jr. (1966).

She and Robert founded Vessey Drugs in Aptos and built a successful business, still fondly remembered by many in the Aptos community. She was active in the business and in raising her four children. The couple did a lot of hard work and spent long hours with the ever growing and expanding Vessey Drugs. (Vessey Drugs was sold in 1995 to Pay Less, which became Rite Aid and is still in Rancho Del Mar shopping center.)

Robert and Claire divorced in the early 1970s. After that, she obtained her real estate broker’s license and actively worked in residential real estate in Aptos for many years, first with Mary Murray Realty and then with Keith Jackson & Associates.

From the late 1970s until 2022, she

lived in Aptos with her companion Curtis Bowden. They traveled extensively and enjoyed many good years together.

Claire absolutely loved watching and playing tennis, and for many years she was a member of the Seascape Tennis Club. She also loved bridge and had weekly bridge sessions with her friends. Claire adored her garden. It brought her joy every day of her life. She always had fresh flowers displayed throughout her home.

Claire was predeceased by her sons Richard C. Vessey, who died in an automobile accident in 1986, and Robert E. Vessey Jr., who died from cancer last year. She is survived by Richard’s widow, Cher Vessey Messersmith and Robert Jr.’s widow, Fani Vessey. She is survived by her daughter, JoAnne Birmingham, JoAnne’s husband Hobey, and her son Bruce. She is also survived by five grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a large extended family, all of whom she adored and who adored her. Her grandchildren are Forest Flager, Morgan Flager, Katy Vessey, Maggie Kretschmar and Lucas Vessey.

Claire was blessed with an “angel” who became a friend and caregiver in her last years, Josie Miguel. They adored each other, and the family greatly appreciated Josie’s efforts in making the final years of Claire’s life as comfortable and happy as possible.

Her family said, “We will always remember Claire for the warmth and kindness she radiated, her sweet smile, her joyful spirit, love of life, and devotion to her family and friends. She enjoyed being with people and came alive in social settings. She was a delight to all who knew her. She lived a long, blessed life in her home in Aptos, where she was truly happy. She was a loving mother/ grandmother/great-grandmother, and a woman of loyalty and strength. We are proud to have had her as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She made us better and stronger human beings.” n

Claire Vessey

“Nisene Marks Road Failure” from page 15 State Parks was also very quick to take action to protect public safety, closing Nisene Marks to non-authorized vehicles and blocking off unsafe sections of road. As the storm season recedes and we all collectively dry out, let’s be sure to support and thank the crews and organizations that

have worked tirelessly to protect us and keep things moving in this spectacular wilderness we’re so privileged to have outside our doors. n

•••

Editor’s note: Check https://www.parks. ca.gov/?page_id=666 to see when Nisene Marks State Park will reopen.

at Twin Lakes Church

APRIL 7 GOOD FRIDAY 6:30PM

Reflective service, beautiful music, communion & devotion. Simultaneous Spanish translation available

APRIL 8 6PM

APRIL 9 8:30, 10, & 11:30AM

Servicio en español 11:30am

Photobooths, food, bounce house & fun for kids, treats, beautiful music & message!

TLC.ORG/EASTER

2701 Cabrillo College Dr. Aptos, California

Envirotokens

Since we started our Envirotokens program, we’ve donated $1.2 million to community organizations, kept 12.7 million bags out of landfills, and saved 17,000 trees.

Thank you to our community for joining in our efforts to leave a lighter footprint.

Photos Credit: Todd Marco

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

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SB 277: Include Undocumented Families in Our Safety Nets

By Maria Cadenas

Call or visit your local financial advisor today.

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housands of Monterey and Santa Cruz County families were forced to evacuate March 12 after the Pajaro and Soledad rivers flooded this rural agricultural area. The storms arrived at the beginning of the growing season, just as farmworkers were going back to work and farmers had prepped the land to grow the fruits and vegetables we all enjoy.

T

Fields are now full of water, drowning plants, and mud banks. Leaving farmworkers without a job and small farmers on the brink of bankruptcy.

The economic impact is long term. It is a decrease in wages and earnings for the entire year, with possible unemployment of six months. This while the region is still trying to recover from the devastating impact of COVID, wildfires, and recent storms.

Furthermore, the cost of living and housing crisis in the region raise significant questions about where we can house displaced families. Putting many at risk from predatory landlords and lenders.

FEATURED COLUMNIST Flooded fields leave farmworkers without a way to earn a living.

And if you are undocumented, you have no real recourse.

This is especially important in the Monterey Bay region - the No. 1 California location in county concentration of undocumented population. Most working in agriculture, services, and hospitality – significant economic drivers in the region. This means that when our undocumented neighbors don’t do well, neither do we.

The storms left families without a home, without work, and with possible contamination to drinking water facilities.In 2020, we launched UndocuFund Monterey Bay. This collaborative effort raised close to $5 million and provided unrestricted cash relief funds to almost 4,000 families. Our model trusted families to identify how to best support their needs and piloted monthly stipends vs one-time assistance.

The value of an unrestricted cash challenged traditional models of relief aid by emphasizing the dignity and self-determination of people. Our work strengthened a community-directed safety net for undocumented workers otherwise ineligible for federal and state support.

“SB 277” page 20

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Good Friday: Surfers To Create Crown of Thorns

By Simon Cassar

This year, Capitola has certainly had its fair share of trials and burdens.

Jesus also had trials and burdens and this year on Good Friday, churches throughout the community will be gathering to paddle out and form a massive crown of thorns symbolizing what Jesus Christ went through to show us “The Way” to an awesome life.

Why paddle out? In surf culture — when a loved one passes away, we paddle out to honor their impact & express gratitude for the life they lived. In Santa Cruz tradition, local churches in our community are gathering to paddle out - honoring the life of Jesus & His sacrifice on the cross.

All are welcome — please bring family & friends! You can paddle out or join us on the shore on Friday, April 7, between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Capitola Beach Esplanade to gather for an uplifting message, reflections, awesome uplifting worship concert music by Kokua music while having awesome fellowship with the Capitola community and most of all baptism for those who want a new awesome life that will last for all eternity.

Joe McCrosky, from Christian Surfers,

will coordinate the cross being formed while Danny Bennett from The Coastlands will coordinate the Paddle Out ceremony. Anyone who wants to know more about our hope in Jesus Christ and His awesome love is welcome to join in this unique building of the cross with surfboards this Good Friday.

Also, we are including hula again this year albeit not the same troupe.

“Good Friday” page 26

2022 Good Friday Paddle Out in Capitola

Taking Earth Day to Heart Every Day

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

The arrival of spring brings a host of welcome signs — warmer weather, blossoms, baseball, and the celebration of Earth Day. The Soquel Creek Water District (District) would like to take this opportunity to recognize our customers and local community members who take the meaning of this event to heart and practice good environmental stewardship every day.

We would also like to share some of the District’s actions to protect and enhance the natural environment.

Earth Day, which takes place this year on Saturday, April 22, is an annual celebration that marks the environmental movement’s successes and raises awareness of the need to protect the Earth’s natural resources for future generations. We live in a community that is committed to protecting the environment, and as your water provider, we share that commitment.

One way we have demonstrated a commitment to the environment is through its participation in the Monterey Bay Area Green Business Program, a regional effort to encourage businesses and public agencies to adopt best business practices that meet or exceed environmental standards. The District received its first certification as a Green Business in 2017 and recertified in 2022.

Environmental stewardship is one of the District’s core values, and our staff and leadership are not only doing what is right for the environment but also setting a good example for the community. We continue to focus on reducing the impact of our operations on the environment, and we urge others to do the same.

The Green Business Program recognizes businesses and government agencies whose operations strive to reduce environmental impacts and hazards to employees and the community, including conserving water and energy, preventing pollution, and reducing solid waste production. To achieve the Green Business Certificate, the District first participated in a green business audit and was found to generally operate in a way that met many of the Green Business requirements.

To achieve all of the requirements, a staff-led “Green Team” was created to

implement a variety of actions to reduce the District’s environmental footprint and meet the Green Business standards. That effort led to several eco-friendly practices, such as a green purchasing policy; encouraging staff to operate in a more environmentally responsible manner; starting a non-chemical pest prevention practice; and reducing the use of paper and single-use kitchen products.

Last March, the District underwent an inspection from the Monterey Bay Area Green Business Certificate Program and was recertified as a Green Business. As part of the process, the District has:

• Updated its Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guidelines

• Developed a new Environmental Best Practices Document

• Posted new signage for recycling/ composting and proper thermostat settings

• Met with Central Coast Community Energy, GreenWaste, and a solar power consultant

• Investigated new eco-friendly products to replace our current supplies

• Insulated the hot water pipes in Operations & Maintenance

As part of the re-certification process, the District committed to:

• Reducing the use of single-use cleaning products (like hand wipes)

• Increase the recycled content of our paper products where appropriate

• Eliminate cleaning and janitorial products which are not aligned with Green Seal/ EcoLogo certifications

• Educate staff about our Environmental Best Practices

More information about the Green Business Program is available at: https:// greenbusinessca.org/santacruzcounty

We know that many community members are committed to limiting their impact on the environment by reducing consumption, reusing materials where possible, and recycling what can be recycled.

Our water customers already do an amazing job of using water efficiently, and we will continue to encourage more of our customers to save money by saving water. An easy way to keep track of your water usage

(and detect costly leaks) is by signing up for WaterSmart. It’s free, easy, and lets you track your hourly, daily, and monthly water usage. Through the WaterSmart portal, you can also pay your bill; diagnose a high bill; get automated leak alerts; set alerts for unusual usage; and get personalized recommendations for reducing your water use. Visit the WaterSmart Portal to learn

how to sign up: www. soquelcreekwater. org/watersmart

We wish everyone a happy Earth Day. We applaud our community’s daily actions to protect our Earth and its precious resources. As your community water provider, the Soquel Creek Water District is committed to the wise and efficient use of our resources and being good environmental stewards. n

Colors

intense fear of colors

63. Opposite of cathode 64. North American country 66. Run of the law

68. Geography class book 69. Local area network 70. It’s firma 71. Has divine power 72. Banned insecticide, acr.

73. German surrealist Max DOWN

1. “General Hospital” network

2. Crop of a bird

3. Zeus’ sister and wife

4. Two under par on a golf hole

5. Meat-cooking contraption

6. Winglike

7. *Predominant color of Mars

8. Type of membranophone

9. Like never-losing Steven

10. Town

11. *Primary color

12. ___ Juan, Puerto Rico

15. 7th planet from the sun

20. Chosen few

22. Nicki Minaj’s genre

24. Not womenfolk

25. *Number of colors in a rainbow

26. Of service

27. Colorful parrot

29. *The LumiËre brothers’ colorful creation

31. “Cheers” actress Perlman

32. Jeopardy

33. Sergio of Spaghetti Westerns fame

34. Follow as a consequence 36. Email folder

38. Cone-shaped quarters 42. Naiad or maenad

Motherless calves

Old horse

Long John Silver, e.g.

“will” 56. Bottom-ranking employee

Opposite of “out of” 58. Hall of Fame Steelers’ coach

June 6, 1944

“____ Buy Me Love” 61. Between dawn and noon 62. Yours and mine 63. Expression of pleasure

Melancholy 67. Latissimus dorsi, for short

New Advocates for Children

On March 16, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Timothy Schmal swore in 13 community members as Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in foster care.

They all completed CASA’s 35-hour training program.

CASA of Santa Cruz County recruits, trains, and supervises volunteer Advocates who are matched one-on-one with a child in the county’s dependency (foster care) court system advocating for them the entire time they have a case open with the Court.

As officers of the Court, CASA

volunteers ensure that the children’s needs are recognized and their best interests are considered in the courtroom, school, and in the community.

There is a great need for bilingual and male volunteers, however people from all cultures and professions and of all ethnic and educational backgrounds are encouraged to learn more. n

•••

For information on how to become a CASA volunteer Advocate, contact Clarita Cortes at (831) 761-2956, ext. 102, or visit www.casaofsantacruz.org/volunteer

No Water, No Toilets as Pajaro Evacuation Ends

On March 23, 15 days after people were evacuated from Pajaro due to an epic storm that soon breached the Pajaro River levee, flooding the community and breaking a critically important sewer line, Monterey County officials allowed residents to return home — but warned there is no drinking water and toilets cannot be flushed.

County officials set up hygiene stations outside Pajaro Middle School, which had been evacuated and closed by flooding, and at Pajaro Park.

Now there are hand-washing and laundry stations, along with bottled water and information booths for those who want to clean up their homes from what the flooding left behind and remove debris such as appliances, computers and televisions, and batteries, paint and cleaning supplies. Toilets and showers have been set up throughout town.

Residents who return home “do so at their own risk,” officials posted on Facebook, adding, “The area is still not safe to be inhabited at this time.”

Red signs posted by Environmental Health staff indicate the building is unsafe to enter; yellow indicates the building was inspected and residents can enter for cleanup purposes only.

On Facebook, officials posted that “Monterey County and Pajaro Sunny Mesa Services are working diligently to restore the sewer system.”

The sewer line that broke connects Pajaro to Watsonville’s wastewater treatment plant.

Zach Friend, a member of the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency board, said the break occurred because the line passes lengthwise through the core of the levee, which was eroded beneath Highway 1, exposing the sewer line.

“Many days of continued vigorous flow of water led to erosion of material that supported the line, which led to it breaking,” he explained.

At a virtual town hall meeting March 22, Monterey County officials said repairs were “in progress.”

On Facebook, Monterey County officials said it may take 1-2 weeks to know if the water is safe to drink.

Fairgrounds Shelter

On March 16, the Santa Cruz County Emergency Operations Center expanded shelter at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds at 2501 E. Lake Ave.,

Watsonville, in partnership with the County of Monterey.

The expansion pushed the capacity at the Fairgrounds to more than 400 beds, according to Santa Cruz County.

This gave Pajaro evacuees a location closer to their community.

Shelters opened March 9 at Cabrillo College and the Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building were placed on standby as a result.

The shelter site provides a place to sleep, food, supplies and support services.

Santa Cruz County reported the Fairgrounds shelter is being operated

by Monterey County with support from the County of Santa Cruz and the City of Watsonville. The California Department of Social Services, American Red Cross and numerous community-based organizations are providing support to evacuees.

On March 22, agencies set up a drivethrough distribution for evacuees with the help of 40 volunteers handing out 1,500 boxes of food and supplies at the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds. The 17-pound boxes contained rice, beans and other non-perishables, plus shampoo, laundry detergent, diapers, pet food, water, hand sanitize and paper towels.

Monterey County posted information saying donations to help people in Pajaro are being accepted and distributed, working with All In Monterey County Inc.

A donation center is set up at the Monterey County fairgrounds, 2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey, open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day to receive donated items. Staff make three trips a day to Watsonville to assist those affected by the storm. Those affected can request items at: https://allinmonterey. org/2023-pineapple-express-storm-relief

However, some people complained via posts on Facebook that their efforts to make donations at the fairgrounds shelter and cook for evacuees were spurned. Others were frustrated that no presidential disaster declaration (providing FEMA relief for individuals) has been issued although President Biden made such a declaration for Santa Cruz County and visited Seacliff State Beach and Capitola Village, places that experienced millions in damages in the January storm.

All in Monterey County has a website but it doesn’t list an email or a phone number to contact the leaders.

“Pajaro Flooding” page 26

From left, Haley Raices, Annie Rooke, Olivia Winter, David Brodkey, Ashiana Smith, Alexandro Ochoa, Emiko Stewart, Hanna Cornell, David Coleman, LeAnn Copriviza, Nicole Irigoyen, Alicia Reithknecht, with Judge Timothy Schmal and trainer Roxy Greenspan (not holding a certificate). Kimberly Szabo is not pictured.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Lezin

Youth Resource Bank: Investing in Children

By Jo Ann Allen

Now more than ever is a time when youth in our community need support. That is exactly what supporters and board members of the Santa Cruz County Youth Resource Bank have found themselves doing since 1989.

This year the organization will hold its 33rd annual fundraising event at the lovely outdoor courtyard of Bargetto Winery in Soquel on April 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. The evening will be a celebration of community sponsors, donors, and volunteers. Guests will be entertained by the musical stylings of Rapatti and Rose with special youth performers. There will be plenty of delectable food and libations for the anticipated 125 guests.

At last year’s event, District Supervisor Zach Friend spoke on the virtues of the organization and distributed awards honoring sponsors for their continued highlevel support of YRB. Jonathan Engleman representing Sen. John Laird’s office presented Lynn Miller with the Honorable Thomas Black Award for his founding contributions to the Youth Resource Bank and for over 40 years of service to the children and youth of Santa Cruz County.

Additional honored guests included Congressman Jimmy Panetta, Board of Supervisor nominee Justin Cummings, retired superintendent Michael Watkins, Live Oak Superintendent Dr. Daisy Morales, the Honorable Judge Denine Guy, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell, Santa Clara County Chief Probation Office Laura Garnette, and founder of Aztecas Soccer, probation officer Gina Castaneda.

Who is the Youth Resource Bank?

TheSanta Cruz County Youth Resource Bank is a nonprofit 501c 3, all-volunteer organization working with professionals in

our community (social workers, teachers, and public health nurses) to meet the needs of vulnerable children and youth in Santa Cruz County.

Since its incorporation in 1988, Youth Resource Bank has provided funding and items such as backpacks, sports equipment, school supplies, clothing, and so much more. YRB believes that small things can make a big difference in the life of a child.

Youth Resource Bank accepts requests from organizations and professionals working in the community with vulnerable children and youth, including teachers, public health nurses, social workers, and juvenile counselors. These are the people who understand the patchwork of programs and systems, and who know when a child has fallen between the cracks and needs a little help without red tape. Because of our network of referrals, the YRB serves many children and young adults not covered by various systems and agencies.

When a request is received, it is quickly reviewed and if the request meets basic requirements (assistance to a child in a situation in which there are no other immediately available resources, typically up to $250 per child), Youth Resource Bank fills the request with, for example, a check to a science camp or gym fee, a Ross or Safeway gift card. Providing a quick and specific response to an acute need.

YRB does not accept requests from the public.

Youth Resource Bank serves many children and youth not covered by various state, county, and city programs.

YRB typically receives five or more requests for assistance per week, the vast majority of which are fulfilled without delay, red tape, or hassle. In 2022, we

provided 237 children and youth with needed resources.

To fulfill our mission of aiding the vulnerable child and youth of Santa Cruz County, we rely on our annual fundraising events and generous community sponsors. It is heartening to see the community come together in support of its children, especially during these extraordinary times.

This year we have reached out to a variety of local business to sponsor our 2023 fundraiser “Investing in our Children.”

We greatly appreciate the support we have received from NHS/Santa Cruz Skateboards, Monterey Bay Resources, Law Office of Benjamin/Leibrock, Bay Federal Credit Union, Kiwanis International, Ramsey Lath and Plaster, Mateo Family Foundation, Santa Cruz Memorial, Pacific Wave, Santa Cruz Community Printers, Capitola Candy Co., and Indigo Properties.

In addition to our sponsors, we have a variety of community donors that are providing a plethora of items for our live and silent auctions that are sure to bring bidding excitement to the participants.

This year’s live auction will feature, photo safari trips to Africa, tickets to Sharks and Giants games, lodging stays in Tahoe and Hawaii, hosted dinner parties with live music, an evening candy making party at Marini’s, and a sail on the Chardonnay. The silent auction will include hundreds of items such as gift certificates to local restaurants and shops, locally made jewelry and art, tickets to local music and sporting events, wine and wine tasting events, services from

local tradesmen, curated baskets of local products, and so much more!

The Youth Resource Bank is an allvolunteer organization, so all profits generated from this fundraising event are used to support the needs of children and youth residing in Santa Cruz County. With the rising costs of needed items, limited resources for families, and increased anxiety living in today’s tumultuous times, including recent fires and floods, the need for our services has grown exponentially.

It is the power of our community and often the power of one person to bring hope to a child. n

•••

Tickets for the Investing in our Children event are $50-$62.50 at www.youth resourcebank.org.

For stories of hope, see www.instagram. com/youth.resource.bank.sc/ and www. facebook.com/youth.resource.bank.sc/.

Auctioneers YRB Chair Cam Logan and Vice-chair Jo Ann Allen facilitate a lively bidding war on an African safari and board member Jeff Gaffney helps finding the bidders.

2022: Board of Supervisor candidate Justin Cummings, Congressman Jimmy Panetta, Santa Cruz District Attorney Jeff Rosell, Judge Denine Guy, and Deputy Probation Officer and founder of the Aztecas Soccor Program Gina Castaneda enjoy themselves at Youth Resource Bank fundraiser.

Zach Friend presents sponsor award to longstanding donor, Richard Novak of NHS.

Never Again, Completely and Forever More

On Thursday, March 23, 2023 (3/23/23), after 14 years in Capricorn (ruled by Saturn), Pluto, the planet of transformation — (almost) completely and forever more — leaves the 10th sign of the zodiac (except for a short retrograde back into Capricorn in June) and enters the 11th, that of Aquarius (ruled by Uranus).

Never again in this lifetime will we as the present humanity experience so many years of Pluto in Capricorn. Why? Because it takes Pluto 14–19 years to move through a sign (constellation). It takes 248 Earth years for Pluto to complete one orbit around the Sun.

For the past 14 years, since Jan. 27, 2008 (worst U.S. financial crisis, as we see now 14 years later, another one once again looms ahead), Pluto and Saturn (fiscal, material transformations, corruption & misuse of power) have ruled the world. It has been a heavy burden for humanity — like Sisyphus, pushing a boulder up the mountain which, at the top falls back down

ARIES

You will begin collaborations with others. Your identity as alone and self-absorbed shifts as you realize the new era is about group work. So you gather all your gifts and talents and boldly begin to work with others to create communities that meet the needs of the new humanity. You find those with shared hopes, wishes and dreams. Together you and others will build a world no one thought possible. You are the initiator. It’s your time now to lead. Be kind with everything and everyone always.

TAURUS

Over time, new levels of responsibility and tasks in the world will appear. You have been preparing for this in the last many years. Your work in the world, your purpose along with a great Initiation becomes clear and apparent. You will climb the ladder (Jacob’s ladder) with the angels in order to prepare humanity for what’s to come. Buy good hiking shoes, make friends with goats and unicorns and summon the devas to help you. Your focus will be unshakable. Many will learn and follow and cooperate with you.

GEMINI

Long-held beliefs you felt were protective will fall away. A whole new world of information will appear with an invitation for exploration. Travels close by and far away, higher education and new teachings will appear on your horizon. Your mind will be filled with sudden and unexpected revelations of truth. Heed them. They will be challenging, calling you to a new state of virtues and ethics. If a crisis of faith appears, call upon Mercury and Venus to be your guides.

CANCER

You are a water sign, along with Pisces and Scorpio. In the years ahead you will dive deep into Scorpio waters. These are the waters Pluto rules. You will feel like Persephone, captured by Pluto. You will become the two fishes, displaying duality. You will be swept into oceans of feelings, and into shadows not of your making. You will be fearless. Instead you will learn from these symbolic journey’s inward. And be inspired. You become the phoenix, then the eagle flying in the wind.

By Risa D’Angeles

and rolls over him. As Pluto leaves Capricorn for Aquarius, we move from the element earth, to the element of air — a much lighter reality!

Forward thinking in revolutionary Aquarius, Pluto will alter the landscape of our thoughts, technologies, and how we create our future. Aquarius is about humanity working in group cooperation, forming communities, adapting to a new self-identity — that of the World Server. This occurs over the next two decades or for the next 19 ½ years (till March 9, 2043).

As Pluto enters Aquarius (sign of the water bearer, the “waters of life for thirsty humanity”), the celestial energies shift from Pluto/Saturn (materiality) to Pluto/Uranus (all things revelatory, unexpected, surprising and new). Relieved of our heavy burden (Capricorn) we sense the promise of freedom (Aquarius) in the air. It is a freedom which we must now fight for and thus illustrate that we are worthy of that freedom. It’s a whole new world now. n

LEO

Relationships become profound places of experience and experimentation. Everyone becomes a mirror, a reflection of the many parts of yourself. Some parts/reflections will be new to you, some old, some you will be familiar with. You become more and more authentic in interactions, relationships and intimacy. You learn how to value each day, each person and act with Goodwill towards all of life. The laws and principles of the new era (Aquarius) will be studied. Your heart understands that love underlies everything in (y)our world.

VIRGO

Pluto will add to, subtract, shift, make ready, transform everything in your daily life. Your health and wellness will be a focus. Day to day habits become rituals of self-transformation. You will shake loose of any criticisms or judgments of self and others, leading to a state of purity quite like Mary, the Madonna, the Mother of the World. You become Ceres, too, harvesting summer fruits. You thus nurture and sustain all of life, becoming a limitless spiritual resource for others. You have waited for this time.

LIBRA

Venus ruled, you are already an artist, in how you see the world, in how you create beauty in all environments. In the years to come you will be inspired with new creative ideas, and you will take this creativity and your artistic visions seriously enough that you take on new projects, perhaps new work. You will bring a mysterious magic to all projects and no one will understand why. But you will know it’s Pluto as the Will to Create beauty. You will “lift the kingdoms to the Kings of beauty.” You will forgive, too, and love more and more.

SCORPIO

The most intense shifts of your life will be occurring in the coming years. You will emerge from living underground and be lifted up up into the air. Your home will be transformed into something unexpected and unplanned. It will be a surprise. You will assume a new role in the family. Perhaps you were unseen up ‘til now. You will heal childhood wounds through forgiveness. A new foundation is formed, a new solid grounding. You shed your sunglasses and see the golden rays of the sun for the first time. You recite the Gayatri daily and on your knees.

SAGITTARIUS

The way you think, talk and write all forms of interaction and communication will change and deepen. At times you will feel like an arcane temple of secrets. You will become an almost Scorpio, mysterious, inscrutable, secret, profound and unfathomable. You will be like a Wisdom Temple, with secrets coming to the foreground of your thinking. Nothing superficial will be allowed. People will think you have become grave, immersed in enigmatic shadows, cryptic and covert. But it’s just Pluto taking you on a journey into the underworld which becomes your overworld. Everything you thought you were is dismantled.

CAPRICORN

Well, that was a very powerful, potent, formidable, intense, compelling and deep last two decades just experienced where all Caps felt extreme pressure. What/who you are now has been in the making for the past 14 years ... transformed by Pluto, reshaped actually. Now you will experience new personal values, defining your self-worth realizing you are both resourceful and worthy. Day by day you become more responsible, stepping into leadership. You become confident in your identity. You reach the top of the ladder where the clouds are. You enter the Rain Cloud of Knowable Things. You break free of all limitations.

AQUARIUS

Pluto enters Aquarius for the first time in your lifetime. The next 14 years is about all pioneers of the future creating the new era. You’ve had visions of this for a long time. Our Earth has entered the realm of Aquarius and you are finally home again. Your identity comes into focus. You realize you are the new era and the future itself. There will be a tremendous focus on developing your Will the Will to Good and the Will to Love. The power of healing is in your hands (and mind) now. And in your ability to imagine. You are to be the “waters of life” for everyone who is thirsty around you.

PISCES

The days, weeks, months, years ahead will be a time of retreat, introspection, quiet and withdrawal, like a sanctuary, a shelter and refuge. There will be contemplation, brooding over ideas, self-analysis and soul searching. You may have the opportunity to establish a refuge and sanctuary, a school, college and temple of learning. Your dreams and intuition will move into places of mysticism, then into the occult (things hidden appear). You become a pioneer for the new era in your ark of the covenant, bringing all that is good in Pisces to the new era of Aquarius. Your arc is named the Will to Love. You are the dreamer and the dream.

“Good Friday” from page 22

For more information on this event, see https://www.facebook.com/ TheCoastlands.

Are you or is someone in your family interested in getting baptized, following Jesus’s direction in Matthew 28:18-20? Kids from 1st grade up and adults are welcome to sign up and take the next step in their faith journey! Please sign up at Coastlands church, 831-688-5775. n

•••

For more information, call Coastlands 831-688-5775.

“Pajaro Flooding” from page 24

Watsonville City Council Daniel Dodge Jr. posted a message that volunteers Fabian Carlos Leonor and Maura Carrasco Leonor led an effort to ask what evacuees at the fairground need: Jogger pants for men and women, toothpaste, toothbrushes, undergarments, fleece blankets, socks, hair bands, shavers, shoes, snacks and pillows and pillow cases. n

•••

For more information on shelters in Santa Cruz County, visit: https://santacruzcounty. us/OR3/ShelterInformation.aspx

“Chipping” from page 17

Part one is an online pre-registration application to verify space is available, and part two is a chipping schedule form that is completed once your materials are stacked and ready for chipping. A detailed map of areas served, deadlines for program applications, chipping dates and guidelines for preparing materials for chipping are posted at https:// www.rcdsantacruz.org/chipping-programs n

For information, email Laurel Bard at lbard@rcdsantacruz.org

2022 Baptism at Capitola Beach

How to File Damage Claim with PG&E

If you are a residential customer who has gone without power for at least 48 hours because of severe storm conditions, you may qualify for an automatic payment under PG&E’s Safety Net program. This program provides a payment of $25–$100, which we pay automatically 60 days to 120 days following the storm outage. The amount may depend on the length of the outage.

Storm Inconvenience Payment

The Storm Inconvenience Payment provision applies only to residential customers with rate schedules E-1, E-6, E-7, E-8, EM, ES, ESR, ET, E-TOU and EV. You may also be enrolled in programs such as CARE or Medical Baseline Allowance.

Businesses, agricultural accounts, multi-family building common areas, streetlights and all other non-residential accounts are ineligible for Storm Inconvenience Payments.

If you’re in an area where access to our electric facilities is blocked due to mudslides, road closures or other issues, you’re ineligible. If your equipment prevented us from restoring your power and extended your outage, you are also ineligible. Examples of equipment include service drops and faulty weatherheads.

Outages must be the result of a major weather-related event that caused significant damage to our distribution system.

Public Safety Power Shutoff events are not eligible.

Outages must last more than 48 hours.

PG&E provides Storm Inconvenience Payments in increments of $25, with a $100 maximum payment per event. Payment levels are based on the length of your outage:

48 to 72 hours: $25

72 to 96 hours: $50

96 to 120 hours: $75

120 hours or more: $100

For information, call the extended outage line at 1-888-743-4743.

NOTE: Do not submit a claim form to get a Safety Net payment. Visit Compensation for Extended Outages at https:// www.pge.com/en_US/residential/ outages/current-outages/report-viewan-electric-outage/additional-resources/ extended-outage-compensation/ extended-outage-compensation.page

However, you may submit a claim if you believe that PG&E caused a loss for which you should be compensated. You can make this type of claim using various methods, but online is the fastest way for us to process it. n

Para ayuda en español por favor llame al 1-800-743Details-5000.

••• Use Online Form

Help PG&E process your claim faster by completing our online form at https:// claims.ss.pge.com/

Provide photographs and the documentation needed for your type of claims:

For property damage. Detailed repair estimates and/or invoices or purchase records.

For personal injury. Copy of medical records and receipts.

For lost wages. The amount of time you were unable to work due to personal injury; verification of lost time from your employer and/or payroll stubs showing your hourly or daily pay rate.

NOTE: You cannot receive compensation for the time spent pursuing your claim.

For lost revenues. Tax records and/or bank statements, payroll records, revenue and expense statements and sales receipts. For miscellaneous losses. Hotel and restaurant receipts and car rental receipts. For food spoilage.* An itemized list of the cost and type of spoiled perishable food, with receipts or other documentation.

*PG&E evaluates food spoilage complaints based on recommended guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS RECOVERY CENTERS TO CLOSE

Disaster Recovery Centers staffed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration are closing Thursday, March 30.

After March 30, support is available via telephone or online. Contact https://www.DisasterAssistance.gov, call 800-621FEMA (3362), or use the FEMA app for assistance.

On Jan. 14, 2023, President Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for winter storms that devastated Santa Cruz County between Dec. 27, 2022, and Jan. 31, 2023. The deadline to apply for individual or other assistance for those storms was March 16.

Recovery Centers were located in Santa Cruz at the County Governmental Building, 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and in Watsonville at the City Government Center, 250 Main St., Watsonville, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

FEMA assistance is not yet available for those impacted by storms and flooding after Jan. 31. For local assistance related to those storms, visit https://www. cfscc.org/blog/storm-response.

See the Virtual Recovery Center at https://santacruzcounty.us/ OR3/Emergency.aspx.

CALL TO ARTISTS: BEGONIA COMMEMORATIVE ART PROJECT

On behalf of the City of Capitola, the Capitola Art and Cultural Commission is seek-ing an artist or artist team to create a piece of art that both welcomes people to the Capitola Village and honors the 65-year history of the Capitola Begonia Festival.

The budget is $40,000.

Proposals are due at 5 p.m. April 30.

The planned project site is the north corner of Stockton Avenue and Wharf Road.

This art project is funded by a joint effort of the Capitola Beach Festival (the non-profit that stepped in after the Begonia Festival) and the Capitola Arts and Cultural Commission.

For details, see https://www.cityofcapitola.org/acc/page/callartists-begonia-commemorative-art-project

CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced that submissions are now open for local high school students to participate in the annual Congressional Art Competition.

The winning entries are displayed in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Each member of Congress has the privilege of submitting one work of art from their congressional district for this exhibition. The deadline to submit is April 21.

High schools within the 19th Congressional District, which comprises portions of Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Luis Obispo counties, are encouraged to participate.

Artwork entered in the contest must be original in execution, may be up to 26 inches by 26 inches, 4 inches in depth, and cannot weigh more than 15 pounds.

Paintings, drawings, collages, prints, mixed media, computer-generated art, and photographs are welcome. Winners will be determined using criteria based on originality, the skill of execution, excellence in the use of materials, and the conceptual strength of the project.

For the rule, see: https://panetta.house.gov/sites/ panetta.house.gov/files/documents/2023-Rules-forStudents-and-Teachers.pdf

For more information and see previous winners visit https:// panetta.house.gov/services/art-competition.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PARKS Capitola Mall Walking

9:30 a.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Capitola Mall Active adults age 50 and up are invited to join the

Capitola Mall Walkers, a program of the Santa Cruz County Parks Open Spaces & Cultural Services. The group walk starts near the entrance to the food court. Annual fee $50. See scparks.com

Low-Intensity Workout

9:30-10:30 a.m., Tuesdays, Aptos Village Park

Active adults age 50 and up are welcome to participate in a low-intensity aerobic workout outdoors at Aptos Village Park. Includes stretching, resistance bands and breathing exercises. Free, thanks to Santa Cruz County Parks Open Spaces & Cultural Services.

Free Movies Outdoors

Santa Cruz County Parks Open Spaces & Cultural Services presents free movies at parks: Sonic 2 on April 21 at Anna Jean Cummings Park in Soquel and Lightyear on May 19 at Aptos Village Park. Shows start at sunset.

Wedding Showcases

Santa Cruz County Parks Open Spaces & Cultural Services hosts spring showcases.

Sunday April 16: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Highlands House and Quail Hollow Ranch in Ben Lomond.

Thursdays May 4, Sept., 7, Nov. 2: 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Aptos Village Park and Valencia Hall in Aptos.

POP-UP BREAKFAST RETURNS TO FARMERS MARKET

Cheers to sitting together and eating together!

The Santa Cruz Community Farmers Markets are head-over-heels to bring back a small, sweet version of the Pop-Up Breakfast Series, hosting two breakfasts this summer. Tickets became available March 2. These beautiful meals are hosted at the Westside Farmers Market and highlight the regional agriculture and food artisan community.

Chef Katherine Stern of The Midway and Andy Huynh of Full Steam Dumpling will join us in July and August at the Westside Farmers’ Market.

Funds raised support educational and food-access programs including the Foodshed Project and Market Match.

Tickets range in price from $50-$150, a specific number of tickets available at each level.

Organizers ask people to sincerely consider what they are able to contribute and to do so, preserving lower-cost tickets for those with less discretionary funds.

Visit https://santacruzfarmersmarket.org/campaigns/pop-upbreakfast/ for more details.

CABRILLO YOUTH STRINGS PROGRAM

The Cabrillo Youth Strings Chamber Music Program

will begin its spring session on Friday, April 21, from 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Classes will be held for 5 weeks on consecutive Fridays in the Music Building, VAPA 5000, Aptos. String players ages 8 to 18 are welcome to join the chamber music program. Students must be good note-readers and have had previous group experience. The program conclude with a concert at 7 p.m. Friday, June 3. Registration is underway. For those interested in participating in or making contributions to this program, call (831) 479-6101 or visit https://www.cabrillo.edu/ cabrillo-youth-strings.

You may register through Cabrillo Extension, 479-6331, or extension.cabrillo.edu before the first class.

MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS CLASS BEGINS

Tuesday, April 4 thru May 10 6-8:30 p.m., Location TBA

NAMI Basics is a free, 6-week education program for parents and family caregivers of children and teens ages 11-17 who are experiencing symptoms of a mental ill-ness or who have already been diagnosed. NAMI Basics is offered in a group setting so you can connect with other people face-to-face.

You’ll learn the facts about mental health conditions and how best to support your child at home, at school and when they’re getting medical care.

You’ll find out that you’re not alone. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope. The group setting of NAMI Basics provides mutual support and shared positive im-pact—you can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who under-stand your situation.

You also can help others with your own experience.

NAMI Basics covers: Managing crises, solving problems and communicating effec-tively; how to take care of yourself and handle stress; developing the confidence and stamina to support your child with compassion; advocating for your child’s rights at school and in health care settings; learning about current treatments, in-cluding evidence-based therapies, medications and side effects; and more. Register at https://www.namiscc.org/nami-basics.html

•••

Contact (831)-824-0406 or anastasia@namiscc.org if you do not hear back, or have questions

COUNTY FAIR BOARD MEETINGS

1:30 p.m., Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville

Here are the dates of the remaining County Fair Board

CESAR CHAVEZ DAY OF SERVICE

Sunday April 2

9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Homeless Garden Project Farm, Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz

The Homeless Garden Project is hosting its annual Cesar Chavez Day of Service for community members at the Homeless Garden Project Farm, on Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz.

Community members are invited to perform spring farm tasks in honor of Cesar Chavez Day, celebrated on his birthday March 31 to honor the legacy of his labor movement and civil rights.

There will be a nursery sale with certified organic vegetable, flower, and herb starts.

“Seeing our community come together on these workdays to support and connect with HGP is always amazing,” says Volunteer Coordinator Omar Guzman.

Lunch will be provided to all volunteers and during lunch the community will hear from Watsonville educator and artist Jessica Carrasco, as well as a trainee from the Homeless Garden Project.

April 1st 2023 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

meeting dates in 2023. Each meeting takes place on a Tuesday:

April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, Aug. 22, Oct. 24, and Dec. 5, all at the fairgrounds. Meetings also take place on Zoom. For agendas, see santacruzcountyfair.com.

SPRING ITALIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES

The last day to register: April 12

Learn the language of “la dolce vita” with native Italianspeaking instructors at Dante Alighieri Society of Santa Cruz. Whether you are new to the Italian language, totally fluent, or everything in between, you are welcome. No matter what your goals are for learning Italian: Business, travel, pleasure, or because you love the sound of this beautiful language classes throughout and would like to understand it better, Dante Alighieri offers a variety of classes which may meet your needs. This spring, students will get to practice their Italian language skills of various levels through reading and discussion. Both classes will be online, once a week. The 10-week session begins the week of April 17, so register now to secure your spot..

Price:$ 235 for members with coupon code | $250 Non members To register go to: www.dantesantacruz.com/classes

BIG CREEK LUMBER SCHOLARSHIP

Big Creek Lumber will be offering the McCrary Family Scholarship for the third consecutive year to graduating high school seniors who will be pursuing careers in the skilled trades or forestry.

Past scholarship recipients are invited to apply for a one-time scholarship renewal for continued support of their education.

The deadline to apply is April 28.

To apply see: www.bigcreeklumber.com/scholarships

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays

BRIDGE CLUB

10 a.m.-Noon, Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road

The Capitola Branch Library will host Bridge Club sessions on Mondays (except holidays).

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.

Third Thursdays and Fourth Tuesdays

HOUSING MATTERS NEIGHBORS

Thursdays: 4:30-6 p.m., Garfield Park Library, 705 Woodrow Ave., Santa Cruz

Tuesdays, 5:30-7 p.m., Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Rd.

A meet-up for people who want to learn how to take an active role in their neighborhood to bridge divides on the topic of homelessness.

At these monthly in-person meet-ups for neighbors can:

• Learn from local experts about real solutions to homelessness together

• Problem-solve and create solutions in your neighborhood together

• Help to foster compassion and equity in Santa Cruz County neighborhoods together

For information call Marsa Greenspan, Housing Matters

Volunteer Program Manager: (831) 226-2486

First and Third Fridays thru May 19

CABRILLO NAME CHANGE TASK FORCE

Noon-1:30 p.m., Online Meetings

The Cabrillo College Name Selection Task Force will meet four times during the spring semes-ter via zoom: April 7, 21, May 5, and 19.

Cesar Chavez

These virtual Task Force meetings are not open to the public.

Task Force members are trustees Adam Spickler and Christina Cuevas, student representative Krystal Buenrostro, and president Matt Wetstein. To communicate with them, see https://www.cabrillo.edu/ governing-board/name-exploration-subcommittee/ The college aims to resolve the name issue this year.

Second Sundays of the Month

SANTA CRUZ ANTIQUE STREET FAIRE

9 a.m.-5 p.m., Pacific Ave., Lincoln St. and Cedar St. More than 40 vendors participate in this monthly outdoor fair.

Weather updates are posted on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/santacruzantiquefaire

DATED EVENTS

Friday March 31

SAMBANDH RETURN PRESENTATION

9-11:30 a.m., Mount Madonna School, 491 Summit Road, Watsonville

Due to the closure of Highway 152, Mount Madonna School postponed the March 24 Sambandh Return Presentation and rescheduled it for March 31 at the Upper Campus. Students will share reflections on their experiences in India. A reception takes place at 9 a.m.

Tuesday April 4

DR. GAIL NEWEL SPEAKS

6 p.m., Online Meeting

Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel will be the guest speaker for the Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County on Tuesday, April 4.

Dr. Newel will provide an update on the current status of COVID-19 cases and vaccination rates in the County.

She will also discuss the most common sources of exposure to the virus, as well as precautions county residents can take to stay healthy and avoid contracting Covid as well as the flu and RSV viruses.

Members of the public are welcome to attend. Visit www.svslvdemocrats.org for the zoom meeting link. Social time starts at 6 p.m. and the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday April 5

SANTA CRUZ NEW TECH

6-8 p.m., Courtyard Marriott, 313 Riverside, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Works presents its monthly New Tech meetup at the Courtyard Marriott.

On deck: The opening of Accelerator Cohort #5, inside scoop on the new $10 million Santa Cruz Venture Fund for startups, presentation by 6 companies, food, beverages, networking and a new band. Tickets are $10 or bring a friend and pay $7.50. See: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/santa-cruz-new-techapril-2023-tickets-597410770697

CELEBRATE NEW ADU

4-5 p.m., 277 Viking Lane, Marina Habitat For Humanity Monterey Bay will host a home dedication at 277 Viking Lane in Marina.

Before finding Habitat, Margaret Bernier wasn’t sure how she could afford to stay in her home in Marina, where she had lived for nine years. She said that getting her application accepted by Habitat was like finding a “port in a storm.”

She lives near both of her grown children and relies on their support. She feels deeply connect-ed to her community and her neighbors.

Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay built an Accessory

REIKI FOR ANIMALS

Saturday April 22 and Sunday April 23

10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Pregnant Mare Rescue Pastures, Larkin Valley Rd., Watsonville Would you like to support yourself and your animal companions to relax and heal on the physical, emotional and behavioral levels? Reiki is easy to learn and very powerful and especially helpful for nervous/anxious animals. You will become an animal magnet and bond more deeply with your own animals! 20% of the profits going to PMR. The same technique is used for all animals.

Instructor is Cindie Ambar, an animal communicator and energy healer who has volunteered at Pregnant Mare.

RSVP at https://heartsonganimalhealing.com/product/reiki-level-1-class

•••

Dwelling Unit (ADU) on her property that she can rent out for additional income. This income will help her stay near her kids and in her home.

To learn more, see Habitatmontereybay.org.

Friday April 7

REP. PANETTA SPEAKS

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Dr, Aptos

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will meet at Seascape Golf Club.

This is the 3rd luncheon meeting of the year and features special guest speaker Congressman Jimmy Panetta.

Cost: $35 per person. RSVP required. Call 688-1467.

Saturday April 8

SPRING GARDEN PESTS

10 a.m.-Noon, Quail Hollow Ranch, 800 Quail Hollow Rd., Felton

Nothing is more frustrating than putting new spring seedlings in the ground and then finding them eaten or missing after a few days. What or who happened?

Learn about the most voracious spring pests in the garden — snails, slugs, earwigs, birds, and gophers.

UC Master Gardeners Delise Weir and Trink Praxel will take an Integrated Pest Management approach to this discussion 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 8, at Quail Hollow Ranch, Felton. They will show to identify the problem, then focus on natural control techniques that are minimally disruptive to the garden’s ecosystem. This class will include hands-on instruction on setting traps for gophers.

Free. Donations appreciated. To register, go to mbmg.ucanr. edu

Sunday April 9

EASTER BRUNCH AT SEVY’S

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Ct, Aptos Celebrate Easter Sunday with a brunch at Sevy’s Bar + Kitchen.

Menu: Omelets, French toast, a salad bar, carving station, orange-glazed ham with rum raisin sauce, baked Atlantic salmon with pesto cream & pomegranate seeds, and a dessert bar.

Festive cocktails such as a Boozy Easter Chocolate Martini or a Blackberry Bourbon Bramble. Price: $59/adult and $20/kids under 12.

ART HISTORY LECTURE

7-8:30 p.m., VAPA building 1000, Art History Room 1001, Cabrillo College: SAC West, Soquel Drive, Aptos Dante Alighieri Society of Santa Cruz is sponsoring an art history lecture at Cabrillo College.

The topic is: “All the World’s a Stage: Baroque Rome.” Through a slide-illustrated lecture, Heather Gray, art history instructor and department chair at Cabrillo College, will give a guided tour of 17th century Rome. We will stop at important 16th and 17th century monuments, as well as some ancient ones, to learn their history and appreciate their beauty.

The tour ends at St. Peter’s Basilica with a greater understanding of and appreciation for not only this period within the city’s history but also a greater understanding of the line in Shakespeare’s play As You Like It: “All the world’s a stage.”

Cost: Free, but tickets are limited and registration is required.

To register go to: https://bit.ly/Baroque-Rome

Friday April 14

CABRILLO YOUTH STRINGS CONCERT

7 p.m., Music Building, VAPA 5156, Cabrillo College in Aptos

The Cabrillo Youth Strings Music Program presents a Spring Concert in the Music Building, featuring baroque music, English folk songs, jazz, and contemporary music.

String orchestra music will be performed by local youth.

Suggested donations: $10 general, $5 students/ seniors, and ages 17 and under, free Facial coverings are required.

For more information about this event or to find out about joining the orchestral, chamber or private lesson programs, call 479-6101 or visit cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-youth-strings.

Saturday April 15

NINTH ANNUAL ROD & CUSTOM SPRINGTIME SWAP MEET

7:30 a.m.-Noon, Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos

The Kingsmen and the Impalas Car Club of Santa Cruz County host this springtime swap meet at Twin Lakes Church. Drop by to find some cool vintage parts for your current project, or bring by what’s leftover from your last project and make some cash!

Need some headers? Hubcaps? A distributor? A rearview mirror for a ‘41 Chevy pickup? Or maybe some vintage 1950’s car ads, to frame and give to someone? Someone’ll probably have it for sale. Come on by! The meet benefits the “Kingsmen Industrial Arts Scholarship Program.”

Spectator admission is free. Suggested donation $2 per person.

Saturday April 15

EARTH DAY EVENT AT PURISSIMA CEMETERY

Noon-3 p.m., 1165 Verde Rd., Half Moon Bay

Celebrate Earth Day this year with a tour of Purissima Historic Natural Green Cemetery over-looking the Pacific Ocean just a little north of Santa Cruz. Green burial is a natural choice that emphasizes simplicity and sustainability. Choosing a plot is the first step in getting affairs in order.

Drop-in for a short guided walking tour with Q&A. See PrePlanWithPatricia.com for pictures and a map. Text or call 831-295-8158 for more info or directions. https://preplanwithpatricia.com/

Sunday April 16

SANTA CRUZ WEDDING EXPO

11 a.m.-3 p.m., Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz

You’re engaged! It’s time to plan your wedding!

The Santa Cruz Wedding Expo at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium will be the perfect opportunity to meet with wedding professionals for one day, at one location who are there to answer all of your wedding planning questions and plan a beautiful wedding day.

At the wedding show you will see a combination of wedding professionals, wedding planners, florists, entertainment, photo booths, wedding venues, wedding photographers and more.

Don’t stress about wedding planning. At the event, you can compare products and services, get great ideas from seasoned wedding professionals and maybe even win some prizes.

This is a very special time in your family and everyone wants you to enjoy it! See strolling fashions up close and personal to find the gown of your dreams, tuxes for your wedding party, bridesmaid dresses, flower girl dresses, mother of the bride and more.

Tickets are $15. n

Photo: Three of the nine equine instructors

Pajaro River Levee: Next Steps

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

Editor’s Note: California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla, and Reps. Jimmy Panetta and Zoe Lofgren have written to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asking the agency to speed up engineering reviews for rebuilding the Pajaro River levee, which has been scheduled to begin in 2025, and provide funds for emergency rehab to meet higher standards.

The recent levee breach along the Pajaro River highlighted a tragic reality — that over the past 70 years, the communities of Watsonville and Pajaro have lived under the shadow of inadequate flood protection from the levees that protect homes and property along the Pajaro River and tributaries. Understandably, many in the community have asked why the levee hasn’t been rebuilt, what the plans are for rebuilding and ways that they can get involved in the cleanup efforts.

What is the levee history?

The existing levees that protect the communities were built in 1949 and have not since been significantly improved.

Soon after construction, Watsonville and Pajaro sustained serious flood damage in 1955 and in 1966 it was determined by the federal government that it was necessary to rebuild the levees. In essence, the federal government acknowledged that the levees that they built in the late 1940s were undersized and inadequate to meet the need for flood protection.

Today, these levees provide only an average of 8-year level of flood protection, believed to provide the lowest of any federal flood control system in California and one of the lowest in the United States.

Why hasn’t the levee rebuilding been funded by the federal government?

Over the last 50-plus years there have been significant attempts to secure funding for a levee rebuild. While there are multiple factors that can delay a levee

rebuild (including design issues, and environmental issues) the key underlying issue that has disadvantaged this project (and many other projects across the country in low-income communities) for funding is in how federal flood control projects calculate what they call the BCR — benefit-cost-ratio.

So what exactly is the BCR? The simplest way of looking at it is for every dollar that the federal government spends on a project (the cost) they want to receive a dollar of savings (benefit).

The challenge here is self-evidentthat in lower-income communities (where property values may be less expensive than in a more urban affluent community) the benefit calculation will be lower.

Additionally, many rural and agricultural communities are further constrained by how agricultural land is valued (in some cases it’s valued at zero) in these federal calculations. Given that much of the area is rural, low-income and agriculturallybased, our area always scored very low on the benefit-cost ratio.

We are not alone in this and many rural and federally-disadvantaged communities across the country have experienced significant delays in receiving funding or having their projects deemed “feasible” by these antiquated federal measures.

What is the proposed project?

The federal flood management project, sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is designed to provide a 100year flood protection to Watsonville and Pajaro and and a mix of 100-year and 25-year flood protection to some of the other surrounding agricultural areas in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties).

Per capita income in these communities is less than half the state and national averages.

This project will provide significant life and economic safety improvements to both counties and even eliminate flood

insurance costs for those within the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area.

The project is expected to start on Reach 6 — which is along Corralitos Creek (where significant flooding has occurred this winter). A map for the project can be found at this link: https://www.prfma. org/risk-management by clicking on “Project Fact Sheet.”

What is the project cost?

The $400+ million project will include construction of levees and improvements, to include setback levees, along the lower Pajaro River and its tributaries.

It will be managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency and the CA Department of Water Resources.

How will the project be funded?

Funding such a costly project has been one of the largest challenges because of the benefit-cost ratio issues outlined above. However, in the last few years we

assessment that covers ongoing operations and maintenance.

These federal projects have cost-share requirements with local communities — in this case the federal government would pay 65 percent and the local community 35 percent. The State of California agreed to fund 100 percent of the local cost share — up to $181 million of project costs.

According to conversations with the Army Corps and White House, our community is the only in the country to have the state commit to such funding.

Additionally, the White House announced they have set aside nearly $70 million in federal funding into the project as part of the Administration’s infrastructure funding that they are focusing on environmental and social justice projects — which allowed our community (which has historically been unable to receive funding due to our low scoring benefit-cost ratio to have a chance to compete.

SCCAS Featured Pet

“Pajaro Levee” from page 30

Approximately $5 million in additional funding has already been provided by the Army Corps as part of the planning and design process.

Additional federal funding is expected as the phases of the project are built — equating to the 65 percent total federal cost share. The local ongoing operations and maintenance ($1.2 million) will be raised through the recently-approved assessment.

What is the status of the project?

Meet Hazel and Eros

We are hoping that third time is the charm for these cuties- Our favorite POTW bunny duo- Hazel and Eros!

This week we have an adorable twosome that are repeat Pet of the Weeks- Hazel and Eros! These delightful bunnies are still at SCCAS even though they are amazing, and we would love to get them a home! Hazel is a 2-year-old Harlequin spayed female and Eros is an almost 2 year old Giant lop Neutered Male.

At the moment they are in a foster home and doing great- their foster mom sent us this report that says it all

“I’ve been fostering Hazel and Eros for a little over a month and these bffs are sweet, silly and curious. They love: running through their tunnel, bananas and banging their dish to let me know breakfast is late. Hazel especially loves to boop me on the leg to say hello and ask for pets. She also likes to jump on the couch and regularly gets a case of the zoomies, which is adorable to watch! Eros is also social (especially if he suspects you have snacks!) and loves to “read” (eat) books and clean the hutch. To him, as long as Hazel is nearby, life is good! They love to snuggle and nap together…and steal each other’s snacks. If you’re lookin to add some fun buns to your fam, you have to meet these two! “

If you are looking for a perfect pair of social friends to have in your home, come and meet our buddies Hazel and Eros!

Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals on our website and then visit the Shelter at 1001 Rodriguez St. in Santa Cruz to turn in your application. All adoptions require proof of home ownership or landlord approval. Please have this information prepared. If an animal is in Foster Care, please bring in your adoption application and schedule an appointment to meet the animal. Adoption hours are 10 am-5 pm. All adoption shows must begin before 4:45pm. n

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

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. • Website: www.scanimalshelter.org

SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us

Work has begun in earnest to set the stage for levee reconstruction. The Army Corps and local sponsors have begun the pre-construction engineering and design phase. The Corps started initial work that will support design sections along the Corralitos and Salsipuedes Creek corridor. The Army Corps awarded a contract to an engineering firm to develop the designs and specifications for the flood control facilities to be built along this portion of the project.

Initial work in support of design includes geotechnical subsurface investigation and subsurface data collection. This work began in late spring last year — which included collecting nearly 200 rights-of-entry throughout the project footprint along the Corralitos and Salsipuedes Creek corridor.

A secondary contract was awarded by the Corps to conduct topographic surveying within these areas in support of design. Cultural and environmental survey work will begin this summer to support project design and State Historic Preservation Office and Tribal coordination requirements, and to update the Project’s Programmatic Agreement.

Every effort is being made by our regional advocates as well as our state and federal delegation to expedite the rebuild process — a lot of the timeline for construction surrounds completion of state and federal environmental review and other required regulatory requirements and we are working with those partners to streamline those to move up the construction timeline.

How can you learn more about the project and how can you volunteer with cleanup efforts?

If you are interested in learning more about the project in general, you can check out the PRFMA website at https://www. prfma.org — or you can always contact me below.

If you would like to help out flood victims in Pajaro with cleanup efforts, the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County is organizing efforts via this link: https:// www.scvolunteernow.org/flood n •••

As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue). I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/supervisorfriend and you can always call me at 454-2200.

According to conversations with the Army Corps and White House, our community is the only in the country to have the state commit to such funding.