Aptos Times: May 1, 2023

Sixth in the Nation

Aptos High Dance Team, under the guidance of first-year coaches Tanee Taylor and Alexis Valoroso, is making moves on a national level.

These professional and competitive dancers have

proven that Santa Cruz County is home to some serious talent.

Many will go on to compete and perform at universities. ... continues on page 4

A Spark of Art in Aptos

For the first time since the Covid pandemic emergency, locals will have an opportunity to see art being made in Aptos and take their favorites home.

The dates are Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 503 St. Andrews Drive, off Clubhouse.

This is encaustic art, made by four local artists, each with a different style.

Full Story page 11

Highway 1 Groundbreaking

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Mar Vista: Thank you, Grandma Gert

On Friday, April 14, dozens gathered to throw Foster Grandparent volunteer Gert Goldman a surprise retirement party at Mar Vista Elementary School in Aptos.

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Cover Sixth in the Nation

Community News

5 Mar Vista: Thank you, Grandma Gert, By Chris Greenwood

6 New School Celebrates: Tenth Outdoor Science & Character Development Program

7 County: $223 Million Needed for Sewer System • Mount Madonna Students to Share Washington, D.C. Reflections • Pajaro Valley Graduation Dates

8 Sé’sh Shóto’sh Psí’sh: New MAH Exhibit by Cannupa Hanska Luger

9 Thank You, Second Harvest Volunteers

10 Apply for Affordable Rentals • Affordable Housing Open House: May 16 • Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day • County Awarded $5.6M • Santa Cruz Shake-speare Tickets Go On Sale May 1

11 A Spark of Art in Aptos, By Jondi Gumz

12 Veterans’ Art On Display

14 Pajaro Valley Chamber Awards

19 Time to Focus on Child Neglect

20 Highway 1 Groundbreaking, By Jondi Gumz

21 Comment on Highway 1 Project

27 Locals Fill Gaps for People of Pajaro: From Grower-Shipper Association of Central California

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – A Festival, an Appearance & Pluto Goes Under-ground, By Risa D’Angeles

Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

Featured Columnists

23 Annual Groundwater Report Reaffirms the Value and Need for Pure Water Soquel, By Rebecca Gold Rubin

24 New School Websites, Classified Pay, $5,000 Signing Bonus for Teachers, Q&A With Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

25 Student Summit Focuses on the Environment, By Avonlea Harwood

30 Incentives to Buy Electric Vehicles, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Fall in Love With Lovebug

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Jondi Gumz

COVER STORY

“Aptos Cheer” from page 1

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contributing writers

Chris Greenwood, Jondi Gumz, Risa D’Angeles, Rebecca Gold Rubin, Michelle Rodriguez, Avonlea Harwood, Zach Friend

layout

Dance teams compete under the auspices of the United Spirit Association — USA — and USA Dance.

Here are some highlights of the season:

• Bella Garvey was named the super sensational dancer at USA Dance camp.

Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin

graphic artists

Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin

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• Dancers competed at 3 USA regional competitions and attended Aptos’ first national competition in 7 years in Anaheim.

• Aptos Dance Lyrical team went undefeated at the regional USA Dance competitions

• Aptos Dance Extra Small and Large Hip Hop each placed 1st at one regional competition.

• All four dances qualified for the championship level for the national competition — first time for Aptos High Dance Team.

• Soloists Amelia Valoroso (placed 1st at 1 regional competition), Bella Garvey (placed 1st at 2 regional competitions), Zoey Williams (placed 1st at 1 regional competition), Sienna Ybarra and Mia Trujillo placed in the top 10 at the USA Dance competitions.

• Bella Garvey and Amelia Valoroso, both juniors, made it to the finals at nationals.

Amelia placed 10th in her division nationally.

Bella placed 7th in the highest division nationally and hopes to be recruited onto a nationally ranked college dance team.

• Lyrical Team placed 6th on a national level.

Dani Delgadillo is assistant coach. It is also her first year.

Asked about the team’s achievements, Taylor said, “I think the thing we would attribute to the team’s success is the dancers’ willingness to try anything new we threw their way. Alexis and I have a really big vision of the dancers at Aptos and beyond having the same opportunities provided to other athletes and we really ramped up the expectations of them and ourselves to begin to make this vision come to life.”

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She continued: “Every single dancer on the team had to do things that were out of their comfort zone and they not only worked hard but did it with a positive, supportive attitude. We are so grateful to have had such an incredible team for our first year as coaches.”

Tryouts for 2023-2024 are scheduled for April 26 and 28. Coaches are looking forward to another successful season. n

•••

Cover Photo: Aptos High Dance lyrical team with coaches after placing 6th in the nation.

Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti

Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin, Brad King website

photography

The Aptos High Dance Team at the winter showcase, performing a hip hop dance.

Juniors Amelia Valoroso (left) and Bella Garvey

Mar Vista: Thank you, Grandma Gert

By Chris Greenwood

On Friday, April 14, dozens gathered to throw Foster Grandparent volunteer Gert Goldman a surprise retirement party at Mar Vista Elementary School in Aptos. The cafeteria was filled with current and retired teachers, staff, friends and family – all of whom have been inspired by Gert and her 23 years of service to their students.

“I thought we were just meeting for tea!” said Gert, beaming with joy to see so many familiar faces.

At 94, “Grandma Gert” is finally retiring, but only because her doctor suggested she do so after a bout with pneumonia.

“I’ve loved every minute of being here,” she said. “This is a wonderful school and I will miss the kids very much.”

Retired teacher Mary Jo Della Maggiore said, “Grandma Gert is an amazing human being. She has the kindest heart and is always willing to listen to those children.”

Soon after Gert retired in 1996 from her

job at Dominican Hospital, her daughter Judy Brenis saw an article about the Foster Grandparent Program and told her mom about it.

Gert immediately signed up and began volunteering at Mar Vista, where her granddaughters were students. She spent the past 23 years tutoring and mentoring

students struggling both academically and emotionally.

Her talent and skills are numerous, but it’s her huge heart that has had the biggest impact on the hundreds of children she has worked with. The turnout at her surprise celebration demonstrates how much she has gained the admiration of teachers, staff, students, and fellow volunteers.

Most of the teachers had a hard time holding back the tears as they greeted and praised their beloved Grandma Gert.

“She has been an absolute angel to our school,” said teacher Heidi Schacher. “She is very well loved and her energy and spunk can’t be compared to anyone.”

Another teacher shared, “Grandma Gert is one of the most effective tutors I’ve ever had. She’ll take on any challenge and do it admirably. Her ability to help students is marvelous and all the while she is positive and patient.”

“Grandma Gert” page 9

from Milgard.

Foster Grandparent Gert Goldman, right, with Eileen Fernald, a retired teacher she worked with.

Pre & K Discovery Day!

New School Celebrates Tenth

Outdoor Science & Character

Development Program

Editor’s note: New School is a credit recovery high school where students who have been disconnected with their education can get back on track to earn a diploma. The award-winning program takes students on field trips to learn and build character. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was discontinued but it came back to life in spring 2022. Enrollment is 48 students; capacity is 51.

Outdoor School & Character Development began as a pilot program, with 15 students going on four field trips during the spring quarter of 2017. Over its six-year existence, this program has now engaged nearly 300 students on 61 field trips, performing over 1,500 hours of community service, working with more than 25 different community partners and organizations.

The mission of New School’s Outdoor School & Character Development program is: To lead students to self-discovery of prosocial skills and positive behaviors through local environmentally-themed field trips and service learning projects.

That developed over time, as New School Lead Teacher Bryan Love said, “At first, we were just trying to come up with ways to get our students to care about their community and about coming to school.”

New School organizes six to eight field trips around schoolwide themes during the second and fourth quarters of each school year. Agriculture and food systems are the themes in the fall and watershed and ocean science are themes in the spring.

This spring quarter marks the 10th

Outdoor School & Character Development program, with trips planned for team-building exercises in the Santa Cruz Mountains, deep-water lab experiments at Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Bechtel Education Center, canoeing in Elkhorn Slough, whale watching in Monterey Bay, a beach cleanup day and an “incentive trip” to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom for students who meet all expectations for all field trips. At some schools, field trips are an expected part of the schedule but for New School graduating senior Miriam Servin, they were an eye-opener.

“Personally, growing up, I didn’t go to many places,” she said. “All of these field trips we had were within my community that I didn’t know we had or that were so close — and I enjoyed going to them, learning about them and meeting the people that work there.”

“New School” page 18

New School students volunteering at Second Harvest.

County: $223 Million Needed for Sewer System

Santa Cruz County Sanitation District is proposing a 6.1% increase in sewer service charges for the 2023-24 fiscal year over the last years.

For the average single-family homeowner, paying $940 a year, this is $4.80 per month. The district has 32,300 customers in Aptos, Soquel, Capitola and Live Oak. The increase for longterm care homes is 10.2%, Chaminade 7.6%, Dominican Hospital, 6.4%, Cabrillo College, 6.2% and State Parks, 6.2%.

Written protests must be received by May 4 at 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060, Room 410.

A hybrid public hearing will take place at 4:45 p.m. May 4 at 2750 Lode St., Santa Cruz, and via Zoom at https:// us02web.zoom.us/j/89115975221

Meeting ID is: 891 1597 5221.

Or phone: +1 669 900 6833 US

About 3 million gallons of wastewater a day are pumped from Aptos, Soquel, Capitola and Live Oak to the treatment plant in Santa Cruz. During storms, pumped flows can increase 800%.

Sewer charges generate $32,570,000 a year. An additional $38 million

from bonds are to be invested in infrastructure.

Forrest Revere, senior engineering associate with the sanitation district, said significant contributing factors to the rate increase are inflation (San Francisco/ Oakland/ San Jose Bay Area Consumer Price Index for 2023 has increased at a 4.9% a year) and planned capital improvements at the City of Santa Cruz’s wastewater treatment plant. Additionally, the District plans to increase capital spending for sewer col-

lection system improvements to address the aging, failing, and overwhelmed infrastructure.

According to Revere, it is estimated $143 million is needed to rehabilitate infrastructure with a ‘poor’ rating per the National Association of Sewer Service Companies, and another $80 million to address capacity issues that put the system at risk of overflowing during a large storm. With increasing investments in capital improvements, the District estimates nearly 95% of the known deficiencies in the system can be remedied in the next 10 years, according to Revere. n

Mount Madonna Students to Share Washington, D.C. Reflections

What do high school students think about Washington, D.C., after visiting the nation’s capitol. Students at Mount Madonna School will share reflections on their experiences on Friday morning, May 12, Upper Campus, 445 Summit Road, Watsonville.

A reception is at 9 a.m. with the presentation 9:30-11:30 a.m.

•••

A Revolution of Sound

Isaiah Orozco

The National Museum Of African American History and Culture preserves and celebrates the rich heritage of African Americans... There were seemingly endless walls celebrating African American artists from genres such as psychedelic funk, R&B, soul, blues, and gospel ... An exhibit entitled “Revolutions of Sound” depicted how artists such as Prince tackled social issues such as racial

segregation, unequal pay, and the discrimination to which black artists have been subjected...

I nearly came to tears while viewing a display of an African American artist singing about inequality, surrounded by black and white people holding each other and crying. I felt the emotion and connection the music brought to the people listening.

•••

Humanizing Government

Cy Harris

Icame to realize that public servants understand the human consequences of their decisions and that it is a mistake to take the popular view that they are not “human” like the rest of us ...

Former Secretary of the Interior

Bernhardt mentioned that when making decisions it’s important to stay true to the law despite one’s own ideology.

Pajaro Valley Graduation Dates

Contradictions can arise, because you face the decision to sacrifice either your own beliefs or your oath to uphold the law.

Public officials make difficult decisions that affect people every day. It is therefore important to humanize government workers and politicians.

We have to “drown out [the] hate” that many in the public have towards public servants and come to see them as people whose jobs have them serving us.

Harris

Sé’sh Shóto’sh Psí’sh

New MAH Exhibit by Cannupa Hanska Luger

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History presents Cannupa Hanska Luger: Sé’sh Shóto’sh Psí’sh, a solo exhibition from May 12–Sept. 3 at 705 Front St., Santa Cruz.

Sé’sh Shóto’sh Psí’sh presents new and recent regalia and video work from Luger’s series, Future Ancestral Technologies, Indigenous science fiction --a methodology, a practice, a way of future dreaming.

The series develops an ongoing narrative in which Indigenous people develop sustainable, migration-based technology to live nomadically in hyperattunement to land and water. The project prototypes designs for objects and their use and advances new materials and new modes of thinking within Indigenous methodologies.

Muscle, Bone & Sinew embody the celebration of food, shelter, and

tools—paying attention to gratitude for sustenance and reverence for

the technology of more than human kinships—this work is a symbol of abundance. Watȟéča looks at using the detritus of our time, making do with what is left. These two ideas make up a spectrum of possibilities to tell a full narrative of complexity in the act of survival.

Sé’sh Shóto’sh Psí’sh is presented as part of the MAH’s Kincentricity project, a three-year initiative launched with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, that explores Indigenous culture. Funding is provided through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services Museums for America program. Additional support provided by The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz.

Born on the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota, Cannupa Hanska Luger is based in New Mexico. He is an enrolled member of the Three

Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold and is of Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara and Lakota heritage.

Luger is a 2022 Guggenheim Fellow, a recipient of a 2021 United States Artists Fellowship Award for Craft, and was named a 2021 GRIST Fixer. He is a 2020 Creative Capital Fellow, a 2020 Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow, and the recipient of the Museum of Arts and Design’s 2018 inaugural Burke Prize, among others.

Luger has exhibited nationally and internationally including at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gardiner Museum, Kunsthal KAdE, Washington Project for the Arts, Art Mûr, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. He has a bachelor’s of fine ats in studio arts from the Institute of American Indian Arts. n

Photos Credit: Ginger Dunnill

Sé’sh Shóto’sh Psí’sh is presented as part of the MAH’s Kincentricity project, a three-year initiative launched with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, that explores Indigenous culture. Funding is provided through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services Museums for America program. Additional support provided by The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz.

Cannupa Hanska Luger

Thank You, Second Harvest Volunteers

On April 21, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County hosted a volunteer appreciation event at Aptos Village Park.

As the nonprofit feeding 65,000 people a month, Second Harvest leaders are most appreciative of people who volunteer their time to help.

Such as Sherry Yokim, and Maritza and Angel Hernandez.

All three have helped with food distributions at the county fairgrounds, and pop-up distributions at Second Harvest’s warehouse in Watsonville. In addition, Sherry has volunteered for a pack and sort.

Maritza registers participants. Angel and Sherry help load vehicles.

“I can always count on these three to help at any distribution we are hosting,” said Dawn Barreras of Second Harvest. “I don’t think there is one time that I have reached out to them and asked for their help, and they didn’t jump at the chance to volunteer. All three have infectious personalities and care deeply about our community and really bring fun and joy to the distributions.”

When people volunteer, it brings them satisfaction – and that is true for these three volunteers.

Sherry said, “My favorite part of volunteering is how much I’ve learned about how great the needs are and how effective Second Harvest Food Bank is. At the first event I attended, a drive-

“Grandma Gert” from page 5

The Foster Grandparent Program — part of AmeriCorps Seniors — has been a nationwide program for decades. Foster Grandparents help in K-3 classrooms, mentoring and tutoring children who struggle both academically and emotionally.

A consistent, caring connection with an older person makes all the difference for these children.

Anyone 55 years or older and able to volunteer at least 15 hours per week is eligible. Volunteers receive a stipend averaging $250 per month, plus other benefits including transportation cost reimbursement and free meals.

With benefits for the students, the teachers and the volunteers, the Foster Grandparent program is a win-win-win.

Also attending the party were two of the program’s previous directors, Tom

through distribution at the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds, I couldn’t help but cry to see how many cars were lined up and how they kept coming.”

She added, “After the Pajaro River flood, as I was contemplating how and where I could help, Second Harvest Food Bank contacted me! I am so glad that Second Harvest Food Bank reached out to volunteers to be able to conduct pop-up distribution events.

I was encouraged by the joint event they held in March with other organizations for flood victims.”

She concluded, “It has been eyeopening to see all the food Second Harvest Food Bank is able to glean from government and commercial sources — much more than I imagined. I look forward to learning more about how Second Harvest Food Bank makes connections between food sources and those who need it.”

Maria said, “I enjoy working with an organization which I can help the Watsonville community.”

Angel said, “I enjoy working with Second Harvest because I get to meet and work with more people who’ve also been doing volunteer work.”

Their dog Cinnamon has been a part of the Second Harvest food distributions, bringing joy to everyone who shows up.

This is what Cinnamon likes about volunteering: “I like being held and I love getting pets from volunteers. Also,

I like being able to boost morale when the work starts to feel hard.” n

Reefe and Bob Campbell, both now retired. They joked that Gert’s service outlasted them both.

“Gert is so inspiring and has so much positive energy,” said Campbell. “I just had to be here to congratulate her!”

After everyone had a chance to share food and visit with old friends, Goldman received an award and a proclamation from Santa Cruz County Second District Supervisor Zach Friend, which announced April 14 as “Gert Goldman Day.”

“I can’t even express how important all of you are to me,” said Goldman. “I’m all choked up. Thank you so much. I wish you all the best, always.” n •••

Chris Greenwood is the Foster Grandparent program’s Santa Cruz County coordinator. Contact the Foster Grandparent Program at 800-734-8440 or ChrisG@ SeniorsCouncil.org

Mary Casey, Suzanne Garcia and Stephanie Russo

Apply for Affordable Rentals

Rental applications are being accepted up to 5 p.m. May 12 for Bienestar Plaza, a new affordable 56-unit housing complex at 1520 Capitola Road in Live Oak to be completed this fall. Applicants must meet income guidelines and will be selected by lottery.

There will be 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units. Amenities include onsite laundry facilities and bike room, a courtyard and children’s play area, onsite resident services, events, and a community room with lounge area.

Constructed and operated by MidPen

Affordable Housing Open House: May 16

Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay will host an Affordable Housing Month open house 5-6:30 p.m. May 16 at Rodeo Creek Court, 2340 Harper St., Santa Cruz (cross street is Chanticleer Ave. Tour the homes at Rodeo Creek Court, Habitat’s 11-home development in the Live Oak neighborhood of Santa Cruz. A future homeowner will walk you through her soon-to-befinished home and share what homeownership means for her family.

See www.habitatmontereybay.com

Housing, Bienestar Plaza is part of a 3.7-acre housing and health hub located on former redevelopment property once owned by the County of Santa Cruz. The County con-

tributed more than $7.5 million toward the project.

Bienestar Plaza includes 40 projectbased Section 8 vouchers, of which 25 will be

filled by the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz from its Section 8 waitlist. These units will have a local preference. The remaining 16 units will be filled through MidPen’s waitlist for this property. To apply, visit www.midpenhousing.org/bienestarplaza. Online applications are strongly encouraged. For questions, call (831) 318-6061 or email bienestarplaza@midpen-housing.org. Pre-applications may be submitted online or downloaded from the website. Forms are at a temporary leasing office at St. Stephens Apartments, 2510 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, between 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon. thru Fri. n

County Awarded $5.6M Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day

Editor’s note: Senior Rabbi Paula Marcus of Temple Beth El in Aptos was chosen to deliver convocation to California State Legislature on April 17, Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Here is what she said:

Hannah Senesh was born in Hungary in 1921. In 1943, at the height of World War II, she volunteered to go into Nazi-controlled areas in Europe to save Jewish lives.

She was one of 37 Jewish Special Operation recruits from Mandate Palestine who parachuted into Yugoslavia. Their mission was to organize resistance to the Germans, and aid in the rescue of those who had been captured by the Nazis.

After staying with the resistance fighters, known as the partisans, she was seized in German-occupied Hungary and executed by

the Nazis in Budapest on 7 November 1944, at the age of 23.

She is known both for her courage and her poetry. The words of this song are from one of her poems, and they speak to the universal understanding that we are all connected through our hearts, our appreciation for the beauty of creation, resilience, and the powerful ways we elevate the memories of all who have worked to spread goodness and peace in the face of evil.

May they inspire us to continue this sacred work together. n

www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/ through-the-lens/hannah-szenes.asp

The County of Santa Cruz announces more than $5.6 million in funding for health and safety programs through the California Board of State and Community Corrections.

The three grants were awarded to the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and Santa Cruz County Probation Department, and are aimed at reducing youth cannabis use, increasing school safety and achievement, and delivering services to vulnerable populations.

The grants include:

• $3 million to the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency to prevent and divert youth from cannabis use. This grant will sustain current programming for middle and high-school students.

• $2.1 million for a School Safety Program led by the Santa Cruz County

Sheriff’s Office, including two school resource officers, an assistant division director in the Probation Department, a County Office of Education Director of School Safety and specialists at the Community Action Board to initiate, coordinate, and expand evidence-based programs aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency, increasing school credit accruals, reducing on-campus bullying and harassment, and improving collaboration between school districts and law enforcement.

• $423,475 to the Santa Cruz County Probation Department to establish the Santa Cruz County Mobile Success Center to assist 300 unhoused individuals struggling to meet their probation terms, by providing access to legal services as well as housing, health and other resources. n

Santa Cruz Shakespeare Tickets Go On Sale May 1

This summer, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, a nationally recognized professional theater company in Santa Cruz County celebrating its 10th anniversary, will present Shakespeare’s King Lear and The Taming of the Shrew and Lauren Gunderson’s The Book of Will. Productions will take place July 8 – Aug. 27, under the trees and stars in the Audrey Stanley Grove at DeLaveaga Park in Santa Cruz.

Tickets go on sale to the public May 1 online at santacruzshakespeare.org.

The seasonal Box Office opens for phone orders June 6. Hours: Tuesday through Thursday noon to 4 p.m. Call 831-460-6399. Learn more at santacruzshakespeare. org/season-2023.

Community members are encouraged to become SCS members. Tickets for SCS members are on sale now. Membership packages include these benefits: Ticket discounts, early admission, and free parking. See santacruzshakespeare.org/member/.

The 2023 season, dubbed “A Summer of

Legacy,” takes place during the 400th anniversary of the creation of the first printed collection of Shakespeare’s works, preserving his legacy.

•••

The Book of Will by Lauren Gunderson

Director: Laura Gordon

Opening Night: July 13, at 8 p.m.

Alove letter to William Shakespeare, this moving and joyful comedy tells the story of two actor friends of Shakespeare who worked to preserve his plays and legacy seven years after his death. This notto-be-missed production stars incoming Artistic Director Charles Pasternak and outgoing Artistic Director Mike Ryan.

•••

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

Director: Robynn Rodriguez

Opening Night: July 14, at 8 p.m.

Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most raucous–and

controversial–comedies will explore Kate and Petruchio, two deeply complex characters as they struggle against the roles they have been prescribed, whether gender, class or age. These struggles provide hilarious moments as well as opportunities for reflecting on the human cost of maintaining the status quo.

•••

King Lear by William Shakespeare Director: Paul Mullins

Opening Night: July 28, at 8p.m.

production features Lauren Gunderson’s play, Exit Pursued by a Bear, a revenge comedy about one woman doing whatever it takes to get out of an abusive relationship.

T his powerful interpretation stars

Paul Whitworth, former Shakespeare

Santa Cruz Artistic Director and Royal Shakespeare Company actor. Charting a king’s disturbing descent into madness, this play explores how the craving for power can shatter kingdoms and families.

Additional 2023 productions include The Fringe Show, an SCS intern production, with performances Aug. 16 and 22. This

Each season SCS presents a Staged Reading Series showcasing two new plays read by professional actors. Scheduled for Aug.1 and 8, the plays will be announced soon.

Featuring professional actors from around the country and inspired by local roots going back more than 40 years, Santa Cruz Shakespeare stages bold productions of the plays of Shakespeare and other great playwrights that stimulate audiences and spark their imagination.

For information, visit santacruzshakespeare. org, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Paul Whitworth

Hannah Senesh

A Spark of Art in Aptos

By Jondi Gumz

For the first time since the Covid pandemic emergency, locals will have an opportunity to see art being made in Aptos and take their favorites home.

The dates are Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 503 St. Andrews Drive, off Clubhouse.

This is encaustic art, made by four local artists, each with a different style.

Most people are not familiar with encaustic art even though it’s an ancient art form, using melted beeswax mixed with pigment – pre-dating oil painting.

Artist Terry Dowell, who hosts A Spark of Art, has been making art this way for 12 years.

She saw a demonstration at Lenz artists’ supplies store in Santa Cruz that got her started.

She was inspired to enter Open Studios, and when she was accepted, she created a studio where she could show her work.

The beeswax can be layered to produce compelling images, like one Dowell made of powerful blue ocean waves rolling in.

Dowell got a grant for $43,000 to upgrade her electrical setup — you need heat to melt beeswax — to create a teaching studio.

All of the artists participating in the May show and demonstration enjoy being able to get feedback from fellow artists.

Dawn McGinty, who has come from

Boulder Creek for a year and a half, said inspiration can come from anywhere.

Among her recent images: The secretary bird that lives in Africa.

“I just do what I like to do,” she said.

Laura Martin, who retired from the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, has taken watercolor and acrylic painting classes, but she has stayed with encaustic.

“It holds my attention,” she said. “You’re never bored.”

Ann Bitonti, who has made jewelry, saw encaustic art in the Open Studios catalog and was captivated.

“I loved the look of it,” she said. She immediately signed up for Dowell’s workshop.

Ceramics by Nancy Niles also will be in the show.

Bitonti pointed to a box full of 3x5 works of encaustic art, which will be on sale for $10 each. All proceeds from those sales will go to Native Animal Rescue.

“Spark of Art” page 22

Every heart has a story.

We can help you live yours.

Sharing family traditions with your grandkids. That big career move. These moments define your story, and a healthy heart makes it possible. At Dignity Health, our nationally recognized heart and vascular program provides the area’s most comprehensive cardiac care. So, whether you have concerns or are due for a checkup, we’ll help you write your next chapter. Learn more about our innovative services at DignityHealth.org/DominicanHearts.

Ocean wave rolls in • Artist: Terry Dowell

Veterans’ Art On Display

Visit the Santa Cruz Public Library downtown branch to see art created by local veterans.

Vets 4 Vets worked with library staff to produce an evening of art and poetry in April, featuring local veterans, and to curate this show, which will be on exhibit until the end of June.

Here are a couple of the artists.

Steven Rauch, who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1970 and served in Germany and Vietnam. He was a professional firefighter for 31 years, then started painting after retirement with watercolors.

He now mixes his paintings between acrylics and watercolor.

Nana Montgomery, who has a long career in veteran services, makes quilts in the traditional manner and combine fabric and paint to create her images.

Travis Deyoung, poet, veteran, and coorganizer of the event, has been working to create veteran art events in Santa Cruz over the past 6 years.

“I believe these events are important for both the veterans and the community at large,” he said. “For the veteran, these events offer a safe space to express their creativity, explore their emotions, and share their perspective. For the community, it is an opportunity to see veterans in a different light. By allowing veterans to showcase their creativity, we can disrupt common stereotypes and expand the public’s understanding of the nuances of the veteran experience.”

The event, he said, “allowed the artists and the audience to connect, to laugh together, to struggle with challenging emotions together, and to find healing together. When the event ended, I felt that I had grown, that I had been nourished, and that I had experienced something authentic and beautiful.” n

a

Artist Steven Rauch (right) and coordinating librarian David Addison stand with Steven’s art.

All of the artists and poets who participated in an evening of art and poetry.

Art by Nana Montgomery, who makes contemporary quilts.

Pajaro Valley

The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture will host its 61st annual awards dinner and auction on Friday, July 29, at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville.

Man of the Year Dana Sales

Dana was the first person of Filipino heritage to be elected to public office in the history of Santa Cruz County, serving on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board for seven years.

For 28 years he was a member of the Santa Cruz County Board of Education, representing the southern portion of Santa Cruz County and the northern portion of Monterey County.

He was president of both school boards multiple times.

He has been a local realtor for 33 years and has been president of the Watsonville Board of Realtors and the Pajaro Valley Association of Realtors. He was recognized twice as Realtor of the Year.

He was founding president of the Pajaro Valley Jaycees, which ran the Watsonville Fourth of July Parade for 15 years.

He was the founding board president of the Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance for the first 10 years and chairman of the board of directors of Bay Federal Credit Union for three years.

Born and raised in the Pajaro Valley, Dana attended local public schools. At Watsonville High, he was on the track and field team, in the percussion section of the Watsonville Wildcatz band and elected Student Body vice president his senior year.

He received a congressional appointment from Shirley Chisholm of New York and attended the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, where he participated in intramural track and squash. He also was in the Academy’s Drum and Bugle Corps.

Returning to Watsonville, he has been actively serving the Pajaro Valley for 43 years.

Dana has been on the boards of the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce,

Doors open at 4 p.m. For tickets, see https:// pajarovalleychamber. com/2023-annual-awards-dinner/

Here are the honorees:

the Watsonville Red Cross, the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County, and the Advisory Board of the Watsonville Salvation Army. He served on update committees of the City of Watsonville’s General Plan and on the Watsonville Planning Commission.

For 20 years, Dana has been the bilingual choir director and lead cantor for Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church. He chaired the Education and Ambassadors Committees of the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Dana currently is on the board of the Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors. Dana and his wife, Lynn, have been part of the Watsonville Community band for 27+ years. He been president of the band, master of ceremonies and announcer. Dana also has been a member of the Pacific Brass Band and the Thirsty Nine German Band.

Dana has provided leadership and positive energy to all of these organizations, with enthusiasm and a “can-do” attitude. He is a self-starter with an indomitable spirit who encourages and motivates others to follow his example.

•••

Woman of the Year

Trina Coffman-Gomez

Trina Coffman-Gomez has a long history of leadership in the Pajaro Valley. Volunteering and actively working to make the Pajaro Valley an amazing place to live comes naturally to her.

When she and her husband Tony raised their two children, she chaired the Watsonville High Grad Night for over 10 years, making the event an all-night flurry of games, activities, food and a safe place to celebrate with friends. She has been an active Freedom Rotarian for over a decade and is serving for the second time as president. During her tenure , the club has nearly doubled in

Dana Sales

Trina Coffman-Gomez

Chamber Awards

members, enabling the club to meet more community needs. Freedom Rotary sponsored its inaugural “Uncork Corralitos” event in October which had 400 people at Aladdin Nursery for an afternoon of enjoying local wines and beer. In partnership with K&D Landscaping, funds raised provided a play structure for Pajaro Valley Shelter Services. Trina is working behind the scenes with Rotary to help with Pajaro relief efforts.

As advisory board chair for the Salvation Army, Trina inspired donations at the Red Kettle Kick-Off luncheon to exceed their goal by $26,000.

Trina has done a remarkable job in her many leadership roles. She has served as a city planning commissioner, councilwoman for eight years and founding board member for Central Coast Community Energy. She has been a commissioner for the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission, AMBAG, the Santa Cruz Metro. During her time as president of the Pajaro Valley Arts Council, Trina helped negotiate and coordinate the purchase of the Porter Building so the Watsonville community will have the long-term benefit of the arts. An artist, she loves to work with glass and wood. She has donated her handmade pieces to many different nonprofits. Trina’s commitment to the Pajaro Valley has been ongoing for decades and the future of the community will continue to be touched by her dedication.

•••

Lifetime Achievement

Guy

George

Determination, drive, strong character and a love of the Pajaro Valley are just a few of the traits that earned Guy George the title of 2023 Lifetime Achievement from the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. Guy has been a mentor a friend to so many young farmers through the years. He continues to actively farm in his 90s.

Guy’s father and mother, both first-generation Portuguese immigrants, operated a small dairy farm in the Casserly area at the base of Mt. Madonna where he grew up. Hard work has been part of his life since he was very young. At 12, he had a job as a janitor and continued through high school.

Guy served in the United States Navy, working as an aviation mechanic. Upon returning to Watsonville, he attended

and graduated from San Jose State with a degree in business. The love of farming stayed strong during his college years and he began farming strawberries and fruit trees with his father.

In the 1960s, Guy sold cabbage under his own label, “King George,” delivering to wholesale markets in the Bay Area. For 20 years, he farmed cabbage and lettuces on the George Braycovich property and another 25 years farming vegetables on many individual properties throughout the Pajaro Valley. In the 1980s he turned to growing blackberries and strawberries and became a grower for Driscoll’s in 1998. He then formed an LLC known as Rancho Alitos and continues to grow strawberries and blackberries.

He serves on the Board of Directors for the Agricultural History Project where he volunteers many hours per week. He actively supports the Santa Cruz County Fair and the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. In 2022, Guy was named the Farmer of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. Even with a busy schedule of working and volunteering, Guy still finds time to spend on the slopes skiing several times per year.

Guy’s legacy can be found everywhere in the Pajaro Valley through the many farmers he has mentored along the way. He has been there to help during the good times and bad.

•••

Business of the Year El Vaquero Winery

El Vaquero is a family-owned and -operated winery in Corralitos that specializes in producing small lot single vineyard designate wines from Corralitos, Santa Cruz Mountains, and neighboring appellations.

Bob and Dean Prikazsky’s passion for wine and horticulture turned into the dream of planting a vineyard and starting a winery in the late 90s. After taking a winemaking class at Cabrillo College, Bob made his first wine at home in 2009. Their Estate vineyard was planted on a hilltop overlooking the Monterey Bay in Corralitos in 2011, and 2013 they celebrated the estate vineyard’s first harvest by making their first vintage of commercial wine.

Daughter Alex took over as winemaker in 2015. Alex began making wine and working in the vineyard in 2013 while apprenticing under Mikael Wargin of Wargin Wines. Alex’s intuitive sense for wines and vines makes her integral to all facets of the business.

“PV Chamber Awards” page 16

Guy George

WINE30 introducing

Our new wine program celebrates and showcases locally sourced wines and the unique characteristics of our region's vineyards.

30% off 30 wines every Thursday from 6pm - 9pm

Support local artists and hyperlocal wines on our beautifully landscaped grounds at our monthly Sip & Stroll event every third Thursday.

“PV Chamber Awards” from page 15

El Vaquero’s 2018 Merlot was given a score of 93 and awarded a Gold in the Los Angeles Invitational Wine and Spirits Challenge. El Vaquero also was awarded two double gold medals in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Their 2019 “One-Eyed Charlie” carignan earned double gold in the carignan/carignane category and its 2018 cabernet franc won in the cabernet franc $30-$39.99 category.

Bob and Dean’s son, Danny, joined the team in 2021. When anything isn’t running smoothly, it is his job to work with the team to come up with solutions.

Besides making wine, El Vaquero has become a lively part of the community, with trivia nights each Thursday, and live music on weekends.

Bob Prikazsky is an active member of the Freedom Rotary Club, hosting club meetings at the winery every other week. He was an integral part of planning the October “Uncork Corralitos” event, which funded a playground structure for Pajaro Valley Shelter Services.

They hosted two fundraisers for people in Ukraine, supporting World Central Kitchen and later, “Keep the Lights On in Ukraine” to provide generators for those without power in Ukraine. They have also held several fundraisers featuring the Alex Lucero & the Live Again Band, benefits for the Sand Bar in Capitola, devastated during recent storms. Project Purr, Birchbark Foundation and the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter have also been recipients of their fundraising generosity.

They have also donated their wine to many local organizations for auction or raffle.

El Vaquero has been the venue (free of charge) for: The Ruben Mejia Annual STEM Scholarship, the Fireman Scholarship – in honor of Bobbi Jo Palmer’s husband, Community Music School of Santa Cruz and Seniors with Dementia.

El Vaquero Winery is an outstanding example of a family working to bring the community together, create a fun atmosphere and give back in a positive way.

Casa de la Cultura Center

Casa de la Cultura Center is a highimpact, grassroots organization which was founded in 1989 by Executive Director Sister Rosa Dolores Rodriguez. It is a heart that beats for the farm-working community, and is a hospital for the sick, a pantry for the hungry, and a haven for the weary.

This are the only nonprofit in the area specializing in comprehensive services for the hundreds of families who migrate through the Watsonville and Salinas Valleys to help grow and harvest the world’s multi-billion dollar fresh food supply.

Casa de la Cultura Center offers classes on literacy, music, computers, ESL, nutrition, cooking, sewing, and much more.

There are free clinics run by culturally competent practitioners offering general care, diabetes treatment, counseling, acupuncture, and Healing Touch. Their “Casita de Salud” program offers health education and screenings in the fields and community.

Casa de la Cultura also offers free fresh, healthy food to the harvesting community, as well as emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, and other basic needs to families who are constantly working hard to be self-sufficient. Their clients sustain the berry, lettuce, grapes, celery, broccoli and artichoke industries in this region, and they are responsible for harvesting crops that reach all of our tables.

Casa de la Cultura Center provides emergency assistance to families who have been impacted by an expensive housing market, the pandemic, fires and most recently residents who have lost so much during the flooding in Pajaro.

Each year they organize Casa de la Cultura Center Christmas Posada, where businesses and community members come together to donate toys, food, and celebrate the wonderful and valuable community of Pajaro.

When Sister Rosa was growing up, her family traveled to and from California as migrant workers. In 1966, she joined the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In 1989, Sister Rosa responded to a call to serve the people of Pajaro after the Loma Prieta earthquake.

Sister Rosa began community organizing around infrastructure improvements and offering skills training to women in the community.

“PV Chamber Awards” page 23

Dean (left) and Bob • El Vaquero Winery

aptoscurves@gmail.com

“New School” from page 6

To fund the program, New School earned eight different grants in the past 10 years.

Some of the most memorable field trips over the years have been through Driscoll’s Berries facilities, Lakeside Organic Gardens, City of Watsonville’s watershed tour and water treatment plant, the FoodWhat?! Harvest Festival and Cabrillo’s Horticulture, Construction and Energy Management, and Medical Assisting Departments.

New School’s most significant community service learning projects have been removing non-native plants and replanting native plants in Ramsey Park and Watsonville Slough Ecological Reserve, restorative planting at Hester Marsh, clearing fire brush in Corralitos, picking up trash and collecting data from the slough trails and neighborhoods surrounding the school and filling food bags for Second Harvest Food Bank to distribute to local residents.

The most valuable partnerships for community service learning have been Watsonville’s Environmental Science Workshop, the City of Watsonville, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Save Our Shores and Second Harvest Food Bank.

The Outdoor School & Character Development program was recognized in 2019 with the Jacob Young Financial Services inaugural Innovative & Educational Enrichment Program award and in 2020 as

an exemplary program by the California Continuation Education Association.

Lead teacher Bryan Love said New School’s Outdoor School & Character Development program would not be possible without the incredible support of Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Growing Up Wild, Schools Plus of Santa Cruz County, City of Watsonville’s Environmental Science Workshop, Watsonville Rotary, and Mother Nature’s Temple. n

•••

New School is in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. To learn more, see https:// newschool.pvusd.net/ or call 831-761-6140.

Time to Focus on Child Neglect

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Each year, more than 390,000 children in the United States are in the dependency court and foster care systems because of experiencing abuse or neglect.

In Santa Cruz County, about 300 children are in this system.

A child in foster care, on average, will move into multiple homes and attend multiple schools. This instability, chaos and inconsistency has longterm effects.

On April 21, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties, along with elected officials participated in a press conference highlighting the importance of community support, economic opportunities, and working together to prevent child abuse.

Among those participating: U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Assembly member Gail Pellerin, and Watsonville City Councilmember Krystal Salcido.

CASA organizations in Santa Cruz, Monterrey, and San Benito counties support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every child who has experienced abuse or neglect can be safe, have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive.

CASA leaders say families need connections to housing assistance and nutritional necessities to reduce child welfare interactions that could be prevented by meeting their basic needs. n

Ripe for the picking!

10% of profits go back to the community

Whether you’re tossing them in a salad, whipping up a fruity dessert, or just snacking on them in the sunshine, our local organic strawberries are ripe and ready to enjoy.

Highway 1 Groundbreaking

By Jondi Gumz

Everyone who knows about the Highway 1 commuter traffic jam, especially in the afternoon southbound from Santa Cruz to Watsonville, tries to avoid being one of those 100,000.

Solutions have been elusive but on April 19, transportation leaders broke ground on a $100 million project they believe will break the logjam.

The answer, we’re told, is “multi-modal.”

What does that mean?

It means investing in multiple strategies: Building auxiliary lanes and allowing Metro buses to bypass traffic on the shoulder — an initiative requiring legislation championed by then-Assembly member Mark Stone — building crossings over Highway 1 for people on foot and bike, and building a trail alongside the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line.

Metro, by the way, is working on more solutions: Boosting bus ridership to 7 million by 2027 and building 224 affordable rentals at its bus stations so people could live closer to where they work.

Here are the numbers: Downtown Santa Cruz (Pacific Center North), 120

units, to break ground in late 2023, Watsonville, 60 units, requires 24 months of design and permitting, and ParaCruz project, Highway 1/Soquel Avenue, 60 units, groundbreaking in 5-7 years.

The first phase of Highway 1 focuses on 41st Avenue in Capitola to Soquel Drive, with the pedestrian-bike walkway over the freeway connecting the Santa Cruz Gardens and Emerald Bay neighborhoods near the Animal Shelter with the Sheriff’s Office, a 2-mile walk to Twin Lakes State Beach or Schwan Lake.

Target completion date is end of 2025. Bids are being sought for the second phase, from Bay/Porter in Soquel to State Park Drive in Aptos, including an

Future Highway 1, as pictured by Freedom Bakery.

Granite Construction is the contractor on the Highway 1 project.

overcrossing near Mar Vista Elementary, with the possibility of construction in late summer/early fall.

For the third phase, from State Park Drive to Freedom Boulevard with four overcrossings, environmental work is underway.

Michael Tree, named Metro general manager in March, called bus on shoulder “a game-changer” in the agency’s push for buses to be seen as fast and reliable. Metro’s board committed to make buses arrive every 15 minutes, he noted.

Bus on shoulder was pioneered on freeways in San Diego, starting in 2022 for three years, using driver assistance technology.

Future Vision

Leaders of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, which is spearheading the project with CalTrans, are so excited about the future they ordered Freedom Bakery to create shortcake cookies topped by icing showing an uncrowded Highway 1 and a parade of people on the to-be-built overcrossing.

“It’s possibly the largest transportation project in our county,” said Supervisor Manu Koenig, who represents the area where the first overcrossing will be built.

Guy Preston, RTC executive director

since 2018, was on hand, despite his foot being in a walking boot.

Sarah Christensen, RTC engineering construction manager, emceed the

groundbreaking, promising this would be “the first of many celebrations.”

“Groundbreaking” page 22

Comment on Highway 1 Project

May 2 and May 4

Speak up now on the environmental impact report on a project to ease congestion on Highway 1, from Freedom Boulevard to State Park Drive, that stretch that is jammed every afternoon.

The Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission and Caltrans are overseeing the project which involves building auxiliary lanes, making it possible for Metro buses to bypass traffic on the shoulder – a first in the state-- and build Segment 12 of the Coastal Rail Trail, 1.2 miles for people on foot and on bikes along the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line with four crossings over Highway 1.

Two meetings are planned to accept public input before the final design. A virtual meeting is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. May 2.

“Comment” page 23

The April 19 groundbreaking on the Highway 1 multimodal improvements: Auxiliary lanes, bus on shoulder and freeway overcrossing.

Pregnant Mare Rescue

May

Painted

“Groundbreaking” from page 21

She said construction will begin in a few weeks on the Soquel Drive buffered bike lanes, another part of the multimodal strategy to reduce congestion, boost safety and encourage more people to switch from cars to bikes for short trips.

2,167 Jobs

Caltrans estimates the Highway 1 project will create 2,167 jobs.

The contractor is Granite Construction of Watsonville.

Another expected benefit is a reduction in greenhouse gases from vehicle emissions, aligning with the state Climate Action Plan.

The multi-modal approach has support from the state with Matthew Yosgott, deputy director of the California

Transportation Commission, recommending $107 million.

He was in attendance for the groundbreaking along with Scott Eades, named in February as director of Caltrans Region 5, which includes Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.

“It’s an iconic symbol, being able to move across the highway,” Eades said. The multi-modal approach also found favor with Congress, getting $30 million in federal funds. It is one of nine in the nation to receive “mega grant” funding through the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law in November 2021.

Officials credit voters for passing Measure D, the half-cent sales tax in 2016, leveraging state and federal funds to meet transportation needs over the next 30 years. n

“Spark of Art” from page 11

Dowell promises “great gift ideas” for Mother’s Day.

So, even if you never heard of

encaustic art, it’s worth your while to stop in and check it out. n

•••

For more about the workshops, visit https://www.facebook.com/terrydowellart/

Artists Laura Martin and Ann Bitonti

Steve Walter (facing) is one of Granite Construction’s Highway 1 project managers.

Annual Groundwater Report Reaffirms the Value and Need for Pure Water Soquel

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

The torrential rainfall and recordsetting snow of the past winter did much to alleviate California’s threeyear drought. However, unlike most of the state, all of our water in the mid-Santa Cruz region comes from rainfall that percolates into the ground and becomes groundwater.

Groundwater basins take years to be replenished by rainall. For those that rely entirely on groundwater for their water supply, one year of aboveaverage rainfall does not make up for years of drought and decades of over-pumping our groundwater basin.

The Soquel Creek Water District, which relies exclusively on groundwater, shares the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin with other water users, including the city of Santa Cruz, Central Water District, small mutual water companies, and private well owners. In accordance with the State

Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency (MGA) was formed in 2016 to manage the basin and ensure that all water users have access to a safe and reliable water supply. In addition, because the basin is designated as “critically overdrafted” – the MGA is mandated to prepare an Groundwater Sustainability Plan and perform annual reports to demonstrate the basin will be sustainable by 2040.

The draft annual report is required to be submitted to the state on April 1 and was presented to the MGA at its March meeting.

Findings included in the Report for Water Year 2022 included:

• Groundwater levels at most wells declined or remained similar to the previous year.

• There are undesirable results for seawater intrusion because 7 coastal representative monitoring points with 5-year moving average groundwater elevations are below their respective minimum threshold groundwater elevation proxies.

• Chloride concentrations at 4 monitoring wells have exceeded minimum

thresholds for seawater intrusion

• Net groundwater extraction remains greater than sustainable yields in 2 of 3 aquifer groups

Thus, the MGA notes in the report that seawater intrusion continues to occur and remains an issue to mitigate.

“Groundwater” page 25

Fill-In-The-Blank

“Comment”

from page 21

The other will be in person, an open house 6-7:30 p.m. May 4, at Rio Sands Hotel, 116 Aptos Beach Drive, Aptos. The environmental impact report covers ways to minimize impacts along with alternatives.

Email lara.bertaina@dot.ca.gov by 5

p.m. June 2 or write Lara Bertaina, California Department of Transportation, 50 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. June 2. n

See the report at libraries in Capitola, Live Oak and Watsonville, Santa Cruz County Public Works Department, fourth floor of the county building at 701 Ocean St. in Santa Cruz, and online at bit.ly/StatePark-FreedomBlvd.

“PV Chamber Awards” from page 16

“I want others to be proud of who they are,” Sister Rosa said. “Their culture, their language, and to live their lives to the fullest.”

Learn more: casadelaculturacenter.org

Event of the Year

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation Crab Feed

On March 4, the J.J. Crosetti Hall at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds was a flurry of folks eager to get together at the 19th Annual Crab Feed. After two years of the event being a drive-through, it went

back to a live event, bringing smiling faces together.

A favorite part of the evening is the live and silent auction with items donated by local community members and businesses. Proceeds from the crab feed allow the Fairgrounds Foundation to continue their mission of ensuring a vibrant, healthy Fairgrounds.

More than 450 guests enjoyed all you can eat fresh crab, BBQ chicken, tossed green salad, garlic bread and clam chowder. This is an all-volunteer event with the same team working together to bring this awesome event to fruition each year. Renee Mello, chair of this year’s event, gives credit to the many volunteers who made this event a huge success. n

3. *Basket or study

4. *Adam’s or pie

5. Finely-spun cotton threads

Antiquity of the past

29. *Southwest or Minor

31. Lou of The Velvet Underground

32. Rainbow swimmer 33. *Free or hour 34. Glorify 36. Weighted weapon

38. Nevada Wolf Pack’s home

42. Cuban dance 45. 1.094 of a yard, pl.

49. *Doctor or knows?

51. Description of a fool 54. Give qualities or money

56. More eccentric 57. Theatrical performance

58. Previously mentioned, acr.

59. Hair styling products 60. Annoying biter

New School Websites, Classified Pay, $5,000 Signing Bonus for Teachers

I have been unable to log into Synergy recently. I believe this began when the school websites were updated.

Are other parents having issues?

We have completed the transition for all school and district webpages to the new Catapult content management system. Every school has a new and improved website.

Although school and district websites have many links to online resources such as Synergy, they are completely separate systems so have not been affected by the transition to our new websites. If any parents or students have issues logging into Synergy, they should contact their school’s office staff.

School office staff can activate accounts and reset passwords for parents. If the school office staff needs support or if there is a problem with the Synergy system they will reach out to our Technology Services Synergy support team and get the issue resolved.

Why are you advertising the new higher salary for classified positions for new positions when we have not seen the raise yet in our paychecks?

The new salary schedules for Classified staff have been entered into the system and are ready to pay out on the end of month payroll for April.

Any new employees hired at this time would also see the new rate in the earliest payroll available, which is April end of month. All employees should see the new salary increase starting at the end of this month and moving forward.

Will you have a signing bonus again for new staff this year?

We really need the teachers at WHS.

There continues to be a statewide and national shortage of certificated employees who possess teaching credentials. The District currently has a higher number than normal of classroom vacancies at Watsonville High School, Pajaro Valley High School, Rolling Hills Middle School, Lakeview Middle School and E.A. Hall Middle School.

In collaboration with the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, we have established a Memorandum of Understanding to address the shortage by offering a $5,000 signing bonus to attract classroom teachers to work in our district. An additional $2,500 signing bonus will be provided to classroom teachers being hired into a Bilingual position and possess a BCLAD or Emergency Authorization.

This MOU is in addition to the already established signing bonus for Math, Science or Special Education classroom teaching positions. In addition, a $5,000 dollar signing bonus will be provided to School Nurses, Speech and Language Pathologists and Psychologists candidates who possess an intern, preliminary or clear credential.

Can I still sign my third grader up for summer school? She goes to Ann Soldo. Is there a summer program there?

Summer school sign-ups are open, as site capacity allows. If the assigned summer site, is full students will be offered a placement at another school site. Summer school will run from June 12- July 7, no school on 6/19 & 7/4.

This summer we are launching an expansion of our Pajaro Passport and will have Pajaro Summer Passport; this will create an opportunity for students to access a variety of programming options that meet their learning and families’ needs. As a district, we will be offering Summer School, Extended School Year & Summer Partnership Camp options for current TK-8th grade students.

Ann Soldo students are scheduled to attend Mintie White Summer School. Applications can be found on our website or by using this link.

We have also partnered with the City of Watsonville who will run Camp WOW (Wild on Watsonville) at Ann Soldo this summer. More information on signing up for Camp WOW can be found at https:// www.cityofwatsonville.org/1691/CampWOW. Camp WOW will also be provided at no cost to PVUSD students. Questions regarding summer enrollment can be directed to extended_learning@pvusd.net

Previously you mentioned the Seal of Civic Engagement. How does a student receive this recognition if they believe they have met the criteria?

Students who wish to pursue the California State Seal of Civic Engagement can look forward to learning about the process and steps to earn the Seal when it is introduced in fall 2023.

For reference, there are five criteria to earn the Seal. PVUSD’s criteria are based on information from the California Department of Education and are the result of an 18-month evaluation and review process which importantly reflects the voice

and input of 10 PVUSD student interns in the 2022 Summer in the City program. Their recommendations were provided to a multi-stakeholder task force in fall 2022 made up of a PVUSD board member, teachers, administrators, students from the summer program, community members and parents.

The PVUSD student recommendations to the task force were reviewed and discussed over a series of meetings and the outcome culminated in a report to the PVUSD Board on Feb. 8 to share the recommended PVUSD implementation of the Seal. The Board commended the work of the students and task force.

The next steps for the implementation will be moved forward this summer in the 2023 Summer in the City program. Our PVUSD interns will develop the introduction and supportive resources for students to pursue the Seal in the 23/24 school year.

The PVUSD criteria for earning the Seal are:

1: Student should be on track to graduate based on each student’s unique graduation plan.

2: Student must complete grade-level history/social sciences course requirements with a passing grade, or its equivalent, in World History, U.S. History and American Government. Student must attend at least three local government meetings and submit a reflection form from their experience.

3: Student will engage in a student-created civic action project taking into account ability or skill level. The project should consist of a significant depth and/or impact at the local, state, or federal level.

4: Student will demonstrate this criteria in a variety of pathways such as an informal presentation, written reflections or via multimedia. A student self-reflection will be informed by a pre and post self-evaluation.

5: In combination with the evidence of successful completion of 3 and 4, students will provide a summary form, completed by a mentor or a teacher. The sidewalk is closed by Lakeview.

I received the letter from the principal but what is the plan?

Site Administration at Lakeview Middle School has been working with CalTrans

to ensure a safe crossing plan regarding the Corralitos Creek pedestrian bridge expansion.

CalTrans will provide a certified flagger on Hwy 152 on the approach to the project site below the levee path and close to the 25-mph school zone sign.

For example, students coming from the Beverly Drive neighborhood would walk on their side of the street up to the flagger. They would then be assisted with crossing Hwy 152 and continue to the intersection.

They would then cross Holohan/ College, then cross over Hwy 152 and be on the school side of the road. The flagger would be in position starting Monday from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m.

In addition, they will provide crossing support in the afternoon from 3:15 to 4:14 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 1:15 to 2:15 pm.

Is there anyway you could provide an art teacher at my kid school, MacQuiddy elementary. I also was wondering if the school district could provide elementary and middle schoolers a Spanish class for students who don’t know or know very little? That would be awesome!

Over the past 6 years, PVUSD has increased our commitment to supporting the whole child through increased access to visual and performing arts throughout our TK-12 programming. Currently, we have partnered with Save the Music Foundation to accomplish our commitment to provide 45 minutes of music instruction to all students at the elementary level. This significant accomplishment has resulted in PVUSD being awarded a Best Communities for Music Education Award for 2023 by the NAMM Foundation.

While multiple-subject credentialed elementary teachers are authorized to teach and encourage a student’s art interests, most multiple-subject credentialed elementary teachers do not have a music instruction background. PVUSD is supporting our students’ access to the arts through credentialed music teachers and access to visual arts curriculum through the child’s classroom teacher.

For Spanish instruction, several of our elementary schools have dual language programs that provide students access to instruction in both Spanish and English.

Q&A With Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

Student Summit Focuses on the Environment

By Avonlea Harwood

Monday, April 22, was a day filled with community collaboration, moving student stories, and abundant opportunities for change.

Youth for Environmental Action’s 2023 Summit: Empowering Teens for Climate Action embraced communication between students and policy-makers in a unique, impactful way. We, student leaders in Youth for Environmental Action (YEA), had been anticipating seeing our work-inprogress come to life, and could not wait to observe its impact on the high schoolers from across Santa Cruz County that joined us.

The summit was held at Koinonia Conference Grounds, where about 200 attendees gathered to educate themselves and take initiative for the planet. Despite it being a cold morning, the atmosphere was filled with an eager, hopeful sense of unity.

We heard from two resilient Pajaro Valley High School teens, both displaced due to the disastrous floods in March. As they began their stories of being evicted from their homes and forced to live in the county shelter, it became potently real how climate change is accelerating and our locals are facing the brunt of it.

One of the students bravely voiced, “We’ve been living at the Santa Cruz fairgrounds for a month now and I’m pretty sure there’s more to come. I’m pretty sure we got really affected but it was also a life lesson that we learned we could have

everything in a moment and then lose everything.”

The keynote panel, featuring Professor and ecological anthropologist Flora Lu, Youth for Climate Justice student leader Tamarah Minam, and director of the Natural History Museum, Felicia Van Stolk, was a true highlight. Tamarah’s comments uplifted the crowd, “So if we’re all able to work on smaller things … to work on curriculum and making our schools more sustainable, if we all do it together we can create change in this system and tackle this major issue.”

We then transitioned to the Community Action Fair, where the focus of the day leaped from absorbing the inspirational words of local leaders to taking the first step to change. In all, Environmental Innovations, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, the Homeless Garden Project, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Clean Oceans International, the Bird School Project, and Regeneración had 188 sign-ups for activities and volunteer opportunities.

Walking by the fair-like array of organization tablings, one would see students enthusiastically asking questions, suggesting ideas for community engagement, and even writing postcards to their congresspeople. Coastal cleanups were arranged, specific actions for making schools greener were discussed, and commitments to volunteer were taken.

Molly Gannon from Pacific Collegiate School said, “I thought it was really cool

how there were a variety of organizations from different environmental focuses. I went to the Regeneración booth and signed up for their newsletter. They hold meetings with local politicians and advise them to improve their environmental policy in Watsonville– an important agricultural center. I also thought more about my diet after talking to the Eat for the Earth booth representatives, and I’ve been trying to eat less processed and meat-based foods. It made me want to involve myself further with local organizations, even if it’s simply attending meetings or doing a volunteer day.”

Ziggy Lukasiewicz, from Pacific Collegiate School, added, “A big take-away from talking to all the booth organizations was that it’s inspiring to be around groups of people who are prioritizing similar things. I felt that not everyone is against the environmental movement, lots of people are pushing forward. It really reenergized me to keep fighting for the environment.”

Everyone proceeded to divide into school-based groups to brainstorm what needs to change in the school districts. The San Lorenzo Valley High School group spoke with their superintendent, resulting in a productive conversation about making board meetings more accessible for stu-

dents. They plan to begin a dropbox for students to voice their concerns about school matters, and implement compost bins and use lower-footprint containers for cafeteria meals.

As the day came to an end, we closed with a speech, in which we quoted the following lines from We are the Change, a poem written by YEA member Carolyn Randolph: “And say we stay silent? / Listen in the call of the bird, the motion of the grass, the march of the ants / Each voice avalanches forming a chant.” n •••

“Groundwater” from page 23

The report also describes how the MGA is moving in several positive actions with its programs, activities, and projects within the basin. Among those are:

• Pure Water Soquel (PWS) – Construction of purified recycled water

project continues with anticipated start up in 2024

• Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) – Pilot testing started in WY 2022 and will end in November 2024. For a full scale project, the City is working with the State on its water rights petition. n

Avonlea Harwood is a senior at Pacific Collegiate School and a student leader of Youth for Environmental Action.

Avonlea Harwood

A Festival, an Appearance & Pluto Goes Underground

Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, the volcanic force that transforms us, retrogrades May 1st at 0 Aquarius. As Pluto retrogrades (till October 10), we move into deeper layers of interior awareness. Certain areas of our lives turn inward for assessment, reorganization and transformation. The question becomes how are we being transformed? With Pluto retrograde certain areas of life fall away, some things linger in shadows, some things rise up into the light. Pluto gives us a rare window into ourselves.

The talk today about halting AI is part of the Pluto in Aquarius (technology) turning retrograde (turn back). During the retrograde of Pluto, issues of birth, death and rebirth are considered. Pluto was last in Aquarius during the 18th Century, from 1778 to 1798. What happened during those years so long ago? From that research we get a glimpse of the issues that may appear in our present world too. Before the 18th century, Pluto was in Aquarius during the Holy Roman Empire. Pluto circles the zodiac every 246 years. Pluto is not subtle!

ARIES

A time of great change has arrived. You will find yourself breaking with the past, attempting new endeavors and different ways of presenting yourself to the world. However, as you do so, realize we have three weeks of Mercury retrograde. The past blends with the present and they both seek the future. Everything must be discerned for what is real. All relationships will also shift and change, take on different hues, meaning everything becomes unconventional. Including your appearance. Revel in all of it.

TAURUS

Someone or something is asking you to adopt a different value system, one that is not your usual and regular way of being. You resist (as you should, giving time for research and evaluation). Look deeply into all new ideas presented. The new era is a completely unknown. It’s a good idea to ponder what the new era means; what humanity needs at this time. The old ways are in the way, everywhere. They are falling down at the blink of an eye. There must be a clearing for the new Age to unfold. You are one of its thought leaders.

GEMINI

Be very aware that Mercury is retrograde at the moment. Mercury is your teacher, mentor, friend and healer. It’s your Soul and Spirit. Mercury is your angel and protector. Mercury and Venus work together. Mercury is retrograde now. Venus will retrograde the last week in July for forty days. Everything you thought you felt and knew will change. Anything you think, you must review and assess with a clear mind. For now, experiment. Everything’s magic in Mercury retrograde. Let it captivate you.

CANCER

Amidst the sudden decision to travel, have an adventure, go on a journey, you realize you’re seeking a paradise, utopia, a heaven, a dreamland, a community, a new way of life with like-minded people. Not for you the conventional path, customs and traditions. These are being set aside for new independent ideas and exotic places that reflect advanced ways of living and thinking. It’s an experiment. Research and caution are advised. What is your happiness goal?

Wesak Festival: We have a full moon lunar eclipse Saturday, May 5th. It is the Taurus Buddha full moon Wesak festival. It is a time when the Buddha makes his annual appearance bringing a blessing to humanity from the Lord of the World. Working with him is the Christ, his brother and thus it is a festival in which the east (Buddha) and west (Christ) meet.

Their presence invokes spiritual forces (extra planetary) to that “restore humanity’s health and well-being by re-establishing the Plan on Earth. Accompanying the Buddha and Christ are the Forces of Enlightenment who illumine the minds of humanity to recognize the truth. In the present Kali Yuga humanity is enfolded in darkness and cannot see the truth. It is the “Will of God” that we develop a clear mind, make right choice, care for and love one another, recognize our true identity, build the new era (Aquarian Age), and step upon the Path of Return. Everyone is invited to the Wesak festival. It’s in the Himalayas in a secret valley. We enter, through aspiration, in dreamtime. (Note: The Wesak story will be on www.nightlightnews.org Saturday, May 5th) n

LEO

Do you sense money, finances, investments and legal issues affecting your life are becoming a bit out of control. Do you also feel at a loss as to what to do? Your keen intuition is telling you to keep track of all market ups and downs and to realize sudden changes may occur in business and banking and also in relationship interactions. What is there to hold onto? A suggestion that is important for the future — invest in gold and silver as soon as possible. As much as you can.

VIRGO

With Saturn in Pisces, Virgo can feel quite free. Some Virgo’s may unexpectedly marry without much thought. Some will divorce with even less thought. Other Virgos will be aware that unusual realities may occur within relationships erratic behaviors, independence, major upsets and unexpected fluctuations of emotion. All things are upside down inside out during retrogrades. Some Virgos will take all this in stride. It’s the astrological Virgos who will. They understand and remain poised.

LIBRA

Your daily work environment, routines, schedules and also your health may shift, become unpredictable moving toward the irregular. Think of it a creative, a time of opportunity. Some Librans love this for it allows for more freedom. Others need the structure of reliable and regular agendas imposed upon them. You might become angry, impatient, anxious and nervous. Careful with health. You sometimes learn the hard way. Through loss and suffering. Gather around your beloveds.

SCORPIO

You’re imaginative, ingenious, resourceful, inventive and creative. At times you sense the need for a bit more self-control. You learn this eventually. Self-knowledge sometimes comes through being reckless and foolhardy. Are you this way with relationships, perhaps? You want now most of all freedom and independence. How do these needs affect your relationships, co-workers, family and/or children? How are you using all your talents and skills?

SAGITTARIUS

Perhaps there will be a change to your home life, to the environments you live and/or work in. You want freedom to experiment, to journey forth, to come and go at will (from home and work). You want different and unusual living conditions. Although you love family traditions, they may feel counter to your needs at this time. The foundations of your entire life feel unreliable and changeable. This persists. It’s difficult but it is, in the long run, good. The new era will be everything we never expected it to be.

CAPRICORN

Your thinking and communications, over time, have become filled with qualities of leadership, right thinking, right reasoning, and thus quite revolutionary. Gradually, or spontaneously, or unexpectedly (Uranian words) you become involved in advanced, new thought thinking, the Wisdom Teachings. The foundation of these teachings is astrology, the 7th Art. Very few may think like you. A sense of aloneness develops until you find your group. Off you go, at a moment’s notice to discover it! Mercury will lead the way.

AQUARIUS

When Aquarians hear of someone in need, their heart opens and they often say, “How can I help you?” Are you able to say and do this yet? In the esoteric Ageless Wisdom teachings the disciple task is to always “see the need” and then to assist in filling that need however they can. In this way the Aquarian task of serving others (humanity) is always on the forefront of a disciple’s consciousness. When one serves others, one is, in turn, also always “served.” What we offer is returned to us ten-fold. How do you serve?

PISCES

Most think of Pisces as a quiet shy fish hiding behind ferns, a subtle, other worldly being surrounded by mists and veils. But there comes a time when Pisces emerges from the Neptunian waters and becomes a warrior, like St. Michael, holding a fiery sword, leading humanity into battle in order to save the world. This archetype of warrior with a fiery sword comes alive in all Pisces soon as darkness threatens to engulf the world. These words are offered as preparation for all Pisces to understand.

“PVUSD Q&A” from page 24

Starting in the fall of 2023, Rolling Hills Middle School will continue the dual language program from the elementary schools starting with the 6th grade students. Lakeview Middle School and Alianza Charter School (K-8) also provide middle school students with access to instruction in Spanish language arts.

When students reach high school, they will have the opportunity to learn a Language Other Than English through the World Language Department at their school. Currently, all three comprehensive high schools offer Spanish and Spanish for Speakers, AHS and WHS offer French, and students also have the opportunity to pursue American Sign Language through a dual enrollment class with Cabrillo.

We are committed to increasing the opportunities for all of our students to discover the joy and increased intellectual benefits of bilingualism.

As a staff member, where can we get tested now that Inspire is not available at the District Office?

Inspire no longer offers free testing for COVID-19. Because of our commitment to not charge our staff and community, the District has opted to move away from providing Inspire Diagnostics Testing on site.

If staff are out from work due to COVID-like symptoms, the District offers free rapid tests to staff to be able to test for COVID-19. A rapid test kit can be requested from your supervisor in this situation.

If you are non-symptomatic, and would still like to test, you would need to do so by purchasing your own home testing kit OR utilizing the Inspire Diagnostics co-pay testing at these sites:

• Cabrillo College, Parking Lot R (Park & Walk Up) 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, Monday, Tues. Thurs. and Friday: 9 –4 pm and Wednesday: 9- 5 pm

• Davenport Resource Service Center (Park & Walk Up) 150 Church Street, Davenport, Tuesday, Thursday: 2-4 pm

• Salud Para La Gente (Park & Walk Up) 204 E Beach St. Watsonville, Monday -Friday: 9- 4 pm

Please call your insurance provider to understand co-payment and billing before testing.

When is the last date that Pajaro residents can place their flood damaged items to be picked up?

According to the County of Monterey, all residents who are cleaning their homes should place all debris by their curb by Monday, April 24.

Are there any options for Pajaro families who did not have enough insurance on their homes?

Monterey County was declared under two disasters identified as DR4683 and the March storms DR4699. The deadline to register for assistance is June 5.

DR4683 website: https://www.fema.gov/ disaster/4683/news-media

DR4699 website: https://www.fema.gov/ disaster/4699

Locals Fill Gaps for People of Pajaro

From Grower-Shipper Association of Central California

Spring marks the return of fruit and vegetable harvest in the Salinas Valley region. With heavy rains, cold winter weather and our area recovering from flooding, that harvest has been delayed but consumers can be assured they will enjoy leafy greens, vegetables and strawberries with the harvest continuing into November. While we understand the importance of providing

healthy produce to consumers, recovery remains the priority with major efforts undertaken to help communities recover from flooding.

One small town in particular in Monterey County, Pajaro, has suffered from widespread damage due to a major breach of the Pajaro River levee on March 10. This breach left homes, businesses and farms flooded and crucial jobs lost.

This will be a long road to recovery for this largely farmworker community as federal disaster assistance was not immediately available and not approved until weeks after the flooding occurred. This delayed help with rent assistance, cleanup and repairs to homes and businesses. To offset and augment delayed federal assistance, many businesses and individuals contributed to local charities to help with immediate needs for residents including short-term housing, food, furniture, clothing and other essentials.

To fill a crucial gap in health care needs, the Grower Shipper Association of Central California and Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas immediately stepped in to provide medical care, medication replacement and hygiene supplies in the aftermath of the flooding.

GSA and Clinica set up a mobile clinic at the main shelter for displaced Pajaro residents so services were readily accessible and then moved it to Pajaro once

evacuation orders were lifted. The medical care was funded by a grant awarded to GSA therefore these services were provided free of charge to the community.

To date, 43% (1,500) of Pajaro residents have accessed the medical services and essential supplies provided by the GSA/Clinica partnership.

“While we were pleased that federal assistance was approved on April 4 to help residents, businesses and farms recover, the flooding occurred on March 10 so it was imperative to provide immediate assistance to this severely impacted community and address gaps,” says GSA President Christopher Valadez. “As we did during the pandemic, GSA and Clinica worked quickly to provide crucial services for impacted residents to offset delays in government services.”

Long-term, the attention is on job recovery since individual farms in Pajaro employed hundreds and suffered severe losses and it could take local businesses weeks to reopen. But temporary housing is the most crucial need and unemployment compounds the problem.

GSA is committed to continue to help communities impacted by flooding. As we enter spring and we see the harvest begin, there is a seemingly reassuring component to a return to the business of providing food to consumers. But, we must keep our attention on those in long-term need of critical support. n

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SEACLIFF INN HAPPENINGS

Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos, announces monthly and weekly happenings for locals and visitors:

Wine30: Third Thursday art walk, sip & stroll with pour-off from a featured winery, 30% off 30 wines and pairings with menu items.

Tacos and Tequila: 6-10 p.m. Mondays, chef’s choice taco specials, $2 off tequilas, Margarita & Paloma specials;

Burgers and Beer: 6 – 10 p.m. Wednesdays, chef’s choice burger specials, discounted select beers, monthly off-menu local beer.

Sunday Supper Club: 6-10 p.m. with 10% discount on food for teachers, students & seniors

Neighborhood Night: Happy Hour 3-10 p.m. with live music 6-9 p.m.

PVUSD EVENTS

Summer in the City

Applications now due May 5, 5 p.m. Summer in the City Intern program offers opportunities for high school juniors and seniors in Pajaro Valley Unified School District and the City of Watsonville.

The program runs June 12 - July 14.

Students get a $1,000 stipend at program completion, earn 10 elective high school credits, earn 1 college credit unit for Cabrillo College, transportation to field trips and lunch is provided.

This program is a collaborative effort between PVUSD, Cabrillo College and the City of Watsonville. Information: Contact Elizabeth Padilla at elizabeth.padilla@ cityofwatsonville.org or (831)768-3018.

Apply at https://tinyurl.com/summer-city-signup-2023. Must be signed into your Google account.

18th Annual Scholarship Benefit

Saturday May 6, 7 p.m., Mello Center, 250 E. Beach St., Watsonville

The Watsonville High Dance Club is coming to the Mello Center for the annual benefit event at Students $5, adults, $10. https://tinyurl.com/26rdnax3

Jump into Summer

Saturday May 13, 8:30 a.m.-noon, E. A. Hall cafeteria, 201 Brewington Ave., Watsonville

The PVUSD Parent Engagement team is listening to you, the families, and will offer a half-day conference at E. A. Hall, with meaningful information and resources for the summer.

Reading tips for elementary students, arts and recreation, supports for second language learners and students with special needs, planting together with Life Lab.

Childcare will be available for children ages 3-11 across the street at Mintie White Elementary (515 Palm Ave).

For information contact the Parent Engagement Team at (831) 786-2365. https://tinyurl.com/JuSuEng23

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PARKS Wedding Showcases

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

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

REDWOOD MOUNTAIN FAIRE AT ROARING CAMP

Saturday June 3 and 4, Roaring Camp, 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton

This is a weekend-long, family-friendly music festival with 20+ bands on three stages, local beer/wine/cider, local artists, locally made food and a kids zone.

It all takes place in an open field surrounded by redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Gates open at 10:30 am. Music, 11 am-8 pm. This is a benefit for local nonprofits. Buy tickets at the gate, $30 per day for adults. Kids 12 and under free. $20 parking: cash only or pre-purchase online. Green event: Bring a RMF glass or purchase onsite

More details at www.redwoodmountainfaire.com

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

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.

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.

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 semester via zoom: April 21, May 5, and 19.

LUNAFEST BENEFIT FOR WOMENCARE

Wednesday May 17 7 p.m. (5:30 - 7 p.m. preshow reception), Del Mar Theater, 1124 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz Friends of WomenCARE announce the live showing of the 22nd Annual LunaFest Film Festival. A preshow reception features wines from Hallcrest and Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards.

The virtual showing will be available May 17-20.

This year, LunaFest features seven short films with a total running time of 95 minutes suitable for ages 13 and up. The event again supports the nonprofit WomenCARE, a safe haven where women with any type of cancer find mutual support, shared experiences, and open hearts.

For tickets, visit https://www.lunafest.org/screenings/hybrid-friends-of-womencare-santa-cruzca-051723

•••

Reclaim Your Water: Natasha Smith by Faith E Briggs — As a member of the Ebony Beach Club, Natasha Smith surfs, skates, and makes her own waves.

Miss Chelove: From Java to the Streets of D.C. by Sara T. Gama — As she paints a mural, artist Cita Sadeli aka Miss Chelove opens up about her life, her cultural heritage, and how she fell in love with graffiti in the 1980s.

Pete by Bret Parker & Pete Barma — The true story of Pete Barma explores gender identity, Little League Baseball, the people who inspire change by being themselves, and the superheroes who champion that change.

This is Beth by Jen Randall — As celebrated rock climber Beth Rodden grapples with her body image, she rediscovers the love of her sport...and herself.

More Than I Want to Remember by Amy Bench — After her southeastern Congo village is bombed, 14-year-old Mugeni sets out on a solo journey across the globe, determined to reunite with her lost loved ones and lift up the Banyamulenge people.

Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night by Fawzia Mirza & Kausar Mohammed — All cards are on the table when Noor, a queer Pakistani Muslim woman, brings her Puerto Rican girlfriend, Luz, home for the first time on the family’s annual game night.

Swimming Through by Samantha Sanders — Amid a brutal Chicago winter and the global pandemic, the friendship of Deirdre, Helen, and Jennefer grows as they commit to a daily sunrise plunge together in Lake Michigan.

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

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-explorationsubcommittee/

The college aims to resolve the name issue this year.

Fourth Fridays

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS

5-8 p.m., Skypark, 361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley

The region’s favorite Friday returns April 28 to Skypark with Food Trucks A Go Go’s Food Truck Friday season opener.

Back for its eighth season, Food Truck Friday will have more food trucks and more surprises! More dinner options. Food vendors scheduled: Scrumptious Fish & Chips, Kuki’s Bowls, Pana, Saucey’z, Taquizas Gabriel, Cracked Cookies, Living Swell Kombucha, Aunt LaLi’s. Local faves The Essentials Band will provide music. The Beer & Wine Garden is hosted by Scotts Valley Educational Foundation with proceeds supporting Scotts Valley’s four schools. Local author Tricia Montalvo Timm will sign her new book, Embrace the Power of You!

The Scotts Valley Ping Pong Club will be set up for play & fun!

Free admission; free and easy parking. Plenty of open space for families to spread out & plenty of picnic tables. Bring a blanket & lawn chairs — friendly pups on leashes are welcome!

Second Saturdays of the month

GREY BEARS THRIFT STORE 50%-OFF SALE

9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., 2710 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz

Upcoming dates: May 13 and June 10

Saturdays & Sundays

ECOLOGICAL RESERVE TOURS AT ELKHORN SLOUGH

Tours start: 10 and 11 a.m., Sat. and Sun.,1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville

Volunteers lead walks highlighting the natural history of the Elkhorn Slough. Group size is limited to one household or up to five people, and individuals must sign up on a first-come, firstserved basis.

Groups of six or more should call ahead at (831) 728-2822 or visit https://www.elkhornslough.org/ group-reservation/ to reserve a tour. For more info, visit www.elkhornslough.org/esnerr/tours/

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

Tuesday May 2

PET FIRST AID

6:30-7:30 p.m., Online seminar

When mishaps occur and your pet is sick or injured, do you know how to assess the situation, provide immediate care, and take action to help stabilize your pet until veterinary care is possible?

On May 2, listen to Dr. Lissa Richardson, DVM, DACVS of SAGE Veterinary Centers, discuss this very important topic.

Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/birchbarkevents/2023/5/2/pet-first-aid.

Photo: Women in Swimming Through

Saturday May 6

ABOUT PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP

Noon-4 p.m., Curated by the Sea Art Gallery, 703 Front St., Santa Cruz

Curated by the Sea Art Gallery hosts an exhibition called “About Printmaking” through May 27. As part of the message of the exhibit, the gallery will host a free Print Day Workshop.

The exhibition showcases the work of 12 world-class printmakers from around the country. Artists Jane Gregorius and Robynn Smith aided with the curation and hanging of the show and will coordinate the workshops.

Melissa Kreisa, owner of the Curated by the Sea, said the printmakers were chosen for their talent and connection to the area and represent a variety of printmaking techniques. All are masters: Jody Alexander, Liz Chalfin, Juan Fuentes, Jane Gregorius, Erin Goodwin-Guerrero, Karen Kunc, Robin McCloskey , Luz Marina Ruiz, Princess Rashid, Robynn Smith, Francesco Siqueiros, Dan Welden.

The exhibition is inspired by Print Day in May, the annual global celebration of printmaking founded in 2007 by a small group of faculty and students at Monterey Peninsula College, which has grown tens of thousands of printmakers in nearly 100 countries, on all seven continents.

Jane Gregorius with experimental printmaker Lu Lee will conduct a workshop in the technique of Trace Monotype. Attendees can participate at no cost with all materials provided, and take home a beautiful work of art.

Prints are photographed and sent to Print Day in May headquarters to be recorded as part of the 16-year-old event.

Jane Gregorius writes, “It’s so exciting to be joining with thousands of printmakers throughout the world as they make prints from elaborate lithographs and etchings to maybe a humble handprint on a wall.”

SO MUCH RAIN, SO MANY BLOOMS

Have you noticed how abundantly flowers are blooming this year?

Such beautiful colors brightening the landscape.

Email a photo of your best spring bloom — at least 1 MB — to info@cyber-times.com with the name of the plant and we’ll share some with our readers in the next issue.

North eighth-graders, coached by Nate Swearengin and Stan White II: Matteo Vidal and Cole Christensen (Monte Vista Christian), Cade Bogle (Aptos), Malik Wooden and Devon Williams (Branciforte), Chase Petersen (San Lorenzo Valley), Caelen Harris and Kaden Miritz (Mission Hill), Braydon Scoma (Baymonte Christian), and Levi Race (Salesian).

A three-point shooting competition will take place during halftime and awards will be presented after each game.

DÍA DEL EMPRESARIO LATINO!

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., CSUMB at Salinas City Center, 1 Main St El Pájaro Community Development Corportation and the Regional Women’s Business Center of Watsonville present Día del Empresario Latino! a day of practical and dynamic workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs and established business owners presented entirely in Spanish.

Entrepreneurs from Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties and beyond are invited.

Workshop topics include: Starting a food business, starting a childcare business, access to financial resources, disaster and emergency preparedness. There will be an entrepreneur panel, networking opportunities, informational tables and a celebration of entrepreneurs who launched their businesses during the pandemic.

Sunday May 7

CENTRAL COAST BASKETBALL ALL-STARS

Noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., Scotts Valley High, 555 Glenwood Drive.

Scotts Valley High will host the Reggie Stephens Foundation’s 10th annual Central Coast All-Star Basketball Games, showcasing top basketball talent in middle school and high school.

Santa Cruz County players are on the North teams. Monterey County players make up the South teams. Eighth grade boys play at noon, senior girls at 2 p.m., senior boys at 4 p.m.

North senior boys, coached by Robert Shipstead and Lawan Milhouse:

two-time SCCAL MVP Aden Cury and Jackson Douvia (Santa Cruz), Tristan Roure (Scotts Valley), Karlos Corpus (Watsonville), Tosh Woods (Aptos), Matthew Silos (Pajaro Valley), Skyler Thayer (SLV) and Marton Safranka, Lazar Cankovic and Luka Kokochasvili (all of Oakwood), North senior girls, coached by Todd Trowbridge, Kenedi Walters and Zach Cook: SCCAL MVP Claire Thompson (Santa Cruz) and her teammates Mackenzie Gomes and Madison Yazalina, Lucy Lilenthal-Wynn, Mia Sizemore and Bella Reynolds (SLV), Meaghan Diaz, Gianna Winterhalder, and Lily Thayer (Soquel), and Xitlali Montesino (Watsonville).

Tickets are at www.elpajarocdc.org or by calling El Pájaro CDC at (831)722-1224. Tickets cost: $35 per person and includes light breakfast and lunch. The price will increase to $40 on the day of the event.

Thursday May 11

DOWN TO EARTH WOMEN LUNCHEON

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Driscoll’s Rancho Corralitos, 242 Corralitos Road

The 15th Annual Down to Earth Women (DEW) Luncheon will take place at Driscoll’s Rancho Corralitos. This event is for women who are involved in, or support local agriculture. The luncheon raises funds for Agri-Culture’s Focus Agriculture program, the Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship and Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau educational programs. Part of this year’s proceeds will go to farmworker flood relief.

Emily Bonder, owner, Santa Cruz Bee Company, will speak on “Bees: Essential Pollinators for a Healthy

Planet.” Emcee will be Krista Snelling, president/CEO, Santa Cruz County Bank.

The ticket price is $150. To make a reservation, become a sponsor, or make a donation to the event, call (831) 722-6622 or email: agri-culture@sbcglobal.net or look on www.eventbrite.com

Saturday May 20

VETS’ BOWLATHON

1 p.m., Boardwalk Bowl, 115 Cliff St., Santa Cruz Vets4Vets announces the Pat Pratt and Dennis Taku Memorial Tournament bowlathon at Boardwalk Bowl. Cost is a $15 donation to Vets4Vets. Vets4Vets is a Santa Cruz nonprofit that is made up of local veterans and friends committed to assisting our brothers and sisters in need.

To RSVP, email Vets4Vets@Vets4VetsSantaCruz.org www.vets4vetssantacruz.org

Saturday May 20

Sunday May 21

HOOPS FOR HEALTH FUNDRAISER

9 a.m.-4 p.m., Callaghan Park, 225 Sudden St, Watsonville Hoops For Health, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament to raise funds for Watsonville Community Hospital will take place at Callaghan Park.

Community Health Trust will host this tournament for local adults and teens. The goal is to celebrate healthy activity, involve local youth, build community, and support Watsonville Community Hospital!

The registration for youth teams is free. The fee is $150 for each 3-person adult team and includes complimentary food and refreshments for the players during the tournament.

The deadline to register is May 10. Sign up your team at pvhealthtrust.org/hoops-for-health. For details, contact Eli Garnica at egarnica@pvhealthtrust.org or (831) 726-4263

Saturday June 10

Sunday June 11

CAPITOLA ROD & CUSTOM CLASSIC CAR SHOW Parade begins Saturday Morning, 8:30 a.m. at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

The 16th Annual Capitola Rod and Custom Classic Car Show is hosted by the Capitola Public Safety & Community Service Foundation.

Watch these classic beauties cruise the coastline Saturday morning from the Boardwalk to Capitola. Enjoy a weekend filled with awesome cars, great music, charming shops, restaurants for every taste, and family fun at the beach.

Info: www.capitolafoundation.com/car-show or email info@ capitolafoundation.com n

Karen Kunc’s Drifts of Ice & Gold

Incentives to Buy Electric Vehicles

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

The Monterey Bay Air Resources District, administers the AB 2766 Emissions Reduction Grant Program, which provides funding to public agencies and individuals for certain emissions reduction purchases. What is this program and how can local governments and residents apply for the grants? Let’s take a look at this program and the Air District in general.

What is the Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD)?

The Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, of which I currently serve as Chair, protects public health and the environment from the effects of air pollution. The District is responsible for air monitoring, permitting, source testing, enforcement, long-range air quality planning, regulatory development, education and public information activities related to air pollution. Additionally, the District administers the AB 2766 Emissions Reduction Grant Program (among other programs), which can provide funding to local governments and individuals for emissions reduction.

What is the AB 2766 Program?

Assembly Bill (AB) 2766 was enacted over thirty years ago and it authorized the DMV to collect a motor vehicle surcharge of $4 for each vehicle registered within the boundaries of the Air District and to have those funds “…be used solely to reduce air pollution from motor vehicles and for the related planning, monitoring, enforcement and technical studies.” Since the grant program was initiated over 30 years ago, the Air District has authorized over $40 million to over 600 projects in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.

What is the funding used for?

The funding is used for three main buckets: the Clean Air Management Program, the Clean Vehicle Incentive Program and the Electric Vehicle Incentive Program. Here is a breakdown:

Clean Air Management Program: These projects (from public agencies, such as the County of Santa Cruz) are fixed assets for which trade activity data is available to calculate reductions in motor vehicle emissions. Funding from this program has funded

roundabouts in our area as well as adaptive traffic control systems (on areas including Ocean Street, 41st and soon on Soquel).

Clean Vehicle Incentive Program: This provides funding for public agencies and/or fleet owners to replace gas powered engines with electric vehicles. Local cities and the County have used this program to retire older (high gasusage vehicles) with electric vehicles.

Electric Vehicle Incentive Program: Provides incentives to residents of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties to purchase or lease plug-in hybrid, battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Funding for this program will open again in July of this year.

How much funding is available to local residents?

F or Santa Cruz County residents interested in the incentive program you may be eligible for funding for certain vehicles mentioned above. Specifically, for new battery electric vehicle

$1,000 for a used one. For a plug-in hybrid you can receive $1,000 for a new and $700 for a used. For an electric motorcycle the incentive is $1,000 for new and $500 for used.

These funds have run out before and are provided on a first-come, firstserved basis (with funding becoming available again in July of this year). Low-income qualified residents may be eligible for doubled incentive amounts.

How can you apply for the Electric Vehicle Incentive Program funding?

To learn more about the program in advance of it opening in July, you can visit the Air District website dedicated to the program at: https://www.mbard.org/ electric-vehicle-incentive-program - or, you are welcome to contact the District directly at (831) 647-9411. n

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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

SCCAS Featured Pet

Locally owned and operated since 1966

THE LARGEST SELECTION OF LANDSCAPE MATERIALS IN TOWN

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

It’s

Fall in Love With Lovebug

This week we have the sweetest cat- Lovebug- as Pet of the Week! She is a 7-year-old tortie and brown tabby spayed female who came to the Shelter as an owner surrender. Lovebug really lives up to her name- she is friendly and affectionate, but also enjoys her independence.

Sometimes she can be shy when first meeting new people but once she trusts you she loves to cuddle, and would even burrow under the covers with her foster mom at night. She will gently tap you on the arm if she wants attention as well. This precious kitty is looking for a mellow home where she can be someone’s cat companion, but she would prefer a home without dogs- they tend to scare her.

A home with another cat might work with slow introduction. Her favorite activities include playing with wand toys and napping. Lovebug is patiently waiting for her forever home at the Shelter- will you be her new cuddle buddy? Come meet Lovebug today!

Lovebug’s adoption fee is decreased by $20 because she is a sweet senior- but she still has many years of love and fun ahead of her!

Right now the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is full of adoptable animals. Fostering animals is an awesome way to improve a Shelter animal’s life and fill your home with love and fun!

If you are interested in fostering any kind of animal please email jillian. ganley@santacruzcounty.us

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

831-688-6211 | www.aptoslandscapesupply.com 5035 Freedom Blvd. | Aptos, CA 95003 Monday

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