Aptos Times: December 1, 2023

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December 1, 2023 • Vol 32 No. 23

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Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents ‘The Nutcracker’

For the 21st time, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents its annual “Nutcracker” at the Civic Auditorium with a live orchestra.

Full Story page 11

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day Full Story page 19

If You’re Blessed, Adopt a Family T he Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County is expanding its holiday Adopt-A-Family program in response to a surge in need due to last winter’s devastating storms and floods.

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More than 500 families, including an estimated 1,500 children and teens, need support this holiday season. This is the largest number in the program’s history. Many more are on a waitlist. ... continues on page 4

Shaken to Our Core

By Barry and Joyce Vissell Shortly after 5 pm on Oct. 17, 1989, I went into the bathroom where Joyce was in the bathtub with our fivemonth-old son, John-Nuriel.

Full Story page 14

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Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, and positive moments.

Cheers to a successful new year full of exciting adventures. Happy Holidays!

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Volume 32 No. 23

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Table of Contents

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Cover If You’re Blessed, Adopt a Family Community News 4 6 7 8 9

Community Foundation: $320,000 in Rise Together Grants

Meet Pastor Jonah, Christ Lutheran Church, By Edita McQuary

World War I Monument Marks 100 Years, By Becky Steinbruner Bay Fed Awarded $3.7 Million for Manufactured Home Loans Metro: More Bus Service in December

11 Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents ‘The Nutcracker’ with Live Orchestra, By Betty Sanchez

12 The Lotus Project: Seniors Focus on Mount Madonna Lake

15 Bay Federal’s Richard Roark Wins Info Tech CIO Award • Central Fire Holiday Toy Drive

16 County Asking For Public Opinions • Zach Friend, Robert Ratner Recognized

19 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day

20 Education Partners Awarded $18 Million: Funds to Help Six Counties Boost Education-to-Career

21 Holiday Lights & Craft Fair at the Fairgrounds: Ongoing thru December 24 • Santa Cruz County fairgrounds, 2601 E Lake Blvd., Watsonville

24 PVUSD Raises Substitute Pay

26 Six Hopefuls for County Supervisor In Memoriam 8

Gary Bruce Gangnes: March 12, 1951 ~ Oct. 31, 2023, By Bobbie Herteman Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Gratitude — Radiance of Solace for a World in Crisis, By Risa D’Angeles

Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29 Featured Columnists 5

Tips for Easy & Joyful Giving, By Susan True, Chief Executive Officer, Community Foundation SCC

14 Shaken to Our Core, By Barry and Joyce Vissell

23 How do We Determine the Value of Water?, By Rebecca Gold Rubin

30 County Housing Element Approved: 4,634 Units by 2031, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 27 – On Point!

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2023 / 3

COMMUNITY NEWS

publisher

Patrice Edwards

editor

Jondi Gumz

contributing writers

Betty Sanchez, Becky Steinbruner, Edita McQuary, Bobbie Herteman, Risa D’Angeles, Susan True, Barry and Joyce Vissell, Rebecca Gold Rubin, Zach Friend

layout

Michael Oppenheimer

graphic artists

Michael Oppenheimer, Ward Austin

photography Michael Oppenheimer

website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti

production coordinator

Camisa Composti

media consultants

Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine, Danielle Paul Cathe Race

office coordinator distribution

Bill Pooley, Erik Long

Community Foundation: $320,000 in Rise Together Grants C ommunity Foundation Santa Cruz County announces $320,000 in new grants issued by the Rise Together Fund for Racial Equity to support the vision and action needed to build a more just and equitable county.

Over the course of three granting cycles, the foundation has now awarded $1.1 million to the coalition thanks to generous donations by community members from all walks of life.

Founded in 2020, Rise Together is a coalition of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders and a team from the Community Foundation working collaboratively to advance racial equity in Santa Cruz County. Grants of $20,000 each were made to organizations led by Rise Together members.

See the complete list that follows.

The group includes community organizers, social justice and arts leaders, journalists, indigenous cultural practitioners,

Photo Credit: Jeremy Lezin

From left: Raymon Cancino, CEO of Community Bridges; Susan True; MariaElena De La Garza, executive director of Community Action Board, Rise Together Member & Foundation trustee; Rob Allen, estate planning attorney, former Borina Foundation Trustee & Foundation trustee; Diane Syrcle, chief mission officer, Hospice Santa Cruz County; and Ruby Vasquez, PVUSD educator, director of Estrellas de Esperanza, and Rise Together member. storytellers, social workers, healthcare professionals, youth mentors and educators, and immigrant advocates.

Since its inception, the Rise Together coalition has made decisions collectively

including developing the purpose and goals, determining the grant making process, and making award decisions.

“Rise Together” page 10

COVER STORY “Adopt-A-Family” from page 1

Times Publishing Group, Inc. 9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 The Times Publishing Group, Inc., publishers of the Aptos Times, a bi-monthly publication, the Capitola Soquel Times and Scotts Valley Times, each printed monthly, Coastal Weddings Magazine, Coastal Home and Garden Magazine, Aptos’ Fourth of July Parade Official Program Guide and Capitola’s Summer Festivals Official Program Guide, is owned by Patrice Edwards.

Entire contents ©2023. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission PHONE: (831) 688-7549 FAX: (831) 688-7551 GENERAL E-MAIL: info@cyber-times.com Patrice Edwards: patrice@cyber-times.com Publisher’s Assistant: assistant@cyber-times.com Editor: info@cyber-times.com Calendar Listings: www.tpgonlinedaily.com Graphics Department: graphics@cyber-times.com Billing Inquiries: cathe@cyber-times.com Classified Sales: sales@cyber-times.com Production: production@cyber-times.com

The Adopt-a-Family program provides gifts to hundreds of individual low-income children and teens. Here’s the warehouse where gifts are wrapped.

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT: www.tpgonlinedaily.com mission statement We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc. are dedicated to providing a voice for the individuals and organizations in our community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses. We seek to promote healthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, school news, senior events, community groups and entertainment 4 / December 1st 2023 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County is calling on the community to help meet this unprecedented demand.

Adopt-a-Family provides gifts, necessities, and grocery gift cards to program participants, ensuring each family member has a gift and enough food for a holiday meal.

The program also provides individual gifts to hundreds of individual low-income children and teens. n ••• For details, donors and volunteers can contact the Adopt-A-Family Hotline at 831457-9834 or through email at AdoptAFamily@ scvolunteercenter.org.

More opportunities to help are in the Volunteer Center’s Holiday Volunteer Guide at https://www.scvolunteernow.org/holiday.

••• Cover Photo: The Adopt-a-Family program provides gifts, necessities, and grocery gift cards to participants, ensuring each family member has a gift and enough food for a holiday meal. To help, call 831-457-9834.

Adopt-a-Family provides gifts, necessities, and grocery gift cards to program participants, ensuring each family member has a gift and enough food for a holiday meal.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Tips for Easy & Joyful Giving

I

By Susan True, Chief Executive Officer, Community Foundation SCC

n this busy season of gratitude and giving, we want to pause and give thanks to you for your generosity and commitment to making Santa Cruz County a better place.

Together, we are taking on the challenges of today and helping build a more just, equitable, and resilient tomorrow.

You may feel like we do, grateful to be a part of this community and wanting to give back. We can help make your year-end giving meaningful, joyful, and easy.

We offer funds to care for the future as well as guidance to help give to today’s needs. We’ve got over 40 years of expertise on community issues, trusted knowledge of local nonprofits, and strategic and tax-smart ways to help you meet your charitable and financial goals this year.

Please be in touch with our team to discuss critical needs that you can help address through grants from your donoradvised fund. Or reach out to learn more about how to donate assets—from cash to appreciated securities and property—so you can give with confidence this holiday season.

1. Consider a gift of appreciated stock or mutual funds.

If you have stocks or other publicly traded securities that are worth more than what you paid for them, consider using these for your charitable giving this year.

Appreciated stock and mutual funds can offer a more cost-efficient deduction, based on current fair market value, not your cost basis.

The Foundation can accept marketable securities of any kind. We recommend initiating year-end mutual fund gifts by Nov. 1 and stock gifts by Dec. 20.

2. Bunch multiple years’ gifts into a Donor-Advised Fund.

With the increased standard deduction ($13,850 for individuals, $27,700 for couples for 2023), it may be difficult for some people to receive a tax benefit from charitable giving every year.

One solution?

Bunch multiple years worth of donations into a gift to a Donor-Advised Fund at the Community Foundation. You’ll get the full tax deduction now, while spreading out grants to your favorite charities over time, and benefiting from the larger standard deduction in those later years.

We can set up a Donor-Advised Fund for you in one meeting.

3. Recycle your dollars for good, with a gift to our revolving loan fund for nonprofits.

Our Community Investment Revolving Fund helps nonprofits solve social challenges on key issues in our community like housing, sustainable agriculture, and entrepreneurship by providing them with lowinterest loans.

When paid back, these local dollars get recycled to fund new initiatives into the future. Join us and other donors in making these loans possible.

4. Use your required IRA distribution for giving, skip the taxes.

If you are age 70½ or older, you can transfer up to $100,000 from your traditional Individual Retirement Account directly to a charity.

If you are 73 or older, the transfer counts towards your Required Minimum Distribution and allows you to avoid paying income tax on the distribution, while supporting your favorite charity or any fund at the Community Foundation that is not a Donor-Advised Fund.

These tax-free rollovers can benefit any public charity, you may direct qualified charitable distributions to any of our nondonor-advised funds, or we can help you set up a new fund that benefits an interest area of your choice, a specific nonprofit, or greatest needs grantmaking.

This year we recommend using your RMD to support the Greatest Needs Fund, Friends of the Foundation Fund, Rise Together Fund for Racial Equity, or the Santa Cruz County Scholarship Endowment Fund.

5. Give in someone’s honor.

Donate in lieu of a holiday gift. Whether it’s to your own Donor-Advised Fund or one of our other funds, be sure your gift is postmarked or submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31.

6. Let the Community Foundation do the legwork.

Working with the Community Foundation gives you access to our extensive knowledge of the local nonprofit community and the broad charitable needs of our region—so you can stay informed about the organizations you support and the effect your giving will have on the future of our community.

We’re happy to discuss any options for accomplishing your charitable giving. n

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Meet Pastor Jonas, Christ Lutheran Church

J

By Edita McQuary

onas Ellison, the new pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Aptos, came to the pastorate a little late in life at age 44.

Born and raised in Modesto by a Roman Catholic mother and a Southern Baptist father, he attended occasional Catholic services with his mom. Jonas was an only child, and both of his parents passed away at a young age.

While attending college in Carson City, Nevada, Jonas, always interested in golf, left college to be a full-time golf pro. In Nevada, he met the love of his life, Alexandra, originally from Chicago, and after a long-distance relationship, they were married in 2008. They lived in the Chicago area but traveled back to the West Coast frequently.

Alex is a college and career guidance counselor. Jonas and Alex have a 10-year-old daughter named Rory.

After the death of his mother, Jonas drifted away from the church in his teens but always considered himself spiritual.

“I was one of the ‘Nones’ who didn’t affiliate with any one religion for a couple of decades before returning to the church,” Jonas said.

Upon the birth of their daughter, Jonah and Alex joined the Center for Spiritual Living in Nevada. This sparked his interest in becoming a spiritual leader. Later, he started reading various Christian authors such as Nadia Bolz-Weber, Thomas Merton, and Richard Rohr.

He and his family returned to Chicago when Rory was about 3 or 4. This is where they found the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). Jonas was struck by the beauty of the music and the bustling energy of the congregation from the start. But what really drew him in was the combination of traditional liturgy with an open and affirming theology.

Ultimately, he decided to enroll in the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago

and eventually transferred to Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.

During the pandemic, his family moved from Chicago, to Loyalton, California, to be closer to family and the wild spaces of the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains.

Jonas continued his seminary studies remotely and served his internship year at Lord of Mercy Lutheran Church in Sparks, Nevada. He graduated seminary with his Master of Divinity degree in the spring of 2023, and he received his first call as the fulltime pastor at Christ Lutheran Church right here in Aptos.

He and his family are very happy to be here. Jonas’ passion in life is to create sacred space where people can find respite from the pressures and busy-ness of life in our modern digital world. He has a way of fusing ancient church traditions with a warm and hospitable heart and is a teacher of mystical Christian spirituality.

“Our modern world is based on performance and achievement,” he said. “It’s a never-ending race. We’re all feeling the pressures of this, both young and old. Church should be the place to be vulnerable, let our guard down, share in each other’s stories,

Pastor Jonas Ellison with wife Alexandra and their daughter. give our worries to the living God, and support one another.”

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6 / December 1st 2023 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Pastor Jonah” page 10

COMMUNITY NEWS

World War I Monument Marks 100 Years

O

By Becky Steinbruner

n Nov. 11, local groups, officials and the public observed a Veterans Day tribute of the World War I Monument at Freedom Boulevard and Soquel Drive in Aptos.

It was a centennial commemoration ceremony, with presentations by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Scouts, Cabrillo Host Lions Club, Second District County Supervisor Zach Friend, and Second District Historic Resources Commissioner Kevin Newhouse.

One hundred years ago, on Christmas, the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) installed the stone monument bearing a plaque alongside the Santa Cruz-Watsonville Road to honor the 60 soldiers from Santa Cruz County who perished in The War. It was a wide spot in the road near Aptos that later became nearly buried after the modern Highway One got built, and Santa Cruz-Watsonville Road became known as today’s Soquel Drive.

In 2002, a young Scott Evans noticed this World War I Monument, which had become overgrown and all but forgotten. In reading the plaque, he appreciated its significance and felt it should be relocated to a more visible spot, so as not to be forgotten. This great task became his Eagle Scout project, and on April 3, 2002, local residents and businesses that included Granite Construction Co., successfully moved the monument to its present location at the intersection of Freedom Boulevard and Soquel Drive in Aptos.

Scott received many accolades from local civic groups, and a Citizenship Award from DAR. He left the area for college a couple of years later.

By 2010, a young Matt Marani noticed the monument landscaping needed some work. He took the initiative to

work with friends and family to clear the weeds and vines, again making the monument visible and attractive. Soon, however, Matt went off to college himself, and his family took over the annual weed-eating and brush removal duties to keep the monument from being forgotten.

“WWI Monument” page 10

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IN MEMORIAM

Gary Bruce Gangnes March 12, 1951 ~ Oct. 31, 2023

By Bobbie Herteman

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W

e would like to honor the memory of a beloved member of our community, Gary Gangnes. His light and positivity were always shining bright and he shared his love of music and real estate with everyone he knew.

Gary began his career in real estate back in 1984 with his wife Jacalyn. Together they started Real Options Realty in 1991. He was an active member of the Santa Cruz Association of Realtors and was on several committees and boards. He was the president in 2000 and truly enjoyed the social aspect of his career for nearly 40 years.

He would often say, “People will forget the details but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

Gary chose to see the good in every person and every situation. He made it his mission to make others feel good and to spread joy.

Gary was known as the stats man. He spent countless hours accumulating the

data and generating graphs/market statistics every month - he was quoted by the media often due to his vast knowledge of the market and his understanding of the statistics he generously shared.

He was a very spiritual person! He devoted a lot of time and energy at Unity Temple in Santa Cruz where he joined a Gospel Choir and sang all over the Bay Area with Sista Monica.

He loved singing and had previously sung in several barbershop quartets and with the Cabrillo Chorus.

His passion for music was not only singing, he was also a talented concert pianist. If there was a piano around, he played it. He could play classical Chopin and Debussy but also enjoyed show tunes, jazz, and holiday music too!

Gary loved people! He loved his career. He loved music. He loved! He was a wonderful person, mentor, and friend. The world was a better place with Gary in it. n

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ay Federal Credit Union has received $3.7 million from the U.S. Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions Fund through the Equitable Recovery Program.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDFI Fund awarded more than $1.73 billion to 604 community development financial institutions across the country to aid in economic growth and opportunity in underserved communities. Organizations to be certified “Community Development Financial Institutions” and maintain a history of serving these communities.

“It’s an honor to receive this grant funding,” said Carrie Birkhofer, president and CEO of Bay Federal Credit Union, which serves 86,000+ members and 2,400 local businesses. “We’re witnessing the long-lasting impacts of the pandemic, the continued rising costs of rent, and overall economic hardships that have disproportionately affected many individuals in our community. With the help of this funding,

we’ll be able to continue creating financial opportunities for those who need it most.”

This grant funding will enable the credit union to offer their first-time homebuyer program and loans on manufactured homes specifically to members in low- to moderateincome neighborhoods.

Bay Federal offers financing on manufactured homes in a variety of approved parks throughout the Central Coast.

With more than $1.6 billion in assets, Bay Federal is the largest member-owned financial institution in the tri-county region, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito.

The announcement earlier this year by Vice President Kamala Harris and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo listed Bay Federal as one of 203 credit unions to receive this funding. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Metro: More Bus Service in December O n Nov. 15, Santa Cruz Metro announced plans to roll out its new three-year initiative to upgrade bus service in Santa Cruz County and double ridership to 7 million rides per year.

The first phase of the Wave Service will be in December and the second in 2024.

Key aspects: • 43% more service • 15-minute service all day • Bus priority at intersections • No need to transfer buses from Capitola and Live Oak to downtown Santa Cruz and the UC Santa Cruz campus. A frequent local route from Watsonville to Cabrillo College.

• Faster service from San Lorenzo Valley into Santa Cruz, more frequent service in Watsonville, and the return of the all-day express service from Watsonville to downtown Santa Cruz.

• 64 new jobs, including 60 bus operators, two mechanics and two supervisors ••• Funding On Dec. 7, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will vote on three types of funding that, combined, would fully fund the service for three years. They include: • $27 million in one-time funding for Transit and Intercity Rail Capital from the State of California. The intent from the legislature and governor for this funding is to help transit agencies build ridership.

• $7 million in one-time Zero Emission Capital funding from the State of California. The intent from the legislature and governor for this funding is to help transit agencies fill funding gaps in purchasing and building infrastructure for zero emission vehicles.

• $5 million sourced from the $27 million available in Consolidated Grant Funding from SCCRTC. This funding will support technology at key intersections to provide buses with green lights, so they can keep moving through traffic.

Other benefits from the proposed Wave Service are: Reducing vehicle miles traveled by 9,852,903 miles and reducing congestion and cutting an estimated 40,068 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually , reducing greenhouse gases.

An estimated 100,000+ residents will access the bus with a 5-minute walk.

The proposed service initiative is the result of a community engagement process in 2022 and 2023.

“Wave Service is all about responding to the needs of our community,” said Metro Board Chair Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson.

“People want to get to their destinations

faster. They want to be able to rely on buses that arrive on-time. They want to ride directly from point A to point B, without making transfers from bus to bus. Wave Service will do all of that.”

Metro Vice Chair and Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Vice Chair Kristen Brown predicted these “changes will be transformational for our community.”

The Wave Service name was inspired by the reliable waves that come in from the Monterey Bay. ••• Hydrogen Hub Funding Kalantari-Johnson and Brown applauded the federal Energy Department decision to award $1.2 billion for the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems, a statewide hydrogen hub Metro plans to shift from compressed natural gas and diesel to hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric buses.

••• New Buses to UCSC For buses that run to UCSC, Metro has secured 12 articulated buses to meet surging transit demand. Currently four 60-foot articulated buses – with greater capacity --serve the campus; six more are expected to go into service by the end of 2023, with two in reserve.

An articulated bus can accommodate 60-65 seated passengers and 15-25 standees while a traditional 40-foot bus can carry 36 seated passengers with 10-15 standees.

Ten vehicles are coming from the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System; Metro already had two.

Two went into service the second week of the school year with three expected to arrive in December.

UCSC riders constitute almost 70% of Metro’s total ridership systemwide. At the start of the 2023 fall term, Metro averaged 13,409 UCSC riders per day, up from 10,349 in September 2022.

“UCSC students, faculty, and staff are our largest population of riders and we appreciate their commitment to environmentally friendly transportation,” said Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson. n

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“Rise Together” from page 4 Rise Together grants support the group’s six goals BIPOC communities in Santa Cruz County: increase upward economic mobility; amplify, value, celebrate, and preserve stories, arts, culture, and community events; increase equity and anti-racist policy; deliver essential services and improve well-being; continuously give and grow sustained funding; and come together in community with trust and the safety to be our whole selves.

This year’s grants will both sustain work started last year and launch new projects that leaders had dreamed of but did not yet have the funding to make come to life.

Susan True, CEO of the Community Foundation and a member of Rise Together said that the coalition is continuing to evolve.

She explains that this year, rather than presenting grant proposals to their peers and making funding decisions accordingly, the coalition embraced a model where each organization received an equal investment of $20,000. “The members had many in-depth discussions developing this new process which is intended to further joy, knowledge, connection and support of each other’s work instead of the anxiety of a traditional grantmaking process.”

Susan says, “Rise Together invests in our members, our work, and our dreams from a foundation of trust and mutual support.

We invest in each other to advance the Rise Together goals collectively in a spirit of passion and optimism for each members’ gifts, talents, needs, and strengths.”

She added that the time spent on making grant decisions will now focus on learning about each other’s projects and strengthening collaborations between member organizations to advance the coalition’s shared goals.

Angela Chambers, youth program, development & engagement director for the Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center said, “TWDCC is thrilled to be a recipient of the Community Foundation’s Rise Together investment. Beyond continuing our vital programs and operations, including annual events, youth programming, our SCOPE Scholarship fund, Diaspora Performance projects, and our rental program, we’re collaborating with Santa Cruz Economic

Development to break ground on a new TWDCC studio building in 2024 at the Tannery campus. All funds raised and received during this time are vital to stabilizing operations as we head into this exciting next chapter for the organization.”

Awards will also help hold community conversations about equity in affordable housing, nurture the careers and professional development of emerging BIPOC nonprofit leaders; provide heart-to-heart tri-lingual parent coaching; empower youth through cultural activities and sports; and more.

For Ruby Vasquez, a teacher in Pajaro Valley Unified School District and leader of the youth folklorico dance troupe Estrellas de Esperanza, the Rise Together grant will help her students add new material to their repertoire. Funding has allowed Estrellas youth dancers to travel to Veracruz Mexico to learn new dances and be immersed in the culture.

This new investment will enable us to invite guest maestros to come to Watsonville to teach Estrella students and we’re able to purchase the authentic outfits that are needed to present the dances in our local community, in the most authentic way.

“When we hear the words ‘racial equity,’ the meaning can feel both overwhelming and unclear,” said True. “Rise Together shows us a path forward that is inclusive and actions that our whole community can take so that all residents have what we need to thrive.”

Rise Together Santa Cruz County members: Angela Chambers; Ashlyn N. Adams; Cat Willis; Chairman Valentin Lopez; Consuelo Alba; Elaine Johnson; Erica Padilla-Chavez; Esabella Bonner; Fe SilvaRobles; Gina Castañeda; Helen Aldana; Jaime Molina; Jennifer Herrera; Jenny Kurzweil; Jorge Savala; Justin Cummings, PhD; Kara Meyberg Guzman; Kevin Heuer; Maria Ramos Bracamontes; MariaElena De La Garza; Nereida Robles Vasquez, PhD; Rebecca Hernandez, PhD; Ruby Vasquez; Stephanie Barron Lu; and Susan True

2023 Rise Together investing $320,000 Amah Mutsun Land Trust: To help Tribal Members’ travel expenses within Mutsun and Awaswas territories to enable participation in local events and Tribal events

“WWI Monument” from page 7 In 2018, the Cabrillo Host Lions Club, led by Barbara Chamberlain, did a big cleanup, and adopted the site as a club project to maintain.

It was Lion Aumao Toalepaialii who declared that the last Saturday morning of each month, the Club would schedule working bees to ensure regular maintenance work got done.

Lion Jay Johnson donated concrete work for the pathway renovation to the monument, and members landscaped and mulched the area to create an attractive garden. Lions Tui Aiono and Charlie Ukestad trimmed back the overhanging tree branches shrouding the stone monument, and added U.S. flags with solarpowered lights that enabled the flags to remain 24/7, resembling twinkling stars at night.

The gathering on Veterans Day this year was somber yet powerful in that the effort to

such as stewardship of Native plant gardens, tribal gatherings, and ceremonies.

Aztecas Youth Soccer: To support clubhouse rent, soccer equipment, uniforms, shoes, warm-ups, and league fees.

Black Surf Club Santa Cruz: To program capacity and help cover essential expenses such as staffing, storage space, and program costs. To promote mental, physical, spiritual, communal healing through surfing, education, advocacy, and wellness.

CA Film & Cultural Center: To support the film archive project, skilled teachers for Young Adult Film School, free meal deliveries and instruction, and facilitated groups, resources, and growth opportunities for youth and young adults identifying as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or neurodiverse.

Campesina Womb Justice: To prepare and fund campesinas to attend a Mixteco doula program to prepare them for offering support at Watsonville Community Hospital. The goal is to pay campesinas to attend the workshop and then to work in their communities as promotoras de salud integrating indigenous Mixteco maternal health knowledge and traditions.

Community Action Board Santa Cruz County: To support CAB emerging leaders of color by connecting them to professional coaches, writing coaches, leadership development opportunities, self-care strategies, and supporting their individual professional career pathways. We’ll invest in Leaders of color and leaders serving communities of color and elevate their confidence, leadership and ultimately increase how they impact the low-income community through their work.

Estrellas de Esperanza: To bring visiting folkloric dance teachers from Mexico to Watsonville and purchase outfits for the dances learned last year on the Rise Together funded trip to Veracruz.

Housing Santa Cruz County: To hold community conversations about affordable housing, increase storytelling efforts for fundraising purposes, and provide professional development support for staff.

Positive Discipline Community Resources: To sustain the ability to provide 100% free tri-lingual parent coaching and be of service to flood impacted Pajaro families with children 0-5 years old through advocacy and “Pastor Jonah” from page 6

honor those who perished in The War has not been forgotten 100 years later.

The new flagpole, donated by Matt Marani, was hoisted, and will fly the U.S. Ffag on all appropriate holidays. The freedom for which it stands will endure, thanks to veterans, active service personnel, and many good citizens in our community. n

10 / December 1st 2023 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

While living in Chicago, Jonas and his young family were feeling the pressure of this modern busy-ness when he found the Lutheran church. The otherworldliness of the church was just what Jonas and his family needed. Sunday worship was their opportunity to unplug, sing old hymns, pray ancient prayers, sit in contemplative silence, and meet others who were just as burned out as they were and who had found such grace in that church.

Jonas said, “I grew up Catholic and had images of a tyrannical God in my mind. The Lutheran church taught me that the message of Jesus is not, ‘Do more,’ it is, ‘Come all ye who are weary, and I will give you rest.’ The Gospel is countercultural in this way.”

His goal for Christ Lutheran is to, as

efforts (providing shared leadership through the Pajaro Disaster Long Term Recovery Alliance as well as participating in County led Pajaro Recovery and Resilience meetings).

Santa Cruz Community Health Centers: To support the development of a Patient Advisory Council and the JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity) team of the health centers to continue supporting BIPOC patients and staff.

Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative: To support staffing and data collection related to Youth Ambassadors programming and development. Funds will also go directly to outdoor SCCBHMI county and state park activities and data collection for adults in 2024.

Santa Cruz Local: To support Noticias Watsonville, the Spanish-language division of Santa Cruz Local’s newsroom. In 2024, Watsonville area residents will vote for a county supervisor, city council representatives as well as local ballot measures. We want to make sure Spanish-speaking residents in the Pajaro Valley have free, nonpartisan, independent information about the candidates and measures. We will also inform residents how to participate in the election. We will press the candidates on the issues we hear from Pajaro Valley residents.

Senderos: To support the development of sustainability plans and projects to mentor the new executive director, professional development for our instructors, and leadership restructuring that is more reflective of our Indigenous values.

Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center: To provide operational and programming support during the build up to a major capital campaign for new dance studios to support the 6,500 program participants.

UC Santa Cruz University Library – Community Archives Program: To build trust and connection through programming to help preserve stories and community memory Watsonville Film Festival: To support Cine Se Puede, a program for emerging Latine filmmakers, to hold workshops in the community, and provide and educational outreach opportunities. n ••• Learn more at www.risetogether.org. he says, “be the heartbeat of Christ in this community.”

The church hosts the Aptos Community Garden on their property as well as the Secret Garden Preschool. They do various outreach programs locally (such as the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County), feeding the homeless, and globally (like the Santa Cruz El Salvador project). Their Stewardship of the Earth committee finds ways of helping people become good stewards of God’s fragile, created world.

Learn more about Pastor Jonas on his personal blog at jonasellison.substack.com. n ••• Christ Lutheran Church, 10707 Soquel Ave., Aptos, (above the California Highway Patrol Office), holds regular worship services every Sunday at 10 a.m. Connect at their website: aptoschurch.org or admin@christlutheranaptos.org.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents ‘The Nutcracker’ with Live Orchestra F

By Betty Sanchez

or the 21st time, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents its annual “Nutcracker” at the Civic Auditorium with a live orchestra.

Led by Music Director Pamela Martin, formative years with SCBT — enhances every the artistry of 52 professional musicians fills step they take together.

Supporting these stars and the pre-profesthe auditorium with Tchaikovsky’s ebullient score. The SCBT production is a holiday tra- sional SCBT Company dancers are additional guest artists from New Ballet, Tango Hayato dition for many.

Recorded music does not compare to Fujita-Gomez and Jack Concordia. Local dancers from all over the county the experience of listening to round out the talented cast of this masterpiece being played more than 50 dancers and charlive. When these two classical acter artists, several on the cusp performance arts of dance and of professional careers. music collaborate, the proTo honor the history and duction becomes much more contribution of local Chinese beautiful and expressive. immigrants in Santa Cruz, SCBT The Santa Cruz Ballet will feature a new Chinese Theatre performances feature Pamela Martin divertissement in Act II, a tradiguest stars and SCBT alumni Melody Mennite as the Sugar Plum Fairy and tional Chinese Dragon dance.

Supported by the Ow family for years, Lucien Postlewaite as her Cavalier.

Melody is a principal dancer with through the training and professional career Houston Ballet, and Lucien is a principal of Ow descendant Lauryn Winterhalder, SCBT dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet. Each is proud to honor the history of these settlers bring their unique and formidable talents who helped make Santa Cruz what it is today.

Many “Nutcracker” productions are to this production, in turn inspiring cast members and audience alike. Their unique removing stereotypes of the different nationchemistry — having been partners in their alities featured in Clara’s visit to the Candy

Kingdom. SCBT endeavors to honor Chinese ethnicity and the value of its culture as a repayment for their dedication to the shaping of Santa Cruz. n ••• Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre celebrates the start of its 40th season with “The Nutcracker” with live orchestra at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.

Performances are Saturday, Dec. 9, at 1 and 4:30 pm and Sunday, Dec. 10, at 1 and 4:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased at SantaCruzTickets.com or by calling (831) 420-5260 or in person at the Civic Box Office, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz.

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2023 / 11

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COMMUNITY NEWS

The Lotus Project

Seniors Focus on Mount Madonna Lake

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n a recent afternoon, wind-blown cumulus clouds filled the sky and sunlight permeated towering redwood trees and grassland meadows, reflecting off the water of a small lake on the Mount Madonna School campus. As senior students navigated a short hillside trail from their classroom down to the lake, they took in an expansive view of Monterey Bay. The students were accompanied by their teacher, Sara Sobkoviak, and guest Sukhdev Pettengill, a former Mount Madonna Center resident, whom the students had invited to speak about the lake’s origins and water quality testing, in preparation for new water quality testing they will initiate. This field meeting is part of a yearlong collaborative class effort — the Senior Capstone Project — with students committed to revitalizing the lake ecosystem with native flora and fauna; developing an educational component to share with other students; lakeside signage; birdhouses and “forest mailboxes.”

“We chose this project mostly because we really like the lake,” said student Logan Shaw. “For most of us, it’s pretty nostalgic and we want to keep it preserved for future generations of students and the community to enjoy it, just as we have enjoyed it growing up.”

Student Beatrice Miller, the assistant project manager, asked Pettengill if there are water quality concerns as regards to wildlife — including the abundant deer and turkeys — drinking from the lake’s waters. While all warm-blooded animals carry E. coli bacteria, Pettengill told them it isn’t a huge concern as the water isn’t potable. He suggested that any testing should include checking for bacteria, for informational purposes, as well as looking for nitrates, which are harmful to humans.

Nitrate toxicity is a concern in communities where there is extensive chemical use or agricultural runoff, and neither of these impact the Mount Madonna lake.

Previously, high school seniors created individual capstone projects. This year, Sobkoviak proposed the idea of a single collaborative group effort to be selected by the students. Students chose from several ideas submitted by school faculty, staff and the MMC community, and unanimously selected revitalizing the lake ecosystem.

“The seniors’ efforts will be centered around helping to build the lake ecosystem so there is more abundance and diversity in wildlife and native plants,” said Sobkoviak. “They want to bring more

of an intentional focus on nature to our own campus mountaintop, and have a more welcoming space for the community and visitors.”

Students wrote their own “job titles,” making agreements and norms and incorporated a project management tool, Notion, to track timelines, communications and processes. They drafted a mission statement, objectives and identified stakeholders impacted by the project.

Students will partner with Watsonville Wetlands Watch with a Nov. 13 visit to learn about the area’s native species, and receive advice on the steps to attracting more wildlife, and birds, specifically. Their project scope includes reducing the populations of nonnative invasive species such as bullfrogs and the waterweed, elodea. The elodea, frequently used in home fish tanks and aquariums, may have originally been introduced to the lake by someone emptying a home set up years ago — along with non-native goldfish, which through the years have multiplied.

“I’m interested in the water safety aspects of the project and helping to clear the water of elodea,” said 12th grader Wyatt Adams. “At the least, we want to reduce the amount of elodea present, as it does affect the overall water quality. We’ve been swimming in the lake since preschool, and we want to help improve it so other people can enjoy it safely, like we have.”

Elodea removal got underway a few weeks ago, with an MMC resident operating an aquatic “harvester” on the lake, its mechanical “jaws” grabbing large swaths of the waterweed from open sections of the lake and piling it on the shore, to later be composed. Preschool through fifth grade students arriving at the lower school bus stop, lakeside, watching this activity were fascinated. Next spring, the senior students themselves will hop in the water and complete a manual removal of additional elodea that is growing around a protected lotus garden at one end of the lake.

The students have dubbed their effort The Lotus Project, in recognition of a healthy grove of Nelumbo nucifera lotus, which are a distinct and visible feature along the lake’s northeast shore.

Student Sophia Manzur is the project’s social media manager and Cy Harris is the lead designer. Harris designed a colorful lotus blossom logo to help brand the project, while Manzur curated a color palette based on the design to use for social media posts.

“Lotus Project” page 24

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2023 / 13

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Shaken to Our Core

T

his is an excerpt from our new book, A Couple of Miracles: One Couple, More Than a Few Miracles: ••• Shortly after 5 pm on Oct. 17, 1989, I went into the bathroom where Joyce was in the bathtub with our five-month-old son, John-Nuriel.

I started the afterbath ritual by spreading a towel on the floor next to the bathtub.

Joyce handed me our precious little dripping bundle and I laid him on the towel. At 5:04 pm, as I was reaching for the corners of the towel to dry our baby, the house began rocking violently.

In those first few seconds in our little rented Santa Cruz house, it felt much like the other rolling earth waves we had experienced. But this one got worse by the second!

By Barry and Joyce Vissell

The house lurched with a deafening roar. I glanced out the bathroom window and saw to my horror that the trees seemed to be moving to the left. Then I realized that the trees were not moving … the house was moving to the right. Built on the topside of a ridge, the house was clearly beginning to slide downhill. I had the awful image in my mind of riding an out-of-control house down a steep hill while it crashed into trees and broke apart.

Joyce suddenly screamed from the bathtub, “Barry, pick up the baby!”

I bent down to grab our son, but the bouncing of the house threw me against the sink. I desperately tried again to reach for John-Nuri, but this time was nearly thrown into the bathtub with Joyce. Half the water in the tub poured over our infant son, while he helplessly screamed and sputtered on his water-logged towel.

Past where our baby lay, the toilet lifted into the air as if some malevolent spirit was pushing from below, and the broken pipe sent water splashing off the ceiling and walls.

14 / December 1st 2023 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Between the moving, bouncing, and breaking apart of our house, and the splashing of the water everywhere, the sounds were deafening! It was like the growling of some hidden monster below our house.

After an eternity that turned out to be somewhere between fifteen and twenty seconds, all became eerily still, except for the barking of many frightened dogs echoing across the valley below us.

I quickly picked up a thoroughly soaked and crying John-Nuri, and tried my best to comfort him. With the power out and the water lines pulled apart, the pump stopped and so did the splashing.

Our ordeal had only just begun. There was a new sound, scarier than any other.

Just outside the open bathroom window, the gas line from our newly-filled, 250-gallon propane tank was sheared off by the moving house. The tank’s unobstructed outlet valve was aimed straight for our open bathroom window. With a roaring whoosh, a thick white cloud of propane gas was pouring in

through the window. Our naked bodies were being coated with propane as the bathroom filled with gas. I was aware that the tiniest spark could set off a blazing inferno in that tiny space.

“Shaken” page 18

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Bay Federal’s Richard Roark Wins Info Tech CIO Award ay Federal Credit Union Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Richard Roark, has been named a 2023 Info Tech CIO Award winner by Info-Tech Research Group.

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“We have navigated challenges, embraced opportunities, and achieved remarkable milestones. This award reflects our collective journey and the impactful contributions we make every day.”

The winners were selected from hundreds of eligible contenders and based on their IT satisfaction and value scores, as assessed and qualified by their business stakeholders.

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••• Central Fire Holiday Toy Drive entral Fire District is accepting donations of new or gently used toys, kids clothing and baby essentials for the local nonprofit, Hopes Closet of Santa Cruz!

Decorated collection bins are located at each fire station through Dec. 15, to help meet the needs of local children and families in need this holiday season. While the focus this season is on toys for the kids, Hope’s Closet also accepts donations of: Clothing (newborn to pre-teen), shoes, baby blankets, baby bottles, mobiles, diapers, books and batteries (especially AA and AAA). See: https:// www.hopesclosetsc.com/wish-list.html To donate cribs and strollers, going directly to the Hopes Closet donation center, 2557 Soquel Drive , Santa Cruz, which is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 2 pm and Saturday 11 am to 3 pm. Or call (831) 566-1731.

Hopes Closet assists Santa Cruz County children, ages birth to pre-teen, who are in foster care or whose families are in crisis, may be experiencing homelessness, are facing financial hardship, and/or are low income. https://www.hopesclosetsc.com/ Stations are in Aptos, La Selva, Capitola, Soquel and Santa Cruz. For addresses, see, www.centralfiresc.org/2181/Facilities n

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2023 / 15

COMMUNITY NEWS

T

RTC Asking for Input

he Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is hosting an open house Dec. 5 in Aptos to obtain public input on concepts for aesthetic design elements for the Highway 1 auxiliary lanes, bus-on-shoulder (State Park Drive to Freedom Boulevard) & Coastal Rail Trail Segment 12 project. The open house will be 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Rio Sands Hotel, 116 Aptos Beach Drive in Aptos.

The proposed project will include improvements to enhance safety on Highway 1, and 1.2 miles of bicycle and pedestrian trail.

Many highway and rail trail infrastructure

assets are being considered for aesthetic elements to effectively blend with the character of Aptos, such as retaining walls, sound walls, bicycle/pedestrian bridges, fencing, landscaping, and public art.

The open house will provide information about the design inspiration and illustrations for some of the aesthetic concepts, as well as an overall project update.

Community members can share their feedback on the aesthetic design elements and learn how they can stay involved in the project. n ••• See www.bit.ly/StatePark-FreedomBlvd.

Zach Friend, Robert Ratner Recognized

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resource in generanta Cruz County Board ating and refining of Supervisors policy ideas for conChair Zach Friend sideration within the and Housing for AT HOME plan and Health Director continues his work Robert Ratner were leading the County’s recognized for Housing for Health statewide leadership Division as it makes Zach Friend Robert Ratner by the California State progress to address Association of Counties, which advocates for homelessness in Santa Cruz County. county programs and services throughout “Supervisor Friend and Dr. Ratner exemthe state. plify what it means to be public servants,” At CSAC’s 129th Annual Meeting Nov. said Graham Knaus, CSAC’s chief executive 14-16 in Alameda County, Supervisor Friend officer. “We are proud to recognize their and Dr. Ratner both received CSAC’s presti- contributions to the mission of all counties gious Circle of Service Award, presented to throughout California in assuring that we are recognize county officials, employees, and delivering the highest quality programs and other members whose service to the county services to our residents.” n family, CSAC membership and the advancement of CSAC goals is substantially above and beyond the norm.

The awards were two of just eight Circle of Service Awards this year.

Friend, who chairs CSAC’s Health and Human Services Policy Committee, was recognized for advocating on behalf of CSAC for all 58 counties via public testimony during legislative hearings on the Mental Health Services Act and other mental health initiatives, advocating for counties through media and in meetings with legislative members.

Friend, who was first elected in 2012, also advocates on behalf of the County at the federal level, including serving on the National Association of Counties board of directors.

H4H Division director since 2020, Ratner was recognized for his assistance in developing CSAC’s statewide AT HOME plan, which advocates for a statewide and comprehensive plan to address homelessness effectively and On Nov. 21, County Supervisor Zach Friend, chair of the equitably.

Pajaro Regional Flood Risk Manage-ment Agency, signed an Dr. Ratner was a leader on the agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the $599 Homelessness Policy Solutions Group, million Pajaro River levee project to prevent future flooding. lending his expertise to peers throughout The agreement details construction re-sponsibilities and costCalifornia. He was an indispensable sharing for the project to begin in 2024.

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“Shaken” from page 14 I knew I needed to turn off the valve at the tank, but first I had to close the bathroom window. I ran to the window, and quickly discovered that it would be impossible to close it. The frame was bent, and the window wouldn’t budge.

It was definitely time to leave the bathroom! Still holding our baby, I yelled, “Joyce, quick, we gotta get out of here now.”

I turned toward the bathroom door, but debris from the cupboards and the cupboard doors themselves blocked our exit. I handed John-Nuri back to Joyce in the bathtub and fought my way through the clutter to the door.

I pulled on the doorknob. Nothing! The door was stuck solid. We were trapped in a bathroom filling with propane gas, with its peculiar, skunk-like smell. I knew we didn’t have long before we would succumb to the effects of breathing the toxic fumes….

I attacked the wedged door with a vengeance, knowing with certainty that we had only minutes before we would all pass out from breathing the propane gas pouring in through the broken window. We were NOT going to die in that bathroom!

Finally, with superhuman effort, I managed to pull the door free and the three of us made our way over the crazily uneven floor to the living room. In the living room, we met up with 13-year-old Rami and 8-yearold Mira, their faces white with fright. They had been in the kitchen, which was the worst mess in the whole house. Rami’s legs were bleeding from half a dozen small cuts from flying pieces of glass. Blood was dripping from a thankfully small cut on Mira’s head, where she’d been hit by a falling plate. It was like a bomb exploded in the kitchen, and our girls had been hit by shrapnel.

Our family reunited, we made our way over loose bricks that had exploded out of the fireplace into the living room, and through thick clouds of dust that were still settling. I’ll never forget the smell of destruction, of broken concrete and torn apart wood. I noticed that the floor and ceiling were separated from

the walls, but it wasn’t until we got to the front door that we realized the full extent of damage to the house. It was then we knew with shocking certainty that we would never live in this house again.

Outside the open front door, where a concrete porch used to be, was now a chasm. We had to jump across this chasm to our porch.

I went first, then held out my hand to grab each member of the family as they jumped.

From the porch we could see that the house was five feet off the crumbled foundation, leaning precariously. By the grace of God, the roof had not caved in upon us all.

We helped each other out to the dirt road to view what had once been our home. The house and almost everything in it at that moment appeared totally destroyed. Rami started screaming. John-Nuriel was still coughing and choking on the bathtub water.

Mira cried and asked, “Are we in the heaven world now?” And I imagine that, to a child, it could have easily looked like the end of the world.

Joyce: Barry suddenly threw up his hands in ecstasy, shouting, “We’re alive!

We’re alive!” We stood in a circle, thanking God and shouting, “We’re alive!” We kept hugging each other with the deepest sense of appreciation.

In that moment, as we stood naked on our dirt road, not knowing if we could recover anything of our material world, we were made aware of what is most important in life. Our home and possessions had been taken from us in twenty seconds, but we had each other. Standing among ruins, we found we had gratitude and appreciation for the most important things of all — our lives and one another.

A Couple of Miracles: One Couple, More Than a Few Miracles Available on Amazon. n ••• Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors in Aptos who are passionate about conscious relationship and personal-spiritual growth. They are the authors of 10 books and a free audio album of sacred songs and chants. Visit their web site at SharedHeart.org.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day N ov. 14 is Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. That day, students at Pajaro Valley High School joined others around California to walk to school wearing purple to remember the days Ruby Bridges spent walking to school under escort.

At 6 years old, she was the first Black to attend an all-white school in New Orleans in 1960.

The irony is that police were there by order of the governor to keep her out. The president sent her with a federal escort to ensure she made it in.

Bridges became a civil rights activist and wrote a children’s book about her experience, “I Am Ruby Bridges.”

On her website, she says, “my message is really that racism has no place in the hearts and minds of children.”

When students at Martin Elementary in South San Francisco heard Ruby’s story for the first time, they thought there should be a day to commemorate the movement she started. These students took their idea to the State Legislature, which led to California recognizing Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on Nov. 14 each year.

This year, 650,000 students participated.

Bridges said she hopes the day will

encourage students to talk about how they can make a difference in this world. n

••• See https://rubybridges.foundation/

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2023 / 19

COMMUNITY NEWS

Education Partners Awarded $18 Million

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Funds to Help Six Counties Boost Education-to-Career

n Nov. 22, a partnership of education leaders with the Central Coast K-16 Regional Collaborative announced an $18.1 million grant over three years to establish and expand career pathways in six counties, addressing inequities.

They are: Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

The money comes from California’s Community Economic Resilience Fund out of a 2021 budget appropriation of $250 million.

Under the leadership of UC Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College, UC Santa Barbara, and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, the education collaborative will focus first on data analysis.

Leaders identified three priority sectors: Engineering & Computer Science, Health, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education.

They plan to engage partners across the region, dismantling barriers and effecting systemic changes to bridge educational inequities, leading to high-skill, high-wage, high-demand employment in the region.

UC Santa Cruz Assistant Vice Chancellor of Educational Partnerships and Chief Campus Outreach Officer Maria Rocha Ruiz will serve as principal investigator.

“The strength of this initiative lies in the unity of our coalition partners,” Rocha-Ruiz said. “With educators, community leaders, and industry experts working together we have an incredible opportunity to align our shared goals and forge lasting connections to make transformative, equity-centered change across the region. Together, we will make sure every student in our region has access to the education, training, and resources they need to transition into a rewarding career.”

Cabrillo College will provide research and evaluation. Responsibilities include overseeing completion of data-sharing agreements with members, managing and analyzing data files, and establishing standardized assessment protocols and instruments for assessments.

“I am proud that Cabrillo College is an integral part of the Regional K-16 Education Collaborative grant,” said Dr. Matt Wetstein, president and superintendent of Cabrillo College. “The state’s investment in

the collaborative will result in robust, K-16 pathways that lead students to high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand regional employment that boosts the economic viability of our region.”

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education will convene activities in the tri-county area of Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey.

“The K-16 Collaborative is enabling deeper partnerships between TK-12, higher education, and industry in order to create clearer pathways between classroom and career,” said Dr. Faris Sabbah, Santa Cruz County superintendent of schools. “I am grateful for the engagement of the outstanding partners in our region, with whom we will continue working closely to address systemic inequities and open the doors of opportunity to all youth on the Central Coast.”

This grant initiative, a regional component of a statewide strategy, aims to broaden access to education and careers for the 530,000 K-16 students across the Central Coast.

“A college degree should be an option for all of our region’s students, one that ultimately leads to a fulfilling, relevant, and livable-wage career that allows our students

to stay in the region,” said Mario Castellanos, executive director of the Office of Education Partnerships at UCSB. The grant is administered by the California Department of General Services Office of Public School Construction, and the Foundation for California Community Colleges is the thirdparty administrator.

The Community Economic Resilience Fund is a program being developed by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Resarch, GO-Biz, and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to support resilient, equitable, and sustainable regional economies.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said, “Every Californian should have the freedom to succeed by obtaining real-life skills and fulfilling careers — including those that don’t require college degrees.

With today’s investment, California is yet again going further to prepare students and workers for high-paying, long-lasting, and fulfilling careers.”

The governor issued an executive order in 2020 to begin a community-directed transition to an economy that builds a “California for All” economy by focusing on job quality, equity, sustainability, and regions-up planning. n

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How do We Determine the Value of Water?

B

enjamin Franklin once said, “When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.”

What is the value of water in our community? It’s not something many of us spend much time thinking about, but it is a question worth asking. Water is a primal element that we cannot live without.

And yet, we often take water for granted and give little thought to its value relative to other essentials of life, such as housing, food, and energy. We assume that safe and clean water will appear when we turn on the tap.

But delivering water from the local groundwater basin to your tap is not a simple — or inexpensive — undertaking. While drinking water wells in our community won’t go dry, they are threatened by seawater contamination, which is impacting our Mid-County region’s only source of water.

Numerous steps are required to bring water safely and reliably into local homes and businesses, including the operation and maintenance of infrastructure, water quality testing and regulatory compliance, protecting our groundwater basin from seawater intrusion, and water-use efficiency, to name a few.

All of these steps are critical to the Soquel Creek Water District’s commitment to ensure that we have a reliable and sustainable water source for the future.

How the District Evaluates and Sets Water Rates oquel Creek Water District is a not-forprofit local government special district that relies on water sales and related fees for 100% of its revenue. We are dedicated to providing safe, high-quality, reliable, and

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By Rebecca Gold Rubin

sustainable water to meet our community’s present and future needs in an environmentally sensitive and economically responsible manner.

The District is currently conducting a water rates study, which is a public process led by an independent, third-party financial expert and includes an in-depth look at the District’s current revenues, operation and maintenance costs, capital investment plan, and reserves (essentially the District’s savings account). The study also makes recommendations for any rate adjustments needed for review and consideration by the District’s Board of Directors.

We created an Ad Hoc Water Rates Advisory Committee to make this process more inclusive.

Comprising 10 District customers and two Board Members who are all ratepayers, this committee has provided valuable input and shared their questions, ideas, and oversight to help shape their recommendations.

We invite our community to learn more about our rate study process, how rates are determined, and how adjustments may impact individual water bills. Visit the District’s website at www.soquelcreekwater. org/ratestudy.

“Value of Water” page 26

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2023 / 23

COMMUNITY NEWS

PVUSD Raises Substitute Pay P ajaro Valley Unified School District announces new higher rates for substitute teachers: • Tier I - $170 per day, $85 half day • Tier II - $216 per day, $108 half day • Long Term Rate - $240 per day, $120 half day • Supplemental Hourly Rate - $35 per hour for substitutes who work outside of the regular teacher work day, such as after school events required by the District.

• Before/After School Hourly Rate - $40 per hour for substitutes who work outside of the regular teacher work day providing a nine-hour instructional day for students in the Expanded Learning Program.

A one-time off-schedule payment of $1,000 will be paid to unit members who sub for at least 100 days within the 2023-2024 school year.

These new rates were approved by the Board of Trustees on Nov. 8.

Computer Science Education Week — The Watsonville High Technology Department will host a free community night on Dec. 5 at 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Register at https://cs.santacruzcoe. org/professional-learning/csedweek News and Notes Second Harvest Food Bank — Students in the County are invited to create a video 15-25 seconds promoting the 2023 Holiday Food and Fund Drive. Deadline to enter is 6 p.m. Dec. 4. Prize is tickets to a Warriors game. n

Interim Superintendent Murry Schekman shares a moment with Amesti students as they prepare for a field trip to Point Lobos!

founding member and resident of MMC, to ask if he would meet with the class, share history and tell them about the land before the lake was created.

Following a fire that occurred on the property in 1984, Diffenbaugh helped to construct the lake to provide both an agricultural water supply for gardens and orchards on the property, as well as a water reservoir and pipeline infrastructure required by the fire marshal.

“We learned from Dayanand about variations in the life of the lake,” said Sobkoviak, “and other aspects like drainage, filtration and even the species that can be found there.”

Several students expressed support for the creation of “forest mailboxes” to connect younger and older students, and the school and center communities.

“We want to nurture the connections with our younger buddies and among the school community,” said Gonzalez. “When I was in first grade, I was paired with Lexi Julien (’15). Recently, I came across a note she had written to me years ago and reread it; our buddy relationship meant a lot. As part of our project, we want to design, build and install forest mailboxes to leave things such as notes and jokes for our little buddies, or to receive advice and or pictures from our MMC friends.

“During our time as students, I have noticed

researching the existing plants and animal species that are part of the ecosystem.

“We are looking at possibly creating and installing illustrated boards or signage to educate students and visitors about the lake ecosystem,” said Padilla.

“It’s important to me that we don’t just go in uninformed and change habitat,” said Lee, “without the benefit of conducting an ethogram study, and preserving what’s there.”

Students Bella Sol Padilla and Irulan Cockrum are working on the conceptual design process for the physical campus “beautification” pieces — such as windchimes created from found and natural objects, the design of birdhouses and forest mailboxes. Seniors Erin Kavitsky and Peter S. are responsible for engineering and building the designs developed by their classmates. The students hope to add several birdhouses to the lakeside environment once they’ve consulted with experts to learn about what type of birds would be beneficial to attract.

“When I was younger, I used to look around and see photos of students with math and science teacher PD Rohan and the different projects they were doing around the lake and the campus,” explained Cockrum. “Thinking about this, I realized I want that to be me, too; I want to leave a lasting, positive impact on this place … on these mountains. My class wants to be part of the school’s legacy through our work on this project.”

Emma Monclus and Ona Musoll-Buendia, meanwhile, are developing a curriculum for younger children.

“My mother is a teacher, and awhile back we went to a lake together and caught these small frogs to show to the little kids,” said Monclus.

“They were so excited and curious; and I want to bring that kind of excitement here to our little buddies and the children of MMS.” As the group headed back to their classroom to continue working, Orozco asked Pettengill, “So, what do you think of our project?”

“As envisioned, I think it’s a really good project,” said Pettengill. “It will enhance the overall environment and bring in more wildlife through building birdhouses and improving habitat to increase the diversity of wildlife – and this work will benefit both the immediate and broader ecosystem.” n

“Lotus Project” from page 12 “It’s their vision from start to finish,” Sobkoviak said. “Many students in this class have a long association with the school, campus and lake, and feel strongly about taking on this restoration effort. I also have a special interest in regenerative agriculture and this opportunity to reestablish native plants and animals into this campus lake ecosystem is especially meaningful. My own role with this will be very much as an advisor - the effort and work will be student-led and student-driven.”

The lotus are in full bloom during the late summer and early fall, drawing the eye of students, visitors and the broader community. The original lotus were introduced into the lake 10 to 15 years ago by MMC community member Sudhir Dass, who added seeds and tubers donated from a local gardener’s pond. The species is not invasive and there are no plans to remove it from the lake waters.

“As a photographer I was attracted to the lotus flowers,” said Dass. “I have visited ponds around the world and taken photographs of them and water lilies. They of course have spiritual significance, particularly in the Buddhist cultures.

Poets, artists and photographers are drawn to their beauty and symbolism.”

A couple years ago, Dass asked a friend to paint the mantra, “Om Mani Padme Hum” in Sanskrit on a series of large “sentinel stones” that overlook the lake. Known as the Compassion Mantra, or the Jewel in the Lotus, this Buddhist prayer is employed as a tool to train the mind to achieve ultimate peace and enjoyment.

At capacity, the lake can hold some five-anda-half to six acre feet – roughly one and a half million to two million gallons – of water. It is sited on a 380-acre property shared by the school, MMC residents and guests, and the Mount Madonna Institute, a classical yoga school and Ayurvedic college.

“The lake has been a beautiful part of my childhood since I came to MMS in kindergarten,” said student Anya Gonzalez, fondly recalling time spent at and around the lake, including morning hikes with her classmates and teachers. Gonzalez serves as the project’s marketing and communications coordinator.

Early in the fall, student project manager Isaiah Orozco reached out to Dayanand Diffenbaugh, a

24 / December 1st 2023 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

a real separation of the school and center,” she continued. “The center is such a big part of our school’s origins and why we’re here, and yet we don’t often come in contact with the center community except during ‘Ramayana!’ Through this project, we hope to rebuild the connection with MMC, and strengthen our broader personal and organizational relationship.”

“It’s really positive that the students identified this as a project they would like to invest their own energy into,” said Diffenbaugh. “Students love the lake, they have memories of it, they played here. I love that they understood intuitively that such identity with the land is important, and in indigenous cultures, it’s essential.”

“The landforms, plants and animals we grow up with imprint on each of us,” he added. “We carry these ‘landscape memories’ forward and they become part of our identity. I like that the 12th grade students, on their own, have a sense of identity with Mount Madonna. This is something that we, as a community and a school, are giving to our students and community members, and it becomes associated with their ideas on justice, stewardship and sustainability. It helps to grow, in a practical sense, an understanding of the value of nature and the responsibility and need to preserve it.”

Students Cooper Padilla and Ethan Lee are

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14. Gas station brand 15. Affirmatives 16. Image in Orthodox Church 17. *Robert Wagner or Stephanie Powers, on TV 18. *Vote for H.W. Bush, e.g.

19. *Weird Al’s last name 21. Forum, pl.

22. Dog-____ book 23. Clingy plant

24. Spiky succulent 56. Recipient of money 27. Accumulates (2 57. *Umberto Eco’s “The words) ____ of the Rose” 31. Turkish military leader 58. Oration station 32. Consequence 60. Some tournaments 35. *Wintour of Vogue 61. In the thick of 36. Zoroaster follower 62. Place, in French 38. E in B.C.E. 63. Not at all good 39. #53 Down, third 64. Bitty person singular 65. Other than what is 40. Do like exhaust pipe DOWN 41. Hertz’ offering 1. Ornamental pond 43. Extra cost dweller 44. Expert, in U.K. (2 2. Deep black words) 46. *Ricky Martin’s boy 3. Greek promenade 4. Shakespeare’s band output 48. Arrival time acronym 5. * Lou Reed’s “Home 49. *Piano player Lee of the ____” Curreri on “Fame” 6. Like thick smoke 51. *Baltimore player 53. *Mikhail Gorbachev’s 7. Campus military org.

8. Attractive to look at policy

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12. Is, in Paris 14. “A horse is ____ ____, of course, of course” 20. Resin-producing tree 23. Took the bait 24. *Christopher Reeve’s sartorial style in “Superman II” 25. Old World lizard 26. Indigenous person from Suriname or Guyana 27. Surveyor’s map 28. Mix-up 29. Not married 30. Promenade in Spain 33. Tournament ranking 34. Remains container

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2023 / 25

Gratitude — Radiance of Solace for a World in Crisis Esoteric Astrology • December 2023 • By Risa D’Angeles

T

he season of Goodwill and Gratitude each year begins at Thanksgiving.

And it continues through December and onto January 6 at Epiphany.

The month of December is mostly under the light of Sagittarius. Then for the last eight days, after Winter Solstice, the Sun is in Capricorn.

Under the sign of Sagittarius, ruled by benevolent Jupiter, humanity is reminded to bring forth goodwill, kindness, gratitude and generosity.

The weeks from Thanksgiving to Epiphany (Jan. 6) are weeks of sharing with family and friends. We are more charitable, kind and loving. We remember when gathering with family members, that everyone is a character, playing their part and doing their best.

Every year there is some sort of movement to downplay the season’s festivities. In the last month of our year, when the festivals of light (Advent, Hanukkah, Solstice and Christmas) are celebrated, the most important theme is gratitude. It’s a time set aside each year to give thanks for the past year’s “harvest of blessings.”

We are reminded in the season to appreciate, to be glad, pleased, grateful, happy and content. It’s a time to praise and bless and for graciousness, too. All of these are Jupiter’s virtues. It is also a time to recognize what we are grateful ARIES

It’s most important to find times for reflection and contemplation because there’s such an onrush of activity, ideas and ideals flowing here, there, everywhere in this season. There’s a desire to travel, discovering new realities important to your well-being.

Without pausing a bit, they will be missed. It’s also good to review what’s of value while observing what’s occurring in the world. A question — how are you aiding in building the new society and what do you envision for the future?

TAURUS

You continue to tend to the care and well-being of others. Sometimes you remember to care for yourself. You must remember that you are a valuable resource.

If you are not tended to well enough, you cannot be a resource for others. Ideas and visions for the new era and what’s needed continue to appear. Their manifestation into form has been elusive. There is an esoteric equation for manifestation. We see the need, we call in the needed resources, we imagine the outflow of abundant resources. It’s an Aquarian triangle (and art) with Uranus at the center.

GEMINI

It’s most important to reflect upon what your relationships are based upon. Include all relationships, but begin with your most close and intimate one(s).

Consider what’s taken for granted, what’s understood and not understood, and what allows you to be most truthful. Is there talk about moving, relocating and rethinking resources? A new path comes forth and a new message within the relationship. Listen with patience, perseverance, poise and serenity. Poise allows creation to unfold.

for. Gratitude creates well-being and happiness. Gratitude releases us into a state of freedom and joy.

The Wisdom teachings refer to Gratitude as a potent releasing agent. It is the hallmark of an enlightened Soul. Gratitude is scientific in nature.

It salvages humanity, brings forth deep joy, lifts others up, and creates a steadfast orientation toward the Light of Life itself.

Gratitude creates merit and is a virtue leading to forgiveness. Gratitude liberates us from karma and sets us free.

The autumn season with its many festivals of Light invites us to embark on a journey of Gratitude together. When we offer Gratitude, there is a “radiance of solace, kindness and love that flows into the sorrow and suffering of the world.”

Here again is the Tibetan’s quote on Gratitude.

“Gratitude, a scientific and occult releasing agent, is a service. Gratitude releases us from the past and lays open for us our future path leading to the new culture and civilization, the rising light of Aquarius, the Age of Friendship and Equality. The Hierarchy (inner world government) lays much emphasis upon gratitude.”

May we light our advent candles, wishing each of us a Happy Hanukkah and a merry and joyful Christmas time. Then we are prepared for the new year of 2024. With love, Risa n

LEO

The past year has been rather serious for many, especially you — restructuring and disciplining us in confronting the past and bringing forth new ways of thinking. The Sagittarian fire calls you to a new study, possible journeys, recreation, children, pleasure, creativity, games, fun, enjoyment, archery and being with like-minded others. Is there a wound that has come into your awareness, a sadness, a loss? Do you need to communicate about it so the veils of sorrow can drop away? I will listen.

VIRGO

Family and parents, the foundations of your life, your childhood, beliefs learned while young and carried into the present time will be on your mind for the purpose of appraising, cleansing, clearing, and eliminating all that is no longer useful. Be aware that moodiness, brooding, and perhaps intense feelings will arise.

Let them be your friends. Contemplate and evaluate these with intelligence, patience and careful observation. There’s a brilliance in them, like a jewel to be polished at the center of a lotus.

SAGITTARIUS

Not wanting to waste a moment of life’s energy or time, you have an opportunity now, to redefine yourself, your self-identity, creativity and life purpose.

You’re able to change your mind about who you (think you) are and how you see yourself.

Be aware that your presence is very impactful to those around you. Issues and decisions, you thought were concluded reappear for re-evaluation and reassessment. New rhythms, tempos and patterns are appearing. Just let the music play.

This is Jupiter in Taurus (retrograde) resting in your heart.

CAPRICORN

You may feel you’re waiting in the wings for new realities to appear.

It’s like planning a winter garden —arugula, kales, mustards, onions, wintergreens, thyme, oregano, parsley — envisioning spring for the first green shoots to appear. Everything on inner levels is being restructured. You feel this but it hasn’t manifested in your outer world. Everything appears in right timing. Be as quiet as needed to allow the roots, leaves, flowers and blooms of a new reality to anchor, grow, become strong. Later they will reshape your life with a new level of beauty.

LIBRA

It’s good to be in touch with siblings, communicating with them, sharing news, family gossip, hopes, wishes, dreams, plans and parties. Participate with family in ways that everyone feels seen, recognized and of value. Do not permit anything (ideas, sorrows, pain, unforgivenesses, misunderstandings, etc.) from the past to obscure your connections. Allow nothing to be misconstrued.

Communicate and make contact. This releases Love. Your family loves you with all their hearts and souls.

AQUARIUS

In the weeks and months to come you discover your true friends, what groups support your endeavors and whom you can turn to for nurturance, needs and simple friendship. So many in humanity are mis-informed. Become a researcher (not a reactor) so you can provide humanity with true information.

Then you become part of educating humanity. Assess your life’s journey.so far. When traveling, for safety, follow all rules of the road. Whatever is occurring and wherever that is in your physical world is where you are needed.

SCORPIO

The entire world’s in a state of crisis and reorientation, a CANCER condition you know well, for you experience Your idea of a schedule quickly dissipates and you find yourself reorientation continually. The entire world is in with no routines or plans or even the ability to a Scorpio state, a burning ground of transfortake control of daily events. Anything you’ve mation, testing, of dying and regenerating, so thought of doing simply shifts into states of that the new era can come forth. Your importance in this great chaos. Chaos calls for our creativity and seeking shift is the fact that your knowledge, dedications, curiosities the next level of harmony. However, the harmony may not and research abilities become the core information source for manifest for a while. The best thing to do is to read, study and in humanity and the new culture and civilization. What are your between prepare foods that you love for others. They will receive it present tasks? What are you using your resources for? What as manna (goodness, angel food) from the heavens. You are that. changes are you experiencing?

•••

Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com

26 / December 1st 2023 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

PISCES

There have been thoughts on teaching, presenting the self to the public, writing more, making a small book or two. Perhaps a publishing company of the new art with astrology charts and games. It’s good to think of new endeavors, considering them without making final decisions. Acknowledgements and recognitions come forth unexpectedly. Careful of miscommunication to and with the public. Tend to previous tasks and continue to work with consistency. New tasks will appear.

The Hierarchy looks on, offering guidance, direction and impressions.

COMMUNITY NEWS Six Hopefuls for County Supervisor

W

ith Second District County Supervisor Zach Friend opting not to run, six candidates have tossed their hats into the ring.

Kristen Brown, Anthony Crane, Kimberly De Serpa, Douglas Deitch, Mark Hucklebridge, and David Schwartz have filed papers with the Santa Cruz County Elections Department to run.

Times Publishing Group, Inc., is asking the candidates questions and gathering photos and will print the responses once we have heard from all of them. n ••• Do you have questions that should be asked? Email Editor Jondi Gumz at info@ cyber-times.com.

“Value of Water” from page 23 Protecting the Groundwater Basin roundwater is the only source of water for the District and the groundwater basin is critically over-drafted and becoming contaminated with seawater intrusion.

To protect the groundwater basin, the District developed a Community Water Plan that outlines three primary solutions: water conservation, groundwater management, and new water supplies. Efficient water-use and groundwater management are ongoing efforts.

A new supply will be provided by the Pure Water Soquel project that will replenish the groundwater basin and prevent further seawater intrusion using highly treated and purified wastewater, which otherwise would be discharged into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Pure Water Soquel is currently under construction with completion expected in 2024.

A 2020 survey poll showed that 89% of the District’s customers supported “taking strong action now to address the issues of over-drafting and seawater contamination of the local groundwater,” and 73% were “comfortable with Pure Water Soquel.”

An economic study of the Pure Water Soquel Project showed a $903 million economic benefit to the community in housing, business, and environmental impacts. The study also showed that without the project, water could cost up to three times as much for customers despite using less.

As we navigate the intricate web of determining the value of water, the District stands as a guardian of this indispensable resource, striving to ensure a sustainable future for our community. The current exploration into water rates is not merely an administrative procedure; it is a reflection of the District’s commitment to balancing fiscal responsibility with the imperative to maintain a safe, highquality, and reliable water supply. n

G

SCCAS Featured Pet

T

On Point!

his week our Pet of the Week is Fallon (A#306065). This adolescent husky came to the Shelter as a stray, so we do not know much about her life before now.

A good Samaritan found her by Manresa Beach and held onto her for a couple days and Fallon did great with the resident dogs and 2-year-old child. Fallon Is an active, playful puppy who would benefit from a guardian that will commit to positive reinforcement-based training to help her gain some life skills and manners.

Fallon was in foster for a bit and the report was that she was a delight with everyone she met- kids, strangers and other dogs. Her foster mom also said that Fallon loves playing with toys and chasing balls, and while Fallon was a little scared to come in the house at first eventually, she was sleeping right next to the foster’s bed! We do not recommend that Fallon go to a home with small animals or chickens.

Fallon would love to have a doggy playmate in her new home, but all resident dogs should meet at the Shelter before adoption. This adorable Huskie mix would be a great addition to your home if you are looking for a sweet, energetic and fun-loving pup to brighten up your home and holidays!

Right now, we are having our “Home for the Holidays” Adoption Event! Now through December 3rd all adoptions are half price and animals over 6 years old are FREE (licensing fee applies to dogs). The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is open 7 days a week from 11am-6pm, closed for government holidays.

We will be closed to the public Christmas Eve (12/22), Christmas Day (12/25) and New Year’s Day (1/1/24).

crossword on 25 »

••• 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@santacruz county.us. You can also Follow SCCAS on Instagram and/or Facebook to stay up-to-date on shelter news and where to find adoptable pets around town at breweries, stores and events.

••• Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter: 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 Hours: Daily 11 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

The 1980s © Statepoint Media

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2023 / 27

COMMUNITY CALENDAR to quickly fill 100+ vital wildland firefighter and dispatch positions in California for the 2024 fire season.

Details: RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES Dec. 1-3: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pacific Southwest The American Red Cross continues to experience a Research Station, 4955 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside. national blood shortage and asks the public to book Feb. 2-4: Friday, 12 pm - 4 pm; Saturday. 8 am to WATSONVILLE COMMUNITY BAND CONCERTS and Sunday, Feb 24 and 25, at the Santa Cruz Beach a time to give as soon as 4 pm; Sunday 8 am to 2 pm. at Doubletree by Hilton Boardwalk.

The Watsonville Community Band presents 3 winter concerts: possible. Donors of all blood Hotel, 2001 Point W Way, Sacramento.

Amateur chefs will compete on Saturday, followed by Wednesday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m., types are urgently needed, Staff will be on-site to review resumes, conduct professional chefs on Sunday.

Scotts Valley Performing Arts Center, especially type O and those giving platelets.

Order your tasting kits and merch at www.cityofsantacruz. interviews and background checks and, at the Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley.

To make a donation appointment, download the Red Sacramento event, potentially make job offers. com/chowdermerch. Tasting kits are $15 and include 6 Friday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m., Mello Cross blood donor app, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call tasting tickets, a bowl, a spoon, a napkin, and a ballot to vote “California’s need to build our wildland firefighter Center, 250 E Beach St., Watson1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) workforce is increasing and the Bureau of Land for your favor-ite Boston and Manhattan Chowders! ville (Opened by the Watsonville Aptos Management is looking to expedite the hiring process,” Interested in competing in the cook-off? Register your Dec. 6: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cabrillo College Cafeteria, 6500 Community Youth Band) team by Feb. 19 at https://beachboardwalk.com/Clamsaid State Fire Management Officer Peter Kelly.

Saturday, Dec. 16, 2 p.m., Peace United Church, 900 Soquel Drive Chowder-Cook-Off/.

See www.firejobs.doi.gov/crews for available jobs.

Dec. 9: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo High St., Santa Cruz.

Event details are at www.cityofsantacruz.com/chowder or call Webinars with tips for applicants will be Nov. 9 College Drive 420-5273. and Jan. 25. Register at www.blm.gov/californiaCHANUKAH CELEBRATIONS WITH TEMPLE BETH EL Ben Lomond firehire Dec. 15: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of COMMUNITY MENORAH LIGHTING Salaries, application instructions and deadLatter-day Saints, Ben Lomond, 9545 Love Creek Road Thursday, Dec. 7, 4:30 p.m., Town Clock, Downtown Santa Cruz RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY lines, will be at www.usajobs.gov/Search/ Capitola Join families and friends of all ages to sing and light giant The Salvation Army has kicked off its 2023 Red Kettle holiday drive.

Results?l=California&a=IN05&p=1 Dec. 16: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Mid-County Senior Center, 829 menorah at the Santa Cruz Town Their bell-ringing, Christmas spirit-emoting volunteers Applicants can visit www.blm.gov/california-firehire Bay Ave. Clock. can be found outside most large supermarkets in shopping Santa Cruz Chanukah crafts for the kids. No centers throughout the county.

Dec. 7: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of need to RSVP ONGOING EVENTS Latter-Day Saints, 220 Elk St. Santa Cruz.

More information at https:// TEDX SANTA CRUZ SEEKS SPEAKERS Ongoing thru December 23 www.tbeaptos.org/event/ Organizers are calling for speakers, volunteers, and THE GIFT OF ART CURIOUS NARRATIVES: IMAGINED MEMORIES chanukah-menorah-lighting-atsponsors for the next TEDxSantaCruz: Rising Together, Open Noon-5 p.m., Thurs. thru Sun., 9341 Mill St, Ben Lomond Nov. 17, 2023 – Jan. 6, 2024, Santa Cruz Art League, 526 the-town-clock1.html slated for Saturday, April 13, at Cabrillo College’s Crocker The Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center will host “The Gift Broadway, Santa Cruz CHANUKAH EXTRAVAGANZA Theater. The call is open to everyone who lives or works in of Art,” a holiday exhibit through Dec. 23 at 9341 Mill St., The Santa Cruz Art League will present Curious Narratives Friday, Dec. 8, 5:45 p.m., Temple Beth Santa Cruz County.

Ben Lomond. There will be framed paintings, crafty wall — Imagined Memories, featuring creations by Santa Cruz El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos “Santa Cruz County has been through so much hangings, functional ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, cards, County artists Wendy Aikin of Aptos, Jean Sheckler Beebe Festive latke dinner followed by Rock of Ages Chanukah glass, and woodwork. of Aptos and Judy Stabile of Watsonville. The exhibit is on service. Partly mystical, mostly magical, always musical. Bring since we held our last TEDxSC event in 2019 – the COVID pandemic, CZU fires, and back-to-back storms Events for this exhibit: display from Nov. 17 through Jan. 6. your menorah!

Holiday Sale: Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25, noon – This exhibition is an expansion of Aikin’s installation The SANTA CRUZ WARRIORS JEWISH HERITAGE GAME and floods,” said event co-producer Nada Miljkovic, 5 pm Curator’s Office which was part of The Museum of Curious Sunday, Dec. 10, 1 p.m. Kaiser Permanente Arena, Santa Cruz. UC Santa Cruz program manager of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurial Development. “Our First Friday Open House: Friday, Dec. 1, from 5 – 7 pm Perceptions exhibition at Pajaro Valley Arts in 2018. Aikin Watch the game with your TBE friends. community has literally risen together, disaster after Holiday Sale: Saturday, Dec. 9, noon – 5 pm created a life-size cabinet of curiosities of an imaginary Learn more at https://www.tbeaptos.org/event/santadisaster, to meet each challenge.”

Information: (831) 336-3513 museum curator. cruz-warriors-jewish-heritage-game.html Consuelo Alba, co-founder and executive director of Aikin, Beebe and Stabile are expanding on their interpreCHANUKAH STORY HOUR the Watsonville Film Festival, is working with Miljkovic Third Thursdays tations of the characters in Aikin’s assemblages. Through Tuesday, Dec. 12, 4 p.m., Bookshop Santa Cruz. and Jenny Kurzweil of Community Foundation Santa SIP AND STROLL sculpture, collage, assemblage, painting, found objects Listen to Chanukah stories read out loud.

Cruz County to produce the event. and fiber arts, the artists are creating environments for HEBREW HIGH MENORAH LIGHTING 6-9 p.m. (check-in starts at 5 p.m.), Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old The theme is meant to suggest “an immense scale of their imagined lives.

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m., Temple Beth El Online Event.

Dominion Court, Aptos Join Hebrew High on Zoom for Chanukah songs and candle collaboration,” Alba said. “How do we rise together? How Come to the Seacliff Inn: Tapestry Collection by Hilton, for do we build effective and lasting collaborations?”

FREE PARKING IN CAPITOLA VILLAGE lighting. Learn more at https://www.tbeaptos.org/event/ a Sip & Stroll event where local artists to show and sell The theme was inspired by the Rise Together Thanksgiving thru Christmas join-hebrew-high-on-zoom-for-menorah-lighting.html their works. Wines are 30% off, and the featured winery coalition, a Community Foundation initiative that Capitola Village offers free parking for shoppers from Nov. SENIOR CONNECTIONS BAKING CLASS will offer tastings of three varietals for $10 per person. brings together local Black, Indigenous, and People of 23 through Dec. 25.

Thursday, Dec. 14 1:30 p.m. at Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wine30-sip-strollColor leaders to advance racial equity. Rise Together Enjoy!

Gulch Road, Aptos tickets-668910307737 members are volunteering to help organize the event, Making sweet and savory knishes with Certified Master particularly lunchtime networking.

COUNTY FAIR BOARD MEETINGS Baker Stephany Buswell Second Friday Each Month To apply to be a speaker, volunteer, or sponsor, see HOLIDAY SHOPPING 1:30 p.m., SC County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville NEW BRIDGE GROUP tedxsantacruz.org. Speaker applications are due Dec. 3.

Find all your Chanukah needs at Temple Beth El through The remaining County Fair Board meeting date in 2023 is 10:30-Noon, La Selva Beach Public Library, 316 Estrella Ave. Dec. 15. https://www.tbeaptos.org/chanukah Tuesday Dec. 5. Meetings also take place on Zoom.

Come for bridge on the second Friday of each BLM RECRUITING FIREFIGHTERS For agendas, see santacruzcountyfair.com. month from 10:30 to noon at the La Selva Beach CLAM CHOWDER COOKOFF COMING The Bureau of Land Management is hosting recruiting library.

CERT BASIC IN-PERSON CLASS The 43rd Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off, will be Saturday events Dec. 1-3 in Riverside and Feb. 2-4 in Sacramento First meeting was Oct. 13. Bette Harken, Master This class is a free in-person class. The class will consist Bridge player, will give an introduction for beginners. of 4 evening classes and one weekend day which Call La Selva Library to reserve your seat: 831-427-7710. combine lecture, discussion, and hands-on skills practice. SOQUEL INDIGENOUS HISTORY NIGHT Topics covered: Disaster Preparedness, CERT DATED EVENTS Sunday December 3 Organization, Disaster Medical Operations, Disaster Psychology, Fire Safety and Utility Controls, Light 6-7:30 p.m. Subud Center, 3800 Old San Jose Road, Soquel Friday December 1 Search and Rescue, and CERT and Terrorism.

3 Sister 3 Corners Community presents Martin Rizzo-Martinez speaking at SOQUEL VILLAGE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING Four Tuesdays: Jan 16, 23, 30 and Feb. 6 from 6 to Subud Center about his extensive research of the local indigenous peoples and 6-8 p.m., Soquel Village, 4900 Soquel Dr. (at Main St.) 9:30 pm at Market Street Senior Center, 222 Market St., the many tribal bands.

Get ready to deck the halls and light up Soquel Village at Santa Cruz.

He is a Soquel resident, former State Park historian and author of “We are Not the first-ever Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

One Saturday: Feb. 10 from 9 am to 4 pm, at Central Animals.” See https://rizzomartinez.com/ Join the festive fun with caroling, early evening shopping Fire Station, 930 17th Ave, Santa Cruz/Live Oak. It was just confirmed within the last 10 years that Año Nuevo was the original and scrumptious snacks.

ALL class sessions are required. contact point of the Spanish conquistadors and the native peoples here. This Sponsored by: The Vintage Pick & Art Studio, CongreCOVID precautions used during the class:https://santameans the history of our region was systematically wiped out, starting here. gational Church of Soquel, The Multi Shoppe, Salvage Martin Rizzo-Martinez cruzcountycert.org/cert-covid-19-policy/ Another new discovery: Inland from Año Nuevo is the traditional tribal meeting Hut, Center Street Antiques, After Effects and Traders Click Submit and Sign Up after selection is made. place called Quiroste Valley Cultural Preserve. See https://www.coastsidestateparks.org/articles/ Emporium Antiques.

Note* The sign-up page will only list the January 16th date, but quiroste-valley Info at https://www.facebook.com/events/659107156206816/? you will be registered for the entire series of classes. You will Suggested donation $10. Questions? Email 3sisters3corners@gmail.com ref=newsfeed receive a confirmation email if sign-up was done properly.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by December 8

28 / December 1st 2023 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Saturday December 2

personal time with Santa, making a great day for the whole family.

Eggs, sausage, fruit, beverages, and all you can eat pancakes. Visit with Santa, share your list and take a photo, make an ornament, play reindeer games, spin the Wheel for prizes and participate in the raffle for gifts from local merchants.

This event supports recreation scholarships for Watsonville youth wanting to participate in sports, art, dance, music, swim lessons and other recreation activities. Breakfast with Santa is hosted by the Recreation Advocates, Armada Pest, and Watsonville McDonalds.

For information, or to request financial support for youth recreation activities, email recreationadvoc@gmail.com or call 831-722-6012.

Tickets are $6 for kids 3-13, $8 for adults and free for kids 2 and under with a paying adult on Eventbrite at https://rb.gy/n7pdbb

SPARKLY SENIOR WINTER SOCIAL 2- 4 p.m., London Nelson Center, 301 Center St, Santa Cruz Kick off the holiday season with a Sparkly Senior Winter Social at the London Nelson Center.

Attendees must be 60 years of age or older.

Wear whatever makes you feel sparkly! (Sparkles encouraged) Winter crafts, light refreshments, live music from the Moondance Band. Bring your favorite winter dessert to share.

There is a suggested $10 donation at the door.

WINTER FIESTA & MARKET 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., El Pájaro CDC’s Commercial Kitchen Incubator, 413 E. Riverside Drive, Watsonville El Pájaro CDC presents the Winter Fiesta at the Kitchen, a two-part event El Pájaro CDC’s commercial kitchen incubator.

First is the kitchen’s 10th Anniversary Brunch, honoring the achievements of the Kitchen Incubator program.

Guests will enjoy a delicious brunch while gaining a glimpse of our co-packing facility. Guests will get early access to the Winter Market event before it opens to the public.

Keynote speaker will be Tara Lynn Gray, the Director of the Office of the Small Business Advocate at the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Tickets are: $100 per person at: www.elpajarocdc.org ••• The Winter Market, which is free, open to the public from noon to 5 pm, offers a showcase for 20 Kitchen Incubator entrepreneurs, local food trucks and local vendors.

This is the only occasion where you can meet the kitchen entrepreneurs under one roof, and it’s the only day of the year when you can get an inside look at the kitchen.

ELF THE MUSICAL JR

Saturday December 9 and Sunday December 10 2 p.m., Mount Madonna School’s Hawks’ Nest Theater, 491 Summit Road, Watsonville Mount Madonna School’s middle school presents this hilarious comedy, “Elf the Musical Jr.,” at Mount Madonna School’s Hawks’ Nest Theater.

Based on the holiday film, “Elf Jr.” is a sleigh ride through the core values of friendship, openness and self-discovery — It’s a story that will entertain, and also teach lessons our young cast will carry with them for life,” said Director Chelsea Otterness.

“The message of this story is that it is important to believe in things even if you think they are childish and silly,” said eighth grader Jacqui Overson, who plays Jovi, Buddy’s love interest.

“My character is Walter Hobbs and he seems scarred from his past,” said eighth grader Aiden Powers. “His ex-wife died and now he has a son and new wife, and only cares about his job… he learns how to embrace family.”

Tickets at mms-elfthemusical.brownpapertickets.com are $15; for adults; $10 for 18 and under; all seats are reserved.

Originally produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures in association with Unique Features, “Elf The Musical Jr.” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

BOARDWALK MINI-NUTCRACKER 2 p.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St. HOLIDAY BAZAAR The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will host a mini 9 a.m.-1 p.m., MidCounty Senior Center Gift Shop, 829 Bay Ave., Nutcracker performance at Colonnade Stage.

Capitola The MidCounty Senior Center Gift Shop hosts a Holiday Sunday December 3 Bazaar the first Saturday in December.

ST. JOHN’S HELPFUL SHOP TURNS 70 Holiday crafts are offered for sale at great prices.

1:30 p.m., 125 Canterbury Drive, Aptos A charity shop run by the community members of St SANTA IS COMING TO APTOS John’s Episcopal Church in Aptos will celebrate 70 years 1-4 p.m., Aptos Village Green, 448 Granite Way of service on Dec. 3.

Celebrate, shop and sing.

Originally located in Capitola Village until the building Bring your children and your shopping list to the Aptos owner changed, the shop moved to Seacliff five years Village Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Craft Fair at the ago.

Aptos Village Green between Penny Ice Creamery and Each year St John’s awards different nonprofits and New Leaf Community Markets. charities their earnings from the shop. For a grant, Santa will arrive by fire truck to listen to your children’s apply online or at the store at 246-A Center Ave. in wishes and pose for photos. A red mailbox will be Seacliff. available until Dec. 20 to send letters to Santa.

At 1:30 p.m. Dec. 3, the shop will provide shoppers with The celebration will include music by Aptos High snacks and refreshments to celebrate 70 years. Hours are School Chamber Choir, Soquel High Jazz Band, Perfor- noon to 4 p.m. mance Vocal and the Santa Cruz Ballet will perform a Phone: 831-708-4238. scene from the Nutcracker. Hot chocolate from Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant, and cookies from New Leaf Community Markets.

The event is free and hosted by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.

For information call 831-688-1467.

Saturday December 2 Sunday December 3

Volunteers Rebecca Yant and Jackie Davis

ART IN THE CELLARS Wednesday December 6 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Bargetto Winery, 3535 N. Main St., Soquel AI HORIZONS PART 2 Bargetto Winery hosts the 31st annual Art in the Cellars, an annual holiday festival in the historic cellars 6 - 8:30 p.m., Cocoanut Grove 400 Beach St Santa Cruz featuring artwork and goodies from 30+ vendors Santa Cruz Works presents AI Horizons Part 2, a Admission free. look into the world of artificial intelligence featuring Enjoy wine tasting with the purchase of a $20 festival Microsoft, NVIDIA, AI-R, Amazon, DALL-e at the Coconut glass ($15 for wine club members).

Grove. http://bargetto.com Are you ready to embark on a journey into the future

of artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on a variety of industries? The first event sold out quick.

The evening starts with food and beverages while networking. Live music & demo tables showcasing cool AI-driven innovations.

Tickets $20 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-horizons-part2-tickets-753308204117?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thursday December 7 APTOS CHAMBER MIXER 5-7 p.m., Aptos Vineyard, 105C Post Office Drive Aptos Vineyard will host a mixer for the Aptos Chamber.

Price: $5 members, $10 non-members.

CLASSICAL CONCERT 4 p.m., Peace United Church, 900 High St., Santa Cruz Danny Alvarez, broker associate, David Lyng Real Estate, and Michael Tierra present violinist Oliver Neubauer and pianist Zhu Wang in the Distinguished Artists Concert Series at Peace United Church.

The program includes performances of Beethoven Sonata No. 1, Enesco Sonata No. 3, Grieg Sonata No. 3, and works by Tchaikovsky and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson.

Tickets are $40 at: www.distinguishedartists.org

Wednesday December 13 and Friday December 15 SOUQEL HIGH WINTER CHORAL CONCERTS Times below, Soquel High School Multipurpose Room, 401 Old San Jose Road.

Soquel High Music presents their Winter Choral Concert.

Wednesday’s performances begin at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. p.m.; Friday’s take place at 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m.

All concerts will be in the school’s Multipurpose Room.

Thursday December 14 APTOS CHAMBER LUNCH 11:30-1 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive “Prepare for Winter Storms” is the topic for the Aptos Chamber of Commerce luncheon, taking place at Seascape Golf Club.

Matt Machado, who heads county Public Works, will speak.

Reservations are required. Price: $35 per person. Call 831-6881467.

Friday December 15

CHAMBER MIXER 5-7 p.m., Hampton Inn & Suites, 75 Lee Road, Watsonville Hampton Inn & Suites will host a mixer for the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture.

Appetizers, wine, cookies, raffle. Free admission.

HOLIDAY MIXER AT THE CLOSET SHOPPER 5-6:30 p.m., The Closet Shopper, 1205 41st Ave., Pleasure Point The Closet Shopper, a buy, sell, trade boutique for women, will host a mixer for the Capitola-Soquel chamber.

Enjoy beverages, light appetizers, shopping and raffle prizes, while connecting with business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and community members.

Networking + sipping + shopping. https://www.theclosetshoppersantacruz.com

Sunday December 10 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA 8 a.m.-Noon, Ramsay Park, 1301 Main St., Watsonville Kick off the holiday season at Breakfast with Santa at Ramsay Park.

Enjoy breakfast, holiday games, raffle prizes and

CABRILLO YOUTH STRINGS RECITAL 7 p.m., Cabrillo College VAPA5000 Music Building, Room 5156, Soquel Drive, Aptos The Cabrillo Youth Strings Chamber Music Program will present a Fall Recital at Cabrillo College’s VAPA5000 Music Building in Room 5156.

Donations are requested at the door: $10 General, $5 students/seniors, and children 17 and younger, free.

For those interested in participating in or making contributions to this program, call (831) 479-6101 or visit https://www.cabrillo. edu/cabrillo-youth-strings.

Sunday December 31 NOON NEW YEAR’S EVE FOR KIDS 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Capitola Mall, 1855 41st Ave. The Museum of Discovery hosting the popular Noon Year’s Eve Celebration for a fun way to ring in the new year with the little ones.

A timer will count down to 12 p.m. on Saturday, complete with a disco ball drop and a blast of paper confetti at the end.

Admission is $10 for just the event, and free with admission to the museum.

Info: 831-316-5200. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2023 / 29

FEATURED COLUMNIST

County Housing Element Approved: 4,634 Units by 2031

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

A

few weeks ago the Board of Supervisors voted to approve Housing Element.

The Housing Element approval was a culmination of a number of public hearings and community outreach meetings over the last year and included feedback from a number of community members.

What exactly is the Housing Element and what changes are possible in our district?

What is the Housing Element? ince 1969, under California Government Code, all local jurisdictions are required plan to meet the housing needs of all people in their community. California’s local governments meet this requirement by adopting a Housing Element as part of their general plan, which is also required by the State. The Housing Element is just one of the required elements of the County’s General Plan, the document that guides land use planning and development activities in the unincorporated area.

However, it is the only General Plan element that requires regular updates (currently every eight years) and review and certification by a State agency.

What is the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA)? he Regional Housing Needs Assessment is mandated by State law and is part of the process for updating a Housing Element.

There are State and regional elements at play as part of the RHNA. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (often referred to as HCD) provides population growth projections by geographic region.

Within each region, Councils of Government (COGs) are designated by HCD and are responsible for determining how the potential growth will be allocated within the jurisdictions within the region. Within our region, the COG is the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments — or AMBAG. AMBAG determined that for our upcoming Housing Element, effective

H

S

T

This means that some sites in the 2nd District are proposed for rezoning in order to meet the RHNA number for the unincorporated area.

What are the Specific Locations Proposed for Rezoning in the 2nd District? ere are a list of locations and what County Housing staff have recommended for rezoning for housing: 610 and 664 Clubhouse Drive (Seascape Golf Club) 2600 Mar Vista (Aptos Par 3 property) 9900 Soquel Drive, Aptos 100 and 235 Primrose Lane. Watsonville What are the Next Steps? ven though the Board of Supervisors approved the Housing Element, it doesn’t mean that it’s fully approved.

County Planning staff has sent the Housing Element to the State for the final sign-off. It’s possible the State may have some additional comments or questions that will need to be addressed before it’s officially complete or it’s possible that they will require changes be made to the Housing Element.

Communities that do not have a compliant Housing Element face the possibility of losing funding, litigation from the State or facing what’s known as the “builder ’s remedy” — which allows (in certain cases) for parcels to be developed outside of the County’s zoning requirements.

The County has been in regular contact with the State during this process including sharing the draft Housing Element so it seems unlikely there would be significant concerns. However, given it still requires final sign-off from the State, it’s always possible the County will need to address additional issues posed by the State. n ••• As always, you are welcome to call me at 454-2200 with any questions or feedback on this or any County-related issue. If you’re interested in learning more about the Housing Element, County Planning has more detailed information on their website about the Housing Element and maps of proposed locations for all of the districts — that website is: www.sccoplanning.com

E 2023-2031, the unincorporated area will be allocated 4,634 housing units at varying affordability levels.

AMBAG determines this as the number in order for our County to meet the projected housing needs. This 4,634 number is the unincorporated area’s RHNA. Cities within Santa Cruz County also have their own RHNA numbers.

This number is significantly higher than previous allocations to our region and, in particular, the unincorporated area — meeting the number is one of the largest challenges in the process.

While many community members expressed support for additional affordable housing in the community, others did express concerns over how the over 4,600 units would be built with current water, transportation, education and other challenges.

Much of this comes from overall changes in State land use policy making it easier to construct housing (in particular affordable housing) and removing elements of local control traditionally held by counties and cities in land use decisions.

Where are the Units to be Concentrated? nderstandably, because of Measure J and the Urban Service Line and urban

U

30 / December 1st 2023 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

growth boundaries, the proposed housing is concentrated in the urban areas of the unincorporated County.

The majority of the urban services line area falls within the 1st Supervisorial District (represented by Supervisor Koenig) and the 2nd Supervisorial District (represented by me) — which means nearly all of the proposed units fall within these two districts (with most falling within the 1st District).

As part of this process, the County is required to provide the programs, policies, and appropriate zoning to accommodate these additional units.

This means, in part, that the County is required to review underutilized residential and commercial sites and vacant residential and commercial sites to determine where (and how many) units can be accommodated.

Put simply, this means some parcels would be identified for rezoning or an intensification of housing including parcels that have been vacant for quite some time.

While it doesn’t necessarily mean that something would be constructed on these locations, the process for building housing would become much easier if approved.

What is Proposed for the 2nd District? s part of this analysis, County staff have identified some potential locations in the 2nd District for housing.

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