Aptos Times: July 1, 2024

Iconic Rancher Frank Estrada

The community is mourning Frank Laurance Estrada, an iconic rancher in Watsonville who passed away peacefully on June 19, surrounded by his loving family. He was 88. Frank was born Sept. 2, 1935, on the family ranch in the mountains below Mount Madonna Park to Frank and Laura Estrada. He lived a life that little boys dream of. At an early age he learned how to hunt, fish, tend to cattle and other farm animals and how to rope.

Frank started school in a one-room schoolhouse, Hazel Dell School, which was on the ranch and right next to his house.

After three years, his parents realized Frank needed to go elsewhere for school, where he could focus on what was being taught and not on what was going on outside, so he was enrolled at Moreland Notre Dame School in Watsonville. ... continues on page 4

World’s Shortest Parade

Santa Cruz County is a hotbed of people who do good locally and also around the globe. People from Santa Cruz County have helped educate villagers and adopted a child in Ghana, West Africa; built a school in Guatemala; and helped to support students and built wells in El Salvador.

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Table of Contents

Patrice Edwards

Jondi Gumz

publisher

editor

contributing writers

Edita McQuary, Kaitlyn Johnson, Jondi Gumz, Loreal Weitzel, Natalia Rodriguez, Risa D’Angeles, Rebecca Gold Rubin, Christopher Elliott

COVER STORY

“Estrada” from page 1

He would often talk about those days of having nuns as teachers and walking across Main Street to line up to go up the steps into St. Patrick’s Church to his youngest grandson, Zach, who attended the school too. Frank then attended Watsonville High School, graduating in 1955.

Frank served his country for 10 years in the National Guard. He worked for Granite Construction for many years. He was a master plumber as he was able to establish water systems all over the ranch, capturing water coming out of the hills. All of these water systems are still used today to supply water for cattle, wildlife and his home.

Frank married Loretta in 1961 and had two sons, Grant and Greg. Frank taught his boys how to be good stewards of the land and to be respectful hunters and fishermen. Both boys and their families now take care of the family ranch. He loved going with his boys and grandchildren hunting and fishing in California, Nevada and Oregon. His greatest joy was helping them to spot a big buck.

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As a young man, you could often find him volunteering at cattle round-ups and ropings at different ranches. He was involved with the Future Farmers of America. He served for many years on the Fish and Game Commission for Santa Cruz County. He helped form the

District 4 California High School Rodeo Association, serving as a director. He was a director for the Salsipuedes Foothill Firefighters Association and was later elected as fire commissioner for the district. He was president and board member for the Santa Cruz County California Cattlemen’s Association and a board member of the California Cattlemen’s Association. Frank has been involved with the Agriculture History Project since the day it was formed, serving as director and volunteer. He was a member of the Santa Cruz County Fair Heritage Foundation. During fair time, Frank volunteered to be the weigh master for the cattle. He was a member of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, where he was director for over 30 years.

In 1988, he and Loretta received the “Family Farmer” of the year award and in 1994 he was honored again by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau when he was chosen as “Farmer of the Year.” In 2017, he was selected by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

He was one of the original founders of the Humboldt Hunt Club in Kings River, Nevada.

Frank took community involvement to another level. He used to host the wellattended Firemen’s Ball at the family’s Deer Camp that helped support the Salsipuedes Fire District.

He would furnish barbecue wood for all special events held throughout the county. He would share his beautiful home, ranch, and Deer Camp to help raise funds for many community organizations.

Frank, aka Pop, leaves behind his loving wife and partner of 63 years, Loretta; his two sons Grant (Kelly) and Greg (Janet). He also leaves behind a legacy through his grandchildren: Laura (Brian) Peixoto, Logan, Luke, and Zach; his great-grandchildren: Paris, Cash and Grant Peixoto; his brother Richard; sisters-in-law Darlene and Pam (Jerry), brother-in-law Dewayne (Dawn), and many other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Laura Estrada, brother Edward, parents-in-law Clayburn and Helen Roberts, brother-in-law Jim, sister-in-law Lisa and “chosen brother” Arnold Harvey.

The family would like to thank all of his wonderful caregivers Rosa, Ricardo and Daisy from Victorian Home Care and all of the other caregivers who helped him in his later years. We would like to also thank Hospice of Santa Cruz County for all of their care and support and a special thank you to Father Joseph Paradayil (Camp St. Francis) for his love, spiritual support and for his weekly visits.

Mass was celebrated June 26 at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church.

The family is asking that donations in his memory go to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation (Heritage Hall Project), 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville CA, 95076, or to Camp St Francis, 2320 Sumner Ave., Aptos, CA 95003.

His pride and joy was his family and his ranch. We will miss his sarcasm, infectious laugh, his love for a good, barbecued steak and the love he shared with every single one of us in his own special way. He will forever be in our hearts. n

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

Perseverance is a Practice

By Kaitlyn Johnson

Editor’s note: This year, Cabrillo College’s Office of Student Equity launched Cabrillo Talks, modeled after the well-known Ted Talks, to inspire others through the power of storytelling. The inaugural theme was “Empathy, Courage & Resilience,” and student participants got coaching to speak in public and a $500 scholarship. Aptos Times asked student speaker Kaitlyn Johnson to share her story in print. •••

Often we let our difficulties prevent us from reaching our dreams. We lose a part of ourselves because we allow doubt to win. Around one year ago, I was in this exact spot. I almost let my dreams die simply by letting my mindset slip.

I am a martial artist, and I have been for about five years now. In January 2023, I was at the peak of my martial arts career. I had traveled to Chicago and was getting ready to compete in the American Karate Association’s national tournament. Training had taken place over three months where I worked both inside and outside of the studio on my forms to try to perfect my technique. The hard work paid off big time as I advanced to be able to compete to be the grand champion. Standing on the stage, I received my first score of 9.99 from all three judges. I won the grand championship. I felt on top of the world. This was my big break into the competition world, and if I kept working hard I could continue to excel as a competitor.

This excitement did not last long as my hopes were crushed not even five months later when I was diagnosed with a genetic connective tissue disorder, Ehler-Danlos Syndrome.

Ehler-Danlos Syndrome causes the connective tissue in my body to be defective. In return this causes problems across multiple systems of my body. For my whole life I have dealt with joint problems, neurological issues, digestive troubles and more. My doctor told me that I needed to stop martial arts, due to the risks being too high.

While shocking, I had heard this story before. Before I was a martial artist, I was a ballerina. I would do shows twice a year, practice en pointe, and go to summer intensives. But because of my, then-undiagnosed, Ehler-Danlos Syndrome, I was told by doctors that I should not continue ballet.

At the time it was difficult to hear, but I was ready to let ballet go.

For martial arts it was different. I fell in love with martial arts because I found that being a martial artist is how I want to live my life. I was not ready to let it go. Over the summer of 2023, I continued to battle health difficulties due to my disorder, so I went on an official break from training.

“Perseverance” page 10

If we paint your interior and/or exterior by July 31, 2024 we will buy the paint.

The Championship

Kaitlyn Johnson

Greetings, from Papua New Guinea!

By Edita McQuary

Santa Cruz County is a hotbed of people who do good locally and also around the globe. People from Santa Cruz County have helped educate villagers and adopted a child in Ghana, West Africa; built a school in Guatemala; and helped to support students and built wells in El Salvador. Two local pastors have even managed to travel to China and Cuba on mission trips. Recently, the community has supported a young family whose Ethiopian husband was having difficulty getting his U.S. visa to come see his wife and newborn daughter in Santa Cruz.

Some months ago, I heard a very interesting talk by Dr. Sheryl Uyeda at Corralitos Comnunity Church. She has been a practicing medical missionary at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua, New Guinea, since 2017.

A Watsonville native with deep family roots in the area, Dr. Uyeda grew up on a strawberry farm off Lakeview Road, which her father took over after her grandfather died in 1976. While attending the UC San Diego, she majored in biology but explored many different options including research, teaching, veterinary medicine, dentistry and medicine. “After shadowing several professionals and working in a lab, I was praying and fasting and seeking God’s will for my life,” said Dr. Uyeda.

Ultimately, she was led by God toward medicine as “the best combination of my skills and passions, the unmet needs of the world and a way to show God’s love to hurting people,” revealed Dr. Uyeda. At the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, she attended Eastbrook Church, a very mission-focused church pastored by Dr. Marc Erickson, a retired medical missionary. Dr. Erickson and his wife, Nancy, and the

local chapter of Christian Medical and Dental Association were a great influence on her decision to go into medical missionary work.

She attended short-term mission trips to Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic during medical school and residency. In the third year of the five-year residency, Dr. Uyeda felt God’s call into long-term overseas missions. After considering pediatric surgery, she felt God was calling her to the general surgery field.

She applied for the Samaritan’s Purse World Medical Mission Post-residency program, which supports young doctors in their medical mission pursuit. After attending a mission conference and meeting many people who had been to Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea, she sensed that God was calling her there.

“New Guinea” page 8

Dr. Sheryl Uyeda (left) and Dr. Alex in the C-section ward at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua, New Guinea, the only hospital for 450,000 people in the province.

Corralitos Community Church women with packages for newborns going to Kudjip in Papua, New Guinea, where Watsonville natïve Sheryl Uyeda is a medical missionary performing surgery.

Road Woes: Which Roads Need Attention?

Aptos Times has heard from several Aptos residents nominating county roads that need attention by our public works team in light of the grand jury report in June.

Mary Lacerte shared photos taken at 260 Rio Del Mar Boulevard. “Thank you for shining a light on this,” she wrote.

Denise Ward wrote, “Too many horrible roads to choose just one!” but she sent along a photo of Saint Andrews.

Shane Bell wrote, “Sumner Ave hasn’t been paved for 25 years.”

Steve Gregori wrote: “This is the condition of the pavement in the street in the middle of the 400 block of Monterey Drive, specifically in the 446/449 Monterey Drive area. Please consider replacing this street, as it’s become not much more than a dusty, gravel road!”

Rylee Frazier wrote about another concern: “Last year, the county finally came in and replaced many roads in Seacliff neighborhoods, which we are so grateful for, but it seems like a narrow solution. Those roads get a lot of traction from people trying to bypass highway traffic. We were hoping for speed bumps, similar to the ones just put in on Beach Drive. If drivers aren’t stopped from this behavior, we should expect to see the roads deteriorate quickly again.”

Frazier added, “While I don’t have quantitative data, my qualitative observation is that many more new young families are moving into this area, and our kids are at risk of injury. People speed down Mar Vista and Seacliff regularly. Individuals have put up many, many slow down signs, but they are simply ignored. What do we as a community need to do to prioritize speed bumps or something to address these safety issues? We cannot safely walk these streets in that

stretch. Thank you so much for any guidance or info here.”

If you know a road in Aptos that needs repair, email a jpg photo to us with the name to info@cyber-times.com

Make sure the photo is at least 1 MB for good print reproduction. n

To read the grand jury report, see www.santa cruzcountyca.gov/Portals/0/County/GrandJury/ GJ2024_final/2024-1_Roads_Report.pdf

Sumner Avenue

Saint Andrews

World’s Shortest Parade: Aptos

Thursday, July 4 • 10 a.m., Corner Soquel Drive & State Park Drive

Now is the time to sign up to participate in the Fourth of July World’s Shortest Parade! Party-in-the-Park follows, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

in Aptos Village Park with music by James Durbin & the Lost Boys.

To participate, call 831-688-1467. aptoschamber.com/event/worlds-shortest-parade-aptos

“New Guinea” from page 6

“The best things about PNG are the breathtaking natural beauty and the wonderfully hospitable people who inhabit this rugged landscape,” she said. “The hospital is located in the Highlands, about a mile above sea level in a lush, fertile valley surrounded by rain forest-covered mountains. The hardest thing to get used to is the lack of access to care here. Many patients tend to come in very late-stage disease as it can take 1-3 days to cross the rugged mountains from their homes to the hospital. Another difficulty is the limited number of resources and the rampant prevalence of violence, especially against women. It is a tribal society, thus all decisions are made by consensus which is very different from the U.S. and this takes some getting used to.”

New Guinean doctors are trained. “We currently have one general surgery trainee, Dr. Alex, who is in his third year of training,” she said. “It is a joy to be able to train more surgeons here.”

The hospital community includes about 15 expatriate households, mostly American, but also some from Fiji, Philippines, Australia, Canada and at times visitors from other nations. Although there are more than 850 local languages, the lingua franca is Tok Plsin as well as English. In her spare time, Dr. Uyeda loves to knit, crochet and explore other crafts.

She added, “The most common surgery we do as an institution is C-sections for obstructed labor, then general surgery, such as appendectomy, bowel obstruction, infections, cancer, etc. followed by orthopedic trauma. Machetes are a very common tool for working gardens and bush houses but are also prevalent when it comes to injuries from accident or fighting. Kudjip Nazarene Hospital is a 150-bed hospital with services for adults, children, obstetrics, surgery, emergency, outpatient clinic and infectious diseases including TB and HIV programs. It is currently the acting Provincial Hospital and only hospital providing care for the estimated 450,000 population of Jiwaka Province.”

Dr. Uyeda reports this is where Papua

Papua New Guinea is not a wealthy country and is in great need of supplies. The Corralitos Community Church women’s “Bandage Brigade” lead by retired elementary school teacher Esther Jessee has created bandages out of old cotton bedsheets and sent huge quantities of them to the hospital since 2017.

“We collect used/old (torn, stained, printed, but clean) bedsheets cut them into strips, sew the strips together and then roll them into bandage rolls,” Jessee said. “The rolls are then packed in boxes and sent to a receiving warehouse in Medford, Oregon to be shipped in containers to the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital.”

The hospital is always in need of sheets — the hospital often runs low. If you would like to support this project, call Corralitos Community church at 832-722-4363. Your donations of clean, used bedsheets will be greatly appreciated by Dr. Sheryl Uyeda, the medical team, and the patients of Kudjip Nazarene Hospital. n

Dr. Sheryl Uyeda

Aptos High Tennis Courts Open to Public This Summer

In a commitment to health and the Whole Child, Whole Family, Whole Community, Pajaro Valley Unified School District announces a summer pilot program to open some school sites to the public to increase access to green space for families in the community.

When school is not in session, the following sites will be open for the public from dawn to dusk as of June 26:

• Watsonville High Tennis Courts (note: access to the parking lot will not be available but there is sufficient parking around the area)

• Aptos High Tennis Courts (note: gates will be closed; parking available on Mariner Way and walk up to courts)

• MacQuiddy Playground

• Radcliff Playground

To reiterate, there is no access to the public to these spaces when school is in session.

District staff will monitor use of these spaces throughout the summer; if the pilot program is successful, administrators will continue to allow the public access to these sites. n

“Perseverance” from page 5

As I rested from my injuries I looked inward to find out what I wanted to do. Should I quit forever, or should I keep my dream of reaching black belt?

It was here at my darkest times that I

remembered one of the many philosophies that martial arts teaches, perseverance. My coaches, the studio, and the martial arts community all preach about the practice of perseverance. Many people mistakenly think that perseverance is about being 100% perfect about working to reach your goals, but it’s not.

Perseverance is about keeping your goals at the front of your mind so you don’t forget where you are going. A simple practice of perseverance is putting up a goal poster in your room, or starting a small manageable habit that allows you to get closer to your goals.

For me, this was sticking to my physical therapy routine for once. This good practice then led me to create a gym routine. Now a year later, I can proudly say I am beginning to train again due to the strength I have spent time building up.

How did I get through this past year? I let my perseverance guide me. You do not have to let your dreams die, you just have to start somewhere and let your perseverance take the rest. n

Kaitlyn Johnson is a student at Cabrillo College with a passion for photography and martial arts.

See her work at www.mojoyogistudios.com

Homeless in Santa Cruz County: 1,850 in 2024

By Jondi Gumz

Despite millions spent to provide homes for people who were homeless, Santa Cruz County reports the number of homeless people counted in January went up a bit from the prior year.

The count, which includes people living on the street and in cars, found 1,850 homeless people, compared to 1,804 in 2023, a 2.6% increase, but down from 2,299 in 2023.

“Last year’s numbers were the lowest ever recorded in Santa Cruz County, so it was gratifying to see that work validated in this year’s count,” Housing for Health Director Robert Ratner said.

But he did not claim success, noting that the state – experiencing a record $68 billion budget deficit – is expected to reduce funding.

Last year’s Housing for Health budget was $30 million with 21 funded staff. This year’s budget is $19 million with 21 funded staff.

Last year’s Homeless Persons Health Project budget was $7 million, with 35.6 funded staff. This year’s budget is $7.9 million and 36 funded staff.

County spokesman Jason Hoppin noted that homeless individuals also qualify for state benefits such as Cal Fresh food stamps but those expenses are difficult to quantify, as are expenses related to Superior Court, law enforcement, probation, and behavioral health.

What did change was who is homeless: Fewer families, fewer young people ages 18 to 24, and fewer veterans.

The county and its partners prioritized investments in housing to focus on them and these strategies yielded results.

• Families: 76 to 52, down 3%.

• Young people: 334 to 199, down 40%

• Veterans: 159 to 72, down 55%.

• Children under 18: 96, down 5%.

Countering these declines were increases in other larger populations: More people reporting substance abuse, more people with disabilities, more older people 55 and up, and more people reporting severe mental illness.

• People reporting substance abuse: 602, up 32%.

• People with disabilities: 573 to 710.

• People 55 and up: 478, up 7%.

• People reporting severe mental illness: 516, up 5%.

• Victims of domestic violence: 149, up 8%.

County officials said “a lack of similar focused commitments” contributed to the increases.

Some 21 agencies work together to help people who are homeless find a permanent home, often a subsidized rental.

In 2022-23, the partnership reported 1,301 people in 737 households left homelessness for permanent housing.

The Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County, a federal agency, provides rental vouchers to those who are eligible, and last year, 345 were previously homeless.

However, some landlords are reluctant to accept the vouchers even though they ensure the rent is covered, worried tenants will create problems or cause damage.

Substance abuse, mental illness and troubled relationships can make for difficult tenant-landlord relations.

Who is homeless this year? The count found: 64% men, 32% women, 1% transgender.

A year ago, it was 71% men, 28% women.

As for race, the count found 55% white, 40% Hispanic, 5% Black, 3% Asian.

A year ago, it was 81% white, 6% Black, 7% multiple races, with 44% identifying as Latinx/Hispanic.

These are preliminary results, and a full report is expected to be released by the end of July.

The county is used to prioritize federal funding.

That report will serve as a foundation for decision-making and targeted interventions going forward, the county said, as the goal remains “to ensure all County residents have a stable, safe, and healthy place to live.” n

•••

See the 2023 report at https://housingforhealth partnership.org/Portals/29/HAP/Providers/ Data/2023PITFullReport.pdf

FEATURED COLUMNIST

The Importance of Community Involvement at Soquel Creek Water

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

At Soquel Creek Water District, we are grateful for the active involvement of our customers in shaping the future of our water resources. The dedication and enthusiasm of those who have participated in our public Committees and attended our Water Academies play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability and quality of our water services. Their contributions not only enhance our decision-making processes but also strengthen the bond between the District and our community we serve.

Public Advisory Committee:

A Pillar of Community Engagement

The Public Advisory Committee (PAC) is a cornerstone of our commitment to transparency and community involvement. After several years of having three committees: our Public Outreach Committee, Water Resources and Infrastructure Committee, and our Finance Committee, we combined all three into one committee to provide a more integrated, holistic approach.

This committee provides a platform for customers to voice their opinions, share their insights, and collaborate with us on various projects and initiatives. The diverse perspectives brought forth by PAC members help us address the unique needs and concerns of our community, making our policies and strategies more comprehensive and effective. By participating in these discussions, our customers ensure that their voices are heard and their interests are represented. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership and pride in our collective efforts to protect and preserve our precious water resources.

Our current public committee members on the PAC are James Zachos, Joseph Morici, Karen McCarty, Kellie Guerra, Meryl Abramson, Michael Gutierez, and Steven Graff.

For more information visit: www.soquelcreek water.org/200/Standing-Committees Water Rates Advisory Ad-Hoc Committee: Balancing Affordability and Sustainability

Last year, our Ad-Hoc Water Rates Advisory Committee played a vital role in providing input on maintaining a balance between affordability and sustainability in our water services. The committee was represented by two board members with participation from 10 public participants, all of whom are ratepayers.

The next PAC committee is Aug. 13 at 4pm.

Comprising community members with a keen interest in financial and environmental issues, the group reviewed and provided feedback on proposed rate structures and financial plans. The purpose of the Committee was to review water rate structures based on options, priorities, and objectives requested by the Board and to provide ideas,

feedback, and recommendations in areas including social equity, administrative manageability, and outreach.

Customers who served on the Water Rates Committee contributed their time for 10 months and worked with our rate consultant to ensure that our financial decisions were transparent and represented differing viewpoints of the community. Their participation is a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives our District forward, and we are immensely grateful for their commitment to this critical aspect of our operations. Water Academy: Educating and Empowering the Community

Our Water Academy is an educational initiative designed to inform and empower our customers about the complexities of local water management and gain a better understanding that we are a not-for-profit local government special district agency.

“Community” page 27

By Natalia Rodriguez

Warren Knox’s entrepreneurial spirit came early in life. By the time most teens are getting their driver’s license, Knox had a patented invention. It all began when he was 16. He was gardening with his grandfather and noticed him having trouble kneeling and tending to the low garden box.

His grandfather had a homemade garden box built from railroad ties -- “I knew I could make something better for him,” Knox explained.

From this inspiration came Knox garden boxes. They’re redwood elevated garden boxes. Throughout high school, he pursued his idea and 56 years later the boxes have proved true with the same model as the early days.

These boxes solve many problems that those with green thumbs are well aware of.

The garden boxes keep gophers out of your crops, meaning your garden is protected from their constant digging. They’re built from rot-resistant redwood. Redwoods are an abundant resource in the Santa Cruz Mountains area. They have excellent drainage, which ensures the soil is properly aerated and prevents nutrient loss through runoff. These garden boxes have changed what gardening looks like for the better.

They also provide increased accessibility to the garden to those who may have trouble bending over for extended periods or have limited space as these boxes keep all the necessities contained. They can also be great learning resources for youth, with increased visibility to early sprouting plants.

Warren Knox is also known for his 45-year career in roofing, and his store in Scotts Valley.

Knox Roofing was founded in 1994 by Warren after he obtained his roofing license in 1985. The company employs almost 50 individuals, a considerable number to

K nox G arden B ox An Invention That Met a Need

oversee. The company is known for its great quality, and was recognized as Business of the Year in 2018 by the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Why Scotts Valley?

Warren says he was fortunate to find a commercial property close to his home and said this was the ideal location for his business. This was a great region for his trade, given the landscape and the home repairs that come with dense forests.

Knox Roofing provides residential and commercial repairs to the Santa Cruz and Monterey area. The business recently made repairs at the Ano Nuevo research center and re-roofed 8 Santa Cruz fire stations. The company offers skylights, insulation, and an assortment of roofing materials from wood to tile. Listeners of local radio have most likely heard Warren in one of his humorous ads. The company has 162 radio ads and 71 for television — all self-written by the way.

Knox said his business was not affected by the pandemic and sales went up during the time. Roofing is an essential business, he explained. “People need roofs over their heads.”

Thus the federal government allowed them to keep operating. While home-based activities increased in popularity during the pandemic, so did the Knox Garden Box. People were spending more time at home and many sought to clean up their outdoor spaces, leading them to invest in a box.

The Scotts Valley location sells boxes as large as 4’ x 8’ feet and as small as 8” x 24.” Wheels and handles may be added and all boxes can be customized to fit everyone’s gardening needs.

Warren is passionate about his business and is not ready to retire. The passion he felt when helping his grandfather is very much still alive. He explained that there is still high demand

for his products and roofing expertise which keeps him going.

He even wakes up to start his day at 3 a.m.

“I like to work hard,” he said.

Santa Cruz and Monterey County are fortunate to have Warren Knox and Knox Roofing as a local resource. He is a self-made man who has provided incredible support to homes, businesses, and gardens. n

•••

Visit Knox Roofing, 46 El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley. 831-461-0634. www.knoxroofing.com

Warren Knox with a collection of Knox Garden Boxes in Scotts Valley.

It’s All About Wood: find even more at this gift shop owned by Warren Knox.

Awards adorn the office at Knox Roofing. Knox clocks.

New Pajaro Valley Arts Champion: Miriam Anton

By Natalia Rodriguez

In April the Pajaro Valley Arts Board of Directors welcomed Miriam Anton as their new executive director. She possesses impressive experience in marketing and fundraising, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art history, and worked to improve inclusion of underrepresented communities in technology for AnitaB.org.

She has visions of outreach, development for the arts and building upon the history of Pajaro Valley at the historic Porter Building, located in Watsonville at the corner of Maple and Main Streets.

ramping up to our 40th anniversary this fall when our official public launch will kick off. Fundraising plans include hosting community events centered on our building campaign, and those will be announced in the coming months.

In the meantime, we welcome the public to visit the current space. PVA will continue to provide exhibits and events at both our Sudden Street & Porter Street locations until renovations are officially underway.

This building, erected in 1903 and designed by well-known architect William Weeks, withstood floods and even the 1989 earthquake.

Now Pajaro Valley Arts, a nonprofit founded in 1984 and currently based at 37 Sudden St. in Watsonville, expects Anton to lead the way to raise $1.3 million to transform the Porter Building into a hub for the arts.

What are your visions for the Porter Building?

My vision includes building upon the organization’s 40-year history in Watsonville, to help deepen partnerships within the community, grow our membership base, and in the near-term to raise funds to begin renovations.

Our collective goal is to create a safe, inclusive environment to connect, create and celebrate the arts by building a central arts hub for gallery exhibits, live performances, workshops, retail space and art studios. The Porter Building will provide a larger centralized downtown location enabling us to continue to deliver high quality exhibits and culturally relevant programming at greater capacity. It will also help us better serve the community through improved access.

The renovated space will serve as a cultural tourist destination where PVA can continue to showcase the rich and vibrant arts of the region and celebrate Latinx cultures and diverse community voices. The Porter Building will provide a forum for gatherings and cultural celebrations, offering opportunities for artists to collaborate, showcase and sell their work. We will expand civic, educational and arts partnerships, impact adjacent businesses and help bring economic growth and vitality to Main Street.

When might the fundraising begin?

We have already begun raising funds for the building campaign and we are currently

For more on the plans for the Porter Building and ways to contribute visit https://pvarts.org/porter-building/. Our exhibition calendar: https://pvarts.org/ exhibitcalendar/

Can you talk about the Teen Artes exhibit which wraps up June 30 at the Porter Building? What are some must-sees?

PVA’s Teen Artes program is made possible through the support of the California Arts Council. It reflects our mission of bringing the community together through the arts as well as PVA’s focus on uplifting and inspiring youth, and making art more accessible.

It is designed for local high school students from low-income households to learn art skills and art careers from mentors and arts professionals within the community. The Fall/Winter program culminates in a student designed exhibition including paintings, drawings, photography, sculptures and other media created during their session, and the Spring/Summer program culminates with a student-designed and painted mural. In 2023 the summer mural was designed by the students under the direction of artist Jaime Sanchez for the outdoor wall of the Family Center at Ramsay Park. We’ll announce our location for this summer’s mural soon.

Our Teen Artes Pop-Up Exhibition is unique – students not only create the art, but they also curate the show and learn about all aspects of producing an exhibition from budgeting to fundraising and publicly presenting the art at an opening reception. Students this year sought out local teen musicians who performed at the opening. The Teen Artes Pop-Up Exhibition is on view at the Porter Building until June 30. n •••

As a volunteer-led organization, Pajaro Valley Arts is always seeking to expand our volunteer base! Please visit their website to learn how to get involved: www.pvarts.org.

Miriam Anton

PVUSD and Life Lab: The Future

Pajaro Valley Unified School District which had expanded garden education at elementary schools via a partnership with the nonprofit Life Lab under former superintendent Michelle Rodriguez, reports federal funding for that initiative ends in September.

“The partnership with LifeLab was made possible due to one-time COVID-19 relief dollars through ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds, which are ending in September 2024, and other grants that allowed the expansion of the program to almost every elementary school,” according to a statement released by Superintendent Heather Contreras, who started work May 1.

about healthy food preparation. This spring, a coop for chicks was added with the expectation they would become hens laying eggs.

She called the partnership which ends in September “an exciting collaboration to offer garden-based learning to our students, a continuation of the garden and nutrition classes offered by Expanded Learning since 2007.”

She added, “Garden and nutrition classes have been a part of PVUSD’s educational experience for many years; it is exciting to see how the program will continue to grow and evolve to serve our students.”

Starlight Elementary landed a prestigious grant from Chef Emeril Legasse Foundation to put up a professional kitchen next to the garden where students learned

With the Life Lab partnership, the nonprofit provided teachers trained in garden education to work with students such as Noemi Romo and garden support staff such as Eliseo Martinez to build the irrigation, water storage, and other features that make gardening more productive. n

Life Lab, based in Santa Cruz, also has partnerships with Santa Cruz City Schools, Live Oak School District, and Mt. Diablo Unified School District, and is home to the Santa Cruz County Garden Educators Network, including YouTube videos. Maria Mazzenga Avellaneda is listed as interim executive director, and the website lists three dozen staff, 21 working at PVUSD schools.

Bay Fed Adds Commercial Real Estate Loans

On April 30, Bay Federal Credit Union announced the availability of commercial real estate loans up to $5 million for local companies and commercial property owners in California — with no prepayment penalties.

“Our local team is familiar with the challenges local businesses face and we created the new offering with our small businesses and commercial property owners in mind,” President and CEO Carrie Birkhofer said.

properties, farm or agricultural land, or multifamily properties with five or more units.

These loans are available to qualifying members and businesses purchasing or refinancing retail or office space, industrial-use

“Offering commercial real estate loans with no pre-payment penalties will help businesses and commercial property owners have greater flexibility to reinvest in their properties on their terms,” noted Bay Federal’s Business Relationship Manager Jeff Heitmann. “This can save our members thousands of dollars on their commercial real estate loan.” n

For information, see bayfed.com or email jheitmann@bayfed.com.

Dedicated to Natasha’s Run For Justice

By Loreal Weitzel

Did you know Santa Cruz County is a hotspot for sex trafficking?

That’s why the Arukah Project started “Natasha’s Run for Justice,” an event to raise money to help trafficking victims who have escaped or been rescued.

On June 15, dozens of people gathered for the third annual Natasha’s Run for Justice at Skypark in Scotts Valley. This featured a 5k walk/run , followed by a family fun day with balloon twisting, a bounce house, face painting, a beer and wine garden, food trucks, and the Alison Sharino Band.

This annual fundraising event is dedicated to a local survivor who fought for 15 years for her voice to be heard, for people to believe her, and to see her trafficker brought to justice.

Due to her unwavering determination, her trafficker was sentenced to 174 years in prison, preventing him from ever terrorizing another victim again.

According to Arukah Project, every week there are up to 200 sex ads in Santa Cruz County. Social media is the main tool in luring young people.

“There’s kids thinking they’re talking to other kids, but they’re not. They’re going to meet up with a trafficker and they don’t know that,” Natasha added.

To help protect kids and teens from online predators and to teach parents about the realities of internet dangers, Arukah Project has created Defenders training for families and teens.

Arukah Project, a Santa Cruz-based

501C-3 nonprofit, works to restore, renew, and rebuild the lives of sex trafficking survivors in Santa Cruz County and the Bay Area through after-care resources.

The founders are passionate about building a community where victims of all ages can come forward and get the help they need.

Not only do they work with adult survivors, they also have been licensed by the State of California as a Foster Family Agency to work with and care for commercially sexually exploited children ages 0-17 and non-minor dependents ages 18-21.

This event and all of our donors enable us to never say no to helping someone, so we are thankful for all who came out to support our work and to celebrate Natasha’s victory as well as her dedication to helping victims.

“It was an amazing day of community support for survivors. Everyone who participated allowed for us to never have to tell a survivor that we can’t help them” said Natasha, the deputy executive director of Arukah Project and the honoree for the event.

You can join the fight against human trafficking by signing up for our monthly newsletter to find out more about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to get involved. By joining our family of monthly donors, you help us continue to provide life-saving work every day. Please find out more at www.ap501.com. n

•••

Loreal Weitzel is executive director and cofounder of Arukah Project.

Loreal Weitzel and Natasha with a group of students from Twin Lakes Church’s “Lovin Life” Ministry “Life School,” plus high school students who came to volunteer at Natasha’s Run for Justice.

New County Education Board Member

Rachel

Williams

Aptos, Corralitos and La Selva Beach residents have a new representative on the Santa Cruz County Board of Education: Rachel Williams.

She is assistant to the CEO of FarmLink and previously was operations manager for 11 years at Driscoll’s.

She is a member of Online Certified Marketing Professionals and she has participated in Leadership Santa Cruz County.

She was unanimously chosen to be Area 5 trustee, succeeding Alyssa Alto, who works in talent acquisition and moved out of the county. n

Grand Champion Meats

Freedom Meat Lockers, family-owned since 1969, at 160 Hi Grade Lane, Freedom, won more than a dozen awards at the 2024 California Association of Meat Processors convention, which attracted 266 entries in 19 classes for the Cured Meat Championships.

Freedom Meat Lockers won Grand Champion for Boneless Ham, Hickory Jerky,

Breakfast Links, and Croatian Kielbasa. Other awards included Reserve Grand Champion for Deli Turkey Breast, Hickory Bacon, and Fresh Mozzarella Basil Sausage.

The butcher shop is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the deli is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Call 831-724-4355 or see www.freedom meatlockers.com

Dominican Hospital a Healthcare Equality Leader

Dignity Health announces that Dominican Hospital has been recognized in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2024 Healthcare Equality Index.

“This national recognition from the Human Rights Campaign is a testament to the dedication of our compassionate care teams across the state of California, who are committed to making sure that our LGBTQ+ patients feel welcome, heard, and safe in our care sites every day,” said Julie Sprengel, president, California Region. “I could not be more proud of our teams for being designated HEI leaders and top performers, serving as proof that we are here to make a difference for our diverse communities.” The HEI is a survey of healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.

“We are honored to be recognized for our efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system,” said Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz, president & CEO, Dominican Hospital. “This recognition is a reminder that

we must continue to work towards a world where everyone has access to the quality healthcare they deserve.”

A record 1,065 healthcare facilities participated in the HEI 2024 survey and scoring, and 384 received the top score of 100, earning the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation.

Each hospital underwent a comprehensive review, including expanded training for staff and clinicians, updated patient forms and processes to better capture preferred pronouns and solicit feedback from LGBTQ+ patients, and clarified wording in employee benefits to be explicitly inclusive of LGBTQ+ employees.

•••

For info, visit https://www.dignityhealth. org/lgbtqcare

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Grand Jury Wants Citizen Review of Child Protective Services

Determining the Best Interest of a Child is Difficult

The 2023-2024 Santa Cruz Civil Grand Jury investigated the Child Protective Services agency since there was a perception by some Resource Families (foster families) that CPS in Santa Cruz County was reunifying children with their Birth Families at all costs. The investigation concluded that based on metrics it could not find any evidence to uphold this perception.

This report suggests improvements in three areas:

1) Publish outcome-based metrics on the website to improve transparency. This will allay concerns of ideological bias in the decision-making process by Child Protective Services.

2) Update and publish the complaint process — who gets involved at what stage and the metrics associated with it. For example, number of complaints, time to resolve them and number of complaints that get escalated to different levels.

3) Record Child Family Team meetings. This will be valuable when there is a dispute between the social worker’s notes and the accounts of any other members who are involved in these meetings.

or negligent failure of the child’s parent or guardian to adequately supervise or protect the child from the conduct of the custodian with whom the child has been left, the willful or negligent failure of the parent or guardian to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment, the inability of the parent or guardian to provide regular care for the child due to the parent’s or guardian’s mental illness, developmental disability, or substance abuse.

CPS is allowed to remove children from any home suspected of child endangerment. This wide-ranging authority allows staff to remove children from homes, levy allegations and refer cases for possible criminal prosecution.

As of Dec. 31, 2023, the CPS was overseeing 173 children — 47 of them were resident with their Birth Parents and 126 were with Resource Families.

Scope and Methodology

The Civil Grand Jury started this investigation for two reasons:

1) The Civil Grand Jury had received complaints from Resource Families over the past year that Santa Cruz County Child Protective Services were “reunifying” the child with Birth Parents at “all costs.” In some cases, the reunification was claimed to cause harm to children with behavioral issues.

2) CPS operations have not been reviewed by the Grand Jury since 2002-03.

CPS provides protective services and support to abused and neglected children and their families in Santa Cruz County. Services include emergency response, in-home family preservation services, family reunification services, and foster care. CPS also issues licenses for Resource Homes (formerly called foster homes) and family day care homes. In addition, the Division operates programs to prevent child abuse and domestic violence and to provide adoptions.

Services are mandated by state statute, which defines its purview as a child who has suffered, or there is a substantial risk the child will suffer, serious physical harm or illness as a result of: The failure or inability of the child’s parent or guardian to adequately supervise or protect the child, the willful

The scope of this investigation is to probe into the CPS process and check if there is any validity to the complaints submitted to the Grand Jury by the Resource Families (formerly known as foster families). Is there a systemic problem within the agency? Due to privacy laws, it was not possible to investigate individual cases. Therefore, the Grand Jury decided to look at the data to see if it indicates any patterns that could reflect the validity of the complaints.

The sources of information include:

● Interviews with CPS personnel and the public.

● Relevant articles, published reports, newspaper articles, and documents found online regarding Child Protective Services.

● The Grand Jury report of 2002-2003. Investigation

The Grand Jury heard reports of unsupervised custody handoffs in dark parking lots with no CPS personnel in attendance. There was also a complaint of the child being returned to the Birth Parents from a Resource Family who had not achieved the level of stability required for reunification.

The Grand Jury noticed a common theme with many of the complaints. They include: 1) Failure to Apply Bypass Criteria: Cases consistently show decisions prioritizing reunification over children’s well-being, with social workers failing to consider established criteria meant to protect children at risk.

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2) Visitation Conflicts: Frequent disputes arise around visitation schedules, particularly when children express fear or resistance.

3) Trauma from Disruption: Abrupt removals from stable foster placements create significant emotional distress for children. Hand-offs are not always warm, and lack of compassion was a constant theme.

4) Potential Risk of Reunification: Concerns are raised about reuniting children with potentially harmful Birth Parents who haven’t addressed the issues that led to their removal.

5) Social Worker Conduct: Complaints of insensitive treatment, intimidation, and potentially falsified records highlight possible misconduct by social workers.

Accessing CPS Data

The whole CPS process is protected by privacy laws and therefore no one from the outside (except the CPS staff and the court system) have access to the proceedings or documents. Therefore, the Grand Jury cannot investigate individual complaints. The Grand Jury could only look at the longterm trend using data collected over the past 10 years.

After listening to and reading the complaints, the Grand Jury decided to interview CPS staff to understand if there is data available that can show any pattern pointing to a systemic bias. It was not easy to find the relevant staff in CPS to talk to about the CPS process since there is no organizational chart on the website. One interviewee acknowledged the shortcoming of not listing the organization chart on the website and promised it will be corrected soon.

Origins of Perceptions of Bias

In public welfare systems such as CPS, generally the children who are removed from the Birth Families tend to come from a lower socioeconomic class. The Resource Families tend to come from a higher socioeconomic background.

In the past, the CPS system was thought to be biased toward the Resource Families. Yet the current law tends to lean toward equity which leads to some staff feeling that they should “over calibrate” toward the Birth Families.

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The staff strongly agrees that family reunification is of the highest priority unless there is a danger to the child. This inherently creates a conflict since during the reunification process, the Resource Families feel their voices are not heard.

The Jury learned that what’s in the best interest of a child is extremely hard to determine and can be subject to some intense debates.

Is the system trying to over-correct this past problem? This can also lead to a perception problem for all concerned parties.

Lack of Data Transparency

While the CPS website provides information about services, there is no data regarding outcome of services. Also, the public cannot get insight into the volume of services.

The specific statistic the Grand Jury looked at was “how many children and teens exiting” the CPS system. The California Welfare Indicators Project maintained by University of California holds data related to reunification.

In contrast, none of the relevant data was available from Santa Cruz County’s public website dedicated to CPS.

Between 2012 and 2023, the percentage of children and teens reunited with their Birth Families varied from 33% in 2013 to 43% in 2023 and peaked at 54% in 2016.

The percentage graph or the actual number graph did not show any particular trend toward reunification or a bias against it.

(The percentage of children adopted topped 40% in 2012 and was 20% in 2022.)

Bypass Decisions Seem Arbitrary

Resource Families believed the “bypass” criteria were not being applied in the County in some instances. The goal of CPS is to reunite with Birth Families as long as there is no danger to the child. Toward that goal, the CPS provides various programs for Birth Families to become eligible for reuniting with the child.

The “bypass” refers to a situation where reunification services are not offered to parents after their child has been removed from their care.

“Review CPS” page 22

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This means CPS won’t work toward reuniting the child with the birth parents and will instead focus on finding a permanent placement for the child, such as adoption or guardianship.

Some examples where the “bypass” is applied are:

● Chronic use of alcohol or drugs

● Parent incarcerated or violent felony

● Severe physical abuse of child under 5

● Physical / sexual abuse again

● Prior termination of reunification services

The complainants felt that in some cases the “bypass” criteria should have been applied. In their opinion, if the “bypass” criteria were applied then the child would have never been a candidate for reunification and therefore would have avoided the emotional trauma for the child and the Resource Families.

Due to confidentiality restraints, the Grand Jury was unable to investigate individual cases to review how criteria were applied.

However, for the past two years, 13 cases were found to be eligible for bypass in Santa Cruz County. CPS applied the bypass criteria in seven cases. Those children became eligible for permanent placement.

Lack of Follow Up Data

At present, follow up by CPS happens only up to 18 months after the child is reunited with the Birth Family. This may not

be enough time to determine the effects of reunification.

In an interview with a complainant, the Grand Jury was told that five years after reunification, a child they had fostered was experiencing behavioral problems at school and was suffering from depression.

Complaint Process Transparency There is no documentation of the complaint process in Santa Cruz County, either on the website or available through CPS personnel interviews.

Currently complaints are lodged with the social worker. Supervisors are not advised of complaints unless the social worker brings the issue to the supervisor. Furthermore, there is no data available on the number of complaints received year by year and their resolution status.

The 2002-2003 Grand Jury report titled “Family and Children’s Services,” recommended the County Board of Supervisors create a Citizen Review Board as recommended by the Little Hoover Commission.

This Board should review child welfare services and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors, local agencies and others regarding improvements. Membership should include representatives from education, foster care youth, health care, civic and business.

The Citizen Review Board should hire a Child Welfare Inspector General with the authority to recommend improvements. Responsibilities should include enforcement of rules for CPS, reform of the foster care program, and building a volunteer support network. The Citizen Review Board can look into these unresolved complaints to identify any systemic issues. This will also eliminate any appearance of the conflict of interest in the eyes of the complainants.

Team Meetings

Throughout the reunification process, multiple meetings, generally referred to as Child Family Team meetings, take place. The team includes everyone who has an interest in the child: CPS staff, birth parents, resources parents, social workers, doctors, psychiatrists, teachers, and possibly more. Notes about the meeting are produced by a social worker after conclusion of the meeting. The notes are available to all the participants.

The Grand Jury found some Resource Families felt social workers’ notes did not accurately reflect what happened during the meetings. Due to the nature of these meetings, they are not recorded. Therefore, there is no way to resolve these differences in perception to the satisfaction of all parties.

Conclusion

Due to confidentiality restraints, the Grand Jury was unable to investigate individual cases to review how criteria were applied.

F4) There is no formal complaint process. You can lodge a complaint only with your social worker. When the complainant is not happy with the resolution, complaints are lodged with the Grand Jury. This is ineffective and results in a lack of accountability or follow up on the complaint.

F5) Child Family Team members often dispute the accuracy of “official” meeting notes taken by the attending CPS Social Workers, leading to lack of trust between team members.

F6) The lack of data makes it difficult to determine whether bias is present either to Resource Families or Birth Families to the detriment of the child.

Recommendations

R1) The Grand Jury recommends that CPS publish an organizational chart by October 31, 2024.

This investigation was undertaken as a result of complaints received by the Grand Jury. Complainants believed CPS policies regarding child safety were not being followed. The investigation was hampered by data that was largely insufficient or unobtainable. This results in Resource Families’ perception that child safety is not being prioritized.

The Grand Jury was not able to substantiate this claim based on the available data.

The Grand Jury remains concerned that this perception will persist unless there is more transparency of both data and operations. This perception may prevent a sufficient number of Resource Families from signing up to provide this valuable service which is critical for the protection of neglected and abused children in our community.

Findings

F1) It is hard to contact the relevant people in CPS to get information since there is no organizational chart published on the website. People don’t know who they can contact for specific issues.

F2) The lack of readily available CPS data metrics accessible on the Santa Cruz County website can lead to perceptions based on individual experiences. Perception becomes reality if data is not provided which can lead to public distrust of the system.

F3) Lots of data is available on the California Welfare Indicators Project maintained by University of California for the whole state of California for each county. It is hard to sift through and find relevant data for Santa Cruz County.

R2)The Grand Jury recommends that CPS publish outcome-based metrics, such as number of children moved to Resource Families, number of Resource Families available in the County, number of successful and failed reunifications, and identify success metrics for children under care, on an annual basis on their website to improve transparency by Dec. 31, 2024.

R3) The Grand Jury recommends that CPS create and publish the complaint process. This published process should include a supervisor not vested in the outcome who can review the complaints. This process and the accompanying metrics like number of complaints and resolution times should be made available to the public by Dec. 31, 2024.

R4)The Grand Jury recommends that the County Board of Supervisors establish a Child Welfare Oversight board and an Inspector General similar to what the 2002-2003 Grand Jury recommended. This could help resolve bias, impropriety and undue influence complaints and will help provide transparency and increase trust in the CPS process. The Grand Jury recommends that the planning for this should start by Dec. 31, 2024, with the board fully implemented six months after the planning is finished.

R5) The Grand Jury recommends that the CPS department begin to record the Child Family Team meetings by the end of Dec. 31, 2024. n

Two Victories for Local Schools

By Natalia Rodriguez

Our experience at Worlds was anything but smooth,” said Soquel High senior Matthew Hofmann.

The last weekend of June, he traveled with the XAcademy to compete in the 2024 MATE ROV World Championships in Kingsport, Tennessee.

The World Championships gathered teams from Hong Kong to Arizona, challenging students to apply science technology engineering and math skills to seek solutions for real-world problems. MATE ROV stands for Marine Advanced Technology Education and Remotely Operated Vehicle. The competition hosted 78 teams, with 38 challenging the local XAcademy in the Ranger class.

The XAcademy Hephaestus team left the competition with a 3rd place triumph. The victory was well deserved, the students spent countless hours researching and problem-solving.

They are not the only local school making worldwide headlines, the Cabrillo College Seahawk team, competing in the Explorer class, was awarded 1st place.

This was Matthew’s first year with the XAcademy. He joined for the experience and

the practice working with a group in his free time.

He was part of the float team, which was filled with other first-year students,

compared to the ROV team, which had more returning students.

“ROV Team” page 27

Back row (from left): Barbara Meister, Tim Sylvester, Uriel Marinez-Uribe, Cole Williams, Amber Williams, Sophia Casaletto, Daniel Fernandez, Orlando Cazales Mendoza, Bennet Menzer, Tim Madsen. Front row (from left): J.D. Hillard, Matt Hofmann, Nate Hofmann, Blaise Benoit-Corey, Max Chen, Kai Herbst, Ben Hillard. Front: Scot Herbst.

In The Heights

July

11 – August 4 at Cabrillo Stage

By Mindy Pedlar

In The Heights, the Broadway smash musical, opens July 11, and it’s time to meet some of the cast.

New to Cabrillo Stage is Trevor Miller, who plays Benny. Trevor credits the internet and long nights of research for being cast in this show that he feels passionate about. His character, Benny, is a generous, hardworking man with dreams and goals. He works in the dispatch with his boss who happens to be the father of the girl of his dreams, Nina. Trevor notes that “there are a ton of similarities between Benny and me. I relate to what he says and his actions throughout the show. Through all his challenges, Benny remains resilient and trusts his instincts. That is something I can admire and learn from.”

Trevor knew he wanted to be an actor when he and his sister were watching the Disney Channel’s High School Musical. He shares that “in 2006, you didn’t see many male black actors on TV, especially not singing and dancing. Watching Corbin Bleu play Chad Danforth was truly a lifechanging experience. He made theatre and acting look and sound so cool. As a kid, I played sports. The movie made me realize I could like both theatre and sports. Soon after, I was in a production of Alice in Wonderland. My sister played the White Rabbit. I played a doorknob and I haven’t stopped doing theatre since.”

To Trevor, “the most enjoyable aspect of this role is working with my fellow actors. The cast is so talented and as a collective we genuinely make magic on the stage. The creative team has taught and guided us with expertise, passion and love. My wonderful stage partner, Sofia Rosas, makes everything easy. She is such a great and trusting actor.

Hearing her sing Breathe is something I look forward to every night.”

Sofia Rosas plays Nina Rosario, a character she describes as sweet, hard-working and selfless. She’s an achiever who is a shining light of hope in the neighborhood. Sofia says, “My favorite thing to do as a performer is to connect and to make the audience feel, whether it’s something emotional, or joyful.”

For Sofia, working with the cast, crew and directing team has been a pleasure. She describes everyone involved in this production as “wonderful individuals who are supportive, vibrant, lively, driven and loving.”

Sofia and Trevor know the audience will find the show joyous and entertaining, and hope they will leave with a new appreciation for Latino culture to carry on the beautiful legacy that In The Heights holds.

Trevor’s dream would be for someone sitting in the audience to have an experience like he had in his youth.

He says, “If they see themselves in me or anyone else on stage, then perhaps they will fall in love with theatre just as I did.” n •••

Tickets range from $25 - $60. Online ticket sales at cabrillostage.com. Box Office open for phone and walk-up sales Thursdays - Saturdays 12pm - 6pm and 1 hour prior to each performance 831-479-6154. Performances: July 11 – Aug. 4, Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, with a special matinee performance Saturday, Aug. 3.

Post-show discussion with the creative team on Sunday July 14 following the performance. Cabrillo Stage performs in the Crocker Theatre on the Cabrillo College campus, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos.

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Trevor Miller as Benny and Sofia Rosas as Nina rehearsing a duet for In the Heights.

Building a Lighted House for Humanity

Esoteric Astrology

The United States celebrates its 248th birthday on Thursday, July 4, 2024. On July 4, 1776, the United States of America proclaimed its independence from England by creating and signing the Declaration of Independence.

There is a deep esoteric significance to the founding of the United States. Created by the Hierarchy (inner spiritual government), the United States is an experiment in freedom for humanity.

Externally, the U.S. was formed in order to liberate itself from England (freedom from the old ways). Spiritually, the United States of America was created in order to “do a Great Work. ” That of “Standing within the Light & leading humanity within and towards that Light.”

By Risa D’Angeles

personify, bring forth the light & to shine brightly for the world.

The United States was formed under the sign and Light of Cancer. The keynote on the Soul level of Cancer is “I, the Soul, build a lighted house & dwell therein.” The U.S. is the “lighted house for humanity, and its task is to be the Light of the World.”

In these polarized and tumultuous times (in between the ages, preparing for the Reappearance of the World Teacher), enlightened servers (disciples) are being called to be the Light that nurtures and nourishes. Disciples (the New Group of World Servers) each evening stand together and hold up a lamp for humanity ... so the “way” is not so dark for humanity.

Addressing Fireworks in our Neighborhoods and Beaches

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

WEvery country, nation, state, person, kingdom is “called to do a specific spiritual Work in the world.” It is their spiritual task. The spiritual task of the United States is to be a ”Light Unto & for the World.” The people of the United States are to

ARIES

You begin to have a new sense of self identity, a new belief in yourself, new ways in relationship to others and new ways of cooperatively working in the world. Careful with communication, tend to health, create a time for regular exercise, review supplements and vitamins. Sometimes fiery signs cannot maintain a consistent health regimen. However, it’s vital to your daily tasks, upcoming demands and essential to longevity.

TAURUS

In many ways you’re becoming more and more sensitive. You’re developing Pisces’ compassionate characteristics. Sometimes it’s difficult to perceive earth realities, difficult to walk a straight line and keep balance. Sometimes you stumble and only the very present moment is real. Even with all these physical obstructions presented by Chiron, you will still “save the world”. Your protector is the elephant god Ganesh, remover of obstacles.

GEMINI

The message each week seems the same – the community and groups you participate in, the duality you present, all of these carry the love and wisdom from the blue star, Sirius. Soon you must begin to discriminate and discern which groups stand with the Forces of Light and who the people of Goodwill are. It is toward these groups you will be magnetized. They call to you daily, each morning and evening. Remember, always that disciples are known by their kindness.

CANCER

So many things are culminating. Long held hopes and wishes bring forth new opportunities, aid and assistance. As you study and learn new information, especially about health, healing, gardening and foods, you’re able to teach others ways to safeguard and sustain themselves. In return a deep love is exchanged, given and received. New realities appear, new goals, hopes, wishes and dreams and a sense that you need subtle healing modalities to thrive.

To be of service to humanity, disciples recite this invocative mantra each day with the words, ”We know O Lords of Life and Love about the needs of humanity. Touch our hearts with love so we can know and do our part in the world.”

And we remember, at all times, the true Disciples are always known for their goodwill and kindness. n

LEO

In the next year, as horizons expand, you will cultivate new friends, enter into new groups and encounter new endeavors. You may wonder about unfamiliar places, seeking different cultures, people and places that change your life. You’re prepared for a new reality, new archetypes. See the next year as a philosophical adventure. A companion? I don’t know. You still have relationship wounds hidden away. Warm waters help.

VIRGO

You’re working hard bringing forth all your hidden values out into the open. In the next months, notice if those values change. Be aware of this. You like to be practical and ambitious. What for? Is it money, resources or being seen, known, recognized, praised and understood? This is a complex question. Be aware of impatience and impulsiveness. Use resources with deep respect and wisdom. Remember gratitude.

LIBRA

Unusual events occur in the next months (till November). Money increases, then comes and goes, creating a deep awareness of resources. Sometimes we don’t know how to use money. Sometimes we give everything away. Talk with your partner, intimate, your I & Thou “other”. Share goals, dreams, wishes, hopes, fears and the handling of money. Come from the heart, always. You are fierce and independent. Slow down.

SCORPIO

In all things, but especially food, diet, health and exercise there must be a plan and then consistency. This may be a challenge. Uranus is creating unevenness everywhere. Anything in excess over time creates a health situation. Attempt to observe this. Ask if your daily work serves you while also helping and serving others. In the months to come, the work you do and your perceptions about work change. Service is to be your middle name.

SAGITTARIUS

You will have days of change, a shifting about, and deep transformation amidst days of peace, harmony, ease and revelations. These will create a tension that creates attention to the creation of all things new. You will express yourself differently. When in charge (a steward), you will enhance and improve everything and everyone. Simultaneously, you need a new sense of fun, pleasure, and perhaps even a new someone to “relate” to. A group calls.

CAPRICORN

At times being the parent or head of household will feel so vast you’ll want to run away from home. Running is good (for exercise or running a race), but always you come home again. Everyone needs you. Oh, dear, if you hear the words “needs you” one more time, you’ll expire! You’re restless for new realities at home, needing more psychological, physical and emotional support. You need a new yet ancient foundation to belief in. Where’s your mommy?

AQUARIUS

Do you need to make an important decision? Are you learning new information, seeking it out, or is it finding you? Over time the lessons learned now will slowly be comprehended and useful. Be in contact with brothers and sisters, relatives and family. Everyone’s changing. You are, too. Share with them, ask about their lives. You need to encounter everything new. Each week I repeat — careful with money and resources. Careful. Write your biography.

PISCES

You’re in deep waters, on the edge of new archetypes, waiting for new realities, seeking new values, learning how to ask for, gather, receive and use resources. You pray for Right Stewardship and Right Timing. You want to begin something big, creating a safe haven. Observe all living systems; realize “the most diversity exists at the edges. It is here that change happens naturally.” Remain in the heart yet also always at its edge.

ith summer officially starting the number of complaints for fireworks (and other explosives) begin to increase. Last year, we fielded a number of complaints not just about fireworks but about the noise and level of explosive that were set off. While this issue isn’t unique to our area it has a lot of impacts on our neighborhoods and local beaches.

The largest number of complaints come around July 4th (although fireworks occur throughout the summer) with the majority of calls from the coastal areas of our district including Rio Del Mar, Seacliff and La Selva Beach. We have also begun to receive some complaints in more rural areas including the Santa Cruz Mountains and outside of Corralitos. The exact location of the discharge is often difficult to pinpoint, as the sound reverberates throughout the affected area, but there are some known hotspot locations on state beaches and some county beaches in the unincorporated area.

Different state and local agencies oversee the response to fireworks at beaches and other locations in the county. For example, the Sheriff’s Office and State Parks have tried different enforcement approaches while the County in general has done a significant educational (including paid advertising outreach) to address the issue. Some of this enforcement, specifically along the coast, has caused concerns about increased fireworks activity in the more rural areas. Others have believed that when the enforcement is most directed there is a decline in activity along the coast. Some have contacted my office to express concern about using law enforcement resources for fireworks in general (believing this is a low priority issue or that it shouldn’t be enforced at all because people enjoy seeing the illegal shows).

The County’s position has been that fireworks, even safe and sane fireworks, are illegal in the unincorporated area and there should be enforcement on this issue. Realistically, there are significant barriers to effective enforcement: the difficulty in pinpointing the exact location of the discharge, the delay between the report and arrival of law enforcement (as people that are discharging them often leave the scene), call prioritization (if there are other active calls that officers are on then the won’t be able to respond immediately) and even the accessibility of fireworks sold through other neighboring communities. But the County is still committed to helping to reduce the issue.

Zach Friend

“Community” from page 13

Through a series of meetings and a facilities’ behind-the-scenes tour, we cover topics such as water treatment and distribution, investments in infrastructure, water challenges, finances, monitoring and testing, community programs, and more.

Now in our seventh cohort, graduates of the Water Academy often become ambassadors for water stewardship within the community. Armed with knowledge and a passion for sustainable water use, they inspire others to learn more about our initiatives. Their passion and outreach efforts help to amplify our message and help build a culture of water awareness and responsibility.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Toall our customers who participate in our standing Public Advisory Committee, Ad-Hoc Water Rates Committee, and Water

“ROV Team” from page 24

Upon their arrival, students were greeted with 90+ degree heat and a tight workspace. Luckily the hotel had a pool — for the teams to practice in.

Matthew recalls the night before they presented to the judges, several changes to the script had been made and the students could only practice the final version twice before the presentation. Luckily the presentation ran smoothly.

The float team’s objective was to construct a float (from scratch) that would sink to the bottom of the pool twice (aka a profile), return to the surface, and then send the data to a topside that displays depth, pressure, and temperature. The water pressure colliding with the hardware made a successful profile complicated, the difficulty was gathering the data, which was only sent when the float reached the surface. Maintaining a float was crucial, as the name implies.

“The float team was forced to discover and quickly solve any problems we had,” Matthew explained.

Academy, we extend our heartfelt thanks. Your dedication and involvement are vital to our mission of providing safe, reliable, and sustainable water services. Your contributions make a significant difference in our ability to serve the community effectively and responsibly.

At Soquel Creek Water District, we believe that an engaged and informed community is our greatest asset. Together, we can navigate the challenges of today and build a resilient and sustainable future for generations to come. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey and for your unwavering commitment to our shared vision. n •••

For more information on how you can get involved, please visit our website at www. soquelcreekwater.org or contact us directly at outreach@soquelcreekwater.org. Your participation and support are always welcome and greatly appreciated!

During the first demo, the team had a successful ROV; however, the float failed.

The float requirements are updated every year and additional challenges had to be faced. This year, the float had a new buoyance system. When pumping the water to maintain a float, a vacuum was created. The vacuum was a software bypass leading the draining time to be too short.

Fortunately, a second demonstration was coming. The float team changed the drainage timing, the problem was solved and they secured full points.

Matthew intends to continue with robotics.

“The best feeling is when something you put a lot of work into finally works<” he said.

“I put in over a hundred hours and to see it work filled me with so much joy.”

Thanks to XAcademy, students have an opportunity for hands-on education. These young minds will be the future of robotics. n

To view a video of the team’s engineering presentation: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=32fOUJm-Xc4

After the float failed in the first trial, Nate Hofmann (left) and Orlando Cazales Mendoza returned to the hotel pool to re-write the code. The float worked flawlessly on the second try, yielding a perfect score.

Daniel Fernandez and Ben Hilliard (right), both recent Santa Cruz High graduates, explain their ROV design to a competition judge.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

APTOS HIGH 50TH REUNION

Aptos High School’s 50th year reunion will be Sept. 28 at the Corralitos Community Center.

Graduates from 1974, 1974 and 1975 are invited. Bill Bunner of Aptos is the organizer.

Classmates are connecting on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/groups/AHS73.74Reunion/

CLASS OF 1969 REUNION

Watsonville High School and Mora High School Class of 1969 will co-host a 55-year reunion at 6 p.m. Sept. 21 at Seascape Golf Club , 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos. Organizer is Leticia Ragsac. The price is $75 per person. For information, call 831-809-5929.

SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE

This summer, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, a nationally recognized professional repertory theater, will offer Shakespeare’s As You Like It & Hamlet, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest and Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie.

Productions will take place July 13 – Sept. 28 under the trees and stars in the Audrey Stanley Grove (The Grove) at Santa Cruz’s DeLaveaga Park.

As You Like It directed by Carey Perloff opens at 8 p.m. July 18. Charlotte Munson plays Rosalind and Elliot Sagay plays Orlando.

“As You Like It is a play about learning how to fall in love,” Perloff says.

The Importance of Being Earnest directed by Paul Mullins opens at 8 p.m. July 19. Will Block plays Algernon and Grayson DeJesus plays Jack. Allie Pratt plays Cecily and Brianna Miller plays Gwendolen. Local favorite Mike Ryan plays Dr. Chasuble.

Mullins says of Wilde, “Arguably, he is the wittiest and funniest author in the English language. But his work is also rife with powerful observations of human frailty, hypocrisy, and desire.”

Hamlet, directed by Susan Dalian opens at 8 p.m. Aug. 2, with Charles Pasternak as the title character and Allie Pratt as Ophelia, his would-be wife.

Dalian says, “I realized the only questions worth asking were, ‘What story do I see in this play?’ and ‘What would be both truthful to Shakespeare’s words and entertaining for the faithful SCS audience?’”

The Glass Menagerie directed by Charles Pasternak opens at 8 p.m. Sept. 13, with Pasternak also taking the role of the gentleman caller Jim.

Marion Adler plays Amanda, Allie Pratt is her daughter Laura, and Will Block as her son Tom. Ticket prices range from $20 to $70 at www.santacruzshakespeare.org.

SENIOR FALLS PREVENTION PROGRAM

Fall prevention is critical in maintaining independence and activity in older adults. A Matter of Balance Program is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels for Medi- Cal members and low-income individuals.

The program will focus on strategies to manage falls, setting activity goals, and making changes to reduce the risk of falling at home.

This event is created by The Volunteer Center’s Empowered Aging Division which recently received a grant from the Central California Alliance for Health to offer classes at no cost, with bilingual options, and in locations where low-cost services for seniors are currently unavailable

Upon completion of the program, participants will have access to additional services, such as free grab bar installation.

There are two locations for A Matter of Balance.

Santa Cruz, Seabright Neighborhood July 1 - July 24

Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to noon

Location: provided upon enrollment

Watsonville July 23 – Aug. 14

Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m.

Location: Community Health Trust of Pajaro, 85 Nielson St, Watsonville,

Bilingual classes will be offered if needed

To register, contact Bridget Walcott by phone 831-427-5070 x118, or email bridget.walcott@scvolunteercenter.org.

OPIOID GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE

The County of Santa Cruz Behavioral Health Division has contracted with Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County to manage distribution of $810,000 for prevention, early intervention, harm reduction, and treatment of opioid addiction. This effort aims to support nonprofits that can provide innovative community-involved solutions for drugs that have been fatal for hundreds of county residents. The request for proposal period will be open until July 10 at 11:59 p.m.

Nonprofits providing services in Santa Cruz County are invited to apply. Applicants will be required to provide detailed responses on how they will address the “High Impact Abatement Activities,” including demographic information for current and projected program participants to ensure the needs of Santa Cruz County residents will be addressed. Allowed uses of these grants are detailed in Exhibit E of the settlement agreement. Individual grants will be up to $400,000 each, with a performance period of up to two years. All grant funds must be spent by June 30, 2026.

PVUSD JULY SUMMER CAMPS

Your child has been invited to to apply to attend Expanded Learning’s July Summer Camps, which run from July 1 to Aug. 13.

These programs are for PVUSD students currently in grades TK-11. Themes are: Adventure, College and Career Discovery, Creative Arts and Sports and Fitness. This is a free program for your child to enrich their summer break.

Many of these camps will not be available after this year as some are funded with one time ESSER and COVID-19 funds, which end this year.

Breakfast and lunch may be provided (will vary by camp).

Transportation for summer camps is available and limited.

Call Expanded Learning, 831-786-2360, or email expanded_learning@pvusd.net

Camp availability dates and times will vary by provider.

THE SUGAR KING OF CALIFORNIA

Saturday July 13

2-3:30 p.m., Aptos Library, 7695 Soquel Drive

Parents will be asked to complete additional enrollment forms by the camp provider if your child is selected to attend.

Registration does not guarantee enrollment.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK WALL OF HOPE

The Wall of Hope is designed to support Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County’s mission of alleviating hunger in our community.

Tiles range from $700 to $2,000. Proceeds support Second Harvest and will be viewed by visitors to the food bank for years to come.

The Wall of Hope is located on the patio, just outside Second Harvest’s main entrance. The tiles will be previewed at the Party in the Parking Lot event.

For more information, contact Michele Bassi at (831) 288-3002 or e-mail michele@thefoodbank.org

Tiles can be purchased at https://give.thefoodbank.org/ campaigns/32191-wall-of-hope.

NOV. 5 ELECTION: IMPORTANT DATES

Aug. 9: Deadline for candidates to file.

Aug. 9: Deadline for filing tax rate statement for bond measures.

Aug. 16: Deadline for filing arguments for or against local ballot measures

Aug. 23: Deadline for filing rebuttals.

Sept. 26: First day to mail County Voter Information Guides.

Oct. 7: First day to mail ballots to all Santa Cruz County registered voters. In-person voting open at two locations.

Oct. 21: Last day to register to vote for the November 2024 election and receive a ballot and voter guide in the mail.

Oct. 26: Three more in-person voting locations open.

Nov. 2: Thirteen more in-person voting locations open.

Nov. 5: Election Day – polls open at 7am and close at 8pm. Nov. 12: Vote by mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received by Nov. 12 will be counted.

Dec. 3: Last day to certify election results.

CASTRO ADOBE STATE PARK RESTORED

Monthly Open House: Aug 11, Sept. 21, Oct. 13, Nov. 16, Dec. 8 10:30am- 3:30pm, 184 Old Adobe Rd, Watsonville

Thanks to Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, the historic Castro Adobe has been restored and enriched with many new multimedia exhibits.

This two-story adobe is a prime example of rancho haciendas in the Monterey Bay area.

Come view unearthed artifacts, enjoy the Fandango lessons, and learn about the vaquero culture. Admission is free. Carpooling advised due to limited parking.

CALL FOR HELP

St. John’s Helpful Shop, located at 246 Center St. in Aptos, needs volunteers for the summer. Shifts are three to four hours.

For information, call 831-703-4238 or visit the shop between noon and 5 p.m.

SCLERODERMA SUPPORT GROUP

The Scleroderma Foundation of California announces a new support group for people living in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.

The Monterey Bay Support Group will bring together individuals with scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and thickening of the skin and other areas of the body.

The support group will be led by volunteers Cheri O’Neil of Live Oak and Annette Rahn of Carmel. The mission of the Scleroderma Foundation of California is to empower patients to live better lives through programs dedicated to support, education, and research.

The support group will start by offering virtual meetings, with the goal of meeting monthly in person at a location convenient for members.

To learn more, email mbsclero@gmail.com. The foundation’s website is www.myscleroderma.org.

COUNTY SEEKS NONPROFIT PROPOSALS

Deadline: August 2

The County of Santa Cruz has announced the deadline for nonprofits to apply for county and city funding from the Collective of Results and Evidence-based (CORE) Investments Program.

The goal is to foster an environment where everyone can thrive and belong.

The Request for Proposals was released on June 3. This year, $3,790,025 will be awarded for the 2025-28 three-year funding cycle, with the top priorities being: Lifelong Learning and Education, Thriving Families, and Healthy Environments.

County Supervisors and Santa Cruz City Councilmembers approved setting aside $1.5 million of the funding to be awarded specifically for shelter and homeless prevention services through a separate process. CORE Investments, formerly known as community programs, has operated for more than 40 years to allocate local funds. It now engages experts in the proposal review process, provides technical assistance to applicants and promotes equitycentered and outcomes-driven results. To view the RFP see https://santacruzcountyca.gov/Departments/GeneralServices/Purchasing/Solicitations.asp

For more information dates and training, visit: https://www. santacruzhumanservices.org/Home/FundingOpportunities/ COREInvestments

SECOND HARVEST NEEDS VOLUNTEERS ASAP

While many enjoy summer vacations, the need for food assistance in the community does not take a break.

In The Sugar King of California, Sandra Bonura tells the rags-to-riches story of Claus Spreckels’ role in the development of the sugar cane industry in the American West and across the Pacific. She will speak at the Aptos Library.

This is the first book to chronicle the amazing life of Claus Spreckels (18281908).

He became the richest man in California. On California’s Monterey Bay, he built the largest and finest summer resort in the state where he hosted the Inauguration Ball for Gov. Pacheco. He brought the railroad and built the largest beet sugar refinery in the world. He was visited by royalty. He was famous in his time but largely unsung today.

He triumphed in a milieu rife with cronyism and corruption and ultimately transformed California’s industry and labor. Harshly criticized by his enemies for ruthless business tactics, he was loved by his employees. His family quarrels were legendary --including a murder charge. The story is one of business triumph and tragedy, a portrait of a family torn apart by money, jealousy, and ego.

The hardcover book, which sells for $39.95, is available for 40% off for Aptos History Museum members and friends for a limited time. Order at https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496235114/. Use 6AS24 CODE.

Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County urgently seeks volunteers to come every Saturday during the summer to help sort and pack food for the next week’s distributions for 65,000 local residents. About 20 volunteers are needed for each shift every Saturday (so 40 every Saturday) at the food bank’s Watsonville warehouse. The two shifts are:

• Early Bird Shift: 7:45 – 11 am

• Late Riser Shift: 11:15 am - 2:30 pm

No experience is needed, and volunteers can sign up for one or multiple shifts. The minimum age to volunteer is 13.

Remaining Dates: July 6, 13, 20, 27, Aug. 3, 10 and 17.

To sign up, visit thefoodbank.org or https://tinyurl.com/ SHFB-volunteer, or call (831) 232-8141.

ALL ABOARD TRAIN ART THRU AUG. 12

Studio Judy G presents All Aboard, an exhibition broadcasting the magnificence of trains, on display through Aug. 12 at 430 Main St., Watsonville. See artwork by more than a dozen artists. If you have ever been delighted by trains, or train curious, this show is for you.

All Aboard exhibits the possibility of investing in a new Santa Cruz passenger train as locally owned tracks exist from Pajaro to Santa Cruz along the stunning scenic coast. This branch line, once upgraded, could connect with the state rail system, and Amtrak to go up and down the West Coast.

Judy Gittlesohn, owner of Studio Judy G, says, “The public wants trains. There is a well-formed anti-train group — and their goal is to remove the tracks and eliminate public passenger trains forever.”

Felipe Hernandez, Fourth District supervisor for Santa Cruz County, says, “Watsonville residents voted overwhelmingly against Measure D (to tear out the tracks), in fact the highest percentage in the county. They’ve expressed the need for sustainable multi-modal transportation and Zero Emissions Rail & Trail, specifically. They just want to alleviate the gridlock they face every day in traffic.”

Studio Judy G will host two All Aboard artists in residence, Helen Dang, Stanford scientist, artist, and map maker, in June, and Stephen Mallon, Beacon, N.Y. photographer of Passing Freight, in July.

A portion of sales will be contributed to Coast Futura, the electric rail car, and FORT (Friends of Rail and Trail).

SC PARKS: MOBILE REC & TOTS TRIATHLON

3:30-5 p.m., Various locations

Santa Cruz County Parks provide incredible recreational activities. This summer new activities include Mobile Rec, and Super Tots Triathlon.

From Mobile Rec will be providing free activities and a snack in county parks in Santa Cruz County. Activities include sports, nature scavenger hunts, even juggling. Dates are:

North County — Felton Covered Bridge Sept. 11: Sports

Dec. 11: Nature Scavenger Hunt

Mid County — Brommer Aug. 14: Juggling (learn and make your own)

Nov. 13: Nature Scavenger Hunt

South County — Mesa Village Oct. 9: Nature Scavenger Hunt

Super Tots Triathlon is a first-time event for ages 3-5. There will be 3 practice dates Sept. 7 at 10 am, for bicycling, Sept.14 at 10 am for running, both at Felt Street Park, Sept. 21 at 9 am for swimming at Simpkins Swim Center and Sept. 28 at 8-10 a.m., the triathlon, also at Simpkins Swim Center.

Fee is $89 for county residents, $98, non-county residents.

Kids 6-12 are invited to enter the triathlon for beginner athletes: 8-10 am Sept. 28 at Simpkins Swim Center.

Fee is $25 for county resident, $28 for non-county residents.

•••

Register at www.scparks.com

COUNTY FAIR BOARD MEETINGS

The Santa Cruz County Fair Board will meet each month in 2024 except September and November.

Remaining dates are July 23, Aug. 27, Oct. 22, and Dec. 3.

There is no meeting in September or November. Meetings typically begin at 1:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday in the Heritage Building at the fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Blvd., Watsonville.

For agendas, posted 10 days in advance, see santacruzcountyfair.com

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays

BRIDGE CLUB

10:30 a.m.-Noon, 7695 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003

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

Bridge Club is a partnership between Santa Cruz County Parks and Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Register at scparks.com or in-person the day of the event.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

LAVENDER SEASON

Saturdays and Sundays thru July

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Deer Brook Farms, 428 Browns Valley Road, Corralitos

You don’t have to travel to Provence to enjoy the beauty and aroma of lavender. Rosie Fry, proprietor of Deer Brook Farms, welcomes the public to visit during peak season, weekends in July.

She grows several varieties on her 5 ½ acres, Provence, Grosso for distillation and Spanish for the bees.

She has a shop decorated with historical photos and her own photos of colorful butterflies attracted to her plants and a workshop where she offers classes in wreath making, soap making and Mod Podge crafts.

If you look closely, you might see the distinctive buckeye butterfly, a symbol of transformation and endurance. Did you know lavender is drought-tolerant?

See https://deerbrookfarms.com/

Top Photo: Rosie Fry, proprietor of Deer Brook Farms in Corralitos

First Wednesdays

SONS IN RETIREMENT

Time TBD, Elks Lodge, 150 Jewell St., Santa Cruz

SIR (Sons In Retirement) is a nonprofit, nonpolitical public benefit organization of senior men. The organization’s mission is to enhance the lives of its members through social events while making friends.

The Twin Valleys, Santa Cruz Branch welcomes new members and meets the first Wednesday of each month.

Contact Ray Disperati at 831-588-8876 for information.

Last Wednesday of the Month PV HEALTH CARE DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS

6 p.m., Watsonville Community Hospital, 85 Nielson St. Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board, which oversees Watsonville Community Hospital, is holding monthly meetings on the last Wednesday of each month through 2024, except Nov. 20 and Dec. 18 due to the holidays.

Third Thursdays

SIP AND STROLL

6-9 p.m. (check-in starts at 5 p.m.), Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos

Come to the Seacliff Inn: Tapestry Collection by Hilton, for a Sip & Stroll event where local artists to show and sell their works. Wines are 30% off, and the featured winery will offer tastings of three varietals for $10 per person.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wine30-sip-strolltickets-668910307737

Last Thursdays of the Month CARS ON THE COURSE

6:30 – 9:30 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos Love cars? Seascape Golf Club will host “Cars on the Course” through October. All cars are welcome (but not sideshows). Fridays (except First Friday of the Month)

Second Saturdays thru Summer MOVE TODAY

Author Russ Rogers is encouraging people to get outside and join hum on a 2-mile walk on the second Saturday of the month, July 13, Aug. 10 and Sept. 14. For more information, see https://movetoday365.com/

DATED EVENTS

THURSDAY JULY 4

WORLD’S SHORTEST PARADE: APTOS

10 a.m., Corner Soquel Drive & State Park Drive

Now is the time to sign up to participate in the Fourth of July World’s Shortest Parade! Party-in-the-Park follows, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. in Aptos Village Park with music by James Durbin & the Lost Boys. To participate in the parade, call 831-688-1467.

Monday July 10

FILM: YOU WILL NOT REPLACE US

7 – 8:30 p.m., Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Road, “You Will Not Replace Us” is a documentary drama addressing the shared tribulations and historical unity between Black and Jewish Americans. Join directors

and co-stars Josh Greene and Luke Harris, along with cinematographer Jack Lattin and producer Sydney Kaster for a screening Wednesday, July 10 ,from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola, and discussion moderated by UCSC Professor Bruce Thompson.

By bringing together Black and Jewish interviewees, the film sends a clear message: Marginalized communities will not be replaced by bigotry and ignorance. Often times, due to replacement theory, these two communities have been pinned against each other and library staff hope this documentary short serves as a jumping off point for conversations about the histories of and unity between both communities.

All are invited to this conversation. Light refreshments will be provided.

Registration is recommended to help plan refreshments. Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/12648559.

Saturday July 20

CHILDCARE ACCESS: HOW TO BUILD CAPACITY 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, Aptos Library, 7695 Soquel Drive Are you concerned about access to childcare in our community?

Join the American Association of University Women Santa Cruz for an eye-opening discussion on this critical issue at the Aptos Library.

Guest speakers: Linda Asato from the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network in Sacramento and Diane Munoz, community organizer for the Childhood Advisory Council in Santa Cruz County. Attendees will learn about:

• The childcare landscape in California and Santa Cruz County

• Capacity challenges and how to build more access

• How the childcare system works and funding sources

• State and federal policy updates

• Opportunities for AAUW to support childcare initiatives

Don’t miss this chance to learn about the state of childcare and why it impacts all of us. The first step to creating change is understanding the issues.

Saturday July 27

END HUMAN TRAFFICKING EVENT

1 to 3:30 p.m., Resource Center for Non-Violence, 612 Ocean St., Santa Cruz

Awareness is the first step in fighting human trafficking. AAUW Santa Cruz invites you to a powerful and informative event to raise awareness and educate our community on this critical issue at the Resource Center for Non-Violence.

Members of the Arukah Project will share their experiences as a hands-on organization providing shelter and support to victims of human trafficking here in Santa Cruz County.

See the award-winning film “I am Jane Doe,” which chronicles the epic battle mothers waged against the adult classifieds site Backpage.com.

This eye-opening documentary sheds light on the harrowing realities of human trafficking and the fight for justice.

PAJARO VALLEY CHAMBER AWARDS DINNER & AUCTION 4 – 9 pm, Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville

Get ready to celebrate outstanding community members! This will be a night of dining, bidding on auction items, and celebrating local businesses at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

Honorees are: Lifetime Achievement winner Nita Gizdich, Man of the Year Matt Ryan, and Woman of the Year Sally-Christine Rodgers, Business of the Year Staff of Life Natural Foods, Organization of the Year Watsonville Community Band and Event of the Year 2023 Veteran’s Day Parade and Program.

General admission tickets are $100 each. For information visit www.pajarovalleychamber.com n

COMMUNITY NEWS

State Proposal for ‘Low Impact’ Camping

On June 25, residents from rural Bonny Doon, devastated by the 2020 CZU wildfire, which destroyed 897 homes in Santa Cruz County, came out in droves to oppose a proposed county ordinance on “low-impact” camping. They wanted highfire risk areas excluded. They had concerns about poop in the woods, noise from generators, and who would enforce the law when the rules were broken.

Zayante Fire Chief Jeff Mawell said the Fire Chiefs Association could not support it.

“The fire gods know no political boundaries,” he said.

There is no regulation requiring permits for upscale HipCamp operators.

HipCamp.com lists camping sites for tents and RVs, 14 acres in Felton, $45 a night, Redwood Paradise, 40 acres in Santa Cruz, bordering Wilder Ranch State Park, $65 a night, and a cottage, cabin, and 2 tent sites among redwood trees on 16 acres, $75 a night.

Supervisor Zach Friend thought it would make sense to have a regulatory framework for these operations suitable for the local environment as the state Legislature is considering a broader regulation from Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Ukiah) allowing “low impact camping” statewide.

That is SB 620, Supervisor Bruce McPherson noted.

After hearing a deluge of reservations, supervisors unanimously agreed to do an initial environmental study of a proposal to limit the number of sites to 150, cap the number of vehicles at 2, require on-site management, assuming SB 620 passes.

Here is what is posted online about SB 620:

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.Section 18862.43 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:18862.43.

Special occupancy park means a recreational vehicle park, temporary recreational vehicle park, incidental camping area, or tent camp. Special occupancy park does not include a low-impact camping area, as defined in Section 18890.

SEC. 2.Part 2.3.5 (commencing with Section 18890) is added to Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:2.3.5.LOWIMPACT CAMPING18890.

(a)Low-impact camping area means any area of private property that provides for the transient occupancy rental of a temporary sleeping accommodation for recreational purposes that is not a commercial lodging facility and meets all of the following requirements:

(1)Provides for the transient occupancy rental of a temporary sleeping accommodation, not exceeding 14 consecutive nights per camper and not exceeding 28 nights per calendar year per camper.

(2)Includes no more than nine temporary sleeping accommodations.

(3)Does not include a temporary sleeping accommodation that is rented out for permanent human occupancy.

(4)Does not allow for onstreet parking.

(5)Complies with applicable state and local fire safety requirements.

(6)Complies with applicable state and local tax requirements, including, but not limited to, the payment of local transient occupancy taxes.

(7)Complies with applicable local requirements for disposal of human waste, or in the absence of applicable local requirements, maintains sanitation facilities that are fully self-contained or connected to a permitted sewage disposal system serving the property.

(8)Complies with applicable local requirements for disposal of trash, or in the absence of applicable local requirements, requires all solid waste to be removed from the premises after each

occupancy and onsite trash receptacles to abide by applicable animal-protection trash best practices or requirements.

(9)Complies with applicable local requirements for quiet hours, or in the absence of applicable local requirements, enforces quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

(10)Complies with applicable local requirements relating to low-impact campsites, low-incident camping, or incidental camping. camping, including, but not limited to, local zoning, permit, lot size, and setback requirements.

(11)Designates an operator or property manager who is available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

(12)Is not located within a single-family residential zone. (13)

(12)Is not located on a site that meets both of the following:

(A)A site that is a legal parcel or parcels located in a city if, and only if, the city boundaries include some portion of either an urbanized area or urban cluster, as designated by the United States Census Bureau, or, for unincorporated areas, a legal parcel or parcels wholly within the boundaries of an urbanized area or urban cluster, as designated by the United States Census Bureau.

(B)A site in which at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with urban uses. For purposes of this paragraph, parcels that are separated only by a street or highway shall be considered to be adjoined.

(14)

(13)Has not been used as a special

occupancy park for the last five years unless both of the following are true:

(A)The area was a special occupancy park before January 1, 2024.

(B)The area met the requirements of this subdivision on January 1, 2023.

(b)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1)Commercial lodging facility has the same meaning as the term hotel is defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1865 of the Civil Code.

(2)Recreational vehicle has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 18010.

(3)Temporary sleeping accommodation includes, but is not limited to, a tent, yurt, or recreational vehicle.

(c)This section does not authorize an individual to access private property without the permission of the landowner. 18891.

In the absence of applicable local requirements, the county in which the low-impact camping area is located may shall enforce the minimum requirements described in paragraphs (7) to (9), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 18890.

SEC. 3.

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code. n

SCCAS Featured Pet

Boba the Guinea Pig

Boba (A312732) is a charming guinea pig with a unique personality and beautiful long hair. He is a 2.5 year old male guinea pig who was owner surrendered due to a lifestyle change in the home.

Despite his luxurious mane, Boba isn’t one to seek the limelight. In fact, he prefers quiet corners and gentle cuddles over bustling activities. Boba can often be found nestled in his cozy bedding, peeking out with curious eyes when it’s treat time.

His favorite treats include fresh greens and the occasional nibble of carrot tops — he’s quite the connoisseur! Although Boba may be reserved at first, once he gets to know you, he enjoys gentle pets and quiet conversations.

One important detail about Boba is that he thrives as the sole guinea pig in a home. His temperament suggests he prefers to be the center of attention, enjoying peaceful interactions without the presence of other piggies.

This makes him a perfect match for someone looking to provide undivided attention and love to a single furry friend.

If you’re seeking a guinea pig who’s as unique as he is adorable, consider welcoming Boba into your heart and home. n

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is full of adoptable animals. Fostering animals is an awesome way to improve a Shelter animal’s life and fill your home with love and fun! If you are interested in fostering any kind of animal please email jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us. 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. All adoptions are first come, first served.

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. 580 Airport Blvd., Watsonville, 95076 • Hours: Tues.-Sat. 9:30 a.m. – noon; 1–5 p.m. (Closed Sun/Mon)

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

Library Debut at County Juvenile Hall

On June 20, Santa Cruz County Probation, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and Santa Cruz Public Libraries opened a library at Juvenile Hall with the goal to provide opportunity and inspiration to youths in the justice system.

The project also involved renovation of two rooms into counseling spaces and murals for classroom spaces at the Robert A. Hartman School, which has about 30 students. Hartman was the special education teacher at the Juvenile Hall school until he retired in 1987.

The design was based in part on input from youth, and included financial support from the County, County Office of Education, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, and Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, while the counseling spaces were supported by state grants.

reading materials curated with guidance from the youth it serves, as well as programming that allows youth to connect with one another in creative ways,” he said.

Jesse Silva, Jail Reach & bookmobile coordinator for Santa Cruz Public Libraries said,

“The Santa Cruz Public Library’s Jail Reach team collaborated with the youth inside to build a collection that is relevant and diverse, and we look forward to offering library programs to support literacy and foster a love of reading.

We’re especially grateful to the Friends of SCPL and their fundraising project

Boundless Minds.”

Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Faris Sabbah said, “This project reflects our commitment to providing engaging and supportive learning environments for all students.”

© Statepoint Media

Chief Probation Officer Fernando Giraldo applauded the collaboration that led to the library.

“The space offers relevant and engaging

“Fireworks” from page 26

Fireworks and some of the noise-based explosives are sold legally in neighboring jurisdictions and often brought illegally into our community and fired off on the beaches, in the neighborhoods and even along the rail corridor and local parks. Over the last few years the County has increased the fines for fireworks (fireworks violations are subject to triple fines around July 4th, which means a citation can cost well over $1,000 after court costs are added on.) Additionally, working with local community groups and the Sheriff’s Office the County adopted a set of policies and approaches over five years ago that are still in place today. This includes: improved tools of enforcement and better education locally and regionally. Specifically, the plan included:

• Making triple fines for fireworks permanent on July 4th and other holidays (meaning possession of fireworks will cost you well over $1000 in fines and court costs)

• Producing public service announcements and other media outreach to local and regional media outlets about enforcement plans and the danger of fireworks before the summer as well as paid media purchases on social media

• Expanding signage near hot spot neighborhoods about enforcement

• Working with 9-1-1 dispatchers regarding how these calls are handled and also for education to the caller about

He added, “At every step, the library was built with the active involvement of the students it serves – offering not only reading material but a space for creativity, connection, and wellness.” n

the best information to provide to ensure proper enforcement

• Working with vacation rental owners and local hotels to educate them about visitors bringing illegal fireworks and also the consequences associated with it (sending letters to all vacation rental owners and hotels and their associations for them to let visitors know about the regulations)

• Increasing police patrols

• Coordination between Central Fire, Sheriff’s Office and State Parks for improved and increased education and enforcement during July 4th and other peak times.

Illegal fireworks activity will continue but the goal is that this approach have a positive impact on the environment and other issues it causes. n

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to call me at 454-2200 with your questions and comments.