Training for the Unthinkable
Story and Photos By Jondi Gumz
God forbid that a troubled and alienated individual would ever plot to kill students and teachers at one of our high schools. But if this were to happen, and school staff called law enforcement to report an “active shooter,” our sheriff’s deputies, police officers, state parks officers, and firefighterparamedics would be prepared. ... continued on page 4
Flowers for the County Fair
On Friday, more than 45 volunteers came out to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville to plant multi-color petunias and yellow and orange marigolds for fair time, coming soon, Sept. 11-15. Full Story page 7
Social Media and Young Minds
By Natalia Rodriguez
Social media is a form of communication that has taken over our attention. Long gone are the days of Myspace as young people are using modern platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat. Full Story page 8
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COVER STORY
“Police Training” from page 1
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office organized a six-day training, Monday through Saturday, at the wide-ranging Aptos High School campus to get first responders familiar with the location and peers they would depend on – if the unthinkable did happen.
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“Law enforcement are here to stop the attacker, secure the area, then treat the injured,” explained Lt. Nick Baldrige, handgun tucked into his belt, and a 20-year veteran with the Sheriff’s Office.
Officers came from Watsonville, Santa Cruz, and Capitola and firefighter-paramedics from Central, Watsonville and Scotts Valley. The district attorney’s office was represented.
Sheriff Jim Hart took over responsibility for active shooter training from UC Santa Cruz last year.
Baldrige has been in charge since then, organizing training at Scotts Valley High School last year. The previous year, the training site was San Lorenzo Valley High School.
Each campus has a different layout, with buildings spread apart and outdoor educational spaces.
You probably have heard of mass shootings at schools elsewhere: Columbine High School in Colorado, Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Covenant School in Nashville.
“It’s mostly lone wolf attackers,” said Baldrige.
Asked if the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Trump, who is running again, has affected the training, Baldrige said, “Not really” because only one individual was targeted and this training focuses on the potential of a mass shooting, which means three or more people dead.
From 1997-98 to 2021-22, there have been 1,453 school shootings, 794 in the past five years, according to Clemson University researchers who published their analysis in the journal Pediatrics in March 2024.
Researcher Luke Rapa called for schoolbased interventions such as “Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports” to bolster students’ mental health.
Fatalities and injuries have increased, researchers observed, noting the resulting trauma for survivors.
Baldrige said the No. 1 priority for law enforcement is to “neutralize the treat” which will save lives.
For Thursday’s training, between 150 and 180 law enforcement officers came with guns and all their gear, along with 15-20 firefighter-paramedics and about 30 volunteers. Instructors wore red T-shirts. Everyone, including the media, wore face shields a la Darth Vader for protection.
When shots — we’re told they are blanks — were heard, officers jumped to action, running to the location to find the suspect shooter and neutralize.
Screams were heard as teens played the part of the injured.
One young man on the ground bleeding — it was fake blood — was very realistic, calling out “Help me.”
A young woman created a makeshift tourniquet for him as they awaited paramedics.
Some victims were limping as they were led away by officers.
It seemed to take a long time for paramedics to be allowed in, and sheriff’s staff
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explained that officers are checking every room to make sure no attackers are hiding inside.
That’s why when the officers ran by, they could not stop to help.
A paramedic with a navy backpack labeled “Fire,” did come to help.
Volunteer Liam Adler, 17, will be a senior at Santa Cruz High School, which was targeted in 2022 when a 911 caller reported an active shooter.
Not only was he and his classmates affected, but his mom works at the school.
He’s volunteering for the second time, wanting to give back for the help he got.
“I know how to prepare myself and help the people around me,” he said.
The 2022 call was a hoax, but it prompted a lockdown, with armed officers running from building to building, resulting in extreme stress for panicked parents and students.
The Sheriff’s Office has started a standard response for schools, showing teachers how to safeguard their students.
COVER STORY
Local training for law enforcement will take place every year, Baldrige said, adding, “Not everyone does that.” n
High.
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Cover Photo: Armed law enforcement looking for active shooter during training at Aptos
Lt. Nick Baldrige consults with officer during the active shooter training scenario.
A teen playing the part of the injured is escorted to safety.
Federal $71 Million Climate Change Grant for Monterey Bay Locals
On July 26, the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation announced an award of more than $71 million in federal funds for activities involving 21 partners to combat climate change in the Monterey Bay area.
Compare this to Santa Cruz County awaiting $125 million for disaster reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge is one of the largest in the history of California.
The funding is focused on needs of coastal communities impacted by storm surge, sea level rise, and flooding from the San Lorenzo, Pajaro, Salinas and Carmel rivers, as well as areas prone to wildfire in coastal watersheds.
Funds come from the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Biden on Aug. 16, 2022.
This will support 15 local full-time jobs, 270 jobs at less than full-time, and more than 350 paid internships.
Projects to be carried out by
Egovernments, nonprofits and academic institutions include:
Flood Risk Reduction: 10 projects to improve the condition and function of habitats on the coast, in estuaries and along rivers to moderate extreme flood flows. Many projects are designed to deliver benefits to vulnerable communities, including the City of Watsonville and the communities of Pajaro and Castroville.
Fire Risk Reduction: 5 fire risk reduction projects across 7,150 acres, including installation of 6 miles of shaded fuel breaks, fuel load reductions, and prescribed and cultural burning to reduce wildfire risk.
Revolving Fund: This will be established to offer critical bridge funding for climate adaptation projects around Monterey Bay, as well as rapid response to urgent needs.
“Grant” page 16
Elkhorn Slough: $6 Million
lkhorn Slough, which has greatest extent of tidal wetlands on the 600+-mile stretch of coast between San Francisco and Mexico, is an ideal place to tackle climate change threats, according to Dave Feliz, manager of Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.“It is small enough to wrap our heads around, yet large enough that lessons learned are scalable to other coastal estuaries.”
$4.2 million for a Tidal Wetland Program for one 1.5-acre marsh restoration, 35 acres of marsh/upland transition habitat, and planning for 200 additional acres to protect transportation infrastructure and public access.
including stipends for 18 Tribal and disadvantaged community leaders.
Stipends will be provided for 18 Certificate Fellows to encourage participation of Tribes and community leaders working at the intersection of planning, climate resilience implementation, and justice.
Eucalyptus
$1.8M to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation as part of a joint effort organized by the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County to treat and control invasive eucalyptus, which are prone to torching and crown ignition, around Elkhorn Slough, sending embers long distance to start fires. The funds will also go toward a forest management plan.
“This restoration involves a complex suite of issues,” said Tidal Wetland Program Director Monique Fountain, “including a degraded marsh sandwiched between the railroad and a county road that already experiences flooding.”
$54,300 for a Coastal Training Program headed by Dan Brumbaugh to provide, with UCSC’s Coastal Science and Policy program, climate resilience training to 105 local professionals,
“By removing these dangerous, weedy trees and replanting with a mosaic of lower growing native vegetation,” explains ESF Stewardship Director Dash Dunkell, “we will reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire and create a more resilient natural landscape.”
The goal is to protect 700+ adjacent habitable structures, electrical and telecommunications infrastructure, schools, and other community institutions in Las Lomas, Elkhorn, and Prunedale. n
Flowers for the County Fair
On Friday, more than 45 volunteers came out to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville to plant multi-color petunias and yellow and orange marigolds for fair time, coming soon, Sept. 11-15.
Volunteers from Freedom and Watsonville Rotary Clubs, Scout Troop 505, and other friends of the fair beautified the grounds in a little over two hours.
The project was headed by Kevin Larkin, Fair Floriculture Department head. Cavanaugh Color grew and donated the flowers.
The Fairgrounds Foundation had hot dogs and ice-cold beverages for the crew when they finished.
The flowers make it feel like the fair is just around the corner — and it is! n
Clockwise from left: Colorful petunias • All ages work together • Volunteers at work in a flower bed by the front gate sign • Shade hats on a sunny day • A Cub Scout pitches in.
Cover Photo: Barefoot planter.
Social Media and Young Minds
By Natalia Rodriguez
Social media is a form of communication that has taken over our attention. Long gone are the days of Myspace as young people are using modern platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat.
Unlike Facebook, which has limited content based on a user’s friend list, these platforms use algorithms to find content based on what a user interacts with. This creates endless personalized content which many find addictive.
Practically everyone has a phone in their pocket buzzing with attention-calling notifications. In teens who have grown up in the digital age, poor mental health has been linked to these platforms.
The question we now have to ask is: What do we do?
In 2019, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill allowing schools to limit or ban cell phone usage during the school day, except for emergencies. This year, he called for stricter limits, citing Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s urging Congress to put a warning label on social media platforms to “remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe.”
After a pandemic, concern for young people using social media has only grown. I sat down with students and nonprofit organizer and leading youth mental health expert Lori Butterworth, MEd, MA, to gauge the strain of social media on our County.
Lori Butterworth is familiar with nonprofits. She had a full career as a high school teacher before founding her first nonprofit, Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Group. From humble beginnings, Jacob’s Heart has been nationally recognized for its supportive family care and is a leading cancer resource. She then co-founded the Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition of California.
Now, using her experience as a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, she is on the path to getting her doctorate in psychology by age 65.
Last year, she founded her newest nonprofit, the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Soquel. She embraces a type of therapy created by Dr. Steven Hayes known as ACT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
With the start of her 3rd nonprofit, she will focus on youth mental health. In Butterworth’s words, the CCAMH aims to provide “evidence-based, scientifically grounded youth mental health care at an affordable price.”
At her center, she’s noticed the adverse reactions teens are having toward social media: “Social media has been proven to be detrimental to the health of our children. Plain and simple. The negative consequences on their brains, development, friendships, and their ability to relate to other people far outweigh the positive that comes from it.”
Referencing her doctorate investigation, she said, “Social media is more detrimental for girls, and gaming is more detrimental for boys.”
Popular photo-sharing platforms such as Instagram are linked to appearance anxiety and higher risk of eating disorders for girls, studies show, and interactive gaming such as Fortnite or Grand Theft Auto are the source of prolonged screen time in boys, with the negative effects being less sleep and aggressive feelings, studies show.
Young people are aware of these unfavorable effects.
One Cabrillo College student I spoke to, 20-year-old Terra Nasr, checked her screen time from her phone’s settings during our interview. The data dashboard showed an average of 5 hours per day usage.
“Young Minds” page 19
Lori Butterworth with Dr. Steven Hayes, founder of ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Cabrillo Student Terra Nasr
Tech Trek Summer Camp for Girls
From July 14 to 19, Tech Trek, a residential summer camp free to 74 California girls, including six locals, took place at UC Santa Cruz, thanks to the American Association of University Women branches that provide sponsorships.
The goal: To encourage 8th-grade girls to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The reason: Only about 27% of professionals working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are women.
The girls spent time in the biology lab, growing cultures overnight and looking at them under the microscope. They were encouraged to invent something to help differently-abled people. They built threedimensional cityscapes in math class and built motors, cars and flashlights in engineering class.
Camp director Dr. Mimi Isaac said,“One of the most important things that Tech Trek has done over the last 25+ years is exactly what researchers tell us is critical to getting more gender parity in STEM fields: Building that sense of STEM identity and belonging among a community of like-minded girls and women. Put simply, we become their STEM “tribe,” the place they can explore their geekier side without fear of rejection or worrying about whether they will fulfill the stereotype that women are worse at math. It is really just about building community.”
Highlights:
Electrical Circuits: Dr. Mary Bonk Isaac guiding students in creating light-up greeting cards and 3D paper sculptures using copper tape and LED lights.
Microbiology Exploration: UC Santa Cruz’s Women in Science and Engineering program introducing students to bacterial culturing, microscopy, and staining techniques.
Molecular and Environmental Biology: Students exploring the scientific method through experiments, from studying bacteria to examining butterfly gardens and redwood forests.
Structural Engineering: Professor Rhoxanne Morris from Cabrillo College teaching students to create strong structures, culminating in the “Build It Night.”
The girls were divided into 9 dorm groups and had all week to roll newspapers for this project.
They came to the event with the rolled papers and were given masking tape and scissors with one hour to build. The counselors judged the projects and every group received an award, Best Engineering, Most Unusual, etc. It wasn’t a contest about how high you could build. It was to be creative — which they were.
One team built a UCSC mascot, the banana slug. Another built The White House with a miniature President Biden at the podium. Others built a castle tower, a couture dress, a working
putt-putt windmill, and a scooter (inspired by the camp director who rode a scooter for most of the week).
“Tech Trek” page 14
Eighth graders with the banana slug model they built at Tech Trek summer camp.
Adding drops
Looking through the microsocope
Meet the New CEO at Habitat for Humanity
By Natalia Rodriguez
In early July, Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay welcomed a new CEO, the accomplished Catherine Stihler. Santa Cruz County and surrounding areas are fortunate to have her as a leader in finding solutions to the housing crisis.
She’s a former member of the European Parliament representing the Scottish Labour Party, becoming the UK’s youngest member at age 25. She is a multifaceted professional recognized for her success in accessibility and citizens’ rights.
Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay will be the third nonprofit she has overseen.
During her 20 years of political work, in 2019, she became chief executive director of the Open Knowledge Foundation, a global nonprofit centered on keeping information and data accessible and open for public and educational use. During her time, she is credited for redefining the campaign mission: “For a fair, free and open future with a renewed mission to create an open world, where all non-personal information is open, free for everyone to use, build on and share; and creators and innovators are fairly recognized and rewarded.”
After her career in Parliament, she became the CEO of Creative Commons, an international nonprofit devoted to expanding access to creative works and providing free licenses for flexible copyrights. During her time with Creative Commons from 2020 to 2024, the nonprofit raised $4 million.
It’s because of early internet advocacy work like Catherine’s that the internet is available for all without a paywall.
Catherine found her way to Monterey Bay from her familial roots. Her husband David is from Monterey; they met during university in Europe, and the family decided to move back in 2021 with their sons Alex and Andrew.
“It (Monterey Bay) feels like a second home,” Catherine explained. She recognized the housing issue and decided to assist the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity in its mission
to build affordable homes and provide ownership opportunities for demographics who have often been overlooked.
“Affordable home ownership is a key issue for young people who work hard but can’t find a home,” she said.
When asked about her intentions for Habitat for Humanity, she explained her focus would be fundraising, building, learning from citizens’ housing issues, and maintaining relationships with previous donor foundations.
Catherine credits the Habitat volunteer board of “motivated, talented folks” for their efforts and cites the recent success with 11 affordable homes built in Live Oak.
Her intentions stayed true to the nonprofit’s early days, as she quoted Habitat co-founder Millard Fuller,”I’ve tried raising money by asking for it and not asking for it. I always got more by asking.”
In the midst of a growing demand for housing and rising costs for homeownership, there is hope for change with Catherine Stihler and Habitat for Humanity. n
During her 20 years of political work, in 2019, [Catherine Stihler] became chief executive director of the Open Knowledge Foundation, a global nonprofit centered on keeping information and data accessible and open for public and educational use.
Catherine Stihler
Acton AcAdemy SAntA cruz A Place to Learn in Aptos
ABy Natalia Rodriguez
fter two successful years, Acton Academy Santa Cruz will be increasing enrollment due to parent demand. The founders, Carol Bowles and Annabelle Drake, currently guide 35 learners in Aptos and have more coming this fall.
The latest program is the Spark Studio to include children ages 5-7; this studio will focus on game-based learning, play, and social engagement.
Located in Aptos, Acton Academy is a unique homeschool-learning center inspired by “The Hero’s Journey” by Joseph Campbell. The Hero’s Journey is a metaphor behind many world myths and stories: Every individual is the hero of their life story, and must face challenges head on and learn from them.
Along with typical classroom curriculum, the learners at Acton Academy focus on lessons derived from the journey such as taking on challenges and allowing failure as part of the process. They are split into multi-age groups: Spark Studio (ages 5-7), Discovery Studio (ages 7-12), Journey Studio (ages 12-15) and Launchpad Studio (ages 14-18).
Using the vocabulary “learners” and “guides,” the philosophy is to foster selfadvocacy and reliance, remove the position of authority from the guides, and encourage the learners (also known as heroes) to have autonomy in their learning process.
There are 300 Acton Academies worldwide, an each is independently owned and operated with the liberty to adjust it to fit the needs of the community. Most are pioneered by families who want this educational freedom for their own children and start it for them.
That’s how co-founder Annabelle Drake’s family got involved. She wanted to find a homeschool program that empowered her two sons.
“We started the program two years ago when they were 11 and 15. Now, they are 13 and 17. Over these two years, we’ve seen a tremendous boost in their confidence and character as they’ve become more responsible, resilient, and engaged in their learning, growing into confident and well-rounded individuals, thanks to the supportive community environment,” she explained.
All Acton Academies have access to
shared curriculums and apply the same ideals such as:
• A deep respect that children have important work to do and are capable of far more than most people can imagine.
• Learners helping other learners.
• Hands-on, real-world challenges.
• Each learner is respected as a genius who will change the world.
• Use of Growth Mindset language
• Acknowledgment of the necessity to fail early, cheaply, and often.
• Guides respond to questions with another question or a choice.
Families who believe that children are very capable, and “who feel inspired by giving more autonomy and freedom to our young people in regards to their education” are great fits for Acton Academy Santa Cruz.
In lieu of hours of sitting in a desk, Acton Academy provides freedom and space for a young person to accomplish any educational or personal goals. They’ve had learners enter and advance multiple grade levels in a single year.
Learners can dive into their interests such as learning to crochet stuffed animals or creating campaigns for the community or businesses. The Discovery Studio learners (age 7-12) are currently leading a campaign asking the County of Santa Cruz to install a play structure at Aptos Village Park after they realized it was a shared desire.
Felton parent Kerry McBurnien endorses the positive character growth in her children from Acton Academy. Scarlett, 12, and Winter, 8, are members of Acton Academy’s first generation; they’ve attended since opening day.
“My children are more confident, outgoing, and their communication skills have thrived…the social aspect and conflict resolution are benefits of the Academy,” she says.
With the freedom to pursue her own learning journey, in her first year Scarlett wrote a 40,000-word novel, “Feline Fables,” and is currently working on the sequel. After the writing period, Scarlett noticed math had taken a back seat and independently refocused and progressed two years ahead in math. Kerry credits her daughter’s self-motivation to the Acton Academy philosophy.
Acton Academy encourages community engagement for their learners and is seeking partnerships with local businesses to provide apprenticeships and educational material to encourage real-world work experience for teens and pre-teens. Any establishments willing to share expertise with the Acton Academy heroes is encouraged to connect by emailing info@actonsantacruz.org
The calendar is not traditional. Instead there are seven sessions, 3 to 6 weeks each, with one-week breaks in between and a longer break over the holidays. These breaks are for family and travel time, they also provide individualized education for learners. Families can decide how many sessions and days per week their children will attend. Learners can attend full- or part-time and take their other subjects at home. The next session begins Sept. 3 with a beginning of year celebration Aug. 25. n
Acton Academy’s next open house is Sunday, Aug. 11, from 1-3 p.m. at 7979 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Families can see the campus, meet the guides, and ask questions. For enrollment information, contact: info@actonsantacruz.org
The website is www.actonsantacruz.org
Architect Jonathon Strnad visits the studios to inspire the Heroes in their architecture quest.
True Olive Connection is Back
Members of the Aptos Chamber of Commerce welcome Alisa Hart, owner of Outside In and Imagitorium, in opening a third store at the Aptos Center: True Olive Connection. She specializes in extra virgin olive oil from California, Spain, Greece, Chile, and Italy plus Italian Balsamic vinegars. Last October, she took an olive oil sommelier course in Italy. We are actively learning more about Olive Oil production and milling practices, and we have been visiting farms and doing tastings throughout California to not only grow our knowledge but to cultivate our tastebuds further. We are expanding our knowledge gained in the Flos Oleo guidebook that lists the best award-winning farms around the world. As a woman-owned Aptos business, we are the premier suppliers of exquisite Olive Oil and Balsamic in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay area. Allow us to help you discover these same benefits and fantastic food pairings enjoyed for thousands of years.
Location: 7556 Soquel Drive, Aptos Center Shopping Center Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday.
Care that keeps advancing.
Commitment that never changes.
At Dominican Hospital, we proudly embrace technological advances and pioneer best practices that continually raise the standard for our award-winning care. And we strive to provide that care with a seamless respect for mind, body and spirit. From our innovative Wellness Center programs, to our Level III Neonatal ICU, to our nationally recognized cardiac care, Dominican Hospital maintains a long-held commitment of innovation that has put patients first for generations of Santa Cruz County families. Learn more about us at DignityHealth.org/Dominican.
Sugar King Claus Spreckels
Apoor German farmhand came to America and became the richest man in California — that is Claus Spreckels, who invested in sugar beets and controlled the West Coast market and built in Aptos a deer park, a race track at today’s Polo Grounds Park and a two-story summer home for himself, and the Aptos Hotel, which hosted the inaugural ball for the governor.
When author Sandra Bonura came to the Aptos Library July 13 to talk about her new book, “The Sugar King of California,” telling the life story of Claus Spreckels, she attracted a large audience. n
For more about Bonura and her books on historical figures in California and Hawaii, see https://www.sandrabonura.com/works.htm
“Tech Trek” from page 10
“Women are missing out on high-paying, satisfying careers when they don’t consider a STEM profession,” says Doreen O’Donovan, president of the Santa Cruz Branch of AAUW and camp staff. “Middle school is a crucial age when students are still forming ideas about their futures. We’re not just teaching skills — we’re opening doors, challenging stereotypes, and nurturing the confidence these girls need to pursue STEM careers.” n
Photo Credit: Edita McQuary
Author Sandra Bonura signs books.
Photo Credit: Edita McQuary
Author Sandra Bonura speaks at Aptos Library.
“Grant” from page 6
Network: The Monterey Bay Climate Adaptation Action Network will be established to coordinate and plan for future actions, and act as a forum for planning and information sharing that will encourage coordinated, integrated implementation of activities. MBCAAN will involve participation of local and regional government agencies, researchers, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders, with meaningful engagement of disadvantaged communities and tribes.
Workforce Development: Efforts to recruit recent high school graduates, and provide field training, certificates and job placement; offer training and support for undergraduate and graduate students in climate adaptation programs, along with climate technology training and certifications; offer paid internships, externships, and wrap-around support for undergraduates; as well as fellowships for graduate students and support a professional certificate training program for Monterey Bay area professionals.
“Monterey Bay communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis have faced disastrous consequences from flooding and fires these past several years,” said Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA). “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, this transformational investment will bolster climate-resilient infrastructure, protect fragile coastal ecosystems, and empower disadvantaged working families as Monterey Bay adapts and prepares for future disasters.”
City of Santa Cruz, City of Watsonville, Coastal Conservation & Research, Collaborative for Right Relations, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, Ecology Action, Elkhorn Slough Foundation, Four Directions, Groundswell Coastal Ecology, Hartnell College, Land Trust Santa Cruz County, Monterey Bay Climate Justice Collaborative, Monterey Bay Climate Project Working Group, Monterey County Water Resources Agency, Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, Pajaro Storm Drain Maintenance District, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Regeneración, Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, Santa Lucia Conservancy, UC Santa Cruz, and Watsonville Wetlands Watch.
UC Santa Cruz will receive more than $2 million to support education and training programs for undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals. Ten master’s students will receive funding over the next five years for summer placements and capstone projects that advance the goals of partner organizations related to coastal climate resilience, climate adaptation, and climate risk reduction in the Monterey Bay region.
Faculty and staff from the Coastal Science and Policy Program will support the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Coastal Training Program and will run twice per year for three years, starting in 2027, serving a 105 participants. Fellowships designed to promote inclusion of representatives from marginalized, underrepresented, and low-income communities will cover course fees and provide a $4,000 stipend for 20 participants.
Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, said, “Last Congress, we worked hard to do our job and pass historic legislation to confront climate change. Today we are hearing about the effects of our work with the announcement of this major federal investment in local conservation programs, workforce development and our infrastructure to reduce the risks of damage from wildfires, flooding, storm surges and sea level rise. California’s 19th Congressional District will soon be feeling the impact of this federal investment as we strengthen and bolster the resiliency and security of our community and, ultimately, the future of our country.”
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, said, “From wildfire to catastrophic flooding, we must ensure our community is equipped with the resources to tackle these climate risks.”
Robert Mazurek, California Marine Sanctuary Foundation executive director, said, “We’re truly thankful that NOAA has focused these federal funds on the Central Coast. The coalition of 21 partner organizations that has come together for this effort is historic and represents the skill and dedication needed in the urgent effort to combat climate change.”
Partners include: Big Sur Land Trust, California State Parks, California State University Monterey Bay, Central Coast Climate Collaborative, Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association, Central Coast Wetlands Group,
UCSC’s Center for Agroecology will get support for a new Climate Scholars program for undergraduates who are studying issues related to climate adaptation. Participants will receive a $4,000 scholarship, cohort-based support, and the program will also map out curricular and co-curricular opportunities related to climate adaptation across UCSC, so Climate Scholars can more easily plan their studies. Scholarships will be awarded to 10 students per academic year from 2025 to 2028, and students can participate in the program for up to four years.
The center will also support seven undergraduates per year in paid summer internships with partner organizations. Applications for internship funding are expected to open in spring of 2025, and awards will be made for the summers of 2025 through 2028.
Funding will also cover the costs for four undergraduate students per year to participate in a two-week summer training program through the CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research (CIDER), starting in 2025 and running for four years.
The program will teach skills in drone safety, hardware, sensors, mission planning, flight operation, data processing, remote sensing, and standard industry programs used for agronomic research. Students will participate in hands-on instruction at the UCSC Farm and learn about environmental applications of drones, all while completing FAA Part 107 commercial drone pilot certification. n
FireSafe Council Breaks the Fire Triangle
By Adam Hensleigh & Michael Horn
The inaugural Wildfire Resilience Summit on June 6 was hosted by the FireSafe Council of Santa Cruz County in downtown Santa Cruz.
Residents got a comprehensive look at a roadmap to resiliency. The theme was “Break the Fire Triangle.”
Nine speakers gave talks about resilience topics. The Summit also included developing FireTech, and government panels.
Holt Hanley, a meteorologist from KSBW, emceed the event. In between speakers, Holt shared anecdotes from field research projects during his master’s program at San Jose State University’s Fire Weather Research Laboratory.
The FireSafe Council of Santa Cruz County Firewise Coordinator Lynn Sestak gave her “Why Go Firewise” presentation. Lynn illustrated the ease and pathways to becoming a Firewise-certified community. The continually growing program is also a way to convince insurance companies that your community is being proactive and might even get you a discount on the skyrocketing rates.
Santa Cruz County has the seventh most Firewise recognized communities nationwide
at 60. Santa Cruz County also ranks fifth in the state for Firewise-recognized communities.
Laura Terrazas from the Santa Cruz County Office of Education discussed their Wildland Firefighting program. The Wildland
Fire Academy is a new career technical education offering in 2024. This program really lowers entry barriers and allows affordable opportunities for many young people to begin careers as wildland firefighters.
Matt Abernathy from the Resource Conversation District discussed defensible space. He offered a different perspective, with humans as ecosystem engineers. Matt also shared landscape-scale management projects, from shaded fuel breaks to burn prep.
David Reid and Clare Peabody from the county Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience discussed what the OR3 does. Clare promoted the 2020 Recover CA Owner Occupied Mitigation program for individuals who meet income guidelines. Clare also discussed the importance of signing up for CruzAware and knowing your Community Zonehaven evacuation zone.
Cal Fire’s Soquel Demonstration Forest Manager Angela Bernheisel shared what they are doing regarding fire prevention for communities around the demonstration forest. Angela also highlighted a 175-acre sustainable timber harvest plan scheduled for completion this fall. Other projects in the State Forest included 84 acres of pile burning that was completed earlier this year.
“FireSafe” page 22
Adam Hensleigh of Mount Hermon, who chairs the local FireSafe Council, introduces Sen. John Laird, Assembly member Gail Pellerin and County Supervisor Bruce McPherson.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Cabrillo College Trustee Vacancy
Cabrillo College Board of Trustees has a vacancy due to the resignation of Martha Victoria Vega, who represented Area V (Watsonville). The Board of Trustees is now soliciting nominations to fill the seat and the appointee’s term will end Dec. 6.
The Board of Trustees will take formal action Aug. 5 to approve the process. The provisional appointment could begin following selection by the Board at either the Sept.
9 meeting, or a later special meeting to be scheduled
Anyone interested in serving during this interim period is encouraged to do so by submitting a brief application and statement of interest and qualifications. Statements must be received in the President’s Office at Cabrillo College by noon Friday, Aug. 30. Applications may be submitted via email to Ronnette Smithcamp, executive assistant to the superintendent/president (rosmithc@ cabrillo.edu), or in person (Cabrillo College — Student Activities Center, West Room 204, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos.
Eligible candidates must live and be registered to vote in Trustee Area V, which includes the City of Watsonville. For Cabrillo District boundaries, see the Cabrillo Community College District map. Eligible candidates should be available to participate
“Young Minds” from page 8
She said short-form content such as TikTok videos are the most addicting and her reason for long hours of screen time. She agreed with Gov. Newsom calling for restrictions, saying, “(Phones) are a piece of tech that can access much more than parents are ready for.”
Another Cabrillo student, Tara Jacobson, explained how personal marketing leads to unhealthy comparisons: “If an influencer says ‘I’m so fat, I’m a size 6’ then a size 6 is considered fat. It can lead to body dysmorphia.”
An influencer is someone with a large loyal following on social media — often paid by brands to promote products or lifestyles.
“If I didn’t believe we could change the trajectory, I wouldn’t be working so hard.”
— Lori Butterworth
Candidates on Nov. 5 Ballot
Four of the seven Cabrillo College trustee seats are on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Area 3 (Soquel-Capitola): Incumbent Christina Cuevas has filed.
Area 4 (Santa Cruz): Ken Wagman has submitted papers.
Area 5 (Watsonville): Incumbent Martha Vega has resigned.
Area 7 (South County): Incumbent Steven Laird Trujillo has filed. https://votescount.santacruzcountyca. gov/Home/Elections/November5,2024Presi dentialGeneralElection/CandidateWatch. aspx#
in the selection process to take place at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9.
Eligible candidates should also consider filing for the November 2024 ballot. The November election will select the candidate who fills the 4-year term starting at 12 noon on December 6, 2024.
Interested parties should contact the Santa Cruz County Office of Elections at (831) 454-2060 to verify whether you reside and are registered to vote in Trustee Area V, and to file papers as a candidate for the November election. Feel free to contact the Cabrillo College President’s Office at 479-6302 if you have questions about the position. n
However, there’s hope. Butterworth’s advice for parents concerned about their child’s online presence is:” Don’t want your kid on the phone? Get off yours.”
She advised: Wait until your child is 16 before letting them be on social media.
She echoed the governor,” Phone-free schools are absolutely necessary.”
Butterworth explained, ”If I didn’t believe we could change the trajectory, I wouldn’t be working so hard.”
She believes that culture surrounding social media can change for the wellness of our youth.
The Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, at 4630 Soquel Drive #10, Soquel, offers virtual and in-person meetings. Treatment is available on a sliding scale.
On the last Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m., Free Parent Drop-In Zoom sessions take place, when parents can ask youth mental health experts questions and learn from other parent experiences. n
•••
For info or to schedule an appointment contact (831) 222-0052 or email info@ccamh.org
White Coats to the Rescue
Story and Photos By Jondi Gumz
Every day, complaints are heard: It takes weeks to get an appointment with a doctor, if one is accepting new patients.
Other communities have medical schools, creating a pipeline of new doctors, but there is no medical school in Santa Cruz County.
Now creative people thinking out of the box have a solution: Eight brand new medical school graduates, doctors in training here in Santa Cruz County for a three-year residency program in family medicine, thanks to Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine, and Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz, president of Dignity Health’s Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz.
Isn’t Morehouse a historically black institution in Atlanta, Georgia?
Yes, it is.
And Dominican Hospital is one of seven sites that are part of the More in Common Alliance, a 10-year commitment between Morehouse School of Medicine and CommonSpirit Health to address healthcare disparities.
So how did this groundbreaking partnership come about?
Dr. Montgomery Rice, who trained in obstetrics and gynecology, told CapitolaSoquel Times it started with a phone call to Lloyd Dean, then president and CEO of Dignity Health, which in 2019 merged with Catholic Health Initiatives and became CommonSpirit Health.
She needed hospitals for her medical school graduates to go for their residency training programs, and her idea was to buy a hospital.
Since her expertise was not running a hospital, she asked Dean if he could loan her a couple of executives.
During the conversation, the two realized they shared goals for equity in health
outcomes, diversity in the workforce and serving the underserved.
But instead of loaning out his talent, he suggested offering the opportunity of creating a residency program at one of his many hospitals.
Dr. Mickiewicz was on a Zoom call with other Dignity hospital leaders during the Covid-19 pandemic when the subject came up.
She was the first to raise her hand.
“We’ll do it,” she said.
“You know me,” she told the Times.
“Never shy.”
That was three years ago.
Why is a residency program important?
It’s a mandatory step to achieving a license to practice in the U.S.
On July 16, the eight interns — five women and three men — got a warm
• Chrissa Karagiannis, DO
• Stanislava Matejin, MD
• Daniel Bishop, DO
• Dara Lopes, MD
• Farah Tiab, DO
• Francisco Arrieta, MD
• Chris Romo, MD
• Jyotan Sahni, MD
Chrissa Karagiannis, DO, who had an osteopathic fellowship, researched stigma reduction, and enjoys crafting and Pilates.
Stanislava Matejin, MD, who is from Serbia and has a master’s degree in public health, and is enthusiastic about horses, yoga, hiking and travel.
Farah Tiab, DO, who has roots in France and Algeria, lives in Santa Cruz with her husband and daughter and enjoys exercise, sushi and beach volleyball.
Francisco Arrieta, MD, from San Diego, who volunteered in Mexico in medical brigades, has an interest in rural towns, and is a fan of the San Diego Padres.
Chris Romo, MD, from Roseville, who worked as a caregiver, volunteered at a Spanish-speaking clinic, and enjoys surfing, cooking and photography.
Jyotan Sahni, MD, who came to the U.S. from India, has worked in a rehab center, and is passionate about holistic medicine, and enjoys spending time with her son, biking, swimming and camping.
are:
Dara Lopes, DO, a native of Hawaii who speaks Portuguese and Spanish, with interests in functional and integrative medicine, and enjoys cooking fresh spicy food.
Daniel Bishop, DO, who volunteered at Housing for Health, and has interests in addiction and mental health, met his wife at Harbor High School and they enjoy surfing.
Asked how she picked Santa Cruz, Lopes, 35, said she grew up partly in Brazil and then spent 10 years traveling before attending medical school.
While residency programs are known for stress and burnout, this one offered work-life balance, which was appealing.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup,” Lopes said.
New doctors get to rank the residency programs, and Rice was especially pleased that this program filled every slot.
“The goal is culturally competent providers,” she said, noting 45 % of residents come back to the community to practice medicine.
Dr. Mickiewicz added the adjective “humble.”
She observed health is not the mere absence of disease but achieving a state of well-being.
Dr. Montgomery Rice read an insightful letter she wrote to her younger self as entering her residency: “Don’t shy away from asking questions... Build lifetime partners and colleagues...Always humble yourself. You don’t have to do this alone. Don’t be too ashamed or arrogant. Lastly, have fun. Burnout is real. ... You will be great -- there is no other option.”
Dr. Rahmelle Thompson, executive director and assistant dean of pipeline initiatives at Morehouse School of Medicine, hopes thousands of residents will follow in their footsteps.
Dr. Veronica Mallett, system EVP, chief administrative officer at CommonSpirit Health, spoke of her dream to eliminate health inequities with a more diverse workforce.
welcome at a special “white coat ceremony” at the oceanview Hollins House at Pasatiempo Golf Course in Santa Cruz. They
“White Coats” page
Leaders of Dominican Hospital, CommonSpirit Health and Morehouse School of Medicine surround 8 physician interns in the More in Common Alliance’s inaugural family medicine residency program.
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“FireSafe” from page 18
Tim Hyland from State Parks talked about their Wildfire and Forest Resilience Program and the use of fire as a management tool for a positive recovery of the sand hills of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. He also outlined fire and fuel projects ranging from 50 acres in Ano Nuevo to 1,500 acres in Nisene Marks.
Similarly, Ed Fulton from the Bureau
of Land Management discussed their interagency fuels project. The fuels reduction project stretches from Bonny Doon down to Davenport. Collectively, these projects are building on natural buffers to limit and reduce the spread of fast-moving wildfires.
Madronus CEO Ivan O’Neill gave a presentation on the Wildfire Prepared Homes program. Madronus is a Bay Area company that assesses a home’s vulnerability and advises homeowners
Best Best
on insurance companies’ expectations. O’Neill illustrated his points with science and statistics on home ignitions.
This a point that Phil Dundas, owner of The Landscape Company, affirmed, stating that firescaping was the best way to love -and not fear -- your landscaping.
Pulling back the curtain of nondisclosure agreeements and secrecy, Jake Harris from DBL Partners moderated a panel that featured fireline augmenting robots, remotely operated water-dropping helicopters, and AI tools for evaluating fire risk.
The Summit concluded with a government panel moderated by local Fire Ecologist Michael Horn. The panel included State Sen. John Laird, Assembly member Gail Pellerin, and Supervisor Bruce
McPherson. Covering wildfire legislation and other ways the government is helping were the main focus, but Horn pushed them on real actionable items. Laird and Pellerin brought data to the conversation about the efforts to restore insurance coverage for the thousands who have been dropped.
The FSCSCC provided attendees with a full afternoon of inspiration and hope from learning from their own community members who are actively working to make things safer.
The FireSafe Council plans to make this an annual event to help add to the existing wildfire resilience work within Santa Cruz County. The success of wildfire resilience is dependent on scale and capacity, and this event connects people and information to build that resilience to wildfires. n
“White Coats” from page 20 Mickiewicz praised Dr. Greg Whitley, chief medical officer at Dominican Hospital, who was unable to attend, for his efforts to get he residency program started.
About 100 people attended, including Dr. Casey KirkHart, chief medical officer of the nonprofit Santa Cruz Community Health, who is site director for the family medicine residency program.
Other partners include locally owned Watsonville Community Hospital and the nonprofit Salud Para La Gente.
Julie Sprengel, president, California Region, CommonSpirit Health, noted CommonSpirit serves one in four people in California. She told the residents, “You chose the best place to come.”
Plans are in the works to create medical residency programs in Bakersfield and Oxnard, she added.
Michelle Johnson-Tidjani, senior executive vice president and chief administrative officer of CommonSpirit Health, said, “Thank you for stepping up to provide health care for a system that is inclusive, compassionate and just.”
Dr. Mickiewicz, who has been presidentCEO at Dominican Hospital for 24 years, has no plans to retire. Dominican is recruiting for the second class now and she wants to see what happens with this inaugural group of resident doctors in training. n
Dr. Veronica Mallett and Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice
FEATURED COLUMNIST
Me and Frank Zappa 1981
By Wendy Ballen
The year was 1981, the city, Santa Cruz. I was working as a baker at Staff of Life Bakery, the hippie health food store in Santa Cruz. I had graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in art. Sculpture was my thing.
As a work-study job which was part of my college grant, I worked at the coffee shop at Oakes College, where our student housing was. I was famous there for my anatomically correct ginger bread people. The girl cookies had boobs and the boys had, well, you know! The funny thing was that most people just bought the girl cookies.
When I applied for the baker’s job at Staff, Richard, one of the owners, noticed I had a burn scar on my inner wrist. It was the type of burn you get when reaching into the oven to pull out a cookie sheet and accidentally burn yourself on the oven rack. I was hired!
In those days we made a lot of wedding cakes, large birthday cakes and anniversary cakes. Since I was into sculpture, I asked the owners if they would sponsor me for a Cake Art Show. They were in! In 1982 and 1983 I had my Cake Art at the Louden Nelson (now called London Nelson) Community Center in downtown Santa Cruz. I spent weeks designing cakes, and 3 days prepping and building them. It was a blast! There was a large Rolls Royce Cake (Bahagwan Rajneesh folks were all over town), a 3-foot E.T. (the movie had just come out), a Geodesic Gingerbread Dome with a gingerbread person doing yoga inside.
In 1981, I came up with a big idea. Frank Zappa, one of my musical heroes, was playing at the Civic Auditorium that weekend. In the spur of the moment, I plotted a scheme. I would make a halfsheet carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and sculpt Zappa’s face on top. I’d put on my baker’s apron and hat, take
it down to the Civic in a pink baker’s box with a receipt taped to it. I’d go to the back where the roadies would be and pretend someone had ordered the cake.
I had a great time making that cake. I used half eggshells for his eyes, and long strands of black licorice for his hair. I made a pretty good likeness of him, boxed it up and drove down to the Civic Auditorium in my1964 Volkswagen hippie van named Orbit.
I pulled up near the big trucks that carried all the equipment, found a couple roadies and asked, “Who ordered the cake?”
They looked really surprised until I opened up the box and then broke out in big smiles. “Wait here,” they said. They went into the building and returned in a few minutes. They invited me in to a small room in the back, and then walked out.
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Frank was sitting at the table with his back to me and his head down. He turned around quickly and faced me. He had a pair of gag glasses that were two stainless steel forks welded together, and he stared at me mischievously through the tines of the forks.
After a minute of small talk, he thanked me for the cake and asked, “Is there anything illegal or immoral in the cake?”
I answered, “Absolutely not, I’m a professional baker from a local bakery.”
His roadies came back in and gave me a pass for the concert (I hadn’t bought a ticket).
I was ecstatic that my scheme was fruitful, and I got to meet one of my favorite musicians. The only thing that made me sad was I never took a photo of that cake. It was the one that got away. n
Wendy Ballen of Capitola is an artist, licensed acupuncturist and Qi Gong instructor. Her Bamboo Art! original paintings and greeting cards are available at Bamboo Giant Nursery in Aptos.
Frank was sitting at the table with his back to me and his head down. He turned around quickly and faced me. He had a pair of gag glasses that were two stainless steel forks welded together, and he stared at me mischievously through the tines of the forks.
Frank Zappa
Wendy Ballen
Infrastructure Improvements Ensuring a Reliable and Resilient Water System
By Rebecca Gold Rubin
We are committed to providing safe and reliable drinking water for more than 40,000 customers in the Santa Cruz Mid-County region, including Aptos, La Selva Beach, Opal Cliffs, Rio Del Mar, Seascape, Soquel, and portions of the City of Capitola. This also includes approximately 18,000 jobs, 22 parks, and 18 schools.
We carefully manage the operations of 16 production wells, 10 treatment plants, 14 pump stations, 18 tanks, 166 miles of pipeline, and over 80 monitoring wells. Investment into our infrastructure is a vital component of providing safe and reliable drinking water. Most residents and businesses do not give much thought to the invisible services we provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year until a water main breaks or they are without water.
sustainable, we must consistently fund projects every fiscal year to replace and upgrade aging infrastructure. We have several projects coming up in the next couple of years.
Water Main Replacements
Maintaining and replacing District water mains remains a continuous priority because it speaks to the heart of our strategic plan: to maintain a reliable and resilient water system and ensure delivery of high-quality, safe water. Service disruptions stemming from main breaks inconvenience customers and can temporarily impact water service and quality. These unexpected main breaks can lead to water loss while District personnel work to repair them.
to a six-inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipeline within the roadways of Moosehead Drive and Winfield Drive in Aptos. This project will also include replacing a portion of the existing two-inch and four-inch pipelines on Winfield Drive. Replacing this aging infrastructure will provide adequate fire flow capacity to the customers currently served by the Moosehead Drive water main. Proposed above-ground improvements include the installation of lowimpact air release vents and fire hydrants. Construction is anticipated to start in 2025.
To keep our system safe, reliable and
Moosehead Drive — Design work will be finished by the end of this year to replace and upsize an existing two-inch steel pipeline
Capitola Ave Bridge — Because of the CalTrans Highway 1 project that is replacing the Capitola Avenue Bridge, the existing water main was temporarily capped on each side. This allows water service to remain uninterrupted on Capitola Avenue but reduces water system reliability and is temporary to accommodate the work performed for the CalTrans project. Once the bridge has been rebuilt, the Capitola Avenue water main will be reconnected and is anticipated to begin in late 2025.
Other main replacements that are slated for the future include the Rio Del Mar/Highway 1 Interchange, Mar Vista Drive, and Sumner Drive, as well as assessing the water main that crosses the Stockton Avenue Bridge in Capitola. Water Reliability with Tank Maintenance, Well Rehab, and Booster Upgrades
Muchof our water system is nestled throughout our community near homes, parks, schools, and businesses.
On a day-to-day basis, our crews oversee the water production operations
through computerized systems as well as frequent site visits. In addition, the District conducts a maintenance program for our groundwater wells, treatment plants, and water storage tanks, which includes replacing pumps, repairing well casings, and recoating the interior and exterior of our water tanks to ensure reliability and maximize the lifespan of our infrastructure. Reliability and being able to move water through the District is a high priority in case of emergencies. Here are the projects slated for this year:
• Fairway Tank will get recoated
• Aquaview, Fairway, and Seascape Booster Stations will be upgraded
• Estates and Aptos Junior High Wells will get automatic transfer switches Wells and Treatment Plants
• Main Street well will get an electrical upgrade
• Cunnison Way Well will complete the design and begin construction
• Design of Chromium VI Treatment Plant to meet the State’s newly finalized regulations that will go into effect in 2026. Our commitment to maintaining and improving our infrastructure ensures that we can continue to provide top-tier service to our community. By proactively addressing potential issues and planning for future needs, we strive to prevent disruptions and maintain the quality and reliability of our water supply.
“Reliable Water” page 31
NAMI-SCC New Chief: Noeli Perez
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Santa Cruz County (NAMI-SCC) announces a new executive director Noeli Perez, succeeding Therese Adams, who is retiring after six years.
Raised in Watsonville, Perez has always had a passion for supporting the community she grew up in. She graduated from CSU Monterey Bay with a bachelor’s degree in communication focusing on women’s studies, and began working in the nonprofit sector eight years ago-- five with NAMI-SCC.
Most recently, she was associate director, working closely with Adams, to oversee NAMI-SCC’s many programs.
Perez has been instrumental in shaping and expanding NAMI-SCC’s programming exponentially, to serve Santa Cruz County equitably.
She is responsible for spearheading the implementation of culturally responsive mental health support in Spanish, and her focus on equity and compassion when designing and delivering programs have made NAMI-SCC a place where people affected by mental illness go from feeling hopeless about their struggles to feeling confident they have the knowledge and resources to support themselves and their loved ones.
She is a collaborative thought leader who has built thriving partnerships with local agencies, community collaboratives, funders, key local stakeholders, and families. Through fostering such impactful
and ongoing partnerships, she has effectively expanded NAMI-SCC’s reach to serve more youth and adults affected by mental illness as well as their families. n
If you have questions about NAMI programs, leave a message at (831)-824-0406 or visit www.namiscc.org
If you are looking for support and other local resources, leave a message at our English HelpLine: (831) 427-8020. Your call will be returned within 24 hours by a trained volunteer. For our Spanish HelpLine, call (831) 205-7074.
Noeli Perez
IN MEMORIAM
Hiroshi Goto
~ 1944-2024 ~
Hiroshi Goto, 80, passed away on June 14, 2024.
He was born in Kanagawa prefecture in Japan on January 18, 1944. He lived what would have been considered an ideal life in Japan.
He received his high school education from Shinjuku High School, and college education from Hitotsubashi University where he studied Economics. He went on to work for Japanline Co., a large shipping company.
Yet, at the age of 44, his yearning to experience life outside of Japan brought him and his family to the United States.
In the US, he lived in Palos Verdes, Moraga, Redmond, WA, and finally Aptos.
He enjoyed simple things in life.
He and his wife, Hiroko, have been spotted many times in Aptos picking up trash. They were proud of keeping the neighborhood clean for others to enjoy. Some days, they would spend 3 to 4 hours in various parts of the city picking up trash.
They also made homemade ice cream and invited their neighbors every year on July 4th.
He enjoyed singing in a choir, learning foreign languages, which included French, Italian, and German, cooking, and inviting guests to come taste his delicious food.
He was a member of Aptos United Methodist Church. As a lay person, he had studied classical Greek and Hebrew to better understand Scripture. Late in his life, he received a certificate to become a lay preacher. His thought-provoking and occasionally humorous sermons were enjoyed by many churches.
Hiroshi will be remembered by countless lives he touched for his generosity.
Hiroshi is survived by his wife, Hiroko, his two sons, Ken (Maki) and Shinya (Jennifer) and his grandchildren, Dakota, Miho, Reina, and Daiki.
His memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 17, at Aptos United Methodist Church, 221 Thunderbird Dr., at 10 a.m. n
Leo’s Creative Gifts & the Magic Star Regulus
D’Angeles
We rejoice when the Sun enters Leo, sign of the heart of all that matters, sign of the intelligent heart and the heart of intelligence. Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, the 2nd fire sign (after Aries). Concerning the heart chakra — in Leo, the energy that has been in the solar plexus (emotional upheaval, separative thinking) has the opportunity to lift itself up to the heart.
This reorients the energy in the body from a downward spiral into more and more matter to an upward spiral of balance, harmony and equilibrium.
The heart is the central balancing point in the body, in between the lower instincts and the higher intuition. When we are focused in the heart, we are able to step upon the Evolutionary Arc which is the path that leads back to heaven, to spirit.
There is a royal star in Leo called Regulus, the Star of the Magi, the star of Magic called Magha. It is the star of the White Magician whose task is to anchor into the world new rhythms and archetypes that lead humanity to the new era of love, knowledge and freedom.
ARIES
The last full moon Cancer solar festival light created a challenge between home and profession, bringing that duality to light. It calls you to unify and synthesize how you value both realms. Because there are opposite tasks involved for each, one can feel the difficulty of being pulled in two different directions. However, this doesn’t need to be. Things visualized and planned for eventually emerge into a synthesis and integration. Both then seem like a splendid harvest. As you lead, do it with love, or leadership fails.
TAURUS
You’re emerging as a great and important teacher, (Last week’s) Cancer/Capricorn full moon is said to be a time when the true teacher is recognized and thus gratitude is given. The Dalai Lama has said we are to rejoice in the Teacher (and the Teachings). A question — What teachers blessed you with their knowledge, wisdom, love and goodness? Thank them (even if it’s internally). You are to become greater than they. The student is always to surpass the teacher - one of the student’s spiritual tasks.
GEMINI
You are to be sensitive to impressions from higher cosmic realms so you can be introduced to and begin to understand more and more the ancient mysteries. They are embedded in these astrological and esoteric writings. What concerned you prior to the Cancer full moon is now forgotten. Venus, your Soul ruler asks you to list all that you value (things, events, people, behaviors, facts, experiences, etc.). As you see your values in words a greater identity comes forth. Tend to your money and resources with intelligence.
CANCER
To figure out what’s truly important to us, we often have to observe our daily routines. This takes great observational skills. When one is training to be a Montessori teacher, the first task ix observation — in a zoo, on a park bench, in a nursery with babies. Observation is the first level of training for everything. Questions. What are you doing that’s routine each day, this week and month? How do you decide what you accomplish each day? Are your days and nights nurturing for you? Do you provide yourself with the same nurturance, safety and security you provide for others? Careful with communication. You may not be able to hear yourself.
There is a task for humanity during Leo. We are to focus on our talents, abilities, gifts and aspiration, recognize them and further cultivate them. They are part of our creative identity (“I know myself by recognizing my talents and gifts and what I create.”) and they are and will be needed and called forth to build the new Aquarian culture and civilization. The questions for each of us during Leo are: 1. What is in my heart? 2. What are my talents, gifts and abilities? 3. How can I cultivate them further? And during Leo, the identity of “I am a creator and I identify myself as one. I am regal, I am noble, I am creative!”
Upcoming Aquarian Salon - The next Aquarian Salon, with the summer signs (Cancer, Leo, Virgo), is this Sunday, July 27, 2024 10am (Pacific time). The Theme is The Mother. Everyone is invited. It’s an international conversation on art, astrology, the wisdom teachings, with a gallery and a salon. n
Info: https://good-will.ch/pdf/aquariansalon.pdf
Telegram: https://t.me/aquariansalon
LEO
Happy Birthday, Leo. It’s the beginning of Sun in Leo. You above all should have a month-long birthday party. Will you have a birthday party this year? Do allow yourself time away from work and responsibilities. Allow yourself interesting study that increases your imagination. You must have time for free play (which you like and need). It creates a soothing respite, offers a sense of comfort and care that sometimes you seek from others (which they are unable to provide). Work in several weeks becomes quite intense. Prepare yourself now with a time of rest and relaxation. Nurture and nourish yourself. Don’t become weary.
VIRGO
So much functions internally within you, and to most this is an unknown factor of Virgo. And so much about you is creative. Perhaps you also don’t quite recognize this. Virgo’s ability to order, organize and tend to things in detail are really fine creative talents. Virgos have great discernment, too. They hold within themselves so many gifts, but they are so often veiled by a sense of subtle expectations, criticisms and that everything must be perfect. Here is a secret. Everything already IS perfect. It’s a state of magic to believe that. Ponder on this statement. Let it permeate your heart and mind. More magic then happens!
LIBRA
So much is in flux, shifting about, changing as you stand with less and less knowable direction. What is shifting is a new state of self-identity, one that calls you to nourish yourself and others more As you change and merge into a new self-awareness, as your home life transforms (perhaps into greater beauty, order, organization?), the structure of your mind, beliefs, and thinking will change, too. What seemed like obstacles appearing in daily life slowly dissipate and melt away Whatever you justify doing, if kindness is not involved, this too will dissolve and melt away. Question. Who loves you the most?
SCORPIO
Are there subtle and ongoing questions on inner levels concerning resources, money and finances and what is available now and in the future? This, at times, causes deep anxiety. It’s good to communicate about these things to those who can listen. Communicating expands our awareness and calms reactions to what seems like continual change. Soon you will feel the need for travel which always offers a hopeful philosophy of life. Plan now for that travel. Not in August (Mercury retro!) but before or after. In the meantime paring down all expenses allows for emerging new and unusual resources to appear.
SAGITTARIUS
It’s good to follow the advice about communication and finances given to Scorpio. This is an important time when you think deeply on how you would want to improve or expand upon any (perhaps all) aspects of how you are in relationships. At times you’re very dedicated, often open and enthusiastic. At other times you can drop down to a middlin’ and static state of being. From heights of achievement and authority to a lack of confidence. These are normal behaviors for everyone. An ebb and flow occurring. Do not pressure yourself in any way. Balance always comes in time.
CAPRICORN
Careful driving, communicating and doing things that demand a clear and focused mind. You are entering a state where your mind and thinking are being refined. At first and at times, veils seem to drop over your eyes. Then your mind feels confused and in other worlds. These are symptoms of mental and emotional refinement. However, you also need to care for yourself, health-wise with a planned regimen of scheduled eating (always breakfast with protein), vitamins and minerals, hydrogenated water, and a diet that is mostly gluten and sugar free. Make this type of food for the entire family. It’s easy to do. These are your new directions.
AQUARIUS
All things cultural call out the best in you, they capture your creative spirit, provide new confidence and realizations and true identity that you are an artist. All that you do brings forth for others new and different perspectives. Many of us don’t realize or understand our great gifts or how we influence others by simply following our hopes, dreams and visions, likes, wants and wishes. Question: What are all of yours? On a practical level, begin and continue to be very disciplined with money, resources and finances. A mantram to help you sleep — “I have all that I need. Everything I need comes to me in right timing. I am grateful.”
PISCES
Home is the best place to concentrate on health and well-being. Focus on preparing the correct foods your body needs, tend to your body’s comforts and accomplish the daily tasks of nourishment and nurturance. Over time, these protect the body. With Saturn and Neptune both in Pisces, your nervous system needs routine, rhythm and structure, as well as a specific and well- defined enclosed space. If sensitive to sounds, take extra magnesium and calcium. Pisces need the deepest care of all the signs. You may be going home again. Learn this time about your heritage.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SEACLIFF STROLL
The Seacliff Improvement Association invites friends, families, neighbors and RTC commissioners to stroll to the Aptos Village Green at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3. Walk to Aptos Village from Seacliff to get a street view of the safety challenges pedestrians face walking to Aptos Village.
Upon arrival, participants will take a brief pedestrian survey, meet with representatives from local agencies, enjoy a snack from New Leaf Community Market, and win prizes from Aptos Village merchants. Participants are asked to audit their return trip and report pedestrian, bike and road hazards to appropriate agencies, and share hazard reporting methods with their friends and neighbors.
The association won a grant from America Walks to demonstrate the importance of funding complete streets (sidewalks & bike lanes) to safely connect Aptos Village with the rest of Aptos.
The main goal of the stroll is to increase awareness and accessibility for all non-drivers, and specifically students, those employed in the village, transit riders, families, and those with mobility impairments. Commuters face a very challenging drive as traffic backs up through the Aptos chokepoint on both sides of Highway 1. Those who use Soquel Drive through Aptos Village add to the congestion of locals trying to visit village businesses.
Everyone who opts to walk or bike instead of drive wants drivers to appreciate this by respecting pedestrians and cyclists.
If you come, you can meet Seacliff neighbor and Santa Cruz County Deputy CAO Matt Machado at Marianne’s Ice Cream in Seacliff to begin your stroll. RSVP to: info@seacliffimprovement.org • Seacliff Improvement Association www.seacliffimprovement.org.
For more info, visit seacliffimprovement.org or americawalks.org.
NOV. 5 ELECTION: IMPORTANT DATES
Aug. 9: Deadline for candidates to file.
Aug. 9: Deadline for filing tax rate statement for bond measures.
Aug. 14: Deadline to file if incumbent does not run.
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.
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
Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? E-mail info (no PDFs please) to info@cyber-times.com
For beginning of the month, due the 15th • For mid-month, due the 1st
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.
SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE
Incentive amounts are double for qualifying lowincome applicants such as those households of four with earnings below $106,240.
Purchase or lease date must be after July 1. Details and applications are at: https://www.mbard.org/electric-vehicleincentive-program
LIVE YOUR DREAM
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.
NATIONAL ROLLER COASTER DAY
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Giant Dipper at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Wednesday, Aug. 7, is the final day for visitors to enjoy the Dipper for the retro price of $1 per ride.
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 through Sept. 28 under the trees and stars in the Audrey Stanley Grove (The Grove) at Santa Cruz’s DeLaveaga Park. Showtime is 8 p.m. Hamlet, directed by Susan Dalian opens at 8 p.m. Aug. 2.
The Glass Menagerie directed by Charles Pasternak opens at 8 p.m. Sept. 13.
Ticket prices range from $20 to $70 at www.santacruzshakespeare.org.
USED EV INCENTIVES
On July 1, the Monterey Bay Air Resources District launched the FY 2024-25 Electric Vehicle In-centive Program offering incentives to the public to buy used fully electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Electric vehicles tend to cost more than gas-powered vehicles, so by including used vehicles, the hope is to make the purchase or lease more affordable. The incentives for new vehicles:
• $2500 for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles
• $1500 for Battery Electric Vehicles
• $750 for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles
• $750 for Electric Motorcycles
Incentives for used vehicles:
• $1000 for Battery Electric Vehicles
• $500 for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles
• $500 for Electric Motorcycles
Richard Stedman, Air Pollution Control Officer for the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, said, “Over 60% of the total emission of NOx (oxides of nitrogen) in the Monterey Bay area comes from motor vehicles. Fully electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions. By encour-aging and incentivizing their use, significant long term air quality benefits can be achieved.”
Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea will launch its search for applicants for its 2025 “Live Your Dream” awards on Aug 15.
Women who are enrolled in or have been accepted into a bachelor’s or a technical training program, are heads of their households and have a demonstrated need are eligible to apply.
Each winner will receive a cash award that may be used to pay for anything they need to help them complete their educational program such as food, rent, car repairs, child care and health care. The Club typically gives five awards to local women.
Therese Malachowski, Live Your Dream program chair, said, “Our winners are typically single moms who want to be able to support themselves and their children and know that a good education makes that possible.”
Deadline to apply is Nov. 15. Applications will be at www.soroptimist.org, click on the “Live Your Dream” logo and review the eligibility requirements and application instructions. Winners will be announced in January 2025 and an awards ceremony will be in March.
Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to education and training to achieve economic empowerment.
See www.best4women.org.
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
SOQUEL HOMESTEADERS MARKET
Second and Fourth Saturdays
11 a.m.-3 p.m., 2505 and 2525 South Main St. parking lots
Soquel Homesteaders Markets is in the parking lots across from Soquel business’s Beer 30, Sunny Side Produce, Buzzo Wood Fired Pizza, and Carpo’s. It will be active through Dec. 14.
RIGHT: Tony Morey of Groundswell Fungi in Live Oak shows off pink oyster mushrooms.
LOWER RIGHT: Pam Larwood of Craft Apothecary at Chick’N Heart Farm in Aptos.
Then, visit on Saturday, Aug. 17, National Roller Coaster Day, and if you’re one of the first 100 riders of the day you will receive a Boardwalk souvenir cup!
SECOND HARVEST NEEDS VOLUNTEERS ASAP
While many enjoy summer vacations, the need for food assistance in the community does not take a break. 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: Aug. 3, 10 and 17.
To sign up, visit thefoodbank.org or https://tinyurl.com/ SHFB-volunteer, or call (831) 232-8141.
BEGINNING BRIDGE CLASSES
Starts Wednesday, Aug. 7 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Santa Cruz Bridge Center, 2450 17th Ave. Do you know someone who wants to learn the greatest card game ever?
Bette Harken will instruct Beginning Bridge Classes at the Santa Cruz Bridge Center beginning Aug. 7. First class is free. Following classes $10 each. To sign up: Contact Bette Harken at: bdharken@comcast.net
SOROPTIMISTS RENT CHAIRS AT SHAKESPEARE
Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea is renting cushions, beach chairs and blankets on cold nights at all 67 Santa Cruz Shakespeare shows in the Audrey Stanley Grove in Delaveaga Park, 501 Upper Park Road, Santa Cruz, which runs through Sept. 28.
Potential members or others interested in learning more about the Club’s work and activities are invited to visit the rental booth and talk to a member.
Proceeds from the booth are the Club’s major fundraiser and a portion is shared with SCS. Email sicapitola.by.the.sea@gmail.com
ALL ABOARD TRAIN ART THRU AUG. 12
Studio Judy G, 430 Main St., Watsonville
Studio Judy G presents All Aboard, an exhibition broadcasting the magnificence of trains, through Aug. 12. See artwork by more than a dozen artists.
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.”
Felipe Hernandez, Fourth District supervisor for Santa Cruz County, says his constituents have “expressed the need for sustainable multi-modal
Artist Dana Schmidt with her watercolor of the Capitola Venetian.
transportation and Zero Emissions Rail & Trail, specifically. They just want to alleviate the gridlock they face.”
A portion of sales will be contributed to Coast Futura, the electric rail car, and FORT (Friends of Rail and Trail).
MUSIC IN THE PLAZA
The city of Watsonville presents free concerts 6-8 p.m. at the Plaza downtown. Here is the lineup:
Aug. 2: Five Star Band
Aug. 16: D-Kovers
Sept. 6: Roots Rockers
ANIMAL SHELTER SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is seeking volunteers for a clinic hosted by Planned Pethood and Animal Balance to provide 200 animals with low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and other services Aug. 16-18 and Nov. 15-17 at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s “annex” at 2260 7th Ave.
The Animal Shelter needs 10-12 volunteers each day of the event from 8 a.m. until 5-6 p.m. Half-day shifts may be available.
The Shelter needs agile, active folks comfortable working with animals and who can focus well in a busy environment. A positive attitude and teamwork skills are a must.
Bilingual volunteers and those with veterinary or animal experience are especially encouraged to sign up, but all will be provided necessary training.
Volunteers who are not already shelter volunteers should sign up by contacting the Animal Shelter’s Volunteer Coordinator Megan Carroll, at 831-454-7209 or megan.carroll@santacruzcountyca.gov.
Ideally, volunteers would sign up for the same position multiple days in a row to minimize training needs, but this is not a requirement.
Volunteers must provide their own transportation and parking will be limited.
WOMENCARE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
WomenCare, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free support services to women diagnosed with cancer in Santa Cruz County, needs volunteers. Ways to help: Transportation Assistance (greatest need!): Drive clients to and from their medical appointments, locally and throughout the Bay Area.
Errand Running: Assist with everyday tasks, such as grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions. Office Assistance (4 hour shift per week): Support clients on the telephone, resource referral for clients, work on special projects, and help with general maintenance of services.
Friends Committee: Help organize the annual Strike Out Against Cancer bowling fundraiser, create annual appeals, assist in other community fundraisers that benefit WomenCare, and help with community outreach.
A cancer diagnosis often results in transportation and logistical challenges. By volunteering, you help alleviate these burdens, allowing local women to focus on their treatment and recovery. Your support ensures that no woman faces cancer alone.
Learn more and fill out an application at https://fsa-cc. org/womencare/volunteer/
Reach out by calling the office 831-457-2273 or email sims.p@ fsa-cc.org
COUNTY FAIR BOARD MEETINGS
The Santa Cruz County Fair Board will meet each month in 2024 except September and November.
Remaining dates are 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
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
REINFORCING CULTURAL IDENTITY DANCE & MUSIC
Esperanza del Valle, a grantee of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, with Cabrillo College, will host the first international Reinforcing Cultural Identity Dance & Music Conference Aug. 15-25.
The conference will feature Dr. Daniel del Valle Hernandez, artistic director of the Ballet Folklorico del Puerto de Veracruz de la Universidad Veracruzana, two dozen dancers, and eight musicians who make up the musical group Nematatlin. Visiting artists will teach and perform the rich cultural dance and music traditions of Veracruz, Mexico, and the conference will offer programs for youth, teens, students, adults/seniors, and the community at large.
Ruby Vásquez, one of the conference organizers and a member of the Community Foundation’s Rise Together initiative says, “The folklorico dance and music conference reinforces cultural identity for the newly arrived Mexican immigrant population as well as the 2nd and 3rd generations by bringing music, dance, and traditions that instill pride in their culture, filling a void that is often dismissed. It also provides an opportunity for those whose families have immigrated from other countries to reconnect with their cultural heritage through the arts.” Register at https://esperanzadelvalle.weebly.com/rci-conference.html
Photo: Dancers from Ballet Folklorico del Puerto de Veracruz will visit Watsonville and Aptos for a conference and performances in August.
ONGOING EVENTS
Ongoing thru September 29
EXHIBIT: TIES THAT BIND
M.K. Contemporary Art, 703 Front St., Santa Cruz
M.K. Contemporary Art presents Ties that Bind featuring the work of 26
talented local Santa Cruz artists. Each artist is part of a creative couple, united in both their art and their lives.
Exhibiting : Wendy Aikin, Jody Alexander, IB Bayo, Rachel Clark, Tim Craighead, Linda Craighead, Marc D’Estout, Ian Everard, r.r. Jones, Robin Kandel, Bo Kvenild, Terrie Kvenild, Claire Lerner, Jasper Marino, Will Marino, Ann Morhauser, Gayle Ortiz, Joe Ortiz, Beverly Rayner, Taylor Reinhold, Paul Roehl, Beth Shields, Judy Stabile, Lynne Todaro, Margitta Dietrick Welsh, and Stan Welsh.
Artist Reception: 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 with First Friday Receptions Aug. 2 & Sept. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. and an artist talk Sunday, Sept. 15, from 4 to 6 p.m.
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.
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
Fridays in August
MIDTOWN SUMMER BLOCK PARTY
5-8:30 p.m., Midtown Square, 1111 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Come to the Midtown Summer Block Party every Friday through Aug. 30.
Enjoy food, artists, live music, and vendors at Midtown Square.
Here is the lineup for the rest of the summer. Aug. 2: Anthony Arya – Opener: TBA Aug. 9: Cowboys After Dark – Opener: Shawn Yanez
Aug. 16: Ribsy’s Nickel – Opener: The Rayburn Brothers
Aug. 23: Spun – Opener: Dave Miller (Nomad)
Aug. 30: Alex Lucero Band – Opener: Honey Disposition
DATED EVENTS
Tuesday August 6
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office will host National Night Out at 3 locations around the county for some community fun.
National Night Out is a yearly campaign that promotes law enforcement-community partnerships. Enjoy interactive games, food, music and the chance to chat with your local law enforcement in a fun setting.
Locations are:
Boulder Creek Fire Station, 13210 Central Ave., 4-7 p.m.
757 Green Valley Road, Watsonville, 3-7 p.m Canterbury Apartments, 151 Canterbury Drive, Aptos, 4-6 p.m.
Friday August 9
BREASTFEEDING HEALTH FAIR & WALK
3-5:30 p.m., Watsonville Plaza Park, 358 Main St. (walk begins 5 p.m.) Community Bridges & WIC’s 17th annual Breastfeeding Health Fair and Walk will take place at the Watsonville Plaza Park downtown.
This event, which is open to the public, celebrates World Breastfeeding Week and Breastfeed-ing Awareness Month. Breast milk provides healthy nutrition for babies and children and sup-ports the health of mothers and their children with immune protection and chronic disease-fighting power. There will be activities for the whole family, a children’s play area, a live DJ, community re-sources, healthy snacks, free t-shirts, raffle prizes, and more. Also there will be a donor human milk drive, with the Mothers’ Milk Bank San Jose.
Information: www.communitybridges.org
PHENOMENON BRUNO GROENING DOCUMENTARY 6:30 p.m., London Nelson Community Center (Room 4), 301 Center St., Santa Cruz
A documentary film, “The Phenomenon Bruno Groening” will be shown at no charge at the London Nelson Community Center. The film features 50 eyewitnesses, many photos, documents and some film footage from 1949.
Bruno Groening gained fame in Germany in the late 1940s as a miracle healer. Prior to this, he was a member of the Nazi Party, and spent several months in a prisoner of war camp. At age 52, he died of cancer.
He devoted his life to reconnecting people with God and ending people’s suffering. Some viewers report feeling a power, a tingling or current in their bodies while watching the film and some have reported the disappearance of pain and other forms of suffering. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. The presentation is organized by Bruno Groening Circle of Friends and Circle for Spiritual Aid for Life, Inc. For information, call Lisa Lemucchi at 831-227-0954.
Saturday August 10
NEW LEAF 5-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
3-7 p.m., 161 Aptos Village Way
New Leaf Aptos will host a family-friendly event to celebrate 5 years in Aptos Village!
There will be live music, kid’s activities, local wine tasting, small bites, special in-store discounts, prizes & more!
This is a free community event with food & drink proceeds to benefit Santa Cruz Public Libraries.
Rachel Clark’s artistry
National Association of Counties Work for Santa Cruz County
Ongoing natural disasters and the delays with funding reimbursements, which have put the County in challenging budgetary environment, have highlighted the need for continued federal advocacy for our local and regional issues.
While we have strong working relationships with our federal delegation and our office has had strong success in partnership with the White House, having broad-based (bipartisan) support for legislative changes is essential. One of the most effective ways our County’s voice is elevated in Washington, D.C. is through the National Association of Counties (NACo).
What is the National Association of Counties (NACo)?
The National Association of Counties (NACo) serves as the primary advocacy organization for counties. They advocate county priorities in federal policymaking and allow for information sharing of model county polices and practices to optimize taxpayer resources and provide cost savings.
level: The NACO Board of Directors, which serves as the primary voice on county policy priorities to our federal partners including the Administration and Congress — the Telecommunications and Technology Committee, which focuses on all matters pertaining to technology policy, including rural broadband and the AI Exploratory Committee - which has been helping with the regulatory environment for artificial intelligence at the local and federal levels.
What issues has Santa Cruz County sought NACo help with?
Atthe recent NACo Annual Conference in Florida, on behalf of Santa Cruz County, I sponsored two resolutions for consideration for support.
Our Deputy County Administrative Officer Matt Machado and the California State Association of Counties were instrumental in helping present these resolutions during the meetings.
NACo is a non-partisan organization and as such is well-received when advocating on behalf of county needs at the federal level. Over the last few years, I was selected to serve on key NACo committees to help advocate for Santa Cruz County’s needs at the federal
There is an extensive process for resolution consideration throughout the year and at the Annual Conference the resolutions are considered by relevant committees and the NACo membership. If adopted as policy resolutions by NACo, these issues will be advocated for by NACo and member counties at the federal level.
This broad-based support allows for issues that impact Santa Cruz County to be heard by the Administration and members of Congress in ways they wouldn’t normally if it were just our County reaching out.
The first resolution, approved unanimously by NACo, deals with how federally-funded water infrastructure projects are prioritized and funded. Locally, this pertains to the Pajaro River project.
Over the last few years,
By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District
we have successfully advocated for this resolution and the subsequent changes in how federal flood funding occurs.
As has been covered extensively in the last few months, the federal process for funding projects like the Pajaro River puts lower-income communities (and more rural communities) at a disadvantage. Specifically, the process for conducting cost-benefit analyses for flood control projects does not properly acknowledge the value of agricultural land or socio-economic factors.
This resolution works to advocate for a quantitative indexed value to life-safety, agricultural land value and the impacts of crop flooding, protection of low-income communities and environmental benefits to determine the benefit of federal investments in flood control projects.
We have successfully advocated for this before and have seen significant movement at the federal level as a result — including securing funding for the Pajaro River project. But as important (beyond our county’s needs) this helps even the playing field for other similarly-situated communities across the country that are experiencing the same issue — a lower-prioritization of funding for Army Corps projects because of how benefits are currently calculated.
The second resolution, also approved unanimously, pertains to how stormdamaged roads are repaired and reimbursed after federally-declared disasters. Specifically, the resolution looks to amend current law governing the use of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief funds, which do not allow enough time for counties with projects to repair roads damaged in federally declared disasters to advance to the construction stage.
While FHWA has been significantly quicker at reimbursements than FEMA (and we have also been working with NACo on improving FEMA reimbursements — with some recent success) — this is a legislative change that would be relatively easy to make that would help benefit communities across the country.
After federal-declared disasters, it is
[NACo] serves as the primary advocacy organization for counties. They advocate county priorities in federal policymaking and allow for information sharing of model county polices and practices to optimize taxpayer resources and provide cost savings.
common for Congress to provide emergency funding to federal agencies to address damages in communities impacted by the events. The FHWA at the Department of Transportation has an Emergency Relief Fund that is funded by Congress to assist with severe road damages (such as this past winter).
Current federal law governing this funding requires that projects must be in construction by the end of the second year following the disaster occurrence.
However, the process of bringing a road repair project into the construction stage is time-consuming for a number of reasons: Right-of-way acquisition and construction easements, scoping with FHWA, backlogs from previous emergencies, litigation, environmental review and permitting requirements, limitation on contractor availability in smaller communities, to name a few.
As a result, it is a common occurrence that recipients this type of assistance need more than two years to bring a project to construction and request extensions. These extensions can be denied - even if the reasons for the delay are completely out of local government’s hands. This resolution advocates for more time beyond the two-year requirement.
If you’re interested in learning more about NACo, you can visit their website at: www.naco.org. n
As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue). I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/supervisorfriend and you can always call me at 454-2200.
SCCAS Featured Pet
Snow White Sweethearts!
Meet Ella (A307851) and Nova (A307852)! These two fantastically fluffy ladies are the ying to each other’s yang and would thrive in a home together. They have been at the shelter for a few months and we have learned a lot about them in that time!
Ella is more outgoing while Nova follows her lead. Both dogs are great in the car and they love a good sniffari walk where they can take in all the exciting smells of the world.
These pups have been out on adventures with volunteers and have had a great time — like most Huskies they do need daily exercise and mental stimulation.
At the shelter they love to play with toys in the yards, play fetch and race after each other. Since being at the Shelter they have come out of their shells with staff, volunteers and the public. They love baths and getting massages — who doesn’t?!
At the Shelter they met other dogs and have done well with them. Considering past observations of prey drive they are not recommended for a home with cats or other small animals. They might fit well in a home with dog savvy children. These two pups are sweeties and are looking for a home where they can run, play and get all of the love that they deserve. If you are looking for a great pair of pupscheck out Ella and Nova!
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
“Reliable Water” from page 24
As we progress with these projects, we remain dedicated to transparency, ensuring our customers are well-informed and involved in the process. You can follow our Project in Your Neighborhood web page — https://www.soquelcreekwater.org/284/ Projects-in-Your-Neighborhood — for information as these projects begin.
Thank you for your continued support and trust in the Soquel Creek Water District. n
As always, if you have any questions about this month’s topic, feel free to contact Becca Rubin, the District’s Public Outreach Coordinator, at beccar@soquelcreekwater. org or 831-475-8501 x118 and visit www. soquelcreekwater.org.
“Calendar” from page 29
SECOND SATURDAY ON THE FARM
11 a.m. –3 p.m., Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville
Bring your family, friends and your neighbors to the 2nd Saturday on the Farm event at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
The Agricultural History Project’s 2nd Saturday events are like taking a step back in time and this month the theme is Western Day on the Farm.
This will be a day to celebrate the history of agriculture while learning more about what the future holds for agriculture. Kids of all ages will enjoy tractor driving, wooden cow milking and the old-fashioned water pump!
Bring your lunch and enjoy a picnic at tables under the trees or spread a blanket on the grass. This is an event for the entire family!
Admission is free and donations are gladly accepted.
a fundraising softball tournament at Rolling Hills Middle School.
Nonprofits and businesses are invited to put together a team and compete for the title of champion. Registration is $360. Proceeds will go to support Luna y Sol Familia Center
Deadline to apply: Aug. 16
For information, visit pvhealthtrust.org/rally-in-the-pajaro-valley/ or contact Eli Garnica at egarnica@pvhealthtrust.org
Wednesday August 28
APTOS CHAMBER FALL MIXER
5-7 p.m., Sevy’s Kitchen, Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court
Aptos Chamber of Commerce hosts a Fall Mixer outside on the patio (weather permitting) at Sevy’s Kitchen at the Seacliff Inn.
Sevy’s Kitchen will offer a variety of appetizers and a no-host bar.
Fee: $10 per person or bring a guest — 2 for $15
Statepoint Media
Saturday August 17
CLAWS FOR A CAUSE
2-4 p.m., Watsonville Elks Lodge, 121 Martinelli St. Maine Lobster anyone?
Eventbrite.com now has tickets online for the Watsonville Rotary Club’s 2024 “Claws for a Cause” Maine Lobster ‘Take-Out’ Dinner Fundraiser , at the Watsonville Elks Lodge. You take home in steam pots we provide and cook in just 30 minutes. Tickets are $85 to serve two.
Saturday August 24
RALLY IN THE PAJARO VALLEY SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Rolling Hills Middle School, 130 Herman Ave., Watsonville
The Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, with the City of Watsonville and Pajaro Valley Unified School District, announces the fourth annual Rally in the Pajaro Valley,
Friday August 30 thru
Sunday September 1
SUCCULENT SOCIETY SHOW AND SALE
Portuguese Community Hall, 124 Atkinson Lane, Watsonville Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society will present a Show and Sale at the Portu-guese Community Hall, 124 Atkinson Lane, Watsonville. Hours are:
Friday, August 30 open 3-6 p.m. Members only Saturday, August 31, open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Open to all. Sunday, Sept. 1, open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Open to all. Free parking, free admission. Experts on hand to answer your questions! Free demonstrations! Large variety of plants, pots and more available for sale. Amazing specimens in the show for your viewing pleasure. For information, go to www.mbcss.org or call Mary at 831228-2389. n
