Aptos Times: December Mid-Month, 2018

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December 15, 2018 • Vol 27 No. 24 • www.tpgonlinedaily.com

‘Radical Kindness’ Project

This weekend Twin Lakes Church in Aptos, California will update members on its “Kindness Projects.” As part of a church initiative to do radical acts of kindness, over one million pounds of food has been raised for Second Harvest Food Bank, $104,000 given for Northern California fire relief, and much more.

Full Story page 5

Reopening Public Access along Beach Dr.

The Mariners’ Spectacular Season

By Lori Landino On December 8, the Aptos High School Varsity Football Team played in front of over 3,000 football fans in their hometown stadium.

The bleachers were filled to capacity with cheering family and friends who came out to support their beloved

team. The Aptos High Choir kicked off the game by singing the National Anthem.

One week before, the Mariners made school history by defeating Sacred Heart Prep 35-34 to win the CCS Open Division III title. ... continues on page 4

Recently, the County placed up Coastal Access signs along Beach Drive (near the Rio Del Mar Esplanade) letting the public know about their ability to use the public access pathway on the coastal side of the homes on Beach Drive.

Full Story page 7

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No. 24

Volume 27

17

21

30

Table of Contents

12

INTRODUCING

Sereno Group’s 2 n ew o f f i c es

Cover

The Mariners’ Spectacular Season By Lori Landino

5 6 7 8

9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16

Community News ‘Radical Kindness’ Project a Success: Twin Lakes Gathers 1M Pounds for Food Bank, Raises $100K for Fire Relief County DA Appoints New Chief Deputy Reopening Public Access along Beach Drive By Zach Friend Half-Price Adoption Special: Special to Find Forever Homes for Shelter Animals Lasts Through December • Free CPR Class • Volunteer for MAH Young Writers Program • Congressman Panetta Announces Mobile Office Hours in SC for Veterans • Post Office Mail Deadlines 2018 Holiday Shipping Dates • Salvation Army Food Box • Don’t Forget To Mention the Santa Cruz SPCA When Shopping at Deluxe Foods • Walking the Dog at Night ‘Our Community Reads’ Returns in January: Friends of Aptos Library Prepares for a Terrific Series of Events • PVUSD Offering Free Bus Driver Training Classes County Schools Come Together: Fund Raiser to Help Paradise Students Impacted by the Camp Fire • SqCWD Invited to Submit Formal Proposal for State Grant: Funding Could Support Groundwater Replenishment and Seawater Intrusion Prevention Project Disaster Preparedness Meetings SC Native Earns Military Excellence By Alan Nunn, Recruit Training Command Public Affairs Panetta Speaks about 2018 Farm Bill Local Children’s Choir to Join the Pros KSQD Has a New Home Staying Safe On County Roads

APTOS VILLAGE

1 5 PA R A D E S T R E E T, A P TO S

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ

7 2 0 FRON T S T R E E T, S A N TA C R U Z

New in Town 17 Curves: Keeping Strong & Healthy

Home & Garden 20 Blood Orange Port Marmalade 21 Holiday Activities for Families

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Your November Horoscope Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

18 23 25 26 30

Featured Columnists Green Gift Guide: Books By Earthtalk Keeping Pets Safe in a Disaster By Tiffany L. Mitchener, DVM It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like… By Janet Payne-Downs State of the PVUSD by Jeff Ursino Reporting Issues to the County From Your Smartphone By Zach Friend

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 27 — Patches

www.tpgonlinedaily.com 3 / December 15th 2018 /

W W W. S E R E N O G R O U P. C O M APTOS • SANTA CRUZ LOS GATOS • LOS GATOS NORTHPOINT • SARATOGA WILLOW GLEN • LOS ALTOS • PALO ALTO facebook.com/serenogroup

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Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS publisher Patrice Edwards editor • associate editor Noel Smith • Lori Landino contributing writers Noel Smith, Camisa Composti, Lori Landino, Zach Friend, Alan Nunn, Tiffany L. Mitchener, Janet Payne-Downs, Jeff Ursino layout Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson photography Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson, Brad Hagenking website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti, Eric Spencer production coordinator Maya Tabasz advertising sales Don Beaumont, Lynette Del Ponte, Melody Shishido office coordinator Cathe Race distribution Bill Pooley, Taylor Brougham

“Aptos Football” from page 1 It was the school’s first time making it to a regional championship game. Winning that title advanced Aptos to the 2018 CIF Football Division 4-A Championship.

“We had a phenomenal season,” J.V. coach Jerry Morales said. “It was historical.”

Lead by charismatic coach Randy Blankenship, who after coaching for over 44 years is one of the most successful football coaches in California, the Mariners faced the larger and deeper McClymonds High of Oakland for the state title.

“We continue to put work in week in and week out,” senior Angel Morales said. “Even though were not a normal sized football team, we put our heart into it knowing that we could win in the end.”

Aptos fought hard against the

Warriors, taking a 14-7 lead into halftime.

But in the end, McClymonds’ size and depth proved to be too much to overcome, rallying in the second half for a 28-20 win over the Mariners.

The bittersweet loss didn’t over shadow the talent and teamwork of these inspiring young men. Congratulations to

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

Entire contents ©2018. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission PHONE: (831) 688-7549 FAX: (831) 688-7551 GENERAL E-MAIL: info@cyber-times.com Patrice Edwards: patrice@cyber-times.com Publisher’s Assistant: assistant@cyber-times.com Editor: info@cyber-times.com Opinions/Letters: editorial@cyber-times.com Calendar Listings: www.tpgonlinedaily.com Graphics Department: graphics@cyber-times.com Billing Inquiries: cathe@cyber-times.com Classified Sales: sales@cyber-times.com Production: production@cyber-times.com CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT: www.tpgonlinedaily.com mission statement We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc. are dedicated to providing a voice for the individuals and organizations in our community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses. We seek to promote healthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, school news, senior events, community groups and entertainment 4 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

all the players and coaches at Aptos High for a spectacular season.

It was a great day to be a Mariner! n ••• Aptos Finished the season with an 11-3 overall record, 5-2 in league. They finished 92 in California High School Football.

Photo Credit: Denise Russo Photography

COMMUNITY NEWS

‘Radical Kindness’ Project a Success

Twin Lakes Gathers 1M Pounds for Food Bank, Raises $100K for Fire Relief

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his weekend Twin Lakes Church in Aptos, California will update members on its “Kindness Projects.”

As part of a church initiative to do radical acts of kindness, over one million pounds of food has been raised for Second Harvest Food Bank, $104,000 given for Northern California fire relief, and much more.

“I am in tears,” said Willy EliotMcCrea, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank when presented with the church’s check this week. “Completely speechless.”

The food drive was part of a larger kindness campaign: Church members were encouraged to spot large and small ways to be kind. The church then made “kindness grants” available to help fund their ideas.

Among dozens of kindness projects, bags stuffed with gift cards were given to every one of the 120 staff members at Aptos High School; the outstanding bills for a Cabrillo college student were paid; all the remaining costs for the Salvation Army homeless winter shelter were covered; church volunteers staffed three weeks of the winter shelter program; 568 new pajamas for homeless children were collected; volunteers cleaned beaches; and much more.

“We focused on doing Kindness Projects because incivility is such a problem in our culture right now,”

explained René Schlaepfer, Twin Lakes Church senior pastor. Schlaepfer believes that’s particularly a problem for churches.

“As people of faith, kindness should define us. But a common perception is that we’d rather start a fight than do a kindness. So we wanted to do our part to change that narrative.”

Schlaepfer says the Kindness Projects are not just about being nice. “Kindness has more power than we imagine. It has the power to break down walls, promote healing, and really change the world. And we believe our kindness grows out of God’s kindness to us.” n ••• The non-denominational congregation is one of the oldest and largest churches in Santa Cruz County, begun in 1890 with current average attendance of around 3,000. Last year, the church gave away over one million dollars to local and global non-profit partners.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

County DA Appoints New Chief Deputy S anta Cruz County District Attorney Jeffrey S. Rosell is pleased to announce that Tara George will be appointed as the new Chief Deputy District Attorney for the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office. George will replace Rob Wade, who retired last month after 32 years as a criminal prosecutor.

George received her juris doctorate degree from the UC Hastings College of the DA Jeffrey Rosell Law in May 2004. In March 2005, she was hired as an Assistant District Attorney by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in Houston, Texas.

During her time at Harris County, Tara successfully tried over 60 jury trials, including cases involving Murder, Rape, and Aggravated Robbery. She was assigned as the Chief Prosecutor for both Felony District Court and Misdemeanor

County Court, as well as the Family Criminal Division and White Collar Crime Division.

Tara was hired by the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office in August 2013, under former District Attorney Bob Lee, and was initially assigned to both the Gang Unit and the Sex Crimes Unit. A few years later, she became the supervising attorney for the Felony Gang Unit and the Misdemeanor Division, while continuing to handle homicides and other serious cases.

District Attorney Rosell said, “Tara has been a driving force in our office since the day she started with us. She is highly respected both within the office, and outside the office, by not only the courts and law enforcement agencies, but the defense community as well. With Tara’s experience, insight, and intellect, we will continue our mission to ensure that public safety is our priority, and that victims of crime are well represented.” n

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Reopening Public Access along Beach Drive

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By Zach Friend

ecently, the County placed up Coastal Access signs along Beach Drive (near the Rio Del Mar Esplanade) letting the public know about their ability to use the public access pathway on the coastal side of the homes on Beach Drive. For the last few years, we have been working to facilitate the reopening of this important public coastal asset.

For many years the pathway has been unfortunately blocked (fenced) for private use by homeowners that live in the immediately adjacent Beach Island residences.

However, the 37-foot-wide walk (as it was originally dedicated) is a public space.

Over time, the walk has narrowed with erosion but still provides a safer, and more accessible, pathway for residents interested in recreating along the coast between Seacliff and Rio Del Mar. The County, working in partnership with the Coastal Commission, has reopened the gate that was blocking the south eastern access point to the pathway and is working to improve access throughout the entirety of the path.

As many have noted that have accessed Beach Drive, specifically along the narrow inland pathway from the Esplanade to just past the Beach Island, the access is unsafe and inadequate as it currently exists especially for those using wheelchairs, strollers or with other mobility issues.

It’s narrow, often has obstructions (such as garbage cans) and doesn’t provide proper access. However, reopening the public walkway on the coastal side provides a width that would meets mobility and safety needs. Ultimately, reestablishing this public accessway allows for coastal side access from Seacliff to Rio Del Mar in a safe, accessible and beautiful way.

While recently the Coastal Access signs were taken down, the County is committed to continually hang up new signs and ensure that the community is aware

of the walkway that they own. The Coastal Commission continues to be supportive of our efforts to restore this important public accessway and we will continue to do what we need to in order to protect public access in that location.

I always enjoy looking at historical photos and have included a few for this story to show the public accessway along the Beach Island.

As you can see from the photos, the original dedication created a coastal access (used here both as a road and path) on the coastal side of Beach Island. The County has continued to recognize its ownership of this 37-foot-wide walk throughout the years and we hope to have additional improvements to the walk over time. n ••• As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me at 454-2200.

Rio Del Mar Beach circa. 1930

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7 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Half-Price Adoption Special

Special to Find Forever Homes for Shelter Animals Lasts Through December

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he Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) is experiencing an overload of animals at their shelter and are seeking forever homes for adoptable animals. Adopting animals helps open up space at the shelter for other animals that need Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s help. To encourage more animal adoptions, the adoption price for all dogs, puppies, cats, kittens and rabbits will be half price through December 2018.

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Free CPR Class he Aptos/La Selva Fire Prevention District is offering a FREE Bystander CPR Class on January 3, 2019, from 6 to 8 PM. To register call (831) 685-6690 ext. 110.

This course teaches hands-only CPR for infants, children and adults, as well as a brief training on defibrillator use (AED).

Note: This course is for general public education, and is not a certification course as needed for medical professionals. Teens & youth welcome with adult supervision.

Space is limited, so early registration is highly recommended! www.aptosfire.com ••• Volunteer for MAH Young Writers Program he Word Lab is a free, after-school writing program at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History serving students in grades 6-12.

It’s an imaginative space where students are supported in their creative writing.

We’re looking for Writing Project Assistants t o volunteer from Mon., Jan 14 through Weds. March 13. 2019.

Mondays: Branciforte Middle School 3:30pm - 5:30pm Tuesdays: Mission Hill Middle

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There are many reasons to adopt from the shelter. One of the best is that shelter animals make great pets. Many have already lived with a human family and have the basic training, socialization and cooperative skills they need to become part of your household. And many, but not all, of shelter animals have the advantage of being mixed-breed animals that use what geneticists call “hybrid vigor” to avoid some of the health issues of purebred animals.

Shelter animals are also a bargain since fees include spay/neuter, microchip

(including registration), age appropriate vaccinations, routine treatment for fleas/ worms, and a free pet wellness exam with local participating veterinarians.

Adoption is one of the main services Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter offers to our community, and it is a cooperative labor of love with our adopters. SCCAS appreciates and applauds people who make the life-saving decision to adopt a homeless animal! So, come on over to visit Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s adoptable animals, and be prepared to fall in love!

For more information and to view adoptable animals, please visit our shelter location at 1001 Rodriguez St. (Rodriguez St. and 7th Ave.) in Santa Cruz and visit our website www.scanimalshelter.org.

About Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS)

School 3pm - 5pm Wednesdays: Santa Cruz High & Harbor High 3:30pm - 5:30pm Writing Project Assistants make a commitment to attend one day a week in Word Lab, for the duration of a session.

To volunteer in or for more information, please contact Billy Butler, Word Lab Coordinator billy@youngwriterssc.org (831) 466-5808 ••• Congressman Panetta Announces Mobile Office Hours in SC for Veterans WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Jimmy Panetta announced staff mobile office hours for veterans’ services in Santa Cruz on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

Mobile office hours are an opportunity for veterans living on the central coast of California to meet with Congressional Jimmy Panetta staff members, and are offered in addition to meetings in the Salinas and Santa Cruz Congressional offices. To schedule a meeting, please call Congressman Panetta’s Salinas office at 831-424-2229. ~~~ Veterans Memorial Building 846 Front Street, Santa Cruz 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

••• Post Office Mail Deadlines

2018 Holiday Shipping Dates ecommended send-by dates for expected delivery before Dec. 25 Domestic Mail Class/Product Date (excluding Alaska & Hawaii) First Class Mail Service Dec. 20 Priority Mail Service Dec. 20 Priority Mail Express Service Dec. 22 USPS Retail Ground Dec. 14 Christmas hours are posted at each Post Office location. Your Post Office location may close early on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24.

For Alaska, Hawaii, Military and International shipping dates check www.USPS.Com ••• Salvation Army Food Box he Santa Cruz Salvation Army will have a food box distribution on December 21, from 9am – 11am, at 721 Laurel Street.

You must bring identification and proof of address. The Salvation Army assists 25 million A m e r i c a n s annually and serves in 130 countries around the world.

To pick up a food box, volunteer or donate contact The Salvation Army Santa Cruz Corps Community Center at www. salvationarmyusa.org or (831) 426-8365.

••• Don’t Forget To Mention the Santa Cruz SPCA When Shopping at Deluxe Foods

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8 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is an open admission shelter which welcomes EVERY animal in need. Our goal is to be a humane resource for the community by providing a safety net and second chance for local animals.

There are two locations where owners can find and recover lost pets, adopt new animal companions, or sign up for PLANNED PetHood, our low cost spay/ neuter program available for all resident pets.

“SCCAS” page 9

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hen shopping at Deluxe Foods in Aptos, remember to mention the Santa Cruz SPCA at checkout. 5% of your bill to will be donated to help animals.

The Santa Cruz SPCA has been helping to find homes for cats & dogs for 80 years. Their community programs promote proper care for pets, companions for seniors and a pet food pantry.

Santa Cruz SPCA https://spcasc.org/ ••• Walking the Dog at Night uring the winter months it gets dark early. Remember when walking your dog at night, to wear light-colored clothing, reflective gear, carry a flashlight and make yourself & pet visible to oncoming traffic.

Leave headphones at home, take welllit paths, stay on the sidewalk and walk against traffic to see what is coming around the corner. n

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COMMUNITY NEWS

‘Our Community Reads’ Returns in January

Friends of Aptos Library Prepares for a Terrific Series of Events This year’s chosen book is The Death & Life of Monterey Bay by local author and professor, Stephen R. Palumbi, and Carolyn Sotka.

The Friends of the Aptos Library is enthusiastic about the forthcoming Calendar of Events. To date there are plans for an author visit, a Trivia Night with master of ceremonies, Zach Friend, and a collaboration with

the Aptos History Museum presenting Dan Haifley an instrumental player in establishing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

To date there are plans for an author visit, a Trivia Night with master of ceremonies, Zach Friend, and a collaboration with the Aptos History Museum presenting Dan Haifley an instrumental player in establishing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Many more events are in the works with presenters from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cabrillo College, and UCSC. The “Our Community Reads” program encourages all members of the community to pick up a copy of the book and be motivated to attend as many events as you can fit onto your calendar.

2019 is shaping up to be an extremely successful program that will educate and inspire readers of the book about this precious resource in our backyard.

The calendar of events will be posted on the website as events begin mid-January, and run through mid-March. Most events are free and all are open to the public. n ••• For information on how you can become involved please contact friendsoftheaptos library@fscpl.org.

PVUSD Offering Free Bus Driver Training Classes

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ajaro Valley Unified School District is offering free bus driving training classes that can lead to work in the Transportation Department.

Our instructors will provide training to qualify for a commercial driver’s license and school bus driving certificate. These classes have a value of over $5,000.

Classes are scheduled December 21, 22 and 23, from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 196 Grimmer Road, Watsonville.

For additional information on these classes, please contact Hector Perez, Jr. in the Transportation Department, at 831 728-6400.

Once classes are complete, part of the certification process includes Behind the Wheel training; PVUSD is honored to offer a stipend for qualifying individuals to complete this portion of the test.

“SCCAS” from page 8 Our success is achieved through a variety of life-saving services and programs which are described in detail on our website, www.scanimalshelter.org.

Upon completion of the bus driver certification classes and process, you are invited to apply for a bus driver position and join our team; visit and apply at www. pvusd.net/pvusdedjoin.

PVUSD is continuously looking for talented and energetic individuals who are dedicated to the future of our children. n

The support of our community is crucial to sustaining and expanding these services. n ••• City of Santa Cruz • County of Santa Cruz • City of Scotts Valley • City of Watsonville

9 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

County Schools Come Together

Fund Raiser to Help Paradise Students Impacted by the Camp Fire

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he Camp Fire School Drive is focused on helping the nearly 3,800 students in the Paradise Unified School District who lost their homes to the Camp Fire.

Many of these students lost all of their personal belongings, including clothes, backpacks and school supplies, to the fire. These students are now faced with attending schools in different districts, and the schools welcoming them are faced with school supply shortages.

Santa Cruz County families and schools are joining forces to help these students by donating and collecting backpacks, paper, pens, binders and other school supplies.

People can donate school supplies immediately. Donations will be accepted until Friday, December 21. Local TV station KION captured students making donations at Salesian Elementary and Junior High in Corralitos on Thursday, November 29 A number of local schools are collecting donations. These schools are also donating school supplies. Schools include: • Salesian Elementary and Junior High • Good Shepherd • Monte Vista Christian

• • • •

St. Francis Rio Del Mar Aptos Junior High School Vine Hill Elementary

Supplies can also be dropped at Deluxe Foods in Aptos and Expressive Learning in Scotts Valley. n •••

For more information about The Camp Fire School Drive, please contact Kirsten Palmquist at (831) 588-5854 and paradisestrongkids@ gmail.com.

SqCWD Invited to Submit Formal Proposal for State Grant Funding Could Support Groundwater Replenishment and Seawater Intrusion Prevention Project

SOQUEL — Soquel Creek Water District received notice earlier this month from the State Water Resources Control Board that its Concept Proposal for a significant State grant was accepted and the District has been invited to submit a formal proposal.

In August 2018, the District submitted the initial Concept Proposal for funding to support its proposed Groundwater Replenishment and Seawater Intrusion Prevention Project (known as Pure Water Soquel) through the State Groundwater Grant Program.

The District can now submit a formal proposal which would provide up to $50 million toward that project. The State already provided a $2 million planning grant for the project, thus this next opportunity would build and invest upon that effort.

“We’re very excited and grateful to receive this additional opportunity, it confirms we’re on the right track towards solving our groundwater shortage issue” said District General Manager Ron Duncan. “We’re a small community agency with a big challenge and thus are seeking a significant amount of funding.

If we’re successful, this would really help the rate payers and customers throughout our service area as we move forward with preventing further seawater intrusion from ruining our only water supply.”

Groundwater is the District’s sole source of water supply for its customers, and the underground aquifer on which it depends is in a state of critical shortage

due to historic over-drafting.

The resulting seawater intrusion threatens the community’s entire water supply.

The proposed Groundwater Replenishment and Seawater Intrusion Prevention Project would recharge the groundwater aquifer with ultra-clean water — providing an enhanced, sustainable water supply while creating a barrier to seawater intrusion.

To obtain this water, the project would recycle treated wastewater from the City of Santa Cruz and put it through a stateof-the-art advanced water purification process. This project, along with water conservation, surface water transfer, and other tools, are part of an overall strategy for addressing the water shortage, as out-

10 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

lined in the District’s Community Water Plan.

“Preserving and protecting the aquifer for future generations is paramount” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend “This grant is a significant opportunity to provide for a safe and stable water supply moving forward.”

If the project’s EIR is certified and the project is approved, the grant could offer a substantial jump-start for this project which could address meeting the state’s mandate of basin sustainability by 2040.

Once complete, the project could serve as a model to other coastal cities—both large and small—that are faced with seawater intrusion into their groundwater supplies.

“SqCWD” page 19

COMMUNITY NEWS

Disaster Preparedness Meetings

Live Oak Meeting for Urban Residents • Wednesday, December 12 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. • Sheriff Center Community Room, 5200 Soquel Ave.

A

s the County transitions from fire season into winter, many residents continue to ask how to keep their families and properties safe during extreme events and hazards that impact Santa Cruz County.

The County maintains a number of resources to help residents prepare for disasters, including information on disaster preparedness, creating family evacuation plans and more; distributing sand and sandbags to pickup locations throughout the County; and fostering relationships with community-based resources such as neighborhoodbased emergency response teams.

Making sure you receive emergency notifications can save your life during a major event. Residents can register their cell phones for emergency notifications through the Code Red

app, or by visiting http://www.scr911.org and clicking on the Code Red link.

The Santa Cruz County Office of Emergency Services maintains a web page with details on the status of the Emergency Operations Center, sandbag pickup locations, road closures, PG&E outages, weather and rainfall forecasts, wildfire management and much more. Visit http:// santacruzcounty.us/Departments/ EmergencyServices.aspx.

The County also maintains a Spanishand English-language storm preparedness guide, including information on preparing your family and property for severe weather, how to prepare a disaster supply kit or family disaster plan, tips for pet and livestock owners, etc. Residents can also download a storm preparedness checklist at http://santacruzcounty.us/ StormPreparedness.aspx.

Residents may join Community Emergency Response Teams at https:// santacruzcountycert.org.

The County holds periodic meetings on emergency management and com-

11 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

munity safety. Next week, Supervisor John Leopold is hosting meeting with support from the Office for Emergency Services and local fire agencies regarding disaster preparedness. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

SC Native Earns Military Excellence

By Alan Nunn, Recruit Training Command Public Affairs

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Just down to the tips of the fingers.”

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GREAT LAKES, Ill. — Seaman “Both been very supportive of the path Recruit Jacob Sanchez, a Santa Cruz, I have chosen to take,” Sanchez said. “All California, native, graduated as top Sailor my life, I have been taught to work hard from Recruit Training Command, at everything I do and to always Division 802, earning the Military try to learn from my mistakes. I Excellence Award on November believe that my upbringing and 30. the constant support I continue to Sanchez said he is honored receive from my parents has led and humbled to be receiving the me to being able to excel here in MEA. boot camp and hopefully in my “Receiving the MEA is a future endeavors as well.” great honor, and to me it is a repSanchez said maintaining Jacob Sanchez focus was one of the lessons he resentation of what hard work and discipline can accomplish,” he said. learned at boot camp.

“Winning this award, to me, means that “Sometimes, you might be doing the I have even more of a reason to continue same thing every single day for a week -to strive for excellence in everything that such as drilling the same routine or going I do.” over the same uniform inspection,” he The Navy Club of the United States said. “At times, I would feel like it might be Military Excellence Award is the top award OK to slack off a little some days. I always presented to the No. 1 recruit of their had to remind myself that no matter how graduating training group. The MEA is menial the task may seem, every task has a awarded to the recruit that best exemplifies purpose and that lessons can be learned in the qualities of enthusiasm, devotion to any given moment.” duty, military bearing and teamwork. The Boot camp is approximately award placed Sanchez at the pinnacle of eight weeks and all enlistees into the today’s newest Sailors; he was awarded U.S. Navy begin their careers at the a flag letter of commendation for his command. Training includes physical achievements. fitness, seamanship, firearms, fireSanchez, 24, said he joined the Navy fighting and shipboard damage control to have a career in which he can impact along with lessons in Navy heritage people’s lives. and core values, teamwork and dis“I am blessed to have been born into cipline. More than 30,0000 recruits a country where there are many freedoms graduate annually from RTC and begin and opportunities that people in other their Navy careers. parts of the world have never experiSanchez is assigned the rate of special enced,” Sanchez said. “I want to not only warfare operator. After graduation, he protect that way of life in America, but also will attend the Naval Special Warfare Prehope to help those living in oppression paratory School in Great Lakes. Special throughout the world.”

Warfare Operators perform a multitude of Sanchez graduated from California duties in support of special operations misPolytechnic State University in San Luis sions and operate on, under and from the Obispo California with a Bachelor of sea, in the air and on land.

Science degree in business administration.

These duties require skills in combat While in college and the years following, diving, paradrop and air operations, small Sanchez worked for the United States boat operations, submarine and subForest Service and Santa Barbara County mersible operations, land warfare, small Fire Department as a wildland firefighter. unit tactics, mounted and dismounted Sanchez credited his Recruit Division operations, small arms and crew served Commanders, Chief Boatswain’s Mate weapons, explosives, communications, Rodney Rozier, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate tactical medicine, mission planning, intel(Handling) 1st Class Alfredo Sosa, and ligence gathering and interpretation, joint Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Jorge Monarez and combined operations, and chemical, for their leadership and guidance. biological, radiological, nuclear defense He also acknowledged the support measures in all environments including and motivation he received from his urban, desert, jungle, arctic, and mountain parents, Benny and Patricia Sanchez. warfare. n

12 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Panetta Speaks about 2018 Farm Bill WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, released the following statement on the 2018 Farm Bill, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today: “Today’s passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, with strong bipartisan support, fulfills a promise to our farmers, rural communities, and neighbors who need assistance putting food on the table. As the proud representative of the Salad Bowl of the World, I have worked to create a Farm Bill that promotes the Jimmy Panetta specialty crop and organic sectors, expands opportunities for beginning farmers, invests in agricultural research, and increases access to nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables. This bill does just that, without implementing harmful provisions that would impact over 74,000 Central Coast recipients depending on nutrition assistance programs. I am proud to support this Farm Bill, and I strongly encourage the president to sign this legislation into law.”

••• he 2018 Farm Bill, an omnibus piece of legislation that regulates federal farm programs and nutrition assistance, includes provisions that Congressman Panetta advocated for to benefit the Central Coast: • Nutrition Assistance: This bill preserves the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). There are no cuts to benefits, no changes to

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program eligibility, and no changes to the existing work requirements. This will preserve SNAP benefits for over 74,000 recipients on the Central Coast.

• Access to Fresh Fruit and Vegetables: The Food Insecurity Nutrition Assistance (FINI) grant program supports projects that expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables for those enrolled in SNAP. Locally, this project is known as the Double Up Food Bucks California. This legislation provides additional funding to support these initiatives.

• Specialty Crop Research: The Central Coast is home to a $5 billion specialty crop industry. This bill includes $80 million per year for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), and establishes an Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund of $25 million per year to address disease response efforts in the citrus industry. ° Mechanization: The SCRI program is also expanded to include projects that address ongoing labor shortages through mechanization for specialty crops. As the existing workforce ages and shrinks, California’s specialty crop producers are seeking assistance in developing mechanization technology. Additionally, the bill requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct a review of all existing programs and develop a strategy to support additional mechanization projects.

“Farm Bill” page 19

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Local Children’s Choir to Join the Pros

SANTA CRUZ — When the touring production, The ABBA-Solutely Christmas Show, comes to the Rio Theatre on Friday, December 21, the Gateway School (Santa Cruz) Children’s Choir will join the professional musicians on stage to lend some local talent to this homage to the iconic Swedish pop group, ABBA. The ABBA-Solutely Christmas Show features live ABBA hits with a mix of Christmas music sprinkled in to celebrate the holidays. The choir, with children aged 7 to 12, will accompany the tribute band on stage during the songs “I Have A Dream”, “Let it Snow” and “Santa Baby.”

The producers of The ABBA-Solutely Christmas Show approached Gatewood School’s Music Director, David Cameron, looking for a talented children’s choir. The show commonly hires a local children’s choir to augment the production while on tour.

“The Abba Show Christmas Choir is always adorable and the songs they are involved in are one of the highlights of the show,” said Marie-Claire Follett, who plays ‘Frida.’

“It’s great to share the stage with kids because you never quite know what they are going to do and usually it’s the littlest one that steals the show.”

Despite their young ages, many of the choir members are ABBA fans.

“I can sing any ABBA song in my sleep,” said Lena Totten, 10.

ABBAXmas (from left): Andrew Harvey (Benny), Marie-Claire Follett (Frida), Natalie Eaton, (Agnetha), and Patrick Jamieson (Bjorn)

Nine-year-old Eva Pelletier’s favorite ABBA tune is “Super Trouper.”

Natalie Wolkstein, 9, and Eva Luksich, 9, both favor “Dancing Queen.’

“The students at Gateway are very excited to be a part of this show,” said Gateway Music Teacher David Cameron. “ As their music teacher, I’m looking forward to this opportunity for these talented singers to showcase their singing on stage!”

The ABBA-Solutely Christmas Show comes to the Rio Theatre on Friday, December 21 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased online at www.riotheatre.com or on the night of the show at the box office. n ••• The Rio Theatre is located at 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. The show is family friendly and appropriate for all ages.

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Photo Credit: David Cameron

From left: Sophie Graham, Gigi Prado, Sofia Prado, Lena Totten, Natalie Wolkstein, Eva Pelletier and Eva Luksich. Not Pictured: Mattias Lundell

14 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

KSQD Has a New Home SANTA CRUZ — The board of Natural Bridges Media announced today it has completed negotiations with UC Santa Cruz to lease space on UCSC’s broadcast tower for its antenna, clearing the way for KSQD, 90.7 FM to go on the air. KSQD has a mission to build community and to support broadcasting and podcasting with a strong emphasis on local issues and culture.

In December, KSQD will begin construction of its on-air studio and office at 399 Encinal Street in the Harvey West neighborhood of Santa Cruz, in space owned by the County Office of Education (COE). The space use agreement between KSQD and COE is a mutually beneficial one which will result in students getting training in broadcasting and podcasting, and KSQD having its studio in a convenient location for community involvement.

“The board is very grateful to Superintendent Michael Watkins and his staff at the COE for this partnership, and we’re very excited to offer experience and training to students wanting to learn radio

skills.” said board chair, Rachel Anne Goodman during a recent meeting with COE staff.

Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Michael Watkins adds, “This new and innovative partnership will benefit our community and our students. I look forward to the use of this medium for educational messages to our community, hearing student voices, and providing students with a vehicle to learn about journalism, radio programming and broadcasting”.

Barry Swenson Builders has donated labor to frame the walls in the new studios, and David Rhodes, architect, and retired contractor Tim Shea donated design expertise. Rowland Rebele has underwritten the station’s studio rent for the next two years.

The board of Natural Bridges Media has been planning KSQD for over two years, since KUSP went bankrupt.

During that time, the community

COMMUNITY NEWS

has donated over $315,000 towards the purchase of the broadcast license for 90.7 FM (from religious broadcaster Educational Media Foundation) and other startup costs.

Now that the final contract has been signed (there were 8 in all), the station is gearing up to go live in February. Before that can happen, equipment will be installed in the new production and air studios by recording engineer, Sandy Stone.

There will be community painting parties and those wishing to volunteer can go on the station’s website www.ksqd.org and sign up. 112 program volunteers will be trained on the new equipment prior to going live.

The KSQD broadcast schedule, which includes a heavy dose of local public affairs and music shows as well as Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now!”, “The Thom Hartmann Show” and “Your Call” with Rose Aguilar, has something in it for everybody. The schedule features local

15 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

hosts presenting Blues, Reggae, Folk, Hawaiian, Jazz, and even Italian. The local talk shows range widely.

There is a call-in show about dreams, a poetry show, a show highlighting Watsonville life, and one about Gen Z, plus others covering family histories, health, surf culture, economic development and comedy. Other shows include “Inside Education” hosted by Les Forster, and “The Places You’ll Go” a career show hosted by Mary Gaukel.

And for those who remember KUSP’s local issues show “Talk of the Bay”, it will return in afternoon drive time as will “First Person Singular”, commentaries by local people. Other former KUSP hosts include Dr. Dawn Motyka, Hollywood Al, Rick Kleffel, Nikki Silva and the Kitchen Sisters, and Charlie Lange. New hosts include long time Bay Area DJ and voice-over actress, Cynthia Dee, Jimmie Grimes (formerly of KVMR) and Wallace Baine, arts and culture writer for Good Times weekly. n ••• More information about KSQD can be found at: www.ksqd.org

COMMUNITY NEWS

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Staying Safe On County Roads G etting around Santa Cruz County by bike is about to get a lot easier.

The RTC is currently working on a countywide bicycle wayfinding project that will include signage at over 300 locations throughout the county. This new program will assist all types of bicycle riders – commuters, families, recreational riders and visitors – in finding and accessing major destinations throughout the county.

The RTC put the bicycle wayfinding project out to bid at the end of October and construction is planned to begin in 2019.

As part of the project, bicycle and pedestrian count data will be collected before and after signage installation, and a public outreach campaign to promote awareness of the routes will take place. Signage will be installed in phases and the project is expected to be completed by 2021.

The rainy season is here, and while the wet weather may be needed, it doesn’t provide for the best driving conditions. We want you to be safe while behind the wheel in wet weather conditions. Remember, rain not only reduces visibility, but also the amount of grip your car has on the road, increasing stopping distances. Follow these five tips to keep you safe while driving in the rain: • Reduce your speed and take it slow on wet roads.

• Wipers on. Headlights on.

• Keep a following distance of at least five car lengths.

• Don’t brake in a curve.

• Say no to distractions. Put your phone away and keep the radio down low or off.

Read Cruz511’s complete list of tips for driving in rainy weather, and stay safe on the roadways!

7960J Soquel Dr. Aptos, CA 95003

Conveniently located off Highway 1 and just outside Aptos Village, the Aptos Village Square hosts a number of local Aptos businesses.

16 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

••• he holidays are a time for festivities, friends and family. This usually means more cars on the roads as people drive to and from holiday parties or relatives’ homes. As you hit the road this holiday season, it is important to remember that in order to stay safe behind the wheel, sober driving is a must.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 10,000 people died each year from 2013 to 2017 in drunk-driving collisions. That’s equal to about 20 jumbo jets crashing each year, with no survivors.

Inevitably though, during the holidays, more alcohol-impaired drivers get behind the wheel, making the roadways a dangerous place. Over the past five years, an average of 300 people died in drunk-driving collisions during the Christmas through New Year’s holiday period, according to the NHTSA. If you plan to go out and have some fun over the holidays, there are a number of options to get you home safe without driving: • Designate a driver.

• Use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft.

• Take public transportation.

Download the NHTSA’s SaferRide app and use it to call a taxi or friend to pick you up.

The app is available for Android devices on Google Play and Apple devices in the iTunes store. n ••• Have a happy, and safe, holiday and New Year!

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NEW IN TOWN

Curves: Keeping Strong & Healthy A nnette Hunt loves empowering them succeed, so she planned on people through healthy eating studying psychology to become and exercise. She recently a counselor, however, it was the acquired the Curves studio in Aptos, next nutrition class at Cabrillo that pieced it all together for her. door to Bunny’s Shoes on Soquel Ave. After earning a Bachelor of Science “My family is originally from Denmark, they lived in Canada for a in Dietetics at UC Davis, Annette became a Nutrition Counfew years while they waited for selor for Women–Infant & a visa to the USA,” she said. “I Children (WIC) followed was born in Montreal Canada, by a Dietary Technician at however left at only 3 months old Woodland Memorial Hosand come to San Jose California. pital and Shriners Hospital in It was the beaches that attracted Sacramento. my dad to Santa Cruz and we “Purchasing Curves put all moved here when I was 6 years the pieces to my puzzle of life old. I attended our local schools; Annette Hunt together,” Hunt said. “I can do Brook Knoll Elementary, Scotts Valley Junior High, Harbor High and what I love most: Empowering our community through exercise, healthy eating Cabrillo Junior College.”

Annette has spent the majority of and a positive attitude.”

Curves is famous for its 30-minute her life dedicated to fitness and exercises and has tried most individual and team Circuit. Every major muscle group is sports but enjoying dance aerobics and worked, through strength training, cardio and stretching. swimming the most.

The machines use hydraulic resisIn high school, she knew she wanted to work with people, guiding tance, making it possible to perform both them through their issues and helping strength training and cardiovascular

training at the same time. By working the muscle groups that oppose each other you work muscles symmetrically which in turn aligns the muscular-skeletal system to improve functional posture and movement.

Annette’s studio offers an assortment of specialty classes such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Boxing, Cardio and our challenging ‘Not For Sissies’; these classes focus on areas like balance, flexibility and strength.

“We care about each of our members,” she said. “We coach all of members on a daily basis while they are on the circuit and stretching to help maximize their workout efficiently and safely. Each month we provide a coaching session to discuss achievable goals and help prioritize their health.

Also, we contact our members if we don’t see them in a week or so; we want to help them stay active and achieve their desired goals.” n ••• Curves is located at 7000 Soquel Drive in Aptos. (831) 688-2348 www.curves.com

17 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

FEATURED COLUMNIST

DECEMBER 2018

Aptos Real Estate Update

Ruth Bates 831.359.2212

ruth@serenogroup.com CalBRE # 01799929

BUYERS: Do I have to have 20% down to buy a Home?

Having 20% down is not a requirement to purchase a house. Of course, the more you have to put down, the better your loan terms will be, but most lenders now have low down payment programs. FHA only requires 3.5% down. I have seen 5% and 10% down loans recently. And you can use “gifts” with your loan. Contact your LOCAL lender for details.

SELLERS When is the Best Time to Sell?

It used to be May, but this year both Zillow. com and Realtor.com reported that March/ April is the time that Sellers will sell the fastest and at the highest sales price. So, if you are thinking of selling next year, the time to start preparing is NOW!

I

Green Gift Guide: Books

f you are looking to enlighten, educate or entertain someone on your gift list this holiday season, consider giving them a book or two on environmental topics. Here are some of our favorite recent titles …

••• The Biological Mind How Brain, Body, and Environment Collaborate to Make Us Who We Are o many, the brain is the seat of personal identity and autonomy. But the way we talk about the brain is often rooted more in mystical conceptions of the soul than in scientific fact. This blinds us to the physical realities of mental function. We ignore

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bodily influences on our psychology, from chemicals in the blood to bacteria in the gut, and overlook the ways that the environment affects our behavior, via factors varying from subconscious sights and sounds to the weather. As a result, we alternately overestimate our capacity for free will or equate brains to inorganic machines like computers. But a brain is neither a soul nor an electrical network:

FSBO (For Sale by Owner) Why not to do it!

Some Sellers think they will save money and time by selling their property themselves. Data shows that not to be the case. A recent Zillow study showed that only 11% of FSBO sellers actually closed the deal. Here are 7 reasons why FSBOs mostly don’t work out. 1) Home is not priced correctly. 2) Emotional attachment is a barrier. Seller gets very upset with any negative comments about property.

3) Marketing is truly a huge undertaking these days – Internet and Tons of Social Media options, Professional Photography, Virtual Tours, Staging, and the list goes on. 4) Home has to be shown – when Seller is present, Buyers are uneasy. 5) Legal Liability – FSBO Sellers have no Errors & Omissions Insurance, all real estate agents do. 6. Scams – a FSBO is much more likely to be targeted by fraud schemes. 7) Bottom line – FSBOs sell for less, they may have saved a 6% commission, but the net sales price is much lower than that savings (per NAR – Nationwide FSBOs were 8% of 2016 home sales, typical home sold for $190,000, compared to $249,000 for agentassisted sales). Why would you put your most valuable asset into inexperienced hands or no hands at all – Hiring a Local Real Estate Expert will yield you the best possible results.

it is a bodily organ, and it cannot be separated from its surroundings. Our selves aren’t just inside our heads–they’re spread throughout our bodies and beyond. Only once we come to terms with this can we grasp the true nature of our humanity.

The Nature Fix Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative or centuries, poets and philosophers extolled the benefits of a walk in the woods: Beethoven drew inspiration from rocks and trees; Wo r d s w o r t h composed while tromping over the heath; and Nikola Tesla conceived the electric motor while visiting a park.

Intrigued by our storied renewal in the natural world, Florence Williams set out to uncover the science behind nature’s positive effects on the brain.

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The Evolution of Beauty How Darwin’s Forgotten Theory of Mate Choice Shapes the Animal World – and Us major reimagining of how evolutionary forces work, revealing how mating preferences—what Darwin termed “the taste for the beautiful”—create the extraordinary range of ornament in the animal world.

Yale University ornithologist R i c h a r d Prum details example after example of display traits that seem disconnected from, if not outright contrary to, selection for individual survival. To explain this, he dusts off Darwin’s longneglected theory of sexual selection in which the act of choosing a mate for purely aesthetic reasons—for the mere pleasure of it—is an independent engine of evolutionary change.

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——— For anything Real Estate – call me, text me, email me and … Get Results With Ruth!

Happy Holidays to All!

“Earthtalk” page 24

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18 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Farm Bill” from page 13 • Organic Research: The Central Coast is home to one of the most thriving organic agriculture industries in the county. This legislation secures critical investments in the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), establishing permanent mandatory funding of $50 million per year by 2023. I am proud that my bipartisan legislation, the Organic Agriculture Research Act (H.R. 2436), was incorporated into the final language of the Farm Bill. Additionally, this bill includes provisions that support the National Organic Certification CostShare Program and allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture to better protect domestic consumers against fraudulent organic imports.

• Beginning and Veteran Farmers: In order for our agriculture community to continue to thrive, we must support the next generation of farmers and ranchers. This bill does that by combining two programs, the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) and Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program (Section 2501 Program), and providing permanent mandatory funding for both initiatives. The bill also expands financing opportunities for beginning farmers and veteran farmers.

“SqCWD” from page 10 The formal grant application is due to the State Water Resources Control Board on February 18, 2019. A decision on the grant award is expected in mid-2019.

About Soquel Creek Water District

• Trade: The domestic agriculture industry is facing unprecedented trade uncertainty due to retaliatory tariffs and ongoing renegotiations of major trade deals. This farm bill provides certainty for producers by combining existing trade programs and establishing mandatory funding for programs like Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC).

• Rural Broadband: To ensure that rural communities on the Central Coast continue to thrive, we must ensure they have the resources and technology to remain competitive. This Farm Bill includes strong investments in rural broadband initiatives, authorizing $350 million per year for broadband infrastructure.

• Animal Welfare: This legislation strips out a harmful provision that aimed to reverse California’s state law that provides minimum space requirements for livestock and poultry. Additionally, it outlaws slaughtering dogs and cats for meat and expands the definition of stalking to include protections for pets and service animals.

••• Congressman Panetta is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, serving on the Nutrition Subcommittee and the Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Subcommittee. He is also the founder and co-chair of the House Agriculture Research Caucus.

The Soquel Creek Water District is a local, not-for-profit government agency that provides water resource management within its service area to deliver a safe and reliable supply of high-quality water to meet present and future needs in an environmentally sensitive and economically responsible way. n

19 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

HOME & GARDEN

Blood Orange Port Marmalade O h, this recipe has stolen my heart.

I eat it with cheese, on toast, as a glaze on chicken and roast vegetables. I have mixed it in cocktails and yes, eaten it out of the jar with a spoon. I am warning you. It is amazing.

Rich red from the flesh of blood oranges, finely textured shreds of peel from the citrus, subtly sweet and rich from the addition of port. It is everything a marmalade should be, complex and powerful and beautiful, in the jar, on the plate, in the mouth. Enjoy.

This recipe is adapted from one INGREDIENTS 6 blood oranges 3 Meyer lemons 3 cups water 1 1/2 cup port wine 3 3/4 cups granulated sugar ••• EQUIPMENT Our must have canning supplies Sharp paring knife Optional: citrus zester

we found in one of our old canning standbys, The Complete Book of SmallBatch Preserving by Ellie Top and Margaret Howard. I’ve scaled up the recipe to accommodate a larger batch, because the original only made one pint. And that was clearly not enough. While it is often inadvisable to double recipes for jam, because the larger quantity results in longer cooking times and difficulty getting the proper pectin set, the large quantities of peel in this recipe contain plenty of pectin to accommodate a slightly increased cooking time.

Because the peels of conventionally grown citrus fruits are often exposed to pesticides, we recommend using only organic produce in this recipe, particularly.

Makes about 3 pints. n ••• DIRECTIONS 1. PREPARE YOUR EQUIPMENT Prepare the jars and water bath canner.

2. PREPARE YOUR INGREDIENTS Wash the oranges well, being sure to remove any wax, if present.

Remove the thin outer rind from the oranges, leaving behind as much white pith as possible. The citrus zester makes this easy, and creates a nice, even texture, but a sharp paring knife works as well.

If using a knife, remove the peel in large pieces, and slice into strips.

Place the peels into a jam pot or other large stock pot. Slice the remaining white pith off of the blood orange fruits and discard. Coarsely chop the citrus, discarding any seeds, and add it to the pot.

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Zest or slice the peel of the lemons, discarding the white pith. Coarsely chop the flesh. Add the fruit and peel to the pot, taking care to remove any seeds.

3. BRING POT TO BOIL Add the water and wine to the pot, and bring to a boil over high heat.

Reduce heat and boil gently for 30 minutes.

“Orange Marmalade” page 24

HOME & GARDEN

Holiday Activities for Families K ids start looking forward to their school holiday break a lot earlier than their parents.

Most school districts offer a two-week holiday during December but there are a few that offer an even longer holiday. That is a long time to have nothing to do but think about what Santa is going to bring or what’s going to be in those Hanukkah gifts!

Keeping kids busy during holiday break can definitely be a challenge, especially when you are running around trying to catch up on shopping. There are plenty of fun things to do during this time with the kids and their friends.

Start a Tradition aking Holiday cookies is always a fun activity for parents and kids alike. A really fun activity for your kids and their

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friends is to host a Cookie Exchange. Send out invitations to your kids’ friends’ and their parents and have each bring 2-3 dozen homemade cookies of their holiday choice, i.e., Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and an empty container to take cookies home.

Once the day arrives have your guests put their cookies on the table. After the kids and parents have played a few holiday games each guest and their child or children walk around the table and choose 2-3 cookies from the various trays. How many cookies get chosen is decided by the size of the party. Such fun! You get to go home with a wide variety of cookies and treats for your holiday snacking.

Make Gingerbread Houses et your kids invite some friends over and they can go to town creating and decorating gingerbread houses. Graham crackers make great walls and a roof. Use icing as the glue to hold it all together.

Once your structure is set up you can use the icing as decoration (red and green food coloring comes in handy!). Put out bowls of different candies, i.e., jelly drops,

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licorice, Skittles, M and M’s, etc., and let the kids go crazy!

Each child will have their own unique house that they can admire and eat later!

Take a Drive and Visit the Neighborhood Holiday Lights ome people love to decorate so much that they layer their house and yard with thousands of Christmas lights,

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statues, and moving snowmen, Santa, reindeer, etc.

As you drive past each building strewn with holiday lights the ohhs and ahhs just get louder and louder as the excitement of Christmas really sets in. Sometimes the local newspaper will feature a map of lighted homes throughout the area.

“Holiday Activities” page 24

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

Keeping Pets Safe in a Disaster

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re you ready? If the ground suddenly starts to shake and an earthquake hits — are you ready? If a fire breaks out in the middle of the night, are you ready?

While we all hope our communities remain safe, disaster can strike at any time. It is important to be prepared not only for the humans in our household, but also for our animal companions. We all want to ensure that rescue or evacuation can happen as smoothly and quickly as possible. Disaster does not allow the luxury of time and thought.

Advanced preparation can be the difference between a safe evacuation and tragedy.

Hurricane Katrina was a turning point for our country in terms of preparing for natural disasters for our pets. Striking in August 2005, Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast of the United States causing damage from Florida to Texas. Due to the structural design of the city of New Orleans, massive flooding was predicted, and its residents were ordered to evacuate.

Tens of thousands of residents ignored the evacuation order and stayed behind.

Flooding ensued, and many refugees were left without adequate shelter, food, water, or medical attention for days. Over seven hundred people died in New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent flooding. Tens of thousands of dogs and cats were either displaced or died as a result of the storm. Why did so many

By Tiffany L. Mitchener, DVM

people stay behind? Much to the dismay of government officials, it was ultimately determined that one of the primary reasons was that residents would not leave without their pets. At that time, animals were not part of the federal government’s natural disaster plan. People simply refused to leave their companion animals behind until it was too late.

Important lessons were learned in the aftermath and devastation of Hurricane Katrina which fundamentally changed how the federal government plans for disasters.

Two acts were passed by Congress in 2006: The Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) act and the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform act. Both of these acts added companion animals to already existing guidelines for disaster planning. This recognition elevated the issue of animal safety to a priority in the event of a natural disaster. Additionally, two new groups formed in 2006 to enhance communication and cooperation between animal welfare organizations, state agencies, and emergency volunteers in the event of a disaster. These were the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC) and the National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP). These groups promote collaboration between state programs allowing them to share information, hold summits, and conduct in-depth trainings.

••• How to keep your pets safe in a disaster • Identify pets before disaster strikes.

This piece of advice is absolutely essential. It is helpful to maintain collars and identification tags on pets, but for permanent identification, nothing is more helpful than microchipping your pets. Your local veterinarian or animal shelter can provide this service.

Remember to update your contact information regularly!

• Keep current photos of your pets in your wallet or on your smartphone.

A current photograph of your pet can play an important role in identification.

Just four months ago in July 2018, the Carr Fire broke out in Northern California burning over 200,000 acres and destroying over 1000 homes. Today,

four months later, volunteers continue to find and rescue dogs and cats displaced by the fire. Photos of lost pets posted on social media have been a key component helping rescuers return lost pets. To date, more than eighty families have enjoyed happy reunions with their pets due to the tenacity of a small group of volunteers, social media, and proper pet identification.

• Make a plan. It is important to have a plan before disaster strikes. Establish exit routes from your home or property.

Keep pet carriers accessible for quick use. Know the locations of animal shelters, pet-friendly hotels, or friends who would be willing to house your pets for you if you need to evacuate.

“Keeping Pets Safe” page 25

Happy Holidays

ACROSS

1. Snap up 5. Ship pronoun 8. Table scrap 11. Not happening 12. Call to matey 13. Boredom 15. Decant 16. Pilaf grain 17. Charcuterie stores 18. *”A ____ for the rest of us!”- from “Seinfeld” 20. Gwyneth, to friends 21. Thing to bear?

22. Comedian Tina 23. *Warmest or holiday follower 26. Feeling of disinterest

30. Sculptor Hans/Jean ___ 31. Chief 34. Assistant 35. Used in cricket or 301 37. *Feast of the Seven Fishes seafood 38. Tanks and such 39. Purse for a formal affair 40. All together 42. Make a mistake 43. Green bean or peanut 45. Infamous ____ Knoll 47. Charge carrier 48. *____ Navidad!

50. Hindu princess 52. *This theme wouldn’t exist without them 55. Swines, in Old English 56. Dashing style 57. Between a trot and a gallop

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59. Corpulent 60. Ding-a-____ 61. Knight’s breastplate 62. “I Thee ____” 63. Pea container 64. Not a word?

12. Not aria nor recitative 13. Landscaper’s tool 14. *Welcomed with a count down 19. Weight of refuse and chaff, pl.

22. Driving hazard DOWN 23. Does like a crane 1. Econ. measure 2. *Where Santa’s sleigh 24. About to explode 25. Celiac disease, lands colloquially 3. Malaria symptom 26. ____ weevil 4. Russian soup 27. March of ____ 5. Prison weapon, pl.

6. Bette Midler’s “____ 28. Emanations from incense and Pocus” frankincense 7. *”Tiny tots with their 29. *Christmas ____ all aglow” predecessor 8. Billy Joel’s “____ the 32. Be undecided Good Die Young” 9. The Colosseum, e.g. 33. Cotillion ball’s main attraction 10. *____ the season!

36. *Good follower 38. Like smell of burning rubber, e.g.

40. Long time 41. Staring amorously 44. Coolness and composure 46. Popular flowering shrub 48. Shakespeare’s “First ____” 49. African antelope 50. RBG’s garb 51. Matured like cheese 52. SOS 53. Quotable Berra 54. What DJs do 55. Reporter’s question 58. Is in Paris © Statepoint Media

Answers on 27 »

“Earthtalk” from page 18 Taming the Sun Innovations to Harness Solar Energy and Power the Planet olar energy, once a niche application for a limited market, has become the cheapest and fastest-growing power source on earth. What’s more, its potential is nearly limitless―every hour the sun beams down more energy than the world uses in a year.

But in Taming the Sun, energy expert Varun Sivaram warns that the world is not

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yet equipped to harness erratic sunshine to meet most of its energy needs. And if solar’s current surge peters out, prospects for replacing fossil fuels and averting catastrophic climate change will dim.

Innovation can brighten those prospects, Sivaram explains, drawing on firsthand experience and original research spanning science, business, and government.

The Omega Principle Seafood and the Quest for a Long Life and a Healthier Planet Rigorously reported and winningly told, The Omega Principle is a powerful argument for a more deliberate and forward-thinking relationship to the food we eat and the oceans that sustain us. James Beard Award-winning author Paul Greenberg takes a closer look at the omega-3 sensation and assesses how the

story of these tine molecules tells us a lot about the push-and-pull of science and business, the fate of our oceans in a human-dominated age, the explosion of land food at the expense of healthier and more sustainable seafood, and the human quest for health and long life at all costs.

The Fourth Age Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity s we approach a great turning point in history when technology is poised

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to redefine what it means to be human, The Fourth Age offers fascinating insight into AI, robotics, and their extraordinary implications for our species. Author Byron Reese provides extraordinary background information on how we got to this point, and how—rather than what—we should think about the topics we’ll soon all be facing: machine consciousness, automation, employment, creative computers, radical life extension, artificial life, AI ethics, the future of warfare, super intelligence, and the implications of extreme prosperity. n

“Holiday Activities” from page 21 Ornaments! othing says home like homemade ornaments on the tree. Some dried macaroni, yarn, beads, popsicle sticks, buttons, and paint and you’ve got enough supplies to make a variety of ornaments.

Don’t forget to take your Sharpie and mark who made the ornament and the year on the back!

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Christmas Tree Hunting Yes, it is so much easier to go to a Christmas Tree lot and pick one out. Just point, pay, and they will carry it out and tie it on your car for you. But … it is more fun and fulfilling to go to a Christmas tree farm with your trusty axe, rubber boots, and warm jackets and hike around looking for that perfect tree. The kids will have a blast running

“Orange Marmalade” from page 20 4.

ADD SUGAR, COOK UNTIL DESIRED SET Add the sugar; bring to a boil and boil rapidly, uncovered, stirring frequently.

If you are not familiar with the water bath canning method, watch our water bath canning video workshop at www.mountainfeed.com.

Always make sure you are following all safety guidelines outlined by the USDA when canning anything.

Boil the marmalade until the mixture will form a gel, usually from 20-30 minutes.

Longer cooking times will result in a stiffer marmalade.

5. PACK YOUR JARS & PROCESS Ladle into hot, clean jars with 1/41/2-inch headspace, and process in a boiling water-bath canner for 10 minutes.

••• It’s part of our mission here at Mountain Feed to help you make delicious, sustainable, homemade food more often. Stop by and say hello on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. Or, as always, you can do it the old fashioned way and come by the store to speak with one of our in-house experts.

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from tree to tree looking for the one they love.

Make a day of it.

Most Christmas tree farms not only offer the perfect tree, but almost always they also have hot chocolate, hot cider, and a few activities to keep everyone in the spirit of the holiday. n ••• Gingerbread House Icing 3 large egg whites 4 3⁄4 cups powdered sugar 1 ⁄2 teaspoon cream of tartar • In a large bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer at medium speed.

• Add powdered sugar in small amounts, mixing well on high speed after each addition.

• Beat on high speed 4-5 minutes or until mixture thickens.

• Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like…

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his year I will spend ten days with the Friendswood Clan at Christmas.

That’s enough time to get into trouble, marry, buy a horse, order some spurs (not bone), or even worse…be such an impatient, grumpy, lazy guest that Michael and Najla will rescind their very vague idea to come earlier (like March) and live in their house while I’m waiting for my housing to come through.

For a year.

With three grandchildren and one newborn.

And my Charlie turning it into a three dog household.

Without my friends.

While looking for a job.

There is so much to think about and my mind just can’t today.

I’d rather tell you a little story about my 2016 Christmas.

••• n May of that year, I succumbed to receiving a ‘partial’ for my mouth.

Because it’s such a hard plastic, my dentist suggested I put it under hot water so it would be more pliable. No problem, I thought confidently.

And … since running it under the hot water was so helpful, I thought putting it in a glass of really hot water for a minute would help even more. And it did!

And since that worked so well, I decided that putting it in a small glass of water in the microwave for five seconds

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“Keeping Pets Safe” from page 23 • Identify clearly that animals live inside your home. In the event of a single house fire or other disaster, it can be very helpful for emergency personnel to know that pets live inside a house. Be sure to keep signs or stickers prominently displayed on windows or front doors detailing

By Janet Payne-Downs

would be even better. And it was. I had reached ‘partial’ perfection.

Fast forward to Friendswood, Texas, Christmas morning.

All of us had awoken early, naturally, and as the kids were shaking all the presents, tossing some to the dogs, and making piles for each person, the adults were readying their coffee for the melee.

As had been my new norm, I put my precious partial into a cup of water, set the timer on the microwave and toddled off to pretty myself. Approximately five minutes later I heard the following: “MOM!” Michael yelled.

“What did you put in the microwave!?”

I rounded the corner and without looking, knew exactly what had transpired.

Smoke was billowing (yes, billowing!) from the microwave along with an indescribable stench.

I have often heard that a loud sigh is tantamount to screaming. At that moment in Michael’s kitchen, I knew I couldn’t scream, swear, or leave.

My partial was melted and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it. There went about …oh, seventeen hundred dollars. I sighed.

I bravely ambled over to the microwave to peek in and see if there was anything salvageable.

Nope.

Everything was gone, except a petite, quiet, lonely tooth in the middle of the turntable…the cup had been

the animals who live inside. Be sure to keep this information up to date.

• Maintain an emergency kit. In the event of a natural disaster, it may take several days for help to arrive.

It is important to keep emergency kits for people and animals. For your pets, be sure to maintain pet carriers, bottled water, canned food, bowls, first aid kits, blankets,

blown to smithereens, and the smoke was still lingering. At that moment I realized that without my glasses, I had mistakenly set the timer for five minutes instead of five seconds.

Embarrassingly, this sad incident

was the story of the day (of the year, actually).

On that note, I bid you adieu; Happy Holidays, stay safe, don’t drink and drive, love your neighbor, and Merry Christmas.

See you next year! n

I have often heard that a loud sigh is tantamount to screaming. At that moment in Michael’s kitchen, I knew I couldn’t scream, swear, or leave. and copies of any prescription medication.

••• No one knows when disaster will strike. Thanks to hard lessons learned, our government now has plans in place to help coordinate relief efforts for humans and their pets. To ensure safety in a disaster, every pet owner needs to be responsible and prepared. n

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••• Addendum: At the time this is written, rescuers have been called into action again to help in the devastating Camp and Woolsey fires in Northern and Southern California.

Our veterinary hospital has helped to shelter evacuated pets from Butte County. We sincerely hope for the safety of all rescue volunteers, and we hope for swift reunions between people and their animals.

Your December Horoscope Times Publishing Group, Inc.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

Looking deep into a problem early in December is the key to finding the answers you are looking for. The more you investigate, the more you will understand what’s happening, so don’t be afraid. It’s time to recommit to your goals mid-month .Your responsibilities are important to you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find time to relax and enjoy play time. Late in the month you find communicating complicated ideas difficult. Stick to the basics and you’ll be fine.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb. 18)

Changes related to the heart and wallet cannot be avoided, and the news isn’t all good early in the month.

Making an unusual play in this area may be in your favor. But the pressure should be lifted a bit after a few days, allowing you to move on, regardless of the outcome . Your desire to express your own unique views grows strong mid-month. People who cross your path during this time will likely find the encounter memorable. Your need to put things in order comes to the forefront as December is coming to a close, leaving you with the need to set some short- and long-term goals for the new year. Keep in mind which will bring the quickest benefits and which will bring the most important benefits when deciding on priorities.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

Your intuition is strong as the month begins, helping you avoid some of the minor problems surrounding you.

It also helps when confronted with a decision to either be coy or straightforward in matters of the heart. Your emotions are running away with you mid-December. Losing control in public isn’t fun, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. Find something creative to do or entertaining to help you find a bit of peace and happiness. Late in the month you feel that urge to be useful to those in need. Doing some charity work or even starting your own project, whether it’ll bring you praise or not, is what you’re looking for.

Aries (March 21-April 20)

Your competitive juices are flowing as December begins. You may be somewhat impatient as you chomp at the bit to get started, but you are more than ready as the next challenge is accepted. You’re still focused on your goals as you reach mid-month, but it may be time to take a restorative break. When it’s getting harder to remain focused (or even start) its time to take a short, refreshing break. Later in the month, after a surge of preparation has everything ready for the holidays, you’re ready to dive back into completing your goals.

Getting congratulations for a job well done isn’t necessary, but it sure is welcome!

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

Keep your eyes and ears wide open as the month begins. It’s easier to solve problems you see coming than dealing with them after they arrive. Still, it’s important to maintain your focus on whatever project is most important to you ,whether it’s relationships, work, play, or charity, it deserves your utmost effort. A short break before the chaos of the holidays isn’t unreasonable. Take a personal day or two mid-month to help you prepare for the coming days. As December comes to a close, you feel the need for companionship grow, but just anyone isn’t going to do. Spend time with the special people in your life as you watch the new year arrive.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

Having trouble with your electronic life? You find yourself feeling stressed early in the month over problems with computers and phones, and the people you interact with over them. Its’ hard when errors don’t give you a choice in the matter, but if you’re diligent and maintain your equipment you’ll avoid the bigger problems on the horizon. Your rebellious nature is rearing its head mid-December. You just have to decide if the short-term gains from your actions will outweigh the long-term consequences. Only you know the answer, but who will have to live with them? Late in the month a surge of energy is helping you deal with the chaos of the holidays. Shopping, decorating, hosting guests, ringing in the new year: It’s going to be a fun ride!

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

You’ve been feeling a bit unsettled lately, but you’re determined to get to the bottom of it as December begins.

There may be some damage to recover from, but it’s more important to solve the issue and move on. You have hopes and dreams that are struggling to break free mid-month. Between the people supporting your vision and those cautioning you to be careful, you have everything you need to move forward. You find yourself in a highly-motivated mood as the end of the month approaches. You have no problem finding the energy to finish end-of-the-year projects and are ready for the new year!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 23)

Your patience is challenged early in the month as others look for excuses to get a rise out of you, but the longer you can hold out, the better off you’ll be. Still, you are struggling to find your motivation as the month moves on. Whatever feelings you’re having, remember that believing in yourself is important, especially if those around you are sending negativity your way. You find yourself in a brighter frame-of-mind later in December, just in time to help you deal with all the holiday preparations. The final week of the year is going to be busy, so when that big idea hits you, make sure you write it down. You may not have time to deal with it now, but you definitely don’t want to forget it!

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sep. 22)

You find yourself struggling to contain your intensity dealing with people as the month begins, especially when those encounters fail to produce the results you’re looking for. Maintaining your composure is key, and giving up isn’t on the table. Mid-December finds you ready to break from your normal activities and enjoy a moment of recklessness. You don’t feel like yourself, but you’re still enjoying the experience! As the month comes to a close, you can feel your desires pooling to the surface. Time to make some bold new years goals. Will you be able to keep them this time?

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 23)

Something is in the air as December begins. Is it close? Is it far? Take a closer look at your relationships; you may be able to blunt the effect of something that may be about to happen.

But if things do get heated, there should be opportunities for apologies and repairs as days and weeks bring a calmer air to any volatility that occurred. You find yourself falling into an even more calm state mid-month, making it easier for you to deal with, and understand, the people around you. Kind acts towards others will help you continue to improve your outlook. Late in the month is the time to refocus and tackle those tasks and goals you want to finish before the new year.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

You’re having trouble avoiding problems coming your way as the month begins, although listening to your instincts should be helpful as the days pass. Still, you are ready for the challenges coming your way midmonth. Fighting for your stake in the game of life isn’t always easy, but you know you have what it takes if you do your best. Your fears are your biggest challenge as December looks into the new year. Taking full responsibility for your actions, current and previous, will help your courage grow.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Passion and commitment come together in your relationships as the month begins. Either building on what you have, or being ready to settle down, you are ready to do the work to make stability and love a forefront in your life. That doesn’t mean platonic friends need to take a back seat, especially mid-December, when you feel a desire to reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in a while, whether a friend or relative. As the month comes to a close, you find yourself coming back to the basics. Bringing in the new year without any surprises or problems is your goal. Changes can wait until 2019.

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

State of the PVUSD

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by Jeff Ursino, Trustee for PVUSD

he district recently held a meeting at the Watsonville City Chambers to discuss the current state of educational achievement at the District level.

The event highlighted the District’s recent experiences and the progress that is being made to prepare our students for both college and their future careers.

The meeting also introduced the “4 Levers” that have been adopted District wide to help deliver the results that we are now seeing.

The 4 levers are being used as a guide as the District interacts with students, parents, staff and the community at large and are being utilized in many of the decisions being made that effect student learning.

The levers which include personalized learning for each student, building meaningful relationships with all stake holders in the district, informed instruction which utilized the most current data to identify areas of opportunity and finally alignment with the common core curriculum all are playing a part in the progress being made with student achievement at the district level.

The improving results are measured with the California State-wide Student Assessment system or CAASPP. Across the state approximately 3 million students took this test earlier this year measuring the state’s progress in educational achievement.

The District experienced growth in many areas over the last two years but several areas stood out. For instance, 4th graders experienced a 9-percentage point improvement in language and art, while 5th graders saw a 10-point improvement in math. Finally, 8th graders experienced a full 11-point improvement in language.

The District, and the state as a whole have for years lagged behind other states in student achievement. By utilizing data to personalize instruction for each student and a focus on student achievement the District has been able to buck the negative trend in key areas.

The District also recently implemented

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a program called Foundational Literacy.

This pilot program has teachers instructing students in small groups that are organized on the student’s current reading level.

Before this program 74% of our 1st graders were leaving 1st grade at their reading grade level. Now a full 94% are reading at grade level as they leave 1st grade, a 20% improvement. As teachers will tell you reading is a core competency that sets students up for success later. By working on the basics early on the District is helping students as they move on in their educational careers.

To be sure the District faces significant challenges.

Too many of our students are dropping out or not performing at grade level.

Furthermore, the District has a large percentage of students living in poverty, with special educational needs. We also face an uncertain funding outlook at the state level.

These are significant obstacles that as a district, and community, we will need to address. However, as the improvement in the last several years show we are moving on the right track in helping more students be college and career ready when they graduate from high school. That is something we can all be proud of.

••• n a side note this will be my last article as a Trustee for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. I made the decision early this year that two terms is the right amount for me and that it was time for new representation from the Aptos area at the District level. I want to take a moment to thank the local community for the opportunity to serve.

I have been approached at school events, local sporting events, grocery stores and even the gas station with questions and opinions about the District. I have appreciated every person who has come to me because their questions and insight shows their concern for the community. That concern is one of the reasons Aptos is such a special place to live and call home.

Thank you for the opportunity and please join me in supporting the newly elected and appointed Trustees as they work to continue the growth in student achievement. n

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As abo k us Fina ut our nc Prog ial Aid ram

SCCAS Featured Pet

P cat.

Discover the difference of an independent education at our upcoming Open House

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atches ID#A251805 was surrendered to the shelter in September and was quite shy and nervous when she came in. With some loving, patient work by volunteers and staff, Patches has blossomed into an affectionate

January 26, 2019 @ 1 p.m.

RSVP 831-423-0658 x202 kirby.org/visit 425 Encinal Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Did you know?

She can still be shy and likes her independence but she loves to talk to you, loves to purr and has a sweet natured disposition. Patches is a spayed female, Torti, Domestic shorthair, apprx. 1 year old.

To adopt your new friend, visit one of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter locations, or their website at www.scanimalshelter.org. n ••• Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter has two full-service, open-admission shelters: Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesdays: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Watsonville Location: 580 Airport Blvd, Watsonville, CA 95076 Hours: Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed 12-1) Closed on Sunday SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182

52%

of the children served by CASA of Santa Cruz County are Latinx;

47% would benefit from having a bilingual volunteer;

72% of the children waiting for

an Advocate are under age 3!

crossword on 23 »

If you have 2-4 hours a week to help a child in foster care,

WE NEED YOU!

Happy Holidays © Statepoint Media

You CAN make a difference.

VOLUNTEER TODAY!

casaofsantacruz.org (831) 761-2956

27 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR recycling services and accepts books and other donations for our thrift stores.

Proceeds benefit our Brown Bag Program, distributing nutritious food to 3,900 seniors every week.

Thursday January 10 2019 JANUARY BREAKFAST MEETING 7:30 – 9 a.m., Best Western Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Ct. Aptos Join us for our January Breakfast Meeting, with special guest speaker Second District Supervisor Zach Friend.

Come and learn about the current on goings of Aptos and Santa Cruz County, while enjoying a delicious breakfast from Seacliff Inn. Be sure to bring business cards and promotional items so that you can network with chamber and community members.

Price: $20-25 Call (831) 688-1467 to RSVP

Wednesday February 20 2019 2019 BIZ SHOWCASE: “GROW YOUR BUSINESS” 4 – 7 pm, Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Dr., Aptos How will you grow your business in 2019? The Business Showcase brings key members of the community together to connect, learn, and give opportunities for local businesses to inspire, while working together in a variety of creative ways.

Each year, the Business Showcase provides you with the opportunity to make face-to-face connections with thousands of potential customers and fellow businesses.

A free exhibitor seminar will also be held to help you MAXIMIZE this great marketing opportunity on Thursday, February 7th from 11:50am -1:15pm at the Aptos History Museum.

For more info, email ESME@Aptoschamber.com or call (831) 688-1467. Aptoschamber.com

free, friendly 12-Step support group with the solution.

All teens and adults welcome!

For current times and locations of other meetings: www.santa cruzoa.org/meetings. Or call our Hotline at (831)429-7906.

Weekdays BINGO CASA ORIENTATIONS TO BECOME ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN CASA empowers volunteers to directly influence life-changing decisions affecting children in foster care.

Court appointed special advocates are everyday people that, with just a few hours a week can have a lifetime of impact for a child who has been abused or neglected.

More info www.casaof santacruz.org or call (831) 7612956 XT.102 Mondays CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP 12-1 p.m., PAMF, 2850 Commercial Crossing, Santa Cruz Katz Cancer Center, PAMF and Hospice of Santa Cruz County invite you to attend a Caregiver Support Group for those caring for someone with a serious illness. When a loved one is seriously ill, it can be a challenge for the entire family. In this ongoing support group, we will share stories, learn tools for coping and receive support from people who care.

Contact Hospice of Santa Cruz County Grief Support Program.

(831) 430-3078

Second and Fourth Mondays SANTA CRUZ CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m., Alzheimer’s Association, 550 Water Street, Ste. L2, Santa Cruz If you have a family member who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, a caregiver support group can offer you an opportunity to find out more about available community resources, learn from others who are going through similar experiences, and obtain additional educational materials. Open to family members, no fee.

For more information about this and other support groups in the area, please call 800.272.3900 Mondays & Tuesdays WOMENCARE ARM-IN-ARM 12:30 - 2 p.m.

WomenCARE ARM-in-ARM support group for women with advanced, recurrent and metastatic SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2 (2019) cancers. Meets weekly Mondays & Tuesdays, with SAVE THE DATE for the 57th Annual Awards Dinner a separate meeting every First and Third Tuesday and Auction as we celebrate Italian style – That’s Amore! every month.

Registration required. Call 457-2273 for more information ANNOUNCEMENTS and to register. No cost to attend. www.womencaresantacruz.org VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE MONTEREY SYMPHONY Mondays & Wednesdays The Monterey Symphony is seeking volunteers. If you ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION love music and want to be involved, please call (831) 646-8511 or visit www.montereysymphony.org for more Alzheimer’s Association has free support groups for family caregivers at 1777-A Capitola road. information.

2nd & 4th Mondays 2-3:30pm facilitated by Jill Ginghofer, ONGOING EVENTS 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 5:30-7pm facilitated by Francie Newfield & Kathleen McBurney.

Daily Call 800 272 3900 for more information.

SANTA CRUZ ‘USED’ BOOKSHOP 10 am- 3 pm 2710 Chanticleer Ave. Santa Cruz Tuesdays Grey Bears: Every Monday and Friday is $10-a-bag book sale. Fill up a shopping bag with books for only OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS: $10! Thousands of titles for $1.50 or less: cookbooks, WRITING/DISCUSSION MEETING gardening, sci-fi, mysteries, classics and all sorts of 6:30-7:30 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, Gazebo Room, 10707 fiction and nonfiction. Non-profit Grey Bears has served Soquel Dr., Aptos (At Hwy One and Freedom Blvd) our community for 45 years. Grey Bears provides Do you have a problem with food? Please check out our

emotions through the journey of Cancer — from diagnosis to softening the impact of chemo, radiation, and recovering well from surgery.

We’ll address nausea, low energy, weakness, digestion, immune support, grief, stress and more.

Feel free to bring your partner or care team to this free class. Please come fed; water is available.

Limited Seats. Please register all attendees on Eventbrite — Wellness on the Cancer Journey or call 831-254-3270 to RSVP. Address given upon registration receipt.

6:30 p.m. Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, 150 Jewell St. BINGO EVERY TUESDAY. Buy-in begins at $21.

The Snack Bar is open with goodies and dinner specials.

ADHD SUPPORT GROUP 6:30-8 p.m., Aptos Fire Station, 6934 Soquel Drive, Aptos The Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay Branch of CHADD hosts monthly support group meetings for anyone who would like to learn more about ADHD or has questions or concerns. Come share with those who understand.

Second Wednesdays’ meeting is for parents of children, teens, and young adults with ADHD. The group for adults with ADHD, spouses, partners of someone with ADHD meets fourth Wednesdays of every month.

Contact: Judy Brenis, jbbrenis@comcast.net, or call 831818-9619.

WRITING/DISCUSSION MEETING 6:30-7:30 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, Gazebo Room, 10707 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003 (At Hwy One and Freedom Blvd) Do you have a problem with food? Please check out our free, friendly 12-Step support group with the solution.

All teens and adults welcome!

For current times and locations of other meetings: www. santacruzoa.org/meetings. Or call our Hotline at (831) 429-7906.

Last Wednesdays Each Month SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 7-9 p.m., Katz Cancer Resource Center, 3150 Mission Drive Santa Cruz County Prostate Cancer Support Group has been an active group for over 20 years in the community.

First meeting of 2018 will be February 28th.

BUSINESS DEBTORS ANONYMOUS 5:15-6:30pm, Calvary Episcopal Church, Parish Hall, 532 Center Street, Santa Cruz.

We specifically focus on recovering from debting on one’s business.

For more information: 831-425-3272.

Thursdays LUCKY STEPPERS MODERN SQUARE DANCE 6:30 pm, La Selva Beach Clubhouse, 314 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach, CA 95076 It’s fun and easy to do! Friendship put to music; family friendly. Class takes place every Thursday Night at our new home in La Selva Beach! (Take Mar Monte off of Hwy 1, turns into Playa Blvd., turn right on Estrella) For more information, contact Sue Harris or Don Benson at (831) 726-7053 or e-mail at caller4u@att.net.

Tuesdays & Wednesdays SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUPS Monarch Services offers a safe space to meet other survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors, and to listen or share experiences. Childcare provided on site.

Spanish – Tuesdays 6:00-7:30 p.m. Servicios Monarca, 233 E. Lake Avenue, Watsonville (831) 722-4532 English – Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 p.m. Monarch Services, 1590 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz (831) 425-4030 For more information, visit www.monarchscc.org Second Wednesdays SANTA CRUZ SONS IN RETIREMENT MONTHLY MEETING Noon, Elks Lodge at 150 Jewell St. This statewide group of retired men invites you to be our guest at our monthly luncheon. You’ll meet kindred spirits, have a fine lunch and learn something new from a top notch guest speaker.

Cost: $18. RSVP at 479-7096 Second and Fourth Wednesdays WELLNESS ON THE CANCER JOURNEY 11-12:30 pm, Old Soquel Plaza Learn how to safely support your body and

28 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

FRIENDSHIP PUT TO MUSIC! 6:30 p.m., New Hall, La Selva Beach Club House, 3124 Estrella Ave. Classes every Thursday night. For more information call Sue Harris or Don Benson (831) 726-7053 or email at caller4u@att.net SAN LORENZO COMMUNITY BAND PRACTICE SESSIONS 7:30-9 p.m., San Lorenzo Valley High School Band Room (F-1) The San Lorenzo Valley Community Band meets every Thursday at SLV High School. Dues are $30 a semester.

You must read music.

Call Teresa at 336-8637.

Second and Fourth Thursdays CABRILLO HOST LIONS CLUB MEETINGS 6:30 p.m., Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road.

Want to make a difference in our community? Join the Cabrillo Lions Club twice every month and see what you can do to help in Santa Cruz County.

Please RSVP cabrillolions@gmail.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Rick Cahill. “Wrong Light” is Coyle’s fifth Rick Cahill novel. The “Bedside Reading Program” offers guests a complimentary book which is left bedside in each of the 165 rooms at Dream Inn. December’s books include, “Lead Your Tribe, Love Your Work” and “Wrong Light.”

Books are changed out monthly.

For more info, call (844) 510-1746 or visit www.dreaminnsantacruz.com

ONGOING EVENTS cont.

Last Thursdays each month MONTHLY ARGENTINE TANGO AT STAR BENE ITALIAN/ARGENTINE RESTARANTE 4:30pm-9:30pm, Star Bene Italian/Argentene Restarante, 21245 East Cliff Dr. This is a night for true “Social Tango.” Order a wonderful meal from the Star Bene Argentine Menu, (or their well known italian menu), and enjoy the ambiance of Argentina and join us in a social tango dance to music from the Golden Age of Tango.

Private instruction and classes by arrangement. For more information, call Michael (831) 239-2247.

Fridays NAR-ANON SCOTTS VALLEY 6:30 p.m., Camp Recovery Center (Bison Center Room), 3192 Glen Canyon Road, Scotts Valley.

Nar-Anon is a twelve step support group for families and friends of addicts. There are no dues or fees to join. Just come to a meeting. You will hear others, who are going through similar problems, talk about how they cope and find recovery.

To locate additional times and locations of meetings, please go to our website at www.nar-anon.org.

FREE FAMILY MOVIE: POLAR EXPRESS 10 – 11 a.m., Del Mar Theatr, 124 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz The Free Family Movie at the Del Mar is a special tradition and a wonderful way to support Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz as their holiday food drives help so many people in our community have healthy food, every day of the year. Bring a food or cash donation and enjoy a great holiday classic on the big screen. This is a fun, Saturday morning event for the whole family.

For more info, call (831) 359-4447 or visit www.facebook.com/ events/2287248674885018/

ABBA-SOLUTELY CHRISTMAS Friday December 21

DROP-IN GRIEF SUPPORT 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave Santa Cruz 12-1 pm, Hospice of Santa Cruz County, two locations: Abba-Solutely Christmas Show! All of your favorite ABBA hits with the perfect mix of Christmas music 940 Disc Dr., SV • 85 Nielson St., Watsonville sprinkled in to celebrate the holidays. Direct from the U.K., The ABBA Show will light up your holidays with Hospice of Santa Cruz County is offering a drop-in grief their ABBA-Solutely Christmas Show. Dancing Queen, Waterloo, Take a Chance On Me, Super Trouper, support group for adults grieving the death of a family Voulez Vous, Gimme Gimme Gimme, SOS, The Winner Takes it all, and Thank you for the Music. member or a friend. This group is a place where you For more info, call (831) 423-8209 or visit http://www.riotheatre.com/events-2/2018/12/21/abba-solutely-christmascan share stories, learn tools for coping, and receive show support from people who care.

For more information, please call (831) 430-3000. Preregistration is required.

Third Sunday of Every Month paintings of Santa Cruz County landscapes are on SCIENCE SUNDAY exhibit.

First Fridays each month Starts at 1 p.m., 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, 95060 Exhibit open until the end of December.

FIRST FRIDAY ART TOUR Seymour Marine Discovery Center presents a public The First Friday Art Tour is a Santa Cruz Institute of Second Saturdays Each Month lecture from a marine scientist the third Sunday of every Contemporary Arts event, managed in conjunction month. Topics are presented in an entertaining and 2ND SATURDAY ON THE FARM with the participating art venues. The event takes place 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Ag History Project Center at the Santa Cruz easy-to-understand format, with up-to-date photos, year-round and illuminates some of the most talented video, and discussion.

County Fairgrounds local artists from local galleries.

Science Sunday does not meet in December. For more info Join us every 2nd Saturday on the Farm for free To find out where to participate in a First Friday art tour, visit family activities. Each month we select a new theme to visit seymourcenter.ucsc.edu firstfridaysantacruz.com (Most galleries are open 12-9 pm for highlight historical agriculture with games, activities, First Friday viewings.) and demonstrations that relate.

DATED EVENTS We often have guest appearances from farm animals Saturday December 15 FRIDAY SHAKESPEARE CLUB like llamas, draft horses, sheep, goats, chickens, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Peace United Church of Christ at 900 rabbits, and more! You are sure to find something fun ANNIE GLASS SUCCULENT ARRANGEMENT WORKSHOP High Street, Santa Cruz 2 – 3 p.m., 310 Harvest Drive, Watsonville and entertaining for the whole family.

Curious about Shakespeare? The Friday Shakespeare Check our website and Facebook page for more details. FREE Create your own succulent garden in a beautiful Club members discuss the life, times, and influence of Annieglass piece. You can choose from gold or Sundays William Shakespeare. platinum-rimmed Annieglass piece to plant your succulents. We will share tips on planting your mini For information, call 831-684-2832, or go to fridayshakeNAR-ANON SANTA CRUZ speare.org or facebook.com/fridayshakespeare.

6:30 p.m., Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center (Sutter succulent garden. Workshop includes an Annieglass piece and a set number of succulents (Additional plants Room), 2900 Chanticleer Avenue, Santa Cruz will be available for purchase). A glass of wine, beer or FRIDAY SHAKESPEARE CLUB Nar-Anon is a twelve step support group for families OF SANTA CRUZ and friends of addicts. There are no dues or fees to join. soft drink will be served complimentary. This workshop is appropriate for children 10 years and older.

10 am - noon, Peace United Church, 909 High Street Just come to a meeting. You will hear others, who are For more info, call (831) 761-2041 or visit www.annieglass.

This is the oldest women’s club in Santa Cruz. The club meets going through similar problems, talk about how they com to study the life, works and times of William Shakespeare. cope and find recovery.

Members share group readings and insights, discuss history, To locate additional times and locations of meetings, BOOK SIGNING WITH AUTHOR MATT COYLE and universal themes found in his plays and writings. please go to our website at www.nar-anon.org.

5 – 6 p.m., Dream Inn Santa Cruz Lobby, 175 W. Cliff Drive SC For more information please call 831-684-2832 Meet acclaimed author Matt Coyle whose book, “Wrong FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH BIBLE STUDY Light” is part of the new “Bedside Reading Program” at Fridays thru Sundays 9:45 a.m: Bible Study Dream Inn Santa Cruz. Matt will be signing books while PLEIN AIR WATERCOLOR 11 a.m.: Worship guests enjoy holiday egg nog and cookies. Best-selling PAINTINGS EXHIBITION 7565 Sunset Way, Aptos author Matt Coyle is the winner of the Anthony Award, Noon-10 p.m., Mutari Chocolate House and Factory, 504 Front First Baptist Church of Aptos welcomes you to join their the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award and the San Diego bible study and worship every Sunday.

Street, Santa Cruz Book Award. Coyle has dedicated his writing career to hard-boiled PI mysteries following the haunted character Call (831) 688-5842 for more info Aptos Artist David Pfost’s plein air watercolor 29 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Saturday December 15, Sunday December 16 and Saturday December 22 CAPITOLA VILLAGE MUSIC SERIES 12 – 4:30 p.m., 200 Monterey Ave and 115 San Jose Ave, Mercantile Courtyard and Monterey Plaza, Capitola Join us for our first Holiday Music Series, featuring local artists. Bringing you high-quality, diverse performances to Capitola Village during the holiday season for visitors and locals to enjoy while they shop, dine and stay in the Village. Capitola Village will host two-hour performances from musicians between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Call (805) 433-4461 or visit www.capitolavillage.com/musicseries for more info.

Wednesday December 19 PLAY THE BAY: BOARD GAME NIGHT 5 – 9 p.m., New Bohemia Brewing Co., 1030 41st Ave, Santa Cruz Come play games at NuBo! Far flung from just adding points and waiting your turn, come prepared to laugh, cheer, point fingers, and swear you’ll never trust your best friend again. We will bring a selection of games that we love, but we encourage you to bring stuff you are excited about as well. Don’t play board games? Haven’t touched a piece of cardboard outside of an Amazon package in a decade? You’re fine! We’ll find a game that sounds good and we’ll get you started. No need to ever read a rule book. Already play board games? Bring a game you haven’t gotten to the table yet! Free and open to all. Come discover something strange and beautiful with us!

For more info, call (831) 350-0253 or visit www.nubobrew.com

Thursday December 20 WINDHAM HILL WINTER SOLSTICE 7:30 p.m., Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave Santa Cruz Celebrate the Winter Solstice and its warm traditions with a concert of original and traditional acoustic music drawn from the multi-platinum selling Winter Solstice series as well as their many solo releases.

Windham Hill founder and Grammy-winning guitarist, Will Ackerman, and Grammy Award-nominated singer, fiddler, pianist, and songwriter Barbara Higbie, Grammy-nominated guitarist, composer Alex de Grassi and supporting musician, guitarist Todd Boston and cellist Mia Pixley come together to lead joyous holiday concerts.

For more info, call (831) 423-8209 or visit www.riotheatre.com n

Business Guide

COMMUNITY NEWS

Reporting Issues to the County From Your Smartphone

W vintage Cocktail Purses 831-201-8024

ith the recent rains, roadway issues (including potholes) are starting to pop back up. Additionally, non-emergency tree trimming needs, sign damage and more become more common.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve held a number of community meetings and generally questions arise about the best way to make a report on some of these issues.

Many of these issues, and more, can be reported directly from your smartphone through the County’s free Citizen Connect mobile app.

Available for download on iTunes and Google Play (or right from the county’s website - santacruzcounty.us), the app connects residents to their government through smart phones and other mobile devices, allowing you to report issues and receive updates on the status of these reported issues.

What can be reported? ere is a list of the many things you can report directly from your phone: • Potholes (allows you to take a photo to show Public Works the severity) • Street sign issues (down, missing or damaged street signs) • Tree trimming or brush clearing needs • Abandoned vehicles (vehicles parked on streets for more than 72 hours) • Dead deer or birds • Encampments • Illegal dumping (trash on roadways) • Sewer spills • Stagnant water (pooling of water, ditches) • Pests (rodents, ticks, mosquitoes) • Environmental health concerns and food borne illnesses • Illegal cannabis grows • Graffiti • Storm damage

H

What else is available on the app? he app can be used for more than just reporting issues to the County. For example, Citizen Connect has elections information including election results, polling place lookup information, the ability to register to vote or confirm that you are registered. The County’s new strategic plan is also available through the app. Here is a list of additional things you can do: • Locate nearby parks including all of their available amenities • Look up parcel information • Obtain restaurant inspection reports • Schedule a building inspection • Check your Planning Department application status • Check out employment opportunities with the County • View/pay tax bills • Check vacation rental contacts (for local vacation rentals) The system is designed to allow for greater interactivity between the County and our residents - so when you

T

!

TO ADVERTISE IN THE BUSINESS GUIDE SECTION

call our offices 831.688.7549

www.tpgonlinedaily.com

By Zach Friend, County Supervisor 2nd District

30 / December 15th 2018 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

report a pothole, for example, you will receive updates about the status of your report so you that the request has been received and know when it has been filled.

It also allows you to submit photos so that the County can triage issues and also catalog issues for proactive work. When I brought forward an item a few years ago to the Board of Supervisors to create the app it was in response to requests from constituents that wanted a simpler way to access County services - especially during non-work hours.

While the app has been downloaded by many residents, and has become one of the most common ways these reports are made, I’ve found that many still aren’t aware that it exists. In a recent community meeting we held with Public Works, they said it is one of the fastest ways to report non-emergency issues (and have them addressed).

As always, if there is a road issue/hazard that needs to be addressed immediately, you can call the 24-hour Public Works Dispatch line at 477-3999. If an issue is an emergency you can also call 911. The app should be used for non-emergency needs. n ••• The County is continuing to expand features. If you have suggestions for additional features please feel free to call me at 454-2200.

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