Aptos Times: May 15, 2020

Family Owned For Over 29 Years • Aptos, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, Freedom & Watsonville

Times Publishing Group, Inc.

May 15 2020 • Vol 29 No. 10

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Kids at Watsonville Y Get Bike Helmets

May is National Bike Month, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast.

To mark this childhood rite of passage, the Watsonville Y’s Child Care Center teamed up with Bike Santa Cruz County to provide gently used and refurbished bikes for 13 youth to take home by the end of May. Full Story page 5

Ben Kelly: A Tribute

On May 9, surfer Ben Kelly was fatally attacked by a shark while surfing at Sand Dollar Beach in Santa Cruz County.

Kelly, 26, a 2015 graduate of Vanguard University, was well-known in the community.

He started shaping surfboards as a teen and owned Ben Kelly Surfboards in Watsonville.

He was active on Facebook, sharing his new creations.

“Nothing quite like the feeling of waxing up a fresh new sled … so good!” read one post on April 22. ... continues on page 4

Trinity Covenant Church: Drive-in Service

“If you have your Bibles in the car, I encourage you to open them,” Pastor Troy Martin said, standing outside Trinity Covenant Church and St. Abraham’s Classical Christian Academy in Aptos, speaking to people sitting in their vehicles in the parking lot.

Full Story page 6

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newleaf.com/stay-healthy 161 Aptos Village Way, Aptos 831.685.8500

No. 10

Volume 29

16

22

27

Table of Contents

10

Cover

Ben Kelly: A Tribute

5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 21 22 23 24 25 26

Community News Kids at Watsonville Y Get Bike Helmets • CalFresh Benefits Can Be Used to Buy Groceries Online Trinity Covenant: Drive-in Service, By Jondi Gumz Can Firefighters Find, Access and Defend Your Home?, by FireSafe Santa Cruz Education & Outreach Committee Man, 21, Dies in Jail • Monarch Services Offers Virtual Support Group A Heart for Dominican Hospital: Thanking Essential Workers • Dominican Resumes Elective Procedures • Dominican Receives $1M Gift For Hospital Workers The Foals Still Come: Pregnant Mare Rescue: Running a Horse Sanctuary During Coronavirus, By Lynn Hummer Habitat Monterey Bay: Moving A Business From Storefronts To Online, By Jondi Gumz SC County Bank: Saving 29,218 Jobs, By Jondi Gumz • Bookshop Santa Cruz: Furloughed Employees Back on Payroll, By Casey Coonerty Protti, Owner Bay Plumbing: Grateful To Stay Open, By Jondi Gumz • Four Winds Growers: From Unnerving to Fortunate, By Jondi Gumz BBBS: Virtual Fundraising, By Jondi Gumz Builders Going Back To Work, By Jondi Gumz • Backyard Burns Suspended in Santa Cruz County Watsonville COVID-19 Specimen Collection Site to Open • Economic Recovery Council Debuts • Need Summer Interns?

Bay Fed Awards $7,500 in Scholarships • El Pajaro Serves Family Meals to Farmworkers • Jeff Heitman Joins Bay Fed Credit Union The O’Carroll Attraction • Eye Glass Masks from Eyeshapes New Leaf Introduces Grocery Pickup: Instacart Online Service Launching at Four Neighborhood Stores Local Business Get Online with GetVirtual.org, By Jondi Gumz New CEO for Hospice of Santa Cruz • County’s New COVID-19 Cases: Slow, By Jondi Gumz County Seeks Housing Input

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California News Panetta, Others Introduce Legislation to Create Health Force: Plan Would Also Expand Public Health Response to COVID-19 23 Panetta, Beyer Propose Improvement To Paycheck Protection

9

Letter to the Editor Framework for Reopening Schools

Business Profile 16 A Tool Shed: Serving the Community Since 1945, By Edita McQuary

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

Featured Columnists 24 Subtle Energies: Increase the Vitality of Your Immune System, By Nisha Manek, MD, FACP, FRCP (UK) 27 How’s Your Green Thumb?, By Rebecca Rubin, Soquel Creek Water District 29 Blue Is The Loneliest Color, Tony Tomeo 30 COVID-19 Update: Your Questions Answered, By Zach Friend, Second District Supervisor

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Marry Hoppins — What a peach!

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Jondi Gumz

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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.

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shock and pain you feel knowing that they aren’t in this world anymore, feels imposHe made a lasting impression at sible. But I have to try -- I’m not sure of Vanguard University, which gave him the any other way to process this kind of freak, McNaughton Award, its highest honor for tragic accident.

It feels like the ultimate form of betrayal business and management students.

A resident advisor, he started a club to fall victim to the one thing a surfer recfor students who shared his passion for ognizes and fears as a possibility. We sign surfing and helping the community and the proverbial liability waiver every time used what he learned in his business classes we paddle out, but the thought of such a horrific event is disto help Kenyan entremissed as an extreme preneurs improve rarity. Those thoughts their business plans are quickly overvia a ministry called shadowed by the joy Fruited Plains. and refreshment that With his wife comes from surfing Katie, a 2015 Vanand getting a good guard grad, he wave, and so we still founded a social choose to paddle out. media marketing Ironic that in company, Authentic all of this, the least I Approach, Inc., in remember about him Santa Cruz.

Katie Kelly, Ben’s wife was how he surfed Locally, he or even his style. They were dreamers, go-getters. Ben had made an impression Don’t get me wrong an entrepreneurial spirit and drive that is at the Capitola -- he was a really so rare. He had such a special bond with Village Business good surfer. I can still her and it was evidenced by their sincerity Improvement Assopicture his frothing and kindness to one another and their ciation, where he face after getting passion for serving others like Jesus. They was the communicaBen working on a new surfboard a nugget. I highly were hospitable and fun, always down for tions manager for the past two years, posting on Instagram doubt he’d care to be remembered for that a game night or a BBQ with anyone they nearly every day. He led board meetings though. knew.

The most memorable thing about Ben and strategy sessions, providing statistical We’re remembering: all those dawn reports, and with Katie taking notes, com- was his unashamed, unrelenting passion patrols. Strike missions up and down the plete follow-up summaries, according to for his faith and his relationship with coast. Watching surf movies. Talking about Carin Hanna, the membership secretary, Jesus. I don’t say this to somehow selfishly shaping. Drinking cold IPAs and napping who described him as “wise beyond his reassure myself or others that he’s passed in the sun post-surf. His passion for a good on to Heaven. I don’t have to wonder board game. The way he talked so fast when years.”

He was active at Twin Lakes Church whether he knew Jesus, or whether his he was stoked. How passionate he would in Aptos, where Kyle Pitchford, pastor of faith was secure. It was. Everybody knew get during a game of Spikeball. How he college students and young adults, was it. He truly lived his faith out. In nearly would read tax laws for fun. How much impressed by his sharing and caring for every conversation I ever had with him, he he loved talking about Jesus’ teachings and tied God and the redeeming love of Jesus encouraged everyone to love Jesus more too. people.

Vanguard emeritus professor Ed West- into it.

He was a good, godly, humble man He loved his wife unequivocally. He who deserved many, many more laps brook, who mentored Ben when he was a student, said, “He wanted to live simply, was stoked out of his mind whenever she’d around the sun and many more good own his own business and make enough surf and he was so proud of her. Adventure waves. We all miss you, Ben. n to support his family but still maintain and travel was a huge part of their lives.

Photos Courtesy of Zachary Shull a close-knit community with time for surfing, family and friends. He died living his dream.”

His friend Zachary Shull started a memorial fund to support his wife Katie and carry on Ben’s legacy of love and generosity. More than 800 people have contributed. When donors met the $50,000 goal, Shull set a new goal of $300,000. You can donate at https://www.gofundme. com/f/3wktg-ben-kelly-memorial-fund Here is Shull’s tribute: ••• How do you distill the essence of a person’s life into a few sentences?

Somehow tying words together in a way that simultaneously honors them, grieves Photo Credit: Michael Oppenheimer their loss and also helps you cope with the Small memorials such as this one can be found in various places along Sand Dollar Beach.

4 / May 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Ben Kelly” from page 1

COMMUNITY NEWS

Kids at Watsonville Y Get Bike Helmets M ay is National Bike Month, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast.

To mark this childhood rite of passage, the Watsonville Y’s Child Care Center teamed up with Bike Santa Cruz County to

provide gently used and refurbished bikes for 13 youth to take home by the end of May. Organizers hope this can become a monthly activity for The Y. On April 29, the Y celebrated Bike Day for the youth at the Watsonville Y’s Child Care Center, a designated childcare option for many of the children of Watsonville’s essential workers.

Watsonville YMCA Youth Development Director Shawnte Cornoa worked with Gina Gallino Cole of Bike Santa Cruz County, a local nonprofit that promotes bicycling through advocacy, education and community building.

Bike Santa Cruz County coordinated with Theresia Rogerson, Santa Cruz County senior health educator, Lauren Freeman, county health educator, and Daniel Mendoza, health educator specialist at the county’s Health Services Agency, to provide helmet-fit instruction and free helmets for 24 youth at the Y. Kymberly Lacrosse and Danny Guzman of Watsonville-based Community Bike Collective loaned bikes for youth to use during Bike Day. n ••• For information on Central Coast YMCA, visit www.centralcoastymca.org.

Youth gets ready for a bike ride with a free helmet for safety.

Photo Credit: Scott Tebo

CalFresh Benefits Can Be Used to Buy Groceries Online

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o help ensure that California children, families, and individuals have access to food during the COVID-19 emergency, Californians who receive CalFresh food assistance can now use their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards to make online food purchases through Amazon and Walmart.

“With schools currently closed throughout California, many students have lost access to meals they normally receive on campus,” said California Department of Social Services Director Kim Johnson.

“These additional food benefits will help families put food on the table during this time of great need.”

She said she is working with federal agencies to bring additional retailers on board.

CalFresh recipients can use their EBT cards to buy groceries online just as they would when visiting a retail store. No additional application or verification is needed.

In March, the Department requested a waiver from the federal government to allow EBT card holders to purchase groceries online. The waiver was approved, contingent upon working initially with Amazon and Walmart, which are federally approved retailers.

CalFresh provides more than 4 million Californians with food benefits each month. Benefits for one individual range from $16-$194 per month. CalFresh debit cards are accepted at grocery stores and farmers’ markets statewide.

CalFresh also is available to older adults and people with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income.

“CalFresh” page 9

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Trinity Covenant: Drive-in Service

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f you have your Bibles in the car, I encourage you to open them,” Pastor Troy Martin said, standing outside Trinity Covenant Church and St. Abraham’s Classical Christian Academy in Aptos, speaking to people sitting in their vehicles in the parking lot.

He prayed for the county Board of Supervisors and Ben Kelly, the young man who died Saturday while surfing near Sand Dollar Beach.

Then he gave a sermon titled, “Why Don’t People Get it?” based on John 12:37-50.

Jordan Brownlee played his guitar and sang traditional hymns with Chelsea Odegaard and Dane Odegaard. Those in attendance followed along, thanks to handouts distributed by Rory Odegaard and Doug Matangelo.

Aaron Palmer passed out communion, the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper, to each carload.

With the service concluded, car horns sounded.

People rolled down their windows to say hello.

A few lingered as volunteers packed up the electronic gear that made the drivein service possible.

Hope Brownlee, the church secretary and Jordan’s wife, said, “Everyone is excited to wave at each other.”

To let people know about this new option, she posted photos on Facebook and Instagram.

“A lot of young people are online,” she said.

She recalled when St. Abraham’s school started in her basement with kindergarten and first grade. Now there are 180 students, with 10 students including the Brownlees’ son Curran in the first graduating class of 12th graders.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Pastor Troy Martin speaks at Trinity Covenant Church in Aptos.

The first drive-in service took place May 3, with the second on Mother’s Day. Martin said he was inspired by churches in his denomination in Seattle doing a drive-in service. He asked the county health officer, who told him the shelter in place order did not prohibit it and suggested he consult the sheriff.

“They gave us a thumbs up,” Martin said, noting the technical crew showed up at 5 a.m. to get the outdoor set-up ready.

‘Honestly, I was tearing up a little bit,” said Christian Sweeney, 28, of Santa Cruz, who attended. “We’re setting a really good precedent for the county — I still want the real get-together.” n ••• Cover Photo: Aaron Palmer helps pass out communion to attendees sitting in their vehicles in the church parking lot.

• Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Rory Odegaard and Doug Matangelo wait at the entrance with programs and Mother’s Day flowers for attendees.

CALIFORNIA NEWS

Panetta, Others Introduce Legislation to Create Health Force

Plan Would Also Expand Public Health Response to COVID-19 SALINAS — Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced legislation to create a Health Force and a Resiliency Force to help respond to and combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Health Force would recruit, train, and employ Americans to expand our public health workforce to combat the virus and strengthen America’s longerterm public health response. In addition to helping solve our public health worker shortage, the bill would help provide jobs for thousands of recently unemployed Americans and support the country’s recovery efforts. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

“In order to emerge from this pandemic and get on the Jimmy Panetta road to economic recovery, testing and contact tracing must be implemented and executed, especially if we don’t have a vaccine for COVID-19.

To do that, a health force is necessary to administer the tests, isolate those who have tested positive, and trace and test the contacts of every carrier. However, many state and local governments don’t have the funding or infrastructure to cover the cost and coordination of such a massive effort,” said Congressman Panetta. “That is why we are introducing the bicameral Health Force and Resilience Force Act, a federally funded and locally managed effort to provide a dedicated workforce to perform these vital tasks and, ultimately, help us return to something approaching a normal life.”

“Now is the time for bold action. Any hope of preventing the spread of the coronavirus and getting our country back on track directly rests on our ability to invest in our public health workforce. This bill does exactly that by employing Americans who may have lost their job from the crisis and investing their energy and talent into combating this disease. Testing and contract tracing will play a pivotal role as we

work to understand and control disease spread but we cannot take a piecemeal approach. In our interconnected world, we need a national response that mobilizes an army of public health workers. The future men and women of the Health Force represent the next generation of service, one that goes beyond the military and directly addresses the enemy here at home,” said Congressman Crow.

“We cannot reopen our country without making necessary investments to expand our testing capacity, conduct contact tracing, and protect the health and safety of our communities,” said Congresswoman Underwood.”I’ve joined Representatives Crow and Panetta to introduce the bicameral Health Force and Resilience Force Act to meet our country’s urgent public health needs so we can reopen our economy safely and sustainably.

We are facing a once-in-a-generation crisis, and this bill is a bold solution that rises to the meet the great challenge ahead of us.”

The Health Force is inspired by the Depression-era Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps, which similarly tapped the unemployed to help the nation recover from a sharp economic downturn. The Health Force would create a federally-supported and locallymanaged program to train and deploy essential public and community health frontline workers, who could conduct testing, contact tracing, or eventual vaccine administration. These positions would complement America’s highly trained and skilled medical professionals already fighting on the front lines. The workforce would be trained by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and managed by state and local public health agencies across the country.

The Health Force would be responsible for:

Lauren Underwood

Jason Crow

● Conducting contact tracing; ● Administering COVID-19 tests, including antibody tests; ● Supporting the provision of COVID-19 vaccinations (when available); ● Sharing COVID-19 public health messages with community members, including debunking myths and misperceptions; ● Providing data entry in support of epidemiological surveillance and to meet broader health information system requirements; ● Providing community-based and home-based services, including food and medical supply delivery to elderly and immunocompromised individuals; ● Providing palliative and hospice care; ● Providing other public health-related services, as needed.

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a goal to train at least 20,000 people to be contact tracers. The state’s local health departments would benefit from a surge of support for this endeavor, as well as services from infection control to food delivery for seniors and child care support. The Health Force would directly support the work of local agencies by giving young people the opportunity to fill the specific jobs different counties need while earning an income and building new skills.

After the current public health crisis concludes, the Health Force would provide

After the current public health crisis concludes, the Health Force would provide grant funding and technical assistance to state and local health departments to hire and retain members to serve as health extension workers (HEWs) among vulnerable populations, in underserved areas and in future public health emergencies.

grant funding and technical assistance to state and local health departments to hire and retain members to serve as health extension workers (HEWs) among vulnerable populations, in underserved areas and in future public health emergencies.

These activities could include sharing public health messages with community members, providing home-based check-ins for seniors and new mothers and infants, providing vaccination schedule reminders for parents of children, connecting community members with health-related services (e.g. CalFresh), and more.

The Health Force will be a new component of the CDC Public Health Emergency Preparation (PHEP) which include 65 jurisdictions across all 50 states, territories, and tribal lands. The CDC will develop and implement Health Force training packages, while state, local, territorial, and tribal funding recipients will hire, supervise, and retain Force members using new grant or cooperative agreement funding provided through PHEP and/or Public Health Crisis Response (PHCR).

States, localities, territories, and tribal entity funding recipients will actively recruit and manage Force members.

Recruitment will reach out to low-income, minority, and historically marginalized populations.

“To fight back against this pandemic we need a significant federal investment in our state health departments to scale up contact tracing and testing. By investing in a “Health Force” of disease intervention specialists (DIS) and other contact tracers, Senators Gillibrand and Bennet and Representatives Underwood, Crow, and Panetta lay out a clear, sound public health strategy that will re-open our economy, keep it open, and replace thousands of much needed jobs. We urge other congressional members to support the ‘Health Force and Resilience Force Act of 2020,” wrote the National Coalition of STD Directors in a statement.

“The Health and Resilience Force taps into the grit and talent of America’s communities to confront our nation’s public health crisis. It also helps solve the growing unemployment crisis,” said Saket Soni, Director of Resilience Force.

“Health Force” page PB

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2020 / 7

COMMUNITY NEWS

Can Firefighters Find, Access and Defend Your Home?

C

by FireSafe Santa Cruz Education & Outreach Committee

ould firefighters find your home in the middle of the night and protect it from an advancing wildland fire?

Fire season is rapidly approaching, and now is the time to make sure emergency responders can get to your home safely and quickly.

Use the time you may now unexpectedly have available due to the coronavirus shelter-in-place orders to work around your home and driveway.

1) Finding your home f you live in a rural area, make sure your primary access road is identified with a non-flammable sign and has your road’s name appears in at least 4” reflective green background white reflective letters visible from both directions of travel.

Install signs showing street numbers with directional signs at all driveway splits

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The addressing standard is found here: www.santacruzcountyfire.com/fire_ marshal/standards/fpo_016_addressing_ standard.pdf.

2) Accessing your home ounty Fire Codes specify that all roadways be 20’ wide ; however ,

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driveways serving up to two homes may be 12’ wide. Vertical clearances of 15’ must be maintained to provide safe access for fire engines responding to your home.

Maximum grade and vertical clearance standards is found here: www.santacruz countyfire.com/fire_marshal/standards/ fpo_012_max_grade_vert_clearance.pdf Access roads and driveways that are 12’ wide need turnouts 12’ wide and 35’ long every 500’. This will prevent a fire engine from getting blocked when responding to your home at a time when you and your neighbors are attempting to evacuate Fire agency turnout standard is found here: www.santacruzcountyfire.com/fire_ marshal/standards/fpo_013_turnouts.pdf Clear all flammable vegetation 10’ horizontally along access roads and driveways to prevent a fire from starting at the road and escaping into the wildland . This will also reduce fire hazards for responding fire engines.

Maximum grade and vertical clearance standard is found here: www.santacruz countyfire.com/fire_marshal/standards/ fpo_012_max_grade_vert_clearance.pdf Contact the FireSafe Santa Cruz Council for free chipping programs: www. firesafesantacruz.org/no-cost-chipping Does your driveway include a private bridge? Fire engines require a bridge be 20’ wide and be certified by a licensed and qualified engineer to make sure it is safe for heavy units responding to protect you and your home.

Bridge load limit signs are required and the bridge must be recertified every ten years: www.santacruzcountyfire.com/ fire_marshal/standards/fpo_008_bridge_ load_limit_signs.pdf Can a fire engine safely turn around in your driveway? All driveways leading

to structures 150’ from the main roadway must provide turnaround spaces, either T-style with a 16’ entry, or a circular space with minimum 40’ center line radius.

Turnaround standards required by fire agencies is found here: www.santacruz countyfire.com/fire_marshal/standards/ fpo_015_turnarounds_2.pdf Is your driveway is secured by a gate?

For fire engine access, the gate can be no farther than 30’ from the public roadway and must be two feet wider than the driveway. If the gate is locked, you need to provide a key or code access for firefighters to open the gate and access your home quickly.

The Santa Cruz County Fire gate standard is found here: www.santacruz countyfire.com/fire_marshal/standards/ county_gate_standard.pdf 3) Is there a water source available for fire responders to protect your home? rovide clearly-visible reflective signage to help firefighters find your water sources in the middle of the night so that they can quickly and safely defend your home.

You can obtain free blue reflective street dots: Santa Cruz County Fire Marshal’s Office (831) 335-6748.

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4) Does Your Community Have a Secondary Access Route? here is new law regarding secondary access for communities in high fire risk areas where there is no secondary access.

Public Resources Code 4290.5 became effective January 1, 2020 and states: “On or before July 1, 2021, and every five years thereafter, the State Forestry and Fire Protection Board, in consultation with the State Fire Marshal, shall survey local governments, including counties, cities and fire districts, to identify existing subdivision (communities of 30 or more residences) located in a state responsibility area or a very high fire hazard severity zone, without a secondary egress route that are at significant fire risk.

The Board, in consultation with the State Fire Marshal and the local government that identified the subdivision, shall develop recommendations to improve the subdivision’s fire safety.

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“Firefighters” page 9

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Framework for Reopening Schools ••• Dear Families of Santa Cruz County, anta Cruz County School Superintendents have begun developing a framework to help schools prepare for a variety of public health restrictions that may be required when it comes time to reopen school this fall.

The framework sets forth a continuum of restrictive school environments ranging from highly restrictive, moderately restrictive, least restrictive, and combinations of those distinct possibilities that may be necessary when school campuses re-open to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our community.

The framework is divided into five focus areas to help guide our reopening plans: Health and Safety, Instructional Programs, Student Support, Family Engagement and Support, and Operations.

Planning committees representing school districts and charter schools in the county are being assembled to work on each of these areas. Schools and districts in Santa Cruz County vary in size, funding, and needs of their school population. The

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framework we are developing will account for these differences.

All 10 district superintendents are committed to developing reopening plans that are guided by the following key principles: • Keeping students and staff safe and healthy • Engaging important school stakeholders such as students, parents, and staff, including bargaining unit members • Providing flexibility to accommodate the unique needs of districts, schools, teachers, and families • Ensuring access and equitable educational practices for all students in Santa Cruz County • Provide an engaging learning environment that supports the acceleration and not remediation If social distancing practices are still required when public health authorities permit schools to begin reopening, it is likely that schools will need significantly more funding to properly implement new systems necessary to keep students safe and on-track with their academic progress.

This comes at a time when schools are being instructed to brace for unprecedented financial losses. Gov, Newsom’s financial advisors estimate that the total state revenue losses from the health pandemic will amount to $41.2 billion.

For comparison, when the financial crisis hit in December 2008, early state revenue losses were estimated at $28 billion. This could result in devastating cuts of up to 22% of California’s school budget for 2020-21.

We are taking all possible action to communicate the needs of Santa Cruz County schools to our state legislators to advocate for the protection of education funding and provide schools with as much flexibility as possible to weather the impending financial storm.

The challenges we are facing in no way diminish the excitement we have for our students who will be promoting or graduating this June. So many of our students have worked exceptionally hard this year and have demonstrated remarkable resilience despite the major disruption to their academic program and social-emotional lives.

Our school districts are working

with their school communities to finalize commencement plans that are approved by our local Public Health Officer as safe to make these celebrations as special, fun, and memorable as possible.

Sincerely, Laurie Bruton, Superintendent, San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District Lorie Chamberland, Superintendent, Live Oak School District Eric Gross, Superintendent, Pacific Elementary School District Mike Heffner, Superintendent, Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District Tanya Krause, Superintendent, Scotts Valley Unified School District Michelle McKinny, Superintendent, Happy Valley Elementary School District Diane Morgenstern, Superintendent, Mountain Elementary School District Kris Munro, Superintendent, Santa Cruz City Schools Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District Faris Sabbah, County Superintendent of Schools Scott Turnbull, Superintendent, Soquel Union Elementary School District

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Man, 21, Dies in Jail amario Smith, 21, an inmate at the Santa Cruz County Main Jail, died while in custody, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.

Smith, who was arrested in January for domestic violence related charges, did not share a cell with anyone, the Sheriff’s Office said.

T

“CalFresh” from page 5 The best ways to apply are online or by phone: • Click: GetCalFresh.org to apply online.

• Call: 1-877-847-3663 (FOOD).

“Firefighters” from page 8 The recommendations may include, but are not limited to creating secondary access to the subdivision improving the existing access road or other additional fire safety measures.

The Board must maintain a list of these at-risk subdivisions and reports on the status of the work being done to reduce the risks.

According to the Sheriff’s Office report, correctional officers found him unresponsive inside his cell at 6 p.m. May 10, began performing life-saving measures and called paramedics. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the jail.

Smith was not showing any symptoms related to COVID-19, and there were no visible injuries, according to the Sheriff’s Office report.

Children who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals at school will receive extra food benefits called Pandemic EBT when schools are closed.

Eligible families will receive up to $365 in total benefits per child, which

The forensic pathologist is performing an autopsy and toxicology test to determine cause and manner of death.

••• Monarch Services Offers Virtual Support Group onarch Services announces a virtual support group for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking Wednesdays from

6-7:30 p.m. on Zoom video chat.

Anyone can join as long as they have completed a screening appointment with one of our advocates.

All genders are welcome.

For more information or to schedule an intake appointment, call (831) 425-4030. n

can be used on food and groceries. Families with children currently enrolled in CalFresh, Medi-Cal or Foster Care, do not need to apply and will receive

a P-EBT card in the mail in May. Cards can be used to buy food online. n ••• For info: www.cdss.ca.gov/pandemic-ebt.

M

Contact your local fire agency today if you live in a neighborhood with no secondary access for fire evacuations.”

You can find good information about fire defensible space here: https://www. firesafesantacruz.org/defensible-space Do what you can to improve fire engine access to your property, and to reduce fire risk now while we are all still sheltering in our yards. n www.firesafesantacruz.org/

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2020 / 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

A Heart for Dominican Hospital: Thanking Essential Workers L ocal residents who turned their eyes skyward on the afternoon of May 9 saw planes flying in close formation and drawing a commemorative heart above Dominican Hospital to say thanks to essential workers for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tribute was paid by Lightning Formation Airshows, with support from Watsonville Airport and in conjunction with the California International Airshow Salinas.

Dominican was one of several sites

Photo by Claire Henry

along with Watsonville Community Hospital chosen for recognition.

Nurses at Dominican came outside to see the planes and their aerial message of support, giving a cheer and posing for a photo before resuming their duties inside.

What people may not have known is that four of the eight pilots in Lightning Formation are area residents based at the Watsonville and King City airports.

“We also share our compassion with those in our community with loved ones who are sick or have been tragically lost to this disease,” said Mercedes Eulitt of Watsonville, Lightning Formation Airshows wingman.

Rayvon Williams, director of Watsonville Municipal Airport, said the airport was happy to support the talented aviators.

“It’s just another example of the city’s commitment to our community and an opportunity for our

Courtesy of Lightning Formation Airshow

aviation community to say ‘Thanks!’ to our local essential workers,” he said.

The 40th anniversary Salinas airshow scheduled for June 5, 6 and 7 has been cancelled to prevent the spread of the contagious coronavirus COVID-19.

Karen Curtis, California International Airshow Board of Directors president,

Dominican Resumes Elective Procedures

D

ignity Health Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz has announced a gradual reopening of elective procedures. Emphasis in this first phase will be on medically necessary, time-sensitive procedures including surgeries, endoscopies, cardiac catheterization lab procedures and interventional radiology procedures.

“One of the toughest changes we have had to make in the face of COVID-19 has been pausing scheduled procedures,” said Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz, Dominican Hospital president and CEO. “We are thrilled to begin offering elective procedures once again. The safety of our patients and staff always come first. We won’t be able to provide every service right away—this will be a gradual process to ensure we are addressing the most urgent needs first and providing the safest care possible to our community.”

Like most hospitals, Dominican paused scheduled procedures to reduce transmission of the virus and expand capacity for a surge of COVID-19 patients.

Now that data shows the initial peak of the pandemic appears to have passed, Dominican Hospital has implemented criteria for resuming scheduled procedures and other services, based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Surgeon General, American Hospital Association and the leading national associations of nurses, surgeons and anesthesiologists.

These include a sustained reduction in COVID-19 cases in the community, enough personal protective equipment to keep patients and staff safe and testing capacity for all patients receiving care in the operating rooms.

Steps to ensure safety at Dominican include a strict visitor policy, screening all patients for COVID-19 symptoms and ensuring they wear a mask, daily

10 / May 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

monitoring staff for symptoms, rigorous social distancing, isolating patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from other patients at the hospital, enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes throughout the hospital, and adjusting operating room schedules to allow for additional cleanings after each procedure.

“It is important to remember that delaying care can make many illnesses significantly worse,” said Dr. Greg Whitley, Dominican Hospital chief medical officer.

“Ignoring symptoms and postponing your care may increase your risk of serious complications. Dominican Hospital has successfully managed infectious diseases alongside standard patient care for generations. Our hospital and our emergency department are safe, and ready to provide immediate care for urgent and life-threatening conditions.” n ••• For info, see dignityhealth.org/covid19dsc.

thanked essential workers, calling them “dedicated and fearless workers.”

She added, “These individuals have become our front line of defense in this battle against COVID-19 through no choice of their own. Without these brave souls, all of our lives would be impacted so much worse. n

Dominican Receives $1M Gift For Hospital Workers

D

ignity Health Dominican Hospital has received $1 million specifically for hospital employees working during the COVID-19 pandemic from a local donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

“To the heroes of Dominican Hospital: Thank you for standing up (and staying up!) to care for our community,” said the donor in a letter directed to hospital employees.

“This humankindness is what makes you heroic. Please accept this donation in recognition of and with great thanks for all that you do. And please know that my heart is with you as we seek to protect and care for each other during this challenging time.”

“One Million” page 19

The Foals Still Come

COMMUNITY NEWS

Pregnant Mare Rescue: Running a Horse Sanctuary During Coronavirus

I

By Lynn Hummer

n the early hours of March 20, 2020 California was beginning to receive orders to Shelter In Place.

World order was being re-written. And

Lynn and Princess Independence

in the foaling stall of my ranch, a pregnant bay mare named Mia was giving birth.

In what can feel like the end of times, my work is a reminder that life continues to march on, despite the pandemic. Foals still arrive, momma’s still nurse, and the sun greets me every morning.

I haven’t left my 3-acre ranch, in Watsonville, in weeks. I have 5 rescue horses here and another 10 boarded at nearby barns. “I’ve got the volunteers staggered so when they come out, they’re here alone.

They wash before they come here and they wash when they leave.”

I have been doing the rescue work since 2006. We survived the recession of 2008, followed very closely by the Trabing fire in June. We evacuated for many days hoping the ranch would survive, relieved when our prayers were answered.

The drought arrived in 2011 and continued until 2019. Then we welcomed the rain and watched in disbelief as the floods

wrecked havoc all over the county. The pandemic is now added to the list of challenges we face.

The need in Santa Cruz and Monterey County remains high. Horses can be an expensive pleasure, and when you’re uncertain about receiving paychecks and keeping bills paid, well, you get the picture.

When the world slowly comes out of quarantine, I suspect more people will need the type of magic that horses can bring.

The quiet peace they hold, they understand the cycles of life so much better than we humans. What dolphins are to the sea, horses are to the land. They’re able to really touch people on an amazingly deep level.

It’s something we are all going to need, and we will be here. n ••• Pregnant Mare Rescue is a horse sanctuary committed to rescuing pregnant mares and orphaned foals from abuse, advocating for the humane treatment of all horses through education

Mia and Sofie

while enriching the human experience. Pregnant Mare Rescue is a Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries verified, 501(c) 3 nonprofit. For info, see www.PregnantMareRescue.org

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2020 / 11

COMMUNITY NEWS

Habitat Monterey Bay

Moving A Business From Storefronts To Online

By Jondi Gumz

W

E xcel lence in E qu e st r i an E du c at i on at

Monte Vista Christian School

HORSEMANSHIP CAMP Residents campers stay in the comfortable dorms.

Friendly Staff and Well-Trained Horses

Week Long, Sleep Over or Day Sessions

June - August, Sunday - Saturday Western/English Show Jumping Trail Rides, Horse Show on Saturday Crafts, Swimming and Archery S’mores and Skits at the Campfire!

LESSONS • TRAINING • HORSE SHOWS 2 School Way, Watsonville, CA 95076 • (831) 206-9707

w w w. b e l m o n t t r a i n i n g . c o m 12 / May 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

hen the Santa Cruz County health officer ordered the community to shelter in place on March 16, Habitat Monterey Bay had to close its home improvement stores, one on the Santa Cruz Westside and one in Seaside.

“Closing was a big hit to our income,” said Betsy Powers, Habitat Monterey Bay’s resource development director, who joined the organization in December, about the same time Satish Rishi started as CEO. The two ReStores, which sell donated building supplies at a fraction of retail prices, are the main source of cash for the nonprofit, which helps families build an affordable home for themselves.

Of the 23 Habitat Monterey Bay full- and part-time employees, 17 work at ReStores.

Rishi, who spent 30 years in Silicon Valley with a stint at Rambus as senior vice president and chief financial officer, brought his understanding of cash flow to the situation and applied for the Payroll Protection Program loan.

With the loan approved, no one was laid off, Powers said.

Office staff could work from home, but retail employees could not.

So Nick Kite, who oversees both ReStores, pivoted to retail online. With a background in digital marketing and employees taking photos of merchandise, he upgraded the habitatmontereybay. org website for people to create an online shop.

About a third of inventory is online.

You can search for items by price or by category, such as furniture, bathroom or appliance.

Sales are about $1,000 a week, down from $20,000 a week for in-stores sales, “but something is better than nothing,” Powers said.

Office staff took pay cuts but “a job with a pay cut is better than jno job,” Powers added.

To boost income, Habitat Monterey Bay is planning a virtual silent auction called “House and Home” May 30.

Volunteer coordinator Allie Wilson heads this fundraiser, which will benefit “My House My Home,” a program to build accessory dwelling units at properties owned by senior citizens who need a source of income to stay in their home.

So far, five of the units — sometimes called granny flats — have been built, all in Santa Cruz County, so Habitat is looking for an interested homeowner in Monterey County.

Anyone interested can email Betsy@ habitatmontereybay.org or Cathy@habitatmontereybay.org. n ••• www.habitatmontereybay.com/shop

COMMUNITY NEWS

SC County Bank: Saving 29,218 Jobs

F

By Jondi Gumz

our days after the president signed a COVID-19 relief bill authorizing $349 billion in forgivable loans for small businesses, Santa Cruz County Bank was rarin’ to go.

The locally owned bank, which rated fourth best in the nation last year, created a pre-application online for small business owners to make it easier for them to apply.

That was before the U.S. Small Business Administration released the official guidelines for the new Payroll Protection Program – ambitious for a 14-year-old bank that ranks fifth in deposits in Santa Cruz County behind Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase, and Comerica, all older institutions with larger staffs.

Since merging with locally owned Lighthouse Bank, Santa Cruz County Bank was on track to grow to $899 million in deposits and $1.1 billion in assets, milestones reached on March 31.

Bringing the two banks together resulted in a staff of 118, and the computer systems integration putting them on the same page electronically took place as scheduled on April 5-6.

The day after, the SBA issued new

guidance for the Payroll Protection Program, prompting a modern-day “gold rush” for federal money with Santa Cruz County Bank staff working nights and weekends to process six years worth of loan requests in 10 days, when the money ran out.

Bookshop Santa Cruz: Furloughed Employees Back on Payroll

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The end result: 29,218 jobs saved at local small businesses.

That’s simple calculation because the

application requires the business owner list the number of employees.

“There’s no such things as bankers’ hours,” said Mary Anne Carson, vice president of marketing at Santa Cruz County Bank. “We do whatever it takes to get the job done.”

Once the bank gets a confirmation from SBA, the money is earmarked, and the business owner must follow through by filing required documentation in order to get the money.

Carson said at least 20 people were hired on a temporary basis to help with data input for loan processing.

Getting the loan is a multistep process. After each application was read by bank staff, it had to be submitted to SBA’s electronic loan processing system, which was flooded with applications.

“That’s what broke down,” said Carson.

“SCCB” page 15

425 Encinal Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 kirby.org

Empowering Students to Shape Their Futures with Confidence

By Casey Coonerty Protti, Owner

he Paycheck Protection Program has been instrumental in giving us an option to bring our staff back, whether it is at home or in the store for web order and curbside fulfillment. We had furloughed over 23 employees and they are all now back on payroll.

We created incentive pay for those working in the store and those working at home are receiving 80 percent of their previous hours. It is incredibly hard work to sell our goods in this new way so having a full team to help reinvent our business is key to our long-term survival.

“I would love to note that it was our local bank that came through for local business. It reminds me of times after the 1989 earthquake when local banks were the ones who did not give

up on local business and helped rebuild downtown.

“Curbside pickup is a huge success.

It allows us to connect in person (safely of course) with our customers and meet their needs quicker than shipping. We’ve seen a huge increase in demand for online orders and the revenue is sustaining us for this time. Santa Cruz has come out in full force to support the local businesses they care about and it shows.

Continuity of education is a top priority for Kirby. Ask us about our increased commitment to Tuition Assistance. Contact our Admissions Office to help you through the application process (831) 423-0658 x 202 or email admissions@kirby.

KIRBY.ORG

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2020 / 13

MAY 2020

Aptos Real Estate Update

Ruth Bates 831.359.2212

ruthbates1@gmail.com CalBRE#01799929

Oh what strange times these are!

DAYS ON MARKET — The MLS stopped accruing DOM (days on market) since the March 16 shelter-inplace order, so the statistics now on many things real estate are skewed. All Listings that have come on the market since March 17 continue to show Zero (0) DOM. All listings on the market before 3/17 keep the DOM they had as of that day. In a few cases, Listings are moving from Active to Pending to Sold all with 0 DOM. The MLS will begin accruing DOM again on May 17, so there will have been a 60-day stoppage in DOM accruals. DOM statistics reporting will be inaccurate for 2020.

SHOWINGS — Until May 1 we were not allowed to show Active Listings if the Sellers lived in the home. Only vacant homes could be shown, so many Active listings were just sitting idle since 3/17/2020. The new ordinance now allows showings for properties that have Sellers in place. We all wear masks, keep social distancing guidelines in place and stagger any showings so that there is only one buyer-viewing at a time.

ACTIVE LISTINGS — I have two great listings looking for a buyer.

• 324 Village Creek — $749,000 – spacious and private forest townhome, 2 bed, 2 bath, walk to forest, Aptos Village, beach (www.324villagecreek.com)

• 411 Hillcrest — $1,495,000 – custom upgraded ocean view Seacliff 3 bed, 2.5 bath, rooftop deck (www.411hillcrest.com)

SMOKE / CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS — All property owners, whether selling or not, are responsible for installing smoke alarms in 1) each sleeping room, 2) outside each sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, 3) on each additional story of the dwelling. CO2 detectors must be installed 1) outside each separate dwelling unit sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, 2) on every level of the dwelling. You can use combo SD/CO2 units in any of these areas.

Property owners are also responsible for these rules in tenant-occupied properties; the tenant is not responsible.

“SOLD” is my favorite four-letter word!

For all things Real Estate, call, e-mail, text any time and Get Results With Ruth!

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY Paid Advertising

COMMUNITY NEWS

Bay Plumbing: Grateful To Stay Open

By Jondi Gumz

W

hen Mahina Marx, general manager at Bay Plumbing, heard the U.S. Senate passed a bill with billions in aid for small businesses, she reached out to Adam Weiss, her banker at Santa Cruz County Bank.

“We absolutely want to do that,” she told him.

Weiss called her back to say he was about to go into a meeting where he would get details, then he emailed to say the money is coming.

“As soon as the banks were able to take applications, theirs was online,” Marx said. “It was extremely straightforward -- proof of payroll, annual payroll divided by 12, then multiplied by 2.5, that was the initial application.”

The loan application covering payroll for 17 employees got tentative approval and then Marx uploaded the required financial documentation.

“The turnaround was incredibly fast,” she said.

Complicating the application was the fact that the owner of Bay Plumbing owns a second business, Pacific Energy Sales.

When Marx reviewed the application online and saw only information for Pacific Energy and nothing about Bay Plumbing, she sent an SOS to Weiss, who was working from home with his two small children.

His answer: I can call you in an hour.

And he did.

“I could hear his kiddos in the background,” Marx said. “He followed up with the IT people, he emailed in the evening, and it was completely squared.”

She felt a sense of relief.

Employees at Bay Plumbing in Santa Cruz enjoy a COVID-19 was coming.

“It was a race for sure,” she said. “If we had been with a larger bank, we would have been left behind.”

She joined Bay Plumbing in 2003.

A year later, when Bay Plumbing switched from Coast Commercial Bank to Santa Cruz County Bank, Marx began working with Weiss.

“He’s always willing to go the extra mile,” she said.

Bay Plumbing is considered an essential business providing sanitation and safety.

“We were able to stay open, which we are extremely grateful for,” said Marx, who is grateful for her customers.

“We’ve cut back hours, but we’ve been able to keep everyone,” she added,

Christmas party in December before anyone knew noting one of the showroom sales staff is not working due to doctor’s orders. “Now that restriction lifted, we’re already seeing an uptick in construction.”

The March 16 shelter-in-place order came so fast, it was a shock, she said. Then came all the restrictions.

“We’re strictly adhering,” she said.

“Our entire staff worked really hard to go with the flow and adapt as quickly as possible.”

She added, “You have to be so vigilant, the masks, washing our hands… washing our hair. If one of us gets it, we all go down, it will take the business down. Not only we want not want our families to get it, we don’t want to give it to each other.” n

Four Winds Growers: From Unnerving to Fortunate

D

By Jondi Gumz

on Dillon Jr. switched banks three years ago, and he’s glad he did.

He works with his son and daughter at Four Winds Growers, a wholesale nursery business his grandfather founded in 1948.

The business moved from Fremont to Corralitos 11 years ago, taking over greenhouses where a variety of trees are nurtured — orange, lemon, fig, pomegranate,

14 / May 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

avocado, olive, kumquat — for sale to retail nurseries.

“We grow things you can eat,” he said. “When all this happened, it was unnerving.”

By all this, he means the COVID-19 outbreak and the shelter in place order that told people to stay home and shuttered nonessential businesses.

Four Winds Growers, which has 26 employees, fell into the non-essential

category, and so did its customers, retail nurseries across the state and nation.

“We did lay a few people off,” Dillon said.

“We were uncertain what would happen.”

Then along came the CARES Act, approved by Congress, signed into law

by President Trump, authorizing the Paycheck Protection Program, forgivable loans if the money was used to pay employees for eight weeks.

“Four Winds” page 19

COMMUNITY NEWS

BBBS: Virtual Fundraising

A

By Jondi Gumz

imee Mangan, the new executive director at Big Brothers Big Sisters, expected to be busy organizing Bowls for Kids Sake, a fundraiser that brings in 25 percent of her budget supporting 68 youth and their mentors.

Then COVID-19, the contagious coronavirus showed up in Santa Cruz County, and the county health officer halted all gatherings to prevent the virus from spreading.

Mangan, who has 22 youth on a waitlist and five full-time employees who recruit and train adults to be mentors and match them, decided to apply for Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans for small businesses to cover payroll. Nonprofits are eligible too.

She turned to Santa Cruz County Bank, where she got help from banker Marshall Delk, who once was a “Big Brother.”

When questions arose on a Wednesday night, Delk twice called her to get things squared away and ensure the application was processed appropriately.

“They helped 1,600 businesses – that speaks volumes,” said Mangan, who is herself a Big Sister to a 16-year-old.

Big Brothers Big Sisters has adapted its mentoring techniques to the no-gathering restrictions. Some mentors stay in touch via cell phone, using apps to play a game together or doing yoga together with the Zoom app.

One Little Brother, living in a remote rural area and feeling lonesome on his birthday, was treated to a drive-by celebration by his Big Brother and the staff

“SCCB” from page 13 Robotic Problem BA officials later explained that use of “robotic processing automation” by some lenders aiming to speed up the process actually burdened the SBA system.

So the SBA restricted their use.

Another problem was that larger businesses applied for larger loans — and got them. The Los Angeles Lakers got $4.6 million, Shake Shack got $10 million and the Ruth’s Chris Steak House chain got $20 million. After an uproar, all three returned the money.

S

Protecting Our Water Supply for Future Generations

A picture Aimee Mangan sent to her Little Sister

bearing signs, balloons and tokens good for Marianne’s ice cream.

“We wore our face masks,” Mangan said. “He shared how happy he was.”

The bowling fundraiser has been postponed until September. In the meantime, Mangan is entering the world of the virtual campaign.

She is planning launch the Big Night In, asking people to form teams and fundraise, donating the cost of a night out, if they can, with a Zoom dinner, happy hour or trivia night, whatever works for their group.

There will be weekly drawings online and a virtual wrap-up June 30.

Granite Construction and Superior Foods, two companies with teams in the bowling fundraiser, have bought into the concept.

“That made us feel good,” Mangan said. n ••• For information, visit https://www.santa cruzmentor.org

Carson said Santa Cruz County Bank got applications from not just their own business owner customers but also business owners who banked elsewhere.

“We were hearing, ‘my bank isn’t doing these types of loans,’ ‘my bank isn’t accepting me.’” Carson said. “In some cases, they had deposits and the bank wouldn’t accept their application.”

Santa Cruz County Bank is hiring to fill 10 open positions, including an e-banking specialist and a call center specialist based in Scotts Valley, and a project manager, and a customer service manager. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2020 / 15

BUSINESS PROFILE

A Tool Shed

Serving the Community Since 1945

By Edita McQuary

M

ay 8, 2020 commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Allies’ World War II victory in Europe.

But this year also, the fourth generation of the Pedersen family is celebrating the 75th anniversary of their great-grandparents, Robert and Geneva MacArdell, establishing the family business.

In July of 1945, Robert and Geneva MacArdell opened an army surplus store called “White Elephant Surplus” in Sunnyvale on El Camino Real near the Sunken Gardens Golf Course. Along with the usual army surplus, he bought a container load that had a tractor inside. Now what was he going to do with that?

Rather than trying to sell it, he decided to let his customers rent it. This was so successful that he purchased more tractors to rent out. He also built some of the first towable cement mixers using a truck axle coupled with re-cycled washing machine drums and gas engines from surplus generators.

From these humble beginnings, A Tool Shed was born, which, in time, transformed into seven locations through the greater South Bay area. Two of the local stores are in Santa Cruz and Watsonville.

Robert Pedersen, his wife Barbara, son Rob W., and daughter Meghann Lovlien run the business. The family has a long line of veterans on both sides of the family.

Rob W. joined the business last July after 11 years as a naval aviator and is now in the Navy Reserves. They have another daughter/sister, Erika, who is a naval aviator as well and is currently stationed in Coronado.

Considered an “essential business” under the pandemic regulations, A Tool Shed was able to stay open during the Shelter-in-Place, supplying necessities to emergency services such as Cal-Fire, law enforcement, plumbers and electricians.

With 90 employees, A Tool Shed has had only a few temporary cuts. A few employees volunteered to be furloughed.

One employee retired in March after 44 years with the company.

According to Rob, business is getting back to nearly normal. Big construction was on hold but beginning to pick up.

There has been a lot of foot traffic in stores.

“Gardening equipment is doing well.

From left: Meghann Lovlien, Rob W. Pedersen, Robert Pedersen, and Barbara Pedersen.

Landscapers and homeowners are renting equipment to till soil and get rid of weeds,” he said.

They have applied for the Payroll Protection Program loan and, after a couple of glitches, were able to upload the required information and numbers. Many of their vendors have worked with them by deferring payments.

This family-owned business prides itself on its honesty and excellent customer service. The owners support local groups such as the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Roaring Camp Railroad, Boy Scouts of America, Campbell and Los Gatos Veterans Foundations, and the Santa Cruz Warriors.

To celebrate their 75 years in business, a new logo was created. Plans are underway for customer appreciation BBQs when it is safe to do so. n ••• A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals is located at 3700 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, at the corner of 17th Avenue, across from Staples, telephone 831-477-7133. Hours: Mon-Sat 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.AToolShed.com.

16 / May 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Photo credit Jondi Gumz

Rob W. wears a mask sewn by Rosie Ricca, the company’s human resources director.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Builders Going Back To Work

By Jondi Gumz

W

ith construction allowed to resume after a seven-week halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Costa Bella Builders is back at work.

“That was good news,” said owner Jeff Thranow, who is rebuilding the Hideout, a cocktail bar with dining that burned a year ago.

He feels fortunate to get a forgivable Payroll Protection Program loan for $40,000 through Santa Cruz County Bank and he’s hoping for a second.

He applied on April 4, six days after the president signed the bill authorizing the loans to small businesses.

Thranow has 10 employees and two entities the way his business is structured, so he’s keeping separate accounts to track the money going out for payroll.

Employers who keep employees on payroll and follow the rules can have their loan forgiven.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

The Hideout burned in a fire in May 2019.

The new rules for builders require the county’s protocol be posted, masks to be worn and sanitation stations for worker safety.

Trades such as dry wall and plumbing used to work on a site along with carpenters if their schedules allowed but now crews have to be scheduled separately to reduce contact.

“It stretches the length of jobs,” Thranow said.

He often has eight or nine projects running at one time.

He’s framing a new home in Soquel and is about to start an interior remodel at a condo near The Hook. Another job is on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz.

He also has a new home with a cupola nearly complete on a lot across from the Santa Cruz Dream Inn. What he needs is the final inspection by the city.

The Hideout is a place he worked on for Aptos co-owners Austin Welch and Pete Vomvolakis to get it ready to open in 2015.

The property, which has a rustic cottage look, dates to 1927, when it was home of Marin Jongeneel, according to Kevin Newhouse of the Aptos History Museum. In the 1970s, it was home to the Charles Dickens Restaurant. Starting in 1983, Chez Renee moved in and stayed for 17 years, followed by Southern Exposure and then Ma Maison.

As to when The Hideout, the owners are not ready to venture a guess.

“It’s a crazy time,” said Mike Hartrich, founder of the Santa Cruz Construction Guild in 2009.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Jeff Thranow outside The Hideout, which is being rebuilt by his company, Costa Bella Builders.

He’s surveying members — local builders, trades and suppliers — to see how they have been affected.

Hartrich, who lives in Scotts Valley, sees the economy taking a hit. He had a deck and siding job that he had to stop. He worries that clients will put their home projects on hold. “ N o b o d y knows what’s A bench at The Hideout.

going to happen,” he said. “We know we’re in for an adjustment.” n

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Backyard Burns Suspended in Santa Cruz County

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ith 2020 starting out with February being the driest month since the 1850’s in California, warming temperatures and winds are quickly drying out the annual grass crop. The increasing fire danger posed by dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region is prompting CAL FIRE to suspend all Backyard Burns for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of SANTA CRUZ COUNTY. This suspension takes effect MAY 1, 2020 and bans all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris

such as branches and leaves without a burn permit issued by CAL FIRE. “The last few years saw devastating reminder’s that the public cannot let their guard down. Together, we must continue to adapt and evolve to be able to withstand the intensity of these fires, keeping in mind, that the only way to mitigate the damage they cause is through prevention and preparation,” said Chief Thom Porter, CAL FIRE director. “The potential is great for the dry, hot weather that fueled the massive fires over the last few years will return again this year, so it is up to the public to be ready.”

Since January 1, 2020 CAL FIRE and firefighters across the state have already responded to over 800 wildfires. While outdoor burning of landscape debris by homeowners is no longer allowed, CAL FIRE is asking residents to take that extra time to ensure that they are prepared for wildfires by maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of Defensible Space around every home and buildings on their property and being prepared to evacuate if the time comes.

“Backyard Burns” page 19

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2020 / 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

Watsonville COVID-19 Specimen Collection Site to Open T he County announced COVID-19 sonville, initially

of Santa Cruz has the start of a new testing site in Watfocusing on frontline health care workers, first responders and employees working in essential services and roles.

As part of a recently announced partnership between the state of California, Margaret Lapiz the COVID-19 Testing Task Force and private company OptumServe, the new testing site will have an eventual capacity of 132 specimens per day to be sent to commercial labs for processing.

The site is being coordinated by SAVE

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Lives Santa Cruz County, which is tasked with making recommendations on safely reopening sectors of the community and local economy based on data, equity and disease surveillance capacity.

“This is exciting news, and one of many steps we are taking to rapidly scale up our capacity to monitor COVID-19 within Santa Cruz County, particularly among highly vulnerable members of our community,” said Margaret Lapiz, a former executive vice president with The Permanente

Group recently hired to oversee planning and implementation of SAVE Lives Santa Cruz County.

A partnership with Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, SAVE Lives Santa Cruz County aims to increase local COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and quarantine/isolation services, which the governor says are essential to reopening workplaces, community services and schools until a vaccine is available. Benchmarks for lifting certain Shelter-in-Place restrictions include an

Economic Recovery Council Debuts

he County of Santa Cruz and Community Foundation Santa Cruz County announce a committee of business leaders “to help facilitate a safe, phased and enduring reopening of the local economy” as the number of local COVID-19 cases subside.

Kris Reyes of the Seaside Co., parent company of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, will chair the Economic Recovery Council. Members are: • Justin Acton, Boulder Creek Pizza and Pub • Carrie Birkhofer, Bay Federal Credit Union • Casey Coonerty, Bookshop Santa Cruz • Zach Davis, The Glass Jar • Maria Elena de la Garza, Community Action Board, Inc. • David Doolin, CPA, Petrinovich Pugh & Co. • David Heald, Santa Cruz County Bank • Kevin Herbst, Chaminade Resort & Spa • Carmen Herrera, El Pajaro Community Development Corp.

• Annie Morhauser, Annieglass • Diane Munoz, Child Development Resource Center • Tejal Sood, Bayside Hotel Group The council will assess current business conditions and establish a framework for making scientifically sound, practical,

ongoing decrease of new cases; rapid and widely available testing; a health system capable of caring for all who fall ill; and increased capacity for rapid contact tracing, case investigation and isolation and quarantine.

The initial launch of the OptumServe site will include a focus on persons identified by contact tracing and those in congregate living situations, including residents and staff of skilled nursing facilities.

Testing will eventually welcome all community members, although those with symptoms are encouraged to call their health care provider and arrange testing to facilitate quicker diagnosis.

Specimen collection is by appointment only. No walk-up or drive-through testing is planned. n

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community-informed recommendations, according to the announcement.

The council will align with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Resilience Roadmap work with Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel and SAVE Lives Santa Cruz County Director of Community Recovery Margaret Lapiz.

“I look forward to opening up a mutually beneficial dialogue with the business community as we begin to take steps towards safely reopening sectors of our community,” Newel said. ”The timing is right to begin to discuss these very important issues.”

“Our partnership with the county includes not only protecting frontline health care workers, first responders, and essential personnel, but also building on that foundation to begin the very important

18 / May 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

work of restarting our economy in a way that benefits all Santa Cruz County residents,” said Community Foundation CEO Susan True.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is touching every corner of our community,” County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios said. “A safe path forward for our economy requires the combined wisdom of our medical and business leaders, and I am pleased to see this critical effort, which has been in careful planning stages, get underway.”

SAVE Lives Santa Cruz County will initially focus on increasing local testing, contact tracing and isolation and quarantine capacity. The effort will include working with growers and the farmworker community on safe agricultural operations. n

onterey Bay Internships is offering free online workshops for employers interested in having a college intern this summer. The dates are: May 21 at 11:30 a.m. and May 28 at 11:30 a.m.

Tasks for interns could include social media and digital marketing, graphic design, website editing, research assistance, data analytics, accounting spreadsheets and special projects.

Employers sign up, post the internship (selecting remote work as the type) and designate the internship as filled once the intern is chosen.

Considerations include: Who will train and supervise the intern? How many hours per week are needed? Can you offer pay or a stipend? n To register, visit mbinterns.org

“Backyard Burns” from page 17 Here are some tips to help prepare homes and property: • Clear all dead and or dying vegetation 100 feet from around all structures.

• Landscape with fire resistant plants and non-flammable ground cover.

• Find alternative ways to dispose of landscape debris like chipping or hauling it to a biomass energy or green waste facility The department may issue restricted temporary burning permits if there is an essential reason due to public health and safety. Agriculture, land management, fire training, and other industrial-type burning may proceed if a CAL FIRE official inspects the burn site and issues a special permit.

The suspension of Backyard Burns ... does not apply to campfires.

The suspension of Backyard Burns for residential landscape debris does not apply to campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property. Campfires may be permitted if the campfire is maintained in such a manner as to prevent its spread to the wildland. A campfire permit can be obtained at local fire stations or online at PreventWildfireCA.org. n ••• For additional information on how to create Defensible Space, on how to be prepared for wildfires, as well as tips to prevent wildfires, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

“Four Winds” from page 14

Lexa Dillon, one of the owners of Four Winds Growers, is packing citrus, olive and fig trees for mail order shipping.

“One Million” from page 10 The benefactor is a Santa Cruz County resident, a longtime friend and supporter of Dominican Hospital who made the gift through the Dominican Hospital Foundation.

“We cannot adequately express the depth of our gratitude for this gracious, selfless gift,” said Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz, Dominican HospitalpPresident.

“We are incredibly proud of the work our hospital family is doing in the face of such an unprecedented situation. This generous donation is a testament to their clinical excellence, their tireless dedication and, most of all, their profound humanity.”

“We are proud to share that 100 percent of the donor’s gift is being distributed to Dominican Hospital employees,” said Drew Gagner, vice president and chief philanthropy officer of the Dominican Hospital Foundation. “We are humbled by this heartfelt thank you, and

Working with Santa Cruz County Bank, Dillon was able to get funding to bring his workforce back up to full strength.

“The process was little bit crazy,” he said, recalling the SBA website crashing.

“Once you worked our way through it, it made sense.

Four Winds Growers was fortunate to have a new website — developed

by Sleepless Media of Capitola — with beautiful illustrations and a functional shopping cart for retail nurseries to place and order and pay online.

“Now retail nurseries can reopen,” Dillon said. “Orders are coming in pretty strong.” n

blessed to have such caring donors in our community.”

The Dominican Hospital Foundation has established two funds in support of patients and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: • Dominican Emergency Preparedness Fund – This fund provides necessary resources to care for patients during a crisisthrough medical supplies, medical equipment, testing, additional staffing, and other unidentified needs that may arise.

• Dominican Frontline Spirit Fund – This fund will be used to bolster the spirits of frontline health care providers at Dominican Hospital, who put themselves and their families at risk each and every day they come to work. n ••• To learn how to support the Dominican Hospital Foundation, all 831-462-7712 or visit supportdominican.org/donate. To learn more about Dominican Hospital, visit dignityhealth. org/Dominican.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2020 / 19

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20 / May 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Bay Fed Awards $7,500 in Scholarships B ay Federal Credit Union has announced the winners of its 2020 Education Scholarship and 2020 Mac McCormac Employee Scholarship programs.

Education Scholarship awards of $1,500 each were awarded to Alexis Escarcega, Marya Noble, and Eduardo Serrano. Mac McCormac Employee Scholarship awards of $1,000 each went to Camila Martinez, Micaela DiPiero, and Raelene Rodriguez.

Applicants submitted recent school transcripts, letters of recommendation from teachers, professors, or community members, an explanation of what they have done to prepare themselves for success in their future education goals, and an essay describing the negative consequences of a spending habit. A panel of Bay Federal Credit Union employees reviewed scholarship materials of more than 30 applicants.

“These students so clearly demonstrated their commitment to their education goals,” said Carrie Birkhofer, Bay Federal

Alexis Escarcega

Marya Noble

president and CEO. “My hope is that each one of them will continue to thrive and make a real difference in our world.”

• Alexis Escarcega is majoring Spanish/ Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino studies with a minor in math at Gettysburg College. Escarcega’s goal is to improve education experiences for minority students as a high school teacher.

• Marya Noble is a nursing student at Evergreen Valley College. After completing the nursing program, Noble plans to study for another two years at San Jose State University and become a registered nurse.

• Eduardo Serrano is a 3rd year history

Eduardo Serrano

Micaela DiPiero

major at San Jose State University.

Serrano intends to earn a bachelor’s degree, and then continue on to graduate school with the goal of becoming a college professor.

• Micaela DiPiero, an employee at Bay Federal’s Scotts Valley branch, will attend Ashford University this fall.

DiPiero plans to major in psychology and minor in communications, and intends to become a high school counselor to support students’ educational goals.

• Camila Martinez, an employee at the River Street Branch, is studying business administration at Cabrillo College. Martinez will transfer to San

El Pajaro Serves Family Meals to Farmworkers

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hanks to the community’s kindness and generosity, El Pajaro Community Development Corp. was able to offer 38 family meals to 228 people as part of its first Farmworker’s Family Dinner initiative.

“We started the Farmworker’s Family Dinner initiative to honor our communities’ farmworkers and to give each of them a ‘break’ from cooking dinner for one night,” said El Pajaro CDC Executive Director Carmen Herrera Mansir. “We figured that after a 12-plus-hour day of very hard work under the sun, having someone else make a warm and delicious meal for the whole family is a great treat.”

The first week’s dinner was made by Cuevas Express Food and RoguePye. The program helped increase sales for food entrepreneurs who have experienced a drastic drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 crisis. Some of the entrepreneurs are not eligible for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that Congress passed on March 27, 2020, or other relief programs. These are families that lost 75-100 percent of their income.

“Thanks to the success of this

Camila Martinez

Raelene Rodriguez

Jose State to pursue a bachelor’s degree this fall, and plans to continue working with Bay Federal after graduation.

• Raelene Rodriguez, an employee at the Watsonville Branch, is studying health and human services with a concentration in public administration at California State University, Monterey Bay. Rodriguez hopes to work in the human resources field, preferably for the County of Santa Cruz. n ••• Since 2008, Bay Federal has awarded 64 scholarships totaling $52,500 to students pursuing higher education goals. The Mac McCormac Employee Scholarship is named after credit union’s first employee.

Jeff Heitman Joins Bay Fed Credit Union

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Farmworkers pick up meals at El Pajaro Community Development Corp. in Watsonville.

initiative, our team decided to make the Farmworker’s Family Dinner an ongoing program,” said Herrera Mansir. “Our goal is to provide 10 family dinners every night from Monday to Saturday. I hope the community will continue to support us.

Please share this opportunity with your friends and network.”

Farmworkers and their families were ecstatic about the dinner: “Our workers were very happy, they were in awe, they felt pampered!” said Javier Zamora, owner of JSM Organics farm. “Our H-2B Visa workers could not believe they were getting such a big and delicious meal. Everyone loved Esthela Cuevas’ food.”

Zamora loved the food so much that he is now planning to hire the

Cuevas family (of Cuevas Express Food) to make meals for JSM farm workers.

“My wife is going to be sooo happy because she will NOT have to cook tonight,” said Gabino, a sole breadwinner and father of four who works at JSM. El Pajaro farm-partners Zamora and Rogelio Ponce at Sun Valley Farms, both small local farmers, donate the organic strawberries used to make El Pajaro’s house-branded strawberry jam (available online at: epcdc.square.site.)

Herrera Mansir thanked Cesario Ruiz, El Pajaro’s kitchen program manager, and Izuyah Sanchez, kitchen assistant, for making this dinner “magic” happen. n ••• To support the Farmworker’s Family Dinner, go to: epcdc.square.site/product/ farmworke-s-family-dinner/21?cs=true

eff Heitmann has joined Bay Federal Credit Union as business relationship manager, managing the future business lending and banking initiatives. He has 23 years of banking experience and will work out of the Capitola headquarters.

He first joined Bay Federal as a part-time teller in 1997, eventually working his way into a management position at the credit union’s River Street branch. He then left and spent 11 years in business Jeff Heitman banking, becoming vice president and business relationship manager at Bank of the West in Santa Cruz. He lives in Santa Cruz with his wife and three children.

“When I found out that Bay Federal was intending to expand their Business Banking program, I couldn’t wait to be a part of that movement,” he said. “I’m excited to be able to take Bay Federal’s philosophy of ‘people helping people’ and share it with our business members in our area as well, especially in these difficult times.”

Bay Federal intends to invest in the development of a comprehensive business lending program, however, the COVID-19 pandemic and providing resources for businesses has taken precedence. The credit union can connect small business owners with many resources, and more information is at encouraged visit www. bayfed.com to learn more. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2020 / 21

COMMUNITY NEWS

The O’Carroll Attraction Diane O’Carroll ● La Selva

Our bush is nearly the size of a tree and blooms for several weeks each year without fail. I am proud that stopping to admire its beauty has become an annual event for people in the neighborhood when walking by. Be well and stay safe.

22 / May 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Eye Glass Masks from Eyeshapes

Eyeshapes is selling locally-made masks for $5 and making a matching $5 donation to Second Harvest Food Bank for each one sold. Owner Judy McGooden models the mask with her husband Kip.

COMMUNITY NEWS

New Leaf Introduces Grocery Pickup

Instacart Online Service Launching at Four Neighborhood Stores

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t’s now easier than ever to shop for organic, natural and local farm-fresh groceries as New Leaf Community Markets has expanded the company’s grocery delivery partnership with Instacart to offer convenient grocery pickup at three neighborhood stores in the Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay areas.

In addition to grocery delivery, customers can now order their favorite local quality products online for pickup from New Leaf Community Markets stores in Aptos, Westside Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay. The service will be available at the Capitola store next month. Groceries are hand-picked by New Leaf staff according

to the order and noted preferences of each customer, and brought out directly to the customer’s car or bike.

To make online shopping easier, New Leaf staff recommend placing your order in the morning to secure an earlier pickup time, select replacement items in case your first choice products are out of stock, and be available to answer any Instacart shopper questions about your final order. Customers can save $10 on their first New Leaf grocery pickup or delivery order of $35 or more with code NEWLEAF2020 through June 30.

“The health and wellness of our staff, customers, and community has always

been our top priority, and with that, we want to make it easier for our customers to get what they need from our stores,” said Forrest Gonsiewski, New Leaf Community Markets vice president. “Curbside pickup service is the next phase of that work. Now, customers can get their groceries without getting out of the car.”

All online orders are eligible to earn Neighbor Rewards points, just like shopping in the store, with one point per dollar on almost everything in the store, and double points on all Wellness and Body Care products. Customers just enter

their enrolled mobile phone number at checkout to earn points on their delivery or pickup orders on the Instacart website or app. Next week, New Leaf customers will be able to link their payment cards to their Neighbor Rewards account for reduced or touchless entry at the store pinpad through a new Card Link feature.

New Leaf has also recently extended the in-store redemption of rewards to allow 90 days to redeem, or customers can pay their reward forward, in partial or full dollar amounts, through New Leaf’s new “Neighbor Rewards Gift It!” feature. The first benefactor for the year is Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, out of Watsonville.

“Instacart” page 26

CALIFORNIA NEWS

Panetta, Beyer Propose Improvement To Paycheck Protection SALINAS — Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) and Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08) recently unveiled a proposal to improve the newly created Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

The PPP, created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, provides forgivable loans Jimmy Panetta to cover up to eight weeks of payroll, rent, utilities, and mortgage interest.

However, structural and regulatory issues have hobbled the program, making it difficult for many small businesses, especially in the hospiDon Beyer tality industry, to use the loans effectively. Other small businesses have been unable to secure loans in the first place, while larger, publicly traded companies have received large loans.

“Although the Paycheck Protection Program has provided some much needed relief for many small businesses on the Central Coast, I have heard repeatedly that the PPP needs clearer rules and structural improvements so that employers can rehire employees without worrying about losing their loan forgiveness,” said Congressman

Panetta.”That’s why we are proposing this legislation to ensure small businesses are not crowded out by bigger businesses and provide more clarity and flexibility for loan forgiveness and payroll requirements.

The Paycheck Protection Program should not be an additional source of anxiety but, rather, a lifeline to small businesses.”

“The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to be a lifesaver for American workers, but too many small businesses have not received the support they were promised. Our approach would greatly improve PPP and make it work better and more fairly for small businesses, targeting the funding to those who need it most. It would also give small businesses the time and flexibility they need to make sure they can survive this crisis and save as many jobs as possible. I thank Congressman Panetta for his leadership,” said Congressman Beyer.

The Paycheck Protection Program Improvement Proposal: • Provides dedicated funding for the smallest businesses and prevents publicly traded companies from receiving PPP funding • Provides more clarity and flexibility for loan forgiveness and payroll requirements • Allows small businesses to spread out payroll payments over a longer period of time and covers payroll paid before the loan was received

Summary of the Provisions Making PPP More Accessible for Small Businesses • Provides $660 billion for the PPP program overall, with amounts reserved for businesses with fewer employees, including: • $240 billion set aside for employers with fewer than 10 employees • $180 billion set aside for employers with 10 or more but fewer than 50 employees • Prevents publicly traded companies from crowding out smaller businesses by prohibiting them from receiving PPP loans, with exceptions for independently owned and operated franchisees.

• Provides banks increased processing fee incentives for the smallest loans and lowers fees banks receive for processing the largest loans.

• Requires lenders to publicly report what percentage of their lending is going to small, medium, and large businesses.

Increasing Clarity and Flexibility of the Program • Clarifies rules regarding the minimum percentage of the loan that must to be spent on payroll and its effect on loan forgiveness by creating a sliding scale so that forgiveness is reduced, not forfeited.

• Provides small businesses with more time to rehire employees and utilize

payroll forgiveness by pushing back the June 30, 2020 rehiring date to August 31, 2020 and allowing businesses to pay their 8 weeks of payroll over a 16-week period without losing forgiveness.

• Recognizes the efforts already made to preserve jobs by allowing businesses to be used on payroll expenses made after March 15, regardless of when the loan was disbursed.

• Gives businesses more time to pay back loans by allowing them to convert their PPP loan into an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, which can have a much longer repayment term, if they choose to accept the higher interest rate and forfeit loan forgiveness.

Making PPP more Accessible for Smaller Nonprofits • Expands PPP eligibility for nonprofits regardless of type, to support local chambers of commerce and labor unions and other non-profits providing critical COVID-19-related support to their memberships.

• Prevents PPP from subsidizing lobbying by preventing employees who are federally registered lobbyists from counting towards value of the PPP loan, and preventing loan forgiveness payroll costs for lobbyists. n ••• Visit panetta.house.gov/ to find more information about the proposal.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2020 / 23

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Subtle Energies

Increase the Vitality of Your Immune System

By Nisha Manek, MD, FACP, FRCP (UK)

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here is an opportunity here. There is a chance to achieve greater selfefficacy in preventing infection and maintaining equipoise during and after the pandemic.

Your immune system is a powerful weapon against many threats in the environment. The name of the game is becoming super-immune. You can power up your body’s smart immune system with energy medicine. Energy is essential to your body’s health and vitality.

Since the time you were a tiny babe, you’ve sent energy from an inner fountain in your body to all your organs. Whenever you’ve done so, you’ve not been conscious of the source of subtle energy or the fact that it was arriving at its destination. Below the surface of your skin lie energetic superhighways — the acupuncture meridian system — that cannot be understood by the eyes alone. Your body’s acupuncture system is nature’s “pump” of vital energy, also known as “qi.”

Thermodynamics is the science of energy and its transformations. It is the thermodynamic potential driving force that governs all activities of nature and life. The subtle energy of your acupuncture meridian is of higher thermodynamic power. This force, this higher subtle energy

potential, propels the processes and conversions in all the cells of your body.

Just like moving a magnet generates an electric current, so your acupuncture system creates electrical currents when stimulated. Energy flows, like a step-down transformer, from the higher acupuncture system down to where your nerves run, your brain cells take in thought, and marshaling your immune army.

You can significantly enhance the magnitude of the energies flowing in your acupuncture meridians. Practices like meditation, yoga, qigong, and tai chi can substantially strengthen the qi flow, which in turn enhances the electrical potential in your cells and heightening immunity. The acupuncture meridian system is the bridge to your internal power source.

One of my favorite therapeutic techniques is a simple procedure I do daily to rejuvenate, re-energize, and relax. Without needing any external energy source beyond that of my own body, the Eeman circuit makes it possible to feel reinvigorated within ten to fifteen minutes. It was discovered nearly a century ago by a British Royal Air Force pilot named Leon Eeman, who healed himself of serious injuries.

Essentially, Eeman found that connecting the positive and negative parts of the body

creates a flow of subtle energy within one’s own body.

Like a magnet, your body has polarities.

What is unique about Eeman’s circuit is the fact that it is a method that relies on no outside presence — neither another person, nor electricity or needles, nor any form of medicine. Nor is it necessary to devote a great deal of time and effort to master a meditative or yogic discipline.

Lie on your left side and rest your head on a pillow. Place the palm of your left hand at the nape of your neck (base of the skull). Place the palm of your right palm on your tailbone (sacrum). Cross your left ankle over your right. Stay in this position for fifteen to twenty minutes. You’ll feel rejuvenated and energized yet, deeply relaxed. You’ve got an internal spark plug!

What does it mean for you? The bottom line: Your body has a higher energy system. Right this moment, your acupuncture system is pumping subtle energy throughout your body.

If you’d like to try an Eeman apparatus, visit: www.quantumbalancing.com/ biocircuits.htm. Eeman called it a ‘relaxation circuit.’ Known today by various names such as ‘bio circuits,’ ‘Eeman circuits,’ or ‘Eeman screens,’ the necessary

device consists of a pair copper mesh connected by copper wires.

Subtle energy isn’t just a description of your body’s power or an abstract idea. Use the knowledge of the Eeman’s circuit and raise your game.

Just do it. Pump it. n ••• Dr. Nisha Manek is an integrative rheumatologist and an alumnus of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Visit her at www.nisha manekmd.com.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Local Business Get Online with GetVirtual.org

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By Jondi Gumz

anta Cruz serial entrepreneur Toby Corey and UC Santa Cruz entrepreneurship instructor Nada Miljković have teamed up to launch a new way for local storefront businesses to offer their products and services online.

It’s called GetVirtual.org.

“We’ve done something special and unique here in Santa Cruz,” said Corey.

He said Miljković “moved mountains” to set up a course where students get credit for setting up websites for local businesses with Shopify and Stripe for shoppers to order and pay. Students also can set up online

marketing campaigns via email or social media.

The first business going live is Pacific Trading, a women’s clothing shop opened by Carolyn Heinrich in 1985.

More than 30 business owners have signed up.

UCSC entrepreneur students working on this project include Stryker Buffington, Gideon Fox, Aaron Huang,

24 / May 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Smeet Mehta, Ananya Misra, Bobby Misirian, Yuliya Monastryska, Arin Spanner and Anagha Vijay.

It has the support of Bonnie Lipscomb, director of the city of Santa Cruz Economic Development, Robert Singleton, executive director of the Santa Cruz County Business Council, Doug Erickson, the executive director of Santa Cruz Works, and Brad Barbeau, executive director of CSU Monterey Bay Institute for innovation and Economic Development.

“We have to think about how we do things differently,” said Santa Cruz Mayor Justin Cummings at a virtual event announcing the effort.

Lipscomb said the city has created “Jumpstart Your Restart,” a kit of social distancing signs, hand sanitizer made by Smith & Vandiver of Watsonville, and up to 25 masks per business for employees.

The city of Santa Cruz Economic Development Office also announced 51 microloans totaling $500,000 to Santa Cruz businesses, assisting cash-based operations in four sectors: Retail, restaurants, services and entertainment.

The names of the businesses will be made public later, officials said.

This initiative is in partnership with Santa Cruz Community Credit Union. n For info, see ChooseSantaCruz.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

New CEO for Hospice of Santa Cruz H ospice of Santa Cruz County CEO Michael Milward, who has led the organization since 2012, will retire this month and Cathy Conway, currently chief mission officer, will take the helm June 1.

The announcement comes after a lengthy and deliberate process led by the Hospice of Santa Cruz County Board of Directors who established a search committee late last fall after Milward announced plans to retire in 2020. The committee screened Cathy Conway and hired a nationally known executive search firm which reviewed a pool of more than 100 national, regional and local candidates. After the interviews, Conway received the unanimous support of the board.

“Bringing a new leader into an organization can create a lot of uncertainty and change. I am very happy we have a strong internal candidate who knows our

community, our staff, and our culture. I am confident that Cathy will best serve the agency and our community in the times ahead,” said Robert Kaswen, board president.

Conway has been with the organization since 2004 and was formerly executive director of the Santa Cruz County Symphony, development director of the Santa Cruz AIDS Project, and district manager at Ziff-Davis Publishing.

She has a master’s degree in nonprofit management and has extensive experience serving the community. She serves on the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce Board, the Mount Madonna Institute Board, and is a member of the Dominican Hospital Women of Wellness Council, the United Way Women in Philanthropy committee and the Cabrillo College Women’s Educational Success committee.

“Cathy has been a key ambassador and advocate of our mission in the larger Santa Cruz County community for more than 15 years,” said Milward. “She is a valued and trusted member of our senior leadership team, and has been an indis-

pensable partner to me in leading the organization. I couldn’t be more proud to be passing the baton to Cathy and to be leaving the organization I care so deeply about in such good hands.”

“It’s an honor to step into this role after working side-by-side this exceptional group of people committed to our vision that all community members may live and die with dignity,” Conway said. “I have deep gratitude to Mike and the leaders that have come before me. I look forward to building upon their vision to ensure long-term vitality during this complex and changing time in healthcare.”

Milward joined Hospice of Santa Cruz County after a career of more than 30 years in law where he ran his own law practice.

Since 1997, he worked in end-of-life care as a hospice chaplain and bereavement specialist. During his tenure, he added a music therapy program, Camp Erin Santa Cruz, Palliative Care and Concurrent Care for Children.

He was the key architect of the California Hospice Network, a partnership committed to sustaining local, nonprofit, community-based hospice care throughout California, of which Hospice of Santa Cruz County is a founding member. n

Army & Navy

County’s New COVID-19 Cases: Slow

S

By Jondi Gumz

anta Cruz County is one of 24 counties in the state to meet two of Gov. Newsom’s COVID-19 criteria to reopen more of the economy, according to a May 8 analysis by the Los Angeles Times.

The criteria are: No deaths in 14 days and no more than one case per 10,000 residents in the same time period.

As of May 13, Santa Cruz County reported a total of 146 cases, up from 131 on April 30.

That included four on May 11 and three days, May 8-10, when zero cases were reported.

Of the 146 cases, one is currently hospitalized, but none are in the ICU, according to the state.

There have been two deaths, with the most recent on April 14, and none since.

The governor has more criteria: Testing: 1.5 daily tests per 1,000 residents. With a population of 275,000, this adds up to 412.5 daily tests. The county reports 5,066 negative tests. UC Santa Cruz has begun testing, and OptumServe has opened a specimen site in Watsonville that requires a doctor referral. Quest Diagnostics in Scotts Valley does testing with the doctor referral, and Quest sites

in Santa Cruz and Capitola are slated to start testing, according to https://covid19. ca.gov/testing-and-treatment/ Contract tracers: 15 per 100,000 residents, as recommended by The National Association of County and City Health Officials recommends in normal times, which means 41.25 positions.

Homeless: House 15% of homeless.

The county is putting people who are homeless in three hotels, and is pursuing a plan to house 17 young homeless people and 13 others at 10 state-provided trailers at the Seventh Day Adventist property on Soquel San Jose Road in Soquel to shelter in place.

Hospitals: Can accommodate a 35% increase in COVID19 patients.

Nursing homes: Two-week supply of personal protective equipment and a supply line beyond state resources. n ••• For details, see www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/ uploads/2020/05/5.7.20-Presentation.pdf

ACROSS

1. Smoothing tool 5. Broadband access overseeing org.

8. Attorneys’ org.

11. Length times width 12. *Lined up single ____ 13. Lump of stuff 14. Carpet attribute 15. Cut the crop 16. Lingo 17. *Entire ship’s company 19. Toothy wheel 20. Gives a helping hand 21. They’re from mars?

22. Language family, includes Turkic and Mongolian

25. Indian spice mix, pl.

29. Bachelor’s last words 30. Baby Ruth component 33. One of the Earnhardts 34. She goes by Lo? 36. Actors’ grp.

37. Mister in Madrid 38. Colossal 39. With no effort 41. American cuckoo 42. Leave hastily, two words 44. *Commissioned officer of the lowest rank 46. “____, drink, and be merry” 47. *Omaha ____ 49. Baby whale 51. *It’s a wall to a civilian 54. Hands, to #12 Down 55. Check out

56. Cambodian money 58. Welcoming sign 59. Went down slippery slope 60. *Date of Allied landing 61. *Opposite of stern 62. “For ____ a jolly good..”

63. Dried-up

DOWN

1. Grammy category 2. Diva’s solo 3. Unload 4. Saffron-flavored rice dish 5. Evil one 6. Wears 7. Porcini mushrooms 8. Aquarium scum 9. Uncouth one

10. Address abbreviation 12. Spanish dictator, 1939-1975 13. *Throwing weapon 16. Ice, dark, and middle, e.g.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers’ ____ Field 21. Dojo turf 22. Was sick 23. Parkinson’s disease drug 24. African antelope, pl.

25. Gaspar, Balthasar and Melchior 26. Veranda in Honolulu 27. “____ came a spider...”

28. European finch 31. *”Excellent in all we do” org.

32. None left when on E

35. *____ formation, or on diagonal 37. Make synchronous 39. Credit card payment alternative, acr.

40. What Deep Throat did 43. Stumblebums 45. Type of shards 47. *Announcement device 48. Island off Manhattan 49. Head of family 50. All over again 51. Silly talk or writing 52. *____-de-camp 53. Letter opening 54. Flash dancers 57. NaOH © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2020 / 25

Your May Horoscope Times Publishing Group, Inc. Gemini (May 22-June 21)

Some new information excites you early in May, grabbing your attention and making you anticipate what comes next. It’s normally hard to distract you, but this tidbit is trying really hard. You find yourself in a whimsical mood mid-month. Any subject is on the table: work, politics, faeries, UFOs? You’re up for the conversation. Late in the month you’re feeling more focused. Plans you’ve been delaying are ready to be put in motion. Time to decide who to make the pitch to. Determining the right person could be the most important part.

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

There times when it’s best to forge your own path, but early in the month feels like a good time to go with the flow. Letting fate decide can be a blessing, especially if you’re conflicted about the path you should take.

There’s tension in the air mid-month, partially from some conflicting viewpoints, but also a surprising lack of emotional energy. It’s just a lull, but pay closer attention to what’s happening around you at this time. Later in May your options become clearer, if not less complicated. This is the time to sort through everything and pick one goal and move forward.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 23)

You are ready for everything as the month begins. The chaos in your mind isn’t enough to keep you from focusing on what’s important, nor is it preventing you from expressing what you need.

It’s a good time to bring your next project to those who need to hear it. You’re having some new encounters mid-May, ones that have promising futures, especially as your questions keep bringing more unusual and interesting knowledge. Late in the month you’re surprised with some acknowledgement of your past success, brining a renewed desire to accomplish more. The praise is definitely alluring, along with just feeling good.

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sep. 22)

Life on the internet can be perilous, especially early in May when you’re in an expressive mood. Visceral reactions to posts make you want to fire back a response, but take that deep breath before you post. You can’t be sure a post you delete hasn’t already been seen. You’re feeling confident mid-month, making it a good time to talk to those around you. Haven’t been able to make that first move? Looking to put yourself in for a promotion? Now’s the time. You are feeling sensitive late in the month; comments said in passing are weighing on you. No one is more critical of yourself than you, but it can be more painful when you hear others express those thoughts.

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 23)

You are not feeling the most secure as the month begins, leaving a feeling of isolation as the world moves around you. It may be a struggle to find an optimistic viewpoint, but forcing yourself down that path can help it feel real. Your confidence is stronger through the middle of the month, bringing with it a desire to put yourself forward. Late in May a negative interaction can bring your insecurities right back, leaving you feeling drained. Whether a business or personal relationship, it may be time to rethink this one.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Your feelings are being pulled in two directions as the month begins. Something that seems important also feels unnecessary, or could be a distraction. This could be a good time to remove some clutter from your life.

Your focus isn’t much better mid-May, making finishing projects difficult; whether they’re necessary or just something you want to do. Maybe it’s time to give yourself a break and give yourself a day or two to recover your energy. Late in the month you feel the need to vent, and finding the right person to listen will be important if you don’t want to wear your friends down.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

May begins with a feeling of endings and beginnings. Something in your life no-longer fits. A relationship turning sour? A collection you no longer care about? This might be the time to let them go. You find yourself questioning your decisions mid-month, particularly of ones already made. It may be time to re-examine the thinking behind those issues and decide if you’re just second-guessing or if there’s a real problem. Late in the month you’re feeling the need to talk things out, but only to those closest to you. It’s important to communicate, but you’re not up to trusting anyone else.

COMMUNITY NEWS

County Seeks Housing Input T T he County of Santa Cruz seeks public input on potential uses for new opportunities to apply for state funds for housing and community development provided via the CARES ACT in response to COVID-19.

The county will apply for funds through the state Community Development Block Grant Program.

The state will publish a notice of funding availability in late May 2020 for Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Stimulus (CDBG-CV) funding under an expedited process.

Organizations interested in applying for CDBG-CV funding and others interested in the process are invited to participate in an online, informational workshop on Friday, May 15 at 2 p.m. The link for the meeting can be found at www. sccoplanning.com. Translation services are available.

To participate, call 831-454-2332 or email HousingProgramsinfo@santacruzcounty.us by May 15 at 10 a.m.

Comment on Plan he California Department of Housing and Community Development has announced that Santa Cruz County can apply for $3.3 million in “Permanent Local Housing Allocation” funds over five years.

The purpose is to help local governments to address their housing needs.

This funding is from the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund. To obtain these funds, the county must develop a FiveYear Plan showing intended uses of the funds, and seek public comment on that plan before submitting it to the state.

The draft plan is available for review and comment through an online survey available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ S7KCNC9, or by sending an email to request the survey link to HousingProgramsinfo@santacruzcounty.us by Thursday May 28 at 5 p.m. n ••• Public comments will be incorporated into the June 16 public hearing materials to be considered by the Board of Supervisors.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

You’re feeling a sense of order early in the month, making it a perfect time to make plans and set up schedules for the next few weeks, ones that will be easy to follow even when your mind wanders. Your sense of wonder takes over mid-month, bringing with it a desire to see things from a different angle.

The more distance you put between yourself an a problem, the more complicated the answers may be.

Late in May you’re feeling motivated. This is the time to take on some extra work, or just push harder to finish a project.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb. 18)

Your senses are wide open early in the month, and you feel a need to be with people. Bringing some of your favorite minds together for a pow-wow sounds perfect right now. Mid-May is likely to be a busy time, as you are full of energy and everyone seems to know it. Messages are pouring in, and while you want to reply to everything ASAP, you may have to put some aside for later. Late in the month you find many doors are opening for you. The challenge will be deciding which one you want to walk through. It won’t be an easy choice, especially if there are many that seem like a good choice.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

Are you seeing clearly at the beginning of May? Before making any important decisions, take a step back and look closer at the issue; there may be something clouding your judgment, and you wouldn’t want to regret your choice. Your sense of compassion is melding with your competitiveness mid-month, making it a perfect time to help someone else succeed. It’s not always necessary to take credit to feel accomplishment. You’re feeling even closer to your friends and family late in the month, regardless of how far apart you all are. It’s a good time to reconnect with some you’ve lost touch with over the years.

Aries (March 21-April 20)

Your focus is high early in the month, making it a perfect time to do some concentrated learning. It’s not about cramming; it just feels right to push through. As you move into the middle of the month, you can feel your concentration waning, but leaving you satisfied with the recent work you’ve done.

Now you can relax a bit, regardless of how foreign it feels. Your energy returns late in May, but this time it’s unfocused, leaving you bouncing between ideas, projects and even people and conversations.

There’s no reason to fight it.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

You’re not feeling terribly secure as the month begins. It may not be the best time to be making decisions, if you can put them off. Even small ones feel like they’re going round-and-round in your head. You are feeling much more inquisitive mid-May, yet still finding decisions difficult. You want to learn so many things, but picking one to focus on is going to be the real task. Someone new entering your life may help. It’s back to struggling with choices near the end of the month. Every choice seems to be pulling you in opposite directions, making it hard to decide which is the right one. Your best bet is to pick one problem and focus on it until you’re confident in what comes next.

•••

www.tpgonlinedaily.com 26 / May 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Instacart” from page 23 In support of community health, all New Leaf visitors, including staff, shoppers, partners and vendors aged 12 and older, will be required to wear facial coverings while in the store, in accordance with Santa Cruz & San Mateo county mandates. Face coverings are encouraged for customers picking up online orders from their car.

“We are deeply appreciative of the collective effort to keep our community healthy and safe, and we can all continue to simply be kind to one another,” Gonsiewski added.

Learn more about New Leaf’s grocery

pickup and delivery, and place an order at www.newleaf.com/delivery. n ●●● An organic and natural grocer with five stores along the Central Coast, New Leaf Community Markets has been serving the community for 34 years. A wholly owned subsidiary of New Seasons Market since November 2013, New Leaf Community Markets is the first grocer in California to achieve B Corporation certification, which means that New Leaf uses the power of business to solve social and economic problems. Connect at: www.newleaf. com Card Link: www.newleaf.com/cardlink/ Neighbor Rewards: www.newleaf.com/ neighbor-rewards

FEATURED COLUMNIST

How’s Your Green Thumb?

By Rebecca Rubin, Soquel Creek Water District

W

e are all craving some normalcy in our lives right now, with these uncertain and unprecedented times. So, in this month’s column, let’s go back to basics and get down to earth. The earth in your garden that is!

Since last month, most nurseries and gardening retailers can be open for business (with social distancing and other public health guidelines), so now you can get what you need for a healthy garden. Support your local nursery by calling or visiting to get advice about plants, soil, and irrigation, and then purchase your supplies there.

We also have a great online resource for picking plants for your garden at santacruz.watersavingplants.com. You can explore beautiful, sustainable, climateappropriate, and drought-tolerant plants and trees that thrive in Santa Cruz County.

You may already have your drip

system or other water-efficient equipment set up to irrigate your garden. If so, be sure to check for leaks, over-sprays, or other water-wasting issues. If you haven’t set up a drip system yet, take a look at soaker hoses that attach to your garden hose, or feeder hoses with smaller lines leading to water emitters with your selected gallonsper-hour flow rate.

And if you don’t have a “master” watering timer, you can get small timers that attached directly to your faucet to help provide a regular watering schedule.

Using drip irrigation conserves water by directing it to the base of the plants, where it’s most needed and reduces evaporation. You’ll get the best use out of your water and help your garden grow. And don’t forget that the District has a rebate for drip irrigation!

Once you’ve got your plants in the

We're open and we're ready to help you!

ground — whether beautiful blooming flowers or your favorite delicious vegetables — think about your watering schedule. With warmer temperatures, you may be tempted to water frequently, maybe every day. But keep in mind that it’s often more efficient to water flowerbeds two or three times a week with plenty of water, rather than watering them every day with less water.

When’s the best time of day — or night — to water? Common sense might tell you to water at night, but in fact, that can encourage fungus growth. It’s been shown that doing most of your watering in the early morning is more efficient and better for your plants.

“Green Thumb” page 31

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by Andersen location for details. Los Angeles License #992285. Orange County License #990416. MHIC #121441. VA License #2705155684. DC License #420215000125. License MN: BC130983/WI:266951. Excludes MN insurance work per MSA 325E.66. Other license numbers available on request. Some Renewal by Andersen locations are independently owned and operated. "ENERGY STAR" is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Renewal by Andersen" and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation. © 2020 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. *Using U.S. and imported parts.

1

THE FULL SERVICE REPLACEMENT WINDOW DIVISION OF

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2020 / 27

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE MONTEREY SYMPHONY The Monterey Symphony is seeking volunteers. If you love music and want to be involved, please call (831) 646-8511 or visit www.montereysymphony.org for more info.

THE SCIENCE OF CHRISTIANITY Airing on Community TV — Comcast 27 and Spectrum 73 Saturdays: 11:00 am • Sundays: 3:00 pm In this video replay on Community Television, Mary Alice Rose, a Christian Science practitioner and teacher talks about parallels between the study of physical science and the study of Christian Science. She’ll help you to understand how Christian principles, scientifically applied, heal the body and transform lives.

Rose had a 20-year career in science and technology that included work as a meteorologist for the National Severe Storms Laboratory and a manager developing the ground system for the Hubble Space Telescope. Now her life work is Christian Science healing and teaching others to heal.

Visit www.cschurch.info for more information Sponsored by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Santa Cruz (Soquel)

ONGOING EVENTS

Daily SANTA CRUZ ‘USED’ BOOKSHOP 10 am- 3 pm 2710 Chanticleer Ave. Santa Cruz Grey Bears: Every Monday and Friday is $10-a-bag

With the current COVID-19 Crisis, please check in advance before attending any ongoing or dated events listed here.

We will continue to print regular ongoing events that are expected to return. book sale. Fill up a shopping bag with books for only $10! Thousands of titles for $1.50 or less: cookbooks, gardening, sci-fi, mysteries, classics and all sorts of fiction and nonfiction. Non-profit Grey Bears has served our community for 45 years. Grey Bears provides 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.

The Santa Cruz County chapter of the Embroiderers Guild of America meets on the third Monday of every month, except June and December. Meetings are free to attend. All are welcome.

friendly OA 12-Step meeting with the solution. All are welcome!

For information on other meetings in Santa Cruz County: www. santacruzoa.org/meetings 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.

Tuesdays & Wednesdays SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUPS Monarch Services offers a safe space to meet other Mondays & Tuesdays survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and WOMENCARE ARM-IN-ARM human trafficking survivors, and to listen or share 12:30 - 2 p.m. experiences. Childcare provided on site.

WomenCARE ARM-in-ARM support group for Spanish – Tuesdays 6:00-7:30 p.m. Servicios women with advanced, recurrent and metastatic Monarca, 233 E. Lake Avenue, Watsonville (831) Weekdays cancers. Meets weekly Mondays & Tuesdays, with 722-4532 CASA ORIENTATIONS TO BECOME a separate meeting every First and Third Tuesday English – Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 p.m. Monarch ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN every month.

Services, 1590 Seabright Avenue, SC (831) 425-4030 CASA empowers volunteers to directly influence Registration required. Call 457-2273 for more information and For more information, visit www.monarchscc.org life-changing decisions affecting children in foster care. Court appointed special advocates are everyday to register. No cost to attend.

Second Wednesdays www.womencaresantacruz.org people that, with just a few hours a week can have a SANTA CRUZ SONS IN RETIREMENT lifetime of impact for a child who has been abused or Tuesdays MONTHLY MEETING neglected.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS MEETING Noon, Elks Lodge at 150 Jewell St. More info www.casaofsantacruz.org or call 831-761-2956 x102 7 - 8 pm, Christ Lutheran Church, Gazebo, 10707 Soquel Dr., This statewide group of retired men invites you to be Aptos our guest at our monthly luncheon. You’ll meet kindred Third Mondays Do you have a proble m with compulsive over- or spirits, have a fine lunch and learn something new from STITCHERS BY THE SEA undereating? Anorexia? Bulimia? Compulsive a top notch guest speaker.

7 –9 p.m., St. Stephan’s Lutheran Church, 2500 Soquel Ave., exercising? You are not alone. Drop into a free, Cost: $18. RSVP at 479-7096 Santa Cruz

28 / May 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ONGOING EVENTS (cont.)

Second and Fourth Wednesdays WELLNESS ON THE CANCER JOURNEY 11-12:30 pm, Old Soquel Plaza Learn how to safely support your body and 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.

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.

Judy Brenis: jbbrenis@comcast.net, or call 831-8189619.

Last Wednesdays Each Month MAGICIANS’ CLUB 7 p.m., Antonelli Club Room, 2655 Brommer St., Santa Cruz Attention Magic Lovers! Our new Magicians’ Club meets on the last Wed. of every month at 7pm in the club room at the Antonelli Mobile Home Park.

If you do magic or want to get started in this fun hobby, join us.

Questions? Call Jim at 685-3829 Thursdays FRIENDSHIP PUT TO MUSIC! 6:30 p.m., New Hall, La Selva Beach Club House, 3124 Estrella Ave. Classes every Thursday night. For more info call Sue Harris or Don Benson (831) 726-7053 or email at caller4u@att.net 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.

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

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.

DROP-IN GRIEF SUPPORT 12-1 pm, Hospice of Santa Cruz County, two locations: 940 Disc Dr., SV • 85 Nielson St., Watsonville Hospice of Santa Cruz County is offering a drop-in grief support group for adults grieving the death of a family member or a friend. This group is a place where you can share stories, learn tools for coping, and receive support from people who care.

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

First Fridays each month FIRST FRIDAY ART TOUR The First Friday Art Tour is a Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts event, managed in conjunction with the participating art venues. The event takes place year-round and illuminates some of the most talented local artists from local galleries.

To find out where to participate in a First Friday art tour, visit firstfridaysantacruz.com (Most galleries are open 12-9 pm for First Friday viewings.)

Saturdays PILLS ANONYMOUS (PA) 8 a.m., Sutter Hospital, 2025 Soquel Ave The purpose of PA is to provide a safe, secure, and supportive place for people who are addicted to pills who want to get off of them. PA is offered all over the world.

For questions, please contact Gary at (831)801-9578 or Kristin at (831)345-6515 SANTA CRUZ TENNIS CLUB 9 a.m., Soquel High School Tennis Courts The nonprofit Santa Cruz Tennis Club meets every Saturday morning at the Soquel High School courts beginning at 9:00 am. We play doubles and mixed doubles, mostly at an intermediate level, and switch around the players every 45 minutes.

Balls are provided. $2 for first time visitors.

Second Saturdays Each Month 2ND SATURDAY ON THE FARM 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Ag History Project Center at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Join us every 2nd Saturday on the Farm for free family activities. Each month we select a new theme to highlight historical agriculture with games, activities, and demonstrations that relate. We often have guest appearances from farm animals like llamas, draft horses, sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, and more! You are sure to find something fun and entertaining for the whole family.

Check our website and Facebook page for more details. FREE

Sundays NAR-ANON SANTA CRUZ 6:30 p.m., Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center (Sutter Room), 2900 Chanticleer Avenue, Santa Cruz Nar-Anon is a twelve step support group for families and friends of addicts. There are no dues or fees to join.

Fridays Just come to a meeting. You will hear others, who are going through similar problems, talk about how they NAR-ANON SCOTTS VALLEY 6:30 p.m., Camp Recovery Center (Bison Center Room), 3192 cope and find recovery.

To locate additional times and locations of meetings, please go Glen Canyon Road, Scotts Valley.

Nar-Anon is a twelve step support group for families to our website at www.nar-anon.org. n

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Blue Is The Loneliest Color T Tony Tomeo

he majority of common pollinators are not impressed with blue. Otherwise, more flowers would be blue.

After all, floral color appeals to pollinators.

Each type of pollinator prefers specific colors. Plants customize their floral color to their preferred pollinators. If more flowers could attract more pollinators with blue, they would do so. Instead, they rely on colors that have worked well for them.

Green is actually the most common floral color. It is not obviously common because green flowers are generally ignored. They are the sort that rely on wind for pollination, so make little or no effort to draw attention. They are also the sort that produce the most and worst pollen, which gets carried farthest by the wind. Flowers that rely on pollinators produce coarser pollen that clings to things.

Of the many other colors that appeal to pollinators, most are significantly more complex than they appear. For example, what appears to be simple orange may appeal to pollinators that perceive it to be yellow, as well as those that are drawn to red, even if none are interested in orange.

Different pollinators perceive different color ranges. Insects do not perceive red; but hummingbirds do.

That certainly could not explain why blue is such an uncommon color for flowers. It surely has more of a following than red, which is more common among flowers. Since most pollinators perceive blue, more flowers should utilize it.

They could even add some ultraviolet or infrared to it, if that would make it more appealing. Nonetheless, true blue, without the influence of purple, is quite rare.

Lily-of-the-Nile and blue dawn flower are some of the more substantial species that provide exquisitely blue bloom. A few

Colorado has a blue State Flower.

cultivars of butterfly bush bloom true blue too, but the color is not so clear and bright.

Delphinium, bellflower, squill and grape hyacinth are smaller, but worthy perennials for the richest blues. Petunias, lobelia, nigella, cornflower and columbine are blue blooming annuals.

Many iris, sage and lupine provide exquisitely true blue bloom as well.

•••

Blue like this is worth remembering.

Forget-me-not laska, the biggest state in America, claims one of the most diminutive state flowers; their native alpine forgetme-not, Myosotis alpestris. Common woodland forget-me-not, Myosotis sylvatica, is the more familiar species here.

It is not as common as the name implies though. Where naturalized, it stays within riparian or coastal situations, where the soil does not stay too dry for too long.

Forget-me-not is not notably popular in home gardens nowadays either. Of course, that only means that it is not often planted intentionally. Like violets and alyssum, it can proliferate where it gets a bit of water. Those who recognize it as more than a weed often leave it to provide delightful sky blue bloom until it succumbs to the warmth of summer. It is pleased to toss seed for the next year.

Common woodland forget-me-not is an annual, or at most, a biennial. Self sown seed starts to germinate through autumn, and grows into plants that can bloom before the end of winter. Manually sown seed wants to be in the garden early too, even if it grows slowly. New plants are too delicate to be commonly available in nurseries. Mature plants are less than a foot tall and two feet broad. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com

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Business Guide

FEATURED COLUMNIST

COVID-19 Update: Your Questions Answered

By Zach Friend, Second District Supervisor

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ew information is coming in nearly daily from the state about changes to the statewide shelter-in-place order.

Understandably, this is causing a lot of confusion and questions about what exactly is permitted and what ability we have at the local level to implement changes beyond the state’s order.

Here are answers to some of the most common questions that have been coming into my office in the last week.

Can the County open up more businesses than the state is allowing? enerally, no. The County cannot have an order that is more lenient than the state’s order. We can, and do, have an order that has elements that are stricter than the state’s order (generally for elements that are unique to our area — such as beaches).

At this point, in regards to businesses reopening, our Health Officer has been mirroring the state guidance.

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When will I be able to go to the gym or get a haircut? he Governor has established 4 stages for reopening. We have just entered the beginning of Stage 2. In the early part of this stage, low-risk retail (with curbside pickup only), manufacturing and logistics have been allowed.

Later, a lessening of retail restrictions, school/child care openings with modifications and limited hospitality will be allowed with specific metrics being required to be met by the County for this to occur.

These metrics include specific benchmarks on cases, contact tracing capabilities, testing capabilities, ICU/hospital capabilities, fatalities and more. Stage 3 will include gyms, hair and nail salons, movie theaters, sports without live audiences and inperson religious services including weddings.

Stage 4 is functionally a full reopening including concerts, live sports and convention centers. Currently, the Governor controls the

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timeline for these stages and the County can proceed into the stages when the Governor allows the state to move to the next stage and our County meets the specific metrics outlined above.

What actions are being taken locally to prepare for the phased reopening? here are two parallel tracks for preparation — the health capacity and testing/equipment side and the business adaptation side to the new practices that will be required in most sectors.

On the health side, the County, local hospitals and UC Santa Cruz have significantly increased testing capacity including a new location in Watsonville. The County is working with the State on contact tracing positions and continued augmentation of protective equipment.

On the business front, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County has funded a position to help oversee the economic recovery and has partnered with the County on launching an Economic Recovery Team. The team consists of business leaders from throughout the county to identify “smart practices, reduce risks, and recommend steps to help the reopening succeed safely,” according to the Community Foundation.

The goal will be alignment with the Governor’s four stages and best health practices and be supported

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by local scientific and public health subject matter experts.

Where can I get the most reliable local data and info on COVID? he County Health website has a significant amount of information (updated daily) for you to be informed about local data and resources on COVID-19 including: Local demographic data of cases, a breakdown of where the cases are occurring, the total number of cases and tests, resources for providers and residents, a county-by-county comparison, info on the shelter-in-place order and much more. Visit www. santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus to learn more.

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What other ways can I get information?

You can call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. The County has a live, staffed hotline -- open every day between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Call (831) 454-4242. I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/supervisorfriend and during the shelter-in-place order I’m hosting weekly tele-townhalls with County and community leaders on Tuesday nights from 6-7 p.m. The call in information for the town halls is 454-2222 with the Meeting ID: 145384#. n ••• As always, if you have any questions or concerns please do feel free to reach out to me. You can always call me at 454-2200.

SCCAS Featured Pet

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Marry Hoppins — What a peach!

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ary Hoppins (A268796) was brought to the Shelter by a Good Samaritan that had seen Mary around her home in a rural area for at least 5 days.

First wow! is that Mary survived. What a little champion. Second wow! is how fabulously sweet and social Mary is. She is tolerant of being picked up and is curious and fairly confident about exploring once she is comfortable in her environment.

Mary came to us covered in tiny ticks and has been given an initial treatment. If she’s adopted as quickly as she should be based on her temperament (not to mention her incredible good looks), her adopters will need to get her a second dose (a topical medication called Revolution).

Rabbits need plenty of attention to proper diet (mostly hay!) and deserve overall proper care like any well-loved creature (which includes routine veterinary care).

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is doing adoptions by appointment only and you can even submit your adoption application online! Call 831-4547200 or visit www.scanimalshelter.org for more information! 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.

Watsonville Location: 580 Airport Blvd, Watsonville, CA 95076 Hours: CURRENTLY CLOSED SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182

“Green Thumb” from page 27 But generally, try not to water in the heat of midday. At that time, the soil tends to soak up the water faster, leaving less for the main attraction of your garden — your plants — also, no sprinkler use between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Be sure to feed your plants — they’ll thank you! Depending on the plant type, you can choose from a variety of plant foods (check with your nursery for help).

Some types of plant food use containers that attach directly to your hose to automatically deliver the right amount of food.

Also, try putting a three-inch layer of good mulch around your plants. This will help the soil retain water and keep plants insulated from high temperatures. Mulch also helps keep weeds down.

It’s a good idea to remove any diseased, damaged, or dead debris from your garden — if left in place, these can block airflow and growth of the rest of your plants. For your flower garden, when you see dead blooms, go ahead and cut them back (it improves the overall look and also helps ensure healthy growth next season). Don’t forget the weeds …! They love summer heat and will steal nutrients and water from your other plants Regularly check for and remove them by hand (preferred to any type of systemic poison). In fact, I find weeding to be a calming, therapeutic exercise!

There are many sources of information on planning and planting your garden (or a new water-saving landscape). Here are some great online resources to get started: • Water Conservation Coalition of Santa Cruz County: www.watersavingtips. org (click on Resources and Yard and Garden Resources), which offers landscape design and plant selection information, plus all kinds of indoor and outdoor water saving tips.

• Water-Smart Gardening in Santa Cruz County: www.santacruz.watersavingplants.com, which is a great local resource for plant lists, garden pictures, information links, watering guide, and more.

• Find a “green gardener” trained in sustainable landscaping at www. green-gardener.org • The District offers 7 outdoor rebates: w w w. s o q u e l c r e e k w a t e r . o r g / conserving-water/rebates We hope our community stays healthy, and your garden, during this shelter-inplace, gives you happiness (and maybe some great vegetables!) all summer long! n ••• As always, if you have any questions about this month’s topic or anything else related to Soquel Creek Water District, feel free to contact us at outreach@soquelcreekwater.org or visit www.soquelcreekwater.org.

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