Aptos Times: July 15, 2020 by Times Publishing Group, Inc.

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

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July 15 2020 • Vol 29 No. 14

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New Statewide COVID-19 Closures

Gift Of a Lifetime

Betty Leonard’s Legacy For Aptos Library By Jondi Gumz

hen I heard about a $650,000 gift to the Aptos library, allowing the renovation of the branch to add 3,000 square feet, I was curious. Leaders of the Friends of the Aptos Library, which formed in 2014, believe this is the biggest gift the Aptos library has ever received.

Who is this generous donor? You will probably see her name in the library when the renovation is complete: Betty Leonard. She died in 2018 just before her 91st birthday. Betty was born in 1927 in Clovis and earned her registered nurse degree in 1948 in San Francisco. ... continues on page 4

Effective Monday, July 13, California has closed some indoor business operations statewide in an attempt to slow the spread of the contagious coronavirus COVID-19. Statewide indoor closures include restaurants, bars and breweries, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers (such as bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages and arcades), zoos and museums, and cardrooms. This affects Santa Cruz County. Full Story page 5

Mulberry Gallery To Close Shop & Pivot Online

When we purchased Mulberry Gallery from Bill and Elaine Doubleday 26 years ago, we had no idea that in addition to the business, we were acquiring a community family. Full Story page 6

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No. 14

Volume 29

Table of Contents

Cover Gift Of a Lifetime: Betty Leonard’s Legacy For Aptos Library, By Jondi Gumz

5 6

Community News New Statewide COVID-19 Closures After 26 Years, Mulberry Gallery To Close Shop & Pivot Online, By Del and Barbara Crawford Aptos Curves Geared up for New Normal, By Edita McQuary • North County Dems Honor Felton Library Champions • Vets 4 Vets Offers Support Candidate Filing for Nov. Election Closes Aug. 7 • Noisy Fourth of July: 110 Pounds Fireworks Seized Caltrans Aims to Boost Walking, Bicycling: $100 Million Funding Commitment for Improvements • Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Make Arrest in Laurel Road Homicide Soquel Dr. Project: Your Questions Answered, By Carisa Duran, Construction Manager, County of Santa Cruz Department of Public Works Aptos Library Friends Want Ideas for Our Community Reads • CASA Welcomes New Advocates for Children in Foster Care Fire Agencies Fall Short in Safety Inspections, By Jondi Gumz Education Fund Started For Sgt. Gutzwiller’s Children, By Ashley Keehn • First Responders Get ‘Gratitude Treats’ From ‘Care From The Heart’ As Families Gather, COVID-19 Cases Spike Up, By Jondi Gumz Penny Ice Creamery Opens in Aptos, By Jondi Gumz • COVID-19 Affects Judge Race, By Jondi Gumz Celebrating Thirty Years of Service Community Foundation Scholarship Winners, By Jenny Kurzweil • Love for America on Fourth of July Mt Madonna Adds Outdoor Classrooms, By Leigh Ann Clifton PV Pushes COVID-19 Prevention in Latinx Community, By Jenny Kurzweil • Free Screening of ‘Motherload’ July 29 Features Talk by Director Bullseye Archery Bounces Back, By Jondi Gumz • Santa Cruz Metro Gets $20.6 Million Federal Grant Paycheck Protection Program Extended, By Jondi Gumz • Cabrillo Reports Victory In Bid to Keep International Students, By Jondi Gumz Planners To Vote on Housing Proposals • Sunday on KQSD: Finding Common Ground • Second Harvest Food Bank Continues Food Drives PV Schools to Reopen with Distance Learning • Sutter Health Antitrust Settlement Back in Court, By Jondi Gumz Healthcare Heroes • Begonias Return To Capitola Village Friday, July 17 • Fourth of July Thank You’s! From the Aptos Chamber of Commerce

7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 27

California News 11 Reflectors Help Prevent Wrong-Way Collisions • California Attorney General Sues DeVos over Student Borrower Relief Community Color 21 Natasha Loudermilk’s Sleepy Art

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

26 29 30

Featured Columnists No Website = No Business, By Ron Kustek Ham Radio Operators Find a Way to Host Field Day, By Becky Steinbruner Upgrades Coming to Local Parks, Libraries, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District 31 Sun Scald Happens Here Too, By Tony Tomeo

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Get Ready For Pasta Pets!

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COVER STORY publisher

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Jondi Gumz

contributing writers Camisa Composti, Jondi Gumz, Del and Barbara Crawford, Edita McQuary, Carisa Duran, Ashley Keehn, Jenny Kurzweil, Leigh Ann Clifton, Ron Kustek, Becky Steinbruner, Zach Friend, Tony Tomeo layout Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson photography Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson, Brad King website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti production coordinator Camisa Composti advertising sales Don Beaumont, Teri Huckobey Cathe Race

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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. Entire contents ©2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission

“Betty Leonard” from page 1 In a black and white photo of that time, perhaps her graduation portrait, she’s wearing lipstick and her white nurse’s cap and looking glamorous. She worked for a general practitioner locally, then in the Dominican Hospital nursery, and encouraged people to give blood at the Watsonville Blood Bank. She was married to Robert O. “Bob” Leonard, an ag researcher in Monterey County affiliated with UC Davis, and they had a daughter Lindy and a son Taggart “Tag,” both of whom graduated from Watsonville High School. Here is what I learned about her from her friends in Aptos, artist Beverly Moore and Teri Handzel, her “book buddy” at the library. When Betty’s husband was on sabbatical, they traveled to Ireland, a place she loved, producing a box full of photos. Betty enjoyed playing bridge in a regular foursome. She loved museums and the arts. She was always well-dressed. After her husband died in 1980, she traveled with her friend, interior designer Sue Stapleton. Her daughter died of a brain tumor in 1998, leaving two granddaughters. Betty enjoyed seeing her son Tag, a Stanford University grad and a health care administrator, in Tucson. On one visit, she stayed three years. Tag, who had a heart condition,

PHONE: (831) 688-7549 FAX: (831) 688-7551 GENERAL E-MAIL: info@cyber-times.com Patrice Edwards: patrice@cyber-times.com Publisher’s Assistant: assistant@cyber-times.com Editor: info@cyber-times.com Calendar Listings: www.tpgonlinedaily.com Graphics Department: graphics@cyber-times.com Billing Inquiries: cathe@cyber-times.com Classified Sales: sales@cyber-times.com Production: production@cyber-times.com CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT: www.tpgonlinedaily.com mission statement We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc. are dedicated to providing a voice for the individuals and organizations in our community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses. We seek to promote healthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, school news, senior events, community groups and entertainment 4 / July 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Beverly Moore, her artist friend, said Betty Leonard and her son Taggart wanted to leave something to the Aptos community they loved so much, and that is why the Leonard Trust Fund made this generous donation to the Aptos library. came back to California to help his mom and died in 2016. Friends say Betty was a lifelong learner, always reading books. She was a frequent visitor at the Aptos library, an 8,000-square-foot building built in 1975. As she got on in years, it became more difficult for her to walk, to make that trip to the library. She wondered if the library had a service to deliver books. That program is called “Book Buddies.” Teri Handzel volunteers for that program, and she was matched with Betty. “It was a pleasure for me,” Handzel said. “She told me what books she likes. Then I’d say, if you liked that, how about this?” She didn’t realize Betty was losing her eyesight but when Betty could no longer read, she would request audiobooks from the library. “She loved listening to the audiobooks,” Handzel said. Beverly Moore, her artist friend,

said Betty and her son Taggart wanted to leave something to the Aptos community they loved so much, and that is why the Leonard Trust Fund made this generous donation to the Aptos library. The bequest arrived as the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, with funds from a voter-approved sales tax, was moving ahead on plans to improve library branches across the county. The library director, in consultation with the Friends of the Aptos Library, agreed to hold the funds for the remodel of the Aptos branch slated to start in 2021. “The significance of this gift cannot be overstated,” said Tricia Wynne, vice president of the Friends of the Aptos Library. Susan Nemitz, the library director, said it will be a design-build project in which the builder and architect work together. She’s enthusiastic about the talent interested in the project. The name of the architect will be announced soon, and she expects it will be 2022 when the renovated and expanded library reopens. There may be some design features that take into account the COVID-19 realities, such as plexiglass, windows that open to provide ventilation and expanding WiFi to the parking lot so parents can park outside for their kids to do their homework online. “The library is about community connections, one of the few spaces that draw people of all ages,” Nemitz said. “ I don’t want to lose that.” While the library branches have been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus, all sorts of virtual services are available: e-books on OverDrive, audiobooks on RBdigital, watching films on Kanopy, and new programs such as Santa Cruz Resilience. So when some say there’s no need for libraries today, I’m reminded of what Mark Twain said: “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” n ••• To visit the library’s online services, go to santacruzpl.org To learn about the Friends of the Aptos Library, go to www.friendsofaptoslibrary.org/ ••• Cover Photo: Betty Leonard (insert) left the Aptos Library $650,000 in her will.

COMMUNITY NEWS

New Statewide COVID-19 Closures E ffective Monday, July 13, California has closed some indoor business operations statewide in an attempt to slow the spread of the contagious coronavirus COVID-19. Statewide indoor closures include restaurants, bars and breweries, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers (such as bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages and arcades), zoos and museums, and cardrooms. This affects Santa Cruz County. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the closures at a noon press conference Monday, a day after California officials revealed that the number of deaths related to coronavirus in the state had passed 7,000. He noted that hospitalizations and the rate of positive tests trended up over the past 14 days. In addition, 30 counties on the state monitoring list for 3 consecutive days â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which includes Monterey County â&#x20AC;&#x201D; must close fitness centers, places of worship, indoor protests, offices for non-critical infrastructure sectors, personal care services, hair salons and barbershops, and malls. As of Wednesday, Santa Cruz County reported 602 confirmed cases including 286 active cases, and 22,443 negative test results for a positivity rate is 3.9 percent. Half the cases are Latinos. There are three deaths, unchanged since mid-June. The state reported 20 people hospitalized in Santa Cruz County including three people in intensive care.

Monterey County reported 2,724 confirmed cases, 11,332 negative test results for a positivity rate is 9.2 percent, and 18 deaths. The state reported 50 people hospitalized in Monterey County including 9 people in intensive care. The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division invites members of the public to join a community conversation at 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday July 14 to discuss COVID-19 in the Latinx community. According to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention data, COVID-19 impacts Latinos at rates that exceed other racial or ethnic groups. Within California, Latinos comprise 55 percent of all cases, including two of every three cases among children. Hosted by the Thriving Immigrants Collaborative, including steering agencies Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County and Salud Para La Gente, and featuring Santa Cruz County Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, the virtual event will include discussion of current trends and measures the community can take to protect itself. The event will be available in English, Spanish and Mixteco on Zoom. Registration is required at https://us02web. zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrdOCgqjgpG9aBaOXZJFadKJ_LM92WW3eX n â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘ For local information on COVID-19, go to www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text â&#x20AC;&#x153;COVID19â&#x20AC;? to 211211. Residents may also call (831) 454-4242 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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After 26 Years, Mulberry Gallery To Close Shop & Pivot Online By Del and Barbara Crawford

hen we purchased Mulberry Gallery from Bill and Elaine Doubleday 26 years ago, we had no idea that in addition to the business, we were acquiring a community family. During those years, (how quickly they passed) you have shared so many of the memories and events in your lives with us that it does feel that we have been a part of your family. Barbara’s portraits hang in hundreds of homes and celebrate the love and warmth that are so important to all of us. It has been an honor and a privilege to frame your precious art, to travel with you through your vacation pictures, and to watch your children grow and become successful and contributing citizens. And especially important to us both is how you shared your pride and joy in the next generation of your family and your genuine interest in hearing how our two children are progressing in their lives. So now we find ourselves beginning a new chapter. We are not retiring so much as seeing opportunities for new adventures in our future. As we revamp our website, we invite you to follow along as we explore our love

for art and storytelling. After decades of framing the art of others, I will at last have the time to begin seriously exploring my own art and see where that journey takes me. Barbara is continuing her portrait work through a series of studies on subjects that are near and dear to her heart. And of course, we intend to stay attached to our community through projects to promote the incredible vitality and uniqueness that is Aptos Village. What a lifetime privilege it has been to all the threads that weave together to make the fabric that is Aptos. We cannot thank you enough and see you soon in the Village and say so in person! n ••• Editor’s Note: Del Crawford started the “Trestle to Trestle” group for business owners in Aptos Village and launched the Aptos Wine Walk five years ago as a fundraiser for local schools. He and his wife Barbara plan to close their brick-and-mortar location at 8050 Soquel Drive, Aptos, at the end of July. Their lease runs until April, so they will put up a “for lease” sign, and Barbara hopes a bike shop would be interested in being a few steps away from the new O’Neill store slated to open this year. To contact the gallery, see themulberrygallery.com or call 831-685-1504.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Del and Barbara Crawford are closing their frame shop, Mulberry Gallery, after 26 years. Their last show, “Enchantment Under the Sea” by Ray Evans, was well-attended and took place Feb. 28, shortly before the county health officer ordered nonessential businesses to close to slow the spread of the contagious coronavirus COVID-19.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Aptos Curves Geared up for New Normal

By Edita McQuary

urves owner Annette Hunt wants the community to know that they reopened June 15 under the new State of California Covid-19 guidelines, stronger and cleaner than ever. During the three-month shelter in place, Hunt and her staff were busy working with members using virtual workouts to keep up their core strength as well as phone consultations to help keep them accountable with their goals. With the new social distancing requirements, members are asked to schedule workouts so that no more than 7 people are on the circuit at one time. “Without a doubt, this is a time for change, and we are setting new standards,” Hunt said. “All our members and staff are doing their best as we transition into a new normal while continuing to stay active, healthy and safe. Everyone who enters the facility must wear a mask, have their temperature checked, and use hand sanitizer before and after their workouts.” Curves staff sanitize each piece of equipment after each member’s use. “Keeping equipment cleaned is an important practice so members stay focused on their workouts and to keep our community safe, and exercise will always be an important factor in keeping the immune system strong,” Hunt said.

Annette Hunt, Curves owner, center, with staffers Charlotte Carreira, and Izbelly Santos, masked and ready to help members. While keeping the facility clean, the Curves staff have not lost their enthusiasm for coaching each member to do their best during their workout. Coaching is a priority on the Curves circuit as well as during virtual workouts. Members Are Appreciative.

Casandra Johnson said, “I can’t put into words how much I enjoy having Annette’s enthusiasm for being strong and increasing strength and loving life. I’m so grateful that Izabelly has returned with her knowledge of the body and suggestions and for Charlotte’s constant attention to and knowledge of body health and wellness.” Nina Gantman added, “In the virtual world, I’ve been doing your YouTubes usually seven days a week and some of the challenges (inch worms and now the crunches). I have been feeling very connected and have been able to stay Curves Strong. You’ve been a lifesaver and I’m so grateful. You have taught me a lot in these last few months working muscle groups, balance, endurance, stretching and very importantly, correct technique. It’s been amazing. You are amazing! Looking forward to the workouts with the bands, and the day I return to Curves too!” Cathy Pereya summed up, “This Curves is most likely the best Curves anyone could have had during this pandemic.” n ••• Call 831-688-2348 or email AptosCurves@gmail.com to set up a free consultation and to get started with one-on-one coaching or to take advantage of the virtual memberships available. Curves is located at 7000 Soquel Drive, Suite 1, Aptos.

COMMUNITY BRIEFS North County Dems Honor Felton Library Champions ancy Gerdt and Michele Moser are the 2020 recipients of the John and Deloris Crosson Democratic Ideals Award awarded last month by the Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County. The award is named after longtime Felton political activists and advocates for social justice. Gerdt and Mosher, both Felton residents, were recognized for their leadership in spearheading the Felton Library project. They worked tirelessly to engage the community and help raise funds from the project’s planning stages to the grand opening in February. The award was presented virtually via Zoom due to COVID-19. Award recipients are usually recognized at the club’s annual spring fundraiser, which was cancelled this year due to COVID-19. For info, visit www.svslvdemocrats.org. ••• Vets 4 Vets Offers Support ets 4 Vets has received a grant to support veterans of Santa

Cruz County during the COVID-19 pandemic. The limit has been increased from $100 per family member to $250 per family member. Emergency funds are available to help with: • Food • Shelter (modestly as funds allow) • Employment related needs • Internet connectivity concerns for schoolwork and work from home • Storage rooms • Minor car repairs • Other concerns by request and Board approval. In your request, include the veteran’s name, date of birth, branch of service, years in service, number of family members who need assistance, along with a detailed description of the request. There are multiple options for submitting your request: Email: scveteranadvocate@gmail.com Web: www.vets4vetssantacruz.org/provider form or www.vets4vetssantacruz.org/veteransform Phone: (831) 420-7348. n

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Candidate Filing for Nov. Election Closes Aug. 7 C andidates interested in running for any of the school or special districts or city offices up for election on Nov. 3 may file candidate papers with either the Santa Cruz County Elections Department for districts, or the appropriate City Clerk’s Office for city offices now through 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7. New procedures are in place due to the contagious coronavirus COVID-19 to protect the health of candidates and county elections officials. Candidates must first complete a Preliminary Candidate Information worksheet on the Santa Cruz County Elections website at www.votescount.us, email it to the office, and then make an appointment to come in to file the required documents. All documents to be filed are posted online at www.votescount.us. Candidates should complete the documents, print them at home and bring them to their appointment. The Declaration of Candidacy will be prepared at the office since it must be signed in front of an elections official or notary. If a candidate is unable to personally appear at the office, contact County Clerk Gail Pellerin at 831454-2419 or info@votescount.us and other arrangements will be made. Filing for local offices will end Aug. 7 unless the incumbent (who is not termed out) does not file. In that case, filing will be extended until 5 p.m. Aug. 10. A complete list of offices on the ballot are available at www.votescount.us . To see

which districts you live in, go to https:// electiondatalookup.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ Offices up for election in November include boards of education, community college boards, unified and high school district boards, elementary school district boards, fire protection district boards, water district boards, port district commission, recreation district boards, other miscellaneous boards, as well as city council members in the four cities. A person is eligible to be elected or appointed to the school and special district boards if that person is:

• 18 years old and a citizen of the state at the time of his/her election or appointment. • A registered voter of the district or division and otherwise qualified to vote for that office at the time nomination papers are issued or at the time of the appointment. • For the resource conservation district, appointees must be a registered voter of the state who resides in the district and either owns real property or have served two years or more as an associate director providing advisory

assistance to the board, or be a designated agent of a resident landowner within the district. • Candidates who file for city office must be a registered voter of the city. • All candidates for city office must file a nomination petition with 20 valid signatures to have their name placed on the November ballot. In addition, Declarations of Candidacy must be filed with the appropriate City Clerk’s Office. • Watsonville City Clerk’s Office – 275 Main St., 4th Floor, Watsonville, CA 95076, 831-768-3040 Declarations of Candidacy and Nomination Petitions for city office must be filed between July 13 and Aug. 7 with the City Clerk’s Office. Appointment to each elective office will be made if there are no nominees or an insufficient number of nominees for the office. At the time the candidate files a Declaration of Candidacy, candidates have the option of submitting a 200-word statement of qualifications to be published in the County Voter Information Guide and posted online at the candidate’s expense. n ••• Because strict rules and laws govern candidate filing, interested persons are encouraged to download the Candidate’s Handbook at www. votescount.us or call the Elections Department at 831-454-2060. Candidates for City Council should contact the City Clerk in their city.

Noisy Fourth of July: 110 Pounds Fireworks Seized

uring 4th of July weekend, Santa Cruz County deputies confiscated 110 pounds of fireworks and issued 11 citations for fireworks but residents of Rio Del Mar and Seacliff sharing their frustrations on NextDoor say it was like a war zone – again. “We felt like we were under siege,” wrote Kim O’Meara, describing the Rio Del Mar Flats. “So many huge fire works, so much smoke we were gagging on it.” Leslie-Anne Morgan-Erickson agreed, “The smoke was so thick I had to close all the windows.” After she messaged the Sheriff’s Office, a fire engine drove through the area, but once it left, the fireworks started again. Firefighters drove to the area again, turning on their spotlights and getting

out of the truck but once they left, the fireworks went on for 90 minutes, according to Morgan-Erickson. “Of the 4 yrs I’ve been here for the 4th of July, this year was the worst,” she wrote. “Smoke everywhere,” wrote Betsy Hare. “My 11yr old Havanese is terrified, shivering and crying for hours.” Seacliff residents reported much the same. “M80s cherry bomb blowing off everywhere,” wrote Deb Iannarelli.

8 / July 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Poor dog is shaking and trying to keep her calm,” wrote Loren Morse. “Last night was the worst I ever had getting to sleep with all the illegal pop … fireworks going on till about 2 a.m.,” wrote Pat Hanson. Besides the fireworks citation and confiscations, there were 80 parking citations and seven open container citations, according to Ashley Keehn, spokeswoman for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff Office. On Saturday night, deputies

responded to a report of a bullet entering a home on Miller Avenue in Freedom within inches of a 10-year-old girl arrested Douglas Paz for negligent discharge of a firearm and resisting arrest. Deputies say Paz was shooting into the ground to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday. During a search, three guns were seized, including the revolver used, according to deputies. The holiday was calmer for the Santa Cruz Police Department, which reported that during the 24 hour July 4 holiday period, there were no reported major acts of violence or crime. Officers responded to 300 calls for service, made 10 arrests, for disorderly conduct, and issued six citations. Police estimated beach crowds at their peak were around 5,000, far less than in year’s past. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Caltrans Aims to Boost Walking, Bicycling

$100 Million Funding Commitment for Improvements

n July 7, Caltrans adopted a set of new, high-priority actions to improve access to walking, bicycling and transit options throughout California. Expanding these transportation opportunities reduces dependence on driving, promotes safety and emphasizes social equity by reconnecting communities that have been divided by freeways and high-speed roads. “The safety of all Californians, including those who walk and bike must

be a priority when we consider future projects,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “This action plan represents a critical step in our effort to build and enhance a transportation system for all users and make our communities more livable and vibrant places.” Caltrans developed the updated action plan in consultation with the California Walk/Bike Technical Advisory Committee to increase bicycling, walking and transit trips statewide. A key effort in the action plan is to identify bicycle and pedestrian-focused needs at the community level in each region of the state through Caltrans District Active Transportation Plans. Adding more dedicated bike lanes and walking paths is a crucial safety component in reducing the number of deaths on state roads. The recently approved 2020 State Highway Operation and Protection Program represents a significant funding commitment

to integrating bicycle and pedestrian improvements into our State Highway System. More than 40 percent of the nearly 900 SHOPP projects include such investments, with an additional $100 million in funds explicitly allocated to expand bicycle and pedestrian access. The SHOPP is Caltrans’ “fix-it-first” program to preserve and improve state transportation infrastructure for all users. A critical element of the projects in the action plan and SHOPP funding is a robust public engagement process. Caltrans is already communicating

with local stakeholders to identify walking and bicycling improvements to 22 current projects, with additional projects determined through community outreach and collaboration. Caltrans is developing tools, training, and guidance for each district to lead its own public engagement activities. The District Active Transportation Plans underway will inform future projects. Caltrans encourages stakeholders and the public to provide input on improving bike lanes and walking paths in their local areas. More information can be found at catplan. org. n

Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Make Arrest in Laurel Road Homicide

etectives with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office have arrested Albaro Amaral, 30,

of San Jose for the murder of Kevin Medina-Lopez, 27, of San Jose, whose body was found near Laurel Road on June 14. Amaral is being held in the Santa Cruz County main jail on $1 million bond for charges including murder and attempted murder. Detectives say Amaral shot Medina-Lopez and attempted to shoot two other people. The case began just after 8 p.m. June 14, when deputies responded to reports of a man with a gun on the 1700 block of Laurel Road and Highway 17. Once in the area, deputies located Medina-Lopez, who was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound. Detectives issued a warrant for Amaral’s arrest, and with the

help of the San Jose Police Department, were able to take Amaral into custody at about 3 p.m. July 9 near his home without incident. n ••• If anyone has additional information

regarding this case, contact Detective Sgt. Daniel Robbins at 831-454-7635 or email Daniel.robbins@santacruzcounty.us.

Albaro Amaral

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

Soquel Dr. Project: Your Questions Answered

By Carisa Duran, Construction Manager, County of Santa Cruz Department of Public Works

he County is in the process of making long-requested pedestrian and traffic safety improvements at the corner of Aptos Creek Road and Soquel Drive. We’ve put together a list of common questions we have been receiving on the project and welcome further questions: Q. What is the general overview of the project? his project involves the construction of a new traffic signal at the Soquel Drive and Aptos Creek Road intersection, railroad crossing warning system, video detection system at the Spreckels Drive intersection, signal upgrades and new fiber optic improvements along Soquel Drive at the State Park Drive, Aptos Rancho Road, Spreckels Drive, Aptos Creek Road, and Trout Gulch Road intersections, as well as curb, gutter, and sidewalk improvements, new storm drainage facilities, asphalt concrete overlay, thermoplastic striping, and railroad track work.

Q. What pedestrian improvements will be made? urb, gutter, sidewalk, and crosswalk improvements will be constructed along Aptos Creek Road and Soquel Drive. This new sidewalk will provide a continuous pedestrian path between southern Aptos Village and northern Aptos Village (Safeway plaza).

Q. Will the signals be timed or connected to other signals? ive traffic signals within the Aptos Village corridor are to be interconnected by fiber optic cable improvements and synchronized for traffic optimization through the corridor. Signals included are along Soquel Drive at intersections with State Park Drive, Aptos Rancho Road, Spreckels Drive, Aptos Creek Road, and Trout Gulch Road.

Q. Will there be dedicated left turn lanes? ew dedicated left turn lanes along Soquel Drive will be constructed at the Aptos Creek Road and Parade Street intersections. A new dedicated left turn lane on Aptos Creek Road will also be constructed for traffic onto Soquel Drive.

Q. Are bike lanes part of the project? ike lanes will be constructed along Soquel Drive and Aptos Creek Road.

A shared lane in the westbound direction of Soquel Drive will be designated from Aptos Creek Road to the Aptos Creek Bridge due to the width constraints of the Aptos Creek Bridge. Q. What is the timeline for construction? ork started the week of June 15 and is expected to continue through early November 2020.

Q. What kind of delays can we expect during construction? ith traffic control consisting of one lane, two-way traffic with flaggers during construction operations, delay times can be up to 15 minutes. For the safety of all, caution should be exercised while moving through the construction zone, adhering to signage, and sharing the road.

Q. Why isn’t construction being done at night to minimize delays? ue to considerably higher project costs for nighttime construction, work is taking place during daytime hours.

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

Q. How will traffic be diverted during closures? he Aptos Creek Road railroad crossing will be temporarily closed during removal of the existing railroad crossing and construction of the new railroad crossing. Aptos Creek Road traffic will be directed to Trout Gulch Road and Aptos Village Way as a detour route.

directed into the newly constructed storm drain system. Once in the system, runoff will flow into the “Continuous Deflective Separator” manhole to separate and trap debris, trash, sediment, and hydrocarbons, improving overall water quality before entering Aptos Creek.

Q. How was this funded? he project is funded by developer impact fees, state and local funding sources.

T T

Q. How can I get up-to-date information? roject information and updates can be obtained through issued press releases and the project blog, https://aptosvillageimprovement.blogspot.com/. Both items can be found on the County of Santa Cruz Public Works webpage, http://www.dpw. co.santa-cruz.ca.us/.

Q. How will this project affect drainage in the area? urface drainage from Aptos Creek Road and Soquel Drive will be

Q. Who are the best contacts if I have more questions? ere are some of the key people to contact if you have more questions: • Cristina Crocker, Project Resident Engineer, County of Santa Cruz – Public Works Cristina.Croker@ santacruzcounty.us • Carisa Duran, Construction Manager, County of Santa Cruz – Public Works Carisa.Duran@santa cruzcounty.us • Nick Jouras, Project Manager, Anderson Pacific Engineering Construction, Inc. (408) 316-0351 ••• Rendering shows features of the Soquel Drive-Aptos Creek Road project in Aptos Village.

CALIFORNIA NEWS

Reflectors Help Prevent Wrong-Way Collisions A three-year pilot program to prevent deadly wrong way collisions found the number of wrong way drivers in San Diego decreased by 44% after the installation of two-way pavement reflectors. The reflectors show white or yellow to right way drivers and red to wrong way drivers. As a result if the pilot program, Caltrans has installed the reflective markers on hundreds of miles of highways, alerting drivers they are entering the roadway in the wrong direction. Installation takes place during maintenance or repaving. “Adding the two-way reflective markers proved to be so effective that Caltrans updated its statewide design standards,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “It’s a low-cost measure we can use throughout the state to deter wrong way drivers and potentially save lives on California’s highway system. On average, 37 people are killed in wrong way collisions each year on California’s highways.

Two-way reflective markers show red to wrong way drivers The pilot program was conducted with the UC Davis Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology Research Center. Caltrans installed and tested different ways to deter wrong way drivers along exit ramps in Sacramento and San Diego, including:

LED lights flashing 24 hours a day • Active monitoring systems that use radar to detect wrong way drivers. These systems activate a secondary set of LED signs when a wrong way driver enters the ramp and sends realtime alerts and photos to Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol.

• Two-way reflective pavement markers • Wrong Way” signs at the off-ramp • “Do Not Enter” signs equipped with

The flashing LED signs showed promise at preventing wrong way collisions and Caltrans will continue to monitor

their impact to determine whether to expand use at exit ramps across the state. The pilot program was developed following 10 wrong way driver related collisions on Sacramento and San Diego area freeways in the first six months of 2015. UC Davis researchers partnered with Caltrans to conduct a second study in Sacramento to better understand the actions that lead to wrong way driving incidents. “Our hypothesis was that some of the causes of wrong way driving start before a driver enters the ramp,” said researcher and AHMCT co-director Ty Lasky, who helped lead the study. “In order to test this, we wanted to extend our field of view to capture as much of the roadway around the exit ramp as possible.” A camera, analytical software, solar panels, and a modem were mounted on poles near exit ramps. Video was recorded when the camera detected a wrong way driver, which allowed the team to study a vehicle’s path before, during, and after a wrong way driving incident. “Wrong Way” page 14

California Attorney General Sues DeVos over Student Borrower Relief

n July 15, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey led a coalition of 23 attorneys general in a lawsuit against Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and the U.S. Department of Education challenging their action to repeal and replace the 2016 “borrower defense” regulations that provided a Xavier Becerra pathway for relief from federal student loans for student borrowers misled or defrauded by predatory schools. Under the Trump Administration, the Department of Education replaced the 2016 regulations with new regulations that make it nearly impossible for victimized students to obtain financial relief, while rolling back oversight over unscrupulous and predatory schools, according to Becerra. The lawsuit contends the decision to repeal and replace violates the Administrative Procedure Act, and asks the court to require department to re-implement the 2016 processes and protections.

“If only college students in America could count on the U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, to fight for them as she has consistently done for the predatory for-profit education industry that has deceived and cheated these very students,” said Becerra. “Under her leadership, the U.S. Department of Education has replaced critical borrower protections with a process that makes it virtually impossible for victimized students to get the relief they should qualify for. With today’s lawsuit, we continue to fight for student borrower protections so that all who seek a college degree can do so without being cheated by exploitative for-profit colleges.” The Higher Education Act requires that the Secretary of Education issue regulations that provide for a meaningful process for students to obtain federal student loan relief if they have been misled or defrauded by their school. This process is known as “borrower defense.” DeVos does not like cancelling student loans, adding a hand-written note “with extreme displeasure” to her approval of one student borrower’s loan cancellation. In 2016, the Obama Administration began working on new borrower defense regulations, building on lessons learned

from the collapse of Corinthian Colleges — a predatory, for-profit chain of colleges that left tens of thousands of students across the nation in need of relief. The California Department of Justice was at the forefront of the Corinthian case, obtaining a $1.1 billion default judgment against Corinthian for targeting low-income, vulnerable students through false advertisements. California help shape the 2016 borrower defense regulations, serving as lead negotiator for the states on Department of Education’s rulemaking committee. The 2016 regulations provided misled and defrauded borrowers access to a consistent, clear, fair, and transparent process to seek debt relief, and also protected taxpayers by holding schools that engage in misconduct accountable. Under Secretary DeVos, the borrowerdefense regulations were delayed and then in 2019 replacement Betsy DeVos regulations were issued that put the interests of predatory schools ahead of student protections, according to Becerra.

The lawsuit contends the decision to repeal and replace violates the Administrative Procedure Act, and asks the court to require department to re-implement the 2016 processes and protections.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, contends the repeal and replacement of the 2016 borrower defense regulations is arbitrary and capricious and does not comply with Congress’s requirement that the Secretary implement a meaningful process for borrowers to obtain relief. Only about 4 percent of borrowers eligible for relief will actually get relief, according to Becerra. Joining the lawsuit are attorneys general of Massachusetts, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, awaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. n ••• For information, visit oag,ca.gov.

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

JULY 2020

Aptos Real Estate Update

Ruth Bates 831.359.2212

ruthbates1@gmail.com CalBRE#01799929

It is a brave new world for sure! “Zoom” is now a verb, and everyone is using Zoom. Working from home is more-thanever a viable option. Thus, homes in Santa Cruz County are in high demand now. Sellers — IT IS A SELLER’S MARKET (Limited inventory, multiple buyers). Example: I worked with buyer clients on an offer for 107 Atherton Loop — 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhome in Aptos, listed for $784,000. Offers were reviewed 7 days after listing, 6 offers came in, and accepted final offer was $820,000 (that’s $36,000 above list price!). My last three listings in Aptos all sold quickly at 97-99% of list price (411 Hillcrest — $1,380,000 on list price $1,395,000 — 99% of list, 324 Village Creek town home — $739,000 on list price of $749,000 — 99% of list, 727 Clubhouse — $1,050,000 on list price of $1,079,000 — 97% of list). All of these listings sold during Covid-19. Homes are selling quickly, but/and — there is one caveat. As a Seller you must have your home “ready to sell” and you must “price it correctly for what it is”. This means that you have completed your Home and Pest Inspections before you list and have done the necessary repairs before you list. You have completed your sewer lateral inspection and done the work if you can or are willing to negotiate for a lower price to have the buyer do the work. If your home is not “turnkey” (updated and pristine, move-in-ready which is what 95% of buyers want), then you need to price accordingly. If your home sits on the market for over 21 days in this market, you are overpriced.

Buyers, there are things you can do to be more competitive in this market. Have your lender take your pre-approval as far as they can before you begin your search, let alone make an offer. Submit a cover letter with your offer; many sellers do care about who is going to purchase their treasured home. Shorten your physical contingency period from 17 days to 5-10 days based on reports and inspections already received from the Seller. Shorten your Appraisal (17) and Loan (21) contingency periods if you can; shorten your Close of Escrow from 40 to 30 days or whatever your Lender can allow. Ask what the Seller might need — do they want a short rent-back (<30 days), and if so, offer it for free if you can. Buyers should take the advantage NOW on Interest Rates. Bankrate.com quotes 3.25% -30year fixed National Average (7/6/20).

COMMUNITY NEWS

Aptos Library Friends Want Ideas for Our Community Reads H ello friends of Our Community Reads and the Aptos Library. We hope that you book lovers are finding the time to read during this very strange reality that we are living in today. The pandemic has not curtailed our enthusiasm for Our Community Reads program, and our dedicated committee of the Friends of the Aptos Library is actively busy and in serious planning mode. Naturally, we are not sure what to expect for how we will be hosting events next year, but we do know that we will find a way to engage all of you in some way, shape, or form! … And we promise not to select a book with themes of a pandemic! Sometime in the near future you will be notified about our Voting Event planned for September. There is a strong likelihood that it will be a virtual get together via ZOOM. What we do know for sure is that we will present you with 3

or 4 very appealing titles for you to vote on. As in past seasons, your vote will determine the selected book for the upcoming 2021 Season of Our Community Reads We hope you enjoyed the events of our 2020 Season when we celebrated Patriot Number One, by Lauren Hilgers. We were fortunate to be able to provide a full calendar of events including an author talk, with the last event ending just one week before the stay-at-home orders were imposed. What lucky timing for us! We would love to hear from you! If you have a book that you think would

resonate with our community as a whole, is not more than 325 pages (give or take) and is appropriate for high school students 17 years or older, please reply to this email with the title and author. Thank you so much for your continued support and enthusiasm. We hope you stay well, wear your masks, wash your hands, and we’ll see you, one way or the other, sometime in the near future. Looking forward to hearing from you! n ••• Aptos Chapter of the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Library Jim Bourne, Bobbie Edgin, Pat Emard, Kris Franceschi, Melanie Freitas, Gale Farthing, Barbara Gaebe, Ofelia García, Teri Handzel, Coni Hendry, Sandy Laue, Diana Mejia, Eileen Miller, Ginny Morris, Lynn McNussen, Debby Peronto, Jodi Pratt, Susan Schenck, Denise Ward, Eliot Weiss, and Tricia Wynne

CASA Welcomes New Advocates for Children in Foster Care

n June 16, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Timothy Schmal swore in 22 community members as Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in foster care. All of them completed the CASA 35-hour training program. CASA of Santa Cruz County recruits, trains, and supervises volunteer Advocates who are matched one on one with a child in the county’s dependency (foster care) court system advocating for them the entire time they have a case open with the Court. As officers of the Court, CASA volunteers ensure

Sellers — I oﬀer a FREE value analysis (CMA). If you are even considering selling, please give me a call, email, text, and I’d be happy to help. Buyers, I can help you to purchase your dream home. SOLD is my favorite 4-letter word. Get Results with Ruth!

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12 / July 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

that the children’s needs are recognized and their best interests are considered in the courtroom, school, and in the community. Although there is a great need for

bilingual and male volunteers, CASA always encourage people from all cultures and professions and of all ethnic and educational backgrounds to learn more. Online informational sessions for community members to learn about getting involved with CASA are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, July 16, and 10 a.m. Friday, July 24. For information on how to become a CASA volunteer Advocate, contact CASA Outreach Coordinator, Cita Rasul, at (831) 761-2956, ext. 102, or visit www.casaofsantacruz.org/volunteer. ••• From top left to bottom right: Suzanne Feutz, Jenny Hundemer (trainer), Stacey Blasing, Diane O’Carroll, Nancy Caroline Mann, Rebecca King, Patricia Steinfurth, Suzie Dailey, Nicole Ramirez, Emily Crandall, Julianne May, Prateek Arora, James Holman (staff), Michelle Terra, Uriel Leon, Dana Snyder, Crystal Diaz, Ray Ruiz, Brenda Vasquez, Teresa Delfino, Ashley Ramirez, Melissa Wolf, Wendy Jacoby, Mary Gaukel Forster.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Fire Agencies Fall Short in Safety Inspections

By Jondi Gumz

2019 state law in the wake of the deadly Ghost Ship Fire in Oakland requires fire agencies to annually inspect schools, apartments, hotels, residential care facilities, but locally the job is incomplete, according to an investigation by the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury found shortcomings at all seven of the fire agencies reviewed: • Santa Cruz County Fire: 7 of 85 facilities inspected; 92% uninspected. • City of Santa Cruz: 102 of 382 facilities inspected; 73% uninspected. • Watsonville: 49 of 74 facilities inspected; 35% uninspected. • Central: 105 of 125 facilities inspected, 16% uninspected. • Aptos La Selva: 52 of 62 facilities inspected, 16% uninspected. • Felton: Inspections were ad hoc; no records available. Another six fire agencies in the county not part of the grand jury’s investigation are subject to the inspection mandate from the state. “We recommend that the status of these inspections especially those involving public facilities be communicated to the public and that gaps in compliance or the ability to inspect be addressed in the 2021 budgeting cycle,” the grand jury report concluded in a June 25 report. The grand jury commended the organizational merger of Aptos La Selva and Central fire districts creating a common database, noting this had resulted in “efficiency gains” in” terms of inspections, citations and re-inspections” and a “highly robust inspection and reporting process.” Aptos La Selva accomplished the highest percentage of inspections in the county in 2019, inspecting all 15 schools and preschools in Aptos.

Of 33 apartments in Aptos, 26 were inspected. Central inspected all 50 apartments and 36 of 51 schools and preschools. What surprised the grand jury was the number of facilities that failed inspections. Of 51 schools in Aptos La Selva and Central, 11 failed or got a correction notice. “These data highlight the importance that regular inspections be prioritized and performed by the agencies, and the leadership hold agencies accountable for inspections and compliance,” the grand jury concluded. Here is more detail on the findings: County Fire: No multi-family apartments were inspected in 2019. The inspection list identified two apartments but the grand jury found nine apartments not on the list. Also, Bradley Elementary School was omitted from the list. Of 64 businesses on the list, only two were inspected in 2019; nine were inspected in 2018. City of Santa Cruz: Of 36 schools, only 12 were inspected in 2019; five were inspected in 2018. Of 50 hotels, 31 were inspected in 2019 and 24 were inspected in 2018. Of 282 apartments, only 41 were inspected in 2019and 98 were inspected in 2018. Watsonville: Of 42 apartments, only 29 were inspected in 2019; there were 23 were inspected in 2018. Of nine hotel/ motels, only four were inspected in 2019. One problem was that five hotels were left off the inspection list. So were private preschools. Scotts Valley: Reported all inspections completed but the grand jury found 30 schools, preschools, private schools, apartments, and hotels advertising for business that were not on the inspection list. Also left off: 1440 Multiversity, a new 377-bed learning center located at the former Bethany College campus. n

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

Education Fund Started For Sgt. Gutzwiller’s Children

By Ashley Keehn

he Friends of San Lorenzo Valley with the help of Sheriff Jim Hart, retired Sheriff Steve Robbins, retired Sheriff Phil Wowak and retired Deputy Mike Pruger have set up an education fund for the children of our fallen Sergeant, Damon Gutzwiller. Liberty Bank of San Lorenzo Valley graciously offered to partner with the com-

munity in helping the Gutzwiller children as they grow. You can make donations at the Liberty Bank branches in the San Lorenzo Valley or mail a check made out to “Gutz’s Kids” to Liberty Bank at 6230 Hwy 9, Felton, CA 95018 or 13233 Hwy 9, Boulder Creek, CA 95006. There are also memorial books

available to sign at both locations. These books will be given to Damon’s wife Favi and their children to show the enormous support from the San Lorenzo Valley. We would like to thank the following involved in the Valley Committee: Nancy and Les Gardner, Leslie Steiner, Judy Anderson, Chris Finnie, Robin Muscatelli, Bob Gray, Lynn Robinson, Bob Locatelli,

Cindy and Ron Sekkel, Mark and Kathy Stone, Bruce and Mary McPherson, Laura Testa-Reyes, Jim and Michelle Moser, Nancy Macy, George Wylie, and Scarborough Lumber. n Sgt Damon Gutzwiller

First Responders Get ‘Gratitude Treats’ From ‘Care From The Heart’

are From The Heart, a locally owned in-home care services company in Santa Cruz, is recognizing people who have helped during the COVID-19 pandemic with “Gratitude Treats” — a box of cupcakes or cookies and brownies made by locally owned Buttercup Cakes and Farmhouse Frosting. The first delivery was made June 19 to the employees of Santa Cruz County Bank, which helped businesses secure Paycheck Protection Program loans to keep 29,000 employees on the payroll. Jackie Tucker, owner of Care From the

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Heart with her husband Jeff Tucker, called the employees at Santa Cruz County Bank “economic first responders” for processing Paycheck Protection Program loans for our community. “Because of Santa Cruz County Bank’s responsiveness to the crisis and their dedication and commitment to the community, our business is able to stay open and operate during these challenging times,” she said. “Thank you.” On July 10, a delivery of Gratitude Treats was made to employees of the Sutter Maternity

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& Surgery Center, nurses at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Clinic in Santa Cruz and the Dominican Hospital Case Management Department. Gratitude Treats were delivered to the Dominican Home Health Clinic at 2045 40th Ave., in Capitola, too. Gratitude Treat boxes can be purchased at www.carefromtheheart.net for $25 or $30, which includes delivery countywide with a personalized note from the sender. Santa Cruz Vac & Sew has teamed up with Care From The Heart for a thank-you program called “Lunch with Friends.” This program is designed to recognize responders who are working tirelessly during these challenging times by providing them with nutritious boxed lunches from the food truck Ate3One. The first delivery was made June 26 for 150 employees of Dominican Hospital. For every face mask sold by Santa Cruz Vac & Sew, the business will donate a portion of each sale, which is matched dollar-for-dollar by Care From The Heart, to buy the boxed lunches. Nick Szluk, owner with Clare Markovits

“Wrong Way” from page 11 “The video gave us a more comprehensive understanding of driver behavior and factors that contribute to wrong way driving,” said UC Davis Distinguished Professor and AHMCT co-director Bahram Ravani. “This opens the door for further deployment of our system across the state as counties and municipalities try to mitigate wrong way driving.” Wrong way collisions on divided highways in California are rare— accounting for about 1% of all crashes on the state highway system. “Wrong way crashes do not happen very often but when they do occur, they are typically head-on crashes, resulting in death or severe injuries,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “Infor-

Employees of the Dominican Home Health Center were presented with boxes of Gratitude Treats on July 3. From left: Sheryl Brouse, Susan Kavulich, Niko Takaoka, and Trish Keenan. of Santa Cruz Vac & Sew, said he plans to extend this program to other “first responder” organizations. He hopes to get other local businesses involved. n To order a box of Gratitude Treats’ baked goodies call (831) 471-8802 or visit http://www. gratitudetreats.com. To support Lunch with Friends, visit Santa Cruz Vac & Sew, 806 Ocean St., Santa Cruz or www. SantaCruzVacnSew.com or call 831-464-8181. mation obtained through this pilot program is being used to help prevent these crashes and save lives on California roadways.” Most wrong way incidents are caused by drivers who are severely impaired and occur in the left-hand lane for vehicles traveling in the correct direction. “Seeing someone driving the wrong direction is a scary sight and a clear danger to other road users,” said Office of Traffic Safety Director Barbara Rooney. “Maintaining safe driving behaviors is critical in preventing crashes that have tragic consequences.” The Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology Research Center is part of the UC Davis Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

As Families Gather, COVID-19 Cases Spike Up

By Jondi Gumz

second wave of COVID-19 is pulsing in Santa Cruz County — more than 200 active cases — which Dr. Gail Newel, the county health officer, attributes to families and friends, mostly Latinos in South County, gathering to eat and celebrate together. “I am against family reunions, family gatherings,” Newel said, sharing the advice she gave to her administrative assistant who wanted to fly to a family event in Dallas. Although Newel’s shelter-in-place order expired July 7, allowing playgrounds to reopen countywide, she Dr. Gail Newel pointed to the governor’s guidance: Gatherings of any size are not allowed. Yet people have been gathering locally — for Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, graduations, Father’s Day, memorials and protests. Four gatherings in May led to 60 cases, Newel said. So far, the tracking process indicates family events — not newly reopened workplaces — have spread COVID-19, pushing the overall case count past 500 with a third of those affected being millennials age 18-34. Singing, dancing, laughing, potlucks and sharing utensils used to be entirely acceptable but now “those are high-risk activities” for spreading COVID-19, Newel said. Face coverings keep the wearer from spreading COVID-19 to others, but that

protection disappears once you take off your mask to eat. At one point in June, there were no COVID-19 cases at Dominican Hospital but now 16 patients fill 40 percent of the beds earmarked at Dominican and Watsonville Community Hospital, and three of them are in intensive care. If the current trends continue, Newel expects “a pretty big surge” in hospital cases at the end of July that previously unneeded alternate care sites at Simpkins Family Swim Center in Live Oak and 1440 Multiversity in Scotts Valley may be pressed into service for the first time. As of Wednesday, of the 503 cases, 50 percent were Latinos and 259 were in Watsonville. There were 19,961 negative test results and three deaths, the latest a man in his mid-90s in hospice in mid-June. Newel spoke Tuesday during county Supervisor Zach Friend’s telephone town hall, assessing the current COVID-19 situation and answering questions from his constituents. What makes this new wave of cases challenging is that even though the county has 40 staff to call people with a confirmed diagnosis and find out who they might have exposed so they can be tested, labs locally and statewide are woefully short of a chemical that is essential to run the COVID-19 test. The OptumServe testing site at Ramsay Park in Watsonville, which had been allowing anyone to make an appointment for a test, has had to ration tests. “We don’t have enough for known cases,” Newel said.

Her workaround is to strike a deal with UC Santa Cruz, which has developed a testing process that does not require the chemical used in the OptumServe lab. Another challenge is getting the “contact tracers” trained on the new state CalCONNECT system, which launched May 22 — six weeks ago. “Hopefully we can get that going pretty quickly,” Newel said. Early in the pandemic, Santa Cruz County had some of the lowest case rates in the state but now the case rate has risen to 69 per 100,000, worrisome for Newel. “Our successes are quite precarious,” Friend said. Asked why communities of color are harder hit by COVID-19, Newel cited social factors such as crowded housing, poverty

and working essential jobs where there is more contact with the public. Teachers asked Newel about reopening schools, noting worries about COVID-19 spreading. Newel said she is not open to approving 100 percent remote learning. She favored a mix of classroom and remote learning, citing a recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics and contending transmission is not likely if children in elementary school are in a group of 10 to 15 with the same teacher. She said middle school and high school students could be allowed to change classrooms. “Gathering” page 17

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

Penny Ice Creamery Opens in Aptos

By Jondi Gumz

he Penny Ice Creamery, launched in 2010 in Santa Cruz by Zach Davis and Kendra Baker, has opened in Aptos Village. The first day was June 29. Because of social distancing rules to slow the spread of the contagious coronavirus COVID-19, The Penny Ice Creamery offers a takeout window rather than sitdown seating. “This store is really cute,” said Miriam Weybright, 18, who has worked at The Penny Ice Creamery for two-and-half years and previously worked at the Pleasure Point location. She said one of the most popular flavors is Verve coffee, with caramel another favorite along with fruit from local farms such as strawberries and blackberries. The Penny Ice Creamery founders specialize in artisan ice cream with treats made in-house daily from scratch. Baker, a chef by training, creates recipes using only organic dairy, eggs and

sugar and taking advantage of seasonal fruit and herbs. Hours in Aptos are noon to 9 p.m. every day. “Long term we hope to stay open later as dining out and nightlife return,” said Davis. He and Baker are the masterminds behind The Picnic Basket and Snap Taco, both in Santa Cruz, and all of their locations are part of their Glass Jar restaurant group. Asked about the impact of COVID-19, Davis said, “We have 11 employees working at the Aptos Village location and we’re back up to about 75 company wide.” He added, “Overall business is very slow for this time of year but things are stable … all our business locations are open. We’ve been doing ‘window service’ only since reopening in March and we feel this strikes a balance between safety and service. Given that indoor restaurant dining has been paused again statewide I’m thankful we won’t need to adjust operations.” n

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Miriam Weybright, 18, is ready to help customers at Penny Ice Creamery, which opened June 29 in Aptos Village around the corner from New Leaf Community Market.

COVID-19 Affects Judge Race

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By Jondi Gumz

n July 1, Annrae Angel, a criminal defense attorney who was the first to announce her bid for Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge and finished second in the March primary, told her supporters on Facebook, “After much reflection, I have decided to discontinue my campaign.” She had earned the support of the third place finisher, defense attorney Jack Gordon, and was poised to Annrae Angel compete with County Counsel Nancy de la Pena, who finished first in the primary, in the Nov. 3 general election. Immediately after the primary, “the world turned upside down,” Angel wrote, citing the coronavirus pandemic and shelterin-place orders, with coronavirus surges in prisons and jails putting pressure on the county’s understaffed court system. “Having succeeded at my original goal of displacing the unqualified incumbent, I have now decided that is time to unite the community and end my electoral campaign,” she added, referring Ariadne Symons, who stepped down as judge after being disciplined for violating judicial ethics. Angel wrote that she will work actively

with de la Pena “to ensure that the Santa Cruz community benefits from the ethical, equitable and compassionate judiciary we deserve.” However, voters will see her name on the November ballot. Santa Cruz County Election Manager Gail Pellerin explained why: “You can’t withdraw — she’s suspending her campaign.” Only if you die or if you got a federal or state job, would your name would dropped from the ballot, according to Pellerin. Pellerin said she asked Angel if she got the most votes, would she accept the judgeship and Angel’s answer was “Absolutely.” Requirements for six-foot social distancing to slow the spread of the contagious coronavirus COVID-19 are likely to affect other campaigns this year. Health officials advise against food buffets and self-serve beverages, staples of campaign rallies, because those activities are believed to spread COVID-19. The Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee plans to use the online platform Zoom for its endorsements this election cycle to avoid gathering, another way COVID-19 can spread via respiratory spittle that comes out when people are in extended conversations with one another. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Celebrating Thirty Years of Service C ongratulations to Firefighter Steve Vratny, who was presented with his 30-year service pin by Fire Chief Aaron Lowe at the Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District Board of Directors meeting on July 9. The fire district posted the following on Facebook: Steve is incredibly dedicated to his calling, going above and beyond in serving both his community and the surrounding areas. Most recently, he spearheaded the Healthcare Heroes event, a multi-agency

Most recently, [Firefighter Steve Vratny] spearheaded the Healthcare Heroes event, a multi-agency effort to give thanks to healthcare workers across the county.

effort to give thanks to healthcare workers across the county. He also coordinated the 911 Memorial Stair Climb Event at Seacliff State Beach, which raised funds for families of fallen firefighters.

Aptos La Selva firefighter Steve Vratny (right) with Chief Aaron Lowe.

“Gathering” from page 15 “Our children deserve some normal childhood development,” she said, noting her view assumes no major COVID development. “I hope districts will work with me to develop a hybrid model.” Santa Cruz County has 13 school districts, each one determining their own calendar, traditions and programs, plus the county Office of Education, which operates many alternative schools and provides education to children with special needs. Newel said her only sway is that she can approve or disapprove medically fragile children from classroom learning. Responding to a question, Newel said if someone at a school is diagnosed as

positive, the school must be able to isolate that individual and then quarantine others that may have been exposed. Friend noted that neither Finland nor Denmark had cluster outbreaks after reopening schools. Asked if it would be OK for a group of 60 seniors to meet for lunch, Newel said a seniors’ lunch would not be safe “until we have a vaccine.” Asked when a vaccine might be available, Newel said it may be as early as a year but not sooner. She said three vaccines are in Phase 3 clinical trials to assess their effectiveness on human volunteers. n ••• More info is at https://www.coronavirus preventionnetwork.org

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

Community Foundation Scholarship Winners By Jenny Kurzweil

hile the graduating class of 2020 was celebrating via virtual ceremonies and socially distant car parades, the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County honored the achievements of 25 remarkable students with scholarships established by generous and forwardthinking donors. “Our scholarship donors never would have predicted a global pandemic or it’s terrible economic ramifications. Yet, in the midst of these extraordinarily challenging times, the gift of supporting education for the next generation is even more important,” said Foundation CEO Susan True. “As we celebrate the scholastic excellence of our award recipients, we also honor the power of these donors and their foresight to create

endowed funds to enable scholarships in this pandemic — and forever.” Here is a complete list of Community Foundation scholarship winners: ••• BARBARA J. THOMPSON SCHOLARSHIP Noely Escalante-Lopez, Soquel High Lane Ilstrup, Cypress Charter High Phoenyx Nist-Ferrare, Cypress Charter High Reyna Ponce, Pajaro Valley High BOB AND BETSY DARROW SCHOLARSHIP Jalie Edgemon, San Lorenzo Valley High Chloe Palmer, San Lorenzo Valley High

Isabelle Triulzi, San Lorenzo Valley High LILLIAN BURTON SCHOLARSHIP Bethany Lopez Rojas, Soquel High Isaac Wallace-Menge, SLV High EMMETT AND ELSIE GEISER SCHOLARSHIP Colby Gonzalez, Aptos High Omar Salazar, Pajaro Valley High Jacob Sandler, Aptos High ERNEST COWELL SCHOLARSHIP Ella Borsodi, Harbor High HANK GARCIA JR. AND FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP Jared Kiser, Aptos High Luz Lopez-Reyes, Watsonville High Brianna Melgoza-Ortiz, Pajaro Valley High Adam Tangonan, Pajaro Valley High Vianey Villanueva-Vega, Watsonville High

JACK DEBORD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP RJ Kindred, San Lorenzo Valley High JOHN L. TURNER SCHOLARSHIP Ulises Lobato, Pajaro Valley High JUDY ANTON WOMAN OF VALOR / LUPITA LOVES TO READ PROJECT SCHOLARSHIP Lucia Meza, Harbor High LOUIS J. AND MARY ELLEN SCHULTZ SCHOLARSHIP Kieran Kahoano, Santa Cruz High Morgan Ohana, Santa Cruz High R.H. BEEL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Makai Norman, Santa Cruz High SIMUNOVICH FAMILY AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIP Belen Vargas Abarca, Watsonville High

Love for America on Fourth of July

ptos resident Kris Kirby organized a Love for America walk on Fourth of July, and about 40 friends and neighbors joined her walking

the Aptos parade route on Soquel Drive, wearing red, white and blue and waving the American flag. “Plain and simple. Community

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members who love our country. Lots of honks from cars,” said Kirby, who called the Sheriff‘s Office beforehand and reported no problems arose. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Mt Madonna Adds Outdoor Classrooms

By Ann Goewert, Head of School

We are living in a historic moment in here is something magical about learning outdoors, and Mount time, and Mount Madonna is committed Madonna School’s 375 acres of land to making a return to in-person, five-daysincludes groves of coastal redwoods and per-week school as safe as possible for live oaks, mountain meadows, chaparral, students, faculty and staff. Likewise, we are determined to ensure that students and ponds. The ecological tapestry of biomes, thrive in our program, work daily on pracrich with diverse life forms, provides an ticing mindfulness, and develop grit and unmatched outdoor laboratory for our resiliency. Outdoor Learning educators to engage students in a broad variety of learning experiences and opporMS has offered outdoor learning tunities, from the art of crafting stories to for decades. At present, we are scientific inquiry and experimentation. expanding the opportunities for outdoor Immersing students in nature and learning by creating a variety of spaces outdoor learning develops the whole equipped with the comforts found in student. Outdoor learning fuels the mind indoor classroom settings. and ignites all of the senses. Through Under the Big Oak Tree exploration and discovery, students natuhis space provides ample room for sturally problem solve and build confidence. dents to physical distance, with flexible The sights, sounds, and evidence of life seating options. Using some recently stimulates curiosity and creativity in stu- felled redwoods, we have milled stumps dents, and these firsthand experiences for seating. Extra desks and chairs will be strengthen students’ connections and their ordered for students who prefer to sit at a sense of responsibility to be good stewards desk and chair. Student-supplied, personal of Earth. camp-style chairs could also be an option Meaningful educational experiences for students who prefer to bring their own encourage students to solve complex seating. problems, think critically about nuanced Existing Outdoor Classroom problems, and communicate ideas effeche existing upper campus outdoor tively. Many of us read Shakespeare’s classroom has been a favorite of students Hamlet sitting in rows in a classroom. for years. In this learning environment, Now, imagine reading Hamlet in a shady many students choose to sit on one of the redwood grove surrounded by the sights tree limbs as teachers lead class discussion and sounds of the outdoors. or supervise quiet reflection. Others choose This type of learning experience to sit on the wooden benches, or prop themcaptures the imagination of students, selves against a nearby tree trunk. encourages discussions geared to critical Semi-permanent analysis of the text, and facilitates the creur weatherproof outdoor classrooms ative expression of ideas. will be equipped with Wi-Fi, waterMMS is investing in quality education proof covering, traditional desks and to strengthen the mind, body, and hearts chairs, whiteboards, and data projectors. of our students. While many schools are For inclement weather, we have the ability grappling with space limitations, our to provide shelter by adding walls and school community is blessed by small class space heaters. sizes and generous outdoor acreage. We have dedicated indoor classrooms for each grade, and currently, we are designing and building seven additional outdoor classrooms as well as an outdoor amphitheater. Educators and students will have choice and flexibility in where they learn. Like indoor classrooms, our outdoor classrooms will be furnished and equipped with shade structures, whiteboards, Wi-Fi technology and data projectors. Physical distancing is possible when learning under the big oak tree.

A semi-permanent outdoor classroom will be equipped with Wi-Fi and data projectors. Amphitheater Progress ork is happening every day on the mountain. This week, wall blocks are being installed in the amphitheater to create seating for our enthusiastic

performing arts supporters. This space will also serve as an outdoor classroom. n ••• To view the amphitheater construction go to https://youtu.be/D5JFYWMBOyM

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

PV Pushes COVID-19 Prevention in Latinx Community

By Jenny Kurzweil

cross the nation, data shows that COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting Black and Latino communities at drastically higher rates. According to a New York Times report, Black and Latino are three times as likely to become infected and nearly twice as likely to die from the virus as white people. Unfortunately, this story is no different in Santa Cruz County where Latinos make up 33% of the population and yet make up 50% of the known cases; 49% of all cases are in Watsonville, which has a Latino population of 84%. In addition to the public safety messaging created by the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency and SAVE Lives Santa Cruz County, the Community Foundation has provided funding for a coalition of civic and grassroots leaders from across the Pajaro Valley to start a communications task force to create targeted, culturally relevant messaging that focuses on harm reduction and prevention.

A 4th of July message in Spanish shows everyone in the family wearing a mask to prevent the spread of the contagious coronavirus COVID-19.

“Unfortunately, we’re seeing COVID-19 disproportionately affect communities of color,” said Community Foundation CEO Susan True. “This illness thrives in multigenerational family households, cramped housing, and enclosed work spaces — where many Latinx community members are located. Prevention messages will be most effective when they come from the strength and deep cultural knowledge of the community. ” The Community Foundation has granted Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance $20,000 and DigitalNEST $10,000 out of the COVID-19 Response Fund to support this communications work. “The Pajaro Valley is rich in diversity and talented people. Responding to the disproportionate number of COVID cases in our region, leaders from various organizations came together to collectively expand culturally and linguistically relevant health education for the community. This has been a true collective effort rooted in the belief that we can all work together to save lives,” said Erica PadillaChavez, CEO of Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance. “Watsonville is a young community and we need to ensure that our youth are getting messages that resonate with them so they hear the importance of staying safe. High school and collegeaged youth from the Digital NEST are using their technical, communications, and media skills to lead a campaign to better inform their peers of ways to protect their community from Erica Padilla-Chavez

Father’s Day messages in Pajaro Valley in English and Spanish offer alternatives to a big family get-together on the holiday to keep Dad safe. COVID,” said Jacob Martinez, Digital NEST executive director. The first spike in cases in Santa Cruz County came after Mother’s Day and data continues to indicate that the majority of cases are most often developing in multi-generational and inter-household gatherings. Accordingly, messaging from the Pajaro Valley coalition has centered around major events and holidays--graduation, Father’s Day, and Fourth of July. Dr. Marm Kilpatrick, an infectious disease specialist at UC Santa Cruz serves as a scientific advisor to the Pajaro Valley communications task force in addition to the Economic Recovery Council, a group of nonprofit and business leaders working with the County of Santa Cruz to facilitate a safe, phased and enduring reopening of the local economy. Dr. Jacob Martinez Kilpatrick has empha-

sized four key elements to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 Transmission: 1. Brief (keep interactions under 5 minutes) 2. Protected (wear a mask) 3. Spatially distant (at least 6’ apart) 4. Well ventilated (outside is best) The funding to the task force is part of the nearly $2 million in relief granted by the Community Foundation through the COVID-19 Response Fund. 100% of gifts from individuals to the Response Fund go directly to the community. The Foundation prioritizes grants to those hit hardest by the pandemic: undocumented families, low-wage essential workers, seniors, and people with severe illness. Rental assistance and food continue to be the greatest needs. n ••• Learn more about the Foundation’s grants at work: https://www.cfscc.org/updates/ covid-19-grants Give to the COVID-19 Response Fund: https://www.cfscc.org/donate

Free Screening of ‘Motherload’ July 29 Features Talk by Director

oin Ecology Action for a virtual film screening of “Motherload” in celebration of Bike Month, followed by a live panel discussion and Q&A with film director and local leaders and bike luminaries at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29. “Motherload” is an award-winning crowdsourced docu-

mentary about a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of the digital age, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote. Director Liz Canning cycled everywhere until she had twins in 2008. Hauling babies via car was not only unsustainable but took the freedom and adventure out of life, and Liz felt trapped. She Googled “family bike” and uncovered a global movement of people replacing cars with cargo bikes. Liz set

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out to learn more, and “Motherload” was born. Liz and dozens of other moms and cargo bike enthusiasts explore how bikes can build happier, healthier humans, families and communities. To attend the live panel and Q&A, and view the film for free , register via Ecology Action’s Bike Month homepage. Fortyeight hours prior to the panel, participants will be sent a link to view the film. n Register for film access here: Ecoact.org/ bikemonth

COMMUNITY COLOR

Natasha Loudermilk’s Sleepy Art N atasha Loudermilk of Aptos enjoys taking photos of her garden, along with other forms of artistic endeavors. Using her makeshift microlens, she takes unique photos that show the hidden world of the very small.

The collections shown here are some images taken during the last few months of our Shelter in Place. Natasha also sells her photos, paintings and other art at Society6.com at her page, SleepySlappy. Purchases are

free to be used in a variety of ways, from a simple framed image to a unique look for face masks, phone cases, travel mugs, or anything you can transfer the image to. Visit society6.com/sleepyslappy to see all her unique art. n

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

Bullseye Archery Bounces Back L By Jondi Gumz

arry Spittler, co-owner of Bullseye Archery & Range in Scotts Valley, closed for two months, complying with the county health officer’s order to slow the spread of the contagious coronavirus COVID-19. He reopened in May, and Aptos resident Erick Sturm, who was in need of equipment, is glad he did. “These guys have everything,” said Sturm, who is first vice president of Santa Cruz Archers, a countywide nonprofit organization with more than 100 members. Without Bullseye Archery, Sturm and his fellow archers would have to trek over the hill, which would eat up a half a day, or take a chance with an online purchase. “This keeps it local,” Sturm said. Sturm came by Saturday with his son

Zane, 13, who has improved his accuracy with practice. Members of the Archers practice at a range with 28 targets at DeLaveaga Golf Course in Santa Cruz -- “truly a hidden gem,” Sturm said. Archers follow the same COVID-19 safety protocols as golfers. For example, four in a group “quarantine” together for their shooting. “It’s a great activity,” Sturm said. Bullseye Archery & Range is the only archery store in Santa Cruz County. Spittler, 79, said that’s why he opened up five years ago. He enjoyed archery himself and he noticed the retail shops were far away -Gilroy, Salinas, Livermore, San Francisco, Berkeley. He grew up in Kansas, took archery

lessons in Golden Gate Park after he and his mother moved to San Francisco, and competed in archery tournaments as a high school student. He had a cabinet shop and worked at a hotel to make a living, but when he hurt his back, he wanted a change. He could see most retail would not have a future, but he thought archery would be different because of the services customers need, like tuning their bow. His friend, Jeanne Burke, an archer who’s competed in national competitions, is co-owner. Gabrielle Garrett, a friend who has been competing in local and state competitions since 2011, is store manager, buyer and a USA-Archery certified instructor. She said sales were very good before the closure, with customers coming from Saratoga and San Jose as well as Santa Cruz County, and she kept losses to $20,000 in April and May by setting appointments with customers. “I could not thank her enough,” Spittler said. “She’s been wonderful.” Karen Williams, a competitive archer, is an instructor and technician at the shop. Archery is about 80 percent male but Spittler said, “It doesn’t have to be that way.” That’s because “we have bows (women) can shoot,” he said. Burglary n March 19, shortly after Bullseye Archery closed to comply with the health officer’s order, Spittler lost $4,500 worth of equipment in a break-in. “That was horrible,” said Scotts Valley Police Sgt. John Wilson. “Someone’s trying to take advantage of them.” He said video footage showed two people entered the shop and a third was the getaway driver. Another store burglarized during the pandemic was Leo’s USave Liquor. Video

Larry Spitttler takes aim at the range at Bullseye Archery in Scotts Valley.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Erick Sturm and his son Zane of Aptos are regulars at Bullseye Archery in Scotts Valley footage shows several people breaking the front door at 2:39 a.m. March 29 and coming out with the ATM, pushing it into the back seat of a vehicle, and carrying out a box of cigarettes in less than a minute. Wilson said there’s been a decline in residential burglaries with people staying at home due to the shelter in place order and a corresponding uptick in commercial burglaries. Wilson said the police response time is under three minutes, but that’s not fast enough to catch these “smash and grab” burglars. He recommends deadbolts and alarms to deter burglars and asks anyone with information about these burglaries to call police at 831-440-5670. He said catching a burglar means getting a fingerprint or DNA, a video in which the perpetrator is recognizable, or a prompt call from a citizen with a good description of the vehicle and the suspects and a license plate number. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Spittler is not ready to retire from Bullseye Archery. He said he plans to keep it five more years. n

Santa Cruz Metro Gets $20.6 Million Federal Grant

n July 9, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration announced a $20.6 million grant to the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed by President Trump on March 27. Metro will use the grant to support transit operations in Santa Cruz County

during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Metro grant comes out of $25 billion earmarked to ensure public transportation systems can continue to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic. “These federal funds will support operating assistance to transit agencies of all

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sizes providing essential travel and supporting transit workers across the country who are unable to work because of the public health emergency,” said K. Jane Williams, acting administrator of the Federal Transit Administration The Federal Transit Administration issued a Safety Advisory that prompts

transit agencies to develop and implement policies and procedures regarding face coverings and Personal Protective Equipment, cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, physical separation, and hand hygiene consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidance. CARES Act funding can be used to cover 100 percent of these costs.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Paycheck Protection Program Extended

By Jondi Gumz

mall businesses have more time to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan — until Aug. 8 — since President Trump on July 4 signed into law the new deadline. Small Business owners must apply through a participating lender. Participating local lenders include: Bay Federal Credit Union, Santa Cruz Community Credit Union and Santa Cruz County Bank. The interest rate is 1 percent. The term for the new loans is five years.

The loan is forgivable when the 60 percent of the money is used for payroll. Other eligible expenses are mortgage interest, rent and utilities. Faith-based organizations, 501c3 nonprofits and ag producers are eligible if they employ fewer than 500 people.

Borrowers must certify that economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations. About $130 billion remains of the $310 billion allocated in the second round to help business cope with the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The

second round was allocated after the first round, $349 billion, was scooped up in two weeks. The U.S. Small Business Administration, which administers the loan program, has posted detailed FAQs at https://www.sba.gov/document/ support-faq-lenders-borrowers On July 6, the U.S. Small Business Administration, after a lawsuit by the Associated Press and others, released data regarding the 4.9 million loans made under the Paycheck Protection Program. n

Cabrillo Reports Victory In Bid to Keep International Students

By Jondi Gumz

n July 14, the Trump Administration agreed to rescind a temporary rule announced on July 6 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement barring international students taking all their coursework online from staying in the U.S. “This is very good news,” said U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) who led 136 of his colleagues in pressuring the administration to rescind this decision, which he called “harsh and heedless” and a “senseless decision by this administration.” He added, “We, in Congress and in our communities, must continue to fight for our immigrant community members, including international students, so that they can continue to contribute to the ideals and values of our diverse and dynamic country.” Cabrillo College responded in two ways to the Administration’s international student guidelines. The college reassured international students that they can continue their program of study if they have appropriate hybrid enrollments under the new Department of Homeland Security/ICE rule, and joined legal actions to seek an injunction preventing enforcement of the new rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cabrillo had 126 international students enrolled in spring 2020, when COVID-19 closed the campus and forced classes to be offered online. International student enrollment peaked down in spring 2009 at 368. International students and colleges throughout the country were relying on ICE waivers set in place in March during the spring term allowing full online enrollment to continue into the fall semester.

The sudden change in policy came in the midst of the escalating pandemic forcing colleges and universities and would have forced them to re-tool their approach just weeks before the start of the term. Cabrillo had joined two friend of the court briefs in two separate lawsuits seeking to overturn the policy. Cabrillo was part of a coalition of colleges and universities filing arguments in Harvard and MIT v. Department of Homeland Security that was argued

successfully Tuesday in a Boston federal court. The attorney representing Harvard, MIT and Cabrillo email Cabrillo president Matthew Wetstein to say the Department of Homeland Security agreed the July 6 directive was not enforceable. “This is a major victory,” the attorney wrote. The Boston Glob, which covered Tuesday’s court hearing, reported that ICE did not provide a comment and US Attorney

Andrew Lelling, who represented the federal government in the case, declined to comment. Cabrillo also participated in a filing with other California community colleges in a case being brought by the Attorney General of California v. Department of Homeland Security. In each case, Cabrillo’s participation was part of a pro bono effort — at no cost — undertaken by law firms in New York and San Francisco. n

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Planners To Vote on Housing Proposals O n July 22, the Santa Cruz County Planning Commission will consider proposals to allow the historic Bayview Hotel, the old Arabian Motel, the Adobe Hacienda and six other properties in the county to be converted to housing. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. with commissioners attending remotely due to COVID-19. Public comment will be taken via email. One at a time, the nine properties will be considered for the newly created “Permanent Room Housing Combining Zone District,” a mechanism to allow residential use at visitor accommodations, assisted living facilities and convalescent homes where the zoning does not allow residential use. The addresses are: • Bayview Hotel, 8041 Soquel Drive, Aptos, a three-story building built in 1878 • Arabian Motel, 10110 Soquel Drive, Aptos, by Sid’s Smokehouse.

A historical look at the Bayview Hotel

• 222 Santa Cruz Ave., Aptos, Adobe Hacienda apartments. • 165 East St., Aptos. • 14630 Two Bar Road, Boulder Creek.

• 14650 Two Bar Road, Boulder Creek. • 13320 Highway 9, Boulder Creek. • 4700 Highway 9, Felton. The dearth of affordable housing

prompted the proposal, with the idea that these rooms would be affordable due to their small size. In some cases, people have been living at these locations in violation of zoning rules so the change could provide a way to legally allow housing and maintain the properties. The change has been in the works for two years. Supervisors wanted these rooms to be available to people with low or moderate income, with preference to existing tenants. They also wanted periodic inspections. Properties in the coastal zone where visitors stay will not be allowed to be converted to residential use, and the Coastal Commission said it must be shown that a visitor accommodation is obsolete or economically unfeasible before a change to residential would be allowed. The new housing zone recognizes existing uses, so it is exempt from CEQA review. n

Sunday on KSQD: Finding Common Ground

lifelong Democrat and a lifelong Republican will talk about building trust and finding common ground, as guests on Jill Cody’s “Be Bold America” radio program beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 19, on KSQD 90.7 FM. The program will live-stream online on ksqd.org Her guests will be Kristen Collishaw, who chairs the Santa Cruz County Republican Party, and Andrew Hanauer, president and CEO of the “One America Movement,” an organization founded by faith and community leaders to address divisiveness in American society. Hanauer will explain the neuroscience behind why Americans are divided and moderate the discussion.

“Are we destroying ourselves?” Cody asks. “Our democratic republic is not sustainable when one American is demonized against another. There are powerful political, reliAndrew Hanauer gious, corporate, and ideological forces that increase their money and power from the conflict, and it is not the average citizen. “This show will be the first of several discussions between a lifelong Republican and a lifelong Democrat who share at least one paramount viewpoint, which is that

our democracy will not survive if we don’t stop tearing ourselves apart from the inside out. We are embroiled in multiple crises that demand all of us, no Kristin Collishaw matter what political party, to solve. Our goal is to model how two people, with different points of view, might be able to bridge the political divide to reimagine unity.” Collishaw has lived in Santa Cruz County for 18 years where she and her husband raised three children. She was

brought up in a household where politics and local issues were often discussed, and differing opinions encouraged and respected. Knowing that understanding both sides of an issue were important for a successful country, kept the conversations lively and interesting. A strong belief in America and all the opportunities that are part of this country have led her to be a lifelong conservative. Under Hanauer’s leadership, One America has launched projects that bring Americans together across religious, racial, and political divides to address race relations, opioids, poverty and homelessness through One America chapters across the country. n

Second Harvest Food Bank Continues Food Drives

econd Harvest Food Bank continues to host drive through community food distributions in the county, alternating between the Santa Cruz County Fair Grounds in Watsonville and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz. On Friday, July 17, the distribution will be at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

at the long parking lot parallel to the San Lorenzo River. Residents of Santa Cruz County can come and receive a bag of pantry items and a bag of produce along with additional foods as available. This is plenty of food for a family. Each family receiving food must have a representative present, with appropriate identifying materials.

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If you live in or near the Beach Flats community, you can walk through. Be prepared to carry up to 50lbs of food. Dogs and other pets should stay home. The schedule is: July 17: SANTA CRUZ: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk July 24: WATSONVILLE: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds July 31: SANTA CRUZ: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Aug. 7: WATSONVILLE: County Fairgrounds Aug. 14: SANTA CRUZ: Beach Boardwalk Aug. 21: WATSONVILLE; County Fairgrounds Aug. 28: SANTA CRUZ: Beach Boardwalk n ••• For information call (831) visit thefoodbank.org.

Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Santa Cruz 662-0991 or

COMMUNITY NEWS

PV Schools to Reopen with Distance Learning Editor’s Note: The Pajaro Valley Unified School District released this announcement at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. ••• n accordance with current health guidelines, Pajaro Valley Unified School District will begin the 2020-21 school year with distance learning for all transitional kindergarten-12 grade students on Aug. 17. COVID-19 data indicates increasing infection rates, making it clear that the pandemic is not yet under control and returning to class is not safe. “PVUSD’s contingency plan for reopening schools, created in collaboration with classified and certificated staff and administration, is intentionally and thoughtfully designed to provide flexibility and therefore allows us to fully shift and open with a TK-12 Distance Learning model in this moment. The contingency plan also allows us to return to a hybrid or in-person learning model after the first semester and as soon as public health conditions allow. Distance Learning is the right thing to do to ensure the continued safety of our students, staff and community,” stated Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent of Schools. In the past four months since the pandemic forced school closures, PVUSD, along with Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers and California School Employees Association, supported our students in the most efficient ways possible: The Food and Nutrition Services

Department provided over 1,000,000 meals for our students; All students grades 2 through 12 have access to a Chromebook; We acquired 4,000 hotspots to ensure all have access to digital learning; And the district provided access to academic and social emotional support services. PVFT presented to the District and invited CSEA to advocate for adequate education funding and developed an advocacy kit that was shared with staff and families. In the weeks ahead, PVUSD will prepare to provide high quality and improved Distance Learning instruction, including daily live instruction. Expanded training will be provided to staff to meet the needs of students. Additionally, we will have training for students so they can maximize online learning. PVUSD will also offer increased resources for parents to support their children while distance learning, including video tutorials. All of our students will continue to receive free meals. PVFT President Nelly Vaquera-Boggs advocated for this shift alongside Superintendent Rodriguez, saying, “Securing the safety of our staff and students is critical and has always been our top priority. Given the current health conditions, Distance Learning is the right option. We know that this will be a challenge for everyone going forward but teachers always rise to the occasion. I have no doubt our teachers will exceed all the added requirements from the State.”

Sutter Health Antitrust Settlement Back in Court

By Jondi Gumz

eaders of Sutter Health, one of the biggest health care systems locally and in the state, wanted a judge to delay a $575 million settlement reached in December over accusations that the company drove up prices via market power and violated state antitrust trust law. The reason: Economic woes from a surge of COVID-19 cases. But San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo scheduled hearings for Aug. 12-13 The settlement would prevent Sutter Health from forcing insurers to include all

instead of its facilities in insurance policies, a practice that tends to raise prices. At the time of the settlement, Sutter Health was expected to face $2.7 billion in damages, according to Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who filed the case against Sutter Health. Becerra applauded the judge’s action. “Sutter” page 30

Classified staff, especially site-based, will continue to provide the support our students need remotely. “CSEA staff plays a significant role in student education and Distance Learning. Classroom support staff will participate in training to ensure students’ uninterrupted learning,” stated Leticia Oropeza, CSEA president. PVUSD is proud of the work students, parents, staff and administration has done to ensure that our students continue their education through this unique time. PVUSD will take this to the Board of Trustees at a special meeting on July

29. Special meetings typically begin at 6 p.m. n To watch the meeting or comment via Google Form go to https://pps-pajaro-ca. schoolloop.com/board_trustees

Dr. Seuss

ACROSS

1. On a cruise, 2 words 6. Horse poker 9. Deadly slitherers 13. Way to curl hair 14. *Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another ____.” 15. Islam’s Supreme Being 16. Subway coin 17. Salve for Tin Woodman 18. Grim Reaper 19. *”A ____’s s Fine-Something-ThatAll-People-Need.” 21. *”Christmas Day will always be, Just as long as we ____ ____.” 23. Structure named for 31st President

24. Indoor allergy trigger 25. Ship pronoun 28. H. H. Munro’s pen name 30. Something or anything 35. Madam, to a cowboy 37. Dr. Jones, to his friends 39. Best not mentioned 40. Not in favor of 41. Myths and legends, e.g. 43. Maître d’s list 44. France’s longest river 46. *”I Can Read ____ My Eyes Shut!” 47. Use a beeper 48. In direct line of descent 50. Italian car maker 52. Equinox mo. 53. Coral barrier 55. Not a friend 57. *”From there to here, From here to there, Funny ____ are everywhere.”

60. *”Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. ____ ____.” 63. Canine foe 64. However, poetically 66. Full 68. Up and about 69. Porridge grain 70. Say something 71. Start of a conclusion 72. Parental involvement org. 73. Popular garden flower

DOWN

1. *”Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing ____.” 2. Turkey dance 3. Punjabi believer 4. Correct 5. Pause in breathing, pl. 6. *”If you never did, you should. These things

are fun and fun is ____.” 7. “Wheel of Fortune” request, 2 words 8. Indian metropolis 9. Sheltered, nautically 10. BBQ side 11. Toupee spot 12. “Zip it!” 15. Countdown to Christmas 20. Inbox item 22. Chowed down 24. Middle of a torso 25. *”A person’s a person, no matter how ____.” 26. Capital of Vietnam 27. Dine at home 29. *”You’re on your own. And you know what you ____.” 31. Pipe smoker’s tool 32. Letter-shaped girder 33. Polynesian kingdom 34. *”Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive

who is ____ than you.” 36. Bog down 38. Sasquatch’s Himalayan cousin 42. Elevator passage 45. Breadwinner 49. Race part 51. 50-50 54. Bar by estoppel 56. Related on mother’s side 57. Baloney 58. Rwanda’s majority 59. a.k.a. The Islamic State 60. Itty-bitty bit 61. ___ von Bismarck 62. Not quite an adult 63. Latissimus dorsi, for short 65. *”It’s a shirt. It’s a sock. It’s a glove. It’s a ____.” 67. Wine quality © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

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

Your July Horoscope Times Publishing Group, Inc. Leo (July 23-Aug. 23)

Independence Day is a time for thinking of right now, not what’s coming next. This is a time when endings are inevitable, and there’s no telling where you’ll be a month from now. It’s best to accept the things you can’t change and hold steady despite your desire to move ahead. You’re feeling the need to make sure your loved ones feel safe and protected mid-month. Your strong urge to nurture and care for others makes you an excellent parent and/or friend. You’re happy to let your true personality shine through at the end of the month. Your warmth and friendliness are two of your better qualities, and you make almost everyone you come into contact with feel loved and appreciated.

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sep. 22)

You are feeling reserved as the month begins, but you still feel the intensity and pressure that come with looking toward the future. There might not be a lot you can do to change things in the long term, but thinking about it helps. Mid-month brings sudden awareness to a part of your past that’s been keeping you from moving on. Forgiving others is a part of this, but forgiving yourself might actually be more important. Everything looks good from where you’re sitting at the end of July, but everything isn’t always as it seems. You know that old saying “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is”? Yup, that’s this energy.

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 23)

The month begins with the desire to run before you’re ready to walk. Take some time to rethink the past month and plan for where you’d like to go. The intensity you feel mid-July is unavoidable, especially if you’ve been dealing with a past hurt. Inner reflection takes you to some very uncomfortable places, but it’s needed to find the conclusions you’re seeking. Looking to other people will be difficult. Your friendliness and outgoing attitude late in the month could leave you susceptible to embarrassment and ridicule. Even though you know there are consequences that come from being an open book, you can’t imagine being any other way now.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

You might not feel very celebratory early in July. When your mind is on the future, it’s hard to live in the moment. But there isn’t a lot you can do right now to change things. Communication is easier mid-month, making it easier for you to figure out went wrong the last few weeks and maybe how you can fix it. Apologies aren’t the easiest thing, but they help. You might be in the spotlight late in the month, but now isn’t the time to retreat. This a good time to show the world your hidden talents, even if it makes you uncomfortable. You deserve all the applause you get.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

You are anxious to get things started early in the month. The problem is that it’s a much better time to finish what you’ve already started. Try to be patient a little while longer. Mid-month brings the green light you’ve been looking for on new projects and relationships. That patience is about to pay off! Family matters should be your top priority. Being overly confident and/or optimistic as July comes to a close isn’t a good idea, because someone or something is just waiting in the wings to tear you down. Balance is the key to riding out this energy. When you use extreme thinking, the potential is high for being way off base.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

You’re the responsible one as the nations birthday approaches. While everyone else is getting a little crazy, you’re worried about the little details and all the things that can go wrong. There’s a valuable lesson here, somewhere. Mid-July gives you a chance to forgive yourself or someone else for the hurt you’ve been feeling for the past months (or maybe even years). Everyone makes mistakes, but dwelling on the past only keeps you from having a happy future. Passion comes back into your life late in the month. If you haven’t been enjoying things because of an endless “what if” scenario playing in your head, it’s time to let the negativity go.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb. 18)

Independence Day is a great time to celebrate some of your recent accomplishments! It also brings a reminder not to get too comfortable, because there’s plenty more for you to over the month. Any negative energy you’ve been feeling seems to just fade away mid-month. The next few weeks have a fun, friendly vibe that allows you to be yourself. You’re questioning some of your recent decisions late in the month. This isn’t a good time to ignore details. Take everything into account when making important life choices now, especially if they’re final.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

You should find making important decisions a bit easier early in the month. The practical energy in the air grounds you and helps you make the decision you’ve been hesitant to make in the past few weeks. That feeling flows through the middle of the month, helping you stand up for yourself regarding an unresolved situation from your past. If you’ve always believed you were at fault, some serious soul searching will help you understand that you’re not the only one to blame. Your dreams and daydreams can be productive late in July if you focus on getting the answer to a question. Signs and symbols from your subconscious are everywhere.

Aries (March 21-April 20)

Sour energy early in the month might dampen your celebrations a bit. As much as you’d love to be living in the moment, your mind is on the future and all you have yet to achieve. A sense of deep awareness and self-contemplation fills you mid-July. You aren’t one to sit alone and reflect on your feelings, but this energy can lead to real healing if you let it. Your world starts to brighten late in the month, bringing passion, creativity, and drama. The coming weeks have a much more playful tone than earlier in the month, so enjoy the spontaneity that comes from this enthusiastic pairing.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

You feel a mellowness early in July, brings an uncertainty that makes it difficult to predict what might happen next. Stick with the basics in order to avoid making life-changing mistakes. A crisis of self-esteem and selfdoubt follow mid-month, which could be caused by something you did, meaning there’s still time to fix it. If you’re being blamed or shamed by someone else, what’s their true motivation? If they’re projecting their feelings onto you, it’s time to walk away. The latter half of the month is filled with big ideas and dramatic scenes. You’re in the mood to be seen, and you might do some pretty out-of-character things to make sure you stay relevant.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

The month begins with an unwelcome shadow on your mood. You want to be out having a good time, but the current world situation is holding you back. The lines of communication between you and someone you’ve recently lost touch with open back up mid-month. Finding the necessary words to patch things up between the two of you is within your grasp. You’re overly optimistic about something that you heard or read at the end of July, and it doesn’t help that the people around you might encourage you to overreact or embellish facts and details. Try not to believe the information you get from a third party until you verify it with the source.

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

Something in the air is killing your festive vibe as the month begins. It’s not that you can’t still have a good time, but the energy now is more about getting serious about the future. You breathe a sigh of relief mid-July as you feel things starting to get back to normal. This is a good time to wipe the slate clean of any negative interactions and start fresh with regard to communication. You have a desire to feel safe and protected late in the month. It’s time to evaluate what’s important to you and figure out how to let down your guard long enough so you can get it.

•••

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

FEATURED COLUMNIST

No Website = No Business

s it looks like we’ll all be living with Covid-19 for the near-term future, your business can’t wait for the virus to magically disappear. Realize that in the last 90 days all people have improved their online skills dramatically, from learning to stream entertainment to holding Zoom “happy hours” with friends, all while also increasing their online ordering and buying. Now more than ever, if you don’t have a website, you don’t have a business. If your website isn’t updated with the most current services you offer or the products you’re selling, you’re losing business. If your website doesn’t have the ability for people to schedule appointments or place online orders, whether for delivery or curbside pickup, then you’re losing even more business. You can’t afford to wait any longer. Times have changed, and hopefully you spent the last three months problemsolving and quickly implementing solutions. You’ve likely heard of many businesses that had to instantly pivot into something they weren’t. Even the simplest cupcake shop that catered kids parties (which got cancelled) quickly implemented a website and app for online ordering, store pickup — and even home delivery! People and families who live together and continue to shelter-in-place still have needs. They’re not self-sufficient. Sure, people are learning to grow their own food, but the literal fruits of their labor likely won’t be for another 30 days – if they planted early! There are a few people leaning how to home-brew their kombucha or craft beer, but that’s not the majority of us. People still have basic clothing, beverage and food needs for themselves, and their pets as well! Please don’t think that people will just phone your business and ask questions. In today’s busy world, people don’t want to waste their time going through phone prompts, or

By Ron Kustek be put on hold listening to scratchy music while a new and likely unknowledgeable employee walks your store to find out a price, or mumbles while looking it up in a system they’re not familiar with. And, you’re spending money on that employee who has to answer the phone to deal with a ‘potential’ customer on the phone, when they may have actual customers frustratingly waiting in line for that call to be over, so they can be on their way and spend less time mask-to-mask with an employee they don’t know, in an environment they aren’t 100% sure is safe! I am all for the personal shopping experience. Humans still need other humans, whether that is to talk to or buy from. But until we get back to not being masked and comfortable anywhere in public, making your website mobilefriendly and e-commerce based will help you satisfy more people right now — who will likely continue to be your returning customer when we are no longer experiencing this pandemic. And think of the added advantage you will have, each of your customers placing online orders which require their email address and purchase history, telling you how to contact them in the future — just another added bonus to finally getting the website for your business that will help you stay in business and grow your business! n ••• Ron Kustek is a business instructor at Cabrillo College. Email: rokustek@cabrillo.edu

COMMUNITY NEWS

Healthcare Heroes N urses, doctors and support staff at Dignity Health Dominican Hospital who are working to keep our community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic got a morale boost July 2, courtesy of the Aptos La Selva Fire Protection District. Firefighter Steve Vratny, a 30-year veteran, organized a multi-agency salute, in which a parade of fire engines with lights and sirens on arrived at the hospital’s emergency department, firefighters formed a wall of honor and began applauding the hospital employees who had stepped outside — some with

cameras in hand — for their work to be acknowledged. “They are risking their own health, as well as their family’s health to keep our community safe ... much like what we do as First Responders,” said Vratny. “That’s why we call them “Healthcare Heroes!” He teamed up with fire departments around the county, the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol. After saluting the Dominican Hospital staff, firefighters drove to Watsonville Community Hospital to acknowledge employees there. n

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Dominican Hospital employees, appropriately masked, get a salute for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. From left, Kirsten Palmquist, RN, Emergency Department Educator, Babs Kingsley, RN, Emergency Services Manager, Lynn Szanto, RN, Care Coordination, and Heidi Brancatelli, LCSW, Social Services.

Begonias Return To Capitola Village Friday, July 17

t 10 a.m. Friday, July 17, volunteers will hang begonia plants in Capitola Village to commemorate the Capitola Begonia Festival. The festival celebrated its 65th and final year in 2017. Continuing the tradition, Laurie Hill and Willard Schwartz raise the tubers at home and place the hanging blossoms at 331 Capitola Ave, Capitola. Michael Lavigne Real Estate Services cares for the plants while they are on display in the Village. Designated as Capitola’s City Flower, tuberous begonias are a part of the community’s horticultural history dating back to the 1930s. The Brown Ranch Family provided begonias to the Begonia Festival. n

Begonias have a long history in Capitola.

Fourth of July Thank You’s! From the Aptos Chamber of Commerce

ongratulations to Allen Property Group, the winner of our Red, White and Blue Business Decorating Contest! Although we were not able to hold our usual 4th of July festivities, we still were able to decorate the town Red , White and Blue, Thank you to all the business who participated and helped keep the spirit of the 4th of July alive! A Huge Thank You! Thank you to our Sponsors! This year has been tough for all of us and we are extremely grateful to have a community that is so supportive. Thank you to all our sponsors who even in times of hardship showed their support. We are Aptos Strong! Thank you to everyone who pur-

chased a 4th of July t-shirt and/or patriotic mask. Your support means the world to us.

Thank you to Deluxe Foods and Aptos Feed for helping sell our 2020 4th of July t-shirts.

Thank you Maureen Perkinson for making our wonderful masks! n

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

COMMUNITY CALENDAR science education through the art of interactive storytelling. We are a passionate, enthusiastic team of teaching artists located all over the country. Now with Saturday July 18 online programming options, we have even more ways LIBRARIES SUMMER READING PERFORMANCES to experience the excitement of science and stories, WITH MAGICAL MOONSHINE THEATER together. Tuesday July 21 11 a.m.; 3 p.m., Santa Cruz Public Libraries Online Register for the 12 p.m. show: https://santacruzpl. MONARCH SERVICES: HOW TO PREVENT VIOLENCE Magical Moonshine Theater are master storytellers who libcal.com/event/6781102 or the 3 p.m. show: 1 p.m., Monarch Services Online engage young audiences with their amazing puppetry https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/6781103. and masquerade. They will perform two different shows Monarch Services will offer a free webinar at about the This program is part of our Summer Reading Program, Imagine prevention services Monarch provides to the community. for us in celebration of Summer Reading here in Santa Your Story. Register at santacruzpl.org/srp The nonprofit offers violence prevention resources Cruz. Performances are via Zoom and registration is Thursday July 23 and presentations to schools, workplaces and other required to get the Zoom link. SCPL SUMMER READING PROGRAM PRESENTS: Both performances are on Saturday July 18, so catch communities. To register go to https://tinyurl.com/monarch-services-event LOOK UP TO THE STARS! them both! Start at 11 a.m. with The Three Little Pigs, 7 p.m., Santa Cruz Public Libraries Online then tune in at 3 p.m. for Puppylocks and the Three Look Up to the Stars Astronomy Programs deliver some Bears. Wednesday July 22 of the most awe inspiring astronomy presentations that In the 3 Little Pigs, 3 pigs set out to seek their fortunes often have record-breaking attendance. Astronomy talks with a bit of house building. Things don’t go as planned LIBRARIES BRING SCIENCE AND STORYTELLING TOGETHER THIS SUMMER are given by an award-winning expert with people of all in this creative retelling of the traditional story; houses 12 p.m.; 3 p.m., Santa Cruz Public Libraries Online ages kept at the edge of their seat the collapse, pigs and wolves play together and audience Science and stories, together! Join us for a virtual entire time. Remote virtual visitations members help the story along with lots of live music, from the Star Tour remove the limits on singing, construction and laughter. Presented with tradi- showing of a ScienceTellers program called “Dragons: Return of the Ice Sorceress.” Watch a fun, fantasy providing a memorable experience for tional Bohemian style marionettes on a tabletop stage. adventure and along the way you’ll discover just how all of us. Puppylocks asks us to imagine, WHAT IF? What if ‘cool’ matter can be! Throughout the showing, the host Though live telescope viewing is not the Three Bears were really Teddy Bears! And What will answer questions, conduct polls/quizzes, and even available, video recordings of the Moon if Goldilocks was not a little girl at all, but a golden, teach a science experiment you can do at home. and Planets through the telescope at the mischievous little dog? That is exactly the case is this very funny retelling of the traditional fairytale. Watch this The event will be hosted LIVE through Zoom. No Zoom conclusion of each program make it just impish little dog do everything wrong in the Bear’s house account is required to watch, but registration is required. as exciting, if not better. Our awesome You have 2 chances to catch this interactive performance virtual astronomy programs make while the bears are off to the TEDDYBEAR CIRCUS! learning about the universe a satisfying Puppylocks is presented with traditional Bohemian style on June 22nd. Science Tellers Interactive Science & Storytelling Program. and incredible experience. marionettes on a tabletop stage. Since 2004, ScienceTellers has been providing Join us by registering in advance to Register for Three Little Pigs: https://santacruzpl. children and their families with fun, experimental receive the Zoom link: https://santa libcal.com/event/6780145.

VIRTUAL EVENTS

Register for Puppylocks: https://santacruzpl. libcal.com/event/6780147. This program is part of our Summer Reading Program, Imagine Your Story. Register at santacruzpl.org/srp

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

cruzpl.libcal.com/event/6781105 This program is part of our Summer Reading Program, Imagine Your Story. Register at santacruzpl.org/srp

Thursday July 30 CAMPESINOS: WORKERS OF THE LAND; POETIC WRITING/MUSIC/DANCE 6:30-8:30 p.m., Pajaro Valley Arts Online Please join Naomi Helena Quinonez, Gabriella Gutierrez y Muhs, and Victoria Banales who will share writing inspired by the Campesino: Workers of the Land exhibit. The event will take place via zoom on Thursday evening, July 30, 2020 from 6:30-8:30. Enjoy a special presentation by Esperanza del Valle home presentation of “dancing while sheltering in place.” This will be a special night of music, dance, and poetic writing as were recognize the essential contributions of our gente who work tirelessly every day.

Esperanza del Valle

COMMUNITY CALENDAR VIRTUAL EVENTS (cont.) During this Covid-19 pandemic we want to especially acknowledge the contributions of farm workers via the Campesino Appreciation Caravan. Please download the Zoom application prior to joining. Visit https://tinyurl.com/cccconferzoom-9617278770 to join the meeting. PREPARING GIRLS FOR KINDERGARTEN WITH GIRL SCOUTS VIRTUAL EVENTS Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is launching a free “Make New Friends” virtual event series to ensure that all girls are prepared to start kindergarten with confidence. The COVID-19 pandemic and transition to virtual learning and activities has disrupted important educational milestones, particularly for children entering kindergarten this year. Social and emotional learning is important for success in kindergarten, and as the experts on girls’ leadership and development, Girl Scouts is uniquely poised to lead fun and impactful events that help girls make new friends while boosting their social skills, self-confidence, and experience in a classroom or virtual setting. One of the largest girl-serving organizations offering social and emotional kindergarten readiness programming, Girl Scouts has designed a specialized, engaging four-part virtual event series that is free and open to all girls who are entering kindergarten. Girls will: • practice interacting with other girls, exploring new ideas, and gaining the courage to ask questions about what they see; • explore emotions and learn how being persistent can help them achieve their dreams; • use their senses to process the world around them while practicing reasoning and problem-solving skills; and • learn how to listen to a story, identify key characters, follow a plotline, and then share what they learned. Monday’s 10:30 am -11:00 am • July 20th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111196351280 • July 27th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111197322184 • August 3rd https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111197996200 Monday’s 10:00 am – 10:30 am • August 10th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111195960110 • August 17th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111196401430 • August 24th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111197390388 • August 31st https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111196485682 Tuesday’s 11:30 am – 12:00 pm • July 21st https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111197286076 • July 28th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111197974134 Tuesday’s 10:00 am – 10:30 am • August 4th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111195817684 • August 11th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111196389394 • August 18th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111197384370 • August 25th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111198056380 Wednesday’s 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm • July 22nd https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111196361310

• July 29th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111197328202 • August 5th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111198018266 Wednesday’s 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm • August 12th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111195980170 • August 19th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111196475652 • August 26th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111197691288 • September 2nd https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111198120572 Thursday’s 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm • July 23rd https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111197292094 • July 30th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111197984164 Thursday’s 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm • August 6th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111195839750 • August 13th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111196461610 • August 20th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111197683264 • August 27th https://www.eventbrite. com/e/111198098506 Many in-person kindergarten readiness and pre-K programs have been cancelled or modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including opportunities to meet teachers and classmates and to try out a classroom activity. Knowing that social and emotional learning and development are some of the strongest predictors of academic success and healthy relationships, Girl Scouts has designed fun activities for girls to meet these critical milestones. Events will include activities for girls to explore the solar system, create an inspiring drawing to represent their dreams and remind them to be persistent, and much more. Enter your zip code to sign up for Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast Make New Friends event series at www.girlscouts.org/ready.

PUBLIC EVENT Wednesday July 22 MENTONE TO HOST RIBBON-CUTTING 3 p.m., 174 Aptos Village Way The new David Kinch restaurant Mentone will have a ribbon-cutting with the Aptos Chamber of Commerce. Masks are required. Mentone has set up tables and chairs in their parking lot for spritizes, snacks and pizzas Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. The menu is online at mentonerestaurant.com. For information call 831-708-4040.

Mentone

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Ham Radio Operators Find a Way to Host Field Day

By Becky Steinbruner

t a time when most of our treasured From a hilltop vineyard deep in the annual events have been cancelled Santa Cruz Mountains, the radio operators due to COVID-19 restrictions, local exchanged hundreds of messages with amateur radio operators found a way to others from throughout North America keep this year’s June 27-28 Field Day event over a 24-hour period, using power from up and on the air. solar panels and quiet portable generators. Since 1933, with silence only in 1942- This year, some people in the county set 1945 due to World War II, the American up smaller radio stations near their homes Radio Relay League as well, and joined the Field Day event has promoted Field remotely. Day as an emergencyIt was a great success. readiness exercise and Ensuring that this year’s Field Day as a way to promote was not cancelled was important not amateur radio to only because the radio operators treasure newcomers. Normally the event and its rich history, but also this event, held on a because the community service events weekend in June, is a that normally provide good disaster comhard-working beehive Becky Steinbruner munication training for the radio operators of people, shoulder-to-shoulder, raising who volunteer for disaster public service portable antennas and sharing radio were all cancelled. These include the Big microphones and potluck dinners with an Sur International Marathon, the Sea Otter extended invitation to the public. Classic, and numerous local cycling and However, when COVID-19 restrictions triathlon events. threatened to eliminate all of that, members Amateur radio figures heavily of the Santa Cruz County Amateur Radio into emergency communication plans Club and San Lorenzo Valley Amateur throughout North America, and espeRadio Club were determined to find a way cially in Santa Cruz County, which easily to hold this year’s June 27-28 event safely. becomes isolated in natural disasters. Traditionally the two local clubs join Santa Cruz County has an unusually forces, often including the UC Santa Cruz high number of licensed and active radio Amateur Radio Club members. This year, operators. They are ready and waiting to the UCSC students did not participate, lend well-trained assistance when called because most of them had left town when upon by local Emergency Operations staff COVID-19 shut down the campus. in the next emergency or disaster. n “When we looked at everything that ••• had to fall away in order to make the event For more information, visit: happen safely, things got simpler,” said San Lorenzo Valley Amateur Radio Club: Kerry Veenstra, the event coordinator and https://www.slvarc.org/ whose radio call sign is K3RRY. No sharing Santa Cruz County Amateur Radio Club: food at a big public potluck. No huge http://www.k6bj.org/ and complicated antennas that require lots of people working closely together to raise. No open invitations to the public. Instead, the antenna configurations were simple, and the types of equipment reduced. People signed up for short shifts of radio operation so no one sat side-by-side. Everybody wore masks, sanitized their stations often, and brought their own food and water. The public visited the site via a Zoom con- John Sisler (KJ6ZL) adjusts antenna for radio communiference tour. cation using satellites.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2020 / 29

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Upgrades Coming to Local Parks, Libraries By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

Park Upgrades ocal parks are primarily funded through local sales and other taxes and sharp declines in tax receipts last quarter will have an impact on parks (and other County services in general). But there are still a number of exciting improvements coming to local parks, including some that have already been funded. One longstanding need was an improved pedestrian walkway and safer access point outside of Pinto Lake Park. We partnered with Supervisor Caput’s office (our districts share Green Valley Road) to combine district funds to rebuild a pedestrian pathway along Green Valley that is used by many residents to access Pinto Lake Park. The new pathway, constructed by County Public Works, was completed in June and has already improved the safety and accessibility of the park for local residents. The Board of Supervisors, at the last meeting in June, approved a contract to install a new permanent restroom at

Seacliff Village Park. The park, which is being constructed in phases according to the park master plan, already includes the necessary utilities and infrastructure as part of the initial phase construction. The restroom is anticipated to be completed by November of this year. The park now includes a play area, picnic area and skate feature. The Friends of Santa Cruz County Parks and local residents have also been fundraising to complete the final phase of the park, which would include other elements in the master plan such as shade structures, a small outdoor amphitheater and more. At Hidden Beach Park, the County has been working to upgrade the playground and provide new features and greater accessibility for children of all abilities. Working with the Friends of Santa Cruz County Parks and local community leaders including the The DeBernardo Team, an active fundraising effort is underway to finalize the upgrades in memory of the remarkable 5-year-old Jett Ramsey, who lost his battle with cancer in April and loved playing at Hidden Beach Park with his family. The County has design plans and is matching funding to make the park become a reality. ••• Library Upgrades n one of my recent tele-town halls, Library Director Susan Nemitz

discussed some of the improvements planned for Capitola, Aptos and La Selva branch libraries. La Selva and Capitola are well underway (with anticipated openings of later this year). In Capitola, a number of upgrades including a community/meeting room with flexible furnishings, an expanded children’s area and dedicated teen area, enhanced book and media selections, laptop and computer plugins around the library and all meeting rooms including laptops available as public access computers and reader and study seating spread around the library, including an adult reading nook and a fireplace reading area are all underway. In La Selva, improvements to the children’s area, new flexibility in the space for meetings and book clubs, increases in natural lighting and airflow, expansion of the available seating for reading and studying, a new accessible entry on the north side of the building, bathroom upgrades, a new service desk, upgraded data and electrical, and an outdoor patio area are part of the remodel. The Board of Supervisors will be awarding a contract on the Aptos Library in early August. The Aptos Branch Library was originally constructed in 1975 and is currently 8,000 square feet. Multiple community outreach sessions were held to get a

sense of how best to approach a remodeled (and expanded) space. There are some exciting partnerships planned, including working with the Aptos History Museum, to provide a modern and accessible library. After August we will have a better sense of the construction timeline but the goal is to ensure that neighboring branches (La Selva and Capitola) are open before any construction begins to ensure options continue to be provided for local residents. As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue). I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/ supervisorfriend and during the shelter-inplace order I’m hosting tele-townhalls with County and community leaders. n ••• If you’re interested in the town halls or just want to connect on an issue you can always call me at 454-2200.

tough financial decisions, like choosing between paying for necessary medical care and paying for their food or rent.” Health care costs in Northern California, where Sutter dominates, are 20% to 30% higher than in Southern California, even after considering cost of living, according to a 2018 study from the Nicholas C. Petris Center at the University of California-Berkeley that Becerra cited in his lawsuit. In 2018 the nonprofit Sutter health care group had 24 hospitals, 34 surgery centers, 5,500 physicians across Northern California, and $13 billion in operating

revenue, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis. Santa Cruz County had the highest cost for health insurance of 274 U.S. metro areas, according to a 2015 study by a consumer nonprofit in New York that concluded the reason is lack of competition. Sutter Health posted a $236 million loss from operations during the first quarter when COVID-19 hit California, according to interim unaudited annual financials released in May, Health Leaders reported. Sutter told Health Leaders said the response to COVID-19 has been “an

incredibly costly and difficult endeavor,” that will have ramifications for the organization in the future. Elizabeth Mitchell, CEO of the Pacific Business Group on Health, told Health Leaders, “What the settlement addressed were anti-competitive business practices like gag laws, all-or-nothing contracting, and prohibiting tiering. They’re just not related to what [Sutter] is saying is their new need because of COVID.” n Additional information on the ongoing settlement proceeding can be found at https:// tinyurl.com/sutter-settlement

O “Sutter” from page 25 “Sutter’s practices harmed California’s healthcare market by charging higher prices unrelated to quality or cost of care,” Becerra said in a statement. “They did that long before the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no period of time that medical providers, like Sutter, should be able to carry out such destructive market practices…We look forward to finalizing the settlement that Sutter agreed to in 2019 and to ending these abusive market practices. It is essential that we protect patients who may be confronting

30 / July 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

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Sun Scald Happens Here Too

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ettuccine & Alfredo are best buds and they’re looking for a gentle human friend! These guys are about 5 months old and they are bonded, so they are looking for a place to crash together (forever). These two can be shy at first, but once you get to know them, they will enjoy riding on your shoulders and most importantly … EATING SNACKS! This dynamic duo is ready to go home with you! Come in so we can set up a date! What Fettuccine & Alfredo need: • SNACKS. • Alone time to recharge. • Shoulder to sit on. What You Need: • Snack provider. • Alone time to recharge. • Shoulders for rats to sit on! The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is currently doing adoptions by appointment only. An application must be submitted and landlord permission or proof of home ownership received prior to arranging a meet. Call 831-454-7200 x0 during business hours or visit www.scanimalshelter.org for more information! n

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By Tony Tomeo

hose who enjoy gardening where winter weather is harsh likely know what sun scald is. It happens late in winter, if exposed bark warms enough to prematurely resume vascular activity during the day. Vascularly active tissue then succumbs to hard frost at night. Wintry sunlight is not sufficiently intense to scald bark; but the damage suggests otherwise. Glare from snow enhances exposure. Of course, without hard frost or snow, this sort of sun scald is not a concern here. However, there is another sort of sun scald that happens during the warmth of summer. It truly is scald, caused by exposure to sunlight that is sufficiently intense to literally cook vascular tissue just below thin bark. Although induced by opposite extremes of seasonal weather, the damage is remarkably similar. Since even deciduous trees are foliated during summer, most bark is safe from summertime sun scald. Bark becomes more exposed and susceptible if deprived of some of what shades it. That can easily happen if aggressive pruning diminishes the foliar canopy above. Removal of a nearby tree also eliminates significant shade. Painting an adjacent wall a light color can enhance glare. White paint applied to the trunks of susceptible orchard trees reflects most of the damaging sunlight, but is too unsightly for landscape trees. Stubble of small twiggy stems can shade the trunks of some young trees until their canopies are broad enough to provide shade. Sun scald typically develops on southwestern and upper exposures that are more exposed to the

Sun scald ruins otherwise good stems.

most intense sunlight. Maple, oak, ash, birch, flowering cherry, flowering crabapple, English walnut and almost all deciduous fruit trees are innately susceptible to sun scald. The interior stems of privet, holly and English laurel are more resilient to sun scald if exposed by major pruning during late winter rather than during summer. Although, with only a few exceptions, any thin bark can be susceptible to sun scald. Foliage of many plants can be damaged by enhanced exposure too, but that is known as ‘scorch,’and is another topic. ••• Cherry Laurel ictorian landscapes made good use of cherry laurel, Prunus laurocerasus. It works well as a large formal hedge. For more relaxed modern landscapes, it makes delightful informal screen. The main reason that it is now less popular than other hedging shrubbery is that it gets rather broad if not shorn back regularly. If allowed to grow as a low rounded tree, it can get twenty-five feet high! Regularly shearing is not necessarily frequent. It should be efficient though. Confinement for such broad shrubbery is important. If shorn back farther than English laurel makes a where the outer delightful hedge. surface is desired late in winter, fresh new foliage can fluff out nicely within allowable space through spring. Subsequent aggressive shearing to maintain confinement may only be necessary once or twice during summer. The big leaves are about three inches long, and luxuriantly glossy. If hedges get shorn less aggressively, but more frequently than two or three times annually, such big leaves can be rather shabby much of the time. If shorn less frequently, small trusses of creamy white flowers may get a chance to bloom. Cultivars are more compact than the species. One cultivar is variegated with pale gold. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2020 / 31

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Aptos Times: July 15, 2020

Articles inside

Upgrades Coming to Local Parks, Libraries, By Zach Friend, Supervisor

Community Color

Second District Sun Scald Happens Here Too, By Tony Tomeo

Ham Radio Operators Find a Way to Host Field Day, By Becky Steinbruner

Mt Madonna Adds Outdoor Classrooms, By Leigh Ann Clifton

PV Pushes COVID-19 Prevention in Latinx Community, By Jenny Kurzweil

Judge Race, By Jondi Gumz Celebrating Thirty Years of Service

Fire Agencies Fall Short in Safety Inspections, By Jondi Gumz

California News

Pounds Fireworks Seized Caltrans Aims to Boost Walking, Bicycling: $100 Million Funding Com mitment for Improvements • Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Make Arrest in

Barbara Crawford Aptos Curves Geared up for New Normal, By Edita McQuary • North

County Dems Honor Felton Library Champions • Vets 4 Vets Offers Support Candidate Filing for Nov. Election Closes Aug. 7 • Noisy Fourth of July: 110

Community News

After 26 Years, Mulberry Gallery To Close Shop & Pivot Online, By Del and

Laurel Road Homicide Soquel Dr. Project: Your Questions Answered, By Carisa Duran, Construction