Pop-up COVID-19 Tests in Aptos, By Jondi Gumz • RTC Report Favors

COMMUNITY NEWS Pop-up COVID-19 Tests in Aptos

By Jondi Gumz

Looking for a convenient COVID-19 billing will be handled by the CARES test site? Act.

Look no further — a new test This test is a RT-PCR, which means site just opened in the parking lot of Twin reverse transcription polymerase chain Lakes Church in Aptos and will be open reaction, and results will be posted in the from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and HIPAA-compliant portal in 48-72 hours. Tuesdays through December. You administer the test your self

The provider is Senneca Diagnostics of through your nose. The visit for sample San Francisco. collection takes about 20 minutes.

Dana Welle, her daughter Karsen “It’s much easier,” said Dana Welle, Welle and Dana Ramsey, the three staff on comparing it to the one that reaches up into hand Monday, attend your sinus. “And it’s Twin Lakes Church This test is a RT-PCR, which less risky for anyone and made the con- means reverse transcription at the test site. And it’s nection for Senneca Diagnostics. A few important polymerase chain reaction, and results will be posted in as accurate as a nasal swab.” The test has points to know: the HIPAA-compliant portal in emergency use

Tests are by 48-72 hours. authorization but not appointment only. formal approval from Go to www.sennecadx.com/community, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. create an user account and then pick a time Senneca Dx first got involved in testing slot. at nursing homes, where residents are at risk

If you have insurance, bring your of COVID-19, in June, then expanded to help insurance card. If you don’t have insurance, businesses make return-to-work plans. n

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz Dana Ramsey, Dana Welle, and Karsen Welle are staff at the SennecaDX.com pop-up test site for COVID-19 in the Twin Lakes Church parking lot in Aptos.

RTC Report Favors Electric Passenger Rail; Comments Due Nov. 27

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission invites the public to provide input for Milestone 3 of the Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis through an online public open house Nov. 6 through Nov. 27.

The proposed locally preferred alternative in the 282-page report is electric passenger rail.

This choice was guided by performance analysis, input from the commission, RTC advisory committees, partner agencies, community organizations, stakeholders, and members of the public, according to the report. Input received from public and stakeholder engagement will be “fully considered” by the project team and RTC in making its final decision of a locally preferred alternative, according to the RTC.

A decision on whether the rail option will be electric commuter rail or electric light rail is not recommended as part of this study. The infrastructure needed for either rail option is similar so deferring this decision will maintain flexibility for future decisions, the study says, while clean energy rail technologies advance. A decision on different electric rail vehicle

types and sizes would be better studied in the preliminary engineering and environmental analysis phase, according to the study.

This year-long study is evaluating high-capacity public transit alternatives to provide an integrated transit network for Santa Cruz County using all or part of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. Intercounty and interregional connections to Monterey, Gilroy, the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond will be considered. Since June, the Regional Transportation Commission has been evaluating a short list of alternatives narrowed and is now ready to share its conclusions publicly.

To offer convenient participation while social distancing, RTC is hosting the open house where the public can review information and submit comments.

One opportunity to interact directly with the transit team during live chat sessions took place Nov. 12 and another will be Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 6-7:30 p.m. n •••

The deadline to comment is Nov. 27. To view details, visit www.sccrtc.org/transitcorridoraa.

Bike Light Giveaways in November

Without lights, a person on a bicycle is nearly invisible in the dark. Cyclists who ride un-illuminated are a danger to themselves as well as to pedestrians and other road users.

Lightless riding before dawn and after sunset is also a ticketable offense under California law.

Whether people are simply unaware or they cannot afford lights, the Santa Cruz Street Smarts program aims to help them become safe and seen.

Street Smarts has teamed up with Bike Santa Cruz County to distribute free front and rear bike lights at four pop-up bike light giveaways in November to help make cycling safer. The events, following COVID-19 protocol, will occur after dusk at undisclosed high traffic bike commute locations in the City of Santa Cruz.

All cyclists must wear a mask to participate.

Streets Smarts’ goal is to reduce the number of traffic-related crashes and injuries throughout the County of Santa Cruz. More information is at www.cityofsantacruz.com/StreetSmarts.

For information about Bike Santa Cruz County, see www.bikesantacruzcounty.org. •••

Free Naturalization Legal Services

The nonprofit Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc.’s Immigration Project is offering free legal services to eligible immigrants seeking to become U.S. citizens.

In 2019, the Immigration Project provided naturalization services to more than 330 residents of Santa Cruz County and surrounding areas.

The Immigration Project invites lawful permanent residents who are interested in naturalization to seek consultation regarding eligibility for United States citizenship.

To apply for naturalization to U.S. citizenship, a non-citizen must generally demonstrate a minimum number of years with lawful permanent residency in the United States, good moral character, physical presence in the United States, and other legal requirements.

Filing fees for naturalization are currently $725 and fee increases are planned. However, many applicants may qualify for a fee waiver that allows them to file for free if they are low-income or qualify for public benefits such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or SSI.

To schedule a free consultation with the Immigration Project, call the office at 831-724-5667. Immigration services are conducted primarily via phone during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, contact Directing Attorney Matthew Weisner at 831-274-3157 ext. 217 or matt@cabinc.org •••

Cabrillo Park Sewer Work Begins

The Santa Cruz County Sanitation District announces that Mar Vista Avenue between Margaret Avenue and Gertrude Avenue in Aptos will be subject to traffic delays with potential lane closures between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., from Nov. 16 through Feb. 16, weather permitting.

These delays and lane closures are necessary for the first phase of the Cabrillo Park sanitary sewer improvement project.

Questions may be directed to Dan Valley at (831) 454-2373.

For up-to-date information on County maintained roads in Santa Cruz County, visit: http://www.sccroadclosure.org/ •••

Kathryn Hohl Joins Santa Cruz County Bank

Kathryn Hohl has joined Santa Cruz County Bank, a top-rated community bank with assets of $1.4 billion, as vice president, senior relationship manager, with her office at 2020 N. Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. She is responsible for customer portfolio management and expanding business relationships.

Kathryn Hohl Hohl comes from Umqua Bank in Walnut Creek, where she was senior commercial lending underwriter.

She began her commercial banking career in 2003, working as a commercial senior credit analyst in the middle market sector of commercial lending in the Greater Bay Area. She has also worked as a portfolio manager and relationship manager.

A relatively new resident of Santa Cruz, she looks forward to volunteering locally. Throughout her banking career, she volunteered through Rotary and with a community food bank. She founded a professional networking group which included accountants, attorneys, architects, bankers, dental professionals, insurance agents, and software developers.

Prior to her banking career, she worked in the commercial insurance field, as a workers’ compensation insurance agent. She earned a bachelor’s degree from CSU Hayward and a master’s degree in forensic accounting from New England College. •••

Free Capitola Parking for Holidays

Attention holiday shoppers! Free threehour parking will be available once again in Capitola Village.

The Capitola City Council agreed to suspend parking meter and pay station operations in the Village from Nov. 26 through Dec. 25.

The request came from Anthony Guajardo, president of the Capitola Village and Wharf Business Improvement Area, to encourage holiday shopping at local businesses.

Free holiday parking has been a tradition since 2001, with 2003 being the one exception.

Staff estimated that last year, the city gave up between $30,000 and $40,000 in parking revenue. This year, the city estimates between $22,500 and $30,000 in revenue would be lost, as some parking spaces have been converted to places for outdoor dining. •••

New Grab & Go Service at Library

On Nov. 9, the Santa Cruz Public Libraries launched the new “Grab & Go” lobby service, allowing patrons to enter library lobbies to retrieve library materials on hold.

There is no need to call the library but patrons must have their library card numbers and PIN or password to check out items using the self-checkout machines. An alternative method is to check out items using the Santa Cruz Public Libraries mobile app, available in iOS and Android app stores.

“Grab & Go” will replace “Curbside Pickup” at the Aptos, Felton, downtown, and Live Oak branches. The Scotts Valley branch is closed for construction and will open for Grab & Go service on Nov. 16.

Starting Nov. 14, all “Grab & Go” branches will extend afternoon hours to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday to make the library more accessible to commuters and seniors. Each branch also offers one day per week with morning hours.

WiFi availability and print job pickup are already available, and indoor computer access will begin Nov. 14.

A limited number of computers will be available for 50-minute sessions on a first come-first served basis at the Aptos, downtown, Felton branches. The downtown library has an outdoor computer lab that will move indoors, and Scotts Valley’s computer service will begin on Nov. 16 when it reopens. Printing from library computers will also be available.

The new services came in the wake of cool fall weather and recognition by library

staff of the need to begin offering services safely indoors.

Library Director Susan Nemitz said, “When the pandemic first hit, we assigned more of our staff to support patrons by phone and online. We also sought innovative ways to support children and teachers in their new online learning environment. Staff also visited students when they picked up their lunches at school and provided services for them outside the walls of our library; and we have converted our programming, including story time, into live virtual experiences. We will continue to evolve safely in order to meet the many needs that our community seeks from its library.” •••

New Certificated HR Chief for PVUSD

Brian Saxton is the new director of human resources, certificated, for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, approved by the board Oct. 14.

Saxton has been working in Pajaro Valley schools since 2002, most recently as Brian Saxton principal at Bradley Elementary since 2014. Before that, he was at Aptos Junior High, where he was assistant principal and then principal. He taught physical education before becoming an administrator.

He obtained his bachelor’s degree in physical education and a teaching credential from Humboldt State University, and an administrative credential and master’s degree from Santa Clara University. •••

Surfing Museum Reopens

On Oct. 23, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum at 701 W. Cliff Drive reopened to visitors with refreshed displays and social-distancing protocols for COVID-19 safety, following state guidance.

The museum overlooks renowned surfing hotspot Steamer Lane, and showcases photographs, surfboards, and other artifacts tracing 100 years of surfing history in Santa Cruz.

Hours are noon to 4 p.m. weekends: Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Since Santa Cruz County moved to the Red Tier, indoor museums can operate at 25% capacity. n