Takeout Restaurant Alcohol Equals Easy Access for Minors, By Christina

FEATURED COLUMNIST Takeout Restaurant Alcohol Equals Easy Access for Minors

By Christina Borbely and Suzette Rochelle-DiVirgilio

In an effort to help California restaurants and bars survive the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the California Statewide ABC enforcement actions found significant violations of the law, stating that, “Most concerning is that Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (the ABC) loosened restrictions on takeout and delivery of alcoholic beverages. This has provided an opportunity for our community to support local businesses and enjoy drinks responsibly at home to avoid COVID-19 transmission.

Unfortunately, it has also created a greater challenge for public health: how do we prevent minors from accessing alcohol, ensure safe transport of alcoholic beverages in private vehicles, and enforce ID checks when alcohol is delivered by thirdparty services?

The ABC’s Coronavirus regulatory relief changes allow alcohol licensees to sell alcoholic drinks to-go in prepackaged or sealed containers, through take out windows, and by curbside pickup. Containers for alcoholic beverages must have a secure lid or cap that prevents consumption without removal with no openings in the lid.

In addition, retailers must post a prominent warning advising customers to put alcohol in the trunk of their car while driving, and that all provisions of California’s open container laws still apply. The ABC emphasizes that licensees must use this regulatory relief responsibly without compromising the public’s health, safety, or welfare.

Far too many businesses have eagerly embraced the relaxed regulations while neglecting their responsibility to protect youth and the public. minors are routinely able to purchase alcohol through delivery from restaurants. There have been instances in which the licensee’s own employees have done so, but a far greater rate has been evident among third-party delivery services.”

Not Liable

Compliance actions from ABC found up to 70% of minor decoys were able to receive alcohol from third-party delivery services. When alcohol is ordered through a third-party delivery service, such as DoorDash, UberEats, or GrubHub, the companies themselves are not liable. Legal responsibility for checking to make sure that they are not selling to minors rests on alcohol licensees and delivery drivers. When our local alcohol merchants and third-party delivery services treat public health as their personal responsibility, our community is less likely to experience consequences of increased youth alcohol consumption, alcohol poisonings, and drunk driving tragedies. Alcohol license holders must take the initiative to seek out the particulars of their responsibilities under the relaxed regulations and put them into practice. Parents and guardians should note the easier access to alcohol for minors and re-evaluate their system for preventing underage drinking. One way to engage is to have an honest, non-judgmental conversation with youth about safety and alcohol. Parents should keep alcohol in their homes locked up and monitor home deliveries. Some youth may be having trouble coping with the stress of the pandemic and isolation and may view alcohol as a way to escape. By having a conversation and keeping these products secured, parents can send a clear message that they will be there for their children, and alcohol won’t be. We don’t have to choose between thriving businesses and negative outcomes associated with increased alcohol use during the pandemic. To achieve a safe and healthy Santa Cruz County, we must remember our responsibilities as business owners, employees, policymakers, law enforcement officers, and parents. We can temporarily relax regulations and still maintain a healthy community by emphasizing education of alcohol merchants, consistent enforcement of the law, and securing and monitoring alcohol in our homes. n

•••

Christina Borbely and Suzette RochelleDiVirgilio are co-chairs of Community Prevention Partners.

Baseball

ACROSS

1. Turkey trot, e.g. 6. Dadaist Jean 9. *____ crew,

Milwaukee Brewers fan base 13. Poppy seed derivative 14. Afghan monetary unit 15. Hotel room option 16. Category of artistic composition 17. Between northeast and east 18. Relating to pond scum 19. *Babe Ruth’s first major league team 21. *____-and-____ sport 23. Dog command 24. Bald eagle’s home 25. Witchy woman 28. Back wound? 30. Siskel or Ebert 35. Smoothing appliance 37. Distinctive flair 39. Stomata, sing. 40. Burlap fiber 41. Archeologist’s find 43. Estimated arrivals 44. Discompose 46. Cobbler’s concern 47. Merlin or Gandalf 48. *B in RBI 50. Close by 52. Spade for stony ground 53. Karl of politics 55. Between ready and go 57. *Left, center or right one 61. *Yankees’ only #4 64. Blast from the past 65. Crew tool 67. Helped 69. ____ one’s time, past tense 70. Schiller’s poem 71. Express contempt 72. What Simon does 73. Cut grass 74. Intoxicating

DOWN

1. *Eat a hot one at the game 2. Copycat 3. *Number of standard baseball positions 4. Miss Muffet’s meal 5. Vomiting 6. Highest point 7. *Scoring unit 8. Annapolis frosh 9. Tulip’s early stage 10. Capital of Latvia 11. Et alibi (2 words) 12. Water source 15. Bacchus’ attendants 20. Weasel’s aquatic cousin 22. *Baseball trajectory 24. Diver’s edible reward 25. Muslim woman’s headscarf 26. Caribbean island destination 27. Gained access to (2 words) 29. Hoppy beers 31. Individual unit 32. Bottom line 33. Idealized image 34. *Katie ____ or “____ at the Bat” 36. Empty when kids leave 38. World’s longest river 42. Cut it out 45. Moved a flock of sheep 49. Certain John’s or

Jane’s last name 51. Re-use old ideas 54. Car sound, to a toddler 56. Trinity 57. Small door-opening devices 58. One of the hipbones, pl. 59. Whirlpool 60. “Big Little ____” 61. What Jack’s beanstalk did 62. It comes to mind 63. Turned to the right, like a horse 66. Commotion or fuss 68. Wine quality

Each spring, at the three spring full moon festivals (Aries, Taurus, Gemini), three extra-planetary forces stream into the Earth to assist humanity especially during times of crisis (a time we are in now). These Three Forces are the Forces of Restoration (Aries, restoring humanity’s psychological well-being), Enlightenment (Taurus/Wesak, helping humanity to see clearly) and Reconstruction (Gemini, ushering in a new creative activity for a waiting world). These Forces began to stream into humanity after the devastation wrought on humanity during WW2.

We have much in common now with the WW2 aftermath — fatigue, continual warfare, confusion, death, etc. It is even a larger menace now for the “killing” occurring is the mind of humanity. Then as is now, the battle was/is between the Forces of Light and Forces of Darkness. It is thus most important this year, 2021 (year of choice), to know about these Three Saving Forces.

We are continuing the phase of the old ways breaking down, making way for the new Aquarian era/Age. Everything is changing under the new sign, planets and Rays. It is a cosmic change of seasons thus calling for new responses. An entirely new vibrational field is being formed on our planet, electrical in nature. We are shifting from the Age of devotion (Pisces) to the Age of Knowledge (Aquarius), from belief to intelligence and intuition, from ignorance, speculation and opinion to the Rain Cloud of Knowable Things. This shift is not easy. Life is not as it was anymore and never will be again. At each new age, new directions are given. For the Aquarian Age, these are the New Laws and Principles. They help us navigate this new era of Aquarius, whose foundational language and tool is astrology. So, during this interim time of transition from one Age to the next, two paths are seen. One left, one right, one bright and shiny, twinkling our future, the other dark hiding under a false light. It is humanity’s test of discernment. And so, all around us, each day, humanity chooses.

ARIES

It’s best to be careful when out and about. You’re experiencing the energies of Pisces, which means one can be a bit confused when in the midst of crowds for any length of time. It’s best to be reflective, solitary, and with only a few people who understand (astrology) and support your many endeavors. Dreams and visions are important now. What are your visions for the future and how/where do you see yourself in the coming years?

LEO

A reorientation is taking place in your life creating a state of transformation. You are often so hidden behind multiple veils. All that you have cultivated as talents, gifts and abilities will be called forth in the times to come. Are people, cultures, journeys or geographies calling to you from a distance. Your response will change your life forever. Enter into the deeper mysteries. The temple door has opened.

SAGITTARIUS

Know that your well-being is intact no matter how you feel or sense things to be. No matter what you think your financial situation is, there are realistic new resources and avenues available so you can rest easy and not enter into states of unease, unreality or feelings of lack. Nothing needs doing. You are supported by all the energies in the heavens. Turn to others and also offer them this support. Your supply then becomes limitless. Saturn will see to it.

TAURUS

Each day you enter a dream state, a place where your creativity is activated and you help to prepare us for a future world of safety and survival. You attempt to share this with others but so often people become impatient. You stand solitary in your knowledge knowing it’s your responsibility to bring forth the resources (land) needed to create the new world era. Everyone around you has their own gift to bring forth. You recognize them. Then they do too.

VIRGO

Signs in opposition, like Virgo and Pisces, create an interplay of the known and the unknown, ups and downs, here and there, etc. until the two, alarmed by each other, finally accept, integrate, fuse, blend, synthesize and make peace together. All the sign must do this with their opposites. With Sun, Venus and Neptune in Pisces and Mars in Gemini, synthesis can occur. Virgo is the sign of service preparing for the saving quality in Pisces. The two of you are one.

CAPRICORN

You may be called to express yourself in ways that could upend people’s belief systems. We live in a Ray 4 reality. Ray 4 is the new harmony emerging from chaos and conflict. You always attempt to express new ideas with compassion, clarity, sensitivity and kindness. When finding yourself in difficulty with another, do the following. Visualize a line of light from your heart to their heart, your Soul to their Soul (5-pointed star above our heads). Then the Soul, which is love, takes over. Leaving you free. What’s blooming where you are?

GEMINI

Where are you and what are you doing each day? Who do relate to and what are you reading? What are your future plans and are you following circadian rhythms? What are you hoping for and what do you need? Can you answer these questions? Your answers are like a preliminary resume to join a spiritual group, ashram, community. All answers are correct. We’d like to get to know you more. What meadows are you in these days? What flowers are blooming?

CANCER

Are you considering a journey soon? Have your thoughts and perceptions changed? Do you find fearful or angry or aggressive thoughts in your mind and do you feel guilty or righteous about them? It seems essential that your home be clean, well lit, ordered and organized. Even if little gets accomplished, do one kind action each day. A greenhouse, a pergola, and car and/or a boat (for you or another) are good items to invest in.

LIBRA

You may feel exhausted when confronted with the present state of more work than usual. You may also feel a wounding that is difficult to express. There’s a purpose to that wounding. It provides us with the needed compassion for others, which is a healing. It’s challenging to have the courage to clearly articulate your wound without judgment and blame. Wounds become life tools. They balance us and love us.

SCORPIO

If you surrender completely to your creativity, you will be rewarded with an expansion of gifts you did not know existed. Creativity for you works under the inspiration of aspiration and vision, which then summons the essential beauty which all forms veil. You are to bring forth this revelatory essence of beauty. It is what underlies your life-purposes, which motivates your life’s events, past, present and future. Do you understand this?

AQUARIUS

You’ve returned to a place where you again ask the questions, “Why am I here, what is here that supports me, where is my home and where do I go from here?” At times you wonder if there are enough resources to support your visions. You dream of home, land, gardens, chickens, lots of friends, family, the arts and community. Keep visualizing, keep dreaming. Do only what you love. Simultaneously, serve others, supporting their well-being, security, and self-esteem. All that is given is returned one-hundred-fold.

PISCES

All Pisces, during Pisces turn inwards deep within themselves. This happens naturally with Sun, Venus and Neptune in Pisces. Neptune in Pisces will continue for the next four years, until March 30, 2025 (year of the Precipitation), when Neptune enters Aries. A subtle change and refinement of life will take place till then, allowing for greater wisdom, work and accomplishments that may seem like miracles. They are your visions and tasks this lifetime coming into manifestation. Maintain faith, patience and serenity at all times. Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com

“PVUSD Q&A” from page 23

Based on the needs of an individual class, the teacher will identify how to best use the in-person instructional time and then identify how to group student cohorts most effectively according to the goals of the in-person time.

Just curious. Does the Coronavirus not exist between the hours of 1 to 2:30? Why can’t we just go back already? Hybrid model, to me, is a few days a week and actually doing class at school not at home. One and a half hours after class?

We established the afternoon schedule to maintain three key priorities: 1) maintain current teacher and schedule for students, 2) increase instructional time with teachers by providing additional in-person instruction and 3) ensure families have the option to remain in distance learning with their current teacher.

The afternoon schedule allows us to accomplish those priorities as well as limit possible transmission during unmasked eating time within the schools.

Thanks for working to get our kids back in school. They really need it for their mental health but I’m very worried as no one in our house is vaccinated yet. We all know by now that wearing masks is one of the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19. We also know that it needs to be ALL parties wearing a mask, especially the person with COVID-19 even if they are asymptomatic and don’t even know it. We have also seen people out in the community who don’t wear their masks properly. How will masking be enforced? Will students be required to have their masks fit properly and up over their noses? Will you require a certain type of mask? How about double masking as that is now being recommended, particularly in light of all the new variants?

Fortunately, most school districts that are in session have seen compliance of their students wearing masks while attending in person instruction.

With proper training and awareness, we believe our students will follow all masking guidelines as required. To ensure that all students are wearing their masks properly, we will be releasing expectation videos as well as safety training materials for students prior to their return to the site.

While most students have their own PPE that they may use, PVUSD will also provide required PPE in accordance with CDPH guidance. Current CDPH guidelines define a face covering as “a material that covers the nose and mouth. It can be secured to the head with ties or straps or simply wrapped around the lower face. It can be made of a variety of materials, such as cotton, silk, or linen.

A cloth face covering may be factory made or sewn by hand or can be improvised from household items such as scarfs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels.”

“PVUSD Q&A” page 27

FEATURED COLUMNIST Eliminate ‘Selling’ & Focus On Helping Customers

We’ve all heard people say products are “flying off the shelf” or that “it sells itself.” For those of us involved in any small business on a daily basis, we know these sayings just aren’t true.

Whether you’re selling coffee or clothing, you likely have daily targets for sales that you’d like to reach or exceed. And though sales is the result, the No. 1 focus of every owner, manager and employee should be on helping customers.

Selling is a little like dating — there are lots of choices out there for people, so why should they choose you — i.e., your service or product? You may have the best “X” with the highest quality backed by the greatest service at the most competitive price — but what if that’s not different enough, or what if it’s not what the customer wants or needs?

Sometimes helping customers takes practice. We’ve all been in situations where a well-intentioned sales person starts telling us all about something that they’re excited about or what they are interested in.

They go on about why we should buy it, how it will make us feel or look — all the while not even knowing if we either want or need the item, which we may have just casually glanced at or picked off the shelf to look at for some reason.

I like to eliminate the word “selling” and instead replace it with “helping.” And part of helping is learning what your customers actually need help with — is it a decision based on price or convenience, or are they looking to take a selfie with an item that will get them likes?

The more we ask questions that help to uncover what a potential customer is in the mood for or actually looking for, the greater the likelihood that you’ll be able to help them with their purchase.

People who go to a restaurant are obviously hungry — but how hungry are they? If we only ask some questions with a smile, like how hungry they are or what they’re in the mood for, or even if they’ve been here before and had a favorite dish — it gives us more information than walking up to a table and blandly asking “how can I help you?”

We may be able to help them experience a new dish, or an additional appetizer, or desert, or, iced tea instead of tap water — all higher-margin items that help the restaurant reach its daily goals.

You may be answering the phone at a spa that offers massage and facials. Asking the person on the other line a few helpful questions about what they’re wanting to experience may uncover that they’re now considering making a visit to your location more of an event, more of a special occasion, or perhaps a celebration.

Engaging with them on the phone to ask if they want to bring a friend along where they could get a couples massage together in the same room — just doubled your purchase transaction, and more importantly, helped the person with more of an experience that they’ll be looking forward to and talking about long after they’ve enjoyed the day at your spa.

And make sure you’re keeping an up-to-date database on each of your customers. If you already have every sales transaction linked to a customer, based on what they bought and when, then you’re on your way! If you need a program that helps you capture this information so you can run reports as well as reach out to your customers via email or text, consider SQUARE.

This company provides extremely competitive credit

By Ron Kustek

card transaction processing and mobile payment apps, plus for an additional low monthly fee, provides easy to understand customer management tools for you to analyze sales, repeat customers, lapsed customers, promotional responses and even more! Contact SQUARE at 855-7006000 or online at www.SquareUp.com

The point is, unless everyone in your business is focused on learning more about your customers by actually talking with them and truly listening to what they’re saying and telling you, then you’re not optimizing each and every opportunity to truly help someone or provide the best customer experience, as both will help you reach your #1 priority: Sales — the result of listening to and focusing on the customer! n •••

Ron Kustek is a former senior marketing executive of The Coca-Cola Co. and serial-entrepreneur who is currently a business instructor at Cabrillo College. Contact him at RoKustek@Cabrillo.edu

“PVUSD Q&A” from page 26

PVUSD will provide an initial distribution of 2-3 reusable cloth masks per each student. There will be disposable masks available when needed at school or on the bus to replace or provide additional masks as needed. We will also distribute one face shield per elementary student for school use with a face covering.

Students can use a combination of the disposable masks and cloth masks for double masking if you so choose.

When will substitute teachers be vaccinated?

I’ve committed to a long term in person but will have to cancel if I can’t get at least my first dose of vaccine. Why are subs so delayed if some will be on the job and in person?

All substitutes will receive a Google form by 5 p.m. March 5 to sign up to pre-register for their vaccines. After they fill out the Google form, they will be sent the pre-registration link, which will begin the process for them to set up their vaccine appointments.

If substitutes have already received their vaccine or received an email from the County Office of Education to schedule their appointment they do not need to use the PVUSD Google form.

Substitutes can contact Brian Saxton in Human Resources at 786-2145 if they have additional questions.

Open Aptos first?

Why can’t school reopenings happen on a case by case basis? PVUSD says the reason for delaying schools is because the district has 52% of you should consider going further into localities. Aptos is a smaller community than Watsonville and COVID

cases are likely to be the lowest in the entire county. So why not start in-person schooling at schools located in Aptos? It will also allow PVUSD to get the necessary experience before opening some of the larger schools in the district.

While there are varying case rate levels within our District boundaries, we do have both staff and students moving throughout the District who live and are transported on buses within high case rate areas in both Santa Cruz and Monterey County.

For example, Aptos High School serves 759 (55%) students who live outside of Aptos but within the Watsonville area. Valencia Elementary serves 167 (35%) students who live outside of Aptos but within the Watsonville area. At the same time, we have 1,414 students living in Monterey County, which currently has a higher case rate than Santa Cruz County.

For this reason, we look at the combined case rate throughout the District to determine when the District as a whole will return to in person instruction.

What are the chances of opening fully in the

Fall? Our family needs to make a decision

ASAP regarding private school if PVUSD isn’t going to be open full time.

With the promise of the vaccinations for the community which should continue to decrease the case rate, we are hopeful that we will reach the yellow tier and be able to bring all students back full time without the hybrid model due to the removal of the required 6-foot distancing.

We should know more about the trajectories of case and vaccination rates by mid-May and be able to message more out to the community about future plans. n

GARDENERS CLUB The Gardeners’ Club is looking for people who share their love of plants and want to know more about gardening.

The website is at http://www.thegardenersclub.org/ and there is a monthly newsletter.

Dues are $15 per calendar year. For information call Cherry at 831-475-0991. Make check to “The Gardeners’ Club” and mail to P.O. Box 3025, Ben Lomond, CA 95005. Meetings, when they are allowed, are at 7 p.m. on the 2nd Thursday of each month at the Aptos Grange, 2555 Mar Vista Drive, Aptos.

OPEN STUDIOS APPLICATION DEADLINE Friday, April 30, Midnight Arts Council Santa Cruz County is making plans for the 2021 Open Studios Art Tour following guidelines for health and safety. The dates are: South County Oct 2-3, North County Oct 9-10, and all county Oct 16-17.

All Santa Cruz County visual artists over age 18 are invited to apply to be a part of this event where local artists invite the public to experience art at the source. The deadline to apply is midnight, April 30. Open Studios & Events Director Ann Ostermann will host drop-in sessions via Zoom on March 23, April 3 and April 15 to assist artists in applying. For details, guidelines and FAQ, see https://santacruzopenstudios.com/

BUSINESS CLASSES ONLINE March and April Gavilan College and El Pajaro Community Development Corp. are partnering to offer free online business classes in Spanish. The class is open to Santa Cruz County residents.

The classes are 10-week training sessions that include business planning and 10 hours with a business advisor and will be from 9-11:50 a.m. Saturdays. If interested, you can enroll in: Entrepreneurship (BUS 700 40840), March 13- April 17, 2021, or Small Business Ownership (BUS 701 40841), April 24-May 22. For information, call Gavilan College Continuing Education at (408) 465-9520 or call El Pajaro Community Development Corporation at (831) 722-1224.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES March is Red Cross Month, and the Red Cross is thanking donors for stepping up to meet the constant need for blood amid the pandemic. All who come to give March 15-26 will receive a Red Cross T-shirt while supplies last.

All blood types are needed, especially Type O. Donors must be 17 and weigh at least 110 pounds.

To make an appointment, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Dates:

March 17: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St., Santa Cruz.

March 23: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St., Santa Cruz.

March 26: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St., Watsonville.

March 30: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hotel Paradox, 611 Ocean St., Santa Cruz.

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by March 22

cooking, tech and support groups to seniors age 60 and up in their homes at no cost. To participate, you need an internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone. To participate, view the calendar at https://communitybridges.org/ SCWOL/ and find a class. That day and time, click on the link in the calendar to be connected. If you have a problem connecting, call Clara Munoz at (831) 458-3481. SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK DRIVE-IN MOVIES SCHEDULE Saturdays in March X-Men (2000) — Mar. 20, 8 p.m. Austin Powers: Int’l Man of Mystery — Mar. 27, 8 p.m. Cost $35 per vehicle. Visit https://beachboardwalk.com/Drive-In-Movies for details and restrictions CINEMA CHAMINADE MOVIES IN MARCH Drive-up the hill to Chaminade Resort & Spa, 1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz, for a bottle of wine, delicious bites and free showings of classic flicks at 6 p.m. Seating is limited; seating begins at 5 p.m., first come, first served. Food and beverage will be available for purchase; no outside food or beverages are allowed. The schedule: • March 24: Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark • March 31: Night at the Museum

SECOND HARVEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Second Harvest Food Bank drive-through food distribution schedule:

Watsonville: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds

March 19 • April 2

Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

March 26 Food hotline: 831-662-0991.

ROADMAP TO RECOVERY VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS Nonprofit United Policyholders is hosting virtual workshops for wildfire survivors. The following workshops are scheduled: Thursday March 25 • 5:30 p.m.

Q&A on Financial Decision-making and Tax Implications After a Wildfire. To register for any of these events see: www.uphelp.org/r2r

CAREER MONTH AT CABRILLO Four free job fairs are available for current students at Cabrillo College in the month of April. The fairs take place from 3-5 p.m. four Thurs. starting April 8. Registration is required.

April 8 — global & human studies

April 15 — entrepreneur, business & creative

April 22 — health & public safety

April 29 — science tech engineering math

There are also four resume workshops on April 6, 12, 19 and 27 and four career coaching classes on April 7, 16, 20 and 26. Students can register and employers can post jobs at https:// www.cabrillo.edu/career-services/

ONGOING EVENTS

current-activities/.

Recent presentations included talks about preventative care for dogs and cats, an update from the Scotts Valley Water District, goal setting, trusts and estate planning, COVID-19, genealogy, Scotts Valley history and Santa Cruz history.

To participate, you need an Internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone. A one-time preregistration is required at https://tinyurl.com/SVSLA-5. Questions? Call George at (831) 334-7763. Senior Life Online is sponsored by Scotts Valley Senior Life Association (SVSLA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to promote healthy living for senior citizens. Information is at http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org.

Third Thursday of the Month PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third Thursday of each month. Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport or call 831-471-7255.

Fourth Thursday of the Month PARENT SUPPORT GROUP PVUSD, PVPSA and Kaiser Permanente offers support groups for Pajaro Valley families at 3 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month. The next dates are:

March 25: Meeting ID: 885 0351 4197 Password: 308147 https://tinyurl.com/y26ablzk

April 29, May 20 and June 3. To register, email marisol.maciel@pvpsa.org First and Third Sunday MAKERS’ MARKET First Sunday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2801 Mission St., Santa Cruz Third Sunday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz (Between Cathcart & Lincoln) Santa Cruz Mountains Makers Market is returning! The market is held every first Sunday outside the Wrigley Building and every third Sunday on Pacific Avenue (Downtown Santa Cruz). The Wrigley market features vintage and handmade art, food and drink. The Downtown market features over 30 local artists and makers.

There is no charge to attend the market. The Wrigley Market will open the following week if delayed for rain, weather permitting. Visit http://scmmakersmarket.com for more information. Available thru Sunday March 28

DATED EVENTS

Wednesday March 17

COASTAL OAK INTERIORS RIBBON CUTTING Noon, 7960 Soquel Dr., Ste D, Aptos Misty Mitchell, owner of Coastal Oak Interiors, will host a ribbon-cutting with the Aptos Chamber of Commerce at her new store in Aptos Village Square. Also look for the launching of the store’s website: www. CoastalOakInteriors.com

First and Third Monday Each Month SENIOR LIFE ONLINE 4 p.m., Online Meeting Join a local group of senior citizens for “Senior Life Online,” a free online (Zoom) program featuring a presentation by a local expert. Senior Life Online meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 4 p.m. View the schedule at http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org/ SOUL SALAD RIBBON CUTTING 12:30 p.m., 7957 Soquel Drive, across from Aptos Village Square Jeff Hickey, owner of Soul Salad, a new lunch spot featuring 100% organic produce, will host a ribbon cutting with the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.

He announced a “soft opening” on Facebook with hours from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and got more than 900 “likes.”

Salad ingredients include avocado, shredded beets, goat cheese, feta cheese, blue cheese, toasted pecans, chickpeas, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, and almond slivers in a variety of combinations. Some come with seared sesame-crusted tuna, roasted organic chicken or sliced steak. Small salads range from $7-11 and large salads $11-16. For a menu, see https://sites.google.com/view/softopening. To order online and schedule pickup, see https://www.toasttab. com/soulsalad/v3 To contact Soul Salad, email aptossalad@gmail.com or call 831-708-2106.

Thursday March 18

APTOS CHAMBER VIRTUAL LUNCH MEETING Noon-1 p.m., Zoom Casa de Fruta partner Gene Zanger will speak at the Aptos Chamber of Commerce virtual lunch meeting on Zoom. For link, RSVP at: https://docs.google.com/form s/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6x9UOIM9SsOeJUbRPSz6729L2oXFABkNakziz3LhAGBcFA/viewform Cost: $15 general/ $10 members/free for Premier and Grand Champion members.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LECTURE 7 p.m., Mt. Madonna School Public Lecture Series Online The next in Mount Madonna School’s public lecture series based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will be “American Democracy, American Racism,” featuring 1993 alum Laxmi Wordham.

She is a founding member of the Leadership Now Project, begun in 2017 by Harvard Business School alumni, which has added members in six cities. Leadership Now activates the networks of its members, promotes ranked-choice voting, collaborates with democracy organizations and mobilizes investments in reform organizations like OpenSecrets, and encourages companies to pull advertising dollars from platforms that spurred the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Formerly chief digital officer at The Michael J. Fox Foundation, she is co-founder of Hylofit, a health and wellness technology startup in the equestrian industry.

Wordham’s lecture relates to Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. All the events in the monthly series are via Zoom. Tickets are by donation, and can be ordered at sdgspeakerseries.org.

Friday March 19

MR. Z’S CREPES RIBBON CUTTING Noon, 7518 Soquel Drive, next to Aptos Food. Rocky and Ru Patel, owners of Mr. Z’s Crepes and Teas, will host a ribbon cutting with the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.

They serve sweet and savory crêpes, boba tea and açaí bowls. This is their second location; the first is at the Watsonville Hangar, 45 Aviation Way.

Crepes made fresh to order are $7-13, açaí bowls $10, smoothies and lattes $5-6 and teas $4-6. Gluten-free and dairy-free options are available. The menu, which is the same at both locations, is at https:// mrzsteas.com/

Saturday March 20

21-DAY FOOD CHALLENGE KICKOFF 11:30 a.m., Homeless Garden Project Virtual Party The Homeless Garden Project will host a virtual kickoff for the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Food Challenge, featuring remarks from U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, performances from Senderos and a presentation by Challenge organizers Curtis Ogden and Karen Spiller of Food Solutions New England.

Homeless Garden Project, in their first year partnering with the Challenge, invites community participation.

The Challenge, in its 7th year, consists of short email prompts delivered each morning from April 5-25 to give individuals and organizations an opportunity to understand issues of land access, health and hunger in the American food system.

Last year, the Challenge reached 7,000 participants in all 50 states. To register visit: https://bit.ly/HGP21Day

11TH ANNUAL SHE.IS.BEAUTIFUL SANTA CRUZ 5K, 10K & HALF MARATHON Virtual or Touchless Race information available via registration Founded by Melissa McConville, the She.is.beautiful race started with 500 women in Santa Cruz and has grown to 6,000. This year’s events offer options for COVID safety. She.is.beautiful’s local charity partner is Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center.

The Santa Cruz Half Marathon and SIB Challenge events are sold out. Registration is still open for the 5k and 10k races.

Virtual Race Week is Monday, March 15-Sunday, March 21, with the Touchless Santa Cruz Experience March 18-21.

The difference between the Virtual and the Touchless race options is that for the Virtual you can participate anywhere in the world and your swag pack is sent to you, and the Touchless option means you will come to Santa Cruz, pick up your swag bag and participate on the actual race course during race week. The Touchless option includes a Passport to Santa Cruz where you can redeem free items at businesses all over town (coffee, pedicures, cookies, beer and wine, and plants). Virtual Live Race will take place Saturday, March 20, with all levels welcome. Register at https://runsheisbeautiful.com/

Saturday March 20 Saturday March 27

ADU DESIGN CLASS 10 a.m.-Noon, Cabrillo College Online Architect Jamileh Cannon, co-owner of Santa Cruz design company Workbench, will lead a two-session class on building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on your property. The class will be held via Zoom for Cabrillo College Extension.

The class will cover: How to determine ADU feasibility on your property, the process for designing and building an ADU, rough costs for different sizes, building on a slope, cost of utilities, different costs by city/region, water meter fees, how to save money during design and construction, timeframe, how a loan can be used for construction, and payoff time, and common pitfalls. The fee is $65. Register at Cabrillo.edu/extension.

Monday March 22

SPRING GARDEN PESTS 5–6:30 p.m., UC Master Gardeners of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties Online Spring is the time to set out tender seedlings and plant sprouting seeds that can be quickly decimated by slugs, snails and birds. Gophers are especially active in spring, their breeding season, looking for roots to nibble and pull whole plants underground.

Using the Integrated Pest Management approach, UC Master Gardeners Delise Weir & Trink Praxel will discuss methods to prevent damage before it happens and minimize the damage after an attack.

UC Master Gardeners of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties offers free and low-cost gardening classes, serving Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties.

Cost: Free, Donations accepted For further information and to register, visit mbmg.ucanr.edu.

BEES, WASPS, HONEY AND HIVES

Saturday March 27

10 a.m.-3 p.m., Pacific Grove Museum Science Saturday online Pacific Grove Museum Science Saturday presents Bees, Wasps, Honey and Hives.

Do all bees make honey? How do you tell a wasp from a bee? Do all bees sting? Find the answers as you complete a craft, and learn about some of the most important local pollinators. Videos will be uploaded at https://www.pgmuseum.org/museum-events/2021/3/27/science-saturday-bees-waspshoney-and-hives

Wednesday March 24

BRANDENBURG CONCERTO 300TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Monterey will host a worldwide celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Brandenburg Concerto, a JS Bach masterpiece, with two Livestreams – one at 2 to 3:30 p.m., and the second at 7 to 8:30 p.m. on March 24 via Zoom.

This celebration is sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the Music and Performing Arts Department at CSU Monterey Bay.

It’s all completely free – a gift to the world from Monterey, California, to honor one of the most significant pieces of music ever written.

The Brandenburg is a significant part of Monterey County’s cultural history – the Carmel Bach Festival, starting in its second year (1936), played all or part of it every year for 21 years, and dozens of times since. Zoom Links March 24, 2 p.m. Showing: https://csumb.zoom. us/j/85276768706 March 24, 7 p.m. Showing: https://csumb.zoom. us/j/88080717562 For information, or to register (optional) go to https://brandenburgconcerto300thanniversary.com

Thursday March 25

SANTA MARGARITA GROUNDWATER AGENCY MEETING 5:30-8:30 p.m., online The Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency is seeking applications for an alternate well owner representative, which will be discussed at the meeting. Applications for the job are due by 5 p.m. Monday, March 15. View the meeting and/or apply online at smgwa.org The agency was formed to prepare a groundwater sustainability plan for Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley, which must be submitted to the state by January 2022.

TALK: LEARN FROM BEACHES 6 p.m., Hardcore Natural History virtual series Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History presents a virtual talk by Dr. Mara Orescanin, an assistant professor of oceanography at the Naval Postgraduate School on “Connections Between Land and Sea: What We Can Learn From Our Beaches.” At Carmel River State Beach, sand builds up in the summer isolating the lagoon. In winter, high flow in the Carmel River can breach the lagoon. Where and when the water will breach changes year to year and is variable within the same season.

When, where and how frequently the river breaches affect the water quality and temperature of the lagoon, which impacts steelhead trout and also potential for flooding. Understanding these systems is important for resource managers and planners considering interventions like mechanical breaching.

This is part of the yearlong virtual series, Hardcore Natural History, addressing science behind current issues. Audience members must register online at https://tinyurl.com/PGMNHlearn-beaches by 5 p.m. the day of the event to get a Zoom link to the webinar. Admission is free, but the suggested donation is $15 per person.

Friday March 26

CINDERACULA MOVIE PREMIERE 8 p.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Drive-In, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz The Little People’s Repertory Theatre of Ben Lomond, pivoting in the pandemic, will present “Cinderacula and The Campaign of Unfortunate Events,” an original film written by Janine Chadwick.

Filmed in quarantine pods, tapping Eli Triona as a graphic designer and Andrew Crocker of Crocker Creations as cinematographer, the movie was directed by Jocelyn McMahon-Babalis, with technical director Michael Lauren, musical direction by Gabe House, and choreography by Sadie Rose.

The story features Cinderella running for vice president, a family of vampires spreading their curse to the citizens of Transylvania, and a prince who wants to be elected president by free and fair elections. The parking lot opens at 7 p.m.; tickets are $25 and limited to 130 cars and must be purchased online at LPRT.org. Concessions will be available for purchase before the movie begins.

Saturday March 27

BOARDWALK OPEN AIR MARKET 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk plans an Open Air Market 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdarday, March 27, with ocean views and shopping at up to 30 local artisan and direct sales booths. Face masks will be required. If you are a local artist, maker or business, apply for a booth at https://beachboardwalk.com/ Open-Air-Market?utm_source=Email&utm_ medium=Email&utm_campaign=Open%20Air%20Market VALLEY WOMEN’S CLUB ANNUAL MEETING 11:30 a.m. Sunday, March 28 The Valley Women’s Club will have its annual meeting online this year due to the pandemic. View at valleywomensclub.org

Tuesday March 30

DEFENSIBLE SPACE WEBINAR 6 -7 p.m., Facebook Live Stream or Zoom Meeting. FireSafe Marin County presents a free Webinar: “Creating Defensible Space: Zones 1, 2, & 3” From March 30

Join on Facebook live stream or via Zoom here: https://firesafemarin.zoom.us/j/87382415962

Or by telephone: 1 669 900 9128

Webinar ID: 873 8241 5962 Future topics in this monthly series are landscaping, environmental best practices and fire insurance and pet evacuation.

Tuesday April 6

WALLACE STEGNER LECTURES*: JOSÉ ANDRÉS 7 p.m., Online Lecture Chef, restaurateur and humanitarian José Andrés will appear in conversation with Bay Area food personality Jesse Ziff Cool to discuss his work as founder of World Central Kitchen, helping to feed those in need throughout the course of the pandemic.

Andrés is a Michelin-starred, James Beard Award-winning Spanish-American chef, as well as the author of three cookbooks and the New York Times best-selling José Andrés We Fed an Island, which describes how Andrés and his team cooked for thousands of hungry people in Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Andrés advocates for sustainability in the restaurant industry. https://openspacetrust.org/wsl-2021/ ••• *Cost for the Wallace Stegner Lecture Series is $30. The price gives you access to four lectures, plus the ability to watch recordings until April 30. This includes January’s Dolores Huerta & Luis Valdez and April’s José Andrés ectures.

Saturday April 10

PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE 5 p.m. The second installment of your tax bill is due Feb. 1 and becomes delinquent after 5 p.m. with penalties if not received by the Santa Cruz County Tax Collector by that date and time. Drop boxes for checks are available at the county Governmental Center, 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz.

Sunday April 11

PRESCRIBED BURN WORKSHOPS 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Davenport • Registration due by April 4. Learn the fundamentals of prescribed firelighting and wildland firefighting during this hands-on field training in Davenport.

Training will cover fireline construction, communications, prescribed fire ignitions, operation of a firefighting pump, installation of a hose-lay and more.

You will be prepared to participate in local cooperative burns hosted by the new Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association (calpba.org). If you do not have wildfire or prescribed fire experience, the one-day workshop will be a prerequisite for participation in future CCPBA burns so don’t miss out.

The training can certify you as a Basic Wildland Firefighter 2, with pre-completion of online coursework plus an “arduous pack-test” prior to attending the in-person field day if you are interested. Cost: $20 with scholarships available upon request. Space is limited. Full Details and Registration at: https://ucanr.edu/survey/ survey.cfm?surveynumber=33128. For questions email Jared Childress (childress.ember@gmail. com) or Devii Rao (drorao@ucanr.edu). n