Aptos Times: May 15, 2021

Family Owned For Over 30 Years • Aptos, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, Freedom & Watsonville

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May 15, 2021 • Vol 30 No. 10

Heroes in Prevention Honored by PVPSA

Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance will honor the 2021 Heroes In Prevention Award winners at a virtual ceremony at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 13, on Zoom and Facebook Live.

Full Story page 5

Boardwalk Offers $2,700 Summer Bonus Full Story page 6

Farewell, Seabreeze Tavern

By Jondi Gumz The oldest building in Rio del Mar, built just steps away from the sandy beach, met the wrecking ball Monday.

The age of the building has been reported variously as 1925, 1928 and 1932.

Last known as the Seabreeze Tavern, the Spanish Revival-style building was declared unsafe after a blaze on a Sunday night June 14, 2020 – the cause was never determined. ... continues on page 4

Aptos Tennis: League Champions

After a challenging year resulting from the pandemic, the Aptos High School Varsity Girls Tennis Team was patient, adapted to, and eventually overcame adversity to become the back-toback Santa Cruz County Athletic League tennis champions.

Full Story page 11

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No. 10

Volume 30

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Table of Contents

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Cover

Farewell, Seabreeze Tavern, By Jondi Gumz

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Community News Heroes in Prevention Honored by PVPSA Boardwalk Offers $2.7K Summer Bonus: Vaccine OK for Kids 12-15; SBA Sends Out Restaurant Aid, By Jondi Gumz 7 PV Chamber Announces Community Awards 8 I Heart Fairgrounds Raises $51k 9 PV Water Rates Going Up For Five Years • Ag Day Luncheon: Celebrating Spring & the Vaccine 10 Affordable Housing Month Update • Budget Hearings Start June 21 • Cannacraft To Pay $300,000 Settlement in Ad Case • Herlindo Fernandez Promoted To Supervisor • Push to Fully Fund Special Education • Stimulus Payments Available to Homeless 12 Tight Window For No-Cost Chipping 13 Bioluminescence 14 RTC On Electric Passenger Rail 15 National Guard: Food Bank Mission Accomplished 16 Nisene Rio Gateway To Host ‘Beers & Shears Wines & Vines’, By Jondi Gumz 18 Youth Leadership in a Pandemic: A Great Opportunity 19 La Selva Library Debuts Active Browsing 20 Preparing for the 2021 Harvest, By Christopher Valadez 23 Social Justice Champions 27 Dear America:Book to Action Program Covers Jose Antonio Vargas’ Story About Living as an Undocumented American • Caltrans Cleans Up Highway Litter

Local Sports 11 Aptos Tennis: League Champions, By Karl Lee

California News 12 New Attorney General Bonta to Release Gun Violence Data

Business Profile 17 Rainbow Carpet One: Floor Coverings Galore, By Edita McQuary

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Festivals, Retrogrades, Full Moon & Eclipse — All Under Gemini, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

Featured Columnists 22 On Graduation, Summer School and Fall Options, Q&A With Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District 24 ‘Is It Now Safe to Hug?’, By Joyce and Barry Vissell 25 Can I Get Refund from Airbnb for My Cancellation?, By Christopher Elliott 30 Priced Out of Internet?: Talking About Solutions for Santa Cruz County Residents, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Cypress Is Ready For Some TLC

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COVER STORY Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

publisher editor

contributing writers Jondi Gumz, Christopher Valadez, Karl Lee, Edita McQuary, Risa D’Angeles, Michelle Rodriguez, Joyce and Barry Vissell, Christopher Elliott, Zach Friend 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 media consultants Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine office coordinator Cathe Race distribution Bill Pooley, James Hudson

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 ©2021. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission

“Seabreeze Tavern” from page 1 With no roof, the walls of the building at 101 Esplanade were weakened, and engineer Chuck Voong concluded it was not salvageable. He recommended the county demolish the structure, and the county’s Historic Resources Commission concurred.

Rich McInnis was the last owner to operate the tavern but he had financial difficulties, filing for bankruptcy and falling behind on the property taxes.

Wedgewood, a housing developer that acquired the 3,870-square-foot lot with the fire-damaged structure, listed it for $799,900 and sold it in January for $1,212,000 to Omar Billawalla, an attorney in San Jose.

Paul Zech of Coldwell Banker, who represented the seller, said Billawalla doesn’t know yet what he’ll do with the property.

Attenpts to reach Billawalla were not successful.

A backhoe operator slowly pulls apart the Seabreeze Tavern.

The fenced-off vacant lot next to where the tavern operated is owned by the county. n

Photo Credit: Kevin Painchaud

Locals line the beach walkway watching the demolition of the Seabreeze Tavern building.

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 / May 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Photo Credit: John Hibble

Cover Photo: The Seabreeze Tavern building being demolished. • Photo Credit: Kevin Painchaud

Photo Credit: Kevin Painchaud

Workers watch for any issues early in the demolition of the Seabreeze Tavern building.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Heroes in Prevention Honored by PVPSA P ajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance will honor the 2021 Heroes In Prevention Award winners at a virtual ceremony at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 13, on Zoom and Facebook Live.

Awards will go to Dori Rose Inda, Andrew Martinez, Lupita Rojas, Jacob Martinez, Karina Alvarez, and the Watsonville Campesino Appreciation Caravan. Mas and Marcia Hashimoto

Mas and Marcia Hashimoto

will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Prevention Award.

Longtime PVPSA board member and member of the event’s committee Dick Allen said, “These award recipients have demonstrated a passion for the empowerment of others. They apply their skills to bring forth opportunities for individuals and for the community at large. We believe that it is time the community recognizes them and acknowledges their time, passion and skill to help others.”

The ceremony will feature keynote speaker Watsonville Chief of Police David Honda, who is retiring this year.

This is PVPSA’s first in-person event in 15 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, taking place outdoors under a tent adhering to all regulations. Attendance is by invitation and limited to 50 people. n ••• The event will be live-streamed via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82808991428 and on Facebook: facebook.com/pajaro.valley. prevention

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Boardwalk Offers $2.7K Summer Bonus

Vaccine OK for Kids 12-15; SBA Sends Out Restaurant Aid

By Jondi Gumz Here’s a COVID-19 impact I never expected – the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk offering a $2,700 summer season bonus to fill jobs in rides, games and food service to open more of the seaside amusement park.

Workers can get a $300 a week bonus for up to nine weeks, which adds up to $2,700. The bonus matches the boost in jobless benefits recently extended by the federal government.

You’ll see plenty of “we’re hiring” notices on store windows or on Indeed. com: Bittersweet Bistro, Burger, Seascape Beach Resort, New Leaf Market, Ace Hardware, RiteAid, Safeway, Wells Fargo, Peet’s Coffee and Starbucks, all in Aptos, Wylder Space, the new food venue in Felton, McDonald’s in Scotts Valley, to name a few.

The Glass Jar, which owns The Penny Ice Creamery in Aptos, The Picnic Basket and Snap Taco, plans a job fair 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 1108 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.

With 15,953 recovered COVID-19 cases, only 91 active cases and 273,000 vaccinations, the pandemic outlook in

Santa Cruz County is better than ever but businesses trying to meet customer demands can’t find employees, according to an April Bloomberg Businessweek report.

A March survey by the National Federation of Independent Business found 42 percent of small business surveyed couldn’t fill jobs, compared to a historic average of 22 percent.

The unemployment rate in Santa Cruz County in March was 8.1 percent compared with 7.4 percent a year ago, and that’s with 9,000 people taking themselves out of the workforce.

Moms are still at home overseeing schooling for their kids because most schools, including the Pajaro Valley Unified, are not offering in-school instruction full-time.

That extra $300 a week in jobless benefits until Sept. 6 approved by Congress and signed into law by President Biden as the American Rescue Plan keeps some at home.

“COVID Update” page 8

A poster at Bookshop Santa Cruz encourages people to get their COVID-19 vaccine. This poster is one of nine displayed in Santa Cruz County. They were created by Crush Covid Team members Amanda Altice, Caroline Bliss-Isberg, Peggy Burgess, Kathy Cytron, Jenny Evans, Emma Forbes, Karen Gallant, Dr. Susan Hughmanick, Marilyn Humphrey,Angela Marshall, Barbara Meyer, Chris Stacey, and Chris Tucker, with help from Ken Reichman, Ken Koenig, and the members of ARRT.

COMMUNITY NEWS

PV Chamber Announces Community Awards T he Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture announces the 59th Annual Award honorees.

The Annual Awards Dinner will take place outdoors at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 31, at the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds in Watsonville. The Theme is “An Afternoon in Paradise.” Tickets are $100 per person at EventBrite.com.

••• Lifetime Achievement

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Ken and Anne Dobler Family

Watsonville native, Ken Dobler at age 12 joined his father and brother at Dobler & Sons produce company which this year celebrates 70 years of farming in the Pajaro Valley.

His wife Anne Lukrich, also a Watsonville native, become a registered nurse and worked in the Surgery and Emergency Departments of Watsonville Community Hospital. Ken served in the Army Reserves and, in 1964, he and Anne married.

Their children are Steven, Deanne and Craig. Through the years they have supporting multiple local organizations, foundations, churches, schools and youth sports program, often behind the scenes, buying hot dogs for the Little League home team, for example. Ken was a board member of The Grower Shipper Vegetable Association and The Watsonville Community Hospital Foundation.

He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus and serves on the Board of the Pajaro Valley Historical Association where he was vice president. He’s member of the Watsonville High School Hall of Fame. While their children attended Moreland Notre Dame, Anne devoted herself to being a volunteer participating on the Mother’s Guild, volunteered as school nurse and serving as Room Mother.

She helped raise money for Omega Nu and Children’s Home Society, volunteered for the Red Cross Blood Bank and served on the board of the Watsonville High School Foundation.

Both Anne and Ken are active volunteers with the Pajaro Valley Historical

Ken and Anne Dobler (center) with Family

Association. Their children and grandchildren are following in their footsteps by collectively supporting the community as board members of Moreland Notre Dame School, Saint Francis High School, Salsipuedes and Pajaro Valley Little Leagues, The Jean & Ed Kelly Foundation, Grower Shipper Association, Knights of Columbus #958; coaching local Little League baseball and YMCA basketball; leader for the YMCA Adventure Guides program; and assisting at Loaves and Fishes.

Read More About The Dobler Family at: https://tinyurl.com/PVCA-Dobler

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Man of the Year

Chuck Allen

huck Allen has worked with local farming and food processing companies with real estate services for more than 50 years and has actively served on many nonprofit boards.

As president of Landmark Real Estate Co./Heritage Development, Chuck and his local investor team worked to develop the 150-acre assembled Chuck Allen residential land served

by Ohlone Parkway from Beach Road to Harkins Slough Road, and develop and build the 95-room Red Roof Inn, today known as Roadway Inn. He and his wife Ramona managed the Red Roof Inn for a decade and received national “guest satisfaction” awards.

After selling the hotel in 2009, Chuck and Ramona became associated with the International Keller Williams Realty, as its Santa Cruz/Monterey County industrial and agricultural agent. He is vice president of the Pajaro Valley Historical Association and president of the North Monterey County Foundation, an active member of the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation, and charter member of the Agricultural History Project board of directors. He is an active Watsonville Rotarian for 40 years and was a member of the Watsonville Salvation Army Advisory Board for 25 years, serving as chairman.

He was a board member of the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture in the 1970s. Other organizations he’s served: Pajaro Rescue Mission, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, 17 years; Watsonville Antique Fly In, board chair for 3 years; director, Watsonville Food Processor’s Association, 10 years; Santa Cruz County Visitors and Convention Bureau board, 5 years; Christians in Com-

merce, 32 years; and Casa de la Cultura (Sister Rosa Delores), board member.

Chuck and his wife also operate a Christian-based “sober living environment” home for 15 men in Watsonville.

Chuck has been married to Ramona for 35 years and between them have 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 4 great granddaughters.

Read More About Chuck Allen at: https:// tinyurl.com/PVCA-CAllen

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Woman of the Year

Stephanie Fontana

tephanie Fontana worked tirelessly 12-to-15-hour days from August through October as the livestock coordinator for the CZU Lightning Complex fire evacuees. A volunteers for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) in Santa Cruz County, she was the livestock coordinator for fire, overseeing evacuations from day one.

Fire evacuee Brian Smart said she had a welcoming demeanor and mitigated issues Stephanie Fontana in a calm, caring and professional manner. Fontana has been the governor’s appointment on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds board of directors for nine years and currently chairs the board.

She was a 4H camp counselor for 10 years and was a program representative for eight years as a board member serving Santa Cruz and San Benito counties through the University of California. When her grandmother, Estell Fontana, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Stephanie left her career to care for her.

Stephanie volunteers at Resurrection Church of Aptos, helping the Homeless Shower Project, assisting with food, clothing and necessities. She is an advocate for the Watsonville Pride

Project, volunteering in their community awareness campaign.

Read More About Stephanie Fontana at: https://tinyurl.com/PVCA-SFontana

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Business of the Year

Monument Lumber

n 1952, Red Shugart and Harry Stephenson opened Monument True Value Hardware and Lumber and the store remains in the original location almost 70 years later. Now under the management of Red’s sons, Calvin and Mark, Monument Lumber treats customers like family.

At 96, Mrs. Shugart still comes in Tuesdays to counts the True Value inventory.

Monument Lumber has sponsored local youth sports for the last 69 years including Little League, Pony League and Babe Ruth baseball, YMCA basketball, indoor soccer teams and an independent girl’s softball team. Their generosity goes well beyond sponsorships; they have given to countless youth programs, churches, missionaries and schools. In July 2019, they received the Beautification of the Month Award from the City of Watsonville.

Last year, with the CZU fire destroying so many homes and displacing people and animals. Calvin heard about the need for supplies to help the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds take care of families and their animals, so they opened up the store for those supplies, just like his father would have done.

Read More About Monument Lumber at: https://tinyurl.com/PVCA-Monument-Lumber “PV Chamber Awards” page 13

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“COVID Update” from page 6 Some may worry about contracting COVID-19 while working. However, the San Francisco school system found zero cases connected to the return of in-person instruction three weeks ago, with 20 cases due to community transmission. Locally, household transmission has been the biggest factor, according to the Santa Cruz County health database.

Santa Cruz County, one of 38 in the state’s Orange Tier, reports 205 deaths and 134,000 negative test results but an April uptick in cases means a move into the Yellow Tier, the least restrictive, allowing more capacity at outdoor events such as school graduations, is postponed another week.

On April 27, the county’s adjusted case rate went up from 1.4 cases per day per 100,000 people to 2.1 cases per day, and it has to be below 2 for two weeks to qualify.

On May 11, it was 1.5 cases per day.

Until the numbers are reviewed next Tuesday, gyms, saunas, dance and yoga studios, wineries, breweries and bowling alleys must stay at 25 percent capacity and not go up to 50 percent – a tough restriction for profitability.

Test positivity was .5 percent, below the 2 percent the Yellow Tier requires.

Restaurants that survived a roller coaster of regulations – must do takeout, outdoor service allowed, some indoor service allowed, then only outdoor, now indoor allowed – are supposed to get their first relief check from the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund. More than 16,000 applicants approved by the federal Small Business Administration are to share $2 billion in aid.

Applications filed at the SBA online portal at https://restaurants.sba.gov will be processed until the money runs out.

The Rescue Plan allocated $16 billion for Shuttered Venues Operator Grants, a first for the SBA, but it’s not clear how many Santa Cruz County venues — many closed for a year — might get funding.

SBA chief Isabella Casillas Guzman has been under fire for slow rollout of Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which were funded early in 2020.

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce won’t organize the 4th of July parade or the party at Aptos Village Park this year, but the 4th of July parade in Scotts Valley will return, organized by City Council member Donna Lind.

Look for Cabrillo Stage in Aptos to present musicals outdoors in June and July.

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the Latinx community locally, and the Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County will address that subject at its annual forum, which will

be virtual 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27.

Attendees will explore ways to address the root causes of health, economic and social inequities.

In Capitola, temporary outdoor dining is allowed through Sept. 7.

Vaccine For Kids n May 10, federal regulators granted emergency use authorization for the two-shot Pfizer vaccine, for kids ages 12 to 15, following clinical trials for that age group.

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education is teaming up with Salud Para La Gente, Safeway, Dignity Health, Dominican Hospital and county Public Health to provide vaccine clinics for students age 16-18. Next in the works: Vaccines clinics for students 12 to 15.

Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, superintendent of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, and her fellow superintendents sent an April 21 letter to parents, noting “a report published by the CDC found in-person instruction does not pose a major risk of COVID-19 to children as long as they continue to wear face coverings and maintain adequate physical distance between themselves and others.”

The vaccine is free and voluntary.

Parental consent is required, with families being notified via email.

The superintendents’ letter states: “We are committed to ensure that all families and students have access to vaccination regardless of income level, ZIP code, immigration status and /or whether have health insurance or not.”

Santa Cruz County health officials have prioritized equity, allocating 60 percent of its doses for the greater Watsonville area and its Latinx community, which has seen the most cases.

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education has a campaign in Spanish to encourage educators, childcare workers and farmworkers get the vaccine. For information, 831-466-5906.

On April 27, the federal Centers for Disease Control issued new guidelines on wearing masks to prevent COVID spread, saying fully vaccinated people can skip the mask outdoors — unless they’re in a big crowd.

President Joe Biden told the Associated Press, “If you’re vaccinated, you can do more things.”

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I Heart Fairgrounds Raises $51k

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n December, four generous groups each put up $5,000 and challenged the community to match it in hopes of raising a total of $40,000 to fund the work of the Fairgrounds Foundation.

Happily those hopes were far exceeded as the 2021 Challenge Grant brought in $51,125.

Here are the four groups who each donated $5,000: • Keller Williams Realty (Chuck and Ramona Allen of KW Ag & Commercial Real Estate and Renee Mello of Renee Mello & Associates) • Rosario and Patricia Rodriguez, El Mercado Popular • Sunrise Rotary Club, Santa Cruz

Cabrillo Graduation abrillo College will host a virtual commencement ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday, May 21 to honor graduates. The community at large is invited, and graduates are welcome to celebrate on social media.

Gov. Newsom, who is being subjected to recall, aims to fully reopen the state June 15, allowing conventions to resume with attendance capped 5,000.

To look for a vaccine is the state system at www.MyTurn.ca.gov.

Most health providers are on this platform, making it easier to track California’s vaccination progress.

But federally qualified health care centers such as Salud Para La Gente and Santa Cruz Community Health are not using MyTurn, so to get an appointment there, go to santacruzhealth.org, click on vaccines and follow the directions.

The Toll COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 61,000 Californians.

Deaths in Santa Cruz County have leveled off at 205, with 50 percent of deaths at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, a percentage that was higher early in the pandemic.

Locally, 78 percent of those who died were age 70 or older and 78 percent had other health conditions — those percentages have remained stable.

A year after the pandemic began, with 33 million vaccine doses administered and case rates plummeting, 11 counties are in the Red Tier and 38 in the Orange Tier, 9 in the Yellow Tier.

Santa Cruz County reported zero people hospitalized with COVID on Wednesday.

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County COVID Deaths 205 As of May 12

Age 90 and up: 56 • 80 to 89: 62 • 70 to 79: 43

• Don and Diane Cooley, Porter Ranch When the Cooleys learned the community had met their challenge, they made another donation in memory of their son, Steve Cooley, who recently died.

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation was founded in 2002 to help maintain and develop new facilities on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

Through the generosity of the community the organization has invested more than $2 million in fairgrounds upgrades.

The foundation funds an annual Heritage Hog Scholarship and has developed a Youth Leadership Program for high school students. More information is available at fairgrounds-foundation.org. n 60 to 69: 27 • 50 to 59: 5 • 40 to 49: 7 30 to 39: 5 Race/Ethnicity White: 114 • Latinx: 74 • Asian: 15 Black: 1 • Amer. Indian/Alaskan Native: 1 Underlying Conditions Yes: 159 • No: 46 Gender Male: 101 • Female: 104 Skilled Nursing/Residential Care Santa Cruz Post Acute: 20 Watsonville Post Acute: 18 Pacific Coast Manor: 14 Hearts & Hands Post Acute: 8 Sunshine Villa: 7 • Aegis: 4 Maple House 1: 4 • Valley Convalescent: 4 Watsonville Nursing Center: 4 Montecito Manor: 3 • De Un Amor: 2 Dominican Oaks: 2 • Driftwood: 2 Hanover House: 2 • Maple House II: 2 Rachelle’s Home 1: 2 • La Posada: 1 Paradise Villa: 1 • Rachelle’s Home II: 1 Valley Haven: 1 • Westwind: 1 Total: 103 Not at a facility: 102 COVID Cases by Town Aptos: 815 • Ben Lomond: 126 Boulder Creek: 154 • Capitola: 460 Felton: 156 • Freedom: 1,008 Santa Cruz: 3,965 • Scotts Valley: 442 Soquel: 359 • Watsonville: 8,222 Unincorporated: 256 Under investigation: 286 Total: 16,249 Source: Santa Cruz County Public Health ••• Editor’s Note: Would you like to share your family’s COVID-19 story? Email Jondi Gumz at info@cyber-times.com or call 831688-7549 x17.

See what can open in the Orange Tier at https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.

COMMUNITY NEWS

PV Water Rates Going Up For Five Years O n April 21, the Board of Directors of the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency adopted higher rates for the next five years to fund projects and programs to help stop groundwater overdraft and seawater intrusion.

The rate increase for fiscal year 2021-22 will take effect Dec. 1, 2021, five months later than initially planned, while future adjustments will go into effect on July 1 of each year through 2025.

Augmentation charge for a rural residence is $115 now and will rise to $163 on July 1, 2025.

Augmentation charge inside delivered water zone is $338 per acre-foot now and will rise to $486 per acre foot on July 1, 2025.

Augmentation charge outside delivered water zone is $246 per acre-foot now and will rise to $346 per acre foot on July 1, 2025.

Delivered water charge is $392 per acre-foot now and will rise to $501 per acrefoot on July 1, 2025.

An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons of water.

The new charges for delivered water and groundwater augmentation

will provide the revenue to support construction of the College Lake Integrated Resources Management Project, the Watsonville Slough System Managed Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Projects, water conservation programs, along with planning and permitting activities. The projects will add much needed supply to the agency’s supplemental water system.

Use of supplemental water offsets groundwater production while helping to keep agriculture viable in the Pajaro Valley.

Ag Day Luncheon: Celebrating Spring & the Vaccine

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he 2021 National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon will take place outdoors Wednesday, May 19, with the theme, “Celebrating Spring and the Vaccine!”

The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, with the organization, Agri-Culture, will host the luncheon, at 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, May 19, at Patty Smith Park (outdoors) at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Tickets are $50 per person. Reservations are at http:// www.sccfb.com/news/national-agricultureday-spring-luncheon/or (831) 724-1356.

One of the highlights will be the presentation of the Al Smith Friend of Agriculture Award. Al Smith was the founder of Orchard Supply Hardware and donated 3,000 acres (Swanton Pacific Ranch) in the north coast to Cal Poly. The ranch has row crops, timber and even a one-third-scale railroad, which was Al’s hobby.

The award is presented annually to an individual, business or organization not involved in production agriculture but one who has done much for the industry. This

year’s award will be presented by last year’s honoree, Sam Earnshaw.

Another feature is this year’s contest winners will be introduced.Farm Bureau and Agri-Culture co-sponsor a poster contest (grades K-6) and poetry contest (grades 7-12) in Santa Cruz County and Pajaro Valley schools.

The winning entries will be displayed during the luncheon and a placemat featuring the 2019 poster contest winner, Luna Caddes, 6th grader from Santa Cruz Montessori School in Aptos will be on the tables. Also on the placemat will be the 2019 poetry contest winning entry

by Bridget Smith, 7th grader from Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville.

The following 2021 Agri-Culture Scholarships will be presented at the luncheon: the Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship, the Jeannie Witmer Memorial Scholarship. The Laura Brown Memorial Scholarship and the JJ Crosetti, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. n ••• For information call (831) 724-1356 or email sccfb@sbcglobal.net.

“As a grower, I pay for water. I pay for a lot of water and it’s very costly,” said Javier Zamora, who is on the water agency’s board and spoke during the public hearing. “I am not getting more money for my strawberries or vegetables but it is part of doing business. I can tell you this will be a difficult pill for me to swallow, very difficult.”

But he supported the increases,

saying, “If we don’t do it, who else is going to come in and do it? No one will come with a magic wand and eliminate saltwater intrusion and say, ‘keep pumping as much as you want’ unfortunately that is not the case. We need to collaborate as individuals and community members and face our problem. We have to tackle things right away and not leave it for mañana. We gotta get it done and that’s what the Agency is trying to do.”

Leading up to the April 21 public hearings and vote on the rate setting ordinances, PV Water hosted a series of rate setting public workshops to provide information and respond to questions on the 2021 Cost of Service Rate Study.

An Ad Hoc Funding Committee, composed of ratepayers with representation from the City of Watsonville, small water districts, growers of different sizes and commodities, and individual well owners, reviewed and recommended for Board approval the rate study in February 2021.

“PV Water Rates” page 10

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COMMUNITY BRIEFS Affordable Housing Month Update ousing Santa Cruz County, a coalition dedicated to making Santa Cruz County affordable to all, will observe Affordable Housing Month with a panel presentation Thursday, May 20, featuring Board of Supervisors Chair Bruce McPherson, Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra, Santa Cruz Mayor Donna Meyers, Scotts Valley Mayor Derek Timm, and Capitola Vice Mayor Sam Storey talking about their community’s efforts to address the affordable housing needs of their residents.

Register in advance: https://tinyurl. com/SCHousing-afford-panel (Full URL: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/ tJEodOqtqDwpHtMK4jmghWVe8JiPd0ngPTUr) ——— Other events:

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May 19

• Encouraging landlords to participate in Housing Choice Voucher (Housing Authority Section 8) program.

Register at https:// zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_LlwSRzIbQeKX_aDgISxdrQ • Yes in My Back Yard YIMBY hosts a talk, “Why is the Rent So Damn High?” from 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Register at https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZAsfuqrqz0jGtab0Ag03eRlVYhSMcI-dXsM

May 21

• Monterey Bay Economic Partnership explains Housing Elements and Regional Housing Needs Allocations and how they impact planning efforts to meet housing needs, 10- 11:30 a.m.

May 22

• By invitation only, groundbreaking in Live Oak for 11-chair Dientes Community Dental Care clinic and 20,000-square-foot clinic for Santa Cruz Community Health plus 57 affordable housing units in the second phase, 10-11 a.m. Watch live on Facebook, Dientes and Santa Cruz Community Health

May 25

• Ecovillage housing plan in development at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Soquel using straw, wood and earth and teaching future residents building skills, 7-8 p.m.

“PV Water Rates” from page 9 On Feb. 17, the Board adopted the Rate Study and Resolution 2021-05 Adopting Procedures for Public Hearing, Notice, and Protest Concerning Proposed Revisions to Augmentation Charge and Delivered Water Charge.

——— See a full calendar of local #Affordable HousingMonth webinars, virtual workshops and community conversations at www.housingsanta cruzcounty.com/affordable-housing-month.

••• Budget Hearings Start June 21 n May 6, the County of Santa Cruz released a proposed budget of $881 million for 2021-22 and scheduled budget hearings to begin June 21 and conclude June 29.

As the county begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and recover from the CZU Lightning complex fires, the proposed budget allocates funding under the direction and vision of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.

Despite a 13 percent reduction in spending from the prior fiscal year, the budget includes support for pandemic response, public safety and fire recovery.

It incorporates a proposed $593 million general fund, down 2.7 percent from the prior fiscal year.

For details see http://www.santacruzcounty.us or use the online interactive tool at sccbudget.com.

••• Cannacraft To Pay $300,000 Settlement in Ad Case n May 7, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell announced a settlement in a civil action against Cannacraft, Inc. for false advertising violations.

Cannacraft is a licensed cultivator and manufacturer of cannabis products based in Sonoma County conducting business in California’s legal cannabis market.

Cannacraft agreed to pay $250,000 in civil penalties and $50,000 in restitution and investigative costs. Cannacraft also agreed to be bound by an injunction for 10 years.

The complaint alleged Cannacraft made representations regarding the efficacy of its Care By Design products that were not supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence including: “Cannabidiol can change gene expression and remove beta amyloid plaque, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s, from brain cells” and “Scientific and clinical studies have shown that CBD could be therapeutic for many conditions, including chronic pain, cancer, anxiety, diabetes, epilepsy,

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The rate structures, which include an augmentation charge based on pumped groundwater subject to Proposition 26, and a delivered water charge subject to Proposition 218 for blended recycled water supplied to growers in the coastal area, are similar to the rate structures in place.

The Rate Study provides the docu-

10 / May 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

rheumatoid arthritis, PTSD, sleep disorders, alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, antibiotic-resistant infections, and neurological ailments.”

Local prosecutors in the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit. worked with the California Food, Drug, and Medical Device Task Force on this case. The Task Force includes the District Attorney Offices of Alameda, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, and Sonoma counties.

Cannacraft and its counsel cooperated with the Task Force’s investigation, working together to change the advertising, and stipulated to the judgment without admitting liability, according to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s office, which said this False Advertising Law settlement between law enforcement and a licensed California cannabis business may be the first of its kind.

••• Herlindo Fernandez Promoted To Supervisor erlindo Fernandez has been promoted to Maintenance Supervisor in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

He has worked for the school district for 24 years, starting as a custodian in 1997, moving into the grounds department in a leadership role, working as maintenance specialist, Herlindo Fernandez and most recently as an energy management technician and planning specialist.

He is skilled at listening, processing information and implementing an action plan and his knowledge and understanding of the maintenance and operations systems of the district are invaluable, according to the district’s announcement.

The position had been vacated.

••• Push to Fully Fund Special Education tate Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) announces the introduction of Senate Joint Resolution 4 (SJR 4 ) urging the 117th Congress to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), legislation passed by Congress in 1975 to ensure students with disabilities get the academic support needed to succeed.

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mentation to comply with Proposition 26, Proposition 218, and other legal requirements.

Pajaro Valley Water is a state-chartered water management district formed to efficiently and economically manage existing and supplemental water supplies in order to prevent further increase in and to accomplish continuing reduction of, long-

In California, the law applies to 800,000 students.

IDEA guaranteed that the federal government would pay 40 percent of all special education costs. The federal government since 1988 has funded on average just under 14 percent of its obligation, making it harder for school districts to provide needed services to pupils with disabilities.

“Eight out of ten Californians are concerned their kids have fallen behind during the pandemic and students with special needs are even more vulnerable to learning loss. The federal government’s continued failure to honor its promise to those with special needs is unjustifiable in a normal year, and in light of the pandemic’s impact, it should be addressed immediately,” said Wilk. “2021 is the year to get this done. These students deserve, and were promised, nothing less.”

••• Stimulus Payments Available to Homeless eople who don’t have a permanent address or a bank account may still qualify for economic impact payments, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

While economic impact payments – also known as COVID relief or stimulus payments — are made automatically to most people, the IRS can’t issue a payment to eligible Americans when information about them isn’t available in the federal agency’s systems.

The IRS urges community groups, employers and others to share this information to help more eligible people file a tax return so they can receive everything they’re entitled to.

Stimulus payments are different from most other tax benefits — people can get the payments even if they have little or no income and even if they don’t usually file a tax return. This is true as long as they have a Social Security number and are not being supported by someone else who can claim them as a dependent.

For information, see www.IRS.gov.

The $600 or $1,200 Golden State Stimulus is available to low-income Californians facing hardship due to COVID-19.

These payments are issued after your 2020 tax return is processed. See https://www. ftb.ca.gov/about-ftb/newsroom/goldenstate-stimulus/index.html n

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term overdraft. The agency also works to provide and ensure sufficient water supplies for present and future anticipated needs within its boundaries, generally the greater coastal Pajaro Valley. n ••• For more information, visit www.pvwater. org or www.facebook.com/PajaroValleyWater.

LOCAL SPORTS

Aptos Tennis: League Champions

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By Karl Lee

fter a challenging year resulting from the pandemic, the Aptos High School Varsity Girls Tennis Team was patient, adapted to, and eventually overcame adversity to become the back-to-back Santa Cruz County Athletic League tennis champions.

The late summer COVID-19 surge pushed the matches out to spring of 2021, limiting opportunities to practice and bond as a team.

Despite this, the girls continued to work hard both individually and together when they could, staying conditioned and keeping their skills sharp.

With tremendous support from a seasoned coaching staff, their dedication paid off as Aptos went 9-1 on the season with balanced contributions from the whole team.

During the season there were

many bright spots and reasons to cheer, but most importantly, life skills were learned, friendships forged, and they just had a lot of fun being together!

Aptos will lose a few high performing seniors this year through graduation, but that loss should be offset by Aptos’s number of skilled players who have practiced together for many years.

Next up for this Aptos team is the CCS Tournament, happening on May 18, and looking further forward, the girls will be working in the off-season to prepare to defend their title in the upcoming 2021/2022 season starting late August. Go Aptos! n Editor’s Note: The Mariners were named co-champions with Soquel, both schools finishing the season 9-1.

••• Photo Courtesy of Van Zantes Photography • vanzantes.com

Make peace of mind part of your birth plan.

Choosing the right foods. Deciding on a safe exercise routine. Creating a birth plan.

As a mom-to-be, you have a lot of decisions to make. Fortunately, Dignity Health – Dominican Hospital’s Family Birth Center has a whole team of specialists ready to safely guide you throughout your journey—from the support of our midwives to the added security of the only Level III NICU in the Monterey Bay area standing by. We even have live virtual classes to help you prepare for the big day. Learn more about how we’re safely delivering humankindness at DignityHealth.org/DominicanBirthCenter.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2021 / 11

COMMUNITY NEWS

Tight Window For No-Cost Chipping T he Summer 2021 No-Cost Community Chipping Program. is available to Santa Cruz County residents who live in the Wildland Urban Interface, areas such as the Aptos Hills and Soquel Hills with potential for wildfire to impact their properties.

The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County, which offers the program, started early-bird registration online May 7 for residents in neighborhoods that have achieved, or are in the process of, FireWise USA recognition. with registration for all other eligible county residents May 12.

The application due dates are: • Corralitos Creek area, May 18.

• Aptos Creek, Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley and Soquel Creek areas, May 25.

• Mount Hermon, Felton, Pasatiempo and Bean Creek areas, June 1.

The city of Scotts Valley is outside the agency’s jurisdiction so property owners are not eligible.

This program incentivizes the creation of defensible space around homes in high wildfire risk areas by offering no-cost chipping for residents who clear vegetation within 100 feet of occupied structures or 10 feet on either side of a private road.

With the limited rains this past winter, Santa Cruz County is likely to experience greater than normal wildfire risk due to extra dry conditions.

“Now more than ever we need to be diligent about the landscape immediately next to our homes,” explained Angie Gruys, who manages the chipping program for the Resource Conservation District. “It’s

been a difficult year for so many and we hope that by offsetting some of the cost more folks will be able to reduce wildfire hazards around their properties and neighborhoods.”

Establishing and maintaining defensible space around your home and outbuildings, before fire-prone summer months, is imperative to avoid major damages to your property when wildfire strikes. Defensible space is the buffer you create between buildings and the vegetation that surrounds them to prevent structures from catching fire, either from direct flame contact or radiant heat.

Creating ample buffer zones not only increases the chances of your home surviving a fire on its own, but it also gives firefighters a safer location from which to defend your home. In fact, fire crews are more likely to spend time and prioritize defending your property if you have taken steps to limit fuel loads around your buildings.

Having defensible space does not mean you need a ring of bare dirt surrounding your property; with proper planning, you can have a fire safe home and a beautiful landscape.

The general concept is that trees should be kept farthest from the house, shrubs can be closer, and lawns and bedding plants can be the closest. If your landscaping has a different configuration than this, you can improve defensibility by keeping larger trees limbed up and shrubs free of dead, dry material.

How does the program work?

Signups are first-come-first served by

region and each household must complete a two-part registration process to be enrolled and confirmed into the program.

Part one is an online pre-registration application to verify space is available, and part two is a chipping scheduling form that is completed once your materials are stacked and ready for chipping.

A detailed schedule of areas served, deadlines for program applications, chipping dates and guidelines for preparing materials for chipping are posted on the RCD No-Cost Chipping Program web page.

Participants must take at least one photo before clearing and one photo after – from the same location.

Tree limbs must be hand-stacked in piles, with cut ends facing the same direction toward the road. Piles can include tree limbs up to 8 inches in diameter and 10 feet long and side branches up to four feet.

Piles cannot include poison oak, ivy, blackberry vines, broom or acacia with seed pods, painted or treated, lumber, trash, stumps, roots or palm fronds, rocks, timber harvest

debris, or vineyard or orchard waste.

Each property is allowed up to three piles, 8x4x10 feet each. Piles must be accessible to a large box truck and chipper trailer, ad within five feet of the chipper access location. Extremely narrow or steep driveways may not be serviceable.

Chips will be blown back onto your property.

Make sure your house number is visible, and the piles marked with your street number. Inform the agency if you have dogs as loose dogs may prevent chipping.

Check dates for when chipping is to be done. Chipping starts June 8 in Corralitos Creek and Boulder Creek area and June 15 in Aptos and Soquel, and June 22 in Mount Hermon and Pasatiempo. If you don’t want your piles sitting too long, prepare them as close as possible to the chipping date for your area.

You must provide the number of hours you spent clearing and preparing your piles, or know the dollar amount you paid to do this work. n

CALIFORNIA NEWS

New Attorney General Bonta to Release Gun Violence Data

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n April 26, newly sworn in Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the California Department of Justice will expand the gun violence related data the department releases to researchers working with the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center.

He also announced an internal review of all the data DOJ currently collects to determine ways to make the data more accessible to the public.

He said he will work with state legislators on their efforts to provide clarity

about the specific data DOJ may share with help inform new efforts to strengthen California’s commonsense gun laws and keep qualified researchers.

“Transparency is key to increasing firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals.” public trust between law Right now, DOJ maintains enforcement and the commuOpen Justice, a public website nities we serve,” said Bonta. “As with dashboards that include news of tragic mass shootings data on Gun Violence Restraining continue to dominate the news Orders, firearm transactions, and cycle, leaving many with feelings crime statistics. of fear and uncertainty, one of DOJ has balanced its duties my priorities as I begin my work to provide requested gun as the people’s attorney is to Rob Bonta violence and firearms data to create strategies for providing researchers with the data necessary to support research efforts while protecting

12 / May 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

the personal identifying information in the data.

While researchers often rely on identifying information to make sense of the data and produce meaningful studies that inform state legislation, current California law does not clearly authorize disclosure of certain categories of firearms data, including confidential personally identifying information.

DOJ will now release Dealer Record of Sale and Automated Firearms System records to researchers working with the UCFC in compliance with applicable law. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Bioluminescence M ount Madonna School tenth graders are studying the chemistry and biology of bioluminescence, and learning how scientists explore the deep dark ocean to discover more about where the ability to produce light fits into the lives of sea creatures.

This part of the oceanography curriculum prepares students for a night snorkel during a visit to Catalina Island.

Part of the experience is shielding all light, allowing their eyes to adjust, then playing with the fireworks that happen when you swirl your hands and feet through thousands of tiny light-producing organisms. Some years the light is so bright that students spend hours at the dockside, swirling the water with an oar or a pool noodle and marveling at the light show.

“We are hoping that California Department of Public Health restrictions on school field trips lift by fall, so that we can bring the entire high school to Catalina Island in September,” said teacher Lisa Catterall. “While this is

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Organization of the Year

Second Harvest Food Bank

econd Harvest Food Bank stepped up like never before in 2020 to make sure the residents of Santa Cruz County had healthy food during the pandemic. They coordinated with many other nonprofits, churches and schools with more than 35 locations to provide meals for children.

Their food distribution at the Fairgrounds and Boardwalk took place weekly with 95,000 people reached each month.

Through their Holiday Food Drive, they were able to raise a record 5.5 million meals.

When restaurants had to close, Second Harvest distribute fresh produce from growers whose crops would have been thrown away, providing healthy meals to families who would have otherwise gone hungry.

Second Harvest also provided healthy meals to CZU fire victims.

Read More About Second Harvest Food Bank at: https://tinyurl.com/PVCA-SHFB

T

Event of the Year

Holiday Lights

he Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation and the Agricultural History Project partnered to create “Holiday

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Lights,” a first-time event to give the community something festive to do during the pandemic holidays. It was an enormous volunteer effort by 89 volunteers who spent a total of 5,398 hours creating and displaying the lights.

That included 11 community groups that created incredible lighted displays in hopes of winning first, second or third place awards. Initial expectations were to be open 15 days with 6,000 vehicles and 18,000 guests.

After the first weekend’s unbelievable attendance, Thursday nights were added — and by the last night, 12,584 vehicles with 37,752 visitors enjoyed the Holiday Lights. Some visited as many as seven times. One visitor compared it to Disneyland. Local sponsorship made it possible.

Read More About Holiday Lights at: https://tinyurl.com/PVCA-holiday-lights ••• The award recipients were nominated by the community with final selection made by the award recipients from the past five years. The executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce decides on the Lifetime Achievement Award. n

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2021 / 13

MAY 2021

Aptos Real Estate Update

Ruth Bates 831.359.2212

ruthbates1@gmail.com CalBRE#01799929

SELLER’S MARKET — It continues to be a Seller’s Market.

Average Days on Market is <14, and Median Sales Price in Aptos for April was $1,555,000 on a Median List Price of $1,324,500, $231,000 over list, 17% above list price. In the entire County, there are only 223 homes/ condos for sale as of May 1, and 265 sold the month before, so <1month inventory countywide.

APTOS VILLAGE PHASE II — The only ‘new’ inventory coming soon that I am aware of is Phase II of the Aptos Village.

Phase II will include 32 new condos, 5 of the 32 are Affordable Housing units. I’m told that Phase II start is just waiting for final approval on the crossing at Parade Street.

INTEREST RATES — Bankrate.com quotes 3.0%, 0 point, 30-year loans as of 5/07/21. It is still a good time to try to buy because you will be locking in the lowest interest rates in almost a century.

WHEN WILL THE MARKET CRASH? — I’m surprised by how many people think the market is going to crash soon and ask me to tell them exactly when this will happen.

Well, I do not think the market will crash any time soon. 2021 is bringing certainty to our land, low mortgage rates are enticing buyers to commit, and there is a very low supply of inventory. I see home prices continuing to soar here for some time.

ACTIVE LISTINGS (as of 5/7/21)

546 Beach-$6.8M • 1114 Via Malibu-$6.5M 1034 Via Malibu-$4.6M • 439 Beach-$4.5M 339 Beach-$3.9M • 745 Los Arboles-$2.7M 120 Mar Sereno-$2.3M • 5310 Freedom-$2.15M 3200 Pleasant Valley-$1.98M 149 Coates-$1.95M • 135 Seabreeze-$1.95M 236 Quail Run-$1.5M • 237 Lake- $1.5M 349 Los Altos-$1.46M • 1795 Seascape-$1.45M 2030 Sparrow Valley-$1.4M 7444 Mesa-$1,25M • 757 Pleasant Valley-$1.25M 446 Monterey-$1.1M • 504 Trout Gulch - $1.08M 215 Robideaux-$995,000 669 Clubhouse-$859,000 • 811 Pinetree-$769,000.

And that’s all folks …

——— For all things Real Estate, call, email, text and Get Results with Ruth!

COMMUNITY NEWS

RTC On Electric Passenger Rail Editor’s note: Shannon Munz, communications specialist at the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, provided this statement May 7 on the business plan for local electric passenger rail service.

••• orking to improve transportation in any community can be quite challenging and Santa Cruz County is no exception. We are a very engaged and passionate community because we care deeply and want the best for our community.

In addition, there is much information to sift through when considering large complex projects and anyone of us may misinterpret or misunderstand some of that information.

The recent passionate community discussion along with actions and statements at the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission meetings regarding the Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis seem to have led to the following misunderstandings that warrant clarification.

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Misunderstanding #1: The RTC has given up $17 million in funding offered by the State for environmental analysis of electric passenger rail on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line.

In fact: The State has not awarded any funds to the RTC for environmental review of electric passenger or any other transit option on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line.

The State expressed support for the RTC seeking such funding from State sources that are competitive.

Misunderstanding #2: There is sufficient State and Federal funding available

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The Water Quality Report includes information on source water, levels of any detected compounds, and compliance with drinking water regulations, plus educational information.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY Paid Advertising

14 / May 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

and only a small local contribution would be needed to fund rail transit.

In fact: Although there are several funding sources that could potentially contribute to local rail transit, there is not sufficient funding for all of the rail transit needs identified in California and the nation.

There are recent proposals to increase funding for transportation, including rail transit, but that new funding will still fall well short of meeting all the needs. The RTC has authorization to distribute some discretionary funds sources for transportation projects that can be used on rail transit projects, but those funds are currently committed to other projects, such as Highway 1 and local road maintenance.

There are competitive state and federal funding sources for which the RTC could apply to receive. Although some operation and maintenance funding can come from future fares and concessions, a dedicated local fund source would be needed for the remaining cost, which is estimated to be about half of the total cost over a 30-year period.

Misunderstanding #3: The RTC’s decision to not accept the business plan means the end of rail transit for Santa Cruz County.

In fact: Santa Cruz County and the RTC have a long history of decisions regarding potential passenger rail service in Santa Cruz County.

Many of those decisions have been unanimous or nearly unanimous in support

of efforts that could potentially lead to passenger rail transit. It would be an expensive project, so it is understandable for the RTC to be cautious and at times say that it is not ready to proceed with such a major project at any point in time.

However, the RTC has been quite consistent in not wanting to close off potential options that could serve future generations, even if those options may not be appropriate at this time.

Therefore, the RTC has not taken any action that would ensure there would never be passenger rail service in Santa Cruz County.

Misunderstanding #4: Despite the RTC’s decision to not accept the business plan for electric passenger rail and rejecting direction to RTC staff to seek funding for environmental review of electric passenger rail, RTC staff will continue planning for electric passenger rail and seek the funding that may be needed.

In fact: RTC staff will always follow the decisions of the RTC. Based on the current position of the RTC, RTC staff is not currently undertaking or contemplating any rail transit planning activity.

However, based on longstanding RTC policy and practice, RTC staff will continue to work to try to implement all projects in the RTC Regional Transportation Plan and inform the RTC of funding opportunities for such projects, including for rail transit.

Any potential future rail planning activity will be subject to funding availability and future action by the RTC. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

National Guard: Food Bank Mission Accomplished W hen pandemic health restrictions hit in March of last year, food banks across our state were facing a near-complete lack of volunteers for essential tasks. Volunteers make our food banks work. They bring the hearts, heads and hands needed to sort, pack, handle and deliver food to partner agencies all over our county. Second Harvest faced this crippling people shortage just as food demand began spiking. Need went from the normally 55,000 food-threatened people per month to 100,000.

“We had to protect older volunteers,” explained Willy Elliot-McCrea, CEO Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. “We shut down some programs.

The food banks reached out through Congressman Jimmy Panetta’s office resulting in the California National Guard support deployed state-wide.”

Guard personnel from units across the state, arrived at Second Harvest, taking over for missing volunteers. Many brought ideal skills like forklift operation, logistics and truck driving. They all brought their disciplined, mission-focused muscle and energy to the challenges.

“I am truly grateful the Guard came to help Second Harvest,” says Arturo Fuentes, Second Harvest’s warehouse manager, who is working side-by-side with guard members. “We couldn’t do it without them. Their positive attitude toward accomplishing their mission is

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State Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) doing “the COVID shake” with Sgt. Ryan Ridad, NCO-InCharge of the California National Guard support team at Second Harvest Food Bank, while touring a recent drive-through distribution at the Fairgrounds in Watsonville. phenomenal. Thank you to all the Guard men and women who worked at Second Harvest. I will never forget you.”

Many Became One uard members arrived at the food bank from many separate units and were accommodated in nearby hotels.

The diverse teams included infantry, engineering, quartermaster and other specialist areas.

Though few knew other assigned Guard members working with them at Second Harvest, the mixed units immediately formed a cohesive team and became the essential, efficient force for so many.

Some Guard members had been laid off from their civilian employment. The call-up gave them financial relief as well as a bit of adventure.

Special Payback any dozens of National Guard members have rotated though stints at Second Harvest during the past year.

Members are still here serving and helping the food bank run. Here are a few of their perspectives.

Hailing from L.A., Specialist Neiman De La Fuente of the 160th Infantry says, “I’m thankful for working with great people. Seeing the faces at the mass (food) distributions was most memorable. We move fast to meet the daily quota for deliveries. It’s satisfying seeing the completion at the end of each day.”

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Photo Credit: Jennifer Welling

California National Guards load food at the county fairgrounds in Watsonville, meeting the needs one vehicle at a time during a Friday mass distribution.

“Second Harvest” page 17

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2021 / 15

COMMUNITY NEWS

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By Jondi Gumz

group founded three months ago to promote ecological harmony and improve safety and access for active transportation in the Nisene Gateway area will host its first public event, “Beers & Shears Wines & Vines,” at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 30, to cut invasive ivy from oak trees in Aptos Village Park.

Nisene Rio Gateway aka NRG invites local residents to pitch in, follow COVID-19 safety protocols, and enjoy a beverage afterward as time permits.

“Some of my friends in the area have developed a passion for clearing Nisene Gateway of invasive ivy,” said Todd Marco, founder of NRG, which initially was known as Nisene Gateway Improvement Project.

“As the ivy consumes sections of our beautiful forest, it overtakes & kills large trees,” he said. “A number of spectacular oak trees in Aptos Village Park are currently being threatened. They are such gorgeous oak trees.”

Marco, who with his family moved to Aptos Creek Road last July, talked with Patrice Edwards, Aptos Times publisher, and Aptos resident and loyal government watchdog Becky Steinbruner, about safety issues on the narrow and winding road, which has been deluged with cars, cyclists and people on foot headed to the 10,000acre Nisene Marks State Park for respite in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussions with State Parks Superintendent Joe Walters, who manages 29 parks, led to: a revamped entry into Nisene Marks to better accommodate incoming traffic; installation of “no parking” signs to better accommodate ambulances and fire engines responding to medical emergencies; making a broken pay phone operational to call for help as there is no WiFi for mobile phone; pothole repairs and $34,000 worth of paving plus slurry seal to make Aptos Creek Road smooth all the way from Mangels Gulch to the Nisene Marks entrance kiosk — with a safer path on the shoulder for pedestrians.

Photo Credit: Todd Marco

Volunteers are needed to cut invasive ivy from the oak trees at Aptos Village Park

Marco, a hardware engineer, started a Facebook group to focus on safety issues in the Nisene Gateway area, a group that in three months has grown to more than 200 members.

County parks staff have approved the ivy-clearing project, which is generating enthusiasm among neighbors.

“Woo hoo! It is on the calendar :)” wrote biology teacher Catherine Handschuh via email. “Thank you so much for organizing and getting the ball rolling.”

Marco said he’s experienced with proper ivy removal techniques, which means “not yanking the vines off the branches, which damages the trees, but instead cutting ivy at the base and letting Nature do the rest.”

He has been working to establish Nisene Rio Gateway as a 501c (3) nonprofit, which would allow the group to accept tax-deductible donations and solicit sponsorships from local businesses to support the vision of “a world-class connection to our spectacular natural amenities with reduced reliance on vehicle use, less traffic congestion, and relieved parking challenges.”

“Nisene Gateway” page 20

BUSINESS PROFILE

Rainbow Carpets and Floors A

Floor Coverings Galore

By Edita McQuary

s it has been for many small business owners, 2020 was the most challenging year in the 44 years Rainbow Carpets and Floors of Watsonville has been in business.

“We are happy to say starting May 1, our business has started to come back,” according to owner Dean Sturtevant. “2020 was a very difficult year. My longtime customers blessed us with work, but it was few and far between for six to eight months. Half of our employees were laid off until April 1st. Suppliers have been a great help financially.”

He added, “We still service all of Santa Cruz County, not just Watsonville.

Although our original location in Santa Cruz has been closed for good now, the low-overhead location at 416 Airport Boulevard, near Watsonville Airport, allows us to compete with all the big-box stores.”

Dean says he and his employees provide the high-quality service that the big-box stores are not able to provide. Personal relationships in the community and word of mouth referrals have been vital to their business.

They carry a wide range of popular brands such as Armstrong, Mannington, Shaw, Mohawk, as well as many others.

In the last several years, styles in flooring have changed.

Rainbow Carpet One is easy to find at 416 Airport Boulevard in Watsonville.

Rainbow Carpets and Floors is installing tons of hardwood and Luxury Vinyl Tile flooring in residential and commercial areas. Luxury Vinyl Tile is durable and stable, resistant to moisture and climate, easy to install and maintain, and has the look and feel of real wood.

Rainbow also carries a range of area rugs to cover your flooring.

Besides carpeting and Luxury Vinyl Tile, you will find a good selection of hardwood, laminates and ceramic tile in many styles. They also carry window coverings to meet your decorating needs.

Local brothers Don and Dean Sturtevant started this family-owned business, however, Don has been retired for a number of years. Dean and wife Rochelle,

“Second Harvest” from page 15 For PfC Emily Menarrez, with the 1040th Quartermasters from Merced and new to the Army, it was her first activation. She caps it as a good experience, seeing how much volunteers are needed for food banks to operate.

“I didn’t realize what goes into providing food. It takes so many volunteers and local effort. People should volunteer and donate as much as they can,” she adds.

One of the side benefits for Guard members was getting to visit a different part of California.

Sgt. Samuel Galindo, from the Central Valley, was activated and began serving at Second Harvest early last May, remembers the strong working relationships formed, the trust and friendships created while away from home and the guard members’ desire to go above and beyond.

“Our group was from San Diego to Yreka,” he recalls. “We came from all over and worked together well. It was a great atmosphere and we were able to push 20,000 pounds of food a day. We provided food to so many people not working, made friends with locals

Photo Credit: Jennifer Welling

California National Guards take on forklift duty at Second Harvest Food Bank’s warehouse in Watsonville. and Second Harvest staff. Lots of relationships were built and we had fun.”

Sgt. Andres Solarzano, with the 649th Engineers, from Chico, experienced satisfaction helping the community.

“It was special having direct contact with people many times (at mass distributions) and connecting with

both Soquel High School graduates, have been running the business for 42 years with local employees, almost all of whom are bilingual in Spanish.

“We also have installers who have worked with us for 30 years. We are truly a local store that can handle any project that comes our way,” said Dean.

Rainbow Carpets and Floors prides itself on excellent customer service, free estimates and decorating service, and zero percent financing. The company is pleased to work with owners of residential and commercial buildings as well as with builders, real estate companies, and insurance restoration services.

Of course, there is sanitizer on hand as you walk in the door and the staff is careful to maintain Covid social distancing requirements while helping customers.

There is also a children’s area with a small table and chairs where kids can sit while their parents shop around.

As Dean says, “Flooring is what we do. It’s what we know better than anyone — it’s what we do better than anyone.” n ••• Rainbow Carpets and Floors is located at 416 Airport Boulevard in Watsonville. Phone: 728-3131. Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. https://www.rainbowcarpetsandfloors.com

the public,” he said. “My friends and family are proud of what we’re doing. The wide array of people working at Second Harvest, the positive feelings and that they wanted to be here, happy to help out and that we loved the work.”

Sgt. Ryan Ridad, from Sacramento, currently managing the Guard team at Second Harvest, says it’s a humbling and positive mission. He feels blessed not needing the food bank himself.

“It’s a breath of fresh air, giving back, meeting a lot of grateful people,” Ridad says. “I’m not used to hearing ‘God bless you.’ It’s uplifting (receiving) that heartfelt appreciation.”

Fuentes, Second Harvest’s warehouse manager, says, “Working with the Guard has been something I never thought I would do in my lifetime. It’s fascinating to work along side a group of people who work so hard.

Never complaining, just getting the job done!”

In the midst of the prior and ongoing pandemic and unemployment strife, the civilian soldiers of our National Guard can clearly claim “Mission accomplished” while receiving the blessings of so many people being helped in our county. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2021 / 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURES WITH CONFIDENCE

I Endless opportunities await your student at Kirby School.

Visit kirby.org and contact our Admissions team to learn more about our Test-Free Application process and to schedule a tour.

Kirby School 425 Encinal Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 KIRBY.ORG 831-423-0658 admissions@kirby.org

D I D YO U K N O W? We have 18 storage tanks* to meet our community’s drinking water and fire protection needs. *can store up to 7.5 million gallons

Youth Leadership in a Pandemic: A Great Opportunity

n November, Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance was one of 32 statewide nonprofits to receive funding to increase youth voice and leadership.

Two teens in that program share what they’ve learned: ••• Arlette Del Toro, 16 Watsonville High School mpower Watsonville is an outreach leadership program empowering youth in Santa Cruz County. As a leadership program, this program helps individuals from the 8th grade to the 12th grade for public speaking, tabling at the Watsonville farmers market, creating social media awareness posts, and organizing a youth conference for teenagers.

As participants who are part of the 12th grade graduate in June, Empower Watsonville hosts recruitments for those who are willing to commit to one of three levels of commitment which include astonishing rewards -- as well as a scholarship if you decide to commit to either Level One or Two. Level Three is more of a pitch-in commitment in which you join when you can.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact

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for the Empower Watsonville participants as our leadership program was dismissed earlier than anticipated. All summer and fall plans for the year 2020 were discarded and canceled due to a deadly pandemic occurring worldwide.

By being a first-year member and a sophomore at Watsonville High School it felt like an extended spring break as we were all out for spring break in our school district which later came to a whole year with no in-person instruction.

Empower Watsonville staff such as Erika Trejo, Tiffany Brell and McKenna Maness were very attentive when this whole pandemic was at its peak.

Your Community Partner for Reliable Water 18 / May 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Mariah Segura • Arlette Del Toro

“Youth Leadership” page 26

COMMUNITY NEWS

La Selva Library Debuts Active Browsing A s Covid-19 restrictions are eased in Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz Public Libraries announce expanded access to library materials and facilities.

According to Library Director Susan Nemitz, “We are delighted to invite people back into our buildings once again. A lot of planning has gone into our reopening phases, and we are excited to see our community enjoying our buildings again.”

Other limits will persist until staffing levels return to pre-Covid levels, as the library system experienced “significant staffing reductions” since last spring, which impacted services, according to an announcement from Diane Cowen, communications manager.

The library intends to restore services in phases, beginning May 4 and continuing through spring and summer.

Active Browsing began May 4 at the newly renovated La Selva Beach Branch Library, May 11 at Felton and Live Oak Branches, and the Scotts Valley Branch will begin on May 17.

The Aptos and Downtown branches

will continue to provide Lobby Grab & Go and Computer Access services only.

Active Browsing is designed to provide access to the libraries’ physical collections while limiting the amount of time people spend in the building to reduce the risk of exposure to Covid-19. Services provided during this phase of reopening include: • Staff help with quick questions from a safe physical distance.

• Browse shelves • Pick up and check out holds.

• Computer use, limited to one session, up to 45 minutes, per day • WiFi is available for use outside the library, such as the patio at Felton, La Selva Beach, and Scotts Valley • Wireless printing is currently available with no charge • Cash transactions • Copiers are available for a fee • Restrooms are available • Library laptops for check out can be checked out and used on a patio Services not currently available during this phase include:

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• In-library reading, studying, or socializing • Furniture to sit on and read • Newspapers • Meeting and study rooms • In-person programs or events • Technology assistance • Drinking fountains The Downtown Branch Library will begin to restore services more fully beginning in June. The new Capitola Branch Library will open fully in June.

Active Browsing is designed to provide more access to library materials with maintaining the health and safety of patrons, staff, and the community.

Safety precautions remain in effect.

Every person over the age of 2 years must wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth, that fits snugly against the face without gaps. Coverings such as bandanas, face shields, and vest masks are not permitted. Disposable face masks will be available to patrons who do not have one.

Additionally: • Social distancing of 6 feet or more is required.

• Do not enter any branch facility if you are sick, have a cough, or have any symptoms of Covid-19 • Occupancy is limited • Hand sanitizers available • Visits are limited to 30 minutes n

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2021 / 19

20 / May 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Preparing for the 2021 Harvest A

By Christopher Valadez

s the 2021 harvest begins in our professionals from Salinas Valley Memorial region, many programs and systems Hospital.

Prevention practices to limit the spread of are in place to help limit the spread of COVID-19 among farm workers and the the virus on farms and in ag facilities, including community. Specific to the Grower Shipper social distancing, face mask requirements and Association of Central California, mass vac- employee training, will continue. Further, cination clinics for farm workers will continue California has implemented COVID-specific through the summer, but additional programs regulations for employers mandating training, will provide necessary resources prevention practices and paid sick leave. as we battle through this What more can be done? pandemic.

Employee education about the As we reflect back, we importance of receiving vaccinaremember the phrase, “we are tions will be an important effort all in this together” as lockdowns among ag employers, health began. And, that has proven true care workers and community – we have all faced and endured leaders. Further, we must stay this historic and tragic pandemic vigilant about other worker as a community. And, we have safety protections, including heat seen health care professionals, prevention and wildfire smoke elected officials, government mitigation. officials, community leaders, Finally, we must continually labor groups and agriculture assess and evolve programs as work jointly and diligently to develop innovative worker pro- More than 24,000 farmworkers the virus evolves. What worked in this region have gotten tection programs that have been well, what could be improved COVID vaccinations. modeled in other regions. This and what practices should significant effort underscores that “we are all in become permanent to successfully prevent the spread of any virus among our workforce. this together” is more than just a phrase.

As we move forward, the new partnerSo where are we today? Over 24,000 vaccinations have been administered to farm ships and relationships built over the last year employees in our region through the Grower will be key as we tackle existing issues as well Shipper Association and Clinica de Salud del as face future challenges in our region. The panValle de Salinas mass vaccination clinics. By demic has shown us that we are better when June, we hope that 35,000 essential ag workers we work together to find solutions. We need each other and we must lean on each other. If will be fully vaccinated through these clinics.

Quarantined housing through Grower there is a silver lining to this tragic pandemic, Shipper Association is available to farm workers it is that we have learned the true meaning and who may have been exposed to the virus, have tangible results of “we are all in this together.”

••• tested positive or have symptoms. This housing Christopher Valadez is the president of includes daily deliveries of meals and other necessities as well as welfare checks by health the Grower-Shipper Assn. of Central California.

“Nisene Gateway” from page 16 Since the yearlong pandemic is keeping a hold on Santa Cruz County – we’re in the Orange Tier, and because the case rate hasn’t dropped low enough long enough, as of May 11, we haven’t been able to move to the less restrictive Yellow Tier.

This means respecting county guidance on outdoor gatherings, limiting the number of attendees and encouraging social distancing.

Or as Marco put it, “No hugs people, not yet.”

People who volunteer on May 30 will get a chance to do good, meet their

neighbors safely, and learn more about Nisene Rio Gateway.

Mark your calendar. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2021 / 21

FEATURED COLUMNIST

On Graduation, Summer School and Fall Options

Will students be subjected to COVID testing when they return full-time? Many, many parents are against this. urrently, the only students required to test are student athletes who are playing a sport not allowed in the current tier.

For example, indoor basketball cannot be played until we reach the yellow tier unless we engage in surveillance testing for those athletes.

Since we are currently in the orange tier, any basketball player who wishes to participate must be tested. No other students are being required to test for COVID-19 through the school district.

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Will there be the opportunity for students ages 12-15 to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? es, we are working with the Dominican Hospital and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education to provide the COVID-19 vaccine once approved for 12–15-year-old students.

According to U.S. health officials, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds within the next few days.

The approval is anticipated after the vaccine was found to be safe, effective and produced a robust antibody responses in 12- to 15-year-olds in a clinical trial.

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Why are you providing vaccines to your high school students?

VUSD has placed the health and safety of students, staff and the community as our number one priority throughout this pandemic.

We believe that all staff, eligible students and community members should have access to the vaccine so they can choose what is best for them and their families.

The availability of the vaccine will also reduce the potential impact of COVID-19 on children as they attend summer school, camps and return to full time in-person instruction in the fall.

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Q&A With Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

that reason, we have increased our programming and will have two sessions planned for summer school for students.

The first session is from June 14-July 9 and is available to all K-12 students but held at five sites including Aptos Jr. High, Alianza Charter, Pajaro Middle School, Rolling Hills Middle School and WCSA. The second session is from July 14-Aug. 4 and will be available at all school sites and for all K-12 students.

All families should have received an infographic with all of the summer school information earlier this week. Here is the link in English: https://drive.google.com/ file/d/10-eQMOT_wTVx5m8DwgOc4aUYYTweUEok/view and Spanish: https://www.pvusd.net/pf4/cms2/ news_themed_display?id=1620119047510.

Will a hybrid option or distance learning with PVUSD teacher (not virtual academy) still be an option for those families that may still wish to do so in the fall because of the pandemic? arents will have the option of having their children attend the PVUSD Virtual Academy. To provide a higher level of choice in distance learning options, we will offer 2 pathways at the K-8 grade levels for the 2021-2022 school year:

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What is the plan for summer school? t PVUSD we are committed to providing a summer school experience that allows the student opportunities to connect, accelerate, recover, and engage in project-based learning. For

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22 / May 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Pathway 1: 100% Independent Study Model with learning coach at home / Meet once a week with supervising teacher / Complete all course work online Pathway 2: 50% Independent Study Model with learning coach at home — complete coursework online / Meet once a week with supervising teacher / 50% Direct Instruction Virtual Classes (10 hrs/week) for academic acceleration, intervention, peer collaboration and socialization; current K-5 schedule: K-5 DL Pathway Schedule. For grades 9-12, weekly direct instruction tutoring is offered in all subjects; current 9-12 schedule: Weekly Tutoring Schedule Does MacQuiddy Elementary have a graduation date yet? es. We have the times and dates for all our elementary promotions.

Parents should receive more information directly from their school site in the coming weeks.

(Editor’s note: Mar Vista: Friday, June 4 at 9:30 a.m. on the field • Rio Del Mar: Friday, June 4, at 9:30 a.m. on the blacktop • Valencia: Friday, June 4, at 9:30 a.m. on outdoor stage on the blacktop)

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For the 2021-22 school year it has been stated that we as a district will

continue to adhere to 3 foot distancing in all classrooms. I am wondering how this will work, there are several schools that have no space available to them. Will they have to commandeer multipurpose rooms, gyms and libraries to have a place to put the newly formed classrooms? If so, how will our libraries continue to operate? We know that students have not been reading during the pandemic, many studies have shown that they have fallen behind.

If we have to temporarily close our school libraries how will students get books. Libraries are an essential part of our student’s education not only for the books they hold but for the people who staff them.

They were deemed essential during the pandemic and now what will they be? s noted in the last Ask Dr. Rodriguez, we have measured all classrooms at each site to ensure we have the space necessary to have full day in-person learning and maintain the three-foot distancing.

While we will use every classroom space and use the gyms/multipurpose rooms for physical education, we will not have to use our library space for ongoing classroom needs.

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I would like to know why Pajaro School has a dress code, if other Jr. High Schools don’t. My niece was a student at Ohlone School and now Pajaro, and they are the only schools with a dress code. It is very depressing to only be allowed to wear black, white and grey. I understand the reason why no red or blue, but pink, yellow, mint, are amazing colors.

Please advise. Thank you. riginally, the dress code was a proposal by the Pajaro Middle School Site Council. About three years ago, the uniform policy was again brought to the School Site Council.

The majority voted to keep the uniforms; however, they decided that the best course of action was to allow all parents to vote during registration when all parents could participate.

The overwhelming response by families was to maintain the dress code.

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“PVUSD Q&A” page 24

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Social Justice Champions

n recent months Mount Madonna School students have been learning a lot about many individuals working for social justice.

“Cultural awareness is an important tradition in the lower school where our students delve deep into exploring and learning about different cultures widening their awareness of the world beyond their horizon,” said Director of Lower School Kami Pacheco.

Because of the pandemic, students shared what they learned online with a Zoom recording instead of giving in-person presentations.

For preschool and kindergarten students, the focus is on people who have worked to preserve the Indigenous Hawaiian culture and traditions.

“Preschool students built volcanoes and danced hula,” said teacher Danielle Barr. “We read a lot of books about traditional stories of Hawaii. The students explored with hands-on lessons on land and water formations, including islands and waterfalls. We discussed geography and the geologic activity by which the islands were formed, Hawaiian food, habitat and traditions.”

“The Hawaiian culture renaissance that started in the 1970s and continues today is definitely a success story in the preservation of Native American culture,”said teacher Hema Walker. “The children are learning about some of the champions who have worked hard to conserve the Hawaiian language and culture, including the last Princess of Hawaii, Princess Ka’iulani, who advocated for Hawaii’s independence in the 19th century; Edith Kanaka’ole and Mary Kawena Puku’I, two “Kumus” or hula teachers who worked with children to pass on this Hawaiian dance tradition.”

Kindergartners created “kapa” cloth using traditional colors, sewed traditional Hawaiian clothing for their clothespin dolls, and painted portraits of Hawaiian animals.

Students created “leis” using real flowers, leaves and tissue paper flowers. They baked and sampled “Haupia” coconut pudding squares, “poi” bread and rolls sweetened with pineapple juice.

“We welcomed special guest (and former MMS dance teacher), Kumu Lorraine Kinnamon,” said Walker. “She sang in the Hawaiian language, read students a story about different Hawaiian musical instruments and demonstrated how each one is played. She shared that even shells and rocks can be musical instruments used in hula. The children were introduced to the ancient “Kahiko” style of hula, which I performed as Kumu Lorraine played along with a dried out gourd instrument called the

COMMUNITY NEWS

Marlowe Yen’s presentation on Daisy Bates

ipu. The children enjoyed dancing along to some Hawaiian songs, and later the children took this experience deeper by reflecting on it in their drawing journals.”

“My favorite thing was the hula,” said kindergartner Harper Sebok. “The hardest part was to try to follow along. There’s so many ways to do hula!”

“We got to do hula and I love it!” agreed classmate Luka LeClair-Bonacich. “We also made Hawaiian Butter Mochi and all kinds of cool stuff to eat.”

In first grade the focus is Native American values.

Each student selected a specific type of Native American dwelling, sharing information about the tribe, its traditions, weather in the region inhabited by the tribe, and its struggles past and present.

“We have so much to learn from one another,” said teacher Cassia Laffin.

“What I learned is that Chief Seattle loved this land and he loved animals like I do,” said first grader Rhiannon Aron-May. “I liked learning about Chief Seattle because I might be part Native American too,” said classmate Orion Wolfe.”

In second grade, the focus is advocacy for farm workers.

“We are learning about the peaceful protests of farm workers led by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta,” said teacher Prema Gammons. “Throughout the school year students have studied farms and food that grows in our local area and together we are connecting those lessons to the work of the United Farm Workers organization, which continues to advocate for the rights of farm workers.”

“I learned that some farmworkers did not have enough money to buy food, medicine or shoes for themselves or their children,” said student Dahlia Bell.

“César Chávez started a march for farm workers to be equal and he had to be brave,” said classmate Oceana Harris.

In third grade the focus is on physician and astronaut Mae C. Jemison – the first African American woman in space.

“On June 4, 1987, Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to be admitted into NASA’s astronaut training program,” said teacher Natalie Turner. “On Sept. 12, 1992, Jemison finally flew into space with six other astronauts aboard the Endeavour on mission STS47, becoming the first African American woman in space.

In recognition of her accomplishments, Jemison has received several awards and honorary doctorates. ”I think it’s interesting that Mae Jemison decided to share her story by writing a book,” said student Jacquelyn Piccardo. “She is an inspiration for kids to do something that you love and that it’s okay to follow your dreams.”

“It’s fun to learn about other people,” said classmate Narayan Aron-May. “As you think about your future, it helps you to feel inspired.”

Fourth graders studied the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg has not only been a champion for social justice and equality for women, she has also been a powerful and outspoken member of the Supreme Court,” said teacher Nick Cabassa.

“With her recent passing and the circum-

stances surrounding her replacement on the Court, I felt that this was a great opportunity to have my class learn more about her. Through reading, watching documentaries, and researching her quotes, students have gained a better understanding of who she really was and what she stood for.”

Each fifth grader chose a social justice leader to study.

“I chose Malala Yousafzi because she likes school and I like school,” said Sera Krawetz. “She helps a lot of girls around the world which I think is pretty cool.”

Classmate Jade McReynolds chose Stacy Abrams because of her work fighting for voting rights.

“I chose Allie Young because she is Native American and you don’t hear about them as leaders,” said Sophia Krawetz. “I realized that she’s really connected to her heritage and fighting for voting so that her ancestors’ fight in the past is honored and her people are listened to.”

Trip Woodrow chose Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, a young activist and hip hop artist, at his teacher’s suggestion. “After researching him I was shocked to learn that he started being an activist when he was six years old,” said Woodrow. “He has done so much at such a young age!”

Aiden Powers chose Daryl Davis. “I started to look up leaders and found a video about Davis and his fight to change the minds of people who are members of the Ku Klux Klan. From him I learned that words are more powerful than people realize. I also emailed him for information about my report and he replied. He was so humbled that I thought he was a social justice leader.”

Marlowe Yen said she picked the late Daisy Bates because of her own interest in racial equality and civil rights. “I read Stella

by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper, and it mentions the Little Rock Nine. This guided my research and I found out that Daisy Bates organized a lot of that. She was pretty brave leading the Little Rock Nine.”

“Through this experience students were able to learn about various issues that others are passionate about and have worked or are working hard to create positive change,” said teacher Jessica Cambell.

“In writing their monologues, students had to utilize their research papers to try and determine what they thought their leader would say was the most important thing to communicate — what were they fighting for? Why were they passionate about it?

Why should we care? Through the research and oral Cultural Awareness presentations, students were able to learn about some of the ways others are working to improve people’s lives and make the world a better place.” n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2021 / 23

FEATURED COLUMNIST

‘Is It Now Safe to Hug?’

By Joyce and Barry Vissell

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n 1970, Barry and I had the amazing opportunity to meet Leo Buscaglia. We were living in Nashville, where Barry was in his second year of medical school and I was a public health nurse. We were both 23 years old. A friend invited us to a party to meet a very important person in her life. This person turned out to be Leo Buscaglia. We had never heard of him before.

Leo was perhaps twenty years older than us. Right away, we could tell there was something very special about this man. The love emanating from him was unlike anything we had ever experienced before. He seemed to know and love each person at the party and also he was hugging them all. We had never before been hugged by anyone other than each other and our parents.

Not even our siblings. Believe it or not, in 1970, people in the United States did not hug, except within families. People shook hands in a greeting, but never hugged others.

Upon arriving at the gathering Leo came over to us and gave us a big hug in welcome. It was the most beautiful feeling — one we will never forget.

We moved later that year to Los Angeles and I had the privilege of being Leo’s student for one full year at the University of Southern California, and also, we were his neighbors for two years. We got to know him well and his wonderful hugs were plentiful.

Leo left USC several years after he was my teacher, and he went on to write five books on love. He also lectured to very large audiences of over 10,000 on the importance of love and he included how he loves to hug people. Leo’s hugs caught on and, within a few years, the United States became a hugging country. Not all people, but the majority.

In 1993, when Clinton was inaugurated as the 42nd president of the United States, he hugged people during the dance

“PVUSD Q&A” from page 22 What are the resources I can use to help my child in school? here are many resources that parents can access according to the individual needs of their child. On the District website, you can find various resources including mental

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and party that followed. He was the first president to openly hug people so it was seen on TV. Then, after that, hugs abounded everywhere. Clinical trials showed that hugs were positive to your physical and mental health, and they even suggested a person should receive and give at least seven hugs in a day for optimum benefit.

Then March 2020, the Center for Disease Control recommended all people everywhere stop hugging, except those who live within your home. People stopped hugging!!! When a friend would meet a friend at a market and the usual greeting would be a hug, now it was just a hello said through a protective mask staying six feet apart. It was worse than stepping back in time a number of decades.

Now people are getting vaccinated and the CDC is recommending small groups of vaccinated people can be in a room together without a mask. And just recently, if people are vaccinated, they do not need to wear a mask outdoors. I doubt the CDC is ever going to recommend people can hug again. And so, this decision is up to all of us.

I feel that hugging is a good thing and I have chosen to start hugging friends again. I am vaccinated, plus I have had the Covid virus. But, before I hug someone, I ask if it is OK with them. Our hugs are genuine and warm, and still we are careful to have our heads turned away from each other, just in case.

I have a dear friend who I have known for over forty years. We were also very close to her husband, who died nine years ago. This friend lives by herself and when the pandemic was announced last year, she took the CDC guidelines very seriously and stayed by herself.

I brought her flowers every other week and knocked on the door and left them by her door step. She did not have a husband to comfort her like I did, and I wanted to do all I could to comfort her

while she was totally alone. Then, when she was vaccinated and I was vaccinated, I set up a time and went to her house. She was nervous to have me there, and she had all of the windows and doors open even though it was very cold outside. I told her we were safe, and it was time to start greeting friends again with a hug.

She had not been hugged in fourteen months and, when I went to hug her, I could feel the relief within her body. We hugged several more times during my short stay, and she called me right after to tell me how much the hugs meant to her.

She told me she was going to start hugging her other friends if that was alright with them. She sounded happier than I had heard her all year.

The fear of getting or giving Covid-19 has caused many of us to be scared of one another during the time of pandemic. But it is now time, especially if you are fully vaccinated, to reach out to people again and express your love with a warm hug of love and support. And, if your choice is not to get vaccinated, it still may be possible to give and receive hugs. Please follow your heart and common sense. Wearing a mask

health and wellness resources, digital resources to assist with accelerating your child academically, and various community resources including food assistance, health care, human services, and legal services.

If you do not find the resources you need, please reach out to your child’s teacher or your principal.

When can students and parents attend the board meeting in person? I am sure you can find a venue large for all those who want to attend. Remember, the Board is supposed to work for us. e have continued to hold the board meetings virtually to allow for maximum participation from the

24 / May 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

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is always safer. Just be careful to face away from each other and, if you can be outside, even better.

If you feel safe hugging people again, and you get their permission, go ahead and hug, and that act will lift your spirits and theirs, and bring you much needed mental and physical wellbeing. And if you don’t feel safe hugging, you can still give and receive love through your eyes and words.

You can listen to this article: https://youtu. be/rD8CHL5N1C4 ••• A Free Gift for You e would love to give you a free gift, our new audio album of sacred songs and chants, available for download at SharedHeart.org, or to listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG ml4FDMDyI&feature=youtu.be Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors in Aptos who are passionate about conscious relationship and personal-spiritual growth. They are the authors of 9 books and a new free audio album of sacred songs and chants. Visit SharedHeart. org or call 831-684-2130 for more information on their various services.

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community through a phone line and virtual submission of comments and videos.

We will return to board meetings in person in the month of June at a venue that allows for sufficient in-person participation and that also allows us to continue to stream the board meetings. n

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Can I Get Refund from Airbnb for My Cancellation?

By Christopher Elliott

Carl Baeuerlen cancels his vacation rental in Lanai, Hawaii. But Airbnb says he can’t get his money back. The owner says that’s wrong. Who’s right?

••• ast spring, I made an Airbnb reservation for a vacation rental in Lanai, Hawaii, in November 2020. Because of the COVID-19 travel restrictions, I canceled the reservation in May. Airbnb denied me a full refund. I attempted to phone Airbnb to discuss this denial, but the hold time was consistently over two hours. Feeling I had no other recourse, I disputed the claim with Capital One, my credit card company, and was given a conditional refund.

Capital One sided with Airbnb a month later and urged me to resolve this directly with Airbnb. I attempted to do so.

I applied for a refund online and was told that, due to the vacation rental’s refund policy, there would be no refund.

I called the owner and she said she does not have a record of my reservation, nor does she have any money from me for my reservation. She also has no policy that would have denied me a refund.

I contacted Airbnb with this information. A representative promised to call the owner and get back to me. Although she didn’t call back, I received a notification from my credit card issuer that a refund of $282 had been issued to my credit card. But I never received it. Can you help me get my money back?

— Carl Baeuerlen, Los Altos, Calif.

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••• ou should be able to get a full refund.

But your case is a little complicated.

Let’s see if we can unpack it.

Airbnb had an “extenuating circumstances” policy that allowed guests to cancel reservations for stays made on or before March 14, 2020, with check-in dates between March 14, 2020, and April 14, 2020. But you were outside of that window.

That means the Airbnb extenuating circumstances policy didn’t apply to your rental in Lanai. But here’s where things get interesting. Airbnb claims your rental wasn’t refundable, but the owner says there was no such policy. So who is right?

I’ll get to the answer in a moment.

You ran out of patience and filed a credit card dispute. In credit card parlance, that’s called a friendly dispute, because you were doing business with Airbnb.

And your bank sided with Airbnb, which further complicated your case.

I think a brief, polite email to one of Airbnb’s executives might have helped.

I list the names, numbers and email addresses of Airbnb’s top customer service managers at https://elliott.org/companycontacts/airbnb on my website, Elliott.org.

So whose policy should prevail — the owner’s or Airbnb’s? I think the rules to which you agree are the rules that bind you. But those weren’t the rules to which the owner agreed, so you have some wiggle room. I’m unhappy that the owner never received your deposit. That suggests Airbnb simply pocketed your deposit.

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I guess that’s how Airbnb justifies its $80 billion valuation.

Given the fact that Airbnb had already promised a refund, I think the process should have been pretty straightforward. I contacted Airbnb on your behalf, and you received your $282 deposit back. n ••• Christopher Elliott’s latest book is

“How To Be The World’s Smartest Traveler” (National Geographic). Get help by contacting him at http://www.elliott.org/help © 2021 Christopher Elliott.

European Capitals

ACROSS

1. RPM gauge 5. Have a bawl 8. *”Neutral” capital 12. Paella pot 13. Mend, healthwise 14. Deadly snake of southeastern Asia 15. Multicolored horse 16. Estimator’s phrase (2 words) 17. “The Addams Family” manservant 18. *Northernmost European capital 20. One of British Isles 21. EUR, pl.

22. Ensign, for short 23. Pieces of glass, e.g.

26. Vacuum cleaner

alternative 30. “____ the land of the free...”

31. Oxygenate, as in lawn 34. Insane, in Spain 35. Just harvested, e.g.

37. A in IPA 38. Church song 39. Tiny amount 40. Military marksman 42. Fake tooth 43. Devoid of liquid 45. Jet setters’ vessels 47. Address abbreviation 48. Sports stadium 50. Japan’s highest mountain 52. *Capital that hosts Nobel Prizes 56. Sophia ____, Italian actress 57. Genesis twin 58. Curved molding 59. Tequila source

60. Non-permanent office worker 61. Like dental surgery 62. *Capital on a fjord 63. Possesses 64. Big top

11. To the ____ degree 13. Like voice after a pep rally 14. “A Fish Called Wanda” actor Kevin 19. Judea, alt. sp.

22. Mama sheep DOWN 23. *Bulgarian capital 1. Unit of pressure and actress Vergara’s named after Torricelli given name 2. Post sun-bathing relief 24. Long-necked bird 3. Wallace & Gromit 25. Rocky ridge modeling material 26. Pas 4. Desire 27. Hunt illegally 5. Aussie gas station 28. AudienceÆs approval 6. Desert wanderer’s 29. Frolics hope 32. “Atlas Shrugged” 7. Alexander Alexanauthor Ayn drovich ____, Russian 33. Cassius Clay poet 36. *Balkan capital and 8. *Also the capital of 1984 Olympics European Union location 9. James ____ Jones 38. Practical joke 10. Paddy grain 40. Canine command

41. Eyeball washing vessel 44. Offer two cents 46. Collusion 48. Away from harbor (2 words) 49. Drifts 50. *London was famous for these pea soup particulars 51. Russian mountain chain 52. Comedian Rogan 53. Shrek, e.g.

54. Not fatty 55. Patty ____ 56. ____ Tzu

© Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2021 / 25

Festivals, Retrogrades, Full Moon & Eclipse — All Under Gemini

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Esoteric Astrology • Mid-May 2021 • By Risa D’Angeles

he last half of May, under Gemini Sun, is busy with two festivals, two retrogrades, a lunar eclipse and a full moon. Sun enters Gemini Thursday, May 20, an energy shift from Taurus earth to Gemini air, Under Gemini Sun, everyone begins to talk all a sudden and all at once.

Sunday, May 23, is Pentecost, a perfect Gemini festival. Pentecost is the Christian Festival (reflecting last week’s Jewish festival of Shavuot/Harvest Festival) of “Fiery Tongues,” or the descent of the Holy Spirit (Ray 3 of Divine Intelligence) into the minds of humanity. The story in the bible is that “tongues of fire” appeared above the heads of Christ’s disciples and they began to understood all languages, especially the language of the heart.

Saturn retrogrades on Pentecost, at 13.31 degrees Aquarius, Saturn is time, so with Saturn retrograde, our sense of time shifts.

Saturn is also, skin, bones, teeth, inner and outer structures. Retrogrades turn things inside out, upside down. We turn inward, assess time, asking the question “What is time?” Everyone’s late during ARIES

Careful how you interact with others. Be kind. Don’t rely only on outer monetary realities though they are important. Rely first on instinct and then intuition to direct and guide your choices and to recognize the true qualities and purposes of a person, event, resource, and investment. You will be called to exhibit courage, a virtue of the heart and to remain poised so all will know that all is well. Because you made it so.

TAURUS

Be aware of your effects on others. Your deep intelligence magnetizes people to you and you make impressions on others leading them to trust and believe and follow your guidance. Though it may be difficult now, it’s important that you complete all plans, agreements and promises. Your attempt to initiate new projects impacts many lives far into the future. Proceed forward.

You may be only one of the few able to accomplish this.

The future of humanity awaits.

LEO

You may consider how to rearrange your work so that you have more time outside in the sunshine.

In the past year there have been whispers, then murmurs then shouts of change in our world. The changes will accelerate. We will not return to the past. Perhaps your job interests, abilities and/or responsibilities will change too. Always perform tasks with excellence and innovation. Look also to those around you, emphasizing their qualities and goodness. As a good leader would.

VIRGO

You may begin to create various list of new tasks to perform, new realities to consider, new work to be accomplished. Mercury is your ruler and while it’s in Gemini you become busier and busier. Perhaps accounts need reckoning, travels need considering, responsibilities need completing, and problems need easing. Spending time in the garden with the devas brings a vitality to your smile. You may dream more at night as you travel throughout the ethers visiting friends here and there.

GEMINI

You may feel the need for more rest. Sleep may escape you, dreams may assail you both at night and during the day. Our entire world is shaking and rattling itself loose, preparing for the new era. Your body is sensitive to this. The old ways will not return. Maintain a diet of light, fresh foods filled with vital greens, eliminate anything excess, drink more pure water, love more, and expect the changes to continue for a long, long time. Look to the stars for direction.

LIBRA

Are you harboring hopes, wishes and dreams you want to share with others? Are there resources you share with another that needs a conversation?

Is everything transparent, clear and aboveboard in this area? As the economy shifts, it’s time to arrange your finances so that debts are paid quickly. It’s important to be economically prudent, thrifty and careful, to conserve resources for the future. Work always with efficiency.

Be informed of these critical times and how to prepare for the times to come.

CANCER

It’s important to maintain close connections to what you identify as like-minded people who have your same values, morals and principles. All interactions are opportunities to connect and understand what the hopes and wishes of others are. As you look at your life now, you see greater levels of community have become available to both you and your family. Maintain health with proper hydration, more Vitamin C and finding yourself in the garden more.

retrogrades. Saturn is structure and discipline. We assess our structures, ask if we are disciplined enough. Saturn is so many things — Law of Economy, the Teacher, Lord of Karma, scales of Justice, Dweller on the Threshold, St. Peter, guarding the Gate of Heaven. Saturn remains retrograde until Oct. 10th.

The Gemini Festival of Goodwill (during a full moon lunar eclipse) occurs on May 26 this year. This Gemini festival sits squarely on the ascendant of the U.S. Gemini rising chart where Uranus (radical, revelatory & revolutionary change) is located. We know by now our country is in a state of sweeping, far reaching profound change. We won’t be returning to “normal” because the new era of Aquarius is here, Uranus rules Aquarius and the United states has Aquarius moon. The lunar eclipse at the festival makes sure that which is no longer needed simply disappears and falls away.

Mercury retrogrades Saturday, May 29th at 25 degrees Gemini.

We all know by now what to do. Have fun with it! Love, Risa.

SCORPIO

Relationships are primary now so listen very carefully to what others are communicating and have the intentions to respond with a depth of care, interest and emotional poise.

Should you be uncooperative a feeling of imbalance will ensue and a sense of separation, too.

You will feel quite alone and that you have neglected a responsibility. Kind attention toward others is what is needed so they feel your special care, love and safety.

It’s your task now.

•••

SAGITTARIUS

Career matters assume new dimensions, co-workers need more care, you want to improve your health, create new work methods and tend to the necessities of your life with more attention.

You realize this takes balance and focused thought, and so your actions slow down, you contemplate what’s needed, foregoing too much adventure in order to create a long-term plan of practical goals. Your greatest success is acceptance of everything presently in your life.

Then everything shifts into harmony.

CAPRICORN

Setting out each day’s agenda and realizing your priorities allows you to have more time to yourself, which you need. Are you writing in your journal about day to day activities? Are you writing your life stories? Writing down our lives brings a clarity and focus. You are always doing your best, while also realizing everyone else is doing their very best too at different stages of development. New opportunities appear at first as philosophical ideas and goals. Then they appear as reality. Rest more so you can imagine and create more.

AQUARIUS

Home and family, property, community, childhood, experiences and parents have been on your mind these past weeks. These do need attention in the form of having gratitude for all that you received. Attempt to improve relationships with family while also improving the beauty and organization of where you live and breathe and have your being. Do nothing that unsettles your safety and well-being, challenge no one, and calm tensions with exercise, prayers and adequate vitamins, minerals and herbs. You can do all of this.

Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com 26 / May 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

PISCES

You may be traveling this summer or fall to places far away.

You may be asked to take on a new endeavor, one you have been prepared for over the many past years. You may be planning meetings, conferences, classrooms and/or curriculum.

You will definitely be communicating with others on a grand scale, either personally or through writing, speaking, teleconferencing. Some or all of these will occur and all the while you will gain in knowledge, happiness, creativity and goodness.

Many join you.

“Youth Leadership” from page 18 Later on, Brenda Jauregui and Crystal Gonzalez took over the program and have helped us from there on.

Now that COVID-19 cases are declining, we are able to do more in-person interactions of course while following all Covid guidelines. Weekly meetings every Wednesday are back in session which make participants experience more pleasing and respective experience.

We hosted a vent session where participants and other community members who wanted to join were able to vent about overwhelming and saddening experiences that happened last year or earlier this year — as 2020 and 2021 have been one of the most life-changing years of many people’s lives.

Overall, as summer is approaching, I am excited for what is to come for our leadership program and new participants who will be joining us soon. Numerous events and lots of plans are being discussed and will eventually take place as Covid-19 cases decline in Santa Cruz County.

One’s aspiration may be for everything to go back to normal but slowly but surely our world will possibly adapt to a new form of life after a yearlong deadly disease took a toll of millions of people’s lives. But being part of a youth-led program has helped me empower my voice to stop any reforms that can influence an increase in substance abuse as well as influencing better mental health for the most vulnerable age group which are the youth.

••• Mariah Segura, 17 Watsonville High School y experience at PVPSA has been a great experience so far.

Empower Watsonville Youth Leadership is a leadership group that focuses on informing the youth and community about substance abuse and we also focus on mental health.

As I first joined the team, everyone was very welcoming. I joined right before Covid happened and our meetings were in person, which quickly changed to online.

Online was very difficult because you do not get the connection like you do when you are with them personally.

During Covid we still were connected as a team and tried to still accommodate meetings and activities. During the fire seasons, our team and I gave out fire safety packets in case of emergencies in our own neighborhood.

An activity that we have recently done is a vent session. This vent session was led by a licensed therapist who talked to us about our emotions and overall was a safe place to express your emotions.

Being part of PVPSA has helped me grow as a person and I hope that in the future more people will recognize that our program is a great opportunity that should not be missed. n

M

Dear America

COMMUNITY NEWS

Book to Action Program Covers Jose Antonio Vargas’ Story About Living as an Undocumented American

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he Santa Cruz and Watsonville Public Libraries invite teens and adults to participate in Book to Action, an initiative for libraries to tackle important issues and encourage reading, discussion, and action in their communities.

This summer, the series examines equity, immigration, citizenship, and identity with everyone reading Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by journalist and filmmaker Jose Antonio Vargas, who was born in the Philippines and raised in the U.S. from the age of 12.

Print copies of the book in English, Spanish, and Young Reader’s versions are available at library branches with

Community Conversation • Thursday June 24 • 7-8 p.m. ebooks and eaudiobooks in the collections.

Visit bit.ly/WPL-B2A, santacruzpl.org, or bit.ly/SCPL-Book2Action.

Summer reading events for adults and teens will take place in June and July, including a conversation with Vargas 7-8 p.m. June 24, presented with the Sunnyvale Public Library with simultaneous Spanish language interpretation.

Visit santacruzpl.libcal. com/event/7659544 (https://bit.ly/ B2A-Vargas) for more information about the event.

For the Book to Action Brochure see bit.ly/B2APrograms or pick up a print copy at branch libraries.

Other events include: Book discussion groups in English and Spanish, the documentary

“Documented” produced by Vargas, a presentation of “Watsonville is in the Heart,” a storytelling workshop and Pastures of Plenty Radio Recap with KSQD Community Radio 90.7 FM, and a panel discussion with the Community Action Board and Thriving Immigrant Collaborative.

Santa Cruz Public Library’s County Correctional Facility Team and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office are bringing Book to Action to incarcerated individuals in the re-entry and rehabilitation facility with an SCPL volunteer leading two book discussions. Learn more at: bit.ly/SCPLCCF. n ••• Book to Action is a program of the California Library Association, supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Jose Antonio Vargas

Caltrans Cleans Up Highway Litter

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n Earth Day, Caltrans District 5 crews were out on the highways picking up trash.

Caltrans invests significant time and resources collecting, recycling, and disposing of litter and hazardous waste each year. In 2020 alone, highway workers statewide collected 287,000 cubic yards of litter, enough to fill 18,000 garbage trucks.

“We ask the public to do its part to keep our beautiful Central Coast litterfree,” said Caltrans District 5 Director Tim Gubbins.

California Highway Patrol Officers actively enforce anti-littering laws, ticketing motorists seen littering or driving with unsecured cargo loads. Last year, CHP officers issued more than 3,100 citations for littering.

In 2020, the Special Peoples Program, a Caltrans work mentoring program providing temporary litter collection jobs and life skills training to parolees resulted in removing 86,000 cubic yards of litter from state highways -- about 5,4000 garbage trucks.

Adopt-A-Highway Volunteer partners consist of conscientious individuals, organizations and businesses that remove litter from their “adopted” sections of roadside.

Since tis effort began in 1989, litter has been

Caltrans crews clean up litter in Shendon and Santa Barbara. removed from more than 15,000 miles of highway shoulder.

Currently, nearly 13,000 volunteers participate, saving taxpayers an estimated $16 million annually in litter removal costs.

Cigarette butts are the number one item littered in California, discarded by the millions, often causing roadside fires, clogged storm drains and threatening water quality.

Much of the trash comes from illegal dumping and improperly secured and uncovered loads. n ••• To become a volunteer or support the program with a paid sponsorship, call 1-866-ADOPT-A-HWY or go to http://adopta-highway.dot.ca.gov

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2021 / 27

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PVUSD SUMMER PROGRAMS Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s summer programs run from June 14 thru Aug. 4.

The programs are separated into two sessions: Session 1 (June 14-July 9) includes Camp Connect for incoming 3rd- to 8th-Grades, Elevate Math for incoming 4th- to 9th-Grades, Credit Recovery (High School Students) and Family Engagement Activities.

Session 2 is available at all PVUSD school sites and includes all in-person instruction, with standard transportation, nutrition and food services provided.

Visit http://bit.ly/PVUSDSummer21 for more details.

MANY MUSEUMS FREE IN MAY Museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions are finally able to reopen their doors safely since the COVID-19 pandemic began a year ago.

For Museums Month in May, many local museums and galleries in Santa Cruz County are celebrating with free or reduced admission and community members are encouraged to revisit the places that connect and inspire children and adults alike. Now is the time to celebrate their return as gathering places, reflective spaces, and hubs of learning and creativity.

Research conducted by Martin Kriegel and Anne Hartmann shows when open at reduced capacity, museums and galleries present half the risk of infection via aerosol particles as a visit to a grocery store. Along with vaccination rates and recent decreases in active infections locally, that is great news for local museums.

Participating organizations include the Agricultural History Project, Capitola Historical Museum, Curated by the Sea, Museo Eduardo Carillo, Pajaro Valley Arts, Pajaro Valley Historical Association, Radius Gallery, R. Blitzer Gallery, San Benito Historical Society and Museum, San Lorenzo Valley Museum, Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery, Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, Seymour Marine Discovery Center.

Learn more at santacruzmuseummonth.org.

ROADMAP TO RECOVERY: CZU VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS Survivor to Survivor Forums Tues., May 18: 7 p.m. Register: www.uphelp.org/may18 Roadmap to Recovery Q&A Wednesday, May 19: 5:30 p.m.

Staff of nonprofit United Policyholders will answer pre-submitted and frequently-asked questions. Register: www.uphelp.org/may19 Submit a question at: www.uphelp.org/r2rhelp

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES The American Red Cross urges individuals of all blood types to schedule an appointment now to give blood, and in most cases, those who have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. Knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine is important in determining eligibility.

Appointments can be made by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Those who come to give blood, platelets, or plasma in May will be entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps five, powered by Suburban

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by May 21

Information: https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/ government/city-departments/water/watershed/ loch-lomond-recreation/park-map

First and Third Monday Each Month SENIOR LIFE ONLINE Propane. The Red Cross will give people who donate trapped in a puppy mill from the dog’s point of view.

4 p.m., Online Meeting May 28-June 13 a T-shirt, while supplies last. Donation Join a local group of senior citizens for “Senior Life dates are: 20TH ANNIVERSARY BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL Online,” a free online (Zoom) program featuring a ••• VIRTUAL TOUR presentation by a local expert. Senior Life Online meets Aptos May 21-31, Online Film Festival on the first and third Monday of each month at 4 p.m.

May 18: 9 a.m.–2 p.m. — Cabrillo College Cafeteria, The 20th Annual Bicycle Film Festival offers a virtual 6500 Soquel Drive screening of short films curated for Santa Cruz County. View the schedule at scottsvalleyseniorlife.org/currentactivities/.

Ben Lomond The Festival is a fundraiser for local nonprofits ComMay 17: Darshana Croskrey, director of Scotts Valley May 21: 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. — The Church of Jesus munity Bike Collective and Bike Santa Cruz County.

Senior Center.

Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9545 Love Creek Road Stories are chosen to appeal to a June 7: Scotts Valley Fire Chief Ron Whittle on Fire June 5: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. — Highlands Park Senior wide audience from film conPrevention for Property Owners.

Center/San Lorenzo Valley, 8500 Highway 9 noisseurs to avid cyclists and in June 21: Piret Harmon, General Manager at the Scotts Capitola between. Featured are Santa Cruz Valley Water District, giving an update.

June 4: 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. — Jade Street Community artist and chef Jim Denevan, who Center, 4400 Jade St. creates land art by bicycle, and Ashley Lloyd Thompson, To participate, you need an Internet connection and Santa Cruz a Santa Cruz surf shaper, who traveled to Mexico via fat a computer, tablet or smartphone. A one-time preregistration is required at https://tinyurl.com/SVSLA-5.

May 19 • May 25 • June 3: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. — The bikes with her husband and son in search of quiet surf Questions? Call George at (831) 334-7763.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St. breaks.

May 27: 9 a.m.– 2 p.m. — Hotel Paradox, 611 Ocean Bike Santa Cruz County and Community Bike Collective Senior Life Online is sponsored by Scotts Valley Senior Life Association (SVSLA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is St. are fundraising for a matching grant from The Outride Watsonville Campaign to support summer bike camp for youth in need. to promote healthy living for senior citizens. Information is at May 28: 10 a.m.– 3 p.m. • June 1: 9 a.m.–2 p.m. — Tickets have sliding-scale prices of $10, $20 and $30 and can http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org.

Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St. be found at https://www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/ Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION PARENT SUPPORT GROUP NAMI RECOVERY SUPPORT CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS 1-2:30 p.m., confidential Zoom meetings.

PVUSD, PVPSA and Kaiser Permanente offers support Alzheimer’s Association is offering video and phone groups for Pajaro Valley families at 3 p.m. on the fourth National Alliance on Mental Illness Santa Cruz County meetings for caregivers throughout the month: offers the “Connection Recovery Support Group,” a Thursday of the month. The next dates are: Second and Fourth May 20 and June 3. To register, email marisol.maciel@ free, peer-led support group for any adult 18 or older who has experienced symptoms of a mental health Wednesdays pvpsa.org condition (no diagnosis required).

Santa Cruz, 2-3:30 p.m.

You will gain insight from hearing the challenges and via phone — Facilitators: SENIOR CENTER WITHOUT LIMITS successes of others. Groups are led by trained leaders Jill Ginghofer and Laurie McVay. This new program from Community Bridges brings who’ve been there. It’s confidential and drop-in friendly.

First and Third Wednesdays enrichment activities like yoga, art, music, tai chi, To attend, complete the registration form. You Santa Cruz, 5:30-7 p.m. via video or phone — Facili- cooking, tech and support groups to seniors age 60 and will immediately get an email with the Zoom link. tators: Francie Newfield and Kathleen McBurney. up in their homes at no cost. To participate, you need an Second Saturdays internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone. You will need to do this only once, and will be able to use the same link for all groups in the future.

Scotts Valley, 10-11:30 a.m. via video or phone — To participate, view the calendar at https://communitybridges.

Register at: https://tinyurl.com/nami-zoom-register Facilitator: Diana Hull. org/SCWOL/ and find a class. That day and time, click on the (Full URL: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMldRegister by calling 800-272-3900 or email ymflores@alz.org. link in the calendar to be connected. If you have a problem 6trTgjEtOukidbv3qCQQTitZ92kXFf) ••• connecting, call Clara Munoz at (831) 458-3481.

If you are unable to register, do not have an email Second Wednesdays address, or have other questions, call the office at Spanish, 7-8:30 p.m. via phone — Facilitator: Yuliana SECOND HARVEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION (831)-824-0406 or email anastasia@namiscc.org.

Mendoza.

Second Harvest Food Bank’s drive-through food For a recording of the March 18 speaker or more information Register by calling 831-647-9890 or email ymflores@alz.org. distribution will continue operating at the county on support groups and classes, https://www.namiscc.org/ Fairgrounds throughout the summer with new hours STUDENT STORY CONTEST DEADLINE beginning in May. Second Thursday Each Month Stories Due Monday, May 31 Upcoming dates and times: GARDENERS CLUB MEETINGS The Palo Alto Humane Society invites 7th and 8th Watsonville: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds 7 p.m., Aptos Grange, 2555 Mar Vista Drive, Aptos graders in Santa Cruz County to participate in a writing Fridays, 9 a.m.-Noon The Gardeners’ Club is looking for people who share their competition on the theme of animals and people helping May 7 • May 21 • June 4 • June 18 • July 9 • July 23 love of plants and want to know more about gardening. each other. Stories can Aug. 6 • Aug. 20 • Sept. 10 • Sept. 24 The website is at http://www.thegardenersclub.org/ be fiction or nonfiction Food hotline: 831-662-0991. and there is a monthly newsletter. Dues are $15 per and should illustrate a calendar year. sense of kindness in their Make check to “The Gardeners’ Club” and mail to P.O. Box ONGOING EVENTS characters.

3025, Ben Lomond, CA 95005.

The top prize is $500, with $200 each for two Ongoing Through Labor Day Meetings are held when they are allowed. Call Cherry at runner-ups. Winning stories will be published by LOCH LOMOND RESERVOIR OPEN 831-475-0991 for information.

Palo Alto Humane Society and highlighted during Hours: May & August–Labor Day: 7 a.m-8 p.m. • June & July: the 2021 Creating Compassionate Communities 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m. • Closed Wednesdays Third Thursday Each Month campaign.

Loch Lomond Recreation Area is owned and PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM Stories must be original and between 800 and 1,000 operated by the City of Santa Cruz Water words. Competition guidelines — plus a submission Department, primarily storing water for Santa Cruz 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support form — are at https://tinyurl.com/paloalto-humaneresidents and offering boat rentals, picnicking, write-2021.

Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated fishing and hiking.

Vandana Ravi won the inaugural contest in 2019 with After Labor Day, the Reservoir will remain open on by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third weekends through the second weekend of October, open Thursday of each month. a story about a lonely girl who came across a donkey 7 a.m.-6 p.m. who also needed a friend. The 2020 winner was “The Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport Sun,” by Aaron Huang, depicting the life of a mother dog Vehicle entrance fee: $8 • Season pass: $80 or call 831-471-7255.

28 / May 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ONGOING EVENTS

mission to match each foster youth with a trained volunteer advocate within 20 days. COVID has been especially hard on foster youth, with increased isolation, challenges with education, and homelessness.

To register and/or donate: www.casaofsantacruz.org/walkforcasa Contact Michelle Keenan at events@casaofsantacruz.org or call 831-761-2956. For more information.

(cont.)

Every Saturday SCOTTS VALLEY FARMER’S MARKET! 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Scotts Valley Square Shopping Center, Kmart parking lot, 270 Mount Hermon Road. Ongoing thru Thanksgiving The Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets in downtown Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Felton Westside Santa Cruz, and Live Oak are phasing out senior only shopping hour beginning in May. Senior-only shopping, one-half hour before the official opening, started last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Market staff says rates of COVID-19 remain fairly low in the county and many seniors have received vaccinations in recent months. Peak season is nearly here and most farms and food businesses have long days, some have long drives and it’s time to give them a break. https://santacruzfarmersmarket.org/markets/scotts-valley/

Saturday May 15 Saturday May 22

DATED EVENTS Friday May 14 thru Tuesday June 15 GERBERA-N-GO PRE-ORDER WINDOW DEBUTS Pick up all orders Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Kitayama Brothers Farms, 481 San Andreas Road, Watsonville After a one-year hiatus, the Kitayama Brothers Farms Gerbera Festival is back as Gerbera-N-Go, a drivethrough flower sale at Kitayama Brothers Farms, next to Sunset State Beach.

Gerbera daisies are colorful flowers with large blooms and strong stems; when cut, they last up to 10 days in a vase. Kitayama Brothers Farms cultivates nearly 20 varieties in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow and white, with green, cream or dark brown centers.

Starting May 14, crates of 5 plants featuring a mix of colors can be ordered online for $10 each at www.

AROMAS HILLS ARTISANS MONTHLY MEETING thatsmypark.org/shop. June 15 is the last day to order.

A limited number of day-of sales will be priced at $15 First Saturday of the Month a crate.

1 p.m., Outdoors at Aromas Grange, 400 Rose Ave, Aromas Proceeds from Gerbera-N-Go benefit Friends of Aromas Hills Artisans members meet to decide where that month’s “Paint Out” will take place. The excursion Santa Cruz State Parks and the Santa Cruz Farm usually takes place on the third Friday of the month.

Bureau Agricultural Worker Vaccine Program, which April’s choice was Sierra Azul’s beautiful demonstration garden in Watsonville. May’s choice is Gizdich made it possible for employees at Kitayama Brothers Ranch. and many other farms to get vaccinated early and Aromas Hills Artisans was founded 20 years ago to bring together, support and encourage local artists easily. As a result, a very high percentage of farm working in many genres. The organization serves the tri-county area of Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito. employees in Santa Cruz County are vaccinated.

Interested artists and art supporters are welcome to join.

“Just to the west of us is Sunset State Beach, which Visit aromashillsartisans.com for details, or @AromasHillsArtisans on Facebook for announcements. is a beautiful stretch of sand that Friends helps to ••• care for,” said Stuart Kitayama, operations manager Photos: Aromas Hills Artisans report a productive session during their Paint Out at Sierra Azul Nursery & Garden. Artists at Kitayama Brothers Farms and a Friends board (top, from left): JoAnne Andrews • Kati D’Amore • Linda Bjornson • Bill McQuary. member. “We have chosen to also include the vaccine program because the Farm Bureau did such an amazing job organizing and getting Santa Cruz County This is the 11th year for the Gerbera Festival. The event This is event is separate from the Virtual Graduation Ceremony agricultural workers vaccinated, for which we are very began in 2010 as part of the Monterey Bay Greenhouse at 4 p.m. on May 21. thankful.”

Growers Open House, guided tours of five Monterey Bay greenhouses, which was cancelled in 2020 due to the Saturday May 15 pandemic. See www.kitayamabrothers.com.

WALK FOR CASA! 9 a.m.-Noon, Anywhere Friday May 14 With the Human Race on pause this year, CASA of CABRILLO COLLEGE GRADUATION/TRANSFER Santa Cruz County with the help of the Friends of DRIVE-THRU CELEBRATION CASA will host its own Walk for CASA! This event will 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cabrillo College Parking Lot L (Near Crocker be virtual, with a hybrid option on May 15.

Theater), Aptos Walk or run anywhere or any time or join with supThe Graduation Drive-thru Celebration will take place porters for a socially distant walk at Elkhorn Slough, 1700 Friday. Participants can decorate their car or dress Elkhorn Road, Castroville, between 9 a.m. and noon May in graduation regalia. Graduates will stay in their 15. In-person walkers will be notified of your walk time car the entire time and staff will be following CDC on May 3. guidelines.

All proceeds support CASA of Santa Cruz County’s

ROMEO & JULIET SATURDAY SHAKESPEARE 10 a.m., Saturday Shakespeare Club Zoom Session The Saturday Shakespeare Club is examining the tragic love story “Romeo and Juliet” throughout May. These are the last two sessions. They include: May 15: Abbey Heald, a lecturer in UCSC’s literature department, will offer a provocative perspective.

May 22: Franco Zefferelli’s version of “Romeo and Juliet” will be screened. The film won an Academy Award for cinematography and earned Zefferelli a best director nomination.

All sessions are open to the public. Each Saturday Zoom session will begin at 10 a.m. To connect to the Zoom meetings, contact saturdayshakespeare@gmail. com In lieu of the usual $2 per session suggested contribution, the group urges participants to send a donation to Santa Cruz Shakespeare at 500 Chestnut St., Suite #250, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or to https://www.santacruzshakespeare.org/ donate/

Wednesday May 19 FOSTER CARE PANEL DISCUSSION 6-7:30 p.m., Santa Cruz Public Libraries Online Discussion The Santa Cruz Public Libraries Community Resilience Project, with CASA and Santa Cruz County child welfare professionals, celebrates Foster Care Awareness Month with a panel discussion via Zoom.

Join Jimmy Cook, program director of CASA, and Najeeb Kamil, senior human services analyst from Santa Cruz County Families and Children’s Services, for a discussion about the need for foster parents in Santa Cruz County to support teens and older youth. Panelists include former foster youth, a CASA volunteer, a foster parent, Superior Court Judge Timothy Schmal, and professionals working with foster care youth in Santa Cruz County.

Participants will hear from youth with experience in foster care and learn more about the role of Child Welfare office and of judges. You’ll learn how you can be an advocate for foster care youth and come away with a better understanding of the foster care system, Santa Cruz County child welfare, and CASA volunteerism. Learn more at: santacruzhumanservices. org/SantaCruzFoster.

Registration is required at santacruzpl.libcal.com/ event/7634229.

Thursday May 20 FROM HOMELESSNESS TO MENTAL HEALTH 4:30-5:30 p.m., Interim Inc. Online Event Interim Inc. will host a free virtual event, “Housing, Healing, Hope: The Path from Homelessness to Mental Health,” to shine a light on its support services for local homeless living with mental illness.

“Calendar” page 31

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2021 / 29

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Priced Out of Internet?

Talking About Solutions for Santa Cruz County Residents

T

he pandemic highlighted the critical need for access to affordable, high-speed internet. For students participating in remote learning, seniors accessing tele-health programs and workers attempting to work remotely, high-speed internet is an essential resource.

Yet, many households in our community, and throughout the state, either have limited bandwidth to meet their needs or are priced out of options.

The County has taken some steps to improve the availability of broadband and the state and federal governments are also making efforts to expand access.

It is estimated that as many as 1 in 3 California households lack broadband access with a disproportionate number of those households consisting of seniors, those with low-incomes and adults selfidentifying as having a disability. Similar challenges exist in Santa Cruz County.

For context, 92 percent of households nationwide with incomes between $100,000 and $150,000 have broadband service, while only 47 percent of households making less than $25,000 a year access these technologies. For areas that are covered, most of the lack of service stems from cost, and for those in rural areas (or even relatively suburban areas of our county) there are little to no high-speed internet options — increasing the digital divide.

(Ediotor’s note: Some PVUSD families may qualify through Equal Access Santa Cruz for free Internet services for up to one year.

Here is the link to apply — sign up using code: EASCPVUDS12.)

County Efforts he County of Santa Cruz has developed a series of policies and programs to encourage public and private investment

T

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

and proliferation of broadband infrastructure. These policies include a “dig once” policy where fiber conduit will be installed whenever public rights-of-way are broached (significantly reducing the cost and also preventing the need to dig up a road that was recently paved in order to add conduit later).

Additionally, the County revised permitting fees to directly reflect actual county cost and streamlined the permitting process for fiber infrastructure projects.

The County established common technical specifications for broadband infrastructure projects to speed up the process for those increasing this type of infrastructure, created a master lease agreement for companies interested in locating their infrastructure on County assets and the developed a Broadband Master Plan to guide future policy and infrastructure development.

Lastly, the Board of Supervisors voted to allocate some of the recent federal relief funding toward increasing broadband access and infrastructure. This has led to a number of areas in the unincorporated area seeing increases in speeds and some reduction in costs.

New fiber lines are running through major corridors like Soquel, Freedom, San Andreas and other locations that provide the framework for increased services.

State Efforts recent report commissioned by the California Public Utilities Commission found that the cost of building highspeed internet fiber connections to every unserved building and house in the state could occur with an investment of approximately $6.8 billion.

The California State Association of Counties, which represents the interests of

A

30 / May 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

counties at the state level, has been working with the Newsom administration to invest $8 billion of the federal relief funding and other new funding made available for this purpose to close the digital divide.

As CSAC notes, this level of investment could give households, businesses, schools, and hospitals access to high-speed 100 Mbps broadband and give a giant boost to programs that would spur the adoption of internet service (such as devices, digital skills training, service subsidies, and language access programs and products).

What exactly would the state funding do? Most of it would provide 100/10 Mbps fiber optics to buildings and houses currently without it. About a third of it is proposed to construct a statewide middle mile network (to close location gaps where fiber infrastructure occurs) so that any provider could tap in and provide services to underserved areas.

This funding would come from the new one-time funds available from the federal relief funding, which includes funding specifically for broadband infrastructure and also more flexible funding that can be applied for things such as broadband expansion.

Federal Efforts ne of the largest federal efforts to increase broadband access has been in the recent relief funding. For example, The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households (such as those at 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or that experienced a substantial loss of income during the pandemic).

The federal funding also provides significant offsets for schools and libraries looking to provide high-speed internet services and funds will be allocated directly to states to help build out broadband infrastructure projects.

Additional federal legislation has been proposed to close the digital divide even further that is currently under consideration.

These local, state and federal efforts will help ensure equitable access for broadband and close the digital divide for communities such as ours. n ••• As always, I appreciate hearing your feedback on this or any other issue I can help you with. Feel free to call me at 454-2200 with any questions or comments.

O

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SCCAS Featured Pet

COMMUNITY CALENDAR “Calendar” from page 29 Emcee will be Joe Livernois, board president of National Alliance on Mental Illness Monterey County, a nonprofit that lends support, education, and advocacy to families dealing with mental illness.

He is co-founder of the online news platform Voices of Monterey Bay and former executive editor of the Monterey County Herald.

Speakers will include Interim, Inc. staff who work with homeless individuals, and clients will talk about how their mental health diagnosis does not limit their lives.

To receive an Evite to the event, visit www.interiminc.org.

Thursday May 20

M

Cypress Is Ready For Some TLC

crossword on 25 »

eet Cypress (A281289), a super sweet, super shy black and white male kitty that came in recently from a hoarding situation. Cypress was living with about 50 other cats in a very small space.

He is still getting comfortable with frequent human interaction, but is sweet and loving when you show him some patience. He is also not used to having resources like food, water, or a litter box on hand.

For this reason, Cypress will need a loving home with lots of patience and understanding to help him become fully comfortable. In a supportive environment, we are certain that he will grow into a friendly sweetheart that soaks up all the love he is given in his new home.

If you think Cypress is your purrrfect fit, give the shelter a call to set up a visit.

Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals on our website and then visit the Shelter to turn in your application. All adoptions require proof of home ownership or landlord approval. Please have this information prepared. If an animal is in Foster Care, please bring in your adoption application and schedule an appointment to meet the animal. Call 831-454-7200 x0 during business hours or visit www.scanimalshelter.org for more information! n ••• Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter: Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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

European Capitals © Statepoint Media

‘DESIGN FOR EQUITY’ TALK 7 p.m., Mt. Madonna School Online Presentation The Mount Madonna School public speaker series based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals presents “Design for Equity: Disrupting Systemic Inequality Through Innovation in Education,” featuring ’94 alum Ryan Oliver on Zoom.

Oliver, executive director of the BUILD.org Bay Area/ Ryan Oliver Los Angeles region, will lead attendees through a rapid design experience related to education and equity.

Tickets are available by donation, and can be ordered at sdgspeakerseries.org.

Friday May 21 APTOS CHAMBER AWARDS NOMINATION DEADLINE 11:59 p.m.

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner awards — individuals, businesses and organizations that have dedicated time and energy toward making our community a better place to live, work and play.

Visit http://aptoschamber.com to submit your nominations (scroll down to the nominations box on the home page)

Friday May 21 VIRTUAL LUNCH MEETING WITH JOHN LAIRD Noon–1:15 p.m., Online meeting The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will host a virtual lunch meeting with State Sen. John Laird noon to 1:15 p.m. Friday May 21.

Register at https://forms. gle/5nmVxUCoXZDXtpZaA John Laird

Saturday May 22 AMAH MUTSUN COLLEGE STUDENTS SPEAK 1-3 p.m., Amah Mutsun Speaker Series Online Six Amah Mutsun college students, Alexii Sigona, Julisa Lopez, Steven Pratt, Athena Hernandez, Dominic Lopez-Toney, and Carolyn Rodriguez, will speak at a virtual event 1-3 p.m. Saturday, May 22, to discuss their experiences in higher education, share their research and how they hope to serve the community after completing their degree. Pratt attends Cabrillo College. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/ register/WN_jiBAk_pQQXOPOsW8sb57rQ The Amah Mutsun Speaker Series is a collaboration between the American Indian Resource Center at UC Santa Cruz and the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.

This marks the 13th year of these events, and the 25th consecutive event of the series.

Sunday May 23 CHOPIN WITH PIANIST BRIAN GANZ The Distinguished Artists Concert and Lecture Series

presents and Chopin specialist Brian Ganz will perform live and online at 5 p.m. May 23, sharing stories about the composer’s life, music and the works of his friend, painter Eugene Delacroix. The program is titled, “Romanticism and the Revolutionary Spirit.”

Brian Ganz The evening concludes with a toast and lively Q & A. Price is $3; beyond that, donations are welcome.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/nite-with-ganz

Tuesday May 25 WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER’S 1-2:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s Association Webinar The Alzheimer’s Association presents the seminar “10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s,” via phone and online.

Alzheimer’s and other dementias cause memory, thinking and behavior problems that interfere with daily living.

Learn how to recognize common signs; how to approach someone about memory concerns; importance of early detection and benefits of a diagnosis; possible tests and assessments for diagnosis, and Alzheimer’s Association resources.

Call 800-272-3900 to register or visit ALZ.org/CRF Once you register, you will get an email with the call-in information and instructions.

Wednesday May 26 ALZHEIMER’S & COVID-19 CAREGIVING 10-11:30 a.m., Alzheimer’s Association Webinar The Alzheimer’s Association presents the webinar “COVID-19 and Caregiving,” via phone or online.

Caring for someone living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic adds challenges. This program provides simple tips for caregivers whether the person living with dementia lives at home, in a residential facility, or care providers come to the home. Call 800-272-3900 to register or visit ALZ.org/CRF Once you register, you get an email with the call-in information and instructions.

Thursday May 27 NATALIE OLIVAS TALKS ‘HARDCORE NATURAL HISTORY’ 6-7 p.m., Pacific Grove Museum Zoom Seminar The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History welcomes Natalie Olivas from Regeneración the year-long Hardcore Natural History speaker series on Zoom.

The series is in connection with the new “Changes” exhibit, which focuses on habitat change in the Monterey Bay area.

Local researchers and advocates will address the science behind current issues facing the coastal, valley and mountain habitats of Monterey County.

A graduate of CSU Monterey Bay, Olivas studied Natalie Olivas environmental studies with a concentration in science for sustainable communities.

Her childhood in Los Angeles and Kern County exposed her to environmental degradation, which drove her to pursue a career in environmental justice.

Olivas now works as a community organizer at Regeneración, where she helps to build community capacity to advocate for equitable climate action. She works across sectors to weave climate justice into various programs and curriculums.

Although the series is free, the museum suggests a donation is $15 per person. To watch, register online in advance to get a link to the webinar. See www.pgmuseum.org. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / May 15th 2021 / 31

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