Aptos Times: September 15, 2021

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

Times Publishing Group, Inc.

September 15, 2021 • Vol 30 No. 18

Covid Update page 7

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Dominican Hospital Celebrates 80 Years

By Nanette Mickiewicz, MD, President, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital

Cabrillo Unity Mural Complete On Sept. 14, Cabrillo College celebrated a historic event, unveiling its first Latinx-inspired mural on the Aptos campus.

The mural is a stunning work, a powerful vertical image that adorns the elevator tower overlooking Cabrillo’s campus Quad. ... continues on page 4

On Sept. 14, 2021, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital celebrated a milestone — 80 years of service to the Santa Cruz County community. It has been a memorable journey of commitment and community partnerships, and a privilege to provide our region with a level of cutting-edge health care normally found only in larger metropolitan areas.

It has been our steadfast mission to serve all who come through the doors, regardless of ability to pay. And we have done all of this because we’re more than just a hospital; we’re a part of this community. ... continues on page 6

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No. 18

Volume 30

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Table of Contents

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Cover Cabrillo Unity Mural Complete

4 5 7 8 9 10

Community News Remembering Gerardo Thank You, Good Samaritan!

County Workers Must Vaccinate or Test, By Jondi Gumz Capitola Small Biz COVID Grants Deadline is Sept. 30 Cannabis Permits Debate to Rise Oct. 19, By Jondi Gumz $5 Million in Aid During Pandemic • Two Santa Cruz County Jail Units Closing Due to Staff Shortage Rogers Named County Public Defender Rotary Bike Ride Fundraiser Goal: $200,000 County Health Leader Mimi Hall To Depart CalFresh Benefits to Increase 25%: After 45 Years, USDA Reviews Cost of Groceries, By Jondi Gumz Santa Cruz Public Libraries Measure S Facility Update • La Selva Beach Library Branch September Activities Arts Grants Fund Community Projects Show Afghan Women You See Their Bravery, By Carmel Jud Remembering Sept. 11, 2001, Photos by Edita McQuary Cabrillo Host Lions Fundraiser, Photos by Jondi Gumz Big Basin State Park: One Year After CZU Fire • Santa Cruz Households Face Penalties For Using Too Much Water

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Letters to the Editor 8 Aptos High Mourns Student Death 13 Polo Grounds Dog Park Needs Attention • Let’s Protect Kids on Bikes

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – How to Create Peace, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

Featured Columnists 19 Warm Summer Squash Salad, by Brandon Miller 23 Travel Troubleshooter: Alaska Cruise Canceled, Where’s My Refund?,

By Christopher Elliott 23 What’s the Future for California Gig Drivers?, Courtesy of Pinkston News Service 24 Communication in Aptosand Covid Testing, Q&A With Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District 25 Mangels Gulch Bridge (Before Nisene Marks Became a State Park), Photo Essay by Mark Reed 27 Punishment or Divine Gift?, By Joyce and Barry Vissell 30 Redrawing County Supervisor District Boundaries, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District 31 What to Plant As Fall Approaches, By Tony Tomeo

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – When Harry Met Sally

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COMMUNITY NEWS Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

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contributing writers Jondi Gumz, Carmel Jud, Edita McQuary, Risa D’Angeles, Brandon Miller, Christopher Elliott, Michelle Rodriguez, Mark Reed, Joyce and Barry Vissell, Zach Friend, Tony Tomeo layout Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson photography Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson, Brad King website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti production coordinator Camisa Composti media consultants Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine, Tara Carcamo office coordinator Cathe Race distribution Bill Pooley, James Hudson

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Remembering Gerardo F lowers, balloons and posters have sprung up outside Aptos High School to remember a senior who died after being stabbed on campus on Aug. 31.

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District has not released information about the young man who died, but two fellow students, ages 17 and 14, have been booked into the county’s juvenile hall on charges of murder.

The community is divided on whether the school board should reinstate the School Resource Officer program, which was halted in July 2020 amid protests over police brutality. But Sheriff Jim Hart, whose office is

investigating the fatal stabbing, said he had seen no evidence of a police-to-prison pipeline.

The stabbing is the first incident of its kind Hart has had to investigate since he’s been in Santa Cruz County law enforcement.

Students returned to school after the campus was closed for two days.

Mariana Rivera organized a GoFundMe drive for the young man’s family, prompting 993 donors to give more than $58,000.

Rivera reported a memorial service for Gerardo was to have taken place Sept. 8 at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel in Watsonville “to pay him respect.” n

COVER STORY “Unity” from page 1 Painted by local artist and Cabrillo graduate Francisco Alonso, the mural — entitled “Unity” — is part of the College’s ongoing efforts to promote its diversity and celebrate its Hispanic-serving institution status.

This past May, for the first time in Cabrillo’s history, 50% of Cabrillo’s graduating class was Latinx.

During the unveiling event, Cabrillo President and Superintendent Dr. Matt Wetstein announced that Cabrillo had just received a $5 million federal diversity in STEM grant relating to Cabrillo’s federal status as a Hispanic-serving institution.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Cabrillo College aims to foster a greater sense of belonging among its diverse student body, celebrating Latinx culture and centering on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and their racial, cultural, and linguistic ways of living and knowing.

The mural dedication ceremony featured food, music, Native American and Folklorico dancers, culminating with a presentation by muralist Alonso.

Attendees included faculty, staff, students and members of the Santa Cruz County community. n ••• Cover Photo: Native American dance troupe White Hawk performs at the Cabrillo College ceremony to dedicate the college’s first Latinx-inspired mural. • Photo Credit: Kristin Fabos

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Photo Credit: Kristin Fabos

Mural artist and Cabrillo graduate Francisco Alonso talks about his piece, “Unity,” at the dedication ceremony.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Thank You, Good Samaritan!

A n outing this month at Nisene Marks State Park became a lifeor-death episode for a local man, and his wife is grateful. She told her story on Aptosia, a Facebook page for people who live in Aptos: ••• o the Good Samaritan, Paul, who helped save my husband’s life yesterday in the Nisene Marks, I thank you.

You stopped when you didn’t have to and helped Brandon keep him upright, you held my husband’s head so he could breathe, you called 911 after the first call dropped, you both were willing to do whatever it took to help him come home to his children, grandson and me.

I am eternally grateful and would love the opportunity to thank you.

Please, if anyone knows who this Good Samaritan is, let him know we would like the opportunity to express our gratitude.

Seth had a severe anaphylactic reaction to a yellowjacket sting. He has an epi pen now and will be ok.

Please share this post so we can express our heartfelt gratitude to the person who stopped to help.

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And a big huge thank you Brandon Raasch.”

— Kelly Wolcott ••• Kelly Wolcott, 52, is the owner of WISH Esthetics. Her husband, Seth Wolcott, 42, has worked at West Marine for more than 20 years and is currently director of operations. Brandon Raasch is director of human resources at West Marine. He and Seth have been friends for years.

The Aptos Times reached Kelly Wolcott Tuesday to learn more about this fated trek to the Forest of Nisene Marks.

She and Seth are moving to Atlanta after living for a while in Aptos, and this mountain biking trek at Nisene Marks was on her husband’s “bucket list” to do before the move.

She stayed home while Seth and Brandon went out with a couple other guys, never expecting a yellowjacket attack would send her husband into anaphylactic shock, especially on a busy Sunday of Labor Day weekend at the park entrance on a one-lane road that can be tough for the ambulance to navigate.

She still does not know the last name of the Good Samaritan Paul.

All she knows is that he alternated with Brandon to provide Paul with CPR and didn’t make a fuss about it.

She learned what happened when the emergency medical technician called from the ambulance, and she’s thankful for first responders and Dominican Hospital’s ER staff.

“Very thankful — now we carry epi pens wherever we go,” she said.

Kelly’s post on Aptosia attracted more than 90 comments. Here are a few of them: Lani Faulker, a first responder, recommends carrying two Epi pens plus Benadryl, to help reduce the allergic response and possibly stave off a second Epi pen shot John Hanley, a pharmacist, wrote, “What an awesome and wonderful story.

Nice to hear of the Good Samaritan’s actions.”

Kelly Ann Walker Sandlin wrote: “Watch out for those yellow jackets! I was attacked at Nisene last week and wound up with 6 stings.”

Pack lunches & to-go snacks with the best local produce!

Kelly and Seth Wolcott visiting Las Vegas in June, where they renewed their vows for their 15th anniversary.

Deborah Hensler wrote: “A reminder to me to take my Epi pen with me when hiking. So thank you for that.”

Brenda Liston commented: “There are Angels among us everywhere and every day.”

Mary Feliz: “Please keep telling these stories of positive interactions between total strangers. We need them!” n

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COVER STORY “80 Years” from page 1 When the Adrian Dominican Sisters arrived in 1941, Santa Cruz was still largely a fishing community that also enjoyed a summertime tourist trade. The hospital grew with the community to stay a step ahead of its health care needs.

Today, Dominican is sophisticated, creative and diverse, like our community.

We have the infrastructure and personnel to provide advanced health care. And, many of Dominican’s past patients have become our partners, pledging donations that have helped turn a great hospital into an even greater one.

A Sister and hospital staff in an early operating room.

Dominican Hospital, at 1555 Soquel Dr., celebrating 80 years serving Santa Cruz County.

Dominican’s history is defined by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Five of these women — only one a nurse — traveled to Santa Cruz from Michigan in 1941 to reopen a failed hospital on West Cliff Drive.

Today, Adrian Dominicans still serve in leadership, clinical, and support roles, and other Sisters are valued members of the hospital’s board.

When it comes to numbers, 80 is significant. Here are a few more significant numbers: 222 beds; 1,556 employees; 530 physicians; 96,360 patients served in the past year, half through our Emergency Department; 375 newborns cared for in our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the past year; $14 million in charity care annually; and $40 million in broad community benefits annually.

On the threshold of this anniversary, we join the hospital’s staff physicians, clinicians, support staff, Sisters and volunteers in expressing enormous gratitude for the decades of heartfelt, unbroken support from our community.

Thank you for the opportunity to continue to serve you — now, and for the next 80 years. n ••• Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz is president and CEO of Dignity Health Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz.

Cover Photo: The 18-bed Sisters Hospital on West Cliff Drive (formerly Hanly Hospital ) was run by the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan, and was dedicated on Sept. 14, 1941.

Dominican Hospital staff have administered over 38,000 COVID-19 vaccinations, including the majority of the agricultural workers in the region.

Dominican Hospital nursing staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to care for the sickest members of the Santa Cruz County community.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

County Workers Must Vaccinate or Test

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By Jondi Gumz

n Aug. 24, with the state seeing the fastest increase in COVID-19 cases due to the more contagious Delta variant and a state order for healthcare workers to vaccinate, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted to require COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing for county employees.

About 85 percent of the county’s budgeted 1,937 employees are vaccinated, and about 300 are deemed unvaccinated, according to County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios.

“This is a significant statement by the Board on the importance of vaccinations to protect the health and safety of our community,” Board Chair Supervisor Bruce McPherson said. “Our employees have demonstrated leadership through their already high vaccination rates, and the Board encourages every community member to follow suit if they are able to obtain a vaccine.”

The vote gave employees 30 days — approximately Sept. 23 — to comply with the mandate or submit to weekly testing.

Employees who do not comply will face leave without pay or termination.

At the time of the vote, Santa Cruz County ranked 13th among California’s 58 health jurisdictions for vaccination.

Currently, the county updates its metrics on Mondays and Thursdays, with 69.7 percent of eligible residents with one dose and 62.7 percent fully vaccinated.

An employee who refuses to vaccinate or test weekly “will be deemed to have subjected co-workers to unnecessary safety risks,” according to the staff report from the County Administrative Office.

“Appropriate action may include a leave without pay for non-compliance or termination based on the circumstances. Simply allowing the employee to continue working would not be an acceptable option.”

Due process in the form of a Skelly hearing is required for permanent employees who have a constitutionally protected interest in their job.

The estimated cost to carry out this mandate was not available.

Potentially the state could provide testing kits for free. If not, the cost of the kits is estimated at $40 or more, with the cost of testing administrators estimated at $70 to $100 per hour.

County government is the second largest employer in Santa Cruz County; UC Santa Cruz is the largest.

Cases Slow Down he Santa Cruz County Health Officer mandated face coverings be worn indoors regardless of vaccination status starting Aug. 21.

The indoor mask mandate applies to all businesses and governmental entities, which must require employees to wear masks and post signs that are clearly visible and easy-to-read at all entry points for indoor settings informing the public.

And County Public Health released recommendations for participants in youth sports, those under 12 and ineligible for vaccines, along with staff, volunteers, and spectators, to reduce spread.

“We are seeing more cases in our youngest residents, including those not yet eligible to be vaccinated,” said Dr. Gail Newel, Santa Cruz County’s health officer.

“Schools and organizations that provide youth sports and other activities should take precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 among these populations.”

The number of active COVID in the county cases dropped from 923 to 871 to 66e, according to the county dashboard, which is updated on Monday and Thursdays. New cases are mostly in north Santa Cruz County.

The 14-day change, a metric updated on Wednesdays, showed cases down 21 percent — a big change after increasing 64 percent in August.

The number of hospitalizations, which had been as low as 12, rose to 21 then dropped to 20, with the number of intensive care cases dropping from five to two, with 3 ICU beds available.

Full Approval n Aug. 23, federal regulators granted full approval to the two-dose PfizerBioNTech vaccine, which means the fact sheet people get will no longer describe the vaccine as experimental.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had granted the Pfizer vaccine emergency use authorization in December after a clinical trial of 44,000 people 16 and older were followed for a median of two months after their second shot. Half got the shot, and half got a placebo, the FDA said, with the vaccine 91 percent effective.

To get full approval, Pfizer followed 12,000 people for at least six months, the FDA said, and more studies will be required to assess the risk of heart damage as higher risk was observed for males under age 40,

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County Workers will have to either be vaccinated or tested weekly. with the highest risk for those age 12 to 17.

The Pfizer vaccine will now be marketed as “Comirnaty.”

FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock, in announcing the approval, said, “We recognize for some, the FDA approval may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated.”

More Testing anta Cruz County Public Health and OptumServe has added a third testing lane at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, bringing daily testing capacity to 594.

Hours are Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., with closures from 11 a.m.-noon and 4-5 p.m.

To guarantee your test, make an appointment at https://lhi.care/ covidtesting/.

On Sept. 1, a second lane was added at the Ramsay Park OptumServe testing site in Watsonville, boosting daily testing capacity to 396. Hours are Wednesday-Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., and closed from 11 a.m.noon and 4-5 p.m. Make an appointments at https://lhi.care/covidtesting/

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On Sept. 10, County Public Health opened a mobile testing bus which can handle 84 tests per day, at Community Bridges’ Mountain Community Resource Center in Felton. Hours are Friday-Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the foreseeable future.

For information on rapid-turnaround tests see www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus under “Get Tested” link. Some sites may charge a fee.

For local information on COVID-19, call (831) 454-4242 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The OptumServe mass vaccination site at 250 Main St., Watsonville, transitioned operations to County Public Health and reopened Sept. 9, providing Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Hours are Thursdays, 9 a.m. –1 p.m., Fridays, 2–6 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m. –1 p.m. and Sundays. Appointments should be made at www.MyTurn.ca.gov. For more locations, see www.santacruzhealth.org/ coronavirusvaccine “COVID Update” page 9

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COMMUNITY BRIEF Capitola Small Biz COVID Grants Deadline is Sept. 30 he City of Capitola has been awarded Cares Act funds to establish a small business assistance grant program to offset the negative impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic and to assist businesses in Capitola with financial recovery.

Funding will be available to small businesses with up to 25 employees to cover rent or mortgage payments.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development Department awarded the City of Capitola a Community Development Block

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The goal of this assistance is to improve the likelihood of the business owners’ success in surviving and thriving post-COVID-19.

Mayor Yvette Brooks said,”I appreciate all the hard work and collaboration between SBDC, Capitola’s Economic Development Recovery Task Force, the CDBG ad-hoc committee, and City staff to get CARES Act funds out to our businesses.”

SBDC Director Brandon Napoli said, “I’m confident our expert team will be able to help Capitola’s businesses not only recover from the effects of this devastating health crisis but thrive in our post-pandemic economy.”

Grant applications opened Sept. 2 at www.cityofcapitola.org/covid19businessgrant. Completed applications must be submitted by close of business on Sept. 30.

Applicants must own a for-profit business with 25 or less employees, conduct business in a commercial or industrial brick and mortar space within Capitola city limits, and quality under block grant standards.

If the number of qualifying applications received exceeds the amount of funding available, the City will implement a lottery system for the eligible small businesses. n

concern around campus safety and will continue to listen and seek a model of staffing and support that is responsive to the needs of our community. We know that when students, families and our community feel safe that they are able to engage and have a positive school experience.

This incident has brought up the topic of school safety, in particular, School Resource Officers (SROs) within our schools. A Special Board Meeting has been scheduled for Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. to discuss the presence of SROs within PVUSD. The Board meeting will take place in the District Office Boardroom. Special Board Meetings begin at 6 p.m.

Home-based Supports We know families are having difficult, unprecedented conversations with their students at this time. Some recommendations for navigating these discussions include: • Answer questions simply and honestly, clearing up any confusion students may have about what happened. ° Let your student know that they are not alone in their reactions to the event. ° Provide opportunities for your student to talk, draw, and play, but don’t force it.

• Talk to your student about what is being done by the school, the District, our community, and law enforcement to keep everyone safe from harm. ° Watch for anything in the environment that could re-traumatize your student. ° Keep your eyes and ears open for bullying activity.

• Maintain daily routines, activities, and structure with clear expectations, consistent rules, and immediate feedback; limit unnecessary changes. ° Limit and monitor access to media reports and video footage that shows disturbing scenes of the event.

° Encourage students to “take a break” from the crisis, focus on activities unrelated to the event.

Find ways for your students to feel helpful to their peers, the school, and the community.

Aptos High School Educational Community Forum and Live Stream We will hold a Community Virtual and Live Stream Forum tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 2, at 7:30 p.m. to update Aptos HIgh School students, families and staff and provide information about what to expect in the upcoming days and weeks.

The Forum will host a panel to include Sheriff Hart from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Peggy Pughe, Aptos High School Principal, Eric Ochoa, PVPSA Behavioral Health Director, Jennifer Holm, PVUSD Board President, and myself.

• Zoom link (up to a participation limit of 500): https://pvusd.zoom. us/j/82299473148 • Live Stream link (unlimited participation): https://www.youtube. com/c/pvusdstreaming/live Pajaro Valley Unified School District Community Forum and Live Stream On Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m., PVUSD will hold a Community Virtual and Live Stream Forum to address our loss, the collective impact and the health and safety resources we have for our students, families, staff and community. Please join us.

• Zoom link (up to participation limit of 500): https://pvusd.zoom. us/j/81057144492 • Live Stream link (unlimited participation): https://www.youtube. com/c/pvusdstreaming/live I want to express deep appreciation for our Aptos High School and District staff as well as the community agencies and partners who were at our side yesterday, are at our side again today and will continue to be in the days to come.

— With care, concern and love, Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent of Schools

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Aptos High Mourns Student Death Editor’s note: Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez posted this letter to the educational community Sept. 1, the day after a student was fatally stabbed at the Aptos High campus. Learn about virtual forums for Aptos High and PVUSD, when Aptos High will reopen and when the school board will discuss school resource officers on campus.

••• he death of our student at Aptos High School is a loss that impacts each of us profoundly and raises many emotions, concerns, and questions for our students, families, staff and community. As we move forward each day, our collective commitment is to support students, families, staff and administration dealing with grief, concerns about safety and other difficult feelings.

Our District is mobilizing extensive resources and services to support and care for our community by listening, protecting, and connecting. We are in continuous communication with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and will update our educational community as soon as information becomes available in the coming days and weeks.

We urge anyone with additional information or video to contact Detective Sergeant Burnett at 831-454-7702 at the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.

School-based Crisis and Grief Counseling Supports Beginning Friday, Sept. 3, the Aptos High School community will be supported by school, District and community-based counseling staff, mental health clinicians and psychologists. These professionals will provide ongoing and in-the moment crisis and grief counseling for individuals and in group settings.

Students and staff may express many different emotions and feelings and the amount of time it may take for each person to process their feelings and emotions

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Grant — Coronavirus Response Round 2 & 3 for $264,761.

The City will be offering grants for up to $7,500 per eligible business. City officials estimate 30 to 35 businesses will receive funds for rental or mortgage assistance. Part of the funding will be used for food assistance.

The City of Capitola is partnering with the Santa Cruz Small Business Development Center of Santa Cruz for business assistance grant program administration. SBDC will provide expertise in application review and offer technical assistance to those businesses that need one-on-one or group training.

varies widely, therefore students, families and staff can expect the site-based support will continue in the weeks and months to come. The plan is to allow this support to take place in a safe and nonjudgmental environment.

We have learned from the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement that following a death on their campus, adolescents are an especially vulnerable group with an increased risk of feeling depressed or anxious and have the potential to engage in self-blame or guilt related to the death.

Students and staff are likely to experience some feelings of guilt after a death, even if there is no logical reason for it.

We recognize the impact on our whole staff and community; supports and resources are being shared with Aptos High School in preparation for students’ return to school on Friday, Sept. 3. We are aware that all schools are experiencing the impact of this loss and supports for school sites are being implemented.

Community-based Crisis and Grief Counseling Supports To support all our students, families and staff, District and community partners are providing crisis and grief counseling at two Cabrillo College locations, at the Aptos Campus, 100 Building and at the Watsonville Campus, Building A, from 8 AM to 5 PM. Anyone may contact Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance at 728-6445 or the Santa Cruz County Mental Health Department at 454-4170 for additional counseling support.

School-based Safety and Security Supports The ongoing safety and security of students and staff on campus is a critical priority. Beginning on Friday, Sept. 3, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office will have deputies on campus at Aptos High School.

We have received an outpouring of

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Cannabis Permits Debate to Rise Oct. 19

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By Jondi Gumz

he conflict between people living in rural Corralitos and would-be cannabis growers who see opportunities in the less populated areas of the county will return in 45 days, with a public hearing slated Oct. 19.

That’s because county supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday to support a 45-day moratorium on cannabis licenses to better understand the potential problems and work out a solution.

The proposal initially supported by Second District Supervisor Zach Friend, whose district includes Corralitos, Aptos and La Selva Beach, would have prohibited cannabis licenses on commercial agriculture land within 500 feet of residentially zoned parcels.

A preliminary analysis found this would have decreased the commercial land available to cannabis growers from 1,462 to 689 parcels.

Many sites are not suitable for cannabis due to proximity to homes.

Haven Williams and other residents on Browns Valley Road worried about odor, noise from buzzing generators, and additional security.

Third District Supervisor Manu Koenig proposed the ban apply to parcels within 500 feet of “residential structures,” which got the votes of supervisors of Friend, Manu Koenig, Bruce McPherson and Greg Caput but not

“COVID Update” from page 7 The state reports 67,000 COVID-19 deaths, a number that has been rising, with 82 percent of Californians receiving at least one dose of vaccine and 23.2 million fully vaccinated.

The state’s mandate for full vaccination or weekly testing of all teachers and support staff is to be fully implemented by Oct. 15.

In a case highlighted by the federal Centers for Disease Control, an unvaccinated Marin County elementary school teacher tested positive in May, with 22 of the 24 students, all ineligible for vaccine, getting positive test results. For those in the two rows seated closest to the teacher’s desk, eight of 10 were positive compared to four of 14 in the three back rows. The outbreak “highlights the importance of vaccinating school staff members who are in close indoor contact with children ineligible for vaccination as schools reopen,” according to health officials who investigated.

Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Education Faris Sabbah said all unvaccinated school employees are being tested at least weekly in compliance with the statewide order.

Two outdoor drive-through PCR testing sites are open to the entire school community for symptomatic and asymptomatic

Zach Friend speaking remotely during the meeting.

Ryan Coonerty, who felt the moratorium was too big of a change.

The county counsel ruled the wording of the proposed ordinance could change because it was presented as an urgency measure.

At this point it’s not known how many parcels are affected but there may be clarity before the public hearing.

Robert Kitayama of Kitayama Brothers in South County, a grower for 55 years, said he is in the process of

individuals, with most test results available within 24-hours — faster than most alternatives. The first site is open at Cabrillo College in Aptos, parking lot K, from 3-6 p.m.

Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

The second location is at the PVUSD District Office parking lot, open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays.

Students and their families, and staff and their families are welcome to use this free service. Those needing a test simply fill out the registration one time at http:// sccoe.link/inspiresc and go to either site.

No appointment is required.

In a Sept. 10 letter to the community, he said, “We have yet to close a single classroom across Santa Cruz County this fall — a sign of success for which all students, parents, and staff members share credit. “ A recording of a town hall on the testing process is at https://www.youtube. com/user/santacruzcoe n •••

selling 5 acres of greenhouse land, property eligible for cannabis — a deal would probably be in jeopardy if this moratorium were adopted.

The proceeds from the land sale would “go to upgrade cut flower farming,” he said, adding, “We believe legal cannabis can be done correctly.”

Darren Story, 49, CFO for Strong Agronomy, described himself to the Aptos Times as “born and raised in the area” with good relations with neighbors thanks to regular communication. His operation sells organic blueberries to Live Earth Farm in Watsonville for CSAdelivered boxes and cannabis sold via Coastal Sun Farm throughout the state.

He worried about license renewals becoming more difficult, harming an operation that has 79 employees now and has had up to 120 employees in the past.

Corralitos residents have formed a group called Coalition for Balanced Land Use, researching the names of people involved in a cannabis grow on Browns Valley Road looking for criminal activity.

Friend said he had been deluged with public comment from both sides, and that is likely to happen again leading up to to Tuesday, Oct.19, public hearing, and subsequent action. n Agendas for upcoming supervisor meetings will be posted at: http://santacruzcountyca.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx?

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COVID Cases by Town

As of Sept. 13 Aptos: 1,023 • Ben Lomond: 201 Boulder Creek: 265 • Capitola: 564 Felton: 222 • Freedom: 1,077 Santa Cruz: 5,014 • Scotts Valley: 613 Soquel: 474 • Watsonville: 8,795 Unincorporated: 322 Under investigation: 327 Total: 18,897

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / September 15th 2021 / 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

$5 Million in Aid During Pandemic T he Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County has facilitated close to $5 million in direct relief to the community in the wake of the pandemic.

“COVID exacerbated the effects of poverty,” said Maria Elena De La Garza, executive director of CAB, who pointed to day workers as among those worst hit. “These are the folks you see standing outside Home Depot looking for work.

They register through our Day Worker Center and we provide dignified job matches through employers or homeowners. When shelter-in-place hit, we went from 150-200 requests a week to zero. They had no revenue to support their families.”

For 55 years, CAB has responded compassionately and proactively to the voices of the low-income community.

Part of a national network of community action agencies, CAB operates six programs that assist more than 10,000 people with low incomes cope with their most pressing needs: Homelessness prevention & intervention, employment & reentry services, immigration legal services, and community building & youth development.

According to Executive Director María Elena De La Garza, the special element driving CAB’s success is the makeup of its staff and board. “What makes us different from other nonprofits is that our board is made up of five low-income residents across Santa Cruz County, five elected officials, and five private sector voices,” she said. “We believe a united community voice will guide our work. Imagine the strength of our board where a low-income

“What makes us different from other nonprofits is that our board is made up of five low-income residents across Santa Cruz County, five elected officials, and five private sector voices. We believe a united community voice will guide our work. Imagine the strength of our board where a low-income representative with firsthand experience in poverty sitting next to a mayor, city council person, decision maker, or a business leader. That’s the profound dynamic that forges CAB’s community response.”

— María Elena De La Garza, Executive Director, Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County

representative with firsthand experience in poverty sitting next to a mayor, city council person, decision maker, or a business leader. That’s the profound dynamic that forges CAB’s community response.”

At CAB, more than 50 employees including volunteers work with the community on short & long-term solutions to eliminate poverty and create social change through advocacy and essential services.

This is no easy task, considering Santa Cruz County faces the second highest poverty rate in California (to Los Angeles County) when factoring in the cost of living. More than three quarters of CAB’s clients have family incomes less than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

According to De La Garza, there still remains “a gap or disconnect or lack of knowledge about how people are impacted by poverty, what their assets are and what their needs are.” There are multiple reasons for this, she said, including structural inequities, political rhetoric, miscommunication, and inaccessibility of systems.

During the pandemic, many in the community sought assistance through government channels such as state unemployment benefits and federal stimulus checks. However, many with legal and structural barriers found it difficult or impossible to access such help.

Working through a partnership with the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, CAB was able to provide food and rental assistance within 72 hours of the lockdown.

“It was a phenomenal response from the community, and it continues to this day,” she said. “We’re still not back to where we used to be before the pandemic.

We average 50-55 requests a week but it’s not enough to support the day worker community. Our philanthropic partners are key in ensuring their wellbeing.”

In addition, CAB’s Davenport Resource Service Center became a food distribution site for those affected by the pandemic and the raging wildfires of 2020. “We were able to help folks

evacuate when fires hit, hand out gas cards, groceries, clothing, and other essential supplies.”

Selected by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office as one of 12 agencies to distribute economic relief to undocumented or mixedstatus families in California, CAB played a huge role in the Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants program. “We had less than six weeks to set up the program, hiring 18 people,” said De La Garza. “We moved quickly to set up an infrastructure, with bilingual, bicultural people from this community (including someone designated to reach out to indigenous communities) who understood the importance of program and knew how to deliver culturally respectful services” CAB also expanded its food pantry by partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank, an example of how CAB helps the community thrive through help from committed allies. Such partnerships ensure that thousands of people, faced with critical circumstances, receive the advocacy and essential services they need.

“Moving forward we always focus on hope,” De La Garza said. “We have a window of time to change systems locally.

Taking what we learned through the pandemic and fire response, through the Black Lives Matter and the pro-immigrant movements, we can impact change. Communities have solutions and people have responded to the needs of those most vulnerable. That’s hopeful to me.” n ••• For more info, visit www.cabinc.org or call (831) 763-2147, ext. 216.

Two Santa Cruz County Jail Units Closing Due to Staff Shortage

T

wo units in the Santa Cruz County Corrections Facilities will be temporarily closing due to a shortage of corrections staff, according to Sheriff Jim Hart.

The S Unit in the Rountree Facility in Watsonville, which houses 19 inmates, and Blaine Street Women’s Facility in Santa Cruz, which is housing six female inmates, will be closed for six to twelve months, according to an announcement from the Sheriff’s Office.

In addition, five patrol deputies will be moved to the Corrections Bureau.

The current population at Blaine Street is six and the population of S Unit is 19.

These measures will allow for more staffing in the Main Jail and reduce mandatory

overtime for corrections staff, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

A Grand Jury report in June found the jail has been operating with minimal staffing and mandatory overtime, “constantly going in and out of the units like yo-yos.”

In addition to booking and releasing inmates, their duties include mandatory hourly safety checks, serving three meals per day, collecting dirty laundry and distributing clean laundry, distributing and collecting grooming supplies, distributing commissary items purchased by inmates, dealing with requests by individual inmates, supervising inmate movements in and out of the housing units,

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

supervising open time and assuring that inmates are in their assigned cells when it’s time for lock down.

The corrections budget is budgeted for 151 positions, with 11 unfilled at the time of the grand jury investigation.

Tamario Smith, 21, who had kidney disease and schizophrenia and was being held for domestic battery, died in jail in May 2020 after drinking too much water. His family claimed in a federal lawsuit that he did not get adequate medical care.

Hart fired two female correctional officers in 2020 after they were accused of having sexual activity with inmates.

And the pandemic, resulting in positive

Covid-19 tests for jail staffers in 2020, put further strain on scheduling.

The Grand Jury recommended the Board of Supervisors establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General and for the sheriff to request more funding for the jail budget.

“Corrections Officers have been working mandatory overtime for several years and it is just too much,” said Fifth District Supervisor Bruce McPherson, who chairs the board. “I support Sheriff Hart’s decision to temporarily close two of the smaller housing facilities while his team works to hire more officers.” n To read a Grand Jury excerpt, see https:// tpgonlinedaily.com/grand-jury-minimal-jailstaffing-leads-to-injustice/

COMMUNITY NEWS

Rogers Named County Public Defender H eather Rogers will start in October as Santa Cruz County’s first Public Defender, taking a role that since 1975 was filled by the law firm of Biggam, Christensen and Minsloff.

Rogers has nearly two decades of experience as a defense attorney, including nearly a decade as a staff attorney with Biggam, Christensen and Minsloff, where she is a supervising attorney.

Rogers has experience with high-profile felony cases, and working with justice-involved youth and immigrants.

“Ms. Rogers is the right choice to lead our community’s first-ever Office of the Public Defender,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Bruce McPherson said Sept. 14 when her selection was announced.

“We are confident that she will provide excellent, client-centered services for our indigent defendants, promote equity and inclusion as she develops the office, and continue working closely with the court and the community to assure that public defense services in Santa Cruz County are among the best in the state,” McPherson said. ”I’m honored to be chosen to lead this new agency,” Rogers said. “I look forward to putting together a team that provides courageous, compassionate, client-centered defense to reach the best outcomes for our clients in a manner that is consistent with our community’s values.”

In her remarks, she recalled defending a goat herder

New County Public Defender Heather Rogers (right) with County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios facing charges who was mainly concerned with his goats, whom he knew by name.

The lesson Roger learned is that these situations are not just cases, they are people, and that it’s importance to delve into the details to find the root causes.

In her LinkedIn profile, she has a statement: “I am a public defender committed to providing each

client with zealous, client-centered, holistic advocacy. I believe that aggressive courtroom advocacy is the foundation of excellent representation, but it is not enough.

Clients are often as concerned with the collateral and incidental consequences of their contact with the criminal justice system, as they are with their case’s legal disposition. I take the time to get to know my clients, so that I can work with them to achieve the outcome that is best for them, whether that be pre-trial diversion, a therapeutic resolution, access to supportive services or a jury trial. I collaborate with county, court and community partners to support policies and programs that divert people out of the criminal justice system, address root causes, provide meaningful opportunities for rehabilitation and mitigate the consequences of system involvement.”

Rogers is a graduate of Stanford Law School who clerked on the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals with Judge M. Margaret McKeown. She serves on the board of the Santa Cruz County Defense Bar and the Santa Cruz County Trial Lawyers Association, and represents District 2 on the Santa Cruz County Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Commission.

After 45 years of the law firm of Biggam, Christensen and Minsloff providing indigent defense services in Santa Cruz County, county officials sought an assessment and analysis of alternatives, resulting in the Board’s decision to establish the Office of the Public Defender. n

Eight decades of caring. One commitment to community.

Back when a movie ticket cost a quarter, plus another nickel for a chocolate bar, Dignity Health – Dominican Hospital began caring for the people in this community. And while the world has seen almost unimaginable change since then, at least one thing has steadfastly endured: our commitment to provide specialized medical care, delivered with a healthy dose of comforting compassion. Innovations in diagnosis and treatment continue, and we’ll keep pace. And we’ll continue honoring a mission of healing—not only the body, but the whole person.

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

SEPTEMBER

15-19 COOL SHADES & TRACTOR PARADES RACETRACK

Monster Trucks & Motocross WED & THUR 7:30 PM $ $

10 5

ADULT

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Michael Mezmer

Los Moralitos Circus 3 SHOWS DAILY IN THE BALLPARK

COMMUNITY NEWS

Rotary Bike Ride Fundraiser Goal: $200,000 S anta Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club members participating in Jon and Ken’s Most Excellent Adventure Bike Ride Sept. 30-Oct. 2 have raised $100,000 and aim to raise another $100,000 for local organizations serving the youth.

Now in its 24th year, the 200-mile ride will begin in Healdsburg and travel through the Russian River, Sonoma Coast, Bodega Bay and San Francisco, where riders will travel over the Golden Gate Bridge and down the coast to Santa Cruz.

More than 90 riders and crew are committed to participate.

“This year we’re excited to announce Teen Kitchen Project will be our primary beneficiary,” said John Flaniken, Sunrise Rotary Club president. “We also will support Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery and Sunrise Rotary Club’s charities, grants, high school youth scholarship programs and other club-supported philanthropic causes.”

Over the years, the ride has raised more than $1.2 million for local organizations, he said.

“With one month to go,” said Peter

Truman, Bike Ride Committee chair and Sunrise Rotary Club member, “our riders are not only committed to training for the event, but they are also putting their hearts into raising money. They have reached the halfway point in their fundraising efforts, and we are asking our community to help support them in reaching the $200,000 goal to support local nonprofit organizations.” n To learn more about the ride, to support a rider or to register for the limited number of rider spots still available, visit www.

SunriseRotaryRide.

Trance Nosis & Dangermagik 4 TOTAL SHOWS DAILY TANK HOUSE STAGE

Circus Imagination Brads World Reptiles THROUGHOUT THE DAY IN THE BALLPARK

3 SHOWS DAILY IN THE BALLPARK

SAT 7:30 AMPITHEATER STAGE

The White Album Ensemble Camel Rides

All Alaskan Pig Races

santacruzcountyfair.com Highway 152 • Watsonville

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

2019 Rotary Bike Riders greet an enthusiastic crowd. Riding by are (from left) Mary Ann Kramer-Urner, Bob Keet, George Bunch, and Dave Kramer-Urner.

COMMUNITY NEWS

County Health Leader Mimi Hall To Depart M imi Hall, a tireless advocate for improving the health outcomes of all county residents and who helped lead Santa Cruz County through the COVID-19 pandemic, is departing her role as director of the Health Services Agency Oct. 30.

She is pursuing other health care opportunities.

“My time with Santa Cruz County Mimi Hall has been immensely fulfilling and marks the end of more than two decades of public service in California’s local health jurisdictions,” Hall said.

“I have tremendous gratitude for the opportunity to have served during such a crucial period in history. I’m especially grateful to have led such a wonderful staff, whose dedication during these unprecedented times helped protect the people of Santa Cruz County.”

Since becoming director of Health Services in 2018, Hall oversaw numerous improvements, including clinic renovations

and the opening of a new Behavioral Health Center in Watsonville.

“Leaders rise to the challenge, and Mimi Hall has been an inspiration to our community,” County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios said. “Her focus on equity and using data and science in taking action to protect residents set a high bar.

We will miss her greatly.”

When COVID-19 arrived in March 2020, Hall immediately began coordinating with the local health care system and community partners to minimize harm, resulting in a pandemic response that limited and in many cases eliminated inequities, while eventually fostering one of the highest county vaccinations rates in California.

Hall is the daughter of immigrants who followed her parents’ footsteps into the health care field. She began her public health career working to reduce the prevalence of communicable diseases, and previously served as public health director in Sierra, Plumas and Yolo counties.

The county is searching nationwide for her successor. The salary ranges from $196,144 to $262,766, depending on experience. n

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Property Managers

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Polo Grounds Dog Park Needs Attention am writing to you about the deplorable state of the Aptos Polo Grounds Dog Park.

This facility is used every day by many responsible pet owners who obey off-leash laws and exercise their animals in an enclosed space.

The facility is filthy.

There is one dilapidated canopy for shade and a few unstable benches. People have donated their own chairs. The Parks Department used to cover the park with bark but that has not been done for many months. As a result, dirt and dust is constantly being churned up. My own dog developed an ear infection.

A delegation of us met last month with a representative from Supervisor Zach Friend’s office who was very receptive to our concerns and suggestions but so far nothing has changed.

The representative has maintained contact with us and assures us that they are exploring options for improvements but bureaucracies move slowly and funds are limited.

By contrast, the sports fields adjacent to the dog park are meticulously maintained.

They are clean and grassy, mowed and watered frequently and almost never used.

At least 50 dogs and their humans use the dog park every single day.

We want to raise community awareness

I

about this issue with the hope that something can be done to remedy the situation. It would be great if we too could have a grassy area for our pups.

Might it be possible to enclose the unused grass area at the end of the sports fields for a dog park? If that is not feasible, please at least can we get some bark and some benches and some shade?

Thank you for your attention.

— Dede Carroll, Aptos ••• Let’s Protect Kids on Bikes enjoyed reading “Memories of Pleasure Point.” [https://tinyurl.com/memories-pleasurepoint] I also enjoy remembering older days, especially when I biked to Soquel Elementary and New Brighton. Now it’s my kids who bike to school.

But times have changed, and there are more cars and more distracted drivers.

Luckily, plastic bollards to protect bike lanes are an evidence-based and affordable solution to make our streets safer for these kids.

There are lots of things about older days we should get back to, but there are some changes we might consider too.

Let’s get barriers on bike lanes and get these kids home safely.

— Elliott Campbell, Capitola

I

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

CalFresh Benefits to Increase 25%

After 45 Years, USDA Reviews Cost of Groceries

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

T

By Jondi Gumz

he 100,000 Santa Cruz County residents relying on government help to feed themselves and their family will see their benefits increase 25 percent Oct.1, an average of $36 to $157 per person monthly.

On Aug. 16, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, also known as food stamps, and in California as CalFresh.

The agency, directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and President Biden’s executive order in January, reviewed the cost of the “Thrifty Food Plan,” developed in 1975.

This represents the cost to buy groceries for a family of four – an adult male and female, ages 20-50, and two children, ages 6-8 and 9-11 – and it’s designed to meet the nutritional needs of an average person eating a healthy, cost-conscious diet at home.

The USDA reviewed current food prices, what Americans typically eat, dietary guidance, and nutrients in food.

The updated Thrifty Food Plan includes more fish and red and orange vegetables, as recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

SNAP recipients got a temporary 15 percent boost in benefits during the pandemic as part of relief packages; that increase expires Sept. 30.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the food index, which includes food at home and food away from home, increased by 3.4 percent in July 2021 compared to July 2020, due to higher costs for eating away from home. However, the index for fruits and vegetables fell in July by .9 percent.

A USDA study published this summer found nearly nine out of 10 SNAP participants reported barriers to eating healthy, with the most common being the cost.

“Ensuring low-income families have access to a healthy diet helps prevent disease, supports children in the classroom, reduces health care costs, and more,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “And the additional money families will spend on groceries helps grow the food economy.”

A NerdWallet analysis found

the average household cost of groceries was $387 a month, based on the 2019 Consumer Expenditure Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. n ••• Thrifty Food Plan & Monthly Cost Dark green vegetables:.............................. $6 Red and orange vegetables:.................... $13 Canned beans, lentils:................................ $5 Starchy vegetables:................................... $13 Other vegetables:........................................ $9 Whole fruit:............................................... $19 100% Fruit juice:......................................... $7 Whole grain rice, pasta, breads tortillas:.. $16 Whole grain cereal such as oatmeal:....... $3 Refined grain rice, pasta, breads, tortillas:...$9 Refined grain cereal, crackers, snacks:.... $2 Low- & nonfat milk, yogurt & soy:....... $15 Higher-fat milk, yogurt, soy:.................. $10 Cheese:......................................................... $3 Meat:............................................................ $9 Poultry:...................................................... $17 Eggs:............................................................. $3 Seafood:..................................................... $13 Nuts & seeds:.............................................. $5 Coffee/tea, oils, condiments, frozen entrees:....................................................... $12 Cookies, ice cream, pudding:................... $1 ••• To view the Thrifty Food Plan, see https:// fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/ resource-files/TFP2021.pdf

SNAP PARTICIPANTS’ BARRIERS TO HEALTHY EATING 88%

of SNAP participants report facing challenges to a healthy diet

61%

reported cost of healthy foods as a barrier

SNAP participants who struggled to afford healthy foods were more than 2x as likely to experience food insecurity.

OTHER CHALLENGES TO EATING A HEALTHY DIET Time to prepare meals from scratch | 30%

Physical disability or limitations | 15%

Transportation to the grocery store | 19%

Storage for fresh or cooked foods | 14%

Distance to the grocery store | 18%

Kitchen equipment | 11%

Knowledge about healthy foods | 16%

Cooking skills | 11%

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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

SEPTEMBER 2021

Aptos Real Estate Update

Ruth Bates 831.359.2212

ruthbates1@gmail.com CalBRE#01799929

SALES — 21 homes sold in Aptos in the past 30 days (8/7-9/7).

High sale at $3.7M was 205 Via Campana, behind the gates in Seascape. Low sale was $865,000 for 220 Hayward, a 3 bed, 2 bath, 1304 Sq. Ft. home. Only 5/21 homes sold for <$1M. The Median List Price was $1,150,000 and the Median Sales Price was $1,170,000. Average Days on Market was 20 days. Condos and Townhomes are selling quickly, Average Days on Market = 8!

ACTIVE LISTINGS — 31 homes are Active as of 9/07. 650 Bayview just reduced to $7,995,000 from $9,995,000 after 60 days on market. The Median List Price is $1,525,000 – which is $355,000 higher than the actual Median Sales Price last month, which leads me to reconfirm what I have been thinking, that Sellers are getting a little too greedy during these crazy times.

And, days on market for Active listings are now 34 days, so some of these homes are not selling at these prices.

FALL IS BUSY — I would have expected a slowdown this time of year, but I’m busier than ever, and Sellers seem fine with listing their home towards the end of the year. House prices across California are up an average of 21% this year, but the expectation was that this should cool down for the rest of the year. I am seeing more Price Reductions, Sellers pricing too high to begin with and buyers starting to balk. But interest rates remain very low and there are still tons of buyers ready and willing to buy.

FALL MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

• Clean out your gutters • Seal up air leaks around windows and doors • Inspect your roof and check for cracks and wind damage • Replace your furnace filter (before you turn on the heat) • Give your furnace a check-up • Repair walkways, drives and steps to prevent safety hazards • Smoke detectors in each bedroom and each floor of home • CO2 detectors on each floor of home in hallway outside of bedrooms • Fire extinguisher • Update Fire escape plan • Update Emergency plan ——— My favorite 4-letter word is “SOLD”!

Call, email, text anytime and Get Results with Ruth!

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY Paid Advertising

COMMUNITY NEWS

Santa Cruz Public Libraries Measure S Facility Update T A he Santa Cruz Public Libraries, 10 branches throughout Santa Cruz County serving more than 200,000 residents, reports on progress to improve facilities, with the goal to inform, inspire and connect via inviting and welcoming centers that enrich lives, promote opportunity and build community.

Based on a study that found obsolete infrastructure, antiquated and failing systems, outdated spaces and poor ADA accessibility, voters approved Measure S in June 2016, a $67 million bond for improvements. Additional funding to complete the work is being raised by Friends of the Library campaigns. Here is a status report: APTOS: Temporarily closed. Preparing for construction of new building. The original 8,000-square-foot building, built in 1975, has suspended services. The new 12,000-squarefoot library will feature flexible community, meeting and study rooms; garden and terrace areas; a local history section; children, teen and adult reading areas; and energy efficiency.

Design by Anderson Brule Architects, construction and project management by Bogard Construction. Reopening late spring, 2023.

BOULDER CREEK: Temporarily closed; construction is underway. Interior remodel of the existing one-story library includes new infrastructure (windows, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and lighting); upgrades for accessibility standards; re-do of children’s area; community space and meeting room. Design

by Jayson Architecture; CRW builders, construction management by Bogard. Reopening in December 2021.

BRANCIFORTE (Santa Cruz) Temporarily closed; construction underway Renovation will build on the character of this iconic building (1967), refreshing the 6,800-square-foot interior for more flexibility, function and accessibility with areas for adult reading, children, and teens; community room and outdoor patio; electrical and telecommunication upgrades. Design by Jayson Architecture; JPB Designs builder; construction management by Bogard. Reopening early 2022.

CAPITOLA: Construction is complete.

The previous temporary facility has been replaced by a stunning new 11,700-squarefoot library, which opened in June and is quite busy. A hub for community activity, the new library has a large meeting room, expanded children’s wing, reading rooms, outdoor deck, fireplace, teen space, and solar panels for energy efficiency. Design by Noll and Tam, construction by Otto Construction, construction management by Bogard.

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ: Current

16 / September 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

La Selva Beach Library Branch September Activities

dult Book Discussion Group: 2nd Thursday, 10:30 am. Sept. 9, “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro Passionate Readers Book Discussion: 4th Thursday, 10:30 am. Sept. 23, “Veraby” by Carol Edgarian, Oct. 28, “Nomadland” by Jessica Bruder Weekly Preschool Story Time: Starts Tuesday Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. Information: 831-427-7710 Afterschool STEAM: Minecraft starts Thursday, Sept 23, at 4 p.m. Information: 831-427-7710.

Stories for Bedtime: Wednesday, Sept. 8 and 22 at 7 p.m. Join via Facebook or Youtube for Bedtime Stories. Librarian Jackie will read bedtime stories, sing songs, and chant rhymes for families.

New programs every other Wednesday and

library open; planning underway for new library mixed-use project on Cedar Street.

The Santa Cruz City Council voted to proceed with a mixed-use project at Cedar and Lincoln Street (Lot 4, home of the Farmers’ Market) incorporating a new library, at least 50 units of affordable housing, and parking for up to 400 cars. Griffin Structures has been retained as owner’s representative; Eden Housing and For The Future Housing are the affordable housing team; selection of master architect/ design team is expected in August. Community engagement on design and features for the new library will follow. The city has initiated a re-use visioning process for the current library site, and is working to establish a permanent home for the Farmers’ Market.

Construction to start 2023, completion in 2025.

FELTON: Construction completed February 2020 and re-opened for browsing. The Felton branch operated for nearly 60 years in a historic church building; charming, but not a modern library. The new 9,000-square-foot branch opened in February 2020 on 2 acres of nearby land, the first Measure S project to be completed. This stunning space includes comfortable reading areas, free computers/WiFi, teen and children’s areas, community room and adjacent discovery park. Teall Messer architect, Noll and Tam interior, Thompson Builders contractor..

GARFIELD PARK (Santa Cruz): Temporarily closed; Construction underway. The renovation will bring new life to the historic 2,300-square-foot Carnegie library building (1915) with refreshed and cohesive design.

Features include central seating area around the fireplace, children’s area, a more open plan, better use of windows for natural light, meeting room and refreshed outdoor space.

Design by Jayson Architecture; CRW builders, construction management by Bogard.

Reopening in January 2022.

LA SELVA BEACH: Open, renovation

on the library’s YouTube Channel afterward. Visit https://tinyurl.com/youtubelist-friendship-day for current and past programs.

Mobile App: Santa Cruz Public Libraries’ free mobile app makes it easy to search the library catalog from anywhere. The app also offers account management, integrated access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, and journal articles. Special features include mobilecheckout and UPC code lookup to quickly see if the library has a title. Look for “Santa Cruz Public Libraries” in the app stores. n ••• La Selva Beach Library Branch is open Tues.-Thurs., 11-6, Fri. & Sat., 12-5, closed Sun.-Mon. Book drops are open 24/7. Call: 831-427-7713 Text: 831-264-0647. completed March 2021. Renovation included replacement of dilapidated interior finishes plus new lighting, electrical, and mechanical systems. Sliding glass wall between the adult and children’s areas improves acoustics, lighting and flexiblity. Lounge seating areas for both children and adults for reading, tutoring and community programs; expanded deck increases usable outdoor space. Jayson Architecture design, C2Builders construction.

LIVE OAK: Temporary closure in September 2021 for construction. The Live Oak Library renovation will transform the children’s into a learning space with an ocean theme. New acoustic wood ceiling and wall treatments, carpeting and redesigned seating, plus a custom-designed wall to separate the children’s collections from an “under-the-sea” inspired reading lounge and homework room.

Design by Jayson Architecture. Reopening in December, 2021.

LIVE OAK ANNEX: A new addition to Simpkins Family Swim Center providing a classroom and study rooms — a community learning center to complement existing uses. Design by Noll and Tam; construction documents and permitting being completed.

Construction to begin in December, 2021; opening in fall, 2022.

SCOTTS VALLEY: Temporarily closed for construction. This 13,150-square-foot library was opened in 2011 with design by Group 4, transforming a previous roller rink into a contemporary library with flexible space, dedicated areas for children, teens and adults, community room and courtyard.

A new roof, HVAC system, and parking lot repairs completed in early 2021; seismic and operational upgrades to be made while the branch is closed. Reopening March 2022. n ••• For information: Santa Cruz Public Libraries at https://www.santacruzpl.org/ and Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries at https://fscpl.org/

COMMUNITY NEWS

Arts Grants Fund Community Projects L ocal residents can attend upcoming community arts projects arts funded

by Arts Council Santa Cruz County.

They include: • Bree Karpavage (First Friday Santa Cruz): First Friday Night Market Summer Series, 4-8 p.m. Abbott Square, Tannery Arts Center, R Blitzer Gallery in Santa Cruz and downtown Felton (https://firstfridaysantacruz. com/) • Pivot — The Art of Fashion: for a live multi-disciplinary fashion runway performance Sept 25 at the Rio Theater, Santa Cruz. (http://www. pivot-artfashion.com/) • Gerald Casel Dance: BBQueer (Black, Brown and Queer) a series of performances, collective community actions, workshops and private gatherings culminating in a multi-day festival in Sept. 30-Oct. 3. (https://bbqueerfest. com/) More than $80,000 was awarded to 72 artists and organizations. Other funded projects range from murals and music albums, to dance workshops and racial

equity outreach, and some relating to the 2020 destructive CZU lightning fire in Boulder Creek, Bonny Doon and Last Chance.

• Ryan Masters: To finish a booklength memoir about the CZU August Lighting Fires and his subsequent enrollment in the Santa Cruz County Fire Academy in 2021 (https://ryan masters831.com/) • Irene Lusztig: Documentary film to be created in San Lorenzo Valley with families impacted by the CZU wildfire (http://komsomolfilms.com/) • Stacy Monowitz: for a collaborative community visual art project to be exhibited at the Felton library • Paul De Worken: Laundry Day Watsonville Mural Project (http://www. mbmurals.com/)

• The Tobera Project: Watsonville is in the Heart, a volunteer-driven cultural arts project that seeks to uplift the Filipino farmworker narratives of Watsonville and Pajaro Valley (https:// www.toberaproject.com/) • Loubayi Arnaud: 6th Annual Ha Mbongui African Dance and Drum Conference at the Tannery Arts Center (http://facebook.com/GataBantu) • Linda Cover: To create a Tannery Arts Center cookbook (https://www.linda cover.org/) • Maha Taitano: Permanent metal art sculpture piece in one of the flower blocks at the Tannery Arts campus (https://www.instagram. com/a_maha_design/) • Cid Pearlman: (home)Body, art installation in January 2022 with dance video, poetry. Collaboration between choreographer Cid Pearlman, video artist Mara Milam, poet/dramaturge Denise Leto, dance artists, and poets. (http://www.cidpearlman.org/) • Jose Gonzalez Oliveros: To create monthly artists’ interview videos

Pivot: The Art of Fashion

(https://www.picuki.com/profile/ uglyeye) “Arts Grants” page 19

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• We are the only hospital in this area with the Mako SmartRobotics™ System, which offers advanced robotic technology to assist our highly trained, Mako-certified orthopedic surgeons in performing total hip and knee replacement surgery.

• Our expert, robotic-certified general surgeons use our da Vinci Surgical System to perform robotic-assisted, minimally invasive procedures – everything from diverticulitis surgery to hernia repair.

We offer all private rooms. Watsonville Community Hospital is in-network for Kaiser Permanente members and other health plans.

COVID-19 safety precautions in place.

Our Family Caring for Your Family.

Watsonville Community Hospital | 75 Nielson Street, Watsonville, CA 95076 | (831) 724-4741 | WatsonvilleHospital.com

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

Show Afghan Women You See Their Bravery

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18 / September 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

By Carmel Jud

who survived torture by the Taliban. ur nonprofit has been working We’re currently working to help her with women in Afghanistan for and her children leave Kabul. Emermany, many years. The nightmare gency funds will support their living there is starting to stretch our resources. If expenses once they are out safely. you’re looking for a way to support Afghan • Provide crisis management for women, I hope you’ll consider donating to Afghan refugees in locations around the fundraiser I’ve launched. See https:// the world, including Pakistan and the www.gofundme.com/f/show-afghanU.S. women-that--you-see-their-bravery • Offer skills training for Afghan I’m trying to raise $500,000, which is women in refugee camps to develop more than I’ve ever raised. If you have funartisan goods that are sold by U.S. draising or marketing experience, and are Rising survivor entrepreneurs. interested in volunteering, that’s awesome.

• Create income generation opportuVolunteer inquiries go to: sue@risinginternities for Afghan refugees. national.org The Afghan women in the accompaI’m raising money for the brave women of Afghanistan, who are at risk of nying photo are refugees. Their smiles and losing everything they fought for. Over- incredible resilience and determination night, their world has been shattered. remind us of the tenacity of the human Funds will go to the charity, Rising spirit. Join us to help ensure the brighter Worldwide (dba Rising International) life they now dream of for all Afghan that I started 19 years ago because of one women. extraordinary Afghan woman.

Survivors of conflict need a way to All of us at Rising are deeply con- earn money, no matter their location or cerned for the safety of Afghan women circumstances. and girls. In fact, the future of Afghanistan Today, over 25,000 survivors of depends on its women. In the words of extreme poverty, gender-based violence, former President Barack Obama, “Empow- homelessness, human trafficking, and war ering women isn’t just the right thing to do from more than 20 countries (including the – it’s the smart thing to do. When women U.S.) count on Rising to provide critical life succeed, nations are more safe, more saving support and use our global platform secure, and more prosperous.” to sell their handcrafted goods.

When the Taliban took control of To the women of Afghanistan, please Afghanistan more than 20 years ago, know that all this impact, and all these lives there was a radio broadcast announcing touched began with you. You changed and that women were essentially living under saved so many lives. We are here for you. house arrest. One brave Afghan woman We will not forget you. n had a vision: Economic empowerment for ••• women with no way forward. Nineteen Carmel Jud of Felton is the founder of the years ago, she found a way forward, and nonprofit Rising International. we worked together to bring her vision to life in Afghanistan.

Now, I’m asking you to join us in protecting Afghan women.

Your support will help Rising to: • Deliver emergency relief to Afghan women in Rising’s programs, beginning with the evacuation of one of Rising’s artisans Afghan women, survivors of conflict, need a way to earn money.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Warm Summer Squash Salad C hef Brandon Miller of The Chef’s Stash grew up on the waterfront and started his seafood experience in high school, cracking crabs on Fisherman’s Wharf during summer vacations.

On Aug. 19, he put together a soldout Tapas and Seafood Paella Feast for a private party at Twisted Roots in Carmel Valley.

He offers cooking tips on Facebook, such as how to avoid cutting yourself with your knife when chopping veggies, and how to make your meatballs tender (use fattier meats, beef, lamb or pork – or mix your favorites) and recipes such as chimichurri sauce to top meat or veggies.

Here’s a recipe he shared with a demonstration via Zoom.

••• Warm Summer Squash Salad Brandon Miller Chef/Owner of Chef’s Stash Makes 10 1/2 cup servings 1lb assorted zucchini 1 /4cup sliced natural almonds 1 tablespoons olive oil 2 /3cups Parmesan cheese, shaved Salt and pepper to taste Cut the ends off of zucchini and

“Arts Grants” from page 17 • Joseph Jason LaCour: To write, record, produce and promote an album of original hip-hop and poetry, highlighting the growth and multicultural awakening artist has experienced since migrating to California (http:// www.josephjasonsantiagolacour. com/) • Fredericka “Rica” P. Smith: Pilot program to consult & support local fixed-income, BIPOC/senior artists around technology & portfolio upgrades, preserving legacies & making their works more accessible to the public (http://www.instagram. com/sacredmudhenna) • Asha Tobing (liljax): To eco-friendly vend throughout the community, to engage and educate people at street level about upcycling and reducing textile waste (https://liljax.com)

7500 Old Dominion Court | Aptos, California 95003 831.688.8987 | Seacliffinn.com

HAPPY HOUR IS BACK Monday - Friday | 3pm-5pm

julienne using a Japanese mandolin or grater.

Warm oil in sauté pan with almonds.

When almonds are lightly browned, add squash and remove from heat.

Toss the squash with almonds and oil, season with salt and pepper and place in serving dish.

Top with cheese and serve.

Share A Recipe!

D

o you have a recipe that is a family favorite? Or maybe one from your childhood you would like to share? The Capitola-Soquel Times will be publishing one recipe each issue from a community member.

Feel free to add a little history to the recipe if you want (approximately 75 words). Every issue we will randomly choose a recipe to publish.

Find your favorite and send it to cathe@cyber-times.com today!

• Gabriel Kittle-Cervine: Original hip hop musical project with local producers about the conceptual origins and insidious psychological violence of ‘Whiteness’ as a racial identity (www.betrayingwhiteness.org/) • West Creative Performing Arts: for New Voices, a LGBTQQAI+ youth performance program for teens 15-18 in Santa Cruz County (http://west performingarts.com/) • Dr. T. Osa Hidalgo de la Riva: Archival project culminating in a public exhibition and panel about the de la Riva family of artists in Santa Cruz City • Francisco Alonso: Santa Cruz Bike Church Mural • The Art Cave: for Headroom, live installation and performance art streaming from the Old Wrigley Building on the Westside of Santa Cruz. n

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURES WITH CONFIDENCE.

Remembering Sept. 11, 2001 L

Discover the joy of learning at Kirby School, an independent college preparatory day school in Santa Cruz for grades 6-12.

Our challenging program is available both in-person, with enhanced safety precautions, and online, for at home learners. Social and emotional well-being is a top priority and vital to student success. Our caring team is committed to helping your child thrive.

Now enrolling for the 2021-2022 school year. Learn more at one of our upcoming in-person or virtual Admissions events. We offer a test-free application process and Tuition Assistance. Contact us to learn more.

Visit kirby.org for details.

KIRBY.ORG

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

425 Encinal Street | Santa Cruz, CA 95060

ocal residents remembered those who lost their lives in the Sept.

11, 2001 attacks on American soil and those still suffering after-effects.

Cal Fire’s Corralitos station on Eureka Canyon Road lowered the flag to halfstaff, and some people brought flowers for the 9/11 monument that sits outside the station.

The inscription reads: “This World Trade Center steel recovered from Ground Zero is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in the 9/11/20O1 attack. CalFire Corralitos, Artist Maya Ando” n ••• Photos Credit: Edita McQuary

COMMUNITY NEWS

Cabrillo Host Lions Fundraiser

C

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

abrillo Host Lions found a way to host a fundraiser in August despite the pandemic.

Winning bingo card.

Dale Terra, avocado grower from Hollister, brings his produce for sale.

JD at the grill.

Dave Chamberlain calls bingo at the Cabrillo Host Lions clubhouse in Aptos Village.

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

Big Basin State Park: One Year After CZU Fire O n Aug. 17 — the one-year anniversary of the CZU lightning fire at Big Basin Redwoods State Park — Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks released a 13-minute documentary and six virtual tours that provide the first official immersive look at the impacts and the recovery process.

The documentary incorporates prefire images of the park, footage captured during the wildfire and current imagery, including the main entrance, the historic core, Blooms Creek Campground, Little Basin Campground and China Grade Road.

The 3D virtual tours use software and equipment from Matterport to create an immersive visual experience. It’s possible to walk through the Campfire Center, look across the destroyed Blooms Creek bridge or stare up at the burned redwood canopy.

To view, see https://reimaginingbig basin.org/bigbasintoday/.

“We hope the documentary and 3D virtual tours give those who love Big

Basin a glimpse into the inspiring recovery process as well as an understanding of the long path we face to reopening the park,” said Friends Executive Director Bonny Hawley.

The CZU Lightning Complex Fire ignited on Aug. 16, 2020. Two days later, the flames engulfed Big Basin Redwoods State Park, burning 97 percent of the park and destroying nearly every structure,

D I D YO U K N O W? We provide free fun water education assembly shows to elementary schools in our area.

soquelcreekwater.org/H2OAssemblies

Your Community Partner for Reliable Water

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

including the Park Headquarters, campgrounds and housing for park employees.

Approximately 18,000 acres burned inside the park boundary.

Big Basin remains closed, with no water, power, sewer, phone or Internet services available. One reason the park remains closed to visitors is because dead trees create hazards. Throughout the park, falling trees are a major concern.

“The work ahead of us is significant and will be a labor of love,” Hawley said.

“Through our unique position as comanagement partners with State Parks, we first established the Friends Fire Fund and other immediate response resources that enabled us to provide direct assistance to fire victims, support digital documentation of 75 buildings that were lost, save 15 old growth redwoods, and help repair a damaged roadway. We’re proud to build on that effort by co-producing and funding production of the documentary and 3D tours. Now, we look forward to supporting the effort spearheaded by California State Parks to involve the public to reimagine Big Basin.”

In August, California State Parks launched Reimagining Big Basin, a process for reestablishing the park that includes immediate recovery efforts, planning processes to renew the vision for the park’s future, and long-term planning and implementation. Community engagement is deemed essential to this effort.

Learn more at reimaginingbigbasin. org. n

Santa Cruz Households Face Penalties For Using Too Much Water

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ithout significant rain this fall to bolster Loch Lomond, the city of Santa Cruz’s only drinking water reservoir, Loch Lomond, which is at 60% capacity, a “Stage 2 water shortage” may be declared in the next six months, financially penalizing customers using more than their allocated amount.

Since May 1, Santa Cruz has been in a “Stage 1 water shortage warning,” which allocates each Santa Cruz household about 42 gallons per person per day. Average use statewide is 80-100 gallons.

In July, one-third of single-family and one-fifth of multi-family customers in Santa Cruz exceeded their water budget, according to the Santa Cruz Water Department.

The department recommends customers sign up for WaterSmart at https:// santacruz.watersmart.com WaterSmart, an online water use tracking tool, provides alerts of unusual usage and recommendations for saving water and has been in use in the Soquel Creek Water District since December. So far, only 30% in Santa Cruz have done signed up.

Santa Cruz, which depends on rainfall

for all of its water supply, got just half of its average rainfall this year. When full, Loch Lomond holds one year’s water supply for Santa Cruz water customers and is the city’s sole “water insurance policy” in a drought.

“In the eight years I have been with the City, we have only had one ‘normal’ year of rainfall,” Water Director Rosemary Menard said. “A sustainable water supply is something that must occur for us to have a water system that will meet our community’s needs into the future.” n

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Travel Troubleshooter: Alaska Cruise Canceled, Where’s My Refund?

By Christopher Elliott

When Thomas Anderson’s Alaska cruise gets canceled during the pandemic, UnCruise Adventures promises a refund.

But it never shows up. What can he do?

••• ’m trying to secure a refund from UnCruise Adventures for an Alaska cruise canceled during the pandemic.

UnCruise Adventures agreed to a $2,400 refund last July, but I have not yet received it after numerous messages.

A representative said it would take 90 days to process a refund. I have since been in touch to ask for an update numerous times via email and by phone. But I haven’t received anything yet.

I would like the refund check for $2,400 to be sent as soon as possible. Can you help me? — Thomas Anderson, Quincy, Mass.

••• f UnCruise Adventures promised you a refund within 90 days, it should have sent you one. Why didn’t it?

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I

UnCruise Adventures, which operates small ship cruises in Alaska, Central America and Hawaii, was hit by a wave of cancellations during the pandemic. It turns out the company was waiting for a federal disaster loan to repay customers like you.

In an email sent to you last fall, the company blamed a delay in its federal disaster financing on the delay. “The most recent information from our bank indicates that approval is now not likely until after the election, making it mid/late November as our best and latest estimate for your refund processing,” a representative wrote.

“This is very disappointing for all of us here at UnCruise Adventures, and I am sure for you as well.”

But that’s not the way it’s supposed to work. If a company promises a refund, it should have enough cash to issue the refund. UnCruise Adventures should

have been upfront with you: It didn’t have the money to repay you, and it didn’t know when it would get the money.

I’m troubled by these pandemic refund cases. It’s not just UnCruise Adventures. Many other travel companies, big and small, didn’t have the money to refund their customers after their cancellations. Of course, a pandemic is a once-in-a-generation event, but you would hope that businesses would learn a lesson from this and not treat their customers’ money as an interest-free bridge loan to get them through a crisis.

I’m not sure if they have learned that lesson.

I don’t know the specifics of UnCruise Adventures’ situation. But I do know that your primary contact, a business development manager, is no longer with the company. I was sorry to hear that.

It looks as if you appealed your case to

the right people at UnCruise Adventures.

Emails at the company follow a firstnamelastinitial@uncruise.com format. (So if I worked there, I would be “christophere” followed by uncruise.com.) You can also contact the company through its website, https://uncruise.com I reviewed your correspondence with the company. You kept thorough records and were always polite. That’s great selfadvocacy. I’m not sure if calling UnCruise Adventures helped your case. It appears the company didn’t have the money to send you at the time.

I contacted UnCruise Adventures on your behalf, and finally, it issued the full refund it promised. 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

What’s the Future for California Gig Drivers?

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Courtesy of Pinkston News Service

California judge recently struck down Proposition 22, a measure passed last year in the Golden State which would have exempted “gig” companies like Uber and Lyft from having to classify their drivers as employees. In 2020, Uber and Lyft spent more than $200 million in support of Prop. 22 in an effort to keep their right to classify drivers as “independent contractors.”

Today, an estimated 59 million of the nation’s 157 million workers are in the gig economy, according to survey data from Statista . Gig workers are typically in the service sector, classified as independent contractors, and do not receive workplace benefits.

The gig-worker business model is well known for not providing a safety net for workers. Gig companies like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart prefer to classify their drivers as independent contractors because it exempts them from offering traditional unemployment benefits, providing health insurance or contributing to their employees’ Social Security or retirement plans.

Since the onset of the pandemic, some companies that use gig workers have tried

to strike a middle ground by offering token benefits like discounts on car maintenance, healthcare subsidies, accident insurance and minimum pay while passengers are in their car. But many argue that these benefits simply don’t go far enough, and still leave gig workers exploited and maltreated.

“Millions of gig workers are being denied basic workplace benefits that have formed the foundation of our country’s labor laws for more than 100 years,” said John H. Chuang, CEO of the workforce solutions and global staffing firm Aquent. “Now, with the rise of the gig economy, there is a corresponding rise in corporate greed as gig companies continue to defy the law by misclassifying their workers as independent contractors to avoid paying benefits. Gig workers should not have to choose between benefits and flexibility,

and companies need to stop treating America’s extended workforce as secondclass citizens.”

Many of these workers face a new dilemma as of Labor Day, when an estimated 4.2 million gig workers — more than 1 million in California — will lose federal benefits when the government ends Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

But plenty of gig workers already lost Pandemic Unemployment Assistance after 19 states cut off benefits early, arguing that it disincentivized job seeking. The August report from the Century Foundation, a progressive think thank, however, has found “no evidence” of increased hiring in those states.

With the expiration of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance across the country, gig workers have next to nothing left to fall back on.

Congress has extended pandemic unemployment benefits twice already, but there are currently no official plans from congressional leadership to extend the programs or introduce new legislation in time to avoid an interruption in relief.

In May, President Biden canceled a Trump-era rule supported by the gig companies that would have made it easier for them to classify workers as contractors.

Biden’s move was an attempt to apply a more open interpretation of what it means to be an employee.

But interpretations like Biden’s will continue to be debated and challenged in the years to come.

Stanford Law Professor and former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, William Gould, said in a recent interview that “given the difficulties involved in reaching any kind of compromise, it’s likely that they’ll [gig companies] start over again and we’ll have more of these ballots, more of these initiatives, more campaigns, more expenditures, more litigation.”

As the debate over worker classification continues, it appears that a satisfying resolution to this issue is a long way off. n

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

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Communication in Aptos and Covid Testing 23% of my class has been out on 10-day isolation for symptoms in the first 17 days of school this year. (I teach in elementary.) As far as I know none of these students opted to take a Covid test. It seems families are choosing the 10-day isolation instead of a test and the possibility of returning to school sooner. Can students be required to test if symptoms are present? Can the district require students (and unvaccinated staff) to surveillance test each week? e have found it has been difficult for both our symptomatic students and staff to receive a timely PCR result from their medical provider.

As we have implemented the student antigen testing for modified quarantine, we have found that the grand majority of parents wanted their child to engage in the testing so their child could return to the classroom upon a negative test. Therefore, we do not believe that parents are opting out of testing but rather they are finding it challenging to find a testing location.

This week, we opened our PVUSD location at the District Office where students and staff, free of charge, can get a PCR test result returned within 24-hours, no appointment necessary.

Both symptomatic and asymptomatic students and staff may go to these locations for testing. All PVUSD staff should refer their students in need of testing to these locations.

The sites are located at: • PVUSD District Office parking lot, available from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays.

• Cabrillo College in Aptos, Parking Lot K, from 3- 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

Beginning on Oct. 15, any staff member who has not provided proof of vaccination status will be required to test weekly at their site through Inspire Diagnostics.

Will asymptomatic students have the opportunity to participate in weekly COVID testing? Santa Cruz City School District has made testing very easy for all students, and I hope our students will be able to receive similar services. e have already begun our collaboration with Inspire Diagnostics.

We currently have our symptomatic testing site at the District Office as noted in the question above and student and staff testing at both WHS and PVHS.

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

In the following weeks, we will expand Inspire Diagnostics testing in the following order: Aptos High School, remaining secondary sites, and elementary sites with the goal of site-level testing for asymptomatic students and staff being up and running across the District by early October. All students who have a consent completed will be tested once a week.

Students who are exposed to a positive case will be tested a second time that week.

As we continue the rollout with Inspire Diagnostics, we will continue with student antigen testing for modified quarantine and staff can engage in surveillance testing at the five existing District locations: District Office, PVHS, Ohlone, EA Hall and AHS. Can you please clarify what type of Covid test is need for a student to return to school if they start having symptoms? At my child’s school the PCR test is the only one being accepted, not the rapid test. ll COVID-19 test results must be laboratory certified from a medical provider or done by a trained staff member. Therefore, you may submit a PCR test result from your medical provider or PVUSD’s new symptomatic Inspire Diagnostic testing center.

We can accept an antigen test as long as the results are provided by a certified laboratory. We cannot accept a rapid home test, as we cannot verify who took the test and when it was given.

Do students have to have the Covid-19 vaccine to be in school? Also do schools have the right to ask students if they have the vaccine? e do not require students to have received the COVID-19 vaccination to attend school. We are asking parents to provide us vaccination information as, per California Department of Public Health guidelines, vaccinated students do not have to quarantine after an exposure if they remain asymptomatic.

Several weeks ago, parents received a letter from their school asking them to provide vaccination information for students over the age of 12 and the permission to test if there was an exposure within the classroom.

This information will help facilitate the modified quarantine process when we have a positive case in a classroom.

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

I reached out to my school’s principal like you said to come up with another solution to keep my child at their current school, other than virtual academy or in-person, she said unfortunately there’s not any other options! Why don’t you allow students & parents to continue with the virtual Zoom classes? he statewide focus this year is to ensure that all school districts provide full-day, in-person learning.

We have found that with all of the current mitigation strategies in place, we are able to highly limit in school transmission. In all of the positive student cases, we have only had one case of student transmission that occurred through athletics.

Apart from being required to provide in-person learning, we believe we can safely continue with in-person learning.

Therefore, all of our teaching resources are allocated to either in-person learning, Pacific Coast Charter School or the Virtual Academy.

We are not able to spread our resources to provide the families who wish to have the daily distance learning as we had last year.

Will seniors who attend Virtual Academy/ Independent Studies have the option to graduate with their former high school? his past year, Virtual Academy students were able to participate in both graduations. The same will be true for this year as well.

The lockdown at AHS was announced to students at 2:29 p.m. Parents were alerted by the district at 3:35 p.m, over 40 minutes after school ended. In the press conference the principle said parents were

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notified asap. How is 66 minutes asap?

The sheriffs department and KSBW had reported the lockdown before PVUSD announced it to parents. Please explain to the community what went wrong with your communication and what steps you are taking to resolve this issue. Please don’t justify this error in communication or spin it, be honest with the community and take active steps to make improvements.

During an incident, the first priority must be to secure the students and staff safety. After the situation is stabilized, we begin the communication with families.

As noted during the two community forums, the initial communication was provided promptly to parents at 2:49 p.m. It was not until we heard concerns raised by parents that we reviewed the system to find that the original message intended to go to all was not received by the majority of the parents.

Below you will see a timeline of that communication. To ensure that all call messages are properly received during future incidents, staff will work in teams to post and verify messaging to families.

Why are parents now required to be vaccinated to help chaperone for field trips for our kids’ school? Why can’t we instead show proof of one or two negative tests during that week in order to chaperone? e appreciate the engagement of our parents and understand the tremendous value that you bring to the classroom and school site.

Currently, we are following CDPH guidelines on volunteers, which notes we should limit nonessential visitors.

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“PVUSD Q&A” page 26

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Mangels Gulch Bridge

(Before Nisene Marks Became a State Park) Photo Essay by Mark Reed Editor’s note: Mark Reed is a descendant of Claus Mangels, who bought 550 acres of the Aptos Rancho in 1884-1886 from his brother-in-law, self-made sugar industrialist Claus Spreckels, who immigrated from Germany.The land was on both sides of Aptos Creek and the Loma Prieta railroad ran through it. Mangels then built a ranch house in 1888. Reed shared this photo and information about access to Mangels Ranch

now part of Nisene Marks State Park before the recent incidents in which an overturned car trapped people in the park for more than an hour and a few days later when Michael Arehart, 60, of Pacifica, died while mountain biking in the park.

••• hese images are from my greatuncle’s photo album, showing a bridge crossing Mangels Gulch,

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along the entrance to Nisene Marks Park.

The bridge was formerly a train trestle, following the line of the old lumber train. Abandoned in 1930s, it was then used for automobile access to Mangels Ranch.

My great-uncle Fred Tillman supervised conversion of the bridge for car use, and he stands square on bridge.

Tillman was a grandson of Claus Mangels, who acquired the ranch in the 1880s from his brother-in-law Claus Spreckels.

The individual sitting by the bridge is not identified.

Signs on the bridge state “SLOW / Load Capacity / Four Tons” (left) and “Horses / Take By-Pass / Beware / Cattle Guard” n

The 1990s

An unknown man sits on the railing next to one of the signs on the bridge.

ACROSS

1. Ridden or pushed around yard 6. Chlorofluorocarbon 9. Spiral-horned antelope 13. Make a canyon, e.g.

14. Much of this about nothing?

15. Forest destroyers 16. Basic belief 17. Popular pickup 18. Lake scum 19. *Popular email service eventually bought by Microsoft 21. *CD “maker” 23. FEMA’s assistance 24. Musician’s time to shine 25. Stephen King’s Christine, e.g.

28. Plural of locus 30. Mongolian monetary unit Fred Tillman with his dog.

35. Wraths 37. Jar covers 39. Like yellow polka dot bikini?

40. Desert in China and Mongolia 41. Knight’s mount 43. Cogito ____ sum 44. Change the Constitution, e.g.

46. Ready and eager 47. Table mineral 48. *Jennifer Anistoninspired haircut, with “the” 50. Bank on 52. Modern prefix 53. Beacon light 55. Oolong, e.g.

57. *____ Sese Seko, overthrown Zairian dictator 60. *African National Congress leader released from prison

64. Like a candle?

65. *1997’s “Fly” by Sugar ____ 67. Lowest point 68. Smart ____ 69. Marching insect 70. Opposite of digest 71. *Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan’s domain 72. Employer Assisted Housing, acr.

73. Fender bender consequences 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. Vaccine-approving agency, acr.

8. Burger, fries and soda 9. Brick-drying oven 10. It’s hard to resist 11. Precedes Abby 12. Consume, as in drugs 15. Slang for radical or cool, 2 words 20. America’s singer choices 22. Last, abbr.

24. Weapon in a holster 25. Fidel Castro’s smoke 26. Pleasant odor 27. Renaissance DOWN instrument resembling Crystalline hydroa violin chloride, colloquially 29. *TV hit “Sex and the __” 31. “Bee ____” Nabisco top bestseller 32. What many TV hits Refuses to have done Bodily swelling 33. Fireplace 34. *_____ Protocol, Not wholesale climate change-related Lewis of sprinting and long jumping fame international treaty

36. Hyperbolic sine 38. Withered 42. COVID-19 variant 45. Expose the falseness 49. “____ the Games Begin!”

51. Pined 54. Sign of a saint, pl.

56. “Bad news travels fast,” e.g.

57. Algeria’s neighbor 58. Plow-pulling duo 59. *”Where It’s At” singer 60. Urban story 61. Adam and Eve’s garden 62. *Oscar winner “Schindler’s ____” 63. A in BA 64. *Gulf ____ or Bosnian ____ 66. American Nurses Association © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

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

How to Create Peace

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

ednesday to Thursday evening (Sept 15 -16), at the sighting of the first star in the heavens, is the Jewish Festival of Yom Kippur, Day of Forgiveness. We ask for & offer forgiveness for all our (and others’) unskillful thoughts, words and action. When we ask for and offer forgiveness, we are “likened to the angels.” As we forgive, we too are forgiven (by G-d). “For on this day (Yom Kippur, Day of Forgiveness) He will forgive us, purify us, that we be cleansed from all imbalances (ignorance, inabilities, hurting of others, judgments, criticisms and all non-virtuous ways of being that create separations and do harm) before G d.”

“Forgive me,” we ask of G-d & forgive too, all those we have harmed. “You are forgiven,” we say to each other. And then we see G-d, forgiving us while writing & sealing our names in the Book of Life. And we feel gratitude and Joy. Monday, Sept 20 is the full moon, solar festival of Virgo. It is also the Jewish Festival of Succoth, little temporary huts built

to commemorate the Hebrew people living for forty years in the desert as they transitioned from Taurus to Aries, from Egypt to Canaan. Tuesday, Sept. 21 is International Day of Peace. How do we bring about Peace? There is only one way. Intentions for Goodwill create Right Human Relations which then creates the process of Peace.

Wednesday, Sept 22, autumn begins. It’s Fall Equinox as the Sun enters Libra, the “light that moves to rest,” the light of relationships, of harmony, beauty and balance. Libra calls us to cultivate Goodwill and Right Human Relations. We have now entered the “dark half of the year”.

Upcoming Events — so we will be prepared — our next Mercury retrograde occurs Sunday, Sept. 26 late in the night.

Mercury retrogrades at 25.28 (26 degrees) Libra back to 10.23 degrees Libra, October 18. This is our last Mercury retrograde for the year. We all know how to prepare for Mercury retrograde by now. Yes?

ARIES

LEO

SAGITTARIUS

The seasons are about to change and so must our health regimes, diets, ways we exercise, work and plan our days. During the days of Virgo, it’s good to begin thinking along new lines, preparing for the coming seasonal changes in sunlight, shadows, color, air, earth and clouds. These changes are reflected within ourselves, too. Relationships need extra tending so others around us don’t feel cold, separated, alone and left out. We cherish and embrace them.

It’s time to create a new plan concerning finances and resources. When you do so, a new state of values also comes forth. You may want to communicate more deeply with people close to you, sharing your inner feelings with them, asking what values they hold, and assessing what values are held in common. Based on these values, what are your thoughts, hopes wishes, desires & aspirations for the future?

So many things have changed this past year.

During these months the perfect execution of your creative work is a priority. It always is but a new dimension has been added. Multiple concepts flow through your mind; you’re being impressed with ideas that become ideals and later, inner and outer goals. There’s so much to hope for. You’re gestating a new reality. Do you sense the need to initiate and finally begin something? Share your ideas with others who love to listen to you. Diplomacy and cooperation are paramount at this time.

TAURUS

You want to be out and about in the garden learning new things, studying and gathering information.

It’s good to consult the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

They say we will have a cold winter. Your life task is to illuminate the minds of humanity.

And so, you are serious and disciplined. It would be good to consider also what is playful and fun, what calls forth your humor and spontaneity? Perhaps you need to swim more, in clear pure warm waters.

GEMINI

Family and like-minded groups of friends and colleagues matter more and more these strange and curious days between the Ages. Something new has occurred in your life and you are to bring forth the next stage in a relationship.

Harmony is your focus with a touch of compromise (not much). Listening to others until you understand the essential message is a parallel goal. All of this brings love forth — your task. Love always heals no matter the difficulty.

CANCER

Make contact. These two words have a depth most are not trained to understand. Making contact releases Love. But it must be true, real and intentional contact built of Goodwill. It must be from the heart - heart to heart, Soul-to-Soul. The results are that the love released creates freedom and liberation for everyone. You are the one to begin this process. Do this ceaselessly, quietly, with heartfelt intention with all the kingdoms.

Begin in the garden.

VIRGO

You will want to come out of the shadows and in a greater light of self-identity. Standing in shadows, perhaps in the shadow of another can be comforting.

However, there comes a time when we each must define ourselves, recognize our own identity and creativity, realize that we’re capable, summon our confidence, and seek a new support system. Am I speaking to Virgo or Pisces? Both. They are the shadow of the other. Their colors are indigo and sky blue.

LIBRA

CAPRICORN

What will you do when autumn begins? It’s only weeks away. It seems something’s calling you, someone, somewhere. You are preparing for something quite important. Maybe it’s an art show. Maybe it’s a garden deva.

Perhaps it’s a course of study, something you want (or need) to learn. Is there something you want to share with the world? Maybe it’s your creativity. Is there something you need to tell others? Something lovely your way comes (soon) in return.

This morning I saw an angel holding a sheaf of wheat. A Virgo AQUARIUS symbol of nourishment offered to humanity.

Take extra care with money and resources. Use this time to I thought of Libra and what nourishes them. discriminate between what is needed and what Relationships, friends, parties, beauty, balance, is not. Give away what is no longer useful and equilibrium, love, money and art. In the beauty of then give more away. Giving provides us with the contours of the wheat, I thought Librans must return to their purpose, a sense of sharing, meaning and a art in whatever form calls to them. Some Librans design clothing, true sense of service. Giving liberates and allows everyone some paint, some have galleries, some have gardens of flowers, involved to move forward in their lives. Give to yourself then some are collectors. Did you learn these things as a child? give of yourself to others. With love always.

SCORPIO

PISCES

Do you sense restlessness, a discontent? That there’s a We are to do our best wherever we find ourselves. Many group that belongs to you, yet somehow you of us are uncertain these days, on the fence can’t find it or they you? Not yet. As you both (uncomfortable), unable to know where search for the other, assess your present and we’re going or what to do. When we don’t future goals (again). They’ve changed recently know how to provide our gifts when opporor are in the process of change. So many of us are on the tunities don’t seem to exist we are to be patient. Again, we fence, uncertain about the future. We must summon curiosity, (especially Pisces) are to do our best wherever we find thoughtfulness, knowledge and patience. Speak with your ourselves. We’ve been placed where we are for a reason. angels. Ask for their visions and goals. Listen deeply. What we Relationships need a bit of compromise. A bit of surrender. ask for is always given.

You understand.

•••

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

“PVUSD Q&A” from page 24 Visitor recommendations: a. Schools should review their rules for visitors and family engagement activities. b. Schools should limit nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations with people who are not fully vaccinated, particularly in areas where there is moderate to-high COVID-19 community transmission. c. Schools should not limit access for direct service providers, but can ensure compliance with school visitor policies. d. Schools should continue to emphasize the importance of staying home when sick. Anyone including visitors who have symptoms of infectious illness, such as flu or COVID-19, should stay home and seek testing and care.

As the Delta variant increased the amount of cases in our County, we are limiting all volunteers to ensure that we can maintain our schools and classrooms open.

However, we are now seeing a decline in local and national cases. As new CDPH guidelines are released, we will make the modifications as appropriate.

Where can I find more information about school-provided meals? Information on where ingredients are sourced, descriptions on specific ingredients, and information on GMO or preservative usage. utrient information for school menu items can be found on our PVUSD Food & Nutrition Services website at www.pvusdschoolfood.net.

Nutrient information includes details such as calories, fat, carbohydrate and protein content. Allergen information is also available in these interactive menus.

For more details on school menu items such as ingredient lists and sourcing, please contact Food & Nutrition Services at 831-786-2325.

How is it possible that there are no cameras on the outer parking lots of Aptos High School? How is it possible that there is poor cell coverage reception on the Aptos High School in these days of technology? How can you spend thousands of dollars on sports programs and not spend money on technology to keep our children safe? Will you make it a priority to add video cameras to ALL parking lots (not just the main one) as well as add cell coverage capability to the school? he PVUSD security camera system is a wired network-based system. This means we are only able to mount and connect cameras to buildings that have network infrastructure. Through the years PVUSD has spent millions of dollars upgrading and extending network infrastructure across all campuses.

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“PVUSD Q&A” page 27

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Punishment or Divine Gift?

By Joyce and Barry Vissell

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hen tragedy, death of a loved one, or extreme disappointment strikes, do you ever wonder if our Divine Creator is punishing you? A lot of people feel this way and close their heart to the divine love that is always pouring to us.

I have a dear friend, named Jim, who had a golden retriever, Max, for 16 years. Jim loved Max like he was a son and he took excellent care of him. Max went everywhere with his owner, even expensive hotel rooms. Max went to the best vets and was monitored often for any problems. The life expectancy for a golden retriever is from 10-13 years old, so Max had lived way beyond that.

One day, Max had trouble standing up and was immediately taken to the veterinary emergency hospital. Within a few hours, he died. Our friend was devastated and, after a few days of crying, he reported to me that he could no longer believe in a loving creator.

Why would a loving God take from this world a pet that was bringing so much love and beauty to his life? Jim felt he was being punished. I urged him to be grateful for all the wonderful years that he had with Max and to begin to look for a gift in the experience. In time, Jim realized Max had had an extraordinary life and that, if he had lived even two weeks more, Jim would have been in Europe working and would not have been able to be with him for his final hours on earth. As it was, Jim was able to hold him every second, and tell him over and over again how much he loved him, and to thank him for all the joy he brought.

We know people who lost their home and community to the Paradise fire in northern California in 2018. In just one short day, an entire small town completely burned. This was heartbreaking for all of us who watched, and

“PVUSD Q&A” from page 26 We have also invested extensively in our security camera systems. There is a limit to the number of cameras that each school’s system can support, which means it is not possible to cover every outdoor space across school campuses. This is especially true for the larger campuses.

even more so for the people who were there and lost so much. These people told us at the time that they felt completely abandoned by God and they could never trust again. They felt they also were being punished.

We urged them to try to be grateful for one thing each day and over time to look for the gift in this tragedy. It took two years of them feeling lost and abandoned to finally feel the gift of the fire.

Yes, they lost so much and the trauma of that day will live with them forever, but they have found a new life together in another place and they are at peace. The gift is they learned it is possible to start over and that peace can be found again even under such tragic circumstances.

In 1986, I was pregnant with our third child, a girl whom we named Anjel.

When I was six months pregnant, my midwife told me it was important for me to go to the hospital for an ultrasound.

She was concerned but did not tell me.

While driving to the hospital with Barry and our two little girls, I got out my little box of cards from Findhorn. On each card was printed one word of encouragement.

The card I picked said, “Gratitude.” I knew that, whatever happened, I needed to be grateful.

At the hospital in a very clumsy and hurtful way, I was told by the examining doctor that our baby had died. I felt devastated!!!! Never had the pain of loss touched me so deeply. My parents, who were visiting us from Buffalo, came to the hospital to take our girls home with them while Barry and I went to another doctor to discuss my options for the removal of the baby.

In the brief time of seeing my mother as we brought the girls out to their car, my mother gave me a hug and said she understood. She had had twin boys that died at six months old. She told me to keep trusting and to know that a gift

would be coming as a result of this loss.

She told me there would be times when I would have difficulty knowing that a gift was coming, but that I should continue to give thanks that one day I would understand why this happened.

There were times when I too felt like I was being punished by God. Why would a loving God give me a baby only to have it die inside of me six months later?

Whenever I saw a pregnant woman, I would cry as it felt so unfair that they should be able to have their baby and mine was taken away. Gradually, I came to peace with my life with Barry and our two little girls. But my heart was definitely closed to having any more children. I wondered what the gift was that my mother was talking about.

Then two years later we received a total surprise when we found out that I was pregnant with our son. The way he was conceived seemed like a miracle.

And so, our son John-Nuri came to us as the gift from the very painful loss of Anjel. His presence has brought so much love and joy to all four of us. He was not

planned, but our loving creator had the plan all along.

We are never punished by our creator; the love flows toward us all of the time. It is we who block it from coming.

The gift and the plan have always been there. We just couldn’t see it.

The gift for my mother when she lost her twin boys was that two years later, I was born. She would have never had me if those twins had lived. My mother and I were indeed a lasting gift to each other. n ••• 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. Call 831-684-2130 for information on counseling sessions by phone, online, or in person, their books, recordings or their schedule of talks and workshops. Visit their web site at SharedHeart. org for their free monthly e-heartletter, their updated schedule, and inspiring past articles on many topics about relationship and living from the heart.

With the guidance of school Administrators, we have installed, moved, and directed cameras into the most needed locations on each school campus. We continue to upgrade server storage, replace cameras with new high-resolution cameras, and add multi-lens cameras in order to improve coverage and security.

Unfortunately, every school campus has outdoor spaces that do not have facilities with network infrastructure.

This makes it impossible for us to install cameras in those remote locations.

PVUSD has been in contact with cell providers requesting that they deploy cellular infrastructure to improve cell reception at our schools with limited

cellular coverage. We are moving forward with next steps to improve cell service.

We also encourage staff and students to enable WiFi calling on their cell phones so they are able to make and receive calls when connected to the PVUSD WiFi network even in locations with limited cell coverage. n

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

COMMUNITY CALENDAR LA SELVA BEACH LIBRARY ACTIVITIES La Selva Beach Library Branch announces upcoming activities.

Adult Book Discussion Group: 2nd Thursday, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 14, “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro Passionate Readers Book Discussion: 4th Thursday, 10:30 a.m.

Sept. 23, “Veraby” by Carol Edgarian, Oct. 28, “Nomadland” by Jessica Bruder Afterschool STEAM: Minecraft starts Thursday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. Information: 831-427-7710.

Stories for Bedtime: Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. Join via Facebook or Youtube for Bedtime Stories. Librarian Jackie will read bedtime stories, sing songs, and chant rhymes for families. New programs every other Wednesday and on the library’s YouTube Channel afterward (https://tinyurl. com/SCPL-stories-for-bedtime) Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11-6, Friday & Saturday, 12-5, closed Sunday-Monday. Book drops are open 24/7. Call: 831-427-7713 Text: 831-264-0647.

WRITING MENTORS NEEDED Wendy Thompson of the Young Writers Project is recruiting mentors for students at Branciforte Middle School and Costanoa Continuation High School.

Mentors will work with Jessica Brown’s 8th graders at Branciforte on poetry about restoring balance and equity and Maria Diaz Perez’s 10th through 12th graders at Costanoa, writing on empowerment. Mentors must commit to two days a week either from Oct. 4, thru Nov. 2 or Oct. 18 thru Nov. 23.

Need a refresher on working with student writers? Two inperson trainings for volunteers are scheduled at Branciforte : Best Practices Training on Sept. 25, and Traits of Good Writing Training on Oct. 9. Each class is 10 a.m-1 p.m.

Contact Wendy Thompson at wendy@youngwriterssc.org for more info. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/YWP-fall-2021 FREE MUSIC EDUCATION SERIES With the start of the school year, the Monterey Symphony has released four new episodes of Music To YOUR Ears. This is an open-source virtual education series, with the first four episodes released in April 2021 still available.

• Episode 5: Alone features the world-premiere of the award-winning performance of ‘Alone’ for Solo Violin, Live EFX, and Electronica by the Emmy-award winning MSO composer-in-residence John Christopher Wineglass. The piece is performed by MSO’s concertmaster Christina Mok and is filmed with the empty Sunset Center seats as a backdrop.

• Episode 6: A “Suite” Musical Offering features MSO cellist Isaac Pastor-Chermak at the Winfield Art Gallery in Carmel. Pastor-Chermak plays a stunning Bach suite with the paintings and statues as his only audience members.

• Episode 7: Making Music at Home features MSO’s principal flautist Dawn Walker, cellist Mark Walker, and MSO’s Executive Director Nicola Reilly in the gorgeous and newly renovated Pacific Grove Library.

• Episode 8: Holiday Cheer celebrates local singer,

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by September 24 songwriter, and actress Malinda DeRouen and her new Christmas song and music video Christmas This Year.

The Monterey Symphony is offering this series featuring the animation style of local artist Rory Glass at no charge with language options in Spanish and English.

The narrator is musicologist and MSO assistant principal horn player Dr. Alicia Mastromonaco.

To view see https://www.montereysymphony.org/musicto-your-ears.htm where episodes can be viewed online or downloaded and shared. Each episode includes three worksheets in English and Spanish printable from the website.

FIRE RECOVERY WEBINARS United Policyholders offers webinars and virtual survivor forums for people affected by wildfires in California in 2020.

Roadmap to Recovery Virtual Workshops Tuesday, Sept. 21 • 7 p.m. — Survivor to Survivor Forums: Connect and confer with trained UP volunteers who navigated recovery after previous wildfires Register: www.uphelp.org/Sept14 • www.uphelp.org/ Sept21 DRIVE FOR SCHOOLS FUNDRAISER Tickets are now on sale for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Drive for Schools, a fundraiser in its 17th year. The top prize is $25,000, with dozen more prizes to be given out in a drawing at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk at 1 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 24.

Tickets are $5 each or 6 for $25. Tickets are sold through participating schools through Sunday, Oct. 17.

Purchased tickets must be returned to your school by the school’s posted deadline. Purchased tickets will not be accepted at the Boardwalk.

Tickets sold on Oct. 24 at the Boardwalk will benefit the Santa Cruz County Office of Education Special Education Department.

Since starting in 2005, Drive for Schools has raised more than $7 million in support of local schools.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES As Covid-19 cases increase due to the Delta variant, the Red Cross is concerned about meeting hospital demand for lifesaving blood and platelets during hurricane season.

In recent weeks, the Red Cross has seen blood donor turnout decline by nearly 10% while hospital demand outpaces donations. Factors in the decline include blood drive cancellations due to the pandemic and back-toschool preparations for many families.

Schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

••• Ben Lomond Sept. 25, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Highlands Park Senior Center, 8500 Highway 9 Santa Cruz Sept. 28, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St., Sept. 30, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Sponsored by IATSE Local 611, the stage workers’ union, at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St. Scotts Valley Sept. 25, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. — St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 5271 Scotts Valley Drive Watsonville Sept. 24, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St.

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

SCULPTURE IS: IN THE GARDEN 2021 On display thru Oct. 31 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden, 2660 East Lake Ave., Watsonville Sculpture IS: In the Garden 2021, is the 15th sculpture exhibit in partnership with Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden.

The jurors, Susana Arias and Jeff Rosendale, selected more than 100 sculptures created by 42 artists and collaborators.

Visit the stunning two-acre demonstration garden, relax under the umbrellas, and spend an afternoon enjoying the outdoor exhibit.

Admission is free.

SENIOR CENTER WITHOUT LIMITS This new program from Community Bridges brings enrichment activities like yoga, art, music, tai chi, cooking, tech and support groups to seniors age 60 and up in their homes at no cost. To participate, you need an internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone.

To participate, view the calendar at https://communitybridges.org/SCWOL/ and find a class. That day and time, click on the link in the calendar to be connected. If you have a problem connecting, call Clara Munoz at (831) 458-3481.

Third Thursday Each Month PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third Thursday of each month.

Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport or call 831-471-7255.

Fridays MIDTOWN FRIDAYS Ongoing thru Oct. 29, 1111 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz (next to the fire station) Event Santa Cruz is hosting a Friday festival through the end of October. Called “Midtown Fridays,” the event will have a featured musical act plus food, artists, vendors, and more. Admission is free.

Saturdays ECOLOGICAL RESERVE TOURS AT ELKHORN SLOUGH Tours start at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.,1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville Volunteers lead walks highlighting the natural history of the Elkhorn Slough. Capacity is limited due to physical distancing requirements, and individuals must sign up on a first-come, firstserved basis.

TECH TALKS WITH THE LIBRARY Groups of six or more should call ahead at (831) 11 a.m., Online Zoom Meetings 728-2822 or visit https://www.elkhornslough.org/ Santa Cruz Public Libraries presents Tech Talks group-reservation/ to reserve a tour. designed for people at all learning levels to increase their For more information, visit http://www.elkhornslough.org/ ability to safely and effectively use their mobile devices. esnerr/tours/ For some help using Zoom for the first time, visit the tutorial at bit.ly/SCPL-ZOOM. Registration is required. Dates are: One Saturday Each Month • Sept. 23: Search Strategies for Android and COOKING WITH GREY BEARS’ POPPY DEGARMO Apple. Register: bit.ly/TechTalk923 11 a.m. Online Class • Sept. 30: Device and Account Security for Cooking with Grey Bears next few classes will be online Android and Apple. Register: bit.ly/TechTalk930 only.

Upcoming classes: Sept. 18 and Oct. 23 Use this Zoom link to participate in your home at time of class: ONGOING EVENTS https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92906805068.

First and Third Monday Each Month SENIOR LIFE ONLINE First Sunday Every Month 4 p.m., Online Meeting WESTSIDE MARKETPLACE Join a local group of senior citizens for “Senior Life 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Old Wrigley Building Parking Lot, 2801 Online,” a free online (Zoom) program featuring Mission Street, Santa Cruz 95060 a presentation by a local expert. View the full The Westside Marketplace is an exciting monthly market schedule at scottsvalleyseniorlife.org/currentwhere local art, handmade and vintage shopping meet activities/.

Next date: Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. with Karen Kefauver delicious food! This collaboration between Food Trucks A talking about social media (No meeting on Labor Day). Go Go and the SCM Makers Market presents a great mix of To participate, you need an Internet connection and a creators of all kinds! There is also live music at each event! computer, tablet or smartphone.

The music on Sept 5. will be provided by Ancestree.

A one-time preregistration is required at https:// Rain dates are scheduled for the following Sundays. tinyurl.com/SVSLA-5. Questions? Call George at (831) The Market is free to attend and is 100% local!

334-7763.

All local and state health guidelines will be followed.

Senior Life Online is sponsored by Scotts Valley Senior Life Association (SVSLA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose Please wear your mask, maintain social distance while mission is to promote healthy living for senior citizens. you shop and stay home if you don’t feel well. Hand Information is at http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org. sanitizing stations will be available.

For more information, go to the event page: https://www.

Tuesdays facebook.com/events/170470481551895; Food Trucks A Go FARMERS’ MARKET AT RAMSAY PARK Go: https://www.foodtrucksagogo.com/; or SCM Makers Market 2–6 p.m., Ramsay Park, Watsonville https://scmmakersmarket.com/ for a list of all of the vendors.

El Mercado is a new farmers’ market hosted by Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley.

Second Sundays There will be healthy locally grown produce, a veggie SANTA CRUZ ANTIQUE STREET FAIRE Rx redemption site, cooking demonstrations and 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Pacific Ave. between Lincoln and Cedar Streets wellness screenings.

The Santa Cruz Antique Street Faire features more than 40 Sponsors include Lakeside Organic, Salud Para La Gente outdoor vendors. and Kaiser Permanente. Visit pvhealthtrust.org/elmercado for Visit https://www.facebook.com/santacruzantiquefaire/ for more more info. information

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Celeste Cisneros of the Suicide Prevention Service of the Central Coast.

This talk is part of Suicide Prevention Month activities.

The link to join is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84234842877 The meeting ID is 842 3484 2877.

For information about NAMI, visit www.namiscc.org, call 831-824-0406 or email anastasia@namiscc.org.

DATED EVENTS Thursday September 16 thru Sunday September 19 FESTIVAL OF LIGHT, SOUND, DIGITAL CULTURE 5-10 p.m., Downtown Santa Cruz The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) will debut Frequency, a new biennial festival of light, sound, and digital culture.

Featured artworks include: Ocean of Light: Submergence and Orbital Phasing by Squidsoup (U.K.); Silver Lining

by Sujin Lim (South Korea); Poems of Positivity by Orlosky Studio (Richmond, Va); Quilt City

by Office Kovacs (Los Angeles), Entanglement by The Epicenter (Santa Cruz); Zoom Meeting by Visual Endeavors, Inc. (Santa Cruz); Quantum Elders’ Consciousness Vaccine

by Karlton Hester (Santa Cruz); The Trellis Project by M. James Becker (Santa Cruz); CUBEISM 2: Baroque Edition

by Patrick Stefaniak (Santa Cruz); Lite Sprites by David Crellin (Santa Cruz); and The Choose Your Own Adventure Show by Stellaria Creative Co. (Santa Cruz).

There will be pop-up performances, artist talks, workshops, and late-night experiments. All outdoor attractions can be seen at no charge.

Admission to the museum, hosting some indoor festival programs, is: $10 adults, $5 children 12 and under, and free for MAH members.

Photo: Submergence by Squidsoup (UK)

Friday September 17 CELEBRANDO LA CULTURA: FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT 6 p.m., Watsonville City Plaza The Watsonville Film Festival is thrilled to celebrate Mexican Independence Day and our local community of essential farmworkers with CELEBRANDO LA CULTURA, a hybrid program of film, music and dance!

This special program includes a free Outdoor Concert in Watsonville City Plaza as well as a Virtual Showcase of Los Cenzontles’ Films, including the screening of the award-winning documentary Linda (Ronstadt!) and the Mockingbirds from September 15 through 18 at watsonvillefilmfest.org (watch the trailer here: www. youtube.com/watch?v=i89XDw91GRk) There will also be a Zoom Panel on Thursday, Sept.16 at 6 p.m. with Los Cenzontles and award-winning filmmakers.

Info for the panel can also be found at watsonvillefilmfest.org ••• Celebrando La Cultura is co-presented by Los Cenzontles Cultural Academy and the McEvoy Foundation for the Arts, with additional support is provided by the City of Watsonville and the Watsonville Campesino Appreciation Caravan. We have also partnered with the nonprofit healthcare organization Salud Para La Gente to provide a mobile vaccination clinic for concert attendees.

Friday September 24 SECOND HARVEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION 9 a.m.-Noon, SC County Fairgrounds This will be the final scheduled Second Harvest Food Bank’s drive-through food distribution at the fairgrounds.

For more information, call the food hotline: 831-662-0991.

GREY BEARS ANNUAL HARVEST GALA Saturday September 25 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 2710 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz Eat, learn, move and shop at this year’s Harvest Celebration 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, outside Grey Bears in Santa Cruz.

Enjoy appetizers and savory barbecue lunch (veggie options), music, live comedy, free classes including chair yoga, auction and storewide 50% off sale.

10:30 am – 11:30 am: 15-min. free chair yoga classes with Suzi 11:30 am – BBQ lunch 11:45 am – Comedy with DNA and friends 12:15 pm – Keynote speaker, Supervisor Manu Koenig 1 pm – Recycling tour 1:30 pm – Auction To donate products or services to the auction, call 831-479-1055 ext 223. To donate cash see https://www.greybears.org/ support/ n LAVENDER SALE 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 829 Bay Ave., Capitola (behind Woodworm) The Mid County Senior Center Garden will host a parking lot sale.

The Mid County Senior Center Lavender Ladies will be selling their homemade masks, bowl cozies, eye pillows, sachets, and other items. The gardeners will sell in-season organic produce and fresh cut flower arrangements. The MCSC Craft Ladies and Book Club will sell hand made hats, scarfs, and blankets.

All proceeds benefit Mid County Senior Center.

SAVE OUR SHORES COASTAL CLEANUP 9 a.m.-Noon, Natrual Bridges State Beach The Santa Cruz County Office of Education Tobacco Use Prevention Education program, is joining forces with Save Our Shores, the Marine Mammal Center, and the Santa Cruz County Tobacco Education Coalition, to participate in the 2021 Annual Coastal Cleanup Day 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept.18. Volunteers will meet at Natural Bridges State Beach and also be involved with a special tobacco waste data collection.

Register at https://saveourshores.org/coastal-cleanup/.

During September, download the Clean Swell App at https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/ international-coastal-cleanup/cleanswell/ to collect data on the types of trash you find on the beach.

Saturday September 18 The Santa Cruz County Office of Education Tobacco Use FLORAL PARK CAMPAIGN LAUNCH PARTY Prevention Education (TUPE) program, is joining forces 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Floral Park, 656 38th Ave., Santa Cruz with Save Our Shores, the Marine Mammal Center, and Bring kids, dogs, friends, family, and join County Park the Santa Cruz County Tobacco Education Coalition, to Friends to get started on fixing up Floral Park. Attendees participate in the 2021 Annual Coastal Cleanup Day event will meet, greet, learn and plan. held on September 18th from 9am-12pm.

Thanks to the generosity of folks like Roland and Pat Participating volunteers will meet us at Natural Bridges State Rebele, Bud and Rebecca Colligan, Derek Draper and many beach and will also be involved with our special tobacco waste many more, more than $150,000 has been raised toward data collection effort. (All materials will be provided.) the community’s vision for an upgraded Floral Park.

Now community members are invited to get involved.

Sunday September 19 County Park Friends is the team that brought you LEO’s Haven inclusive playground at Chanticleer Park, created the Cement ALOHA OUTRIGGER RACES Ship Skate feature at Seacliff Village, and are breaking ground 8 a.m.-Noon, Santa Cruz Wharf on a new playground at Hidden Beach.

The City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department

invites you to bring your Aloha spirit and register for the 29th Annual Aloha Outrigger Race.

The short-course Outrigger Races are designed especially for the new or novice paddlers. Enter a four-person crew 12 years of age and older and the rec department will provide a stroker, steer-person and all necessary equipment with enough instruction to get you racing. Entry fee is $125.

Sponsored by the Pu Pu O-Hawaii Outrigger Canoe Club, O’Neill, The California Outrigger Canoe Association and the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department.

Register at www.santacruzparksandrec.com.

Tuesday September 21 Wednesday September 29 UC MASTERS GARDENING CLASSES 5-6:30 p.m., UCSC UC Master Gardeners of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties offers free online gardening classes: Sept. 21: Drought-Tolerant Perennials — Fall is the best time to plant these perennials. UC Master Gardener Scott Adams will discuss plants from Mediterranean and desert ecosystems around the globe that perform well in this area.

Sept. 29: Child-Friendly Garden Playground — Learn how to construct a green bean playhouse, which plants attract swallowtail butterflies and caterpillars, how to grow edible flowers year-round, and how to make a mud kitchen. UC Master Gardener Anne Jensen, a mother of 2 children (ages 4 & 7), turned a grassy lawn into an edible oasis where the children play and explore every day.

Donations are appreciated. To register, visit mbmg.ucanr.edu.

ELKHORN SLOUGH VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Online This event will include nature craft tutorials, a behind the scenes look at the reserve’s nursery and researchers talking about the science of the slough.

Visit the online calendar at http://www.elkhornslough.org/ calendar/

Saturday September 25 Saturday September 26 CAPITOLA BEACH FESTIVAL SCHEDULE Saturday Little Wharf 3 MILER Fun Run 8 – 11 AM Must preregister. Shuttles available.

Sand Sculpture Contest 8 AM – Noon; Registration online or on Capitola Beach at 8 AM. Trophy judging at 12:30 PM. Award at 1 PM Children’s Art 11 AM – 2 PM Sign up at Esplanade Park. Children pre-school age and above can create their own masterpiece atop the seawall on the Esplanade. Art chalk provided.

Music at the Beach 4 – 6 PM Houserockers sponsored by Strock Real Estate. Music and dancing in Esplanade Park.

Lighted Nautical Parade on Soquel Creek approximately 7 – 8 pm View a parade of lighted barges will travel down Soquel Creek to the Lagoon — no access to the trestle allowed.

Sunday Fishing Derby 7 – 11:30 AM Registration begins at 7 AM near the end of the Capitola Wharf.

Bring your own fishing poles. Open to all ages. Final tally at 11 AM. Horseshoes on the Sand 7 AM - Finish Doubles tournament at Capitola Beach in front of Zelda’s Restaurant. Teams will be chosen by drawing names from a hat. Must pre-register or call (831) 419-6399. Check-in time 7 - 8 am.

Chalk Art on the Seawall 10 AM -1 PM Sign up at Esplanade Park. Children pre-school age and above can create their own masterpiece atop the seawall on the Esplanade. Art chalk provided.

Rowboat Races 1 PM - Finish Registration at the pathway by the Stockton Bridge from Noon until 1 PM. Timed heats on Soquel Creek with two people per boat – boats supplied.

Registration is at: Capitolabeachfestival.com n

Wednesday September 22 NAMI HOSTS SUICIDE PREVENTION TALK 6-7:30 p.m., Online Zoom Meeting NAMI Santa Cruz County, a local group affiliated with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will host a free presentation on Zoom featuring Carly Memoli and

Volunteers David Peyton, Laurie Hill, and Willard Schwartz brought hanging begonias back to Capitola Village fronting Lavigne Real Estate on Capitola Avenue in Capitola.

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

Redrawing County Supervisor District Boundaries

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edistricting efforts are underway across the state that could potentially adjust the boundaries of various elective offices. Locally, the process to review and potentially redraw local supervisorial districts is underway and there are a number of ways that the community can get involved. The following will provide an overview of the state and local redistricting process and ways you can participate.

What is Redistricting? edistricting occurs once-in-a-decade and it’s the process of redrawing boundaries for various elective offices.

The process follows the U.S. Census.

Due to the pandemic, the process of completing and certifying the data from the U.S. Census was delayed, which in turn has impacted the timeline for the redistricting process (reducing the time available to review and potentially redraw districts).

In California, based on information from the U.S. Census, a Citizens Redistricting Commission (created by voter initiative) redraws the boundaries of California’s Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts.

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The goal [of redistricting] is to create districts that, as required by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and California Elections Code, are substantially equal in population and ensures contiguity, communities of interest, integrity of cities and more.

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

Locally, counties undertake a process of redrawing the districts for the five County Supervisor districts. The goals is to create districts that, as required by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and California Elections Code, are substantially equal in population and ensures contiguity, communities of interest, integrity of cities and more.

Communities of interest are defined by the Elections Code as a population that share common social or economic interests that should be included within one supervisorial district to ensure effective and fair representation.

What is the Local Process? he Elections Code requires robust outreach and opportunity for public input.

The County established a Redistricting Advisory Committee, consisting of one representative from each supervisorial district, to help guide the redistricting process.

The members of the Commission are: Cheri O’Neil (1st District), Michael Watkins (2nd District), Kris Reyes (3rd District), Peter Radin (4th District) and James Mosher (5th District).

Recently, the Board of Supervisors approved an outreach plan with a proposed schedule to meet the compressed timeline for submitting new districts. Per the Election Code, this outreach plan includes extensive outreach to underrepresented and non-English speaking communities.

The County plans to work via social and traditional media, community-based organizations and more to ensure that the community is aware of the process and has an opportunity to participate.

According to the census data, the Santa Cruz County has a population of 270,861 -- which means the goal for each district would be a population target of 54,172.

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

Local Local Local

What will the county district lines look like when redistricting is complete?

Currently, for example, the population of the 2nd District (which includes Aptos, Corralitos, La Selva and parts of Capitola and Watsonville) has a population of 54,637. Some districts, such as the 5th supervisorial district in the San Lorenzo Valley and other parts of the northern portion of the county have populations under the target number.

How Can You Get Involved? f you’re interested in providing input into the process there will be four community outreach meetings (there will be additional public hearings by the Board of Supervisors) and you’re encouraged to participate.

You can participate in-person or online and all meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 at the Sheriff’s Office Community Room, 5200 Soquel Avenue in Live Oak.

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Sept. 29 at the Felton Branch Library, 6121 Gushee Street in Felton.

Sept. 30 at Starlight Elementary, 225 Hammer Drive in Watsonville. he Board of Supervisors public hearings (which are in addition to these community input meetings) will be in the evening on Oct. 26 (with location to be confirmed soon), and during the day on Nov. 9 and 16.

The County has a website dedicated to this process at www.santacruzcounty.us/ Redistricting2021 where details of these meetings and ways to provide input can be found. n ••• As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue).

I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/supervisorfriend and you can always call me at 454-2200.

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SCCAS Featured Pet

COMMUNITY NEWS

What to Plant As Fall Approaches

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When Harry Met Sally

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hen Harry met Sally at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, it was love at first sight!

These beautiful birds were brought to the Shelter because their neighbors weren’t fans of their operatic singing, despite their beautiful voices!

Peacocks or Peafowl are one of the loudest creatures and make a very loud meowing sound. These birds have a variety of songs they sing and can even notify you when rain is near! Most of us know Peacocks for their beautiful colors, specifically on the male birds like Harry.

These bird’s feathers have microscopic crystal-like structures that reflect different wavelengths of light depending on how they’re spaced resulting in the bright fluorescent colors we see on Harry and Sally. As a Peahen (female), Sally has special sensors on her feather crown that allow her to feel vibrations of a possible mate that may be located far away from her.

Peacocks are the national bird of India, and they are known to symbolize compassion, benevolence, knowledge, and kindness. Peacocks are very social animals and prefer to be in a group. In fact, they need companionship and if left without a partner they will feel heartbroken. Peacocks are the largest flying bird and in captivity are known to live longer than 20 years!

We are looking for a special home for these two where they can sing their hearts away and relax in a safe environment. We are also looking for Peacock rescue groups who might be able to take Harry and Sally.

If you or someone you know is interested in these special birds, please visit the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter at 1001 Rodriguez St. or 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

By Tony Tomeo

lants notice it before people do. They respond accordingly. Vegetative growth slows or stops completely.

Most remaining bloom does likewise.

Fruit and seed finish developing. Less fresh produce is available from the garden.

Boston ivy and Japanese maples might already be changing color. They all know that the days are shorter and nights are cooler.

Warm season produce gets less abundant as summer ends because most is fruit, which contain seed. Most plants naturally finish with seed production prior to autumn. Most cool season produce is truly vegetative and lacking seed. It naturally grows during autumn or winter, with the (“fruitless”) intention of blooming and fruiting during the following season.

It seems as if warm season vegetables were replacing cool season vegetables from last winter only a few months ago. Perhaps they were. That process began about half a year ago, but never completely stops.

Various phases of various vegetables start and finish at various times. Now, some warm season vegetables might continue to produce until frost.

Corn is of those warm season vegetables that remain productive. Seed for the last phase would not have been too late if it got into the garden two weeks ago, but will take time to produce. Broccoli seed sown at the about same time could be the first of the cool season vegetables in the garden.

However, it is likely more practical to plant seedlings a bit later.

Seed for cabbage and cauliflower can go into the garden now. Alternatively, it should do as well in flats or cell packs, for

The 1990s © Statepoint Media

Cucumbers grow in spring or autumn.

later planting. This procedure delays their occupation of garden space, which might still be occupied by late warm season produce. Besides, it is easier to defend tiny seedlings in flats or cell packs from slugs, snails, birds and insects.

For big and leafy cool season produce, it may be more practical to purchase seedlings in cell packs rather seed.

Since only a few seedlings of each type are needed, they are not too much more expensive than seed.

However, confinement to cell packs disfigures root vegetables, such as beets and carrots. Their seed can get into the garden in two weeks to a month.

••• Boston ivy t is the ‘ivy’ of ivy league schools.

Nonetheless, Boston ivy, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, is neither an ivy, nor indigenous to Boston. It is from eastern Asia, and is related to grape vines. It is related to Virginia creeper too, which is actually native to Boston, Virginia and the eastern half of North America. It has become popular locally for freeway sound walls.

Boston ivy is an aggressive Boston ivy gets colorful clinging vine that before autumn. can climb to the top of a ten story building. Unfortunately, there are a few problems with that. It ruins wooden or painted surfaces, so can only climb concrete or masonry. It climbs over windows if it gets the chance. Thicket growth is difficult to remove if it is too high to reach. On rare occasion, mice can nest in it.

Otherwise, Boston ivy works well on freeways. Although deciduous, its vines discourage graffiti. Even while bare, its texture helps to muffle sound. Its exquisite autumn foliar color might begin to develop as early as late summer, and lingers until frost. Boston ivy is quite resilient to neglect.

Shabby plants generate fresh new growth after major winter pruning. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

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

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