We All Need A Hero, Story and Photos, By Jondi Gumz • RTC to Study Climate Projects, Transportation Equity

We All Need A Hero

Story and Photos By Jondi Gumz

As Ray Apolskis sat on a bench at Capitola Beach with his faithful canine companion, a woman was about to walk by when she paused.

“I remember you,” she said, noticing Ray’s dog, Benny, who used to greet visitors at Surf N Shack, Ray’s T-shirt and sweatshirt shop in Capitola Village.

I remember Ray, too.

In March 2009, when someone stole the tiki out of Capitola’s Esplanade Park, Ray offered to donate the $500 tiki carved by Wilhelm Zilliacus that gave his shop a surf vibe.

Sadly, the Surf N Shack is no more. Now it’s painted pink, home to Xandra Swimwear.

Ray lost his shop, his source of income, and his home in the Covid-19 pandemic.

He’s been wrapping himself in Indian blankets — the kind he used to sell — sleeping on the bench, or in the yard of an accommodating property owner in the village, getting up at 5 a.m. so as not to be a bother.

He’s not old enough to cash in his 401-k retirement account — built up from working 14 years at Pasatiempo Golf Course, where he was director of sales — without a penalty.

Joseph Jacques, co-founder of HarmonicHumanity.org, with the HERO CD. Ray Apolskis and Benny, a small Pomeranian who is 6 years old.

Before the golf job, he owned a deejay business, Cut A Rug, and played music at the Edgewater bar on the Esplanade.

Now, thanks to Aptos resident Joseph Jacques, Ray has a new gig that may turn his life around.

Jacques and his pal, AJ Lovewins (a name he adopted) of Bellingham, WA, are co-founders of Harmonic Humanity, a 10-year-old organization dedicated to helping people get off the streets and into a place to live via music and art.

Sounds crazy, right?

Listen and learn: Music is healing.

Jacques said AJ successfully battled addiction and began working at a soup kitchen in Seattle, where people ate meals and got a good dose of uplifting music.

Jacques calls it “conscious music,” music of various styles aligned with social healing and love. I call it uplifting.

That gave them the idea: What if they could create an album of uplifting music and give copies to people who are homeless to sell and earn a living.

What if well-known musicians — like Jason Mraz, Michael Franti and Maroon 5 — were willing to provide music tracks? The first ask was at a party at Café Gratitude, and they got 15 tracks in all.

What if the CD could be sold for a $20 donation? One hundred CD sales would equal $2,000, a big step toward a month’s rent and security.

This is the third album, titled HERO: One Cape Fits All.

The CD jacket features a takeoff on Leonardo da Vinci’s “Finger of God” painting of creation, with a silhouetted figure making a leap of faith.

The Santa Cruz Veterans Hall is a backer, having bought 1,000 CDs. A photo of the Vets Hall appears on the back cover.

Jacques said the name is based on the work of writer Joseph Campbell, who described the hero’s journey, entering the unknown, meeting a mentor, facing trials and failure, gaining new skills, entering the abyss, surviving the ordeal, then returning transformed to the known world.

Ray Apolskis’ first reaction was: “It’s exciting — also a little daunting to take this on.”

He mulled it over: “I’m used to being self-employed … it’s like being self-employed.”

He added, “I’m tired of sneaking around … I want to get off the streets.”

To get a roof over his head, his game plan is to tap into his 401 (k), once the penalty period is past, and to sell the HERO CDs three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., while enjoying the beautiful views on Capitola Beach.

Why not be a hero and buy a CD yourself?

The music is good, and you’ll be doing good at the same time.

To learn more about the Love Tour 2022 and watch a video of Jason Mraz and Ace of Cups explain why they support this economic opportunity initiative, visit Harmonic Humanity.org. n

RTC to Study Climate Projects, Transportation Equity

Caltrans has awarded the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission two Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants totaling $786,000 for climate adaptation and transportation equity.

The RTC and the County of Santa Cruz received $448,800 to develop a Climate Adaptation Vulnerability Assessment and Transportation Priorities Report for unincorporated Santa Cruz County maintained roads and the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line.

The assessment will identify vulnerable transportation infrastructure and associated hazards such as wildfire, mud debris flows, extreme weather/flooding and sea-level rise.

The priorities report will identify transportation projects that may be impacted by climate change and those will then be prioritized for action.

“The hazards brought on by climate change pose a serious threat to the county’s transportation infrastructure, and in turn, threatens the safety and quality of life of our residents. Santa Cruz County is already experiencing the impacts of sea level rise, coastal erosion, extreme weather events and flooding, wildfires, and extreme temperatures on the county’s transportation infrastructure,” said Guy Preston, RTC executive director. “This report will be very impactful in guiding the RTC as it works to maintain the existing transportation network and plans for the transportation needs of the future.”

David Reid, director of the Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience, said, “Assessing our transportation network and its vulnerability to climate change is the first step to helping our county prioritize investments … This grant helps establish a foundation to better prepare our community for these inevitabilities and to guide us as we work together to mitigate these threats.”

The RTC also received $338,000 to develop a Transportation Equity Action Plan to address transportation disparities in the community.

This plan will include an equity analysis of the existing transportation network, transportation projects and services, plans, policies, and procedures; a public outreach toolkit to engage disadvantaged communities; the establishment of an Equity Workgroup; stakeholder and public engagement; and the development of equity performance metrics.

“Approximately 50% of Santa Cruz County’s residents are transportation disadvantaged,” said Preston. “Once developed, this action plan will provide us with the tools and information needed to prioritize transportation investments that will improve access, safety, health, mobility, housing and job access, for marginalized, segmented, and otherwise disadvantaged communities.”

RTC staff will provide more information regarding schedule and public participation opportunities over the next few months.

Caltrans’ Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant program funds studies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the state highway system, enhance access to safe walkways and bike paths, and increase natural disaster preparedness. Grants are awarded each year through a competitive process to encourage local and regional efforts.

Funds for the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant program come from state and federal sources. n

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For the complete list of Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant awards, see https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/transportation-planning/documents/ sustainable-planning-grants-2021/04012022update/1-fy-2022-23-stpg-award-list.pdf