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Big Basin Future: Comments Due
COMMUNITY NEWS
Big Basin Future: Comments Due
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Did you love Big Basin State Park? You can put in your two cents through June 17 on the future of the park, closed since August 2020 CSU lightning wildfire, which destroyed 928 homes and 97% of the park.
The park, which lost the visitor center, campground, and housing for park employees, water, power, sewer and communications, likely will not be rebuilt as it was.
The vision for the future of Big Basin Redwoods State Park is emerging in the newly released Reimagining Big Basin Vision Summary, a vision created through months of public input and consultation with indigenous tribes. Share your thoughts at https://reimaginingbigbasin.org/vision-summary/
This summer, Big Basin will allow limited access to a small area of the park this summer through a day-use reservation system operated by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks. n •••
Members of the public can support the ongoing recovery efforts may do so by donating to the Fire Fund & Recovery Support at https:// thatsmypark.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/ thatsmypark/donation.jsp?campaign=153&
“Coach Warmerdam” from page 4
Speakers included Coach Ray Tanimoto, Coach Steve Miles, and Coach Joseph Smith, fellow PE teachers Jamie Townsend and Jim Mikaelsen, and past players Mike Gruber, Bob Williams, and Stu and Kevin Walters. Son Cris and daughters Susan and Barbie also spoke.
Memories were evoked: Kjell Stakkestad leading the Mariners in 1973 to their first league championship in school history. Bryan Holt dropping 64 points on North Monterey County in 1984. Jeff Jones and the other Holt brothers, Warren and Craig, leading the magical 1986 team. Cris Warmerdam grabbing rebounds and blocking shots like no one before or since. Trent Dilfer in the post. Kelly Stratton. Doug Glaum. Brian and Johnny McNulty. The Walters brothers. And more. The giants of Aptos basketball.
Attendees also laughed at stories of Coach Warmerdam’s idiosyncrasies, turning up the heat in the gym for practices and games, playing ear-splitting loud music during warm-ups, calling timeouts if his teams passed too much, his famous Driver Training sessions, his penchant for Lost & Found clothes, his family vacations to the Central Valley, betting on the ponies, and many, many more.
More seriously, speaker after speaker spoke of Coach Warmerdam’s generous spirit, his easy laugh, and his devotion to his players and to his family. His wife, Pat, attended every game, sitting in the same spot behind the bench, knitting or saying the rosary, depending on the game.
They talked of his mentorship to a generation of coaches and players, of the advice he shared and the lessons he taught. They talked about his passion for coaching basketball. And they talked about lifelong friendships and the loss they are now experiencing.
Bill Warmerdam, coach, husband, father, grandfather, educator, mentor, icon, legend, and friend. He will be remembered as a warm, funny, generous, and gracious man, and as a remarkable basketball coach, one of the best ever. n
Ray Tanimoto
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