Aptos Times: January 15, 2023

By Jondi Gumz

Treasured places — Seacliff State Beach, the pier to the Cement Ship, Capitola’s Wharf, Capitola’s Bandstand, and popular restaurants on the Capitola Village Esplanade — are no longer themselves, devastated after epic winter storms that began New Year’s Eve with no end in sight. After multiple drought years, one rain gauge reported 23 inches of rain in 10 days.

Unrelenting rain, overflowing creeks in the Santa Cruz Mountains all the way to Monterey Bay, and ocean swells wreaked havoc, flooding streets, creating sinkholes, knocking out electricity, closing schools and leaving mud and debris behind.

The storm dropped 10 inches of rain in 24 hours in Bonny Doon — and all that water ran downhill. ... continues on page 4

Dark Chocolate’s Dark Side

Mount Madonna Presents ‘Mamma Mia!’

It’s January 1978. ABBA, the Swedish pop group sensation, releases “Take a Chance on Me.”

The hit becomes part of a musical, “Mamma Mia!” featuring ABBA’s most popular tunes ...

Full Story page 18

MONTEREY

Cover Epic Storm: Epic Destruction, By Jondi Gumz Community News 4 Storm Impact in Aptos, Photos by Becky Steinbruner 5 Storm Resources for the Community, By Zach Friend • Want to Help Capitola? 6 SC County Farm Bureau Wins 5 Awards: Local Watch Dog is Second Runner-up • High Surf Warning 7 Family Pledges $75,000 Match to Disaster Fund 9 Slip ‘n’ Slide 10 Homeless Funding Available for Santa Cruz County • Capitola Coast Lions Invite Student Speakers to Competition 11 Gift to Gutzwiller Memorial, Thanks to Pickleball in the Park 12 Dark Chocolate’s Dark Side: Consumer Reports — Lead and Cadmium in All 28 Bars Tested, By Jondi Gumz 14 CalFire Hazard Maps: Public Comments On Updates Open Until Feb. 3 18 Mount Madonna Presents ‘Mamma Mia!’: Sing-along, Too! 21 Our Community Reads Mary Coin: Events Begin February 1 22 More From The Storm: A Collection of Photos in the Aftermath of the Recent Disaster 24 Bee Fruitful Farm Welcomes Students 27 Protecting Pelicans: Mount Madonna Fifth Grade’s Environmental Project • Madagascar Jr: The Show Must Go On Letter to the Editor 7 Help for Flooded Soquel Village Businesses and Proactive County Action for Future Flooding? California News 10 Ex-CalPERS Analyst Sentenced: Najera-Villanueva

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Storm Impact in Aptos

by Becky Steinbruner

“Epic Storm” from page 1

The first wave of storms left damages estimated at $10 million to $12 million, according to county Supervisor Zach Friend.

The next wave of storms in unincorporated areas left damages that exceed $29 million (largely to roads) as Jan. 9, according to Dave Reid, the county’s recovery chief.

That doesn’t include Capitola, an incorporated city of 10,000 that depends on

TOP LEFT: High storm water levels overflowed large ditches and flooded volleyball areas at Monte Toyon Camp (Cloister Lane, Aptos)

TOP RIGHT: Very high storm water levels overwhelmed a 24” culvert on Redwood Drive, Aptos BOTTOM (from left) Flooding at Redwood Drive and Campus Drive, Aptos • High storm water levels overwhelmed ditches on Redwood Drive. Orange sign “ROAD CLOSED” posted to warn motorists of downed tree blocking Redwood Drive and knocking out power for 12 hours. Residents cleared the tree to allow PG&E to restore power sooner. • Aptos Creek from Moosehead Drive on Dec. 31, 2022, when the winter storms began.

tourism and saw nine business red-tagged for safety reasons.

Soquel Creek, a bucolic tributary in the summer, became a weapon of destruction as trees upstream were swept downstream, creating logjams at bridges, destroying the foundations of the Esplanade restaurants and ripping through their plumbing and electrical systems.

Community Foundation Santa Cruz County swiftly announced a Disaster Fund

to help neighbors harmed by the storms. See story, page 7.

Waterfront restaurants on the Esplanade include Zelda’s on the Beach, My Thai Beach, Bay Bar & Grill, the Sand Bar, Paradise Beach Grille and Margaritaville.

At Zelda’s, closet to the ocean, the front wall was smashed by a support beam from the Capitola Wharf.

Margaritaville owners posted on Instagram that they will be closed through January for repairs.

From Stockton Bridge, observers on foot saw muddy Soquel Creek pulsing and rising and ocean waves battering evacuated buildings that used to offer visitors serene and scenic views.

Aptos real estate agent Ben Strock launched a GoFundMe campaign, featuring a photo of the beachfront pastel Venetian Hotel to raise $50,000 for shuttered Capitola businesses to help employees who won’t be getting federal aid.

Photos

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Hwy 9 is shut down at Graham Hill Road on Jan. 10.

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Storm Resources for the Community

By Zach Friend

As our community continues to sustain damage from the storms, it is important to know about some of the resources available to you for preparedness, monitoring during the events and recovery for areas that have sustained damage.

The County has created a dedicated

website to help residents obtain and request information and resources. Here is an overview of that site.

Where Can I Find Information?

Visit the County’s main website at www.santacruzcounty.us and click on the top banner titled “2022-23 Atmospheric River Storms Event Emergency Info.”

Want to Help Capitola?

Capitola Recreation Division Leader Nikki Bryant LeBlond is collecting information from those who want to help during this local disaster. Call the Capitola Community Center to provide your contact information: 831-475-5935 or e-mail nbryant@ci.capitola.ca.us.

Volunteer efforts will be coordinated when staff is assured that Capitola Village is safe for members of the public. In the village, 5 buildings were red-tagged as unsafe, and 19 with a yellow tag requiring safety inspection.

LeBlond will communicate with those who have signed up to volunteer as soon as the storm has subsided and the area is deemed safe.

Donations are being accepted at Jade Street Community Center in the form of water bottles and gift cards (OSH, Home Depot, Target) that will be distributed to residents and business owners in need.

What Resources Can I Request From This Page?

The page is broken down into three key elements: Disaster Preparedness and Resources, Resources for Monitoring and Reporting Conditions, Disaster Recovery.

Specifically, residents can request flood cleanup help, monitor in real time stream/ river gauges, view evacuation notices, obtain sand and sandbag locations, sign up for emergency alerts, view road closure information, PG&E outages and more — all from this page.

How Can I Volunteer To Help?

The County has partnered with the Volunteer Center to give people a chance to volunteer their time to help with shelter staffing, cleanup efforts and more.

Visit the Volunteer Center website at: www.scvolunteernow.org and you will see a link on the main page to volunteer to help your community in the cleanup.

How Can I Donate

To Help With The Efforts?

The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County is leading efforts for those

interested in making monetary contributions to the recovery efforts.

Funds are used to help with housing for evacuees, cleanup efforts, prevention efforts and more.

Here is the link: www.cfscc.org/ funds/disaster-fund •••

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

Photo Credit: Barry Scott

SC County Farm Bureau Wins 5 Awards

Local Watch Dog is Second Runner-up

The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau was honored with five Activities of Excellence Awards — Membership, Policy Implementation, Leadership, Ag Education and Public Relations — at the California Farm Bureau Federation’s 104th annual meeting in Monterey in December. The county was one of three state finalists in the “Innovator Award Contest” for its annual National Agriculture Day Poster & Poetry Contests for local students.

Representing the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau were Dennis Webb, president, and Peter Navarro, 1st vice-president; alternate delegate was 2nd vice-president John Pisturino. Also attending: Executive Director Jess Brown and CJ Miller, chair, Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee.

The Annual Meeting is an opportunity for Farm Bureau members throughout the state to discuss mutual issues, make new friends and prepare for the legislative issues in 2023.

Local ranch owner Robert Stephens’ dog, Ray, received second runner-up, and a cash prize, in the California Farm Bureau “Farm Dog” contest. Ray is an Australian shepherd who serves as a watch dog and cow herder on Elkhorn Ranch, a cow-calf operation in north Monterey County.

Ray, a cherished companion to Stephens, decided to donate part of his cash prize to Focus Agriculture, the national award-winning local educational program, to which Webb said, “We always appreciate philanthropic dogs!” n

High Surf Warning

The National Weather Service has issued a high surf warning from Thursday, Jan 12, at 1 p.m. through Saturday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m.

Due to the expected increased tide, high surf and the reduction of beach sand there is a significant potential for flooding along Beach Drive, Las Olas Drive, and Potbelly Beach Road. Residents in these areas should be prepared to evacuate and move to higher ground if flooding starts.

The Sheriff’s Office has issued an

evacuation warning for CTL-E048 (Seacliff State Beach and encompassing Beach Drive) and CTL-E031 (New Brighton State Beach & beyond).

Information on evacuation zones is at community.zonehaven.com, and you can monitor road closures at https://sccroad closure.org/

The County Emergency Operations Center is activated to monitor storm impacts. Call Center general questions may be directed to 831-454-2285.

In the case of an emergency, call 911. n

Ray

Dennis Webb

Photo Credit: Dean Monroe

Family Pledges $75,000 Match to Disaster Fund

As storms batter Santa Cruz County, generous community members are offering donations to the Community Foundation’s Disaster Fund, including a $75,000 match by a local family who wishes to remain anonymous.

“The Disaster Fund is ready and is a trusted place for residents to help their neighbors who have been harmed by these storms,” said Community Foundation CEO Susan True. “This fund will benefit those whose homes, businesses and lives have been upended. Contributing to this fund is one of many ways in which everyone can make a difference.”

The Disaster Fund was activated after the New Year’s storms and is supporting immediate needs and recovery efforts from storm and flood related damage in impacted communities throughout Santa Cruz County.

With ongoing storm warnings, road closures across the county, and evacuations in progress for the current storms, the Community Foundation is in close communication with nonprofits, small businesses, and local government

responding to the crisis and small businesses struggling with damage. Nonprofits are conducting door-to-door outreach to assess and offer support to seniors, medically fragile residents, and other vulnerable populations.

Immediate needs include assistance with safe housing, access to meals for the displaced, help with insurance claims, disposal of household furnishings and appliances, and remediation of the health and safety threats to homes.

In addition, funds raised will support the small businesses with immediate expenses related to the storms while insurance and FEMA support applications are filed.

Disaster Fund grants will go to nonprofits with deep roots in the community

— Community Foundation CEO Susan True

and strong experience serving vulnerable residents both in the immediate response and in ongoing relief and recovery efforts. Grants will also be made to small businesses in coordination with local business improvement districts.

The Community Foundation has already made $60,000 in disaster-related grants to community-based organizations at the frontlines in Santa Cruz County including Community Bridges and Community Action Board.

“As with past disasters, the impact has been felt most intensely by our neighbors who were already vulnerable—seniors, renters, small businesses, and service workers and those squeezed financially,” said True. “We know that public systems for disaster aid can take time, and they

don’t reach everyone who needs it. This local fund will get resources out immediately, to those harmed by this historic event.”

The Community Foundation also encourages individuals to consider giving their time to volunteer emergency response and flood cleanup efforts.

More information is available at the Volunteer Center’s website at www. scvolunteercenter.org. n •••

How to Contribute

Tax-deductible donations, in any amount, can be made to the fund at www.cfscc.org/disaster.

Gifts to the fund will be accepted as long as the need continues. New gifts will be matched up to a total of $75,000, thanks to an anonymous donor.

The fund is providing financial support for Santa Cruz County organizations serving vulnerable populations on the front line of flood and storm relief and recovery efforts.

Contact the Community Foundation at (831) 662-2065 or cfhelp@cfscc.org for help making a donation.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Help for Flooded Soquel Village Businesses and Proactive County Action for Future Flooding?

Editor’s Note: The following letter being made public was initially sent to Santa Cruz County First District Supervisor Manu Koenig. Dear Manu, I thought your question today about what things could be done proactively regarding future flooding was a very good one. I think that one thing the County could do is to link stream gauge levels with an automatic warning system via Code Red to give business owners and residents more advanced notice of rising water levels in their areas.

Here is why.

I visited one of my favorite restaurants, Ming’s, in Soquel Village today and spoke with the owner. The last time I had seen her was on New Years Eve, and had told her Soquel Creek was very high.

She told me today that other than my verbal warning, she had no advance notification about possible flooding that day. Later on New Years Eve, as she and her family sat in the restaurant having their dinner, flood water began to enter from under the door from Soquel Drive. The flood filled her restaurant with six inches of muddy water. She said the County did not contact her about possible flooding until many hours later.

This makes me think about Matt Machado’s explanation at the Board of Supervisor meeting today when Supervisor Felipe Hernandez asked about stream gauges and public access to the data, and possible warning systems. I looked on the Dept. of Public Works website that Matt described, but saw no stream gauges on Soquel Creek. (https://santacruz.onerain. com/level/?show_not_set=true)

After further searching, under “Other Resources”, I did find the OneRain site that Matt talked about, and see Soquel Creek shown there. The information was not easy to find. The site states those data levels are reported via radar.

Is this the new radar reporting unit recently installed on top of the County Sheriff Center on Soquel Avenue Frontage Road?

I really think that the County could assist residents and business owners in areas potentially affected by flooding by linking the stream gauge data to Code Red emergency notifications that would alert people when water levels are rising. In the case of the woman who owns Mings Restaurant, she was busy working, so could not check websites for information that could have alerted her. However, had an emergency notification call activated her

telephone, she could have arranged to get sand bags or take other proactive precautions that may have prevented her business from getting flooded.

It was notable on New Years Eve day that none of the businesses in Soquel Village visibly had sandbags ready. Was the sand bag station in the County parking lot on Daubenbiss open then?

Could you please investigate the possiblity of using Code Red, linked to stream gauges, to alert people to rising water levels near their homes and businesses?

I noted that Governor Gavin Newsom

toured Capitola Village today, but did he go anywhere else?

I saw Supervisor Friend standing next to the Governor, but were you or any other Supervisors also there? Soquel Village was also damaged. Did the County request that the Governor tour the damaged areas sooner than today?

https://kyma.com/news/ california-news/2023/01/10/newsom-tourssanta-cruz-county-surveying-storm-damage/ I would appreciate your response. Thank you.

— Becky Steinbruner

“The Disaster Fund is ready and is a trusted place for residents to help their neighbors who have been harmed by these storms. This fund will benefit those whose homes, businesses and lives have been upended. Contributing to this fund is one of many ways in which everyone can make a difference.”

Give at https://www.gofundme. com/f/rebuild-capitola-businessesaffected-by-the-storm

The “support Capitola Village” photo post on Instagram has more than 6,000 likes.

Owners of businesses that remain open in Capitola Village ask for your patronage.

Who will hire?

For scores of Esplanade employees out of work for who knows how long, the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce announced an effort to find jobs for displaced workers. Provide information on the name of the business, job opening details, contact person and information to: jeanne@ capitolachamber.com or call 831-475-6522.

The Capitola Recreation Department is compiling a list to coordinate placing volunteers. Call 475-5935. Staff answer the phone Monday through Friday; leave a detailed message and you can be added to their list.

State Parks

Seacliff State Beach, known for its historic 1919 Cement Ship, the Palo Alto, with a well-known pier for fishing, had 63 campsites and 26 hookup sites wiped out by ocean swells. Only half of the pier remains. More than half the seawall is gone, and pavement (and utilities) disappeared.

Some onlookers captured video of the pier to the Cement Ship disappearing after being repeated pummeled by the waves.

The promenade is washed out in huge sinkholes, large sections of wood fencing gone, and every picnic table and pavilion are ruined.

State Parks leaders do not have an estimate of the damages but expect the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA, to provide some reimbursement.

The Seacliff Beach State Park shutdown is a huge blow to a county where much of Big Basin State Park remains closed after the 2020 CZU lightning fire destroyed the park headquarters.

Also closed: Forest of Nisene Mark State Park in Aptos, New Brighton State Beach in Capitola, Manresa State Beach and Sunset State Beach in Watsonville, and Wilder Ranch, Santa Cruz Mission, Natural Bridges, Lighthouse Field, Twin Lakes in Santas Cruz.

State Parks will reassess parks conditions for reopening on Friday, Jan. 13.

Local leaders, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, and the Capitola

Chamber of Commerce, have approved resolutions declaring a state of emergency, putting them in position to apply for state and federal aid.

Governor in Capitola

On Tuesday, a day when the sun provided a break from the storm, a casually dressed Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Capitola and toured the damaged Esplanade businesses with City Manager Jamie Goldstein, Mayor Margaux Keiser, and Police Chief Andrew Dalley. Wade Crowfoot, the state’s natural resources secretary, also saw the damage from a 50-year swell first-hand.

The wiped-out Bandstand was a key element to the summer festivals, where local musicians entertained one and all for dancing next to the ocean.

The Wharf, built in 1856, was being

upgraded by the city in piecemeal fashion as funding became available. Now a massive chunk is missing, leaving the Wharf House restaurant inaccessible and putting the future of fishing derbies in doubt. Some said the place where the Wharf broke in half had broken before, based on historical photos, but that does not lessen the shock.

”I remember in years past that the end of the Wharf broke off and had to be replaced,” Larry Berent posted on NextDoor. ”The ocean always wins sooner or later.”

City officials have adopted the slogan, ”Capitola Strong,” for the efforts to rebuild.

Capitola home designer Dennis Norton, a former mayor, said it had been more and more difficult to get permits for projects in the village because it’s in a flood zone.

For homeowners along Soquel Creek who lost decks in the storm, he’s not sure they will be allowed to put them back.

The local destruction was so great, it made the TV news, on “Good Morning America,” CNN, “World News Tonight,” and even The Weather Channel.

Rio Del Mar

n Rio Del Mar, which was ordered to evacuate on Jan. 4, wave after wave rushed into the parking lot of Rio Del Mar State Beach, reaching the Beachside Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen, which had been closed since November for renovations by the new owner.

I

Tall eucalyptus trees in La Selva Beach were uprooted, with one falling across the street, another landing on the roof, cascading over fences.

Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin said the ground was so saturated that more rain could result in more trees falling down. Dozens of homes have already been hit.

For county leaders, the latest powerful storm was a reminder of the last big one in 2017, which caused $122 million in damages to roads in the unincorporated areas. Repairs from that storm are twothirds complete, so the to-do list is ever so much longer.

Soquel Creek, which runs through Soquel Village before reaching Capitola, also flooded Soquel Village businesses.

The owner of Ming’s on Soquel Drive said she had no advance warning of potential flooding on New Year’s Eve, discovering water coming under the door while she ate dinner. Her restaurant got six inches of muddy water.

Pajaro Valley Schools

The unpredictability of the storms had a whiplash effect on Pajaro Valley schools, which were scheduled to reopen on Jan. 9 after a long winter break.

At first, Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez announced 15 schools in

Photos provided by Zach Friend California Governor Gavin Newsom visited the City of Capitola on Tuesday, touring the damaged businesses (right) and speaking to the public with local leaders in attendance (above).

Photo Credit: Alisha Walton

A wall of driftwood and other debris line the beach near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Watsonville

be close due to the flood advisory, then closed all schools, including those in Aptos, due to the flash flood watch, and they remained closed Tuesday.

Aptos schools reopened Wednesday but Watsonville High and nine other schools including Ohlone Elementary remained closed due to evacuation orders by the city of Watsonville, Santa Cruz County or Monterey County.

Pajaro River

Dozens of homes in the 55+ community of Pajaro Village in Watsonville were flooded when the Corralitos Creek, a tributary of the Pajaro River, overflowed and sent muddy water through the neighborhood.

The city of Watsonville posted a photo of a waterway swollen muddy brown, but the Pajaro River has not breached its aged levee, built in 1949 and federally approved for replacement.

On Wednesday morning, the Pajaro Bridge, which crosses the Pajaro River from Watsonville to Monterey County, was closed. The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, at 21601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville, offers overnight shelter for evacuees, but East Lake Avenue is closed, so take an alternate route to get to the fairgrounds.

With more wet weather forecasted, residents were given evacuation warnings that they should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

In case the Pajaro River would flood, the National Guard was stationed by Pajaro Valley Golf Club, which is close to Ohlone Elementary. To limit traffic congestion, the

Slip ‘n’ Slide

Two photos by Vince Grimaldi show how the storm surf surge pushed a house off its post-and-pier blocks on Beach Drive in Rio Del Mar.

Right: House now sits in the middle of Beach Drive.

Below: Where the house (built in the `50s) was.

them up.

Each day by 5 p.m., district officials announced plans based on weather conditions and forecasts for the next day.

On Monday, Cabrillo College in Aptos began serving as a shelter for those evacuated, with 100 cots in the cafeteria. Check-in is at Building 900.

Medical shelter is available at Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St., Watsonville.

Levee Repairs

OnTuesday, Santa Cruz County officials said ”signs of seepage along an earthen levee” prompted ”emergency repair” along the Pajaro River levee system.

Granite Rock, the contractor, started work Wednesday on a “seepage berm” in an agricultural area more than a mile upstream of the confluence of the Pajaro River and Salsipuedes Creek. The work, expected to take one week, is similar to an emergency 1,600-foot repair completed in 2017 just south of this area, county officials said.

The repair is to support the levee until replacement work authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can begin.

”Any standing water is from localized flooding, not the Pajaro River,” county officials posted on Facebook.

Fair Board Meeting Cancelled

Due to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds being used as an evacuation and shelter site during the current emergency, the Fair Board meeting scheduled for Jan. 24 has been cancelled. The next scheduled meeting is Feb. 28. For agendas and more information, see santacruzcountyfair.com.

Others worry about the San Luis Reservoir in Merced overflowing. Federal officials agreed to raise the dam by 10 feet, a $1 billion project that began in June and is expected to be complete in 2028.

The situation reminded one local of John

n •••

Cover

Pajaro Valley school district transported Ohlone students to Rolling Hills Middle School in Watsonville for their families to pick

Steinbeck’s East of Eden: It never failed that during the dry years, the people forgot about the rich years, and during the wet years, they lost all memory of the dry years.

Photo Credit: Gabe McKenna, California State Parks.

Photo Credit: Zach Friend

The USS Palo Alto, Aptos “Cement Ship”, and its pier suffered significant damage.

CALIFORNIA NEWS

Ex-CalPERS Analyst Sentenced

Najera-Villanueva Gets Six Years for Stealing $689,000 from Retirees

On Jan. 9, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the sentencing of a former employee of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System who stole nearly $700,000 in retirement funds from 10 former State of California employees.

Gloria Najera-Villanueva was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay full restitution to the victims.

Najera-Villanueva, as a senior analyst with CalPERS, targeted retirees who were

elderly, disabled, had powers of attorney, or conservatorships. Between September 2017 and January 2021, she illegally accessed the personal banking information of 10 CalPERS retirees, and used $689,465 of their money to pay her own credit card bills. She also manipulated accounts so retirees’ deposits would be directed to her own personal bank accounts.

She pleaded no contest to three felony charges of financial elder abuse. She also

COMMUNITY NEWS

admitted to a white-collar enhancement, which imposes an increased prison penalty.

The California Department of Justice Criminal Law Division carried out the prosecution after a joint investigation by the CalPERS Investigation Unit, the California Highway Patrol, and the DOJ’s Division of Law Enforcement.

“Abusing the trust of elders to steal their hard-earned retirement money is despicable,” said Bonta. “Rather than

serving the public, Gloria Najera-Villanueva abused her position of trust to steal from vulnerable retirees. Now, justice has been served: Our DOJ team and law enforcement partners worked hard to hold Ms. Najera-Villanueva to account, and secure restitution for those she wronged.”

“Justice has been served for our members and their families who were defrauded,” said Matthew Jacobs, CalPERS’ General Counsel. n

Homeless Funding Available for Santa Cruz County

United Way of Santa Cruz County announces $135,081 in federal funds for local nonprofits providing emergency food and shelter services to Santa Cruz County residents.

The Phase 40 Request for Proposals, available on Jan. 3, and due at 4 p.m. Feb. 10. Nonprofit, faith-based organizations, and governmental social service organizations can download the application at www.unitedwaysc.org/efsp or request an application from 211 Santa Cruz County Senior Manager Kassandra Flores at kflores@unitedwaysc.org

The organization must use 100% of the funding towards approved emergency food and shelter services.

Decisions are made by the local recipient organizations grant committee, made up of representatives of United Way, Jewish Federation of North America, Catholic Charities, Salvation Army,

American Red Cross, and others with a background in providing basic needs services.

Aurelio Salazar Jr. chairs the grant committee for Santa Cruz County.

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program is a FEMA-funded program authorized by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 to expand ongoing work of local organizations to provide shelter, food and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing, or at risk of, hunger and/or homeless.

The program also provides supplemental funding for relief by social service organizations to shelter and provide supportive services to families and individuals encountered by the Department of Homeland Security.

A balance sheet, profit and loss report, financial audit and proposed budget and narrative are required. n

Capitola Coast Lions Invite Student Speakers to Competition

The Capitola Coast Lions will hold the annual Student Speaker’s Contest for local students in grades 9-12 at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, in the Capitola City Council chambers, 420 Capitola Ave., Capitola..

This will be the club round, the first round out of six levels of the contest. The winner will advance to the Zone contest in Santa Cruz County, date, time and location to be determined.

This year the theme is: Social Media: Connects Us or Isolates Us?

The Multiple District Four California Lions Clubs International sponsors the

program to emphasize the importance of public speaking as a critically important life skill.

This year the Foundation will provide scholarships totaling $105,000. From this amount, each of the 15 District winners will receive a $4,500 scholarship, each of the four Area winners will receive an additional $6,500 scholarship and the winner of the MD4 Contest will receive an additional $10,000 scholarship.

For information visit: https:// md4lions.org/ student-speakers-contest.

To enter contact Student Speaker Chairman Fred Flint at flint-fisher@ msn.com before Jan. 31.

The Capitola Coast Lions Club sponsors youth contests and focuses on community service projects, supporting their Join Together organization, the Common Roots Farm, an all-inclusive, urban, organic farm

where youth and young adults with and without disabilities can take care of plants and animals and create friendships with one another.

The club’s current goal is to raise funds to purchase an electric farm cart for the farm. If you would like join the Capitola Coast Lions at the farm to volunteer in the Seed to Salad Garden, build tables from recycled lumber or remove invasive species in the riparian corridor, contact Fred Flint. n

View more inspiring stories at www. md4lions.org.

Gift to Gutzwiller Memorial, Thanks to Pickleball in the Park

Capitola-Aptos Rotary Club hosted their inaugural “Sunday Funday: Pickleball in the Park” event on May 22 in Aptos — which led to a $1,000 donation for the Sgt. Gutzwiller Memorial at Willowbrook Park.

Laura Grinder and Kendra Cleary, co-presidents of the club, and Rotarian Dr. Arthur Dover presented the check on Sept. 19 to County Park Friends, the nonprofit coordinating the donations.

Twenty pickleball players from novice to intermediate gathered at the newly renovated and resurfaced courts at Willowbrook Park to raise money for Capitola-Aptos Rotary’s two main programs: Local scholarships and community grants. The community grant funds raised from this event went straight to County Park Friends.

Capitola-Aptos Rotary Club had donated $50,000 for the Willowbrook Park renovation in March 2022, and thie latest gift is part of the ongoing efforts to support

areas in Santa Cruz County for children of all abilities to play safely.

“I think the best part about our Sunday Funday was there were a few local community members who were just strolling by on their morning walk, and they recognized us from our previous efforts when we raised $140,000 to build LEO’s Haven back in 2017, so they came over and just made a donation to help with our efforts that day!” said club co-president Kendra Cleary.

“Thanks to the ongoing support by the Capitola-Aptos Rotary Club and other community organizations we are only $95,000 away from reaching the Memorial funding goal!” said Mariah Roberts, executive director of County Park Friends.

“I hope community members and other local nonprofits see our gifts made in honor of creating a memorial space for the community to gather, and they are inspired to make a donation of their own!” says club co-president Laura Grinder.

Capitola-Aptos Rotary considered their inaugural pickleball tournament a huge success, both that the pickleball players had a great time and that the club

was able to support the Willowbrook Park renovation in memory of Sgt. Gutzwiller.

“Pickleball Donation” page 14

Photo Credit: Rotarian Mardelí M. Padilla Chávarry From left: Laura Grinder (co-president), Dr. Art Dover (service project chair) & Kendra Cleary (co-president) of Capitola-Aptos Rotary Club with Jeff Gaffney (parks director), Kim Namba (administrative services manager) and Michael Hettenhausen (park planner) of the County Parks Department.

Aptos Real Estate Update

Ruth Bates

831.359.2212

ruthbates1@gmail.com

CalBRE#01799929

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And boy are we off to a messy start this year. My best thoughts go to all who have been impacted by these recent storms; may we all recover quickly and enjoy out natural habitat as best we can.

BIG NEWS FOR RUTH — I have joined Strock Team/eXp. Headed by local Aptosian Ben Strock, Strock Team/eXp is the #1 Team in Sales Volume in Aptos and #2 across all of Santa Cruz County. In 2022, Strock Team closed 62 sales in Aptos and 157 sales in total. Armed with the most current marketing and technology available, I will now be able to focus more of my time on my clients, which is my favorite thing to do.

APTOS: SOLD IN DECEMBER — Only 9 homes sold in December,735 Las Olas sold for a whopping $15,400,735 after only 8 DOM. Low sale was $625,000 for a 2 bed, 1 bath, 798 SF “cabin in the redwoods” at 205 Cloister Lane. 7 condos sold, ranging from $749,000 for a 1 bed Aptos Village unit to $1,100,000 for 240 Rio Del Mar #N on the bluff. 4 townhomes sold ranging from $850,000 for 1742 Seascape Blvd, 108 days on market and original list price of $925,000 up to $1,175,000 for 151 Atherton Loop which sold in 7 days.

APTOS: ACTIVE LISTINGS — There are only 18 homes for sale, and none are listed below $1M. Low list is 3147 Redwood, 4 bed, 2 bath, 1949 SF, asking $1,023,000 and on market for 47 days. The Avg Days on Market is up to 78 days, that’s a long time and the Avg List Price is over $2M (which is much higher than the Avg Sales Price), so I see downward pricing pressure for sure. New Listings will improve these stats and I do expect that the coming Spring will bring us many New Listings.

30-YR INTEREST RATES: (1/10) 6.14% (down from 7.995% last month)

RED

APPLE CAFE ART SHOW

thru MARCH 2023

Come on over to the Red Apple café for a delicious breakfast or lunch from 7:003:00pm daily and view my Painting Show up through March.

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

Dark Chocolate’s Dark Side

Consumer Reports: Lead and Cadmium in All 28 Bars Tested

By Jondi Gumz

People who favored dark chocolate for its antioxidants have been reeling since reading Consumer Reports’ tests of popular brands for lead and cadmium, which no one would serve their guests, their children or their grandchildren.

Lead and cadmium are categorized as heavy metals linked to a host of health problems in children and adults. No amount of lead is considered safe. Cadmium can build up in the kidneys and cause dysfunction and disease.

For the report posted on Dec. 15, Consumer Reports scientists detected lead and cadmium in all 28 dark chocolate bars tested.

Tested brands included well-known Dove, Ghirardelli, Hershey and Godiva, along with Hu and Chocolove.

For 23 bars, eating one ounce a day would put an adult over a level that public health authorities and Consumer Reports’ experts say may be harmful for either lead or cadmium.

A typical bar size is 2.8 ounces.

Five bars were above those levels for both cadmium and lead. These were Lily’s extra dark (made by Hershey’s), Theo, two bars, Trader Joe’s 85% cacao, and Green & Black’s.

According to Tunde Akinleye, the Consumer Reports’ researcher who led this testing project, consistent, long-term exposure to even small amounts of heavy metals can affect brain development and lead to lower IQ for children.

Testing Details

Consumer Reports researchers used California’s maximum allowable dose level for lead (0.5 micrograms) and cadmium (4.1mcg), and calculated the maximum allowable dose in an ounce of chocolate. This results in percentages showing which products had comparatively higher levels.

There are no federal limits for the amount of lead and cadmium most foods can contain, and Consumer Reports’ scientists consider California’s levels to be the most protective.

Read the report: www.consumerreports. org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-indark-chocolate-a8480295550/

In adults, frequent exposure can lead to high blood blood pressure, suppress of the immune system suppression and damage the kidney.

Those most affected are people who eat chocolate every day, which about 15 percent do, says market research firm Mintel.

Lead and cadmium can be found in root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots — and small amounts from more than one source can add up.

Safer Choices

I t is possible to enjoy a bit of dark chocolate, as five of the 28 were relatively low in lead and cadmium, which to Akinleye shows dark chocolate bars can be made with lower amounts of heavy metals.

These were Ghirardelli, two bars, Taza, Valrhona and Mast.

One consumer, upon hearing the news, wondered how her favorite treat could be made safer.

Chocolate is made from the cacao bean, which contains cocoa solids and cocoa butter.

According to Consumer Reports, dark chocolate’s reputation as relatively healthy is due to the cocoa solids, which are full of flavanols, antioxidants found to lower blood pressure and down-regulate inflammation. Dark chocolate is lower in sugar and higher in fiber than milk chocolate, and it has the minerals magnesium and potassium. However, the cocoa solids are where cadmium is found.

Dark chocolate tends to be higher in heavy metals than milk chocolate, probably because of its higher cacao content, according to Consumer Reports.

Dark chocolates are generally at least 65% cacao by weight, according to Michael J. DiBartolomeis, PhD, a toxicologist and former official at the California Department of Public Health who has researched heavy metals in chocolate.

There is no official cut-off.

Sources

How

do lead and cadmium get into the cacao bean?

Between 2019 and 2022, DiBartolomeis and other researchers studied how metals

might contaminate cacao, as part of a settlement to a lawsuit against chocolate manufacturers brought by As You Sow, a 30-year-old nonprofit that earlier found high levels of lead and cadmium in some chocolates.

The findings: Cacao plants take up cadmium from the soil, and metal accumulates in the beans as the tree grows. Lead, however, seems to arrive after the harvest. The researchers found lead was typically on the outer shell of the cocoa bean, not in the bean. Lead levels were low soon after beans were picked and removed from pods but increased as lead-filled dust and dirt accumulated on the beans drying in the sun.

DiBartolomeis reports collecting beans on the ground with the outer shell loaded with lead.

Changes in harvesting and manufacturing practices could address the problem, according to Danielle Fugere, president of As You Sow.

This could include minimizing soil contact with beans as they lie in the sun, and drying beans on tables or clean tarps away from roads or with protective covers to keep lead-contaminated dust away. Or finding ways to remove metal contaminants at factories when beans are cleaned.

Cadmium changes could mean carefully breeding plants to take up less of the heavy metal but that’s not a quick fix. Growers could replace older cacao trees with younger ones, as cadmium levels tend to increase as the plants get older, and remove or treat soil contaminated with cadmium, again not a quick fix. n

Consumer Reports has created an online petition for consumers to appeal to Trader Joe’s, Hershey’s, Mondelez and Theo to reduce risky heavy metals. See https://action.consumerreports. org/20221215_heavymetalschocolate_cro

AG: $5 Billion CVS Opioid Settlement

On Jan. 3, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced California has signed onto a $5 billion multistate settlement agreement with CVS to resolve allegations that the company helped fuel the opioid crisis by failing to appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at its pharmacies.

The settlement is expected to provide up to $469.8 million in funding to California to combat the opioid crisis.

The announcement comes on the heels of similar announcements involving Walmart and Walgreens in recent weeks. The announcement with Walgreens was for $5.7 billion, including $500 million for California, and with Walmart for $3.1 billion, including $265 million for California.

“Too many people in California and beyond have had their lives and futures ripped apart by the opioid crisis,” Bonta said. “The funds from this settlement will help bring much-needed relief to our communities and will ensure CVS changes its business practices to keep such a crisis from ever happening again.”

Funds from the settlement with CVS will be divided among participating states and local governments. The vast majority of settlement funds must be used to combat the opioid crisis, including by providing treatment and

recovery services to people struggling with opioid use disorder.

The settlement will have courtordered injunctive relief requirements to help prevent this type of crisis in the future, including:

• A Controlled Substance Compliance Program to ensure compliance with injunctive terms, to train employees, and to help prevent drug diversion;

• A requirement to investigate and resolve prescriptions with potentially suspicious “red flags” before dispensing the drug;

• Site visits and compliance reviews of individual pharmacy locations; and

• An agreement to provide unblinded “867” sales data from the company’s distributor to drug manufacturers, which will help identify and prevent drug diversion.

An executive committee of attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas were lead negotiators on this deal.

If sufficient states sign on to the settlement, the agreement will go to local governments around the country for sign-on during the first quarter of 2023. n

*

Ryan J Ozog Financial Advisor

Ozog Financial Advisor

J

151 Aptos Village Way Ste 308 Aptos, CA 95003 831-662-4565

151 Aptos Village Way Ste 308 Aptos, CA 95003 831-662-4565

insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).

Ryan

CalFire Hazard Maps

Public Comments On Updates Open Until Feb. 3

The opportunity to comment on the updates to the CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for Santa Cruz County will be open until Feb. 3.

Written comments can be sent to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. This can be done through email, U.S. mail, or hand delivered in Sacramento.

Some residents report they were unable to attend the Jan. 10 meeting at the Ben Lomond Training Center due to storm damages and downed trees.

CalFire Capt. Frank Rogers points out that the in-person public comment meetings are the legislated requirement for CalFire to receive comment from the public — not question and answer sessions.

Those with questions about the map updates, go to the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s website and click on the Fire Hazard Severity Zone link: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/divisions/ community-wildfire-preparedness-andmitigation/wildfire-preparedness/ fire-hazard-severity-zones/

You can watch videos and review information, and many of your questions may be answered there. If you have unanswered questions, email FHSZinformation@fire.ca.gov or call the automated phone line at 916-633-7655.

Rogers said the State Fire Marshal Office has a tight schedule for getting all

56 counties with state responsibility areas to have a meeting with in-person public comment so another meeting will not be scheduled in Santa Cruz County.

To make a spoken comment rather than a written comment, other meetings are scheduled: San Mateo County, Jan. 11 in Redwood City at 2 pm; Monterey County Jan. 18 in Monterey; San Benito County, Jan. 19 in Hollister. See details on the website, under the “Public Meetings.” n •••

How to Submit Written Comment

• Written comments may be submitted by U.S. mail to:

Office of the State Fire Marshal

C/O: FHSZ Comments

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

P.O. Box 944246 Sacramento, CA 94244-2460

• Written comments can also be hand delivered or sent by courier to: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Office of the State Fire Marshal C/O: Scott Witt

California Natural Resources Building 715 P Street, 9th floor Sacramento, CA 95818

Written comments may be sent via e-mail to: fhszcomments@fire.ca.gov

“Pickleball Donation” from page 11

Be on the lookout for the Second Annual Pickleball in the Park event in 2023!

Capitola-Aptos Rotary Club, chartered in 1965, covers Capitola, Aptos, and Soquel.

There are 45 members with a passion for supporting theo community through volunteer service and fundraising.

Members develop long-lasting friendships, share ideas to foster understanding, focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, and make a global impact.

Annual fundraisers include Pickleball

in the Park tournament, the 4th of July Beer Booth as part of the World’s Shortest Parade after-party in Aptos Village Park, and an annual gala. The funds raised total hundreds of thousands to serve the community, locally and across the globe.

Capitola-Aptos Rotary was one of the first clubs to allow women to become members in 1987, and membership is now 42% pf female. n

•••

The club invites all to attend a weekly meeting in person or via Zoom on Thursdays at noon. For info visit capitolaaptosrotary.org

Defoliation & Dormancy Are Justifiable

By Tony Tomeo

Defoliation and dormancy begin early for quite a few species within desert and chaparral climates. California buckeye can defoliate during the driest summer weather, refoliate for autumn, and then defoliate again for winter. They do what they must to avoid desiccation within their arid climate. Many more species do what they must to survive through winter.

That is why so many plant species are deciduous while they are dormant through winter. They shed their foliage when it is more likely to be a liability than an asset. Like summer dormant plants, they respond to inevitable and potentially detrimental weather. Moreover, they respond to seasonal changes of sunlight as well. Plant species are very perceptive.

With few exceptions, deciduous plants are nonconiferous or broadleaf species. More are endemic to regions to the north and south of tropical regions than within tropical regions. They know that sunlight is less intense and daylength is shorter while the sun is at a low angle during winter. Their defoliation coincides with the least usefulness for their foliage.

Most deciduous plant species are also aware of the sort of weather that they are likely to encounter during winter. Cold and stormy weather with wind and rain or perhaps snow is probably familiar to them. They know that foliage is not only vulnerable to damage, but is also burdensome to associated stems. In colder climates, it can accumulate heavy snow.

Foliage is the source of almost all wind resistance within foliar canopies that suspend it. Such wind resistance causes

wind to dislodge limbs or blow vegetation over, particularly while soil is moist from rain. Defoliation eliminates much of such risk prior to the windiest and therefore riskiest storms of winter. Bare stems are more aerodynamic than foliage is.

Defoliation seems to happen at the best time, immediately prior to wintry weather. It even increases warming sunlight exposure during the darkest and coolest season of the year. However, defoliation is also messy while the weather is unpleasant for those who go out to rake it away. Without prompt raking, it clogs drainage of rain while it is most important. •••

Cottonwood

The most common of a few species of cottonwood that are native to California seems as if it should not be. Populus deltoides is the Eastern cottonwood. This name implies that it should be native primarily to regions of the East. Yet, it naturally inhabits every American State except for Hawaii and Alaska. Since it is so familiar locally, it is simply cottonwood.

It grows wild in riparian ecosystems, and occasionally sneaks into adjacent landscapes. It is almost never an intentional acquisition. Cottonwood grows too aggressively and too large for refined home gardens. It works better as a grand shade tree for parks and urban waterway trails. As a riparian species, it requires either riparian ecosystems or irrigation.

Cottonwood is now defoliated for winter.

Mature cottonwood trees may be almost a hundred feet tall, and rather broad if exposed. Their bark is handsomely furrowed. Yellow autumn color of the deciduous foliage can be surprisingly vibrant within arid climates, or if rain is later than frost. Vigorous trees can be susceptible to spontaneous limb failure, so may occasionally justify aggressive pruning. Roots might be voracious.

Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo. com.

Wind blows freely past defoliated stems.

Hooked Waterfowl; Bear Break-ins; Pet Squirrel?

Q:I was fishing in a lake and accidentally hooked a duck. I reeled it in and carefully removed the hook from its bill. The duck looked fine, so I let it go.

My friends and I were wondering: If I had a hunting license and federal and state stamps, could I have legally kept the duck?

A: We’re glad you released the duck, because harvesting it would have been illegal.

Even though it was an accident, taking a duck by hook is not an authorized method of take in California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 507.

Accidentally catching waterfowl by hook and line happens occasionally — usually in parks with waterfowl that have developed more domesticated behavior characteristics. You did the right thing by removing the hook and releasing the duck immediately.

However, if the duck were injured or if you did not want to risk injuring it by removing the hook, we’d recommend notifying a local wildlife rehabilitation facility.

Q: Is it legal to keep a squirrel as a pet?

A

: No. It is unlawful to possess wild animals in California per California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 671 and California Fish and Game Code section 2118.

It’s not in the best interest of wildlife, including the health of wildlife, to keep them in captivity.

Typically, only zoos, wildlife sanctuaries and wildlife rehabilitation facilities have the proper veterinary staff, training, equipment and knowledge of how to properly feed and house wildlife to qualify for a permit.

Additionally, keeping wildlife in captivity can be problematic from a public health and safety perspective. We understand that people want to care for wildlife, but the best way to do that is by letting wildlife be wild.

Possession of California wildlife as a pet is a violation that California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) wildlife officers take seriously,

the wild animal.

Q:What should I do if a bear breaks into my home or business?

A: First and foremost, the best way to prevent break-ins is by properly storing food and garbage and keeping property entrances secure. This includes securing crawl spaces and other spaces underneath porches and decks that bears may use for winter dens.

Bears are primarily scent-driven when seeking food, and improperly stored human food and trash is typically the root cause of bear break-ins and property damage. If you’ve experienced a break-in, please report it to CDFW by calling the

regional office closest to you or by submitting a Wildlife Incident Report. Reporting helps CDFW track conflict bear activity and supports property owners to prevent further damage. The property should be cleaned up and immediately secured to prevent further break-ins.

CDFW staff is available to consult with property owners about best practices to help make homes or businesses less attractive to bears.

If the damage to property is severe, CDFW staff may be able to conduct a site inspection and collect DNA evidence to see if the bear’s DNA matches any known conflict bears in the area. CDFW staff can also explain the depredation permit process.

CDFW’s recently updated statewide bear policy highlights the importance of taking preventative action by removing attractants in bear habitat and establishes a clear process for addressing each unique situation involving bear/human conflict.

Additional information and resources are available on CDFW’s Keep Me Wild: Black Bear web page. n

Ways to Give …

• All donations are directed to improve Aptos school sports related facilities and activities, “For Our Kids.”

• ASF works in partnership with PVUSD to ef ciently develop facilities at AHS and its feeder schools.

•

and if discovered may result in citation and seizure of

Outdoors: Q&A with California Dept of Fish & Wildlife

Mount Madonna Presents ‘Mamma Mia!’

It’s January 1978. ABBA, the Swedish pop group sensation, releases “Take a Chance on Me.”

The hit becomes part of a musical, “Mamma Mia!” featuring ABBA’s most popular tunes:

• Dancing Queen.

• Knowing Me, Knowing You.

• The Winner Takes It All.

If you can remember those tunes and those lyrics, here’s your chance to relive those days — when Mount Madonna

School’s high school cast presents “Mamma Mia!” 7 p.m. Jan. 27, 2 pm Jan. 28 and a special sing-along performance 2 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Hawks’ Nest Theater, 491 Summit Road, Watsonville.

Mount Madonna high school students, born too late to listen to ABBA fill up the airwaves, chose “Mamma Mia!” as their winter production.

The plot: On the eve of her wedding, a young woman’s quest to discover her father’s identity brings three men from her mother’s past back to the Greek island they last visited 20 years ago.

Junior Anya Gonzalez, who plays the young woman Sophie Sheridan, sees the universal theme of identity and the struggle to find one’s identity.

Zoey Ocampo-Sobkoviak plays Sophie’s mother, Donna Sheridan.

Director Seán Boulware said the music takes you back to the gold age of disco.

Director Chelsea Otterness said the students embraced the soundtrack.

Tickets are at mms-mammamia. brownpapertickets.com.

Adult tickets are $15; $10 for 18 and under; all seats are reserved. Tickets for the sing-along are $20.

“Mamma Mia!” music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus,

with additional lyrics by Stig Anderson. “Mamma Mia!” was originally produced in London by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal. Additional Material & Arrangements by Martin Koch. Music published by Universal Music Publishing Group and EMI Grove Park Music Inc. and EMI Waterford Music Inc. “Mamma Mia!” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. n

Photo Credit: John Welch

Anya Gonzalez as Sophie Sheridan, Sam Astone as Sam Carmichael and Cooper Padilla as Harry Bright.

Photo Credit: John Welch Sandy Astone as Sam Carmichael and Zoey Ocampo-Sobkoviak as Donna Sheridan.

Photo Credit: John Welch

Sophia Manzur as Rosie, Zoey Ocampo-Sobkoviak as Donna Sheridan and Bella Cambell as Tanya.

Bobbie Frandeen

Curves Aptos GoinG stronG

By Edita McQuary

Yes, it is that time of year again when we tend to want to make positive changes to our health and lifestyle. Like many of us, you may have gained a few pounds over the holidays and need to reset your health and fitness goals.

This is the time to visit the Aptos Curves facility and have a chat with owner Annette Hunt or one of her coaches, Charlotte, Laurel or Megan.

Any one of these experienced trainers will happily listen to your health goals, and help you come up with a fitness plan to become that healthier, stronger you. There is never any pressure — they understand and are genuinely on your team to help you be the best you can be.

Curves specializes in a full-body, lowimpact 30-minute workout that is fun, fast and safe. Each workout targets specific muscle groups while still working the body as a whole unit. The Curves coaches work with you one-on-one, and in a group fashion assuring proper form and safety while motivating you to achieve the most effective workout possible.

Annette is a firm believer in lowimpact, high-intensity movement to achieve and maintain a strong core for balance, correct body alignment for posture and an overall strong body for daily movements.

Along with her bachelor’s degree in

dietetics, she is qualified to teach you how to make the right dietary choices to live a long, healthy life. If losing weight is your goal, Annette can help you obtain and sustain your new weight while protecting your muscles and bone density.

“Our Curves workout regime is safe for all ages and fitness levels,” says Annette, who has several longtime members — over 20 years.

“The entire Curves facility and program is designed for any age, any athletic ability, and it is inspiring to see our community of women work out together,” she says. “Our members range in age from 22 to 90!”

Curves is a lifestyle change.

“Exercise is a way of life and our coaches are here to help you stay accountable,” Annette says.

For those needing additional assistance with balance and posture, as well as pelvic floor strengthening, Curves Aptos offers 6-week classes with one-on-one and small group sessions addressing these specific needs.

Curves North America (U.S. and Canada) are women-owned franchises and all about supporting which are strong in supporting important organizations such as Second Harvest Food Bank, Alzheimer’s Association, Research Breast Cancer Awareness and many local charities.

In 2022 alone, the Curves Aptos community donated more than $5,000 of gifts and money to the holiday Adopt a Family fundraiser along with $1,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank and our local Alzheimer’s Association.

It is now New Year 2023 and time to let Aptos Curves help you take control of your

health. Do yourself a favor and give them a call today for a free workout — you will not regret it! n •••

Curves is located at 7000 Soquel Drive, Aptos. To contact them, call 831-688-2348, email: AptosCurves@gmail.com, or visit Curves.com, https:// www.facebook.com/WeAreCurvesStrongInAptos

ABOVE: Curves Aptos owner Annette Hunt at the 4th of July parade.

BELOW: Laurel and Anne.

TOP: Charlotte (left) working with Laura.

ABOVE: Charlotte (right) assisting Shirley.

LEFT: Megan gets her measurements checked.

Our Community Reads Mary Coin

Events Begin February 1

Marisa Silver’s Mary Coin is a richly imagined back-story — and after-story — of Dorothea Lange’s photo,“Migrant Mother,” one of the best-known images of Depressionera California. The book is the focus of the 2023 Our Community Reads, a program of the Friends of the Aptos Library.

Community members read the book and then come together for a series of events presented with the friends of the Capitola, Felton, La Selva Beach, and Scotts Valley libraries, and in partnership with Cabrillo College and Aptos High School.

New this year: Special incentives to attend all the 2023 events. For Passport information, go to: www.FriendsofAptos Library.org

Mary Coin is one of the thousands of Oklahomans displaced by the Dust Bowl. She — and her many children — end up in the migrant camps of California, where photographer Vera Dare encounters her and captures an image that takes on a life of its own.

All events are free and open to the public; registration is required. Go to www.SantaCruzPL.org and click on Calendar at the top of the home page. Scroll the Calendar page to the event you want to attend, and click the link for the name of the event to register.

Doors open half an hour before programs begin.

This year’s Our Community Reads events will take place in person and via Zoom (H for hybrid, P for in person only, and Z for Zoom only.

•••

Thursday, Jan. 26 at 10:30 a.m.

Passionate Readers Book Discussion (H)

CANCELLED — Discussion of Mary Coin, led by Marjorie Bowles. La Selva Beach Library, 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach

•••

Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 10:30 a.m.

Capitola Book Discussion Group (Z) led by Dian Duchin Reed Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.

A Talk with the Author (H)

From her home in Los Angeles, Mary Coin author Marisa Silver talks about creating the fictional world of an iconic image.

Watch online at home or join us in the Ow Family Community Room of Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola, with moderator Geneffa Jonker, Cabrillo College English professor.

Sponsored by Friends of the Capitola Library.

Sunday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. Concert: Songs We Sang in the Great Depression

“Going Down the Road Feeling Bad,” “Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime,” “If You Ain’t Got the Do Re Mi” (Inperson only).

Join local singers Aileen Vance, Bob Reid & Judi Jaeger, Jack Bowers & Vicki Coffis at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 2402 Cabrillo College Drive, Soquel, for a live concert of songs that deepen our understanding of the world of Mary Coin and millions of other Dust Bowl migrants.

Host Julie Olsen Edwards

Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m Workshop: “Our Community Writes” (H)

Here’s your chance to create flash fiction, mini-essays, or poetry based on the world of Mary Coin.

Using evocative prompts and plenty of encouragement, writer June Langhoff and members of the Monterey/Santa Cruz chapter of Shut Up & Write will focus on the joy of the creative process at Fireside Room, Scotts Valley Library, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley. Writer fuel will be provided.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library.

Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Panel: “The Photographer’s Eye” (H) Fireside Room, Scotts Valley Library, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley.

Local photographers Shmuel Thaler, Kevin Painchaud, and Mary Altier will talk about their work, show examples, and contrast their experience with that of earlier photographers like Dorothea Lange.

Moderated by Jim Bourne, whose photographs are on exhibit in the library through March 2023. Refreshments served.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library.

Saturday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m.

Hands-on Art Event

In-person only at Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave, Santa Cruz

Using the medium of collage, participants will create an “extended” pencil drawing using a photo of the Dust Bowl era to which a six-word memoir is added for deeper meaning. Presenters Jo-Neal Graves and Sharon Ferguson, Open Studios artists and art educators, will provide background information, drawing pointers, memoir development, and lots of encouragement.

No prior skills necessary to be successful.

Thursday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m.

Panel: “Farm to Table: Smooth Road or Bumps Along the Way?” (H)

Temple Beth El Social Hall, 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos Panelists will compare the working conditions of today’s farmworkers to the conditions of the Depression era, look at labor issues from a historical perspective, and show how best practices are being applied in today’s farming.

Dr. Ann López, Executive Director of the Center for Farmworker Families, Dick Peixoto, owner of Lakeside Organic Gardens, Peter Shapiro, author of Song of the Stubborn One Thousand: The Watsonville Canning Strike, 1985-87 .Alicia Bencomo Garcia (Professor of Ethnic Studies, Cabrillo College), moderator.

Sponsored by Friends of the Aptos Library.

Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m.

Film: “The Grapes of Wrath” In-person only at La Selva Beach Library, 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach.

Topsy Smalley, Librarian with a special interest in Steinbeck, introduces John Ford’s classic adaptation of the immortal Steinbeck novel.

Sponsored by Friends of La Selva Beach Library.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m.

Film: “Dolores” In-person only at Garden Room, Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz.

A documentary about Dolores Huerta, co-founder—with César Chávez—of the precursor to the United Farmworkers Union. Introduction

by Jerry Kay, longtime friend of Ms. Huerta.

Come a few minutes early to view a video display of the work of Aptos High School students, whose class assignment was to redesign the book cover for Mary Coin or use art to tell the story behind the photo.

Student work will be judged by members of the Bookshop Santa Cruz staff and awards given to the top work.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Aptos Library.

Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. Reading in the Redwoods In-person only at Felton Library Community Room, 6121 Gushee St., Felton. Book group discussion of Mary Coin led by April Zilber.

Sponsored by Felton Library Friends.

Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2:30 p.m.

Music & Film: The Depression, the Dust Bowl, and Dorothea In-person only at Felton Library Community Room, 6121 Gushee St., Felton

During the 1930s, music painted a vivid picture of a nation in crisis. Felton’s own Patti Maxine, along with Alison Steele of Sugar by the Pound, will play songs of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

The music will be followed by the short documentary “Dorothea Lange, An American Odyssey,” a portrait of the photographer portrayed as Vera Dare in Mary Coin, best known for her work documenting and humanizing the plight of migrants and farm workers in the 1930s.

Refreshments served.

Sponsored by Felton Library Friends.

Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Reminiscence: A Universal Language (H) Rio Sands Hotel, 116 Aptos Beach Drive, Aptos.

A personal glimpse into the life of Dorothea Lange—portrait photographer, witness to the Great Depression and the Japanese Internment, visual chronicler of the Irish Country people—as told by her son Daniel Dixon.

Presented by Dixie Dixon, widow of Daniel and herself a photographer.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Aptos Library.

More From The Storm

A Collection of Photos in the Aftermath of the Recent Disaster

Todd Marco captures the devastation in Rio Del Mar.

Katie vanKaathoven’s photos show damage to trees and property in La Selva Beach.

A pile of driftwood at the Boardwalk • Photo Credit: Alisha Walton

More from Rio Del Mar Beach • Photo Credit: Barry Scott

Debris at the entrance to Seacliff Beach • California State Parks

Attorney General Sues Insulin Makers

Bonta Alleges Price Rose due to Unfair Business Practices

On Jan. 12, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against the nation’s largest insulin makers and pharmacy benefit managers for driving up the cost of the lifesaving drug through unlawful, unfair, and deceptive business practices in violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law.

In the U.S., insulin is so expensive that many people with diabetes struggle to afford it even when covered by health plans, and are forced to ration their use — sometimes with deadly consequences.

More than 3 million adults in California — 10% of the state’s adult population — have been diagnosed with diabetes.

The lawsuit alleges manufacturers Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi, and pharmacy benefit managers CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx, have leveraged their market power to overcharge patients. A 2021 report by Rand found that insulin costs roughly ten times more within the United States than outside it.

“Insulin is a necessary drug that millions of Americans rely upon for their health, not a luxury good. With today’s lawsuit, we’re fighting back against drug companies and PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers) that unacceptably and artificially inflate the cost of life-saving medication at the expense of vulnerable patients,” said Bonta. “No one should be forced to ration or go without basic medication that could mean the difference between life or death. California will continue to be a leader in the fight to ensure everyone has equal access to affordable healthcare and prescription medications they need to stay healthy.”

The three manufacturers named in the lawsuit produce over 90% of the global insulin supply and the three pharmacy benefit managers administer pharmacy benefits for roughly 80% of prescription claims managed.

The lawsuit argues that because competition is highly limited in both their markets, these six companies are able to keep aggressively hiking the list price of insulin at the expense of many patients.

People from low-income households and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the

practices of insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers.

According to the California Department of Public Health, Hispanic and Black people are much more likely to be diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes, the predominant form of diabetes, than non-Hispanic white people, and much more likely to die as a result of complications from it.

The lawsuit asserts that manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers are complicit in overcharging for insulin. Manufacturers set the drug’s list price and pharmacy benefit managers then negotiate for rebates on behalf of health plans.

Because rebates are based on a percentage of list price, manufacturers raise their list prices to provide the largest rebates they can offer pharmacy benefit managers.

Pharmacy benefit managers are often paid for their services with a portion of the rebate they have negotiated. This creates an incentive to negotiate a drug with a higher rebate, not necessarily the lowest price for consumers.

As a result, the drug becomes unaffordable for uninsured or underinsured patients, who have to pay the full price of insulin. High list prices also make insulin unaffordable for other patients as well, including those with high deductible health plans or coverage gaps.

These out-of-pocket costs have had

severe consequences on the lives of patients.

The California Health and Human Services Agency reported this year that according to national data, as many as 1 in 4 diabetics cannot afford their insulin, and thus ration or stop taking insulin altogether.

This rationing is extremely dangerous and can lead to serious health consequences, including death.

Bonta seeks to:

• Control the skyrocketing cost of insulin by promoting price competition for insulin and eliminating unlawful, unfair, and deceptive practices; and

• Recover restitution on behalf of California residents for past overpayments for the drug. n •••

A copy of the complaint, as filed with the court, can be found at https:// oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/ press-docs/2023.01.12%20-%20Eli%20 Lilly%20Complaint.pdf

Bee Fruitful Farm Welcomes Students

In November, the air was electric with enthusiasm and gratitude when the pandemic eased and the Draper family hosted 250+ students from Brook Knoll Elementary School over five days at Bee Fruitful, their small organic farm in rural Scotts Valley.

On previous field trips the focus was on teaching the connection between healthy foods and a healthy environment.

Then field trips were canceled for two years to avoid spreading the Covid-19 coronavirus.

This year’s focus was different.

“Our goal for this particular field trip, coming out of Covid, was to help build community through connection,” said Sue Draper, a local real estate agent passionate about instilling a love of nature in children.

Her daughter-in-law Mandy Draper, a parent herself, designed five stations of activities, with that purpose in mind. They were: Yoga: Being mindful, empowering from within

Planting: Discovering the earth is alive

Cooking With Fresh Apples: Learning to work together — many hands make light work

Turkey Art: Kids scavenged in the woods for twigs, ferns and feathers to adorn their construction-paper turkey body

Campfire Reading: Storytelling at its best with hot chocolate

Plus playing on the slide and jumping on mulch mountains to build relationships

“The benefits were so visible I termed it a Wellness Camp,” Sue Draper said.

Third graders arrived first, followed by second grade, first grade, then kindergarten.

Students were joined by many enthusiastic teachers, dedicated parents, and committed Scotts Valley volunteers. The

portation and activity supplies.

The teachers who participated:

3rd Grade: Mike Igoe, Sharon Keane, Kari Thornley, Jennifer Lane.

2nd Grade: Robyn Bariteau, Tira Schindler.

1st Grade: Kristen Lesniak, Meghann Gelter, Lelia Golder.

Kindergarten: Carly Rice, Paula Pasquini, Bonny Fulton.

“We discovered the benefits were not limited to the students,” Sue Draper said. “Teachers, parents, and volunteers alike shared an experience that brought us all closer together — It truly was a magical experience for everyone.” n •••

To reach Bee Fruitful Farm call 831-252-0398.

Credit: Orenda Randuch

Spreading Holiday Cheer to Foster Kids

In December, Santa Cruz County Bank employees spread holiday cheer by participating in the Court Appointed Special Advocates Annual Holiday Gift Giving campaign, a toy drive that brightens the holidays for kids in the CASA program.

This year the bank delivered more than 100 toys and games and nearly $4,000 in gift cards and cash donations — the biggest and most generous year in their history of giving.

The bank has championed this campaign to support CASA of Santa Cruz County since 2010, and this year include a gift drive for CASA of Monterey County. This annual effort is led by Doug Fischer, Santa Cruz County Bank senior

“Mary Coin” from page 21

Thursday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Trivia Night

In-person only at Steel Bonnet Brewing Company, 20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley. The ever-popular Trivia on Tap, hosted by the Santa Cruz Public Library’s Victor Willis, poses challenging questions from Mary Coin. Book groups may participate,

vice president, director of business banking, and a CASA volunteer for 10 years.

“Thank you for embodying the holiday spirit and helping our youth feel cared for and seen this holiday season,” said Lynne Petrovic, executive director of CASA of Santa Cruz County.

CASA of Santa Cruz County currently supports about100 youths, from birth to age 21, in the Dependency Court (foster care) system and serves a small number of youths in the juvenile justice system.

During the holiday season, Santa Cruz County Bank’s branches served as donation sites for Second Harvest Food Bank Holiday Food Drive and Santa Cruz Volunteer Center’s “Adopt a Family” program. n

or fly solo. Beer available for sale, a food truck out front or eat elsewhere in Victor Square. n

•••

NOTES: This calendar is as accurate as was possible at the time of printing. For the most up-to-date Our Community Reads information, go to www.FriendsofAptosLibrary.org

There might be a photographer present at in-person events. If you do not wish to be

photographed, please inform the photographer or a member of the Friends.

Expand your mind, engage your senses, challenge your creativity, and be a part of the Our Community Reads community! The more events you attend, the more enriching the experience will be, which explains the Passport: To encourage participants to attend as many events as possible.

• Those who attend 12 events will win a “Grand Prize.”

• There will be “runner-up” prizes for those who attend 10 or 11 events.

• At each in-person event you will receive a stamp in your passport.

• For virtual events, you will get a write-in code.

Pick up your Passport at library branches or when you check in at the first event. The Friends’ website (www.FriendsofAptosLibrary.org) will tell you how to turn in your Passport at the end of the season.

Brook Knoll PTO financed students’ trans

Photos

Photo Credit: Santa Cruz County Bank

From left: Richard Chavez, VP controller, Santa Cruz County Bank; Doug Fischer, SVP director of business banking, Santa Cruz County Bank; Lynne Petrovic, executive eirector, CASA of Santa Cruz County, Michelle Navarro, VP treasury management manager, Santa Cruz County Bank; Conny Ramirez, advocate supervisor court liaison, CASA of Santa Cruz County; Mary Anne Carson, EVP chief marketing officer, Santa Cruz County Bank.

We all make mistakes — sometimes big ones. But can we have the courage to admit our mistakes?

The following is a story from our not-yetreleased new book, A Couple of Miracles: One Couple, More than a Few Miracles.

Since 1974, during our retreat in the French Alps with Sufi teacher Pir Vilayat Khan, Joyce and I have nourished a vision of a place where people could leave their busy environments to come into an atmosphere of love, acceptance and healing. There, they could discover their own inner wisdom, either in a loving supportive group or alone in nature.

Soon after we arrived in Santa Cruz County, we saw an ad in the newspaper for 12 acres of land for sale. The line that really caught our attention was, “bordered by one-quarter mile of creek.” We immediately went to check it out. It was gorgeous! It was steep, on a hillside of tanbark oaks and redwoods, with the small creek at the bottom.

It was a warm day in the middle of the summer, with dappled sunlight lighting up the dense forest floor. I remember my joy, walking on the bank of the creek, imagin ing the trail I would build, and the tidy little A-frame sleeping cabins for our retreat participants. In my mind, I could see little rock dams, creating small waterfalls and pools along that whole 1,200 feet, with the nurturing sound of falling water soothing the souls of everyone who came to this land.

We purchased the property for $18,000! We hired a bulldozer to put in a road down the hillside to a home-site just above the creek. Even though switchbacked, the road was still steep. We brought in crushed granite base rock to make it more drivable.

A friend drew up, with our guidance, plans for our home, with a large living room for gatherings, and a large deck overlooking the creek and wrapping around a large, native maple tree.

Then autumn came, and the sun began to dip below the trees. Then it was gone. Not a drop of sun all day long. And it got cold without any sunlight.

The final clincher was the backhoe operator who drove down to dig a test hole for septic approval. I will never forget the comment he made, thinking I was a hired worker and not the owner: “I’ve put in a lot of septic systems in all kinds of places in this county, but what kind of fool would want to build something down in this hell-hole.”

That evening, with a heavy heart, I told Joyce what this man said. We sat a long time in silence pondering his words. Finally, I spoke, “Joyce, I feel we made a mistake.” And Joyce sadly agreed. Then we held each other and cried.

We sold the land, with its new driveway down to a cleared building site, to a young man who was thrilled to have a forested hideaway.

Three years later, during a particularly severe winter storm, the hillside above the building site gave way, covering the site with mud and debris. Luckily, nothing was built there. Any home on that site would have been demolished.

That backhoe operator, although crude and humorless, was nevertheless sent by angels to deliver his message.

I could have easily missed the message. I could have gotten angry with the backhoe operator. I could have stubbornly pushed

on with our plans. I could have refused to admit my mistake, our mistake.

Why is it so hard to admit mistakes?

There are several reasons. Pride (or more correctly, false pride) is one reason. We don’t like to see ourselves as fallible. Making mistakes is for lesser human beings. Joyce sometimes teases me about my MD degree and sometimes my doctor personality.

By Joyce and Barry Vissell

A New Play in Town – Little Heart

It’s weeks since Christmas, almost a month since Winter Solstice, when the new light began. Each morning, we have increments of more and more light. The Sun is now on its way northward and right on schedule. What celebrations can we look forward to in the future?

Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, Candlemas day (February 2) — a cross quarter day between winter and spring, when the Christmas tree is dismantled and transformed into the Valentine’s tree. Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Lent (preparations for Easter) and the Three full moon Spring Festivals (Aries, Taurus, Gemini). The kingdom is busy and colorful.

In the meantime, for months we have been living under retrograde energies. As the new year began, three planets were retrograde — Mercury, Mars and Uranus. With these planets retrograde, we felt the new year hadn’t really begun. Mars turned direct on January 12 and Mercury turns direct on January 18. Mars is our energy and Mercury our communication.

As Mars and Mercury move forward, we will have more energy, be

ARIES

Try and try again with all projects and endeavors. Keep trying. However, don’t expect everything to come to fruition until at least the end of January. Some things don’t manifest ‘til March and April. You can have many trial runs, planning and perfecting activities concerning health and well-being. Creativity will be inner focused and not outwardly seen. Recite mantras, maintain kindness, optimism and a daily rhythm attuned to the Sun.

TAURUS

Everything will be about health. And about the correct foundations being stabilized. One must have patience too. This is an asset. All things may need redoing if at first the work is not completed with the needed harmony and balance. Think about spring now, building a greenhouse both large and small. Give yourself and others working with you more than ample time for rest and gratitude.

GEMINI

Life itself, everyday communication, the mail, correspondence, messages, even people – all could seem a bit confused and disorganized and this leads to misunderstanding until you remember the retrogrades (Mars, Mercury, direct soon). What you must do is small tasks, undemanding and repetitive things including repeating information over and over. You will find your way through these interesting obstructions. You’re clever, a wizard, a trickster, a shaman in disguise.

CANCER

As the retrogrades shift and turn to direct motion, consider the many different projects you would like to participate in, get to know, encounter. Don’t think of just one. Attempt also to not waste time, which is something that could be occurring. Follow up on every endeavor with interest, curiosity, care and your best effort. Monetarily make no changes but when the planets turn direct, do tithe to those in need.

more active, information appears out of the shadows. The times have felt like long drawn out weeks, months (actually several years) of encountering obstacles, hindrances, impediments, barriers, and obstructions – a tiring process. But there is help. We can call upon the Lord Ganesh, god of the people, to eliminate the barriers and hindrances. Ganesh is the wise god of new beginnings. Now, with Mercury & Mars moving forward, we feel our new year can really begin.

Note: There’s a new play in town — called Little Heart — Story of artist and changemaker Sister Corita. In the early 1960s I attended Immaculate Heart College in Hollywood (Los Angeles). I was an art major and my teacher, mentor was Sister Corita (Little Heart), artist, change maker/teacher in the world of consciousness & the arts. And so, a play has been written about Corita and those times. It’s called Little Heart, the story of Corita Kent and her life and work in the Art Dept. of Immaculate Heart College.

Written by playwright Irene O’Garden. Director is Susan Myers. At the Jewel Theatre in Santa Cruz. n Jan. 25 - Feb. 19. https://www.jeweltheatre.net/little-heart/

LEO

Remember that the energies have been quite internal and they remain so for a while and so adjustments will have to be made in terms of how other people’s responses and communications are interpreted. Remember to greet everyone with kindness, care and patience. Careful with fire and sharp tools and injuries to your head, hands and face. Don’t push the river, any person or event. Plans come and go. Be the tortoise not the hare. Trim your hair.

VIRGO

Many Virgos have been in contemplation and maybe in retreat and solitude, delving into their subconscious, tending to their inner lives, whether consciously or unconsciously. A study of astrology is a good plan for the new year. When studying astrology one studies archetypes and symbols and this bring an entirely new and different understanding to religion, spirituality and one’s real place in the world.

LIBRA

As the retrogrades happened these past weeks, the world slowed way down and the holidays were different and there was disappointment that things were not as usual. Some felt sad and impatient. Now that the energy is shifting its time for new gatherings, parties and pastimes that dislodge the prevailing blues. Libras are the best implementers of get-togethers, creating abundance, pleasures, happiness and beauty all around for everyone to share.

SCORPIO

In learning about ourselves, especially with Jupiter now in Aries, it’s good to study the lives of those you look up to and admire, those you would mentor, and those whose success reflects your aspirations for success. What we admire is already within us. So recognition is key. Always consider serving others. This takes the focus away from competition, survival, losing or winning. This is a time (year) of redirecting your creative ideals.

SAGITTARIUS

Everyone is on the Path of Hercules, in one or more of the labors. It is possible you may discover the Path this year, devoting yourself to both its trials and triumphs. On the Path you will be called to have courage, wisdom and determination. Mars retro is the inner arrow in the bow of the Archer. Soon you will release that arrow, directing it toward the Capricorn mountaintop, the place of Initiation. Beforehand you will be tested greatly. Stay the course.

CAPRICORN

You have been service to others the past six months. It was unexpected and has taken much of your time. It has created an inner strength, hardiness and flexibility. You rose up phoenix-like meeting all the challenges. At the beginning of this new year, look to yourself. Renew, reawaken, revive, relight and rekindle your deeply held hopes wishes and desire. This will sustain you and set a new foundation for years to come.

AQUARIUS

Be grateful and generous with everyone especially with loved ones. Ask nothing in return. But do ask for what you need. Everyone wants to help but they need to know the needs in order to respond. Working together in close association creates strong bonds that assists everyone in rising above possible frustrations. Realize that success is linked to having goals, visualizations, compromise and bringing forth goodwill. You are a mentor to everyone.

PISCES

It is important, for your well-being, that you create and maintain a regular daily schedule. Tend to work early and do not change anything too quickly. Everything’s transforming itself, realigning to new inner and outer realities all over the world. Think of everything as an experiment, which it is. It’s stated in Ancient Wisdom texts that when one is in an Initiation they feel alone. However, know there are angels all around. Stay poised in this angelic atmosphere. Follow the movements of the stars, moon and Sun.

Our friend, Scott Kalechstein Grace, wrote a children’s song that is just as applicable for adults. It goes, “Oops, I made a mistake, but I’m beautiful, yes, I’m beautiful.” And indeed, we are no less beautiful and loveable after making a mistake, no matter how big it is. If our mistake causes someone pain, please sincerely apologize. And you’re still beautiful and loveable.

“Mistakes” from page 25

In medical school, we were all programmed to come across as experts, not matter how unsure we were. I’m still working on de-programming, so I sometimes slip and come across as the expert. I’m a medical doctor, and I make mistakes.

An even bigger reason has to do with “toxic shame.” We are human. We make mistakes. But we are not our mistakes. Toxic shame causes us to identify with our mistakes. Toxic shame dictates that we are bad people because we made mistakes. Therefore, to admit to making a mistake is to admit to being bad, rather than simply being human. I can easily relate. As a child, I got labeled as “bad,” where it was simply my behavior that displeased my parents. But we are not our behavior.

One of our first spiritual teachers, Leo Buscaglia, modeled self-love after making a mistake. He used to hug himself every time he made a mistake. You can read Joyce’s article about this here: https:// sharedheart.org/a-lesson-from-leo-buscaglia-the-art-of-forgiving-your-mistakes/ Our friend, Scott Kalechstein Grace, wrote a children’s song that is just as applicable for adults. It goes, “Oops, I made a mistake, but I’m beautiful, yes, I’m beautiful.” And indeed, we are no less beautiful and loveable after making a mistake, no matter how big it is. If our mistake causes someone pain, please sincerely apologize. And you’re still beautiful and loveable. Go ahead. Do what Leo did. After making a mistake, try giving yourself a hug, and then acknowledge your innate goodness.

•••

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, on-line, or in person, their books, recordings or their schedule of talks and workshops. Visit their web site at SharedHeart.org.

Protecting Pelicans

Mount Madonna Fifth Grade’s Environmental Project

Each year, the Mount Madonna School fifth grade class engages in a yearlong cross-curricular study focused on an environmental topic selected by the students. For 2022-23, students voted to focus on pelicans to raise public awareness and reduce the existential threats faced by these seabirds.

In November, students visited the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz to learn about marine debris in the Monterey Bay and how it affects the

ecosystem. That same day students conducted a cleanup of Cowell Beach, mostly collecting microplastic debris, cigarette butts and pieces of Styrofoam.

This field trip was part of the students’ research, as they are collaborating in small groups to write reports about pelicans, the Monterey Bay habitat, and identify threats to pelicans and conservation efforts underway.

Teacher Jessica Cambell invited representatives from International Bird Rescue to campus to speak to students.

“The presenters helped students to learn more about threats faced by pelicans and the work the organization is engaged in to help protect pelicans and other birds around the world,” said Cambell.

Mount Madonna students will create educational flyers for International Bird Rescue to use at public outreach events. The class will also “adopt” a pelican getting rehabilitation before release.

Cambell said additional collaborations include a possible link for Mount Madonna students with students at other schools located where pelicans migrate.

Another field trip will head to Neary Lagoon Park and Wildlife Refuge in Santa Cruz for a “watershed walk” with the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.

“Students will work with educators from the natural history museum to build an understanding of how humans impact the watershed and the role we all play in protecting our watershed,” said Cambell. “Students will conduct water quality testing, data analysis, habitat observation and stewardship. This field trip will also be connected to a classroom visit from a museum educator, as we explore the vital role watersheds play in the survival of pelicans and many other species.” n

Madagascar Jr: The Show Must Go On

Even when a power outage occurred on Dec. 10, Mount Madonna School middle-school students staging “Madagascar” refused to give up and invited all the Saturday guests to return for an early Sunday show.

It was a great success!

The audiences charmed by musical tale of friendship and teamwork.

Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria, the hip-hip hippo, are best of friends at New York’s Central

Park Zoo. When Marty escapes, the other three break free to look for him, only to find themselves reunited on a ship en route to Mother Africa. It’s a musical adventure of a lifetime. n

Photos Credit: John Welch

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BAY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

Bay Federal Credit Union’s Education Scholarship is for students pursuing education and career training opportunities after high school. Up to three applicants will receive $1,500 to pay for expenses directly related to their continuing education.

Those who wish to be considered for an award must meet all eligibility requirements. Applicants must submit a completed 2023 Education Scholarship Application and all required documents by 11:59 p.m. Friday, March 17.

Award recipients will be notified via phone call and/or email by April 28.

See the 2023 Student Scholarship Application for complete details and rules. Questions? Email scholarship@bayfed. com.

CASA LUNCHEON RESERVATION DEADLINE JAN. 25

The Friends of CASA invite you to its annual “For the Love of Children” luncheon on Wed., February 8, in the newly renovated events room at Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos.

This luncheon, where the community comes together to learn more about CASA, raises money for the CASA Children’s Fund.

The fund is used by our volunteer Advocates to purchase special and essential items such as bicycles, gymnastic and swimming classes, summer camp, back-to-school clothing, eyeglasses, braces, and strollers.

The fund also helps older youth with critical support such as car repairs, clothes for job interviews and tutoring.

Learn more about CASA of Santa Cruz County and the CASA Children’s Fund while enjoying a plated lunch.

Reserve tickets for the 11:30 a.m. luncheon by Jan. 25 at www.casaofsantacruz.org/fortheloveofchildren or contact Magi Diego at 831-761-2956 x106 or magi@casaofsantacruz.org.

MLK YOUTH DAY POSTPONED; MARCH TO GO FORWARD

NAACP Santa Cruz County announces that Martin Luther King Jr Youth Day has been postponed until Saturday, Jan. 28, due to potential for heavy rainfall on Jan. 14.

The MLK March for the Dream and commemorative service at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium will take

place as scheduled on Monday, Jan. 16, beginning at 10 am.

The march will begin at Pacific Avenue and Cathcart Street and end at the Santa Cruz Civic Au-ditorium where participants will commemorate the accomplishments of the past and acknowledge the “fierce urgency of now” in forming a more just America. The program will start at 11 a.m. and end by 1 p.m.

The local NAACP invites organizations to register for the March at: https://forms.gle/MNCz4ocurvLrbtDx6. Volunteers are needed to help monitor the march; sign up at: https://forms.gle/y3kscjRZk14a5HCR7.

FOR NEW MOMS

The Santa Cruz County Nurse Family Partnership is a program to support pregnant women expecting their first baby and new moms with their first baby. For information, call 831-454-4339 or text 831-566-3592.

HELP MATCHINGDONORS.COM

Currently, 270 people die every day in the U.S. waiting for an organ transplant; those that live wait 7 to 12 years to receive a kidney transplant

through the government’s deceased organ donor waiting list.

Many patients receive their kidney transplant within only six months of registering on MatchingDonors. com, which is appealing to people to help by becoming a living organ donor or donating cars, boats, RVs, real estate, or planes to support the nonprofit organization, founded in 2003 and based in Boston.

Supporters include NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who raises money in the memory of his College of San Mateo coach Tom Martinez, who died of a heart attack in 2012 while waiting for a kidney transplant.

Visit https://www.matchingdonors.com/life/ for more info.

RED CROSS JANUARY BLOOD DRIVES

Ben Lomond

Jan. 20: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9545 Love Creek Road Santa Cruz

Jan. 18: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St.

Jan. 20: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Santa Cruz Firefighters at Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St.

Watsonville

Jan. 17: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St.

OPERATION GRATITUDE

Operation Gratitude gives Americans the opportunity to go say “Thank You” to all who raise their hands to serve.

Writing a letter is a meaningful way for Americans to say “Thank You” support for all who serve. It only takes five minutes of your day but will bring lasting joy to the recipients.

Operation Gratitude includes handwritten letters in every Care Package sent to Military and First Responders. In these unprecedented times, our heroes need our unwavering support.

Fill out the form with detailed instructions and labels for shipping. You pay the postage.

For more information and ways to show support, see https://www.operationgratitude.com/volunteer/anywhere/ letters/

RESOURCE FOR CAREGIVERS

As families gather for the holiday, people may see grandma or grandpa, their mom or dad, or their aunt or uncle more forgetful or frail and in need of care.

PAJARO VALLEY ARTS MEMBERS’ EXHIBIT OPENING RECEPTION

Gregorius and Carol Walberg.

The art on view includes: Sculpture, drawing, ceramics, fiber, mixed media, encaustic (wax), print-making, photography, glasswork, and more from 97 of Santa Cruz County’s notable artists.

They are: Mary Altier, Oladire Araoluwa, Susana Arias, Jeff Arnett, Davina Midori Baker, Wendy Ballen, Ruth Bates , Jean Sheckler Beebe, Mike Beebe, Eva Bernstein, Shinehah Bigham, Bonnie Britton, Barbara Brundage, Karen Card, Ruth Carroll, Linda Christensen, Jaki Christeve, Jennifer Colby, Judy Cooper, Erica Crawford, Kati D’Amore, Paul DeWorken, Sarah Diaz-Bastin, Amy Diaz-Infante, Sally Diggory, Mary Jo Dunn-Ruiz, Myra Eastman, Susan Else, Janet Fine, David Fleming, Angela Gleason, Jane Gregorius, Kathryn Hannay, Anita Heckman, Hedwig Heerschop, Joan Hellenthal, Bridget Henry, Robert Irwin, Bianca Jimenez, Elaine Johnson, Lindsay Johnson, Rebecca Jordan, Sefla Joseph, Jadwiga Juszkiewicz, Lynne Karst, Terrie Kvenild, Lucien Kubo, Cheryl Lemon, Diane Levin, Gaby Litsky, Judi Ludewig, Lucinda Lynch, Sheila Malone, Charles Manske, Evelyn Markasky, Francine Marshall, Ann Baldwin May, Suzanne McCourt, Marty McGillivray, Cece McNeil, Ercilia Medeiros, Reiko Michisaki, Keith Millar, Bonni Minardi, Chris Miroyan, Dawn Motyka, Margaret Murray, Bruce Nicholson, Caroline Nicola, Nancy Niles, Melanie Oldach, Becky Schultz Olvera, Rosy Penhallow, Bela Ravikumar, Jane Reyes, Tim Robinson, Josefina Rocha , Jewel Rogers, Suzanna Roth, Nancy Samsel, Jaime Sánchez, Nora Sarkissian, Cristina Sayers, Ann Scobie, Wendy Siegel, Katie Simpson, Randie Silverstein, Judy Stabile, Carol Streib, Lee Taiz, Lynne Todaro, Graciela Vega, Susanna Waddell, Lynda Watson, Melissa West, Chad Williams, Donald Wright. •••

Pajaro Valley Arts, a non-profit organization, is looking for community help to prepare for the presentation. Requested donations include: Folding Chairs and Tables • Small Refrigerator (with freezer) • Large Monitors/Projector Screens • Painting Supplies (rollers, pans) • Fans

If you can help, email admin@pvarts.org or call PVA at 831-722-3062.

Art (from left): Mother and Child by Gaby Litsky • Kaleidoscope Sunrise by Randie Silverstein • Turning Point by Cheryl Lemon

Since 1988, Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center has served Santa Cruz County families of persons living with neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury and other conditions that cause memory loss and confusion.

Trained staff are tuned in to the experiences and issues caregivers face, ready and able to connect, listen and support. The center receives funds from the state Department of Health Care Services.

For information, see https://www.delmarcaregiver.org/ or call toll-free (800) 624-8304.

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays BRIDGE CLUB

10:30 a.m.-Noon, Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road

The Capitola Branch Library will host Bridge Club sessions on Mondays (except holidays).

Everyone is welcomed from beginners to social players. Make new friends and sharpen your mind.

Bridge Club is a partnership between Santa Cruz County Parks and Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Register at scparks.com or in-person the day of the event.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Tuesdays

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

Third Fridays

LEGO ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

3-5 p.m., Scotts Valley Branch Library, 251 Kings Village Rd Are you looking for fun, and competitive challenges? Do you like building stuff with LEGOs? Are you 8 to 12 years old?

If you answered yes, you are invited to join the Lego Engineering Challenges! The Challenges are a fun way for tweens to learn about basic engineering, teamwork, and leadership by completing Lego projects.

Challenges take place every third Friday of the month in the Fireside meeting room at the Scotts Valley Branch Library.

Space is limited and registration is highly encouraged but walk-ins are welcome if space is available. Questions? Contact Iván Llamas at llamasi@santacrupl.org or (831) 427-7700 Ext 7752.

Second and Fourth Saturday

GLIMPSES OF WORLD HISTORY

1-2:30 p.m., La Selva Beach Library, 316 Estrella Ave. and Online

Dr. Robert Strayer, Ph.D of European and African history, presents a series of six illustrated talks dealing with topics in world history and implications for the present. These free events take place in January, February, and March via Zoom and at the La Selva Beach Library.

Jan. 28: Commerce, Culture and Connection: Early Globalization

Feb. 11: The Industrial Revolution: Origins and Outcomes

Feb. 25: Fascism and Communism: Comparing Revolutionary Movements in the 20th Century March 11: Religious Fundamentalism in the 20th century: Christian, Islamic, Jewish, and Hindu March 25: Feminism in the Modern World: Challenges to Patriarchy Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85086826725 See: santacruzpl.org/calendar.

DATED EVENTS

Saturday January 14

SATURDAY SHAKESPEARE BEGINS WITH JULIUS CAESAR

10 a.m., Zoom Meetings

“Julius Caesar” has been selected as the first of three plays for the Saturday Shakespeare Club to read over the course of the year, beginning Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. on Zoom.

The first speaker for “Julius Caesar” will be Michael Warren, UC Santa Cruz profes-sor of English literature and dramaturg for many Santa Cruz Shakespeare produc-tions. He’ll give an overview of the play and establish its setting and background during the first session, beginning at 10 a.m.

Jan. 21: Two half-hour DVD lectures by Dartmouth College Professor Peter Saccio, focusing on Rome and Julius Caesar’s history in it.

Jan. 28: Gary Miles, professor emeritus in UCSC’s Humanities Division, will discuss the play’s historical background.

Feb. 4: Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s founder and former

ACTORS’ THEATRE: NEW 8 TENS PLAY FESTIVAL

January 20 thru February 19

8 p.m., Thursdays thru Saturdays • 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Santa Cruz Center Street Theatre, 1001 Center St. After nearly a year without new shows, the Santa Cruz Actors’ Theatre is kicking off the 2023 season with its popular 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival — 16 new productions Jan. 20 through Feb. 19.

The new plays, selected from nearly 260 submissions coming from across the country, will alternate Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with additional Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. The weekend shows will feature one line-up at 2 p.m., and another selection at 8 p.m., allowing theater fans to see all 16 plays on the same day.

All performances will be in the Santa Cruz Center Street Theatre, 1001 Center St. Playgoers will be required to wear a mask in the theatre and lobby areas, but proof of vaccination is not required.

Tickets are $32 general, $29 for students and seniors. Thursday performances offer a discount: Two tickets for the price of one. A package deal for both shows is $58 general, $54 students and seniors. For the play lineup and tickets, see: www.santacruzactorstheatre.org/tickets •••

artistic director Mike Ryan will talk about staging the play and theater itself.

Feb. 11: A film version of the play (not yet selected) will be shown.

There is some possibility the film may be shown at a local venue, but that is not yet confirmed.

The group, which has been meeting for the past year, will also examine “King Lear” and “As You Like It.”

Attendance is free, although the Saturday Club urges participants to donate $2 per session to Santa Cruz Shakespeare: https:// santacruzshakespeare.org/donate/ If sending a check, indicate the gift is on behalf of the Saturday Shakespeare Club.

Tuesday January 17

Wednesday January 18

FINAL AFFAIRS

Tues: 5:30 p.m. / Wed 1:30 p.m., Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave., Santa Cruz Is Green Burial for you?

Learn about how to get your final wishes affairs in order and green burial as a natural option.

See a slideshow of what your options are, who offers them and how to make the process enjoyable.

Both sessions at the Live Oak Grange.

Attendance is free. Light refreshments with your RSVP to Patricia at 831-756-1381 or www.PrePlanWithPatricia.com.

Next Purissima tour is on Wednesday, Jan. 25.

Thursday January 19

PRESCRIBED BURNING TRAINING 10 a.m.-Noon, Online seminar “Develop your Personal Fire Qualification Plan for

Prescribed Burning: Under-standing NWCG Qualifications and the California Rx Fire Burn Boss Program” will take place 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 19. To sign up: https://spranch.calpoly.edu/wildland-qualificationmanagement-webinar

Friday January 20

BLM FIRE COMMENT DEADLINE

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on a plan to expedite fuels reduction treatments and fire protection efforts near high fire-risk areas on public lands in 44 counties throughout California and northwest Nevada. The BLM will consider all substantive comments received by Jan. 20.

The statewide Wildland-Urban Interface fuels treatments programmatic Environmental Assessment aims to facilitate projects on 900,000 acres of public land near rural communities.

“This initiative is designed to streamline on-theground projects to reduce hazardous fuels … and to protect local communities,” said BLM California State Director Karen Mouritsen.

Fuels reduction projects aim to reduce intensity, severity, and spread of wildfire on public lands by reducing overgrowth, creating fuel breaks and thinning forest density.

The goal is for reduced likelihood of loss of life, property, and community infrastructure from wildfires.

These treatments also aim to improve firefighting conditions when wildfires happen, allowing for greater success of fire suppression and fire perimeter control, increased safety for firefighters and decreased costs by reducing potential fire damage and fire size.

To submit written comments on the plan, potential impacts, and alternatives in the preliminary environmental assessment and the Findings of No Significant Impact, see https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ project/2016583/510 or email: blm_ca_swft_ea@blm.gov.

Sunday January 22

SANTA CRUZ HARP FESTIVAL

3-4:30 p.m., Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St, Santa Cruz

Community Music School of Santa Cruz presents the return of the annual Santa Cruz Harp Festival at the Resource Center for Nonviolence.

Featured performers include Jesse Autumn

(double-strung harp); Shelley Phillips (folk harp) with Robin Petrie (hammered dulcimer); Jennifer Cass (pedal harp) with Rob Watson (guitar); and the all-ages Community Music School Harp Ensemble. A harp petting zoo will be available during intermission for the “harp curious,” along with snacks and beverages.

Doors open at 2:30 p.m.; masks will be required indoors.

Tickets for adults are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. (Kids under 18 get in for $10 in ad-vance/$15 at the door.)

http://CommunityMusicSchool.org • susan@communitymusic school.org

Monday January 23

ROTARY COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIAL

5:30-6:30 p.m., The Hideout, 9051 Soquel Dr. Aptos Meet Capitola-Aptos Rotary members and learn about community projects.

Enjoy no-host beverages at the Hideout Cocktails and Dining – join the table in the back. Members have served Santa Cruz County for 58 years, providing opportunities for connection, community service and leadership.

Capitola-Aptos Rotary is part of Rotary International, a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem solvers where people unite and take action. All are welcome to attend.

For information see https://capitolaaptosrotary.org/, or contact co-president elect lowry.fenton@gmail.com.

WILDR WOMEN

6:30 p.m., Online Seminar

WILDR will celebrate successes from the November 2022 election and talk about the challenges in electing diverse candidates ahead on Zoom.

Topics will include plans for 2023.

For the Zoom link, register at: https://bit.ly/WILDR01232023

Wednesday January 25

LUNCH WITH SUPERVISOR ZACH FRIEND

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will have a lunch meeting at Seascape Golf Club, featuring Second District Supervisor Zach Friend as the speaker.

The price is $30 for members in advance, $35 non-members and at the door. RSVP at 831-688-1467.

Photo: Actors Sarah Cruse (left) and Avondina Wills, pictured here in a past show, both return to the 2023 8 Tens @ 8 Festival.

County Equal Opportunity Report

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

Recently, the Board of Supervisors received a report from the Equal Employment Opportunity Office which is charged to provide an analysis of the county workforce and how it compares to the local metropolitical statistical area.

The report looks at the County government’s workforce by gender and race/ ethnicity, identifies and describes the County’s outreach and recruitment strategies for populations where there is a gap between the available workforce and the County workforce composition, and outlines specific steps to promote equal employment opportunity for federallydesignated protected classes.

What Did The Report Show?

The report provided a detailed comparison of the demographic composition of the Countywide workforce at three points in time: 2009, 2014 and 2022.

Overall, the diversity of the County workforce continues to increase and in many categories is higher (and in some cases significantly higher) than percentage of those available in the countywide workforce composition.

Here are some specific examples. Women constitute nearly 60% of the County workforce, far exceeding the percentage composition of women in the Santa Cruz County area workforce.

In the category of Officials and Administrators (top positions within the County), the representation of women increased from 53% in 2009 to 62% in 2022. This compares to 44% of women in those positions across all sectors countywide.

In the Protective Services category (which includes the Sheriff’s Office, for example), the representation of women has increased from 26% to 31% since 2009compared to 15% in those positions across all other Protective Services countywide.

Since 2009, representation of men within the County government’s workforce has remained around 41%.

For specific demographic groups, the County also exceeds the local demographic makeup of the available workforce.

For example, within the Santa Cruz County CoreBased Statistical Area (which is what the American Community Survey uses to determine local demographic makeups of the population and available workforce), Hispanic/Latinos made up 25% of the community/available workforce but 43% of the County workforce.

Overall, the report showed that our community consists of approximately 35% of non-white workforce composition but the County workforce consists of 52% -significantly more.

Where Are There Needs For Improvement?

In addition, the report also looks at specific occupational categories to see how that compares.

While the overall diversity of the County workforce exceeds that of the local available workforce, there are some occupational categories in which the County falls below these groups’ representation in the local available labor market.

For example, in the Service and Maintenance category, women constitute about 20% of the County

workforce but 43% of the local labor pool for that category and men also fall below in multiple categories including Officials and Administrators, Administrative Support and Technician categories.

Interested In Learning More About The Report?

More information about the County’s Equal Employment Opportunity

Plan and report to the Board can be found on the Personnel website — which is at www.santacruzcounty.us (click on Personnel and then EEO). n •••

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

SCCAS Featured Pet

Meet Minolta!

This incredible dog who was found as a stray and brought to SCCAS by a Good Samaritan. She had been hit by a car and sustained extensive injuries to her back right leg and it needed to be amputated- but that has not slowed this sweet pup down!

Minolta is great with people and dogs — interested in other dogs but does not bark at them and is very respectful of their space. From people she wants kisses and cuddles and good company- she is affectionate and social. Currently she is in a foster home where we have learned that she is housetrained — and her foster mom describes her as “playful and friendly”.

This happy dog is recovering well from surgery and making so much progress with walking longer distances and just needs a little boost to get in the car. All in all, Minolta is a resilient dog who is sweet, loving and ready to play! We have no history of Minolta with cats, but a dog savvy cat may be a fit with slow introduction and management.

Her new adopters should be prepared to keep her physically and mentally stimulated and work with her with positive reinforcement training She may do well with children and other dogs in the home- all members of the family including dogs must meet before adoption.

This pup is a diamond in the rough and this “tri-pawed” is likely to capture your heart!

Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals on our website and then visit the Shelter to turn in your application. All adoptions require proof of home ownership or landlord approval. Please have this information prepared. If an animal is in Foster Care, please bring in your adoption application and schedule an appointment to meet the animal. Call 831-454-7200 x0 during business hours or visit www.scanimalshelter.org for more information! n •••

Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter: Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Watsonville Location: CURRENTLY CLOSED 580 Airport Blvd, Watsonville, CA 95076

SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us

“Calendar” from page 29

Thursday January 26

GRIEF SUPPORT WRITING GROUP BEGINS

Time TBA, Online Meetings, Thursdays thru March 2 This virtual group is provided by the grief support team at Hospice of Santa Cruz County.

Discover the quiet wisdom of writing through grief. Putting pen to paper is a pow-erful way to explore your personal journey in a manner that is both meaningful and rich with complexity — especially when talking about grief does not come easy.

You will learn creative exercises that will help you grow and heal, in new and gen-tly surprising ways. All writing levels are welcome.

Advance registration is required. Call (831) 430-3000 to register.

VOLUNTEER FOR 2023 PIT COUNT 5 p.m.-10 a.m., Location TBD The County of Santa Cruz is moving to conducting the Point in Time homeless count annually and needs community support.

The 2023 PIT count will be done using an app-based data collection tool, and will cover the entire county in one morning. Sign up at https://asr.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_2f3KayP7qtQJNdk

Volunteers will work in groups, meeting their team members either at a central deployment center location or a convenient location before walking/driving their assigned routes and aiding with data collection.

Volunteers are asked to bring their vehicles to use in the count if they are able. Contact Alex Werner at alex@appliedsurveyresearch.org. for more information. •••

The Housing for Health Partnership and Applied Survey Research will host community meetings to gather input and volunteers for the count Friday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. to noon and Thursday, Jan. 12, time TBA. Meetings will be in person. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ santa-cruz-county-2023-point-in-time-count-planningmeeting-tickets-464743970727

THE U.S. & THE HOLOCAUST 7-8:30 p.m., Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road The Santa Cruz Public Libraries plans a screening and discussion of the Ken Burns documentary The U.S. and the Holocaust, in partnership with Temple Beth El, the Resource Center for Nonviolence, and Santa Cruz County United for Safe and Inclusive Communities, at the Capitola Branch Library.

This is the day before International Holocaust Remembrance Day Jan. 27.

Attendees are encouraged to watch the entire 3-part documentary in advance of the discussion, which will be available to stream on the PBS website through Feb. 3. On Jan. 26, attendees will see a 40-minute screener from the series provided by PBS Books, who is supporting programming around the documentary for libraries nationwide.

Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is recommended but not required.

Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10067554.

Art at https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/us-and-the-holocaust/

Saturday January 28

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

10 a.m.-4 p.m., 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga

Local residents, veterans, active-duty military and their families are invited to Wreaths Across America mobile education visit 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, sponsored by the Santa Clara Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. This is the closest local stop for Santa Cruz County. Admission is free. The exhibit educates visitors about the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes and serves as an official ‘welcome home’ station for our nation’s Vietnam Veterans.

On Dec. 17, Wreaths Across America coordinated 596 truckloads of wreaths to all 50 states and beyond, delivering to 3,702 locations a total of 2.7 million sponsored veterans’ wreaths.

Sponsoring a wreath is $15 at www.wreathacrossamerica.org. Each sponsorship goes toward a live balsam wreath to be placed on the headstone of an American hero on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, National Wreaths Across America Day.

Thursday February 9

FOOLISH DOOM

7 p.m., Scotts Valley Cultural & Performing Arts Center, 251B Kings Village Road

“Foolish Doom” is a tragic comedy about the climate debate with Peter Sweet & Leonie Baker and directed by Matteo Destro. It will be presented at the Scotts Valley Cultural & Performing Arts Center (next to Scotts Valley Library)

This is a fantastical mix of mask theater, music, and puppetry for children and adults.

Admission: Children, $10; students & seniors $20, adults $30.

For tickets see www.svctheaterguild.org

Saturday February 11

25 YEARS OF HOPE & HEALING DINNER

6 p.m. (Dinner at 7 p.m.), Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St., SC Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services will celebrate 25 years of hope & healing at a gala at the Cocoanut Grove. There will be food, drinks, music, dancing, and inspiring stories.

Tickets are $125 per person (other options available) at https://jacobsheart.ticketspice.com/25years

Friday February 24 thru Sunday February 26

2023 BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR

7 p.m. each night, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz Get off the beaten path, stand on the highest peaks, ski the steepest slopes, and be a part of the gripping adventures waiting for you at the 2023 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour, brought to you by UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec.

Tickets are $23 for Aspen (Fri) and Juniper (Sun), $25 for Willow (Sat), with each night featuring completely different films. A special $10 rate is available for UCSC students for the Juniper show.

This event supports UCSC Adventure Rec student programs, affording UCSC stu-dents the chance to share in the magic of outdoor adventures.

Film ratings and advisories are included in the descriptions. Consider checking be-fore purchasing tickets for the young adventurers in your life.

For tickets and list of films visit https://recreation.ucsc.edu/ adventure/banff.html n