Aptos Times: March 15, 2023

Partners for Flood Relief for Pajaro

Santa Cruz & Monterey Foundations Have Given $1.8 Million for Recovery Since January

Editor’s note: After the Pajaro River levee breached on Friday in Monterey County and then in Santa Cruz County, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County got a lot of phone calls, emails, and social media questions about how best to help the people of Pajaro in this latest round of storm and flooding disasters. There is confusion about where to donate since Pajaro is on the Monterey County side.

The community foundations explain your options.

•••

The Community Foundation for Monterey County and Community Foundation Santa Cruz County each activated funds to support storm and flood relief efforts when the first winter storms hit in early January. ... continues on page 4

Latin Grammy Winners to Aid Pajaro

Latin Grammy winner Alejandro Fernández and influential Latin rock band MANÁ have come together with Live Nation to support the victims of the March flooding in Pajaro by donating a portion of the proceeds from their Bay Area shows to Community Bridges, a trusted nonprofit founded in 1977.

Full Story page 6

Wanted: County Fair CEO Full Story page 7

Preventing Suicide

Childhood trauma, bullying, a disrupted relationship. perfectionism, LGBTQ rejection — and then something happens, the last straw, and a young person decides life is not worth living.

Full Story page 11

Cover Partners for Flood Relief for Pajaro: Santa Cruz & Monterey Foundations Have Given $1.8 Million for Recovery Since January

Community News

5 Pajaro Levee Gap Repaired: Governor Visits; 8,500 Evacuated; Crops at Risk, By Jondi Gumz

6 Latin Grammy Winners to Aid Pajaro: Alejandro Fernández, MANÁ Donating to Community Bridges from Bay Area Concerts

7 Kalantari-Johnson, Brown to Lead Metro Board • Transportation Survey: Your In-put is Very Valuable • Reimagine Metro Forum • Wanted: County Fair CEO

8 A Piece of Quail Hollow Ranch Returns • Honoring Hunger Fighters: Second Harvest Food Bank Raises 5.2 Million Meals

10 How to Help Survivors of Earthquake in Turkey: From Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

11 Preventing Suicide, By Jondi Gumz

13 Salmon Season Closed Until 2024

14 Silicon Valley Bank Closure Worries

16 Pop-Up Breakfast Returns to Farmers Market • Final Spring Forward Against Cancer Gala

20 Meet New Animal Shelter General Manager • Women’s History Month: Remembering Dr. Walker, Earhart and Anthony

22 Raising Chickens? Keep Your Hens Happy • Capitola Wharf Reno vation Will Include Storm Repair, By Teresa Hidalgo Dance

23 Judge Katherine Hansen Takes Over Dept. 1: Several Court Officials Taking New Role at Santa Cruz County Court

27 Coming Together For Capitola, By Teresa Hidalgo Dance

Letters to the Editor

14 Three Responses to Silicon Valley Bank Closing

Business Profile

18 Rainbow Carpets and Floors: And More!,

California News

19 SB 478 Targets Hidden Fees • Bill to Ban Toxic Chemicals in Food

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Saturn Enters Pisces — Ethics & Accountability, By Risa D’Angeles

Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment –

Featured Columnists

17 My New GE Range Shattered: Do I Have to Wait Two Months For a Repair?, By Christopher Elliott

21 Benefits of Crop Rotation, By Tony Tomeo

24 What PVUSD is Changing Since Covid State of Emergency is Over, Q&A With Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

30 County Mid-Year Budget Report: $67 Million in FEMA Claims, Friend, Supervisor, Second District

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Meet the SCCAS Pittie Crew!

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Patrice Edwards editor

Jondi Gumz

COVER STORY

“Flood Relief” from page 1

contributing writers

Jondi Gumz, Teresa Hidalgo Dance, Edita McQuary, Risa D’Angeles, Christopher Elliott, Tony Tomeo, Michelle Rodriguez, Zach Friend

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Both the Monterey County Storm Relief Fund and the Santa Cruz County Disaster Fund have been working to provide emergency assistance and relief through local nonprofits for immediate needs including food, emergency shelter, financial assistance to those evacuated, as well as longer term recovery efforts.

Now, with the March 11 breach of the Pajaro levee—the dividing line between Monterey and Santa Cruz counties —both Community Foundations are directing relief funding to partner nonprofits who are helping thousands of evacuated residents, the majority of whom are Latino farmworker families.

Dan Baldwin, CEO of Community Foundation for Monterey County, recognizes, “The flooding in Pajaro is extremely challenging on many levels. The closest services are in Watsonville with Santa Cruz County government and nonprofit leadership, but the people from Pajaro are residents of Monterey County. Both our community foundations have strong and trusted partnerships with nonprofits who are on the ground providing immediate support.”

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Susan True, CEO of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, adds, “Generous people from both counties have been reaching out to ask where their donations can make the most impact. Due to the strong collaboration between our counties, we urge donations to either fund and assure you that your gift will make an immediate impact for the families of Pajaro.”

Donors are welcome to direct gifts specifically to the Pajaro area by noting “Pajaro” in comment field of the donation

pages: cfmco.org/Storm Relief or cfscc. org/disaster.

Both community foundations have been in constant contact with nonprofit partners who are coordinating services for displaced residents. Community Foundation Santa Cruz County made an initial grant to Second Harvest Food Bank for food for evacuees. Second Harvest is in direct contact with the state’s Office of Emergency Services and is to get shipments of diapers, formula, and food this week. Both foundations will be making more grants this week and will continue to do so as long as donations allow.

True notes, “People have been through so much already and with another storm looming on the horizon,

there is still so much work ahead of us in the coming weeks and months. Community Foundation Santa Cruz County will work to bolster the disaster case management system we created with FEMA and the state to make sure that residents are helped with every public dollar available. Local philanthropy can address the gaps for relocation, repairs, and rebuilding.”

Baldwin adds, “We are deeply grateful for the incredible expertise in disaster case management that our nonprofit partners have honed both through wildfire response and now storm and flood relief.”

Both community foundations have deep experience responding to community needs through disaster grantmaking including more than $20 million combined granted for pandemic and wildfire relief.

Those wishing to contribute to the Monterey County Storm Relief can donate online at cfmco.org/StormRelief, mail a check payable to “CFMC” to the Community Foundation for Monterey County, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940 with “Storm Relief Fund” in memo line or call 831-375-9712 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Those wishing to contribute to the Santa Cruz County Disaster Fund can donate online at cfscc.org/disaster, mail a check payable to “CFSCC” to Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, 7807 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 with “Storm Relief Fund” in the memo line or call 831-662-2000 from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. n

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Pajaro Levee Gap Repaired

Governor Visits; 8,500 Evacuated; Crops at Risk

By Jondi Gumz

It’s hard to fathom on top of the epic storm in January, but on March 10, another epic storm broke the 1949 Pajaro River levee before a $400 million funded rebuild could begin, flooding the community of Pajaro across the bridge from Watsonville, forcing 8,500 people to evacuate and prompting President Biden to approve yet another disaster declaration.

Some 50 high-water rescues were made, according to Monterey County, where leaders told residents, “Turn around, don’t drown.”

Highway 1, the main route between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, was closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, with opening depending on when the floodwaters recede.

Monterey County officials predicted closing the gap in the levee could take a week or two.

Farm leaders worried this threatened spring crop production in Monterey County, where ag is a $4 billion industry.

At 9 p.m. Tuesday, Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church posted on Facebook, “The breach is closed” with his thanks to everyone who worked tirelessly to get the job done.

On Wednesday, Caltrans announced Highway 1 northbound would open that night, and southbound Thursday morning.

In record time, working 24/7 overnight, KW Emerson, the state’s contractor, completed building a rock barrier at the levee, filling the gap created by the storm.

A team of 24 staff with state engineers worked 12-hour shifts, bringing in 39 truckloads of rock. A second break Monday night a mile from the outlet to the ocean created a relief value, allowing water to flow out, lowering the flood level.

Wednesday, Supervisor Church thanked Gov. Gavin Newsom for coming to Pajaro, “It means a lot.”

This is the sixth time Pajaro has flooded, Church said, adding “it’s unfortunate the rains came” before the levee rebuilding slated for 2025 could begin.

“We’ve got to fast-track these permits,” said Newsom, noting this was the eleventh atmospheric river of the season. “No one has patience for five to seven years.”

Newsom asked, “Why wasn’t this fixed, this levee, years and years, decades ago?”

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The farmworker community didn’t have the resources to provide the federally required local 35% match, so Assemblymember Robert Rivas and Sen. John Laird pressed the Legislature to allocate $128 million of state money as the match.

Newsom said United Way got $42 million from USDA to deliver $600 checks to farmworkers not eligible for assistance.

Overgrown Vegetation

Norm

Groot, executive director of Monterey County Farm Bureau, contends the Salinas River is at capacity due to sandbar buildup and overgrown non-native vegetation, with levees deteriorating. He blamed reluctance of state and federal agencies to issue permits to maintain the channel.

He explained that once floodwaters recede from fields, food safety protocols could mean a 60-day process to test for pathogens.

March planting will probably be delayed; farmworkers will not have an opportunity to work as usual to support their families.

“Expedite the permits,” said Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo.

Mexican stars Alejandro Fernandez and MANA announced they will donate part of the proceeds of their Bay Area concerts to the nonprofit Community Bridges to help the people of Pajaro. Details inside.

“Pajaro Levee” page 9

Latin Grammy Winners to Aid Pajaro

Alejandro Fernández, MANÁ Donating to Community Bridges from Bay Area Concerts

Latin Grammy winner Alejandro Fernández and influential Latin rock band MANÁ have come together with Live Nation to support the victims of the March flooding in Pajaro by donating a portion of the proceeds from their Bay Area shows to Community Bridges, a trusted nonprofit founded in 1977.

Pajaro, just across the Santa Cruz County line in Monterey County, and surrounding areas are home to thousands of Latino farmworkers who have been evacuated due to a break in the Pajaro River levee caused by catastrophic rainstorms.

“At the heart of MANÁ is the belief that our music can be a vehicle for social good,” said lead singer Fher Olvera. “When we heard about the devastating storms and saw our people in Pajaro suffering, we knew we had to help. We encourage our fans to help in any way they can.”

Alejandro Fernández said, “My heart breaks thinking of the people of Pajaro who are displaced by these storms. I’m honored that my music and concerts can be a catalyst to bring comfort and aid to this hardworking Latino community and I hope others will join us in helping too.”

Luis Alejo, chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, said, “It means so much to the families of Pajaro to have the support of Alejandro Fernández and MANÁ, artists whose music they enjoy in their everyday lives. The community is hurting right now as

a result of these devastating floods and the damage is extensive. Through these efforts, Pajaro and its residents will rise after the flood waters recede.”

The artists encourage those who can to join them in helping by donating at https://communitybridges.org/donate/ MANÁ is performing March 17 at the SAP Center in San Jose and March 18 at the Oakland Arena in Oakland. Alejandro Fernández will perform at the SAP Center in San Jose on Sept. 9.

MANÁ and Alejandro have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to helping the U.S. Latino community. This is the fourth social action collaboration in recent years.

During the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, the stars joined forces for the “Vota Por Nosotros” get-out-the-vote effort, which encouraged the Latino community to register and vote.

The effort was focused on states with large Latino populations like California, Nevada, Arizona and Georgia, which were ultimately decisive in the election outcome. In 2022, Fernández and MANÁ came together to support immigrant rights for the “We Are Home” campaign calling for fair and just immigration policy reform. Later that year, they encouraged their fans to get vaccinated.

“MANÁ” page 9

Kalantari-Johnson, Brown to Lead Metro Board

As Santa Cruz Metro studies how to reimagine its service, Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson will serve as board chair and Kristen Brown as vice chair. They were chosen by board vote Feb. 24. Both will serve one year.

Kalantari-Johnson is in her third year on the Santa Cruz City Council, where she has shown her commitment to economic recovery, affordable housing, community wellness and social equity. As a consultant for community-based organizations during the last two decades, Kalantari-Johnson has led efforts to bring in funds and form partnerships to address issues such as immigration rights, juvenile justice, youth

homelessness and substance abuse prevention.

“It’s an honor to be selected as chair of the Metro board, especially as we launch new programs for riders and tackle the important issues of climate change and affordable housing for workers,” she said.

Brown is in her second term as a member of the Capitola City Council. In 2020, she was mayor. She has experience creating partnerships and advancing policy

Transportation Survey: Your Input is Very Valuable

How can the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments involve more people in transportation policies and investment choices? What are the best ways to encourage residents to participate in planning for the future?

AMBAG has released an online survey to hear your input as they prepare the 2023 Public Participation Plan.

The survey is available through Friday,

April 28. Take the survey at https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/95YGRLT.

AMBAG, which is looking forward the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategies, updates its Public Participation Plan every four years.

Federal and state laws require AMBAG to adopt participation plans. AMBAG’s current plan was adopted in 2019.

The 2023 Public Participation Plan will serve as the official public participation plan for the Santa Cruz County RTC. n

Wanted: County Fair CEO

The Santa Cruz County Fair is advertising the CEO position left open when Dave Kegebein was terminated in October after 11 years due to inadequacies detailed in a critical state audit.

The position, with a salary of $8,135 to $9,960 per month plus state benefits, is open until filled.

The ideal candidate is someone with “demonstrated knowledge and experience developing and managing budgets, maintaining sound fiscal policy, day-to-day record-keeping including payroll, and preparation of board and government required reports.”

Also: “Planning, organizational restructuring and business development; fundraising, grant and sponsoring development; recruiting, training and supervising volunteers; producing and directing community relevant programs,

entertainment activities and social event; developing and implementing marketing plans and strategies, and have knowledge in areas of purchasing, facility maintenance, public relations, contracting and technology.”

The candidate must have “the ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with staff and volunteers, the board of directors, governmental agencies, local businesses, media and the community.”

Any applicant who attempts to directly contact individual board members or members of the selection committee with the intent of influencing the decision of the board of committee will be disqualified, according to the announcement.

Resumes are to be sent to the CEO Selection Committee, 14th District Agricultural Association, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville, CA 95076. n

goals of community organizations, local and federal government agencies, and private businesses.

The new leadership comes as Metro focuses on growing post-pandemic ridership with programs like Youth Cruz Free (free rides for K-12 students, and One Ride at a Time, which enables riders to help protect the environment and earn rewards that benefit the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

Metro is in development of 248 affordable housing units on Metro-owned properties.

Two new Metro board members are Scott Newsome on Santa Cruz City Council and Vanessa Quiroz-Carter on the Watsonville City Council.

Metro is beginning hybrid board meetings, allowing in-person and Zoom options. The next board meeting will be at 9 a.m. Friday, March 24, at the Scotts Valley City Council Chambers, 1 Civic Center Drive, Scotts Valley.

The meeting will also be on Zoom. See the 2023 meeting calendar (http:// www.scmtd.com/en/agency-info/board/ board-meeting-schedule). n

Reimagine Metro Forum

Tuesday March 21 • 5 to 6:30 p.m., Online Meeting

Due to extreme weather forecast for Santa Cruz County, the online public forum to Reimagine Metro was rescheduled.

Santa Cruz Metro recently launched Reimagine METRO, a project to examine every aspect of Metro’s route network, with

a goal to make it more frequent, convenient, and reliable for riders. Metro will host an online public forum in English and Spanish to review early findings and invite public input.

“Metro Forum” page 9

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Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson Kristen Brown

A Piece of Quail Hollow Ranch Returns

Quail Hollow Ranch County Park has a long and important history of providing food for the San Lorenzo Valley and beyond during the early years of development of the northern part of Santa Cruz County. The park’s cultural history is an important story to preserve, along with any historic equipment once part of this thriving ranch.

On March 5, Ben Lomond resident Karl H. Schaaf and his two sons, Don and Vaughn, returned a long missing mid- to-late 1800s pioneer blacksmith

forge bellows that is part of Quail Hollow’s history. This large bellows, made of wood, metal, and leather has surprisingly survived mostly intact for more than 150 years.

This item will now be proudly displayed in the historic park’s ranch house.

The Santa Cruz County Parks Department first became aware of the artifact when Karl H. Schaaf, 87, stopped by the park and mentioned to a park maintenance worker that he wished to return an antique blacksmith bellows he’d had in his possession for more than 60 years.

Park Docent Richard James, after further discussion, realized that this was probably an item that had been in use at Quail Hollow ranch since perhaps the 1870s.

Quail Hollow Ranch was first homesteaded beginning in 1866 by Joseph and America Kenville, and generally one of the first important buildings on a ranch was a blacksmith shop with its ever-important furnace, anvil, and air source (bellows) to manufacture and repair all things metal.

Judging from printed patent dates and style of design, the returned bellows most probably dates from that early time period.

Schaaf came into possession of this bellows sometime in the early 1960s during a visit to what was once the Ben Lomond open dump, located near the Quail Hollow Ranch property.

In those days, Schaaf said, the dump policy was to pretty much burn everything that was delivered, with certain items set

aside if the “dump master” thought they might be valuable or usable in the future.

Karl Schaaf happened to visit the dump shortly after a person cleaning out “junk items” from Quail Hollow Ranch had deposited the bellows at the dump.

Schaaf, having an interest in the old bellows, asked to collect this artifact and was allowed to take the bellows home with him.

The dump master at the time told him the bellows came from Quail Hollow Ranch and was left at the dump very recently.

In the 1960s the Quail Hollow property was owned by cattle ranchers Harry and Maude Owen, who operated the ranch from 1957 into the mid-1970s. For 60-plus years, this Quail Hollow artifact languished in a shed on Schaaf’s property, not far from Quail Hollow Ranch. The Parks Department is pleased to see this important artifact has been returned to its original use area, and thankful that Schaaf took care in storing the bellows and worked with Park Docent James to arrange its return. n

Honoring Hunger Fighters: Second Harvest Food Bank Raises 5.2 Million Meals

Inclement March weather did not deter Second Harvest Food Bank

as they revealed the result of their largest annual fundraising event efforts, announced their Hunger Fighters of the Year, and recognized community organizations that made major contributions.

In this sold-out event attended by 255 people at Hotel Paradox in Santa Cruz, The Food Bank announced at the Holiday Food & Fund Drive Awards Dinner that the community raised the equivalent of 5,220,172 healthy meals over the course of the campaign from Nov. 10 to Jan. 15.

One hundred percent of funds raised during this event went toward feeding food-insecure residents of Santa Cruz County.

Second Harvest also recognized local organizations, businesses, and civic groups who stepped up their efforts to help their neighbors in need.

Margaret Loehr of Westview Presbyterian Church’s SonRise Kitchen in Watsonville and Andrew

Trowbridge of Andrew’s Lemonade Stand at High Street Community Church in Santa Cruz were recognized as Hunger Fighters of the Year.

Loehr, soup kitchen manager, has been feeding unhoused residents in South County five days a week for 13 years.

Trowbridge, a student at Santa Cruz High, started his venture five years ago as a family project.

Over the years, the lemonade stand grew to engage community members from all over the county.

Loehr and Trowbridge were awarded several proclamations for their service from the cities of Watsonville, Capitola, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley, along with Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, Congressman Jimmy Panetta’s office and a joint resolution

from State Sen. John Laird and Assembly member Gail Pellerin.

Local businesses and organizations were also recognized for their contributions to the major fundraiser including Twin Lakes Church, UC Santa Cruz, Capitola-Aptos Rotary, and Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center, Universal Audio, Boardwalk Bowl, and Yoga with Amey Mathews.

While these groups’ contribution creates significant impact, The Food Bank recognizes that many smaller organizations’ impact were vital to the overall fundraiser.

Founded in 1972, Second Harvest Food Bank was the first food bank in California and the second in the nation. Its mission is to inspire and support Santa Cruz County to provide nourishment for all community members. Its network of nearly 100 local agencies and programs feeds 75,000 people in Santa Cruz County every month. n

See TheFoodBank.org

Margaret Loehr Andrew Trowbridge

“Pajaro Levee” from page 5

Pajaro Middle School students have a temporary campus at Lakeview Middle School.

Shelters

TheSanta Cruz County fairgrounds in Watsonville is a shelter site for families with students at Hall District and Ohlone Elementary schools. The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau cancelled the muchanticipated National Spring Ag Luncheon scheduled for March 15 at the fairgrounds.

The Santa Cruz County Emergency Operations Center opened shelters with beds, food, supplies and support at the Cabrillo College gym, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos — pets allowed within carriers -and the Veterans Memorial Building 215 E. Beach St., Watsonville.

The County also created a daytime temporary evacuation point at the Scotts Valley Community Center, 370 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley.

Evacuations are based on zones.

For warnings and orders, see https:// community.zonehaven.com.

For shelter information, visit: https:// santacruzcounty.us/OR3/ShelterInformation.aspx

After closing schools in Watsonville Friday and Monday, Pajaro Valley Unified School District — the largest in the county — closed all campuses Tuesday; a decision about Wednesday was pending.

Closed Friday: Pajaro Middle, Lakeview Middle, Alianza, Ann Soldo Elementary, Bradley Elementary, Water

“MANÁ” from page 6

MANÁ, started in 1986 by four friends from Guadalajara, Mexico, includes Fher Olvera as lead singer, guitarist, and main composer; Alex González on drums, Sergio Vallín on lead guitar, and Juan Calleros on bass. In 1992, they released ¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños? which became the best-selling Spanish-language rock album of all time.

They have won 4 Grammy Awards, 9 Latin Grammys including 2018 Person of the Year, 23 Billboard Latin Awards and a

Charter School of the Arts, Watsonville High School, Renaissance High School and the district office.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez said health and safety of students, staff and families is “our highest priority” and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office recommended the closure, based on another severe storm system with heavy rainfall and wind 40 to 70 miles per hour headed this

star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the first Spanish-language rock band to receive that honor. In 2022, the band began a historic residency at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, with 14 sold-out shows to date.

For 28 years, the Selva Negra Ecological Foundation has been the band’s social arm, combining conservation and environmental rescue with social development.

Alejandro Fernández –“El Potrillo” born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, rose to global fame with his unique take on Mexican music.

He has twice won the Latin Grammy

way, with the potential for flooded roads, downed trees and power outages.

Students were asked to take home their Chromebooks and charge them to be ready for online instruction.

“We recognize physical school closures are a challenge for our students, staff and families,” Rodriguez wrote to the community. “Please know that we will assess our school sites, road conditions and

winner and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has sold more than 35 million records worldwide and is the first act to achieve No. 1s on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums in the 1990s, ‘00s, ‘10s, and ‘20s.

He will play a historic show May 20 at Plaza de Toros Mexico, the same place his legendary father played over 40 years ago to 50,000 fans. His North American tour will kick off in September, taking him to 21 cities in the U.S. and Toronto, Canada.

weather throughout the day on Tuesday and we will notify all families, staff and community in the afternoon as soon as a decision has been made.”

Schools Reopen

At 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, she announced all schools but Pajaro Middle School would reopen Wednesday as the storm was predicted to be less severe. Pajaro Middle School students report to Lakeview Middle School. The PVUSD Transportation Department is providing bus service for Hall District and Ohlone Elementary students to and from the fairgrounds shelter. Caltrans expected Highway 1 to be closed for two to three weeks, according to Rodriguez.

Santa Cruz County public works crews were busy in Soquel where they rebuilt part of Main Street, washed out by Bates Creek. This is near where the Land of Medicine Buddha is located, cutting off 150 residents.

In Monterey County, part of Highway 1 near Big Sur was closed by a mudslide. March 16 Deadline

The disaster declaration means that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is authorized to provide 75% federal funding for direct assistance in 34 counties including Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

This does not change the March 16 deadline to apply for FEMA aid for damages from January’s epic storm. n •••

To check state highway conditions, see https://roads.dot.ca.gov/

Community Bridges offers 10 vital programs across 20 different sites, serving thousands.

They provide access to transportation, healthy food, health care, and senior adult day health care as well as offer crises support, case management, early education, grade school tutoring, classes in breastfeeding, nutrition, parenting, and literacy. Most of these services are available at no cost. n

“Metro Forum” from page 7

The forum will be conducted in English and Spanish. Participants can join the meeting via computer or phone; full details are at https://amma.mysocialpinpoint.com/santa-cruz-metro-reimagine/

The forum follows four weeks of surveys and interviews with stakeholders and riders. Riders were asked to share how often they commute on Metro, demographic information and ideas for improving routes.

The goal is to boost ridership. One idea, which began March 1, is allowing K-12 students to ride for free.

“We’re thankful for the input about transit priorities that we’re receiving from riders and community members,” said Metro CEO/General Manager Michael Tree. “The upcoming public forum provides Metro an opportunity to report our findings and preliminary recommendations while hearing community feedback.” n

See scmtd.com/ReimagineMETRO.

Photos Credit: Jeremy Lezin

How to Help Survivors of Earthquake in Turkey From Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

The loss of life from the cataclysmic earthquake in Syria and Turkey is truly hard to process. Over 30,000 people have died and more than a million people are in need of aid and shelter in rain, snow, and temperatures that often dip below freezing.

Our team at the Community Foundation has put together a list of organizations for those looking to give in support of earthquake survivors. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the scale and urgency of humanitarian needs will continue to increase.

We have focused on international aid organizations that are either based in the United States or have offices here so that donors can give with ease from their Donor-Advised Funds.

Our donors have asked for this guidance, and we share this summary with our local community. It is by no means an exhaustive list.

All of these charities work on many simultaneous international relief efforts. If donating through your Donor-Advised Fund, please specify “earthquake relief” in the description field in the donor portal.

Note: All charities listed on this document have received high ratings on either Charity Navigator, Guidestar, or both. The highest rating on Charity Navigator is 4-stars and the rating system on Guidestar goes from bronze to silver to gold to platinum. n

•••

Doctors Without Borders/Medecins

Sans Frontieres is donating emergency and trauma kits, medical supplies and blankets to dozens of hospitals; running mobile medical clinics for people displaced by the earthquakes; dispatched extra medical staff—including surgeons—to hard-hit health facilities.

Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins Sans Frontieres

40 Rector St., 16th Floor

New York, NY 10006

212-679-6800

donations@newyork.msf.org

Guidestar rating: Platinum

Charity Navigator: Four Star

•••

Global Giving is collecting donations to help fund emergency medical workers’ ability to provide food, shelter and medicine, among other necessities. As needs in Turkey and Syria change, the organization will focus on long-term assistance.

Global Giving

1 Thomas Circle NW, Suite 800

Washington, DC 20005 202-232-5784

help@globalgiving.org

Charity Navigator: Four Star

Guidestar rating: Platinum

•••

International Medical Corps is expanding their health, mental health and psychosocial support, protection (including child protection and genderbased violence support), non-food item distribution, and water, sanitation and hygiene services to address immediate needs of the women, children and men affected by the earthquakes.

International Medical Corps

12400 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1500 Los Angeles, CA 90025

310-826-7800

inquiry@internationalmedicalcorps.org

Guidestar rating: Platinum

Charity Navigator: Three Star

•••

Save the Children is coordinating closely with local partners on the ground, including Turkish Red Crescent and Support to Life, to distribute tents, hygiene kits, clothing, heaters, blankets and other essential items. In North West Syria, they’re working with long-standing local partners to distribute tents and winterization kits as well as provide health centers muchneeded fuel

Save the Children

501 Kings Highway East, Suite 400, Fairfield, CT 06825 203-221-4000

supportercare@savechildren.org

Guidestar rating: Platinum

Charity Navigator: Four Star

•••

ShelterBox works to provide families with life-saving shelter and essential tools and supplies after displacement from natural disasters and conflict. ShelterBox teams are on the ground in Gaziantep- a large city in southern Turkey where ShelterBox has pre-existing humanitarian partners and suppliers. They are working around the clock to mobilize aid that has been pre-positioned in strategic hubs around the world into the affected regions of both Syria and Turkey and responding with blankets, mattresses, winter clothes, heaters, and shelter kits that include tarpaulins, tools, and solar lights.

ShelterBox

101 Innovation Place Santa Barbara, CA 93108 (805) 608-2400

info@shelterboxusa.org

Guidestar rating: Platinum

Charity Navigator: Four Star

•••

Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) Foundation is a global medical relief organization working on the front lines of earthquake relief providing medical care for earthquake survivors. For online gifts, select “Earthquake Relief Syria” under programs to support.

Syrian American Medical Society

PO Box 34115 Washington, DC 20043

info@sams-usa.net

202-930-7802

Guidestar rating: Gold

Charity Navigator: Four Star

•••

United Nations Refugee Agency is working on the ground providing blankets, emergency shelter, lifesaving aid and medicine.

USA for UN Refugee Agency

1310 L ST NW, STE 450 Washington, DC 20005

1-(855)-808-6427

Guidestar rating: Platinum

•••

United Nations World Food Program USA, has on-the-ground support underway providing food assistance for earthquake survivors in both Turkey and Syria.

UN World Food Program, USA

1725 Eye Street NW, Suite 510

Washington, DC 20006 (202) 627-3939

giving@wfpusa.org

Charity Navigator: Four Star

•••

World Central Kitchen: WCK is delivering fresh meals to families displaced and local authorities stretched thin due to the scale of the disaster.

World Central Kitchen

Attn: Donor Services Team

200 Massachusetts Ave NW, 7th Floor

Washington, DC 20001

hello@wck.org

Charity Navigator: Four Star

Preventing Suicide

By Jondi Gumz

Childhood trauma, bullying, a disrupted relationship. perfectionism, LGBTQ rejection — and then something happens, the last straw, and a young person decides life is not worth living.

It’s happened here in Santa Cruz County, grieving friends and family.

What to do?

OnMarch 10, experts at the 25th Annual Jon E. Nadherny/Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium at the Coconut Grove spoke to 400 clinicians, educators and policymakers who deal with this question every day.

For Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the topic is more than academic.

“I have a 21-year-old trans child,” she said.

Moutier said evidence-based strategies are:

• Decreasing access to means (such as a gun or pills)

• Increasing access to care (although clinicians are in short supply)

• Increasing coping and problemsolving skills

• Increasing connectedness.

“You don’t have to be trained to engage in these conversations,” Moutier said.

Her organization has a campaign called “Seize the Awkward” with a 15-second tutorial at seizetheawkward.org: Are you alright? Do you want to talk about it?

To break the ice, create a coupon that says, “Good for Chill & Talk.”

Prevention Walk

The organization, which has 74 chapters in 50 states, hosts “Out of the Darkness” prevention walks, a journey of remembrance, hope, and support.

One will take place Sept. 30 at Skypark in Scotts Valley, where participants will no doubt remember Mateo Delhi, who ended his life at 15. For information, contact Farah Galvez Theissen, 707-721-4062, or AFSPSta CruzCtyWalk@gmail.com.

There are model policies for school districts, including what to do after a suicide, and more than a half dozen programs, including Survivor Day Nov. 20. Moutier, in her training, had only a half hour covering suicide.

“It was always an orphan topic,” she said.

When she talked about pediatricians screening kids 12 and up for suicidal thoughts — a new guideline — the room broke into applause.

“Memorial Youth Symposium” page 12

What every birthday needs, party planners.

Choosing the right foods. Deciding on a safe exercise routine. Creating a birth plan. As a mom-to-be, you have a lot of planning to look forward to. Fortunately, Dignity Health – Dominican Hospital’s Family Birth Center has a whole team of specialists ready to safely guide you throughout your journey—from the support of our midwives to the added security of the only Level III NICU in the Monterey Bay area standing by. We even have live virtual classes to help you prepare for the big day.

Take a virtual tour of our Birth Center at DominicanBaby.org.

DeQuincy Meiffren-Lezin, of Lived Experience Academy

“Memorial Youth Symposium” from page 11

Screening for depression will miss 32% of those with issues, she said.

She recommended involving the family at the onset of treatment, not waiting until a young person tries to end his or her life.

A good way to follow up after discharge: “Caring Contacts,” postcards, phone calls or emails, which she said Aetna is doing.

Lifeline: 988

The national suicide lifeine 988, which launched in July, is answered locally by 59 volunteers and 16 staff, according to Andrea Tolaio, program manager at Suicide Prevention Services of the Central Coast. Responders go through the 50+ hours of training and more are needed. Call 831-459-9373, x 37, or email sps24hr@fsa-cc.org

Lifeline calls in Santa Cruz County increased from 1,846 in 2021 to 2,901 in 2022.

In 2022, based on those callers who shared personal information, 38% were between ages 11 and 29.

Among the situations prompting calls: Abuse by a mom and her boyfriend, inappropriate touch by stepdad, parents fighting, and feeling trapped in a homophobic environment.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Wellness Centers

ForDr. Faris Sabbah, superintendent of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, the topic hits home.

He said a 12-year-old boy in his family is at risk.

Sabbah has federal funding to open

Family Wellness Centers, one in North County, one in South County, locations to be announced.

“We have access to students for a third of their lives,” he said. “Services have to be co-located.”

Again, the room broke into applause.

He hopes to have wellness centers at all eight high schools in the county, as Salinas does.

In the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, the largest in the county, Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez saw a need and pushed to open a Family Wellness Center, which opened a year ago.

Who Will Pay?

Sabbah identified the biggest problem for parents who want their children to get help: Who’s going to pay? They may have health insurance, but the insurer may not pay, determining that service is not needed.

They may not have any insurance, or perhaps they don’t know they qualify for health insurance from the government.

“We have to be able to provide services regardless of insurance,” said Sabbah as the room applauded again.

Dr. Michael Paynter oversees the Companion Project to give students in complex cases an advocate.

A new initiative is Hope Squad, which has started at Scotts Valley High School.

Monarch Services, addressing domestic violence, has a Youth Council.

NAMI Santa Cruz County will offer parent training.

The SafeRx Coalition, formed in 2015, is focusing on making Narcan, life-saving naloxone, available in schools to reverse a potentially deadly opioid overdose.

More than three dozen fentanyl deaths took place last year in Santa Cruz County; in some cases, a young person ordered pills for sleep online and they arrived tainted with deadly fentanyl.

This month, a 12-year-old girl overdosed on fentanyl in downtown Santa Cruz, showing the need for naloxone.

Despite the challenges, Sabbah is hopeful, telling those at the daylong conference, “I believe every day you are saving lives.”

County Efforts

In 2021, Santa Cruz County launched the Mobile Emergency Response Team for Youth was launched in 2021 for those up to age 21 in South County. Services are available weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Call 1-800-952-2335.

Andrea Turnbull, interim manager of crisis services for Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health, said a new van has just arrived to serve youth in North County .

The number of youth served grew from 272 in 2021 to 361 in 2022.

AB 988 funded the mobile teams and the new 988 suicide and crisis lifeline. The state must write a 5-year plan for the 988 system by Dec. 31.

The county’s Mental Health Pocket Guide lists resources to call, such as National Alliance on Mental Illness, which has peer support groups 831-427-8020, Lighthouse Counseling, part of Janus of Santa Cruz, 831-462-1060, Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, 728-6445, Monarch Services Crisis Line, 888-900-4232, and the Trevor Project, 866-488-7386.

What Santa Cruz County doesn’t have a residential facility for youth in crisis. To get that help, families have had to drive outside the county.

Hope is on the horizon with the county’s impending purchase of 5300 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, an office building owned by Bay Federal Credit Union, with plans to remodel and retrofit for 16 inpatient beds. The county is asking for bids, and construction is expected to start next year, with opening due in late 2024.

James Russell has been hired as manager. Lived Experience

DeQuincy Meiffren-Lezine, who has a PhD and directs the Lived Experience Academy, talked about his experience going from being suicidal to growth.

“If I had access to a gun,” I wouldn’t be here,” he said.

He said the acute phase can be very short, hours or minutes, giving time to intervene.

When he was talking to someone with suicidal thoughts, he offered options that were rejected. But when he suggested, “Why not go to sleep?” the man agreed, saying, “I can do that.”

That’s an example of distraction.

For an in-person intervention, he recommends staying with the person and making eye contact until the acute phase ends.

Friends and family can provide help in a crisis, he said.

After someone has tried to end his or her life, it’s important, he said, to look forward — not just on what happenedin the past.

“If we keep people in this state of alert, we’re increasing their risk of suicide,” he said. “Just because somebody has had a crisis, you don’t give up on their growth.”

A personal relationship saved him.

“I call my wife my North Star,” he said. “It was an attachment so strong, I didn’t think about dying.”

A “life kit,” can make a difference, he added, not just putting a gun into a lockbox, but putting in a photo of your children inside, too, to remind you of your strongest reason for living.

Ben Geilhufe, manager of the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Gender Specialty Clinic, has been an educator and advocate for the transgender community since beginning his own transition in 2006. His private practice is in Santa Cruz.

He said 95% of queer and transgender youth have seriously considered suicide — “staggering numbers.”

Local resources include the Diversity Center and www.sctrans.org.

How to Cope

Meiffren-Lezine: Delete all the apps on your cellphone like Bilie Eilish did, to avoid negative comments.

Moutier: Positive survival stories can inspire others and spread hope.

Sabbah: We’re looking at peer counseling.

Meiffren-Lezine: NowMattersNow.org offers support.

Trunbull: County clinics at 1400 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz and 1430 Freedom Boulevard, Wasonville, are open to all. n

Linda Calciano listens to her son Nick Calciano at the microphone

The board members of the Jon A. Nadherny/Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium

Salmon Season Closed Until 2024

On March 13, on recommendation from California and Oregon agency representatives and industry advisors, the National Marine Fisheries Service took inseason action to cancel ocean salmon fishery openers scheduled between Cape Falcon, Ore., and the U.S./Mexico border through May 15.

The sport fishery had been scheduled to open off California in most areas on April 1.

California wildlife officials said the actions were taken to protect Sacramento River fall Chinook, which returned to the Central Valley in 2022 at near-record low numbers, and Klamath River fall Chinook, which had the second lowest abundance forecast since the current assessment method began in 1997.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council produced three regulatory options for May 16, 2023, through May 15, 2024. None would authorize commercial or ocean salmon sport fishing off California until April 2024.

The PFMC approved these alternatives for public review.

On March 21, the PFMC will hold a public hearing in Santa Rosa to receive public comment on the three proposed

final regulations. n

Silicon Valley Bank Closure Worries

Editor’s note: After Santa Clara-based Silicon Valley Bank closed March 10, Capitola-based Bay Federal Credit Union posted this FAQ.

•••

What happened with the Silicon Valley Bank closure?

Silicon Valley Bank collapsed after a bank run and a capital crisis led to the second-largest failure of a financial institution in US history.

California regulators closed down the tech lender and put it under the control of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The FDIC will liquidate the bank’s assets to pay back its customers, including depositors and creditors.

Could something like this happen to Bay Federal Credit Union?

Bay Federal Credit Union has a diversified membership base that represents the communities that we serve.

As a result, we do not concentrate risk in one area that could adversely affect the deposits of the Credit Union.

We are financially sound and at very low risk.

What assurances do I have about Bay Federal’s ability to stay in business?

As a member-owned cooperative, Bay Federal Credit Union has a responsibility to its membership to operate in a financially-sound manner. The Credit Union is considered well-capitalized by as defined by our regulator and insurer, the National Credit Union Administration.

Bay Federal’s balance sheet is welldiversified with approximately 65% of its

assets in loans to members such as auto and home loans, along with personal loans.

Approximately 30% of its assets are in cash and investments. The investment portfolio is considered very safe and structured to provide ongoing cash flow for operations.

Finally, the Credit Union has posted strong returns for many years. Our Annual Reports are posted on our website and include our financial position at the time of each report.

What happens to my money if something happens to Bay Federal Credit Union?

The National Credit Union Administration, or NCUA, is an independent agency of the United States Government that regulates and supervises federal credit unions.

The NCUA also operates the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which insures the accounts of federal credit unions, like Bay Federal.

The NCUSIF protects members from loss should their credit union fail. You’ll be pleased to know that no member has lost money from accounts insured by the NCUSIF!

What do I have to do to ensure I am covered by NCUSIF?

Deposits at Bay Federal Credit Union are automatically covered by National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund protection. Federally insured credit unions offer a safe place for you to save your money, with deposits insured up to at least $250,000 per individual depositor.

“Bay Fed FAQ” page 23

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Responses to Silicon Valley Bank Closing

Editor’s note: Local bank and credit union CEOs posted these letters to the community after Silicon Valley Bank closed March 10.

•••

Bay Federal Credit Union

By now, you have probably heard the recent news regarding the sudden closure of Silicon Valley Bank. We are committed to helping our valued member-owners, like you, feel secure and supported in your banking relationship with Bay Federal Credit Union.

Bay Federal Credit Union is a community-based, member-owned financial institution with a mission of lending out the deposits from the membership back to the membership. You may rest assured Bay Federal Credit Union is considered financially sound and well-capitalized. The Credit Union’s balance sheet is primarily comprised of member auto loans and member real estate loans. Our investment portfolio is considered very safe by industry standards. All member accounts are insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund.

Bay Federal Credit Union is committed to serving our members today and well into the future. We sincerely appreciate the trust you have placed in us and thank you for your dedication to your credit union! If you have any questions at all, please reach out

by visiting one of our branches or by calling our Member Service Center at 831.479.6000 or 888.4BAYFED, option 3.

—

Carrie

L. Birkhofer,

President & CEO, Bay Federal Credit Union •••

Santa Cruz County Bank

We want to take a moment to reinforce the safety and soundness of Santa Cruz County Bank in light of recent industry events, particularly the failure of Silicon Valley Bank. SVB’s failure was primarily due to their heavy concentration in banking hightech, venture-based companies, combined with significant unrealized losses in their securities portfolio caused by rapidly rising interest rates.

Our business model is fundamentally different.

Our client base is diverse and stable. We do not have any significant industry concentrations nor concentrations with individual clients.

Our capital position significantly exceeds the regulatory levels for being considered “well-capitalized” and any changes to our securities portfolio would not have a material impact on our capital.

“Letters” page 23

Real Estate Update

Ruth Bates

831.359.2212

ruthbates1@gmail.com

CalBRE#01799929

It is totally at SELLER’S MARKET: super low inventory, high home values hold tight. PROP 19 MAY BE FOR YOU WHO

QUALIFIES?

If you’re over the age of 55, have lost your home to a wildfire, or have a permanent disability, Prop 19 allows you to move to a new home without incurring a property tax hike, saving you thousands of dollars per year.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Move Anywhere in the State of California

• “Downsize”, purchase a less expensive home that better fits your needs

• “Upsize”, purchase a more expensive home (increased tax only on amount higher than sales price of current home)

• Transfer your original tax base to a new home up to three times

• Purchase of your new home must be done within 2 years of sale of the original “DOWNSIZE” EXAMPLE

You purchased your home in 1980 for $100,000 and have owned your home for 43 years. Your current assessed value for property taxes is $250,000. The Santa Cruz County General Property Tax Rate is 1.0% plus the various school bonds, road programs, etc. add on another .1-.2%, so let’s ‘estimate’ your tax basis at $250,000 *1.2% = $3000/year. The current market value of your home is $1,200,000.

Your grandkids now live in Sacramento and you want to move to a nice townhome nearby; the cost of the townhome is $500,000. Property Tax on a $500,000 home at 1.2% = $6,000/year

But with Prop 19, you can sell your home for $1,200,000, take your after-tax proceeds and purchase your new home with cash for $500,000 and take your tax basis of only $3,000 per year with you, so you save $3,000 per year in Property Taxes.

“UPSIZE” EXAMPLE

You’ve retired and decide to buy a new home in San Diego for $1,500,000. You can still transfer you $3000 tax basis on the $1,200,000 sales price of your home and only pay the incremental property tax on $300,000. The additional tax would be $300,000 * 1.2% = $3600 so your total tax would be $6,600/year on a property worth $1,500,000. Without Prop 19, your tax would have been $1,500,000 *1.2% = $18,000, so you save $11,400 per year

• Contact your tax accountant or attorney for your specific situation analysis.

• Contact ME to Sell Your Property Quickly and at Highest Value!

Go and enjoy a fabulous breakfast or lunch at Red Apple before my show ends on 3/31.

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

Pop-Up Breakfast Returns to Farmers Market

Cheers to sitting together and eating together! The Santa Cruz Community Farmers Markets are head-over-heels to bring back a small, sweet version of the Pop-Up Breakfast Series, hosting two breakfasts this summer. Tickets became available March 2.

These beautiful meals are hosted at the Westside Farmers Market and highlight the regional agriculture and food artisan community.

Funds raised support educational and food-access programs including the Foodshed Project and Market Match.

View the photo album at https:// www.flickr.com/photos/150855855@ N06/sets/72157681064890964 and check out this video clip at https://www. flickr.com/photos/150855855@N06/ sets/72157681064890964

The series features admired local chefs and cooks and employs graduates of the Santa Cruz County FoodWhat?! youth empowerment program.

Upon arrival, guests choose seats by placing their own plate and silverware at a table. A local band plays old-time Italian, Spanish and bluegrass standards while folks drink a hot beverage and await the first course. At 10 a.m., plates of seasonal cuisine made with ingredients sourced from the markets begin rolling out.

Guests eat and visit while farmers and chefs share their knowledge and perspective of agriculture, community and consumer choice in the food system.

Andy Huynh of Full Steam Dumpling will be in charge on July 29 followed by chef Katherine Stern of The Midway on Aug 12.

Huynh and the team of cooks at Full Steam are an experimental, curious, inspired crew, frequently changing the menu and playing with regional cuisines inside and outside of their own family traditions. They source seasonally and locally as much as they can, working with farms and ranches in the market circuit. Best known for their dumplings and ramen made from scratch, some kind of magic is certain to happen.

Stern returns to the series in high demand. Head chef for a decade at La Posta, a small beloved Italian restaurant, she launched The Midway in 2020.

The Midway serves fruit and vegetable-centric wholesome, savory and sweet dishes at the Westside and Live Oak markets. After a

yearlong collaboration with Bad Animal in downtown Santa Cruz, Stern is building out a permanent space, details to be announced. n

•••

Aug. 12 Menu:

Housemade yogurt, stone fruit, toasted almond, honey

Gem salad - summer tomatoes, eggplant, walnut dukkah, herbs

Potato & sweet alyssum - roasted onion and sorrel

Fogline Farm pork shoulder - slow cooked with grilled fig and sage

Fresh shelling beans - summer peppers & greens with toasted breadcrumb salsa

Lemon verbena rice pudding - slow-roasted strawberry, cornbread crumble Beverages courtesy of Syllable Coffee

•••

Tickets range in price from $50-$150, a specific number of tickets available at each level. Organizers ask people to sincerely consider what they are able to contribute and to do so, preserving lower-cost tickets for those with less discretionary funds.

Final Spring Forward Against Cancer Gala

Saturday, March 25 • 5:30 p.m. • Chaminade Resort, Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group will host its 25th, and final, Spring Forward Against Cancer gala at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Chaminade Resort in Santa Cruz.

Spring Forward Against Cancer gala

is Santa Cruz County’s largest art, wine and lifestyle auction with more than 300 silent auction items generously donated by local artists, restaurants, wineries and more.

All proceeds benefit Hospice of Santa Cruz County; Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services; Katz Cancer Resource Center; UC Santa Cruz

Biomedical Sciences; Teen Kitchen Project; and WomenCARE Cancer Advocacy.

This event features a very special performance by renowned musician and cancer survivor James Lee Stanley. Stanley, 76, is an American singer, songwriter, composer and producer who has released 34 albums.

This finale event brings together

the Santa Cruz community in support of Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group’s nonprofit partners to inspire new initiatives to bring help into the lives of those with cancer.

In 1995, five friends raised a glass to each other and made a promise to dedicate their time and energy to raise money to support people living with cancer in their community. Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group has done that for 25 years, and raised funds for new research into more effective treatment solutions. n

Gala tickets are $225 per person, or $2,750 for a table of 10, at sccbg.org.

My New GE Range Shattered

Do I Have to Wait Two Months For a Repair?

By Christopher Elliott

When the door on Lauren Butcher’s new GE range shatters, the company makes her wait two months for a repair. She wants a new oven. Who’s right? •••

Ipurchased a new GE electric range. I had it for 12 days. On the 13th day, the door glass shattered.

When a technician came out, he discovered that there was no insulation in the door. All oven doors are supposed to have insulation. There was a product defect.

GE says it is covering the replacement part. It has been two months, and the insulation is backordered. I have been without a working oven for two months.

I paid $800 for a range that never should have made it off the production line. They took my money and gave me a fundamentally defective product. Now I am a hostage, for an indefinite period, to GE’s supply chain issues.

My situation is not the same as purchasing a product where a part eventually goes bad. This stove was fundamentally defective when I bought it. I have two renters living with me. They pay me to have access to certain basic amenities, including an oven. One of my roommates is in culinary school. Can you help me?

— Lauren Butcher, Bentonville, Ark.

You’re right, this is not a warranty case. GE should have quickly replaced the unit, which should have never passed inspection at the factory.

When you told them you had a housemate in culinary school, GE should have double-timed it. But, of course, it didn’t. Instead, it treated your case like an ordinary warranty case.

This could have ended up so much worse. The shattered glass could have injured someone, potentially turning into an expensive lawsuit. Fortunately, no one was hurt. But being without an oven for two months is a major inconvenience.

I’ve seen more of these backorder delays recently. They are probably related to the supply chain issues some

Shop Locally Owned Businesses

By Colin Disheroon, CEO

Thirteen years ago, I founded Santa Cruz Naturals, a small cannabis lifestyle store in Aptos. Inspired by my ethos for environmental stewardship and organic living, I saw legal cannabis as a wonderful small family business opportunity, and a powerful tool to take power away from gangs and organized crime. Ten years later, continuing with my local- rst ethos, I opened Santa Cruz Naturals in the currently ooded township of Pajaro.

protocols and covid-pay policies, perpetually overshadowed by the cannabis industry’s ineligibility for seemingly any nancial support. Investors saw the spike in revenue as a sign that cannabis was not just recession proof, but pandemic proof.

companies are having. The problem is, what do you do about it? Do you make your customers wait for weeks or months? Or do you get them a working appliance quickly?

The answer, of course, is you get them a replacement quickly. If you can’t nudge the company in the right direction, check out my free guide on replacing your appliance on my advocacy site, Elliott.org.

A brief, polite email to one of the company’s executives might have done the trick. I list the names, numbers and emails of the top executives at GE on my site. I would start by contacting one of the vice presidents and then work your way up the ladder.

I contacted GE on your behalf. A representative reached out to you and arranged to have a new range delivered. “Our customer service team spoke with Ms. Butcher this morning, and she is all set,” a GE representative told me. “This case is now closed.”

Maybe. But it would have been interesting to hear how GE is improving its inspections to avoid any more shattering ovens. And I suspect that after this is published, I’ll hear from a few more customers with broken ovens. We shall see. n

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site. • © 2023 Christopher Elliott.

In 1996, California’s Proposition 215 ushered in a green rush for cannabis. Stayat-home farmers earned upwards of $3500 per pound of ower, and many families could a ord a comfortable lifestyle in Coastal California working in the budding cannabis industry. At that time I was able to open Santa Cruz Naturals without taking on signi cant investment capital and still was able to apply my ethos that celebrated the legendary cannabis of Santa Cruz while at the same time supporting local farmers. But as the dawn of the medical marijuana era approached, wholesale prices fell, dispensary sales slowed, and the costs of regulation climbed. e era of small family cannabis was coming to an end.

On Jan 1, 2018, California began recreational cannabis sales through state-licensed retailers, and sales surged once again, but not without extreme tax rates and much higher operating costs. As revenues climbed, so did investment into the industry. Cultivation facilities expanded, highly litigious competitive licensing processes opened around the state, and multi-state operators (MSOs) began acquisitions of smaller operations. Cannabis retail businesses were being sold at crazy rates, sometimes upwards of 3x of gross annual revenues, albeit mostly in company stock that in many cases became worthless.

When the pandemic hit, like toilet paper, cannabis sales exploded ushering another cannabis green rush. But along with that spike in sales came a urry of COVID

Billions of dollars poured into increasing the footprints of cultivation and manufacturing facilities, and MSO’s ramped up their expansion into what was referred to as a “frothy market.” But most investors failed to recognize that this “surge” was really being driven by shelter-in-place mandates creating a perfect cocktail of boredom, anxiety, antisocialism, unemployment checks, stimulus money, and unlimited high-speed home entertainment. To quote Bob Dylan, “everybody must get stoned.”

In May of 2021, just when these massive expansion e orts came to fruition, the economy reopened. e bubble began to burst. Unemployment and stimulus checks stopped, and people went back to work. e market was inundated with mid-grade cannabis, and wholesale prices collapsed. Revenues headed into freefall, triggering what is now referred to as “the great cannabis extinction event.” Since that time, the cannabis industry has seen one business a er another fail, with the smallest, family operated businesses being the hardest hit. As a small business owner, husband, father of 3, and a South County resident, I speak from experience when I say that choosing the “cheapest” is rarely the best choice. Small communities like Aptos have an opportunity to in uence the local economy by simply voting with our dollar. By shopping locally, you not only support local families, but the variety and quality of products and service that only small business owners can provide. ank you for your continued vote of support of Santa Cruz Naturals. When you support us, you are supporting your local community members, not out-of-area shareholders looking for ways to undercut the market.

R ainbow C a R pets and F loo R s And More!

By Edita McQuary

Dean Sturtevant and his wife

Rochelle have been in the local carpet and flooring business for 46 years.

Santa Cruz natives Dean and brother Don started the business, however, Don retired eight years ago.

When Don retired, Dean and Rochelle got out of the national buying group and became independent. They now have all local non-commissioned sales people, so there is no pressure involved in selling to customers.

Rainbow Carpets and Floors offer free professional in-home or in-office estimates. Some of their installers have been with them for 40 years offering the best quality installations in the Central Coast.

Rainbow Carpets and Floors offer topquality material with box-store pricing.

Their goal is to provide customer service and satisfaction. They know the value of return customers. They are proficient both in residential and commercial projects.

Some past customers have been West Marine Corporate Office, Kirby School, Watsonville Hospital and many local churches.

They have also worked with local contractors on their flooring needs.

“I believe our advice and experience has saved clients a lot of money,” said Dean.

“We provide the high-quality service that the big box stores are not able to

provide. Personal relationships in the community and word-of-mouth referrals have been vital to our business,” he added.

Rainbow Carpets and Floors carry a wide range of popular brands such as Armstrong, Mannington, Shaw, Mohawk, among many others. They also have a warehouse on site to facilitate getting customers the flooring they want.

Rochelle has been involved with Soquel Village Antiques for 15 years. She

has some very interesting, high-quality antique furniture on display at the Airport Boulevard store in Watsonville.

Both Dean and Rochelle are Soquel High School graduates and have been married 41 years. They have five children and eight grandchildren.

In-store employee/estimator Genny Sabatino has been with them 15 years and Justin Foy recently joined them from a prior position in Santa Cruz.

“Flooring is what we know better than anyone – it’s what we do better than anyone,” said Dean.

Customers are invited to come see for themselves. n

Rainbow Carpets and Floors is located at 432 Airport Boulevard, Watsonville. Phone: 831-728-5092. Open Mon. — Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

www.rainbowcarpetsandfloors.com

SB 478 Targets Hidden Fees

Hidden fees are a concern nationwide.

On Feb. 14, Attorney General Rob Bonta, with Sen. Bill Dodd and Sen. Nancy Skinner, introduced Senate Bill 478, landmark legislation seeking to prohibit in California the practice of hiding mandatory fees.

“Transparency and full disclosure in pricing are crucial for fair competition and consumer protection,” said Bonta. “The price you see should be the price you pay. Unfortunately, from car rental and hotel fees to concert ticket service charges, this bait-and-switch practice has become normalized in the purchasing process. It is unfair to businesses playing by the rules, and unfair to American families.”

Bait-and-switch advertising to hide

required fees is a significant problem facing consumers that appears to be proliferating in more and more sectors of the economy. The situation commonly arises when buying online.

Hidden required fees are now charged for a variety of goods and services, such as lodging, concert tickets, restaurants and food delivery, telecom and internet service, and car rentals and purchases. This can include resort fees for access to internet and the pool, charging by an airline for seat selection or for printing a boarding pass, or cleaning fees for a vacation rental.

Hiding required fees is nothing more than a deceptive way of hiding the true cost of a good or service, according to Bonta. n

A draft of the proposed legislation is at https://tinyurl.com/ca-hidden-fees-amendment.

Bill to Ban Toxic Chemicals in Food

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) has introduced legislation to ban the sale in California of processed foods containing dangerous and toxic chemicals already banned in the European Union.

A first-of-its-kind measure, Assembly Bill 418 would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of any food product in California containing Red Dye No. 3, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Bromate, Brominated Vegetable Oil, or Propyl Paraben.

Each of these chemicals is currently banned in the European Union due to scientific studies that have demonstrated significant public health harms, including increased risk of cancer, behavioral issues in children, harm to the reproductive system, and damage to the immune system.

“Californians shouldn’t have to worry that the food they buy in their neighborhood grocery store might be full of dangerous additives or toxic chemicals,” said Gabriel, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. “This bill will correct for a concerning lack of federal oversight and help protect our kids, public health, and the safety of our food supply.”

“Why are these toxic chemicals in our food?” said Susan Little, the Environmental Working Group’s governmental affairs senior advocate for California. “We know they are harmful and that children are likely eating more of these chemicals

than adults. It makes no sense that the same products food manufacturers sell in California are sold in the European Union but without these toxic chemicals. We thank Assemblymember Gabriel’s efforts to remove these toxic additives from California’s food supply.”

Currently, there are thousands of chemicals added to food to make it last longer, taste better, and appear more enticing.

Most of these chemicals have never been independently evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or were last reviewed decades ago.

Instead, these chemicals have entered the nation’s food supply through a loophole in federal law—known as “generally recognized as safe” or GRAS—that was intended to apply to common household ingredients like vinegar.

As a result of this loophole, chemical companies have added new substances to the food supply with almost no meaningful federal oversight.

Many of the dangerous additives currently banned in the Er and other nations are found in processed foods and candies that are marketed to children, low-income consumers, and communities of color in the United States.

If enacted, AB 418 would make California the first state in the nation to ban the use of these dangerous chemicals in processed foods.

The measure is expected to be heard in committee in the coming weeks. n

Meet New Animal Shelter General Manager

The next general manager of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is Amber Rowland, who succeeds Melanie Sobel, who left in July after 11

years and is now head of the Denver Animal Shelter.

County parks chief Jeff Gaffney has been interim general manager.

Rowland’s first day will be Thursday, March 23. She will oversee shelter, field, and outreach operations with an annual budget of $5 million and 30 employees.

“I am so excited to get started working with the people and animals of Santa Cruz County,” Rowland said. “I am passionate about socially conscious sheltering practices and committed to working collaboratively with the Board, the staff and the community to maintain SCCAS’ position as one of the most respected shelters in California.”

With 17 years in animal services, Rowland has experience as a shelter leader, developing programs, facilities, operations and policies for animal welfare goals in the city of Austin, Texas, which agreed to limit euthanizations to 10 percent.

As a program manager with Austin Animal Services, Rowland supervised staff and volunteers, planned and executed major operational changes and events, and served as the public face of the agency. She also has experience as an animal control officer and humane educator for Salt Lake County Animal Services.

Rowland was approved unanimously by the shelter board on Feb. 13 following a competitive nationwide search.

“We sought someone who would build on our amazing internal staff and operations as well as strengthen our relationships with the community,” Board Chair Chris Clark said. “Amber has the right skills, experience and temperament to make her an excellent choice as our next director.”

Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is a publicly funded joint powers authority serving the County of Santa Cruz, and the cities of Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Watsonville, and Capitola.

It is an open admission shelter which welcomes every animal in need, with a goal to be a humane resource for the community by providing a safety net and second chance for local animals.

With locations in Live Oak and Watsonville, the shelter offers adoption services, low-cost spay/neuter programs for all resident pets, 24-hour rescue services, Catio Tours, and operates the Benefits Shop. n

Women’s History Month: Remembering Dr. Walker, Earhart and Anthony

With heartfelt gratitude, Wreaths Across America pays tribute to the women of our history and honors those who continue to blaze trails into the future.

Women’s History Month is the perfect time to visit the Wreaths Across America TEACH curriculum for students in grades K-12.

Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, was also a nurse’s aide in Canada during World War I. “Lady

Lindy,” as she was named, opened the skies to women worldwide.

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker shaped history during the Civil War. She was ridiculed most of her life for not conforming to the woman’s wardrobe standards of the day, preferring men’s clothing for comfort instead. Dr. Walker remains the only female Medal of Honor recipient.

Susan B. Anthony, a champion for women’s rights, led the way for women’s right to vote.

History lessons abound with intriguing stories of service and success by women who were soldiers or healers, spies or confidants, rulers or attendants. You can learn about these extraordinary women and so much more in the Wreaths Across America TEACH curriculum produced by lifelong educator Cindy Tatum.

Tatum retired in 2020 after 26 years as a government and economics high school teacher in Tennessee. An American Gold Star Mother, Cindy is passionate about developing lesson plans that build

character, develop respect, and provide a blueprint for community service.

The lesson plans adhere to the National Council on Social Studies and state Common Core standards. The lesson plan downloads are free of charge and developed in partnership with other like-minded organizations, such as the American Rosie Movement. Rosie the Riveters, as they have come to be known, who were ordinary women who stepped up to serve in and under extraordinary circumstances to help their nation. n

Learn more at https://learn.wreathsacross america.org/teach.

Amelia Earhart Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Susan B. Anthony

Benefits of Crop Rotation

By Tony Tomeo

Maya Angelou likely enjoyed gardening. She said, “In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” That is how the healthiest of ecosystems, including home gardens, function. Vegetable gardens are generally diverse. However, each group of a particular vegetable is rather homogenous. Crop rotation can compensate with diversity through the seasons.

Crop rotation is growing different vegetables in particular places from season to season. It is the same as growing particular vegetables in different places from season to season. Distinctly consumptive vegetable plants should relocate each season. Less consumptive sorts may perform adequately in the same place for years. Diversity makes it interesting.

Each type of vegetable plant consumes particular nutrients from the soil. Eventually, they can deplete their soil of these particular nutrients. Crop rotation allows them to utilize the nutrients they need from undepleted soil instead. Meanwhile, other vegetable plants can grow in the vacated soil. These different types of plants utilize different types of nutrients.

For example, tomato plants notoriously deplete the soil of particular nutrients. Corn does the same. However, each depletes different nutrients. Therefore, corn can be satisfied in soil vacated by tomato plants. Likewise, tomato plants can be satisfied in soil vacated by corn. Furthermore, each promotes the restoration of the soil nutrients needed by the next.

Crop rotation also disrupts proliferation of several pathogens that infest vegetable plants. Dormant spores of bean

rust disease overwinter in the soil beneath infested bean plants. They efficiently infest any receptive bean plants to occupy the soil during the next spring. However, they can not infest plants that are not related to beans, such as pepper or okra. Summer vegetables should be situated accordingly as they return to vegetable gardens. Tomato, pepper and eggplants are related, so should not grow where any grew last year. The same applies to bean and pea. Squash and cucumber are related also, but are less consumptive. They may perform adequately within the same soil for more than one year. Several summer and winter vegetables are related. •••

Jalapeno Pepper

Pecan is the State Tree of Texas. Bluebonnet is the State Flower of Texas. Less natively, jalapeno pepper, Capsicum annuum, is the State Pepper of Texas. It is naturalized there from Central and South America.

Jalapeno pepper is merely one of countless varieties of the species though. Furthermore, it comprises several and various culinary subvarieties.

Jalapeno pepper typically grows as a warm season annual vegetable. It has potential to be perennial. Overwintering is likely more work than annual replacement though. Mature plants can grow almost three feet tall. They may produce nearly two dozen fruits through summer. They crave sunny and warm exposure, rather rich soil, and consistent watering.

Mature fruits, or jalapeno chile peppers, are firm and crisp. They should be between two and four inches long, and as wide as an inch and a half. Their smooth and glossy skin is deep green, but can ripen to red, orange or rarely yellow. Red fruit is preferable for some culinary application. Jalapeno pepper may be the most familiar of the ‘hot’ chile peppers. n

Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo. com.

Squash eventually depletes particular soil nutrients.

Jalapeno peppers are harvested before ripening.

Raising Chickens? Keep Your Hens Happy

With the price of eggs skyrocketing due to inflation and a shortage due to avian flu in commercial flocks, more people are looking into raising chickens for themselves.

As of March 3, Scotts Valley Feed is selling chicks, according to Linda Wilt, working the sales counter Thursday.

The store has all the necessary supplies on hand.

For those thinking about raising chickens, Anastasia Gil-Torres, who lives

in Santa Cruz, shares her experience via email with this cautionary note.

“Chickens aren’t a commodity,” she wrote. “You don’t just stick them in a box and collect the eggs.”

She has five chickens plus six ducks – “they lay larger eggs, which are also delicious,” she wrote.

She has been raising ducks for 15 years, and got chickens about a year and a half ago.

What does she enjoy most about it?

“Chickens have big personalities

and they are total characters,” she wrote. “I wasn’t expecting them to be so exuberant and social. I also love the fact that they can eat most food scraps, which really cut down on my food waste. And the ultimate benefit is, of course, the delicious eggs they provide.”

As with raising any pet, there’s a time and a financial commitment required to keep your chickens safe, healthy and happy.

“Our chickens don’t like being cooped up, so they free-range around the back yard, eating bugs and fertilizing for us,” she explained. “This means that someone needs to be home before dark to lock the chickens safely back into their coop for the night. Previously, one of our ducks was injured, which meant a trip to the local avian vet. If left to their own devices, the chickens will rip out plants with their scratching around in the dirt for food and they’ll nibble on your flowers as well and try and walk into your house looking for a treat.”

She added, “Our chickens are kept in a fenced-in part of the yard, where they can still roam around and explore so they don’t get bored (aka they get their much-needed “chicken enrichment”) but they are far from my flower beds.”

For her chickens, a good treat is “the dried meal worms that you can buy in bulk at the feed stores.”

For more information on raising chickens, check the internet, get a book from the library, or ask at your locallyowned feed store, where employees are knowledgeable.

Good tip: Check with your local building/planning department to see if there are any prohibitions on chickens.

Gil Torres points out you do not need a rooster to get started.

“So many people have asked me how my chickens are able to lay eggs without a rooster,” she wrote. “I tell them the same way women ovulate without a man.

Given the recent inclement weather, chicken owners need to be prepared to evacuate with their chickens in case of emergency.

Gil-Torres keeps portable metal pens and crates next to her chicken and duck coops in case of an evacuation order. n

Capitola Wharf Renovation Will Include Storm Repair

By Teresa Hidalgo Dance

The Capitola Wharf, which is the City of Capitola’s responsibility, suffered $1 million in damages when swells broke the wharf in half and knocked down all the railings, decking, and pilings at its front end.

The cost to the buildings on the wharf–the Wharf House restaurant and Capitola Boat and Bait–is yet unknown as they are still inaccessible.

Public Works Director Jessica Kahn said that before the storms happened, a $7 million renovation of the wharf was slated for September of this year, with grants

from the California Coastal Conservancy and $3.5 million in federal aid.

“Wharf

page 27

“Rooster” by Scotts Valley artist Linda Lord. Contrary to popular belief, roosters are not needed for hens to lay eggs.

Repair”

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz Before the January storm, Capitola’s Wharf was in line for a $7 million renovation.

Judge Katherine Hansen Takes Over Dept. 1 Several Court Officials Taking New Role at Santa Cruz County Court

Starting March 13, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Katherine Hansen is taking the place of Paul Marigonda, who retired before he died last year. She is assigned to Department 1, misdemeanors.

A public investiture is scheduled April 28 at the Santa Cruz County courthouse. Hanson is one of several court officials taking new roles.

The court’s commissioner since 2022, Hanson was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and took her oath of office Feb. 17.

Before joining the court, she was deputy county counsel in the Monterey County Counsel’s Office from 2019 to 2022.

She was state affairs counsel at the American Association for Justice from 2016 to 2019 and an attorney at the Veen firm from 2014 to 2016. She was a partner at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP from 2008 to 2013. She also was vice president of legislative affairs at Barbary Coast Consulting and an associate at Gordon & Rees.

She began her career as a deputy

district attorney after earning a juris doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Commissioner Gregory Peinado took the oath of office on March 6, succeeding Hansen and assigned to the Department of Child Support Services, Traffic/Minor Violations and Family Preservation Court.

He has been an assistant district attorney with the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office since 2011. He was deputy district attorney for the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office from 2006 to 2011. He earned a juris doctorate from the University of Dayton School of Law in Dayton, Ohio.

The court is awaiting an appointee to succeed Judge John Gallagher, who left the post in September, citing workload issues.

On Dec. 16, the court got a new executive officer when Sasha Morgan was appointed, filling a vacancy created whn Alex Calvo’s retired. He started his career as a clerk in 1989.

Morgan was hired by the Santa Cruz court in 2007 to build and staff the Self-Help Center for the Santa Cruz and San Benito courts. Later she was named director of

noncriminal operations, overseeing seven units. She started her legal career as a staff attorney and then legal director at Support Network for Battered Women and then as a staff attorney at the Self-Help Center at the Santa Clara County Superior Court. She earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara, and her juris doctorate from Santa Clara University.

“County Courthouse” page 26

“Bay Fed FAQ” from page 14

Ihavemultiple accounts with Bay Federal. How do I know if those accounts are all covered?

The National Credit Union Administration’s Share Insurance Estimator lets consumers, credit unions, and their members know how its share insurance rules apply to member share accounts,

“Letters” from page 14

Our liquidity position is very strong and includes $320 million in liquid marketable securities and $461 million in unused borrowing capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Reserve Bank and other correspondent banks.

Santa Cruz County Bank’s historical financial performance ratings and earnings releases are publicly available through our website: Investor Relations.

As a community bank, we take pride in our relationship-based business model focused on building long-term trust with our clients.

We look forward to continuing to serve our community through our traditional

including what’s insured and what portion (if any) exceeds coverage limits.

When using this tool, you will want Bay Federal’s insurance number, which is 12067.

•••

The Share Insurance Estimator calculates, and reports, share insurance coverage for Personal Account and Business Accounts.

community banking model as we have for the past 19 years.

We are grateful for your business and support.

Personal accounts include shares held by credit union members in single accounts, joint accounts, revocable trust accounts including both Payable on Death/In Trust For accounts and living trust accounts, and Individual Retirement Accounts.

Business Accounts are shares held by credit union members that are corporations, partnerships, and

organizations, both for-profit and not-for-profit.

If you need assistance using and understanding the calculator, we would be happy to help you assess your coverage and specific needs, including account structure and beneficiaries.

Visit any of our branches or call our Member Service Center at 831.479.6000 or toll-free at 888.4BAYFED, option 3. n

Santa Cruz Community Credit Union is financially sound and well-capitalized.

Cruz County Bank

— Krista Snelling, President and CEO, Santa

•••

Santa Cruz Community Credit Union

During the many difficult times we’ve experienced in the past few years, it is even more troubling to hear about the sudden closure of Silicon Valley Bank. This is undoubtedly concerning to you, our member-owners, so I wanted to take a few minutes to reinforce our commitment to providing you with a safe and secure financial relationship at Santa Cruz Community Credit Union.

As a community-based, memberowned, and community-development certified financial cooperative, we pride ourselves in the unique service we offer you and follow the credit union model that ensures we lend member deposits back to our members.

That said, our balance sheet is local and primarily comprised of auto, small business, and member real estate loans.

Furthermore, our investment portfolio is conservative and considered very safe by industry standards. All our member accounts are insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Insurance Fund, which is administered by the National Credit Union Administration.

As a result, you can feel confident that

As we move into 2023 and beyond, we will continue to serve the unique needs of our members by providing competitive rates on loans and deposits. We know you have a choice for financial services, and we are grateful that you are banking with your locally-owned credit union. It is our privilege to help you achieve your financial goals.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please call 831-425-7708 or stop by one of our branches. Any one of our management team or staff is ready to assist you. Thank you again for your continued support of Santa Credit Community Credit Union.

— Beth Carr, CEO, Santa Cruz Community Credit Union

Katherine Hansen

Paul Burdick

Sasha Morgan

Gregory Peinado

What PVUSD is Changing Since Covid State of Emergency is Over

Will PVUSD continue with site-level testing of COVID-19 now that the State of Emergency is gone?

Inspire Diagnostics will end schoolbased surveillance testing at PVUSD schools on Friday, March 3. Beginning Monday March 6, school-based testing will be discontinued at all PVUSD schools. PCR Testing will be available at these community testing locations until June 2:

Cabrillo College, Parking Lot R (Park & Walk Up)- 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos

• Monday, Tues. Thurs. and Friday: 9 am– 4 pm

• Wednesday: 9 am- 5 pm

• Saturdays: 9 am – 2 pm

San Lorenzo Valley District Office (Park & Walk Up)- 325 Marion Ave, Ben Lomond

• Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: 12 – 4 pm

Santa Cruz County Office of Education (Drive-Thru) - 399 Encinal St, Santa Cruz

• Monday, Tues. Thurs. and Friday: 9 am– 4 pm

• Wednesday: 9 am - 5 pm

• Saturdays: 9 am– 2 pm

Pajaro Valley Unified School District (Park & Walk Up) - 294 Green Valley Rd, Watsonville

• Monday, Tues. Thurs. and Friday: 9 – 4 pm

• Wednesday: 9- 5 pm

Salud Para La Gente (Park & Walk Up), 204 E Beach St. Watsonville

My student develops symptoms at school, what will happen now?

Your student will be sent to the Health Office and evaluated by our Health Care Assistant and/or School Nurse. You will receive a call to pick your student upfrom school and you will be provided two (2) home test kits and a COVID Form which you can also complete online. Please note: PVUSD will not test on site.

Upon arrival at home, have your student take the first home test kit. If negative, have them take the second home test kit 24-48 hours after the first test. Please note: if you would rather have your student take a PCR test through Inspire, please utilize the Inspire COVID-19 testing center at one of the locations in question #1.

If both home test kits (or the Inspire PCR test) have resulted as negative for COVID and at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever- reducing medications, and other symptoms have improved, your student may return to school.

For your student to be “cleared” to return to school, you are required to return the completed COVID-19 Clearance form provided when you picked up your child or complete the Google COVID-19 Clearance form online indicating that your child’s tests were negative and their symptoms have improved.

My student develops symptoms at home, what should I do?

Please call or email your student’s school site Health Office to inform them your student has developed symptoms at home. Please include your student’s first and last name, grade level, and school site.

An asymptomatic parent may pick up home test kits for a child from your home school site. Upon arrival at home, have your student take the first home test kit. If negative, have them take the second home test kit 24-48 hours after the first test. Please note: if you would rather take your student to get a PCR test through Inspire, please see the link at the end of this document for testing locations.

If both home test kits (or the Inspire PCR test) have resulted as negative for COVID, and at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever- reducing medications, and other symptoms have improved, your student may return to school.

For your child to be “cleared” to return to school, you are required to return the completed COVID-19 Clearance Form or submit the completed Google COVID-19 Clearance Form online indicating that your student tests were negative and their symptoms have improved. Below is the QR code for the CoVID-19 Clearance Form:

I’m behind in credits and my counselor told me I could work on my Edgenuity on Saturdays. Where do I go for that?

Tosupport seniors in reaching their goal to graduate with their class, our Expanded Learning Department is supporting Saturday Level Up Labs at our three comprehensive high schools.

Aptos High, Pajaro Valley High, and Watsonville High Schools are each hosting Saturday Level Up Labs where students can come to school to work on Edgenuity with other goal-oriented classmates. There will be a teacher there to provide assistance and food is provided. Interested students can participate by arriving at their high school at the designated time/dates. Please see the schedule for March Level Up Labs at the three high schools below. More dates will be announced as needed.

March 2023 Level Up Lab Saturdays

Aptos High School : Time: 9:00-1:00, classrooms*

Dates: March 25

Pajaro Valley High School : Time: 8:3012:30, Cafeteria

Dates: March 18, and March 25

Watsonville High School: Time: 8:0012:00, Cafeteria

Dates: March 18, and March 25

*AHS teachers will host in their classrooms. Room numbers will be posted each Saturday.

In the previous edition you said your Expanded Learning Opportunity Program is available for all students regardless of their family’s resource level or their individual needs. Can you further clarify this? Are any of your students excluded from this program?

PVUSD believes that all students deserve both access and opportunity to attend the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program regardless of their family’s resource level or the student’s individual needs.

California Department of Education allows for PVUSD to charge families a fee for these services, which must be done on a sliding scale that considers family income and ability to pay [EC Section 8482.6]. However, pupils that are foster, homeless and/or qualify for free and reduced school meals cannot be charged a family fee.

PVUSD’s Expanded Learning Opportunity Programs will remain free for all TK-6th grade students (within site capacity levels) for the 2023-24 school year at all PVUSD school sites.

Programs are open to all TK-6th grade students, including pupils with disabilities. Priority enrollment will be given to foster youth, students in transition, and/or students that qualify for free and reduced school meals to ensure all students have access to essential resources.

Expanded Learning will create and implement a waitlist system if limited staff capacity prevents all students from successful enrollment in the program. Additionally, Expanded Learning Opportunity Programming is offered to 7th-12th grade students within site capacity levels. This week I was in the District Office and saw incredible photos of PVUSD students in CTE classes on the walls. What is the exhibit about?

The life-sized photographs of PVUSD CTE students in action at the District Office were created for several reasons starting with the celebration of national CTE month in February.

The words you see in the posters — initiative, critical thinking, innovation, problem solving, leadership, teamwork and more are the game changer skills our students are acquiring. We wanted to provide our community with the opportunity to experience the many ways our 3200+ students are engaging in rigorous, hands-on learning and highlighting some of the college, career and life skills they are learning, practicing and demonstrating as they explore a career pathway.

CTE teachers provide learning experiences that generate student engagement in the kinds of human skills (some people call them soft skills) that set young people apart when they apply to college, interact in the community and join the workforce into their aspirational futures. We encourage our community to come by the District Office to experience the CTE showcase!

Why don’t WHS and PVHS have their own fulltime School Resource Officer on campus while students are on campus?

What happened today could have been another tragedy with our children’s lives.

The Watsonville Police Department continues to work collaboratively with all school sites within the Watsonville City limits. At the beginning of the school year, the following message was provided to families regarding the allocation of School Resource Officers within our schools which remains the same at this time:

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

“As parents and students prepare for back-to-school, we’d like to inform you that our School Resource Officer (SRO) will be returning to Watsonville High School. Due to current staffing shortages at the Police Department, only one SRO has been authorized to work at the schools.

The SRO’s primary responsibilities are school safety on campus, building positive relationships with students, their parents and faculty, and serving as a liaison between the school district and the police department.

This year, the SRO will be partnered on campus with a mental health clinician. The officer will be specifically assigned to the Watsonville High campus but will also be available to respond to incidents at any Pajaro Valley Unified School District school within the City of Watsonville, as needed.

Our department continues to work with PVUSD on efforts to strengthen the School Resource Officer Program.”

Are we extending the 2022-2023 school year to account for cancelled school days?

Back east, snow days would be tacked onto the end of the school year to ensure the students receive 180 days of education.

As with other districts within the State who used emergency storm days, PVUSD applied for a waiver. Therefore, we will not be making up those days at the end of the school year.

If your child needs or wants additional instructional time, I encourage you to register your child for our full-day summer programs filled with engaging and hands-on learning and enrichment experiences through our Expanded Learning Opportunities Department. Do you have information about the fullday Kindergarten schedule and offerings at PVUSD? I heard through the grapevine that Mar Vista will not be offering full day Kindergarten, which is disappointing as it’s being offered at Valencia (and Rio?). Why wasn’t it approved?

During this past year we began our first Full-Day Kindergarten pilot at six school sites (Alianza, Ann Soldo, Freedom, Mintie White, Ohlone, Valencia) representing all regions of PVUSD. Our Full-Day Kindergarten pilot has given us an opportunity to assess and measure impact based on academics, social emotional learning, parent/family feedback as well teaching staff input. It has provided PVUSD an opportunity to establish an effective and replicable program that is able to be scaled.

This next year, we will be expanding Full-Day Kindergarten programs to HA Hyde, Radcliff, and Rio del Mar Elementary Schools. Sites have been selected based on a variety of reasons such as region, current educational programs already on site, transportation routes, available classrooms, etc. All of

these factors allow us to work out logistical issues as well as developing the best educational program for our kindergarten students, families, and staff.

As long as our Full-Day Kindergarten programs continue to demonstrate success, Full-Day Kindergarten will expand to Mar Vista for the 2024-2025 school year.

When a student has live lice, are we supposed to send them home?

We recognize that head lice infestations among students require treatment but do not pose a risk of transmitting disease. Our sites and school nurses encourage early detection and treatment in a manner that minimizes disruption to the educational program and reduces student absences.

When a student has lice, the site distributes information to parents/guardians of preschool and elementary students regarding prevention, symptoms, accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment of head lice infestations. This information may also be provided to school staff.

School employees shall report all suspected cases of head lice to the school nurse or designee as soon as possible. If a student is found with active, adult head lice, he/she shall be allowed to stay in school until the end of the school day. The parent/guardian of any such student shall be given information about the treatment of head lice and encouraged to begin treatment of the student immediately and to check all members of the family.

The parent/guardian also shall be informed that the student shall be checked upon return to school the next day and allowed to remain in school if no active head lice are detected. Upon the student’s return to school, the school nurse or designee shall check the student for active head lice. If it is determined that the student remains infected with head lice, the school nurse or designee shall contact the student’s parent/guardian to discuss treatment.

As needed, he/she may provide additional resources and/or referral to the local health department, health care providers, or other agencies.

If a student is found consistently

infested with head lice, he/she may be referred to a multidisciplinary team, which may consist of the school nurse, representatives from the local agencies and other appropriate individuals, to determine the best approach for identifying and resolving

problems contributing to the student’s head lice infestations.

When it is determined that one or more students in a class or school are infested with head lice, the principal or designee may, at his/her discretion, notify parents/ guardians of students in that class or school and provide them with information about the detection and treatment of head lice. Staff shall maintain the privacy of students identified as having head lice.

In addition, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states: Students diagnosed with live head lice do not need to be sent home early from school; they can go home at the end of the day, be treated, and return to class after appropriate treatment has begun. Nits may persist after treatment, but successful treatment should kill crawling lice. n

College Basketball

30. Like certain floss

35. Life stories, for short

37. Gulf War missile

39. Dough

40. Tiny purse or case

41. Mandarin’s headquarters

43. Like an omelette

44. Jaunty rhythms

46. Derived from capable

47. Party in Maui

48. Trouser measurement

50. L in SNL

52. *Encouragement from coach

53. Foretell

55. Lt.’s subordinate

57. *J in NJCAA

60. *Gambling scheme

64. Dick Van Dyke’s “____ ____ a Happy Face”

65. Freudian topic

67. Kind of ray

68. Silly

69. Mudbath site

70. Artemis’ companion

71. Type of salmon

72. College entrance exam

73. Instagram videos DOWN

1. Bit of baby talk

2. Precedes sesame

3. Power system

4. Botch

5. Marcona nut

6. Curved molding

7. Endorsement

8. Call forth

9. Not his

10. Aquarium show star

11. Mine deposits

12. Water lily leaf

15. One behind the other

20. *Like crowd of fans?

22. “____ the crowd goes wild!”

24. Misstep

25. Obelus, pl.

26. Oddball’s attempt? (2 words)

27. *Each player gets 5 before disqualification

29. *Org.

31. Witty Coward

32. Dress up or deck out (2 words)

33. Blue-Green scum

34. *Easiest shot?

36. Location

38. Hero shop

42. Never say what?

45. Abduction of the ____

Women, Roman myth

49. Farm call

51. Bewitch

54. One step to success?

56. Close call

57. Elliot Page’s 2007 role

58. Home of Jazz

59. Unacceptable, to a baby

60. Gravy holder

61. ACL location

62. Short for “and elsewhere”

63. Small amounts 64. Selfie, e.g. 66. *Qualifying ____, eligibility criterion

If your child needs or wants additional instructional time, I encourage you to register your child for our full-day summer programs filled with engaging and hands-on learning and enrichment experiences through our Expanded Learning Opportunities Department.

Saturn Enters Pisces — Ethics & Accountability

Saturn is the cosmic timekeeper, the teacher of discipline, restraint, regulation, accountability and the Law. It is a most stoic and distant planet as well as the most grounded. Saturn, of leaden color, surrounded by rings of ice particles called ‘moonlets’, displaying many of similarities to Jupiter, called the great equalizer as well as the Dweller on the Threshold, entered the sign of Pisces for a 2 ½ year sojourn, on March 7th around the time of the full moon.

Saturn circles the entire zodiac in 30 years. The last time Saturn was in Pisces was in 1993 –1996. What occurred during that time? Each of us can do our own research.

Saturn as the Teacher of the zodiac tells us that to live successfully as both spiritual and social beings we must abide by laws, both cosmic and terrestrial and these are to govern our behavior. Entering Pisces, the restrictions and structures of Saturn may at first interrupt the dreamy fish. Pisces can sense an authority has entered its Neptunian waters, imposing rules and regulations.

We may think the spiritually imaginative sign of Pisces would

ARIES

Notice your many and varied goals this year, climbing the ladder to reach those goals. Notice also that a new authority, one finer tuned, responsible, and aware of the importance to serve others, has appeared within your life. These are great accomplishments, founded on great challenges. They are the qualities of the Soul. You have done well. Keep climbing. Be sure to have sturdy shoes.

TAURUS

Your true self is a leader and teacher that everyone seeks in these times of the Kali Yuga and the changing of the ages is occurring. Humanity needing help with unpredictable changes and relationship instabilities. Turning to you, is a health crisis limiting daily work? Do you feel you barely have time for other pursuits? Slow down, rest more. Your health contributes to the health and well-being of many. Plan a small garden this year. Ask others set up the green house? Plant medicinals, flowers, pumpkins and watermelons.

GEMINI

Offer praise and recognition to everyone in your life and do this unceasingly. The good you say of others is returned tenfold. You are blessed with creative gifts and a silver tongue. A new identity is taking shape these days — a deeper Soul identity. One gift of the Soul is recognizing the spiritual purpose behind all relationships. Can you see these? Or are you caught in a difficult duality of purpose? A Gemini test.

CANCER

You may feel your work at times takes you away from family. And then, in turn, family feels like it takes you away from your (spiritual) work. Your task and lesson are to balance the two. The more difficult a spiritual task, the greater the tests and then the Initiation. Do you have visions and dreams for a different future? We are to envision and (day) dream more. In between daily life responsibilities glimmers of possibilities may occur. Watch and listen for them.

struggle, but actually this is an excellent transit for all of humanity. Saturn can help anchor, manifest and bring Pisces dreams into form and matter.

Saturn is the Lawgiver. Thus it will bring forth ethics and accountability to all that is out of control and lacking the principles of decency, honesty, honor, morality and integrity. The crisis and scourge wrought by greed (in corporations, government, big pharma, big tech, etc.) will be reckoned with. Political mistruths will unravel. Distractions will ease. Entrainment of the masses will be understood and dismantled. Saturn will bring a new structure, serious attitudes and boundaries to the ocean of Pisces.

It is most interesting, in the wisdom teachings, the Reappearance of the Christ (Maitreya, the World Teacher, the Piscean Teacher who is also the Aquarius World Teacher, the Savior) is said to begin precipitation in 2025. Saturn is yjr Teacher. Pisces is the World Savior. Astrology is and explains the theory, art, reality, and timing of everything. It structured the new mind in Aquarius. n

LEO

Your work life may take on dimensions that could feel exhausting and overwhelming. So much to do, so many people to mentor and model for, so many thoughts in your mind trying to emerge out of a veil of hiddenness. You may feel great emotions trying to express themselves, at times communication is difficult along with a touch of sadness. Someone(s) needs communication. Relationships could feel brilliant yet mysterious, like art objects yet to be found. Someone thinks of you daily.

VIRGO

A profound creativity is forming, building and soon to emerge. Some Virgos will conceive, becoming physically pregnant with a new divine life. Some will design, conceive, fashion a new level of art and artistry. Virgos are being impressed from all levels, high and low, to bring beauty forth. It is time to recognize the fiery divine life force within all kingdoms. Express to them a clear unconditional love. Study and begin to use the Bach flower remedies.

LIBRA

As thoughts from the past reappear, your response to them determines your present/future If sad thoughts arise and overcome you, take Ignatia Amara (homeopath). If they are thoughts that urge contact and care of another, begin these actions immediately. Distorted remembrances and false beliefs hinder the creative aspect of your inner self. Develop the intention to radiate goodness and Goodwill to all that surrounds you. Then you will love more. Forgiveness follows. Forgiveness heals.

SCORPIO

An inner communication begins within, calling you to define and thus give shape to your talents, gifts, abilities and strengths. What are they? Knowing these things about the self, one becomes full and rich with a true self identity. Though it’s internal, you then realize the need to communicate thoughts to others who can listen carefully, ask appropriate questions, and maintain silence when needed. Seek these people. Let those you trust see your strengthens, vulnerabilities and need for security. Don’t keep secrets. Share a bit more. It’s safe.

SAGITTARIUS

Yes, a change is preparing itself for you. However, it has its own sense of timing and this can lead to an improper sense of impatience. A new world stage is being created. It has to do with friendships, drama, aspirations and creativity. Your sign creates publishers, world travelers, foodies, writers, philosophers. Maintain the present direction. Doors (of perception) will open all by themselves. Note how the grass with the proper amount of rain grows by itself. Rajneesh, a great Sagittarius teacher, wrote that.

CAPRICORN

Spiritual forces, ever-directing and protecting, inform you to rest a bit more, resting from climbing that ever-present ladder of responsibility reaching into the heavens. You need a bit more time to unwind from your extraordinary capable sense of duty. Observing your actions from afar we award your far-reaching standards applied to those in need. In between tending to others, being their angel of hope, do all that rejuvenates before your next tasks appear. Which they will. We notice angels are given many tasks of help and healing.

AQUARIUS

All realities in life begin by using our mind, a visualizing tool which imagines all hopes, wishes and dreams. Our inner life is shaped by these until one day dreams manifest into our world of form and matter. Attempt to clarify what’s important, what is needed, what is of value and what you must next pursue. Sometimes this clarification is difficult. Some of us live only in the moment. But within each moment is a vision of the future. Try to capture it.

PISCES

You had future plans. However, it seems they change daily. Collaboration with another is helpful. It will take you far into the future where the world will not look as it does now. You understand the changes occurring in our present times. You seek to serve and not exact due service, to heal not hurt others. At times you are hurting. This is so compassion deepens - your particular task in our world. The future isn’t formed yet. It must be imagined by all of us. You are to model and teach this concept. You are a pioneer.

She was admitted to the State Bar in 1997 and received her graduate certificate in judicial administration from CSU Sacramento in 2010.

The court will have one more judicial vacancy when Judge Paul Burdick retires, on or about May 12.

He was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006.

He is ending his long career with the court in a civil/probate assignment.

He has worked in civil, probate and criminal assignments and served as presiding judge from 2018 through 2020.

His leadership during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic kept court operations open and court staff and members of the public safe.

While presiding in the civil department, he was the designated CEQA/ complex civil litigation judge and handled some of the most significant, complex and controversial land use and environmental law cases in modern county history.

He also presided over hundreds of jury trials, civil and felony criminal cases.

Before joining the court, he was in private practice for 27 years specializing in plaintiff’s personal injury and insurance coverage litigation.

He was an associate with the firm of Britton and Jackson from 1979 to 1985 and a partner in the firm of Dunlap & Burdick from 1985 until his judicial appointment in 2006.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz, and a juris doctorate from the University of Santa Clara.

In December 2022, Judge Timothy Volkmann, who is handling civil trials with help from a visiting judge, reported no backlog in civil jury trials. Cases were set for trial every week until November 2023.

The case resolution rate was 89%. Prior to Covid the case resolution rate was 92%.

Judicial mediations, which are free, were booked into April, with possible openings in Dept. 10 prior to that.

The court’s two research attorneys have retired and have been replaced by Madeline Myers and Julia Hill. n

While presiding in the civil department, [Judge Paul Burdick] was the designated CEQA/complex civil litigation judge and handled some of the most significant, complex and controversial land use and environmental law cases in modern county history.

Coming Together For Capitola

By Teresa Hidalgo Dance

The recent winter storms that hit Capitola and the rest of Santa Cruz County presents a special struggle, not because of the savage destruction that prompted an unprecedented visit from President Joe Biden, but because of the media attention that Capitolans are now caught up in.

“The different thing about this storm,” said Steve Allen, owner of the Capitola Venetian Hotel which, along with the adjoining Venetian Court Apartments, suffered $200,000 in damages, “is all the social media photos and videos which gives potential guests the impression that Capitola is devastated and the wharf is destroyed, that there are no restaurants to go to,” thus scaring them away.

For Allen, long-time guests are canceling reservations and occupancy is down by 50% from a year ago.

“That is what is really impacting us right now more than the storms—the lost revenue,” Allen said.

What out-of-town visitors might not realize is that most of the restaurants and shops in Capitola Village are open and that the beach is accessible for surfing and strolling.

Aware of these additional losses, people have begun the work to rebuild quickly and urgently. The government, from Biden to the Capitola City Council, is doing all it can to help those devastated businesses rebuild as soon as possible.

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta got assistance started by working to secure federal support, which resulted in Biden announcing a disaster declaration for the Santa Cruz area on Jan. 14. Consequently, the Federal Emergency Disaster Administration (FEMA) can be tapped to repair and replace disaster-damaged facilities in Capitola as well as assist individuals and households affected.

In the days following Biden’s visit, two sites for Disaster Recovery Centers were set up at Ramsey Park in Watsonville (since moved to Watsonville City Hall) and the Felton Library to provide in-person support to impacted residents who need assistance from multiple county, state, and federal agencies, according to Katie Herlihy, community development director at the City of Capitola. Also, the Small Business Administration set up a Business Recovery Center in the community room at Capitola City Hall.

Chloe Woodmansee, assistant to the Capitolacity manager, reported that city staff estimate repair costs to Capitola infrastructure to be $2.6 million.

Determining costs to repair damage to public property such as the Wharf and Stockton Avenue Bridge require further inspection.

Woodmansee said there was major damage to the esplanade, the jetty, and Cliff Drive as well.

As for private property, 10 businesses along the esplanade had significant damage, from Zelda’s on the Beach to Margaritaville.

Woodmansee added, “Luckily, very few homes in the

city were flooded or damaged. The residences affected were primarily the Venetians.”

Specifically, 16 private residences at the Venetian Court were flooded and three units above Margaritaville were damaged as well.

The Venetians consists of a 20-room hotel and two rows of private residences. According to Allen, construction began in 1924 as the first condominium complex in California.

It’s been a family business for Allen for the past fifty years.

“We’re moving slowly because these are older buildings and we want the repairs to be done correctly,” said Allen. “The Venetian Court is a historical landmark so we can’t change anything with the exterior. We just have to replace what was there.”

These restrictions have posed some difficulty to Allen’s efforts to bolster the seawall in front of the property.

“We are having conversations with the overall ownership association and the California Coastal Commission, if the seawall could be strengthened or increased,” Allen said.

The city has expedited the rebuilding of these damaged businesses by waiving building permits, a generous provision amounting to thousands of dollars. The city has sent field workers as the main point of contact for these businesses and residences, as part of the expedited process for the rebuilding permit review.

Robin Woodman, a building official with the city, is one of those field workers.

She said, “I’ve been down there a lot and mostly what I’m doing is just listening and trying to assist them through the process….It’s amazing to watch all the business owners working together in order to make things happen. It’s

not just one business working for themselves; they’re all working together to help each other out.”

Herlihy said, “We are right now moving from disaster assistance into recovery.”

The focus in City Hall is to rebuild in such a way as to prevent, as much as possible, similar devastation from severe winter storms in the future.

“In the long term,” said Herlihy, “we will be working with our planning commission and city council to think about the future of sea level rise and planning for its impact.”

The help doesn’t stop there. From insurers to volunteers, from business people less affected by the storms to charity foundations, the community around Capitola is coming together quickly to help out.

Herlihy observed, “I think everyone is going out of their way to accommodate businesses and residences. It’s pretty amazing.”

She revealed that insurance representatives were down at the Esplanade as early as right after the storms. Herlihy sees that kind of community support as keeping the encouragement going after the initial shock.

Carrie Arnone, CEO of the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce, said her office is working to connect employers with immediate job openings with the workers in Capitola displaced by the storm. Employers and potential staff can go on a job board spreadsheet located on the City of Capitola website http://www.cityofcapitola.org Here job seekers can search for jobs and employers can post job openings.

Dozens of employers from Capitola, Santa Cruz, and even Monterey have already responded.

Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, for its part, has released about $600,000 in disaster grants as of press time. It has been working with frontline nonprofits, public safety agencies, the small business community, and others to support the county’s storm-related needs.

Even before FEMA funding could get through for debris removal at the beach, volunteers from the nonprofit Save Our Shores have already begun that work. They were joined by a hundred more volunteers notified by the Capitola Recreation division leader Nikki Bryant LeBlond. On a sunny Sunday after the storms, the volunteers filled a dumpster with debris and pressure-treated wood. Capitola Recreation plans to coordinate a second beach clean-up in the near future.

Despite the millions of dollars lost to the storm, something more valuable has arisen—the awareness that the Capitola community is resilient and will never leave its distressed members to fare on their own. The bonding within the community that is taking place in the rebuilding efforts is invaluable and can be counted on in the future, stormy or not. n

“Wharf Repair” from page 22

The storm damage will simply be rolled into the renovation project.

Kahn said, “Luckily, the city had a project on the books for later this year, doing a big renovation project. We are not starting from zero. We already have

a consultant. With the storm, we have to amend our plans but it’s not like we didn’t have plans so we are in a pretty good position from where we have the funding to be working on the wharf.”

However, opening the wharf this year is “impossible,” Kahn said. “Even if we start to build today, the rebuilding and

renovation project will take eight to ten months.”

“We can’t start until we have FEMA funding in place as this will be the money to do the repair work,” she clarified. How much repair money is needed has yet to be determined. As a public works project, the rebuilding of

the wharf will be bid competitively but not before this summer.

The renovation project will widen the wharf throughout its length from the current narrow walkway that only widens where the buildings are.

Some repair work was done on the wharf in 2020. n

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz Venetian Court, historic and distinctively colorful, attracts visitors to Capitola Village.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FINANCIAL WELLNESS WORKSHOPS

Santa Cruz Community Credit Union will present four financial workshops during the noon hour on Thursdays in April at the Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola. Lunch provided by Togo’s; 30 seats available. Topics: April 6: Budgeting Your Way. Register at https:// santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10386357

April 13: Retirements & You. Register at https:// santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10471521

April 20: Credit 101 for Teens (pizza for lunch) Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10471894

April 27: Identity Theft. Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10472057

This is an opportunity to learn in a no-stress, low-key, and friendly environment.

UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK

Santa Cruz Art League, 526 Broadway, Santa Cruz

Hours: Wed.-Sat. 1-4 pm • Admission: Free

Through April 8, the Santa Cruz Art League presents Unapologetically Black, an exhibition featuring 18 Black visual and performing artists from Santa Cruz and the Bay Area, showcasing 80+ original artworks that represent a rich cultural heritage.

Artists in the exhibition: • Abi Mustapha • Asual

Aswad • Bhavananda

Lodkey • Chris “Moze”

Mosley • Cyrus Howard

• Deshaun Myles • Devi

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send your

Two informational meetings for those interested are scheduled Wednesday, April 19, at 1 p.m. and Thursday, April 20, at 5 p.m via Zoom. The link will be posted at www.santacruzcourt.org

Applications are at www.santacruzcourt.org

For questions, email the Superior Court Jury Commissioner’s Office at jury.information@santacruzcourt.org

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES

The Northern California Coastal Region of the Red Cross is honoring heroes during the 80th annual American Red Cross Month celebration, a national tradition that began in 1943. Blood drives:

March 17: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ben Lomond, 9545 Love Creek Road, Ben Lomond

March 25: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. • Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave., Santa Cruz

March 28: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St., Santa Cruz. Make an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org

READ SING PLAY COUNT

Each year in collaboration with the American Libraries Association the Santa Cruz Public Libraries produces an Early Literacy Calendar in English and Spanish.

music program. Students must be good note-readers and have had previous group expe-rience. The program conclude with a concert at 7 p.m. Friday, June 3.

Registration is underway. For those interested in participating in or making contri-butions to this program, call (831) 479-6101 or visit https://www.cabrillo.edu/ cabrillo-youth-strings.

You may register through Cabrillo Extension, 479-6331, or extension.cabrillo.edu before the first class.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WOMEN BUILD 2023

Habitat for Humanity of Monterey Bay is celebrating Women Build 2023 with a full month of builds from March 8 – April 1. The site is Rodeo Creek Court, 2340 Harper St., Santa Cruz.

Habitat has been building this 11-home development since August 2020.

March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, Aug. 22, Oct. 24, and Dec. 5, all at the fairgrounds. Meetings also take place on Zoom. For agendas, see santacruzcountyfair.com.

BIG CREEK

LUMBER SCHOLARSHIP

Big Creek Lumber will be offering the McCrary Family Scholarship for the third consecutive year to graduating high school seniors who will be pursuing careers in the skilled trades or forestry.

Past scholarship recipients are invited to apply for a one-time scholarship renewal for continued support of their education.

The deadline to apply is April 28.

To apply see: www.bigcreeklumber.com/scholarships

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays

BRIDGE CLUB

10 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.

Third Thursdays and Fourth Tuesdays

HOUSING MATTERS NEIGHBORS

Pride • Dylyn TurnerKeener • Elijah Pfotenjauer

• Gregory Speed

Evins • Joseph Jason Santiago LaCour

• Jimi

• Madonna

Camel • Naomi Wells-Sokumbi • Nikia Chaney • Rica

De La Luz • Rick Bell

• Yolanda Cotton Turner

This exhibition is core to the Art League’s commitment to support artists at all ca-reer levels and to highlight the work of local BIPOC creatives.

DJ Monk Earl from AfroBeats Santa Cruz will play at the First Friday opening recep-tion 6-8 p.m. March 3, and there will be Jambalaya from Chef Madlyn Torrance, made with loving hands to feed your soul. Jason Joseph Santiago LaCour will per-form spoken poetry and Tia McCord will be do face gems for anyone interested.

•••

On March 24, Nexties Musician of the Year Maknova will perform live at The Broadway Playhouse.

GRAND JURY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

The Superior Court of Santa Cruz County is seeking volunteers to become members of the Civil Grand Jury. Applications must be received by Friday, April 28. Serving on the Civil Grand Jury offers county residents a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the local community.

The 19 members of the Civil Grand Jury are an independent body empowered to investigate the operations of city and county governments and other tax-supported agencies and special districts.

They respond to citizen complaints about government issues.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18, have a working knowledge of English, and have lived in the county for at least one year. The Superior Court of Santa Cruz County is seeking a volunteer pool that represents the ethnic and cultural diversity of communities within the county.

All qualified citizens interested in serving on the 2023-2024 Civil Grand Jury are invited to apply.

Based on the Every Child Ready to Read practices of reading, writing, singing, talking, playing, and counting, each calendar contains 12 months of learning activities, book lists, nursery rhymes, and more. Explore the daily literacy-building prompts and activities with your child.

February kicks off with a drawing activity: “Draw all the people in your family. Talk about each person while drawing them.”

Santa Cruz Public Libraries supports early literacy with programs and resources for children and families: Story time, Read to Me kits, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program, and more.

Calendars can be picked up at local library branches or downloaded at www.santacruzpl.org/kids/birth/

CABRILLO YOUTH STRINGS PROGRAM

The Cabrillo Youth Strings Chamber Music Program will begin its spring session on Friday, April 21, from 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Classes will be held for 5 weeks on consecutive Fridays in the Music Building, VAPA 5000, Aptos. String players ages 8 to18 are welcome to join the chamber

So far, six families have moved into their homes. Volunteers work alongside the professional construction crew, and future homeowners earning sweat equity toward the purchase of their home. Women and men encouraged to participate. Volunteers need not have previous experience.

Volunteers are invited to sign up for shifts on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from March 8 to April 1.

Go to https://www.habitatmontereybay.com/copy-ofwomen-build and click on “volunteer” Donations are also being accepted. Fundraising goal is $15,000.

Women Build, which celebrates and uplifts women’s roles in construction and affordable housing development, is sponsored and presented by Bay Federal Credit Union and Granite Construction.

COUNTY FAIR BOARD MEETINGS

1:30 p.m., Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville

Here are the dates of the remaining County Fair Board meeting dates in 2023. Each meeting takes place on a Tuesday:

CESAR CHAVEZ DAY OF SERVICE

Sunday April 2

9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Homeless Garden Project Farm, Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz The Homeless Garden Project is hosting its annual Cesar Chavez Day of Service for community members at the Homeless Garden Project Farm, on Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz.

Community members are invited to perform spring farm tasks in honor of Cesar Chavez Day, celebrated on his birthday March 31 to honor the legacy of his labor movement and civil rights.

There will be a nursery sale with certified organic vegetable, flower, and herb starts.

“Seeing our community come together on these workdays to support and connect with HGP is always amazing,” says Volunteer Coordinator Omar Guzman.

Lunch will be provided to all volunteers and during lunch the community will hear from Watsonville educator and artist Jessica Carrasco, as well as a trainee from the Homeless Garden Project.

/ Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Thursdays: 4:30-6 p.m., Garfield Park Library, 705 Woodrow Ave., Santa Cruz

Tuesdays, 5:30-7 p.m., Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Rd. A meet-up for people who want to learn how to take an active role in their neighborhood to bridge divides on the topic of homelessness.

At these monthly in-person meet-ups for neighbors can:

• Learn from local experts about real solutions to homelessness together

• Problem-solve and create solutions in your neighborhood together

• Help to foster compassion and equity in Santa Cruz County neighborhoods together For information call Marsa Greenspan, Housing Matters Volunteer Program Manager: (831) 226-2486

Second Sundays of the Month

SANTA CRUZ ANTIQUE STREET FAIRE

9 a.m.-5 p.m., Pacific Ave., Lincoln St. and Cedar St. More than 40 vendors participate in this monthly outdoor fair.

Weather updates are posted on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/santacruzantiquefaire

DATED EVENTS

Saturday March 18

BOOK SALE

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Scotts Valley Public Library, 251 Kings Village Rd.

The Friends of the Scotts Valley Library will hold their yearly sale of books for children and young adults. The sale will take place in the Fireside Room at the Scotts Valley Public Library.

The extensive selection sells for $1 to $2 each.

RENEE SHEPHERD ON SEEDS

10:30 a.m.-Noon, Felton Library, 6121 Gushee St. Renee Shepherd, founder of Renee’s Garden Seeds, Felton resident and community-led learning volunteer, will give a talk and demonstration at the Felton library on how to start your summer garden indoors and

Hers • Abi Mustapha

Cesar Chavez

grow fabulous and delicious tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, as well as how to grow them successfully outdoors in our climate for a bountiful harvest.

Participants will receive a packet of Renee’s Garden seeds. Registration required at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/ event/10403585

DEMOCRATIC DINNER

6-9 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Dr, Aptos

Congratulations to Democrat of the Year Diana Alfaro, Lifetime Achievement Award winners Lowell and Wendy Hurst, and Rising Star Award winner Joe Thompson!

The Santa Cruz County Democratic Party will hold their annual fundraising dinner Saturday, March 18, at Seascape Golf Club in Aptos. Emcees are County Supervi-sors Justin Cummings and Felipe Hernandez. Tickets are $135. RSVP to Leslie, 831-335-4765 or coastlldy@aol.com.

LAND TRUST LAUNCH

4-7 p.m., Bargetto Winery, 3535 N. Main St., Soquel

It was 45 years ago that the Land Trust opened its doors and began its mission to protect and connect Santa Cruz County’s wild and open spaces.

Santa Cruz local Ziggy Rendler Bregman, a renowned artist and author, designed our first logo. Her rendering of gentle, sloped hills and flowing water reflected the community’s heartfelt love for the landscapes to be preserved.

Over the decades, the community has grown and evolved significantly as have the conservation challenges.

Land Trust staff reached out to hundreds of stakeholders who shared their con-cerns on issues not clearly highlighted in previous strategies—climate change, eq-uitable access to protected open space, deeper connections to the community, and a bold response to the biodiversity crisis.

The result of this yearlong process is a new “Five Year Conservation Roadmap,” which will guide the work into the 50th Anniversary in 2028.

Leaders will debut this road map at the Five-to-50 Launch at Bargetto Winery.

They will debut a colorful new logo, created collaboratively with members of the larger community to reflect all aspects of the local landscape — from the Santa Cruz Mountains to bountiful farmland.

And they will share some of the big projects to be tackled with key partners Food-What?! Watsonville

Wetlands Watch, Friends of County Parks, and Caltrans. Register at: www.landtrustsantacruz.org/events

Saturday March 18

Saturday March 25

RIO THEATRE FILM FESTIVALS

7 p.m., 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz March 18: Reel Rock 17: The World’s Best Climbing Films

Don’t miss three heart-stopping new films at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz featuring the year’s biggest climbing & adventure stories: A wild expedition on Nameless Tower in Pakistan; a new cutting-edge route in a massive limestone cave in France; and a journey to Palestine’s West Bank to explore the power of climbing to change lives.

Films include:

Burning the Flame: Austrian climbers Babsi Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher attempt a coveted free ascent of The Nameless Tower in Pakistan

DNA: Seb Bouin tackles what may be the world’s hardest sport climb in the Verdon Gorge of France

Resistance Climbing: In conflict-torn Palestine, a diverse group of climbers finds community, solace and redemption

ONCE UPON A TIME IN CORRALITOS

Friday March 24 and Saturday March 25

Fri: 2-3:30 p.m. • Sat: 4-7:30 p.m., Corralitos Grange Hall, 165 Little Corral Way, Watsonville Corralitos Woman’s Club presents Once Upon A Time in Corralitos, a murder mystery play in 3 acts. There are two shows: a Friday matinee and a Saturday dinner show at Corralitos Grange Hall. Tickets are $20 for matinee and $40 for dinner show at EventBrite.com. Proceeds benefit scholarship and club programs.

Tickets are $22 at https://www.riotheatre.com/events2/2022/12/13/reel

•••

March 25: Top Dog Film Festival

The Top Dog Film Festival returns to the Rio Theatre, sharing a two-hour collection of short independent films from around the globe, all about dogs! Meet dogs from all walks of life.

A portion of proceeds will benefit the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.

Tickets are $20 at https://www. riotheatre.com/events-2/2022/12/13/topdog

Dog lovers invited to preshow Yappy Hour at Sante Adairius Midtown, 1315 Water St., Santa Cruz.

Sunday March 19

CIRCUS BENEFIT FOR STORM VICTIMS

1-4 p.m., Capitola Mall Parking Lot, 1855 41st Ave Flynn Creek Circus will put on a performance to benefit for storm victims under the big top tent at the Capitola Mall. Profits from the performance will be donated to the Santa Cruz County Community Foundation Disaster Fund.

The show features acrobatics, comedy, and extreme skills, ‘Spring Fairytale’ is an original narrative circus. Tickets are $35 at https://circusmentors.ticketspice. com/spring-fairytale-fundraiser

Beer, wine, hot drinks and light concessions will be available for purchase.

To donate a ticket to a local charity, call Nicole: 707-684-2118

Wednesday March 22

APTOS TOASTMASTERS OPEN HOUSE

Noon, Shorelife Community Church, 875 Monterey Ave., Capitola and online Hybrid event for the Aptos Toastmasters will host an open house at Shorelife Community Church.

There will a speaker, impromptu speaking, food, laughter, and good times. Learn how to become a better communicator, better negotiator, and a better leader.

All are invited. Online access via www.Meetup.com/ toastmasters-in-aptos/events/288974889

Aptos Toastmasters meet every Wednesday at noon.

Thursday March 23

ENVIRONMENTAL SPEAKERS

6-8 p.m., Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, 35 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz Save Our Shores presents its first of two Speaker Series events focusing on “Looking Ahead: Evolving Topics in Environmental Education.”

Panelists are:

Martha Arciniega, director of education programs, Watsonville Wetlands Watch

Yulissa Ochoa, youth and family program coordinator, Ventana Wildlife Society

Jack Flynn, education program leader, Habitat Stewardship Project Monterey Bay

Liese Murphree, director of education & outreach, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Maria Perez, community organizer, and/or Eloy Ortiz, special projects manager, Regeneración Pájaro Valley Climate Action

Register at https://saveourshores.salsalabs.org/SpeakerSeriesMarch2023/index.html

WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE

7 p.m., Online Meeting

WILDR will host a Zoom meeting to talk about openings for elected and appointed positions, and network with others for support and encouragement.

Register for this networking session: https://bit.ly/ WILDR032323

WILDR is now on Facebook and Instagram! See @wildr.sc or https://www.facebook.com/people/Women-in-Leadership-forDiverse-Representation-WILDR/100089417561185/

RUNNING FOR OFFICE

7 p.m., Online Meeting

Are you a current and potential candidate for appointed or elected office in Santa Cruz County?

Are you a woman who is aligned with WILDR’s values of: Racial and gender equity • Reproductive justice • Lifespan education funding • Voter access • Housing justice • Equitable and shared economy for all?

Do you want to talk with and hear from others who are considering or planning to run for elected office?

WILDR will host a Zoom meeting at 7 p.m. March 23, to talk about openings for elected and appointed positions, and network with others for support and encouragement.

Register at: https://bit.ly/WILDR032323

Friday March 24

SAMBANDH RETURN PRESENTATION

9-11:30 a.m., Mount Madonna School, 491 Summit Rd, Watsonville

Mount Madonna School will host the Sambandh Return Presentation on the upper campus, starting with a reception at 9 a.m. The presentation will be from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Students will share reflections on their experiences in India. https://www.mountmadonnaschool.org

Saturday March 25

PVUSD RECRUITMENT FAIR

10 a.m.-Noon, District Board Room, 294 Green Valley Road, Watsonville

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District is hosting a recruitment fair at the district board room in Watsonville. Openings posted at edjoin.org. Bring your resume.

LATINO ROLE MODELS

9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cabrillo College Crocker Theater, 6500 Lower Perimeter Road, Aptos

Latino Role Models is a free conference at Cabrillo College Crocker Theater for Santa Cruz County students from grade 6 to college and their families. Latino Role Models, sponsored by the nonprofit Senderos and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, features Latino college students and professionals. The conference is conducted in Spanish with English translation.

Keynote speaker is Olga Talamante, executive director emerita of the Chicana Latina Foundation. She became the first executive director of CLF in January 2003 serving until she retired in March 2018.

Olga Talamante

Her family migrated in the early 1960s from Mexico to Gilroy where they worked in the farm fields for several years. Those years formed the basis for her activism as an organizer and supporter of the nascent United Farm Workers labor union.

Emcee is Emmy award-winning broadcaster Erandi Garcia. Regoster at https://tinyurl.com/latino-role-models-2023.

COMMUNITY BEACH CLEANUP

2 – 4 p.m., Platforms Beach, 439 Beach Drive, Aptos

The Mount Madonna School fifth grade class is organizing a community beach cleanup at Platforms Beach. “Calendar”

County Mid-Year Budget Report: $67 Million in FEMA Claims

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

Recently, the Board of Supervisors received an update on our mid-year budget. This provides a check-in halfway through the year to give a sense of challenges that may be on the horizon, changing conditions from what we adopted in the budget in June of last year and also the integration of any Board-directed requests up to this point.

Economic Conditions

The past year was marked with continual rising inflation and some sector-specific job losses (in particular the tech sector) that have impacted our region. Rising interest rates have slowed home sales, which has an impact on property tax growth in our area, and consumer retail spending has also declined — impacting sales tax intakes.

Overall, the local unemployment rate has averaged 4.4% — one of the lowest rates in the last 30 years. The overall economic trends led County budget staff to project a decline in sales tax revenue and increased growth in core services that are in higher demand during economic downturns (such as human and health support systems and public safety response).

General Fund Forecast

While it’s challenging to forecast economic conditions, there are known obligations and some assumptions of revenue conditions that can help the Board with budgeting. Federal Recovery Act funding during the pandemic is winding down, many FEMA claims for the COVID-19 pandemic and CZU fires declared disasters have yet to materialize and the County just faced its third declared disaster in the last three years.

Overall, the County is awaiting more than $67 million in outstanding FEMA claims, which is straining multiple areas of the County budget. Additionally, the most recent storm damage has direct costs in County response that we antic-

ipate will also take some time to get through the federal reimbursement process.

The major assumptions for FY 2023-24 include a 1% decline in sales tax, a slowdown in growth in certain property tax transfer revenues, and collection of up to $16 million in FEMA obligations that would be used to restore and strengthen reserves. County budget staff assume normalized cost increases for wages and benefits, a continued decline in costs associated with professional services, and increasing facility capital investments.

In additional to normal revenue and cost growth, the long-range forecast includes allowances for programmatic cost mandates such as the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Act in FY 2024-25 and increases in health care costs for those residing in detention centers and other staterelated mandates. Put simply, there is an expectation of additional state-mandated program costs coming to County in the coming years but at this point much of the funding provided is one-time - which creates an on-going gap.

Proposed State Budget: $22.5 Billion Deficit

ov. Newsom released his proposed budget. The Governor’s budget estimated a deficit of $22.5 billion.

The financial challenge the State is facing is from steep declines in personal income tax, corporate tax, and state sales tax revenues. The State is considering a number of one-time solutions (delaying and deferring programs, funding) as well as reductions to close the gap. There is a lot of back-and-forth that will occur between now and the final budget adoption between the Legislature and Governor’s Office — and at this point it’s unclear the extent by which our County will be impacted by the deficit and cuts/delays.

Transient Occupancy Tax & Cup Tax

Onthe June 2022 primary election, voters approved two general taxes through ballot measures known as Measure B and Measure C. These increased the Transient Occupancy Tax to 12% and 14%, respectively, for hotel and vacation rental stays, and created the half-cent Single-Use Cup Tax. Both became effective on Jan. 1, 2023.

The TOT measure is an essential part of the County’s strategy to offset the structural ongoing deficit and is estimated to generate annualized revenue of $2.3 million for FY 2023-24 and approximately $860,000 for FY 2022-23. Although the FY 2022-23 amount is for half the year, it is proportionally lower as the January-March quarter is generally the

Revenues

The County’s primary General Fund revenues are generally meeting our budget expectations, except for two which are expected to fall short this year. The FY 2022-23 budget for Sales Tax will be reduced by $1.1 million and Cannabis Business Taxes will be reduced by $1.5 million. Our two largest general purpose revenues, Property Tax and Vehicle License Fees are increasing, and Transient Occupancy Tax has returned to its pre-pandemic levels. Property Tax. Property tax is one of the most stable and dependable revenue bases. Our Property Tax revenues have grown steadily within the constitutional 2% annual growth cap plus the amount of supplemental reassessment triggered by property renovations or transfers. However, it is believed that with transfers slowing down this may not grow at the same pace as it did the last few years.

Sales Tax. Sales tax for our County is the general revenue source with the most variability, as it is directly and quickly impacted by economic impacts and/or changes in consumer behavior.

Inflation and locally high housing costs have impacted retail spending in our community. Year-to-date sales tax revenue is falling short of budget by $1,150,000. Factoring in this slowdown and our projection for an economic slowdown in FY 2023-24, we are currently projecting that sales tax will drop by approximately 1%.

Systematically Underfunded

The County remains systematically underfunded as compared to our county peers and statewide county averages. We serve a greater percent of the population (50.5%) than our peers (average 15.9%), which requires us to spread smaller tax dollars over a greater portion of our population.

SCCAS Featured Pet

Meet the SCCAS Pittie Crew!

Happy St. Pittie’s Day! This annual tradition at SCCAS celebrates the muchmaligned Pitbull and PIttie mix pups who make our homes and hearts so full and warm!

Our first featured pittie is Alex! He was found outside of a McDonalds and won over the hearts of everyone at the Shelter — so much so that he is now in foster with the Animal Control Officer who found him!

Alex is currently in a home with two labs and a kitty and doing great with all. He loves walks around the neighborhood and is learning commands like “sit”. This pup is so smart he is crate trained and potty trained — could you ask for a better dog friend!

Howard is our second pittie boy who is looking for his forever home and new best friend. He came into the Shelter with his brother Sheldon. Both of these pups were very nervous when they first came to SCCAS but over time Howard came out of his shell and has shown us his fun, silly and zesty side!

Since he has lived in a home with another dog he would love a fur sibling, but they must meet at the Shelter before going home together. This pup is a confident boy and is now in a foster home with a great volunteer where he is going to get all of the snacks, couch time and can really settle in as Howard the House Hippo!

Last, but never the least we have a very special pitbull mix lady named Quinn — a beautiful angel of a pup who would love to be your new bestie!

Quinn is about three years old and came into the Shelter with her 9 babies after her family had to move and couldn’t take her. Since then her puppies have found homes, but she is still waiting for her forever in a foster home.

Quinn is a wiggly girl who loves people and has lived with other dogs, but would do best in a home without cats or small animals

Previously Quinn was an outdoor-only dog so she still has some things to learn about being in a home, but she is learning so much in foster. Not only is she cute, but she is so smart and knows bilingual phrases like”bente/come”, “calmate/calm down” and “come/eat”. Wow! If you are looking for the sweetest and snuggliest buddy, come and meet Quinn!

This weekend we have so many fun events for our St Pitties Day celebration — including a Pit Stop Pub Crawl, where when you buy some St. Pitties swag at the Shelter you get $1 off pints at partnering local establishments.

We also are having an ADOPT-A-THON, March 17-19 10am-6pm at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. If you adopt a pitbull or pittie mix during this event you and your new fur friend will receive some awesome gifts like- free coupon for a nail trim, new pawrent BarkBox, a St. Pitties shirt and other fun free gifts!

Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals on our website and then visit the Shelter at 1001 Rodriguez St. in Santa Cruz 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. Adoption hours are 10 am-5 pm. All adoption shows must begin before 4:45pm. n •••

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

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. • Website: www.scanimalshelter.org

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

Volunteers of all ages are invited to join in; students will supply trash bags and buckets; each volunteer should bring their own gloves.

https://www.mountmadonnaschool.org/event/beachcleanup/

AUTHOR TALKS ABOUT LOCAL RAILROAD

3-4 p.m., Felton Library, 6121 Gushee St.

Derek R. Whaley, author of Santa Cruz Trains: Railroads of the Santa Cruz Mountains, comes to the Felton Library and discusses the complicated history of why a railroad never came to Scotts Valley and how it almost did.

Sponsored by the SLV Museum, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, and Felton Library Friends. Books will be available for purchase.

Monday March 27

PUBLIC LIBRARIES CLOSED

The Santa Cruz Public Libraries will close all branches on Monday March 27 for an upgrade of the Polaris library catalogue management system. Normally scheduled activities will not take place. The online catalog will be offline and unavailable.

Polaris is the system used to manage and organize all library catalogue items and library patron accounts.

The Library will be moving from the on-site Polaris system to a cloud-based version of the software hosted by Polaris’ parent company, Innovative.

“This upgrade will improve the overall security and functionality of the system and will further support SCPL in providing the highest level of service to the communi-ty,” said SCPL Director Yolande Wilburn. A list of Frequently Ask Questions is at https://www. santacruzpl.org/news/post/1432/

Thursday March 30

THE PURITY MYTH DISCUSSION

7 p.m., Capitola Branch library, 2005 Wharf Road. The community is invited to a film screening and discussion with Jessica Valenti, author of The Purity Myth, and Dr. Megan McNamara, sociology professor at UC Santa Cruz, at Capitola Branch library.

In this video adaptation of her bestselling book, the Purity Myth, pioneering femi-nist blogger Jessica Valenti trains her sights on “the virginity movement” — an alli-ance of evangelical Christians, right-wing politicians, and conservative policy intel-lectuals who have been exploiting irrational fears about women’s sexuality to roll back women’s rights.

McNamara will set the stage for the documentary and Valenti, co-founder of award-winning blog, Feministing.com and one of The Guardian’s top

100 inspiring women in the world, will join the discussion via Zoom at 8 p.m.

Virtual attendees can join the event on Zoom at 8 p.m. when the hybrid discussion begins. The film will not be screened over Zoom. Register at https:// santa cruzpl.libcal.com/event/10471422 or by calling 831-427-7713.

Friday April 14

CABRILLO YOUTH STRINGS CONCERT

7 p.m., Music Building, VAPA 5156, Cabrillo College in Aptos

The Cabrillo Youth Strings Music Program presents a Spring Concert in the Music Building, featuring baroque music, English folk songs, jazz, and contemporary music. String orchestra music will be performed by local youth. Suggested donations: $10 general, $5 students/ seniors, and ages 17 and under, free Facial coverings are required.

For more information about this event or to find out about joining the orchestral, chamber or private lesson programs, call 479-6101 or visit cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-youth-strings.

Wednesday April 19

RIO DEL MAR IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

6:30 p.m., Rio Sands Hotel reception/meeting room, 116 Aptos Beach Road, Aptos

RDMIA members and Rio Del Mar residents are invited to the semi-annual meeting of the Rio Del Mar Improvement Association at the Rio Sands Hotel. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Speakers will include:

Marcus Pimentel, Santa Cruz County Budget Manager, will explain how very little of our tax contributions are spent on county projects compared to other counties in the state.

Kent Edler, P.E., Santa Cruz County Community Development and Infrastructure. A licensed professional engineer, he is an authority on the drainage challenges in the Rio Flats neighborhood.

Sarah Christensen, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. She is senior transportation engineer in charge of key projects, including the Watsonville to Santa Cruz Multimodal Corridor Program and Coastal Rail Trail, and will provide Trail and Highway updates that impact residents of Rio del Mar.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided courtesy of Mangiamo Pizza.

The meeting is free to attend and open to all RDMIA members and Rio del Mar residents, but you must RSVP to rdmia1941@gmail.com.

Saturday May 6

MATH CONTEST

8:45-11 a.m., Location TBA

The Math Contest is a county-wide competition for 5-8th grade students in Santa Cruz County. In 2023, it will occur at a site to be determined.

For information, contact Laurie Stewart, Math Contest Administrative Assistant, (831) 466.5802 n

“Budget Report” from page 30

On average, the County receives only about 14 cents on your property tax dollar — the remaining of the 86 cents that you contribute in your property taxes goes to local special districts, school districts and more.

By way of example, our peers percapita property tax revenue averages nearly $4,000 per resident while the County receives just under $500 per resident.

These combine to limit our County’s ability to reach the service expectations our community expects or that other counties can provide. n

As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue). I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/super visorfriend and you can always call me at 454-2200.