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LOCAL SPORTS Fall Sports Moved to December

The CIF Central Coast Section’s Executive Committee has determined that education-based athletics for the 2020-21 school year will have a modified season, with fall sports starting in December and winter-spring sports starting in February and March. T h r o u g h the guidance and support of the California Interscholastic Federation and their continued work, we are continuously monitoring the directives and guidelines released from the Governor’s Office, the California Department of Education, the California Department of Public Health, and local county health departments and agencies as these directives and guidelines are followed by our member schools/ school districts with student health and safety at the forefront, Commissioner David Grissom said.

As guidelines change, CCS schools may allow for athletic activity to resume under the summer period rules. Given this calendar change, the CIF and CCS has temporarily suspended certain bylaws thereby allowing students to participate on an outside team at the same time they participate on their high school team. n

“Loans” from page 18

He continued: “Although there were some difficulties at times in the administration of the funds, I’m also proud that my office was there to help hundreds and hundreds of local businesses, including owners, non-profits, the self-employed and independent contractors, with getting their SBA loans. While I’m glad that the Paycheck Protection Program helped retain thousands and thousands of jobs in our community, I know that there is more work to be done. That’s why I will continue to work at the national level to secure such critical assistance so that our small businesses at the local level not only survive this pandemic but also succeed in the future.”

Panetta voted for the Heroes Act, which would extend PPP through December 31. The legislation is being considered by the Senate.

Here are the start dates for practice and the dates of first competition and section finals.

Season 1

Practice Start Finals Cross Country 12/14 12/28 3/20 Field Hockey 12/14 12/28 3/20 Football 12/14 1/8 4/10 Water Polo 12/14 12/28 3/13 Volleyball 12/14 12/28 3/13

Season 2

Badminton 2/22 3/8 5/22 Soccer 2/22 3/8 5/29 Tennis-Team 2/22 3/8 5/29 Tennis-Individual 2/22 3/8 TBD Swimming & Dive 3/8 3/22 5/29 Wrestling 3/15 3/29 6/5 Basketball 3/15 3/29 6/12 Baseball 3/15 3/29 6/19 Boys Golf 3/15 3/29 6/8 Girls Golf 3/15 3/29 6/9 Lacrosse 3/15 3/29 6/17 Softball 3/15 3/29 6/19 Track & Field 3/15 3/29 6/19 Traditional Cheer N/A N/A 4/3 Gymnastics TBD TBD TBD

Competitive Cheer TBD TBD TBD

Businesses in Panetta’s district received 6,621 PPP loans totaling $812.5 million, from 203 total lenders. The SBA data shows loans of $150,000 or less and loans of over $150,000.

In March, Panetta voted for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which established the PPP, allowing small businesses and nonprofits to receive forgivable loans to cover payroll and other costs.

Panetta also voted for the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which is now law, which cut red tape and made it easier for small businesses to use the loans and maximize loan forgiveness. The PPP Flexibility Act extended the deadline to apply for a PPP loan to Aug. 8.

To find a lender, see https://www. sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options or call the congressman’s office at 202-225-2861 for more info. n https://panetta.house.gov

COMMUNITY NEWS Progressive Rail Wants Out of Santa Cruz Deal

By Jondi Gumz

Progressive Rail, the Minnesota firm that in 2018 was voted a 10-year contract by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission over local competition to run the Santa Cruz branch line, wants out of the contract, which worries Big Creek Lumber, one of its big freight customers in Watsonville.

“The rail line in Watsonville is in good repair,” said Bob Berlage of Big Creek Lumber, which has been using rail freight for nearly 50 years. “It would be a bad decision in the long run to lose that infrastructure. We’re wanting to get more information.”

Big Creek bought its property in Watsonville specifically for the rail head, he said, adding, “It’s very important to us. It helps us stay competitive with big box stores.”

Berlage said he had talked with folks at Progressive Rail and learned that another carrier may be taking over.

“We’re hoping to have those conversations,” he said.

Attempts to reach Progressive Rail employees and chairman Dave Fellon and were unsuccessful.

The RTC, a regional agency with a 12-member governing board, posted an announcement July 1 saying Progressive Rail, also known as Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad or SPP, intends to terminate the agreement, which covers freight and passenger service on the 32-mile Santa Cruz branch line.

After being asked why, RTC spokeswoman Shannon Munz posted an update, saying the rail carrier “stated the reason for termination is due to illegal activities by third parties, including trespassing. The Commission is working with SPP to resolve the stated problems, in order to avoid termination of the agreement. At present, freight customers will continue to be served by SPP and there should be no interruption of service.”

She added, “As we are in the process of working with SPP to resolve their issues, we will not be answering any other questions on this at this time.”

A McKinsey report in June reported the COVID-19 pandemic has scrambled demand for U.S. freight, cutting ocean shipping by 25 percent and rail freight by 20 percent while boosting small deliveries by truck as people have shifted to shopping online.

Asked about trespassing and COVID-19, Berlage said he hadn’t heard about either issue from Progressive.

Trail Now, a local group founded by Aptos resident Brian Peoples advocating a trail for walking and bicycling in the rail corridor, contends Progressive Rail wants to end its operations on the Santa Cruz Branch line because there is not enough freight operations to sustain a railroad business.

For a railroad operator to be profitable on the line, there needs to be 1,000 carloads per year, according to Trail Now, which estimated Progressive had 300 carloads last year.

“We hope the public begins to realize that trains are not a viable business on the Santa Cruz Branchline,” TrailNow wrote in its newsletter to members.

The RTC is in the middle of a study to determine the locally preferred alternative for public transit on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, which is expected to be completed early next year. Until that study is completed, the RTC does not plan to consider alternatives to the existing rail agreement, according to Munz. n

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