Capitola Soquel Times: January 2021 by Times Publishing Group, Inc.

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January 2021 • Vol 26 No. 1

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Vitamin D Reduces COVID Deaths, Study Review Finds

After reviewing more than 100 papers from around the world on the impact of Vitamin D on COVID-19, more than 100 scientists and doctors are calling for immediate widespread increased vitamin D intake. Full Story page 6

Six Girl Scouts with Big Hearts By Mandi Lopez Editor’s Note: If your club had $427 that you didn’t spend on activities this year because of the COVID-19 restrictions, would you spend it on toys to make Christmas bright for children in need? That’s what Cadette Girl Scout Troop #15012 did, with the support of their troop leaders, Mandi Lopez and Alicia Potes. The troop consists of six girls ages 11 to 13 living in Soquel, Capitola and Aptos, and they are open to more members. As you know, this year has been challenging because of this COVID pandemic but we have still made it happen, just in a very different way. We may only have six girls in our troop this year, but

they are the most loving and biggest-hearted girls I know. Every year, as a troop we select what and how we spend the hard-earned money they earn from the previous year’s cookie sales. ... continues on page 4

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Priorities for 2021 Column By Yvette Brooks, New Mayor of Capitola

Despite this difficult year, it wasn’t as bad financially as forecasted for the City of Capitola, so the mayor has good news to share with city residents — and families in the Soquel Elementary School District. Full Story page 13

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No. 1

Volume 26

Table of Contents

Cover Six Girl Scouts with Big Hearts: By Mandi Lopez 5 6 7 9 10 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 23 24

Community News Santa Cruz SPCA Opens New Shelter: Firsts to be Shared on Social Channels; Grand Opening Expected in 2021 Vitamin D Reduces COVID Deaths, Study Review Finds: 100+ Scientists & Doctors Call For Widespread Intake Immediately, Original Letter and Signatories at https://tinyurl.com/Letter-VitaminDForAll COVID Toll: 83 Deaths, By Jondi Gumz $900 Billion COVID Aid Package Signed Growers, Employees Share ‘Farmer of the Year’ Honors • Castro Adobe work honored by Santa Cruz County History Forum • Fatal hit-and-run on Highway 1 • County Conservation Strategy Meeting: Jan. 18 Amanda Ray First Woman to Head CHP SCCB Announces New President/CEO • Kristine Ronzano Joins SCCB New COVID Test Site Opens at Civic Jan. 3 Deadline to Apply for Measure D Oversight Committee COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives at Santa Cruz County Hospitals Achieving a Dream: Daniel’s Story • Santa Drops In To Raise Money With Aptos La Selva and Central Fire Districts Year-Round Farmers’ Markets Offer Plenty, By Nicole Zahm Cross-checks Needed To Cut EDD Fraud, Letter to Governor Gavin Newsom • Trail Segment Opens on Santa Cruz Westside • Credit Union Boosts Local Nonprofits Singer’s New Book of Old Love Songs • Man Arrested in 1995 Homicide Literacy Program Goal: $25,000

Business Profile 16 Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta, By June Smith

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Beginnings Are Fragile Things, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Page 28

11 22 25 27 29

Featured Columnists Priorities for 2021, By Yvette Brooks, Mayor of Capitola When Rail Cars Ran to Capitola’s Pier, Photo Essay by Carolyn Swift Customers Shop Local — But …, By Ron Kustek How To Fix Any Customer Service Problem, By Christopher Elliott Navigating an Unprecedented Year, By Rachél Lather, President, Soquel Creek Water District Board 30 $107 Million Awarded for Highway 1 and Soquel Drive, By Zach Friend, Second District Supervisor 31 Native Plants Exemplify Diversity, By Tony Tomeo

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COVER STORY Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

publisher editor

contributing writers Camisa Composti, Mandi Lopez, Jondi Gumz, Nicole Zahm, Risa D’Angeles, Yvette Brooks, Carolyn Swift, Ron Kustek, Christopher Elliott, Rachél Lather, Zach Friend, Tony Tomeo layout Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson photography Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson, Brad King website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti production coordinator Camisa Composti media consultants Don Beaumont, Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine office coordinator Cathe Race distribution Bill Pooley, James Hudson

Cadette Troop #15012 drops off toys for Santa Cops at the Santa Cruz Police Department. Girl Scouts — Standing (from left): Penellope Lopez, Soquel, 6th grade; and sister Gabriella Gonzalez-Lopez, Soquel, 8th grade. Kneeling (from left): Olivia Potes, Aptos, 6th grade; Nicoya Phillips, Capitola, 6th grade; and Alina AvilaDillon, Soquel, 6th grade. Not pictured: Evelyn Eslit-McDow, Aptos, 6th grade. Officers (from left): Community Service Officer Sergio Orozco, Lieutenant Carter Jones, and Community Service Officer Catherine Brothers. “Santa Cops” from page 1 This year with the elections happening, we took full advantage of teaching them the women’s roles and the importance of voting and having a voice. We then took a vote on who we wanted to donate to this holiday season. It was unanimous.

Times Publishing Group, Inc. 9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 The Times Publishing Group, Inc., publishers of the Aptos Times, a bi-monthly publication, the Capitola Times and Scotts Valley Times, each printed monthly, Coastal Weddings Magazine, Coastal Home and Garden Magazine, Aptos’ Fourth of July Parade Official Program Guide and Capitola’s Begonia Festival Official Program Guide, is owned by Patrice Edwards. Entire contents ©2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission PHONE: (831) 688-7549 FAX: (831) 688-7551 GENERAL E-MAIL: info@cyber-times.com Patrice Edwards: patrice@cyber-times.com Publisher’s Assistant: assistant@cyber-times.com Editor: info@cyber-times.com Calendar Listings: www.tpgonlinedaily.com Graphics Department: graphics@cyber-times.com Billing Inquiries: cathe@cyber-times.com Classified Sales: sales@cyber-times.com Production: production@cyber-times.com CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT: www.tpgonlinedaily.com mission statement We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc. are dedicated to providing a voice for the individuals and organizations in our community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses. We seek to promote healthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, school news, senior events, community groups and entertainment 4 / January 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

They all agreed to donate to a local organization named Santa Cops. Santa Cops is a nonprofit consisting of representatives of Santa Cruz Police Department and surrounding areas. Santa Cops provides toys for children in need in the Santa Cruz area to enhance the relationship between children and law enforcement within our communities for Christmas and throughout the year.

These are children who come from all walks of life and differing circumstances, but all are faced with limitations in their homes. Children need to experience officers as caring people who are willing to provide positive support. Each Christmas season, our officers personally deliver these presents to the children of the families who apply. This year, with COVID-19 hitting on top of normal holiday struggles, Santa Cops was able to help about 65 families. It took a night to Zoom together to hold our monthly meeting and then close with virtually shopping as a troop. Each girl picked out several items, choosing a total of 40 gifts with a wide age span, from Barbies and Hotwheels 5-packs to slime kits, kinetic sand, Mrs. Potato Head, board games, coloring books, baby dolls, card games, stepping stone kits, stuffed animals, sticker book, art supplies, modeling clay. About $300 was spent on toys, $62 on brand-new jackets for fire survivors, $35 for new bath towels for the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter (which we heard they needed) and $30 to Meals on Wheels. The troop got an appointment to drop off the toys at the Santa Cruz Police Department, where Community Service Officer Sergio Orozco, Lieutenant Carter Jones, & Community Service Officer Catherine Brothers were there to receive these gifts with open arms. Thank you Santa Cruz Police Department for making this unforgettable moment possible for our entire troop ! We could not be more proud of our troop and their giving hearts and selflessness. To learn about how to join a Girl Scouts troop in your community, see www. girlscoutsccc.org or call 1-800-822-2427. n ••• Cover Photo: Olivia Potes, Aptos, 6th grade, hands a stack of gifts to Community Service Officer Catherine Brothers.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Santa Cruz SPCA Opens New Shelter

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Firsts to be Shared on Social Channels; Grand Opening Expected in 2021

t long last, the nonprofit Santa Cruz SPCA has a new shelter, newly built at 2601 Chanticleer Ave., and animals and staff have started to move in. “We are thrilled beyond measure to be moving into our beautiful new forever home,” said Ali Talley, executive director of Santa Cruz SPCA. “After many years of planning and much hard work, we have finally made our dream of a new home a reality. In this new facility we will be able to save many more animals, expand our life-saving programs, and engage even more fully with our community.” “Due to COVID-19, we are unable to have the joyful public celebrations that we planned,” she added, “but we look forward to celebrating with the community when safe to do so next year. In the meantime, we’ll be sharing all of our special ‘firsts’ on social channels and on our website — first adoption at the new facility, first dog play group, first group of cats living in the community cat room, and much more. Small, appropriately distanced tours will be available by appointment starting in January.” The new Santa Cruz SPCA facility is 7,092 square feet — nearly six times the size of the former site. The shelter features 3,500 square feet of modern animal habitats that support best practices in animal rescue; multiple indoor and outdoor dog exercise areas; enclosed “catios” and a cat group room; dedicated dog and cat get-acquainted rooms; separate spaces

Active puppies at Santa Cruz SPCA await owners. for adoption and intake/surrender; dedicated isolation rooms for animal care and recovery; a 750-square-foot multi-purpose community room; and 700 square feet for administrative use. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to express my profound gratitude to the extraordinary staff, volunteers, donors, and community members who made this day possible,” said Moira Gagen, Santa Cruz SPCA board president. “It’s been a very long journey, with many obstacles to overcome — from COVID-19 restrictions to unexpected site complications —but as ‘The Little Shelter That Could,’ we persevered through it all, and have finally arrived at this major new chapter in our history.” “SPCA” page 8

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A cat enjoys the view at the Santa Cruz SPCA lobby.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Vitamin D Reduces COVID Deaths, Study Review Finds

100+ Scientists & Doctors Call For Widespread Intake Immediately

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Original Letter and Signatories at https://tinyurl.com/Letter-VitaminDForAll

o all governments, public health officials, doctors, and healthcare workers, Research shows low vitamin D levels almost certainly promote COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Given its safety, we call for immediate widespread increased vitamin D intakes. Vitamin D modulates thousands of genes and many aspects of immune function, both innate and adaptive. The scientific evidence1 shows that: • Higher vitamin D blood levels are associated with lower rates of SARSCoV-2 infection. • Higher D levels are associated with lower risk of a severe case (hospitalization, ICU, or death). • Intervention studies (including randomized clinical trials) indicate that vitamin D can be a very effective treatment. • Many papers reveal several biological mechanisms by which vitamin D influences COVID-19.

• Causal inference modelling, Hill’s criteria, the intervention studies & the biological mechanisms indicate that vitamin D’s influence on COVID-19 is very likely causal, not just correlation. Vitamin D is well known to be essential, but most people do not get enough. Two common definitions of inadequacy are deficiency < 20ng/ml, the target of most governmental organizations, and insufficiency < 30ng/ml, the target of several medical societies & experts.2 “Vitamin D” page 8

COMMUNITY NEWS

COVID Toll: 83 Deaths

By Jondi Gumz

n 10 days, while some families observed Hanukkah and others celebrated Christmas, the contagious coronavirus COVID-19 claimed 13 more lives in Santa Cruz County, bringing the deadly toll to 83. For a growing number of local families, their holidays meant mourning the loss of respected elders due to COVID-19 as the virus is most deadly for people 80 and older. Many deaths have taken place in nursing homes, where visits have been halted in an attempt to stop the virus from spreading. Statewide, more than 24,000 deaths are attributed to COVID. Two days before Christmas, state reported 300 deaths a day. Because this new coronavirus is so contagious and easily spread when people eat together or sing together, Santa Cruz County health officials advised celebrating with your own household instead of a multi-generational holiday gathering and advise being outdoors and active (such as walking) is safer than indoors. Private Thanksgiving gatherings led to a local spike of COVID cases, with 140 or more people a day reporting symptoms for five consecutive days starting Dec. 7. A new record was set Monday, Dec. 14, when 211 people reported symptoms. That week saw a burst of new cases, 166 people on Tuesday, 146 on Wednesday, 167 on Thursday, and 124 on Friday before easing off on the weekend. On Monday, Dec. 21, another 165 people reported symptoms, followed by 162 on Tuesday, 130 on Wednesday, and 103 on Thursday, Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, the number of people hospitalized with COVID reached a record 70, doubling from 35 the day after Thanksgiving. Of those hospitalized, 18 spent Christmas Day in the Intensive Care Unit, the most since Nov. 4, when 20 people with COVID were being treated in the ICUs. On Monday, the case count was 8,202,

with 2,301 active in the last two weeks requiring contact tracing. The county has increased staff to do that work, with more than 40 people investigating cases and more than 40 people tracing contacts, and notifying them of exposure. The priority is nursing homes, as all seven in the county have had cases, the jail, and high-risk zip codes, such as Watsonville, which has 55 percent of the county’s cases. One positive sign is that the caseload in the Latino community has declined from 66 percent initially to 55 percent. Santa Cruz County Health Official Dr. Gail Newel said she wouldn’t be seeing her mother, who is 86 and at higher risk from COVID, at Christmas due to the regional stay–at-home order that took effect Dec. 18 for Santa Cruz County and the rest of the Bay Area region to preserve capacity in hospital intensive care units. Often, people hurt in car crashes are taken to trauma centers in Santa Clara County, but their ICU capacity is limited due to COVID. There are 22 ICU beds in Santa Cruz County, 16 at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz and 6 at Watsonville Community Hospital. It’s possible for them to add beds, but staffing the beds would be a challenge due to the demand for ICU nurses through the region and the state. The stay-at-home order, which prohibited private gatherings of any size, also ended outdoor restaurant dining, shuttered hair salons, barbershops, wineries and breweries, restricted retail stores to 20 percent capacity, forced non-essential office workers to work remotely and limited churches and protests to outdoor activities only. The earliest the order could be lifted is Jan. 8, and the Bay Area region would have to have 15 percent ICU capacity for that to be considered. As of Monday, the regional percentage was 9.5 percent capacity. Even as the number of deaths increase,

the number of negative COVID tests keeps growing — 92,499 as of Monday as testing becomes more readily available. A new OptumServe site offering free testing opened Dec. 21 at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz. The state-sponsored site operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and can process 165 daily tests. No walk-ins are allowed. To make an appointment, go to https://lhi.care/covidtesting or covid19.ca.gov/get-tested/. The same website can be used to make an appointment at the OptumServe testing site at Ramsay Park in Watsonville, which is now open seven days a week. The pandemic wiped out 18,600 jobs compared to a year ago, according to the count taken on Nov. 12, with agriculture, hospitality/food services and government reporting devastating losses. Unemployment, which was 11 percent in July, is down to 6.7 percent but that is largely because the workforce is smaller – people have given up trying to find a job in the COVID economy. The nonprofit Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, which began raising funds to meet needs created by the pandemic, has granted $4.9 million to local nonprofits to assist residents, largely with basic needs such as rent and food. Among the recipients are Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, $774,700, Center for Farmworker Families, $772,000, Senderos, $557,000, Community Bridges, $338,000, Santa Cruz Community Health Centers, $223,000, Catholi8c Charities Diocese of Monterey, $210,000, Second Harvest Food Bank, $120,000, Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes, $117,000, Salvation Army of Santa Cruz, $115,000, Hospice Santa Cruz County, $100,000, Grey Bears,

$136,600, Monarch Services, $103,000, Dientes, $100,000, Salvation Army of Watsonville, $85,000, St. Francis Soup Kitchen, $45,000, and Valley Churches United Missions, $25,000, DigitalNEST, $10,000. In addition, since school closures were announced on March 12 due to COVID-19, donor advisors have granted $5,573,144 to their local, regional, and national nonprofits. The Community Foundation office is open Tuesday and Wednesday to provide information on year-end giving, then closed Thursday and Friday for the New Year’s holiday. For help, contact Donor Services Officer Hilary Bryant, 831-662-2065 or hbryant@cfscc.org. Monday’s data from the Santa Cruz County Public Health Division show 13 more deaths in the past 10 days, bringing the total to 83 deaths from COVID: 72 percent had underlying conditions, 69 percent were residents of nursing homes or care homes for the elderly, 66 percent were age 80 or older, and 57 percent were women. In the past week, the county saw the first death of an individual under 40 years old due to COVID. Further information was not available at presstime. ••• County COVID Deaths As of Dec. 18 Age 90 and up:................................... 31 80 to 89:....................................... 24 70 to 79:....................................... 14 60 to 69:....................................... 10 50 to 59:......................................... 2 40 to 49:......................................... 1 30 to 39:......................................... 1 “COVID” page 9

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / January 2021 / 7

“Vitamin D” from page 6 Too many people have levels below these targets. Rates of vitamin D deficiency <20ng/ ml exceed 33% of the population in most of the world, and most estimates of insufficiency <30ng/ml are well over 50% (but much higher in many countries).3 Rates are even higher in winter, and several groups have notably worse deficiency: the overweight, those with dark skin (especially far from the equator), and care home residents. These same groups face increased COVID-19 risk. It has been shown that 3875 IU (97mcg) daily is required for 97.5% of people to reach 20ng/ml, and 6200 IU (155mcg) for 30ng/ ml,4 intakes far above all national guidelines. Unfortunately, the report that set the US RDA included an admitted statistical error in which required intake was calculated to be ~10x too low.4 Numerous calls in the academic literature to raise official recommended intakes had not yet resulted in increases by the time SARS-CoV-2 arrived. Now, many papers indicate that vitamin D affects COVID-19 more strongly than most other health conditions, with increased risk at levels < 30ng/ml and severely greater risk < 20ng/ml.1 Evidence to date suggests the possibility that the COVID-19 pandemic sustains itself in large part through infection of those with low vitamin D, and that deaths are concentrated largely in those with deficiency. The mere possibility that this is so should compel urgent gathering of more vitamin D data. Even without more data, the preponderance of evidence indicates that increased vitamin D would help reduce infections, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, & deaths. Decades of safety data show that vitamin D has very low risk: Toxicity would be extremely rare with the recommendations here. The risk of insufficient levels far outweighs any risk from levels that seem to provide most of the protection against COVID-19, and this is notably different from drugs & vaccines.

Vitamin D is much safer than steroids, such as dexamethasone, the most widely accepted treatment to have also demonstrated a large COVID-19 benefit. Vitamin D’s safety is more like that of face masks. There is no need to wait for further clinical trials to increase use of something so safe, especially when remedying high rates of deficiency/insufficiency should already be a priority. Therefore, we call on all governments, doctors, and healthcare workers worldwide to immediately recommend and implement efforts appropriate to their adult populations to increase vitamin D, at least until the end of the pandemic. Specifically to: 1) Recommend amounts from all sources sufficient to achieve 25(OH)D serum levels over 30ng/ml, a widely endorsed minimum with evidence of reduced COVID-19 risk. 2) Recommend to adults vitamin D intake of 4000 IU (100mcg) daily (or at least 2000 IU) in the absence of testing. 4000 IU is widely regarded as safe.5 3) Recommend that adults at increased risk of deficiency due to excess weight, dark skin, or living in care homes may need higher intakes (eg, 2x). Testing can help to avoid levels too low or high. 4) Recommend that adults not already receiving the above amounts get 10,000 IU (250mcg) daily for 2-3 weeks (or until achieving 30ng/ml if testing), followed by the daily amount above. This practice is widely regarded as safe. The body can synthesize more than this from sunlight under the

“SPCA” from page 5 The builder was Bogard Construction, Inc. of Santa Cruz. The architect was Animal Arts of Boulder, Colorado, a firm exclusively focused on design of animal care facilities. Santa Cruz County approved the building permit application in January 2019. Groundbreaking took place the next month. Construction was temporarily halted in spring 2020 due to COVID-19 protocols, then resumed under strict new protocols. The county completed

right conditions (e.g., a summer day at the beach). Also, the NAM (US) and EFSA (Europe) both label this a “No Observed Adverse Effect Level” even as a daily maintenance intake. 5) Measure 25(OH)D levels of all hospitalized COVID-19 patients & treat w/ calcifediol or D3, to at least remedy insufficiency <30ng/ml, possibly with a protocol along the lines of Castillo et al ‘20 or Rastogi et al ‘20, until evidence supports a better protocol. Many factors are known to predispose individuals to higher risk from exposure to SARS-CoV-2, such as age, being male, comorbidities, etc., but inadequate vitamin D is by far the most easily and quickly modifiable risk factor with abundant evidence to support a large effect. Vitamin D is inexpensive and has negligible risk compared to the considerable risk of COVID-19. Please Act Immediately esidents of the USA: Text “Go VitaminDforAll” to 50409 to send this letter to your state’s governor (free). The signatories below endorse this letter. Affiliations do not imply endorsement of the letter by the institutions themselves. This letter takes no position on other public health measures besides vitamin D. Personal views of individual signatories on any other matter do not represent the group as a whole. All signatories declare no conflicts of interest except as noted. To emphasize: The organizing signa-

all approvals and signed off on the project in November. The Santa Cruz SPCA has a long history, dating to 1938 when Dr. Charles Edward Graves, the first veterinarian in the county to treat small animals, donated a piece of land for a shelter. n ••• Hours of the Santa Cruz SPCA shelter at 2601 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz, are: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; closed Mondays. Phone: 831465-5000. Website: www.spcasc.org Photos courtesy Santa Cruz SPCA

8 / January 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

tories have no conflicts of interest in this area (financial or otherwise), nor have they done research in this area prior to 2020. Signed by 135 scientists and medical doctors, with organizing signatories Dr. Kasrl Pfleger, PhD AI & Computer Science, Stanford. Former Google Data Scientist. Biotechnology Investor, AgingBiotech. info, San Francisco, and Dr. Gareth Davies, PhD Medical Physics, Imperial College, London, UK. Codex World’s Top 50 Innovator 2019. Independent Researcher. Lead author of “Evidence Supports a Causal Role for Vitamin D Status in COVID-19 Outcomes.” ••• As of printing, there are 150 signatories. The first two are: Dr. Karl Pfleger, PhD AI & Computer Science, Stanford. Former Google Data Scientist. Biotechnology Investor, AgingBiotech.info, San Francisco, CA, USA. (organizing signatory) Dr. Gareth Davies, PhD Medical Physics, Imperial College, London, UK. Codex World’s Top 50 Innovator 2019. Independent Researcher. Lead author of “Evidence Supports a Causal Role for Vitamin D Status in COVID-19 Outcomes.” (organizing signatory) •••

1—The evidence was comprehensively reviewed (188 papers) through mid-June [Benskin ‘20] & more recent publications are increasingly compelling [Merzon et al ‘20; Kaufman et al ‘20; Castillo et al ‘20]. (See also [Jungreis & Kellis ‘20] for deeper analysis of Castillo et al’s RCT results.) 2—E.g.: 20ng/ml: National Academy of Medicine (US, Canada), European Food Safety Authority, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Nordic Countries, Australia, New Zealand, & consensus of 11 international organizations. 30ng/ml: Endocrine Society, American Geriatrics Soc., & consensus of scientific experts. See also [Bouillon ‘17]. 3—[Palacios & Gonzalez ‘14; Cashman et al ‘16; van Schoor & Lips ‘17] Applies to China, India, Europe, US, etc. 4—[Heaney et al ‘15; Veugelers & Ekwaru ‘14] 5—The following include 4000 IU within their tolerable intakes in official guidelines: NAM (US, Canada), SACN (UK), EFSA (Europe), Endocrine Society (international), Nordic countries, Netherlands, Australia & New Zealand, UAE, and the American Geriatrics Soc. (USA, elderly). No major agency specifies a lower tolerable intake limit. The US NAM said 4000 IU “is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects to almost all individuals.” See also [Giustina et al ‘20].

A dog gets a walk outside with a Santa Cruz SPCA volunteer.

COMMUNITY NEWS

$900 Billion COVID Aid Package Signed O n Dec. 27, President Trump signed into law a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package passed by the House and Senate. The 5,600-page law includes: • Stimulus checks of $600 per person for people making less than $75,000 a year, and $600 per child. • Restarting a $300 boost in unemployment benefits that ran out Dec. 26 until mid-March • Extending eviction moratoriums for renters through Jan. 31. • Extending the $300 deduction to charity for people who do not itemize through 2021. • $284 billion to continue the Payroll Protection Program for small businesses to retain employees during the pandemic. • $20 billion in small business grants in low-income communities and $15 billion for live event venues hard hit by the pandemic. Here are details on the 2021 Payroll Protection Program, provided by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture: • $284 billion for first and second PPP loans for small businesses that: º Have 300 employees or fewer º Show at least a 25 percent reduction in gross receipts in the first, second, or third quarter of 2020 relative to the same 2019 quarter. • Additional PPP expenses now include: º Damage due to public disturbances not covered by insurance º Certain supplier costs º Worker protection expenditures (PPE) º Software/computing needs • Simplified forgiveness for loans under $150,000 º Borrower must sign and submit to lender a certification includes ∞ A description of the number of employees the borrower was able

“COVID” from page 7 Race/Ethnicity White:.......................................... 42 Latinx:......................................... 30 Asian:............................................ 5 Black:............................................. 1 Other:........................................... 1 Unknown:..................................... 4 Underlying Conditions Yes:............................................... 60 No:............................................... 23 Skilled Nursing/Residential Care Santa Cruz Post Acute:............. 19 Watsonville Post Acute:............ 16

to retain because of the covered loan, ∞ Estimated total amount of the loan spent on payroll costs, and ∞ Total loan amount. º The borrower must also attest that borrower accurately provided the required certification and complied with PPP requirements. • 501(c)(6) organizations, such as chambers of commerce and destination marketing organizations, are now eligible, provided lobbying does not make up 15% of their revenue or activities. • Food service assigned to NAICS code 72 (accommodation and food service) are now eligible for PPP loans up to 3.5X average monthly payroll, instead of 2.5X payroll. Other Important Provisions: • Full PPP expense deductibility: PPP recipients will now be able to claim ordinary deductions for business expenses paid for with PPP funds, even if that PPP funding is forgiven. • EIDL Advance Full Forgiveness$10,000 EIDL advances are no longer subtracted from PPP forgiveness if both are received. • The bill provides $15 billion for grants for eligible live venues, live performing arts organizations, museums, and movie theaters who demonstrate

at least a 25 percent reduction in revenues. For more details on the 2021 PPP, see https://files.constantcontact. com/065f63ad001/5370dfed-bb3d-4b33ac05-5f074dbd6cdd.pdf U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) commended the House passage of $900 billion in COVID-19 relief funding. “After months of work with my Problem Solvers Caucus and our Senate counterparts, we were able show leadership the way to ‘yes’. That’s one of the many reasons why I was proud to vote yes on today’s bipartisan COVID temporary relief package,” said Panetta. “This legislation will provide federal funds and temporary protections for our restaurants and other small businesses, our farmworkers and other frontline workers, and the many more who continue to struggle amid this bruising pandemic. However, our work is not finished as we must continue to fight for an additional stimulus bill in 2021 to ensure the successful long-term recoveries of our economy and public health throughout the central coast and across our country.” Many of the relief provisions such as

the PPP small business funding reflected those supported by the Problem Solvers Caucus, of which Panetta is a member. U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) also voted for the bill. “This aid package is a lifeline to the American people who continue to struggle as a result of the pandemic and it’s the product of months of exhaustive bipartisan negotiations and compromise,” she said. “The package provides billions in new funding to help us stamp out the virus through testing, treatment, and vaccines; a new round of direct payments to individuals and families; hundreds of billions of dollars in new funding for struggling businesses; an extension of unemployment benefits and a weekly $300 federal benefit for the unemployed; financial assistance for renters and an extension of the eviction moratorium; and increased nutrition benefits for families and children. The package will also lower health care costs by ending surprise medical billing while strengthening and supporting community health centers and local hospitals. These are major wins.” She added, “No compromise is perfect and I’m deeply disappointed that aid for states and local governments and our frontline health care workers and other essential employees working at the state and local level were excluded from this deal…Nonetheless, this package is a major down payment in our work to tackle this unprecedented crisis and I’m hopeful that Congress will come together in the new year under a new administration to provide more relief and assistance to all who need it.” n

Pacific Coast Manor:................. 12 Hearts & Hands Post Acute:...... 6 Montecito Manor:........................ 2 Valley Convalescent:................... 1 Maple House II:........................... 1 Total:........................................... 57 Gender Male:........................................... 36 Female:........................................ 47 Source: Santa Cruz County Public Health ••• Editor’s Note: Would you like to share your family’s story with COVID-19? Email jondi@timespublishinggroup.com

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / January 2021 / 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

Growers, Employees Share ‘Farmer of the Year’ Honors T his year, which has been so different in so many ways, the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau did something different in naming the 2020 Farmer of the Year. The honorees are “all Santa Cruz County growers and farm employees.” Farm Bureau President Arnett Young said, “Local agriculture has been an important essential business during this pandemic to ensure that food production was not interrupted, so as people spent more time at home, they could be assured of a safe and adequate food supply.” “It seems appropriate that we make this announcement during the week of Thanksgiving when families are enjoying the bounty made possible by growers and farm employees,” said Young. He added, “We commend everyone involved in local agriculture for the outstanding service they provided the community, our state, country and worldwide.” This award is presented annually to the farmer(s) who have contributed beyond their normal farming duties to help the community. The decision was made during the

directors felt it was appropriate to honor all local growers and farm employees because

of their resilience and adaptability in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The board acknowledged the work done this year by the Farm Bureau’s COVID-19 Task Force, which interacted with the county Health Services Agency on a regular basis. The new president is a senior research technician at Chiquita/Fresh Express. He is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz with a master ’s degree from CSU Monterey Bay. n ••• Officers elected for the coming year are: President/State Delegate: Arnett Young 1st Vice President/State Delegate: Dennis Webb 2nd Vice President/Alternate Delegate: Peter Navarro Past President/Alternate Delegate: Brendan Miele Directors elected are: For 1st term, three-year director: Greg Estrada, Cattle For 2nd term, three-year director: Nishan Moutafian, Berries, and Mike Jani, Timber For 3rd term, three-year director: John Pisturino, Cattle, and Geri PrevedelliLathrop, Apples

Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, on Dec. 23, around 11:30 p.m. The driver left, then abandoned the vehicle near the scene, according to Officer Kummerfeld, who investigated. The man on foot, 47, of Santa Cruz, succumbed to his injuries, according to the CHP, which is asking people to help identify the Yukon driver. Anyone with information regarding the driver of the Yukon is asked to call (831) 662-0511 (daytime) or (831) 796-2160 (after hours). ••• County Conservation Strategy Meeting: Jan. 18 he public is invited to attend a virtual public meeting 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, on Zoom to learn about and provide input on the proposed 10-year Santa Cruz County Regional Conservation Investment Strategy. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and the

Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County are developing the strategy to link potential environmental mitigation for proposed infrastructure to high-priority conservation projects. The Regional Conservation Investment Strategy is a voluntary process guided by Assembly Bill 2087, a 2016 law that allows creation of a system of mitigation credits to advance conservation objectives of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect threatened and endangered species, other sensitive species, natural communities, ecological processes and connectivity. For information on how to attend the meeting, visit: www.sccrtc.org/rcis. Interested parties can provide written comments by email to: rcis_santacruzcounty@ sccrtc.org; by mail to: SCCRTC attn: Grace Blakeslee, 1523 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060; or through the RCIS Online Public Workshop, available from Jan. 11 – Feb. 19 via sccrtc.org/rcis/workshop. n

Farmworkers garbed to prevent the contagious coronavirus COVID-19 work in the fields. Farm Bureau’s 103rd Annual Meeting, which took place virtually. The board of

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Castro Adobe work honored by Santa Cruz County History Forum n Nov. 18, the Santa Cruz County History Forum honored Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks for its work restoring the Castro Adobe. Friends is leading a multi-year restoration effort to preserve and interpret the Castro Adobe new as a State Historic Park in partnership with California State Parks. It is Santa Cruz County’s second State Historic Park and the first non-beach state park in the Pajaro Valley.

According to History Forum Past President Traci Bliss, the organization has given only three awards over the last decade for outstanding and sustained work in preserving our county’s history. The $500 award honors a nonprofit that has made an exceptional contribution to restoration and/or preservation. Past winners have been The Elkhorn Slough Foundation and the Evergreen Committee at the Museum of Art and History. Castro Adobe Advisory Committee Chair Charlene Duval and Friends Historic Preservation Project Manager Jessica Kusz presented a project update to Gala attendees. Learn more at www. thatsmypark.org. ••• Fatal hit-and-run on Highway 1 he California Highway Patrol is looking for the driver of a black 2002 GMC Yukon who struck and killed a man walking along Highway 1 near

10 / January 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Priorities for 2021

arlier this month I was selected by the City Council to serve as the Mayor of Capitola in 2021. I am honored and humbled by their decision. It is a privilege to serve our community and all of our residents. As we embark on a new year, I am eager to get to work with my fellow Council members. My priorities as the new mayor are: To focus on strategic budget planning, to support families and their children and to ensure policy is created with an equity lens. As you likely know, the City of Capitola has been significantly impacted by the pandemic. Earlier this year, the City had to make huge budget cuts which greatly impacted our organization, businesses, and our residents. At the Dec. 10 City Council meeting, Council reviewed a budget update that

By Yvette Brooks, Mayor of Capitola

showed we did better than expected in the first part of the fiscal year. Based on that news, the City Council unanimously agreed to establish a $600,000 COVID Contingency Fund as a safeguard as we move into the next quarter. We also authorized filling a position in our police department that had been held vacant due to budget cuts and allocated funding to develop plans to reduce fire risk on Cityowned property and toward regional efforts to address homelessness. In addition, City Council unanimously passed to end the City’s furlough of employees and was even able to offer a small cost of living increase for our hard-working staff. Impacts from the pandemic are not limited to just budgets. Families and children throughout the region have

also had to make deep adjustments in their everyday lives. I am proud to report that Capitola recognized this early on and was one of

the first to open an Out of School program for children in our community. “Capitola Mayor” page 17

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Amanda Ray First Woman to Head CHP O n Nov. 17, Amanda Ray was sworn in as California Highway Patrol commissioner, making her the first woman in its 91-year history to lead the largest state law enforcement agency in the nation. Gov. Newsom appointed Ray as the 16th CHP commissioner on Oct. 20, after Warren Stanley announced his retirement after 38 years. Ray began her Amanda Ray career with the CHP in 1990, rising through the ranks to be appointed deputy commissioner in February, the first African-American woman to hold that post. She has served as incident commander during several high-profile events, including the agency’s response to COVID-19, civil unrest, and wildfires. She was the first woman assigned as the Special Response Team Tactical Commander during Super Bowl 50 at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara. This year, she was selected to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Executive Institute executive training program studying national and international political, economic, and social trends affecting law enforcement. Her goal is to serve and safeguard communities with compassion and understanding. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Berkeley. “I am thankful to Gov. Newsom for trusting me to lead this exceptional organization and honored to follow in the footsteps of many innovative leaders who have come before me, including my friend, Warren Stanley,” Ray said. “I would not be where I am today without the foresight of those in 1974 who decided to give women the opportunity to become CHP officers, paving the way for

Amanda Ray is sworn in as CHP commissioner, the first woman in that post, by Gov Newsom. many women to assume leadership roles in the department.” She added, “I look forward to further guiding the department and its 11,000 women and men in engaging with the communities we serve to ensure California remains a safe place to live, work, and visit.” Ray has appointed two members to her executive management team. They are Jim Epperson as deputy commissioner, her second-in-command responsible for the day-to-day operations, and Ryan Okashima as assistant commissioner/staff, who will oversee the administrative functions, including a $2.8 billion budget, departmental training, information technology, and personnel administration. In August 2020, Rich Stewart was promoted to assistant commissioner/field, responsible for patrol and air operations throughout the state as well as protective services. n ••• The California Highway Patrol was created in 1929 to provide uniform traffic law enforcement throughout the state. Assuring the safe, convenient and efficient transportation of people and goods on our highway system is still our primary purpose.

The CHP executive management team (from left): Ass’t Commissioner, Staff, Ryan Okashima; Commissioner Amanda Ray; Deputy Commissioner Jim Epperson; and Ass’t Commissioner, Field, Rich Stewart.

COMMUNITY NEWS

SCCB Announces New President/CEO S anta Cruz County Bank, a top-rated community bank with assets of $1.4 billion, has tapped Krista Snelling to be president and CEO starting March 1, succeeding David Heald, who has been at the helm since 2006. She comes from Five Star Bank, a $2 billion awardwinning community Krista Snelling business bank in Sacramento, where she has been executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer for almost four years. Before that, she was CFO for four years at Inspire Communities, which develops and manages manufactured home communities and RV resorts, and CFO at Five Star Bank for three-and-a-half years. Five Star Bank was founded in 1999. Chairman William J. Hansen noted her “nearly 25 years of strategic financial and operational expertise,” adding, “As a board, we look forward to working with Krista and feel confident she will execute on our strategic plan.” Snelling follows in the footsteps of Sandi Eason, who was president and CEO at Coast Commercial Bank for a two-year stint before it was acquired by Wells Fargo, Carrie Birkhofer, president and CEO of Bay

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Federal Credit Union since 1989, and Beth Carr, president and CEO of Santa Cruz Community Credit Union since 2011. Founded in 2004, locally owned Santa Cruz County Bank has been a top Small Business Administration lender, serving the ag community, acquiring local competitor Lighthouse Bank and expanding into Silicon Valley and most recently expanding into Monterey County, growing to 150 employees. In February, Snelling received the Nancy Hotchkiss Woman of Impact Award from the Commercial Real Estate Women Sacramento networking group. The Sacramento Business Journal chose her as one of the 2020 Women Who Mean Business, noting that during her tenure, assets at Five Star Bank quadrupled in a decade, branches were added and the number of employees doubled to 140. In 2019, she was recognized as one of the top CFOs by the Sacramento Business Journal. Snelling welcomed the opportunity to lead Santa Cruz County Bank, noting the “talented team of employees” at the bank. “Snelling” page 15

Kristine Ronzano Joins SCCB

ristine Ronzano has joined Santa Cruz County Bank as vice president, relationship manager to serve customers in greater Santa Cruz. She maintains her office at 2020 N. Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, where she is responsible for customer acquisition, lending and business development. Ronzano began her 38-year banking career in 1983 at Coast Commercial Bank as a teller. Over 17 years she advanced to positions of increasing responsibility, including operations supervisor, credit analyst, business banking officer and branch manager. During her career at Wells Fargo, she managed a team of business relationship managers and business development officers, covering Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Luis Obispo, and most recently as principal relationship manager.

A native Santa Cruzan and wellknown veteran banker, Ronzano has deep ties in the community and has served on a wide spectrum of nonprofit boards and committees. She currently is on the boards of the Fallen Officer Association, the Aptos Chamber of Com- Kristine Ronzano merce and as a member of the Santa Cruz County Business Council. Her past board service includes Second Harvest Food Bank, the Santa Cruz Chapter of the Kidney Foundation and Santa Cruz Ballet Theater. “Ronzano” page 15

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / January 2021 / 13

COMMUNITY NEWS

New COVID Test Site Opens at Civic T he County of Santa Cruz Public Health Division announces a North County community COVID-19 testing site at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz. The site opened Dec. 21. This location, a state-sponsored site operated by OptumServe, can process 165 tests a day. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. with tests by appointment only, no walk-ins. To make an appointment, go to https://lhi.care/ covidtesting. Another option is the Ramsay Park community testing site, 1301 Main St., in Watsonville, also operated by OptumServe and recently expanded service to seven days a week. This site can process up to 330 tests a day. To make an appointment, go to https://lhi.care/ covidtesting. A third option is Senneca Diagnostics’ community testing site at Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos. The site offers testing for up to 300

individuals per day. Hours are Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. To make an appointment, go to

www.sennecadx.com/community. Screening will occur at each site, but none require patients to exhibit

symptoms to get tested. For more on local testing information, go to www. santacruzhealth.org/testing. n

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Jan. 3 Deadline to Apply for Measure D Oversight Committee

he Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is seeking individuals interested in becoming members or alternates of its citizen advisory committees. There are currently vacancies on the Measure D Taxpayer Oversight Committee, Bicycle Advisory Committee and Elderly & Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee. The deadline to apply to the Measure D Taxpayer Oversight Committee is Jan. 3. Citizen committees advise the commission on critical transportation-related issues, policies, plans, programs, and projects that affect the entire community. The Measure D Taxpayer Oversight Committee is an independent oversight committee tasked with reviewing how the funds generated by the Measure D transportation tax are being spent. Committee members review Expenditure Plan expenditures on an annual basis to ensure they conform to the Ordinance. The Bicycle Advisory Committee advises on bicycle-related issues and

“Snelling” from page 13 “I thank the Board of Directors for placing their confidence in me and recognize this financial institution is highly respected as an arbiter of growth and economic development in the tri-county region,” she said. “I look forward to building upon the proven success of this organization while connecting with all of our employees and customers as we advance a culture of community engagement.” She graduated from the University of the Pacific with a double major in

“Ronzano” from page 13 She attended San Diego State University with an emphasis on finance coursework and has her associate’s degree from Cabrillo College. She lives in Scotts Valley with her husband Chris. “It’s an honor to join Santa Cruz County Bank,” she said. “Over the years, I’ve admired the bank’s ability to make a direct impact on the local and broader community, and I look forward to con-

coordinates with local jurisdictions and bicycle-related organizations to promote cycling projects and programs. Members of the committee review proposed bicycle-related policies, programs, projects, plans, funding applications, and legislation. The Elderly & Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee works with the RTC to identify and meet transportation needs of people living with disabilities, senior citizens, and low-income communities. Members of the committee review and guide the planning of specialized transportation programs, propose methods of using transportation to integrate the elderly and disabled population into the community, and serve as transportation advocates on the behalf of the elderly and disabled. Applications for the advisory committees are accepted on an ongoing basis. n ••• For more information or an application, visit https://sccrtc.org/committees or call 831460-3200 or info@sccrtc.org . mathematics and economics and earned a master’s degree in economics at UC Davis. A licensed Certified Public Accountant, she was a manager at Arthur Andersen and KMPG Audit early in her career. She is vice chair of the board of the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services and on the Advisory Board of the Eberhardt School of Business at the University of the Pacific where she is a frequent guest lecturer. Krista and her husband, Edmund, are relocating to the Santa Cruz area along with their two children. n tributing to their reinvestment in local business start-ups and expansions … The ability to be hands-on, nimble and responsive is what sets community banks apart.” Angelo De Bernardo, Jr., executive vice president and chief lending officer at Santa Cruz County Bank, welcomed Ronzano, citing her experience in operations and lending and “her knowledge and reputation as a civic-minded and engaged community banker.” n

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BUSINESS PROFILE

By June Smith

Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta

uring the COVID-19 pandemic, many Santa Cruzans succumbed to the habit of ordering their favorite comfort foods by delivery or to go especially pizza. Upper Crust Pizza and Pasta claimed a place at the top of the list. Before placing an order, customers are well-advised to order from the website link www.uppercrustsc.com as there are numerous-mouth watering menu items to consider. Five types of pasta are offered including gluten-free penne plus four sauces, lasagna, full or half sandwiches, soup, salad, kid’s menu, and desserts. Before the recent Stay-at-Home mandate and to satisfy our fix for comfort food, daughter Joy and grandson Phoenix joined me for a socially-distanced takeout meal on my condo deck. Phoenix took a break before his final Cabrillo College exam by sharing with Joy a medium veggie combo containing mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, black olives, and chopped tomatoes, $22.50. He exclaimed, “This is everything I want in a pizza, exactly like a pan pizza should be.” They especially liked the roasted tomatoes and Joy noted that the toppings came almost to the edge of the crust: “The perfect amount of exposed crust.” I chose a Thin Crust Gluten-free “Personal Sized” pizza for $14.95, with mushrooms and black olives. It was crispy pizza perfection and browned just right on the bottom. (I always check to make sure the dough is cooked). We all agreed that our pizzas were not overly-salted as has been our experience with other establishments. Parmesan and chili packets are provided. Pizzas come in Thick-Crust Sicilian Square and Thin-Crust Round, also available in gluten-free options. To Create Your Own Pizza, offered in small, medium,

Owner Ernesto Chavez prepares takeout orders at Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta at 2501 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz. large, family, or party sizes, there is a choice of 30 toppings. A vegetarian version of almost everything is on the menu. The Kid’s Menu (kids under 8) will be available when indoor dining is allowed. Choices are pizza slice with cheese, mushroom or pepperoni plus drink for $5.95, or pasta of spaghetti or rotini, with homemade meat marinara or homemade vegetable marinara, and butter or pesto sauce for $6.95. Try Muffaletta, their spin on a Sicilian classic. Pizza dough is coated in sesame seeds, seasoned with olive oil and Italian

16 / January 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

spices, then layered with Monterey Jack, mozzarella, and provolone cheese. It is then toasted in a brick oven until golden brown. Single Slice is $4.95 and Whole Muffaletta is $34.95. In 2004, Ernesto Chavez and his family became owners of the Soquel Drive location. After nearly two decades of working through every position available at the Mission Street restaurant, he continued the Sicilian tradition so as to be able to serve more of Santa Cruz. During the pandemic, Chavez and his 10 employees are serving customers by take-out and delivery only. He has not seen a decrease in sales or the need to lay off employees but has decreased their hours, relying on his own family for extra help. He plans to apply for the new government relief package when it becomes available. The original family, the Carollos, has proudly served the Santa Cruz community

Photo Credit: June Smith

since 1979. Their passion for preparing and sharing good food started generations ago in Carini, a small town outside of Palermo, on the Northern coast of Sicily. There, the way of life was centered around time with family and friends while enjoying home-cooked meals made from fresh, local ingredients. Their recipes became a tradition and have been passed down to the next generation. Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta invites the community to take advantage of their takeout and delivery pizza coupon, found in local papers. Order by phone and mention that you have a coupon. Present it when picking up the order or to the delivery driver. The delivery charge is $2 with a $20 order. n ••• Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta is at 2501 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz. Call 831-476-2333. Menu: www.uppercrustsc.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives at Santa Cruz County Hospitals O more than 21,000 statewide — proving to be especially deadly among older people, grandmothers, grandfathers and great-grandparents, and people with underlying conditions. The vaccine arrived amidst an unprecedented surge of cases locally, regionally and statewide. Intensive care units in the Bay Area region, which includes Santa Cruz County, are near capacity, triggering stay-at-home orders for the next three weeks. “In Santa Cruz County, we have all made sacrifices to slow the spread of the virus and adapt to a new normal. The next steps in our pandemic response are widespread vaccinations and community recovery,” said Dr. Gail Newel, health officer for the County of Santa Cruz. “The delivery of these safe and effective vaccines are a welcome step in that direction.” She was part of a group of health officers in the San Francisco Bay region that issued a join statement Tuesday when the vaccine arrived, calling it Vaccine “a critical tool to help fight this pandemic.” Hospital workers are the first to get the vaccine under a federal and state framework adopted locally. Next will be residents in nursing homes, where the virus has been especially deadly. The Bay Area’s health officers believe, as federal Photo Credit: Shmuel Thaler officials do, that these vaccines are safe and effective, Staff at Dominican Hospital carefully unbox the first shipments of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

n Dec. 15, Toni Luckett, a surgical nurse at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, was the first to get the new Pfizer vaccine against the contagious coronavirus COVID-19. Next came Dr. Laura Likar, a pulmonologist. Then Cesar Castillo, who works in environmental services, Sally Redemann-Knowles, a pharmacist, and Marika Riggs, a registered nurse in the intensive care unit. Unpacking the vaccine out of the box, Dominican health-care workers gave a big cheer, saying, “Thank you, county!” The vaccine, fast-tracked by the federal government, arrived less than a year after the first virus case was reported in Santa Cruz County in late January. At that time, no one knew deadly it would be. So far, the virus has claimed 60 lives locally and

“Capitola Mayor” from page 11 This program supports families within the Soquel Elementary School District by providing critical care for children of essential workers, consistent with current health guidance. That we were able to set this program up, from scratch, in the midst of the pandemic is a testament to the great work of our staff, and phenomenal help from both Soquel School District and Santa Cruz County. It is with great excitement I can announce that with the generous support of Santa Cruz County Parks Department we will be able continue funding support to families through the next year. As the City continues to navigate through the pandemic, it is imperative we recognize the need of all our community members. To be able to do so, I feel we must begin to look within our own organization. In

the next few months, the City Council will discuss training opportunities on racial bias, and begin reviewing the City’s current/outdated policies. I am optimistic for the future of our City. As we continue to work together, wear masks, maintain social distancing and adhere to safety protocols to keep our families and others safe, we together can reduce the COVID infection rate and begin to rebuild our community and get back to business as normal. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly at brooksforcitycouncil@gmail.com or visit our website https://www.cityofcapitola.org/ for the most up to date information. I look forward to hearing from you. n ••• Yvette Brooks is mayor of Capitola. Look for her report monthly in the Capitola-Soquel Times and online at www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Photo Credit: Shmuel Thaler

Toni Luckett, RN, receives the first vaccine at Dominican Hospital on Wednesday. and that with practices such as wearing masks and physical distancing (six feet from people outside your household) will save lives and ultimately end the pandemic. Other key steps to fight the pandemic include identifying and isolating people diagnosed positive, and tracing and quarantining contacts. For the public this also means avoiding gatherings, postponing travel, and staying home whenever possible. The Bay Area group include 12 health officers for the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma and the City of Berkeley. All of the region’s health officers plan to take the vaccine when the opportunity comes. Vaccines for the general public may be available by early summer, they said. n

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Achieving a Dream: Daniel’s Story A s tough as this year has been, Dientes Community Dental Care celebrated Dec. 7, welcoming Daniel Uriostegui, once a patient – now a registered dental hygienist. His journey to becoming a hygienist began at age 10, with his first visit to Dientes. “I was nervous but remember being so impressed at how friendly everyone was and how they took their time to explain everything to me,” he recalled. “I knew, then, that I wanted to do something in the dental field.” After graduating from Harbor High, Uriostegui ultimately went through Monterey Peninsula College’s one-year dental assisting program. There he learned about opportunities at Dientes, interning there until he graduated from Monterey Peninsula College in 2016. This enabled him to get his first job at Dientes as a part-time, temporary dental assistant. Dientes Chief Dental Officer Dr. Sepi Taghvaei said, “Daniel’s determination helped him work his way up from an

intern to a registered dental assistant and now to hygienist.” Committed to his goal, Uriostegui took the extra steps to work at Dientes as an on-call dental assistant while going through the nearly three-year, full-time Cabrillo Dental Hygiene program. Excited about his first day as a hygienist, Uriostegui advises others, “If you are willing to sacrifice and work hard, there are amazing things you can accomplish. I even met my fiancée at Dientes! I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity to grow.” Yari Alvarado, Watsonville clinic manager who has worked 16 years at Dientes, said, “I remember Daniel coming into the clinic as a patient, so young … and look at him now! We are so proud!” n ••• Dientes provides comprehensive, affordable dental care for 10,000 low-income patients a year. Dientes accept interns in many roles; for internship and career opportunities, go to www.dientes.org/jobs.

Santa Drops In To Raise Money With Aptos La Selva and Central Fire Districts

o many holiday events have been cancelled due to COVID-19, but the hard-working folks at the Aptos La Selva and Central fire districts persuaded Santa to stop in Dec. 3 to help firefighters collect donations for Second Harvest Food Bank. The drive-through event was a big success – five full barrels and boxes of food, and $1,260 in monetary donations.

The goal of this year’s holiday food and fund drive is $1.25 million, which would provide 4.5 million meals. For those who can’t attend events in person, our combined fire districts also have an online fundraising page for Second Harvest, at: https://give.thefoodbank. org/teams/14641-centralaptos-la-selvafire-districts n

18 / January 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

ABOVE: Captain Brad Piper, firefighter Henry Tobias and firefirefighter/paramedic Rolf Lingens are on duty at the drive-through holiday food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank. LEFT: Santa Claus and his Elf (Central Fire Administrative Assistant Terry Hastings and her husband Jon) are ready to help firefighter Forest Gleistman at the holiday food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank at the Central Fire station in Live Oak.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Year-Round Farmers’ Markets Offer Plenty

By Nicole Zahm

s we settle into the month of December – umbrellas, boots and coats by the door – the markets settle into their winter grind and a sweet winter feel. When you’re missing the tomato, the peach and the padron pepper, let yourself fall in love with the kiwi, the apple, the chicory. We are so fortunate to live between the North Coast, the Pajaro Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains, where the soil is fertile and the weather is largely temperate. Here the winter still offers a vast array of fruits and vegetables; every week something new and different and in its prime. The colder months bring sweeter carrots – beets and greens are sweeter and more vibrant too. Many culinary herbs thrive in the winter, kept safe from pests by the coastal winds and cool air. For those who slow down enough to walk the aisles of market and look closely at what the farms are selling there are unique winter treats: the passion fruit, cherimoya and sweet potato. Alongside the farms is a growing and ever evolving artisanal foods and ready-togo meal section. The Downtown Santa Cruz, (1-5 p.m. Wednesday) Westside Santa Cruz (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday) and Live Oak (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday) markets have been knocking it out of the park with so many unique, hard to find cuisines that may only be represented at the markets or pop-up events around the County. Below is a list of some of the long-loved standards as well as newcomers that make this section robust and exciting. • Home Away – fresh pastas, sauces, olives, sausages, charcuterie, steaks, lard, pate and more. • Full Steam Dumplings – gyoza, dumplings, pancakes, bun, sauces and ramen • Mattia Pizza – vegetarian and meat pizzas. • Rogue Pyes – a huge variety of frozen vegetarian and meat pies. • Nomad Momo – Tibetan dumplings, vegetarian and meat.

Current selection at the Santa Cruz farmers market.

• The Midway Santa Cruz – seasonal breakfast meals and bites – super fresh and creative. • Scrumptious Fish and Chips – in all kinds of arrangements. • India Gourmet – vegetarian, vegan and meat naan wraps, curries, rice, samosas, chutneys and chai. • Tía Beré – tostadas, chile relleno, any meal burritos, soup, quesadilla, tacos, salsa, aguas frescas and more. • RoliRoti Gourmet Rotisserie – rotisserie chickens, potatoes, ribs, carnitas and other indulgences. • NahNa – traditional Eritrean cuisine with a twist: homemade Taita flatbread, stews, fresh vegetables and a variety of meat and non-meat options • Dos Hermanos Pupuseria – Salvadoran pupusas, meat and vegetarian, with Social distancing is curtido and salsas. • Cuevas Express – required at the local tamales, chile relleno, farmers markets. nachos and other Mexican dishes. • Delicious Crepes – savory and dessert crepes. • Bakeries – a huge assortment of fresh breads, croissants, cookies, savory quiches and mind-blowing treats at Companion Bakeshop, Beckmann’s Bakery, the Adorable French Bakery and Il Biscotto. If your neighborhood market is the Felton or Scotts Valley market consider shifting to the Westside, Live Oak or Downtown SC markets until the seasonal markets reopen in May of 2021. All of our markets offer EBT/CalFresh and Market Match – $10 in EBT is worth $20 at the weekend markets and $30 at the Downtown Market while support from the City of Santa Cruz lasts. In consideration of public safety, guided by state, county and city regulations, we continue to set up substantial infrastructure at the markets in response to COVID-19. Masks are required by all – No exceptions. Seasonal Closures: the Westside Farmers’ Market will be closed on Dec. 26 and the Live Oak Farmers’ Market will be closed on Dec. 27. No other holiday closures are scheduled. n ••• For up-to-date info visit www.santacruz farmersmarket.org and Facebook or Instagram.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / January 2021 / 19

20 / January 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Cross-checks Needed To Cut EDD Fraud Letter to Governor Gavin Newsom Editor’s Note: This letter from District Attorneys around California is being published to make our readers aware of statewide fraud that may involve up to $1 billion in tax dollars. ••• e write today (Nov. 23) to request a meeting on an urgent matter — widespread EDD fraud occurring in California. In addition to a meeting, we request your personal involvement in halting what appears to be the most significant fraud on taxpayer funds in California history. District Attorneys and federal prosecutors, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement, have discovered that there is rampant and large-scale pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) fraud occurring in our communities, in the jails, and in state and federal prisons. General estimates of the money already paid due to this fraud could near $1 billion. Undoubtedly, this money has been utilized to further criminal conduct. Fraudulent unemployment claims deny those who have lost their employment, many due to COVID-19, who are legally eligible for benefits and are truly in need from getting the financial assistance they need. We write today to request your personal involvement in halting what appears to be the most significant fraud on taxpayer funds in California history.

Ann Marie Schubert, Sacramento District Attorney, leads a Dec. 21 virtual meeting about the EDD Fraud. There is no dispute that since the pandemic began in March 2020, EDD has faced unprecedented demands for unemployment insurance. Due to these demands and challenges faced by EDD, in late July, you created an EDD “Strike Team” to create a “blueprint” for improvements to EDD. You also directed that hundreds of employees be added to help process the nearly 1 million claims that were backlogged. In September, the “Strike Team” made several recommendations to reform EDD in a written report. Nothing in this report specifically addressed preventing or detecting fraud involving incarcerated individuals.

Trail Segment Opens on Santa Cruz Westside

n Dec. 10, a paved 1.2-mile multiuse trail from Natural Bridges Drive to Bay/California streets in Santa Cruz opened to the public, part of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network Master Plan. “The completion of Rail Trail Segment 7/Phase I is an important quality-of-life improvement for the Santa Cruz community. Whether on bike, foot, scooter or wheelchair, this paved trail allows all of us to more safely enjoy our

Scope of the Problem ver the last several months, several media reports detailing this fraud have emerged. For instance, in Beverly Hills, police arrested over 100 people in a massive PUA scheme, totaling millions of dollars in illegally obtained benefits. In September, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe filed charges against 21 jail inmates for PUA fraud amounting to $250,000 in illegally paid benefits. It is no secret that fraud in widespread in jails and prisons. In fact, even incarcerated inmates have themselves made reports. On Oct. 31, 2020, Amber Jackson, an inmate serving a life term in state prison, wrote an article for the Santa Monica Observer, entitled, “California Prisons Are a Major Source of EDD Fraud, Including Identify Theft.” In that article, Jackson states, “I see and hear my peers talking about this (EDD fraud) all the times. It surprises me how easy this is. There are even a couple of cases I’ve heard of the unemployment department sending checks directly to the prisons! What?? Oh yeah, this is an industry all its own. Now, don’t get me wrong. Some prisoners’ identifies are used without their knowledge or consent by their families or anyone who manages to get their personal information. Identify theft knows no boundaries.”

beautiful coast,” said Mayor Justin Cummings in one of his last official acts. Guy Preston, executive director of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, co-hosted the virtual ribbon-cutting. Speakers included Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty, Sally Arnold, Santa Cruz County Friends of the Rail and Trail, Kirsten Liske of Ecology Action, Hilary Walecka, Coastal Conservancy, and Gina Gallino Cole, Bike Santa Cruz County. “Trail Segments” page 29

A prefabricated bridge was installed over Arroyo Seco channel as part of the Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7/Phase I project.

“EDD Fraud” page 24

Credit Union Boosts Local Nonprofits

he “Return the Favor” campaign, sponsored by Santa Cruz Community Credit Union, brought an additional $10,000 to local non-profits. “We want to thank our community for stepping up and helping our local non-profit organizations who need help right now,” said Beth Carr, President/CEO of SCCCU. “It’s been a breath of fresh air to see how willing people are to give to others.” SCCCU thanked three local businesses for their generous contributions during the campaign: • UR 1 Stop Auto Sales • Cardinale Oldsmobile GMC • BTW Industries, Inc. “We appreciate these businesses and their commitment to our community, “ stated Carr. “At a time when so many are trying to keep their doors open, their donations have a lot of meaning to us. I also want to mention that El Pajaro, CDC, a non-profit organization in our community, donated money to another non-profit organization. No words can describe how incredible that is.” During the campaign, SCCCU donated $38,500 to local non-profits through the Return the Favor campaign, and credit

union members and community members contributed a total of $10,844. Adding those to the credit union’s annual donations and grant support of $124,774, that infused slightly $174,000 into the community in very challenging year. “The outpouring of support for so many in need has been incredibly heart-warming,” said Carr. “The word ‘community’ in our name is there for a reason. We love this community and its people. We live and work here and care so much about each other. We appreciate the continued support we receive each day too.” “It’s important to note that this is not a one-time thing,” she added. “We’ll be back at this in 2021.” n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / January 2021 / 21

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Pictures From the Past

When Rail Cars Ran to Capitola’s Pier S

Photo Essay by Carolyn Swift

hipments of flour, leather, paper and thousands of feet of lumber — fence posts, shakes, shingles pickets, poles, and wharf piles — were hauled aboard steamers docked at the Soquel/Capitola pier. Rail cars on the wharf transported goods from the steamers to the warehouse. Wagon teams then hauled supplies and bales toward Soquel along a route that would become known as Soquel Wharf Road. n ••• Editor’s note: Can rail service to Soquel and Capitola resume? It remains to be seen.

22 / January 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Singer’s New Book of Old Love Songs

inger Ron Kaplan and indie music label Kapland Records of Aptos have released their second book by Every Now and Zen Press, entitled “Song of Ron.” The 44-page book, composed of poetic lyrics from songs written and performed by Kaplan from 1976-1983, chronicles his

journey of insights on love and life with his guitar as trusty companion. It can be said that all songs are love songs. That’s what Kaplan thought when listening to the radio going through a “break-up.” In those songs were tales of found love and lost love as an ever-present theme across cultures and genres.

Then Kaplan turned off the radio and began to learn to play the guitar and write his own songs. As he reviewed this collection of his songs, he could see in the beginning it was about love lost, love celebrated, and love sought. As his mind expanded beyond the world of feelings he began to write on issues, and ideas, and eventually humor, with humanity at heart, in the process of being human. His life then took a different direction. He set down the guitar to focus on building a business, a family, and a life with his wife Cheri. Kaplan returned to music to sing once again from 1994 to 2020, which he calls a saving grace. This go-around has been as a jazz singer interpreting the repertoire of the jazz standards of the Great American Songbook. “I am so glad I lived in a musical world to express myself and bask in its sea of emotions, feelings, sensations,

vibrations, imagery, and co-creations,” Kaplan said. “I knew right from the start that music and I were meant to be companions, resonating together throughout time. In my mind, singers are born, and I was born to sing among other species of our world in the Animal Kingdom. It is what comes most naturally to me. There are memories and anecdotal reports of me singing at the very young age of 2 or 3. Even my name Ron is diminutive of the male given name Ronald, of Hebrew origin, meaning “Song of Joy.” So his new book, “Song of Ron,” is aptly titled, for these are the lyrics from the songs that he wrote and sang with his guitar, a valued friend and trusty companion throughout those years. n ••• The paperback is $14.99 at Bookshop Santa Cruz and Kelly’s Books in Watsonville, and $4.99 as an eBook. To learn more, visit https:// store.bookbaby.com/book/Song-of-Ron

Ron Kaplan

Man Arrested in 1995 Homicide

wenty-five years after the body of Gloria Hassemer was found on the Pajaro River levee near the Highway 1 overpass, detectives with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office arrested John Laroche, 63, of Turlock, saying forensic evidence links him to the murder. Laroche was John Laroche arrested around 10 a.m. Dec. 3 near his house in Turlock without incident with the help of the Turlock Police Department, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. Hassemer, 41, was last seen around 4 a.m. on June 10, 1995, walking on Water Street near Ocean Street in Santa Cruz. She was wearing a denim jacket, a blue and black shirt, jeans and white tennis shoes. She may have hitched a

ride from Santa Cruz to Watsonville where she was found, according to detectives. “ T h i s murder shook our community back in 1995, and our detecGloria Hassemer tives have been committed to making an arrest since,” said Sheriff Jim Hart. “We’ve seen the heartbreak it’s brought to Gloria’s loved ones and we are proud to be taking this step towards justice.” Laroche has connections to Santa Clara County and the Central Valley and based on his criminal history, investigators believe there could be additional victims. n If you have information, call the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office detectives at 831-454-7635.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / January 2021 / 23

COMMUNITY NEWS

Literacy Program Goal: $25,000 T he Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County’s Literacy Program has a goal of raising $25,000 and is more than half way there at over $16,000. Can you help raise another $9,000? You can take advantage of the CARES Act and get a tax-deduction for donations before Dec. 31. Gifts can be made online at scvolunteer center.org/programs/ (see Literacy Program)

“EDD Fraud” from page 21 A recent KCRA3 investigation found, “Thousands of envelopes containing fraudulent California Employment Development Department claims that were sent to residents across the state are part of several fraud schemes… The schemes involve identify theft, the dark web and possibly an international crime ring.” Individuals perpetrating this fraud are even flouting their illegal windfalls on YouTube. A link to this video can be found at http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=niBFYeo2Ltk. Within the last two months, state and federal prosecutors have become keenly aware just how massive and pervasive this fraud is within our jail s and prisons. Tens of thousands of local, state and federal inmates are involved. Unemployment claims have been made and paid in names of death row inmates and include some of California’s most notorious murders such as Cary Stayner, Wayne Ford and Isauro Aguirre. As a result, California’s elected District Attorneys have created a Statewide EDD Fraud Task Force to combat this massive fraud. Law enforcement and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are critical partners within the Task Force. While EDD investigators have also assisted with these efforts, they have only 17 fraud investigators for the entire state and are therefore understandably overwhelmed by the amount of work this will entail. As such, the District Attorney Investigative Divisions are assisting with these investigations. The enormity of this week cannot be underscored enough. Quite frankly, this may be the largest fraud investigation in California history. Fraud Within State Prisons In response to a federal subpoena, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) have provided the U.S. Department of Labor with their entire inmate population list, across all institutions. The DOL thereafter ran this data against unemployment insurance

or by mail: Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, Literacy Program, 1740 17th Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95062 The office will reopen Monday, Jan. 4. A new listening test, which takes 45 minutes, is being used current and incoming students. Scheduling is taking place now. Testing will take place in the Literacy

office at the Volunteer Center and safety protocols will be in place. This oral assessment is a great tool for tutors to gauge the receptive oral language progress of students. Workshops in 2021 will take place via Zoom in January, February, March and April. For details, see https:// s c v o lunte e rc e nte r.o rg/w p -c o nten t/

uploads/2020/12/Literacy-WorkshopSchedule-2021.pdf n ••• Do you know someone who would like to become a Literacy Tutor? The next training will be Feb. 2, 4, 9 and 11 from 2-4 p.m. via ZOOM. Prospective tutors must attend a one-hour orientation in advance. Register at www.scvolunteercenter.org

date for the period of March 2020-August 2020./ This information was then provided to EDD. In the last two weeks, the results of this data have been released to the Statewide Task Force. The Task Force has extensively researched this data and found the following: • The volume of fraud as well as the types of inmates is staggering. • Fraud exists in every CDCR institution • Fraud encompasses every type of inmate: Death row inmates, inmates sentenced to life or life without the possibility of parole, and rapists, child molesters, human traffickers and other violent criminals • Many of the claims being paid are sent to outof-state individuals The data revealed the following: Overall CDCR Data Number of Claims Filed: 35,003 Number of Claims Already Paid: 20,150 Highest Single Claims: $48,600 Highest Claims for a Single Inmate: 16 Total Amount Paid, March-August: $140,253,207 Death Row Data There are currently over 700 inmates on death row. They represent the worst of all murderers. An extensive review of the data of death ro inmates revealed the following: Number of Death Row Inmates Named in Claims: 133 Claims Filed under Those 133 Inmate Names: 158 Highest Single Claim Paid: $19,676 Total Amount Paid Through August: $421,370 Fraud in County Jails here are 58 counties in California. Early data shows that fraud within the county jails is also rampant. Much like the state prisons, it is anticipated that fraud will exist in every county jail facility. Even small county jails have identified losses in the millions. Statewide, the fraud within the jails could balloon to hundreds of millions of dollars. Fraud in Other Detention Facilities he Task Force is additionally concerned that this fraud may also have

permeated other facilities, including State Hospitals that house the following types of inmates or patients: Not guilty by reason of insanity, incompetent to stand trial, sexually violent predators, other civil commitments related to mental health. In addition to this shocking information, Task Force members discovered that EDD has no cross-match system to stop the continued payment to incarcerated inmates. California is the most populous state in the country. It has been hailed as the center of technology. Yet the EDD’s lack of technology to cross-match incarceration data is costing this state hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2016, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies conducted a national survey to gather data to improve the integrity of unemployment insurance benefit around the country. In response to queries related to cross-matching incarceration data against each state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency, the survey found: • 35 states cross-match claimants against state prison rolls. Many states do these crosschecks on a weekly basis to root out fraud. • 28 state cross-match between claimants and county jail data. • 6 states cross-match claims against federal prison data. Sadly, California does not cross-match. While the latest EDD improvements with “ID.me” should be applauded, they can be easily overcome by co-conspirators manipulating this system. Thus, this widespread fraud will continue. Undoubtedly, millions more will be paid to those who are entitled to such benefits. Undoubtedly, those lawfully entitled to benefits will continue to suffer at the hands of these criminals. Addressing the Problem Based upon the clear data demonstrating widespread fraud within correctional facilities, we respectfully request the following steps immediately:

• Add significant resources and investigative staff to assist the Statewide Task Force in the investigation and prosecution of those involved in this fraud. • Employ a cross-match system to ensure that incarceration data is routinely matched against EDD claims so no further funds are paid to or on behalf of incarcerated individuals. If legislative action is necessary, seek urgency legislation. By immediately addressing these systemic issues, those rightfully entitled to and desperately in need of unemployment benefits will obtain the assistance needed. The California District Attorney’s Statewide EDD Fraud Task Force continues to vigilantly work against fraudulent conduct that has so horrifically impacted law-abiding, legally entitled recipients from receiving their benefits. We stand ready to assist in any way to address these challenges. n Signed by Ann Marie Schubert, Sacramento District Attorney and chair, Statewide EDD Fraud Task Force, Task Force team leaders Jeannine Pacioni, Monterey District Attorney, S. Melyssah Rios, Lassen District Attorney, Lori Frugoli, Marin District Attorney, Lisa Smittcamp, Fresno District Attorney, Michael Hestrin, Riverside District Attorney, Summer Stephan, San Diego District Attorney, Vern Pierson, El Dorado District Attorney and president, California District Attorneys Association, and Greg Totten, Ventura District Attorney and incoming CEO, California District Attorneys Association. •••

24 / January 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Editor’s Note: Gov. Newsom responded with a letter to the district attorneys saying “bad actors took advantage of the crisis to abuse the system,” and new security were implemented in early September after an uptick in claims. EDD and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are working with the U.S. Department of Labor to crosscheck unemployment claims against state prison rolls, according to Newsom’s letter. State Labor spokeswoman Crystal Page told the Sacramento Bee via email that 35,000 records have been checked, including 19,000 PUA claims totaling $380 million and about 3,700 of the Bank of America debit cards were frozen. El Dorado District Attorney Vern Pierson told the Bee the state got a $1.7 million federal grant for one year to run a system from Pondera Solutions of Folsom to crosscheck claims with publicly available data, but EDD did not keep the system.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Customers Shop Local — But …

e pride ourselves on our local community, on how we support small businesses and how a small business is the backbone of our identity, that if it weren’t for our mutual connection between independent businesses and us locals, that the big corporate giants will take over and wipe our ethnocentricSanta-Cruzian persona off the face of the planet. Well, let’s challenge ourselves! For customers who feel we have integrity in our support of local business, we need to ask ourselves what we’re willing to accept? But the Price: Will we accept higher prices, because a smaller local business cannot buy in huge bulk quantities like a warehouse store. This leads to higher prices. Will we also accept higher prices because a local business cares more about our local employees and pays them higher wages than a big-box national brand? But the Products: Will we expect a local business to stock the full breadth of brands (often from China, stored in a huge robotic warehouse) that we see online

By Ron Kustek

instead of products the local business feels is the highest quality for the community? Will we only buy what we see in our Instagram feed of paid talking heads (yeah, that’s what an influencer really is). Don’t think any local business can afford to pay for international YouTube “influencers” in their cost structure. But the Promotions: You may find a better price online because that location isn’t paying an extreme price to rent from a landlord who is likely profiting from the recent tax breaks? You likely shared that in some post. And did you not buy locally because the local store didn’t email/text you a paltry 10% off coupon (because you didn’t give the local store owner your email or text info due to “privacy” but gave it up so easily to an online multinational corporation) … please, can we seriously be bought that easily? But the Place: OK, so during these times we’re trying to socially distance and stay safe — often with our own definitions of what that means. And yes, I’d rather sit on my couch or comfy chair to surf the web for the best price from

a company that can afford to pay for shipping (from my annual fees of about $10/month) so that they can promise me 2-day shipping — when in reality, it varies from 2-11 days — but it shows up at my door and I don’t have to take a shower, dress, drive or walk and then talk to another human). If we all really wanted to support our local shops, we would also use sites such as www. shopnow.org This is THE local platform that identifies what you want that is in-

stock from a participating local business. I fully support them - even though they haven’t quite yet been able to perfect their algorithms. ••• For business owner who expect that as long as you just open an independent business in Santa Cruz County, that magically customers will appear … you still have to do the work. “Shop Local, But ...” page 26

Year in Review

ACROSS

1. *New wardrobe accessory 5. *RIP, ____ 8. Flock’s echo 12. Reply from a tunnel? 13. Feline noise 14. Edward Teller’s “baby” 15. Beat 16. Competently 17. Savory jelly 18. *Blue vs. red competition 20. One third of a threepiece suit 21. Mailed greetings 22. Long time

23. ____ biloba 26. Anointing oil 30. Nurses’ org. 31. Leafy vegetable 34. “Cogito, ____ sum” 35. Mooring spots 37. Bring into play 38. Old Brazilian coins 39. Prefix with ‘graph’ 40. *Joe’s running mate 42. PGA peg 43. What bees did 45. Fixes firmly 47. Summer mo. 48. R in NPR 50. Widespread 52. *WHO’s March announcement 55. Cliffside dwelling 56. Drop-off spot

57. Sonic sound 59. Sports figures, e.g. 60. Persian backgammon 61. Water carrier 62. *Late basketball legend 63. *____ lightning, cause of California wildfires 64. X-ray units

9. What Joy Mangano does on TV 10. Do like exhaust pipe 11. *”Transplant” network 13. ____ of honor 14. It’s often wreaked 19. Zoo enclosures 22. Compass dir. 23. Labored breaths 24. *Jared Kushner to Donald Trump DOWN 25. Nigerian money 1. Copy cats 26. Part of an eye 2. Flu symptom 27. About to explode 3. Synagogue 28. Looked at, amorously 4. 1/100th of a ruble 29. Smelling organs 5. Bid again 6. Western neckwear, pl. 32. Two of the same 7. Gwyneth, to friends 33. Philosopher’s study 36. *Best Picture Oscar8. *Like a vote during winner lockdown

38. China grass 40. Party barrel 41. Having a cover 44. *What Zoom host does to guests, sometimes 46. Type of jacket 48. “M*A*S*H” character 49. Ticked off 50. *President Trump used this power in 2020 51. United ____ Emirates 52. Be undecided 53. *Caucus state 54. Like most universities 55. Pose a question 58. Robinson or Doubtfire © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / January 2021 / 25

Beginnings Are Fragile Things

Esoteric Astrology • January 2021 • By Risa D’Angeles

elcome to our brave new world, 2021, everyone. We have a dreamy start to the new year as Mercury joins Neptune on the first day of 2021. Many of us as the new year dawns will be wondering what we actually believe in that’s real and not false or fleeting, mesmerized as we have been by so much intrigue, deception and fantasy. Leo moon shines on the first day, too, telling us the new year’s focus will be on the recognition of and contact with the Soul as well as gathering and cultivating our talents, gifts and abilities, until they’re as shiny and bright as stars. Why? Because we’ll be asked in the coming year, to offer them to humanity, deeply questioning and in need. Each January, as if to herald the new year, the Quadrantids meteor showers appear, radiating from near the North Star. The showers’ radiance (from Jan 1 – 5) can be seen, brief yet splendid, between the Big Dipper and Boötes on the right and Polaris (North

Star) and Ursa Minor (Little Dipper) on the left. The showers, many hued, begin after midnight and peak before dawn, January 4th. Always as a new year dawns, we are to be very careful of its beginnings. We remember the quote from Dune, “Beginnings are fragile things. A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct.”― Frank Herbert, Dune 1. And so today, at the beginning of a new year, we “take the most delicate care” that everything is in balance, that we have gratitude and Right Relations with all of life, that we are poised and calm, and that we bring kindness forth in all that we do. Let us set a template for the new year together. Here is a mantram recited by Disciples. We can all recite together as the new year begins. We can recite it each morning as we face the surprise and magic of each new day in our brave new world. “Let reality govern my every thought. And truth be the master of my life. And so let it be. And help me to know and to do my part in the world.”

ARIES Deep and long lasting changes will affect your work in the world. If you are not focused upon serving others, you will be soon. You’ll have no choice. Your ambitions are so large and deep only someone with a powerful will can handle them. This includes yourself and all those encountering your energies. Inner strength will have to be drawn upon and this will increase month by month. New realities within your profession will continue to unfold. Be sure to center your intentions upon serving others. Then your success is guaranteed.

LEO This year, the next and for many years, work will increase, become more in depth and at times profound. Keep your shoulders up and back as you carry the heavy burden of serving others. Maintain joy at all time. Remember, joy is a choice. You will be experiencing many complexities and different levels of responsibility (your keynote). Use the fire within your heart to guide your actions, and your high intelligence to discern what’s real and what’s not. Ask others you trust for help. You will be changed by the new world Aquarian experience.

SAGITTARIUS This year and the next — the way you handle your finances and resources will be restructured. You will build new ways of working with your money. It is important to be schooled and to study what these new ways are. I suggest again that you follow Catherine Austin Fitts — Solari.com. Locate local groups whose main goal is keeping money and resources local. There will be new currencies attempting to come forth — along with bartering and sharing. Gain knowledge about these and grow a garden even if in small or large pots. Whatever challenges you will also eventually be of great benefit to you.

TAURUS You will push yourself into the sphere of work that life has planned for you. It is rigorous, it will call you to a depth and height of knowledge, preparation, perseverance, planning and manifestation like never before. You will need other to assist you. Who are they? Do tend to caution a bit. Apply everything practically and with a focus on serving the whole. This will be a challenge. Your work, as always, is to prepare form and matter so that it survives and is sustainable into the seventh generation. Stand up straight. Drink alkaline water. Rest when you can.

VIRGO Should relationships become more complex, which they will over time, know that the true warrior’s stance is not anger but poise, stamina and communication that’s heartfelt, intelligent and compassionate. Read Thich Nat Hahn when in confusion. Or the Tibetan’s (Alice Bailey) blue books. New levels of creativity will emerge. Follow them for their expression will provide new selfidentity, strength, and courage that you seek. Maintain a seasonal garden, study, and through these create your community.

CAPRICORN Pluto has been in your sign of Capricorn for many years now. Has your life changed in ways great or small? Have you experienced a metamorphosis of new things built upon the old. Pluto is most powerful. Sometimes people show up who act out the Pluto for you. They can be cruel and cold and unforgiving. Don’t allow them to hurt you. Hold on and keep moving forward. There will be others walking with you as your life shifts and rebalances. Keep your love intact, intentions for helping others continually on your mind, and you, in turn, will be safe. A new world is being built. You’ll be called to build it.

GEMINI During the year you will meet with power – within yourself and as others demonstrate it. Learn to step aside if power is directed incorrectly at you. You can overwhelm others with your power, too. Great strength and endurance will grow month by month. All that you’ve done and/or hoped for will gather itself and be the foundation for future world work. Think now on what it is you truly want to accomplish and what goals will you set before yourself? Maintain an attitude of love and goodwill. These will protect you and the future you envision. CANCER You’ll want to leave whatever feels like home and send yourself out in search of adventure. Perhaps it will be travel or a new level of education. Studying martial arts, attending an inter-faith religious seminary, deep sea diving…these are some archetypal projects calling you. Do be careful with knees and thighs, tending to them with natural anti-inflammatory herbs cayenne and turmeric. Relationships will teach you many things – one is how to speak and act with more Goodwill, which creates Right Speech and Right Relations. And love, too.

LIBRA You would do well to consider what your limitations are, and then have the intention to respect them. In the meantime, deep emotional barriers and beliefs held since childhood need to fall away so your life can move forward. The level of security you seek is in direct relation to how much you can forgive, which brings understanding. This may be uncomfortable. Your psychology of self is being restructured so you can see what truly kind and good things came from your childhood. Simultaneously, rest more, don’t over work and tend to your health with loving care. SCORPIO The ways you think, what you believe and what you were taught will change over the course of the next year, beginning now. Observe and note the changes. A journal of observation would be good. New impressions and ideas will be offered. You will ponder them deeply and find they are needed for new thinking to come about. Your thoughts will be potent. Allow no self-criticism to exist, nor criticism toward others. Everyone’s on their own developmental stage and yours will grow in leaps and bounds. Mental and emotional regeneration is occurring as the past disappears. You’re grateful. •••

AQUARIUS Although I know you are powerful and building toward great success, it could be that some others cannot see this. Pay them no mind. We both know that something internally is shifting and a new sense of authority, power and strength are subtly yet profoundly coming into your awareness. Allow challenges with others to be times wherein you are strengthened in your self-awareness and resolve that you are good, you are successful and you are deserving of recognition, applause, praise, acknowledgement, appreciation and gratitude. And you, when appropriate, offer the same. You’re the future come to earth. A bright twinkling star. PISCES Through your work in the world, a new network is being created. You’ve had to begin anew recently and you’ve done it courageously. We applaud your stamina and bravery. In the times to come, what you envisioned and aspired to will build until it becomes, no longer simply an idea within your heart, but real in time and space, form and matter. Then you will assume new leadership within your envisioned environment and form a magnetic core around which others will be attracted to. We see you are doing your work. The Hierarchy stands close by.

Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com 26 / January 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Shop Local, But ...” from page 25 But to Compete: Communicate and market the reason why anyone should buy from you. Realize that you have to devote EVERY part of your external marketing and your internal operation to what makes you better, special and different. And please, don’t say you have the highest quality at the lowest price … yawn. Everyone’s heard that before. But my Culture: Do you care enough about your customers that you train your employees and help them when they face issues that are new to them, whether by phone, online or in person? Do you commit to spending time to help them find the answers and the words to help them be their best representative of your business? But my Commitment: If you wake every morning reluctantly to face your own business, simply get out. Sell. And if there are no buyers, than quit. If your heart isn’t in it, then that will show in EVERY aspect. You won’t do building improvements, website upgrades, employee training, long-term investing in your quality brand. You know who you are … But to Captivate: If you listened to your customers, they’d likely say, “Take me where I’ve never been.” This is essential in defining why you’re in business in the first place! We live in an entertainment culture. If we’re not being stimulated by our sense of smell, or visually or audibly, then we’re not paying attention. Or paying money for anything. But to Connect: Go through your files of the hundreds or thousands of customers who have bought from you. You can simply sort what their favorite products are. When they buy. How much they spend. When they last bought. What their other interests are. If you’re a business owner without ready access to this information and your eyes are glazing over — get into the 21st century of small business technology because it’s already 20% over! ••• Well, there you have it. We’re all in this together as business owners and consumers, each willing to exchange value for value. The point is, if we are truly committed to acting local, then we should all be BUT-less. n ••• Ron Kustek is a former senior marketing executive of The Coca-Cola Co. and entrepreneur who is currently a business instructor at Cabrillo College. Contact him at RoKustek@ Cabrillo.edu

Realize that you have to devote EVERY part of your external marketing and your internal operation to what makes you better, special and different.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

How To Fix Any Customer Service Problem

n a perfect world, caring employees would quickly fix your customer service problems. We don’t live in a perfect world. That’s the reason I started writing Problem Solved, a customer service advice column. The premise is simple: Every week, I take a seemingly unsolvable customer service problem — and solve it. And there are a lot of problems. The Federal Trade Commission received 3.2 million complaints in 2019, an increase of 200,000 complaints from a year before. It’s just a small fraction of the consumer problems in North America. The steps to fixing a customer service problem are simple: • Read the fine print before you buy. • Contact the company and go follow their guidelines. • Appeal your case. • Find an outside advocate. • Use the “nuclear” option or go to court. If you follow the process, chances are you’ll never have to contact me or darken the door of a courtroom. So before we go on, a word of advice: Please don’t skip any of the following steps: 1. Know what you’re buying Sounds obvious, right? But it isn’t. Only 1 percent of consumers read the terms and conditions of their purchase, according to a recent survey by ProPrivacy.com. Lawyers hide things in the fine print. You may be giving up your rights to a refund or to return the product if you aren’t happy. Unfortunately, ignorance of the rules isn’t a defense. By checking the “I accept” button or signing your name, you’ve agreed to the rules -- whether you’ve read and understood them or not. So before you sign on the dotted line, read the fine print. Then read it again. You can thank me later. Even though these agreements are what’s known as adhesion contracts, meaning you have no ability to modify the terms of the agreement, it’s better to understand what you are accepting before going any further. Of course, the best way to solve a consumer problem is to ensure you never have one. So the key to fixing a customer service problem is to familiarize yourself with the product or service you’re buying -- particularly the fine print.

By Christopher Elliott

2. Get in touch with the company Step two — also frequently overlooked — is giving the company a chance to fix the problem. That means returning to the store or going through the customer service department. In at least half of the cases I receive as a consumer advocate, the consumer has not given the company a chance to make things right. The best way to do that is in writing. Why? Because you have a record of the grievance, and you can forward that record to a supervisor, a lawyer, or a consumer advocate. By the way, time is not on your side. The sooner you contact the company, the better your chances of a successful resolution. Warranties have limits, and after several years, companies delete customer records. 3. Send a brief, polite appeal to a supervisor The system isn’t perfect. Sometimes a legitimate complaint will slip through the cracks. By this time, many customers have started a social-media shaming campaign, which may ultimately hurt their chances of getting the resolution they want. But you still have another remedy: Escalating your case to a manager or a supervisor. Companies often train their call center employees to tell you there’s no supervisor -- but there’s always a supervisor. My nonprofit consumer advocacy site publishes the names, numbers and email addresses of the managers online. Send a friendly appeal to one of them and include the company’s previous written correspondence, especially your customer ID and your order number. That will help them find the relevant transaction and hopefully fix it. 4. Find outside help If the company won’t help you, it’s time to enlist an outside group’s help. A neutral third party can help you break an impasse if the company doesn’t fix your customer service problem. Outside groups can include medical advocates, mediabased advocates such as a TV station’s “On Your Side” segment, or a nonprofit organization like mine, Elliott Advocacy. You’ll want to approach an advocate in the same way you’ve gone through channels so far. Send a short email outlining your problem. You may need to fill out a form to receive help.

Don’t overload the organization with information. Just give it the facts and let them ask for more information if needed. Many aggrieved customers like to write lengthy emails describing how the failed customer service interaction made them feel. Please resist that temptation. It lessens the credibility of your case. 5. Take it to a higher authority If all else fails, contact law enforcement authorities or an attorney and go to court if necessary to resolve your customer service problem. Before you do, there’s one last solution, which I like to call the nuclear option. If you paid by credit card, you may be able to dispute your charges under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Contact your bank or credit card for details. If your bank sides with you, you’ll receive a provisional credit, which is made permanent when the dispute closes. You can get law enforcement involved without having to go to court. For example, if you have a complaint about an airline ticket, you can file a grievance with the Department of Transportation and, if that fails, sue the airline in small claims court as long as the amount of your claim is eligible, which depends on the state. You can represent yourself in small claims court, so there’s no need to contact an attorney. For other types of complaints, a letter from a lawyer might be all it takes to get the company to do the right thing. But in the end, you may have to go to court to get a wrong righted. ••• How can Problem Solved help? roblem Solved is the product of decades of consumer advocacy. I began helping fix customer service problems in the late ‘90s. I contacted airlines, hotels and travel

agencies and negotiated refunds on behalf of aggrieved customers. In 2010, I wrote a book called Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. I began to receive all kinds of requests for help — and Problem Solved was born. I started to receive so many requests for help that I founded a nonprofit organization called Elliott Advocacy that helps people with their consumer problems every day. Our mission is to empower consumers to solve their problems and help those who can’t. So if you’ve run into a problem that you can’t solve, please contact us. My advocacy team and I will do our best to help you. Problem Solved doesn’t cover every case I receive. Instead, I write about problems that affect many consumers and offer helpful consumer advice for everyone. The featured cases are always fascinating and commentworthy, but they also help you become a smarter consumer. By following my advice for fixing any customer service problem, you’ll probably never need my consumer organization’s services. Even if you forget everything I’ve said and only remember step 1 — to read the terms and conditions — you’ll avoid 90 percent of all customer service problems. But just in case, I’m always here for you. n ••• Christopher Elliott’s latest book is “How To Be The World’s Smartest Traveler” (National Geographic). Elliott Advocacy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can’t. Get help by contacting him at www.elliott.org/help

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / January 2021 / 27

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS ITALIAN CLASSES BEGIN IN JANUARY Beginning Jan. 25, the Dante Alighieri Society of Santa Cruz will offer Italian classes online: Beginning, intermediate, intermediate 2, advanced and conversation. Beginners and Intermediates will engage twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays; one-hour sessions are offered mornings and evenings. All other classes meet once per week for 90 minutes. Spots are limited. Classes cost $185-$235 for a 10-week session. Members get a $35 discount. Consider becoming a member. To register for classes, visit www.dantesantacruz.com. For questions, email dantesantacruz1265@gmail.com. SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK: JANUARY DRIVETHROUGH FOOD DISTRIBUTION Friday, January 8: WATSONVILLE: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, January 15: SANTA CRUZ: Beach Boardwalk, 9 a.m.; to 1 p.m. Friday, January 22: WATSONVILLE: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, January 29: SANTA CRUZ: Beach Boardwalk, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Food hotline: 831-662-0991. NEW GROUPS STARTING FOR SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE Survivors Healing Center, a welcoming place for survivors of child sexual abuse and their supporters, is forming new eight-week support groups for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. There will be online groups in English and Spanish for men, women, mothers of

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by Jan. 11 survivors, partners of survivors, young adults and teens. You are not alone. You are not to blame. Services are offered on a sliding fee scale. For more information: call (831) 423-7601, visit survivorshealingcenter.org or email shc.program@fsa-cc.org.

DATED EVENTS Friday December 31 STAYINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; HOME AND ROCKINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; OUT 8-10 p.m., KPIG FM 107.5 and streaming KPIG FM 107.5 will host a virtual goodbye to 2020 on New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve from 8-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31, with an exclusive online concert featuring KPIGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jamie Coffis and local favorites, The Coffis Brothers. Mark Mooney will emcee. There will be a giveaway of $25 giftcards to De La Colmena catering. See https://www.kpig.com/ article_382.htm for photo of coffis brothers and kpig logo

Tuesday January 5 VIRUS RESEARCHER AT UCSC TO SPEAK 6-7 p.m., Tele-Town Hall Second District Supervisor Zach Friend will host a

Monday January 11 thru Tuesday January 12 CALIFORNIA KING TIDES Starts around 7 a.m. Monday / Ends around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Various locations in Santa Cruz County â&#x20AC;&#x153;King Tidesâ&#x20AC;? are high tides that occur when the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon are in alignment. When these tides happen at the same time as stormy weather, water levels can rise even higher. California King Tides are coming to Santa Cruz County! King Tides mean the highest tides of the year, but also the lowest, most dramatic negative tides. These extreme low tides pose prime conditions for tide pooling, miles of beach walking, and extended beach exploration. https://www.santacruz.org/blog/mark-your-calendar-californiaking-tides-are-coming/

tele-town hall 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, with Dr. Rebecca DuBois, associate professor of biomolecular engineering at UC Santa Cruz. Dr. DuBois, whose lab is at the forefront of vaccine research, will offer a look at how the current COVID-19 vaccines work, why COVID-19 is unique, challenges to vaccine deployment and answer questions about efficacy and safety. Her work has been dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms of childhood viruses, particularly human astrovirus, human respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza virus. Time will be made available for your questions. Call in: (831) 454-2222 Friday January 15 Meeting ID: 145384#

Thru Sunday January 17

CRUZHACKS 2021 Online Event, www.cruzhacks.com â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;END HUMAN TRAFFICKINGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; WEBINAR The first virtual hackathon organized in Santa Cruz gives stu2 p.m., County Zoom Meeting dents and entrepreneurs a chance to find innovative technical AAUW-Santa Cruz County will host the webinar solutions to pressing problems. The event started in 2014, â&#x20AC;&#x153;End Human Trafficking,â&#x20AC;? via Zoom. It will cover how and the 2021 CruzHacks board is Doug Erickson, Amanda predators manipulate young people, how to respond Rotella, Nathan Westrup, Sue Carter, and Neha Pamidi. if you see signs, and what you can do to prevent it. A So far, applicants come from 115 universities in 13 counrepresentative from Shared Hope will speak and the film tries; 1,000 are expected to participate using cloud systems â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chosenâ&#x20AC;? will be presented, showing how girls age 15 such as AWS and Google Cloud and the newest alternative, and 13 are tricked into sex trafficking. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Edge Computing,â&#x20AC;? with better bandwidth to improve the Register in advance at: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/ processing of high amounts of data for high-volume applicaregister/tZUvd-GpqT0sHdB4-GruvlzAv2wYMHrj3JPl tions such as streaming high-definition video. For information on AAUW SCC, email Martha Mangan at To apply to hack or to be a judge/mentor, visit https://www. mmanganesesc7@gmail.com or call (831) 425-1306. cruzhacks.com/ n

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28 / January 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

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Navigating an Unprecedented Year By Rachél Lather, President, Soquel Creek Water District Board

any people are breathing a sigh of relief as the new year begins, looking forward to 2021 with hope and optimism while saying farewell to 2020. It was indeed an unprecedented year, as we all learned new ways of interacting, finding new ways to work, and simply conducting our everyday lives. I’m grateful that despite the challenges of 2020, the District achieved many significant accomplishments. The District prioritizes being action-oriented to make even more progress in 2021, and I’m excited to be the incoming District Board President and serving my community in this new position. Even under the extraordinarilydifficult pandemic circumstances, our District staff continued to exhibit an amazing amount of creativity, drive, and resilience in providing our core services while implementing plans for the future that will supplement our water supply and combat saltwater contamination of the groundwater on which we depend. I’m very proud of everyone who is carrying out the District’s mission. Here are just a few of our key accomplishments of 2020: • Produced, treated, and delivered over a billion gallons of drinking water while performing over 26,000 water quality tests • Completed a feasibility study on designing stormwater capture wells at several Seascape golf course locations • Neared complete installation of over 15,000 i-Meters, and unveiled a new online customer portal

• Substantially completed two saltwater intrusion prevention wells for use with the Pure Water Soquel project and progressed with design of the new water purification center, new recycled water facility, and the pipeline conveyance system to connect those components • Executed a $50 million Proposition 1 Groundwater Implementation Grant from the State Water Resources Control Board and a significant low-interest loan from the federal Environmental Protection Agency When I worked as a professional in the wastewater field, I saw a great need for us, as a community, to get past the obstacles to creating a sustainable water supply. I became involved with the District because I felt I had the capacity to assist in finding creative, productive solutions, and to help the District navigate the complex path to water sustainability. Now, as 2021 gets underway, I remain confident and resolute in my vision, hopes, and call to action. I want the work we do to show people the true value of water – not just the cost of water. I want to help the community to recognize that investment in our water supply infrastructure is important for today but even more critical for our children and the generations beyond. And I want to ensure that the District continues the great progress we’re making in carrying out our mission. For 2021, this includes: • Continue to efficiently deliver clean, safe water to the community, effectively manage our groundwater, and enhance water supply reliability • Ensure that our pipeline replacement program maintains a proactive pace

• Further our progress on construction of the Pure Water Soquel components, leading to start-up by the end of 2022/ early 2023 • Fully implement i-Meters and new online portal to reach all customers • Provide our community members with the tools they need to continue their already-remarkable job of conserving water • Maintain our public outreach – virtually or, if circumstances improve, in person! – to ensure our customers are fully engaged in the District’s programs, projects, and activities I want to remind you that in 2021 we move into the significant construction phases of Pure Water Soquel, and there will be impacts — particularly as we build over eight miles of pipelines from the Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Facility to our Water Purification Center and wells. We’ll do our best to minimize the disruption, but please have patience with some roads being torn up, detours, noise,

and dust. It’s all leading to a supplemental water supply, a replenished groundwater basin, prevention of saltwater intrusion, and a reduction in treated wastewater being pumped into the Monterey Bay. Be sure to visit soquelcreekwater.org/ pws for more information and to sign up to receive construction update emails. I want to thank the community for its support and patience through the difficulties and struggles of 2020. I strongly believe that 2021 will be a vast improvement in many ways, not the least of which will be great progress on our mutual objectives for our local water supply. n ••• Rachel Lather is president of the Soquel Creek Water District board of directors. She has served on the board since 2016 and was sworn in as president for 2021 on Dec. 15. A resident of Aptos and a civil engineer with more than 30 years of experience, she serves on the board’s Water Resources Management and Infrastructure Committee, and as an alternate on the Public Outreach Committee and the Finance and Administrative Services Committee.

through city, county and state agencies. The voter-approved Measure D sales tax has The trail, which is 12 to 16 feet wide, provided $3.1 million for all of Segment 7, includes 10 green crossbikes from Natural which includes Phase II. When Phase II is built, there will be Bridges Drive to Bay/California streets — these are roadway crossings that allow 2.1 miles of coastal rail trail in Santa Cruz cyclists to remain mounted and ride from Natural Bridges Drive to East Cliff through the intersections with high vis- Drive connecting 30,000 residents who live of the ibility. WThe W trail W .includes T P G aObridge N L Iover N E within D A Ione L mile Y. C O trail M to schools, work, Arroyo Seco channel, a retaining wall beaches, and shopping – giving people a 8 and 3 1more - 6 vehicle 8 8 - 7safer 5 4alternative 9 to Mission Street with conwest of Almar Avenue and bike parking at and around New Leaf nection to the Beach Street bikeway. n Market. ••• This segment cost $6.4 million, funded Photos Courtesy of City of Santa Cruz “Trail Segments” from page 21

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / January 2021 / 29

FEATURED COLUMNIST

$107 Million Awarded for Highway 1 and Soquel Drive n early December, the California Transportation Commission approved $107 million in grant funding for multimodal improvements to Highway 1 and Soquel Ave/Drive. The funding was due to a grant application from the local Regional Transportation Commission and is a result of funding from Senate Bill 1: the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program and Local Partnership Competitive Program. Our competitiveness for these programs was due in large part to our passage of Measure D, which provides a local match for these major transportation projects. What challenges will the funding address? The funding addresses issues that are particularly acute in the Mid and South County. First, Highway 1 congestion. As many of you know, congestion on the highway impacts everyone including those simply trying to get to work or back home, emergency vehicles, buses and delivery vehicles. The second issue is cut-through traffic. Because of congestion, many vehicles exit the highway and create safety issues (including for bike and pedestrians) on Soquel Drive and other side streets. The third issue is bike and pedestrian safety. Our area is the fifth worst in the state for bike collisions — there is a need for improve bike and pedestrian safety facilities and the increased vehicle usage of Soquel and other side streets is a contributing factor to these increased collisions. What will be funded? Three new sets of auxiliary lanes on

By Zach Friend, Second District Supervisor

Highway 1 between Soquel Drive and State Park Drive — in one of the most congested corridors in the County. Additionally, it will allow for the first 5.75-miles of a 7.5mile hybrid bus-on-shoulder/auxiliary lane facility, where transit buses can travel in the auxiliary lane between intersections and on the shoulders at intersections to bypass traffic. Two new Highway 1 bicycle/pedestrian overcrossings (Chanticleer Avenue and the long-awaited Mar Vista Drive project). A bridge replacement at Capitola Avenue, with new pedestrian and bike facilities is also part of the funding. Lastly, a significant improvement on Soquel including 5 miles of buffered/ protected bicycle lanes, 46 green bike boxes for left turn movements, new sidewalks (to connect to existing sidewalk facilities) ADA improvements, 96 crosswalk upgrades, crosswalk warning devices at 10-mid block locations, and adaptive traffic signal control with transit prioritization at 23 intersections (to improve bus transit time). What are the benefits of these projects? As the CTC noted in their staff report, “the project will increase multimodal options, reduce vehicle miles traveled, reduce congestion, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” It will increase safety and reduce transportation times on this congested corridor with an innovative package of projects to improve and integrate transit, active transportation, and highway/local roadway modes of travel. Transit buses can bypass traffic at intersections by traveling on the new Highway 1 shoulder and can also travel more efficiently on Soquel with signal prioritization. Safe routes to school will increase with new

30 / January 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

buffered bike lanes and new sidewalks and crosswalk improvements on Soquel as well as two new bike and pedestrian overcrossings to ensure connection between neighborhoods and new safer bike and pedestrian routes. The highway improvements will mean less cut through traffic on side streets and Soquel improving neighborhood safety and congestion. Overall, the projects will have equity and environmental benefits with a level of investment that hasn’t been seen in our county. Lower-income residents often are impacted the most by longer commutes and unreliable transit times and in many communities have higher rates of bike and pedestrian incidents. These improvements will improve bike and pedestrian safety, reduce commute times and improve bus service — which, while this benefits the entire community — it has the greatest impact on those that often live the furthest from employment options due to affordable housing challenges and rely on major transit. The grant funding was supported by Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol, METRO and the RTC. Supervisor Bruce McPherson (who chairs the RTC), joined Guy Preston (RTC executive director) and me to speak in support at the virtual

meeting of the California Transportation Commission. Assemblymember Mark Stone also sent in a letter of support to the Commission. The Commission voted unanimously to support the funding. What are the next steps? The RTC is partnering with Caltrans, METRO and the County for project delivery. The County will be the lead agency in implementing improvements on Soquel. The Highway 1 improvements will be constructed by Caltrans with the RTC implementing environmental clearance and final design. The RTC anticipates all components of this extensive project will be under construction by 2023 with some sooner. For more information on the Watsonville-Santa Cruz Multimodal Corridor Program visit https://sccrtc.org/projects/ multi-modal/wsc-mc/ 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/supervisorfriend and I’ve been hosting regular tele-townhalls with County and community leaders on most Tuesday nights from 6-7 pm. The call in information for the town halls is 454-2222 with the Meeting ID: 145384# — you are welcome to speak about any issue during the town halls or you can always call me at 454-2200.

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SCCAS Featured Pet

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Native Plants Exemplify Diversity

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crossword on 25 »

eason’s Kneadings! I’m Nick…“Saint” Nick to be exact; and while I may not have a big belly or a white beard, I would look puuurfect cuddling on your sofa this holiday season! Some of you may recognize me from the critically acclaimed “SCCAS Holiday Serenade for the Shelter Animals.” I would consider myself the star of the show, but you can see for yourself at https://fb.watch/2p-D5218r3/. As with all jolly saint Nick’s, they saved the best for last … so stick around! But enough about my internet fame, let’s get down to biscuits! I am a 2 year old male tabby with a beautiful coat and a warm attitude. As you can see in the video, I am quick to socialize and cuddle! I am curious and confident in the sweetest way, and welcome pets and snuggles. A fun toy definitely peaks my interest, but so does a welcoming hand! So whether you say Merry Cat-mas, Happy Meow-nukkah, Joyous Clawnza, or just Happy Holidays, Old Saint Nick would love to sit on your lap! Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals on our website and then visit the Shelter to turn in your application. All adoptions require proof of home ownership or landlord approval. Please have this information prepared. If an animal is in Foster Care, please bring in your adoption application and schedule an appointment to meet the animal. Call 831-454-7200 x0 during business hours or visit www.scanimalshelter.org for more information! n ••• Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter: Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Watsonville Location: CURRENTLY CLOSED 580 Airport Blvd, Watsonville, CA 95076  SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us

By Tony Tomeo

alifornia native plants are logical options for the gardens and landscapes of California. It is only natural. They are already happy with the climates and soils here. They do not need to adapt quite as much as plants from other regions and climates do. After all, they lived here long before anyone else was here to water and maintain them. Unfortunately, it is not that easy. California is a very diverse place. There are more climates here than there are within many other states combined, over a much larger area. Plants that are native to the Mojave Desert would not be happy in a rainforest of the Siskiyou Mountains. Coastal plants would be no happier high in the Sierra Nevada. Within reason, California native plants for landscapes and home gardens should be either locally native, or native to similar climates. Plants from very different climates within California are about as exotic as plants from other continents. Just like foreign exotic plants, they may require special accommodation, such as irrigation, to survive here. All plants need irrigation when first installed. Irrigation can be slightly complicated for plants that are native to climates with long and dry summers. They certainly need irrigation until they disperse their roots. However, a bit too much can rot their roots. California native plants can be sensitive like that. After all, they do not expect to be moist through summer. Then, once established, many California native plants do not want frequent irrigation. Many want none at all. Chap-

Redwoods are the grandest native trees.

arral plants like oak, manzanita, toyon, ceanothus and coyote brush tend to rot with too much watering. Plants that are native to riparian or coastal regions, like redwood, bigleaf maple, willow, cottonwood, elderberry and ferns, tolerate more irrigation. Most California native plants that are from chaparral or desert climates do not perform well within the confinement of pots or planters. They prefer to disperse roots very extensively and directly into the soil, just like they do in the wild. Once established, they do not transplant easily. ••• Highlight: Bigleaf Maple ts natural coastal range extends from the extreme southern corner of Alaska to the southwestern corner of California. Another inland range occupies foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Bigleaf maple, Acer macrophyllum, is the most common and prominent native maple here. However, it prefers the seclusion of forested riparian situations at higher elevations locally. It is rare in urban gardens. Bigleaf maple is best in the wild anyway. It dislikes the aridity of most of the urban and suburban areas of California. (San Jose is in a chaparral climate. Los A maple with unusually Angeles is in a big leaves. desert climate.) Roots of bigleaf maple are potentially aggressive, especially if irrigated generously. They easily displace pavement. Nonetheless, where climate and circumstances allow, bigleaf maple is a grand tree. Wild trees grow as tall as a hundred fifty feet within forests where they compete for sunlight. Well exposed suburban trees should stay lower than forty feet, while extending their canopies broader than tall. The big and palmately lobed leaves are mostly more than six inches wide. Foliage turns yellow in autumn, and is abundant as it falls. Self sown seedlings often grow under mature trees. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / January 2021 / 31

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