Featured Columnists

FEATURED COLUMNIST Volunteers Make a Difference

By Yvette Brooks, Mayor, City of Capitola

As we move beyond the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been thinking a lot about all of the people who volunteer in our community. Volunteers in our community have been the glue to keeping our community afloat this past year and I am so thankful.

In this month’s column, I will highlight a few volunteers in our community who I have interacted with the past few months while I have been mayor. • Capitola City Clerk Chloe Woodmansee volunteered her time organizing our

City’s Second

Harvest food drive. Second

Harvest Food

Bank Santa Cruz

County works hard to feed people who have immediate Chloe Woodmansee nutrition needs. Because of her efforts,

Capitola was able to feed thousands of families and become one of the 2021

Hunger Fighter award recipients. • Meals on Wheels volunteers generously spend their time organizing, preparing and delivering meals throughout our Community. I recently had the opportunity to observe during their

Community Champions week long celebration to honor the brave seniors that have experienced extraordinary challenges over the past year. This event is part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness for services that give voice to seniors experiencing isolation, food insecurity and poverty.

It was truly a special day. • Capitola/Aptos Rotary President

Michelle Bassi and all members of the

Capitola/Aptos Rotary club are hard at work every month and I truly appreciate their efforts and their support of our youth in our community. This group recently awarded several students scholarships and organized a beach clean-up. • American Red Cross of the Central

Coast volunteers were the heroes who stepped up and supported our displaced families during the fires this past summer. In March, the City of Capitola declared March 2021

American Red Cross Month. Every day, people in our community depend on the American Red Cross and its volunteers, donors, and community partners. Their lifesaving work is vital to strengthening our community’s resilience. • COVID 19 Volunteers at the COVID vaccine clinics throughout our community who keep showing up to ensure that all community members who want a vaccine can receive onee. These clinics are supported by countless volunteers to help keep them running smoothly . If you would like to join the fight against COVID-19 and be part of this historic national effort, you can visit https://scvolunteercenter.org/ to volunteer at a clinic. •••

I also want to spend some time highlighting the volunteers in our community who have offered their time to serve on our City commissions as well. The City Council appoints citizens to serve on boards, commissions, and committees to assist and advise in formulating policy. These advisory bodies play an important role in helping the City set good policy. In addition, community members may be appointed to represent the City’s interests on other agency boards.

Commissions and Commissioners

Architectural & Site Review Committee

The Architectural and Site Review Committee consists of professional members appointed by the City Council as well as City staff involved in the development review process.

The Architectural and Site Review Committee is responsible for reviewing development permit applications to ensure that new proposals are harmonious with Capitola’s unique community character. The Committee is an advisory body that provides design recommendations to the Planning Commission and/or City Council. and encouragement of existing and new programs in the arts; acquires works of art subject to City Council approval; initiates, sponsors and/or directs special programs that enhance the cultural climate of the City; and implements the Art & Cultural Master Plan. Thank you to my Commissioner Susan McPeak, Owner at The Dales Group and founder of the ELTY Belt, who has volunteered her time and has brought tremendous insight to upcoming projects, such as the Depot Hill Stairs Public Art, Plein Air and Summer Events (Twilight Concerts, Sunday Art and Music at the Beach) Commission on the Environment

Members of the Capitola Commission on the Environment have an interest in protection and enhancement of the City’s environment and assist the City Council in promoting sustainable development, greenhouse gas reduction measures, green building techniques, protection and enhancement of Soquel Creek, the ocean and Capitola Beach, and associated riparian and special habitat areas.

The Commission on the Environment meets quarterly. Meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of the month February, May, August, and November.

Thank you to Commissioner Michelle Beritzhoff-Law, M.S who has a B.S. in Aquatic Biology from UC Santa Barbara and an M.S. in Marine Science from the University of Otago in New Zealand and currently works for FISHWISE, as a Project Director. Finance Advisory Committee

The Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) advises the City Council on financial matters. Three of the seven members are appointed by individual Council Members on the basis of their knowledge, experience, and qualifications in financial management and related areas. These appointees must be City residents,

The FAC will be spending their meetings from April to June focused on reviewing next year’s draft City Budget and making recommendations to the City Council.

COMMUNITY NEWS Banuelos, Gallucci Leave SCCB Board

On April 13, Santa Cruz County Bank announced the retirement of founding director Tila Banuelos and founding chairman George Gallucci from the board as of May 26, when the annual shareholders’ meeting takes place.

They held those roles starting in 2004. Since then, Santa Cruz County Bank has grown to assets of $1.4 billion and ranked in the Top 100 Community Banks by S&P Global for six consecutive years.

Banuelos is president and CEO of Mas Mac, Inc., which owns three MacDonald’s franchises in Watsonville. She has been honored by community and national organizations for her business leadership and community engagement. She spent 32 years at Bank of America rising to vice president and manager.

“I am so proud of our employees, the great success of our Bank, and how we’ve worked together in meeting the challenges of growth and current times,” Banuelos said. “Now it’s time for the next chapter of my life: family, church, and good friends.”

Gallucci is a retired registered investment advisor who spent 22 years at Tila Banuelos George Gallucci

Scharf Investments, stepping down in 2013. Before that, he worked at County Bank and Trust in Santa Cruz, and its successor, Pacific Western Bank, from 1968-1990.

“The success enjoyed by the bank is largely the result of the management team and their commitment to the bank and the community,” Gallucci said. “I thank each and every one for their contributions. I leave the board of directors with the confidence that it is in good hands to perpetuate the success we have established.”

Chairman William J. Hansen thanked both for their service, business referrals and lasting contributions, saying, “Their involvement from the beginning has been instrumental in the success of Santa Cruz County Bank.” n

Cabrillo Opens Study Area at Watsonville Campus

Cabrillo College opened up an in-person study space at the Watsonville campus on April 20. The space is available by reservation only via EventBrite.

Students can reserve a table for a 4-hour block of time. All tables are outdoors, and only one student per table is allowed.

The study area is located at Cabrillo College Watsonville Center, Solari Green Technology Center (Building D). 318 Union St., Watsonville. Line up at the metal gate of Building D.

The area includes individual desks, WIFI access, extension cables for device charging and printing centers.

Requirements/Rules: • Students must reserve a seat and accept risk recognition through this reservation system. • Students must bring headphones or earphones if they plan to listen to

video or other audio lectures. They must also bring their own device if they are to complete work on the computer. • Students must complete a pre-health assessment questionnaire, take a temperature check before using the study area, and show a photo ID. • No food or drink inside the study space. Facemasks must be worn at all times. • Restrooms will be available for students.

This space is wheelchair accessible. n

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