San Lorenzo River Levee Cleanup • Meaningful Gifts • Kimberly Petersen Promoted to Deputy Director • New SC Symphony Executive Director • Redistricting Comments Due Nov. 2 on Redistricting • $3

San Lorenzo River Levee Cleanup

Join Save Our Shores for a cleanup along the San Lorenzo River 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 13. Meet on the riverwalk, corner of Beach Street and 3rd Street, Santa Cruz, near the train trestle by the Boardwalk. Parking is limited, so consider carpooling or biking.

Participation will be limited due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Volunteers must follow Covid-19 safety instructions and complete THREE waivers, details and forms for all three can be found at https://saveourshores.org/event/ san-lorenzo-river-cleanup-2/

Registration is required. Volunteers under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult.

All volunteers are advised to wear closed-toed shoes, dress in layers, wear sun protection, and bring a filled reusable water bottle.

All cleanup materials are provided, thanks to the City of Santa Cruz. The Save Our Shores marine tally app (Apple, Google) can be downloaded in advance to record the debris you collect, or you can use paper cards provided at the cleanup.

Last year, 313 lbs. of debris was collected.

Wavers: https://saveourshores. org/waiver/ • https://tinyurl.com/ saveourshores-CitySC

Questions? Email volunteer@saveourshores.org.

••• Meaningful Gifts

Community Foundation Santa Cruz County helps people carry on traditions, preserve what’s important in their families and communities, and take care of what we love.

You can help take care of what you love through your Required Minimum Distribution.

Using your RMD to make qualified charitable distributions is a tax-free way for people age 70 ½ or older to turn their retirement savings into a meaningful gift. Although qualified charitable contributions cannot be made to a donor-advised fund, they can be used to support important community causes.

The Community Foundation has many funds that qualify for a qualified charitable distribution including the Greatest Needs Fund , COVID Continued Response Fund , Equal Access Santa Cruz County Fund , Friends of the Foundation Fund , or Rise Together Fund .

Give yourself plenty of time, in order for a qualified charitable distribution to count toward your current year’s required minimum distribution, the funds must come out of your Individual Retirement Account by your RMD deadline, generally Dec. 31.

If you have questions, call Sam Leask, 831- 662-2060. •••

Kimberly Petersen Promoted to Deputy Director

Kimberly Petersen has been named deputy director of the County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department, succeeding Emily Balli, who is retiring at the end of 2021.

Petersen began her career with the county in 2005 as a benefit representative and is currently a division director overseeing employment and benefit services. She has been a staff development trainer, associate human services analyst, and program manager.

“I’m very excited to have Kimberly move into this new role,” Human Services Department Director Randy Morris said. “Because of her experience, she understands all aspects of a department that impacts the lives of one out of every three Santa Cruz County residents, and is committed to their health, safety and well-being.”

Petersen said, “I’m honored … Human Services has a great team of dedicated professionals and partners working to help families and individuals of all ages who struggle with food, housing, and financial stability, and to keep at risk children and seniors safe in their homes.”

Petersen has a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in Spanish, and a master’s in international policy studies with a specialization in human rights.

She taught English oversees in both Germany and Ecuador, and served as aide to former Congressman Sam Farr. She also spent four years on the Watsonville City Council, including one year as mayor. •••

New SC Symphony Executive Director

Santa Cruz resident Gary Reece, who was interim executive director at the Santa Cruz Symphony for two months and berfore that a board member, is the new executive director.

His career was in banking, business development and finance, an asset for the Symphony, which will be seeking additional funding from Gary Reece donors and foundations. He has been successful in receiving Symphony grants from the federal government and private foundations.

“Gary really stood out as a candidate because of his background in business management,” said board president Linda Burroughs. “This is critical for arts organizations because they must know how to operate with budgets, staffing, legal requirements, contracts, financial management, and best business practices.”

Reece was a financial management consultant and a partner in a commercial development business. He served on the boards of Santa Cruz County Bank, Cabrillo College, McPherson Center for Art & History, and the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce. A longtime Santa Cruz Rotary member, he is a past club president and assistant district governor.

Burroughs also cited Reece’s ability to lead a team, motivate staff, create a positive working environment, and collaborate with the board, staff, maestro and musicians.

Maestro Daniel Stewart said of Reece, “He is a proven and accomplished leader, and he brings a wealth of experience to us, including his understanding of our community, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail.” •••

Redistricting Comments Due Nov. 2 on Redistricting

Members of the public may submit proposed redistricting plans and maps for the five Santa Cruz County supervisorial districts until Nov. 2 using software under the “Mapping & Data” tab on http://santacruzcounty.us/Redistricting2021.aspx.

The target population is 54,270. Current population: District 1 (Capitola-Soquel-Summit) is 54,147; District 2 (Aptos) 54,740; District 3 (Santa Cruz-Bonny Doon) 56,380; District 4 (Watsonville) 53,878; District 5 (Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley, decimated by CZU wildfire) 52,207. As for Latinos, District 4 has 43,185; District 2 has 19,036, District 3 has 13,390, District 1 has 11,916, District 5 has 7,049.

Boundary changes are considered after every census.

Two proposed changes are being considered by the Board of Supervisors. One would shift the Apple Hill neighborhood bordered by Main Street, Highway 1 and Harkins Slough Road in Watsonville from District 2 to District 4.

The other would shift the neighborhood between the Small Craft Yacht Harbor, 7th Avenue and south of the Brommer Street Extension from District 3 to District 1.

One special evening meeting took place in person and via Zoom Oct. 26. A public hearing is set for Nov. 16, and the public can participate and comment until a plan is adopted by the supervisors in December.

••• $3 Million Grant For County Behavioral Health

The County of Santa Cruz Behavioral Health is pleased to announce a $3 million grant from the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to address mental health-related issues for people experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz County.

The two-year grant will help provide services to those experiencing serious mental illness, severe emotional disturbance, co-occurring disorders and homelessness.

The grant will be supported by Behavioral Health Division in conjunction with the County’s Homeless Person’s Health Project(HPHP) and Housing for Health Division (H4H).

Behavioral Health Director of Adult Services Karen Kern and Director of Community Engagement Cassandra Eslami secured the grant on behalf of the community. n