Capitola Soquel Times: February 2022

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February 2022 • Vol 27 No. 2

Five Questions for Author Buzz Anderson

Lifelong Santa Cruz County resident Buzz Anderson has been fascinated by the Ohlone tribe’s history since he was a young lad. Now Anderon, who lives in Live Oak, is the author of “Five Hundred Moons,” a 778-page historical novel about the Ohlone people starting in 1747 and the Franciscans on a mission to baptize them into Catholicism.

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Three Single Moms Earn Live Your Dream Awards

Wake-up Call from Hunga Tonga

By Sam Storey, Mayor, City of Capitola

On Jan. 14, 2022, we were reminded once again of the awesome power of Mother Nature. That day the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai submarine volcano erupted with a force greater than multiple atomic bombs.

That eruption sent a volcanic plume miles into the stratosphere and triggered a tsunami wave that traveled throughout the Pacific Ocean.

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Exccdingectatiis!

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Thoughts on Thinking We’re Awake Column by Joe Ortiz I couldn’t sleep last night.

What’s new.

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No. 2

Volume 27

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30

Table of Contents

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Cover Wake-up Call from Hunga Tonga, By Sam Storey, Mayor, City of Capitola

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10 11 13 17 18 21 23 30

Community News Help Ethiopian Reunite with Local Family, By Edita McQuary Five Questions for Author Buzz Anderson Covid Solution?: Bill Would End Personal Belief Vaccine Exemption, By Jondi Gumz Runners Return to Capitola: Protocols Put In Place To Address Covid Concerns • Cabrillo Youth String Music at the college’s Music Building, VAPA 5000 • Clean California Initiative • Santa Cruz County Jobs Record Year at Santa Cruz County Bank • Three Single Moms Earn ‘Live Your Dream’ Awards, By Kate McGuire Our Community Reads 2022 starts Feb. 4 Showdown over Federally Regulated Rail Line on Feb. 3 Central Fire Re-Districting: Have Your Say Sgt. Gutzwiller Tribute Planned at Willowbrook Park, By Kieran Kelly AG: Settlement Against Student Loan Servicer: 43,000 Could Get Payments of $260 Each from Navient Assembly OKs SB 418, PV Healthcare District • County Pledges $5 Million to Buy Watsonville Hospital Manu Koenig Chairs County Board of Supervisors

Business Profile 14 Safe At Home Senior Care: Superior Service, By Edita McQuary Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Aquarius Sun, Nodes Shift: the Narrative Changes, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29 Featured Columnists Wake-up Call from Hunga Tonga, By Sam Storey, Mayor, City of Capitola Planning Ahead for the 3G Shutdown, By David Witkowski A Look at the State Budget, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District For the Love of … Quotes About Water, By Rebecca Gold Rubin Trying to Get Concert Refunds Because of COVID, By Christopher Elliott Thoughts on Thinking We’re Awake, By Joe Ortiz Using Writing to Claim Your Space, By Marlize Velasco Dark Chocolate Mousse, Inspired by Bobby Flay District 1 Meetings Go In-Person/Hybrid, By Manu Koenig, Supervisor, First District 31 Late Bulbs Need No Chill, By Tony Tomeo

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SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Meet Archie!

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COVER STORY Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

publisher editor

contributing writers Sam Storey, Edita McQuary, Jondi Gumz, Kate McGuire, Kieran Kelly, Risa D’Angeles, David Witkowski, Zach Friend, Rebecca Gold Rubin, Christopher Elliott, Joe Ortiz, Marlize Velasco, Bobby Flay, Manu Koenig, Tony Tomeo layout Michael Oppenheimer, Noah Panec graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Noah Panec photography Michael Oppenheimer, Noah Panec, Brad King website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti production coordinator Camisa Composti media consultants Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine, Tara Carcamo office coordinator Cathe Race distribution Bill Pooley, James Hudson

“Hunga Tonga” from page 1 Hunga Tonga is 5,380 miles from Capitola yet the next day we saw and felt the results of that eruption.

Thank our lucky stars that the tsunami was not high enough to come over Capitola’s Esplanade seawall.

It was another warning sign from Mother Nature and Sam Storey raises the question if we can do something to protect Capitola Village before the next one hits. Because its not a matter of “if” but a matter of “when.”

After the volcanic blast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a Tsunami Advisory at 4:53 a.m. on

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 Soquel 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 Summer Festivals Official Program Guide, is owned by Patrice Edwards.

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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 / February 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Jan. 15. Acting on that advisory, Capitola Police and Central Fire coordinated their efforts to monitor and respond to the situation.

In December 2021, the City of Capitola had installed a remote water height monitor on Soquel Creek that measures the water height and flow. It allows the City to remotely monitor the water flow and collect that data over time.

The initial shockwave from the blast came through Capitola around 4 a.m. causing a spike in barometric pressure.

The tsunami pulses first arrived in Capitola at about 7:30 a.m. and pulses of waves continued for several hours. The initial waves caused a reverse flow in Soquel Creek and in a few places it jumped its banks.

Fortunately no homes along the creek or in the Village were flooded.

Undoubtedly, if it hadn’t been for the current seawall on Esplanade Drive, Capitola Village would have been flooded.

The current seawall along the Esplanade was built in 1986 and we have former Capitola leaders to thank for their foresight in providing that measure of protection. That project was made possible by a grant from the Coastal Conservancy and has served Capitola very well.

Hunga Tonga in loud terms raises the question of whether it is still adequate in an era of sea level rise. The Esplanade seawall is 23” high on the sidewalk side and varies in height on the ocean side depending on the height of the beach and the tides. Sometimes and in some places the wall is not much more than 23” high from the beach on either side. That’s not much margin for error where tsunamis are concerned.

In 2011, NOAA issued a Tsunami Warning for our region due to a 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan. The Tohoku Tsunami had major impacts all along the

California coast and has shaped some of our tsunami preparedness policies.

If you would like to see the results of that tsunami visit the California Geological Survey online for “California Impacts from the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami” and view their multimedia tour.

The Geological Survey website also has a Tsunami Hazard Area Map. You can click on that map and see the areas that are susceptible to tsunami inundation. For Capitola, that includes all of the Village up beyond the trestle and up Soquel Creek to Highway 1.

There is no stopping a tsunami; there is only what we can do to prepare and how we react when they happen.

Check to see if you live in a tsunami inundation area and, if so, have a preparedness and evacution plan. Purchase flood insurance if you can. Make sure you are able to receive Nixel alerts from your local police or sheriffs office. In the event of a Tsunami Advisory or Warning follow the official instructions and try to avoid threatened areas — go to higher ground! Check on and assist those that may be unable to evacuate.

Now back to the Capitola Esplanade Seawall. An Esplanade Seawall upgrade project is listed in Capitola’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. However, it is identified as a “low” priority project.

After our wake-up call from Hunga Tonga, the Capitola City, Village property owners, and the Coastal Commission may want to reconsider raising this priority level and work together to shore up our coastal defenses. The details of getting that done are beyond the scope of this article.

However, if we start now, we may be better prepared when the next and potentially bigger tsunami comes our way. n ••• Sam Storey is mayor of Capitola. Contact him at samforcapitola@yahoo.com.

Photos Credit: City of Capitola

COMMUNITY NEWS

Help Ethiopian Reunite with Local Family

By Edita McQuary

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any of us in the community either know, or know of, the Lapp Family.

Jim Lapp is the pastor of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Santa Cruz.

In 2018 he led his congregation to donate church land and to partner with local government and Wells Fargo Bank in building a senior living community on their church property.

His wife, Leslie Lapp, is the church administrator at St. Stephen’s. Leslie was in the local news last year when she was hit by a truck while walking their dog. With lots of prayers and by a miracle, she survived.

Their daughter, Rachel, flew back from her Peace Corps work in Ethiopia to help her mother in the recovery. Leslie is now back to work but is still undergoing physical therapy.

A graduate of California Lutheran University, Rachel has volunteered on mission trips to Central America and

Africa. Since 2019, she has been with the U.S. Peace Corps in Ethiopia.

She met and married Ethiopian national Dawit Yerdea in early 2021 but in February 2021 had to leave her husband behind to come back to care for her mother.

She found out she was pregnant when she got back to the U.S. and their daughter, Zellie, was born on Nov. 11, 2021.

Dawit had applied for the CR1 spousal visa to come to the U.S. and he was good to go, except for the final, perfunctory interview. Due to the civil war in Ethiopia, the U.S. Embassy there recalled non-essential employees to the U.S. and cancelled all visa interviews, leaving Dawit and others in limbo.

Family friend Ron Dwyer-Voss says, “The U.S. Embassy in Zambia had agreed to take this case from the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia and will schedule an interview once the case has been officially

transferred. Mr. Yerdea can safely travel there to complete the process, however, the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia is not responding to our requests to transfer his CR1 spousal visa application file to the U.S. Embassy in Zambia. But so far this has not been done.”

Pease take a few minutes and call California Representative Jimmy Panetta, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and our Secretary of State Antony Blinken and ask them to help in this family reunification matter. n ••• Rep. Jimmy Panetta: 831-429-1976 or 202-225-2861.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, San Francisco: 415-393-0707.

The Honorable Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State: 202-647-6575 or 917710-1946 or email rquinn@nyc.edu.

If you would like further information or a sample letter that can be sent, email ron@ pacificcommunitysolutions.com.

To help Rachel and her family, go to www. gofundme.com/f/help-zellie-meet-her-dad.

Rachel Lapp and her husband Dawit Yerdea on their wedding day.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Five Questions for Author Buzz Anderson L ifelong Santa Cruz County resident Buzz Anderson has been fascinated by the Ohlone tribe’s history since he was a young lad.

Now Anderon, who lives in Live Oak, is the author of “Five Hundred Moons,” a 778-page historical novel about the Ohlone people starting in 1747 and the Franciscans on a mission to baptize them into Catholicism.

••• Q. How did you write this epic? y most creative time has always been in the AM, especially when I was working.

When I retired it was easier to treat my writing as a job and the mornings were naturally better for me.

I’d say a 80/20 split between AM’s Buzz Anderson and other parts of the day. There were some times when my writing bogged.

To break out of it, I’d pour a glass of wine in the evening and re-read my latest

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My most creative time has always been in the AM.

chapter, then take some notes and outline what was next.

Q. How did you decide to add Gypsies to the story? wanted first and foremost the book to be a story, not just history, so I looked to introduce some interesting characters that I could totally make up.

The gypsies filled that need. It was helpful that in 1749 (basically the start of my time frame) the Great Gypsy Roundup took place in Spain.

I could draw parallels with the indigenous people of the New World in regards to both groups being persecuted under the yoke of Church and State.

Q. You put the murder of the padre at the mission in this story although it didn’t happen until 1812, years later. Any objections from historians or native Americans? wanted include the story of of the Padre’s murder but my page count was getting out of hand.

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I thought 800 pages was about enough, so I combined the murder with the attempted burning of the Santa Cruz Mission which took place 21 years prior.

It was the biggest literary license I took in the book. I don’t profess the novel to be a scholarly work.

It’s a work of fiction. I haven’t heard of any objections from other groups, although they are certainly welcome to have their opinions.

Q. What’s the reaction been from native Americans? did offer five free copies to the local Amah-Mutsun tribe.

I haven’t heard back from them. I should re-contact them for sure.

Q. This does read like a TV mini-series.

Any interest from producers? t’s flattering to think my book could be a mini-series. There are a couple of websites that claim to have connections with producers.

My editor, Sheila Setter, suggested I contact them, but I’m not holding my breath for any big Hollywood deal! n ••• The book is available locally at Bookshop

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Santa Cruz, Two Birds Books in Pleasure Point and Kelly’s Books in Watsonville. Retail price is $23.49. A Kindle version is available on Amazon for $9.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Covid Solution?

Bill Would End Personal Belief Vaccine Exemption

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By Jondi Gumz

r. Richard Pan is a doctor specializing in children and a state senator representing Sacramento since 2014. His bill, SB 277, became law in September 2019 after a measles outbreak at Disneyland — the goal to end the “vaccine exemption loophole” for kids attending public and private schools.

On Jan. 24, with the Covid-19 Omicron variant hospitalizing 15,000 Californians and 97,000 cases a day, Pan said he will introduce SB 871 to add COVID-19 to the list of 10 childhood illnesses for which students are required to be vaccinated – and remove the personal belief exemption.

The bill can be found at at https:// leginfo.legislature.ca.gov Public health officials consider vaccinations to be the number one tool to prevent hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.

Employer Mandate n Jan. 13, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Biden administration mandate to large employers to vaccinate or test. That means 100 or more employees.

The ruling affects an estimated 84 million workers — and a minority of employers in Santa Cruz County where 82% of businesses have nine or fewer employers. Most of the large employers are medical facilities, schools or colleges.

The ruling said the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which regulates occupational hazards, did not have the right to regulate public health broadly.

The court allowed a federal vaccine mandate applying to medical facilities that take Medicare or Medicaid payments. That affects an estimated 100,000 workers.

On Jan. 25, OSHA said it would withdraw the vaccine and testing requirements for large employers. Employers can mandate vaccines or tests for their employees if they feel it’s necessary.

Protesting Mandates n Jan. 23, Children’s Health Defense, headed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , rallied 20,000 to 30,000 people to a peaceful protest in Washington, D.C., at the Lincoln Memorial, calling for an end to vaccine mandates, a strategy used

by President Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

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Mee Memorial Hospital is using part of a grant from the federal government to install four billboards along the Highway 101 corridor to encourage the unvaccinated to step up for a shot. Billboards are to be installed from Soledad to San Ardo, communities that have the lowest vaccination rate in Monterey County.

Kennedy, an attorney and a passionate advocate for vaccine choice, mentioned Anne Frank, who was Jewish, hiding to escape Nazis, a reference for which he apologized a day later.

In Brussels, 50,000 people filled the streets, protesting vaccine passports and Covid restrictions.

Masked demonstrators broke a glass entrance to the office of the EU’s foreign policy agency, an action recorded on Twitter, and police fired water cannons and tear gas to break up the protest.

Public health officials say the scientific consensus is that Covid vaccines are safe, but protest leaders were skeptical about relying on science from drug-makers, which saw profits rise in 2021. They point to the U.S. government database, https:// vaers.hhs.gov/, where health care providers are to report adverse events after a vaccine.

The reporting site was created after Congress passed a law in 1986 protecting vaccine manufacturers from civil personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits resulting from vaccine injuries.

After Covid arrived, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar invoked the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, a 2005 law that allows the HHS secretary to provide legal protection to companies making or distributing critical medical supplies such as vaccines unless there’s “willful

misconduct” by the company, according to a report by CNBC. This lowers the cost of immunizations, and the protection lasts until 2024.

HHS declined requests by CNBC for an interview.

Dr. Pamela Popper of Ohio has sued HHS, FDA and CDC concerning use of vaccines for kids under 16, hopes to get discovery, the point at which both sides can get evidence. Updates are at https:// makeamericansfreeagain.com/ Active Cases he number of active cases in Santa Cruz County skyrocketed from 3,324 to 6,677 active cases in two weeks, despite the Nov. 22 mandate to mask indoors, then dipped on Jan. 27 to 5,229.

The assumption is Omicron, the most easily transmissible variant of the Covid-19 coronavirus, is the driving the increase.

Cases began rising during the holidays, with 325 confirmed on Dec. 29, then 504 on Jan. 4, and 527 on Jan. 5, according to the county health dashboard, which is updated on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Omicron was confirmed in two cases in the county on Dec. 16 and 17.

Hospitalizations are fluctuating — 39, down to 33, up to 44, including three in intensive care, according to a state dashboard.

The question is: Will hospitalizations will rise — or decline, as San Francisco has seen.

Possibly people entered the hospital with another condition or for elective

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surgery, then got tested for Covid. The dashboard does not explain.

Local cases are split between Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz and Watsonville Community Hospital, while filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while trying to orchestrate a sale to a local consortium.

Earlier, county health officials urged people with no symptoms or mild symptoms or some other not-serious illness to stay home rather than going to the hospital emergency department.

Under the 1986 federal law EMTALA, emergency departments must treat everyone who comes in, regardless of ability to pay – an unfunded mandate.

Responding to a Times query via email, the California Department of Public Health estimates Omicron comprises 91% of cases statewide and Delta 6.5% but the state does not have a breakdown of Omicron hospitalizations or deaths.

Not all COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalization are sequenced, the state emailed in response to the query, and the proportion of cases due to the Omicron variant who die is still being determined.

Santa Cruz County reports 79.15 % of residents have a least one dose of vaccine and 72.65 % fully vaccinated.

Less Deadly? micron may not be as deadly as Delta, which raged in 2021.

Omicron left less serious illness in South Africa, but Israeli experts are not sure that is the situation in their country.

Scotland reported 92 deaths on Jan. 20, 2021, and 4 deaths on Jan. 23, 2022, according to the Johns Hopkins University database.

On Jan. 27, the San Francisco Chronicle reported people are dying at a lower rate than previous surges.

Santa Cruz County reports 239 Covid deaths, up from 225 as of Dec. 15.

One statistic is similar then and now: 79 percent of those who died had preexisting conditions.

Why do people fear Omnicron?

It could be they have a pre-existing condition (diabetes, obesity, asthma, high blood pressure).

Half of Americans do, so they are at higher risk for severe Covid illness. So are people 85 and older.

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“COVID Update” page 8

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / February 2022 / 7

“COVID Update” from page 7 Some people who got Covid experience “long Covid,” with symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog months afterward.

A 2022 study in the journal Cell by researchers who followed more than 200 patients found biological factors that might help predict “long Covid.” At diagnosis, many acute patients had low cortisol, which could be addressed.

Soquel Schools oquel Union Elementary District reports 176 active student cases and 11 staff cases in January.

New Brighton Middle School has the most student cases, 93, and one staff case.

Soquel Elementary has 41 student cases and 4 staff cases, Main Street Elementary 23 student cases and one staff case. Santa Cruz Gardens 19 student cases and 3 staff cases.

Pajaro Valley schools, which have 19,000 students, report 1,247 active student cases and 138 staff cases in January, which led to district administrators filling in for sick teachers.

The Pajaro Valley superintendent has no plans to survey students to see if the district has 70% herd immunity, explaining that student health information is protected by privacy laws.

Watsonville High has 145 student

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Santa Cruz County Office of Education, which partnered with Inspire Diagnostics to provide 215,000 tests, posted an update that results may now take 48 to 96 hours. An optimal turnaround is 24 hours. cases, the most in the district, and 11 staff cases.

Aptos High has 110 student cases and 10 staff cases.

On Jan. 12, Aptos High Athletic director Travis Fox suspended indoor sports temporarily because testing results did not arrive before game time. Teams have since resumed play indoors.

Santa Cruz City Schools alerted parents that the district, which includes Soquel High, expects to be in a state of “substantial exposure” for two to four weeks.

This means unvaccinated students must test twice per week. Those who do not test must quarantine at home and participate in Independent Studies. They are not allowed to participate in athletics and band.

8 / February 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

test.

Vaccinated students are encouraged to

Pajaro Valley schools also are in “substantial exposure.”

Testing s active cases skyrocketed in Santa Cruz County, there was greater exposure, great demand for testing, and results have been delayed.

In mid-January, an acupuncturist who teaches Qi Gong and Tai Chi outdoors stopped teaching after being exposed to someone who tested positive and did not resume until two tests were negative.

“Tests are very difficult to locate,” the instructor reported.

Santa Cruz County Office of Education, which partnered with Inspire Diagnostics to provide 215,000 tests, posted an update that results may now take 48 to 96 hours.

An optimal turnaround is 24 hours.

Cases reported to the Office of Education peaked at 3,912 on JanT 21, dropping to 3,509 on Jan. 27. However, the 14-day positivity rate is higher, 12.65%.

The County Office of Education offers drive-though testing for students, staff and families at these locations: Cabrillo College, Aptos, Parking Lot K, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville, Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 399 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, Monday to Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.

Self-tests are, or will be, available. Journalism coach Roy Peter Clark, at Poynter. org, cautions that the directions are not as clear as users might want.

Masking Guidelines he new CDPH Guidelines notes the importance of wearing a face covering which has multiple layers.

N95 masks were provided for PVUSD staff.

To a complaint that not enough masks were received, Rodriguez advised talking with the site administrator.

On Jan. 27, the California Department of Public Health reported 18.8% test positivity rate statewide, down from 23%.

For test options see: https://tinyurl. com/get-tested-santa-cruz.

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(Full URL: https://www.santacruz health.org/HSAHome/HSADivisions/PublicHealth/CommunicableDiseaseControl/ CoronavirusHome/SAVELivesSantaCruz County/GetTested.aspx) Ella’s at the Airport, the popular restaurant in Watsonville, closed briefly so owner Ella King could visit her parents in Texas during the holiday, but the shutdown was extended as employees reported positive coronavirus tests.

Ella’s has since reopened, and is appealing the airport manager’s denial of her request to transfer her lease to the operator of Nancy’s Airport Café in Willow.

After a long discussion, the City Council narrowly approved her appeal.

Isolation Shortened ased on federal recommendations, the state has updated isolation guidance for those testing positive, shortening the requirement from 10 days to five days.

Additional information about testing, isolation guidance and masking, see the Jan. 7 letter from school superintendents on the county Office of Education website.

Boosters For Kids 12-15 r. Cal Gordon, Santa Cruz County deputy health officer, recommends booster shots for children ages 12-15 as protection for Omicron, as the state allowed on Jan. 6. A third dose is available for eligible immunocompromised children ages 5-11.

Booster shot appointments can be scheduled at https://myturn.ca.gov/ and by checking with your local doctor and pharmacies. For local COVID-19 vaccine providers, visit www.santacruzhealth.org/ coronavirusvaccine.

For assistance in scheduling an appointment can call the Community Bridges Helpline at 831-219-8607 or 831440-3556 (English, Spanish, Mixteco and Triqui).

For local information on COVID-19, including on where to tested, go to www. santacrushealth.org/coronavirus or call (831) 454-4242 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday. n ••• Total COVID cases: 6,677 ••• COVID Deaths: 239 As of Jan. 27 Age 85 and older: 102 • 75-84: 53 • 65-74: 43 60-64: 15 • 55-59: 3 • 45-54: 10 35-44: 8 • 25-34: 5 Underlying Conditions Yes: 190 • No: 49 Race White 134 • Latinx 85 • Asian 16 Black 1 • American Indian 1 Other 1 • Unknown 1 Gender Men: 122 • Women: 117 Location At facility for aged: 112 Not at a facility: 127

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Runners Return to Capitola

COMMUNITY NEWS

Protocols Put In Place To Address Covid Concerns

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he Surfer’s Path 10k/5k is back!

The seventh running of this beloved event will travel the Santa Cruz and Capitola coastline on Sunday, Feb. 27.

“Following two years of Covid-19 shutdowns, it’s exciting to be back, said Race Director Tom Bradley. “We are so happy to once again produce this coastal event for participants and spectators that promotes health and fitness and showcases our beautiful community.”

Aside from following all Santa Cruz County Covid-19 guidelines, the Surfer’s Path 10k/5k staff are taking additional steps to address Covid concerns.

“The event will be limited to only 1,000 participants, allowing for plenty of room at the start and finish areas and along the race route to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful

Runners participating in a pre-Covid Surfer’s Path event get a view of Monterey Bay. Santa Cruz coastline views,” Bradley said.

The event starts on 41st Ave at the “”For the first time, we will also be mailing gateway to Pleasure Point where surf the race bibs and timing chips to all regis- shops, restaurants and the nearby coast trants to eliminate the need for pre-event merge to create the region’s famous surf gatherings at a packet pick-up event.” culture. The course enters onto scenic The Surfer’s Path 10k/5k consists of a East Cliff Drive, offering sweeping 6.2 mile and 3.1 mile run/walk. views of the Monterey Bay. Participants

continue on East Cliff until they view the Harbor Lighthouse and reach the turn around located at Twin Lakes Beach.

Following the turn around, participants travel back, passing beaches and famous surf breaks as they continue to the finish line located in the heart of Capitola Village.

This Surfer’s Path 10k/5k run/walk event kicks off the 2022 Surfer’s Path series that also includes the Surfer’s Path Half Marathon on May 22 and the inaugural Wahine 10k/6k on Oct. 16. Participants are treated to beachfront and bluff views of the Monterey Bay along the majestic Santa Cruz County coastline. Runners and walkers travel the Surfer’s Path, passing many of the world’s most famous surf breaks.

The Surfer’s Path 10k/5k is the ideal friends and family event! For complete event information and to register, visit www.runsurferspath.com.

Surf’s Up! n

Cabrillo Youth String Music at the college’s Music Building, VAPA 5000

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tring players ages 5 to 18 are welcome to join the string orchestral and chamber music programs. Registration for the

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Clean California Initiative s part of the Clean California Initiative, Caltrans is offering stipends to groups participating in Adopt-A-Highway. Stipends will be offered up to $250 per eligible litter clean-up event per site, maximum 12 payouts a year.

These stipends will include $250 for cleanups on adopted highway segments.

In addition,$250 will be issued following a cleanup of all sides of ramps and quads, $125 for one on/off ramp and $62.50 for a single ramp.

An incentive stipend for up to $250 will be issued for cleanups of non-traditional adoptions such as “Park and Ride locations” and bicycle paths under the discretion of the local Adopt A Highway coordinator.

Adoptions usually span a two-mile stretch of roadside and permits are issued for five-year periods. Groups in good standing may renew their permits indefinitely. Participation is free for all volunteers, and signs identifying your group are included at no charge. Learn more at: https://dot.ca.gov/ programs/maintenance/adopt-a-highway • https://cleancalifornia.dot.ca.gov/ •••

A

Cabrillo Youth Strings Music Program is underway.

Classes will take place for 9 weeks on

consecutive Fridays in the Music Building beginning Feb. 25.

An entry level String Orchestra Class, 4th-6th Grade Beginning Strings for violin/ viola/cello will be on Fridays, 4-5:15 p.m.

“Cabrillo Strings” page 12

Santa Cruz County Jobs Report posted Jan. 21 December unemployment 5.4% Dec 2021 Change from

a year ago Leisure & hospitality 9,600 Up 1,500 Private education & health 17,900 Up 1,200 Government 20,600 Up 1,200 Other services 4,600 Up 300 Professional/business 10,600 Up 300 services Construction 4,500 0 Information 500 Down 100 Trade/transportation/ 16,300 Down 300 utilities Financial 3,100 Down 100 Manufacturing 6,900 0 Farm 5,800 Down 100 Nonfarm 94,600 Up 2,800 Total 100,400 Up 3,900 Labor force 131,100 Up 2% Employed* 124,000 Up 5% Unemployed 7,100 Down 32% Count is on the 12 of the month * Includes commuting to jobs outside county Source: California Employment Development Department n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / February 2022 / 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

Record Year at Santa Cruz County Bank S anta Cruz County Bank, on the cusp of 18 years in business, reported earnings for 2021 was a record $21.3 million, 21 percent more than in 2020.

Fourth quarter net income was $4.7 million, up from $4 million in that quarter a year ago.

Pretax, pre-provision net earnings for 2021 exceeded 2020 by $9.4 million.

Santa Cruz County Bank President and CEO Krista Snelling said, “We recorded an incredible year of growth as evidenced by double-digit percentage increases, comparing

[Santa Cruz County Bank] has five branches ... including Aptos and Capitola and Scotts Valley, one in Cupertino and one in Monterey, plus online banking.

The bank plans to open a Salinas branch by the third quarter of this year.

2021 to 2020, in assets, loans, deposits and net income, all of which set new historical milestones for Santa Cruz County Bank.”

Our amazing employees logged more 500 hours in community volunteer hours in 2021.

Bank staff supported business owners, providing guidance on the PPP forgiveness process to help position them for success.

The bank opened in February 2003.

The bank has five branches in Santa Cruz County, including Aptos and Capitola and Scotts Valley, one in Cupertino and one in Monterey, plus online banking. The bank plans to open a Salinas branch by the third quarter of this year.

Highlights for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2021 included: • Assets of $1.7 billion, up 20% • Total gross loans (excluding PPP) of $1.11 billion, up 21%, Deposits of $1.5 billion, up 25%. The bank ranked 4th in overall deposit market share in Santa Cruz County, 2nd in Santa Cruz and 3rd in Watsonville based on FDIC once a year data as of June 30.

• Basic earnings per share of $1.11 and $5.01 for the three and twelvemonth periods ended Dec. 31, 2021, respectively.

• Net interest margin was 3.78% for the fourth quarter of 2021, as compared to 4.04% in the trailing quarter and 4.08% in the same quarter of 2020.

Santa Cruz County Bank raised more than $8,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank’s annual Holiday Food & Fund Drive, creating 32,381 meals for local families and children. From left: Santa Cruz County Bank, Kim Luke, community engagement & communications specialist; Sham van der Voort, EVP chief operations officer; Jon Sisk, EVP regional president/chief banking officer; Krista Snelling, president & CEO; with Richelle Noroyan, corporate & community relations director, Second Harvest Food Bank. requirements for a well-capitalized • For the quarters ended Dec. 31 and institution with a total risk-based Sept. 30, return on average assets capital ratio of 14.89 percent. was 1.09% and 1.30%, respectively, • Continued strong credit quality, with and the return on average tangible nonaccrual loans totaling $376,000. equity was 11.85% and 14.10%, ••• respectively.

Fourth Quarter • Efficiency ratio was 45.40% for the In the fourth quarter, the loan loss fourth quarter of 2021, compared to 42.63% in the trailing quarter and reserve was boosted $200,000 due to growth in the non-PPP sector loans and factors 49.45% in the same quarter of 2020.

• All capital ratios were above regulatory associated with the Omicron variant. n

Three Single Moms Earn ‘Live Your Dream’ Awards

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By Kate McGuire

hree single moms will receive Live Your Dream awards from Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea on March 22.

Winners are Silvia, of Santa Cruz, Mary, of Santa Cruz, and Gigi of Hollister. At their request and for their protection, the women have asked that only their first names be used.

Each receives a check for $2,000 that can be used for any purpose that enables them to continue their education, including rent, medical bills, childcare and car repairs.

Women who are enrolled in or have been accepted into a bachelor ’s or technical training program, are the heads of their households and have a demonstrated need are eligible to apply for a Live Your Dream award.

Sylvia is mother of a 5-and a 7-year-old, and she works full-time while going to school to pursue a degree in psychology. A former foster child, she wants to work with troubled teens, minorities and foster youth when she completes her studies.

“Being a young mother of two and a former foster 10 / February 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Silvia

Mary

Gigi

youth has driven me to want to help children all over that are in need of love, support and help,” she wrote in her application essay. “Obtaining my B.A. in psychology will help me meet the California requirements needed in order to become a youth counselor.”

Mary is a single mother of three—one who is now an adult, another who is 10 and the youngest a 2-yearold. She also is studying psychology and for a human services certificate. Her goal is to work with those who have experienced domestic violence and drug and alcohol issues.

“Not only do I hope to be able to find placement

in the workforce to help others in need like myself, I also hope to teach my children that through dedication and hard work they can achieve dreams and goals of their own later in life,” she wrote. “Ultimately, I plan to take my education goals and put them to work in the psychology field and serve the community in any way that I can by obtaining these degrees.”

Gigi, who has a 6-year-old son, wants to be an X-ray or Echo technician. Meanwhile, she’s working 50 hours a week and going full-time to her classes in health and science.

“I am so excited to continue learning and growing in radiology,” she wrote. “I never give up on anything I do and that is the biggest lesson I am trying to teach my son.” n ••• Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. For more information, visit www. best4women.org.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Our Community Reads: Film Night starts Feb. 4

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his season, Friends of Aptos Library has chosen “Red Letter Days” as the book and events represent collaboration with Friends groups in Capitola and La Selva Beach.

The goal of these events is to create a shared experience that will increase appreciation for community libraries and for 24 local bookstores; foster pride in the varied experiences that our area offers; and the enrichment — culturally, intellectually, and emotionally — that comes from the joy of reading!

• All events will be free and open to the public.

• Attendance at in-person events will be limited due to Covid restrictions and require preregistration.

• Masks will be required for inperson events.

For up-to-date details on registration, locations and links to online events see: https://www. friendsofaptoslibrary.org/our-community-reads-2022.html ••• Friday, Feb. 4: Capitola Film Night ~ Good Night and Good Luck

Hosted by the Friends of the Capitola Library, 7 p.m. via Zoom.

This 2005 film recounts CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow’s courageous challenge to Sen. Joe McCarthy. The obstacles faced by Murrow and his producer Fred Friendly can be seen in contemporary American politics and journalism.

The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (George Clooney), and Best Actor — a remarkable performance by David Strathairn as Murrow.

Brad Kava ~ Journalism chair at Cabrillo College, long-time reporter with the San Jose Mercury News, and publisher of Growing Up in Santa Cruz, will lead a Q&A session at the end.

Tuesday. Feb. 8: From McCarthyism to Today: Demagoguery Then and Now With Isebill “Ronnie” Gruhn at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

Setting the stage for the era in which Red Letter Days takes place, Professor Emerita Ronnie Gruhn will describe world events during the 1950s and developments leading up to current day. She will define the various “isms”(authoritarianism, socialism) that are often misused in today’s political discussions and explore the similarities, if any, of the McCarthy era to today.

Gruhn arrived at UC Santa Cruz in 1969 as a member of the Political Science department and an affiliate of Stevenson College. Gruhn served at UCSC over four decades. She twice chaired the Political Science department (1973-1975 and

1980-1981) and today is a lecturer for the Osher Lifelong Learner Institute.

Thursday, Feb. 10: La Selva Beach Book Discussion Group Led by Margie Bowles, Red Letter Days is the book chosen for discussion. 10:30 a.m. a: La Selva Beach Library.

Thursday, Feb. 12: Red Letter Days Art Project With Jo-Neal Graves and Sharon Ferguson, local artists and art educators, 1-3 p.m. at Capitola Library, George Ow Room.

With Jo-Neal Graves and Sharon Ferguson, local artists and art educators, 1-3 p.m. at Capitola Library, George Ow Room.

Participants will use collage to create an individualized book cover design drawing on authentic images from the McCarthy Era. Jo-Neal Graves and Sharon Ferguson participate in Santa Cruz Open Studios sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Arts Council.

Tuesday, Feb. 15: Invasion of the Communist Body Snatchers: The Supreme Court, Weird Science Comics, and the Red Scare With Michael Pebworth and Nick Rowell at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

Cabrillo College political science professor Nick Rowell will focus on an analysis of two Supreme Court decisions about protected speech and the Communist Party as it relates to American presidential candidates.

“Red Letter Days” page 12

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“Red Letter Days” from page 11

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Michael Pebworth, Cabrillo College history professor, will address 1950s science fiction and horror comic books and their critiques of the Red Scare and Cold War. This event should not be missed!

Nick Rowell earned his PhD in political science at the University of New Mexico in 2012. He teaches US government, comparative politics and international relations at Cabrillo College. His research focuses on analysis of Latin American politics, especially interactions between civil society and the state. His teaching emphasizes the civic engagement required to sustain the health of democracies.

Thursday, Feb 17: La Selva Beach Film Night: Trumbo Introduction by Robert Strayer, La Selva Beach Community Church, 7 p.m.

In 1947, Dalton Trumbo (Academy Award nominee Bryan Cranston) was Hollywood’s top screenwriter until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs. Trumbo (directed by Jay Roach) recounts how Dalton used words and wit to win two Academy Awards and expose the absurdity and injustice of the blacklist, which entangled everyone from gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) to John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger. The film also stars Diane Lane, John Goodman, Louis C.K., Elle Fanning, and Michael Stuhlbarg.

Robert W. Strayer, Ph.D., taught African, Soviet, and world history for many years at SUNY College at Brockport, New York. Since moving to California in 2002, he has taught world History at UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, and Cabrillo College. He has written many books, including Why Did the Soviet Union Collapse? (1998), The Communist Experiment (2007), and Ways of the World: A Brief Global History (now in its fifth edition). He has also been published in the Journal of World History, and has served as co-editor of the McGraw-Hill series, Explorations in World History.

Thursday, Feb. 24: Red Diaper Babies: Growing Up During the HUAC Years of the 1950s Bettina Aptheker, Julie Olsen Edwards and Dena Taylor at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

Growing up closer to home than the London scenes depicted in “Red Letter Days,” three “red diaper

“Cabrillo Strings” from page 9 Auditions for Festival Strings (beginning note-readers) and Cabrillo Strings (intermediate-advanced) will be on Friday, Feb. 25, 3:45-4:15 p.m. with a rehearsal following.

Festival Strings will meet 4:15-5:45 p.m. and Cabrillo Strings will meet 4:15-5:55 p.m.

Students must provide their own instruments and bring pencils & music stands.

Covid-19 distancing will be followed.

babies” discuss how their lives were impacted by the McCarthy era and the House Un-American Activities Committee. They will share lessons learned that they have carried into the present.

Bettina Aptheker: distinguished professor emerita, Feminist Studies Department, UCSC. Julie Olsen Edwards: Cabrillo College Early Childhood faculty (retired), writer, Anti Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves, consultant, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture .

Dena Taylor: Cabrillo College program manager (retired), author, poet. Dena’s most recent books are Tell Me the Number Before Infinity: the story of a girl with a quirky mind, an eccentric family, and oh yes, a disability (co-authored with Becky Taylor) and Exclamation Points: collected poems.

Monday, Feb. 28: What’s Black and White and Red All Over?

With Claudia Sternbach, 7 p.m. via Zoom.

We will focus on the hunt for communists in the world of writers and filmmakers in the 1950’s, in particular on the role of women in that time period, and the hidden meaning in the popular TV series Robin Hood.

Claudia Sternbach, former Santa Cruz Sentinel columnist, is the author of three memoirs: Now Breathe, (Whiteaker Press), Reading Lips (Unbridled Books), and her most recent, Dear Goldie Hawn, Dear Leonard Cohen, released by Paper Angel Press in December 2021. She has often published in The San Francisco Chronicle, The San Francisco Examiner, and The Chicago Tribune. She is former editor-in-chief of the literary journal Memoir.

Thursday, March 3: Trivia on Tap Steel Bonnet, 20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley. 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Hosted and moderated by Jenn Hooker, librarian with the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Trivia on Tap will feature questions selected from Red Letter Days, challenging teams of no more than six persons to answer 30 questions.

You can get snacks at Steel Bonnet, or at outlets in the same complex, or make food at home and have a picnic-style meal while you ponder the questions.

Winners get the grand prize of a $25 gift certificate to the Steel Bonnet. n

Students and parents must wear KN94, N95, KN95 or double mask that includes a surgical mask outside and inside the music building except when alone.

A concert is planned at 7 p.m. April 29.

For those interested in participating in or making contributions to this program, call (831) 479-6101 or visit https://www.cabrillo. edu/cabrillo-youth-strings. You may register through Cabrillo Extension, 479-6331, or extension.cabrillo.edu before the first class. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Showdown over Federally Regulated Rail Line on Feb. 3

Editor’s note: Roaring Camp took over Watsonville freight service in May, serving customers Martinelli’s, the apple-juice maker, and Big Creek Lumber. There is no freight service on the Felton to Santa Cruz section of the rail line, only tourist service.

••• n Jan. 19, Roaring Camp — operator of the Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific Railway (from Felton to Santa Cruz) — issued a statement calling on the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission to reject, at its Feb. 3 meeting, a proposal by RTC staff that Roaring Camp contends would force abandonment of the Felton Branch Rail Line.

RTC spokeswoman Shannon Munz responded with this statement: “The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will receive a report during the public session of the Commission’s Feb. 3 meeting related to a potential adverse abandonment action for freight service only on the Felton Branch Line and the relationship of that action to the potential for future railbanking of a portion of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line north of Watsonville.”

O

To view the Feb. 3 meeting online, visit sccrtc.org. The agenda was not posted on Jan. 19 or 20. Typically, the agenda is posted 3 days before a meeting. To make a comment, email info@sccrtc.org Loss of the right to freight use would have a highly negative impact on Roaring Camp’s business, the company maintains.

Roaring Camp has more than 60 permanent employees.

Roaring Camp CEO Melani Clark provided this statement: “Roaring Camp is strongly opposed to the RTC’s proposed action to pursue forced abandonment of the rail line we’ve owned and operated since 1984 because doing so will seriously harm our local, family-run, women-owned business, and our local economy. The RTC’s proposal represents an aggressive attack on our railroad and rail transportation in our county, fueled by special interests that are lobbying hard to end rail in Santa Cruz County. We encourage our community to join Roaring Camp in standing up against this poorly conceived, shortsighted move.”

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“Roaring Camp Railroad” page 15

Roaring Camp sponsors an electric streetcar demo on the rail line in Watsonville in October.

CORRECTION In the December 2021 issue of the Capitola Soquel Times, photographs depicting the Santa Cruz City Ballet at International Academy of Dance performing The Nutcracker were accidentally used in the print edition article about the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre.

We apologize for this error. The correct photos have been updated on our e-edition, which can be found at tpgonlinedaily.com.

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BUSINESS PROFILE

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Safe At Home Senior Care Superior Service

By Edita McQuary

o man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main,” wrote John Donne, English poet and pastor.

However, family life in these current times can be especially challenging when family members live far away from each other. It can be difficult to be certain that seniors and/or disabled loved ones get the proper care they deserve. Safe at Home Senior Care has been helping families do this for 21 years.

Started by Cindy and Steve Glenn, the company has now passed the torch on to their son, Ryan Colligan, and his wife, Debora.

Ryan grew up in Capitola and attended local schools. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Cal State-Chico and a master’s in business administration degree from UC Berkeley. Debora, originally from Brazil, is a documentary film maker and will soon preview her latest film here in Santa Cruz.

Safe at Home Senior Care is a local, non-franchise business which is fully invested in our local community. They are registered with the State of California.

They also own Oceanside Supported Living in Santa Cruz, which provides in-home care for developmentally disabled adults.

Award-winning staff at Safe at Home Senior Care.

Care Plan “We have a customized in-home assessment process with an in-home assessment by a care coordinator who meets with the family to get a thorough understanding of the client’s needs,” said Ryan. Taken into account is what kind of help is needed and for what time period.

The client’s medical history, activities,

Caregiver of the Quarter Vanessa Estrada with Safe at Home director Ryan Colligan.

14 / February 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

interests, and services necessary are also contracted with “Home Care Plus,” an considered. This very careful and delib- outside agency, to do anonymous monthly erate assessment process enables the care surveys on client satisfaction- regarding coordinator to come up with the right whether the client feel supported, the match of caregiver, whose personality caregiver is prepared, has good communimatches that of the client. cation skills, and what, if anything, can be Covid done better.

“Covid has made it challenging to hire Caregiver Socials good people. Because of California state At one time, Ryan himself was a carevaccine mandates, we have had to let some giver so he knows how important it is to of our employees go. Also, there is a fear recognize good service. As a result, he surrounding working in this field. Some of has started “Caregiver Socials” every 2-3 our employees have months which take opted to leave and place at a different “Covid has made it challenging wait until things get local restaurant each to hire good people. Because of better,” according to time. Caregivers and California state vaccine mandates, Ryan. clients are invited to we have had to let some of our “ H o w e v e r, ” relax and socialize. employees go. Also, there is a fear says Ryan, “There is There is recognition surrounding working in this field.” no shortage of new of the “Caregiver of — Ryan Colligan customers needing the Quarter” award” care providers. We with a cash bonus. A need experienced people with compassion newsletter comes out quarterly to keep all and a good attitude. Training is provided informed and “in the loop.” n on-line as well as in-house. Also, there is ••• an orientation process one-on-one with an Safe at Home Senior Care is located experienced Caregiver as well as on-going at 820 Bay Ave., Suite 101, Capitola. For a refresher training.” free home in-home assessment, please call Due to having fewer workers and 831.462.3500 or go to the website at www. having to pay lots of overtime, Safe at safeathomeseniorcare.com. All caregivers Home Senior Care did take advantage of are bonded, insured and covered by Workers the government’s Paycheck Protection Compensation, have clean criminal backProgram with the outstanding help of ground checks, are T.B. tested, trained, and Santa Cruz County Bank. registered by the State of California.

“Home Care Plus” Photos courtesy of Safe at Home Safe at Home Senior Care has Senior Care

“Roaring Camp Railroad” from page 13

Railbanking is a method by which federally regulated freight rail lines proposed for abandonment can be preserved for future re-activation of freight service through interim conversion to trail use.

Filing the adverse abandonment action for the Felton Branch Line would provide clarity on whether the RTC might be able to railbank the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, according to Munz.

She contends railbanking would ensure the RTC’s property rights to use the railroad easements for the construction of trail segments without the potential need to purchase additional property rights.

Munz said the RTC has not taken any action to approve filing an adverse abandonment application, which is what Roaring Camp is referring to.

If the RTC were to authorize filing of an adverse abandonment action, Munz said, the RTC would ask the federal Surface Transportation Board to order the abandonment of only federally regulated freight services on the Felton Branch Line.

She contends Roaring Camp would be able to continue its passenger tourist service on the Felton line and could potentially also continue the same type of service on a portion of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line upon entering into a mutually acceptable agreement with the RTC. Guy Preston, RTC executive director, said, “The Commission would prefer to reach an agreement with Roaring Camp to not oppose railbanking, but to date we have been unsuccessful in negotiations. Adverse abandonment of the Felton Branch Line is a potential procedural action toward accomplishing railbanking of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, in the event an agreement cannot be reached.”

He added, “We have a lot of respect for Roaring Camp. They are a valuable asset to the Santa Cruz County community, and we want to ensure that they continue to have a successful business for the long term.” n

Roaring Camp, incorporated in 1958, offers tourist trains on the Felton branch line, which it owns, has a contract with Progressive Rail to provide freight service on Santa Cruz branch line in Watsonville.

Progressive Rail intended to stop service.

Most of that 32-mile line — bought by the RTC in 2011 for $14 million, including $11 million in voter-approved funds — has been inactive. A 1.2-mile trail for pedestrians and cyclists was installed next to the track in Santa Cruz for $6.4 million.

Roaring Camp contends South County is seeing growth in multiple local industries but RTC failure to repair two rail line bridges is preventing freight service in areas north of Watsonville, thus hampering economic growth and expansion of jobs.

Roaring Camp also contends the RTC plans threaten its tourist trains, which carry 200,000 guests a year pre-pandemic, helping fill local hotels and taking 9,000 beach visitors’ cars off the road.

In Roaring Camp’s view, Roaring Camp’s rail line would be the first domino to fall in a series of moves that would conclude with abandonment of entire 32-mile Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, which would end any possibility of passenger rail service for Santa Cruz County.

The railroad operator calls this “potential aggressive action,” which should be “a major wake-up call for anyone who is interested in a future that includes both a rail and a trail system for our county. This isn’t just about Roaring Camp. It’s about our entire community and our future.”

RTC Says unz, the RTC spokeswoman, said the agency has been negotiating with Roaring Camp about railbanking the sections of the rail north of Watsonville, which would save the RTC $50 million to $65 million in repair costs so as to focus on building a bicycle and pedestrian trail next to rail line.

Roaring Camp has indicated that it will oppose railbanking the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, according to Munz.

Munz said the RTC has offered Roaring Camp a long-term license on the RTC-owned branch line, which would permit continued Roaring Camp recreational rail service to the Boardwalk and potential new recreational service to Davenport.

She said the RTC has also offered financial considerations if Roaring Camp’s equipment needs to be to be delivered by Roaring Camp CEO Melani Clark (center) attends the electric street car truck.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Central Fire Re-Districting: Have Your Say C entral Fire District of Santa Cruz County plans a virtual hearing 9 a.m.

Thursday, Feb. 10, to review two proposed maps for the 2022 board elections and listen to public input.

The newly merged Central Fire, which encompasses Aptos, La Selva, Capitola, Soquel and Live Oak, has an atlarge election system, where voters elect all board members.

C u r r e n t board members are Orbrad Darbro, George Lucchesi, Ken Radliff, Dave Ronco, and John Scanlon.

Lucchessi was elected in 2016, Darbro and Scanlon in 2018, all three to the Aptos/ La Selva fire board.

Radliff and Ronco were elected in 2020.

After receiving public oral communication on the possibility of violating the California Voting Rights Act — costly for other jurisdictions — it was decided to convert to a district-based system.

This new system creates five geographic areas, after which voters would choose their representatives who live in that district area.

Each district must contain about 15,330 people.

The Central Fire District chose National Demographics Corp. to implement the planning, mapping and population data collection/analysis for this process.

Thus far, three public workshops have taken place.

At the Jan. 13 public hearing, four draft maps of potential voting districts were presented, and orange and purple emerged as the best two options.

The orange map proposes a 2022 election: Scanlon and Darbro in District 5 and District 4 which covers seat vacant. In 2024, District 1 (Ronco), District 2 (Radliff0 and District 3 (Lucchesi) would be up for a vote.

For the maps, go to the library in La Selva Beach or Capitola or see https://www.centralfiresc.org/2279/ Re-Districting-Process-2021-2022 A fourth public hearing will be via Zoom at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, to hear input from the public on the two maps or offer new suggestions.

Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/96492480486?pwd =OXFJWE1QTG9FMm8vL1d1Q3p4VGNqQT09 Meeting ID: 964 9248 0486, Passcode: 870046.

You may also dial in by telephone at 1-669900-6833 and enter the meeting ID and passcode above at the prompt.

If you have any connection issues, call the Administration Office at 831-479-6842.

The public is encouraged to give input up to and including any proposed revisions or suggestions for how to improve the proposed district map sections.

Public comments may be submitted via email to publiccomments@centralfiresc.org.

Aptos resident Becky Steinbruner, who reviewed the four proposed maps, wrote via email: The purple map is a “mess” and should be ruled out.

She contended Live Oak should not be split into three districts (1,2, and 4) because residents share interests.

She suggested outreach at Aptos farmers’ market; that happened Jan. 22.

If you wish your suggestions to be included in the next written communications and/or forwarded to NDC for consideration in the next review of draft map alternatives, send via the email above scans/photos of your suggested maps or changes and include your preference for forwarding. n For more information on this process, including information on the last 3 hearings, interactive and PDF map copies, visit: https://www.centralfiresc.org/2279/

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Sgt. Gutzwiller Tribute Planned at Willowbrook Park

A

By Kieran Kelly

small crowd of Santa Cruz County officials gathered at Willowbrook County Park in Aptos on Jan. 20, to announce plans to reimagine the park in memory of fallen Santa Cruz County Sheriff Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller.

The effort is a collaboration of the Santa Cruz County Parks Department, the Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, County Park Friends, and Supervisor Zach Friend.

On June 6, 2020, Sgt. Gutzwiller was killed in the line of duty, leaving behind his wife and two young children. He also left behind many friends and colleagues who wanted to find a way to honor the legacy of his service.

“He was a great police officer; he was a great sergeant,” said Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart. “He’s sorely missed at the Sheriff’s Office. We still have a lot of grief and a lot of sadness.”

Willowbrook County Park was selected for the memorial site due to its special connection to Sgt. Gutzwiller.

Damon Gutzwiller grew up in Santa Cruz County and owned his first home in the Willowbrook neighborhood. He could often be found there playing with his beloved dog, Shasta. A dedicated public servant, Damon served with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office for 14 years advancing to the rank of sergeant.

Speaking through tears with her two young children in hand, Sgt. Gutzwiller’s

How To Help

Campaign goal is $805,000 Donors gave at a variety of levels: Partner donation $25,000 Playground $25,000 Friend donation $10,000 Memorial champion $5,000 Memorial bench $2,500 area pavers Memorial area $275 engraved brick Memorial bridge $150 area plaque: If you would like to be a part of these memorial efforts through legacy dedications, visit countyparkfriends.org/willowbrook widow Faviola Del Real spoke about Damon’s connection to the park.

“He used to talk about bringing our children here to play,” she said. “Making this dedication in Damon’s honor will give our children, Carter and Lucia, along with future generations, a place to honor his sacrifice and remember his legacy.”

According to County Parks staff, the project is designed to complement the surrounding environment and will include the installation of a memorial seating area with a curved bench near the park’s pedestrian bridge.

“Willowbrook” page 20

Photo Credit: Amanda Rotella

Faviola Del Real, with her children Carter and Lucia, speaks at ceremony announcing tribute to her late husband, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was killed on duty in 2020.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Planning Ahead for the 3G Shutdown

A

By David Witkowski

pproximately every 10 years, wireless cellular networks around the world evolve by implementing newer generations of technology. Each generation typically remains active for about 20 years.

The third generation of cellular technology, known as 3G, was first deployed in October 2000. This year, U.S. wireless carriers will begin shutting down the 3G network, and Santa Cruz county residents—especially those who live or travel in rural areas—should begin preparing for this transition.

First, let’s talk about why 3G is shutting down. As the number of cellular users grows, and as subscriber equipment becomes more sophisticated, older network technologies cannot keep up with user demand.

Newer technologies make more efficient use of the limited frequencies assigned to cellular use, so older systems must be upgraded. In 2000, the cellular network carried mostly voice calls and SMS text messages.

In 2022, the cellular network carries mostly high-bandwidth digital data for apps, multimedia messages, and highdefinition voice calls.

Our usage of cellular networks continues to grow exponentially as users abandon wired landline telephones in favor of wireless cellular service, and 80% of calls to 911 emergency services come from cellular phones.

This level of demand far exceeds the capacity of the 3G network, and is already straining the 4G network as cellular network usage notably increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and users shifted to work-from-home and school-from-home. The need for more network capacity has risen to a critical point, so wireless carriers must shut down the 3G network to make way for more efficient technologies that can keep up with usage. This isn’t the first time older networks have shut down—the original analog and 2G networks from the late 1990s were turned off several years ago to make way for 3G, and later 4G. Newer technologies are poised to replace the 3G network, but there may be a period of time with reduced coverage as county and city governments work to process the applications

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Older 3G mobile phones may have to be replaced. from carriers needed to make those upgrades.

Knowing that 3G networks will shut down in 2022, you should consider now whether this will impact you. Depending on where you live or travel, and what types of subscriber equipment you own, the effects of the 3G shutdown may range from non-existent to significant.

Rural areas of Santa Cruz County are most likely to be impacted by the shutdown, but it’s possible we will see impacts in suburban and even urban areas.

If you’re one of the 170 million people in the U.S. who rely on wireless cellular for your home phone use, you should turn off your phone’s Wi-Fi while in your home, and look at your phone’s display to determine what type of service you have. If your phone’s display shows 4G or 5G, you’re good to go for home service.

If the display shows 3G, or if you still have a flip-phone or an older Blackberry, you’re definitely in the impacted group, and should contact your carrier to explore options for getting a new phone.

Some carriers are offering promotions on replacement phones. If you’re not interested in a smartphone, some carriers offer 4G-capable flip-phones.

Be aware that, as you travel throughout the county, you may lose coverage in areas where you previously had no issues. Again, these gaps will be resolved as the carriers bring up 3G replacement networks, but for a time you may experience dropped phone calls, and text messages may be delayed until you move back into coverage.

“3G” page 20

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / February 2022 / 19

“Willowbrook” from page 18 The bench will face towards a new flagpole that will be installed near the park’s southern entrance. The memorial area will feature a plaque honoring Sgt. Gutzwiller and engraved bricks for donors to the project.

“Damon was a local who grew up to serve his community and often visited Willowbrook Park with his family,” said Lt. Nick Baldrige, president of the Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association.

‘The Deputy Sheriffs’ Association is proud to support this project in honor of our fallen brother and his beautiful family. May we never forget his service.”

In a nod to Sgt. Gutzwiller’s young children, the park’s playground will be updated with new features to ensure kids of all ages and abilities can enjoy the park. The park’s existing sport courts will also be resurfaced and re-striped for tennis and pickleball enthusiasts.

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If you rely on cellular service for work, or for personal safety while bicycling or other forms of recreation, you will want to check coverage and have a backup plan.

The 3G shutdown will impact more than just cellular phones—some medical monitoring devices, tablets, smart watches, vehicle tracking and emergency notification services, home or commercial security systems, and other systems may use the 3G network for connection to the internet.

Some systems, such as security alarm panels, use cellular networks as a backup for wired internet connections.

You should contact your equipment vendor, doctor, security monitoring company, and so forth o determine if 4G or 5G upgrades are needed and available.

The timeframe for the 3G shutdown varies, depending on which carrier you use.

AT&T is already shutting down their networks, and has said they will complete the process by February 2022.

T-Mobile is already shutting down the 3G network they acquired from Sprint, and will complete this by the end of March. T-Mobile will then shut down their own 3G network by the end of June.

Verizon will complete their 3G shutdown by the end of December. You may have service from a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, companies that buy and resell capacity from one of the three carriers. MNVO service will be affected by the shutdown dates of the carriers they resell. For example; Boost Mobile

Rendering by SSA Landscape Architects

According to Supervisor Friend, “This memorial will ensure Damon’s sacrifice is never forgotten and provide a beautiful new reflection space at the park along with improvements that will benefit the community for years to come. Damon and his family have paid the ultimate price on behalf of the community, and this will be a fitting memorial for his service.” n and Mint are on the T-Mobile network, Visible and Jitterbug/GreatCall are on Verizon.

In the long run, the transition away from 3G will provide better coverage and performance for our county’s wireless networks. With a little bit of planning, you can minimize or eliminate the impact of this transition. n ••• David Witkowski is a nationally-recognized expert on wireless communications who lives in Aptos. He is a Fellow in the Radio Club of America, an IEEE senior member, and the founder & CEO of Oku Solutions LLC. He serves as executive director of the Wireless Communications Initiative at Joint Venture Silicon Valley, co-chair of the Deployment Working Group at IEEE Future Networks, co-chair of the GCTC Wireless SuperCluster at NIST, a member of the Connected Communities Forum in the Wireless Broadband Alliance, and an expert advisor to the California Emerging Technology Fund.

••• Editor’s note: The transition into 5G has been rocky for airline passengers.

On Jan. 17, the CEOs of major U.S. passenger and cargo carriers wrote to federal regulators warning of “potentially devastating disruptions” when AT&T and Verizon were set to deploy 5G service. The two telecoms postponed 5G near some airports. The FAA said San Francisco, New York’s JFK, Los Angeles, Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway, and Seattle were affected.

American Airlines delayed or canceled flights. United delayed flights.

See https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/ faa-statements-5g It’s not clear whether a permanent fix is on the way.

COMMUNITY NEWS

AG: Settlement Against Student Loan Servicer 43,000 Could Get Payments of $260 Each from Navient

O

n Jan. 13, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a multistate settlement against Navient, one of the largest student loan servicers in the country, to resolve allegations of misconduct in the servicing and collection of federal student loans.

The settlement, which is subject to court approval, includes $95 million in restitution for student loan borrowers and $1.7 billion in private student loan debt cancellation, including $11.5 million in direct restitution and $261 million in debt cancellation for California borrowers.

Many of these borrowers took out private student loans to attend for-profit schools with low graduation and job-placement rates. As part of the settlement, Navient will be required to comply with terms governing student loan servicing.

Bonta called the settlement “a victory for student loan borrowers in California and in our sister states who were exploited

by Navient and trapped by poor servicing conduct into expensive loans that they couldn’t afford.”

He added, “Navient has been one of the worst actors in the student loan servicing market, and this settlement is a step toward accountability, providing direct relief for many of our most vulnerable student borrowers. The broader fight, however, is far from over. There is a $1.7 trillion student loan debt crisis in this country — and we need decisive action from Congress and the Department of Education to solve it.”

In June 2018, the California Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit alleging that Navient violated California’s Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law by steering vulnerable borrowers into costly forbearances and failing to advise them on the benefits of income-driven repayment programs.

The settlement resolves these allegations and requires Navient to make $95 million in restitution payments of about $260 each to 357,000 harmed consumers, including 43,000 Californians.

Navient will also cancel more than $1.7 billion in subprime private student loans owed by approximately 66,000 borrowers nationwide. Californians will receive around $261 million of that debt

cancellation, going to approximately 7,400 borrowers.

Borrowers who will receive restitution or forgiveness span all generations: Navient’s harmful conduct impacted everyone from students who enrolled in colleges and universities immediately after high school to mid-career students who dropped out after enrolling in a forprofit school in the early-to-mid 2000s.

Consumers do not need to take any action to receive the benefits required under the settlement.

Consumers receiving private loan debt cancellation will receive a notice from Navient, and they are to receive refunds of any payments made after June 30, 2021.

Consumers who are eligible for a restitution payment will receive a postcard in the mail from the Attorney General’s settlement administrator in spring 2022. More information is at www.NavientAGSettlement.com.

This settlement against Navient also includes terms designed to prevent future misconduct. Navient is to: • Ensure that call agents discuss the benefits of income-driven repayment with all borrowers seeking to lower or stop their payments; • Create a new cadre of repayment specialists trained to advise at-risk borrowers; • Stop compensating call agents in a way that encourages them to handle calls quickly, and instead ensure agents give thorough and accurate information to borrowers; • Implement changes to payment-processing procedures that will benefit borrowers; • Limit or reduce fees for late payments or entering forbearances; and • Improve its billing statements and other communications to better inform borrowers of their rights and obligations.

Navient must notify borrowers of the Department of Education’s important changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which offers millions of qualifying public servants a waiver that may count past payments, or previously non-qualifying periods of repayment, toward loan forgiveness.

“Navient” page 23

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

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A Look at the State Budget G

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ov. Newsom recently proposed his budget for 2022-2023. In his propoal, he outlines investments in five primary areas. What exactly is in the Governor’s budget proposal and how will some of it impact Santa Cruz County?

Here is a look at the proposed state budget and key elements.

Budget Process he State Constitution requires the Governor to submit a balanced budget proposal to the Legislature by Jan. 10 of each year.

This initial budget is generally revised closer to June in the “May Revise” as more details become known about the economic health of the state. Like our local County budget, the budget document out- lines the state’s spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Nearly immediately after the introduction in January, the state Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Legislature’s nonpartisan fiscal advisor, publishes a series of reports that review the Governor’s budget proposal.

These analyses often inform the budget debate in the Assembly and the Senate and include economic projections, context and background information and possible revisions. Ultimately, the Legislature has until June 15 to pass the budget.

Proposed Investments he Governor’s budget proposes investments in five key areas: • COVID-19, including increased vaccines, testing, and medical personnel.

• Homelessness, including mental health housing and encampments.

• Climate change, including forest management and drought response.

• Affordability, including healthcare coverage, child care, housing, and small business relief.

• Safer streets, including local law enforcement grants and gun buybacks.

Within those buckets, the Governor is proposing the following new investments (with some of these funds proposed for counties although the exact distribution isn’t known at this point): • $1.3 billion for additional emergency COVID-19 response.

• $2 billion for homeless behavioral health bridge housing and encampment cleanup.

• $200 million ongoing for local public health infrastructure.

• $1.2 billion over two years for wildfire and forest resilience.

• $247 million for wildfire engines, helicopters and additional fire crews for surge capacity.

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• $750 million for drought.

• $2 billion for affordable housing.

The state has a projected surplus of $45.7 billion, which includes $20.6 billion in General Fund for discretionary purposes, $16.1 billion in additional Proposition 98 for K-14 education, and $9 billion in reserve deposits and supplemental pension payments.

The proposed budget allocates 86 percent of the discretionary surplus to onetime investments and reflects $34.6 billion in reserves. These reserves include: approximately $21 billion in the Rainy Day Fund for fiscal emergencies, $10 billion in the Public School System Stabilization Account; $900 million in the Safety Net Reserve and $3 billion in the state’s operating reserve.

The proposal accelerates the paydown of state retirement liabilities with more than $8 billion projected to be paid over the next three years.

For Santa Cruz County, some of the items of greatest interest include investments to combat homelessness, housing supports for behavioral health, climate, water and forest resilience and transportation funding.

Here is a more in-depth look a t some of these line items — and things that could end up providing some level of funding to our county.

Behavioral Health he Governor included a $1.5 billion investment in immediate housing solutions for individuals with behavioral health needs.

The funding is to bridge the gap in housing and services for unhoused individuals living with behavioral health needs. The funding will focus on purchasing, installing, and providing support for tiny homes, as well as operational support for other housing settings including assisted living settings.

Homelessness or homelessness the budget proposal $2 billion in funding over two years including $500 million in the Encampment Resolution Program.

This program provides for competitive grants for cities, counties, and continuums of care to support encampment resolution and the transition of individuals into housing.

Affordable Housing he Governor’s proposal builds on California’s previous investments in housing and provides an additional $500 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits in 2022-23 and an additional $1.5 billion to the General Fund over two years to support construction of additional subsidized affordable homes.

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F

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“State Budget” page 23

COMMUNITY NEWS

Assembly OKs SB 418, PV Healthcare District S tate Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) is authoring urgency legislation, Senate Bill 418, to preserve access to health care for Pajaro Valley residents by forming a health care district and allowing the return to public ownership of Watsonville Community Hospital.

His fact sheet on the legislation John Laird says the current operator could close 106-bed hospital as soon as March 2022.

Laird said this is urgency legislation “to preserve the public peace, health, or safety” under Article IV of the California Constitution.

On Jan. 27, the Assembly passed SB 418 62-0.

SB 418 would form a health care

district establishing public oversight should the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project be successful in its attempts to acquire the hospital from current ownership.

Leaders in the healthcare district project are the County of Santa Cruz, the City of Watsonville, the Community Health Trust of the Pajaro Valley and Salud Para La Gente.

The nonprofit aims to facilitate a sale through the bankruptcy process and avoid closure.

After 21 years of ownership changes and 20 changes in administration, Watsonville Community Hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December.

Public and private funding for the acquisition of Watsonville Community Hospital is being sought separately.

Currently, the hospital is open and offers a full range of medical services.

However, employees and local residents are worried, not knowing the outcome of bankruptcy.

Co-authors of SB 418 include Assemblymembers Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley), and Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) whose constituents receive services at Watsonville Community Hospital.

“The successful passage of SB 418 will ensure the continued provision of vital services to the community and protect the jobs of those who work tirelessly to keep Pajaro Valley residents and their loved ones healthy,” said Laird. “It is our responsibility as a state to ensure no person, parent, or child is left without access to care.”

County Pledges $5 Million to Buy Watsonville Hospital

O

n Jan. 25, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors agreed unanimously to provide $5 million toward purchase and operation of Watsonville Community Hospital by the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project.

The funding is in addition to $500,000 the board previously provided to the new nonprofit.

The $5 million is contingent on the nonprofit’s successful bid for the hospital, which filed for Chapter 11 reorganization through bankruptcy in December. The deadline to file a bid is Feb. 14.

HealthCare Appraisers, founded in 2000, saw more distressed hospital transactions in 2016 through 2018, before Covid-19 when edicts to limit more profitable elective surgery hurt the

“Navient” from page 21 Bonta encourages all Californians working in the government or non-profit sectors to review the PSLF website to determine whether they might qualify for loan forgiveness. Borrowers seeking loan “State Budget” from page 22 Wildfire Resilience or wildfire protection, the budget proposes significant investments in wildfire and forest resilience.

Included in the funding is nearly $3 billion

F

bottom line for many. Often distressed hospitals have little to no earnings, making it difficult for appraisers to evaluate the hospital’s worth.

To remain in operation, Healthcare Appraisers recommends optimizing staffing, leveraging better payor rates and investing in new service lines.

••• oes Watsonville Community Hospital owe your business money?

The deadline to file that claim with documentation is 4 p.m. April 4. You can do so online at https://cases.stretto. com/WatsonvilleHospital/file-a-claim/ In 2019, the 106-bed hospital, in financial difficulty, sold the property at 75 Nielson Road, Watsonville, to Medical Properties Trust, based in Atlanta, for $40

D

million, and has been leasing it but payments have been a struggle.

Stretto is the debtors’ claims and noticing agent.

Hearings will be held by U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Jose often via Zoom.

Dates are: Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. Deadline to object to the proposed sale of the hospital operations Feb. 14 at 4 p.m. Deadline to file a bid to buy the hospital operations Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. Auction of hospital assets Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. Deadline to object to the sale motion Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. Sale hearing n To reach Stretto, call 1-877-4764390 or email https://cases.stretto.com/ WatsonvilleHospital

Watsonville Community Hospital serves an area with disproportionately low household income and access to quality housing, transportation and health care, according to the California Healthy Places Index.

A look at the hospital’s gross revenue: 43% comes from the state MediCal program, and 30% from the federal Medicare program for the elderly and disabled. Government pays less than the cost of service.

The only other full-service hospital with an emergency department is Dignity Health Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. There is no emergency room at Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center in Santa Cruz.

Mimi Hall, board member of Pajaro Valley Healthcare District, said, “Given the hospital’s bankruptcy status, this legislation is the only pathway to preserving access to health care, creating accountability and addressing glaring health disparities for the people of the Pajaro Valley.

We are grateful to our entire delegation for the urgent and focused attention they brought to this matter, Mimi Hall and we look forward to seeing this bill become law in the nottoo-distant future.”

If adopted, SB 418 provides the Board of Directors of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District five years to divide the district into zones representative of the community. Those zones would be subject to local elections.

Laird said, “I thank our regional leaders who remain active partners in this effort to protect and expand health care access for the residents of Pajaro Valley and surrounding communities,” said Laird. n

forgiveness under the Department of Education’s recent changes must take action by Oct. 31, 2022.

Bonta joined the attorneys general of 37 states — Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa,

Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington,

West Virginia, and Wisconsin — in the settlement. Read the settlement at https:// tinyurl.com/navient-settlement. n ••• Share your Navient student loan experience with Times editor Jondi Gumz at 831-688-7549 x17.

toward forest thinning, prescribed burns, local fuel break investments, community hardening (including improved defensible space), reforestation and vocational training to train, develop, and certify forestry professionals and expand the workforce available for forest health and fuels reduction.

This is just an outline of the significant number of budget proposals and how they may impact our area. At this point, they are just proposals and still need adoption by the Legislature.

If you would like to see more information, you can visit the state’s budget site at http://ebudget.ca.gov

••• 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 you can always call me at 454-2200.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / February 2022 / 23

FEATURED COLUMNIST

For the Love of … Quotes About Water

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

H

ere it is, February already! It’s the month with Valentine’s Day, which brings to mind that love is something that’s all around us, every day; it’s present throughout the world; it’s part of our daily lives; and it sustains us through the year.

That description applies equally to our favorite subject: WATER. While humans have an unlimited supply of love, that’s not the case with the earth’s water. Water is crucial to maintaining thriving families and communities, sustaining healthy ecosystems and habitat, and supporting all life on our planet, including humans. Like love, water is global. It covers over 70% of the earth’s surface and is present in the air, rivers, lakes, icecaps, glaciers, and aquifers — and in all living things.

However … while there can certainly be “new love,” there is no new water. As noted in National Geographic magazine, “All the water that will ever be…is right now!” Our water is absolutely a limited supply, constantly being reused through the natural water cycle. As the substance which literally gives us life, the substance on which we all depend, it must be appreciated, preserved, and protected.

To bring that point home in this month of February, I’d like to offer a few notable quotes that help express the true value of

the limited supply of the very essence of life on earth — water.

Some of these quotes compare love and water. In others, I think you’ll find that the word “water” could be replaced by the word “love,” which further illustrates the importance of both of these elements!

••• “When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.” — Benjamin Franklin “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” — W. H. Auden “Water is the most critical resource issue of our lifetime and our children’s lifetime. The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land.” — Luna Leopold “Love, like a river, will cut a new path whenever it meets an obstacle.” — Crystal Middlemas “Water is the mother of the vine, the nurse and fountain of fecundity, the adorner and refresher of the world.” — Charles Mackay “Anyone who can solve the problems of water will be worthy of two Nobel prizes — one for peace and one for science.” — John F. Kennedy “Love is like water. We can fall in it. We can drown in it. And we can’t live without it.” — Unknown “They both listened silently to the water, which to them was not just water,

but the voice of life, the voice of Being, the voice of perpetual Becoming.” — Hermann Hesse “Water links us to our neighbor in a way more profound and complex than any other” — John Thorson “We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one.” — Jacques Cousteau “Wondering if you are Love is like the ocean wondering if it is water.” — Unknown “Clean water is inestimably precious to waste!” — Mohith Agadi “In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans; in one aspect of you are found all the aspects of existence.”

— Kahlil Gibran “Pure water is the world’s first and foremost medicine.” — Slovakian Proverb “Water is the driving force in nature.”

— Leonardo da Vinci “A river doesn’t just carry water, it carries life.” — Amit Kalantri “The water caresses in the glass, like love in the body.” — Charles de Leusse “Water is the lifeblood of our bodies, our economy, our nation, and our wellbeing.” — Stephen Johnson “Between the Earth and the Earth’s atmosphere the amount of water remains constant; there is never a drop more, never a drop less.” — Linda Hogan ••• Over the years we’ve done several columns in the spirit of “For the Love Of …” which have included books, movies, and podcasts featuring water. I hope you

enjoyed this year’s column of featuring a variety of water (and love!) quotes.

Which one is your favorite, that particularly speaks to you? Do you know of another quote about water that you’d like to share? Send me an email at outreach@ soquelcreekwater.org and let me know.

And, be sure to visit www.soquelcreekwater.org to learn about all the things we’re doing to provide a safe, clean, reliable supply of water for the community.

For us here at the District, water really is like love — it must be nurtured and protected, and we work every day to ensure the water supply thrives, so it can be shared with others.

Have a great February and a wonderful Valentine’s Day! n

Trying to Get Concert Refunds Because of COVID

By Christopher Elliott Tricia Lewis cancels a Dave Chapelle and automatic response Joe Rogan show in New Orleans because of that an agent would surging COVID cases. Vivid Seats refuses her respond to my email request for a refund. Is there a way to get her inquiry within 24 money back? hours. After two business days without ••• any response from them, I contacted ’m trying to cancel tickets to a Dave Vivid Seats via chat and they advised Chappelle and Joe Rogan me the only way I can receive a show in New Orleans that I refund if the event has been canbought through Vivid Seats. At celed or postponed. the time of the show, there were I informed them the numbers too many COVID-19 cases and I are extremely high in that state didn’t want to risk attending the and that I am not willing to risk show. my health for any event. A repWhen I called Vivid Seats, resentative advised me there is they were experiencing “high nothing they can do regarding call volume,” so I tried contacting Christopher Elliott this matter due to the cancelthe company via email. I received an lation policy.

I

24 / February 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

I told them I had cancellation insurance in case I couldn’t make it to the event because of COVID-19-related circumstances. Vivid Seats told me to contact my insurance company. I could not reach someone at the insurance company, so I contacted Chase and filed a chargeback and received a temporary credit. I lost the credit card dispute.

On Sept. 2, two days before the event, I received an email stating the show had been postponed to October. I just want a full refund. I couldn’t make it to this event because of a scheduling conflict. I am extremely disappointed in the way Vivid Seats has handled this.

Dave Chappelle

Joe Rogan

Can you help me get a refund of $526 for my tickets?

— Tricia Lewis, New York ••• think you deserved a full refund for your tickets. But your case was a little complicated. Let’s see if we can simplify.

I

“Problem Solved” page 26

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Thoughts on Thinking We’re Awake

By Joe Ortiz

I

couldn’t sleep last night. What’s new.

And what should I do about it? Take a pill and roll over? But it’s too early, I tell myself. Take one before a decent hour and you wake up at 4 a.m. facing the same dilemma.

It reminds me of the rejected New Yorker cartoon I once submitted: Man and wife reading in bed. Man says to wife, “It’s your turn to set the alarm so we can wake up in time to take a sleeping pill.”

My wife and I both have trouble sleeping for reasons we can only speculate about: The 4 p.m. espresso? The extra glass of wine after dinner? The Charlie horse in the calf from a walk too far? The urge “to go” at all hours? Too much screen time?

Who knows?

Thoughts are the culprit. Plumbers must think about leaks and water flowing downhill. Bus drivers about routes and stops. I think in words, stories, and — well — thinking! It reminds me of what I call the “Macbeth Conundrum:” The idea that all our foibles, conflicts and challenges in life are retold to us in literature. In Macbeth’s case, ambition is the tragic flaw. In mine: thoughts equal no sleep. Sound familiar?

Sure, my wife and I might be able to solve our shortcomings by faithfully practicing our yoga, Pilates, meditation or by consulting our “advisors” more often, but life’s so complicated already. Especially now. So, forget it.

“Shut off your mind, you stupid idiot,”

I tell myself. “Oh yeah? If you’re so stupid, why are you having all these thoughts in the first place?” I’m talking to myself, aren’t I? Not again. Just get up!

Sometimes the decision to get out of bed in the middle of the night feels like planning a bank heist. Pre-planning is everything. Decisions must be made: “To snack or not to snack.” Oh wait, I’m paraphrasing Hamlet. (Literature again!).

“Should I read a book or scroll through the iPad?” This thought causes another thought. Stream of consciousness. James Joyce. Oh no.

The two books on my nightstand — James Dickey and Raymond Carver — are trusted companions from college. So, I

decide to dig back into both, knowing full well that over-preparation can be risky.

“But what about the size of the sleeping pill to take, half or whole? And at what time?” I refuse to decide since procrastination is one of a writer’s greatest fallback tools.

I get up, grab the books, the iPad, the pills and sneak quietly out of the bedroom and tip-toe downstairs. Spontaneously, I choose to snack now — be ahead of the curve. Baseball allusion this time. Not Literature. Sorry.

I crawl up with a blanket on the couch with a pill, a glass of water, and thumb through James Dickey’s Poems, 1957-1967, the book falling open to a line that reads,

“Now I can be sure of my sleep.” Serendipity? How does it know?

Does that mean I should take the pill?

No. I’ll wait 20 minutes.

After reading a few verses, I check the clock and stare at the pill. I search the Carver story collection and find one of two-pages appropriately titled, “Little Things,” which casts a drowsy pall over my eyelids.

So, it winds up that a bit of poetry and a smidgen of fiction does the trick. Both can help us avoid the need for a sleeping pill, which I delicately put back in the bottle and stumble upstairs. I remember what my poetry teacher said all those years ago: “When the time comes, the right decision will arrive from out of nowhere.”

I climb back into bed where the wife is a cinder and I wait and ponder. “There.

That was productive. And now that I’ve written all this down, I don’t have to think.”

Which causes another thought from writing class to well up into my brain: “Writing is only thinking written … down … down … down … “ I’m out until morning. n ••• Joe Ortiz, author of “The Village Baker,” wrote and produced a musical inspired by bread and created a musical based on his family story, Escaping Queens, that was a hit at Cabrillo Stage. He and his wife Gayle received the 2016 Gail Rich Award for contributions to the arts in Santa Cruz County.

Using Writing to Claim Your Space

I

By Marlize Velasco

’m a freshman at Cabrillo majoring in political science. My ambition with a political science major is to become a county supervisor.

I’ve been doing student leadership for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education for about a year. I started as a member for Youth for Environmental Action during my junior year even during the start of COVID. I still had the passion to be involved in student leadership even during distant times. Having this experience has motivated me to continue to be passionate about student advocacy.

I thank Celeste Gutierrez, the COE’s Student Leadership & Engagement Coordinator, for involving me in many leadership opportunities. I feel she saw me as a shy

girl with lots of opinions who needed a space to allow my voice to be heard. And for this I’m grateful.

Because of this, I learned that my voice matters and that I need to take up space in areas that need: youth representation, brown girl representation, queer representation. I call this taking up space.

In many leadership groups I’ve been in the minority. I want to plant the seed for voices by youth like me to express what they are passionate about. I want them to create space and claim their space. Our

voices can be heard through our rhetoric. Our message will be powerful if we unite and write.

I care that Santa Cruz can hear what we have to say. I want Santa Cruz to know we will use any platform given to us. We know how to write. We have been taught how to write for book reports that sometimes we didn’t read for. We were taught to write about topics in education that never really made us passionate.

However, we will be our own teachers and we will teach ourselves how to deliver

messages that we feel need to be heard. I hope my writing motivated you to write and be part of this.

During this school year, I’ll be working with COE and the youth leadership groups to help you the youth taking up your space: taking up the space that needs change that needs your voice.

I’m confident that your writing will pave the wave for change.

••• Reprinted with permission from The Student Voices section of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education website, https:// santacruzcoe.org/category/student-voices/.

To learn more about student leadership and engagement efforts by the COE, email Celeste at cgutierrez@santacruzcoe.org

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / February 2022 / 25

Aquarius Sun, Nodes Shift: the Narrative Changes Esoteric Astrology • February 2021 • By Risa D’Angeles

M

ercury’ retrograde ends February 3rd. Venus’s retrograde ended January 29th.

But during the retrogrades last week, two new aspects (North/South Nodal shifts) of great importance appeared in the heavens, their influence remaining with us for the next eighteen months.

This is Part 1 of a beginning study of the North and South Nodes (present/ future and our past). In Vedic (Hindu) astrology they are referred to as the Dragon points or Dragon head (North Node) and Dragon tail (South Node).

The nodes are not planets or signs. They are points in space created by the Moon’s path crossing the Sun’s path. They are like a loop or a tie or a binding together of the Sun and Moon, two cosmic principles, solar and lunar, and a binding together of the past and present/future. The North node faces the North Pole, the South Node, the South Pole.

These points drift opposite each other through the months.

Oppositions in astrology create integration. With the nodes, the past integrates into our present, creating our future.

As the Sun entered Aquarius last week, the nodes also changed signs and both Aquarius and the nodal shifts humanity’s narrative changed. From Gemini (thinking) we shift to north node in Taurus (stabilization) north node, from Sagittarius (journey) to south node in Scorpio (dark to light).

ARIES

You may be dreaming more often, feeling more intuitive, perhaps sometimes confused, more sensitive, inspired and insightful. Study, prayer, meditation, contemplation and a bit more repose are good for you. They cultivate compassion and a deeply caring way of being. When you find yourself in a group calling you to lead and help create the future era, all needed skills, tools and virtues appear. The new world is what you are to initiate.

TAURUS

You have one task now — a focus upon health. Tend to joints and bones, hands, thumbs, arms, knees, feet and most of all your heart, not allowing anxiety or stress, eating calming Ayurvedic foods. Swimming in warm salt pools is recommended. Use practicality to care for yourself. You must choose daily — to be out and about in the sun, even if it’s snowing.

Remaining at home is best. Figure out your spring garden. This helps you build towards perfect health. Begin each day facing the early morning Sun. No glasses, eyes wide open, feet on the ground.

GEMINI

Every eighteen months, both nodes, always opposite each other, change signs. North Node representing the Sun, our present/future, our dharma (tasks, purpose). South Node representing the moon, past lifetimes, things not yet completed.

The nodes hold gifts. North Node holes the gifts we are to develop in the present lifetime. South Node — the gifts, talents and abilities we have developed over lifetimes. We are most comfortable and familiar with the area of our life where our south node is.

Each node has a task. South Node gathers together our past lives’ experiences, talents and abilities and these create stepping stones that, over a lifetime, lead us to our North Node. Here we then proceed forward into new life tasks. We meet our dharma, our purpose and the present/future life tasks to be developed this lifetime.

The South Node provides us with all that we need to remember to develop our purpose and present life abilities. The North Node abilities are yet to be developed. The Nodes are the Path we traverse each lifetime and they are deeply connected to our Rising Sign (life purpose). (… Part 2 on the nodes next month) Note from Risa — for daily & weekly updates see Risa’s FB page Risa D’Angeles & website www.nightlightnews.org/

LEO

You’re becoming more perceptive, intuitive and enlightened and this affects those you work with.

Someone, something (words, ideas, memories of someone in particular) creates a shift and deeper awareness of how you presented yourself in past relationships. Your mind sorts through previous ideas of intimacy. You wonder if you shared yourself and loved enough. There’s sadness sometimes, as old dreams reappear. You hear a voice saying … Love is patient, love is kind, even when it’s difficult, which means you’re learning.

VIRGO

You will relate better with others, especially those close to you, if you offer love — pure, ceaselessly, unqualified and unconditional, with kindness and patience. Love is something many of us need yet to learn. We don’t quite know how to love. Or even what love is. But when we do love, we flourish and thrive and discover greater support and needed guidance. Challenging others doesn’t work. Curiosity, listening, care and compassion do. They nourish all thirsty hearts. Your heart too.

LIBRA

Something revelatory happens between you and the world, you and work, you and Venus and Mercury (retrograde now), and you and your inner life. You’re inspired, encouraged and guided from within.

With careful study, years of preparation, and viewing the past in terms of cultivating your gifts, a spiritual pathway appears. Previous choices and commitments are understood, and gratitude settles in your heart. The next festival is Candlemas, February 2. Plan on observing it. Bring all your candles out.

Think, visualize and pray daily for all that you want and need your life to be. Include beauty, happiness, forgiveness, creativity, art and loving relationships partnerships. If you’re not sure of your needs, ask yourself each day, “What are my hopes, wishes and dreams? What are my abilities and gifts?” In the coming months, you become stronger, more resilient. Take cautionary care with money and resources. You need fishes in a fish bowl and an apricot canary.

CANCER

Use your imagination, resources and investments in terms of preparing for the future. Find a forwardthinking money manager. Catherine Austin Fitts is one who helps humanity understand present and past money issues. Think seriously about a new economy needing to unfold. It’s not digital. Keep cash on hand. Don’t speculate in the old economy. Consider precious metals. Study books on greenhouses and bio- shelters and the resources needed to create these environments. You then become the forward-thinking disciple.

•••

What have you been feeling and thinking of during these days of change? Do you sense you’re being introduced to new qualities within yourself, a new identity emerging? Do these days make you feel generous and at home? Is there a new reality or interest presenting itself? You want to participate fully. But you know it’s not quite the right time yet. Are you cleaning, singing, reading, redecorating, expanding your foundation? Love is close by.

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

The planets are affecting your sense of self, your identity, your money, your family, home situation, creativity and possibilities in terms of relationships, partnerships, and for some, marriage. So many different realities pulsing and shifting here and there and all about.

Something kind and benevolent, something sacrificial and something remembered in your family occurs. Are relatives and loved ones on your mind? Your remembering creates the needed loving contact.

CAPRICORN

You’re thinking optimistically about doing something new in the field of art to be presented to the world. It combines your talents and gifts.

You want to bring more grace, goodness, ease and beauty to your life and the life of humanity. You recognize everyone’s doing their very best, especially you, and you’re asking for more opportunities.

Begin writing (journaling) in earnest and even drawing what you want to do, who you want to be and how you want to serve the world. Then your next creative endeavor appears.

AQUARIUS

Money and resources are going through a definite change. You want adequate money in order to stabilize yourself in the future.

This means more attention to the wellbeing of your finances. Don’t forget to always help others. When we serve others, our needs are always taken care of. What we give to others is returned to us in greater measure. The charts show a focus on home, past, present and future. Follow what calls to you.

It loves you.

Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com 26 / February 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

PISCES

Neptune in Pisces brings forth revelations and visions.

Neptune blends many realities into one reality.

Order, organization and specifics dissolve away. Be aware and observe this occurring.

Neptune is not the planet of detail. It’s the planet of refinement, of parting the veils, of creative imagination and realms where dreams are. Neptune transits can make us experience exhaustion. Magnesium, Vitamins A, B, C & D3 (sunlight) help stabilize the body. Tend very carefully to health in these times. Everyone is vulnerable. Especially the tender fishes.

“Problem Solved” from page 24 First, I think you were correct about canceling your tickets. At the time of the show, COVID cases in New Orleans were soaring, and even if you were fully vaccinated, this was no time to attend a large public event.

Calling Vivid Seats was a mistake for two reasons. First, concerts were being canceled left and right and the company was probably overwhelmed with calls from customers. And second — and more important — you wouldn’t have had any proof of your conversation. An email or online chat, as you later discovered, gave you the paper trail you needed. A reliable paper trail is a key to solving any consumer problem.

If you had cancellation insurance, you should have been able to file a claim. It looks like you decided to pivot quickly to a credit card dispute. You can file a credit card dispute under the Fair Credit Billing Act, but it has to be for the right reasons.

Unfortunately, your cancellation didn’t meet the criteria.

I list the names, numbers and email addresses of the Vivi Seats Executives at “https://www.elliott.org/companycontacts/vivid-seats/” on my consumer advocacy site. A brief, polite email may have changed the outcome of your case.

But not after you filed a credit card dispute.

The dispute is considered a nuclear option, and once a company has won, it will typically ignore you. But I think you have a stronger case now that the concert has been canceled, regardless of your unsuccessful dispute.

I contacted Vivid Seats on your behalf.

It reviewed your case and refunded your tickets as a goodwill gesture. n ••• Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer for Elliott Advocacy. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help with any consumer problem by contacting him at http:// www.elliott.org/help • © 2022 Christopher Elliott

Calling Vivid Seats was a mistake for two reasons.

First, concerts were being canceled left and right and the company was probably overwhelmed with calls from customers. And second — and more important — you wouldn’t have had any proof of your conversation.

An email or online chat, as you later discovered, gave you the paper trail you needed.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Dark Chocolate Mousse A

NOW IN CAPITOLA MALL Tuesday–Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.*

Sunday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.*

SUSHI MARKET SPROUTS Japanese Sweets, Drinks, & Gifts

Inspired by Bobby Flay

s a part of their capstone culinary arts class, Mount Madonna School high school seniors prepared and served a gourmet four-course meal for staff and visitors last month — a hands-on experience that built confidence.

The meal, which consisted of a butternut squash risotto, an apple walnut salad, bread and chocolate mousse, was executed entirely by the students from concept to presentation. They picked Bobby Flay’s recipe for Dark Chocolate Mouse. While some students separated eggs, others were toasting walnuts, chopping herbs, preparing the broth, and keeping up with dishes.

“The trick to risotto is to toast everything together for two minutes, and then add the broth,” teacher Sara Sobkoviak instructed the class. She leads Adulting 101, a class that equips students in real-world skills such as culinary arts, gardening, financial planning, construction, child development, college readiness and more.

“The love and the care that these students put into making our food – you could taste it,” said Head of School Ann Goewert. “The best part was listening to them talk about the process of making the food and seeing their pride. They put thought, intention, and effort in everything they did.”

“It was amazing across the board.

And that mousse? Divine,” Goewert said.

“Once you become a senior at Mount Madonna School, you get put in all these leadership roles and given all these responsibilities and are actually in charge of projects. Like cooking a whole meal, for example. It’s pretty awesome to know that I’m capable of doing that,” said student Kayla Goldstein.

Added Grace Timan, “Even though I’m not the best cook, I’m learning so much alongside my peers. We are a really close class, and we lean on each other. I’m not afraid to make mistakes or try new things. I think that’s what I really love

about the Adulting 101 class…I might be no good at separating egg whites, I’m going to try anyhow. And my friends make it fun.”

••• Dark Chocolate Mousse Ingredients 51/4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 14 ounces cold heavy cream 3 large egg whites 1-ounce sugar Sweetened whipped cream, for garnish, optional Shaved bittersweet chocolate, for garnish, optional ••• Place chocolate in a large bowl set over a bain marie or in a double boiler at a low simmer. Stir chocolate until melted.

Turn off the heat and let stand.

Beat the cream over ice until it forms soft peaks. Set aside and hold at room temperature. With a mixer, whip egg to soft peaks. Gradually add the sugar and continue whipping until firm.

Remove the chocolate from the bain marie and using a whisk, fold in the egg whites all at once. When the whites are almost completely incorporated, fold in the whipped cream. Cover the mousse and refrigerate for approximately 1 hour or until set. Serve in goblets topped with more whipped cream and shaved chocolate, if desired. n

Share A Recipe!

D

o you have a recipe that is a family favorite? Or maybe one from your childhood you would like to share? The Capitola Soquel Times will be publishing one recipe each issue from a community member.

Feel free to add a little history to the recipe if you want (approximately 75 words). Every issue we will randomly choose a recipe to publish.

Find your favorite and send it to cathe@cyber-times.com today!

KAITO / KA

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Winter Olympics

ACROSS

1. Sleeps in a tent 6. Horror movie franchise 9. Varieties 13. Mozart’s “Die Zauberflote” 14. Road crew supply 15. Moron 16. Workman’s cotton, once 17. Exclamation of surprise 18. Monte Cristo’s title, in French 19. *Olympic Athletes from ____, 2018 hockey winners 21. *Figure skating jump (2 words)

23. Capone’s ilk, e.g.

24. Attention-getting sound 25. Eminem’s genre 28. Cashier’s call 30. Hit-or-miss 35. It will 37. *Triple one in figure skating 39. Hustle and bustle 40. German Mrs. 41. A mile racer 43. a.k.a. horse mackerel 44. Jargon 46. Workbench holding device 47. Health club offering 48. Diner, e.g.

50. Latin for “and others” 52. ____ Aviv 53. Ill-mannered one 55. Curiosity’s victim?

57. *2022 Winter Olympics location

61. *Torch Relay starting point 64. “____ ____ the Family” TV series 65. Refrigerator sound 67. Poppy seed derivative 69. Bitterly regretting 70. Egyptian cobra 71. Part of a stair 72. Seedy source of Omega-3s 73. More, in Madrid 74. Changes to a manuscript 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

DOWN

Cape ____, MA Copycat Carte du jour Spectrum maker Delilah’s lover Roofed colonnade

7. Expression of satisfaction 8. Angry 9. Revered one 10. Fancy ride 11. Japanese zither 12. Pas in ballet 15. “Freezing” Marvel character 20. Letter-shaped girder 22. “____ the land of the free...”

24. Designer’s studio 25. *Biathlon gear 26. Skylit lobbies 27. Manufacturing site 29. *2022 Winter Olympics number 31. Like Curious George 32. Monocot’s alternative 33. “Killers of the Flower Moon” Oklahoma location

34. *Olympic award 36. *Olympic sled 38. For fear that 42. Respond 45. Circling 49. Far, old-fashioned 51. Capital of Punjab 54. Early Irish alphabet 56. Sort of warm 57. Vomit 58. Twelfth month of Jewish year 59. Pelvic bones 60. Put a hex on 61. Concert units 62. Not yet final 63. Edible fat 66. *Miracle on Ice winner 68. Not Miss or Ms. © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / February 2022 / 27

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING Suicide Prevention Services is recruiting volunteers for training, which starts Feb. 17 and ends April 21.

After working for 20 years with suicidal people and the painful aftermath of a suicide death, Celeste Cisneros says suicide is individual, complex, and personal. She says what helps is a compassionate volunteer trained to connect with the caller by validating, believing, and caring.

Most suicidal callers agree to be safe and follow a safety plan by the end of the call. Lives are saved.

Families, friends, and communities are spared unbearable pain.

More than 80 volunteers answer 400 calls per month from residents of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties. These courageous people are neighbors, coworkers, and friends.

They may be the person in front you in line at the movies or the grocery. Volunteers work behind closed doors and perform heroic acts of kindness. They pick up the phone, weave an invisible lifeline of caring, and commit to the safety and well-being of the caller.

More volunteers are needed. Previous experience is not necessary. What is needed is a willingness to learn new skills and to listen.

If you have questions, call 831-459-9373.

You are not alone. You are not to blame.

More information: (831) 423-7601 or www.survivorshealing center.org SENIOR CENTER WITHOUT LIMITS This new program from Community Bridges brings enrichment activities like yoga, art, music, tai chi, cooking, tech and support groups to seniors age 60 and up in their homes at no cost.

To participate, you need an internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone.

To participate, view the calendar at https://communitybridges.org/SCWOL/ and find a class. That day and time, click on the link in the calendar to be connected. If you have a problem connecting, call Clara Munoz at (831) 458-3481.

CAREER ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL The Santa Cruz Public Libraries invites you to jumpstart your future by earning an accredited high school diploma and career training through Career Online High School.

Is your 2022 resolution to go back to school and get your high school diploma? Santa Cruz Public Libraries offers a program called Career Online High School, designed for adults who were unable to complete high school and could benefit from additional job training.

This nationally accredited program allows adult SENIOR OUTREACH Family Service Agency Senior Outreach offers free students to earn an accredited high school diploma — not a GED — while gaining career skills in one of ten one-on-one counseling for people 55 and over employment fields, from home care professional and via the phone, Skype or Zoom. Counselors are office management to homeland security. experienced.

SCPL awards scholarships to qualified adult learners In-person counseling has been suspended to prevent on a first-come, first-served basis. Career Online High Covid-19 spread.

Groups for men and women will be restarted as soon School is a solution for those who need extra academic as possible, with a women’s group starting in February. support and flexibility. Once in the program, students are assigned an academic coach who helps keep them Dates are not available due to the changing Covid on track and connects them with tutors if needed. situation.

The online curriculum is accessible 24/7, which is Hopes are to restart peer training, for which there is helpful to those balancing work and family obligations. a waiting list.

To express interest in participating, call Barbara Salata, 831- Students have up to 18 months to complete the program, but many finish sooner because previously 459-9351 ext. 206, who will return your call in 24 hours. earned high school or GED test credits are accepted.

For more info, see https://santacruzpl.mycareerhs.com/.

UC MASTER GARDENER CLASSES UC Master Gardeners of Monterey and Santa Cruz CAPITOLA SOROPTIMISTS OFFER Counties offers free and low-cost gardening classes ‘GOURMET DINNER FOR SIX’ for Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties.

Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea is Coming up: now selling a limited number of tickets for a “Gourmet Winter Fruit Tree Pruning: Feb. 24, 5-6:30 p.m.

Dinner for Six” drawing. The dinner will be designed (online) and March 12, 10 – noon, in-person, San Juan and prepared by a professional chef in a private Santa Bautista Historical State Park Cruz residence on a date in February selected by the Cost is Free. Donations appreciated. Register at drawing’s winner. mbmg.ucanr.edu Tickets are $100 and can be purchased by calling Winter is the best time to prune most fruit trees while (831) 239-8532. Club members will serve as sous they are dormant and their structure is easily seen. chefs, sommelier and wait staff and winner can choose Winter pruning invigorates fruit trees to produce and food preferences in consultation with the chef. support strong fruit production. Join Diane Mahan, UC Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea is Master Gardener and professional landscaper, to learn a global volunteer organization that provides women the why and how of winter fruit tree pruning of both old and girls with access to the education and training they growth and newly planted fruit trees.

The class is free to all with the option to provide a suggested need to achieve economic empowerment.

For information, email info@best4women.org or visit www. donation of $5 or more to support the all-volunteer Master best4women.org.

Gardener program.

SUPPORT FOR MOTHERS OF SURVIVORS Survivors Healing Center is offering online women’s support groups and mothers of survivors of childhood sexual abuse support group. The goals are to empower through a healing process and prevent sexual abuse of children and youth.

Second and Fourth Wednesdays Santa Cruz, 2-3:30 p.m. via phone — Facilitators: Jill Ginghofer and Laurie McVay. First and Third Wednesdays Santa Cruz, 5:30-7 p.m. via video or phone — Facilitators: Francie Newfield and Kathleen McBurney. on one or more district map(s). Actions may include Second Saturdays modification of division boundaries, sequencing of elections. For more information , contact (831) 479-6842, Scotts Valley, 10-11:30 a.m. via video or phone — Facilitator: Diana Hull. or email: PublicComments@centralfiresc.org Register by calling 800-272-3900 or email ymflores@alz.org.

Information: https://www.centralfiresc.org/2279/Re••• Districting-Process-2021-2022.

Second Wednesdays MAH EXHIBITIONS Spanish, 7-8:30 p.m. via phone — Facilitator: Yuliana Mendoza.

Thurs. thru Sun., Noon-6 p.m., 705 Front St., Santa Cruz Register by calling 831-647-9890 or email ymflores@alz.org.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History presents two exhibitions starting in January.

RENT RELIEF APPLICATIONS STILL OPEN Jan. 14–May 15: Atmosphere, an exhibition by artist and filmmaker Enid Baxter Ryce featuring Housing is Key, a state program, is still accepting and paintings and soundscapes that explore the phereviewing applications for the California COVID-19 Rent nomena of Monterey Bay’s fog and Relief Program, which can help protect tenants from atmospheric rivers. Ryce’s work eviction through the end of March. will be exhibited with collections Funds for rental reimbursement are prioritized for of archival photos, an interactive those who are the lowest income and the highest risk of musical sculpture, and fog coleviction. Even if you aren’t sure if you are at the lowest lectors created in collaboration with income level or highest risk, you are still encouraged to historian Dr. William Cowan, musician apply to help protect you from eviction.

Lanier Sammons, sculptor Natalie Jenkins, and When this announcement was posted Jan. 10 on scientist Dan Fernandez.

Facebook, it got 99 comments.

Jan. 21–March 20: Rydell Visual Art Fellowship Some complained that review process takes months exhibition, honoring the legacy of local philanthropists and the program’s $4 billion will not be enough to meet Roy and Frances Rydell and featuring the 2020-2021 the need.

Rydell Visual Arts Fund recipients: Printmaker and illusMelanie Wall started a petition at change.org (https:// trator Ann Altstatt; sculptor and designer Marc D’Estout; tinyurl.com/review-my-housing) to get the attention of choreographer Cid Pearlman; and photographer Edward lawmakers; as of press time there were 498 signatures.

Ramirez. Presented in partnership with Community To apply see HousingIsKey.com Foundation Santa Cruz County.

Suggested admission: General, $10; students / teachers / ONGOING EVENTS veterans, $8, free for members and children under 5.

Ongoing thru March 15 MOUNTAIN SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN NAMI PEER-TO-PEER PRE-REGISTRATION 5-7 p.m., Online Classes Mountain Elementary in Soquel, a small school offering NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a free, eight-session educational prekindergarten through sixth grade, is opening program via Zoom for adults with mental health condienrollment for fall for Transitional Kindergarten or tions who are looking to better understand themselves Kindergarten. and their recovery.

Priority is given to Mountain Elementary School Taught by trained leaders with lived experience, District residents, staff members’ children and siblings this program includes activities, discussions and of current students. informative videos.

All others will be placed on a waiting list and offered Sign up at https://www.namiscc.org/peer-to-peer.html placement on a first come, first served basis, and must Signing up does not guarantee enrollment, provide an inter-district transfer from their district of but puts you on the list to be notified about residence. enrollment. Check your email within 5 business • Transitional Kindergarten: Child must turn 5 days of completing the form, and save anasbetween Sept. 2, 2022 and Feb. 1, 2023. tasia@namiscc.org as a contact to prevent emails • Kindergarten: Child must turn 5 on or before Sept. from going to spam.

1, 2022.

Contact (831)-824-0406 or anastasia@namiscc.org with To register go to https://www.mountainesd.org/ or call questions or if you do not hear back within 5 business days.

831-475-6812.

First and Third Mondays Each Month PUBLIC LIBRARY CAREER WORKSHOPS SENIOR LIFE ONLINE The Santa Cruz Public Libraries presents career 4 p.m., Online Meeting development workshops for teens and adults through Join a local group of senior citizens for “Senior Life April, thanks to grant funding.

Online,” a free online (Zoom) program featuring Second Wednesdays: Resume and interview skill a presentation by a local expert. View the full workshops at 10 a.m. schedule at scottsvalleyseniorlife.org/currentThird Wednesdays: Resume and interview skill activities/. workshops in Spanish, 10 a.m.

To participate, you need an Internet connection and Hours for English/Spanish bilingual career assistance a computer, tablet or smart phone. A 1-time preregat the downtown Santa Cruz library will begin in January. istration is required at https://tinyurl.com/SVSLA-6.

Questions? Call George at (831) 334-7763.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS Senior Life Online is sponsored by Scotts Valley Senior Alzheimer’s Association is offering video and Life Association (SVSLA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to promote healthy living for senior citizens. phone meetings for caregivers throughout the Information is at http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org. month:

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by Feb. 11

CENTRAL FIRE DISTRICT ELECTIONS HEARING Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County invites all interested persons to attend public hearings on districtbased elections at 9 a.m. on February 10 at 930 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz.

Board members will discuss, consider, and take action

28 / February 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR First Tuesdays of the Month UCSC ARBORETUM: FIRST TUESDAYS FREE 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, 1156 High St, SC Community Day at the UCSC Arboretum means free admission on the first Tuesday of every month 9 a.m-5 p.m.

Guests are invited to explore the biodiversity of the gardens, enjoy bird watching or relax on a bench in the shade. arboretum.ucsc.edu Third Thursday Each Month PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third Thursday of each month.

Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport or call 831-471-7255.

First Sunday Every Month WESTSIDE MARKETPLACE 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Old Wrigley Building Parking Lot, 2801 Mission Street, Santa Cruz Come by on Sundays and shop at over 40 unique & wonderful artists, makers & vintage sellers — there’s something for everyone at the Westside Marketplace!

Rain dates are scheduled for the following Sundays.

The Market is free to attend and is 100% local!

All local and state health guidelines will be followed.

Please wear your mask, maintain social distance while you shop and stay home if you don’t feel well. Hand sanitizing stations will be available.

For more info, go to the event page: www.facebook.com/ events/ 170470481551895

DATED EVENTS

Meet Lena and some of the local advisory committee supporting African Shade: There will be appetizers, raffle tickets and a silent auction. Entry fee is $10. All proceeds go to projects in Zambia.

African Shade provides counseling for substance abuse, parenting and basic hygiene issues. Kuymabe House (which means starting point or new beginning) is a halfway house for young men who want to change their life away from drug and alcohol abuse.

African Shade has found safe houses for women escaping domestic violence, and developed sports teams for children.The latest project is building a corn meal mill, which will provide food for the hungry and jobs for locals.

For information, call 831-239-0878 or visit africanshade.org

Sunday February 6

VALENTINE’S POP-UP ARTISTS’ STANDS 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Izant Court, Soquel Valentine’s Pop-Up Event on Izant Court in Soquel features unique hand-made gifts from local artists, including: Butterfly Dream Dyes: hand-tied and ice-dyed new and upcycled clothing, purses and home goods.

Coastal Candle Co.: hand-poured natural soy container candles with wood wicks and beeswax candles.

Lavender Ladies: Eye pillows, and lavender items.

Theas Touch: Tiny succulent table-top gardens and sea glass treasures.

Saturday February 12 FALLEN OFFICER FOUNDATION BALL 5:30-11 p.m., Coconut Grove The nonprofit Fallen Officer Foundation presents the Fallen Officer Foundation Ball at the Coconut Grove in Santa Cruz. There will be dinner, dancing to the Lost

Boys featuring James Durbin, live and silent auctions.

Dinner tickets are $125.

The foundation assists first responders and families in times of crisis or special need, and 98% of funds go toward that goal.

Make check to Fallen Officer Foundation, P.O. 67221, Scotts Valley CA 95067-7281. Info: Call 831-662-3105.

Wednesday February 16 APTOS CHAMBER MIXER 5-7 p.m. (tentative), Seascape Beach Resort, 1 Seascape Resort Drive, Aptos Seascape Beach Resort will host the first Aptos Chamber of Commerce business mixer of 2022, taking all Covid safety measures into consideration.

Sunday February 20

DANTE ALIGHIERI ART HISTORY LECTURE 7 p.m., Online Seminar Dante Alighieri Society of Santa Cruz presents Dr. Allan Langdale on “Promotion and Princes: The Art & Architecture of Italian Renaissance Courts,” an online lecture.

This lecture examines the ways renaissance princely families used art and architecture as a mode of political promotion and self-fashioning as a way to represent power and the idealized fictions of rulership.

Waiting room will open at 6:45 p.m.

To register for this free event go to: https://bit.ly/Dante_Art_ Lecture

Wednesday February 23 SUPERVISOR FRIEND TO SPEAK 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Seascape Golf Course, 610 Clubhouse Dr, Aptos Second District Supervisor Zach Friend is scheduled to speak at the Aptos Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon meeting

Saturday February 5 AFRICAN SHADE FUNDRAISER 2-5 p.m., Santa Cruz Convergence Center, 3375 Capitola Road, Capitola A fundraiser for African Shade, an organization in Zambia started by Lena Wikner and Kathleen Pruitt, two women who met while in recovery in Santa Cruz, will take place at the Santa Cruz Convergence Center (formerly Takara restaurant.

Dream Mountain

Friday February 25 thru Sunday February 27

2022 BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR 7 p.m., Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec presents the 2022 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Santa Cruz at the Rio Theatre.

This event benefits the UCSC Wilderness Orientation Willie Williams Scholarship Fund and Adventure Rec student scholarships.

Each year, nearly $20,000 in scholarship funds are awarded to UCSC students based on financial need, affording them the chance to share in outdoor adventures.

Each night features a different lineup, Maple, Larch and Spruce. Tickets are $25 for Saturday and $23 for Friday and Sunday.

To buy tickets, visit https://recreation.ucsc.edu/adventure/banff

Tuesday March 1 MARDI GRAS! 5-7 p.m., Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos Swing into Spring presents Mardi Gras 5-7 p.m. March 1 hosted by Seacliff Inn and the Aptos History Museum, featuring Music by Ukes 4 You, tasty food, and a silent auction.

Admission, general, $40; museum members, $35.

RSVP at 688-1467. Proceeds benefit the Aptos History Museum

Friday February 4

CLAM CHOWDER COOKOFF EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS The Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off, hosted by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, will take place Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 26-27. Registration for competitors is underway.

See how your recipe stacks up to the competition: • Amateur (Saturday) and Professional (Sunday) divisions • Boston & Manhattan categories • More than $3,000 in prizes • Fun atmosphere • Awards are given for Best Chowder in each category, plus People’s Choice, Most Tasted, and Best-Themed Booth Early bird registration includes free all-day rides wristbands and T-shirt for two people. Final deadline to register is Friday, Feb. 11.

The participants will be lined up across the Boardwalk offering their chowders to the public as part of the competition. Tasting Kits are $12 each and include six taste tickets, spoon, cup and a People’s Choice ballot.

Visit https://beachboardwalk.com/clam-chowder-cook-off/ for more details.

The price is $30 for chamber members and $35 for non-members.

RSVP at 831-688-1467.

Wednesday March 2 TITANS OF TECH 2021 7-10 p.m., Online Seminar (In-person if possible, location TBA) Santa Cruz Works’ annual Titans of Tech features community members who have made an impact on the Santa Cruz tech community that year, plus Hometown Heroes, who helped us get through the year of COVID and wildfires.

Organizers hope this will be an in-person + streaming event.

For tickets, available mid February, see santacruzworks.org

Friday March 4 thru Sunday March 6

PAJARO VALLEY QUILT SHOW Saturday February 26 • Sunday February 27

10 a.m., Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Watsonville.

The Pajaro Valley Quilt Show will once again go live at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, with more than 300 quilts and wearable arts on display.

There will be a large merchant mall, live auction and bargain garden.

Featured speaker is Watsonville resident Rachel D. K. Clark, contemporary folk artist, teacher and lecturer who has been making wearable art since 1973, showing her vibrant quilted coats in shows throughout the country.

County Covid standards will be followed. Shows end 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10, and parking is free. To learn more, see https://pvqa.org/ Photo: Rachel Clark with many of her vibrant quilted coats.

CAPITOLA COLLECTACON Capitola Mall, 1855 41st Ave, Capitola Capitola Collectacon will take place March 4-6 at the Capitola Mall inside the former Sears Building.

Friday will be a VIP event from 3-8 p.m. featuring former American Idol contestant James Durban Saturday and Sunday will be General Admission, starting at 10 a.m. and ending 5 p.m. on Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Prices are $20 per day for General Admission/$35 for both days. The VIP pass is $50.

See https://www.capitolacollectacon.com/ for more details and event options. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / February 2022 / 29

FEATURED COLUMNIST

District 1 Meetings Go In-Person/Hybrid

By Manu Koenig, Supervisor, First District

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n 2022, our office shifted to a new format for our constituent meetings.

We will now host monthly in-person/ hybrid meetings on the second Thursday of every month at rotating locations throughout the district.

This new format will allow us to meet safely in person, while still providing an online option via Zoom for constituents who wish to attend remotely.

This new meeting format will also enable us to focus more directly on specific neighborhood issues.

Visit our website (https://www. co.santa-cruz.ca.us/Government/Board ofSupervisors/District1.aspx) to view the dates, times and locations for the constituent meetings we have scheduled for the first half of 2022. The schedule includes: • Summit Town Hall – Feb. 10 • Santa Cruz Gardens Town Hall – March 10 • Soquel Town Hall – April 14 • Prospect Heights Town Hall – March 12 • Twin Lakes/Pleasure Point Town Hall – June 9 We had a significant number of online attendees, as well as several constituents,

join us in-person for the first of our 2022 constituent meetings, which took place Jan. 13 in the community room at Simpkins Swim Center.

Topics discussed at the Live Oak Town Hall included the Simpkins Swim Center and Live Oak Library annex, Rail/Trail segments 10 & 11, Brommer Park clean-up efforts, the Medical Office Building project (Kaiser) at 5940 Soquel Ave., the Highway 1 auxiliary lanes and bike bridge, the PureWater Soquel project, the Mattison Ave. sewer main replacement project, the Murray Street Bridge project, Portola Drive resurfacing project, and the 1500 Capitola Road project (Santa Cruz Community Health, Dientes & MidPeninsula Housing).

There sure is a lot going on in Live Oak! Slides Online f you missed the meeting, the slides for this meeting presentation are on our website: https://www.co.santa-cruz. ca.us/Government/BoardofSupervisors/ District1.aspx.

First Wednesday s part of our new constituent meeting format, we will also offer monthly

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First District Supervisor Manu Koenig attends his first Board of Supervisors meeting as chairperson on Jan. 11. office hours at the Sheriff Center in Live Oak. Constituents are welcomed to come see me and discuss issues directly with me on the first Wednesday of every month, from 1-3 pm.

The Sheriff Center is located at 5200 Soquel Ave, and the 1st District office is

on the first floor, directly to the left after entering the main entrance. We hope to see you! n ••• Want to speak to us sooner? We invite you to give us a call at (831) 454-2200 or email us at first.district@santacruzcounty.us.

Manu Koenig Chairs County Board of Supervisors

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n Jan.11, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors selected Supervisor Manu Koenig as chairperson for a one-year term.

Koenig, elected in 2020, represents the First Supervisorial District, which spans the Summit area east of Highway 17 to coastal Live Oak, including Soquel and parts of the cities of Santa Cruz and Capitola.

Koenig, previously vice chair, succeeds Supervisor Bruce McPherson as chair. Supervisor Zach Friend was chosen to serve as vice chair.

The board will continue hybrid meetings in

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30 / February 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Local Local Local

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2022. Residents may participate in board meetings, including offering public comments via phone or Zoom.

For instructions, go to https:// santacruzcountyca.iqm2.com/ citizens/default.aspx.

Residents who want to monitor Board meetings can view Manu Koenig meetings online at www.santacruz county.us, www.facebook.com/countyofsantacruz or www.communitytv.org/watch.

SCCAS Featured Pet

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Late Bulbs Need No Chill

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Meet Archie!

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crossword on 27 »

rchie is a social butterfly who’s always bouncing around the place. He loves hanging out in his fenced area and is always ready to play.

Making friends and munching on tomatoes are some of Archie’s favorite pastimes. If you’re looking for a new furry friend Archie is the guy for you.

Come meet Archie from noon to 5 at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter at 1001 Rodriquez Street.

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

pring bulbs are making a comeback from their unceremonious internments last autumn. Some of the earlier sorts are visibly extending foliage above the surface of the soil. A few narcissus, daffodil and crocus are already blooming! Now it is time to plant late bulbs, or summer bulbs, which start to grow through warm spring weather, and bloom for summer.

Spring bulbs are generally the same as hardy bulbs of climates with cold winter weather. They are hardy to frost while dormant. Since chill is relatively mild locally, their hardiness is irrelevant.

Conversely, some prefer more chill than they experience locally. Inadequate chill can compromise performance. Autumn planting maximizes their brief chill exposure.

Late bulbs are completely different from spring bulbs. Not only do they not require chill to perform, but some dislike it. Many of the most popular late bulbs that can naturalize here succumb to frost elsewhere. Instead of early planting for chill, as spring bulbs prefer, late bulbs prefer late planting to avoid chill. Their foliage emerges after the last threat of frost.

However, although they do not need or even appreciate chill, most popular late bulbs are resilient to the minor chill of local climates. Once established, they simply die back to the ground in response to the first frost of autumn. They maintain dormancy through winter to regenerate for spring.

Some repeat this process for years, since the soil does not freeze.

Not all late bulbs are actually bulbs.

Most are corms, rhizomes, tubers, tuberous roots, or other bulb-like perennials. Some,

Winter Olympics © Statepoint Media

Cannas grow after spring bulbs bloom.

such as dahlia and canna, bloom through an extensive season. Some, such as lily and gladiolus, bloom only once. Planting in phases for a few weeks prolongs their bloom. Of course, they will synchronize for any subsequent bloom.

Canna and common white calla are two of the most reliable late bulbs. Crocosmia is too reliable, and since it can be invasive, it is rarely available. Common gladioli and various lilies are spectacular in bloom, but not reliably perennial. Dahlia is a very rewarding and reasonably reliably perennial summer bulb. It is spectacularly variable in color, form and texture.

••• Highlight: Gladiolus lthough they will not bloom until summer or autumn, gladiolus are in season now. Their corms, which are like bulbs, are now available from nurseries, and are ready for planting. Unlike earlier spring bulbs, they need no chill, and should not generate new foliage until warmer spring weather.

Corms prefer to be at least four inches deep, in sunny situations.

The most popular and Gladiolus are still just common gladiolus, dormant corms.

Gladiolus X hortulanus, are hybrids of several species.

They bloom more impressively than their simpler parents, but are not as reliably perennial. Most corms bloom for only a single season, although some within each group may bloom for a second season or more. Blooms can get heavy enough to need staking.

Bloom can be bright or pastel hues of any color except true blue, perhaps combined with another related color. Individual florets are not large, but they share their floral stalks with several similar florets that bloom upward from the bottom. Long and pointed leaves stand upright, flaring only slightly to the left and right. The tallest gladiolus can get six feet high. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / February 2022 / 31

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