Community Foundation Grants Deadline • Got Inflation? Tell Us About

COMMUNITY NEWS

Community Foundation Grants Deadline: Mar. 8

Community Foundation Santa Cruz County has had the privilege of stewarding charitable gifts from generous locals who want to see their community thrive. During 2021, its 40th anniversary year, together with donors, the foundation celebrated the awarding — since 1982 — of $183 million.

The annual Community Grants cycle, which opened Feb. 8 for all Santa Cruz County-serving nonprofits, closes on March 8. Grant decision notifications will be sent April 29. There will be an online information session on Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. More information about Community Grants and the webinar is at www.cfscc.org/grants.

In 2022, foundation leaders expect to fund $1.5 million from endowed funds that have been given by forward-thinking donors over four decades. The majority of these funds are restricted to children, youth, and seniors and are focused on education, end-of-life care, youth development, historic preservation, and human services.

Dedicated funding for the arts, environment, and other interest areas is more limited.

Foundation leaders will continue to prioritize support for organizations serving those disproportionately affected by the pandemic, including immigrants who may be ineligible for other support

Community Foundation CEO Susan True and Director of Engagement & Impact Kevin Heuer are excited to announce the opening of the Community Grants application period.

programs, seniors, youth, and families suffering ongoing economic, educational, and health impacts.

“Since 2020, we’ve seen the flexibility, commitment, and incredible capacity of our nonprofit partners to respond to evolving needs and increased demand for services,” said Kevin Heuer, director of engagement and impact, who oversees the Foundation’s grant-making program. “As the impact of the pandemic and fire recovery wears on, we continue to offer flexible grants so nonprofit partners can apply funds where they’re most needed.” n

“Pastina” from page 16

Too late. The door slammed and I was alone. In a minute the pastina started to boil. Steam began to crawl down the sides of the kitchen walls and roll out the window above my head.

I started to scream for help but all that did was draw and appreciative crowd, eager for a good laugh. I could hear the broth boiling down, down, down and I knew my mother was going to be steaming when she found out I’d spoiled her hard work. The bars began to tighten around my ears.

Finally, I saw Daddy walking up the path below me, carrying his beloved bottle of Rheingold Stout. He looked cockeyed at the crowd outside our place. Then he spotted me.

“Stop joking around, Joey,” he yelled. But then he looked at me again. He could see something in my face and knew I wasn’t joking.

He ran up the stairs, put his beer down, checked the pastina, then reached around, grabbed hold of the bars, and spread them like a pair of suspenders. I dropped to the floor like a dirty piece of laundry.

The curative effect of chicken broth is something Italians, Jews and other ethnic groups have long prescribed for any ill fortune, a sort of religious experience tied to suffering and repentance. Like Mom used to say, “You sin; you suffer. You pray (and eat a little, warm bowl of pastina): you save the soul.”

When my mother got done gabbing with Aunt Rose downstairs, she came back up and threw a handful of tiny star macaroni into the broth.

“Don’t put too much in,” she told me. “It grows when it cooks.”

All I could think about was my head expanding in the bars.

When the macaroni was cooked, Mom chopped up a few springs of the parsley and added it to the soup. We all sat down to a golden, glowing bowl of pastina. With a few sprinkles of black pepper and a little parmesan grated on top, a warm bowl of pastina can lift the weight of any little agony a soul may have to endure. n 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.

Got Inflation? Tell Us About It

How is inflation affecting you?

In its fourth quarter report, Yelp says consumers described more inflationary experiences in their 2021 reviews than ever before.

In 2021, mentions of higher costs reached a fiveyear peak — 49% higher than at the onset of the pandemic in the second quarter of 2020.

For the March 1 Aptos Times, let us know how prices have changed for you: Rent? Groceries? PG&E bills? Gasoline? Used cars? To stick within your budget, have you cut back on other spending?