Capitola Soquel Times: August 2022

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August 2022 • Vol 27 No. # 8

An Amusing Place:

The Capitola Rink and Dance Pavilion

In early photographs of Capitola, a large white structure dominated the view of the village.

In an effort to provide more amusements for visitors to Camp Capitola, in 1884 F.A. Hihn, owner of the resort town, erected a two-story structure in the heart of Capitola.

Full Story page 25

Mid-County Agency: $7.6 Million Funding for elements of Groundwater Sustainability Plan

By Becca Gold Rubin This month we are thrilled to report some really great news! In May, the California Department of Water Resources Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program awarded a $7.6 million grant to the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency (MGA).

In order to share this exciting information, I’m going

to use some acronyms. Read through to the end and see if can count how many!

This grant is for the implementation of the Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP); a plan which is required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014. ... continued on page 4

Exccding Expectatiis!

Stay on top of today’s real estate market shift. CALL JIM TODAY.

Grand Jury Weighs In on ‘Library Annex’ Full Story page 5

Curse of the Rispin Mansion

On July 28, the Capitola City Council will be releasing the bids for the restoration of the new Rispin Mansion Park.

For those of you who know Capitola, you’ve seen the Rispin Mansion on Wharf Road ...

Full Story page 12

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Cover Mid-County Agency: $7.6 Million: Funding for elements of Ground-

No. 8

Volume 27

22

Table of Contents

6

SMILES NEVER GET OLD.

water Sustainability Plan, By Becca Gold Rubin Community News 5 6 7

Grand Jury: How a Community Center Became a ‘Library’ Kaiser Permanente: Big New Medical Office in Santa Cruz

NovaVax Vaccine Approved for Unvaccinated, By Jondi Gumz

11 Dominican’s Stroke Treatment Recognized

13 Remembering the Begonia Festival: Tribute to Former Capitola Event Planned Sept. 3-4, By Laurie Hill

14 Fair Barns, Built in 1955, To Come Down, By Jondi Gumz

831-684-2700

18 Experience Glorious Music: Candide, By Mindy Pedlar

20 County Park Friends Awarded Outdoor Equity Program Grant 31 Jobs in Santa Cruz County In Memoriam 14 Sharon Hadley, The Fish Lady Business Profile 22 A Tool Shed, Inc.: Expanding Post-Pandemic, By Edita McQuary Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Leo — from the Heart of Matter, By Risa D’Angeles

Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29 Featured Columnists 1

Mid-County Agency: $7.6 Million: Funding for elements of Groundwater Sustainability Plan, By Becca Gold Rubin

12 Curse of the Rispin Mansion, By Sam Storey, Mayor, City of Capitola 19 The Eggplant and the Sauce, By Joe Ortiz

24 The Myth of ‘Work/Life Balance’, By Sam Kabert, Soul Seekr Podcast

25 An Amusing Place: The Capitola Rink and Dance Pavilion, By Deborah Osterberg

30 Fire Season: Are You Prepared?, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Meet Shaggy!

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COVER STORY Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

publisher editor

contributing writers Becca Gold Rubin, Jondi Gumz, Laurie Hill, Mindy Pedlar, Edita McQuary, Risa D’Angeles, Sam Storey, Joe Ortiz, Sam Kabert, Deborah Osterberg, Zach Friend layout Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin photography Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin, Brad King website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti production coordinator Camisa Composti media consultants Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine Cathe Race

office coordinator

distribution Bill Pooley, Taylor Brougham

“Groundwater” from page 1 SGMA requires local agencies to form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) for the high- and medium-priority basins (the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin is a high-priority basin), which then must develop and implement a GSP to avoid undesirable results, mitigate overdraft conditions, and make the basin sustainable by 2040.

The MGA is an 11-member board representing Central Water District, City of Santa Cruz, County of Santa Cruz, Soquel Creek Water District, and private well owners — all of whom share use of the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin. Acting as the local GSA, a GSP was created and submitted to the State, which accepted it in mid-2021.

The projects funded by the grant are part of the implementation of the GSP. The District’s Pure Water Soquel project is a significant element of the GSP and is leading the way toward achieving basin sustainability.

Among the key grant-funded GSP implementation projects are: • Inland groundwater pumping optimization, including design and construction of the Cunnison Lane well.

This will assist with reducing reliance on groundwater pumping from wells nearer to the coast by increasing pumping

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at more inland locations. Pumping and redistribution of groundwater extraction to wells more inland is a critical component to basin sustainability. With this funding, the Soquel Creek Water District will continue to implement groundwater adaptive management and extraction for various groundwater wells so that inland wells near the Pure Water Soquel seawater intrusion prevention (SWIP) wells will continue to be optimized.

• Aquifer injection/aquifer storage and recovery (ASR), including design and construction, to improve groundwater supplies.

ASR would inject excess surface water, treated to drinking water standards, into the Basin for use as an underground storage reservoir, and extract stored water during periods of water supply shortages. Any ASR project would need to be designed with additional capacity to contribute to the restoration of the Basin.

• Park Avenue transmission main/bottleneck improvements via replacing an undersized (8”) water main in this area with a larger pipeline (12”) to allow for optimal redistribution of municipal groundwater pumping.

This will increase system reliability and allow more flexibility to reduce groundwater extraction of the coastal wells and shift pumping more inland.

• Groundwater and hydraulic modeling to provide data for more informed sustainable groundwater management.

This modeling will provide key information with which to consider additional indirect potable reuse and ASR implementation with potential of resources between agencies, with a combination of surface water, groundwater, and purified recycled water (known as conjunctive use). Together with water quality and economic analyses, sufficient data will then exist to develop an efficient and highly-optimized plan.

The projects funded by this grant are critical to the implementation of the MGA’s GSP. It’s worth noting that our neighbor to the south, Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency, received a similar grant to create an alternative water source for agriculture, and to reduce groundwater overdraft and seawater intrusion.

The funding of these projects is a significant step toward groundwater sustainability and a resilient, reliable water future for our coastal communities.

And now for our acronym quiz: how many acronyms are defined in this article?

If you answered six, you’re correct and can now use these acronyms to impress (or annoy) your friends and family! The terms converted to acronyms were: • Mid-County Groundwater Agency (MGA) • Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) • Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) • Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) • Seawater intrusion prevention (SWIP) • Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) Talk to you later (TTYL) in next month’s column! n ••• As always, if you have any questions about this month’s topic or anything else related to Soquel Creek Water District, feel free to contact us at outreach@soquelcreekwater.org or 831-4758501 x118 and visit www.soquelcreekwater.org Cover Photo (from left): Melanie Mow Schumacher (Soquel Creek Water District), Sierra Ryan (County of Santa Cruz), Ron Duncan (Soquel Creek Water District), Carla Christensen (Soquel Creek Water District), Kevin Crossley (City of Santa Cruz), Dr. Tom Lahue (Soquel Creek Water District) celebrate after receiving the grant in Sacramento for the Santa Cruz Midcounty Groundwater Agency.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Grand Jury: How a Community Center Became a ‘Library’

Editor’s note: This is an edited and abridged version of the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury report. For the full report, see: https://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/departments/grandjury.aspx#report ••• n 2016, residents within the Santa Cruz Public Libraries’ system approved Measure S, a special tax that, over time, would raise $67 million. As a special tax, Measure S funds were restricted for use in modernizing, upgrading, and repairing local library branches.

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors elected to use Measure S funds to complete a Santa Cruz County Parks project they call the “Live Oak Library Annex.”

The Annex (currently being constructed) is about one mile from the existing Live Oak Branch Library. The Annex is, in essence, a collection of study and education spaces with publicly available computers and internet that will be managed by County Parks staff.

Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL) will not have librarians or books for loan at this location.

This report explores the SCPL’s development of a master plan for the improvement of its 10 library branches, which led to the need for a funding source, Measure S. The SCPL’s effort to obtain the cooperation of elected officials in urging their constituents to support Measure S led to a shift away from SCPL’s priorities.

The result was the County’s unchallenged decision to use library funds to expand a nearby community center.

The Grand Jury has concluded that the Annex is an expansion of the Live Oak Community Center and not an expansion of the Live Oak Branch Library.

Following the State’s elimination of redevelopment agencies, County Parks was left without a ready source of capital funds needed to complete the vision of the Community Center.

Measure S filled the void.

The Grand Jury recommends the County Board of Supervisors reassess its decision to use Measure S funds to improve the Live Oak Community Center and restore the voters’ trust.

The Grand Jury decided to investigate after reading an opinion letter published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel suggesting that this was an inappropriate use of library funds.

Measure S Ballot Language n June 2016, the SCPL asked voters within its service area to approve Measure S:

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To modernize, upgrade, and repair local libraries in Santa Cruz, Aptos, Live Oak, Scotts Valley, Boulder Creek, Capitola, Felton and La Selva Beach—replace failing roofs, outdated bathrooms, electrical systems, structurally damaged facilities; support growing use by children, seniors, veterans, and others; expand access to modern technology; and construct/expand facilities where necessary; shall Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority issue $67,000,000 in bonds for Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority Community Facilities District No. 2016-1; levy a special tax annually on parcels within the Community Facilities District; establish an initial appropriations limit; and assure mandatory accountability?

Just over 70 percent of voters approved Measure S. Property owners within the SCPL service area are assessed an annual parcel tax that will yield $67 million in library funds. These funds may be used only for the purposes stated in the ballot question.

This limitation on use makes Measure S a special tax, requiring two-thirds voter approval.

For ballot revenue measures, the twothirds voter approval requirement is risky. It is estimated that 25% of voters will vote “no’’ on any tax proposal, so a general tax requiring voter approval of 50% plus one is the easier path.

On the other hand, a special tax provides voters with assurance their tax dollars will be spent on the specific purpose stated in the ballot.

If the proposed use of the tax is popular with voters, the risk is acceptable.

For Measure S, polling was favorable. The SCPL spent almost $570,000 on consultants and legal advice to get Measure S on the ballot. The SCPL’s investment in Measure S paid off at the ballot box, but some voters are left wondering what they agreed to pay for.

Facilities Master Plan n 2013, the SCPL’s operating budget was recovering from a significant funding loss from the 2008 recession. The SCPL was starting to restore services, hours, and staffing under a Compromise Service Model, which:

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“Library Annex?” page 8

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COMMUNITY NEWS

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Kaiser Permanente: Big New Medical Office in Santa Cruz K aiser Permanente has a new 18,000-square-foot medical office in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz, a convenient location for people to get care without having to travel far.

The new downtown site, at the Cooper House building, 110 Cooper St., is nearly triple the size of the Locust Street medical office and offers pharmacy, laboratory and imaging services.

It opened June 27.

“This is now a one-stop shop in downtown Santa Cruz with everything our members and patients need,” said Dr. Bill Maclean, physician in charge for Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz County service area.

There are 22 exam rooms with physicians and a nurse practitioner specializing in primary care, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology.

“KP Santa Cruz Office” page 10

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Photo Credit: Doug Oakley

Brenda George, medical office director (left), chats with Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz Assistant Physician in Charge Joyce Orndorff in the new light-filled offices on Cooper Street in Santa Cruz.

COMMUNITY NEWS

NovaVax Vaccine Approved for Unvaccinated

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By Jondi Gumz

n July 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to the NovaVax Covid-19 vaccine for people 18 and older who are unvaccinated, and No-vavax said orders can be placed as of July 25.

About 21% of the U.S. population and 20% of people in California are unvaccinated.

Novavax won’t be available for a few more weeks, but state health officials urge Californi-ans who have not yet been vaccinated to make an appointment at myturn. ca.gov Unlike other vaccines using messenger RNA, Novavax injects a lab-made version of the coronavirus’ spike protein, with compounds from the Soapbark tree, to stimulate the im-mune system to produce antibodies and T-cells.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the Novavax clinical trial recorded 63 cases among 10,000 people who got a placebo and 14 cases among 20,000 people who got a vaccine. Investigators classified 10 cases in the placebo group as moderate and four as se-vere. There were no moderate or severe cases in the vaccine group.

In California, test positivity dipped from 16.4% to 15% while active cases in Santa Cruz County increased in the past 10 days from 2,040 to 2,197.

Reinfections are a factor; 12% of cases in the United Kingdom are people getting Covid for a second or even a third time as the coronavirus evolves.

About 78% of cases nationwide are BA.5, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention.

This variant is more contagious than the original 2020 coronavirus, evading protection from mRNA vaccines designed for the initial virus, which has mutated to become less deadly.

In the past month, three more Santa Cruz County residents died, bringing the total to 268. The last six deaths were people who were vaccinated, according to the county dashboard, all 65 or older with medical conditions.

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Cases

anta Cruz County cases have rolled up and down, 1,715 on May 23, then 1,472 on May 26 and 1,705 on June 13, then 1,871 on June 30, then 2,040 on July 11 and now 2,197.

Santa Cruz County reports 58,000+ cases since the pandemic began.

Cases spurted up after Memorial Day, Father’s Day and Fourth of July; the highest daily count of the summer, 198 on

July 5, is low compared to the Jan. 20 peak of 1,312.

Santa Cruz County updates the numbers on Mondays and Thursdays.

On Tuesday, the state reported 23 people hospitalized with Covid in Santa Cruz County, none in intensive care.

California reports 4,800 people hospitalized. The Department of Public Health says half are due to Covid, with the other half coming to the hospital for another reason and testing posi-tive.

On the CDC Covid tracker, Santa Cruz County reports 91.5% of residents age 5 and up have at least one shot and 83.4% fully vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated means having two shots (Pfizer or Moderna) or one Johnson & Johnson shot. All were developed for the initial Covid-19 strain, which is no longer circulating.

Santa Cruz County is now rated “high” risk of transmission by the U.S. Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention on its Covid tracking map along with the rest of California and most of the U.S. Subvariants of omicron and waning immunity from vaccines are behind the latest wave of cases, affecting people who were vaccinated, including celebrity Kourtney Kardashian, ac-tor Hugh Jackman, and Mick Jagger.

Workers in California testing positive with no symptoms can return to work in five days with a negative test; those with symptoms can return once 10 days have passed since symp-toms began.

California test positivity, 23% in January from Omicron, fell to 1.7% then peaked at 16.4% and hospitalizations — 20,000 in January —dropped to 950 before rising.

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Attorney Arie Spangler, representing the father of a 12-year-old, said the ruling “confirms that individual school districts do not have the authority to impose vaccination requirements in excess of statewide requirements.”

In the Soquel Union Elementary School District, students will go back to school Aug. 10.

In California’s 2022-23 school guidance, masks and vaccination are recommended, not re-quired.

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Misinformation Bill Hearing

n Aug. 1 hearing is scheduled for AB 2098, declaring it is “unprofessional conduct” for a doctor to give patients “misinformation” or “disinformation” about Covid-19, risks, preven-tion, treatment and vaccines. The hearing is before the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Unprofessional conduct charges can result in discipline by the Medical Board.

President Biden’s Sept. 9 order requiring 3.5 million federal employees to be vaccinated for Covid-19 is on hold.

The 17 judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orle-ans are expected to take up the matter the week of Sept. 17.

Attorney Bruce Castor Jr., representing the American Federation of Government Employ-ees Local 918, said the Constitution doesn’t allow president to bypass Congress except in wartime.

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Young Children & Covid

n June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for children 6 months to 5 years old, joining seven other countries.

Eligibility starts at age 2 in Cuba and Venezuela, and age 3 in Chile, Argentina, Bahrain, Hong Kong and China.

A Chile-based study of 500,000 children, not yet peer-reviewed, found the vaccine was 38% effective in preventing infections in kids ages 3-5 during the Omicron wave.

As for preventing hospitalizations, it was 64.5% effective and preventing intensive care admission 69% effective.

In Santa Cruz County, parents who want their children under 5 to receive Covid-19 vac-cines should contact their doctor.

Covid has claimed the lives of many elders, those 85 and older with medical conditions, but relatively few children, 442 children age 4 and under, according to the CDC. More than 1 million people in the U.S. have died of Covid, so young children represent a tiny percentage of deaths.

In June, the American Association of Pediatrics reported that in 46 states plus Puerto Rico, the percentage of child Covid cases resulting in death was 0.00%-0.02%.

A Kaiser Family Foundation survey in April found only 18% of parents of children under 5 plan to vaccinate them immediately.

“COVID Update” page 10

$3.2 Billion Deal

n June 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration told Covid vaccinemakers that changes to booster shots for fall must target Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, as they then accounted for 52% of new cases.

The FDA announcement came a day after the Biden administration announced a $3.2 bil-lion deal to buy 105 million doses of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine for the fall.

On July 5, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff struck down the Los An-geles Unified School District’s Covid-19 student vaccine mandate. He found that only the state – not a school board -- can require students to be vaccinated to attend in-person school.

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

learning center, group study area, and an active learning room.

Even the SCPL Jan. 27, 2022, update calls the Annex “a new addition to the Simpkins Center providing a classroom and study rooms—a community learning center to complement existing uses.”

The Community Center’s total added area is about 2,000 square feet, which about the size of the Live Oak Branch Library’s remodeled children and teen area.

But, while the Live Oak Branch Library has library staff and books for checkout, the Annex will have Parks staff and computers.

“Library Annex?” from page 5 • Reduced library staff at branches to concentrate on moving materials and answering patron questions • Organized library professionals with special knowledge to work in teams and float among branches (not dedicated to a branch) • Assumes self-checkout service to reduce demand on staff • Assumes only one service desk for patrons Not all library branches had the facilities to support this model. Minimal staffing requires self-service stations and a centrally located service desk. An investment in facility upgrades to support efficiency could save operating funds over time. Addressing substandard building needs would redirect scarce operating funds to staff and programming, rather than leaky roofs and high utility bills.

The SCPL needed to formally assess its branch facility needs to estimate this financial investment. A 2013 assessment found most library branches were in disrepair.

From this assessment, the SCPL developed—and in April 2013 its governing board approved—the Santa Cruz Public Libraries Facilities Master Plan 2014–2023. The SCPL staff summarized its consultant’s findings: • Library facilities were, on average, 40 years old and there was a pent-up demand for capital repairs.

• The population served by the 10 library branches is very mobile and all branches are used by all patrons.

• Overall, the size of libraries was adequate, although some would benefit from additional space.

• The Downtown Branch Library needed major rehabilitation or replacement (this branch also houses SCPL’s administration).

• Upgrades were needed in all branches under the new service model that would provide operational efficiencies.

Building & Operations Are Separate The SCPL does not own any of the 10 library branches it operates, nor does SCPL collect or control the operating funds it uses.

The SCPL leases buildings from the city or County in which the branch is located (Member Agencies).

The SCPL uses funds from the Operating Authority to pay for operation and maintenance of its facilities.

The Live Oak Branch Library is an example of SCPL’s dependence on its Member Agencies’ building funds. In 1989, the County established the Live Oak Library in a local shopping center. This was one of the 10 libraries SCPL began operating upon its formation in 1996. In 1998, Santa Cruz County’s Redevelopment Agency bought the former Albatross Restaurant for use as the Live Oak interim Library. In 2006, the Redevelopment Agency expanded the Live Oak interim Library to 13,500 square feet and it became the Live Oak Branch Library.

County redevelopment funds proved to be a flexible and ready source of funds that improved the lives of Live Oak residents. The SCPL benefited as well.

While SCPL commissioned the Master Plan as the blueprint for use of Measure S funds, the branch owner—the County—had discretion on how Measure S funds would be used to improve its library branches.

Although there is coordination between the SCPL and the Member Agency in library building features, ultimately the Member Agency, as the building’s owner, dictates what will be built.

If a Member Agency runs short of cash for construction, the Member Agency is expected to make up the difference.

The SCPL is expected to come up with operating funds.

Given the County Redevelopment Agency’s expansion seven years earlier, the Master Plan called for relatively little work at the Live Oak Branch Library.

Annex: Concept & Vision

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he SCPL’s branches vary greatly in age and size, however, the Master Plan stated the number of branches was sufficient. It “confirmed that the current network of libraries will be maintained without adding, consolidating, or eliminating facilities in any communities.”

One feature all 10 SCPL branches had in common when voters considered Measure S was the presence of SCPL library staff and books for checkout.

In the same year the County Redevelopment Agency relocated the Live Oak interim Library to its current location, the Redevelopment Agency completed a County Parks project, the Simpkins Family Swim Center & Live Oak Community Center less than a mile away.

The County affirmed the Live Oak Branch Library location with the 2006 expansion and renovation. These public investments, their distance and lack of synergy, will prove important to County use of Measure S funds for the Annex.

The earliest mention of a Live Oak Branch Library annex in a public memo we found is in a July 6, 2016 update to the Board of Supervisors on the Felton Branch Library—after the vote on Measure S.

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

The County did not share the Annex concept and vision until October 2017, over a year after voters approved Measure S. County community outreach described it as “a new learning center– library annex.”

A County staff memo to the County Board of Supervisors outlines the synergy the Annex would create among Shoreline Middle School, the nearby Boys & Girls Club of Live Oak, and “the County facility (Simpkins Family Swim Center & Live Oak Community Center).” All three of these facilities are next to each other.

The staff memo described how library funds might be used to improve the County’s Park facility: Measure S funded facilities could include a flexible, centrally located space that could be used by both small groups and individuals for reading and conversation with access to a small collection of library materials and technology; a classroom program space for story time, meetings, trainings and classes; small group study rooms; access to a flexible outdoor space for gatherings, performances and other classes; places for regular visits of the bookmobile and bikemobile … It is also proposed that feasibility studies and planning for the library annex include other upgrades including the opportunity for an enterprise kitchen in the existing commercial kitchen, perhaps operated by the Boys & Girls Club, offering food at a small indoor and/or outdoor café; a child care center; a room for exercise equipment; covering the warm water pool; and covering the Boys & Girls Club basketball court. Staff proposes to develop funding strategies for these ideas as part of a feasibility study.

Except for the “small collection of library materials,” this concept underlies the Annex being constructed. The County’s Public Works website describes the vision for the Annex “to create a community gathering and learning hub.”

Public Works describes it as “flexible program space, a classroom, study rooms, public computers and laptop bar, and a new plaza integrated into Simpkins Swim and Community Center.”

The Annex project plans describe it as a library lobby, children’s area, library

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Investigation

his investigation explored how SCPL communicated its vision to Measure S voters, and how that vision was derailed by political influence.

The Grand Jury identified SCPL’s limitations in embracing an 11th library branch, as well as the Live Oak Branch Library and Community Center’s limitations in meeting the needs of the Live Oak community.

The result is the County’s investment of library funds in a Community Center that is, in essence, a building addition providing technology and educational resources—not library staff or books.

Did Political Influence Change the Priorities of the Master Plan?

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ith the Master Plan complete, the SCPL polled voters to determine the tax voters would tolerate to yield the most money to support the Plan.

The SCPL’s next focus was getting the measure approved. This required the influence of elected officials.

There are strict rules about using public resources (staff) and funds to prepare a measure for the ballot. Public agencies may use public funds to test whether the measure might pass, craft ballot language that meets State law requirements, and obtain legal advice. But the Courts draw the line at using public resources for a campaign.

Once the County Board of Supervisors approved Measure S for the June 2016 ballot, SCPL staff could not campaign for Measure S. The SCPL needed elected officials to urge their constituents to vote “yes” on Measure S. To secure support, the SCPL JPA Board leadership reached out to elected officials.

The JPA’s request became what we concluded were essentially negotiations for the future use of Measure S funds.

Library staff was not involved in these discussions.

One outcome of the discussions was that the County Board of Supervisors set aside $5 million in Measure S funds for Live Oak. This was not an expenditure identified in the Master Plan.

With Redevelopment’s 2006 investment in the Live Oak Branch Library, the Master Plan called for only $1 million of capital maintenance improvements for this branch.

On Dec. 15, 2015, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved the distribution of Measure S funds among the SCPL Member Agencies. The Board committed $5 million of the County’s share for “Live Oak.” The staff memo recommending this Board action offered no explanation as to how the sum of $5 million was calculated, or how it would be spent in Live Oak. The Live Oak Branch Library was not called out as the target of the Board’s decision. The Board did not reference or take note of the SCPL Master Plan, which did not propose this level of expenditure on the Live Oak Branch Library.

This Board action posed more questions than it answered.

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Master Plan As Measure S Guard Rail

f voters outside of Live Oak missed the County’s Dec. 15, 2015, Board of Supervisors meeting, they would not have known of this dedication of Measure S funds for Live Oak. The County’s Live Oak commitment did not appear in the Measure S ballot materials.

Nor was the commitment referenced on the SCPL website, which notes the bond measure would address the “most urgent needs” of library branches and offers the Master Plan as the defining statement of those needs.

Should voters have reasonably expected Measure S funds might be used to expand a community center one mile from an existing library branch?

There were limitations in using the Master Plan as the Measure S spending plan.

The 2013 Master Plan’s cost estimates were out of date by June 2016 due to rising construction costs. The Master Plan was developed without the community outreach. But the Master Plan was SCPL’s vision to bring all library branches to a common service model.

And, the Master Plan was clear, stating SCPL’s intention to modernize and improve its existing 10 library branches.

People feel betrayed when they see their voter-approved tax dollars being spent on something they did not anticipate.

A prime example is the ongoing and robust discussion in the Sentinel’s Letters to the Editor regarding relocation of the Downtown Branch Library. While there are several aspects to that controversy—which are outside the scope of this report—all proposed alternatives for the downtown library would use Measure S funds on a structure to house library staff and books. Also, the library branch existed.

The Annex, on the other hand, will be a newly constructed space within an existing community center with no assigned library staff and no library books for checkout.

If voters understood the SCPL had no effective way to control its Member

Agencies’ use of Measure S funds, would Measure S have passed?

Importance of Librarians

N

ot only is the SCPL a bystander without direct say in how Measure S funds are spent, the SCPL is expected to staff and maintain whatever the SCPL Member Agency builds with Measure S funds.

Because of the SCPL’s short supply of operating funds, the Annex will have computers and wireless internet, but no library staff or library books available for checkout.

The traditional idea of a quiet library with professionally trained staff and books for checkout is expanding to include outdoor meeting space and books available through a computer application.

However, the role of the librarian in facilitating its patrons’ learning is still needed.

Given the Annex’s proposed synergy with nearby Shoreline Middle School, the Grand Jury takes note of a downward trend in schools being able to afford library teachers.

Research shows school librarians positively impact student achievement at all grade levels, but they are not as readily available as they once were.

Instead of librarians, County Parks staff will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the Annex, including public use of the computer equipment.

Library staff will be onsite only when they have a program in the building, just as SCPL sometimes uses the London Nelson Community Center in downtown Santa Cruz.

SCPL will have to use its limited operating revenue for the Annex’s proportional share of the Community Center’s utilities and janitorial services. Should the SCPL no longer wish to use the Annex (or cannot afford to pay for upkeep), a current draft agreement between the SCPL and Santa Cruz County Parks provides that either party may terminate the agreement and Santa Cruz County Parks will retain the benefit of Measure S improvements.

The Annex is still under construction, so SCPL is not yet incurring the Annex’s operating costs. The same goes for other Measure S projects under construction.

The SCPL JPA has not discussed or dealt with the increased operating costs from all of the Measure S library expansions.

This failure is concerning as the 10 original branches are expected to have library staff.

The SCPL Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2022–2023 notes staff is just over 45 percent of the budget.

The JPA has not yet established overall branch staffing to meet the needs of the branches soon reopening.

These plans and impacts will fall outside the FY 23 budget process. Voters should stay tuned.

The Annex will likely improve the lives of Live Oak residents. The central location

of the Community Center and adjacency to Shoreline Middle School offer a unique opportunity to address the after-school needs of middle-school students who have aged out of formal after-school care programs. The learning center can be used for adult education. The Annex will help bridge the gap for those who may not have internet access and computers at home.

But without librarians or library books, the Annex is a departure from the SCPL’s other 10 branches.

The grand jury is of the opinion that the County did not have the discretion to use Measure S funds for the improvement of a County Parks facility.

Why Not Improve the Live Oak Branch Library? The short answer is location, location, location.

The Live Oak Branch Library site (by Schwan Lake) is limited by natural features that restrict the ability to increase the building or the parking lot size, which are both needed to allow for larger programming events.

The most limiting factor was the library’s location relative to the primary intended Annex users: Students. While the library building may have scenic vistas, it is not close to the Community Center or the students who need continued learning opportunities after school.

The Live Oak Branch Library does have a separate area for children and teens that is almost the same size as the entire Annex (1,953 square feet) but Shoreline Middle School students would have to walk about a mile to get there.

It appears the County’s main objective was to create an after-school study area and/or evening adult education space, not a library facility consistent with the rest of the SCPL system.

I

Redevelopment Impact on County Parks

n government budgets, there is an important distinction between money for one-time uses, such as buying land or constructing a building (capital funds), and money on an ongoing basis for operations (staff, utilities, maintenance.).

The County’s Redevelopment Agency was a source of flexible capital funds that could be used for any public project within Live Oak. The Agency paid for an impressive array of good public projects that benefit the Live Oak community today. But, in 2012, California abolished redevelopment agencies.

With redevelopment’s demise, County Parks was left without capital funds to remodel the Community Center to address the neighborhood’s need for public computer and internet resources. The County used Measure S to fill the void.

The Board of Supervisors’ December 2015 Measure S commitment to Live Oak has since grown.

The Board delegated authority for the Director of Public Works to award the construction contract for the Annex based on these sources: • Measure S: $5,750,600

• County Library Fund: $302,340 • County Parks: $500,000 The total project cost is projected to be $6,552,940.

T

Annex Impact on Operating Budget

he SCPL prepared for Measure S by taking stock of its branches and developing a model to provide system-wide improvements to all patrons using all branches.

Despite SCPL’s intentions, political interests won out over the Master Plan without regard for the impact on SCPL’s operating budget.

The SCPL will soon be responsible for maintaining a new location, and replacing lost or damaged equipment in the Annex.

This responsibility will be competing with the costs of staff and operation for the 10 branch libraries. As noted, SCPL’s operating budget challenges are yet to be resolved.

T

Conclusion

he Grand Jury acknowledges the Live Oak Community Center is ideally located to serve the Live Oak community.

The resources the Annex will offer seniors, adults, children, and teens will fulfill the promise of the former Redevelopment Agency in creating the Live Oak Community Center by offering space and resources for after-school study and adult education.

That being said, the Annex has little in common with the SCPL’s 10 existing library branches.

The Annex is also likely to become a concern for Santa Cruz County Parks staff that will be responsible for keeping the learning spaces, internet, and computer resources in the Annex operational and available for the people who need them.

Similarly, SCPL now has a new fiscal responsibility to pay for an 11th “library” branch.

The Board of Supervisors’ use of Measure S funds for the Annex contradicts one of the conclusions of the Master Plan— that all patrons use all libraries—and focuses only on the neighborhood branch and voters.

Could this $5.75 million have been used elsewhere in the system for improvement of an already existing library branch?

Probably so, but we may never know.

The SCPL could have offered more transparency on its website and in its voting materials as to how the Measure S $67 million total was estimated and how it would be spent among the library branches.

The SCPL’s lack of transparency could mean that the next call for a special tax may be rejected for lack of trust.

This would be an unfortunate outcome given the unique and special role that libraries, parks, and community centers provide. These public facilities improve our quality of life, and if left to compete for general revenue contributions, they may lose again. n

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

“COVID Update” from page 7 Kaiser Health News reports Pfizer’s 2021 revenue was $81.3 billion, roughly double its revenue in 2020, and its mRNA vaccine holds 70% of the U.S. and European markets. This year, Pfizer expects more than $50 billion in global revenue from its Covid vaccine and its antiviral Paxlovid.

That revenue could grow if Covid vaccines are added to the CDC vaccine schedule for children. See https://www. cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/ child-adolescent.html Public health officials say the scientific consensus is that Covid vaccines are safe, but some are skeptical about science provided by drug-makers to federal regulators.

Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Tracy Beth Heeg, writing in Common Sense, contend clinical trials by Pfizer and Moderna provided weak and inconclusive evidence to federal regulators on their vaccines for children under 5.

Using a three-dose vaccine in 992 children between the ages of six months and 5 years, Pfizer found no statistically significant evidence of vaccine efficacy, the doctors wrote. “For children six months to 2 years, the trial found that the vaccine could result in a 99% lower chance of infection—but that they also could have a 370% increased chance of being infect-ed,” Makary and Heeg wrote.

Moderna’s study on 6,388 children with two doses claimed efficacy of 4% against asymp-tomatic infections in children 6 months to 2 years and 23% for children 2 to 6 years old—neither result was statistically significant.

Against symptomatic infections, Moderna’s vaccine showed statistically significant effica-cy: For children 6 months to 2 years, 50%, and for children 2 to 6 years old, 42%.

Dr. Philip Krause, former deputy FDA chief for vaccine, told Fact Check, “Even if the vac-cines aren’t very effective in protecting against mild disease … that doesn’t mean they won’t be effective in protecting against severe disease.”

Doctors and researchers affiliated with The Children’s Union told UK regulators that vac-cines are “totally inappropriate for small children in 2022.”

“For children six months to 2 years, the trial found that the vaccine could result in a 99% lower chance of infection—but that they also could have a 370% increased chance of being infected.”

— Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Tracy Beth Heeg

They said the trial results were based on just three participants in the younger age group (1 vaccinated and 2 placebo) and just seven participants in 2–4-year-olds (2 vaccinated and 5 placebo).

They noted that “the vast majority of this young age group have already been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 repeatedly and have demonstrably effective immunity.”

In the UK, children age 5 to 11 are eligible for Covid vaccine; no decision has been an-nounced on vaccine for children under 5.

T

Data Analysis

he CDC was expected to analyze data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System for “safety signals” from Covid-19 vaccines, based on an early briefing document, but the agency is not.

Roger Andoh, the CDC FOIA officer, responded June 16 to a Freedom of Information Act request, saying “no PRRs were conducted by CDC. Furthermore, data mining is outside of the agency’s purview, staff suggest you inquire with FDA.” The VAERS database, https://vaers. hhs.gov/, is where health care providers are to report adverse events after a vaccine.

It was created after Congress passed a law in 1986 protect-ing vaccine manufacturers from civil personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits resulting from vaccine injuries.

The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, a 2005 law allows the Health and Human Services Secretary to provide legal protection to companies making or distributing vaccines unless there’s “willful misconduct” by the company. This protection lasts until 2024.

Dr. Matthew Oster of the CDC reported this year that the VAERS database received 1,991 reports of myocarditis after one dose

“KP Santa Cruz Office” from page 6 The medical offices are on the fifth floor; the pharmacy and laboratory are on the second floor, so members need not drive to Kaiser Permanente in Scotts Valley or Watsonville for prescriptions or lab tests.

The work of local artists is featured inside, with the goal to promote a calm and healing environment for members and patients.

Members of the Kaiser health plan can check in for their appointments from their home, use self-service kiosks inside the building or talk with a receptionist.

10 / August 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

of mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine and 1,626 met the CDC definition for probable or confirmed myocarditis.

His conclusion: “The risk of myocarditis after receiving mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines was increased across multiple age and sex strata and was highest after the second vaccina-tion dose in adolescent males and young men. This risk should be considered.”

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart, which can lead to clots, a stroke or heart attack.

S

Test to Treat

anta Cruz County offers “Test to Treat” sites open to anyone regardless of insurance or documentation status, including the county office, 500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville. For an appointment, visit https://lhi.care/covidtesting/.

According to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, cases in local schools peaked at 4,407 on Jan. 27, dropped to 44 on April 1, rose to 1,025 on May 23, and now 300.

The 14-day positivity rate peaked at 12.25% on January, dropped to .79%, and now is up to 10.45%.

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education has completed 537,500 tests with Inspire Di-agnostics.

For those who test positive and are at risk of severe illness, the CDC recommends asking your doctor for a prescription for Paxlovid, the Pfizer pills given emergency use authoriza-tion by the FDA in December. Merck’s Lagevrio also got emergency use authorization for mild to moderate Covid.

Paxlovid is what President Joe Biden took to recover from a Covid Omicron variant. His symptoms were mild, a runny nose, dry cough and fatigue.

See Paxlovid side effects at: https:// www.fda.gov/media/155051/download

Parking and bus service are located nearby.

“We are proud of the growth we are experiencing in the Santa Cruz area as we focus on providing our members and patients with an exceptional care experience,” said Irene Chavez, senior vice president and area manager of the Kaiser Permanente San Jose and Santa Cruz areas.

She predicted the new location “will be highly utilized.”

Kaiser Permanente opened its first Santa Cruz County medical office in Scotts Valley 5 years ago and has since expanded to 3 locations. n

The Omicron variants are less deadly than the Delta variant, which raged in 2021.

Santa Cruz County reported 43 Covid deaths after Omicron, compared to 225 as of Dec. 15, before Omicron.

One statistic is similar: 79% to 81% of those who died had medical conditions.

Why do people fear Omnicron?

They may have a medical condition (diabetes, obesity, asthma, high blood pressure). Half of Americans do, so they are at higher risk for severe Covid illness as are people 85 and older.

T

Testing

he Santa Cruz County Office of Education offers drive-though testing for students, staff and families at: 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 Office of Education, 399 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

See: https://tinyurl.com/get-tested-santacruz.

Booster shots: https://myturn.ca.gov/ Vaccine providers: www.santacruzhealth. org/coronavirusvaccine.

Local information: www.santacruzhealth. org/coronavirus or (831) 454-4242 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. n •••

Total COVID cases: 2,197

••• COVID Deaths: 268 As of July 25 Age 85 and older: 117 • 75-84: 62 • 65-74: 47 60-64: 15 • 55-59: 4 • 45-54: 10 35-44: 8 • 25-34: 5 Underlying Conditions Yes: 218 • No: 50 Vaccinated Yes: 34 • No: 234 Race White 155 • Latinx 90 • Asian 16 Black 3 • Amer Indian 1 Hawaiian 1 • Another 2 Gender Men: 137 • Women: 131 Location At facility for aged: 117 Not at a facility: 151

Photo Credit: Doug Oakley

Boulder Creek artist Lea de Wit mounts blown glass sculpture pieces resembling a flock of birds in the new Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz medical offices.

Jim Booth Swim School

COMMUNITY NEWS

Dominican’s Stroke Treatment Recognized D ignity Health Dominican Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus “Get With The Guidelines” awards for treating people with stroke or heart failure.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts.

A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely.

Early detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

To receive the Gold Plus award, hospitals must achieve 85% or higher adherence to all the guideline indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month periods.

In the late 1990s, stroke care in the U.S. was fragmented, and rates of stroke and mortality were high.

In 2004, intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was the only approved therapy for stroke, but only 2% of patients nationwide received that treatment.

This led the Heart Association to press for hospitals to provide this treatment in a timely fashion, within two hours. Analysis of the first 1 million patients found in-hospital mortality decreased.

“Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities,” said Dr. Steven Messe, chairperson of the Stroke System of Care Advisory Group.

The guidelines include education for patients to help them manage their recovery at home.

Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz, Dominican Hospital president and CEO, said, “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in Santa Cruz can experience longer, healthier lives.” n

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / August 2022 / 11

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Curse of the Rispin Mansion

By Sam Storey, Mayor, City of Capitola

O

n July 28, the Capitola City Council will be releasing the bids for the restoration of the new Rispin Mansion Park.

For those of you who know Capitola, you’ve seen the Rispin Mansion on Wharf Road at the intersection with Clares Street.

It sits right across the street from the new Capitola library on the western bank of Soquel Creek.

You may have driven by it many times and seen the aging stucco wall married to a chain link fence which unsuccessfully tries to hid overgrown vegetation, eucalyptus and gnarly native oak trees, and the last vestiges of a fountain from the Great Gatsby era.

Further back on the property, you will see the Rispin Mansion itself with its red, broken-tiles roof looking like a mausoleum.

Before the end of 2022, the mansion grounds will be brought back to life with a grand staircase and walking path, a restored wall, a sculpture garden, a native

oak demonstration garden, a nature play area, outdoor chess tables, an amphitheater, Monarch butterfly habitat, and many more park amenities.

The Rispin Mansion Park restoration is meant to reflect the building and grounds as part of the history of the City of Capitola.

Getting to this point raises the question: Has the curse of the Rispin Mansion finally been lifted?

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Many who know the history of the Rispin Mansion believe it is cursed and brings trouble on all who try to own it.

There are rumors that ghosts live in the mansion to the point that it has been featured on Ghost Hunters programs. If you are skeptical, consider this history.

The Rispin Mansion was built by Henry Allen Rispin in 1921. Two years earlier, he purchased Capitola from Katherine Cope

Henderson who had inherited Capitola from her father, Frederick Hihn.

Rispin did not build the mansion as a place to live, but as a showroom to court potential investors into buying plots in Capitola. Shortly thereafter Rispin got into financial troubles and abruptly disappeared from Capitola in 1929. The mansion went into foreclosure and was purchased at auction by his business partner Robert Hays Smith.

Rispin died penniless in 1947 and is thought to have been buried in an unmarked grave.

Smith owned the property for many years although he never lived there. He became bankrupt himself and in 1940 had to sell the property to the Oblates of St. Joseph. The mansion served as a convent for many years, but even the nuns weren’t able to overcome the curse. They left the mansion in 1959.

For decades thereafter the mansion was left abandoned and neglected.

“Rispin Mansion” page 16

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Remembering the Begonia Festival

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Tribute to Former Capitola Event Planned Sept. 3-4

F

SUMMER SPECIAL

By Laurie Hill

ive years ago this Labor Day weekend, Capitola hosted its 65th and final Festival. Capitola’s last source of begonias, the Brown Ranch family, retired from the begonia growing business.

The blossoms that decades of festival volunteers brought to Capitola during the Festival were gone! All types of begonias are grown around the world but the blossoms used for the Begonia Festival were tuberous begonias and were the size of your hand! Worth Brown, whose grandfather wrote the 1948 book, “Tuberous Begonias,” clarified that Capitola would not find such begonia blossoms growing fields anywhere in the Western Hemisphere. There you have it!

Capitola was once the Begonia Capitol of the World.

Fields of begonias filled acres along what is now 41st Avenue. Lath houses – like Antonelli’s Gardens - full of spectacular begonias were huge tourist attractions.

Capitola shared “sister festival” status with the Begonia Festival in Ballarat, Australia. Begonia blossom decals adorn Capitola street signs. The tuberous begonia was declared Capitola’s city flower.

Now such begonias are hard to find anywhere in Santa Cruz County.

Fast forward: Capitola will pay tribute to the Capitola Begonia Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 3-4, with a display of historical memorabilia and short videos at City Hall from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Come share your memories.

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A nostalgic music event will take place in Esplanade Park on Sunday, Sept. 4. The Capitola Ukulele Group will strum 3-3:30 p.m.

The Te Hau Nui Hula School of Hula Dance will perform 3:30-4 pm. The “Little Big Band” will play swing music from 4-6 p.m.

One Begonia Festival volunteer still grows hanging begonias for a small display in Capitola Village at the Trestle Building on Capitola Avenue. She continues a tradition started 15 years ago. At the end of the season, these plants are recycled and, with simple care over the winter, return for next year’s display. Begonias are still rewarding plant to grow.

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“Begonia Memories” page 20

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

IN MEMORIAM

Sharon Hadley, The Fish Lady S

haron Mahfouz Hadley, 70, grandchildren Cassia and Cash known locally as “The Fish Cowden; stepchildren Nate Hadley Lady,” died on June 26. She (Lani), Caleb Hadley (Kaylee), lived in Soquel.

Cassandra Grubbs (Joe); stepgrandShe was born on Jan. 2, 1952, in children Robby Hadley, Braeden Lafayette, Louisiana, and married and Olivia Grubbs; sisters, Sandra Mike Hadley on April 8, 2001.

Mahfouz Delhomme (Duane) Sharon founded The Fish and Michelle Mahfouz; brothers Lady, a gourmet market where she Raymond Mahfouz, Jr. (Judy) Sharon Hadley and Mike, a local musician, enjoyed and Stafford Mahfouz (Janet); her working together. She enjoyed serving her beloved fur baby, Lazarus; and numerous customers and helping them plan their meals. nieces and nephews.

The Fish Lady enjoyed 25 years in She was preceded in death by her Soquel at 2510 S. Main St., hosting Friday parents, Raymond and JoAnn Mahfouz; night wine-tasting and live music. In August brother Louis Mahfouz, Sr.; and a niece, Alex2019, The Fish Lady moved to Capitola, next andra Dominque. to Capitola Produce.

Pastor Todd Menard of Family Life Sharon was known for her love of God Church conducted the funeral services July 6 and her family. She enjoyed gardening, at Delhomme Funeral Home’s Chapel of the cooking and entertaining with Southern Flowers, Lafayette, Louisiana. Entombment hospitality. was in Calvary Mausoleum.

She will be deeply missed by all her A local service was held July 15 at Twin family and friends.

Lakes Church in Aptos.

She is survived by her husband, Mike Donations are preferred to www.

Hadley; her children, Casey Cowden milelehmne.org, which provides restorative (Joezette), Lacey Cowden (Daniel); care to the street children of Kenya. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Fair Barns, Built in 1955, To Come Down

T

By Jondi Gumz

he Santa Cruz County Fair will look a little different this year.

On July 19, the Santa Cruz County fair board voted 6-2 to take down the 67-yearold pig and sheep barns, which were declared unsafe by a state agency, and create temporary quarters for this year’s fair Sept. 14-18.

Voting yes were Bill Barton, Jody Belgard, Loretta Estrada, Lupe Flores, Stephanie Fontana, and Dana McRae. Don Dietrich and Tony Campos voted no. They favored fencing off the barns and discussing the matter once the state agency that oversees the fair has given approval.

Michael Pruger was absent.

Those favoring immediate removal of the barns wanted them down before the fair, which is expected to draw thousands of attendees, to address safety concerns.

Dave Kegebein, the fair CEO, proposes to replace the old barns with a new multi-purpose building, which he

Livestock barn at the county fairgrounds in Watsonville estimated could cost $8 million to $10 million, as fundraising allows.

An inspection in 2012-13 found that more than half the posts holding up the roof had rotted off their base, resulting in annual investments to make the barns safe for the fair.

Future egebein is optimistic about fundraising.

At the fair board’s livestock committee meeting, he said, “Tremendous supporters will advance these projects under the right conditions. You have to think flexibility.”

“Fair Barns” page 23

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“Rispin Mansion” from page 12 In 1985, the City of Capitola swooped in and purchased the mansion and grounds for $1.35 million, about the price of a small Capitola home these days.

Capitola used the property for SWAT team practice and in 1991 had it placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

However, the city had no money left so the mansion continued to deteriorate and be plagued by vandalism and griffiti.

Stories of ghosts, underground passageways, and secret speak-easy rooms began to circulate. The later two have been verified, but the ghosts are still a matter of stories.

Needing to do something with the Rispin Mansion, Capitola began courting investors to build a boutique hotel on the site; à la Rispin himself. Almost immediately the city was sued by a local citizens conservation group concerned about the sensitive Monarch butterfly habitat and traffic. That lawsuit was settled in 2004, resulting in a conservation easement and a public access easement, which still exists.

However, the plans for a boutique hotel carried on.

In May 2009, Capitola approved a 55-year lease to a group of developers to turn the mansion and grounds into a 25-room boutique hotel with wedding reception facilities — a grand plan that was quickly stymied by more litigation over the conservation easement that further delayed the project. The developers lost in court, but pressed ahead to begin construction of the hotel.

At the end of May 2009, on the cusp of beginning construction, a fire in the mansion gutted much of interior. The developers were forced to abandon the boutique hotel and the city terminated the lease agreement.

The Capitola City Council struggled for two years to figure out what to do

with the Rispin Mansion. There were even thoughts of demolishing the mansion.

But the cost of demolition was as much as trying to preserve it and it was still on the National Historical Register. Therefore, in 2012 the city spent $649,000 to do structural repairs and entomb the mansion.

There it sits today frozen in time.

Now after that tortured history, the Rispin Mansion Park is finally going to be restored this year.

So does that mean that the curse of Rispin Mansion has finally been exorcised?

Let’s hope so.

However, keep in mind only the grounds are being refurbished. There is still the mansion and Capitola currently has no money or plans for that monumental a project. There is still more to do and more obstacles to overcome.

By the way, I’ve been calling this the Rispin Mansion Park. However, it recently was revealed that because of racial covenants in Rispin’s deed, it shouldn’t be named after him. The Capitola City Council decided last year that the property would have no official name at this time.

So you may call it what you will.

Maybe, the curse lives on. n ••• Sam Storey is mayor of Capitola. Contact him at samforcapitola@yahoo.com.

••• Editor’s note: Racial covenants were common in the 1920s as home developments were built in places like Capitola, restricting sales to those “of the Caucasian or white race.”

In the 1940s, these restrictions were ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1466, and the governor signed it, giving homeowners a way to strike racial covenants from property records. They can file a “Restrictive Covenant Modification” form with the county recorder. The new law also requires real estate agents to notify homebuyers if a property has a racial covenant.

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / August 2022 / 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

Experience Glorious Music: Candide

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By Mindy Pedlar

ou may not have heard much about it, but you should absolutely see Candide, now playing at the Cabrillo Crocker Theater.

The audiences are thrilled by the production and show their appreciation with standing ovations.

I expected the music to be magnificent, and it is, but I had no idea the show was so funny!

Director Gary John La Rosa makes the most of every humorous moment with his creative staging. He includes the talented, well-choreographed ensemble frequently making them a vital part of telling Candide’s tale. The immense and wonderful set by Scenic Designer Skip Epperson and Technical Director Marcel Tjioe, allows the cast, bedecked in fabulous costumes by Maria Crush, to travel the world taking the audience along for a wildly entertaining ride.

As for the music, there’s a reason critics refer to the score of Candide as Leonard Bernstein’s masterpiece.

Musical Director/Conductor Cheryl Anderson says the score is challenging with “mixed meters, themes intertwined with one another, whimsical shifts of mood and lights. His tempi can be dizzying while still illuminating each character and idea. Every rehearsal, I come away grateful that he was

so brilliant. He, like Beethoven, doesn’t really consider limitations but instead allows his passionate ideas to carve their own paths.”

The vocal prowess of this cast is up to the quality Bernstein’s score demands.

Michael Stahl plays the innocent, trusting Candide. His gorgeous voice will melt your heart. Lori Schulman perfectly plays his love interest, Cunegonde, her beautiful coloratura voice soaring. Schulman’s rendition of “Glitter and be Gay” is one of the show’s highlights.

Tenor Jorge Torrez shines as Cunegonde’s brother Maximilian with his beautiful voice and excellent comedic skills. Jordan Best rounds out the quartet with her lovely vocals and portrayal of the sweetly lusty Paquette.

Local favorite Lizz Hodgin Weihrauch, first seen as a Pink Lady in Cabrillo Stage’s 1983 production of Grease, returns with vocal panache to play the Old Lady.

Mention must also be made of Joshua Porter’s fine baritone as the Governor and Thomas Webb’s portrayal of many characters including, my favorite, the Grand Inquisitor.

This remarkable cast is led by versatile Equity actor Curt Denham playing Voltaire, Sage, Host and Candide’s dear leader, Dr. Pangloss. Denham leads with clarity, charm and impeccable comedic timing.

Candide is rarely performed as it’s a huge undertaking requiring the highest caliber of singers, musicians and actors.

Cabrillo Stage has brought all the elements together in this production, which is perhaps their finest to date. n ••• Now playing through Aug. 14, don’t miss your opportunity to see this remarkable show!

Tickets available at cabrillostage.com or call the Box office 831- 479-6154 Thursday-Saturday noon-6 p.m.

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

The Eggplant and the Sauce

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y father flipped the quarter with his thumb, and it flew up in an arc and landed flush against the baseboard underneath the red Formica table in our dining room in Queens. We were tossing coins for money, but according

By Joe Ortiz

to Mom–who stood a few steps away in the kitchen making dinner–it was just another bad habit Dad was teaching me.

Dad was down in the squat made famous by peasants throughout the world, crouching flat-footed, his butt nearly touching the floor, having learned it in the jungles outside of San Juan where he’d grown up. He said it came in handy whether you were in the trees “doing your business” or squatting under some streetlamp in the Old Ciudad playing dice.

“Do ya get the similarities, Joey?” He whispered so Mom couldn’t hear him: “That’s why they call it . . .” Dad stopped.

He hunkered down to see if Mom was listening.

But Mom was silent. And the moment we heard her chopping, mixing, frying, we knew we could play our game in peace.

And say anything and get away with it.

Dad taught me that too, but he didn’t always take his own advice. Like now. He pointed at his quarter and shouted.

“A winner, Joey! Only a leaner can beat me.”

Just then, my sister Laura bolted through the front door, her fiery pigtails bounding around her freckled face, her dungarees rolled up to the calves. She circled around and taunted us, waving her hands over our coins. She threw off her Dodgers cap and leaned her sawedoff broomstick wrapped in black tape in the corner—a clear sign she hadn’t been at Glee Club, but down on the stoop playing stickball with a bunch of guys.

Laura ran into the kitchen, kissed Mom on the cheek and went straight to the Victrola. But instead of spinning a Nat Cole or Judy Garland record, she turned on the radio and started flipping the dial in that aggravating thud-thud sound that drove us all crazy.

“I’m warning you,” Dad said. “Shut it off and go wash ya hands fa dinner.”

Laura disappeared into the bathroom.

Mom was in the kitchen, preparing her specialty, Eggplant Parmesan, and at the step that caused so much argument in our family — whether to use grated Parmesan cheese in beaten egg to coat the eggplant before you fried it.

“That’s an old wives’ tale,” Mom would always say. She had learned the method from her mother who came from Basilicata, where you were taught to make do with less and keep it simple. Some recipes call for layering the eggplant with mozzarella but in Basilicata they leave it out. Cocina Povera, was what they called it. But it was poor only in ingredients, not in flavor.

According to Mom, it was the way you coat the eggplant slices with salt, drained them in a colander to release the moisture, then fried the slices in a skillet of bubbling olive oil that gave it a crispy crust, with a rich, custard-like texture inside.

“Eggplant and Sauce” page 23

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

County Park Friends Awarded Outdoor Equity Program Grant C ounty Park Friends is proud to announce they have been awarded the Outdoor Equity Program grant from California State Parks to expand access to outdoor experiences on public lands for families and youth in the Live Oak neighborhood.

“We asked Live Oak families what they wanted and needed for their children to fully enjoy public parks and nature.” said Executive Director Mariah Roberts.

“This grant is built on what we learned from the families who will participate.”

Along with 125 total communities statewide, the funding helps establish a community hub at Brommer County Park for local activities and trips to natural areas for underserved communities. The program also empowers youth and families with outdoor leadership education, career pathways, environmental justice engagement, and access to nature.

“California State Parks is incredibly proud to announce grant funding to

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strengthen access to parks and open spaces and contribute to a better quality of life for Californians,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “These programs will turn parks into outdoor classrooms, inspiring a new generation of environmental leadership in California.”

For the first grant cycle of the program, State Parks evaluated 384 grant applications totaling $167.78 million in requests. The $57 million in grants was made available through general funds approved by the California Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 state budgets.

In addition to County Park Friends

“Begonia Memories” from page 13 The Capitola Begonia Festival committee team started the Capitola Beach Festival — offering many of the same fun events, now on the 4th weekend in September. The Beach Festival rebooted the blossom-covered water parade into a Lighted Nautical Parade.

Beach Festival volunteers will be

(Friends of Santa Cruz County Parks) multiple other Monterey Bay communities received grants in a testament to area commitment and best practices, with the full list of projects available online at parks.ca.gov/oep.

In 2019, the Outdoor Equity Grants Program was enacted when Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 209. The concept for the grant program began with findings in the 2015 Parks Forward Commission Report stating that State Parks must expand access to parks for underserved communities and urban populations.

“Park Grant” page 24

available at the Tribute from 3-6 p.m. Sept.

4 to share their love of the festival tradition and invite your participation later in September. Come down and throw a few Corn Hole bags to warm up. n ••• Laurie Hill is on the Capitola Arts and Cultural Commission. Contact her at capitolaseahorse@gmail.com for more information or to assist with the Begonia Festival Tribute.

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / August 2022 / 21

BUSINESS PROFILE

S

A Tool Shed, Inc. Expanding Post-Pandemic

By Edita McQuary

omewhere in heaven, greatgrandparents Robert and Geneva McArdell are extremely proud of Robert and Barbara Pedersen and their kids, Rob W. and Meghann Lovlein, owners and operators of the 77-year-old family business which they founded in 1945.

In spite of tough times, the Pedersens are adding another store to their list of seven South Bay area stores, this time in Greenfield in Monterey County.

The Greenfield store will open soon with seven employees to serve the expanding housing and agricultural communities there and in the surrounding cities. It is located right off Highway 101.

The front of the store with its sign is visible to 101 traffic – a great advertisement.

“We felt this was a good time to expand our business into this underserved area. As we do at all of our locations, we are proud to serve the public and are looking forward to becoming part of the Greenfield community,” said Robert.

A Tool Shed, Inc. has stores in Campbell, Morgan Hill, Hollister, Salinas, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Watsonville. They carry a full range of construction, agricultural, and landscaping equipment.

Whether you need an air compressor, backhoe, chain saw or log

An old newspaper image of Robert and Geneva McArdell.

Rob & Meghann hold an old photo of A Tool Shed, at the intersection on the left. splitter, they have these tools as well as trucks, trailers, auto tools, generators, forklifts, manlifts, light towers, reach lifts, and mixers. If you need it, they likely have it!

For those living in south Santa Cruz County, their Watsonville store is located at 285 West Beach St., telephone 831-722-0334.

This family-owned and operated business prides itself on honesty and excellent customer service. They have a total staff of just under 100 employees, most of whom are long-term employees.

They are also a community-minded company and support Veterans Foundations in Campbell and Los Gatos, The American Cancer Society, The Autism Society, as well as Roaring Camp Railroad, Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad,

22 / August 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

the San Jose Giants, and the Santa Cruz Warriors.

In this area, A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals is located at 3700 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, at the corner of 17th Avenue

across from Staples, telephone 831-4777133. Hours: Mon-Sat 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Check their website for other locations: www.AToolShed.com n

“Fair Barns” from page 14 Fairs in Salinas Valley and Chowchilla have invested in new event centers.

New construction at the fairgrounds in Watsonville would allow for a service road wider than what exists.

Kegebein sees this as an opportunity to reduce the odds of a mass shooting like the one at the 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival where the gunman used bolt cutters to cut through a wire fence and evade security screening.

He also sees a new facility as a revenue generator, rented for equestrian events, trade shows and other activities while being available for emergency housing for livestock, as needed during the 2020 CZU lightning fire. (Santa Cruz County has a contract with the fair for emergency housing.)

Rental demand is high at the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds, with bookings full for the rest of the year, according to Kegebein.

In the spring, the fairgrounds hosted Burning Man Santa Cruz, attracting a reported 3,000 attendees for laser light shows, art, music and camping.

Members of the fair board’s livestock committee recommended temporary facilities

“Eggplant and Sauce” from page 19 When Mom started the frying, the thick, heady aroma of garlic fried in fruity olive oil floated into the dining room and the sound gave Dad and me our cover.

“Come on, Joey,” Dad finally said.

“Pay attention to da game.” I felt defeated.

I was getting hungrier by the minute. But if mom was still frying slices, dinner was a long way off.

“Come on, Joey,” he said. “Play.”

Just then Laura burst back into the dining room.

“When’s dinner?” Laura said as she walked over to the Victrola and pulled an LP out of its sleeve.

“Laura,” Dad said, not even turning his head to look at her. “Put on ‘Fever’ one more time and I’m gonna give you a shot in the head.” She had played her favorite song so often you could almost hear the throbbing bass line before the needle hit vinyl.

But instead, we heard the sweet and gentle groove of Julie London singing “Cry Me a River.” When Laura started to whine about dinner again, Dad said, “Shut up,” only louder this time. “We’ll eat when we eat. Ya mutha’s cookin’ her heart out. Joey and I are pitchin’ quarters.”

So, Laura turned on her heals and headed for the door.

“Where ya goin’,” Dad said. “Dinner’s gonna be ready in a . . . “ But it was too late. Laura had already slammed the door behind her and, instantly, another record clicked down the spindle and onto the turntable and the sultry voice of Peggy Lee filled the apartment. Never

for this year’s fair and pursuing a new multipurpose building for the future.

For Kyle Middleton, safety is the top priority.

“We’ve got to move with the times,” said Danny Naranjo.

The 4-H youth showing pigs, sheep and goats will have to provide their own water this year, a requirement at some fairs elsewhere.

Removal of the barns was estimated to cost $25,000 if done by fairgrounds foundation volunteers with rental tents at fair time estimated to cost $10,000 to $20,000 a year.

Critics ot everyone supported Kegebein’s proposal.

Phillip Carranco, whose daughter raised 300 chickens in Aromas for the fair, had concerns about the accuracy of the scale to weigh animals for market, which requires calibration on a steady surface, which the barns provided.

Aptos resident Becky Steinbruner wants the California Construction Authority, which provides finance, design and construction services for health and safety and other projects at fairgrounds and evaluates risks and potential issues, to be involved.

In May, Randy Crabtree Jr., executive

N

knew how much I loved you. Never knew how much I cared.

“I’m gonna kill her,” Dad said, sounding like a ferocious jungle cat ready to pounce. In our house you could get smacked for much less. And for what? For playing ‘Fever’ for only about the thousandth time?

The chaos drove me crazy. I often had to check out for a while, escaping into the tones and textures of our living room, the same splash and color that Mom used in her cooking. A pillow of every shape and size, covered in teal and burgundy fabric with a fuzzy fringe around the edges. Drapes of a floral design. A rug of dots and paisley.

Protected by all the textures around me, I was also hypnotized by the sizzle of eggplant frying, the sweet smell of garlic.

“Snap out of it, Joey,” Dad said, but I couldn’t budge. Finally, he tugged my arm, and taunted me with his sing-song routine: “Na, na, na, NaNa. You gotta get a leaner to beat me.”

I tried to deflect. “But what about the tomato sauce, Mom?” I yelled in to her.

“Soon, Joey, soon,” Ma said. But it didn’t work to settle Dad. Or my stomach.

“Come on, Joey. It’s your turn. The game fa cryin’ out loud. Ya gotta get a leaner TA BEAT ME.” “BEAT YOU,” I thought. It triggered an old memory and the terror those words called up. Instinctively, I raised my arm at Dad. And he exploded.

“Don’t raise ya hand to me, mister,” Dad said, reaching down to touch his belt.

And the word “mister”—clothed in the steely, knife-like edge of his voice? Would it

director of the California Construction Authority, emailed her to say, “Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds and the State of California is ultimately responsible for construction scheduling and facility planning. CCA remains ready to assist when requested by any of these bodies.”

Steinbruner also wants the fair board to have a public discussion on proposed agreements between the fair and the county Board of Supervisors on a 38.5-acre property at 188 Whiting Road next to the fairgrounds where the County intends to create equitable access to athletic fields, hiking, and healthy recreation. The price is $2.31 million, with a 12-month purchase option ending Nov. 12, 2022.

As for her concerns about emergency housing during fires and other evacuation scenarios, Kegebein told the fair board that there are plans to provide emergency shelter for animals should disaster strike.

Disaster struck Thursday with the Anzar fire in Aromas, a rural community of 2,600 that straddles the borders of San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.

At noon Friday, Jessica Ayala, who lives in Aromas with a home address in Santa Cruz County and San Benito County at the foot of her property, emailed Santa

J

Cruz County officials of her safety concerns relating to the Anzar fire.

“The people on the Santa Cruz County side have not received any instructions on what to do if we need to evacuate, have we been forgotten? We live across the street from each other and live in two different county’s,” she explained. “If we need help and are evacuated, is our designated evacuation facility the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds?”

She added, “Many slept with their animals in their trailers over night in fear of last-minute evacuation, some don’t have trailers to evacuate their animals.”

CalFire’s San Benito-Monterey unit was in charge and the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds was booked for a horse show July 18-25.

As the Anzar fire grew, some residents were ordered evacuate while others were under an evacuation warning.

Anzar High School at 2000 San Juan Highway, was designated an evacuation center, with San Benito County animal control providing portable kennels.

The Red Cross reported 30 people were displaced.

As of Tuesday morning, CalFire reported the fire was 95% contained and residents allowed to return home. n

Joe Ortiz Memoir: Episodes & Recipes

oe Ortiz’s memoir, Pastina — My Father’s Misfortune, My Mother’s Good Soup, became the framework for the musical Escaping Queens, which ran at Cabrillo Stage in 2012 and 2013.

In July, The Capitola Soquel Times began the exclusive publication of various episodes from the book — including a recipe that helps shape each installment. You may have read one of the pieces in the Times a few months ago entitled, “Pastina, Food for the Soul — The Night Freddie the Bookie Showed Up with the Gun.”

The idea of weaving anecdotes about food with an ongoing narrative came to Joe after reading Heartburn by Nora Ephron.

“Using recipe descriptions to help tell a story seemed the perfect way to weave the angst of a father’s chaotic life with the salvation of a mother’s cooking,” Ortiz explains. “For me, the soothing aromas and descriptions of my mom’s food became the salve to assuage my father’s abusive actions, and the ironic humor of it all helped to dull the pain.” n

Mom’s Simple Red Sauce 6 to 8 medium Italian plum tomatoes 1/4 cup pureed or chopped garlic 4 to 5 anchovy filets, mashed 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1/4 cup olive oil Set a pot of water over high heat.

When it comes to a boil, gently drop in the tomatoes for 2 to 4 minutes, until the skins blister. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and let cool. Slice the tomatoes in half and squeeze out

juice and seeds and remove the skins.

Crush the tomatoes with your hands into 1-inch pieces. And set aside.

In a medium sized saucepan, cook the olive oil, garlic, anchovies, and parsley over medium low heat until lightly browned (about 4 to 5 minutes).

Gradually ladle in half of the tomatoes and stir another few minutes to make a dark puree. Add the rest of crushed tomatoes and cook 20 to 30 minutes on low heat. Cool before using.

be enough to make him erupt like he often did? Like a volcano?

“No, Daddy, No,” I said, trembling. I went back quickly into my trance. Suddenly, a raging white fire blazed in front of my eyes.

I wanted to run to Mom. But instead, I froze.

Just then, I heard my mother speaking from the kitchen: “I’m making the tomato sauce now, Joey,” she said. “Come on in and watch. It’s easy.”

Was it Mom’s angelic voice that saved me? Or was it the sauce? n

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

FEATURED COLUMNIST

The Myth of ‘Work/Life Balance’

T

By Sam Kabert, Soul Seekr Podcast

he Yin & Yang symbol has been used throughout the centuries as an ancient representation of energy within the universe, and how it flows between opposing forces to keep things balanced and in perfect harmony. If you’re interested in learning more about the archetypal energy of Yin and Yang, how it relates to your life, and how you can use this knowledge to affect positive change, read on!

First, we must explore the illusion of Work/Life Balance. Work in every sense of the word represents the archetypal energy of Yang. As a refresher the archetypal energy of Yang represents structure, it represents doing/achieving and the way we show up in the world. Whereas Yin represents fluidity, receptivity, flow, intuition and really connecting with our Soul.

The difficulty is that both work and life require the element of Yang.

Think about it, most of us spend 5 out of 7 days a week working. And the majority of the waking hours during work days are spent actually working. When we do have free time, we have the obligations of life. Whether it be paying bills, taking care of loved ones (including kids, pets, parents etc) or maybe it’s shuffling from appointment to appointment to take care of our health.

The point is we are consumed with Yang energy. Work/Life Balance does not allow for any connection to what our soul is craving for.

“Park Grant” from page 20 The 2015 Parks Forward discussions became a catalyst for AB 209. Californians shared a similar vision in 2017 during 30 focus groups with over 500 participants for the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Throughout the state, from heavily urbanized to rural areas, Californians emphasized a desire for multigenerational programs that “bring families together,” activate local parks and take residents with transportation challenges to natural areas outside their communities.

“Delivering services across the state – including in many communities currently without adequate outdoor programs – will make a real, lasting difference in the lives of young people and all residents,” said Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. “I am especially excited about empowering young people to explore their leadership potential. It’s one more way the

I am not saying we should stop doing any and all work. What I am saying is we must find ways to embrace the connection to our Souls (Yin energy).

Yin Represents Feeding Your Soul I have a question for you; and please ... really let this sink in...How often do you make time to feed your soul?

“Feeding Your Soul” is going to look different for each of us, as we are all unique beings.

“Feeding Your Soul” does not mean: x Meditation x Exploring the Astral x Doing some sort of healing retreat In fact, it’s so much more accessible …

“Feeding Your Soul” is up for you to define!

It’s not for anyone else to define for you!

Let this be your metaphoric permission slip, to sit back, reflect and see what’s coming to the surface. This is the art of presence.

Here are some ways to incorporate Yin back into your life: • Finding stillness and silence within nature • Re-establishing your relationship with tech: turning off electronics periodically to “disconnect” from distractions • Something calming like gardening, painting, drawing • Connecting with music through dance or picking up an instrument • Writing as a form of expression These are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowin’. Please know that

you can tap into the use of yin energy when you are feeling drained and exhausted to provide a break from life’s chaos.

The Aftermath of Being Out of Balance Given the Mental Health Crisis we are facing, it’s become abundantly clear that the root cause … not the symptom, but the root cause of this Mental Health Crisis stems from being disconnected from …

• That Voice in Our Head that Guides Us • Being in Tune With Our Inner Landscape • A Connection to Something Outside of this Earthly Realm & Human Experience In the workplace alone, we are seeing 53% of people reporting they feel more emotionally exhausted and 75% feel more socially isolated since the start of the Pandemic in 2020 (per a study by the Harvard Business Review).

The stats clearly back the importance of Mental Health. The only choice is whether we (you) will do something about it or not ...

A simple solution to make one’s own Mental Health a priority is through the practice of SOUL/Life Balance. By doing so, you are making an agreement with yourself to put yourself first and foremost, always while simultaneously reframing “work” as part of the Yang energy required in living your life.

How to Incorporate These Lessons Into Your Life The choice to build Yin energy into your life is not an extra to-do to your list, nor is it something we shame ourselves for if we don’t do it as much as we’d like.

In reality, it’s a practice of bringing present awareness to our inner world/landscape moment to moment.

By bringing awareness to the present moment through connecting with what’s rising to the surface within you; you will be guided to not only “feeding your soul” daily but as you continue this practice you’ll be able to understand what it means to “feed your soul” moment to moment.

A Life of Fulfillment is so much more accessible than we’ve been led to believe is possible.

If you’d like to go deeper on these concepts, check out my book SOUL/Life Balance or checking out my recent SOUL SEEKR podcast episode (https://open.spotify. com/show/17i3xvuAhNxO80SVARfvnb) which is all about bringing the Yin & Yang energy into the workplace. n ••• SOUL/Life Balance isn’t something to chase nor something to attain. Rather, it’s a way of being and it starts with the mindset shift of reframing Work/Life Balance to SOUL/ Life Balance by asking yourself on a daily basis: “How can I feed my Soul in this moment?”

state of California is working to improve the lives of all Californians.”

Four of every 10 Californians have no access to open space within walking distance of their home and six of every 10 Californians live in park-poor neighborhoods. Programs such as the Outdoors Equity Grants Program help advance the “Outdoor Access for All” initiative championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the Natural Resources Agency’s “Outdoors for All” initiative. This effort expands outdoor access to all Californians through focused investments in open space infrastructure, outdoor programming, and improvements to permit applications, with a priority

to expanding access in underserved communities.

••• onduct the Young Outdoors Leaders of Comunidad de Live Oak Program for residents near Brommer Street County Park in the City of Santa Cruz. This program will include approximately 149 activity days in the community for approximately 5,700 participants and approximately 14 trips to natural areas for approximately 710 participants during four years of programming.

Activities in the community will include Live Oak Youth Leading Environmental Justice; Solution Based Learning About Environmental Issues; Discovering Nature: Backyard and Beyond; Curriculum Based Activities at Brommer

Street Park; and Preparing Participants for Natural Area Trips.

Trips to natural areas outside of the community will include Building Family Forest Comfort at Henry Cowell; Youth Leaders Visit Big Basin Wildfire Effects and Forest Restoration; Humboldt Redwoods State Park Youth Camping Adventure; Secret Spot Family Camping on the Coastal Cliffs, Big Sur State Park Waterfall Wow Family Campout; Yosemite National Park Family Snow Experience; Family Viewing: Perseid Meteor Shower at Quail Hollow; Wildlife and Youth: Close-ups on Elkhorn Slough; Youth Explore a Healthy Creek at Henry Cowell; Pinto Lake Paddleboats, Youth Agriculture History Tour and Wetlands Education; Watsonville Slough Farm Land Trust Youth Tour: The Agriculture and Watershed Connection; Youth, Tide Pooling, Seymour Center & Moore Creek Preserve; Monterey Bay Aquarium Family Ocean Discovery; and Whale Watching Family Cruise on the Bay. n

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

C

An Amusing Place

FEATURED COLUMNIST

The Capitola Rink and Dance Pavilion

I

By Deborah Osterberg

n early photographs of Capitola, a large white structure dominated the view of the village.

In an effort to provide more amusements for visitors to Camp Capitola, in 1884 F.A. Hihn, owner of the resort town, erected a two-story structure in the heart of Capitola.

The new building, located on the south side of Capitola Avenue between Stockton and San Jose Avenues, served as a combination roller skating rink and dance pavilion.

In 1888, Mrs. Patty Reed Lewis became the new manager of “… the commodious hotel at Camp Capitola, together with the cottages, grounds, skating rink, etc.”

Mrs. Lewis was best known as a child survivor of the infamous snowbound 1846 Donner-Reed Party.

Her son James Frazier Lewis, Capitola’s first postmaster, became manager of various Hihn concessions, including the new Capitola Rink and Dance Pavilion.

A mere 35 cents got you a ride on the electric trolley line from Santa Cruz to Capitola, admission to the Capitola Dance Hall or Skating Rink, including skate rental.

Dancing in the hall was hosted every Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings accompanied by the favorite dance music of the era performed by an array of brass bands including the Fifth Regiment Band and Schubert’s Full Brass Band.

The rink was open for skating every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.

Its spring floor proved popular. In 1893 the

Santa Cruz Surf declared that “[t]he interest in roller-skating continues from year to year at Capitola with unabated vigor.”

Special events attracted crowds throughout the season featuring $10 prizes for the couple doing the best cake walk or the guest who created the prettiest homemade Bon Bon cap. The Cascarone Ball was likely a favorite with the younger set. It involved hollowed-out chicken eggs filled with confetti, which partiers cracked over each other’s heads, bringing good luck to the desired target. By far the most popular promotion held each season was the Grand Masquerade Ball, with prizes awarded for most original character and fanciest costumes.

In June 1905 events at the rink and dance pavilion were managed by the Capitola Amusement Company, headed

by Messrs. Brower and Cosby of San Francisco.

Three years earlier Mr. Brower operated a photograph gallery at the resort. The amusement company provided not only dance bands but also “… vaudeville performances by the best coast talent every Wednesday and Friday evening in the smaller hall at Capitola, which is itself capable of seating two or three hundred people …”

Unfortunately, Brower and Cosby very quickly ran into trouble with their creditors and by July “… their short-lived career as amusement caterers in Capitola” was defunct.

The Clover Leaf Trio came to Capitola

in 1910 for a six-week engagement. The Trio of ladies were vocalist Mrs. Kate F. M. Cleaves, pianist Miss Myrtle J. Eldred and violinist Miss Heloise Desiree Coutolenc.

According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, “The entertainment and dance given by the ‘Clover Leaf Trio,’… proved a success from start to finish, the cosy little hall being packed to the doors. Dancing was indulged in for an hour, then followed the

stage performance consisting of high class vaudeville. P.J. Smith … brought down the house with his latest Hebrew songs … [and] Mr. Gilman introduced character impersonations from Shakespeare …”

Other acts included the latest comical farces, minstrel shows, and monologists who presented humorous stories.

“Capitola Rink” page 26

Annual Traditions

ACROSS

1. Verdant 5. Vietnamese neighbor 8. “Before” prefix 11. Curved molding 12. *It rings at midnight on Christmas Eve at church 13. Yarn store unit 15. Relating to armpit 16. Criminal’s surprise 17. Nephew’s sister 18. *4th of July spectacle 20. 1952 Olympics host 21. 1,000 kilograms 22. Meat sauce 23. Vacation location

26. French painter of “La Danse” fame 30. Menu words (2 words) 31. Lean 34. Wine valley 35. Impertinent 37. *Annual Assumption tradition blesses it 38. #2 Down, pl.

39. Highest volcano in Europe 40. Puppies 42. Bit of binary code 43. Dean’s official residence 45. Small stream 47. Wine quality 48. Bilbo Baggins’ land 50. Windsor family’s sport 52. *Popular New Year’s libation

56. Stored by bees 57. ____-de-camp 58. “On the ____” by Jack Kerouac 59. Make laugh 60. Tear 61. Tibetan priest 62. Woolen cap 63. Banned insecticide 64. Big Bang’s original matter 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

DOWN

Bakery serving Tangelo Scorch Regarding this point “Live and ____” Description for twins Auto pioneer Banana remnant

9. Puerto ____ 10. Compass bearing 12. “Jane Eyre” author 13. Pig part 14. *Action under mistletoe 19. Like a damaged apple, possibly 22. Jam container 23. Torn down 24. Fill with optimism 25. Sweating room 26. *Thanksgiving’s main event?

27. Beauty parlor 28. Chiropractor’s concern 29. Painting holder 32. Light gray 33. “Wow!” 36. *Birthday cake decorations

38. Seize the throne 40. Kind of humor 41. Ready 44. Deteriorate 46. Just about 48. Jumped aside 49. Lacked 50. Type of cotton 51. Female gamete 52. *Valentine’s Day tradition 53. *New Year’s resolution weight or savings target 54. One in a roster 55. Red-encased cheese 56. *Graduation flyer © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

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

Leo — from the Heart of Matter

“Capitola Rink” from page 25

Esoteric Astrology • August 2022 • By Risa D’Angeles

W

e’ve left the nourishing waters of Cancer and find ourselves in the creative light of Leo, the fiery sign of kings and queens, of lions and leopards, the Sphinx, the blue star Sirius (where love originates), and the giant star, Regulus, at the heart of Leo. Leo is the “heart of matter” from which our life force emanates. Knowing this about Leo, we begin to understand the depth, breadth and dramatic life force of those born under Leo (Sun, Rising, Moon, Mars). Leo is both lion and pussycat all in one.

Leo is a fixed steady pulsating fire that never dims. Leo is the light of the Soul, the comforter, the healer. It is the Soul light of love and the freedom to create. When aligned with the Will to Good, Leo shines as bright as the Sun and glows with divine inspiration. Leo is the sign of identifying oneself by what one creates.

Leo’s say, “Look at my creations!” And we praise them.

Leo, on the personality-building level, creates dictators not in touch with love or Divine Will, commanding others from their undeveloped little self. Let us see them as in training. These are their ARIES

All this week and weeks to come, the questions presented to you are: what engages your attention, what do you find creative about yourself, what resources would allow your creativity to expand, how do you relate to children (their care and well-being), where do you find rest and relaxation, and how do you party and have fun? Your answers define your present identity. Some Aries will attract a new love of something very interesting.

words, “I rule as a right of my presence in any situation. Let other forms exist. I rule because I am!” Leo on this level is the “benevolent dictator.”

When the personality is directed by the Soul (love, intelligent will, kindness, etc.) love from the heart of the Sun and from Sirius streams into the human heart creating the Will to Good, which is the Will to Love.

Leos inspire people. They have an inner confidence. They are natural born actors, with an inborn sense of the dramatic. Leos need to be praised and recognized. That is how they evolve. Leos are leaders. Great leaders rule with Intelligent Will and Loving Intelligence. And at times they carry a fiery sword.

Update on Matthew: He remains in the hospital, stable, fragile, progressing in small steps daily, his brain needing to learn new pathways . We as a family ask that prayers continue. Updates are on my website – www. nightlightnews.org, on FB at Love For Matt Scott. And the Go Fund Me page is https://www.gofundme.com/f/matthew-cole-scotts-journey-to-recovery

LEO

SAGITTARIUS

Happy Birthday, Leo, now and forever. Ponder upon what you want/need for your birthday. Do you need a cupcake, an ice cream bar, a trip somewhere unusual, a new identity, a new past, a talk about money and investments, a teacher, a group to interact with, a new profession, expansion of your chosen profession, a wound to be healed, a brilliant relationship? Angels are standing by taking notes, waiting for your answers so they can spring into action. They remain with you all year long.

Don’t let any mixed messages created by misinformation throw you overboard into the waters of confusion. Be aware that two areas of life, home/profession, presents dual realities. There is no end to the unexpectedness occurring in our world now. At times do you feel lost? Seek care and solace from friends, but only a very few whom you trust. Things cross-cultural, religious, higher education, long journeys can help. Visualize yourself on a long adventure, a pilgrimage divinely directed. Get good shoes.

VIRGO

CAPRICORN

Something about the events or people in your life bring forth thoughts of family lineage, relatives and ancestors, birth and death. This information creates a foundation for your future life choices, with or without family, or creating a new one.

Novel ideas occur to you, which, formerly rejected, will take root and change your perceptions (about family). Nurturance is a need now either from you or toward you. Both are best. You go first.

This week tend to important activities - communication, bills, plans, agendas, purchases. Be sure your thoughts are not so internalized that you can’t reach out to others. Solitude may play a great part in the weeks ahead. When remaining behind the scenes, allow yourself to rest more so dreams have a chance to teach you new things through stories and numbers and symbols. Their messages are what the coming months will be like. Retreat to a garden. Sleep there under the stars.

You are being called to a great work. What is that. Does it have to do with life and death, with tending and nurturing others? Are you called to care for an unexpected situation? Do you need to lead now? Your life perspective has changed this past month due to certain events. A great creative surge is enveloping you. You are called to actions that affects another’s life. You are reconsidering everything.

And stepping into your role of leadership. You have been preparing for years. The time has come now. Someone needs you.

GEMINI

LIBRA

AQUARIUS

I’ve been wondering how Pluto in your 4th house of home and family environment has influenced you. I’ve wondered how this important transformative symbol has influenced your daily life and what choices you’ve had to make. Is there something about life and death you are tending to? Pluto brings forth transformation needed that we can’t push aside. And so I ask how are you, how is the family, how and where is your home?

We are standing with you.

This time is most important for Aquarians. Leo is the opposite sign to Aquarius. Leo is where your creativity resides. A profound situation is occurring in your life. There is an integration of life’s energies, past, present and future. Your experiences are the prototype of humanity’s later experiences. You are the forerunner. For you to move forward, it’s important to integrate all talents and gifts from the past. Gather them into a bundle and offer them to the world. With conscious intention.

Can you visualize this? Then a healing happens.

TAURUS

The early training (and experiences) we received as children form the foundation of who/what we are today. It’s important to see these early experiences as gifts that gradually allowed you to become awake, aware and conscious. They also allowed you to find your way and create your own brilliant life. Seeing life in this light liberates your heart and mind. Turn toward this now, speak from this position. See the glass half full with sunlight shining through it.

CANCER

The questions are what’s most important in your life these days and what is not? There’s need for determining the difference between the two. It’s important to observe your life and have practical knowledge so that difficulties don’t appear in terms of family communication. Messages may become conflicted and misunderstood. Stay within this mantra. “Let reality govern my every thought. And truth be the master of my life.”

SCORPIO

Some things new should be coming forth in your professional life, career, or in how others see you. Good things. In the meantime as you await this new reality, step forward into the public and act as an ambassador of goodwill. In a community monastery, called Figueira in Brazil, people are trained to be healers and “harmonizers.” Each of us will be called to be healing in the coming times. Consider becoming a healer and a harmonizer). It’s done silently with intention and dedication.

Humanity in crisis will need these important skills.

•••

PISCES

An event has occurred and your daily life is in question. What will you do? There are choices. Will you be here or there or yet in another direction altogether. Neptune in Pisces creates a state of confusion leading to a sense of non-direction at first. You need a witching wand, a divining rod, a branch of the hemlock or hazel or willow tree, to find the ley-lines, the currents of your future. You need a foundation now so your future can come forth. That foundation at this time is prayer. Have courage that all will be well in time.

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

In 1907 H.W. Nixon, who owned the largest skating rink in the State, came to make “… the Capitola rink on a par with his San Jose rink.” He enlarged the Capitola rink and put in a new maple floor which was said to be “… smooth as glass, none better in the State.” Nixon also provided performances by fancy and trick skaters.

The Capitola Rink and Dance Pavilion continued to draw large crowds for concerts and dances into the early 1920s. By then the skating rink came under the management of the Sizeloves, a family of professional skaters who often mounted their own shows.

Little Bebe, the little five-year-old clown, will do his funny caper on skates.

There is little seven-year-old Katy, who does stunts on roller skates so good that the management will give ten dollars to any one duplicating her stunts. And Earl, the eldest one, nine years old, does classical dances on ice or roller skates …

In 1924, the outmoded dance pavilion and rink was moved south toward the middle of the block and clad in stucco.

With a new tropical themed interior, the refurbished building became the Hawaiian Garden nightclub and ballroom.

The popular locale on the west side of San Jose Avenue operated until February 1933 when it — and most of the block — burned to the ground. n Deborah Osterberg is curator of the Capitola Historical Museum, which is open noon to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday at 410 Capitola Ave., Capitola. Contact her at capitolamuseum@gmail.com ••• Photos Courtesy of the van Zuiden Collection

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

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS COMMUNITY GRANT DEADLINE EXTENDED The City of Capitola announces the deadline for nonprofits to apply for the 2022-23 Community Grant program has been extended to 5 p.m. Aug. 15. Grants are for three years.

The Community Grant program is budgeted at $125,000 from the city general fund and $60,000 earmarked for youth and early childhood programs from a percentage of the voter-approved transient occupancy tax.

The focus is on: Stable, affordable housing and shelter, health and wellness, and healthy environments.

There are two types of grants: Operational (up to $7,500) toward general operating costs for programs that foster health & well-being of Capitola residents and Outcome ($7,500 - $15,000) toward implementation and/or evaluation of programs that foster health & wellbeing of Capitola residents; directly benefits Capitola residents.

For an application, see https://www.cityofcapitola.org/

COUNTY FAIR ENTRY INFO Most Entries due Thursday, August 25 The Santa Cruz County Fair, which will be Sept. 14-18, is using the ShoWorks online entry system this year for all departments.

For most entries, the deadline is Aug. 25. See https:// santacruz.fairwire.com/ Submitting your entries online will save you time on receiving day and help the fair display your items.

You can pay any entry fees by credit card online! Paying by credit card will incur a 3% processing fee. Checks can be dropped off at the fair office.

If you prefer paper entry forms, they are in the entry guide.

The first time you use the system, click on the blue button in the upper right corner of the page to create an exhibitor account using your name, address & email address. Youth CHIPPING FUNDS FOR WILDFIRE SAFETY exhibitors are asked to enter birthdate & age.

The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County offers neighborhoods with eight or more partici- This year, everyone needs to create an account. Write pating households a reimbursement of chipping costs down your password. Once your account is created, you for creating defensible space for wildfire preparedness. can use the username and password each time you visit the system. Use the blue buttons in the middle of the page The program is open to Santa Cruz County residents in the Wildland Urban Interface, which has potential for to move to each step. wildfire to impact their properties. Early-bird registration Find the department, division and class you wish to enter.

Departments are listed alphabetically with some departopens July 25 for FireWise USA communities; other ments broken into categories (Home Arts and Agriculture neighborhoods can apply Aug. 1 through Sept 30.

Horticulture.) Fill in the required fields, marked by blue asterisk All chipping must be completed by Oct. 30. A (*), and any optional fields needed to describe your entry. neighborhood representative can sign up to reserve funds, first-come, first served, at www.rcdsantacruz.

CAPITOLA LIBRARY ACTIVITIES org/chipping-programs.

Each property must clear vegetation within 100 feet of In-Person Tech Help: Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-Noon — Are occupied structures or 10 feet on either side of a private you stuck with a technology question? Tech savvy road that could contribute to the start or spread of wildfire. staff at the Capitola Library would like to help you The general concept is trees should be kept farthest from the house, shrubs can be closer, and lawns and bedding plants can be the closest. If your landscaping is different, improve defensibility by keeping larger trees limbed up and shrubs free of dead, dry material.

Fire crews are more likely to prioritize defending your property if you have taken steps to limit fuel loads around your buildings.

Funding is provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Fire Prevention Program.

For information email chipping@rcdsantacruz.org or call Matt Abernathy at (831) 464-2950 x28 CZU REMEMBRANCE The second annual CZU Remembrance Gathering will be Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Historic Brookdale Lodge, Highway 9, Brookdale.

Organizers Antonia Bradford and Julie Horner say there will be food, music, information on “hardening your home,” artifacts on display, donation opportunities, vendors, and art installations. To showcase your art, fire survivor or otherwise, email info@czuevent.com.

The CZU Fire took the homes of 911 families. The road to recovery has been filled with challenges and heartbreak.

There will be the chance to volunteer or make your needs known, whether you are a fire victim who needs help with your rebuild finishes or you need help clearing your property of fuel load to make your land more fire-resistant.

Bradford is working on an art installation to shine a light on what the fire community is contending with, to not only educate but also garner support. She’s asking families to fill out this survey and she will arrange a time to meet you: https://forms.gle/YoLiQAqcHW1EzpMN7

CDFW’s North Central Region initiated this familyfriendly competition during the pandemic as a delightful and educational way for families to explore nature close to home — in their backyards, neighborhoods and local wild areas — while having fun outside and working together to complete nature-related activities. troubleshoot your issue with a 30-minute (or less) The 2022 challenge includes two scavenger hunts, appointment. (Except July 12) one provided by CDFW and the other to be created by Preschool Storytime: Tuesdays, 11-11:45 a.m. your family. There is also an extra credit element of — Join us outside on the deck to read stories, sing cataloging your found items – just like a scientist. songs, and chant rhymes. There will be an art & To sign up and receive the Nature Bowl 2022: Family craft project to pick up and complete at home.

Challenge packet, email genelle.treaster@wildlife.ca.gov Aptos-Capitola Chess Club: Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. — . The Family Challenge packet is available at https:// Come and play chess, one of the world’s oldest and most wildlife.ca.gov/Regions/2/Nature-Bowl popular games, against other kids! One-hour meetings include 15 minutes of instruction by chess master Dana SCCCUBY MASCOT SEARCH Mackenzie. For ages 6 to 18. (no session Aug. 2) Santa Cruz Community Credit Union leaders are looking Toddler Time: Wednesdays, 11-11:30 a.m. — is a for their next mascot, SCCCUBY. If you have or know a weekly early literacy program for families with children charismatic, canine friend, you might be looking at the ages 0-3 years old. Music, movement, stories, fingerplays, next SCCCUBY. To enter, from July 25 – Aug. 10, post a favorite rhymes, and songs are a fun way for your child to learn. picture of your dog on Instagram and tag #Search••• forSCCCUBY, or email your photo to marketing@scccu.

Mondays, Aug. 1 & 8 — Bridge Club, 10:30 a.m.org and in-clude your name and the name of the dog. noon. Register at Santa Cruz County Parks Sunday, Aug. 7 — Advisory Council of Teens, 2-4 p.m. If your dog becomes the next SCCCU mascot, you win a $100 gift card to Western Feed Supply. The runner-up for ages 12-18 will win a $50 gift card to Mountain Feed Store in Ben Friday, Aug. 12 — Live Oak Book Group, 1:45-3:15 p.m.

This month’s selection is The Round House by Louise Erdrich. Lomond. SCCCUBY will be featured in future marketing campaigns, including a special Instagram feed.

For information email Julie Soto (sotoj@santacruzpl.org).

The winner will be announced Aug. 16, at Santa Wednesday, Aug. 24 — HICAP Medicare Presentation, Cruz Community Credit Union’s 45th anniversary party 10:30-11:30 a.m. Learn how to save money each year 5-6:30 p.m. at the Soquel branch. by using the Medicare.gov website to be sure you have https://scccu.org the least expensive Part D plan for your prescriptions.

Presented by the Health Insurance Counseling and CABRILLO YOUTH STRINGS FALL SEMESTER Advocacy Program, part of Senior Network Services.

The Cabrillo Youth Strings Music Program will begin its fall semester Friday, Sept. 9. Classes will be on NATURE BOWL 2022: FAMILY CHALLENGE consecutive Fridays for nine weeks in the Music Back by popular demand, the California Department of Building, VAPA, at the campus in Aptos. An entry-level Fish and Wildlife’s Nature Bowl 2022: Family Challenge String Orchestra Class, Grades 4-6 Beginning Strings for violin/viola/cello will be offered Fridays, 4-5:15 p.m. is open, with the deadline to enter Wed., Aug. 31.

Auditions for Festival Strings (beginning note-readers) and Cabrillo Strings (intermediate-advanced) will be 3:45-4:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, 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.

String players ages 5 to 18 are welcome. Students must provide their own instruments and bring pencils & music stands.

Covid-19 distancing will be followed. Students and parents must wear N94/95 masks or a double mask that includes a surgical mask outside and inside the music building, except when alone.

A concert is planned for Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. To participate or make contributions, call (831) 479-6101 or visit https://www.cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-youth-strings.

Register through Cabrillo Extension, 479-6331, or extension.cabrillo.edu before the first class.

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by August 19

Friday August 5 thur Sunday August 7

VENDORS WANTED The Cabrillo Host Lions Club is looking for vendors for the 2022 Midsummer Magic Market, taking place Saturday, Aug. 20, at Aptos Village Park.

The Market features collectables, gifts, art, jewelry, produce, and more. What do you have?

Canopies on the grass are $30 each. Reservations are due by July 31.

Proceeds go to Lions local charities. Contact 831-688-3356 for information.

The Watsonville Strawberry Festival traces its roots to the Watsonville Strawberry Dessert Festival founded in 1994 to help downtown Watsonville recover from the Loma Prieta earthquake. The Festival now exists to provide a safe, family-friendly experience, recognize the largest and most valuable crop in the Pajaro Valley; and provide nonprofits an opportunity to raise funds and showcase their work.

The festival is hosted by the city Parks & Community Services Department. There will be food, family activities, vendors, and live entertainment.

Hours Friday: 5-9 p.m. (carnival only) • Saturday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. • Sunday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

CANDIDATE FILING CLOSES AUG. 12 Three seats are open on the Capitola City Council. If an incumbent does not file, the deadline is extended to Aug. 17.

As of July 22, Gerry Jensen, Alexander Pedersen, and incumbent Yvette Brooks have been issued nomination papers.

For updates, see: https://www.cityofcapitola.org/cityadministration/page/2022-city-council-candidates

WATSONVILLE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

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

COMMUNITY CALENDAR 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.

You are not alone. You are not to blame.

More info: (831) 423-7601 or www.survivorshealingcenter.org

DATED EVENTS Wednesday August 3

ALZHEIMER’S BUSINESS MIXER 5-7 p.m., Aptos St. BBQ, 8059 Aptos St., Aptos Join the Alzheimer’s Association’s Business Mixer at Aptos St. BBQ to discuss wellness, equity, and longevity in the workforce. Some 57% of employed caregivers had to go into work late, leave early, or take time off due to ONGOING EVENTS caregiving demands. Your colleagues could be dementia Tuesdays caregivers whose struggles are never discussed. Support people facing Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM Free admission; register at: https://tinyurl.com/ 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting alz-biz-mixer-2022 (Full URL: https://www.eventbrite.

BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated by com/e/santa-cruz-walk-to-end-alzheimers-business-mixera licensed grief counseling therapist. tickets-377003817567?utm-campaign=social&utmRegister at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefcontent=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-termsupport or call 831-471-7255. =listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb) BINGO AT THE MID-COUNTY SENIOR CENTER To register for the Sept. 17 Walk to End Alzheimer’s, 1-3 p.m., Mid-County Senior Center, 829 Bay Avenue, Capitola see https://act.alz.org/ The Mid-County Senior Center is hosting Bingo games. The Questions? Contact Walk manager Meggie Pina, santacruevent includes coffee and tea or lunch is available for purchase. zwalk@alz.org or (831) 900-5903 The cost is $10 to get started, must be over 18 to Tuesday August 9 play and proof of vaccination is required. Proceeds benefit the center and local seniors.

RETIREE BBQ For information call 831-476-4711.

11:30 a.m., Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road Retired Public Employees Association of Santa Cruz Wednesdays thru Aug. 31 County will host their annual BBQ at Aptos Village Park.

CAPITOLA TWILIGHT CONCERT SERIES $10 per person. Reserve by calling 831-476-2960 by Aug. 1.

6-8 p.m., Capitola Village Esplanade Park bandstand Come out to see, hear, and dance to your favorite band Saturday August 13 playing your favorite genre of music whether it be blues, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, salsa & latin, or classic rock. WATSONVILLE ROTARY: CLAWS FOR A CAUSE Bands appearing throughout the summer include the 2-4 p.m., Watsonville Elks Lodge, 121 Martinelli St. John Michael Band, Mike Hammar & The Nails, The Joint The Watsonville Rotary Club Foundation is again Chiefs Band, Live Again, Santa Cruz Latin Collective, Billy offering “Claws for a Cause” Maine Lobster DriveMartini Show, Jive Machine, Dirty Cello, B-Movie Kings, Through Dinner Fundraiser at Watsonville Elks Lodge. and the Digbeats.

Last year’s event netted close to $30,000 for youth.

Patrons and sponsors raved about the food.

Fridays through Sept 30 Same delicious menu this year with this change from MIDTOWN FRIDAYS vendor New England Lobster Co.:This year’s dinners will 5-8:30 p.m., Midtown Square, 1111 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz NOT be pre-cooked to take home and reheat. All the Featuring 25 local bands plus local eats and local food is fresh, so you take it home & cook it — ready to artists and vendors.

The live music lineup presented by Off The Lip Radio serve in 30 minutes in a steampot on your stovetop.

Includes 1¼ lb. lobsters (or tails if requested), shrimp, Show includes (in order of appearance): August corn on the cob, sausages, artichokes, potatoes, Fuse (Opening – John Michael sings Sinatra) • Pacific garlic, and sourdough baguette — lobster bibs, lobster Roots (Opening – The Dead Kampers) • John Michael crackers and placemat included.

Van Halen Tribute Band • Locomotive Breath Dinner for two is $85. Order & view cooking September instructions at https://www.eventbrite.

The Joint Chiefs • Papiba & Friends • Anthony Arya com/e/2022-watsonville-rotary-claws-for-a-cause-maineBand • Sweet Voodoo • The Grand Finale See https://www.eventsantacruz.com/event/midtown-fridays- lobster-to-go-fundraiser-tickets-291025815047 summer-block-party-2022/ Third Friday each month FOOD TRUCKS AT MONTEREY PARK 4-7 p.m. thru September Presented by the Capitola Recreation Department, these are family-friendly events featuring some of Santa Cruz County’s best food trucks, as well as, a beer garden for the adults.

Catch up with your neighbors while having food and drink in an outdoor setting.

Saturdays & Sundays ECOLOGICAL RESERVE TOURS AT ELKHORN SLOUGH Tours start: 10 a.m. Sat. and Sun.,1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville Volunteers lead walks highlighting the natural history of the Elkhorn Slough. Group size is limited to one household or up to five people, and individuals must sign up on a first-come, first-served basis.

Groups of six or more should call ahead at (831) 728-2822 or visit https://www.elkhornslough.org/ group-reservation/ to reserve a tour.

For more info, visit www.elkhornslough.org/esnerr/tours/

Saturday August 20 Sunday August 21 SCOTTS VALLEY ART WINE & BEER FESTIVAL 10 a.m., Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road The Scotts Valley Art Wine & Beer Festival returns to Skypark, featuring 100+ artists, local wineries and breweries, and live music.

Saturday (to 6 pm.)

Cops ‘n Rodders: Register your 1985 or older car. https://www.svartfestival.com/cops-n-rodders/ 11-noon: International Academy of Dance Competition and Performance Teams 12:30-2: Paperback Ryders 2:30 – 4: The Shady Rest Band 4:30 – 6: Lyin’ I’s Eagles tribute band Sunday (to 5 pm) Dog Day contest starts 11 am with emcee Phil Gomez, lots of prizes 10-noon: SV Schools Talent show 12:30-1: Bobbie Wards Performance Vocal 1:30 – 3: The Joint Chiefs 3:30 – 5: The Lost Boys featuring James Durbin Order tasting kits $25-$40 online, at https:// svartwinebeerfest.regfox.com/2022-pre-sale-drink-tastingkits-festival-weekend-sales

Saturday August 27 ‘NO RESPECT!’ PLAYS AT 14TH ANNUAL TESTICLE FESTIVAL 3-7 p.m., Estrada Deer Camp, Watsonville The 14th Annual Testicle Festival, put on by the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, will be at Estrada Deer Camp.

The “No Respect!” band, known for their wide range of songs from rock n’ roll to Latin, will entertain.

Local chef Loretta Estrada, will prepare the Rocky Mountain oysters and firefighter Derek Witmer will barbecue the chicken. The price is $60 for adults, $30 for children 6-12 and free for children under 5. There will be a raffle, live and silent auction plus Cow Pie Bingo.

Attendees will be able to vote on their favorites entered in “It’s All in the Sauce” Contest.

For information, visit www.Agri-Culture.us or buy tickets at www.eventbrite.com (search for “Testicle Festival” in Watsonville).

Sunday August 28

EIGHTH ANNUAL TOUCH-A-TRUCK Noon–4 p.m., Salinas Rodeo Grounds, 1034 N Main St Coastal Kids Home Care hosts the Eighth annual Touch-A-Truck, a day of fun for kids and kids-at-heart to climb and explore their favorite trucks at the Salinas Rodeo Grounds.

More than 50 emergency, construction, utility and other vehicles will be available along with food trucks, entertainment, arts and crafts, and face painting. Enter a raffle for a chance to win tickets to Disneyland & local attractions.

Admission is $5 per person or $20 per family.

Proceeds benefit Coastal Kids Home Care, local provider of in-home medical, social service, and therapy visits to children living with illness.

To purchase advance tickets see: https://coastalkidshomecare.org/touchatruck/ or email coastalkidshomecare@ gmail.com n

DISCOVER THE JOY OF LEARNING AT

Sunday August 14

ART AT THE BEACH 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., City of Capitola Beach On these Sundays, there will be booths with quality artwork including painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry and mixed media from local artists. If you arrive early, you may be serenaded by the impromptu ukulele players.

Saturday August 20 BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE 3 p.m., London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz The SF Mime Troupe will present Back To the Ways Things Were, outdoors at the London Nelson Community Center, with the band playing at 2:30 p.m.

This new musical, with catchy tunes, features a fiveperson cast including veteran SF Mime Troupe collective member Keiko Shimosato Carreiro, who is joined by Andre Amarotico, Lizzie Calogero, Norman Gee and Alicia M. P. Nelson. 90-minute family-friendly show, no intermission.

Free admission ($20 suggested donation)

Kirby School is a 6th-12th grade independent school serving families in Santa Cruz and beyond for over 25 years. We offer Tuition Assistance and a Test-free Application process.

Kirby School 425 Encinal Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 admissions@kirby.org | kirby.org

Visit KIRBY.ORG to learn more.

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

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Fire Season: Are You Prepared?

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

Editor’s note: The Anzar fire, which started July 21, consumed 104 acres as of Tuesday at Anzar Road and Forest Road near the Aromas Graniterock Quarry in San Benito County and forced residents to evacuate, is 95% contained and residents allowed to return home., according to CalFire. Here is timely advice on ways to reduce your wildfire risk.

••• ith our continued drought conditions comes the increased risk of a serious fire season.

At a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, Santa Cruz County Fire Chief Nate Armstrong provided an overview of our current fire conditions as well as an overview of the work that CalFire/ County Fire have been doing on prevention.

As expected, this year the fire risk remains high.

Following an extremely dry first quarter of the year, local fire agencies are encouraging residents to help protect your homes and businesses from fire risk.

What Steps Can You Take to Mitigate Risk? here are some things that you can do to help protect your home or business from a wildfire or a structure fire. Here are some general tips to get started.

One of the first things is to ensure you have a home emergency plan (and evacuation plan) and practice it with your family. All homes should have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and at least one ABC-rated fire extinguisher in your home. You can sign up for emergency notices, such as Code Red at www.scr911. org to learn about possible evacuations or changes in conditions.

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Ensuring the Fire Department can respond quickly also means having visible address numbers on the outside of your home and business (and if you have a sidewalk — along the curb).

All homes should be kept clear of combustible debris such as cardboard boxes, rags, paper products, flammable liquids.

Fireplaces and wood stoves should be maintained and cleaned and inspected annually.

The topography of Santa Cruz County, and location of homes within the rural areas, means that it’s imperative to create a defensible space around your home.

Defensible space is the buffer you create between your home or business and the vegetation that surrounds them to prevent these structures from catching fire. The defensible space can reduce risk to both your home (from fire directly or radiant heat associated with fire) as well as to firefighters using the space to defend your property.

How Do You Create a Defensible Space? alifornia State law requires you maintain 100 feet of defensible space around your home and other buildings on your property. This is a minimum recommended amount and should be increased if your home is on a steep slope.

You can create a defensible space by ensuring that trees are the furthest from your home and that elements that are less likely to burn (or burn at lower temperatures) such as small plants/beddings/high-water content plants are closer to the home.

For the first 30 feet from all buildings, decks and structures you should: • Remove or mow all dead plants, grass, or weeds.

• Create paved or gravel driveways, walkways, patios as firebreaks • Remove dead or dry

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leaves and needles from yard, roof, and gutters.

• Trim trees regularly and maintain a minimum of 10 feet between canopies.

• Remove branches that overhang your roof and any dead branches close to the chimney.

• Remove flammable items near any structure For the next 70+ feet from your home (extending to at least 100 feet from your home) you should: • Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4” • Maintain 10 foot clearance around woodpiles • Thin trees and shrubs and leave big gaps between plants • Remove dead or dry leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and branches from ground.

How Can You Get More Information? he Central Fire Protection District website — https://www.centralfiresc.org — contains preparedness information on defensible space, general fire prevention and even the power shutoffs that have occurred.

Fire Safe Santa Cruz County also maintains a comprehensive site with downloadable fact sheets and videos on how to prepare your home or business www.firesafesantacruz.org.

Lastly, the County’s OR3 website has a resources link with a lot of valuable information: https://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ OR3.aspx As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue). n I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/supervisorfriend and you can always call me at 454-2200.

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SCCAS Featured Pet

T

Meet Shaggy!

his charming fella is sure to win your heart – just look at his handsome tricolor face!

Shaggy is looking for a new place to call home because his family was moving and couldn’t bring him along.

Shaggy loves carrots, romaine lettuce, kale, and lots of hay!

We are sure he will love a home that will give him some space to stretch his little legs and lots of boxes and toys to play with.

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

crossword on 25 »

••• 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

COMMUNITY NEWS

Jobs in Santa Cruz County June 2022 Change from

June 2021 Government 22,700 Up 1,700 Leisure/hospitality 13,500 Up 600 Manufacturing 7,900 Up 400 Professional/ 10,800 Up 300 business services Construction 4,900 Up 200 Private education 17,300 Up 200 & health Financial 3,300 Up 100 Other 4,800 Up 100 Trade/utilities/ 16,300 no change transportation Information 600 no change Nonfarm 102,100 Up 3,600 Farm 9,600 Up 100 Total 111,700 Up 3,700 ~~~ Labor force 136,600 Up .8% Employment* 131,300 Up 4% Unemployment 5,200 Down 46% Unemployment rate 3.8% 7.2% Count is from the 12th of the month *Includes commuters out of the county Source: California Employment Development Department •••

Locally Ownedd! and Operate

munity for serving The com over 30 years

Unemployment in Santa Cruz County ticketed up from 3.6% in May to 3.8% in June because the labor force grew from 134,900 to 136,600.

May’s unemployment was the lowest since the pandemic arrived in March 2020.

The local government sector typically grows in the summer to offer youth recreation programs, and that happened as usual this year.

The hospitality sector also typically grows in the summer to accommodate tourists, and that happened this year.

Construction, a typically higherpaying sector, expanded for the better summer weather.

Aegis Living, the assisted living residence in Aptos with memory care, is recruiting staff. n

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

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