Come To the Water Harvest Festival, By Rebecca Gold Rubin

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Come To the Water Harvest Festival

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

Over the last year or so, many of our customers and community members have asked us this question: “When will the annual Water Harvest Festival Family Fun Day return as an in-person event?”

As we all know, the pandemic limited this event to an onlineonly version during the last two years. But today, nearly 80%* of people in Santa Cruz County are fully vaccinated and case rates are far more manageable than earlier in the pandemic.

With that good news, we’re thrilled to let everyone know that next month, we will once again welcome families to this muchloved annual activity, live and in-person for the first time since 2019!

Everyone is invited to the Free 2022 Water Harvest Festival Family Fun Day:

Saturday, Oct. 8 from 11 am to 3 pm Heart of Soquel Park, 4740 Soquel Drive behind Soquel Village Post Office

The Water Harvest Festival celebrates our local water resources, which are crucial to our everyday lives and to the very future of our community.

This festive event will be filled with wonderful, entertaining water education activities for all ages. Who knew that hands-on learning about water could be so fun?

The District and our event partners are planning lots of exciting and delightful ways to bring the wonders of water to attendees. From water resources, water-wise gardening, and water supply, to groundwater geology, water infrastructure and plumbing, water conservation, watershed protection, and pollution prevention — the Water Harvest Festival offers great fun around all things watery, for kids and adults alike! Each of our participating partner organizations will have their own interactive water education activity. With a festival “passport” in hand, kids can get a stamp for participating in every booth activity, to gain entry into a raffle for fun prizes. There will be free face painting, snacks, and our very special guests — The Banana Slug String Band. This joyful event will bring us all together to celebrate the ever-present importance of water, for today and for future generations.

In addition to the Soquel Creek Water District, our partner organizations scheduled to participate include:

County of Santa Cruz Public Works

Eat for Earth

Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

Love’s Garden

Resource Conservation District of Santa

Cruz County

Sea Otter Savvy

San Lorenzo Lumber with its Rain Tank

Display

Santa Cruz County Parks

Soquel Creek Water District

“Jobs” from page 19 Unemployment rate 3.7% 6.5%

Count is from the 12th of the month *Includes commuters out of the county

Source: California Employment Development Department

•••

Unemployment in Santa Cruz County was 3.7% in July compared to 3.8% in June as the labor force grew from 136,500 to 137,600.

July’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.

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

Many employees have posted signs, saying, “We’re hiring,” to no avail.

The number of people unemployed has hovered around 5,000 for three months; a year ago, it was 8,900 unemployed.

California’s July 2022 unemployment rate of 3.9% is the lowest on record, dating back to 1976.

The state has now regained 2,685,100 of the 2,758,900 nonfarm jobs lost — 97.3% — during March and April of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. n

Water Conservation Coalition of Santa

Cruz County

A big “thank you” to these sponsors of the Water Harvest Festival, who are part of the design and construction of the Pure Water Soquel Groundwater Replenishment and Seawater Intrusion Prevention Project: Black & Veatch, ESA, and Kennedy Jenks, Brown and Caldwell, and Gutierrez Consultants.

Since the first event in 2018, the Water Harvest Festival has drawn hundreds of people from throughout the region for a fun, family-friendly time. Parking at Heart of Soquel Park is limited, so please consider walking, biking, public transit, and carpooling.

Do not miss the return of Soquel Creek Water District’s Water Harvest Festival, in-person! We’re looking forward to seeing you on Oct. 8! n

•••

For the most up to date information, visit www.soquelcreekwater.org/271/WaterHarvest-Festival *Source: County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency

Football

ACROSS

1. ‘90s Don Johnson TV character 5. India’s smallest state 8. Light on one’s feet 12. Arctic floater 13. Mouthful, swallowed 14. Rocks at mountain base 15. Reading helper 16. Serve soup 17. Clean & ____, in a workout 18. *QB’s target 20. Wholly engrossed 21. Religious ritual table 22. Scot’s woolen cap 23. Relating to milk 26. Oil-producing plant 30. Shakespearean “fuss” 31. Crowd 34. Like the White Rabbit 35. Chip feature 37. Mozart’s “L’____ del

Cairo” 38. Asian goat antelope 39. Turn sharply 40. Yield 42. Compass bearing 43. *When QB changes play at line of scrimmage 45. ____ identity 47. Failed Molotov cocktail 48. Alicia Keys’ instrument 50. Final notice 52. *It results in change of possession in football 55. Off-white color 56. Actor Pitt 57. Type of ore 59. Classic TV’s “lovely lady” 60. Stiff hair 61. Vegetative state 62. Distinctive elegance 63. Prior to, prefix 64. *Tom Brady’s 2008, 2018 or 2021 award

DOWN

1. *Professional football org. 2. Relating to armpit 3. Not all 4. Jazz subculture hipster 5. Tropical juice flavor 6. Comparative form of #40 Down 7. Imitator 8. *QB’s run 9. SAT or ACT ____ course 10. Catch one’s breath 11. “Owner of a Lonely

Heart” band 13. Malfunction 14. Hair product 19. Chosen few 22. Dress like Ancient

Greeks 23. Butterfly, premetamorphosis 24. Bye, to …lisabeth

Borne 25. Encrypted 26. *a.k.a. hike 27. Dog-____ pages 28. Do penance 29. Not as old 32. Casanova, e.g. 33. Two before Dec. 36. *NFL playing field 38. Shorthand 40. Antediluvian 41. Idi Amin’s country 44. Butane derivative 46. Not an expert 48. Less adulterated 49. All worked up 50. Like Joe Biden’s office 51. ____ Bora 52. Chef’s amt. 53. Son of Aphrodite 54. Boisterous play 55. *____ the kicker 58. “Uh-uh”

The Sun is in Virgo, an earth sign, offering us a picture of Ceres in the garden tending to Persephone, her daughter, who soon will enter into the underworld. And then Ceres, missing her daughter falls into grief and transforms the warmth of summer into the cool days of autumn and then the snowy cold of winter. And so the story goes.

Virgo is the sign of the Virgin Mother, pregnant with the holy child (new light), born at Winter Solstice. The child represents the Soul within each of us, the new light within that guides and directs the personalities of disciples. Virgo is the Virgin (pure) Mother who within her being is made of three components - Spirit, Soul and matter itself. As is humanity. These are esoteric temple mysteries written in the stars and in plain sight for all to see each month.

Wednesday, Uranus, the “awakener” becomes stationary retrograde, joining four other planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto - and one asteroid (Chiron) also retrograde. (Note: retrograde planets can be unpredictable to the point of magical.)

Uranus rules the Aquarian Age and Aquarius is the sign of humanity learning about true friendship, cooperation and community. Uranus will be retrograde till January 22, 2023. Uranus will remain in Taurus during its retrograde. Taurus is our stability, the illumined mind, it’s land, resources, money, possessions. It’s gold and all things that glitter. Uranus retrograde is an explosive energy if repressed. Uranus is potent, deeply psychological, analytical, with intuition and revelations occurring at the speed of light. Freedom is reawakened (think 1960s which our present times reflect on a higher dimension).

Virgo flows through Mercury before it reaches the hearts and minds of humanity. In Virgo, we analyze, refine, improve, and seek to serve others. For parents with Virgo children, we teach them how to first ‘serve” and care for themselves. This lays the groundwork for true service later on. “Let matter reign,” is the personality seed thought of Virgo. n

ARIES In the next several months you’ll break from the past and all things (people, ideas, beliefs, fears) that have hindered your freedom, self-identity, creativity and self-expression. You trusted others to have your interests at heart. However, you found this wasn’t always possible. An awakening is occurring informing you to be strong and make decisions about and for yourself, and to change your image to that of success. You can do this.

LEO More and more you find yourself thinking unconventional thoughts, doing out of the ordinary activities that actually begin to describe who you really are and provide you with freedom of expression. It would be good to tell close friends and family that you’re moving into an unusual, original, perhaps eccentric period of creativeness. It’s also a time to seek more play. Unusual attractions occur, too.

SAGITTARIUS You may be traveling unexpectedly. Perhaps travel is already planned. Something unexpected will occur providing you with a sense of freedom, liberation from difficult feelings, past beliefs, and that ongoing sense of limitation. Notice as you see the world differently than most, those that you meet reflect that difference. Tradition is cast to the winds as you begin to cherish and welcome the unconventional. It’s time to study something (unusual).

TAURUS You are awakening to the fact that you are of great value, something not realized before to such depth. As your thought of self as valuable grows, all that you value will change. I have found that without a sense of self-confidence firmly established there is less forward movement because the self doesn’t know what to choose or how to take action. This will change. Watch your finances. Always ask if your choice and actions are practical.

VIRGO The habitual, regular, normal, consistent, orderly and routine in daily life, work and relationships change unexpectedly. Anything confining will be liberated, including ideas and beliefs that create separations and block love, in your life. You might feel restless, and so a new rhythm will be found. Unusual methods of healing — laser light, energetic medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture — are of interest. Eventually only the unconventional (read holistic) will make sense.

CAPRICORN There is a review occurring concerning how you live each day, what your plans have been and what you want them to be. Also, you consider your career, how you as an authority relate to others. You want to be free of the past. However the past hasn’t revealed all of its secrets yet. More of your talents will be discovered, along with recognition that you approach your work in the world with dedication and care. Wherever you are, whenever you appear on the scene, everyone feels liberated. That is quite a gift!

GEMINI A return to a place with people previously known has, is or will be happening. You return to a neighborhood from long ago, or think about it to better understand that time in your life. You need new realities, ideas, fields of study, concepts that expose you to the future. Seeking new routines, you might dress, think, relate and express yourself differently. A new lifepattern comes forth. Read Christopher Alexander’s “A Pattern Language.”

CANCER You’ll return to an earlier interest, work, theme concerning family and home seeing how your history and early life interface with and influence your present. Don’t be surprised if home life is somehow disrupted, if time speeds up and slows down (like the tides), if routines keep changing, if decisions are quickly called for while patience dwindles. Hold all these things within a spirit of understanding that there’s no more normal, anywhere. For all of us, this is preparation.

LIBRA If interactions or relationships seem confusing or difficult, you’ll quickly walk away thinking the situation too hard to bear. Cooperation is needed to understand what actions are appropriate and, if everything feels limiting, how to respond. Explore with those you love ways that bring about wonder to replace boredom. Explore the impossible, impractical, the unattainable and the unachievable. The outcome is interesting, almost magical.

SCORPIO It’s a good idea to tend to money and resources with extra care as something could occur that’s unexpected, especially with shared resources. Keep up with all legal deadlines and matters – taxes, loans, debt. If not taken care of pleasure and ease could be limited and expenditures multiply. Something experimental and unusual will take place. Expect this and maintain balance each day through intentional Goodwill which creates Right Relations.

AQUARIUS Your circle of friends, groups that surround and love you, accept and listen intently to your hopes, wishes and needs. They begin to study what you are teaching for they are devoted to helping you and thus creating a life filled with all things new. A review each day is necessary. It provides a foundation for the needs of the coming days and weeks. what is to come forth. This is based on listening, asking, observing needs. These are the requirements of the Aquarian Age. Uranus provides the pathway.

PISCES Things unconscious and habitual come into your awareness. Then they are released. How do you feel about being anonymous and behind the scenes instead of being front and center? Pisces often hides away, initiating new realities from behind the scenes. Anything secret, already somewhat exposed, will have more light shed upon it. Nothing’s private anymore. The past needs shaking up and interesting coincidences continue to occur. The shimmering future eventually comes into view. “Report Card” from page 20

Ms. Carissa Lemos, formerly the Santa Cruz Gardens Principal, is now our district’s Director of Student Services. Ms. Lemos brings their experience as a special educator and school administrator to their new position. Their simultaneously caring and analytical leadership style will ensure ALL students have the support they need.

Over the summer, across the district, we onboarded and welcomed a total of 25 teachers and support staff to the SUESD Family!

We officially have a Dual Language Immersion class! Twenty-six bright and eager kindergarten students were greeted by a new Soquel Elementary teacher, Ms. Hilda Oliva, on the first day of school. This group will go on an exciting bilingual quest over the next six years as they prepare for their future with the ability to communicate in both Spanish and English.

There are openings in our Home-Based Learning Model School, Opal Cliffs. The school’s program is an innovative and individualized approach to learning. You can learn more about it at https://www.suesd.org/ opal-cliffs-school.

You may have noticed some facility projects going on at our schools. The most prominent of these is the solar shade structures. These new additions will provide shade either in the parking lot or field of each school as well as make our district greener by providing solar energy. There are also beautiful new windows being installed at New Brighton Middle School, continuing the facelift the school has undergone in recent years.

Award winners! This past April, Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary School and SUESD were honored with two Pivotal Practice Awards from the California Department of Education. The Pivotal Practice Awards were used last year as a Covid-differentiated replacement for the California Distinguished Schools program. The awards reflected the dynamic “pivots” schools and districts have had to make through the pandemic and focus on four target areas: Student Engagement, Distribution of Technology, Nutrition Services, and Social Emotional Well-Being of Students. You can learn more about Pivotal Practice awards at https:// tinyurl.com/SUESD-pivotal-practice.

Last, but certainly not least, I am pleased to announce our district was able to come to a tentative agreement over the summer with our Teachers’ Association, SEA, on a multiyear agreement that will increase our salary schedule by over 15%! That tentative agreement has since been ratified unanimously by SEA and approved unanimously by our school board. We are so grateful this year’s state budget provided the resources which allowed us to offer our teachers and staff the kind of raise they deserve.

That’s all for now. I look forward to sharing future articles with you throughout the school year so you know all of the great happenings in SUESD. n •••

Scott J. Turnbull is superintendent of Soquel Union Elementary School District.