Capitola Soquel Times: July 2024

Dream of Housing and Health Care Now a Reality

By Jondi Gumz

County Roads Deplorable, Grand Jury Finds

During our investigation the Grand Jury has found that roads in the unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County are in deplorable condition.

On May 29, nonprofit MidPen Housing hosted a celebration for Bienestar Plaza Apartments, 57 affordable rentals at 1520 Capitola Road, Live Oak, long awaited and much needed in this community. The apartments are next to a 20,000-square-foot health clinic opened by nonprofit Santa Cruz Community Health and nonprofit Dientes Community Dental Care 11-chair clinic, both of which opened in 2022. ... continues on page 4

Capitola Village Business Association Gives $6,000 for Wharf Amenities

In June, the Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project, which concluded its primary fundraising efforts early this year, has received a generous and unexpected donation from the Capitola Village Business Improvement Association for $6,000. Full Story page 5

Dream of Housing and Health Care Now a Reality, By Jondi Gumz Community News

5 Capitola Village Business Association Gives $6,000 for Wharf Amenities: Grand Opening Date Now Sept. 25

6 In The Heights: July 11 – August 4 at Cabrillo Stage, By Mindy Pedlar

7 Raising $75,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters

8 Aptos High Students Build Tiny Home, By Jondi Gumz

9 Clean California Projects in Santa Cruz County

10 Two Victories for Local Schools, By Natalia Rodriguez

12 County Roads Deplorable, Grand Jury Finds: Special District Assessment of $56 Not Increased in 36 Years • Your Giant Dipper Memories

15 Santa Cruz County ParkRx: Spend Time Outdoors for Better Health • Selina Ge wins Congressional Art Award • SHFB Calls for Summer Volunteers

18 New Superintendent Live Oak School District: $45 Million Bond for Workforce Housing on Nov. 5 Ballot, By Jondi Gumz • SBA Loans Available for Storm Damage Repairs

22 Grand Jury Wants Citizen Review of Child Protective Services: Determining the Best Interest of a Child is Difficult

24 2024 Wharf to Wharf Race Official Poster: Ode to the Capitola Wharf by Tori Schweyer

26 Bay Federal Promotes Bennett, Torres 31 Visions of America Letters to the Editor

9 Public Meeting Protections Are Important • Films Raise $11,000 for WomenCare

11 SLV’s Dahlen MVP: SCCAL All League: Boys Golf 2023-24 • Jorden Espinoza is Pitcher of the Year • 2024 PCAL All-League Girls Lacrosse Business Profile

19 Knox Garden Box: An Invention That Met a Need, By Natalia Rodriguez California News

20 Panetta Meets New Taiwan President Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Building a Lighted House for Humanity, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

Columnists

13 $0 Road Maintenance Not Sustainable, By Manu Koenig, Supervisor, First District • County Road Work: How Much is Spent? 24 Support Treasure Cove, Where Kids of All Abilities Can Play Together, By Dan Haifley

30 The Importance of Community Involvement at Soquel Creek Water, By Rebecca Gold Rubin

COVER STORY

“Housing & Health” from page 1

Jondi Gumz contributing writers

Jondi Gumz, Mindy Pedlar, Natalia Rodriguez, Risa D’Angeles, Manu Koenig, Dan Haifley, Rebecca Gold

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This completes the vision of a partnership by Santa Cruz Community Health and Dientes and MidPen to turn an unused county property into a campus of health and housing in one location, which is rare but may become less rare locally.

The project was six years in the making.

“I’m very excited that these units are opening today,” said First District Supervisor Manu Koenig, Santa Cruz County. “Our community needs them. This model of combining housing and health care holds a lot of promise and the County is looking at more opportunities like this.”

Matthew O. Franklin, president and CEO of MidPen Housing, observed, “Housing is healthcare, and the combination of safe, affordable homes and access to high-quality healthcare services helps people thrive.”

He added, “We applaud the County and our partners for their vision and commitment to a true community development that serves working families and people with the greatest need.”

The clinics together serve more than 12,000 patients, including MidPen residents, who now have next-door access to low-cost medical and dental care.

The county Redevelopment Agency was the prior owner.

After the state ended redevelopment, the county sold it to the nonprofits, lowering the price due to 30 years of remediation required because high levels of tetrachloroethylene, a

cancer-causing chemical, was released into the ground by neighboring Fairway Dry Cleaning, no longer in business.

Renters at Bienestar Plaza include families and some with special needs, including people who have been homeless.

The one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments are affordable for people earning 30%-80% of area median income (currently $29,200-$111,500, depending on family size).

Amenities include a community room with kitchen, a learning center, a multipurpose meeting room, a central courtyard with BBQs and play structures, and a community garden with Native artwork that honors the earliest stewards of the land.

Neighbors got their first look at the projected $46 million project at a community meeting in 2018 hosted by Leslie Conner and Laura Marcus.

And now it’s a reality.

Financing was provided by the County of Santa Cruz, the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Wells Fargo, the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, Central California Alliance for Health, and Central Coast Community Energy.

“Central California Alliance for Health is proud to support the construction of MidPen Housing’s Bienestar Plaza through a grant from our Medi-Cal Capacity Grant Program,” said Michael Schrader, chief executive officer at the Alliance, the state-funded health plan that provides Medi-Cal insurance to people in five counties including Santa Cruz.

“This development recognizes that housing is one of the most important social determinants of health that directly impacts an individual’s health outcomes,” he added. “By providing supportive housing co-located with high-quality healthcare services, Bienestar Plaza empowers our members to achieve positive health outcomes and remain stably housed.”

Bienestar Plaza’s architect is Wald Ruhnke & Dost Architects and the general contractor is Bogard Construction, Inc. Learn more at state-funded health plan that provides Medi-Cal insurance: http://www. midpen-housing.org.

A plaque recognizes that American hero Robert Merriman, a graduate of Santa Cruz High School, once lived here and raised chickens. He got his college degree in 1932, and volunteered in the 1930s to fight fascism in the Spanish Civil War, going missing near Barcelona in 1938. He is believed to be the role model for Ernest Hemingway’s protagonist Robert Jordan in his wartime novel, “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”

Cover Photo: Cutting the ribbon, from left: Daniel Perl, managing director, Wells Fargo; First District County Supervisor Manu Koenig; Natalie Magana Boyles, project manager, MidPen Housing; Jennifer Seeger, deputy director, Financial Assistance-State Programs, California Department of Housing and Community Development; Gina Harris, associate project manager, MidPen Housing; Rayne Pérez, principal management analyst, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz; Delaney Lazalde, Bienestar Plaza resident; Matthew O. Franklin, president and CEO, MidPen Housing; Joanna Carman, senior vice president, co-head of housing development, MidPen Housing. • Photo Credit: MidPen Housing

Rubin

Michael Oppenheimer graphic artists

Michael Oppenheimer, Ward Austin

production coordinator

Camisa Composti

consultants

Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine,

Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti

Michael Oppenheimer website photography

Delaney Lazalde moved into Bienestar Plaza in April.

Capitola Village Business Association Gives $6,000 for Wharf Amenities

Grand Opening Date Now Sept. 25

In June, the Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project, which concluded its primary fundraising efforts early this year, has received a generous and unexpected donation from the Capitola Village Business Improvement Association for $6,000.

This brings the total funds raised to more than $425,000.

According to Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project Chairman Gerry Jensen, the community has shown incredible support for this long-awaited project, which was made necessary by the devastating storms of 2023.

“We could not be prouder or more grateful for the groundswell of support our effort received over the past year and a half,” he said. “We not only found a way to add special touches and user-friendly amenities to the wharf for residents and visitors alike, but the effort brought our entire community together, united toward a common purpose of hope and healing. The BIA is the best partner our community could ask for.”

Community members volunteered to create public art for the wharf – a mosaic of kelp.

The city of Capitola has scheduled Sept. 25 for the grand reopening of the wharf with amenities funded by private donations.

That date is ahead of the Capitola Beach Festival Sept. 27-29.

The previously announced date of Aug. 14 was called off as new benches, trashcans, entry gate and art were likely not to arrive or be fully installed by then.

The Wharf House restaurant and the Boat & Bait Shop that graced the wharf are no more – too much damage and hazardous material to be salvageable – but the city has an 16-month agreement with Boat & Bait owner Frank Ealy to reopen in temporary quarters, steel structures to be placed at the head of the wharf for a store, boat rentals, boat hoist and repairs.

The city is paying $32,000 to make this happen, and starting Jan. 1, the owner will pay $2,000 per month rent, expand the moorings from 8 to 60 and start a water taxi service. n

For information about the Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project and how to get involved, contact Gerry Jensen at Gerry4Capitola@gmail. com.

From left: Vicki Guinn, CWEP; Anthony Guajardo, Mijo’s Taqueria; Carin Hannah, The Craft Gallery; and Devon Salter, Capitola Reef—all representing the BIA, Gerry Jensen, Chair, CWEP

2024 SUMMER FESTIVAL

COMMUNITY NEWS

In The Heights July 11 – August 4 at Cabrillo Stage

By Mindy Pedlar

In The Heights, the Broadway smash musical, opens July 11, and it’s time to meet some of the cast.

Hearing her sing Breathe is something I look forward to every night.”

New to Cabrillo Stage is Trevor Miller, who plays Benny. Trevor credits the internet and long nights of research for being cast in this show that he feels passionate about. His character, Benny, is a generous, hardworking man with dreams and goals. He works in the dispatch with his boss who happens to be the father of the girl of his dreams, Nina. Trevor notes that “there are a ton of similarities between Benny and me. I relate to what he says and his actions throughout the show. Through all his challenges, Benny remains resilient and trusts his instincts. That is something I can admire and learn from.”

Trevor knew he wanted to be an actor when he and his sister were watching the Disney Channel’s High School Musical. He shares that “in 2006, you didn’t see many male black actors on TV, especially not singing and dancing. Watching Corbin Bleu play Chad Danforth was truly a lifechanging experience. He made theatre and acting look and sound so cool. As a kid, I played sports. The movie made me realize I could like both theatre and sports. Soon after, I was in a production of Alice in Wonderland. My sister played the White Rabbit. I played a doorknob and I haven’t stopped doing theatre since.”

To Trevor, “the most enjoyable aspect of this role is working with my fellow actors. The cast is so talented and as a collective we genuinely make magic on the stage. The creative team has taught and guided us with expertise, passion and love. My wonderful stage partner, Sofia Rosas, makes everything easy. She is such a great and trusting actor.

Sofia Rosas plays Nina Rosario, a character she describes as sweet, hard-working and selfless. She’s an achiever who is a shining light of hope in the neighborhood. Sofia says, “My favorite thing to do as a performer is to connect and to make the audience feel, whether it’s something emotional, or joyful.”

For Sofia, working with the cast, crew and directing team has been a pleasure. She describes everyone involved in this production as “wonderful individuals who are supportive, vibrant, lively, driven and loving.”

Sofia and Trevor know the audience will find the show joyous and entertaining, and hope they will leave with a new appreciation for Latino culture to carry on the beautiful legacy that In The Heights holds.

Trevor’s dream would be for someone sitting in the audience to have an experience like he had in his youth.

He says, “If they see themselves in me or anyone else on stage, then perhaps they will fall in love with theatre just as I did.” n •••

Tickets range from $25 - $60. Online ticket sales at cabrillostage.com. Box Office open for phone and walk-up sales Thursdays - Saturdays 12pm - 6pm and 1 hour prior to each performance 831-479-6154. Performances: July 11 – Aug. 4, Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, with a special matinee performance Saturday, Aug. 3.

Post-show discussion with the creative team on Sunday July 14 following the performance. Cabrillo Stage performs in the Crocker Theatre on the Cabrillo College campus, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos.

Trevor Miller as Benny and Sofia Rosas as Nina rehearsing a duet for In the Heights.

Raising $75,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters

Santa Cruz County Bank filled 16 bowling lanes with 70+ employees, family and friends to participate in the 2024 Bowl for Kids’ Sake April 27 at the Boardwalk Bowl, supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County.

With donations from bowlers, employees, clients and the board of directors, Santa Cruz County Bank was the top team fundraiser, generating more than $75,000.

The bank, celebrating its 20th anniversary, has participated in the annual fundraiser every year since 2004.

“Our entire team looks forward to this event every year, and this year we celebrate 20 years of community banking and 20 years of supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Krista Snelling, president and CEO of Santa Cruz County Bank. “We’re grateful for the generosity of our clients, employees, board members and leadership team who share the Bank’s support of this longtime community partner.”

For 40+ years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has created and supported one-to-one mentoring relationships for more than 8,500 youths in Santa Cruz County. The One-to-One Match Program pairs screened and trained adult

volunteers with young people ages 7 – 18, providing guidance, companionship, and encouragement. n

For info, see https://sites.google.com/santa cruzmentor.org/www-bbbsmontereybay-org/

Photo Credit: Jeremy Lezin Santa Cruz County Bank employees, friends and family participated in the 2024 Bowl for Kids’ Sake event supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Aptos High Students Build Tiny Home

By Jondi Gumz

When Ian Hsu, a junior, transferred to Aptos High from Danville, he heard about an interesting project on campus: Students in a class building a tiny home on wheels.

Ian wasn’t taking that class, but construction teacher Dusten Dennis encouraged him to volunteer om Saturdays. So Ian did.

In fact, he was working June 1 to make sure finishing touches got done.

He’s one of the 17 students who put in untold hours completing the tiny home on wheels unveiled at a June 3 event hosted by Julie Edwards, who heads the Career Technical Education program for Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

The project exemplifies a strong sense of community, Edwards said, with the new superintendent, Dr. Heather Contreras on hand to see.

What size is this tiny home? Twenty feet x 8 feet, with an efficiency kitchen, bedroom/ living area with a ceiling fan, windows on either side for a breeze to blow through, and bathroom with shower, sink and toilet.

Such tiny homes on wheels have been legal since December 2022 in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County, thanks to the advocacy of First District Supervisor Manu Koenig.

Could tiny homes on wheels make a dent in the local unaffordable housing market?

That remains to be seen but with tiny homes costing $30,000 to $70,000 to build on average, it’s clear this is much more affordable than what’s on the market.

In April, the median home price in Santa Cruz County was $1.4 million based on 34 sales.

TBuilding Skills

he goal of Career Technical Education is to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world and get students on track for high-wage, high demand careers.

Freshman Aiden Gonzales, one of the students in the construction class, said teacher Dusten Dennis “helped every single one of us improve our skills.”

And Aiden is eager to start on the next tiny home.

Madisson Knudsen said she made new friends by taking the class and is more curious about construction. Her favorite part of the build: Insulation.

Granite Construction, which does projects nationwide and is headquartered in Watsonville, helped launch the tiny home initiative via $50,000 and a partnership with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Career Technical Education program.

Erin Kuhlman of Granite Construction said this included creating an internship for a high school student, which had not been done before.

A tiny home on wheels under con-

struction by Watsonville High CTE students should be ready in a year.

To be Sold

Katryn Bermudez, president of the Pajaro Valley Education Foundation, said the nonprofit will market the tiny home on wheels, and the proceeds will be used to fund construction of the next tiny home — selling price to be announced.

Ramon Gomez, an aide to county Supervisor Felipe Hernandez and a 1980 graduate of Watsonville High, said the tiny home “symbolizes hope and opportunity.”

Dennis introduced locals in the building trades who supported the students: Testorff Construction, Talmadge Construction, George H. Wilson Inc., Gabriel Regalado Electric, Elements Manufacturing, and the Eliad Group.

Another supporter: Les Forster of the nonprofit Your Future is Our Business.

Over the past two years, 200 students worked on this project.

The 17 students who did the most work: Alina Garcia, Ian Hsu, Elliott Ramsay, Tyler Thomas, Gregory Testorff, Madisson Knudsen, Carolyn Alcantar, Dylan HendrixWymore, Andrew Lopez-Rameno, Bryce Hoops, Camden Fincher, Jordan Torres, Aiden Gonzales Cisneros, Spencer Hancock, Greyson Agnello, and Daniel Perez.

“This is a labor of love,” said Aptos High principal Alison Hanks-Sloan.

As a reward for their efforts, the Eliad Group provided them with tool bags with this logo, “Team Tiny Home.”

There were not too many hiccups — except for returning a bathtub because plans called for a shower. And that was a fixable problem. n

Aptos High Career Technical Education teacher Dusten Dennis (center in plaid shirt) thanks the contractors who supported the first tiny home project: From left, Pete Testorff, Andrew Talmadge, David Wright, Tyler Allen, and Gabe Regalado.

Katryn Bermudez

Aptos High students with the tiny home on wheels they built on campus.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Clean California Projects in Santa Cruz County

Caltrans is spotlighting 319 beautification projects funded by $643 million from Clean California, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $1.2 billion multiyear initiative to clean up, reclaim, transform and beautify public spaces.

In Santa Cruz County, projects include:

• $ 1,079,045 To completely renovate the Main Beach public restrooms, which were deteriorating.

New ADA compliant, waterconserving fixtures, including a bottle-filling station. Two 20’ x 7’-foot tile mosaic wall murals developed through outreach with the Beach Flats neighborhood.

The site will get picnic tables, trash and recycling receptacles and signs discour aging littering, plus security cameras will be installed to monitor litter on beach, deter crime, and study sealevel rise.

Protection is to be provided by a landscaped buffer or bioswale with native and drought tolerant plans.

County supervisors listed this project as a priority in 2022. The project includes upgrading 5 Metro bus stops with shelters and one more with an accessible landing, plus trash receptacles. To discourage littering, there will be education programs at Amesti Elementary, community events at the parks, and community-driven art installation(s).

• $5 million toward a $5,916,097 multiuse trail along Green Valley Road near Watsonville.

A dilapidated walking trail along Green Valley Road in the unincorporated county is to be replaced with a two-mile 10-foot wide path for people on foot and on bikes between Amesti Road near Amesti Elementary and Pinto Lake County Park.

Also on the map: Transit project partnerships such as Santa Cruz Metro Bus Stop Improvement Project

The geographic information system mapping tool lets viewers enter a location of interest, or a zip code to locate completed or active Clean California projects in their area.

According to Caltrans, nearly all projects benefit underserved communities.

“Clean California projects are boosting community pride and making hundreds of neighborhoods safer, cleaner and healthier places to live,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “This new digital application gives Californians a comprehensive list of beautification sites across the state and where their important infrastructure dollars are being invested.” n

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Public Meeting

Protections Are Important

Iwanted to let you know about a legislative victory that is crucial to government accountability and civic engagement. In a bipartisan vote, a committee of the California Legislature voted down AB 817, keeping in place important public-meeting protections. We opposed AB 817 because it would have excused a wide range of government bodies governed by the Brown Act to meet entirely virtually, without regard to emergencies or specific needs of those who choose to perform public service.

Newspaper editorial boards sounded the alarms, too: The Mercury News condemned it as a “another step toward local government secrecy,” and the Los Angeles Times rightly noted “the Legislature has poked enough holes in local governmental meeting requirements already.”

While this bill failed, the issue isn’t going away. Governmental interests have

backed a number of pandemic-inspired bills (2023, 2022) that would allow officials to avoid meeting in person without following longstanding accountability rules.

We think the future of public meetings should include virtual and in-person options for the press and public. And any additional levels of flexibility for those who choose to perform public service must be narrowly tailored to specific needs, rather than granting an excuse note for any number of officials who want to phone it in.

Thank you for your interest in our work.

— Ginny LaRoe, Advocacy Director, First Amendment Coalition

•••

Films Raise $11,000 for WomenCare

Thank you so much for sharing our WomenCare Virtual Film Fundraiser with all three of your papers.

“Letters” page 16

COMMUNITY NEWS

Two Victories for Local Schools

By Natalia Rodriguez

Our experience at Worlds was anything but smooth,” said Soquel High senior Matthew Hofmann.

The last weekend of June, he traveled with the XAcademy to compete in the 2024 MATE ROV World Championships in Kingsport, Tennessee.

The World Championships gathered teams from Hong Kong to Arizona, challenging students to apply science technology engineering and math skills to seek solutions for real-world problems. MATE ROV stands for Marine Advanced Technology Education and Remotely Operated Vehicle. The competition hosted 78 teams, with 38 challenging the local XAcademy in the Ranger class.

The XAcademy Hephaestus team left the competition with a 3rd place triumph. The victory was well deserved, the students spent countless hours researching and problem-solving.

They are not the only local school making worldwide headlines, the Cabrillo College Seahawk team, competing in the Explorer class, was awarded 1st place.

This was Matthew’s first year with the XAcademy. He joined for the experience and the practice working with a group in his free time. He was part of the float team, which was filled with other first-year students, compared to the ROV team, which had more returning students.

Upon their arrival, students were greeted with 90+ degree heat and a tight workspace. Luckily the hotel had a pool — for the teams to practice in.

Matthew recalls the night before they presented to the judges, several changes to the script had been made and the students could only practice the final version twice before the presentation. Luckily the presentation ran smoothly.

The float team’s objective was to construct a float (from scratch) that would sink to the bottom of the pool twice (aka

a profile), return to the surface, and then send the data to a topside that displays depth, pressure, and temperature. The water pressure colliding with the hardware made a successful profile complicated, the difficulty was gathering the data, which was only sent when the float reached the surface. Maintaining a float was crucial, as the name implies.

“The float team was forced to discover and quickly solve any problems we had,” Matthew explained.

During the first demo, the team had a successful ROV; however, the float failed.

The float requirements are updated every year and additional challenges had to be faced. This year, the float had a new buoyance system. When pumping the water to maintain a float, a vacuum was created.

The vacuum was a software bypass leading the draining time to be too short.

Fortunately, a second demonstration was coming. The float team changed the drainage timing, the problem was solved and they secured full points.

Matthew intends to continue with robotics.

“The best feeling is when something you put a lot of work into finally works<” he said. “I put in over a hundred hours and to see it work filled me with so much joy.”

Thanks to XAcademy, students have an opportunity for hands-on education. These young minds will be the future of robotics. n

To view a video of the team’s engineering presentation: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=32fOUJm-Xc4

Back row (from left): Barbara Meister, Tim Sylvester, Uriel Marinez-Uribe, Cole Williams, Amber Williams, Sophia Casaletto, Daniel Fernandez, Orlando Cazales Mendoza, Bennet Menzer, Tim Madsen. Front row (from left): J.D. Hillard, Matt Hofmann, Nate Hofmann, Blaise Benoit-Corey, Max Chen, Kai Herbst, Ben Hillard. Front: Scot Herbst.

After the float failed in the first trial, Nate Hofmann (left) and Orlando Cazales Mendoza returned to the hotel pool to re-write the code. The float worked flawlessly on the second try, yielding a perfect score.

Daniel Fernandez and Ben Hilliard (right), both recent Santa Cruz High graduates, explain their ROV design to a competition judge.

LOCAL SPORTS

SLV’s Dahlen MVP

SCCAL

All League: Boys Golf 2023-24

James Dahlen, who led the San Lorenzo Valley High School boys’ golf team to its first championship, was voted Most Valuable Player in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League, and his dad, SLV Coach Luke Dahlen, was voted Coach of the Year. Here are all the honorees:

First Team

Keenan Buntz - SLV

Tyler Grosdidier - Aptos

Colton Duerson - Scotts Valley

Kaden Dunton - Harbor

Luke English - Soquel

Second Team

Ben Nowark - Aptos

Tobin Ortiz-McClendon - Santa Cruz

Colby Culbertson - Aptos

Shawn Rochelle - Aptos

Braden Brooks - Santa Cruz

Cliff Chestnut - Santa Cruz

Honorable Mention

Luke Garvey - Aptos

Andrew Cox - Aptos

Wyatt McCabe - SLV

Luke Fontinell - SLV

Sam Wickens - Santa Cruz

Bodie Weld - Santa Cruz

Cole Christensen - Soquel

Luke Battey - Soquel

Kaito Levy - Harbor

Kyler Samples - Harbor

Cal Rockow - Scotts Valley

Will Jackson - Scotts Valley n

Jorden Espinoza is Pitcher of the Year

Aptos High senior Jorden Espinoza, who helped the Mariners to a 10-4-1 season – first place in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League – was voted Pitcher of the Year.

Blake LaRiviere, a Scotts Valley High senior who helped the Falcons to a 10-5 season for second place, was voted Player of the Year. He played first base, with a fielding percentage of .943, pitched with an earned run average of 2.36, hit two home runs, eight doubles and had 17 runs batted in.

Scotts Valley High Coach Sean Coyne was voted Coach of the Year.

Scotts Valley won 10 games in a row before falling to Homestead, 3-0, in the CCS tournament.

In the CCS tournament, Aptos fell to Hollister, 11-0.

First Team

Cole McCombs - Harbor - pitcher (11)

Morgan Toohey - Santa Cruz - pitcher (11)

Carlos Cruz - Harbor - infielder (12)

Isaiah Work - Aptos - infielder (11)

Jaden Shabry - SLV - infielder (11)

Damos Deworken - Santa Cruz - infielder (11)

Jack Sanders - Scotts Valley - outfielder (12)

Nick Bogomilsky - Santa Cruz - outfielder (12)

Matt Hood - Aptos - outfielder (12)

Kaden Smith - Santa Cruz - catcher (12)

Cole McGillicuddy - Aptos - utility/DH (9)

Second Team

Colin Melrose - Scotts Valley - pitcher (12)

Dylan Hull - Soquel - pitcher (10)

Jake Fiorenza - Harbor - infielder (12)

Edward Peters - Aptos - infielder (12)

Quinn Turowski - Scotts Valley - infielder (12)

Gabe Virgalito - Soquel - infielder (11)

Jake Escalante - Soquel - outfielder (10)

Cam Fusari - Santa Cruz - outfielder (10)

“Baseball” page 16

2024 PCAL All-League Girls Lacrosse

MISSION DIVISION

1ST TEAM

Aptos

Aryel Reyes Mager – Sophomore – Attack

Holly Hegna – Senior – Midfield

Avi Andrews – Junior – Midfield

Gamble Kellermyer – Junior – Goalie

Santa Cruz

Mikayla Lombrozo – Senior – Midfield

Julia Lombrozo – Sophomore – Midfield

Soquel

Amelie Stotland – Senior – Midfield

Ava Sullivan – Senior – Goalie

Reilly Kerko – Junior – Midfield

Monterey

Allison Olms – Junior – Attack

SUMMER SPECIAL

If we paint your interior and/or exterior by July 31, 2024 we will buy the paint.

Remi Morgan – Junior – Midfield

Tiffany Nielsen – Junior – Midfield

Jo Bommarito – Junior – Goalie

Notre Dame

Olivia Suarez – Senior – Midfield

York

Maura Kragelund – Senior – Midfield

2ND TEAM

Aptos

Lucy Erikson – Sophomore – Defense

Kathleen Allari – Senior – Attack

Santa Cruz

Maddy McGrath – Junior – Attack

“Girls Lacross” page 16

County Roads Deplorable, Grand Jury Finds Special District Assessment of $56 Not Increased in 36 Years

Editor’s note: This is the summary of the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury report on roads with information on the Special District 9D road assessment. The county Board of Supervisors and the Local Agency Formation Commission are required to respond by Sept. 3. To read the full report, see https:// www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Portals/0/ County/GrandJury/GJ2024_final/2024-1_ Roads_Report.pdf

During our investigation the Grand Jury has found that roads in the unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County are in deplorable condition.

Currently more than 63% of the local roads are in poor to failed condition. This has prompted almost daily complaints to the County Board of Supervisors and the County agencies responsible for road maintenance.

Chronic underfunding of roads and culverts has led to a deficit approaching $1 billion. For decades, the County’s strategy has been to forgo spending money on the roads that are in the worst condition

and concentrate on pavement preservation on roads that are already in fair to good condition. Many unincorporated roads haven’t been resurfaced for decades.

How are Your Roads in Soquel?

Email a jpg photo, at least 1 MB, of the condition with the name of the road to Capitola Soquel Times at info@cyber-times.com so we can share with county officials.

Funding of County road maintenance is a complicated subject involving local, state and federal agencies. Most of the funds are targeted and the County has little discretion on how they are spent.

One possible source of additional funding for unincorporated roads could come from Special District 9D, created in 1988. Overseen by the Local Agency Formation Commission, it contains a road assessment fee that hasn’t been increased in 36 years.

Given the chronic underfunding of rural road maintenance, our local roads are becoming increasingly unsafe for daily travel and emergency access.

COMMUNITY NEWS

9D Spending Report

Missing

The current flat assessments are $56.40 on improved properties and $28.20 on unimproved properties in the unincorporated areas of the County. CSA 9D funds account for over 25% of current funding for County road maintenance.

LAFCO is required to perform a periodic review of Service Districts. The last review of CSA 9D is dated Aug. 5, 2020. The report states that “the Board of Supervisors determined that the sub-zones’ service charges would vary based on the extent of benefit derived from such service provided to parcels within the sub-zones.”

LAFCO found the County has not varied the amount of the service charge since inception. The three zones that comprise 9D generate approximately $2.7 million annually.

Failure of the County to form the Special

Your Giant Dipper Memories

This is the centennial year for Giant Dipper, the gravity-driven thrill ride that opened May 17, 1924, at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

According to the Boardwalk, the wooden coaster has tallied more than 68 million rides — and it’s still going strong.

Do you have a favorite Giant Dipper memory to share with our readers?

Email us 100-200 words with the year of your ride, and include your name, what town you live in and your phone number (in case we have questions) to info@cyber-times. com. Include a jpg photo, at least 1 MB for best print reproduction, with names for us to feature in an upcoming issue. n

District with the inclusion of a range of assessment rates or a built-in inflationary adjustment, which was allowed at the time, has caused this important funding source to become inadequate over time.

Average inflation over this time has been 3.45% a year. If the annual inflation had been part of the formula, a rate approximately 3.76 times the current amount would now be charged.

LAFCO’s report is supposed to detail revenue and expenses for the Special District with sufficient detail for the public to understand how their taxes are being used. The Grand Jury found that there was not sufficient detail in the publicly available LAFCO or County budget reports to determine how the funding was being used.

The LAFCO report showed 100% of the funding coming from the property assessment taxes and 100% of the expenditure being used for “services and repairs,” but without any detail on what those services and repairs were.

“County Roads” page 14

Photos Courtesy of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

$0 Road Maintenance Not Sustainable

By Manu Koenig, Supervisor, First District

What’s the discrepancy between this long list of road spending (in the county supervisors’ agenda) and the $0 that I mentioned?

The $0 is our discretionary County General Fund revenues that we are spending on regular road maintenance. The number comes from Community Development and Infrastructure — Public Works’ 24-25 Budget.

To understand this, it helps to take a step back and look at how the County’s funding works. The County’s budget is $1.15 billion. However, what the Board of Supervisors really has power over is the $220 million of discretionary General Fund revenues that come from our property taxes, local sales taxes, hotel taxes (aka transient occupancy taxes), and vehicle license fees. The rest is mostly “intergovernmental revenues” meaning state and federal money that comes into the county to be spent on specified projects.

So, that long list of road expenditures is being paid for by taxes we pay to the state and federal government:

Gas taxes, FEMA money, etc. And it’s going to specific projects, largely storm damage repair. The issue is that state and federal money is not enough to maintain our road network. The estimates are that the County is falling short on regular road maintenance by about $16 million to $20 million a year. This has been going on for decades.

That’s what explains the condition of our roads and why these intense storms are washing them away so quickly.

The 2023-24 Grand Jury report explains this issue well. See https:// www.santacruzcountyca.gov/ Portals/0/County/GrandJury/GJ2024_ final/2024-1_Roads_Report.pdf

“Road Maintenance” page 14

County Road Work: How Much is Spent?

Editor’s note: On June 4, Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig voted no on the proposed $1.1 billion budget approved by the other four supervisors, showing his dismay with $0 for road maintenance allocated from the county’s General Fund. His explanation is next to this. Readers who notice local roads deteriorating have asked how much money is available in the county budget for road work. Here’s the edited report from Public Works:

In a typical year, Santa Cruz County spends $21 million to $30 million on non-disaster road work.

Due to the 2017 storms, CZU fires, and 2023 climatedriven disaster events,

total spending more than doubled, peaking in 2023-24 at $80,762,545 due to 2023 storm damage projects.

Spending Breakdown, 2023-24

Regular Road Fund, $20,352,251 — Projects include the Soquel Drive Buffered Bike Lane and Congestion Mitigation Project, Highway 152/ Holohan Road intersection project, and the Green Valley Road multiuse path project. 2023-24 Storm Damage, $44,722,874

– A total of 282 storm repair projects have been completed since 2017. A public dashboard is in development.

“Spent” page 14

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“County Roads” from page 12

The published budget from the County was also lacking this detail.

Residents currently are not able to determine how their CSA 9D taxes were being used except in a general way. They could not determine what roads were repaired or resurfaced in their zone or what repairs were performed.

There is no way to determine that the funds were used correctly in the zone, where the funding took place, and to confirm the funds were not commingled with general DPW funding. Comingling of funds is not allowed. n

“Spent” from page 13

2017 Storm Damage, $7,385,314 CZU Response, $0 — The majority was tree removal on County-maintained roads. 2020-2023. Also culvert and guardrail replacement.

Measure D, $2,994,589 — Resurfacing projects around the county. Since 2018, more than 33 miles have been resurfaced, and 5 miles will be resurfaced during summer 2024.

Other, $5,307,517 — Includes streetlight maintenance.

Roads Funding

Most discretionary roads funding can be spent on resurfacing, maintenance and repair projects, and is provided by local, State and federal sources. The County has the flexibility to identify and prioritize projects.

Measure D (local half-cent sales tax) passed in 2016 and Senate Bill 1 (State funding from vehicle registration fees/fuel taxes) passed in 2017. The state Highway Users Tax Account is a per-gallon gasoline and diesel fuel tax. These and other discretionary sources have provided about $95.4 million since FY 2017-18.

County residents also pay for roads through a special assessment in County Service Area 9D, which applies in the unincorporated area countywide. A single-family residential parcel usually pays $56.40 per year, which appears on property tax bills. CSA 9D has provided about $18.3 million in roads funding since FY 2017-18.

Over the years, the County has also contributed a part of General Fund property tax revenues to road projects.

One big challenge: The County receives a meager 13 cents on every dollar of property tax due (the rest is divided among schools and other special districts, water, fire, recreation) due to Proposition 13 in 1978. At the time, Santa Cruz County was a low-tax county compared to other counties and the low rate was locked in.

General Fund contributions appear as “Transfers In” to the Roads Fund. For example, the County General Fund recently contributed $1.7 million to the Soquel Drive Buffered Bike

Lane and Congestion Mitigation Project and is expected to make another matching contribution of at least $1 million.

Other significant General Fund contributions include $2.4 million from American Recovery Plan Act Funding to replenish gas tax lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and $516,097 for the Green Valley Road multi-use path project.

Federal reimbursements for emergency projects comprised $103.6 million of $297 million in roads funding revenues since FY 2017-18.

Compared to this year’s roads spending of $80,762,545, roads funding was half as much: $39,897,997.

Note the large gap between spending on storm damage repairs and federal reimbursements to pay for those projects.

Funding Sources, 2023-24

Emergency Reimbursements, $17,274,238 — The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Highway Administration and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services provide reimbursements for up to 94% of emergency projects costs during disaster declarations, and it takes a long time to get these dollars.

HUTA, $6,595,148 — HUTA funding historically goes for road maintenance crews. Due to the County’s cash shortage, road maintenance crews will be diverted to work on two storm damage projects estimated at $1.2 million in FY 2024-25.

SB1, $2,484,919 — SB1 provides flexible funding for local road repair and maintenance. Due to the extreme amount of storm damage on county roads, SB1 funding is being used as a local match to State and federal disaster relief funding for roadway storm damage repair sites.

Measure D, $2,995,132 — On Nov. 8, 2016, voters passed a half-cent sales tax dedicated to funding transportation projects in the County. Through Measure D, each jurisdiction in the County is allocated a portion of Measure D revenues (County share listed here) for transportation projects. This funding cannot be used to pay bond debt or debt service.

“Road Maintenance” from page 13

We should be supplementing our road spending with local money like property tax revenues, but we’re really not.

The data shared shows we’ve been spending on average $3.5 million a year of General Fund money on roads (the “transfers in”) — that’s about 1.6% of the General Fund.

The CAO claims it will be higher this year at $11 million: $7 million for debt service and $4 million for the Soquel Drive project. Even that is money that we’re being forced to spend on deferred maintenance (storm damage repair) and one special project. It’s not going towards regular maintenance to update safety and pavement on our larger road network.

CSA 9D, $3,242,451 — A special assessment charged countywide for road maintenance.

Transfers In, $0 this year — These transfers include General Fund contributions to projects.

Other, $7,306,109 — State grants, impact fees, Greenwaste fees, encroachment fees, minor charges for services.

Borrowing for Storm Repairs

Over half of the spending in the last seven years has addressed the 2017 storm, CZU fire, and 2023 disaster damages. As the County awaits FEMA reimbursement, the Board of Supervisors approved borrowing money to address the cash gap.

This bond includes $56 million for completed 2023 storm damage projects and $7 million for new 2023 storm damage projects.

This borrowed money must be repaid, and economists say this means higher taxes or reducing expenditures for other purposes.

The Roads Fund will use federal reimbursements received to make debt payments.

By FY 2027-28, the Roads Fund will need General Fund contributions of up to $1.4 million a year to make debt payments.

If federal reimbursements are not received, this contribution from the General Fund will need to be increased, until the debt is paid off.

This month, the County secured a second $9 million advance from the state Office of Emergency Services for 2017 storm damage projects.

This is in addition to a $9 million advance for 2023 storm damage secured in June 2023. These advances and internal loans have been instrumental in meeting the County Roads Fund cash flow needs.

2024-25 Budget

Next budget year, $65 million is proposed to be spent on roads:

$11.1 million in 2023 storm damage projects (32 projects, $7 million debt, $3 million contingency)

$10.5 million in 2017 storm damage projects (31 projects)

In fact, our regular road maintenance budget is shrinking 16%.

I think this is wrong. I don’t think we should be increasing the budget for other departments while the decreasing the regular maintenance of roads.

It’s unsustainable. Roads are our largest public space and the one county service everyone relies on every day. If we don’t reinvest property taxes into roads, then people won’t be able to get to work, to earn money, to pay their property taxes. The County is going to have to come up with a sustainable strategy sooner rather than later. n

•••

Manu Koenig is First District County supervisor. Email him at manu.koenig@santacruz countyca.gov.

$11.3 million in road and traffic improvements (7 projects)

$9.7 million in road resurfacing (7 projects, non-Measure D sources)

$4.9 million in Measure D road resurfacing ($4 million reserve)

$5.7 million in bridge projects (18 projects)

$8 million dedicated to road maintenance including pothole patching and pavement repairs, roadside vegetation management, and ditch cleaning (48 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions excluding drainage work)

Another $15.6 million, the largest spending line, is for debt payments ($1.8 million from discretionary road revenues and the remainder from federal reimbursements)

The road maintenance budget is down 16% from the prior year, after diverting road crews to two 2023 emergency projects and releasing a roadside vegetation management contract of $350,000.

Due to severe cash flow issues attributable to delayed FEMA disaster reimbursements, the County has 88 storm-related projects (54 in 2023 and 34 in 2024) for which there is no identified source of funds, either because they are not covered by a disaster declaration or because FEMA claims are in their initial stages.

For projects that will be covered by a disaster declaration, a source of local matching funds will need to be identified.

The 2024-25 budget proposes reserving an estimated $4 million in Measure D funding for larger projects in 2025-26 and beyond. Measure D may not and will not be used to pay bond debt.

Some HUTA funding has been budgeted to begin making bond debt payments in 2024-25.

The County has made internal loans to cover existing costs and new projects. As the debt is paid off through federal reimbursements, the County will regain bond capacity and make discretionary revenue available for new projects.

Polo Grounds

Santa Cruz County ParkRx Spend Time Outdoors for Better Health

What is ParkRx?

ParkRx is an international movement to prescribe parks, nature and programming to improve health.

The local effort, called ParkRxSantaCruzCounty, is staffed in-kind by Santa Cruz County Public Health’s CalFresh Healthy Living Program, County Park Friends, and Watsonville Parks and Community Services, who came together to address the desire

for more equitable park programming and to help steward amazing local parks and beaches as key drivers of health and equity.

ParkRxSCC programs are healing activities in the outdoors, prescribed and offered for free. The programs are found and designed to match the patents needs because spending time outdoors can support the health of the body and mind.

In fact, research shows that spending 2

Selina Ge wins Congressional Art Award

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announces the winners of the annual Congressional Art Competition for local high school students. Selina Ge from Leland High School in South San Jose won first place for her piece titled, “Say Cheese,” an unusual angle on cell phone photography. She will receive a $250 scholarship. Her artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol alongside winners from throughout the country.

This year, 39 students California’s 19th Congressional District submitted original pieces of artwork to the competition and Panetta recognized eight pieces as outstanding.

“The arts provide students an outlet to tell stories about who they are, where they come from, and what they believe in,” said Rep. Panetta. “Each year, I’m amazed by what these young artists create, and I’m thrilled to

hours outdoors a week can improve your health!

ParkRX Santa Cruz County is available through Salud Para La Gente and Santa Cruz Community Health. Ask your provider about ParkRx.

•••

Wheelin’ Bball

In 2022, County Park Friends and Brenda Gutierrez started Wheelin’ Bball, a free wheelchair basketball camp for youth in Santa Cruz County at Franich Park in Watsovnille.

This initiative aims to promote outdoor recreation and community connections. It is prescribed through ParkRx, but it is also free and open to the public.

•••

Nature Hikes

As part of the ParkRx program, patients are prescribed Nature Hikes and get to explore various locations in Santa Cruz

County, guided by County Park Friends staff.

Hikes feature state parks, county parks, and stunning state beaches, including Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Forest of Nisene Marks, Quail Hollow County Park and Seacliff State Beach. n •••

For information, see https://www.county parkfriends.org/parkrx.htm

SHFB Calls for Summer Volunteers

be able to share Selina’s talents with visitors from around the country at the United States Capitol.”

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982. Over 650,000 high school students have been involved. First-place winners and a family member are invited to attend a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. in June.

The winners:

• First Place: Selina Ge, Leland High School, “Say Cheese”

• Second Place: Ky Dahle, Carmel High School, “Nostalgia”

• Third Place: Christiana Kvitek, Carmel High School, “Human Matrix”

• Honorable Mention for Technical Skill: Zhuolin (Lynn) Fu, Stevenson School, “The Silent Wait”

• Honorable Mention for Drawing: Ivanna Kirsebom Delsol, Monterey High School, “Sonder”

• Honorable Mention for Landscape: Jasmine Choi, Santa Catalina School, “The Day in the Hacienda”

• Honorable Mention for Composition: Lydia Vaz, Leland High School, “Content”

• Honorable Mention for Concept: Sophia Kemmerly, Carmel High School “Paranormal Party” n

While many enjoy summer vacations, the need for food assistance in our community does not take a break. Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County urgently seeks volunteers to join us every Saturday throughout the summer to help sort and pack food for the following week’s distributions.

We need your help to ensure that 65,000 people in our county continue to receive the food they need each month. Volunteers are crucial to our mission, and we need 20 volunteers for each shift (that’s 40 volunteers every Saturday!) at our Watsonville warehouse, located at 800 Ohlone Pkwy. There are two shifts to choose from:

• Early Bird Shift: 7:45 AM - 11:00 AM

• Late Riser Shift: 11:15 AM - 2:30 PM

No experience is necessary, and volunteers can sign up for one or multiple shifts. The minimum age to volunteer is 13.

Summer 2024 Saturday Sort Volunteer Dates:

July 6 • July 13 • July 20 • July 27

August 3 • August 10 • August 17

Please help us spread the word and ensure that no one in our community goes hungry this summer. For more information, visit our website at thefoodbank.org, to sign up here, or contact us at (831) 232-8141. Thank you for your continued support! n

Contact: Mary Casey Chief Human Resources Officer Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County Phone: (831) 231-8141 Email: mary@thefoodbank.org

Founded in 1972, Second Harvest was the first food bank in California and the second in the nation. Its mission is to inspire and support Santa Cruz County to provide nourishment for all community members.

Its network of nearly 80 local agencies and programs feeds 65,000 people in Santa Cruz County every month. For every dollar donated, it provides three healthy meals.

TheFoodBank.org

Beneficial Plants for California’s Mediterranean Climate

• Edibles and Fruit Trees

•

• 2 Acre Display & Sculpture Garden

• Gift Certifi cates

Family Owned & Operated for 30 Years

Summer Sessions Summer Sessions

“Baseball” from page 11

Brady Downs - Soquel - outfielder (10)

Jake Abel - Scotts Valley - catcher (12)

Honorable Mention

Jack Reed - Aptos (12)

Josiah McKenzie - Aptos (12)

Ferris Vitali - Harbor (12)

“Girls Lacross” from page 11

Jada Colehower – Junior – Midfield

Noemi Ruben – Senior – Defense

Soquel

Elle Lindsey – Senior – Midfield

Addie Somerville – Sophomore – Midfield

Ayla Hymes – Sophomore – Midfield

Monterey

Chanel Nielsen – Junior – Defense

Elizabeth Tenoco – Sophomore – Midfield

Notre Dame

Gabby Smith – Senior – Defense

Alyssa Chubbuck – Senior – Goalie

Lauren Asuncion – Sophomore – Midfield

York

Sidney Thornsbury – Senior – Defense

Monterey

Selah Kwasnoski – Sophomore – Defense

ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM

Aptos

Kathleen Allari – Senior – Midfield

Santa Cruz

Louisiana Ellis – Junior – Attack

Soquel

Ava Gray – Junior – Defense

Monterey

Selah Kwasnoski – Sophomore – Defense

York

Brianna Bailey – Senior – Midfield

Notre Dame

Lilia Mekri – Junior – Midfield

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Amelie Stotland - Soquel

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Ava Sullivan - Soquel

GABILAN DIVISION FIRST TEAM

Scotts Valley

Sofia Niklaus – Junior – Midfield

Skylar Dufour – Junior – Midfield

Dillon Fiorita – Junior – Midfield

Monte Vista Christian

Kyra Driscoll – Senior – Midfield

Jana Bacero-Duncan – Junior – Goalie

Stevenson

Macey Torres – Junior – Midfield

Brogan Dolata – Sophomore – Attack

Sydney Holland – Sophomore – Midfield

Grace Ishii – Junior – Midfield

Corbin

Valley (12)

CJ Clayton - Soquel (12)

Cash Moren - Soquel (10) n

Georgia Bonifas – Sophomore – Defense

Molly McAfee – Sophomore – Attack

Carmel

Kate Graham – Junior – Midfield

Anna Rassmusen – Freshman – Attack

Santa Catalina

Allie Fieber – Junior – Midfield

Salinas

Dallana Alvarado Castellanos – Senior – Goalie

2ND TEAM

Scotts Valley

Stella Cheney – Senior – Defense

Claire Skinner – Junior – Defense

Campbell Flores – Freshman – Defense

Monte Vista Christian

Maya Moore – Freshman – Attack

Sophia Sheridan – Sophomore – Attack

Rhazelle Gonzales – Senior – Defense

Stevenson

Naiya Patel – Senior – Attack

Sarah Vanoli – Senior – Defense

Carmel

Anya Melton – Senior – Attack

Claire Bonyage – Sophomore – Defense

Lola Voss – Freshman – Midfield

Santa Catalina

Sawyer Vogel – Junior – Defense

Sophie Fieber – Senior – Attack

Salinas

Emma Camacho – Junior – Midfield

Rylee Eastin – Junior – Midfield

ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM

Scotts Valley

Skylar Dufour – Junior – Midfield

Monte Vista Christian

Amanda Pasag – Senior – Defense

Salinas

Angelina Garcia – Senior – Defense

Santa Catalina

Cora Derbin – Senior – Defense

Carmel

Anya Melton – Senior – Attack

Stevenson

Maxime Vandendriessche – Senior – Midfield

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Sofia Niklaus - Scotts Valley

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jana Bacero-Duncan - MVC n

“Letters” from page 9

It was great to see! We ended up raising $11,000 for WomenCare and did it with your support as well as many others.

It is always amazing how our community

continues to come out and support our local nonprofit community.

We hope to be back in the theatre next year.

Thanks again for all you do supporting our community with your newspapers, keeping us all informed on local events and news. n — Kathy Ferraro

Colin Karwick - Harbor (12)

Cody Houston - SLV (12)

Anthony Griffis - SLV (12)

Fernando Dacosta - Santa Cruz (11)

Emmet Desmond - Santa Cruz

Kaleb Wing - Scotts Valley (11)

Giesen - Scotts

New Superintendent: Live Oak School District

$45 Million Bond for Workforce Housing on Nov. 5 Ballot

By Jondi Gumz

Starting July 1, the new superintendent of the Live Oak School District is Patrick Sánchez, who succeeds Daisy Morales, who resigned in March after financial forecasts led to employee layoffs.

His salary is $225,000. He has a one-year contract in the district, which has 1,900 students, 50% Hispanic.

Sanchez, 57, is the recipient of the White House’s Champion of Change Award.

He was recognized by President Barack Obama, after heading the Adams County School District in Colorado with 7,500 students, 55% learning English, 90% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, credited with implementing powerful instructional strategies and creating an environment of high expectations. In 2015, he was named Latino superintendent of the year by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.

But he ruffled feathers in Adams County, and a petition was launched on Change.org by an unnamed parent, staff member, taxpayer and community member, seeking to remove him and the human resources director. It garnered 165 signatures.

stayed four years then left to pursue another opportunity.

Next he became superintendent of ReefSunset Unified School District in the Central Valley.

Last year, he worked in the Morgan Hill School District.

He has been a Career and Technical Education teacher, middle school principal and high school principal, and assistant superintendent of human resources.

He has a master’s degree in curriculum, instruction, and supervision from the University of Colorado.

He is the youngest of seven children, originally from San Luis Colorado, and became the first in his family to graduate from college and receive a graduate degree. He has two children and enjoys hunting, fishing and hiking.

Sánchez

In 2016, Sanchez became superintendent of the Newark Unified School District (near Fremont), which was deficit spending and enrollment decline nearly led to teacher layoffs, which riled teachers. He

Sánchez spoke to the Live Oak school board June 12 when the agenda included his hiring and putting a $45 million bond on the Nov. 5 ballot to buy property and build rental housing for teachers and staff, repairing or replacing plumbing, electrical, sewer and water, systems, replacing or upgrading outdoor areas, and modernizing or expanding classrooms, restrooms and multi-purpose rooms.

“Patrick Sánchez” page 30

SBA Loans Available for Storm Damage Repairs

On May 16, the U.S. Small Business Administration declared a disaster for Santa Cruz County as a result of damage caused by the winter storms occurring between Jan. 31 and Feb. 9. This is FEMA-DR4769-CA.

The Disaster Declaration makes SBA assistance available to residents of Santa Cruz County by providing low-interest federal disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, most nonprofits, homeowners, and renters whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster.

Residents interested in SBA assistance can visit an in-person Disaster Loan Outreach Center, County Government Building, Community Room, 701 Ocean St.,

Santa Cruz for information on SBA loans and assistance with the application process. Hours: Monday, noon to 5 p.m. TuesdayFriday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residents can also apply by calling SBA at 1-800-659-2955, visiting the website at: www.sba.gov/disaster, or by emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

• Loan application deadline for property damage: July 16.

• Application deadline for business economic injury: Feb. 18, 2025. n

Patrick

By Natalia Rodriguez

Warren Knox’s entrepreneurial spirit came early in life. By the time most teens are getting their driver’s license, Knox had a patented invention. It all began when he was 16. He was gardening with his grandfather and noticed him having trouble kneeling and tending to the low garden box.

His grandfather had a homemade garden box built from railroad ties -- “I knew I could make something better for him,” Knox explained.

From this inspiration came Knox garden boxes. They’re redwood elevated garden boxes. Throughout high school, he pursued his idea and 56 years later the boxes have proved true with the same model as the early days.

These boxes solve many problems that those with green thumbs are well aware of.

The garden boxes keep gophers out of your crops, meaning your garden is protected from their constant digging. They’re built from rot-resistant redwood. Redwoods are an abundant resource in the Santa Cruz Mountains area. They have excellent drainage, which ensures the soil is properly aerated and prevents nutrient loss through runoff. These garden boxes have changed what gardening looks like for the better.

They also provide increased accessibility to the garden to those who may have trouble bending over for extended periods or have limited space as these boxes keep all the necessities contained. They can also be great learning resources for youth, with increased visibility to early sprouting plants.

Warren Knox is also known for his 45-year career in roofing, and his store in Scotts Valley.

Knox Roofing was founded in 1994 by Warren after he obtained his roofing license in 1985. The company employs almost 50 individuals, a considerable number to

K nox G arden B ox An Invention That Met a Need

oversee. The company is known for its great quality, and was recognized as Business of the Year in 2018 by the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Why Scotts Valley?

Warren says he was fortunate to find a commercial property close to his home and said this was the ideal location for his business. This was a great region for his trade, given the landscape and the home repairs that come with dense forests.

Knox Roofing provides residential and commercial repairs to the Santa Cruz and Monterey area. The business recently made repairs at the Ano Nuevo research center and re-roofed 8 Santa Cruz fire stations. The company offers skylights, insulation, and an assortment of roofing materials from wood to tile. Listeners of local radio have most likely heard Warren in one of his humorous ads. The company has 162 radio ads and 71 for television — all self-written by the way.

Knox said his business was not affected by the pandemic and sales went up during the time. Roofing is an essential business, he explained. “People need roofs over their heads.”

Thus the federal government allowed them to keep operating. While home-based activities increased in popularity during the pandemic, so did the Knox Garden Box. People were spending more time at home and many sought to clean up their outdoor spaces, leading them to invest in a box.

The Scotts Valley location sells boxes as large as 4’ x 8’ feet and as small as 8” x 24.” Wheels and handles may be added and all boxes can be customized to fit everyone’s gardening needs.

Warren is passionate about his business and is not ready to retire. The passion he felt when helping his grandfather is very much still alive. He explained that there is still high demand

for his products and roofing expertise which keeps him going.

He even wakes up to start his day at 3 a.m.

“I like to work hard,” he said.

Santa Cruz and Monterey County are fortunate to have Warren Knox and Knox Roofing as a local resource. He is a self-made man who has provided incredible support to homes, businesses, and gardens. n

•••

Visit Knox Roofing, 46 El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley. 831-461-0634. www.knoxroofing.com

Warren Knox with a collection of Knox Garden Boxes in Scotts Valley.

It’s All About Wood: find even more at this gift shop owned by Warren Knox.

Awards adorn the office at Knox Roofing. Knox clocks.

CALIFORNIA NEWS

Panetta Meets New Taiwan President

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) was a part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation that visited Taiwan to meet the newly inaugurated president, who took office May 20.

They met Taiwanese authorities to discuss regional security, trade, and investment to explore new areas of collaboration between the United States and Taiwan.

The bipartisan delegation was led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, and included Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific Chairwoman Young Kim (R-CA), Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia Chairman Joe Wilson (R-SC), House Armed Services member Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Congressional Taiwan Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY).

The new president, Lai Ching-te, 64, who takes over from Tsai Ing-wen, who led Taiwan for eight years, has vowed to deepen cooperation between Taiwan and the United States.

The bipartisan delegation met with members of the Legislative Yun, diplomatic and defense officials, and leaders from the semiconductor industry.

Prior to the visit, the Chinese Communist Party warned against congressional delegations visiting Taiwan and conducted demonstrative military drills in the Taiwan Strait.

Panetta and a bipartisan coalition in Congress recently passed into law critical security aid for America’s democratic allies, including $8 billion to bolster defense capabilities for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region.

Panetta co-leads the bipartisan Taiwan Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act which would authorize the President to lend or lease defense supplies to the Government of Taiwan, in the case of preemptive aggression by the CCP.

“I was honored to be invited by Chairman McCaul and a part of this select bipartisan delegation of congressional members that traveled to Taiwan to congratulate the newly inaugurated President Lai and ensure him of the United States Congress’ commitment to Taiwan’s continued peace and prosperity,” said Panetta. “At a time when autocracies are on the move, democracies around the world must stand together in defense of our shared values and freedoms. Together, our bipartisan delegation made it clear that the United States is undeterred by the CCP’s threats and will stand firm to safeguard Taiwan’s security.” McCaul, a Texas Republican, said, “As Putin wages war in Ukraine and Israel fights a multi-front war against Iran-backed proxies like Hamas, Chairman Xi is watching to see if America continues to support its partners and friends.

Taiwan is a thriving democracy. The U.S. will continue to stand by our steadfast partner and work to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. I look forward to meeting with Taiwan officials to better understand what America can do to preserve peace in Asia and build upon our shared democratic values.” n

Grand Jury Wants Citizen Review of Child Protective Services

Child is Difficult

The 2023-2024 Santa Cruz Civil Grand Jury investigated the Child Protective Services agency since there was a perception by some Resource Families (foster families) that CPS in Santa Cruz County was reunifying children with their Birth Families at all costs. The investigation concluded that based on metrics it could not find any evidence to uphold this perception. This report suggests improvements in three areas:

1) Publish outcome-based metrics on the website to improve transparency. This will allay concerns of ideological bias in the decision-making process by Child Protective Services.

2) Update and publish the complaint process — who gets involved at what stage and the metrics associated with it. For example, number of complaints, time to resolve them and number of complaints that get escalated to different levels.

3) Record Child Family Team meetings. This will be valuable when there is a dispute between the social worker’s notes and the accounts of any other members who are involved in these meetings.

The Civil Grand Jury started this investigation for two reasons:

1) The Civil Grand Jury had received complaints from Resource Families over the past year that Santa Cruz County Child Protective Services were “reunifying” the child with Birth Parents at “all costs.” In some cases, the reunification was claimed to cause harm to children with behavioral issues.

2) CPS operations have not been reviewed by the Grand Jury since 2002-03. CPS provides protective services and support to abused and neglected children and their families in Santa Cruz County. Services include emergency response, in-home family

preservation services, family reunification services, and foster care. CPS also issues licenses for Resource Homes (formerly called foster homes) and family day care homes. In addition, the Division operates programs to prevent child abuse and domestic violence and to provide adoptions.

Services are mandated by state statute, which defines its purview as a child who has suffered, or there is a substantial risk the child will suffer, serious physical harm or illness as a result of: The failure or inability of the child’s parent or guardian to adequately supervise or protect the child, the willful or negligent failure of the child’s parent or guardian to adequately supervise or protect the child from the conduct of the custodian with whom the child has been left, the willful or negligent failure of the parent or guardian to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment, the inability of the parent or guardian to provide regular care for the child due to the parent’s or guardian’s mental illness, developmental disability, or substance abuse.

CPS is allowed to remove children from any home suspected of child endangerment. This wide-ranging authority allows staff to remove children from homes, levy allegations and refer cases for possible criminal prosecution.

As of Dec. 31, 2023, the CPS was overseeing 173 children — 47 of them were resident with their Birth Parents and 126 were with Resource Families.

Scope and Methodology

The scope of this investigation is to probe into the CPS process and check if there is any validity to the complaints submitted to the Grand Jury by the Resource Families (formerly known as foster families). Is there a systemic problem within the agency? Due to privacy laws, it was not possible to investigate individual cases. Therefore, the Grand Jury decided to look at the data to see if it indicates any patterns that could reflect the validity of the complaints.

The sources of information include:

● Interviews with CPS personnel and the public.

● Relevant articles, published reports, newspaper articles, and documents found online regarding Child Protective Services.

● The Grand Jury report of 2002-2003. Investigation

The Grand Jury heard reports of unsupervised custody handoffs in dark parking lots with no CPS personnel in attendance. There was also a complaint

of the child being returned to the Birth Parents from a Resource Family who had not achieved the level of stability required for reunification.

The Grand Jury noticed a common theme with many of the complaints. They include:

1) Failure to Apply Bypass Criteria: Cases consistently show decisions prioritizing reunification over children’s well-being, with social workers failing to consider established criteria meant to protect children at risk.

2) Visitation Conflicts: Frequent disputes arise around visitation schedules, particularly when children express fear or resistance.

3) Trauma from Disruption: Abrupt removals from stable foster placements create significant emotional distress for children. Hand-offs are not always warm, and lack of compassion was a constant theme.

4) Potential Risk of Reunification: Concerns are raised about reuniting children with potentially harmful Birth Parents who haven’t addressed the issues that led to their removal.

5) Social Worker Conduct: Complaints of insensitive treatment, intimidation, and potentially falsified records highlight possible misconduct by social workers.

Accessing CPS Data

The whole CPS process is protected by privacy laws and therefore no one from the outside (except the CPS staff and the court system) have access to the proceedings or documents. Therefore, the Grand Jury cannot investigate individual complaints. The Grand Jury could only look at the longterm trend using data collected over the past 10 years.

After listening to and reading the complaints, the Grand Jury decided to interview CPS staff to understand if there is data available that can show any pattern pointing to a systemic bias. It was not easy to find the relevant staff in CPS to talk to about the CPS process since there is no organizational chart on the website. One interviewee acknowledged the shortcoming of not listing the organization chart on the website and promised it will be corrected soon.

Origins of Perceptions of Bias In public welfare systems such as CPS, generally the children who are removed from the Birth Families tend to come from a lower socioeconomic class. The Resource Families tend to come from a higher socioeconomic background.

In the past, the CPS system was thought to be biased toward the Resource Families. Yet the current law tends to lean toward equity which leads to some staff feeling that they should “over calibrate” toward the Birth Families.

The staff strongly agrees that family reunification is of the highest priority unless there is a danger to the child. This inherently creates a conflict since during the reunification process, the Resource Families feel their voices are not heard.

The Jury learned that what’s in the best interest of a child is extremely hard to determine and can be subject to some intense debates.

Is the system trying to over-correct this past problem? This can also lead to a perception problem for all concerned parties.

Lack of Data Transparency

While the CPS website provides information about services, there is no data regarding outcome of services. Also, the public cannot get insight into the volume of services.

The specific statistic the Grand Jury looked at was “how many children and teens exiting” the CPS system. The California Welfare Indicators Project maintained by University of California holds data related to reunification.

In contrast, none of the relevant data was

available from Santa Cruz County’s public website dedicated to CPS.

Between 2012 and 2023, the percentage of children and teens reunited with their Birth Families varied from 33% in 2013 to 43% in 2023 and peaked at 54% in 2016.

The percentage graph or the actual number graph did not show any particular trend toward reunification or a bias against it.

(The percentage of children adopted topped 40% in 2012 and was 20% in 2022.)

Bypass Decisions Seem Arbitrary

Resource Families believed the “bypass” criteria were not being applied in the County in some instances. The goal of CPS is to reunite with Birth Families as long as there

is no danger to the child. Toward that goal, the CPS provides various programs for Birth Families to become eligible for reuniting with the child.

The “bypass” refers to a situation where reunification services are not offered to parents after their child has been removed from their care. This means CPS won’t work toward reuniting the child with the birth parents and will instead focus on finding a permanent placement for the child, such as adoption or guardianship.

Some examples where the “bypass” is applied are:

● Chronic use of alcohol or drugs

● Parent incarcerated or violent felony

● Severe physical abuse of child under 5

● Physical / sexual abuse again

● Prior termination of reunification services

The complainants felt that in some cases the “bypass” criteria should have been applied. In their opinion, if the “bypass” criteria were applied then the child would have never been a candidate for reunification and therefore would have avoided the emotional trauma for the child and the Resource Families.

Due to confidentiality restraints, the Grand Jury was unable to investigate individual cases to review how criteria were applied.

However, for the past two years, 13 cases were found to be eligible for bypass in Santa Cruz County. CPS applied the bypass criteria in seven cases. Those children became eligible for permanent placement.

Lack of Follow Up Data

At present, follow up by CPS happens only up to 18 months after the child is reunited with the Birth Family. This may not be enough time to determine the effects of reunification.

In an interview with a complainant, the Grand Jury was told that five years after reunification, a child they had fostered was experiencing behavioral problems at school and was suffering from depression.

“Review CPS” page 25

2024 Wharf to Wharf Race Official Poster

Ode to the Capitola Wharf by Tori Schweyer

When considering the making this year’s poster, an homage to the Capitola Wharf, Tori Schweyer was the first to come to mind.

She “got” the concept of the split screen and executed it with such a happy feeling! The runners are crossing the finish line, the wharf is rebuilt above, & the marine life, (including 841 & her pup) are frolicking in the water below.

It depicts the end of this fun, local race from a rare viewpoint.

Her original 14 3/8 x 21 5/8 watercolor will be at York Framing Gallery in Santa Cruz for viewing, as well as at the York booth at the race’s end.

Two options are available: Regular poster paper, $25; limited edition, heavier paper, $50.

This year, $1 of every sale will be donated to the beautification of the Capitola Wharf, also known as the Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project. n Order at www.yorkframinggallery. com/wharf-to-wharf/

Tori Schweyer, a Santa Cruz native, has been creating art for as long as she can remember.

She earned her BFA in Illustration at School of Visual Arts in NYC in 2013, where she discovered a passion for children’s book illustration.

Recently, Tori illustrated the book Moments in Nature From Around the World, written

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Tori’s love for the natural world shines through her spirited, narrative illustrations, which often feature a collection of delightful creatures. She has always been most interested in drawing complex, detailed scenes and has developed a style that marries her love of drawing with the vibrancy of paint.

Wharf to Wharf Race

What You Need to Know

When: Sunday, July 28, at 8:30 a.m. on Beach and Cliff Streets in Santa Cruz to Capitola

Nickname: Best Little Road Race in California

What: 16,000 runners, including elite athletes

How Long: Six miles, with local musicians entertaining along the way, plus water stops

Where to Park: Traffic and parking can be a challenge, so plan on getting to Santa Cruz early. Race officials recommend being in town by 7 a.m.

There is extremely limited street parking near the start line and many nearby roads are closed for the race.

DO NOT PARK ON STREETS THAT ARE POSTED NO PARKING.

Free parking is available in Santa Cruz at the Ocean Street Government Center and paid parking is located near River Street Parking Plaza and all throughout Downtown, which is less than 1 mile to the Start Line.

Take advantage of the bus shuttles that run from these two Santa Cruz parking lots to the Start Line of the race beginning at 6:30 am. There is NO shuttle bus service from Capitola to Santa Cruz BEFORE the race.

There is PLENTY of street parking throughout Santa Cruz that is less than 1 mile to the Starting Line, just give yourself time! n

Support Treasure Cove, Where Kids of All Abilities Can Play Together

By Dan Haifley

Life is not easy for children with cognitive, sensory, or physical disabilities. They and their families can be challenged by daily tasks such as dressing, eating, bathing, and moving around their world. More poignantly, many want the chance to socialize with their peers, but often can’t because they are unable to access public spaces.

For example, an individual in a wheelchair can’t roll in the sand on the beach nor onto a playground covered in tanbark. Also, some also may not feel welcome because of behaviors that others may view as disruptive, and others may feel unseen. Because of these barriers, many don’t get meaningful social time.

The community of people with disabilities is a beautifully broad spectrum; each individual has unique challenges and moments of joy. My wife Rebecca, son Aaron, and I know this experience well from our life with our wonderful daughter and sister, Julia.

But we can help create a solution by building universally accessible

playgrounds. These public spaces are specifically designed so all children, including the 12.2% in Santa Cruz County with disabilities, can play together.

Thirty-four years after the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, these playgrounds still are not common. In 2020, LEO’s Haven at Chanticleer Park, our county’s first universally accessible playground opened and immediately became a well-loved and popular play space.

LEO’s Haven inspired Capitola to engage in a public-private partnership with County Park Friends to create a universally accessible playground at Jade Street Park. In 2023, Verde Design engaged the community through surveys and community meetings to create plans for the custom playground. Out of more than 71 proposed names for the playground, the Capitola City Council chose Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park to celebrate the treasured friendships that will be forged in Capitola’s Jewel Box neighborhood.

County Park Friends is working to raise $1 million for the playground from the community, while the city secures the balance of the estimated $1.83 million project. Separately the city will upgrade the community center and surrounding park, which sits on land that is leased from the Soquel Union Elementary School District until 2052.

Thanks to the generous support of our community, County Park Friends has already raised over $500,000 for the playground and is also grateful to announce that thanks to a local donor, every new gift will be matched dollar for dollar up to $200,000. The deadline to give is Jan. 31, 2025.

Your support will make a difference in the lives of thousands of children. To learn more or to contribute, please visit https://www.countyparkfriends.org/ jadestpark. Thank you. n

Dan Haifley is former executive director of O’Neill Sea Odyssey and Save Our Shores and is a volunteer fundraiser for Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park.

by local author Brenda Dodson (available on Amazon).

From left: Tricia Wiltshire, Oliver Potts, and Brenda Gutierrez-Baeza at LEO’s Haven at Chanticleer Park universally accessible playground.

“Review CPS” from page 23

Complaint Process Transparency

There is no documentation of the complaint process in Santa Cruz County, either on the website or available through CPS personnel interviews.

Currently complaints are lodged with the social worker. Supervisors are not advised of complaints unless the social worker brings the issue to the supervisor. Furthermore, there is no data available on the number of complaints received year by year and their resolution status.

The 2002-2003 Grand Jury report titled “Family and Children’s Services,” recommended the County Board of Supervisors create a Citizen Review Board as recommended by the Little Hoover Commission.

This Board should review child welfare services and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors, local agencies and others regarding improvements. Membership should include representatives from education, foster care youth, health care, civic and business.

number of Resource Families from signing up to provide this valuable service which is critical for the protection of neglected and abused children in our community.

Findings

F1) It is hard to contact the relevant people in CPS to get information since there is no organizational chart published on the website. People don’t know who they can contact for specific issues.

F2) The lack of readily available CPS data metrics accessible on the Santa Cruz County website can lead to perceptions based on individual experiences. Perception becomes reality if data is not provided which can lead to public distrust of the system.

F3) Lots of data is available on the California Welfare Indicators Project maintained by University of California for the whole state of California for each county. It is hard to sift through and find relevant data for Santa Cruz County.

The Citizen Review Board should hire a Child Welfare Inspector General with the authority to recommend improvements. Responsibilities should include enforcement of rules for CPS, reform of the foster care program, and building a volunteer support network. The Citizen Review Board can look into these unresolved complaints to identify any systemic issues. This will also eliminate any appearance of the conflict of interest in the eyes of the complainants.

Team Meetings

Throughout the reunification process, multiple meetings, generally referred to as Child Family Team meetings, take place. The team includes everyone who has an interest in the child: CPS staff, birth parents, resources parents, social workers, doctors, psychiatrists, teachers, and possibly more. Notes about the meeting are produced by a social worker after conclusion of the meeting. The notes are available to all the participants.

The Grand Jury found some Resource Families felt social workers’ notes did not accurately reflect what happened during the meetings. Due to the nature of these meetings, they are not recorded. Therefore, there is no way to resolve these differences in perception to the satisfaction of all parties.

Conclusion

This investigation was undertaken as a result of complaints received by the Grand Jury. Complainants believed CPS policies regarding child safety were not being followed. The investigation was hampered by data that was largely insufficient or unobtainable. This results in Resource Families’ perception that child safety is not being prioritized.

The Grand Jury was not able to substantiate this claim based on the available data.

The Grand Jury remains concerned that this perception will persist unless there is more transparency of both data and operations. This perception may prevent a sufficient

F4) There is no formal complaint process. You can lodge a complaint only with your social worker. When the complainant is not happy with the resolution, complaints are lodged with the Grand Jury. This is ineffective and results in a lack of accountability or follow up on the complaint.

F5) Child Family Team members often dispute the accuracy of “official” meeting notes taken by the attending CPS Social Workers, leading to lack of trust between team members.

F6) The lack of data makes it difficult to determine whether bias is present either to Resource Families or Birth Families to the detriment of the child.

Recommendations

R1) The Grand Jury recommends that CPS publish an organizational chart by October 31, 2024.

R2) The Grand Jury recommends that CPS publish outcome-based metrics, such as number of children moved to Resource Families, number of Resource Families available in the County, number of successful and failed reunifications, and identify success metrics for children under care, on an annual basis on their website to improve transparency by Dec. 31, 2024.

R3) The Grand Jury recommends that CPS create and publish the complaint process. This published process should include a supervisor not vested in the outcome who can review the complaints. This process and the accompanying metrics like number of complaints and resolution times should be made available to the public by Dec. 31, 2024.

R4) The Grand Jury recommends that the County Board of Supervisors establish a Child Welfare Oversight board and an Inspector General similar to what the 2002-2003 Grand Jury recommended. This could help resolve bias, impropriety and undue influence complaints and will help provide transparency and increase trust in the CPS process. The Grand Jury recommends that the planning for this should

start by Dec. 31, 2024, with the board fully implemented six months after the planning is finished.

R5) The Grand Jury recommends that the CPS department begin to record the Child

Summer Blockbusters

Road in Rome

Comment to the audience

Deposit the ashes

Giant Hall-of-Famer Mel

Canine skin infection

Humble and docile

Name badges, acr.

Streamlined

Bonkers

Sir Mix-____-____

Building a Lighted House for Humanity

Risa D’Angeles

The United States celebrates its 248th birthday on Thursday, July 4, 2024. On July 4, 1776, the United States of America proclaimed its independence from England by creating and signing the Declaration of Independence.

There is a deep esoteric significance to the founding of the United States. Created by the Hierarchy (inner spiritual government), the United States is an experiment in freedom for humanity.

Externally, the U.S. was formed in order to liberate itself from England (freedom from the old ways). Spiritually, the United States of America was created in order to “do a Great Work. ” That of “Standing within the Light & leading humanity within and towards that Light.”

personify, bring forth the light & to shine brightly for the world.

The United States was formed under the sign and Light of Cancer. The keynote on the Soul level of Cancer is “I, the Soul, build a lighted house & dwell therein.” The U.S. is the “lighted house for humanity, and its task is to be the Light of the World.”

In these polarized and tumultuous times (in between the ages, preparing for the Reappearance of the World Teacher), enlightened servers (disciples) are being called to be the Light that nurtures and nourishes. Disciples (the New Group of World Servers) each evening stand together and hold up a lamp for humanity ... so the “way” is not so dark for humanity.

Bay Federal Promotes Bennett, Torres B

Every country, nation, state, person, kingdom is “called to do a specific spiritual Work in the world.” It is their spiritual task. The spiritual task of the United States is to be a ”Light Unto & for the World.” The people of the United States are to

ARIES

You begin to have a new sense of self identity, a new belief in yourself, new ways in relationship to others and new ways of cooperatively working in the world. Careful with communication, tend to health, create a time for regular exercise, review supplements and vitamins. Sometimes fiery signs cannot maintain a consistent health regimen. However, it’s vital to your daily tasks, upcoming demands and essential to longevity.

TAURUS

In many ways you’re becoming more and more sensitive. You’re developing Pisces’ compassionate characteristics. Sometimes it’s difficult to perceive earth realities, difficult to walk a straight line and keep balance. Sometimes you stumble and only the very present moment is real. Even with all these physical obstructions presented by Chiron, you will still “save the world”. Your protector is the elephant god Ganesh, remover of obstacles.

GEMINI

The message each week seems the same – the community and groups you participate in, the duality you present, all of these carry the love and wisdom from the blue star, Sirius. Soon you must begin to discriminate and discern which groups stand with the Forces of Light and who the people of Goodwill are. It is toward these groups you will be magnetized. They call to you daily, each morning and evening. Remember, always that disciples are known by their kindness.

CANCER

So many things are culminating. Long held hopes and wishes bring forth new opportunities, aid and assistance. As you study and learn new information, especially about health, healing, gardening and foods, you’re able to teach others ways to safeguard and sustain themselves. In return a deep love is exchanged, given and received. New realities appear, new goals, hopes, wishes and dreams and a sense that you need subtle healing modalities to thrive.

To be of service to humanity, disciples recite this invocative mantra each day with the words, ”We know O Lords of Life and Love about the needs of humanity. Touch our hearts with love so we can know and do our part in the world.”

And we remember, at all times, the true Disciples are always known for their goodwill and kindness. n

LEO

In the next year, as horizons expand, you will cultivate new friends, enter into new groups and encounter new endeavors. You may wonder about unfamiliar places, seeking different cultures, people and places that change your life. You’re prepared for a new reality, new archetypes. See the next year as a philosophical adventure. A companion? I don’t know. You still have relationship wounds hidden away. Warm waters help.

VIRGO

You’re working hard bringing forth all your hidden values out into the open. In the next months, notice if those values change. Be aware of this. You like to be practical and ambitious. What for? Is it money, resources or being seen, known, recognized, praised and understood? This is a complex question. Be aware of impatience and impulsiveness. Use resources with deep respect and wisdom. Remember gratitude.

LIBRA

Unusual events occur in the next months (till November). Money increases, then comes and goes, creating a deep awareness of resources. Sometimes we don’t know how to use money. Sometimes we give everything away. Talk with your partner, intimate, your I & Thou “other”. Share goals, dreams, wishes, hopes, fears and the handling of money. Come from the heart, always. You are fierce and independent. Slow down.

SCORPIO

In all things, but especially food, diet, health and exercise there must be a plan and then consistency. This may be a challenge. Uranus is creating unevenness everywhere. Anything in excess over time creates a health situation. Attempt to observe this. Ask if your daily work serves you while also helping and serving others. In the months to come, the work you do and your perceptions about work change. Service is to be your middle name.

SAGITTARIUS

You will have days of change, a shifting about, and deep transformation amidst days of peace, harmony, ease and revelations. These will create a tension that creates attention to the creation of all things new. You will express yourself differently. When in charge (a steward), you will enhance and improve everything and everyone. Simultaneously, you need a new sense of fun, pleasure, and perhaps even a new someone to “relate” to. A group calls.

CAPRICORN

At times being the parent or head of household will feel so vast you’ll want to run away from home. Running is good (for exercise or running a race), but always you come home again. Everyone needs you. Oh, dear, if you hear the words “needs you” one more time, you’ll expire! You’re restless for new realities at home, needing more psychological, physical and emotional support. You need a new yet ancient foundation to belief in. Where’s your mommy?

AQUARIUS

Do you need to make an important decision? Are you learning new information, seeking it out, or is it finding you? Over time the lessons learned now will slowly be comprehended and useful. Be in contact with brothers and sisters, relatives and family. Everyone’s changing. You are, too. Share with them, ask about their lives. You need to encounter everything new. Each week I repeat — careful with money and resources. Careful. Write your biography.

PISCES

You’re in deep waters, on the edge of new archetypes, waiting for new realities, seeking new values, learning how to ask for, gather, receive and use resources. You pray for Right Stewardship and Right Timing. You want to begin something big, creating a safe haven. Observe all living systems; realize “the most diversity exists at the edges. It is here that change happens naturally.” Remain in the heart yet also always at its edge.

ay Federal Credit Union announces two promotions: Trisha Bennett to vice president of enterprise applications and project management office and David Torres to assistant vice president of home loan sales.

Bennett’s promotion comes on the heels of two successful milestones in her career — earning her Project Management Professional Certification from The Project Management Institute and being awarded the Credit Union’s 2023 Service Excellence Award. She joined the credit union in 2019, where she began as assistant vice president of enterprise applications and project management office. She has demonstrated exemplary leadership and project management skills, helping streamlining Bay Federal’s operational efficiency and fortifying capabilities to deliver superior service to members.

“I am excited for this opportunity to provide guidance amongst systems, applications, and project management processes, all while supporting our greater strategic initiatives,” she said.

Born and raised in Santa Cruz County, she graduated from UC Davis, with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife, fish and conservation biology, and obtained her Business Analysis Certification from the University’s extension program.

Bennett serves on the board of the Pescadero Arts and Fun Festival and is secretary of the Pescadero Community Foundation. She enjoys spending time with her family in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and her family has two loving rescue cats and two rescue dogs who join them on their adventures.

Torres has been instrumental in leading both Bay Federal’s team of local home loan consultants and Bay Federal members through the challenges of the housing market.

He has steadied the ship from a refinance boom driven by historically low interest rates to a challenging purchase market for first-time buyers.

Trisha Bennett

David Torres

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CAPITOLA LIBRARY EVENTS

1st and 3rd Saturdays (NEW DAYS), Noon to 5 p.m. — Dungeons & Dragons for Adults Join the magical world of D&D storytelling, where you can be a bard, a wizard, or a barbarian for a few hours.

1st and 3rd Saturdays, Noon to 5 p.m. — Lancelot’s Merry Band of Gamers for Adults: Bing your favorite board game or play some of Lancelot’s games. No experience needed.

July 17, 5:30-6:30 p.m. — 3 Keys to Healing Your Gut & Boosting Your Health: Are you tired of not feeling your best? Tired of symptoms like gas, bloating, heartburn, bathroom trouble, and low energy? Your gut is at the root of your health. Rebecca Hazelton of ChoosingHealthNow. com, licensed nutritionist, Functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner, Certified HeartMath stress resilience coach and author, will talk about how to get rid of these symptoms and how to regain health to feel great and enjoy life.

July 30, 3-4 p.m. — Jack Spareribs, Pirate for Hire: Swashbuckling magic, mayhem, and comedy ... and ventriloquism with Maynard, his talking monkey!

CAPITOLA TWILIGHT CONCERTS

6 p.m. Wednesdays, Esplanade Bandstand, Capitola Village

The Capitola Twilight Concerts are back for the summer of 2024.

All concerts take place at the Esplanade bandstand in Capitola Village. These free events are made possible by the generosity of sponsors.

Schedule of bands:

July 3 Dirty Cello

July 10 Mike Hammar & The Nails

July 17 Extra Large

July 24 The Joint Chiefs

July 31 Dolce

Aug 7 Space Heater

Aug 14 The Inciters Band

Aug 21 Cowboys After Dark

Aug 28 The Alex Lucero Band

OPIOID GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE

The County of Santa Cruz Behavioral Health Division has contracted with Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County to manage distribution of $810,000 for prevention, early intervention, harm reduction, and treatment of opioid addiction. This effort aims to support nonprofits that can provide innovative community-involved solutions for drugs that have been fatal for hundreds of county residents. The request for proposal period will be open until July 10 at 11:59 p.m.

Nonprofits providing services in Santa Cruz County are invited to apply. Applicants will be required to provide detailed responses on how they will address the “High Impact Abatement Activities,” including demographic information for current and projected program participants to ensure the needs of Santa Cruz County residents will be addressed. Allowed uses of these grants are detailed in Exhibit E of the settlement agreement.

Individual grants will be up to $400,000 each, with a performance period of up to two years. All grant funds must be spent by June 30, 2026.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK WALL OF HOPE

The Wall of Hope is designed to support Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County’s mission of alleviating hunger in our community.

Tiles range from $700 to $2,000. Proceeds support Second Harvest and will be viewed by visitors to the food bank for years to come.

The Wall of Hope is located on the patio, just outside Second Harvest’s main entrance. The tiles will be previewed at the Party in the Parking Lot event.

For more information, contact Michele Bassi at (831) 288-3002 or e-mail michele@thefoodbank.org

Tiles can be purchased at https://give.thefoodbank.org/ campaigns/32191-wall-of-hope.

NOV. 5 ELECTION: IMPORTANT DATES

Aug. 9: Deadline for candidates to file.

Aug. 9: Deadline for filing tax rate statement for bond measures.

Aug. 16: Deadline for filing arguments for or against local ballot measures

Aug. 23: Deadline for filing rebuttals.

Sept. 26: First day to mail County Voter Information Guides.

Oct. 7: First day to mail ballots to all Santa Cruz County registered voters. In-person voting open at two locations.

Oct. 21: Last day to register to vote for the November 2024 election and receive a ballot and voter guide in the mail.

Oct. 26: Three more in-person voting locations open.

Nov. 2: Thirteen more in-person voting locations open.

Nov. 5: Election Day – polls open at 7am and close at 8pm.

Nov. 12: Vote by mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received by Nov. 12 will be counted.

Dec. 3: Last day to certify election results.

SCLERODERMA SUPPORT GROUP

The Scleroderma Foundation of California announces a new support group for people living in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.

The Monterey Bay Support Group will bring together individuals with scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and thickening of the skin and other areas of the body.

The support group will be led by volunteers Cheri O’Neil of Live Oak and Annette Rahn of Carmel. The mission of the Scleroderma Foundation of California is to empower patients to live better lives through programs dedicated to support, education, and research.

The support group will start by offering virtual meetings, with the goal of meeting monthly in person at a location convenient for members.

To learn more, email mbsclero@gmail.com. The foundation’s website is www.myscleroderma.org.

COUNTY SEEKS NONPROFIT PROPOSALS

Deadline: August 2

The County of Santa Cruz has announced the deadline for nonprofits to apply for county and city funding from the Collective of Results and Evidence-based (CORE) Investments Program.

The goal is to foster an environment where everyone can thrive and belong.

The Request for Proposals was released on June 3.

This year, $3,790,025 will be awarded for the 2025-28 three-year funding cycle, with the top priorities being: Lifelong Learning and Education, Thriving Families, and Healthy Environments.

County Supervisors and Santa Cruz City Councilmembers approved setting aside $1.5 million of the funding to be awarded specifically for shelter and homeless prevention services through a separate process.

CORE Investments, formerly known as community programs, has operated for more than 40 years to allocate local funds. It now engages experts in the proposal review process, provides technical assistance to applicants and promotes equitycentered and outcomes-driven results. To view the RFP see https://santacruzcountyca.gov/Departments/GeneralServices/Purchasing/Solicitations.asp

For more information dates and training, visit: https://www. santacruzhumanservices.org/Home/FundingOpportunities/ COREInvestments

SECOND HARVEST NEEDS VOLUNTEERS ASAP

While many enjoy summer vacations, the need for food assistance in the community does not take a break.

Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County urgently seeks volunteers to come every Saturday during the summer to help sort and pack food for the next week’s distributions for 65,000 local residents.

About 20 volunteers are needed for each shift every Saturday (so 40 every Saturday) at the food bank’s Watsonville warehouse. The two shifts are:

• Early Bird Shift: 7:45 – 11 am

• Late Riser Shift: 11:15 am - 2:30 pm

No experience is needed, and volunteers can sign up for one or multiple shifts. The minimum age to volunteer is 13.

Remaining Dates: July 6, 13, 20, 27, Aug. 3, 10 and 17.

To sign up, visit thefoodbank.org or https://tinyurl.com/ SHFB-volunteer, or call (831) 232-8141.

ART AT THE BEACH

Sundays: July 7 & 21 • August 4

11 a.m.-5 p.m., Esplanade Park in Capitola Village

The Capitola Art & Cultural Commission presents Art at the Beach on four Sundays at Esplanade Park in Capitola Village where you can enjoy stunning views of Monterey Bay.

From beautiful paintings to captivating photography, unique sculptures to dazzling jewelry, and everything in between, you’ll find it all here. Best of all, this familyfriendly event is totally free and open to everyone.

COUNTY PUBLIC ART: THE LETTERS

The County of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Public Libraries announce installation of “The Letters,” a striking blue seven-foot steel sculpture created for the new Live Oak Library annex, next to Simpkins Swim Center, 979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz.

Bay area artists David Sehyoon Choi and Sooja (Soo) Choi collaborated on this piece of public art, composed of 1,000+ individually cut letters which form a figure kneeling to pick up words. Viewers will see words of affirmation such as “liberty,” “happiness,” “love,” “unity,” “justice,” “peace,” and “hope.” David and Soo immigrated to the U.S. from Korea in 1982. David is an award-winning printmaker; Soo creates large public sculptures. They often do joint exhibitions. Later this summer, the public will have an opportunity to meet the artists at the annex grand opening; check www. parks.santacruzcountyca.gov or www.santacruzpl.org for details.

For information on the County public art program, visit www.parks.santacruzcountyca.gov/Home/FindaProgram/ ArtsCulturalPrograms/PublicArtPrograms.aspx

The Live Oak annex community rooms can be reserved by emailing reservations@parks.santacruzcountyca.gov

SOQUEL HIGH CLASS OF 1974 REUNION

Oct. 5, 5-11 p.m., Santa Cruz Dream Inn, 175 W Cliff Dr Register by Sept. 13

Soquel High Class of 1974 will have its 50th reunion Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Santa Cruz Dream Inn. Organizers Penny Alvarez Stinson, Sharon Crawford Caiocca, Deanna DelBianco Lindgren, Ed Jenkins and Dave Ponza say this reunion will be the best yet. Price is $130 per person.

For information, see https://www.soquelhigh1974.com

SC PARKS: MOBILE REC & TOTS TRIATHLON

3:30-5 p.m., Various locations

Santa Cruz County Parks provide incredible recreational activities. This summer new activities include Mobile Rec, and Super Tots Triathlon.

From Mobile Rec will be providing free activities and a snack in county parks in Santa Cruz County. Activities include sports, nature scavenger hunts, even juggling. Dates are:

North County — Felton Covered Bridge

Sept. 11: Sports

Dec. 11: Nature Scavenger Hunt

Mid County — Brommer Aug. 14: Juggling (learn and make your own) Nov. 13: Nature Scavenger Hunt

South County — Mesa Village Oct. 9: Nature Scavenger Hunt

Super Tots Triathlon is a first-time event for ages 3-5. There will be 3 practice dates Sept. 7 at 10 am, for bicycling, Sept.14 at 10 am for running, both at Felt Street Park, Sept. 21 at 9 am for swimming at Simpkins Swim Center and Sept. 28 at 8-10 a.m., the triathlon, also at Simpkins Swim Center.

Fee is $89 for county residents, $98, non-county residents.

Kids 6-12 are invited to enter the triathlon for beginner athletes: 8-10 am Sept. 28 at Simpkins Swim Center. Fee is $25 for county resident, $28 for non-county residents.

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Register at www.scparks.com

COUNTY FAIR BOARD MEETINGS

The Santa Cruz County Fair Board will meet each month in 2024 except September and November. Remaining dates are July 23, Aug. 27, Oct. 22, and Dec. 3.

There is no meeting in September or November. Meetings typically begin at 1:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday in the Heritage Building at the fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Blvd., Watsonville.

For agendas, posted 10 days in advance, see santacruzcountyfair.com

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays

BRIDGE CLUB

10:30 a.m.-Noon, 7695 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003

The Aptos Branch Library will host Bridge Club sessions on Mondays (except holidays).

Bridge Club is a partnership between Santa Cruz County Parks and Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Register at scparks.com or in-person the day of the event.

First Wednesdays

SONS IN RETIREMENT

Time TBD, Elks Lodge, 150 Jewell St., Santa Cruz SIR (Sons In Retirement) is a nonprofit, nonpolitical public benefit organization of senior men. The organization’s mission is to enhance the lives of its members through social events while making friends.

The Twin Valleys, Santa Cruz Branch welcomes new members and meets the first Wednesday of each month. Contact Ray Disperati at 831-588-8876 for information.

Second Fridays of the Month

Artists Sooja Choia and David Sehyoon Choi visit their newly installed public art at the Live Oak Library annex.

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS

4:30-7:30 p.m., Monterey Ave. Park, Capitola

Food Truck Fridays are back at Monterey Ave. Park on four summer Fridays.

Local-centric food and entertainment in a fun, familyfriendly environment. There is plenty of open spaces as well as an adult-only beer garden in the center of the action. Live entertainment is scheduled:

July 12: Tsunami

Aug. 16: Digbeats

Sept. 13: Coffee Zombie Collective

Second Saturdays thru Summer MOVE TODAY

Author Russ Rogers is encouraging people to get outside and join hum on a 2-mile walk on the second Saturday of the month, July 13, Aug. 10 and Sept. 14.

For more information, see https://movetoday365.com/

Second and Fourth Saturdays SOQUEL HOMESTEADERS MARKETS

11 a.m.-3 p.m., 2505 and 2525 South Main St. parking lots Soquel Homesteaders Markets is in a new location and on a new day and time starting April 13 and active through Dec. 14.

The markets will be in the parking lots across from Soquel business’s Beer 30, Sunny Side Produce, Buzzo Wood Fired Pizza, and Carpo’s.

The Soquel Homesteaders Markets, organized by Jill Troderman of Holistic Family Nutrition, supports vendors of all good things, with a focus on promoting quality, natural, organic, and sustainable foods and products.

There will be vendors of locally grown produce, cottage industry foods, local meats, cheeses, ferments, natural products, homesteaders’ wares, arts and crafts, honey, candles, sweet treats, coffee and tea, health and wellness products, services, and practitioners, healers, spiritual endeavors, nonprofits, schools, plants, flowers, seeds and herbs, jewelry, green living and up-cycled garage sale items.

The Markets will include live music, food trucks, a gleaner’s table with free local produce, and a seed share/ seed bank.

There will also be homesteading classes from 12 - 1 p.m. Find “Soquel Homesteaders Markets” on Facebook.

DATED EVENTS

THURSDAY JULY 4

WORLD’S SHORTEST PARADE: APTOS

10 a.m., Corner Soquel Drive & State Park Drive

Now is the time to sign up to participate in the Fourth of July World’s Shortest Parade!

Party-in-the-Park follows, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. in Aptos Village Park with music by James Durbin & the Lost Boys. To participate in the parade, call 831-688-1467.

Sunday July 9

SOROPTIMIST CLUB MEETING

4 p.m., United Way of Santa Cruz County, 4450 Capitola Road, Suite 106, Capitola

Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea will meet July 9 at 4 p.m. at United Way of Santa Cruz County.

The meeting is free and open to the public. Club members will take sign-ups for staffing the rental booth at the Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival, a major fund-raising project, and adopt the FY 2024-25 budget, and plan for the District meeting, which the club will co-host in October with Soroptimist International of Watsonville.

Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Soroptimist is a coined Latin phrase meaning Best for Women. For information, visit www.best4women.org, or email sicapitola. by.the.sea@gmail.com

Monday July 10

FILM: YOU WILL NOT REPLACE US 7 – 8:30 p.m., Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Road, “You Will Not Replace Us” is a documentary drama addressing the shared tribulations and historical unity between Black and Jewish Americans. Join directors and co-stars Josh Greene and Luke Harris, along with cinematographer Jack Lattin and producer Sydney Kaster for a screening Wednesday, July 10 ,from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola, and discussion moderated by UCSC Professor Bruce Thompson.

By bringing together Black and Jewish interviewees, the film sends a clear message: Marginalized communities will not be replaced by bigotry and ignorance. Often times, due to replacement theory, these two communities have been pinned against each other and library staff hope this documentary short serves as a jumping off point for conversations about the histories of and unity between both communities.

All are invited to this conversation. Light refreshments will be provided.

Registration is recommended to help plan refreshments. Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/12648559.

Saturday July 20

CHILDCARE ACCESS: HOW TO BUILD CAPACITY

10:30 am – 12:30 pm, Aptos Library, 7695 Soquel Drive

Are you concerned about access to childcare in our community?

Join the American Association of University Women Santa Cruz for an eye-opening discussion on this critical issue at the Aptos Library.

Guest speakers: Linda Asato from the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network in Sacramento and Diane Munoz, community organizer for the Childhood Advisory Council in Santa Cruz County. Attendees will learn about:

• The childcare landscape in California and Santa Cruz County

• Capacity challenges and how to build more access

• How the childcare system works and funding sources

• State and federal policy updates

• Opportunities for AAUW to support childcare initiatives

Don’t miss this chance to learn about the state of childcare and why it impacts all of us. The first step to creating change is understanding the issues.

Saturday July 27

END HUMAN TRAFFICKING EVENT

1 to 3:30 p.m., Resource Center for Non-Violence, 612 Ocean St., Santa Cruz

Awareness is the first step in fighting human trafficking. AAUW Santa Cruz invites you to a powerful and informative

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SOQUEL PIONEER PICNIC

Saturday July 27

Music starts at 11:30 am, Pringle Grove

The 86th annual Soquel Pioneer Picnic is coming!

Each July, the picnic commemorates the town’s rich history. There will be historical exhibits, an auction, and live music by Poi Rogers.

This is a fantastic event for history lovers with lots of historical photos for viewing.

Mark Hylkema, supervisor of the cultural resources program and tribal liaison/archaeologist for the Santa Cruz District of California State Parks, will speak. He has 40+ years of experience in cultural resource management. He will talk about the Indigenous Apto and Uypi people of this region and their first contact with Europeans. Free coffee is provided and attendees are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch for their family. Lunchtime will be at noon.

Suggested donation $5 per adult.

There are no membership restrictions and all are welcome to attend.

Directions: Located in Pringle Grove, take North Main Street for .6 miles to Pringle Lane, just beyond Bargetto Winery on the right. Signs will indicate the event.

For information, call: 831-818-8109 or visit www.soquelpioneers.com

Photo: Mark Hylkema

event to raise awareness and educate our community on this critical issue at the Resource Center for Non-Violence.

Members of the Arukah Project will share their experiences as a hands-on organization providing shelter and support to victims of human trafficking here in Santa Cruz County.

See the award-winning film “I am Jane Doe,” which chronicles the epic battle mothers waged against the adult classifieds site Backpage.com.

This eye-opening documentary sheds light on the harrowing realities of human trafficking and the fight for justice.

Saturday July 27

Sunday July 28

BONNY DOON ART STUDIO TOUR 11am-5pm, Various locations

This summer is the 14th annual tour of Bonny Doon’s local studios surrounded by breathtaking scenery!

There will be 24 artists in 18 studios, with art styles ranging from fantasy illustrations to violin composition. See paintings by Maureen Sweeney, photographs by Ed Dickie, and jewelry by Dyann Paynovich.

A full map can be found at www.DoonArtTour.com. To end the tour there is a picnic area and live music to celebrate on Back Ranch Road. Information: 831-458-2170. Painting by Sweeney

Saturday October 12

LOBSTER FEED AT STATE PARK

4:30–7:30 pm, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Picnic Area 1, Felton

Get ready for the 28th annual Lobster Feed at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Picnic Area 1. Enjoy a delicious dinner of corn-on-the-cob, fresh green salad, garlic bread, dessert, and of course 1.5 pound Maine lobster under the majestic redwoods. Local entertainment is provided by The Shady Rest Band. General admission tickets sell for $125 and include complete “buffet style” dinner and two alcohol beverages if interested.

Additional stewardship add-ons can be purchased for $25. It’s a great opportunity to win prizes and support the parks. Tickets sell fast! Get yours at https://www. mountainparks.org/lobster-feed Lobster Feed is a family-friendly event supporting the Mountain Parks Foundation, which has a mission to inspire and educate visitors about land stewardship. Proceeds go to education programs in Henry Cowell and Big Basin State Parks. n

FEATURED COLUMNIST

The Importance of Community Involvement at Soquel Creek Water

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

At Soquel Creek Water District, we are grateful for the active involvement of our customers in shaping the future of our water resources. The dedication and enthusiasm of those who have participated in our public Committees and attended our Water Academies play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability and quality of our water services. Their contributions not only enhance our decision-making processes but also strengthen the bond between the District and our community we serve.

Public Advisory Committee:

A Pillar of Community Engagement

The Public Advisory Committee (PAC) is a cornerstone of our commitment to transparency and community involvement. After several years of having three committees: our Public Outreach Committee, Water Resources and Infrastructure Committee, and our Finance Committee, we combined all three into one committee to provide a more integrated, holistic approach.

This committee provides a platform for customers to voice their opinions, share their insights, and collaborate with us on various projects and initiatives. The diverse perspectives brought forth by PAC members help us address the unique needs and concerns of our community, making our policies and strategies more comprehensive and effective.

By participating in these discussions, our customers ensure that their voices are

heard and their interests are represented. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership and pride in our collective efforts to protect and preserve our precious water resources.

Our current public committee members on the PAC are James Zachos, Joseph Morici, Karen McCarty, Kellie Guerra, Meryl Abramson, Michael Gutierez, and Steven Graff.

The next PAC committee is Aug. 13 at 4pm. For more information visit: www.soquelcreekwater.org/200/Standing-Committees

Water Rates Advisory Ad-Hoc Committee: Balancing Affordability and Sustainability

Last year, our Ad-Hoc Water Rates Advisory Committee played a vital role in providing input on maintaining a balance between affordability and sustainability in our water services. The committee was represented by two board members with participation from 10 public participants, all of whom are ratepayers.

Comprising community members with a keen interest in financial and environmental issues, the group reviewed and provided feedback on proposed rate structures and financial plans. The purpose of the Committee was to review water rate structures based on options, priorities, and objectives

requested by the Board and to provide ideas, feedback, and recommendations in areas including social equity, administrative manageability, and outreach. Customers who served on the Water Rates Committee contributed their time for 10 months and worked with our rate consultant to ensure that our financial decisions were transparent and represented differing viewpoints of the community. Their participation is a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives our District forward, and we are immensely grateful for their commitment to this critical aspect of our operations.

Water Academy: Educating and Empowering the Community

Our Water Academy is an educational initiative designed to inform and empower our customers about the complexities of local water management and gain a better understanding that we are a not-for-profit local government special district agency. Through a series of meetings and a facilities’ behind-the-scenes tour, we cover topics such as water treatment and distribution, investments in infrastructure, water challenges, finances, monitoring and testing, community programs, and more.

Now in our seventh cohort, graduates of the Water Academy often become ambas-

“Patrick Sánchez” from page 18

sadors for water stewardship within the community. Armed with knowledge and a passion for sustainable water use, they inspire others to learn more about our initiatives. Their passion and outreach efforts help to amplify our message and help build a culture of water awareness and responsibility.

A Heartfelt Thank You

To all our customers who participate in our standing Public Advisory Committee, Ad-Hoc Water Rates Committee, and Water Academy, we extend our heartfelt thanks. Your dedication and involvement are vital to our mission of providing safe, reliable, and sustainable water services. Your contributions make a significant difference in our ability to serve the community effectively and responsibly.

At Soquel Creek Water District, we believe that an engaged and informed community is our greatest asset. Together, we can navigate the challenges of today and build a resilient and sustainable future for generations to come. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey and for your unwavering commitment to our shared vision. n

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For more information on how you can get involved, please visit our website at www. soquelcreekwater.org or contact us directly at outreach@soquelcreekwater.org. Your participation and support are always welcome and greatly appreciated!

Taxpayers would pay on average $30 per $100,000 of assessed value, generating $3.3 million per year. Assessed value is based on when the property was purchased, so anyone who bought a home in the past four years when prices escalated would pay far more than someone who bought a home back in the 1990s.

“Promotions” from page 26

In addition, he has developed new talent at the credit union and brought in applications and servicing tools to support borrowers.

If all the bonds are issued and sold, the principal and interest to be repaid is estimated to total $102.76 million, according to the school district.

Kristin Pfotenhauer, president of Live Oak’s Board, in her announcement, cited Sánchez’s success in improving achievement in predominantly Latino schools. n

He became Bay Federal’s home loans manager in 2019.

Before joining Bay Federal in 2014, he spent 11 years in mortgage banking.

“I’ve always really enjoyed the satisfaction of assisting our members in achieving their homeownership goals,” Torres said. “This new role will allow me to leverage even greater opportunities for our members and navigate the market at a much higher level.”

He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from San Jose State University and serves as a board member for Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay. He lives in Santa Cruz with his wife and 3 children and enjoys coaching his children’s sports teams. n

SCCAS Featured Pet COMMUNITY

Boba the Guinea Pig

Boba (A312732) is a charming guinea pig with a unique personality and beautiful long hair. He is a 2.5 year old male guinea pig who was owner surrendered due to a lifestyle change in the home.

Despite his luxurious mane, Boba isn’t one to seek the limelight. In fact, he prefers quiet corners and gentle cuddles over bustling activities. Boba can often be found nestled in his cozy bedding, peeking out with curious eyes when it’s treat time.

His favorite treats include fresh greens and the occasional nibble of carrot tops — he’s quite the connoisseur! Although Boba may be reserved at first, once he gets to know you, he enjoys gentle pets and quiet conversations.

One important detail about Boba is that he thrives as the sole guinea pig in a home. His temperament suggests he prefers to be the center of attention, enjoying peaceful interactions without the presence of other piggies.

This makes him a perfect match for someone looking to provide undivided attention and love to a single furry friend.

If you’re seeking a guinea pig who’s as unique as he is adorable, consider welcoming Boba into your heart and home. n

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is full of adoptable animals. Fostering animals is an awesome way to improve a Shelter animal’s life and fill your home with love and fun! If you are interested in fostering any kind of animal please email jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us. You can also Follow SCCAS on Instagram and/or Facebook to stay up-to-date on shelter news and where to find adoptable pets around town at breweries, stores and events. All adoptions are first come, first served.

Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 • Hours: Daily 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. 580 Airport Blvd., Watsonville, 95076 • Hours: Tues.-Sat. 9:30 a.m. – noon; 1–5 p.m. (Closed Sun/Mon)

Website: www.scanimalshelter.org

SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us

Visions of America

As the Semi-quincentennial anniversary of America’s independence fast approaches, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and PBS Books have produced “Visions of America: All Stories, All People, All Places,” a digital-first series of videos and virtual conversations that explore our nation with a renewed interest in the places, people and stories that have contributed to the America we live in today.

Hosted by PBS Books and the sixth director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services Crosby Kemper leads a video tour through three lesser-known historical sites that symbolize an aspect of the spirit of our independence, probing what makes each of these so important to our national identity.

The screening and discussion with local historians and researchers will be Thursday evenings 6-8 p.m. in July at the Captiola Library, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola. Light refreshments will be provided.

Registration is recommended, not required, to help plan refreshments. n •••

July 11: A Journey to the Freedom Tower Stories of Cuban Migration with UCSC Latin American and Latino Studies PhD candidate Jennifer Gottleib

The Freedom Tower (or Torre de la

Libertad) in Miami has graced the city’s skyline for nearly a century, but it became an important national landmark when it played a crucial role in hosting Cuban refugees in the wake of the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

Register at: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/ event/12401275

July 18: Exploring the Wing Luke Museum

The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience was established in Seattle in 1967 as the only Pan-Asian Pacific American community-based museum in the country. The episode features a discussion of the resilience of Asian American immigrants, through their early oppression in the U.S. to a now flourishing community in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District.

Register at: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/ event/12401276

July 25: Discovering 18th & Vine

The Negro League’s Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 to keep the stories of its players especially Jackie Robinson alive and how they eventually broke the barriers of segregation in Major League Baseball. While the conversation will lead with baseball, it will wend towards jazz since the museum also shares its building with the American Jazz Museum.

Register at: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/ event/12401277

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