By Jondi Gumz
Brooklyn Williams, a junior, shoots 3s. So does Hanna Shehorn, a sophomore. ... continues on page 4
One of the speakers at this year’s Scotts Valley Hitchcock Festival March 14-16 is Aaron Leventhal, co-author of a book about the film director’s movies in the Bay Area. Full Story page 6
Jondi Gumz
Jondi Gumz, Risa D’Angeles,
Nicole Sallak Anderson, Derek Timm
Michael Oppenheimer
Michael Oppenheimer, Ward
Bill Pooley, Erik Long
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Scotts Valley High School girls and boys are among the three local teams are left in the Central Coast Section basketball playoffs after the second round.
The top-ranked girls have won 13 in a row.
On Saturday, playing at home, they dominated Mercy 68-14.
Sammy Rebbert scored 16, grabbed five rebounds and made three assists.
Hanna Shehorn scored 15 and got eight rebounds.
Brooklyn Williams made three 3s and scored 13 overall.
Claire Skinner grabbed eight rebounds.
The Falcons played tight defense which got the Mercy girls off rhythm from the very start.
Mercy ended the season 7-12.
The girls’ magical season came to an end Tuesday with a 58-42 loss to Notre Dame Belmont.
•••
Boys
On Friday, the Scotts Valley boys, who tied with Soquel for third in league and are 14-14 overall, topped Stevenson 55-43 at home, then toppled Jefferson of Daly City 65-45 on Saturday.
Seniors carried the team Friday, with Taylor Knox the high scorer with 21 on
Friday, followed by Will Schilling, 13, Jacob Sanders, 10, and Zach Schilling,10.
On Saturday, Taylor Knox and Alex Burgos, a junior, each scored 15 points. Will Schilling scores 13 and Zach Schilling scored 11.
In the quarterfinals, the Falcons lost to No. 1 Kings Academy 75-49.
“SVHS Girls Basketball”, from page 1
Samantha “Sammy” Rebbert , a junior, scores and steals the ball like nobody’s business. Count on seniors Claire Skinner and Abi Shi for rebounds.
Lily Watson, Amaya Guerra, Isabella Williams, fill in wherever they are needed.
The No. 7 Soquel High Knights edged No. 10 Terra Nova 53-46 in the second round of the playoffs. Chase Pedersen, a sophomore, and Nolan Westfall, a senior, scored 10 points apiece, and Nico Ramirez, a senior, added eight.
On Tuesday, Soquel boys lost a close one in Division III to No. 2 Carmel 47-42. n
Their motto: Together.
There is team chemistry from playing on the same Amateur Athletic Union basketball team, and on the Falcons’ flag football team that this year won a league title.
Did I mention their defense? Smart, aggressive defense — so they don’t rack up fouls.
for
This is the
who was at the helm from 2018-2021 when his teams finished 6-4 twice and then 4-7. He returned in 2023 for another 6-4 in league finish and third place. No wonder he’s smiling. n
On Feb. 19, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) unveiled Assembly Bill 794, which would mandate new state drinking water standards to protect Californians from exposure to toxic and dangerous “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
Exposure to PFAS has been linked to serious health harms including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, reproductive harm, and developmental issues in infants and children.
Recent tests suggest that nearly 12 million Californians are exposed to tap water with PFAS contamination.
Last year, following an extensive review of scientific research as well as over 120,000 public comments, the Biden
AB 794 would address these concerns by requiring the California State Water Board to adopt and enforce state-level regulations to protect Californians from PFAS exposure. The legislation would
science to safeguard the health and safety of our children while also preserving our ability to strengthen protections in the future.”
AB 794 is supported by public health
exposure to PFAS can cause cancer and other illnesses, and that PFAS exposure is especially dangerous during pregnancy and early childhood.
Last year, when the Biden Administration adopted the first ever national drinking water standards to protect Americans from PFAS exposure, officials said activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange systems are examples of technologies and approaches that can help to protect against PFAS exposure.
The EPA noted that the 2021 Infrastructure Act included $21 billion to help upgrade drinking water systems to incorporate such technologies.
California currently lags behind at least 11 other states in regulating PFAS, leaving millions of Californians at risk of exposure to these dangerous “forever
By setting enforceable state limits
One of the speakers at this year’s Scotts Valley Hitchcock Festival March 14-16 is Aaron Leventhal, co-author of a book about the film director’s movies in the Bay Area.
He shared with Scotts Valley Times his passion for the subject.
What inspired you and Jeff Kraft to write Footsteps in the Fog about the Hitchcock film inspirations in San Francisco?
Jeff and I were colleagues, and in our consulting work, we often had downtime as we waited on client responses to our submissions. During these pauses, we would find ourselves talking about a whole range of things that seemed to, more often than not, wander into cinema, such as movies we had recently watched or geographic locations in the Bay Area where movies were shot.
We quickly realized we both had a passion, like detectives, for figuring out the exact corner, intersection, and location of a given scene in films, including the time of day, what buildings were still there, etc.
this film’s car chase scene was in San Francisco or that film’s view of the Golden Gate Bridge was shot.
In fact, we started accumulating so much Bay Area film knowledge that someone suggested we write it down. We decided to try.
We initially thought of a map of Bay Area films, similar to their maps of the Hollywood Stars. We figured, at worst, what a great holiday gift for friends and family.
Once we had started to accumulate the research, we realized there was a fascinatingly large amount of Hitchcock films shot in the Bay Area. Given the Great Master was beloved by both of us and so many other people, we thought we might have a commercial venture on our hands.
Aaron Leventhal
We would regale our other colleagues with this sort of competition we had struck up to try and make the other one guess where
TWe took our map concept and wrote it up as a proposal to publishers, which we submitted to around 20 different publishing houses. All said no in a short, neatly typed rejection letter. Although one was different. In addition to the typed letter, handwritten in the margin, it read, “If you want to turn this into a book, I might just be interested.”
“History” page 15
March 14-16
he third annual Scotts Valley Alfred Hitchcock Festival will return Friday through Sunday, March 14-16, showing “Rope,” “The Wrong Man,” “The Lodger,” and three of his TV shows, with discussions of the films.
Opening night will feature a talk about the director’s time at his Scotts Valley estate, with his granddaughter Tere Carrubba, of Aptos, Aaron Leventhal, co-author of “Footsteps In The Fog,” about Hitchcock’s Northern California connections, and local historian Jay Topping.
Hitchcock bought a 200-acre estate off Canham Road in 1940 and kept it as a retreat from Hollywood for 30 years.
At 8:15 p.m., Logan Walker, UC Santa Cruz lecturer in film and digital media and Shelley Stamp, UCSC professor of film & digital media, will introduce and discuss Alfred Hitchcock’s film techniques in the movie Rope. Audience Q&A afterwards.
The three will speak at 7 p.m. Friday, March 14, at The Landing (Scotts Valley Cultural and Performing Arts Center), 251 B Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets $30.
Saturday, March 15: Doors open at noon, light refreshments, music. At 1 p.m. Jason Isralowitz, attorney and author of Nothing to Fear: Alfred Hitchcock and the Wrong Men will introduce and show the film. At 3 p.m. Jason will discuss in depth the real story of Manny Balestrero, the themes and techniques deployed in the film, a case of mistaken identity that ruined this man’s life. Audience Q&A afterward. $25.
“Festival” page 15
By Jondi Gumz
When people said the tornado that touched down Dec. 14 in Scotts Valley was a first, that was just part of the story.
In fact, a tornado blew through in the same location before Scotts Valley became a city, according to eyewitness Beverly Graham Forson.
She’s 91 and lives in Oregon today.
She wanted to set the record straight.
She doesn’t know the exact year but figures it was during the 1930s or 1940s when she was growing up on a ranch, the daughter of Jack and Lola Graham.
She said the tornado picked up their barn without any warning and sent it across Mount Hermon Road.
The roof was made of 4x8 pieces, and some sailed away — “it looked like a checkerboard,” she said.
The location: Where the Target shopping center is now, and 7-Eleven painted “Graham and Son,” recalling the days when sand was sold.
The Spring Lakes Mobile Home Park had not been built; it was a peat bog.
Beverly recalled, “My dad bought some adjoining property to our ranch from a Mr. Locke. He paid $100 an acre. But the interesting part is that Mr. Locke had acquired that property from a gentleman (don’t remember his name) by a swap — the land in exchange for a team of horses!”
According to the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, the David Locke Victorian home was built circa 1880, near where Target is now, and was destroyed in 1929 by a fire that burned from Zayante to Camp Evers in Scotts Valley. So picturesque, the Locke home appeared on postcards.
During World War II, Beverly was in 4-H, about age 12.
She raised day-old baby chicks in batches of 200, one after the other.
“Remember” page 15
The Wellness Center is a space on the Scotts Valley High School campus created for student well-being.
Students are welcome to drop-in at The Wellness Center (C504) before or after school, during lunch or break, or during the school day if they have an open period. You do not need an appointment.
Features: Calming spaces, self-led relaxation and self-reflection activities, wellness workshops, and individual counseling.
Staff provide information on physical and mental health topics and offers selfexploration activities for students aimed at improving social emotional skills.
Staff coordinates care through school resources and provides connections to local community agencies and other service providers that will support students and their families.
What do I do when I visit The Wellness Center?
The Wellness Center is your place for growth, self-discovery and connection! It’s also a great place to take a deep breath. It’s a place where you can go if you need to talk to someone.
It’s also a great place if you want to learn about well-being and things that affect your well-being. There are several awesome guided activities that can help you learn about coping skills, your values, healthy habits, stress management, communication and so much more.
Where is The Wellness Center?
Do I need an appointment?
The Wellness Center is located C-504 in the far corner of the building. You do not need an appointment. Students can come before or after school, during break or lunch, or during an open period, if you have one in your schedule.
How long can I stay in The Wellness Center?
If you come before school or during breaks, you have to go back to class when the bell rings.
If you are referred by a teacher or staff member to come during a class, you can stay for 15 minutes. If you need more support, the Wellness Navigator will schedule time for you talk privately and get more support from someone on The Wellness Team.
What do I do when I need to talk to someone privately?
Youcan come to The Wellness Center during our open hours, M-F 8 am to 4 pm. There will always be a Wellness staff member ready to greet you. Please tell them that you need to talk to someone about how you are feeling.
Please let them know if you need to talk to someone urgently. If you prefer, you can submit A Helping Hand request for support and someone from The Wellness Team will reach out to you.
If you need Immediate Help During a Crisis- CALL or TEXT 988.
Who can submit A Helping Hand Request for Support?
Anyone! A Helping Hand wellness request for support can be submitted by you, your friends, teachers, or your parents.
The person filling out the request will need to fill out some information to let us know about what is going on and how urgently you, or the student you’re concerned about, need to talk.
Someone from the Wellness Team will reach out to the student needing support. What is a Wellness Appointment like? What should I expect if I meet privately with the Wellness Coordinator?
Our Wellness Coordinator, Jodi Mulder, will ask you some questions about how you are feeling and what brought you to The Wellness Center.
She will also ask you questions about your past and present, and might ask you about your plans for the future. Together, you will decide what type of support you need going forward. This may include 1:1 counseling, regular visits to the Wellness Center, a Wellness Center conversation group or community resources. Is it confidential when I visit The Wellness Center?
Conversations with the Wellness staff are confidential, which means that what you share with a Wellness staff member is kept private within the Wellness Team and will not be shared with teachers, parents, or anyone else.
There are 5 exceptions to this rule that you should know about:
• If you tell us that someone is hurting you physically, emotionally, mentally, etc.
• If you tell us that you plan on hurting someone, getting into a fight, etc.
• If you tell us that you are going to hurt yourself.
• If you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol while you are at school.
• If you share about nude or sexually explicit photos
If we must share your information in order to keep you safe, we will do our best to let you know first.
I am worried about my friend, I think they need to talk with someone. What can I do?
Fill out A Helping Hand request for support.
“SVHS Wellness Center” page 10
The third annual Alfred Hitchcock Festival celebrates the work of the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.
It occurs during Alfred Hitchcock week in the City of Scotts Valley, where Hitchcock enjoyed a home for many years.
The Festival o ers lectures, runs movies, and provides entertainment, including a Saturday evening Gala. During the Gala this year the Festival will show the silent movie, The Lodger, with stunning musical accompaniment.
The third annual Alfred Hitchcock Festival celebrates the work of the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. It occurs during Alfred Hitchcock week in the City of Scotts Valley, where Hitchcock enjoyed a home for many years. The Festival offers lectures, runs movies, and provides entertainment, including a Saturday evening Gala. During the Gala this year the Festival will show the silent movie, TheLodger, with stunning musical accompaniment. The entire schedule, ticket pricing and other information can be found at: https://hitchcockfestival.com
The entire schedule, ticket pricing and other information can be found at: https://hitchcockfestival.com
The Landing (Scotts Valley Cultural & Performing Arts Center) 251B Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley, California 95066 Fundraiser for: Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT http://www.hitchcockfestival.com/
Felton Library has a new branch manager, Alicia Hernandez. She started her career at Santa Cruz Public Libraries as a library aide while attending CSU Monterey Bay in 2017, and became a Library Assistant II in 2020.
“I have worked at all of the SCPL branches, but most of my experience has been at La Selva Beach, Scotts Valley, and Aptos,” she said. “As with
Alicia Hernandez
any new step in my career, I am learning how to do this new job, will endeavor to do my best, and expect to learn from mistakes. I value lifelong learning, equity, and strive to be of service to others. I especially look forward to collaborating with the Felton Library Friends, learning all that I can about the SLV community, and becoming a contributing member of this neighborhood.” n
“SVHS Wellness Center” from page 8
Who works at the Wellness Center?
When you come, you will be greeted by one of our Wellness Staff - usually our Wellness Navigator. She’s really supportive of everyone and can share with you what The Wellness Center has to offer. You can ask her any questions you have.
You can also meet Jodi Mulder, our Wellness Coordinator, in The Wellness Center. Jodi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who offers Wellness Appointments to learn more about how resources at The Wellness Center, other school resources or community resources can support you.
You can talk to her when you’re having a difficult time. She also offers short-term counseling sessions with students who need individual support. School Counselors, Ms. Wahl & Ms. Hershey, as well as Mike Leimbach, campus therapist, and Megan Brannon, School Psychologist, are also part of our Wellness Team
Can The Wellness Center help me connect to resources off campus / in the community? Yes! We recognize that many students may benefit from the amazing resources in our community.
Students may prefer to seek support outside of school hours that can ensure full privacy. The Wellness Center staff can help you find the support that works best for you. You can visit our Social and Emotional Resources website, stop in The Wellness Center, or submit A Helping Hand request for support and we’ll reach out to you. I think that I am having a really hard time keeping myself safe. I think I need to be seen as soon as possible. How can you help me? If this is an emergency and you are not in school please call or text 988! If this is during school hours, come to The Wellness Center — We can help you! n
Open 8 am to 4 pm, Monday - Friday The Wellness Center, C504, is a tech-free zone. (831) 439-9555 x132.
Why are we opening a Wellness Center at Scotts Valley High School?
The American Academy of Pediatrics has declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health & the U.S. Surgeon General has highlighted the urgent need to address the nation’s youth mental health crisis.
Creating a Wellness Center at our high school allows us to offer students support and care at the pace that works for them. They can drop in and use our calming space, attend a workshop, join a group or engage in 1:1 school based counseling. Opening a Wellness Center on campus allows us to offer a space that promotes self-reflection and growth, as well as access to trained professionals.
Will I be informed if my student uses the services at the Wellness Center?
Offering a space at school where students can go to learn more about well-being and mental health is extremely important. Building trust that it is a space for them to grow at their own pace is essential.
Parents will not be notified when their child accesses the services of the Wellness Center.
We usually find that if you have expressed concern to your child and want to know if they are receiving support at school, you can ask them directly.
We want students to feel comfortable sharing information with us knowing that we will not disclose it without their written permission.
If I submit a Request for Support regarding my student, will I be informed if they are contacted by a Wellness Center team member?
Please know that all students referred for a Wellness Appointment will receive a check-in with a Wellness Staff member. Parents will be notified if an immediate attention to a crisis situation exists. Please refer to the list of reasons we would break confidentiality and inform you of a situation that needs to be addressed. If we do not believe there is an emergency or reason to break confidentiality, we will not notify parents when we follow up on referrals. n
Join us for an unforgettable evening of celebration at the Scotts Valley Community Awards Gala on Friday, May 9th, from 5:00 to 10:00 PM at the beautiful Roaring Camp’s Bret Harte Hall. This year’s theme, “Passport Around the World,” will take guests on an international journey as we honor the outstanding individuals and organizations that make Scotts Valley an exceptional place to live and work.
The evening will be filled with excitement, appreciation, and community spirit. Attendees will have the opportunity to win fantastic raffle prizes, bid on exclusive silent auction items and experiences, as well as enjoy a delectable selection of food and drinks, including fine wine, beer, and handcrafted cocktails. This is a night to raise a glass to the leaders, volunteers, businesses, and nonprofit organizations who go above and beyond to strengthen our community.
Whether you are a long-time resident or new to the area, the Scotts Valley Community Awards Gala is a perfect opportunity to connect with fellow community members, show appreciation for local achievements, and support a great cause. Come dressed in your finest travelinspired attire and get ready to embark on an evening of adventure, recognition, and giving back.
Don’t miss this special night of recognition, fun, and giving back. Mark your calendars and join us for an evening of gratitude and celebration at Roaring Camp’s Bret Harte Hall! Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of this inspiring community event.
To Purchase tickets, go to scottsvalleychamber. com.
The Stringed Instrument Roadshow is bringing a unique celebration of handmade music and craftsmanship to Scotts Valley on Saturday, September 20. This free event highlights the work of independent luthiers who create handcrafted guitars, basses, mandolins, and violins—giving the community a chance to experience the unique and exceptional quality of small-shop craftsmanship.
Roadshow was started by Scotts Valley Chamber Ambassadors
Visitors can meet the makers, learn about the instrument-building process, and even test-play beautifully crafted instruments. Whether you’re a musician, hobbyist, or just curious about how these instruments come to life, this event is a great way to support local and regional artisans.
The Stringed Instrument
Tobin Shaeffer and Judith Culberson with a mission to promote small shop instrument builders and repair persons, as well as preserve the art of Luthiery. CEO Tobin Shaeffer believes, “In a world where artisan craftspeople rarely get an opportunity to share their businesses with large groups, this event is needed”.
Mr. Shaeffer owes the inspiration to Perry Vasquez, owner and builder of Unga Guitars (UngaGuitars.com) who made the High Desert Luthiery Invitational (HDLI) in Albuquerque, NM successful.
“Perry had the vision of creating community when he moved to New Mexico. That eventually became HDLI. After I attended the June show last year, I told Perry I wanted
to do the same thing in Santa Cruz County.
With his blessing and the support of the Scotts Valley Community, Judith and I were able to
secure September 20th of this year at the Scotts Valley Community Center.” says Mr. Shaeffer. For more info, visit Stringed InstrumentRoadshow.com
Friday-Sunday
March 14-16
Alfred Hitchcock Festival
“The Landing” (formerly Scotts Valley Performing Arts Center)
251B Kings Village Rd.
Friday May 9
5-10 p.m. — Scotts Valley Community Awards Gala
Roaring Camp Railroads
Bret Harte Hall
5401 Graham Hill Rd., Felton
Thursday June 19
5:30-7 pm – Grand Re-opening & Red Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Earthwise Pet Supply
Scotts Village Shopping Center
255A Mt. Hermon Rd.
Saturday August 16
Sunday August 17
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (5 p.m. Sunday) — Scotts Valley Art Wine & Beer Festival
Skypark
361 Kings Village Road
Saturday September 20 Stringed Instrument Roadshow
Scotts Valley Community Center
360 Kings Village Rd.
Oakstrong Martial Arts in Felton is a different type of karate studio — one that offers teens and adults practical self-defense skills, physical fitness, and serious fun. Students become close colleagues and friends.
Serving the San Lorenzo Valley for over 10 years, Oakstrong has recently joined the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce.
“My passion is enabling my students to be safer in their daily lives — and building a close community of like-minded practitioners,” said Oakstrong Martial Arts owner and senior instructor Neville Loberg. “And having an enjoyable workout.”
Oakstrong’s self-defense training uses real-world scenarios, the psychology of staying safe, and practical techniques that can be used under pressure.
Traditional and modern weapons skills are also taught.
“Teenagers particularly need selfdefense. I delight in seeing their growth from fear towards courage... in seeing the confidence that comes from learning how to defend themselves and getting a great workout,” said Loberg.
Oakstrong offers a varied curriculum of traditional “hard-style” karate and artistic “soft-style” karate that greatly emphasizes internal energy work.
“I can’t say enough great things about Oakstrong Martial Arts and I highly recommend anybody who is thinking about learning a martial art, to contact Neville.” said high school student Philip Loesh. “I promise you, you won’t find a better teacher and mentor.”
Looking for a 1-day self-defense workshop / team-building? Oakstrong specializes in workshops tailored to specific
needs and situations. Recent workshops include parent/teen daughter, community social workers, LGBTQ+, and real estate agents.
“[Loberg did] an excellent job of tailoring the presentation to the needs of our team. He was polite, energetic and understood his audience,” said Darlene T., social worker agency executive.
Whether you’re interested in karate, street-smart self-defense, or learning about weapons, Oakstrong Martial Arts in Felton is the ideal destination for anyone looking to improve their safety and well-being.
www.oakstrong.net
info@oakstrong.net (831) 252-2628
Scotts Valley High School is inviting local businesses and organizations to participate in a SVHS Career Fair for students on March 11 from 11 am to 1 pm.
The SVHS Career Fair’s purpose is to assist students in exploring career options, securing internships, and networking for future employment. The SVHS College & Career Center is collaborating with a local non-profit, Your Future Is Our Business, to lead this initiative. Participating businesses, organizations, and professionals will have a table reserved for them at the event to meet with interested Falcons about internships (paid and unpaid), summer job opportunities, and general career questions.
Participants are encouraged to bring informational materials to the event. The students are excited to learn more about work opportunities in Scotts Valley. The location
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of the event is the SVHS Gym. Interested businesses and organizations can register for the fair at: https://bit.ly/SVHS-career-fair or reach out to Amy Shiovitz, College & Career Advisor, at ashiovitz@scottsvalleyusd.org for more information.
The SVHS College & Career Center assists students in exploring different career paths and educational opportunities.
The Center hosts various university representatives, organizes career-centered events, and works one-on-one with students to set them up for a successful future. The College & Career Advisor facilitates SVHS participation in Santa Cruz Trades Day, Cabrillo’s Health Careers Expo, and partners
with the SVHS Parent Club for a monthly workshop featuring a parent talking about their career path.
Please visit the center website at https:// svhs.scottsvalleyusd.org/o/svhs/page/ college-career for more information.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to recruit SVHS students for internships and summer employment. We look forward to seeing you on March 11th.
The Finance and Customer Service Manager is responsible for the effective operations of the finance, accounting, payroll, utility billing and customer service functions of the District.
Salary range is $142,000 - $178,00. Learn more about this position at: svwd.org. Applications are now being accepted, apply immediately.
Scotts Valley High School is celebrating its 25th anniversary this school year.
To commemorate this milestone, the SVHS 25th Anniversary Gala will take place on April 26th from 6 to 10 pm at the Inn at Pasatiempo.
The event will be an opportunity to celebrate SVHS’ past, present and future as well as raise funds for current and future Falcons. The SVHS 25th Anniversary Planning Team invites sponsorships for the gala to help us reach our $25,000 goal for the SVHS 25th Anniversary Fund.
We have different levels available including gold, silver and bronze. Each
level is associated with different recognition opportunities.
We’re also offering table, dessert and appetizer sponsorships. Information is available at https://tinyurl.com/svhs25thgalasponsorships or contact us at svhs25thanniversary@gmail.com with any questions.
We are also requesting silent and live auction item donations. Please contact us if you would like to participate.
Thank you for your consideration as we greatly appreciate our community partners.
The SVHS 25th Anniversary Fund was established this fall to raise funds for
SVHS Wellness Center programs; grants for seniors with financial need for prom and other senior activities; motivational speakers; college scholarships; student leadership conference participation; and campus beautification projects.
The SVHS 25th Anniversary Planning Team is composed of representatives from Scotts Valley Unified School District; Scotts Valley High School including students, teachers and administration; Falcon Club; and SVHS Parent Club.
Tickets for the SVHS 25th Anniversary Gala go on sale March 3rd with more information available at https://www.svhs25th. com/.
Scotts Valley High School Parent Club has launched the Falcon Family Discount Card as a fundraiser in partnership with seven local businesses.
The Falcon Family Discount Card can be purchased for $10 and provides a 10% discount up to $5 off at each of the following: Bruno’s Bar & Grill, Cali Style, Laughing Monk, Round Table Pizza, Santa Cruz Bowls, TOGO’S, and Zinnia’s Gift Boutique. The value of the card is
$35. 100% of sales go to SVHS Parent Club.
We are grateful to these seven local business partners for their support.
SVHS Parent Club funds and supports programs to enhance the quality of education and well-being of our Scotts Valley High School students
while supporting staff and teachers. We fund monthly career workshops for students led by parents; new science lab equipment and library materials; $200 to each teacher for supplies; finals study breaks; HOPE Squad; the IB library research license; teacher/staff
appreciation luncheons; and more. We rely on family donations, business match programs and fundraisers with local businesses to meet our annual fundraising goal of $40,000.
Falcon Family Discount Cards can be purchased at tinyurl.com/FalconDiscount Card. For more information please contact us at svhsparentclub@gmail. com or visit our website at www.svhs parentclub.org.
Dear Scotts Valley residents and friends, the following is a list of our upcoming Speakers, community activities, and an invitation for you to attend our signature project: The Students Award and Scholarships Program.
As mentioned last month, we have a phenomenal Speakers Program. We just had the retired Professor/Scientist Fred Leung, presenting last Monday on the origins of the COVID Virus. Check Speakers posts at: facebook.com/ ScottsValleyRotary/
Upcoming Speakers and major activities:
• March 7 — Rotary Night at the Warriors
T2025! Doors open at 6 and the event starts at 7:00PM. Get your tickets here: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/ RotaryNight25
• March 10 — Carrie Birkhofer, Exec. Director Bay Federal Credit Union: The Credit Union Difference
• March 31, 5:30pm — Club Social at the Stone House Bar & Grill, Hilton Hotel
• April 14 — Patsy Gasco, Red Cross Program Manager
• April 21 — The Student Awards and Scholarships Program, at the Regeneration Church, 1500 Green Hills, Scotts Valley. Doors open at 5 and
the program starts at 5:30PM. You are invited!
• May 12 — Past Rotary District Governor Ron Sekkel, Rotary History Part 1 of 4, on Paul Harris legacy
Our Club is now meeting in-person on the 2nd Mondays of the month with a Speaker Program at 12:00 Noon, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, 5030 Scotts Valley Drive. We’ll contact members separately for Community Service projects. You are welcome to attend meetings and activities as a Club Guest. Come check us out!
For more information, please call/text CoPresident Patrizia Materassi at (831)334-2383.
he Scotts Valley Water District and the City of Santa Cruz Water Department are breaking ground on a collaborative, $6.5 million intertie pipeline project to connect the two water agencies.
The critically important project will dramatically increase system resilience, improve emergency preparedness, and ensure the availability of reliable, safe drinking water for customers of both agencies.
The intertie will link the potable water systems of the City of Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley Water District through the construction of a new 2-mile water supply pipeline and a pump station. The route of the pipeline will include La Madrona Drive, Sims Road and Firehouse Lane.
The pipeline is the final link in a regional effort to connect public water systems from Boulder Creek to La Selva Beach. Funding for
the project came from the state Department of Water Resources Grant and both water agencies.
Construction is expected to last approximately 12 months with anticipated traffic impacts in the area.
For more information, including how to sign up for bi-weekly email updates about the project, please visit cityofsantacruz.com/ scottsvalleyintertie.
“Remember” from page 7
She sold the males and kept the females for the eggs.
“I sold out the first day,” she said.
“My Dad kept my money I made for me, and my husband, Bob and I, used it as a down payment on our first home outside of Auburn,” she added.
Forson recalls an idyllic childhood hunting for shark’s teeth in the sand.
“I still have my collection,” she said.
A boy by the name of Keith Roynon got her interested in hunting the teeth.
He gathered so many petrified animals and relics from all over that he opened a museum to show them in Escondido.
“History” from page 6
The rest is history as our book, **Footsteps In The Fog, Alfred Hitchcock’s Bay Area**, by Jeff Kraft and Aaron Leventhal, with the help of our wives along the away, was published in 2002.
How long did the book take to research and write?
Jeff and I were both researchers and amateur detectives, so it was a joy to work on the book. Our wives often thought we were crafty, spending more time with each other than with them on some weekends, as we watched Hitchcock films again and again, took day trips to research locations, and drafted chapter after chapter on the Hitchcock films that included locations in the films or were inspired by Bay Area sites.
In all, nine of his films, from 1940 through his last in 1976, featured Bay Area sites, from Salinas to Santa Rosa. We visited tirelessly and with a great sense of discovery, everything we could find.
Six years after we started, working by the rule of “15 minutes a day” allowed us to publish the book through Santa Monica Press in 2002.
Can you still find the San Francisco landmarks you wrote about?
Many of the sites have changed as the years have passed, although some wonderful sites have endured.
What we ultimately discovered in our book is that Hitchcock used Bay Area settings for 9 of his films. Three films extensively used Bay Area settings, where the geography is so prominent it almost plays a starring role,
Her first school was a one-room schoolhouse, then in 1940, “the new school,” going up to the eighth grade, opened.
That’s Scotts Valley Middle School today.
After eighth grade, she went by bus to Santa Cruz High School, graduating in 1952.
Beverly looked up to her sister Helen, who was eight years older and became an All-American swimmer at Stockton College.
Helen’s sorority sister: The soon-to-be famous actress Janet Leigh.
One of Janet Leigh’s early roles was in “The Romance of Rosy Ridge,” with Van Johnson, filmed along Graham Hill Road.
Beverly, admiring her sister, learned to swim in a swimming hole behind where Valley Gardens used to be.
including: Shadow of a Doubt, which is set in the 1940s small town Santa Rosa, during World War II; Vertigo offers a tour of the streets and sites of San Francisco, among other places, in 1958; and The Birds which blends 1960s Bodega and Bodega Bay. For each of these, there remain glimpses and significant sites that you can still tour, given so many of the locations were included. Additionally, six other Hitchcock films utilize Bay Area locations and/or were inspired by Northern California settings. They include:
• Academy Award-winning Best Picture Rebecca (1940), with Point Lobos as a stand-in for European settings;
• Suspicion (1941), where Highway 1 vistas served as the English coastline;
• Psycho (1960), where a California Gothic mansion in Santa Cruz, called the McCray, served as inspiration for the Bates Mansion pictured here. Incidentally, today, this location is called the Sunshine Villa, which is a nice little ode to Hitchcock.
• Marine (1964) uses the San Jose Diridon train station as a double for Hartford, Connecticut.
• Topaz (1969), where the Salinas area served as a double for, of all places, Cuba, and
• Family Plot (1976), Hitchcock’s final film, which blended Los Angeles and San Francisco. You’re driving down the street in LA, you turn the corner, and you’re in SF.
For these too, the feel remains even if the buildings are long since gone.
“Necessity is the mother of invention,” she said. “A spring would bubble up.”
She was something of a daredevil.
Noticed by Skip Littlefield, a competitive swimmer who created the Plunge Water Carnival at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in the 1930s and 1940s when she went with her sister for swim training, Beverly became a trapeze artist.
“It seemed natural to me,” she said.
She also appeared in the Ring Ballet and the Aerial Human Triangle.
How old was she?
“Eight to 12,” she recalled.
The Plunge was where Neptune’s Kingdom arcade is now.
Her mother sewed her swimsuits out of material that was glittery to add to the act.
Why has Alfred Hitchcock’s film legacy lasted so long?
Hitchcock was a personality larger than life. He defied convention by making himself a focus in his movies (he appeared in a cameo in every one of them) and came out from behind the camera to do his Hitchcock Presents TV shows, which were smash hits. Hitchcock had popularity and a personality that people remembered.
Plus, his movies always left a strong impression, for better or worse. He was known as the “Master of Suspense” for a reason — he created some of the best movies of their eras, which today remain watched, loved, taught, studied, and remembered.
Hitchcock found inspiration for so many classic films in one location. How unusual is that?
Hitchcock found Hollywood distasteful, although an important tool and location for making his films. While working on Rebecca, he and his wife Alma were convinced by friends to look at the area around Scotts Valley for a possible vacation home.
They both fell in love with the area and purchased a ranch and vineyard in the area. This gave Hitchcock a place to stay away from Hollywood and ultimately became a place he found inspiration for locations for his films.
Today, those swimsuits are at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, donated by Beverly to share her memories of a very special time. Look closely and maybe you will see the brass likeness of Beverly outside. n
His passion for the area — the food, the politics, the pace of life, the beauty — he found inspiring and thus was able to use that to create films from locations from a local’s perspective.
This gave him the ability to allow his passion for the area to shine through in his films.
What we ultimately discover in our book Footsteps In The Fog is that Hitchcock’s footsteps make an indelible mark on the region, and in turn, the region leaves a dramatic mark on his films.
His movies offer insightful glimpses into the geography, lifestyle, history, and glorious mystery of the San Francisco Bay Area., spanning four decades.
Hitchcock left a gift for residents and visitors to the Bay Area: An enduring image of not only drama and suspense but also the view of Northern California from the eyes of a true fan of the area.
What projects are you working on now?
More than 20 years later, Jeff and I have developed a second book on Hitchcock’s New York. However, due to photo rights and studio rules, we have not been able to get approval to print our next book. Jeff and I are both in our mid-50s and plan to find future projects related to this.
In the meantime, we raise our families and focus on our day jobs. We are honored to be part of Hitchcock’s celebrations and events. n
“Festival” from page 6
Evening Gala: Doors open 6:30 p.m. Complimentary wine tasting from local wineries with a dessert reception. At 7:30 p.m. the silent movie, The Lodger, will be discussed, shown, and accompanied by the muchacclaimed pianist Kylan DeGhetaldi. $50 Sunday, March 16: Doors open 11 a.m., complimentary mimosas and light snacks.
At noon, presentation, “The Hitchcock 20: The Forgotten TV Gems.” Directed by Hitchcock historian Jeffrey Michael Bays, will introduce the 20 TV episodes
Hitchcock directed and tell about the origin of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He will discuss Hitchcock’s artistic choices as if they were paintings: how his camera choices, editing style, suspense techniques, and more evoke a response from the viewer.
At 1 p.m., three TV episodes: Bang You’re Dead!, Breakdown, One More Mile to Go, Audience Q&A afterward. $40. n
Tickets for all three days, $110, and for Saturday, $60, or single event tickets are at www. hitchcockfestival.com or (831) 566-9411.
By Nicole Sallak Anderson
Yesterday, after a long day deep cleaning the rental in Capitola-bythe-sea, I made my way back home to Bonny Doon. Nearly two years after the fires that took everything we owned; we were finally returning to the land of our hearts.
As I got off the exit in Scotts Valley however, the sky turned a nasty gray, and the smell of smoke filled the air. This was NOT the fog I’d grown used to in Capitola. My stomach did a little twirl. At the stoplight, I texted my son who was already home in the Doon and asked him if it was smoky there. It wasn’t but he got on CalFire’s Twitter page and discovered there was a fire, just in the next town over.
Inhaling deeply, I caught another whiff of the smoke and continued up the hill, reminded yet again that what was once my refuge is now a place on the edge — dry, unbearably hot in the summer, and utterly vulnerable to fire, whether man-made or not.
On our first afternoon home, my husband and I sat under the umbrellas in the garden talking about how much was collapsing around us economically, socially, and environmentally.
He said it was his hope our land in Bonny Doon would be our place of refuge and safety, and I had to hide my tears. This place will never feel safe again, at least, it isn’t yet for me. I told him so. I can’t hide the emotions still swirling within me. He wasn’t there the night I evacuated. He didn’t see the flaming leaves, the ash falling from the sky. He didn’t usher the child and dogs out under a blanket of smoke so thick, I couldn’t see the driveway clearly. He didn’t see the glow of the goat’s eyes through the barn window as I left him behind to die. Going to bed after a day of unpacking boxes, I realized there’s much about the evacuation I haven’t processed and moving home has shaken up some memories I’ve tried to forget.
I love this land, but my homecoming isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Of course, there’s the work of moving out of one place and into a new home, plus furnishing everything and getting insurance to pay. That part is always hard, and as I leave my second rental in less than two years, I feel for the renters who must do so on a regular basis. I’m grateful for the two homes that have sheltered me since I lost the house that burned, they’ve taught me so much about shelter and its purpose both physically and emotionally. One of the greatest blessings of Homeowner’s Insurance is what’s called the Loss of Use, or LOU, part of the policy.
Knowing you’ll have a place to rest your head while trying to figure out your life after a total loss is the difference between being
a climate refugee and a climate survivor. It keeps people in the community as they navigate the minute details of rebuilding. In our case, it allowed us to live in two quite different towns, both of which I’d loved to visit before the fire. The first was Los Gatos, a quaint little Silicon Valley outpost inland from Santa Cruz. There, we lived in a house built before cars with a little red door, just steps from the downtown area. I allowed the fine food and fashion of Los Gatos to soothe my spirit as I began my recovery process. About halfway through that rental, I got the idea that our next home should be back in the Santa Cruz area and close to the ocean. I began looking into beach rentals and found the perfect spot near Capitola Village. While the food and fashion here aren’t as noteworthy, the sea is what made this the perfect second landing place. Our little blue house, also with a red door, was walking distance to the beach and every day I walked my dogs along the cliffs, sand, and the creek; allowing the water to heal my fire-fried soul. I felt my nervous system re-wire every time I set my eyes upon the undulating waves. There’s nothing that salt water can’t heal.
According to lore, a red door means “welcome.” In an old American tradition, if a family had a red front door, tired travelers knew the home was a welcoming place to rest and they would be able to spend the night there. A red door provides protection. This was true for both homes that have graciously housed us these past two years. I’ll never forget that first night in the Los Gatos home, having finally landed after hotels and sleeping at a friend’s house. My husband and I were there with our younger son, and while it totally sucked to have been in that situation, we all agreed the house was holding us. It wanted to care for us in our time of need. The beach house has been the same, only this time it was our older son who lived here with us. He thinks that deciding to live in Capitola this past year was my best idea in a decade (his words, not mine).
After two years of planning and replanning and tons of work, we’re finally home in the Doon, and on the one hand, I feel a great relief. Both rental homes have been lovely, but about a month ago it dawned on me that I’ve felt on vacation the past two years, and I just wanted to return to my bed under the trees. However, I’m not going home to the bed under the trees that I long for. For one thing, the trees are gone and it’s now so hot you can’t do anything in the afternoon but try to stay cool in the tiny homes while blasting the mini-split AC.
However, it is my bed and I love the tiny home village we’ve created. Sure, there
are some annoyances, but I’ll save that for another essay. Overall, these homes are nicer than the one we lost, and I like the plan we have. I love my comfy bed and I’m grateful for my own home again. Keeping someone else’s furniture clean when you own a bulldog is a pain in the ass and my style never matched the cheap hotel look of the rental furniture of the first house, nor the cheesy nautical thing the beach house had going for it. More than anything, I look forward to planting an apiary, orchards, and a vineyard with my newly retired husband.
Yet…
Returning home after an eco-disaster isn’t all joy, at least not for me. The busyness of the past two years, combined with the adorable red-doored houses that have cared for me, has allowed me to ignore deep grief and pain that only upon living on the land again can I truly feel, for now, I can’t escape it. My sleep has been restless since the last tiny home arrived, and I’ve been fighting off a bout of shingles. My body is telling me something isn’t right. I’m prepared for everything we’ve built to burn again; nothing will be left on the mountain that is too precious to lose.
So, I’m not afraid of another fire, yet the smell of that smoke as I drove home yesterday, as well as the quiet, empty neighborhood, brings me back to the night we fled. Before that dark night, I’d always assumed CalFire would protect my house in a fire. That they wouldn’t let it burn. I’d also always assumed they’d evacuate us with plenty of warning. Neither assumption is true anymore, and that is unsettling.
My cousin and his family were at the 4th of July parade in Highland Park last week when a broken man-boy with a military grade weapon preyed upon the people of his hometown. My cousin managed to get his son and wife under a park bench and survived the attack, but they will never be the same. When I was chatting with him, I realized the work going forward isn’t to get over these traumatic events. Instead, the best we can do is learn how to still find joy while knowing a very horrible truth about the world. In his case, he knows first-hand the pain and fear of our societal collapse. He knows that nowhere is truly safe because America is not of sound mind. We’ve created a monster, both in our young men, and in our political body that refuses to act in the face of evil. My cousin knows this, and he can never forget it.
In my case, I know that the West is burning. There isn’t enough water for all who want to live under the golden California sun and while our tent cities grow our aquifers are drying up, and all it takes a spark for everything to go up in flames. I know my state will let neighborhoods burn, because they’re unprepared for this ecological collapse, and I can no longer trust they will get
me out in enough time. We’re not sure how long after we fled that our home burned, but my son claims that he would most certainly be dead had I not been there to get him out in the middle of the night. I was supposed to be out of town with my husband that fateful weekend, but instead stayed behind. He’s probably right, the chances were high that he’d have slept in until 2 pm the next day, and things were burning in the vicinity then. We both know this, and we can never forget it.
Coming home has me feeling like two people. One Nicole who is so happy and excited about the work she’s accomplished. She can’t wait to get her hands in the dirt and co-create with the land and her husband. Yet some other Nicole lives within me now as well, and she’s not sure about the whole thing. That part of me is still fleeing with her son in the middle of the night, scared and alone and leaving behind many precious things. With time, she will learn to find joy in the dirt, birdsong, the flowers, and the bees, right alongside of me.
I’ll know when she’s okay because my body will relax, and I won’t feel this constant churning in my stomach. The day will come, but it is not this day. This day, I’m grateful for the return and pleased with all the work we’ve done.
Yet, I’m letting myself finally process the loss, and more specifically the evacuation. That is the work for now and I have faith the land will teach me how to learn to find the balance between joy and loss. n
•••
Editor’s note: This was written in July 2022.
The Porter Memorial Library, 3050 Porter St., Soquel, will host Nicole Sallak Anderson, author of a powerful memoir, Wildfire: Losing Everything, Gaining the World, from 10:3011:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 12, the third in the Meet the Author series.
In the 2020 CZU Lightning Fire, she lost her home, belongings, beloved pets, bees, trees, and the gardens that had been her sanctuary for 13 years. Part eco-disaster handbook and part climate refugee chronicles, the book is also a love story about a piece of land and a family rebuilding together from scratch.
Call 831-475-3326 or visit www.porterlibrary. org/upcoming-events for more info.
On March, 8, Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea will honor nine single mothers – a record number -- with Live Your Dream awards.
Each will receive a cash award she can use for anything that enables her to complete her education, including rent, medical bills, child care and car repairs.
Awards go to women enrolled in or accepted into a bachelor’s or technical or vocational training program, are heads of their household and have a demonstrated need.
“We’re very proud of our winners who have persevered in their dreams of getting an education despite multiple setbacks,” said Therese Malachowski, Live Your Dream program chair and club vice president. “Our awards will acknowledge and encourage their continuing efforts.”
The winners are:
Jessica Armstrong, 38, of Scotts Valley, is the single mother homeschooling two children ages 8 and 11, due to bullying in public school. She grew up in foster care with no family support and suffered numerous setbacks in her life.
But now she is determined to be a
role model for her children by getting an education.
After several previous attempts, she successfully completed her studies for her GED last year. She is now enrolled full-time at Cabrillo College seeking a degree in human services. Her goal is to be a social worker. She believes her greatest accomplishment so far is getting her GED, something she wanted her children see her do.
“I accomplished that and still to this day am so proud of myself for getting it and showing my kids it’s never too late to follow your dreams,” she wrote.
becoming a preschool teacher working with developmentally delayed and special needs children. She is nearly a straight-A student and wants to serve low-income and minority communities on the Central Coast when she completes her education.
“My dedication to children and their families has always been the driving force behind my desire to become a preschool teacher,” she wrote.
“I have put so much time and effort into my classes and grades and it is my dream to make it happen,” she wrote in her application.
Christina Lee-Ana Saunders-French, 40, of Scotts Valley, is a single mother of an 11-year-old daughter, and is studying criminal justice at Cabrillo College.
After working as a house cleaner for more than 20 yeas, at age 38, she went back to school and got her GED in 2024. Immediately afterward, she enrolled at Cabrillo and has completed one year. She has applied to be a police officer with the Santa Cruz Police Department.
Joel Jacob, 54, of Bonny Doon, is the single mother of one child and caregiver of one autistic young adult. She works full-time while pursuing a degree in early childhood education at Cabrillo College.
Although she got a late start on her education, she is dedicated to
Johnson, 28, of Santa Cruz, is the mother of a 7-year-old son who began working toward a nursing degree when her son was 18 months old. For several years, she had to work full-time in low-paying jobs barely meeting her expenses and putting her education on hold. Eventually, she decided to go forward with her plan to work in the medical care field and enrolled at Cabrillo College.
She has been able to finish all her classes and earn two associate degrees with high honors. She also fulfilled her California State University transfer requirements to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
“As I walked up on that stage (to get her GED) I felt such a huge surge of accomplishment and confidence,” she wrote in her application. “I knew I could do anything from then on.”
Nadine Atilano, 27, of Santa Cruz, is the single mother of three young children, 6, 10 and 12, two of whom are autistic.
“Live Your Dream” page 18
Our next week and month are busy with festivals, a full moon eclipse, and two new retrogrades! In the sky, Mars, after 2 ½ months in retrograde, is now slowly moving forward. After one week of no retrogrades two new retrogrades begin (Venus and Mercury)!
Note, the recent conversations (Mercury) in the news about gold (Venus). What is in Fort Knox?
Mars: In the sky, Mars, retrograde since December 6, is slowly moving forward. Since early December, humanity has been internally focused. Now with Mars direct (in Cancer), we are testing the waters, ever so slowly considering new activities, new actions and plans. Mars in Cancer can be tumultuous waters! A strain perhaps on our emotions for a while.
Shadow: Although Mars is moving forward, the red planet remains in its retrograde shadow until the beginning of May! So, we, too, here on Earth, move ever so slowly — from inward looking (for 2 1/2 months) to outward looking. It’s a contemplative process.
frustration, fanaticism and inflammation. During the Mars retro we may not have known what our desires were, we may not have been hungry and our bodies may have hurt. Slowly this shifts, changes and dissolves away.
Mars is action, activity, desires, aspirations, hopes, wishes and dreams (skillful means). It is also the physical body and blood, anger,
The coming year will be of great potency for Aries. Not only will you experience relentless change but will actually personify change for others, especially in your work world. This means you have the opportunity to initiate completely new and transformative ideas that will re-shape the structure of your personal and professional life, coworkers, and all environments. Everyone around you will listen.
After this winter time, knowing full well the reality of the times we’re in, you will work harder this year to provide essentials and establish stabilization among your circle of family and friends. You have the knowledge, energy, impetus and constancy to ask for help and to reach out to those in need providing information on needed preparation. Many will look to you for guidance. We stand with you, with love, help and care.
You know many things, your mind is like a meadow of flowers, often hiding your thoughts and ideas from others. You wonder at the reality of your intuition but truly it’s intact and revelatory. Use it to guide others in ways that reveal to them their own spiritual worlds. Use your intuition also to improve the life of someone entrusted to your care. I know you will do this. It’s in your heart and Venus guides you. It’s love that informs your intelligence.
Working with, caring for, nurturing and nourishing others brings all your gifts forth. At first during these times it may seem difficult to enter into groups of people. That’s natural for Cancer preferring to remain at home and under the shell of protection. Contact family, distant relatives, tend to close relationships with special care especially children, renew vows of marriage and commitment, and stand steady in the radiating light of goodwill. Goodwill propels you. And do your taxes early this year.
The Week: Saturday, March 1, Venus retrogrades. Sunday, March 2 is rather veiled, mysterious and mystical (Mercury/Neptune). Monday March 3, Mercury leaves the watery depths of Pisces to enter fiery Aries. Communication becomes animated, forceful, passionate and heated, initiating new ideas! Tuesday, March 4 is Mardi Gras under the golden Taurus Moon. And on Wednesday, March 5, the season of Lent begins; our foreheads marked with a cross of ashes. We understand this. Thursday, March 13 is a lunar eclipse full moon Pisces festival. It is also Purim, the Jewish festival of Esther (Festival of Truth). On Saturday, March 15, Mercury retrogrades. Both Venus and Mercury retrograde simultaneously in Aries. A must unusual situation! And so, life moves on and we happily sail along with it. We realize life is a party, a joy ride, a car festival, a garden in bloom, a tree of mysteries. And looking around, we see the kingdom is colorful! n
Communication becomes quite interesting as the year unfolds. You become more and more of a leader. Talk of love and detachment, dispassion and discrimination weaves themselves into and through all conversations. At times, you may be anxious and burdened with work. Go slow, Balancing the two — relationships and daily work — is what your health needs. Concentrate primarily on what creates happiness. Relationships do, and they heal wounds.
The challenges of the last years lessen and diminish over the coming months. A relatively calm and peaceful time, will begin although you may feel there is simply too much work, too many papers and communications to tend to. They offer, however, new opportunities and possibilities not felt before. Focus on good will, friendship, romance if possible. Deepen into your commitments through intention. When you do so, inspiration awakens.
Daily life, its ups and downs, how you tend to yourself, how you serve others, perhaps small animals, too, are a primary focus and will continue to be so in the coming year. Any sense of limitation has a purpose. Ask what that purpose is. Only do that which sustains, comforts, nurtures, reassures and calms. There will be situations this year offering insight into your early years. A truer understanding will surface creating psychological changes needed for your health and well-being. All of this is good. Your work may change, too.
You may be contemplating childhood years, seeking to recognize what nurtured your self identity and creativity, what your parents provided, and how your psychological foundation influences your present life. Thoughts run deep, feelings deeper. Wounds resurface but soon dissolve away. A finely tuned creative vein begins to materialize. You seek ways to express yourself differently than before. Spaciousness in all areas is needed. Play for you is serious. Find some children and play with them.
You go through periods where you’re thrilled with life. And then days where you wonder what that was all about and cannot find any happiness or joy in any area of life — work, home, responsibilities or tasks. You are learning about life’s ups and downs, vicissitudes and dualities. They become tools for living. The challenges experienced are training grounds for deeper understanding and service. We don’t learn through comfort. Seek new friends and professional contacts. They are waiting for you.
Always seeking to be productive, you find satisfaction, pride of accomplishment and solace through work. Last year and for many years, Pluto was your taskmaster. Pluto was training you. Now you will be called to shape the new culture and civilization, lead in creating the fabric of communities, and be part of what transforms our planet, making her sacred. What is not needed in your life will fall away. Your time has arrived to be part of the New Group of World Servers.
A spiritual crisis may unfolded in your life either in the past or in this coming year. Many of us skirt spiritual issues or reject past religious upbringing or have no religious attractions whatsoever. You will ask deeply religious and spiritual questions and from out of your experiences, a philosophy of life appears. Seclusion, retreat and contemplation will help define your purpose in this lifetime. Allow any irritations to settle down. Allow your imagination to fill your nights and days with creative thoughts. The purpose of Aquarius is to be a friend to all of humanity.
So many planets are in Pisces now. It’s a watery world for the two fish, gazing at the heavens, the other’s gaze upon the earth. Great benefits from unknown sources will be offered to Pisces this year. Study all aspects of the Soul this year. Allow knowledge to deepen. Solitude will be your keynote even when you reach out to groups, friends and family. There will be a desire to make peace with everyone. Remember that peace is the result of Goodwill, which creates Right Relationships with all kingdoms. People will come to you. Guard them and yourself with care.
“Live Your Dream” from page 17
She became a teen mother at 14, had her second child at 16, and had no familial support. She was in a toxic relationship for many years.
However, in her early 20s, she went back to school and became a dental assistant, a career she loved and has worked in for four years, but she was unexpectedly let go. Despite that setback, she enrolled in the Health Science program at Cabrillo College in 2024. She will work to complete that program, which will enable her to move into Dental Hygiene training.
“I want to provide a better life for my kids before they get too big,” she wrote.
Nancy Zamora Fernandez, 38, of Scotts Valley, is the single mother of two children, 13 and 17, and is pursuing a degree in human services at Cabrillo College.
She is working on earning a family development certificate, and her long-term goal is to get a master’s degree and found a nonprofit that supports kids with mental and behavioral health needs.
She has struggled financially, being offered minimal job opportunities and limited work hours. Last year, she was unemployed for eight months.
“Trying to focus on school, manage family responsibilities and keep up with work has been difficult,” she wrote. “Financial stress has jeopardized all three.”
Figueroa, 37, of Watsonville, is a divorced mother of four children ages 8, 13-year-old twins and a 19-year-old, all of whom she supports by herself. During the pandemic, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse and enrolled at Cabrillo College.
She was raised by a single mother and is the first generation in her family to attend college. She has faced significant financial struggles while trying to stay in school and complete her nursing studies. But she is planning to graduate from the BRN nursing program this spring while simultaneously starting a bridge program this summer to get her bachelor’s degree in nursing at California State University Monterey Bay. She will graduate in spring 2026.
“I made the choice to show up for myself, and to show my kids that against all odds we can do hard things and overcome hardships,” she wrote in her application.
“Live Your Dream” page 19
Scotts Valley City Manager Mali LaGoe reports the Planning Department staff has issued an approval letter for a proposed housing project at 4575 Scotts Valley Drive, the former Seagate site at the corner of Civic Center Drive and Scotts Valley Drive — in compliance with state law.
This project is the first of its kind statewide that leverages State Assembly Bill 2011, which essentially forces a city to approve a proposed project to replace a professional office building with multifamily residential housing — without a public process.
This project is designed to take advantage of additional state housing laws including State Density Bonus Law, and SB 330.
To make way for three new apartment buildings with 100 apartments, demolition of one of the two original Seagate buildings, the one closer to Scotts Valley Drive, is required.
As AB 2011 requires, these new threestory buildings are designed to front Scotts Valley Drive, just a few feet from the sidewalk.
The developer is not required to abide by the City’s public utility easement regulations, setbacks or parking requirements, among other waivers.
The development will include only 107 parking spaces for the 100 housing units, plus an enclosed bicycle parking storage building for residents.
To accommodate the new layout, changes to access will be made, creating driveways off Civic Center Drive and Erba
The San Lorenzo Valley High School Theatre Department presents the everpopular musical Grease, the story of “greaser” Danny Zuko, and new girl in town, Sandy Dumbrowski, as they try to reconnect after a brief summer romance, March 7 through March 16 at 7105 Hwy 9, Felton.
The musical is co-directed by Will Guilford (his 110th production in the county) and Daria E. Troxell (M.F.A. in
“Live Your Dream” from page 18
T
aRaya Lundy, 41, of Aptos, is the single mother to two children, ages 17 and 19, who are students. She is attending Cabrillo College studying business administration with a minor in counseling and teaching.
She says she has a huge dream— to open a restaurant that sells comfort food from around the world and a hair salon, both of which would operate as teaching facilities for young students.
“Owning the two businesses, I can employ, teach and mentor my students in being successful in life,” she wrote. “Teaching them work ethic, leadership and trade skills that can be used in the real world and even as a means of financing through college.”
Iracema Torres
Iracema Torres, 28, of Santa Cruz, is the single mother of a daughter, is enrolled at
acting from California Institute of the Art) with music and vocal direction by Nicki Kerns (her seventh stint since doing Grease in 2017) and choreography by Sarah Nash (she has never stopped dancing and has learned ballet, modern, Ghanaian, belly dance, jazz, ballroom, swing, hip-hop and Bollywood).
“Grease” page 23
Cabrillo College and is pursuing a human services career path.
After a difficult childhood that led her to make some poor choices and surviving domestic abuse, she decided to get an education so that she could provide a better future for her daughter.
She currently works 25 hours as a behavioral aide while attending classes. Her goal is to work with juveniles released from detention who have experienced addiction.
“Working as a behavioral aide will prepare me for my future career as a drug and alcohol counselor,” she wrote. n
Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-theSea is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training to achieve economic empowerment. For info, visit www.best4women.org, or email sicapitola. by.the.sea@gmail.com
Lane — there will be no entrance from Scotts Valley Drive, as currently exists.
This may be the first time you’re hearing about this project, in part because the new state law doesn’t allow the City to gather public input, nor take the project to Planning Commission or City Council for consideration and approval.
AB 2011 also removed the requirement for CEQA review of this project.
LaGoe said, “Scotts Valley needs more housing and supports the development of new affordable housing at appropriate locations; however this project leaves us concerned about the potential im-pacts on our local economy, the aesthetics of Scotts Valley Drive and likely conflicts that will arise over inadequate parking.”
More info is at: https://www.scottsvalley. gov/690/4575-Scotts-Valley-Drive.
Questions about the project can be directed to planningdepartment@scottsvalley.gov.
Queen of Carthage
Scary fairytale creature
*Sean Baker’s original screenplay
Loyal, arch.
Unit of length of yarn
*This year’s Academy Awards host
*Elphaba and Galinda story
Antique shop item
Metal-bearing rock
Mountain nymph
Southeast Asian org.
Lavatory, abbr.
Like ear of corn that is ready to cook
Fifth District Supervisor Monica Martinez says: My team and I are committed to being responsive and approachable as we set up our office and roll out key initiatives. As promised, I will be holding regular in-district office hours. To kick things off, I welcome you to come share your thoughts at the following times:
• March 3 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. at my Felton Office, 6062 Graham Hill Road Suite A & B
• March 17 from 3:30 - 5 p.m. at the Boulder Creek Sheriff’s Substation, 13210 Central Ave.
• April 14 from 3:30 - 5 p.m. at the Scotts Valley Library Community Room, 251 Kings Village Road, And remember, you can always email fifthdistrict@santacruzcountyca.gov or call (831)454-2200.
The 8th annual Santa Cruz Launchpad career fair and student pitch competition is returning on Wednesday, May 21, at the Coconut Grove, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. Last year’s event drew in over 500 job seekers, making it the place to be for employers looking to hire or build their talent pipeline. Employers from all industries with any type of opening (internships, part-time, full-time, etc.) are welcome.
The job fair portion of the event is from 5-7 p.m. Registration is free to Santa Cruz Works partners, $250 for others, reduced rate for nonprofits.
Space is limited, and registration closes on Wednesday, April 30. Sign up at www.santacruzworks.org/sclaunchpad
UC Cooperative Extension will host California Tree School at San Lorenzo Valley High School in Felton on Saturday, April 5.
There will be 25+ classes on forestry and natural resources throughout the day, led by regional and global experts on forestry, ecology, and natural resource management.
Topics include forest health, fire ecology, pile burning, prescribed burning and tax tips for forest owners. Classes range from beginner to expert level, and participants choose 4 classes.
The fee is $70; assistance is available. Email Kim Ingram at Registration is open at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey. cfm?surveynumber=44008
Wednesday March 5
7 p.m., Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave
Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? E-mail info (no PDFs please) to info@cyber-times.com For beginning of the month, due the 15th • For mid-month, due the 1st
The Scotts Valley recreation division is adding an art contest and showcase to the poetry contest this year. The hope is to draw in artists of all types to submit their work. Deadline is April 1 to submit at bit.ly/svpoetrycontest Art should be brought to the recreation office in Skypark. The division will host a Poetry and Art Showcase on May 16 at the Scotts Valley Community Center where all entries will be displayed and the winning poets will share their readings. This year’s theme is “Explore.” Each piece should be centered around the theme.
Students and adults from local communities are invited to showcase their creativity. Participants may compete in one or both categories: poetry and/or art.
Winners will be selected from each age group for both poetry and art.
Poems will be published in a printed collection, with one winning artwork chosen as the cover design! Questions? Email rec@scottsvalley.gov
Saturday, March 1: Amah Mutsun History and Native Stewardship 11 am-noon. — Dr. Julisa Lopez will share local history of the area and history of the Amah Mutsun Tribe and discuss updates on current work, including that related to climate change and conservation.
Dr. Julisa Lopez is a Social Psychologist and the Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Santa Cruz. She is a member of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and Mexican American. Her research examines how representations of Native Peoples in society negatively impact the psychological well-being of Natives and perpetuate bias among non-Natives. Julisa orients herself as a research scientist, data warrior and social justice scholar who is committed to putting her research into action.
Friday. March 7: Bookbinding - Sewn Signature, Soft cover Pamphlet Binding. 10:30 am-1 pm. — Sewn signature bindings have been in use since the 5th century. Sew together multiple page signatures (or folios) and attach them to a soft cover made of beautiful marbled papers.
Community-led Learning Presenter Beth Thomas, in Ben
Longtime Aptos resident Diane Schaffer, who was on the social work faculty at San Jose State, will speak at Bookshop Santa Cruz about her book Mortal Zin, the first in a new mystery series which is rooted in her summer work at a local Zinfandel winery.
Diane Schaffer
What’s the mystery? A crusading attorney’s death. Sabotage at a family winery. Secrets buried in California’s past. And the fun of knowing locations in the book: The harbor with the sailboat races, the geodesic dome homes, and Mt. Charlie.
The protagonist is corporate attorney Noli Cooper, who visits her godparents’ Santa Cruz Mountains winery, thinking she might come home to change careers, taking over for her childhood mentor. But before they meet up, the crusading social justice lawyer is found dead in a rocky ocean cove.
There is a suicide note, but the handwriting does not match. Noli teams up with private investigator Luz Alvarado, who worked for her mentor, to look for answers. Meanwhile, her godfather’s winery is on the brink of ruin after two years of lost vintages and new neighbors want to buy him out to take advantage of the terroir.
Can Noli and Luz — two fearless women from different worlds — unravel the truth? RSVP at https://bookshopsantacruz.com/diane-schaffer
Lomond, has been bookbinding for over 35 years and has a bookbinding studio, Danskbog Bindery, where she does book restoration work, designs and makes new books and teaches bookbinding.
Register for the waitlist at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/ event/13846008.
Saturday, March 8: Our Community Reads - From Manzanita to Milkweed: Plants to Support Monarchs and Other Pollinators. 10:30 - 11:30am. — Get to know the best native California flowering plants for your home garden. You’ll learn how to source the plants and even propagate some of them from seed. Seeds will be shared, plus a list of additional resources.
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/ event/13814097
COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID
For most state college financial aid programs in California, submit your application no later than March 3 (postmarked date).
Project Scout offers volunteer income tax assistance and tax counseling for local residents during tax season at sites throughout Santa Cruz County.
Volunteers are trained by Internal Revenue Service and Franchise Tax Board personnel. For disabled individuals unable to get to the tax sites, they have trained volunteers who can do in-home tax preparation.
Seniors get priority at all library sessions.
Income of $64,000 and below, simple returns only.
The Project Scout schedule for libraries is:
• Aptos Tuesdays 10am – 1 pm Feb. 4 thru April 15
• Capitola Wednesdays 2 – 5 pm Feb. 5 thru April 16
• Downtown Tuesdays 10am – 3 pm Feb. 4 thru April 15
• Downtown Saturdays 10am – 3 pm Feb. 1 thru April 12
Appointments are necessary for tax help and can be made by calling 831-427-7713 or by visiting the Downtown or Capitola Branch Library Information Desk.
For info, call the Watsonville Office at 1-831-724-2606 or toll-free at 1-877-373-8297, or visit https://seniorscouncil.org/ project-scout/
PG&E OFFERS FREE GAS APPLIANCE SAFETY CHECKS
To help customers prepare their gas appliances for safe use during the cold weather months, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is offering free in-home gas safety checks. During the gas safety checks, PG&E will re-light pilot lights for customers who have heaters or other appliances that have been turned off during warmer months.
Free safety checks help ensure that gas appliances, including water heaters, furnaces and ovens, are operating safely and efficiently, reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning within the home.
Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous because it can’t be seen, smelled or heard.
“This free safety program is a great way for customers to prepare for increased use of their natural gas appliances as the cold season approaches. One of our gas team members will conduct safety inspections to help ensure that gas appliances are in proper working order and also relight pilot lights,” said Joe Forline, PG&E senior vice president, gas operations.
Before the colder winter months when natural gas appliances typically see the most use, PG&E encourages customers to schedule an inspection by visiting www. pge.com/pilotlights. Scheduling your appointment online is free and easy and will help you avoid hold times on our
customer service line. Customers can also call 800-743-5000 to schedule appointments.
If you suspect carbon monoxide in your home, you should get out immediately and call 911. If a PG&E customer ever smells the distinctive “rotten egg” odor of natural gas in or around their home or business, they should immediately evacuate and then call 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
SCOTTS VALLEY LIBRARY ACTIVITIES
Saturday March 8
Learn 3D Printing • 10 a.m.-Noon — Are you interested in the world of 3D printing? Have you ever wanted to learn how to create your own 3D printable designs? Then this is the class for you.
Author Discussion • 2-4 p.m. — Local author Rosemary Hayward discusses her new historical novel Strait Lace, which delves into the women’s Suffragette movement in England in the early 1900s. Light refreshments.
Wednesdays Starting March 12
Tween Time! • 1-3 p.m. — A new weekly program for tweens to relax, hang with friends and play games! Video, card and board games, plus snacks.
Saturday March 15
Sumi-e • 1-3 p.m. — Sumi-e (Japanese Ink Painting ) is a revered art form that uses Sumi(black ink) and its values (ink with water). This class will introduce you to the basics of this art style.
Saturday March 29
Melissa West Exhibit — See the new Scotts Valley Library art exhibit, a collection of paintings and prints by Watsonville artist Melissa West. The exhibit will be on display through July 26.
WINTER WATER TABLE TESTING
The Winter Water Table Testing Period for Santa Cruz County Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems is open through Thursday, March 13.
This period is crucial for property owners considering development on previously undeveloped land, major remodels, or repairs on properties served by an onsite wastewater treatment system that may be susceptible to high groundwater levels.
The length of the WWTT period may be extended with continued rainfall.
“Determining groundwater levels is a critical constraining factor when designing an OWTS that meets current code standards,” said Heather Reynolds, Environmental Health program manager. “We encourage residents to act now and participate in the Winter Water Table Testing Period to ensure the safety and compliance of their property.” Property owners are strongly encouraged to arrange for multiple groundwater observations on their property during this testing period. Applications can still be submitted until Feb. 21 for the current WWTTP.
Piezometer readings, required at the beginning, middle, and end of the testing period, must be conducted by a qualified professional who must submit the site evaluation application with a monitoring plan that is approved by county environmental health land use staff. An updated list of qualified professionals is at www.scceh.org
Parcels with an active Winter Water Testing Site Evaluation application are encouraged to contact their Environmental Health Land Use District Inspector at Landuse@santacruzcountyca.gov to schedule readings. For inquiries email Landuse@santacruzcountyca.gov
YOUR CHANCE TO SERVE Applications due March 15
Newly elected Supervisor Monica Martinez is looking for people to serve on advisory bodies in the Fifth District. Find out more by visiting https://tinyurl.com/bddc74p9. Available position on: Agricultural Policy Advisory Com-
mission • Arts Commission • Commission on Disabilities • Commission on the Environment • Emergency Management Council • Emergency Medical Care Commission
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission • First 5 Commission • Fish and Wildlife Advisory Commission
• Historic Resources Commission • Housing Advisory Commission • Juvenile Justice/Delinquency Prevention Commission • Latino Affairs Commission • Mental Health Advisory Board • Mobile and Manufactured Home Commission • Parks and Recreation Commission • Planning Commission • Seniors Commission • Water Advisory Commission • Women’s Commission
More information on each of these advisory bodies is at https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Government/Commiss ions,CommitteesAdvisoryBodies.aspx
The County adopted a policy that makes most committee and commission board members eligible to receive a $75 stipend for each public meeting attended.
If you have questions, email fifth.district@santacruzcountyca.gov or call (831)454-2200.
COUNTY FAIR BOARD MEETINGS
The Santa Cruz County Fair Board will meet most months at 1:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday in the Heritage Building at the fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Blvd., Watsonville.
Upcoming Meetings: March 25, April 22, May 27, June 24, July 22, Aug. 26, and Oct. 28; none in September. Dates in November and December have not yet been decided.
For agendas, posted 10 days in advance, see santacruzcountyfair.com
Mondays LEARN TO PLAY BRIDGE
10 a.m.-Noon, Santa Cruz Bridge Center, 2450 17th Ave. Beginner bridge classes will start on Monday, Jan. 6 at the Santa Cruz Bridge Center. Classes are taught by Nancy Wainer. Come and check out the world’s greatest game! First class is free. Reserve a spot via emai: NLMBRIDGE@yahoo.com.
Last Wednesdays of the Month
PARENT/CAREGIVER MENTAL HEALTH SEMINARS
5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Online Meeting
Dr. Ramona Friedman of the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Soquel will be hosting a free Parent Drop-in Zoom session. Parents and caregivers are invited to log on and ask questions to Dr. Friedman about youth mental health issues, challenges, and ideas.
Parent Drop-Ins are free, 1-hour sessions where parents can seek guidance from experts specializing in specific mental health disorders. Parents can also connect with others facing similar challenges.
Clinical psychologists who specialize in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidality, and medication, experienced youth mental health experts, host each session.
For more info, visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/ groups/parent-drop-in-soquel-ca/247794
Saturday March 1
and Saturday April 5
KIDS FLY FREE
9 a.m.-2 p.m., Watsonville Aviation Education Center, 60 Aviation Way
Kids Fly Free is scheduled for March 1 and April 5 between 9 am and 2 pm at the Watsonville Aviation Education Center, weather permitting. The Young Eagles Program has been developed by the EAA Aviation Foundation to welcome young people ages 8-17 into the world of aviation. Participants should expect to spend 1-2 hours at the airport.
Saturday March 22
7 pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
The Top Dog Film Festival — Australia’s premier showcase of the best dog-themed movies from around the world — comes to Santa Cruz to celebrate the passion of dog lovers at Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz with Yappy Hour at Sante Adairius Midtown.
A curated selection of hilarious, heartwarming, and delightfully dog-centric films, supporting the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.
Don’t miss out on this year’s event. It sells out each year. You’d be barking mad to miss it!
Tickets are $21 at https://www.riotheatre.com/events-2/2025/3/22/topdog
Films
Bionic Pets: In a modest workshop in Virginia, a modern-day miracle worker is animals in need.
Andy A Dog’s Tale: A puppy with an unwavering spirit overcomes obstacles to become a service dog.
Dogsville: A Shakespearean drama set in the world of dog sports. Mutt competes against the best purebred dogs in the world at the Agility World Championship in the Netherlands, determined to prove that talent and heart can defeat bloodlines and privilege.
The Comforter: Penny Ruthberg is an artist on an emotional quest to capture the essence of man’s best through her ceramics in rugged Tasmania.
A Dog’s Tale: This is a trail dog’s life, one cherished by both dogs and their humans every time they head out for a ride together.
Man’s First Friend: In the forbidding elevations of the Tibetan Plateau, we bear witness to the ancient Mastiff lines developed by nomadic tribes to fearlessly guard their camps and herds against predators and thieves.
Youth get quality, one-on-one time with EAA pilots. The hope is that the experience will spark a young person’s curiosity to learn more. Each Young Eagle participant receives a certificate and is entered into the “World’s Largest Logbook,” maintained by the EAA Air Adventure Museum.
EAA Chapter 119 has safely flown over 7,000 kids since 1992. The program consists of an explanation of how airplanes fly and a flight of approximately 20 minutes around the Watsonville — Santa Cruz area. After the flight, each child receives a certificate commemorating the experience. Parents / guardians are required to sign a registration form.
Pre-registration at https://events.eaachapters.org/.
Wednesday March 5
THE CIGARETTE SURFBOARD DOCUMENTARY
6:30 p.m., Del Mar Theatre, 1124 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz Impassioned surfer Taylor Lane builds a functional surfboard with 10,000 cigarette butts collected from California beaches. The Cigarette Surfboard becomes a platform to learn
from professional surfers who are working to protect the ocean, and the symbol of a grass-roots campaign to hold Big Tobacco accountable for their toxic, plastic waste.
View the documentary at Del Mar Theatre for free. Reserve a seat at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ the-cigarette-surfboard-documentary-screening-del-martheater-santa-cruz-tickets-1217186801489
Sunday March 9
MICO’S PATH TO HEAVEN
6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Cabrillo College Aptos Campus, VAPA Forum, Rm 1001, 6500 Soquel Dr. Enjoy an Art History lecture sponsored by Dante Alighieri Society of Santa Cruz: “Mico’s Path to Heaven: The Frescoes of the Guidalotti Chapel” at Cabrillo College’ VAPA Forum, Rm 1001.
Art and architectural historian from UC Santa Cruz Allan Langdalewill discuss the frescos of the Way of Salvation and The Triumph of Thomas Aquinas by painter Andrea da Firenze, commissioned in 1365 by the patrician Buonamico Guidalotti after the ravages of the Black Death. The frescoes can be seen to be Dominican propaganda synergized with the celebration of the Order’s most famous theologian.
No tickets required, although seating is limited; first come, first served.
Cash donations welcome at the door. For more info: https://bit.ly/LectureMarch2025
Tuesday March 11
HIVE POETRY COLLECTIVE
7 p.m., Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave.
The Hive Poetry Collective announces the next offering in their bimonthly series The Hive Live! is at Bookshop Santa Cruz. Featured poets are Luke Johnson, Ellen Bass, and Jan Beatty.
Information and registration: hivepoetry.org.
Thursday, March 13
4TH ANNUAL WATER SUMMIT
8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Boardwalk’s Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St. Santa Cruz
Mark your calendars as K&D Water Management hosts the 4th Annual Central Coast Water Summit at the Boardwalk’s Cocoanut Grove.
This year’s focus: Solutions for sustainable water management. Panel discussions, interactive exhibits, and networking.
Speakers: Justin White of K&D Landscaping and JW Group, Kevin Battistoni of Hunter Industries, Justin Black, City of Roseville Business Water Efficiency program, and Michael Johnson with California Horticulture Services.
The Summit is designed for: Landscape and irrigation professionals, contractors, property managers, homeowners, students and HOA boards.
Register at https://kndlandscaping.com/
ONLINE CITRUS CLASS
5:30-7 p.m., Online Workshop
Master Gardeners of Monterey, Santa Cruz & San Benito Counties present a free online workshop on care of citrus trees. Now is a great time to plant a citrus tree bush or tree! Citrus trees are versatile additions to any home garden. They can be grown in a container or in the ground and a healthy citrus tree will provide years of abundant fruit. With so many citrus varieties available to us, choosing the right ones for our area can be overwhelming.
Learn which varieties do best in the Monterey Bay Area, how to choose a good plant and how to plant it properly whether in a container or in the ground. If you already have citrus in your garden, you’ll learn how to care for and fertilize your tree as well as protect it from the most common pests. Cost: Free (donations appreciated).
Register at mbmg.ucanr.edu
Wednesday March 19
OUTSMART DISASTER WEBINAR
4 p.m., Online seminar
Small business owners, are you prepared for the unexpected? A power outage, a natural disaster, or a cyberattack can bring your business to a halt in an instant. Don’t let it be your worst nightmare. Register for a free webinar to create your customized plan. Join the California Office of the Small Business Advocate to learn practical steps to build business resiliency.
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_w7QJOsvRSY2iuzB6K1rYzA#/registration
Friday March 21
SANTA CRUZ SMALL BUSINESS BOOT CAMP
8 a.m.–3 p.m., Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St Event Santa Cruz will host the Santa Cruz Small Business Camp, an all-day event at MAH and downtown Santa Cruz crafted to inspire, educate, and empower local entrepreneurs. There will be 14 interactive breakout sessions covering essential topics like marketing, financial strategies, social media, business funding, and more, and a keynote address by Jared Truby, Cat & Cloud, co-founder, early bird networking and a closing session at Abbott Square Market. Speakers include Nicole Fischer of Rootstock Collective, Kenne Johnson-Sciarra, founder of Terra and Self skin care, podcaster Jay Brown of MindFrame and Justine Willeford, founder of Pelican House swimwear. Tickets are $43 at www.eventbrite.com/e/santa-cruz-smallbusiness-camp-tickets-1217072268919?aff=oddtdtcreator n
As a small city operating with only 6.5% of its residents’ property tax revenue, Scotts Valley faces significant financial challenges in providing essential services. However, thanks to the support of our community, we are moving forward with renewed optimism.
The passage of Measure X in November modernized our business license fee, and we are committed to fulfilling our promise: you will see visible improvements to our city’s roads as a result.
It’s important to remember that the additional revenue enabling these infrastructure upgrades comes, in part, from our local businesses. To show our gratitude, I encourage everyone to shop local and support the businesses that make these improvements possible. When you drive on newly repaired roads, take a moment to thank the local businesses that helped make it happen.
Our Public Works Department is fully staffed and making excellent progress on infrastructure projects. This year, we’re planning to resurface and stripe approximately 18-lane miles of roads, with construction anticipated to begin this summer. The roads included in this major project are:
• Hacienda Drive
• Bean Creek Road
• Whispering Pines Drive
• Erba Lane
• Victor Square
• Granite Creek Road
• North Navarra Drive
• Glenwood Drive
• Lockwood Lane
• El Pueblo Lane
• Janis Way
• and others
Additionally, our maintenance team has adopted the use of hot mix asphalt for pavement repairs, which allows for larger and more durable fixes. Last week, we completed significant repairs on Quien Sabe Road.
Mount Hermon Road
Many may be surprised to learn that Mount Hermon Road is the second most traveled road in the entire county. Drivers along this busy corridor will be glad to hear about our upcoming traffic signal coordination project.
By synchronizing the signals, we expect
By
to reduce wait times at stoplights and improve traffic flow. This project is on track for completion this fall.
Both the Scotts Valley Drive and Mount Hermon Road projects are making excellent progress.
These “Complete Streets” initiatives aim to improve safety and usability for all — drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike.
For Scotts Valley Drive, the design includes pavement treatment, lane striping diets and buffered bike lanes, as directed by the City Council last September.
Staff is finalizing a geometric layout concept and conducting outreach with local businesses to ensure their concerns are addressed before moving into the full design phase.
Similarly, a preliminary geometric concept for Mount Hermon Road is being developed to assess the scope and limits of the project. We anticipate completing
the design for both projects this year.
These improvements are made possible through RTC grants and funding from Measure D.
Recent storms have left their mark on Scotts Valley and the surrounding Central Coast, including two major landslides in our city that blocked critical roads. Despite these challenges, we’ve made significant progress. Both the Bean Creek Slide and Green Hills Slide repair projects have been successfully completed.
While these projects are federally approved for reimbursement, we are currently awaiting those funds. We hope these funds will not be in jeopardy due the flurry of executive orders this week.
Looking ahead, Scotts Valley is collaborating with Santa Cruz County and Watsonville to develop a comprehensive Transportation/Traffic Safety Action Plan.
This initiative will identify and address key traffic safety concerns across the region.
The plan is still in its early phases, and we look forward to sharing more updates as it progresses.
The improvements happening in Scotts Valley are a testament to what we can achieve when our community comes together. From modernizing our funding mechanisms to maintaining and enhancing our roads, we are building a city that will serve residents and businesses for generations to come.
Together, we’re paving the way — literally and figuratively — for a stronger, more connected Scotts Valley.
Citizens wishing to stay informed of these and other projects around town, be sure to follow the city’s social media accounts and sign up for our biweekly newsletter by visiting scottsvalley.gov. n
This week we have a gem of a Pet of the Week — Coco (#A317934)!
Coco is a one-year-old neutered male Cane Corso. He came to the Shelter when his previous owners moved and could not bring him with them. Coco has been at the Shelter for more than a month and has made friends with staff, volunteers and other dogs. He can come on strong but once matched with a similar play style he loves other rambunctious dogs- and in his last home he lived with other dogs and did well.
Along with dogs, Coco lived with cats, guinea pigs and livestock so if you already have a zoo at your house Coco would be a great dog to consider! While Coco has lived with teens and adults, his size and zealous attitude might mean he is best with older, sturdy and dog savvy kids and not small children. His very favorite activities are playing with squeaky toys, playing fetch, running and cuddling.
Coco had lived indoors and then outdoors, so he might need reminders of indoor living but he already knows lots of commands, so he catches on to new tricks and situations quickly.
This big boy is looking for his new family and is excited to meet you- come to SCCAS to meet our big buddy Coco!
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. (Arrive before 4 p.m. for “meet and greet”)
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
“Grease” from page 19
Set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High, the musical includes popular songs, such as “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin,’” “There are Worse Things I Could Do,” “Beauty School Dropout” and “We Go Together,” as well as catchy tunes from the original Broadway version (“Shakin’ at the High School Hop,” “It’s Raining on Prom Night,” and “Alone at a Drive-In Movie.” Book, music and lyrics are by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.
Grease debuted off-Broadway on Feb. 14, 1972 at the Eden Theatre in New York City. The show transferred to Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre, and later to the Royale Theatre, closing on April 13, 1980 after a record-breaking 3,388 performances. The film adaptation of Grease in 1978 and became the highest-grossing movie musical of all time. Grease returned to Broadway twice, in a 1994 revival directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun and in a 2007 revival directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are: $20; and $15 for seniors/students/SLV staff.
At the Community Night performance 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, all tickets are $15. A limited number of tickets will be at the door 1-hour before showtime; advanced tickets are online at https:// hs.slvusd.org/apps/pages/theatreboosters Purchasing advance tickets is highly recommended. n
Parental Advisory: This production is rated PG-13+ and includes mild adult themes (nicotine and alcohol consumption, teenage pregnancy, physical altercations, and adult language).
