Scotts Valley Times: October 2020

Family Owned For Over 29 Years • Scotts Valley, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek & Felton

Times Publishing Group, Inc.

October 2020 • Vol 23 No. 10

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Measure A: $49 Million Bond for Scotts Valley Schools

To improve the quality of local schools; make necessary health, safety, and ventilation improvements; repair or replace leaky roofs and deteriorating plumbing, sewer, wiring and electrical systems; shall Scotts Valley Unified School District’s measure be adopted authorizing $49,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates ...

Full Story page 17

How to Celebrate Halloween (and Día de Los Muertos) Safely During Covid Full Story page 7

Baymonte Christian Back in School

By Jondi Gumz Once eighth grader Brenna Ramar had her temperature checked at the door, she was ready to go to class — after six months of distance learning at home.

How does it feel to be back at school?

“A lot better,” she said.

Brenna is among 250 students who returned to the

Baymonte Christian School in Scotts Valley after the campus was retrofitted to prevent the spread of the contagious coronavirus, COVID-19.

Desks are spaced out to provide physical distancing.

When desks are grouped together in the younger grades, they have plexiglass shields for protection. ... continues on page 4

Comments Due on Hotel, Housing Project

The city of Scotts Valley is beginning the review process for a project proposed at an undeveloped property on La Madrona Drive and Silverwood Drive, across from the Hilton and a site once eyed by mega-retailer Target.

Full Story page 5

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Volume 23

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Table of Contents

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Cover

Baymonte Christian Back in School, By Jondi Gumz

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Community News Comments Due on Scotts Valley Hotel, Housing Project How to Celebrate Halloween (and Día de Los Muertos) Safely During Covid Neighborhood Courts: A Way To Resolve Smaller Crimes • Santa Cruz Biketober Begins Oct. 1 FEMA Wildfire Aid Deadline: October 21 • New Spot for Farmers’ Market • Gratitude Measure A: $49 Million Bond for Scotts Valley Schools Scotts Valley Unified School District Bond Project List 12 COVID Deaths: Outbreak Kills Two at Watsonville Nursing Home,

By Jondi Gumz Remembering Diego Muñoz

Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Newsletter • Pages 11-14 11 Chamber’s 2020-21 Member Decal Features Artist Sandy Shaw Painting titled ‘Into the Light’ • Free Webinar: Marketing your Business During a Recession 12 CineLux Theatre Opens!, by Paul Gunsky, CineLux Theatres 13 Senior Life Online Series Every Monday: Hosted by the Scotts Valley Senior Life Association 14 Red Ribbon Ceremony: Kalani Day Spa: Friday, October 30 at Noon • 245 Mount Hermon Road, Suite D • Return the Favor: Community Giving

Monthly Horoscope • Page 18 – Let Choice Be Made, Esoteric Astrology By Risa D’Angeles

Featured Columnists 15 Pictures From The Past: A Family That Loved Big Basin, Photo Essay By Carolyn Swift 20 Is Rent Control Good For Businesses?, By Ron Kustek 21 A Year of Changes: Be Flexible, By Tanya Krause, Superintendent, Scotts Valley Unified School District 22 Fire Recovery: Remove Debris, Then Be Alert for Mud Flows, By Bruce McPherson, Fifth District Supervisor

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 23 – Midnight Fluff

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COVER STORY publisher

Patrice Edwards

editor

Jondi Gumz

contributing writers Camisa Composti, Jondi Gumz, Paul Gunsky, Carolyn Swift, Ron Kustek, Tanya Krause, Bruce McPherson layout Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson photography Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson, Brad King website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti production coordinator Camisa Composti advertising sales Don Beaumont, Teri Huckobey Cathe Race

“Baymonte” from page 1 Outside is the sanitation station where students can wash their hands.

And “BCS” spray-painted dots are ubiquitous outside, showing students how far apart they should be, for physical education or music, or waiting to enter their classroom.

“Parents are really thrilled,” said Baymonte Principal Steve Patterson, who’s been at the school 30 years in that role and now has grandchildren attending.

“Kids are loving being back,” he added.

He said it cost about $25,000 to buy the equipment needed to adapt the campus to county, state and federal guidelines for COVID-19.

Everyone had to learn the new rules and routines – like the one-way stairs to minimize contact, the prohibition on parent volunteers in the classroom, and no lockers and no field trips.

Patterson has 30 teachers at the K-8 school and 70 staff in all.

He hired additional teachers to meet the state-mandated student-teacher ratios. In the middle school grades, instead of 24 students, there are 14 to 16.

Three new teachers got job offers after interviews on Zoom. The new science teacher, who taught a sample lesson on Zoom to clinch the job, came from Texas.

A nurse is on staff now, a parent who is an alum, bringing experience working in the Watsonville Community Hospital emergency room.

“She has final authority,” Patterson said, if there’s a question about whether a student should stay home to protect everyone else.

Leslie Rapolla, who became office manager two years ago, was tasked with obtaining vital supplies such as wipes.

“And getting the best price for our budget,” she said.

office coordinator

Bill Pooley, James Hudson

distribution

Times Publishing Group, Inc. 9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 The Times Publishing Group, Inc., publishers of the Aptos Times, a bi-monthly publication, the Capitola Times and Scotts Valley Times, each printed monthly, Coastal Weddings Magazine, Coastal Home and Garden Magazine, Aptos’ Fourth of July Parade Official Program Guide and Capitola’s Begonia Festival Official Program Guide, is owned by Patrice Edwards.

Entire contents ©2020. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Second grade teacher Jennifer Newton is happy to be in the classroom at Baymonte Christian School.

PHONE: (831) 688-7549 FAX: (831) 688-7551 GENERAL E-MAIL: info@cyber-times.com Patrice Edwards: patrice@cyber-times.com Publisher’s Assistant: assistant@cyber-times.com Editor: info@cyber-times.com Calendar Listings: www.tpgonlinedaily.com Graphics Department: graphics@cyber-times.com Billing Inquiries: cathe@cyber-times.com Classified Sales: sales@cyber-times.com Production: production@cyber-times.com CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT: www.tpgonlinedaily.com mission statement We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc. are dedicated to providing a voice for the individuals and organizations in our community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses. We seek to promote healthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, school news, senior events, community groups and entertainment 4 / October 2020 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Baymonte Christian School Principal Steve Patterson in the band room, where partitions were installed as a COVID-19 safety measure, allowing students to practice musical instruments together.

She said Rachel Hofmann, the vice principal, took the lead on the plexiglass project, and Don Seely, the custodian installed the washing wall, making sure kids short and tall could reach a sink.

Asked how her children reacted, Rapolla said, “My fourth grader asked me, ‘Am I going to be distance learning, Mommy?’ She’s very excited to be here.

She’s here, in person, learning with her friends.”

Knowing that parents wanted inperson classes, the Baymonte staff began preparing for the fall following the existing guidelines.

Then the governor introduced a new monitoring system, requiring adjustments.

Then lightning struck Aug. 16, causing fires that burned 86,500 acres and forcing evacuations of Scotts Valley, San Lorenzo Valley and Bonny Doon.

Patterson said 75 percent of the Baymonte families and 80 percent of the staff were evacuated, losing precious time needed to prepare to return to the campus.

Patterson was among them. His daughter in Boulder Creek and her children and her tenant came to Patterson’s house. Then he had to evacuate so they went to their family cabin in Groveland, which had to evacuate due to the Creek fire.

They all ended up in Merced, 13 adults and three dogs.

Despite every obstacle, Baymonte Christian School is teaching children on campus – something of a miracle.

“We’re blessed to be here,” Patterson said. “Prospective families call and say, ‘Tell me you have a seat.’”

His next appointment was with a prospective family.

••• Cover Photo: Music teacher Elizabeth Barrett teaches a song in the courtyard at Baymonte Christian School in Scotts Valley. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

COMMUNITY NEWS

Comments Due on Hotel, Housing Project T he city of Scotts Valley is beginning the review process for a project proposed at an undeveloped property on La Madrona Drive and Silverwood Drive, across from the Hilton and a site once eyed by mega-retailer Target.

The new proposal from Brent Lee of San Jose is for a four-story hotel with up to 180 rooms, a 6,600-square-foot restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a four-story building with 110 units for seniors and two buildings with 74 units for families.

In city plans, the area is called “Gateway South,” because it’s at the southern entry to the city.

Hotel amenities would include swimming pool, meeting rooms, a spa/ fitness facility and outdoor courtyard.

The senior building would enclose a courtyard with amenities that may include: a patio, fire pit, hot tub and cooling pool and outdoor kitchen. Oak and Sequoia trees designed as heritage trees would be retained and integrated into courtyard landscaping.

Other amenities would include a spa

and exercise facilities, a community room, a computer room, a library and lounge.

The family residential development would have two linear buildings connected by a ground-floor lobby and common space walkway on the upper floors. Amenities may include an outdoor pool and patio, spa and exercise spaces, a computer room, library room, community room with a kitchen, spa, and exercise facilities.

Stone and concrete are planned for the restaurant façade.

There would be 420 parking spaces, compliant with zoning requirements.

The city has issued a notice of preparation on the La Madrona mixed-use project indicating an environmental impact report will address the effects of the development, including cumulative impacts.

Comments must be received in writing by 5 p.m. Oct. 21 by Paula Bradley, the contract planner, at pbradley@mbakerintl.com. Her phone number is (831) 345-5482. n ••• For more information, see http://www. scottsvalley.org/242/Current-Projects.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / October 2020 / 5

6 / October 2020 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

How to Celebrate Halloween (and Día de Los Muertos) Safely During Covid Editor’s Note: This announcement comes from the Santa Cruz County Public Health Division.

••• ay Area health officials remind residents that many commonly celebrated Halloween and Día de Los Muertos activities carry high risk for spreading COVID-19.

Focusing on decorations, limiting activities to the people you live with, and virtual costume parties or contests will help keep our communities safe this season, especially our children. Together, we all need to do as much as we can to protect ourselves and those around us.

For instance, trick-or-treating is a highrisk activity, because it increases contact with people outside of your household who may not be as careful about COVID-19 prevention.

Parties are high-risk, because mixing among people who don’t live in the same home introduces more opportunities for the virus to pass from one person to another. Bay Area contact tracing has shown that gathering and mixing are key contributors to infection.

Santa Cruz County residents are reminded that local and state health officer orders are still in effect. Halloween gatherings, Día de los Muertos celebrations, events or parties with nonhousehold members are not permitted unless they are conducted in compliance with local and state health orders.

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Consider using a themed cloth mask, as a costume mask is not a substitute. Avoid wearing a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.

Local health officials highly recommend community members participate in lower risk activities to celebrate Halloween and Día de Los Muertos this year: LOWER RISK: Stay home, keep it small • Celebrating Halloween traditions like carving pumpkins or a scavenger huntstyle trick-or-treat search with your household members in your home.

• Visiting an outdoor pumpkin patch, while wearing a mask and maintaining distance from others.

• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at least 6 feet apart while wearing masks, with a very small group of neighbors or friends. Fewer people with more distance is safer.

• Having a virtual costume contest.

• Dressing up your house, apartment, living space, yard or car with Halloween decoration or decorating homes with images and objects to honor deceased loved ones.

• Preparing traditional family recipes with members of your household.

• Playing music in your home that your deceased loved ones enjoyed.

“Halloween” page 10

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8 / October 2020 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Neighborhood Courts

A Way To Resolve Smaller Crimes

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he Neighborhood Courts program is a community driven, pre-filing diversion program designed to divert lowlevel misdemeanor offenses from entering the criminal justice system.

First time offenders are given an opportunity to take responsibility and repair the harm they caused through a community-based process using restorative justice principles instead of a courtroom.

Neighborhood Courts address criminal violations that impact the quality of life in the community and are an alternative to entering into criminal court. The purpose of the program is to: reduce recidivism by understanding why offenders offend, address the harm the offense had on the victim (if applicable) and the community and, using restorative principles rather than punitive principles, effectively and efficiently restore the local community, victim and offender back into community.

How Do Neighborhood Courts Work? ligible cases are diverted by the District Attorney’s Office into the Neighborhood Courts program. While participation is voluntary and confidential, participants must be willing to take responsibility for their actions that caused harm. Victims are invited to participate on a voluntary basis.

A Panel of trained community volunteers meet with the participant and victim (if applicable) in a relaxed, confidential space, in what is called a conference.

During the Conference, volunteer panelists and the participant discuss: • Harms caused to victim (if applicable) and community • Root of why the crime happened • Panelist and participant work together to select directives that are specific, reasonable, attainable, and restorative to the participant, victim, and community.

Once the participant successfully completes the directives, the case will be dismissed.

The participant is given a second chance because the conviction will not be on their record. If needed, the participants may be

E

referred to additional services offered in the community.

If a case is not resolved in Neighborhood Courts, it will be rerouted back to the District Attorney’s Office.

Community Involvement re you interested in becoming a volunteer panelist? Join our volunteer team.

Neighborhood Courts volunteers are essential to the success of the program. Volunteer panelists are community members that are trained in restorative justice, cultural competency, effective communication, facilitation, and problem-solving skills.

The District Attorney’s Office strives to create a diverse group of volunteer panelists throughout the County of Santa Cruz who are from different diverse socioeconomic, cultural, gender, age, and professional backgrounds.

Requirements to become a volunteer panelist: • Complete the application • Pass a background check • Complete volunteer panelist training • Observe two Neighborhood Court conferences. n ••• On Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m., District Attorney Jeff Rosell, Fifth District Supervisor Bruce McPherson, and Scotts Valley Police Chief Steve Walpole will host a meeting on Zoom talking about Neighborhood Courts. To listen: https://zoom.us/j/98406156310?pwd=S0xn QWJLQmlyZ085WThzV0hkdTg4Zz09 Meeting ID: 984 0615 6310 Passcode: vRyaH1 Or call: (669)900-9128 or (253)215-8782 Meeting ID: 984 0615 6310 Passcode: 876773 ••• For more information, or to apply to become a volunteer, visit https://datinternet.co.santacruz. ca.us/Home/NeighborhoodCourts.aspx Or contact Elaine Johnson, Neighborhood Courts Program Coordinator, Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office: neighborhoodcourts@ santacruzcounty.us or call 831-454-2534.

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Santa Cruz Biketober Begins Oct. 1

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icycling is a healthy, affordable, and climate-friendly form of transportation and recreation (read win-win-win).

Join Ecology Action for a chance to win $100 to a local bike shop of your choice during Biketober. Start logging your rides any time during the month of October — all you have to do is log one ride. Sign up at lovetoride.net/santacruz. n www.scottsvalley.org/ImageRepository/ Document?documentId=2331

FEMA Wildfire Aid Deadline: October 21

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ndividuals and households with losses due to the wildfires in Santa Cruz County must apply for assistance from FEMA by Oct. 21.

Federal Emergency Management Agency grants help eligible survivors pay for rent, home repair/replacement and other disasterrelated needs, including replacement or repair of vehicles, funeral expenses, medical or dental expenses. To be reimbursed, save receipts and photograph damage.

Survivors should contact their insurers and file a claim for the disastercaused damage before registering with FEMA. Survivors with insurance should register with FEMA even if they aren’t certain they will be eligible. FEMA may be able to help with costs that insurance doesn’t cover.

The agency can determine eligibility once an applicant’s insurance claim is settled—but there won’t be any FEMA reimbursement for those who fail to register by the Oct. 21 deadline. FEMA cannot pay insurance deductibles.

There are three ways to register: online at disasterassistance.gov, with the FEMA app on a smartphone or tablet, or by calling the FEMA Helpline, 800-6213362 (TTY 800-462-7585). Multilingual services are available.

To register you need this information: • Social Security number • Insurance policy information • Address of the damaged primary dwelling • A description of disaster-caused damage and losses • Current mailing address • Current telephone number • Total household annual income • Routing and account number of your checking or savings account (for direct transfer of funds to your bank account) After you register, FEMA will email you a temporary PIN so you can create an account at disasterassistance.gov. The account enables you to check the status of your application, view FEMA messages, update your personal information and upload documents FEMA may need to determine grant eligibility.

If you are unable to upload your documents, mail them to FEMA at P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville MD 20782-8055 or fax them to 800-827-8112. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

New Spot for Farmers’ Market A sense of normalcy returned to the community when the Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market reopened once the evacuation of the city for the CZU Lightning Complex fire ended.

The farmers’ market has the same hours 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays but a new location: The Kmart parking lot at 262-266 Mount Hermon Road.

Seniors-only shopping, for COVID-19 safety, is from 8:30 to 9 a.m.

Face coverings are required to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the contagious coronavirus.

The Pratt family, which owns the shopping center, donated the space to the farmers market after Cal Fire in mid-August took over the traditional market location at the Scotts Valley Community Center. n

Photos Credit: Jondi Gumz

ABOVE: Santa Cruz musicians Rozy Bathrick and Kevin Condon entertain shoppers at the Scotts Valley farmers’ market.

RIGHT: Happy Boy Farms sets up shop at Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market.

FAR RIGHT: Pumpkins are in season at the farmers’ market.

Gratitude

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fter a week of evacuation for the CZU Lightning Complex fire, residents of Scotts Valley — population 12,000 — were able to return to their home and workplaces.

Greg Wimp, owner of Togo’s in Scotts Valley, Capitola and Watsonville, provided 6,000 sandwiches to evacuees.

The learning destination 1440 Multiversity opened its kitchen to Operation BBQ Relief to prepare three meals a day for evacuees being housed at churches and other shelters.

And the staff of Bay Federal Credit Union in Scotts Valley came out with a big sign saying thank you to first responders. n

Photo Courtesy of Bay Federal Credit Union

Employees at Bay Federal Credit Union, one of the businesses in Scotts Valley evacuated for a week, are thankful.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / October 2020 / 9

“Halloween” from page 7

is waiting for you

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You missed us and we really missed you! Join us for the food, the view, and just being out with friends.

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• Making and decorating masks or making an altar for the deceased.

• Participating in vehicle-based gatherings that comply with state and local guidance like drive-in movies and drive-through attractions, or car/ bike parades where participants do not leave their vehicles. n Avoid driving in areas where there are many pedestrians. n Spectators should watch from their homes or yards and not gather with people they do not live with.

MODERATE RISK: If you must • Participating in one-way trick-ortreating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to physically distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard) n Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags. n Ensure everyone is wearing an appropriate face covering and maintaining a physical distance from others. n Everyone participating should bring hand sanitizer and use it frequently AND wash their hands immediately after coming home. n Candy shouldn’t be eaten while outside the home because that would require both removing the face mask and touching wrappers.

• Having a very small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade or movie night where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart and are wearing masks. Fewer people with more distance is safer.

• Enjoying themed outdoor dining that complies with state and local guidance or takeout.

HIGHER RISK: Please avoid • Participating in traditional trick-ortreating where treats are handed to children who go door-to-door. Although this activity is outdoors, it is higher risk because it brings multiple people from different households together.

• Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19. Doing so can bring COVID-19 into the area and threaten the residents’ lives.

If trick-or-treating is occurring in your neighborhood and you are at home and do not want to be disturbed, you may want to post a sign or turn off your porch light.

VERY HIGH RISK: Not permitted by state and local orders • Attending a crowded party held indoors or outdoors. Large gatherings, even if they are outdoors, are high risk for spreading COVID-19 and are associated with many cases throughout the Bay Area.

• Sharing, eating, drinking, speaking loudly or singing amongst others outside of your household.

• Haunted houses or indoor mazes • Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots.

••• hese holidays are no different than the rest of the year when it comes to reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Stay home if you feel sick or have come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19; wear a face covering whenever you leave home; and keep your distance from others (even relatives) who don’t live in your household, and remember that being outside is safer than being inside, especially in combination with face covering and keeping your distance.

To further protect yourself and your loved ones, be sure to monitor yourself during the 14 days after these holidays and pay particular attention from days 3 — 7 after the holidays when you are most likely to develop symptoms.

If you don’t feel well or you learn someone you had close contact with tested positive, get tested immediately and stay home until your appointment and while you wait for your results. n To learn more about symptoms and testing, visit www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus.

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Chamber’s 2020-21 Member Decal Features Artist Sandy Shaw Painting titled ‘Into the Light’ T The resiliency of the Scotts Valley he Chamber selected this beautiful and colorful painting to be featured community during the pandemic has on this year’s decal as a symbol of been remarkable and we have all had to pull within our inner strength to pivot hope and strength. in both business and in our personal lives.

This painting in one is a series called the “Into the Light Series” where she describes her work as “an exploration and celebration of inner strength. The flowers seem delicate and frail, yet they are powerful and strong. They weather the elements of nature and undeterred, they boldly move from the darkness of the shadows of Earth and bravely grow tall into the light.”

The “Into the Light Series” of paintings are created on canvas, layered with Japanese rice paper, ink

and hundreds of translucent layers of acrylic paint to give the paintings a luminescent glow of life.

California based artist, Sandra Takashima Shaw’s work is inspired and informed by nature and our social/ political world. Her paintings reflect a deep inquiry into life and our place in it.

Infused with a sense of optimism, Shaw’s paintings invite the viewer to consider that a kinder, more compassionate world is possible if we strive to live in harmony with nature and one another.

Shaw’s art has been commissioned

by Google for their San Francisco office, featured in museum exhibitions, and exhibited internationally.

You can view her exquisite work at SandyShawArt.com

Free Webinar: Marketing your Business During a Recession

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arketing is always important and for many small businesses it’s sometimes an afterthought, taking a backseat to operating the business.

Now, with the pandemic (and the fires) exacting a heavy toll on so many, it may be the last thing on your mind, but it should be the first. If you had a budget for marketing, it may seem like an easy cut.

Instead, this is a great time to reassess what you’re doing, reexamine your target customers and perhaps their new buying habits, and explore new ways of engaging them.

This FREE webinar will introduce you to five local experts who will share their thoughts on how you can maximize your

marketing dollars (and your time) to show your existing as well as potential new customers that your brand is strong and that you’re ready to serve them.

Thursday, October 8 at 9am via Zoom — No reservation required get zoom link from scottsvalleychamber.com or SV Chamber Facebook Event. Hosted by Scotts Valley Economic Recovery Task Force ••• Speaker Panel

Susan O’Connor Fraser

Video and Social Susan O’Connor Fraser is co-founder of Tam Communications. Since 1979, Susan has written and produced literally thousands of programs for broadcast and cable,

and for Northern California leading organizations. In commercial production, Susan has been the Executive Producer/ Creative Director/ Writer for spots for the Santa Cruz Beach Susan O’Connor Fraser Boardwalk, West Marine, and Graniterock.

In the non-broadcast world, she has earned a reputation for crafting customized media solutions to drive sales, build image, motivate employees, or communicate corporate or product messaging through video and other digital media.

Happy Fall Y’all – Get Your Flu Shot

Toby Corey

Get Virtual — Website, On-Line Shopping, On-Line Marketing Toby Cory, Founder, GetVirtual.org is a non-profit that gives local small businesses affected by COVID-19 the tools to adapt to the virtual landscape, extend their businesses online, and thrive in a new tomorrow.

GetVirtual pairs Toby Corey local businesses seeking help with college students seeking experience.

“Marketing” page 12

Call the Chamber Today or Visit www.scottsvalleychamber.com

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / October 2020 / 11

Scotts Valley Chamber News

CineLux Theatre Opens!

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by Paul Gunsky, CineLux Theatres

ocally owned CineLux Theatres announces the re-opening of its CineLux Scotts Valley and CineLux Capitola locations. CineLux re-opened its theaters on September 11, operating under state and local reopening guidance, to 25% capacity. Paul Gunsky, owner of CineLux, is excited to welcome back its guests after six months of closure.

Similarly, Landlord Benjamin Ow of Ow Family Properties says, “I’m really happy to see our Scotts Valley and Capitola parking lots more full of cars from movie theatre patrons and I’m confident that under Paul Gunsky’s leadership, CineLux Theatres will offer the best possible moviegoing experience to customers while meeting and/or exceeding all applicable health and safety protocols”.

“Marketing” from page 11 Students get college credit. Businesses get volunteer interns. Toby is also a Stanford University Lecturer and teaches “The Spirit of Entrepreneurship

Danny Reber

Chamber Membership, Benefits and Services Danny Reber currently serves as the Executive Director for the Scotts Valley Chamber and is a lifelong resident of Scotts Valley. He is a Past President of Scotts Valley Rotary and he also holds public office on the Scotts Valley Water Board.

Danny Reber

The past six months have been challenging for all movie theaters, but especially challenging for a small, independently owned company. We have been working on crafting the safest possible cinema experience. Our goal is simple — we want

you and our staff to feel safe, and we want to exceed the comfort, atmosphere, and enjoyment of what you have experienced in other indoor businesses.

Here’s what we have been up to over the past months. With a small crew comprised of myself, and few dedicated staff members, we offered a “take home the movie experience” where we would open the concession counter and provide take home concessions to the community. Those events were wonderful.

I absolutely loved firing up the popper, filling the lobby with the aroma of fresh popcorn, and engaging with our community. We also launched a pop-up drive-in at our theater in Gilroy. This has been quite a rewarding experience to see families with young children experience the magic of the drive-in. We were set to launch a drive-in at Kings Village in Scotts Valley, however we decided to postpone this plan once we received the approval to reopen our theaters.

Nothing is more important than the safety and comfort of our guests and

employees. With that in mind, our guests at Scotts Valley and Capitola will notice a few changes on their next visit. We have established protocols that meet and exceed local, state and the standards established

by CinemaSafe (CinemaSafe.org).

CinemaSafe is a program promoting protocols and guidelines developed and supported by leading epidemiologists to support a safe return to movie theaters. This program, commissioned by the National Association of Theatre Owners, puts the health and safety of our guests and employees at the center of movie theater operations.

Movie theaters have very challenging months ahead. Studios have rescheduled many highly anticipated films. We certainly need our community’s continued support more than ever, whether it’s seeing a film, renting an auditorium for a private screening or stopping by to take home your favorite movie treat.

It’s been wonderful to meet our returning guests over the past few weeks.

We look forward to seeing you soon … at the movies.

Danny and participates on four community organizations as a Board of Director for Valley Churches United Mission, Leadership Santa Cruz County, the Scotts Valley Historical Society, and the Silicon Valley Chamber Coalition.

He is also the host of the Think Local First Radio Show once a month on KSCO.

March 2017 and as the Advertising Director and has been the G.M. for the past two years.

Cherie is also an active Scotts Valley Chamber Ambassador, and Cherie Anderson was Ambassador President from 2016-2018, and Ambassador of the year in 2017 along with her husband Kevin.

umentaries for NBC, ABC, Australian Broadcast Commission, and KQED Public Television; authored MetroFarm, a PMA Ben Franklin B o o k - o f - t h e - Ye a r award winner, and Michael Olson Tales From a Tin Can, a World War II oral history; and produces and hosts Food Chain Radio, a nationally-syndicated talk show.

As a business person, he is coowner of the MO MultiMedia Group and General Manager of locally-owned KSCO & KOMY radio stations, where he proudly helps locally-owned businesses go up against national chains and win!

Cherie Anderson

Community Newspaper for PR and Advertising Cherie’s career has been heavily focused around high-tech advertising sales beginning in publishing in the OEM market, then moving to the Mac market where she spent 10 years as a top performer at Macworld Magazine.

Cherie came to the Press Banner in

12 / October 2020 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Michael Olson

Radio & Think Local First Santa Cruz As a journalist, he wrote and photographed feature stories for the San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner newspapers; produced and filmed doc-

Scotts Valley Chamber News

Senior Life Online Series Every Monday

Hosted by the Scotts Valley Senior Life Association

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o support the health and welfare of senior citizens in Scotts Valley, Scotts Valley Senior Life Association (SVSLA) is hosting a weekly “Senior Life Online” virtual Zoom session every Monday at 4 pm since they can no longer present their live workshops.

For the last 11 years, SVSLA’s focus is to enhance healthy living for our local senior citizens. Loneliness, isolation, depression, all can affect those stuck for months at home, often alone. That’s not good for either their mental or physical health.

Senior Life Online sessions provide a forum in which local seniors can remain at home but still talk with other seniors and engage with interesting speakers adding to our knowledge. Questions and answers are an important part of these sessions.

Recent guest speakers included County Clerk/Registrar of Voters Gail Pellerin, retired emergency medicine physician Terry Hollenbeck, MD; 5th District County Supervisor Bruce McPherson; local historian Ross Eric Gibson; Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Danny Reber, Coastal Watershed Council Director Greg Pepping.

More information is available at the SVSLA website at http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org/current-activities/.

Dave Hodgin (left), President of SVSLA, stands with Bruce McPherson, 5th District Supervisor.

It is easy to participate in the Senior help or have questions about Zoom or Life Online sessions. Just use your suggestions, please call George at (831) cellphone, tablet or computer to pre- 334-7763.

Please invite the senior citizens with register before your first meeting at: https://tinyurl.com/SVSLA-Mondays. whom you come in contact to these weekly You will receive a personal invitation Senior Life Online sessions.

Scotts Valley Senior Life Association is containing a link to use to join the Senior Life Online meetings. If you need a public, non-profit 501(3)(c) organization

whose mission is to enhance healthy living for seniors in the Scotts Valley area.

••• Scotts Valley Senior Life Association PO Box 66438, Scotts Valley, CA 950676438, (831) 438-1000 EIN/Tax ID # 26-4549259 a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

FAP-1942M-A-AD

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / October 2020 / 13

Scotts Valley Chamber News

Red Ribbon Ceremony: Kalani Day Spa

Friday, October 30 at Noon • 245 Mount Hermon Road, Suite D

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oin us as we celebrate outdoors with a toast to the newly named Kalani Day Spa (Formerly Exhale.) .... Kalani Day Spa in Hawaiian means heaven. That’s how you will feel the moment you enter their sanctuary.

Let Kalani Day Spa be your little slice of heaven in the heart of Scotts Valley. We all need a place we can go to Owner Kim Pursley find that inner peace, even if just for a moment.

Kalani Day Spa is for women and men of all ages. A place where you can enjoy high-quality spa services including many types of massage, skin care services, and mind and body balancing services.

You deserve to feel relaxed, revived and renewed!

We look forward to seeing you at Kalani Day Spa — located in Scotts

Village Shopping Center 245 Mount Hermon Road, Suite D T: 831.600.7116

Return the Favor: Community Giving

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ecently, the Santa Cruz Community Credit Union (SCCCU) Board of Directors approved the allocation of approximately $40,000 to donate to local non-profit organizations.

“We’re thrilled to be able to give back to organizations in our community who continue to provide essential services to so many in need,” stated Beth Carr, CEO/President of SCCCU. “It was difficult to determine where to distribute the funds because we have so many wonderful organizations in our community.”

The Credit Union donated funds to the following community non-profit organizations: Pajaro Valley Shelter Services, Valley Churches United Missions, DigitalNEST, Santa Cruz Volunteer Center, Community Action Board, Community Bridges, Diversity Center, CASA, Homeless Garden Project, and Second Harvest Food Bank.

“We are now in a 2020 environment that seems beyond belief. But what our community is known for best is rising up in the face of diversity and helping others in need,” said Carr. “We’d like to encourage everyone to join us in donating your time or money to your favorite local nonprofit organization — even if you

don’t see it listed on our website. We want to RETURN THE FAVOR so these organizations can continue to thrive and provide much-needed support to our community.”

You can easily donate to a community non-profit organization by visiting the Credit Union’s website at www.scccu.org/support-it/return-thefavor. You may write a check or use the DONATE button to give online to the organization of your choice. Just remember to write RETURN THE FAVOR on your check or in the notes for your online donation. “If you’re unable to donate money right now, you can RETURN THE FAVOR in other ways. We’d love for you to use our social media channels to share ways you and your family are giving back to our community,” stated Carr.

To find ways to serve in our community, visit the Santa Cruz Volunteer Center website at www.scvolunteercenter.org. And then SHARE what you’re doing with through one of the Credit Union’s social media sites — Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

“It’s time for us to stand together and help one another,” stated Carr. “Let’s reach out and unite to help those who need help so desperately right now.”

CURRENT RENTALS Newly built Executive 3BR/2BA Home on Monan Way in BC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4950 Ideally located 3BR/3BA Home w/garage on Viki Ct. in SV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4000 Immaculate single-level 2BR/1.5BA Home w/spa on Cresta in BC . . . . . . . . . . . . $3000 Ground level 2BR/1BA Unit w/carport on Orchard St. in Soquel . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2300 Executive Studio w/util. included on Farmer St. in Felton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1630

Advertise in the Scotts Valley Chamber Newsletter

14 / October 2020 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

SCOTTS VALLEY WATER DISTRICT PREPARES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFFS

CALL FOR SPECIAL RATES 831.688.7549

During the 2020 wildfire season, PG&E may turn off electricity in designated areas where extreme fire danger is forecasted, a precaution called Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). The Scotts Valley Water District has an action plan should we lose power, including stationing portable generators at critical facilities and managing vegetation around our facilities to reduce fire risk.

Learn more about what the District is doing and what customers can do to prepare at svwd.org/psps

Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce 360 King’s Village Road Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Pictures From The Past: A Family That Loved Big Basin

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

Photo Essay By Carolyn Swift

ntoine Matty and his family ran a grocery store at Wright’s Station in the Santa Cruz Mountains at the time of the fire in 1899.

One of the family members died fighting the fire.

The Mattys later joined the Sempervirens Fund and the effort to save and preserve Big Basin.

It has been a magnificent gift enjoyed by many generations. n ••• Editor’s Note: The Big Basin Redwoods State Park Visitors Center and headquarters were destroyed by the CZU Lightning Complex fire in August and the state park in Boulder Creek is closed to the public.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / October 2020 / 15

COMMUNITY NEWS

Measure A: $49 Million Bond for Scotts Valley Schools Editor’s Note: This information can be found at votescount.us.

Measure A

Scotts Valley Unified School District Bond 55% to pass o improve the quality of local schools; make necessary health, safety, and ventilation improvements; repair or replace leaky roofs and deteriorating plumbing, sewer, wiring and electrical systems; shall Scotts Valley Unified School District’s measure be adopted authorizing $49,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates, generating approximately $2.7 million annually while bonds are outstanding with levies of approximately 3.2 cents per $100 assessed value, with annual audits, citizens’ oversight, no money for salaries and all money for local projects?

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Argument for Measure A e understand these are difficult times. The pandemic has impacted

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our families, students, teachers, staff, and local businesses. When our students and staff return to our schools we must be prepared to meet deferred maintenance needs, and new challenges.

The District considered waiting two years until the next election to ask for your support, but there are essential projects that cannot wait. At this critical time, we must improve the health and safety of our school campuses.

16 / October 2020 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

With the community’s trust and support, the District successfully completed our new middle school but now must address the long-deferred needs of our 20-year-old high school and much older two elementary schools. These campuses need significant infrastructure updates — ventilation, security, roofs, restroom improvements, plumbing, and electrical.

These COVID-19-related and other safety improvements will directly impact

the education and well-being of our students and staff. Our classrooms also need upgrades to increase the quality of science and technology education our students need.

This Measure addresses only the essentials our schools need, prioritized from the facilities master plan. The District will be extremely prudent and intentional with necessary facility improvements. You can read the detailed list of priorities for yourself in the full resolution.

By law, spending will be reviewed by an independent citizens’ oversight committee and audited annually to ensure compliance with this measure’s provisions.

Funds can be spent only on facilities, not on salaries.

These are your schools. Quality schools improve student achievement, increase property values, prepare children for a productive future, and increase community safety.

COMMUNITY NEWS Our great teachers and staff must have safe and functional facilities to provide our students with a quality education.

– David T. Hodgin, Small business owner/Senior citizen advocate – Sue Roth, Board President, Santa Cruz County Office of Education – Jim Reed, Scotts Valley City Councilmember

– Heidi Denger, SVMS and SVHS Parent – Roger Snyder, Board President, Scotts Valley Unified School District ••• Argument against Measure A nce again, the taxpayers are being asked to pay for another school bond for Scotts Valley Schools. We already have 2 bonds on our current tax bills for the dis-

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trict. One from 2013 and another from 2014.

Has all that money been spent? And yet we continue to pay.

According to the proponent’s “Statement” the best estimate of the total debt service, including the principal and interest, that would be required to be repaid if all the bonds are issued and sold is approximately 92 million dollars.

Scotts Valley Unified School District Bond Project List

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ond proceeds will be expended to modernize, replace, renovate, construct, acquire and rebuild the District’s facilities as described in the following list. Whenever specific items are included in the following list, they are presented to provide an example and are not intended to limit the generality of the broader description of the types of authorized projects.

• Adapt the interior and/or exterior of existing outdated classrooms, restrooms, and school facilities to address current needs, including pandemic-related requirements.

• Replace inadequate wiring and electrical systems to meet current electrical and accessibility codes, increase capacity, and relieve currently overloaded electrical systems.

• Repair or replace outdated or inefficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning • Repair or replace leaky roofs • Make improvements to school safety and security, including fire alarms, sprinkler systems, school communication systems, security cameras, surveillance systems, exterior lighting and fencing • Modernize/renovate outdated classrooms, restrooms and school facilities to meet 21st century educational standards, including providing updated furnishings and other equipment to facilitate a modern learning environment • Improve student access to computers and modern technology, including providing all necessary infrastructure, hardware, software, computers, devices and other modern instructional equipment • Repair or replace deteriorating plumbing and sewer systems • Make health and safety improvements, such as replacing aging building materials, including removal of hazardous materials identified either prior to or during construction including asbestos, and seismic reinforcements • Make energy-efficiency improvements to reduce utility costs, including installing solar panels • Upgrade/improve P.E. fields, playgrounds, play structures and similar facilities for school and community use • Upgrade, expand, construct, repair and/or equip school facilities, including, labs, multipurpose rooms, and other school facilities.

• Federal and State-mandated Occupational

Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) safety upgrades, including playground equipment replacement • Ensure and upgrade handicapped accessibility to District facilities, including to meet all federal and state-mandated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility to schools, and as mandated by the Division of the State Architect (DSA), including upgrades to site access, parking, staff and student restrooms, relocation of certain existing electrical devices, drinking fountains, playground equipment, and other necessary improvements.

• Acquisition of all or a portion of any school site or facility, or an interest therein, or make lease payments with respect to any school site or facility, encumbered in order to finance or refinance the listed school facilities projects.

• Upgrade, repair and/or expand school site parking, roadways, grounds and other infrastructure such as utility systems, including installing exterior lighting, repairing pathways, walkways, ADA access ramps and related landscaping

The bond projects described in this Bond Project List include the costs of furnishing and equipping such facilities, and all costs which are incidental but directly related to the types of projects described above.

Examples of incidental costs include, but are not limited to: costs of design, engineering, architect and other professional services, facilities assessments, inspections, site preparation, utilities, landscaping, construction management and other planning and permitting, legal, accounting and similar costs; independent annual financial and performance audits; a customary construction contingency; demolition and disposal of existing structures; the costs of interim housing and storage during construction including relocation and construction costs incurred relating to interim facilities; rental or construction of storage facilities and other space on an interim basis for materials and other equipment and furnishings displaced during construction; costs of relocating facilities and equipment as needed in connection with the projects; interim classrooms and facilities for students, administrators, and school functions, including modular facilities; federal and state-mandated safety upgrades; addressing unforeseen conditions revealed by construction/ modernization and other necessary improvements required to comply with existing building codes,

including the Field Act; access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act; costs of the election; project construction oversight, management and administration during the duration of such projects, including by District personnel, and bond issuance costs.

Unforeseen conditions may arise during the course of planning, design and construction resulting in the scope and nature of any of the specific projects described above being altered by the District. In the event that the District determines that a modernization or renovation project is more economical for the District or otherwise in the District’s best interests to be undertaken as new construction, this bond measure authorizes said new construction, including relocation, expansion and construction and/or reconstruction, and all costs relating thereto.

In addition, this measure authorizes the acquisition of real property rights of ways or other real property interests required to provide access to school or other District facilities. Further, authorized projects include reimbursements for project costs previously paid and paying and/ or prepaying interim or previously obtained financing for the types of projects included on the project list, such as bond anticipation notes, and including payment and prepayment of lease payments relating to projects and/or equipment previously financed. Finally, projects on this list may be undertaken and used as joint use projects with other public agencies.

For any project listed above with respect to construction at an existing District site, the District is authorized to identify an alternate site and/or acquire land for such purpose and construct the approved project at such site if the District has determined that the existing site does not satisfy any requirements of the Division of State Architect or other State laws, codes and regulations applicable to public school sites.

Approval of the District’s bond measure does not guarantee that all of the identified projects within this Bond Project List will be funded beyond what can be completed with local funds generated by the bond measure and does not guarantee that the projects will be completed in any particular order. The District will also pursue funds from the State of California to complete certain of the identified facilities projects.

The order in which school facilities projects are listed above does not suggest an order of priority. Project priorities will be determined by the School Board. n

The final fiscal year in which the tax is anticipated to be collected is 2055-56.

WOW! At a time when we really cannot say what school will look like in the future, why go into even MORE debt to refurbish facilities that may not be used? Perhaps a wiser idea would be to wait until next year when we have a better idea of what lies ahead.

– Eric Erickson ••• Rebuttal to Argument Against Measure A cotts Valley students and staff need Measure A now to address critical health needs and crumbling infrastructure.

Here is why we cannot wait:

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“Measure A” page 18

Scotts Valley Café

Open Thursday thru Monday for

Breakfast & Lunch 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

(To Go and Patio Seating)

Under New Ownership 219 Mount Hermon Road Suite F Scotts Valley, CA 95066

(831)515-7505

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / October 2020 / 17

Let Choice Be Made

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Esoteric Astrology • October 2020 • By Risa D’Angeles

e are now in the autumn of 2020. And after a most unusual year, we are facing a crucial election that is perhaps the most important in our lives and the life of our country. 2020 is a threshold year, a year of deep labor for humanity preparing for a new life, a new era and Age. We are presently in a pause (Libra), an interim, a time of contemplation in order to make a crucial choice. How do we make choices? We are told in the Wisdom Teachings that when we stand within the Will to Good, we always make Right Choices.

Amidst this interlude and time of choice we are experiencing multiple retrogrades. Both Mars (action) and Mercury (thinking, communication) are retrograde in October, remaining retrograde during the election.

Three-fourths of October is Libra (choice) and one-fourth is Scorpio (decision). Libra informs humanity that a most important choice needs to be made. We return to materialism (forced upon us), or we move into the new era of freedom (Aquarius).

We are challenged and confronted with a choice (the election) that will change not only our country but the entire world.

Mars retrograde in Aries (a slow burning fire) is offering humanity an inward focus in order to realign our desire, aspirations and thinking.

Mars also offers us Nine Tests - testing our identity and our values. We will need to cultivate and call upon a deep inner strength in the weeks to come.

Mercury begins its three weeks of retrograde Oct. 13th in Scorpio.

It will move from Scorpio back to Libra. A reversal of our emotional beliefs perhaps, and relying instead on our intelligence. If we identify as Disciples (Scorpio’s call), we will bring balance and harmony into our lives and to those around us.

Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn are forcing all the hidden darkness out into the light. The result is we are seeing a great battle taking place. It is not a battle between two parties, but between the Forces of Dark (retrogressive, violent, destructive) and the Forces of Light (livingness).

We must be aware the Forces of Darkness clothe themselves in a false light. So, the test for humanity is the ability to discern the two.

And then we are to choose which side we stand upon.

In Libra’s interlude, we are asked to choose between the two Forces and not be blinded. In Scorpio, at the election we will then, as we vote, make our choice known. Let us be aware of the possible storylines.

If the Forces of Dark win the election, our country is destroyed.

If the Forces of Light win the election, then humanity will surge forth into the new era, the new Aquarian Age. Libra says to us, “Let choice be made.” Scorpio says, “Have courage, Patriots. Warriors are we and from the battle we emerge triumphant.”

ARIES Thoughts turn toward relationships; how they serve, tend and care for you, your expectations, how they free or restrict you. You also must consider how you serve others in relationships. Do you?

Perhaps how you were tended and nurtured in your early years is mirrored in relationships. Or maybe you don’t remember. Choose now, with awareness and depth, to make relationships more loving, kind and filled with intentions of goodwill.

LEO A new cycle of identity and creativity now begins.

You are a leader. However, you’re often unaware of your leadership or its responsibilities. Your colleagues and peers look to you for direction in forming community for the coming times. What do you think of the present times? If our reality as we know it changes, what would you do? How would you prepare? Where would you live? What are you presently pursuing and is it useful for survival?

SAGITTARIUS Anything social may be a bit serious. You might wonder how people see you. Sag’s always need freedom of movement, of thought. It’s good to add a few new friends to your circle and to support projects that educate humanity in the truth. Beliefs change when you consider what your goals were previously and what they are now. To maintain equanimity, become a bit more non-conforming.

Show worthwhile friends they are valuable.

TAURUS Assess daily chores differently. What needs eliminated, what needs most tending? You ponder upon a totally different lifestyle that includes community, things sustainable, location, safety zones, source of water (through dowsing) and the best way to meet food source demands for many people. Meet with like-minded others also facing an unknown future.

Research and plan simultaneously. Taurus is the sustainer.

VIRGO It’s most important to realize that values are quickly shifting and changing. And so, it is important to ask what is of value to you? Are you valuable to yourself and to others? We are all very valuable in different ways. What is the state of your money and resources? An economic reorientation is occurring. Are you one of the new world servers who can help create the new materialism? Is your garden growing?

CAPRICORN Are you wondering where your Capricorn leadership skills can emerge? Wait awhile. Soon your community service and gifts to humanity will be recognized and applauded. You will move towards a new symmetry in the months ahead, wearing new fashions and colors. You will nourish and be nourished. Remember, to honor excellence in your family and your friends. Lives change when excellence is supported. You are excellent!

LIBRA A new life structure begins for you this autumn, slowly changing your sense of identity and creative self. Profound new perceptions continue to occur concerning resources and communication with others. As world conditions enter new phases you will be called to a new state of healing. Nurture the art of kindness especially toward family. Honor them, along with the Ten Commandments (the Aries Laws). Turn to art for calmness and pleasure.

AQUARIUS The focus of energy in your life concerns publishing, long journeys, people far away, the news, religion and philosophy. It would be good to meet new people, study histories, biographies, especially geography, teach skills, create a weekly group discussion, discuss the coming times, community and future survival. It’s good to allow challenges, new inventions and new environments into your life. They widen your perspectives and expand your courage.

SCORPIO Mercury (soon to retrograde), as messenger, is influencing and informing you about the new ethics and ways of being needed to cultivate the new world civilization. These are big words. Mercury, your spiritual helper, helps you develop contact with the divine.

Mercury works with the nine tests of Mars, pushing you to have intentions for Goodwill which creates Right Relations leading to compassion and harmony. These words are to define your choices in the world. Remain contemplative.

•••

PISCES Reality will drift here and there, resources will change, you will hear new ideas concerning new technologies. Nothing from the past remains. Home doesn’t exist, there’s more and more work to do, you seek to stabilize finances tending to financial responsibilities (with help), you are conservative and resourceful, you stand in for a parent, you rediscover abilities and gifts, and finally you find a warm salt-water pool to swim in.

Solitude leads you into the new reality. Hold on. Keep swimming.

GEMINI You need to learn the true narrative concerning climate change so you can inform the rest of humanity. Gemini is the disseminator of information. Like Taurus you are to be concerned about the life of seven future generations and you need the new information in order to re-educate humanity. Everything’s reorienting in our world. You must also. What do you understand about this shift and what could your plans be around the future?

CANCER Your tasks are about family, your garden, property, farming, elders, parenting, home and community. Which are easy and best for you to focus on? It’s important to share with those close to you your knowledge of medicinal herbs, needed now and in the future. How is your living situation? Are you happy and what are you growing in your garden?

Sustainability is on your mind. What are you interested in learning now?

Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com 18 / October 2020 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Measure A” from page 17 1) Students will return to school soon.

We must address critical safety issues now in light of new health requirements. The District cannot wait for these aged-out infrastructure systems to fail one after the other.

2) Power, Internet, and classroom technologies need significant upgrades to support teaching to K-12 Next Generation Science Standards.

3) The District’s general fund cannot handle these extraordinary expenses without severely cutting educational programs and staff. Sacramento’s broken funding formula leaves SVUSD as the 7th lowest-funded Unified School District in California.

4) Bond elections occur only in a regular election cycle; our aging and obsolete ventilation, security, and electrical systems cannot wait another two years.

Measure A makes financial sense – tax rates will be lower in the coming years as both the refinanced 2013 bonds that funded SVHS and the parcel tax expire in 2024.

The 2055-56 term identifies the longest permitted financing. We are not obligated to this schedule. Most of the 2014 bonds that funded SVMS have a 15-year maturity.

SVUSD has a reputation for fiscal prudence. Our infrastructure is outdated, there are no other funding sources, and these projects will only get more costly over time.

Our students and staff deserve safe facilities, suitable for the hazards of our times and the educational programs they need.

Measure A will fund these facility needs for the next generation.

– Hannah Walsh, Teacher and SVEA President – Jane McElrone, Accountant and SVHS Parent Club President – Michael Shulman, Governing Boardmember, SVUSD ••• Rebuttal to Argument For Measure A orty-nine million dollars … 92 million over the length of the bond. Let that sink in. The list of improvements in Measure A do not match the mountainous sum that is unjustifiably requested.

Forty-nine million dollars could build an entirely new school. Instead, the Scotts Valley taxpayer gets a multitude of small projects that include repaired roof leaks, and vaguely labeled “21st Century improvements to classrooms and restrooms”.

This measure acts as a blank check and includes projects that should be completed on a rolling basis. Now is not the right time for a blank check.

– Eric Erickson, Sr. Manufacturing Director/SVHS Parent ••• Impartial Analysis of Measure A Jason M. Heath, County Counsel By: Ruby Márquez, Chief Assistant County Counsel nder the California Constitution, school districts may issue bonds if approved by at least 55 percent of voters within the boundaries of that district.

These bonds are sold to the public and constitute a debt of the district.

“Measure A cont.” page 19

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COMMUNITY NEWS

12 COVID Deaths

Outbreak Kills Two at Watsonville Nursing Home

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By Jondi Gumz

n Wednesday, the Santa Cruz County Public Health Division confirmed three more COVID-19 deaths, bringing the number of fatalities to 12, two after an outbreak at a Watsonville nursing home affecting 12 staff and 32 patients.

For Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, these developments in the pandemic are very concerning, especially with Halloween on the horizon — a holiday that ordinarily would mean lots of festive gatherings.

“No big parties — no small parties,” she said at a press conference last week.

On Wednesday, the city of Santa Cruz — which ordinarily attracts 1,000 revelers on Halloween — announced there will be no trick-or-treating downtown, suggesting “Measure A cont.” from page 18 The principal and interest on the bonds are repaid by an annual property tax levied on all real property within the jurisdiction of the school district. This is known as an “ad valorem tax” and is calculated based on the current assessed value of each property.

The Board of Trustees of the Scotts Valley Unified School District (“the District”) has placed Measure A on the ballot, which proposes the sale of bonds in an amount not to exceed $49 million. The District anticipates that these bonds would generate approximately $2.7 million annually.

The District’s best estimate of the average annual tax rate to be levied is approximately $30.50 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year. The best estimate of the highest tax rate is $32.00 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year. If the measure passes, it is anticipated that this tax would be collected through fiscal year 2055-56 to repay the bonds.

In accordance with the law, the funds from the sale of these bonds shall only be used for specific purposes related to school site facilities, buildings, and classrooms.

The law does not allow these bond funds to be used for teacher and administrator salaries or other operational expenses.

The District has submitted a “Bond Project List” contained within the full body of the measure.

With these funds, the District plans to modernize, replace, renovate, construct, acquire, and/or rebuild the District’s

Pumpkin Bingo on the Wharf starting Oct. 19 instead. (Details are at cityofsantacruz. com/parksandrecevents) This week, health officers from around San Francisco Bay issued guidance on how to celebrate Halloween safely and prevent the contagious coronavirus from spreading.

As of Thursday, the number of COVID-19 cases in Santa Cruz County has grown to 2,427, with 281 active cases.

Contact tracing showed some linked to Labor Day gatherings and others to fire evacuees in a shelter, Newel reported.

The 10th death was a Latinx woman in her 60s with an underlying condition.

Movie Titles

“COVID Update” page 23 facilities. The types of projects funded may include, but are not limited to: • Adapting classrooms, restrooms, and school facilities to address current needs, including pandemic-related requirements; • Improving student access to computers and modern technology, including providing necessary infrastructure, hardware, software, computers, devices, etc.; • Replacing outdated electrical wiring systems; • Improving accessibility to facilities to meet federal and state regulations under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA); and • Upgrading school safety and security systems, such as fire alarms and cameras.

As required by law, the District must follow certain accountability provisions, including the establishment of an independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee, the annual completion of Performance and Financial Audits, and an annual report detailing the amount of proceeds collected by the sale of the bonds and the expenditures made.

A “yes” vote on Measure A is a vote to authorize the District to sell and issue up to $49 million in general obligation bonds to be repaid by the levy of ad valorem taxes on real property in the District boundaries.

A “no” vote on Measure A is a vote against the issuance of the proposed bonds by the District. n

ACROSS

1. All thumbs 6. *Do this to Shorty 9. Practice in the ring 13. Popular aquarium dweller 14. Fertility clinic stock 15. Dreamy 16. Brightest star in Cygnus 17. Romanian money 18. Athlete’s stage 19. *Ferris Bueller’s time away 21. *He always rings twice 23. G in music 24. Dissenting clique 25. Billy’s Harry to ____’s Sally 28. “Brave New World” drug

30. Lung pouch 35. Crematorium containers 37. X-ray units 39. Humpy ungulate 40. One of oldest cities in China or Welsh girl’s name 41. Torcher’s misdeed 43. “____ a soul” 44. Sudden occurrence of disease 46. Crimson rival 47. Power system 48. “Rock the ____” by The Clash 50. Deal with it 52. Happy Gilmore’s peg 53. Bird’s groomer 55. Tap choice 57. *Dr. Strangelove learned to love it, two words 61. *No country for these guys, two words

64. *One green one in John Wayne flick 65. “Eureka!”

67. Erasable programmable read only memory 69. Woven wall hanging 70. Soldier’s bed 71. “All the world’s a ____” 72. R in RIP 73. It is 74. Boxer turned actor

DOWN

1. It would 2. Pauper’s permanent state 3. Europe’s highest volcano 4. Hunts for food 5. No-noes 6. The Masters’ game 7. *It’s all about her 8. Greyish brown

9. Database command 10. Lord Byron’s composition 11. *King of Siam’s governess 12. *Private that had to be saved 15. a.k.a. tears of Chios 20. Fauna’s partner 22. Mozart’s “L’____ del Cairo” 24. Eponymous comic strip character 25. *The hills are alive with the sound of it 26. “Fear of Flying” author Jong 27. Annoying tiny biters 29. *There’s something about her 31. Telephoned 32. Bright 33. Eagle’s nest 34. *Bonnie’s partner

36. Give the cold shoulder 38. Musician’s time to shine 42. Kathmandu country 45. Wooden shoes 49. Skirt’s edge 51. First among siblings 54. Olden day calculators 56. Like worthless promise 57. Tow rope alternative 58. At this point 59. Does something wrong 60. “Don’t ____ around the bush” 61. Mares’ meal 62. “-zoic” periods 63. Not happening 66. *Some like it this way 68. *There were three, plus a baby © Statepoint Media

Answers on 23 »

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / October 2020 / 19

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Is Rent Control Good For Businesses?

T

hough one doesn’t know the reaction by every reader of this headline, regardless of your initial response, keep in mind that the majority of landlords here are small businesses themselves — owning a single building or a single property.

One of the ways a landlord’s small business operates, is to experience minimal turnover (avoiding months of not collecting rents) and usually increasing the rent 4-5% each year to keep up with any inflation (which has been under 2% for years) but also to remain competitive with every other rental space charged by other landlords.

But what if you own a small business and you’re leasing the building, paying for all utilities, improvements, changes, AND you have to pay 4-5% more each year for rent — a fixed cost regardless of sales?

By Ron Kustek

If your profits (not sales) are not growing at the same 4-5% each year, then besides paying more you are making less profit, which can only come from your own pocket.

Many of us say we want the “invisible-magical hand of the marketplace” or “supply & demand” to determine pricing.

But a small business landlord can easily increase profits by increasing the rent each year, without putting any more of money into the building or the property — just by collecting the monthly rental check.

Thus, one small business (a landlord) is able to increase its profitability at the literal expense of another small business (a restaurant, gift shop, clothing store, that is leasing).

Thus begins a common failure-spiral.

20 / October 2020 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

In order to afford a 4-5% rent increase, a small business may choose not to pay employees a living wage – not that they don’t want to, but often because they just can’t afford to.

Certainly, providing healthcare and/ or additional benefits may not be possible, because the rent has increased. This may then cause a small business to reduce costs, using lower-quality ingredients, turning off utilities when the location isn’t full of customers, or putting off improving their technology, merchandising or other plans of improvement.

Some small businesses may decide to increase prices to help cover the rent increase — which may not be noticed by tourists, but is a major concern for locals, some who are on fixed incomes and/or living off their finite retirement savings.

This results in lower overall sales (and profits) as no local business can survive with tourists alone, and certainly not when we’re trying to keep tourist customers away during Covid-19 times.

The point is, there are no bad people in the aforementioned scenario. There are just business owners trying to maximize their profits with the least amount of expenses.

However, we can see that this “formula” and interrelationship among all small business owners — may have reached its tipping point.

True, it is often up to the lessee (tenant) and the lessor (landlord) to negotiate their lease agreements, whether for one year or multiple years.

“Rent Control” page 21

FEATURED COLUMNIST

A Year of Changes: Be Flexible

W

ow! What an interesting year this has been!

SVUSD started school on Sept. 8 after an initial delay due to the fires.

This year’s start to the school year has been unlike any other.

Over the summer, the superintendent and district office staff met with teachers, administrators, and members from the Santa Cruz County Office of Education.

Teachers participated in technology summer training sessions and all staff prepared for schools to “open” remotely. Plans for reopening schools have been shared with parents through the website, documents, and emails, and letters from the superintendent. I and Assistant Superintendent Michelle Stewart held a Town Hall meeting for the community.

The district’s Leadership Team worked over the course of the summer preparing for multiple schedules and associated required needs. Due to the numerous changes in the budget over the last six months, the district budget had to be updated multiple times. Teacher teams worked over the summer giving feedback on proposed schedules with the most recent updates.

This summer, we hired Joe Allen to be the Scotts Valley Middle School principal, as Mary Lonhart became principal at Fisher Middle School in Los Gatos. Replacing Joe Allen as the SVMS assistant principal is Michelle Menchaca.

Joe Allen has worked at Scotts Valley Middle School for the past 14 years. He began his career at SVMS teaching physical education and dramatic movement. Throughout his teaching career he taught yearbook, student activities, and health. He served as the physicial education department chair for 10 years, coached multiple sports, and was the school’s athletic director for four years.

He served in the role of assistant prin-

“Rent Control” from page 20 But we’ve all seen when a small business management company sells to a larger commercial property developer, and that developer doubles rents, or refuses to renew a local small business’ lease. Again, this is the “invisible-magical hand of the

By Tanya Krause, Superintendent, Scotts Valley Unified School District

cipal for the past two years, collaborating with staff to help students succeed as they uncover who they are as individuals. As SVMS principal, he is looking forward to leading a school focused on integrity, compassion, achievement, respect and engagement, preparing students for an ever-changing world.

Michelle Menchaca graduated from CSU-Stanislaus in Turlock with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies, and a multiple subjects teaching credential. In December 2019 she completed her master’s in educational leadership along with a certificate of eligibility to obtain her preliminary administrative service credential.

Michelle has taught all grade levels, K-12, in alternative and traditional public school settings; and she has been teaching for 21 years, 11 in the Central Valley. She has lived and taught in Scotts Valley since 2010, the last six years teaching 6th grade at SVMS. Her children both attended and graduated from Scotts Valley schools before attending college.

In August, teachers returned and began planning for the new school year; however, because of the CZU fire, we decided to start the 2020-21 school year on Sept. 8. The district will apply for a J13 A waiver, which if approved, will “waive” all of the instructional days missed and not require the district to make them up at the end of the year.

In addition to the shift to daily instruction compared to last spring, a major focus this year will be to ensure our students are safe both physically and emotionally.

Our counselors have shared tools to help staff recognize trauma and support mental health, even remotely. Each site is working to identify families who may be experiencing urgent special needs, such as those who are or may become marginally housed through either COVID-19 loss of income or

Joe Allen moves up from assistant principal to principal at Scotts Valley Middle School, and Michelle Menchaca succeeds him as assistant principal. impact from the local fires and those who may page on the SVUSD website, http://www. be experiencing food insecurity. scottsvalleyusd.org/ for more information.

We have done a lot of work to Similar to last spring, this year will prepare for the new school year, and we include changes and transitions. Also acknowledge that some things may need to similar to last spring, we do not yet know be modified. We are prepared to be flexible the exact dates of the upcoming changes or and are asking our professional community when the transitions will occur. We appreto be patient with us as we launch this new ciate our district staff and teachers for their adventure together. About one month into amazing flexibility, and also our parent the school year, the district will implement community for working with the schools a survey to staff and parents to garner and their children to make the best of this feedback and determine what adjustments new situation. Indeed, 2020-21 will be a may need to be made. year we will remember. n District and school websites have ••• current and helpful information. Please Tanya Krause is superintendent of the visit the Distance Instruction Resources Scotts Valley Unified School District.

marketplace” at work, and perhaps it’s time to change that practice.

Consider this: if a local small business (landlord) could only legally charge no more than 2% more each year, their small business (tenant) may more easily be able to invest in building their business, to attract more customers, and/or pay employees

more, thus helping the overall local economy. Local customers may not notice a price increase of 2% or less, thus, the less chance of a sales decline. And frankly, if the landlord doesn’t regularly invest their money to improve the property and is just charging what the market will bear, then why should they be generating such an

Photo courtesy of Scotts Valley Unified School District

increase in profits at the expense of other small businesses -– and, at the expense of our community of patrons (customers)? n ••• Ron Kustek is a former senior executive and also small business owner who is currently a business instructor at Cabrillo College.

Contact him at rokustek@cabrillo.edu

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / October 2020 / 21

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Fire Recovery

Remove Debris, Then Be Alert for Mud Flows Editor’s Note: On Sept. 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the start of field operations to assess and remove hazardous waste such as fuels, paints, cleaners, batteries, oils, herbicides and pesticides from more than 1,000 burned homes in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Mateo counties. Crews will begin in Santa Cruz County.

••• ow that the devastating CZU Lightning Complex fire is 100 percent contained and evacuation orders have been lifted, our county is shifting its focus swiftly toward recovery and resiliency. We do so with those who lost their homes at the top of our minds and in our hearts.

While the San Lorenzo Valley has certainly experienced its share of natural disasters, with the flood of 1982 and the earthquake of 1989 being the most recent, the magnitude of personal loss caused by the fires that started Aug. 16 and ended more than a month later is staggering.

Once again, however, we have seen the community spring into action to help one another, like at the recent two-day event at the Boulder Creek Recreation District’s Bear Creek Community Center, where the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), County Environmental Health and Planning Departments, and other organizations gathered to help fire victims.

The role of county government from here on out will be multi-faceted and require a great deal of coordination with state and federal agencies. While we are laying the groundwork for rebuilding, we must first deal with the very immediate task of removing hazardous debris from destroyed properties, which is known in

By Bruce McPherson, Fifth District Supervisor

N

Photo Credit: Kevin Painchaud

disaster-recovery terminology as Phase 1.

That work, conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at no cost to property owners, is slated to begin in the next week or so.

I am grateful for the coordination of the California Office of Emergency Services, FEMA, the Office of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom that led to receiving our federal disaster declaration and Phase 1 approval quickly.

The next phase of recovery is the removal of non-hazardous debris, including fire ash, known as Phase 2. While we are awaiting word about funding, we fully expect there to be a publicly funded option for properties owners. They can also hire their own private contractor, though approval will be needed first from the County Environmental Health Department.

Updated information about both Phase 1 and 2 processes, as well as the future rebuilding plans, can be found on

22 / October 2020 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Local Local Local

the County’s Fire Recovery site, santa cruzcounty.us/firerecovery. Rest assured that my office and that of Supervisor Ryan Coonerty’s, whose district was also severely impacted by the fire, will lead these recovery and resiliency efforts for the Board of Supervisors for the months and years to come.

The other primary issue we are working on is preparing for the likelihood of debris flows in the burn-scarred areas of the San Lorenzo Valley, Bonny Doon and North Coast as a result of flash rains that nearly always hit our county in the fall and winter months.

In an effort to avoid the kind of death and destruction experienced in Santa Barbara County in January 2018 when mudslides destroyed 425 structures and killed at least 21 people after the Thomas Fire in Montecito, Santa Cruz County is working diligently to map potential hazard areas, devise an evacuation strategy and message the importance of heeding evacuation warnings.

After wildfires tear through hillsides with heavy vegetation, as exists in the San Lorenzo Valley, there is a water-repellent, wax-like coating left on the ground that

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can turn downslopes into enormous slides during intense rains. These conditions can create flows of mud and other debris charging at up to 30 miles per hours, wiping out homes, vehicles and other things in their path.

State officials on the Watershed Emergency Response Team have conducted an initial study to determine the most hazardous areas. The report will be released in coming weeks and will be used to guide evacuation planning. Meanwhile, the County is laying the groundwork for geological analyses of properties to ensure where temporary structures can be safely allowed. n ••• I hope you will join me and Supervisor Coonerty for a virtual Town Hall on Zoom from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, on the topics of Phase 1 removal and debris flow preparation. You can attend the meeting online or by phone.

Visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86179578625 and use passcode 488953.

Or call one of the following numbers – 1-669-900-9128, 1-346-248-7799, or 1-253215-8782 – and use webinar number 861 7957 8625 and passcode 488953.

SCCAS Featured Pet

COMMUNITY NEWS

Remembering Diego Muñoz

Editor’s Note: Andrew Diego was a stand up guy, Cavaletto, owner of Scotts Valley always there for you, full of gratCycle Sport, started a GoFundMe itude and always showed it. He drive in memory of his employee, was young and had a lot of life Diego Muñoz, 27, a mechanic pasahead of him. sionate about biking, who died Sept.

He is survived by his wife 11 after he crashed while test riding a and daughter and will always be bicycle. He leaves his wife Selene and remembered in our bike shop. daughter Yaritza, 11. Here is what Donations will go directly to Cavaletto wrote: Diego’s wife, Selena Serna.

Diego Muñoz ••• ••• iego was a special asset to our team. He So far, 330 people have contributed a total was the life in the service department, of $37,285. To contribute, visit https://www. always singing and dancing. gofundme.com/f/in-diego039s-memory/

D

“COVID Update” from page 19

H

Midnight Fluff

crossword on 19 »

i, I’m Cocoa, a spayed female rabbit.

I came into the shelter for the second time on August 6 as an owner surrender. My owners could not keep me any longer as they were moving so here I sit waiting again for my forever home.

I’m very sweet, very easy to spend time with and like to engage with my toys! I’m 5 years old and very energetic. I really appreciate toys I can climb on and explore as I’m curious. I really want a second chance at another indoor home.

You can come into meet me and maybe we will click and want to be together.

I hope to see you soon!

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is currently doing adoptions by appointment only. An application must be submitted and landlord permission or proof of home ownership received prior to arranging a meet. Call 831-4547200 x0 during business hours or visit www.scanimalshelter.org for more information! n ••• Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter has two full-service, open-admission shelters: Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Watsonville Location: 580 Airport Blvd, Watsonville, CA 95076 Hours: CURRENTLY CLOSED SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us

Movie Titles © Statepoint Media

The nursing home patients who died were a white woman in her early 90s and a Black man in his early 70s. For both, COVID-19 was listed as the underlying cause of death and both had “multiple other significant conditions,” according to Corinne Hyland, Public Health spokeswoman.

Studies have shown people with conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes have a higher fatality rate when the virus attacks compared to people without these conditions.

The federal Centers for Disease Control recently noted this, indicating that for 6 percent of those who died, COVID-19 was the only cause of death.

The outbreak at Watsonville Post Acute, a skilled nursing facility, was discovered through surveillance testing, in which 25 percent of the staff is tested every week even if they have no symptoms. All seven skilled nursing facilities are following this protocol.

This is because health officials have learned that people who have no symptoms are able to spread the virus.

A staff member and a patient tested positive on Sept. 17, and further tests showed 27 of the 73 patients also were positive even though Watsonville Post Acute had followed all of the protocols for nursing homes, Newel said.

“We will never know” how the infection started, Newel added, but she believes it was “most likely” brought in by staff, some of whom work at other nursing homes.

The nursing home has separated patients into three zones, the confirmed cases, those who have been exposed, and those not exposed, she said, with staff assigned to a zone that matches their status.

The staffing has been so depleted that the California National Guard has been commandeered to fill in.

“We’re very grateful,” Newel said.

Watsonville Post Acute will not accept any new patients or discharge any patients until the situation is resolved.

Santa Cruz County will remain in the state’s “Red Tier” until Oct. 6, when cases counts will be re-evaluated. The tier limits restaurants, places of worship and movie theaters to 25 percent and fitness centers and yoga studios to 10 percent capacity.

Newel said 14 private schools are planning to restart in-person classes, according to a list from the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, which has contracted with the Stanford University lab for surveillance testing of teachers.

“Personally,” Newel said, “I’m happy to see just a few schools opening at this point, so we can kind of get our feet wet and see how we’re going to handle it from a public health perspective with contact tracing and case investigation to see what problems might arise.”

Newel said the testing availability has improved, with tests being offered at CVS along with the Optum site at Ramsay Park in Watsonville which is open through November and county-run clinics.

Testing turnaround also has improved, Newel said, with results in under 48 hours.

Anyone with symptoms is advised to call their primary care physician first, and Newel encouraged people to get their seasonal flu shot now.

“We don’t want hospitals to be overwhelmed,” she said.

On Sept. 14, Newel ordered all licensed healthcare facilities to implement a mandatory flu vaccine program, requiring health care workers to be vaccinated, or if they decline then wear a mask while working in patient care during flu season Oct. 31 to March 31.

The most COVID-19 cases, 32 percent, are among young people age 20-34, and that worries Mimi Hall, the county’s Health Services Agency director.

“Young people are essential workers. They haven’t been staying at home,” she said. “Going into the fall, having more indoors activity, all of the holidays happening … We’re all concerned.”

••• Cases Around The County Aptos............................... 105 Ben Lomond..................... 18 Boulder Creek.................. 18 Capitola............................. 63 Felton................................. 24 Freedom.......................... 128 Santa Cruz...................... 453 Scotts Valley..................... 57 Soquel................................ 63 Watsonville.................. 1,367 Unincorporated............... 27 Under investigation...... 104 Total.............................. 2,427 Source: santacruzhealth.org

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / October 2020 / 23