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Spelling Champ Ella Webb Going to State, By Jondi Gumz • Tesla Pays Environmental Protection Agency $275,000 in Clean Air Settlement • Deputy Sheriffs’ Association Gives $100,000 to Sgt. Gutzwiller
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Spelling Champ Ella Webb Going to State
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By Jondi Gumz
Ella Webb, 14, a freshman at Scotts Valley High School, is this year’s winner in the junior division (grades 7-9) of the Santa Cruz County virtual spelling bee.
She will go on to compete in the state spelling bee in person May 14 in Stockton.
She’s following in the footsteps of her sister Audrey, who competed at the state bee.
The Scotts Valley Times interviewed Ella via email.
•••
How long had you been practicing?
For the recent county competition, I only practiced for a week. But my parents say I’ve been practicing ever since I was little.
I practiced spelling words with Scrabble tiles. My parents first realized I could spell when a parent in preschool thought I was spelling the word ‘cat,’ but I finished the Scrabble word with ‘catapult.’
The state contest is in person. How much difference will that make for you?
I’m really happy to get another chance to compete in person at the state level. I competed in the 2019 state spelling bee and was a top finalist.
I was set to compete in the 2020 state spelling bee, but it got canceled due to the pandemic.
What’s your favorite subject at Scots Valley High School and why?
My favorite subject is Math Academy 1. It’s a challenging class so it gets my brain going for the rest of the day.
I also enjoy our team practices and the group of kids in this class. •••
At state, Ella will be joined by Aria Menon, 9, a fourth grader at Mountain Elementary School in Soquel, the elementary winner (grades 4-6) for Santa Cruz County.
Runner-up in grades 7-9 was Vikram Sathigh, who attends Scotts Valley Middle School, and Sage Kelly, who attends New Brighton Middle School, placed third.
Runner-up in grades 4-6 was Ihan Kang, who attends Westlake Elementary in Santa Cruz, and Manuel Mattila, who attends Valencia Elementary in Aptos, placed third.
Locally, the spelling bee is organized and hosted by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. n
Ella Webb
Tesla Pays Environmental Protection Agency $275,000 in Clean Air Settlement
On Feb. 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Tesla Motors Inc. in which the electric car-maker agreed to pay a $275,000 penalty.
EPA found Clean Air Act violations at their auto manufacturing plant in Fremont, which applied coating materials containing formaldehyde, ethylbenzene, naphthalene and xylene.
Based on several information requests to Tesla, EPA determined the company violated federal regulations under the Clean Air Act from October 2016 through September 2019 by: • Failing to develop and/or implement a work practice plan to minimize hazardous air pollutants emissions from the storage and mixing of materials used in vehicle coating operations. • Failing to correctly perform required monthly emissions calculations needed to demonstrate that coating operations complied with federal standards on hazardous air pollutants, which are known to cause cancer. • Failing to collect and keep all required records associated with the calculation of the hazardous air pollutants emission rate for Tesla’s coating operations.
The EPA said Tesla has corrected the violations and returned to compliance.
Tesla targets buyers concerned about the environment, boasting lower carbon dioxide emissions. The 2022 Model S starts at $44,900 and up while the high-end Model X starts at $104,990.
“Today’s enforcement action against Tesla reflects EPA’s continued commitment to ensure compliance with federal clean air laws,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman.
People living in communities near sources of hazardous air pollutants may face significant risks to their health and environment.
According to the EPA, the list of hazardous air pollutants includes more than 180 chemicals known to cause cancer or other serious health effects.
The EPA said the settlement aligns with EPA’s National Compliance Initiative, Creating Cleaner Air for Communities by Reducing Excess Emissions of Harmful Pollutants. n •••
For info on Clean Air Act enforcement: www.epa.gov/enforcement/air-enforcement
Deputy Sheriffs’ Association Gives $100,000 to Sgt. Gutzwiller Memorial
By Kieran Kelly
The Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association announced the largest gift in the union’s history: A $100,000 “challenge grant” for the Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller Memorial at Willowbrook Park in Aptos.
The Association’s membership voted to make the gift in memory of Sgt. Gutzwiller, who was killed in the line of duty on June 6, 2020.
“The contribution is a commitment to the community, to Damon’s family and to our fallen brother,” said DSA president Ethan Rumrill. “This project brings all of us together, and we invite everyone to remember Damon by making this project a reality through their own contributions.”
The donation was made public Feb. 14 when the association presented a check to the nonprofit County Park Friends.
DSA members hope the community will match or exceed the donation, with many local community members and businesses having already contributed another $18,000 to the memorial.
Red Apple Cafe in Aptos donated a portion of all sales in February to Sgt. Gutzwiller’s memorial.
“This is a transformative contribution from those that loved and worked with Sgt.
Gutzwiller,” said County Supervisor Zach Friend. “My hope is that their gift inspires others in our community to bring improvements and a memorial — to a park he loved — one step closer.” The memorial will be constructed at Willowbrook County Park and it will include the instalDamon Gutzwiller lation of a circular memorial seating area that looks out towards a new flagpole. As part of the project, updates and enhancements will also be made to the park’s entrance, play areas, and sport courts.
The project’s supporters selected Willowbrook Park for the memorial site because Sgt. Gutzwiller was a resident of the surrounding neighborhood and could be frequently found there with his dog, Shasta.
“We are grateful to see the continuing support and love from our neighbors,” said Faviola Del Real, Gutzwiller’s widow. “We have lost so much, and this project will stand as a reminder that there is one thing we will never lose — the memory of the sacrifice that Damon made on behalf of his hometown.”
