6 A Soquel Family’s Gift for Giving, By Jondi Gumz 10 Little Hoover: Home Insurance Needs Urgent Reform
4 SCCAL Girls Flag Football All League Election 2024
9 Scotts Valley City Council: Donna Lind, Steve Clark, Krista Jett: Measure X Approved, Other Bond & Board Votes, By Jondi Gumz
16 Why Trump Won — My Take, By Tom Decker • What Happened on Nov. 5? What Lessons Can We Learn?, By Andrew Goldenkranz Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Newsletter • Pages 11-14
11 The Exchange Club of Scotts Valley Presents ‘Light up the Night’! • Now Accepting Nominations for the 2024 Scotts Valley Community Awards
12 SVPA Presents the Broadway Musical Production of ‘A Year with Frog and Toad’, By Ray Gorski • Scotts Valley Water District: Online Payments Shift to WaterSmart
13 Member Spotlight: Haven Play Lounge • Chamber Ambassador Spotlight: Brian Youmans and Judith Culberson
14 Valley Churches United Holiday Gift Shop • Fall Ribbon Cuttings: October: Scotts Valley Wellness Center and Sol Hot Yoga | November: Great Clips Monthly Horoscope • Page 18 – Light That Shines Within the Dark — Cleansing & Healing, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 20, 21 Featured Columnists
15 Twelve Years: Recalling Accomplishments, By Bruce McPherson, Supervisor, Fifth District
22 Appreciating Education, By Randy Johnson, Mayor, City of Scotts Valley
SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 23 – A Patch For Your Heart
Jondi
contributing writers
Jondi Gumz, Tom Decker, Andrew Goldenkranz, Ray Gorski, Risa D’Angeles, Bruce McPherson, Randy Johnson
LOCAL SPORTS
SCCAL Girls Flag Football All League
The Scotts Valley High Falcons won the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title and finished with a 10-2 overall record.
Aptos High, which won the inaugural league tournament in 2023, finished in second place with a 14-7 overall record.
Claire Skinner, Scotts Valley senior, and Izzy Graff, Aptos senior shared co-MVP honors.
Trinity Wilson, Soquel senior, was named Offensive Player-of-the-Year.
Soquel coach Erik Kirby was named Coach-of-the-Year.
COVER STORY
“Frog & Toad” from page 1
The director is Cindy Gorski, drama teacher at Pacific Collegiate School and an active supporter of the Scotts Valley Performing Arts with her husband Ray Gorski, who is the theater manager.
What inspired you to stage this musical, “A Year with Frog & Toad”?
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
First Team
• Jazzy Phillips - QB, Scotts Valley, Jr.
• Brooklyn Williams - Scotts Valley, Jr.
• Chloe McGilvray - Soquel, Sr.
• Juliet Ray - Harbor, Sr.
• Haley Betterman - Soquel, Jr.
• Jazzy Doubek - Scotts Valley, Sr.
• Ellie Marta - Aptos, Soph. Second Team
• Ella Porter - QB, Aptos, Jr.
• Rachel Maldonado - Harbor, Frosh
• Julia Parello - Aptos, Frosh
• Lilly Rittenhouse - Scotts Valley, Jr.
• Sandy Rebbert - Scotts Valley, Jr.
the music and story. I felt it was a great holiday message of friendship and acceptance.
How is the musical different from the books?
It is the exact same story just with some great music included.
Tell me about the actors playing the lead roles.
Frog: Sam Machado is an actor from the Salinas area who loves performing in musical theatre.
• Ashlyn Brady - Soquel, Sr.
• Sofia Bastidas - Harbor, Soph. Honorable Mention
• Santa Cruz - Melia Cooper, Sr., Charlotte Gill Jr., Ben Sommerville Jr.
• SLV - Gabriella Brasuell, Sr., Jennifer Black, Jr.
• SVHS - Taylor Wilson, Sr., Soroya Westlund, Sr.
• Soquel - Harper Keet, Sr., Bella Hogan, Sr. n
Toad: David Jackson has performed in numerous productions throughout the Bay area.
How many are in the cast?
26 actors — 16 adults and 10 young actors.
Tell me about the music.
The score was written for the Broadway production by Robert and Willie Reale. It was nominated for a Tony for best original score.
The tunes are upbeat with a ragtime feel. Very catchy and fun.
What ages is this show appropriate for?
It is a family musical that touches all ages. n
Performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dc. 6-7, and Dec. 12-13-14 with 2 p.m. matinees Sunday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Scotts Valley Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley.
Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors 65+ and students, and $20 for children 12 and under at www.SVPAshows.org.
Cover Photo: The cast of “A Year with Frog and Toad,” the musical.
Sam Machado and David Jackson play Frog and Toad on their sled.
publisher
Patrice Edwards editor
Gumz
Bill Pooley, Erik Long
Michael Oppenheimer graphic artists
Michael Oppenheimer, Ward Austin
production coordinator
Camisa Composti media consultants
Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine, Danielle Paul office coordinator
Cathe Race
Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti website
Michael Oppenheimer
COMMUNITY NEWS
Holiday Lights Returns for 2024
Holiday Lights returns to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds for 2024 with new lighted displays. BIGGER AND BRIGHTER. This Drive-Thru experience will open Friday November 29th at 5:30pm. It will be open each Friday, Saturday and Sunday thru December 24th. There are two special Bonus Nights this year — Monday December 23 and Christmas Eve, Tuesday December 24th.
This is a Drive-Thru experience — stay in the warmth of your car, tune your radio to the Holiday Lights Station(s) and take a leisurely slow drive through the magic of the lights! Holiday Lights 2024 will light up the Fairgrounds with beautiful displays of holiday cheer making it a 3/4-mile light experience.
For more information and Tickets go to the Fairgrounds Foundation website
fairgrounds-foundation.org Tickets are priced at $20 per vehicle in advance, $25 at the gate. Holiday Lights combines with the Holiday Fair and becomes a Walk-Thru experience on Friday and Saturday December 6th and 7th. You’ll be able to come and shop and eat at the Holiday Fair then walk the lights. (No Drive-thru on Walk-thru nights).
Presented by the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation and the Agricultural History Project, the Holiday Lights and Holiday Fair Walk-Thru Nights Friday and Saturday - December 6 & 7. Lights come to life at 5:30pm. Event will run thru 9:00pm both evenings. n
Admission $10 Adults, $5 Children 6-11, Under 6 FREE (Your ticket from Holiday Fair is good for admission to the Lights Walk-thru.
HOLIDAY CALENDAR
Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train
December 7-8, 14-23 and 26-31
Chanukah Train: January 2
This seasonal tradition returns to Santa Cruz with the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train. The trains depart and return in front of Neptune’s Kingdom on the Boardwalk of Santa Cruz at 5:00pm, 6:30, and 8:00 pm for a 60-minute round-trip excursion. Visit www.roaringcamp. com for tickets and more information.
Winter Wonderland at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Ongoing thru January 5
Celebrate the season at the beach! Activities Include rides, games, and arcades. There is also a three-story Christmas Tree, photos with Santa, delicious Boardwalk treats, pedal karts in the main plaza, Holiday Fun Package and Holiday Shopping. Visit www.beachboardwalk.com/winter-wonderland for more information.
Downtown Santa Cruz Reindeer Round Up
Ongoing thru December 23 | 10am – 6pm Santa has lost his reindeer, but you can help find them! Pick up a map at the Downtown Santa Cruz Information Kiosk, located at 1130 Pacific Avenue K2, the corner of Pacific and Soquel Avenues or at Pacific Cookie Company to find participating businesses, and then visit them all to search for the beautiful hidden reindeer for prizes!
Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair
December 6 – 7 | Noon - 9pm, SC County Fairgrounds
The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation invites you to the 47th Annual Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair. On both days this year we will team with Holiday Lights and at 5:30pm when the lights come alive there will be a walk through! Enjoy both events for the same admission price. Visit www.santacruzcountyfair.com for more information.
Felton SantaCon
December 7 | 3pm – 7pm, Humble Sea Tavern
Keep calm and get your ho ho ho on—Dress in your craziest, zaniest holiday wear and join us in taking over a bevvy of bars in Felton! Be sure to bring your ID, cash and TIP YOUR BARTENDER. For ages 21+. This SantaCon event is completely FREE to attend – no tickets or registration
Santa Cruz Holiday Parade
December 7 | 10am – 12pm
The traditional holiday parade is the official kickoff for the winter holidays celebration. The parade route starts at the intersection of Laurel Street and Pacific Avenue and ends at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Water Street. Bring the family or participate! The Holiday Parade is Rain or Shine!
“Holiday Calendar” page 18
A Soquel Family’s Gift for Giving
By Jondi Gumz
If you’re looking for inspiration this time of year, consider the story of the Camacho family. They live in Soquel, and they wrote a children’s book called Taco Dude
The family includes Anthony and Katie Camacho, Veronica, 16, who goes to Soquel High, and Ever, 12, who goes to New Brighton Middle School.
Antony and Katie became parents 9 years ago, thanks to the foster care system in Monterey County.
“When we adopted them, they had little concept of what a book was let alone the ability to follow what they perceived as complex storylines aka pages with more than three sentences per page,” explained Katie.
“Taco Dude was born, well, because we love tacos, but also because we wanted to create something that was easy and fun for people of all literacy levels to enjoy,” Katie continued. “Both the parents when reading and kids when listening.”
Both Katie and Anthony went to the
same high school in El Dorado Hills but he was a year older so they didn’t meet until they were seniors in college.
It was Christmas Eve, and they were home from their studies — he from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and she at the University of Oregon — and their friends were at The Purple Place Bar & Grill.
“He was hanging out with people I knew from elementary school,” she said.
Something clicked and they married in 2010.
Katie had grown up in a family where adoption was a given — her mom and her sister were adopted.
Anthony is half Italian and half Mexican.
“My family is humungous and no one is adopted,” he said.
But he was interested.
The couple had traveled a lot and looked at international adoption until they realized so many children in their own backyard need forever homes.
The statistics touched Anthony’s heart.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Former foster kids in jail, pregnant, not graduating from high school, in prison — “it stuck with me,” he said.
“We had just bought a house,” he said. “I wanted to give back.”
He realized that growing up with his “old-school” parents, “I had a privileged life, a great childhood. It shatters me not everybody has that.”
The couple worked with New Families, a nonprofit in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. They went through the required classes, got certified, then waited.
The call came: A 3-year-old boy in a
foster home in King City needed a forever home.
“We went down, met him and of course fell in love,” Katie recalled.
He came for overnight stays, and the couple heard about his sister.
A few months after the boy moved in, the couple learned his sister needed a home.
She was in Salinas.
She came for overnight visits, reuniting with her brother.
When the family moved into adoption, “she was 7 and didn’t know what a book was,” Katie recalled.
Anthony was not surprised.
Although his childhood was idyllic, he said, “My father never read to me.”
He wished for a book that would be easy to read, one his father could read, one that could get kids excited about reading.
That’s how the story of “Taco Dude” came to life.
This is an upbeat story with colorful eyecatching illustrations of Taco Dude and his friends.
I can attest my 3-year-old grandson found it very appealing.
“Taco Dude” page 19
Anthony and Katie Camacho, with daughter Veronica and son Ever
Explore our eclectic mix of boutiques and restaurants. You will find unique gift shops, wine tasting rooms, galleries, apparel shops, surf shops, and more! Come stroll the village & enjoy the beautiful lights, check out the decorated storefronts & the lights of Depot Hill.
3 Hour Parking through Christmas Day L A G E C O M
Drone photo by Don Campbell
ELECTION 2024 : R esults
Scotts Valley City Council: Donna Lind, Steve Clark, Krista Jett
Business Tax Changes OK’d, Bond & Board Races
By Jondi Gumz
Donna Lind , Steve Clark and Krista Jett are leading the field of seven in the Scotts Valley City Council race as of 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22.
Lind, a retired police officer first elected in 2004, has led since the first tally. She has 3,569 votes.
Currently the vote is 55.13% yes.
The Scotts Valley Fire District, which includes the Branciforte area of Santa Cruz, asked for a $24.5 million bond to build a new station on La Madrona and retire the station on Erba Lane.
Steve Clark, a retired Santa Cruz deputy police chief, has 2,989.
Krista Jett, a registered nurse, has 2,886.
Trailing are:
Corky Roberson , a third-generation Scotts Valley resident and food sales representative, with 1,908.
Mercedes Molloy , an activist and entrepreneur appealing to younger voters, has 1,665.
John Lewis , an IT contractor, has 1,587.
Dustin Lopez, a Cabrillo College Local Government Fellow, also appealing to younger voters, has 1,304.
Some vote-by-mail ballots have signature problems and about 3,000 day-of-the-election voter registrations must be reviewed. The vote must be certified by Dec. 5.
That measure, S , needs two-thirds yes to pass.
It has 61.71% yes.
Measure Q , an $87 countywide permanent parcel tax to raise $7.5 million a year to manage open space, protect water sources and reduce fire risk, has 59.54% yes.
Because it was placed on the ballot via signature gathering by environmental nonprofits, it needs only a majority vote to pass.
•••
School & Fire Races
Ina six-way race for three seats, longtime volunteer Stephanie Espinola is in the lead with 4,093 votes.
The next two spots have been neck and neck.
Parent Erica Turzak, a business consultant, has 3,956.
Gary Redenbacher, an attorney, has 3,950.
The City Council swearing-in will be Dec. 18 at 6 p.m.
SBond Measures
cotts Valley voters approved of Measure X , changes in the city business tax, with 72% voting yes.
It’s hard to call the outcome of the $85 million bond measure for the Scotts Valley Unified School District to add multipurpose rooms at both elementary schools and install a new track and field for Scotts Valley High School.
That measure, O , needs 55% yes to pass.
Incumbent Michael Shulman, first elected to the board in 2008, has 3,752.
Mitali Hindia Weiglein, a parent appointed to the board, has 3,219.
Tuka Gafari, a parent and computer programmer, has 2,032.
In the five-way race for three seats on the Scotts Valley Fire District board, former chief Ron Whittle leads with 6,766 votes.
Michael Weaver, a retired Sunnyvale firefighter, has 5,105.
Incumbent Daron L Pisciotta has 4,859.
Trailing are:
Philip Hover-Smoot, a CEO, with 3,337.
Zachary Raney, a school administrator, with 2,237. n
Donna Lind
Krista Jett
Steve Clark
Inspiring Lifelong Learning Since 1964
A Montessori education for children ages 18 months to 14 years
Learn more and book a tour at scms.org
Little Hoover: Home Insurance Needs Urgent Reform
Editor’s note: California should implement reforms to help reduce the cost of homeowners insurance and increase availability, including public oversight of catastrophe modeling, inclusion of mitigation efforts in underwriting, and creating a core set of evidence-based mitigations for homeowners and communities, the Little Hoover Commission recommends in a 58-page report at https://lhc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/ Report283.pdf.
Here is the independent watchdog agency’s view:
The Little Hoover Commission, which is charged with recommending ways to improve state government, urged the state to create an open, shared data clearinghouse of risk information, and to improve availability and transparency of data on the Department of Insurance’s website.
“Too many people are being told their existing insurance won’t be renewed, forcing them to find more expensive alternatives, often for inferior coverage, or even to forgo insurance altogether,” said Commission Chair Pedro Nava. “This crisis has been brewing for many years and deserved timely attention.”
The Commission’s report, Building a Stronger Home Insurance Market for California, offers 11 recommendations intended to help bring stability to the market:
• Develop catastrophic modeling regulations, with public oversight.
• Require insurers to recognize mitigations when underwriting and setting rates.
• Allow insurers to incorporate the cost of reinsurance when setting rates.
• Modernize the Department’s website and improve accessibility of insurance information.
• Define core standards for mitigating fire risks and maintaining insurability.
• Ensure homeowners have access to all options for home insurance, including surplus line policies.
• Require creation of a data commons to enable all stakeholders to have access to the same risk information.
• Expand programs to help homeowners fortify their properties against fire risks.
“Especially as climate change increases the frequency and severity of wildfires and other severe weather events, California’s home insurance market is in need of reforms now more than ever,” said Commissioner Janna Sidley, who served on the subcommittee that led the study of homeowners insurance. “The package of changes described
in this report will help ensure that the system better serves the homeowners of California.”
Some insurers have stopped writing new policies, while others have withdrawn from the state entirely, citing increased risk of catastrophic fire, higher reinsurance prices and outdated state regulations. As a result, more Californians have been forced to seek coverage through the last resort FAIR Plan, which is more expensive.
Average premiums in the state have risen sharply, though they remain about at the national average, and below those of other disaster-prone states.
The Little Hoover Commission (which dates to 1962) held a series of hearings earlier this year to take testimony from insurance industry representatives, consumer groups, local officials, former insurance regulators and others.
“We listened to a broad range of Californians as we looked at this issue, and we’ve produced a report that brings together multiple perspectives and offers real-world solutions,” said Commission Vice Chair Anthony Cannella. “Our review is comprehensive, nonpartisan, and fact-based.”
Although former Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones testified before the Commission, current Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara declined to testify, to send a representative to testify on his behalf, or even to meet with Commission staff.
“Californians elected Ricardo Lara to serve as their Insurance Commissioner — an office that carries with it significant responsibility and authority,” Nava said. “We repeatedly invited Insurance Commissioner Lara or someone from his office to share with us the department’s plans to address this crisis. Without explanation, our invitations were ignored. Sadly, we weren’t the only ones who were treated in such a cavalier manner. Our study offered Commissioner Lara the chance to speak to Californians about this important issue. The people of this state deserved better than to be ignored.” n
The Exchange Club of Scotts Valley Presents ‘Light up the Night’!
December 7, 5-7:30 p.m.
The Scotts Valley Community Holiday Tree next to Walgreens will be lit on December 7, 2024, from 5-7:30, continuing a tradition dating 30 years. This special community event benefits Valley
Churches United and is a wonderful family event, enjoyed by guests of all ages!
Scotts Valley Firefighters will deliver Santa and Mrs. Clause to the Community Center to greet guests and enjoy free photos with kids and families. Local talented Scotts Valley Community members will provide entertainment.
Unwrapped new toys will be accepted by the Scotts Valley Police Officers Association. Valley Churches United will be on hand to accept canned food or other donations. Look for their food barrels showing up around town soon!
Hot Chocolate, Cider, Coffee, and cookies will be provided by local service clubs, along with a food truck for heartier fare.
Sponsors that would like to support the effort can contact Victor Alejandro at victor.alejandro.usa@ gmail.com or (408) 410-1566 or Donna Lind at dlindslind@gmail. com or (831) 438-4187.
Now Accepting Nominations for the 2024 Scotts Valley Community Awards
Calendar of Upcoming Community Events
Saturday December 7
Scotts Valley Tree Lighting — 5:30-7:00pm Hosted by the Exchange Club of Scotts Valley Scotts Valley Community Center
360 Kings Village Road
Thursday January 16
Grand Opening & Red Ribbon Cutting Ceremony — 5:30-7:00pm Fintastic Fish
224-C Mt. Hermon Rd.
Thursday February 20
Grand Opening & Red Ribbon Cutting Ceremony — 5:30-7:00pm Haven Play Lounge
1800 Green Hills Rd., Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Friday May 9
Scotts Valley Community Awards Gala — 5:00-10pm
Roaring Camp Railroads
Bret Harte Hall
The Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce seeks your assistance in recognizing the people and businesses that make our community such a special place.
Please send us your 2024 nominations for outstanding businesses and individuals for the following categories:
• Alvin Scarborough Memorial MAN OF THE YEAR
• Annette Marcum Memorial WOMAN OF THE YEAR
• YOUTH OF THE YEAR
• EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
• BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
• ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
• Claire Hodgin Memorial BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT OF SCOTTS VALLEY •••
Criteria for Nomination
• Each nominee must have made a valuable contribution to Scotts Valley.
• It may be in the previous year or over a period of time which you specify.
• A business of the year nominee must be a current Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce member.
• An individual may live or work outside the city limits, but their contribution must be within Scotts Valley.
• Youth of the year nominee must be of High School age.
•••
Nominating is Quick and Easy! Go to ScottsValleyChamber.com and help us honor the leaders of our community.
5401 Graham Hill Rd., Felton
Saturday August 16
Sunday August 17
Scotts Valley Art Wine & Beer Festival —10am-6pm | 10am-5pm Skypark
361 Kings Village Road
Scotts Valley Chamber News
SVPA Presents the Broadway Musical Production of ‘A Year with Frog and Toad’
By Ray Gorski
Coming this holiday season, Scotts Valley Performing Arts (SVPA), invites you to join them for A Year with Frog and Toad .
A hit on Broadway, A Year with Frog and Toad was nominated for three Tony Awards — including Best Musical. Based on Arnold Lobel’s well-loved books, and featuring a hummable score by Robert and Willie Reale, this whimsical show follows two great friends — the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad — through four fun-filled seasons.
Waking from hibernation in the Spring, Frog and Toad plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding and learn life lessons joined by some colorful companions along the way. The two best friends celebrate and rejoice in the differences that make them unique and special. Part vaudeville, part make believe ... all charm, A Year with Frog and Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures throughout the seasons.
The jazzy, upbeat score of A Year with Frog and Toad bubbles with melody and wit, making it an inventive, exuberant and enchanting musical for the whole family.
The show will open on Friday, December 6th and run for 2 weeks. Shows will be on Friday 12/6 at 7pm, Saturday 12/7 - 7pm, Sunday 12/8-2pm, Thursday
12/12-7pm, Friday 12/13-7pm and 2 shows on Saturday 12/14 at 2pm & 7pm.
The cast includes 15 adults and 10 young people.
To order tickets, go to www.svpashows.org.
Would you like to be involved?
It costs about $10,000 to produce a straight play and up to $20,000 to produce a full-blown musical like this one. We finance our productions with ticket sales, program ads, sponsorships, fund-raising events and of course, donations. So, the easiest way to support our community theatre company is with a donation.
The next easiest way is to get involved. It takes a village to raise a theater company. There are many people needed to put on a show and many hands — on and off stage, make light work. Actors, Directors, Stage Managers, Set Builders, Costumers, Prop Gatherers, Event Planners, Marketers, Kid Wranglers, Ushers, and of course Patrons, are all welcome and invited to join our merry band of thespians.
To reach us send an email to our esteemed president, Cindy Gorski at cgorskisings@sbcglobal.net.
However you choose, we look forward to having you join us!
Scotts Valley Water District: Online Payments Shift to WaterSmart
Online payments have moved to the WaterSmart platform as of Oct. 24. WaterSmart is a free online platform that has helped customers track and manage water use.
Beginning this fall, it will also be the portal for all online bill payments.
AVAILABLE NOW
$4000/mo Large Tranquil 1BR/1BA Home at 138 Locatelli Lane in Scotts Valley. 1200 sq ft upstairs unit. Hot tub. Yard. Deck. Garden. A pet considered with additional deposit. Some utilities included.
$3200/mo 2-story stand-alone 2BR/2BA Condo at 39 Quien Sabe in Scotts Valley. D/W. W/D. Upstairs deck. Single-car garage. 1 cat ok. HOLIDAY SPECIAL: $600 off of 2nd month’s rent.
$2910/mo 3BR/1BA Single-level Duplex Unit at 24895 Skyland Road in the Santa Cruz County mountains of Los Gatos (near the Summit Store). W/D incl. Patio. Yard. Great commute location. HOLIDAY SPECIAL: $600 off of 2nd month’s rent.
Customers that were enrolled in AutoPay and Paperless Billing prior to October 2024 will need to re-enroll.
Register now to enroll in this new service. n
Visit www.svwd.org/WaterSmart to learn more.
Facilities Operators support water production, distribution, and storage systems, as well as their maintenance.
.
Scotts Valley Chamber News
Why is Haven Play Lounge here?
They are here to support you — hardworking parents, caregivers, grandparents, and everyone in between. Their space is inspired by the essence of community, recognizing that togetherness is fundamental to our human experience.
At Haven Play Lounge you can relax, connect with friends and provide your children a safe environment to explore their imagination and build new friendships. Their thoughtfully designed playground promotes imaginative play by offering experiences such as a jungle safari hunt or a royal adventure in a castle.
Member Spotlight Haven Play Lounge
As a business deeply rooted in community love, they eagerly anticipate bringing everyone together in their welcoming space.
Haven Play Lounge offers a comprehensive range of amenities, including a soft play area for tiny tots just beginning to explore their environment, exciting climbing structures, a variety of enrichment activities, playground monitors, as well as an assortment of games and activities for adults AND a café that serves a delightful selection of beverages, meals and snacks.
They look forward to meeting each and every one of you.
Chamber Ambassador Spotlight Brian Youmans
Brian Youmans fell in love with Scotts Valley when he first rented a small room here to attend
UC Santa Cruz in 2016.
During that summer, he worked at the Scotts Valley Market, where he met the love of his life.
Six years later, Brian and his wife settled down in the beautiful mountain town.
Since the beginning of 2023, Brian has been working for the City of Scotts Valley Parks and Recreation Department. He is proud to serve his community both in his official
capacity and during his free time. You may have seen him working at any of the large City events such as the annual Crafts and Cocoa Event and the Fourth of July Parade.
In his free time, he enjoys giving back by helping with community-driven events such as numerous park clean up days and helping to organize several fitness events throughout the county.
He’s looking forward to continuing to promote Scotts Valley as an Ambassador of the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber Ambassador Spotlight Judith Culberson
For more than a decade, Judith has led cohesive teams of highperforming business professionals, spanning several industries, including textiles & apparel, the toy Industry, and telecommunications.
She specializes in coordinating multiple activities from within, in departments that include marketing, sales, product design, project management, finance, and information technology. Judith is dedicated to transforming earnings and distribution for privately-owned, mid-tier organizations.
She has a proven track record building
partnerships and branding companies from around the globe and has worked with companies from, Germany, Malta, Italy, Holland, France, Canada, Thailand, and within the United States.
Judith is also an active Ambassador of our Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce. This last year, she graciously spearheaded the organization of all the volunteers and their shifts at the Scotts Valley Art Wine and Beer Festival. Judith continues to be dedicated to supporting our local businesses and looks forward to volunteering in the year to come.
Valley Churches United Holiday Gift Shop
Photo Credit: Emma Espinosa of EE Photography
October: Sol Hot Yoga
November: Great Clips
Twelve Years: Recalling Accomplishments
By Bruce McPherson, Supervisor, Fifth District
During the past 12 years, as your Fifth District Supervisor covering Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley, it has been my honor to represent your interests within county government.
This District, and really the whole of Santa Cruz County, looks much different than it did when I took office in January 2013. Still recovering from the Great Recession, we were staring down a housing crisis and struggling with climate change — all while missing key strategies for protecting water resources, improving transportation and supporting libraries.
And in the midst of addressing those issues during my first two terms, at the beginning of my third we faced the COVID-19 pandemic, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, and a series of severe storms that decimated roads, bridges and culverts to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Despite these difficulties, serving as your County Supervisor has been the most rewarding job of my 25-year career in public service, including my years as California’s Secretary of State and as a member of the Assembly and Senate. It has been my deepest honor to represent Santa Cruz County in all of these roles.
Because the incorporated portion of Scotts Valley has its own City Council and staff, the needs of Scotts Valley residents are well served by their elected leaders, city manager, police and parks team.
But we can point to successful collaborations between the County with City related to transportation and infrastructure improvements, as well as the collective stewardship of the Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin through a state-mandated groundwater management agency benefitting Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley water customers.
The City of Scotts Valley was also an early member of Central Coast Community Energy, known then as Monterey Bay Community Power, which my office began exploring in 2013 as the first tri-county community choice energy agency in California.
The organization has since grown into 35 member agencies across five counties and is a hallmark strategy of climate-action plans regionally, which would not have happened without the creativity and cooperation of elected leaders, staff and citizen advocates.
Our office has also worked successfully with Scotts Valley on settling long-standing disputes over land use and fee sharing, including securing a fair share of the County Service Area 9C for the City relative to solid waste services. I always have appreciated the use of SkyPark in Scotts Valley as a staging area for disaster response, including the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in 2020.
With the passage of Measure S in 2014, the County was able to invest significantly in the renovation of the Scotts Valley Branch Library, which reopened in 2022. Community support for the County’s Measure D in 2016 created a first-ever dedicated local funding source to improve beleaguered roads in the unincorporated areas, including surrounding the City of Scotts Valley, as well as planning for active transportation networks and reimagining our rail corridor.
Through the leadership of the Regional Transportation Commission, we have laid the groundwork to transform Highway 9 through the SLV Complete Streets Plan, most notably with a major project going under construction in 2025 to improve circulation and safety from the combined SLV school campuses to downtown Felton.
We also partnered with the RTC and city on improvements to the busy intersection of Mount Hermon Road and Scotts Valley
Drive, and with METRO to support enhancements to the Cavallaro Transit Center on Kings Village Drive.
I have enjoyed working with Scotts Valley mayors and City Council members, including those retiring this year — Randy Johnson and Jack Dilles — and Donna Lind, who was just re-elected to a fourth term.
The Scotts Valley Unified School District has also been a great partner in our community, making great strides in recent years in improving its facilities to match the excellent education it offers its students.
I have also appreciated the work of the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce and its collaboration with other local business advocacy groups.
As I prepare to turn this office over to the incoming supervisor, Monica Martinez, I hope you will join me on Dec. 17 at the Board of Supervisors to celebrate all we have accomplished together and commit to supporting her leadership in meeting the needs of your fellow residents. n
Bruce McPherson is Fifth District county supervisor.
Bruce McPherson (left), with Donna Lind and John Weiss
ELECTION 2024 – OPINIONS
Why Trump Won — My Take
By Tom Decker
It’s been a few days since Trump won the presidency both by the popular vote as well as the Electoral College. The red wave also won the Senate majority, the House majority, the majority of the state governorships and the majority of the state legislatures. The worst part is that it was all over before midnight on Election Day 2024. The votes from California, Washington and Oregon didn’t even count. How did this happen? Did anyone see it coming?
I believe that perhaps I may have the answers to both of those questions. Whenever my wife and I need to travel to Las Vegas for business, family events or pleasure we always stay at the Trump International Hotel. This is the only 5-star, non gaming, non-smoking, family-friendly, ultra-secure, high-end luxury hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. We also have a very favorable corporate rate.
On Thursday, Oct. 24, we flew into Las Vegas for some meetings with one of our suppliers scheduled for the next day. As usual, we planned to stay at Trump International. When we arrived, our airport shuttle driver told us that usual short run to the hotel was going to take longer today since Trump was in town for his Las Vegas rally.
Our driver wasn’t kidding. Our usual
15-minute ride to Trump International took over an hour. Trump’s 100-plus car motorcade stopped traffic in all directions as it sped past all of us.
Trying to check into the hotel was also an exciting new experience. Half a mile from the hotel entrance our car was stopped and carefully searched by Secret Service personnel with bomb-snuffing dogs. A quarter mile further, we were searched again by heavily armed and very serious active military personnel. After we were cleared, we proceeded to the entrance of the hotel. Instead of walking through the golden doors in the lobby, we were meet by a double line of Secret Service agents. They carefully searched us and all of our luggage individually and personally once again before we were allowed into the hotel.
That evening, as Trump was speaking live at his Las Vegas rally, my wife and I were enjoying a delicious rib eye steak dinner in the beautiful dining room of Trump International. The rally was on the big screen TVs in the luxurious dinning room for our dining pleasure.
It was a surreal experience.
Watching Trump speaking live to tens of thousands of people, while enjoying a fine meal in his beautiful hotel and waiting for
him to come by afterwards. After the Trump rally ended, the “buzz” in the hotel lobby began.
“Trump is coming! Trump is coming!!” was the excited rumor circulating throughout in the lobby. The Secret Service personnel were on high alert as members of Trump’s inner circle begin to file into the lobby. The hotel guests were told that there was nothing to see.
President Trump was already safely up in his penthouse on the top floor of his hotel.
We didn’t get to see Trump, Nevertheless, we did get to spend some time with Stephen Miller, Trump’s senior advisor in his first term and a central figure in many of Trump’s policy decisions.
Stephen told us Trump was going have a rally in Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Oct. 27. He admitted he was a bit concerned. Madison Square Garden has a capacity of 20,000 people. They were now being told to expect up to 250,000 people.
That night, Trump slept in his penthouse on the 64th floor. My wife and I slept thirty floors below him in our suite on the 34th floor. We slept soundly knowing we were sleeping in perhaps the safest and most secure place
on the planet — at least for that night.
The next day we were up early to get to our meetings in North Las Vegas. Trump had been up before us. When we entered the lobby, we saw that hotel staff and the Secret Service were on high alert once again. Trump’s 100-plus car motorcade was assembling in front of the hotel. All traffic for several city blocks surrounding the hotel was locked down by the local police, the military, all manner of emergency vehicles and the Secret Service. When the motorcade was ready, it rolled out. Somewhere in the motorcade, the custom-built Cadillac known as the Beast carried Trump safely to the airport. The Beast is considered by the Secret Service as the most fortified vehicle in the world.
By 9 am, Trump was on his plane flying to New York to his Madison Square Garden rally. The Secret Service began taking down the barriers and metal detectors in the hotel lobby. By noon, Trump International was again quietly luxurious for its valued guests to peacefully enjoy.
“Why Trump Won” page 19
What Happened on Nov. 5? What Lessons Can We Learn?
By Andrew Goldenkranz
Since Election Day, half the country is going through the stages of grief and half are celebrating. We are a deeply divided nation and that is an inescapable truth. But it’s not enough to write off the national results as voters succumbing to hate or being deceived. The people have spoken, but what are they saying?
As a local representative of the Democratic Party, I have to be honest about what went right and wrong and how we chart a path forward. Like a coach after the game, win or lose, you watch the film, crunch the numbers, and try to figure out how to do better. This piece is not about the important policy or legislative battles that will ensue, but about voting behavior, campaign mechanics, and a growing generational realignment of party affiliation and preference. I’ve been doing this for more than 40 years, so am not an expert but I’ve had plenty of practice! Even in deep blue California, there was an 8-point swing from 2020 to 2024. That’s a lot. I’ve been reading progressive media and listening to local friends who wash their hands and claim that half the country is racist, sexist, or stupid. I’m not buying that. During the campaign, I spent some time
in Pennsylvania in some of the purple ring counties around Philadelphia, and locally we sent more than 125,000 hand-written letters and postcards to Georgia and other swing states. But It’s hard coming from our college town coastal perspective to see what’s going on in the rest of the country.
In no particular order, here’s my take on some of the key elements of this election result:
1) This was a Democratic loss more than a Republican win.
Trump got about the same 75-76 million votes he did in 2020, but Harris got 6 million fewer votes than Biden.
2) The race was a lot closer than you think.
From over 150 million votes cast, Trump ran the 7 swing states by a total of about 250,000 votes. That’s an improbable comeback but not the mandate or landslide some claim.
But it was a decisive win. I make this point not to minimize the consequences of the result, but to point out that in a big country, this race carried on small margins.
So if each of the following elements accounted for a 20,000 vote difference, it adds up.
My argument is it was more likely a lot of little things rather than one big thing.
3) Coattails are weaker than they used to be.
There were 4 states Trump carried where pretty progressive Democrats got elected: Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada. A generation ago, more than half of voters voted a straight party line ticket, this time it was about ⅓ of voters.
John Tester, Sherrod Brown, Colin Allred, and Bob Casey, good people and candidates, were not sufficient to overcome the trends I”m discussing here.
4) The women’s reproductive rights/ abortion rights linkage to Harris may have backfired and was certainly not as strong as we thought it would be.
In Arizona, for example, 61% of voters approved enshrining reproductive rights into their constitution. But Harris only got 47% of the vote. This means 14% of voters support reproductive freedom but still voted for Trump.
There’s a quieting of cognitive dissonance on this point, where people are reconciling these apparently contradictory votes. It could be a reliance on states’ rights; it could be these voters are multi-issue voters.
But while I’m encouraged about 70% of
the country strongly supports abortion rights, it was not enough to create a reverse coattail.
5) There’s a real demographic realignment where working class voters, black and brown male voters, and young voters (especially young men) shifted right.
I think this is not a fluke, but a larger trend. Let’s break this down:
5a) Some Black voters have seen the erosion of the Voting Rights Act, the end of affirmative action, and other inactions in the last decade or so, and are naturally concluding the government has let them down. So they were motivated by a change agent who was going to break things.
5b) Working people have seen an incredible surge in wealth at the top of the economic ladder over the last 40 years, while middle class wage earners are working harder and harder for nominal gains. And prices, especially housing prices, are increasingly out of reach. So when Harris’s loyalty to Biden required that she declare the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS Act, the American Recovery Act, and other big ticket items as obvious victories, about 25% of working class voters were not sold.
“Why Harris Lost” page 19
Donald Trump
Kamala Harris
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Light That Shines Within the Dark — Cleansing & Healing
Esoteric Astrology • December 2024 • By Risa
D’Angeles
Sagittarius Sun began to shine on Earth, Thursday, November 21. This is our sojourn with the great teachers, before climbing the mountain of Capricorn.
However, I am still on Pluto’s entrance into Aquarius, and my questions — what will the sounds and narratives of Aquarius, the new art, new music, new thoughts, new friendships, new trends, new order of things be? How will our innate sense of freedom evolve, grow, progress, advance, expand and display itself in daily life? So many questions about the new Aquarian era.
Aquarius’s keynote is the “light that shines on Earth and across the seas...shining within the dark, cleansing with its healing rays, that which must be purified until the dark is gone.” Cleansing first, then healing, the tasks of Aquarius. Aquarius is also the “electrical waters of life poured forth for thirsty humanity.”
of Hercules facing his divine task in Aquarius is relevant. The Aquarian Labor is the “cleansing” of the stables (cleaning house/ swamp of its fetid darkness). This is humanity’s talk together. We are ALL Hercules. Link to read the 11th Labor of Hercules. https://www.bailey.it/files/Labours-of-Hercules.pdf
We can better understand Aquarius when we read the 11th Labour (Aquarius) in the Labors of Hercules. Disciples read and discuss this story during the month of Aquarius.
However, beyond the month of the “water bearer” our Sun is entering 2,500 years of the light of Aquarius! Thus the story
ARIES
Speak carefully and harmoniously to loved ones. Realize you may be more critical, including self-criticism. Allow others the benefit of understanding. Always ask for an explanation and listen carefully. What you know is best and what you feel emotionally (frustration, anger, etc.) may be at odds. Choose the right course of action. Then your consciousness, awareness and love expand. Your heart opens.
TAURUS
Events happen and people are contacted that extend deep into your future. Beware of anything you or others do that steps across boundaries where uncontrolled power may be an issue. In all communications bring forth Right Relations within yourself so that the Right Relations of others can be summoned. In all endeavors maintain the highest of ethics, morals, values and intentions. How one begins a project is how it also ends.
GEMINI
You find you must change or shift your values and dayto-day ways of being. You find you must reach out to friends and loved ones and speak with them from the heart (heart to heart). You find you must alter your habits and ways of living so that health can be restored. You find that everything must change and this change is good. Each day many are supporting you on inner levels. Recite this mantram — “Every day in every way I am getting better and better.”
CANCER
New ideas are presented and they come from all different and varied parts of your life. You are learning at an accelerated pace, as if you’re in a school which Earth actually is but also, it’s that you’re concentrating on the present, the real here and now. There’s extra energy also being offered to you from the heavens. You are strong, resourceful, intuitive, and actually an excellent gardener. You are a teacher.
And so, as Pluto moves forward in Aquarius, unimpeded, I am wondering what will be the responses and sounds, reverberations and expressions, the music and the arts of the people in the world as this critical shift of energy, element (air) and vibration unfold? I am wondering these things. Perhaps we hear or sense a longing for vision, for community in humanity, impossible to describe. And the soft opening of the petals of the lotus.
Mercury will be until December 15. Mars also retrogrades Dec. 6 to February 23, 2025. So we are in a season of retrogrades, which includes the holidays (in retrograde). Our thoughts are internal, our communication a bit muted, our actions limited. Careful everyone. We will begin the new year in a Mars retrograde opposite Pluto. So many surprises, changes & transformations yet to be! n Happy Holidays everyone — Advent, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah & Christmas.
LEO
Let us spend a few moments in recognition and praise of you. Soon Venus will enter Aquarius (your opposite sign) December 8th. Venus has asked us ahead of time to honor you a bit more. We notice you’ve become more attractive and at times alluring. You’re glowing and flowing with generosity. You offer support when the need arises and tend to those more vulnerable than you (you understand vulnerability). You keep secrets, love to work alone, and what is that new everything coming down the road to meet you?
VIRGO
It’s important to note that the words written to Leo soon also apply to you. Every day, as your innate irritation dissolves, the Sun shines on your gifts and creative abilities, and all you’ve wanted to do feel like it can come true (slowly, here and there). You have everything you need in terms of energy, resources and time. Whereas much has been external, notice as you begin to withdraw into yourself. It will be a time of composure and peace. Tagging along with Mercury for a while.
LIBRA
You feel the need to be more social and find yourself at times in groups where everyone recognizes and loves you. And then there are times when you feel out of place, the odd one, not heard, seen, listened to or understood. During the month you will assess your self-identity, see if you’re the same person than before, and realize new needs. I think also there is a need for healing too. How are your eyes? Maintain stability and tend to all things practical. Tread (act, speak, love) with care.
SCORPIO
There may be conflict and collisions with other people’s ideas. There may be difficulties communicating and/ or being understood. Before speaking, think first of your words and intentions, consider the tone, anchor yourself in thoughts of goodwill, and decide to make every situation better than it is. These are important values to remember, act on and uphold. I wouldn’t travel at this time. If you must, be cautious and take no risks. It’s not a good time to gamble, either.
SAGITTARIUS
During the month shirt trips traveling about here and there, you consider your base of operation, what your true foundations are, and how your family heritage has given you an identity that propels you forward into unknown territory. Do not be concerned if chaos becomes a companion. Chaos is the first step toward a new, higher harmony. Chaos harbors the seeds of creativity, provides excitement and experiences and shreds outworn ways of being. Chaos is sometimes beauty! Consider carving a walking stick out of chestnut or blackthorn.
CAPRICORN
Subtle shifts and changes will continue in your life, growing ever more present as the days unfold. You are being gently and quietly transformed to become the person you were born to be. Tend to all things financial. Don’t think there are unlimited funds available. A serious schedule must be applied to money earned and spent. You will notice over time that everything will have changed. New needs, new laws, new vibrations. In the retrogrades assess, review and be guided to your next endeavors. Create disciplines with family. Disciplines sustain us.
AQUARIUS
You may feel that all progress is stalled, movements forward take two steps back, and previous roads walked are tread again. This is not failure on your part. It’s simply a review, revisiting and revision that must occur for everyone in the Mercury retrograde. It’s also the umbrella under which you assess the last year and create goals for the upcoming months through the season of spring. Discussing goals, hopes, wishes and dreams with those who listen, prepares you for this. Now is a time of solitude, retreat and contemplation. Stay warm.
PISCES
Something comes to a completion and thus a rest in the upcoming weeks. The retrogrades helps us bring that which is no longer needed to a close. We then prepare for new actions and activities that define the rest of the year. Notice your thoughts, impressions, ideas and intuitions providing subtle signs and information concerning your next steps (dharma and destiny). Interactions with loved ones will be loving yet disciplined, kind yet structured. Eliminate all that’s unnecessary for soon it will be time to move on. Life is changing into events and realities yet to be.
“Holiday Calendar” from page 5
Lighted Boat Parade
December 7 | 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Santa Cruz Harbor Sponsored by the Santa Cruz Yacht Club, the Lighted Boat Parade features decorated power and sailboats parading through the Santa Cruz Harbor. Boats do not exit the harbor and generally do not travel as far as the lighthouse. Please visit the Santa Cruz Yacht Club website for more information.
Aptos Chamber Tree Lighting and Craft Fair
December 7 | 1-4 pm, Behind New Leaf Market on the Green Visit Santa, explore over 20 vendors and enjoy festive performances by the Soquel Jazz Band, local Girl Scouts, Synergy Dance + Fitness, and a crowd favorite — bagpipes by John Hibble. This free event is sponsored by the Aptos Chamber and Village businesses. For information, call 831.688.1467 or visit aptoschamber.com.
Capitola Village Holiday Cookie Walk
December 7 – 8 | 11 am – 4 pm
Take a walk around historic Capitola Village and fill your box with delicious holiday cookies from participating stores! Bring your registration with you to Capitola Candy Cafe where boxes will be provided for the cookies. Tickets are $20 and are available NOW on EventBrite or at Capitola Candy Cafe up to the day of the event.
2024 Capitola SantaCon
December 14 | 5 pm – 11 pm
Keep calm & get your ho ho ho on!!! Meet at 5pm at Katalina’s by the Sea @ 312 Capitola Ave and be read to visit bevvy of bars in Capitola Village! For ages 21+. This SantaCon event is completely FREE to attend – no tickets or registration. Visi https://www.santacon.info/ Capitola-CA/ for more information.
Santa Cruz Symphony Holiday Pops Concert
December 14 – 15 | 7:30 pm, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium 307 Church St, Santa Cruz
The inaugural Holiday Pops Concert will showcase favorites from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Leroy Anderson’s A Christmas Festival, and many more. Music by Tchaikovsky, Anderson, Rimsky-Korsakov, Bartholomew-Poyser, Williams, and more! Call 831.462.0553 for more information.
Felton Covered Bridge Holiday Market
December 15 | 11am – 3pm
The annual tradition of the Felton Holiday Market will again take place on the historic covered bridge. Activities include arts & crafts, delicious food & beverages, music, holiday lights, and other festivities!
Yuletide Holiday Weekend
December 20 – 24, Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA, 1186 San Andreas Rd, Watsonville, CA Bring your festive lights and decor for the camp-wide Holiday Site Decorating Contest! Celebrate Christmas, Camping Style! Hot Cider, Beer and Snacks Available (donations accepted to benefit Care Camps). Holiday Train Rides with Santa & Mrs. Claus. Call 831.722.0551 for more info.
Santa Cruz City Ballet Nutcracker
December 21 – 22 | 1 pm / 4:30 pm, Crocker Theater at Cabrillo College
Experience a magic that only the Nutcracker Ballet can bring! With renowned music of Tchaikovsky’s original score set by the Moscow Symphony, this production has become an annual tradition, showcasing local dancers, as well guest artists from the Bay Area and beyond. Visit www.nutcrackersantacruz.com for more information.
Santa Cruz Dance Theater
December 21 – 22, | 1 pm / 4:30 pm, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium 307 Church St, Santa Cruz Start a new holiday tradition with Santa Cruz Dance Theater’s inaugural production of The Nutcracker. This year, we are thrilled to welcome Lucien Postlewaite, principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet. Perfect for the whole family, this breathtaking performance will transport you to a world of holiday splendor. Visit www. santacruzdancetheater.org for more information. n
“Taco Dude” from page 7
Anthony found the illustrator Nessa Ledesma, well-known in Watsonville for her murals and a bilingual teaching artist with Mariposa’s Art, through Instagram.
“Her background really fit well,” Anthony said. “She was so easy to work with.”
The next step was finding a publisher.
Bookshop Santa Cruz stopped offering this service, but Anthony got a referral to Village Books and Paper Dreams, an independent bookstore in Bellingham, Washington, which invited them for a book signing in 2025.
“I couldn’t have done it in without them,” Anthony said. That’s how a manager for Davey Resource Group and a public relations specialist at Google Cloud created a book with their children.
“We wanted them to have power in their story,” Anthony says.
His “secret motive” for creating the book is to normalize adoption.
And if it inspires more adoptions, he said, that would be “most magical.” n
Taco Dude is available locally at Two Birds Books, Bookshop Santa Cruz for $21.99. Information: tacodudeworldwide.com
“Why Trump Won” from page 16
In order for the average non-Trump supporter to understand how Trump won it’s important for them to understand what happens at a typical Trump rally.
We live in Ben Lomond. Our family’s construction company is located in Boulder Creek. Knowing our neighbors and our San Lorenzo Valley community as we do, I’d be willing to bet that 99% of them have never attended or watched a Trump rally. I understand and accept that. Trump and the MAGA movement may not be their “thing.”
Nevertheless, Trump and the MAGA movement is the “thing” of millions of Americans. Since the November 2020 election, Trump’s had 900 rallies. There have been 1,562 days from Election Day Nov. 3, 2020, to the Election Day Nov. 5, 2024.
Trump’s put on a rally almost two times a week every week for four years. The average attendance at a Trump rally is about 45,000
“Why Harris Lost” from page 16
We underestimated the inflation pressure on people, especially in housing and food, and spent more time quoting statistics rather than feeling people’s pain. 5c) Young voters showed a similar distrust in government. The Biden administration talked a good game about eliminating student debt, but was not able to fully implement it because of court objections. Harris came late to the game with a solid proposal about first time homebuyer assistance, but it was a late promise didn’t gain enough traction. In 2020, Biden won the under 35 vote by 20 points, and the Harris campaign was targeting a 30 point spread among young women. Instead, female voters under 35 preferred Harris by 20 points, while under-35 males preferred Trump by 10. This is a 10 point swing among young voters.
6) For infrequent voters, we Democrats
people. That average includes smaller rallies in rural areas such as the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally on July 13, where about 18,000 people showed up. It also includes the 100,000 people who attended the second Trump rally in Butler on Oct. 5. It also includes the Madison Square Garden Trump rally in New York City that drew 250,000 people on Sunday, Oct. 27. After filling every seat in the Garden, the massive overflow crowd of MAGA people completely shut down the streets in downtown Manhattan around the Garden.
So 900 rallies times the average number of 45,000 people at every rally works out to more than 40 million people who have personally attended a Trump rally in the last four years. That’s a lot of people. n
Times Publishing Group wants to share the entire analysis without our readers. See the rest of Tom Decker’s column at www.tpgonlinedaily. com. Decker ran for Fifth District county supervisor this year.
underestimated the power of show business.
I think part of this is Trump’s crazed marketing genius. My students were very happy to talk about Hulk Hogan’s appearance. Young voters especially, but also low-frequency voters of all ages, were mesmerized by the show. As one of my students (not a Trump fan) told me, “Of course he won. In America, the Kardashians are our royal family. What did you think was going to happen?”
7) We got a false optimism by the crush celebrity endorsements. Don’t get me wrong, I”m very happy Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Oprah, Eminem, and others endorsed Harris and they were surely helpful in raising money. But I did not see an operational translation of that energy to messaging voters. n
•••
Times Publishing Group wants to share the entire analysis with our readers. See the rest of Andrew Goldenkranz’ column at www.tpgonline daily.com. Goldenkranz, a career public educator, is the chair of the Santa Cruz County Democratic Party.
Manias and Phobias
obsession with wealth and power 26. Type of throw, in baseball
Miner’s load
Member of Round Table
Quartet minus one
Spacious
Last word of “America the Beautiful”
Young chicken
Cocoyam
Largest Asian antelope
Haute couture gala location, with The
Slimy phlebotomists
*____phobia, fear of public speaking
Took the bait
Tempter
Dumbstruck
*Gamophobia, fear of
55. September stone
56. Cantina cooker 57. Apple leftover 59. Lakes, in Scotland 60. ____ gin
61. “On a ____,” or carefree
62. *____mania, obsession with oneself
63. Cough syrup amt.
64. Additional DOWN
1. *____phobia, fear of
Bananaphone preceder
Language disfunction
Indigenous person of
Track and field star,
Tear in pantyhose 8. Struck with a mallet
Back
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HEALTHY FOOD CAREERS
California residents interested in building a career in school food service can apply to join the California Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship program. Administered by the Chef Ann Foundation — a national nonprofit dedicated to promoting scratch cooking in schools — the initiative offers paid, onthe-job learning focused on preparing healthy school meals from scratch.
The seven-week program is tailored for individuals with little to no experience in school food operations and is available to English and Spanish speakers. Pre-apprentices gain hands-on experience at one of 50 school districts including San Lorenzo Valley, North Monterey County and Santa Cruz City Schools, complete online coursework, and engage in virtual learning sessions with peers and mentors. Since launching in 2022, more than 200 California residents have graduated.
After completing the Pre-Apprenticeship, graduates can continue onto the nine-month Apprenticeship program at their district.
The program runs from March 31 to May 23, 2025. Apply at https://www.chefannfoundation.org/what-we-do/healthyschool-food-pathway/pre-apprenticeship/ by Jan. 31, 2025.
NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS ON ZOOM
NAMI Family Support Group is a support group for loved ones of those who have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences.
By sharing your experiences in a safe setting, you can gain hope and develop supportive relationships. This group allows your voice to be heard and provides an opportunity for your personal needs to be met. It encourages empathy, productive discussion and a sense of community. You’ll benefit from other’s experiences, discover your inner strength and empower yourself by sharing your own experiences in a non-judgmental space.
NAMI’s support groups follow a structured model, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be heard and to get what they need.
• Free to participants • Drop-in friendly
Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? E-mail info (no PDFs please) to info@cyber-times.com For beginning of the month, due the 15th • For mid-month, due the 1st
• Designed for loved ones of people with mental health conditions
• Led by family members of people with mental health conditions
• 90 minutes • Confidential
• No specific medical therapy or treatment is endorsed
There are five different Family Support Groups: for loved ones of adults, loved ones of young adults, parents and caregivers of youth, and Spanish speakers.
Sign up at https://www.namiscc.org/nami-familysupport-groups.html
Questions? Email sophia@namiscc.org, or call (831)-824-0406.
FREE SANTA PHOTOS AT CAPITOLA MALL
Mark your calendar for Friday, Dec. 6 and 20, from 2-6 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 21, from noon to 4 p.m.
Get a free digital photo with Santa and a gift for children. Take a selfie at the festive photo shop, open whenever Santa is not in residence.
No reservations required. Photos are first come, first serve. Photos and giveaways are while supplies last. Starting Dec. 16, Capitola Mall will be open until 8 p.m. through Dec. 21 and also Dec. 23, open til 6 p.m. Christmas Eve, and closed Christmas Day. See www.shopCapitolaMall.com
KING TIDES
The California King Tides are arriving early this season! Mark your calendar for Dec. 13-15. King tides occur when the highest and lowest tides hit our shores and create an even more dramatic coastline.
At high tide, the powerful waves often crash against seawalls and extend beyond their usual borders. Extreme low tides expose rarely seen tide pools and allow miles of beach walking.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR HOMELESS COUNT
The next annual Point-in-Time Count is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 30.
BOULDER CREEK WINTER FESTIVAL
Saturday December 7
1-6 p.m., Forest Street, Boulder Creek, Forest St, Boulder Creek
The Winter Festival is back! The Boulder Creek Business Association is partnering again with the Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District on this annual event 1-6 pm on Forest Street in Boulder Creek. There will be live music, a food court, hay rides, vendors, DIY crafting, and the town tree lighting.... and a few other surprises! The event is free to all to attend, however the DIY crafts cost $5 each. Tickets at www. BoulderCreekWinterFestival.com.
Santa will be here for two photo sessions at Lone Wolf, the first is from 1:30-2:30 pm and the second is from 5:30-7 pm. Buy a $10 ticket for at www.BoulderCreekWinterFestival.com.
The Boulder Creek Business Association will be selling ready-to-go holiday gifts – baskets perfect to give to the hosts of holiday parties, co-workers, friends, and to have on hand for that extra someone who drops in to spend the holiday with you! The proceeds from your purchase will go toward the maintenance of the building lights that contribute to the charm of this amazing town.
This count is an estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single day in Santa Cruz County. In 2024, the number of people experiencing homelessness increased slightly, up 2.6% to 1,850. The count is a requirement to receive federal homeless assistance funds and is used to support strategic decisions about programs.
If you are interested in volunteering, attend at least one of the trainings. If you are interested in receiving meeting reminders, sign up at https://mailchi.mp/ santacruzcounty/2025-pit-count
Do you have lived experience of homelessness? There is a need for those who would like to be a peer guide during the Count.
If you are interested, add your email to the list at https://tinyurl. com/PIT-count-peer-guide.
COUNTY FAIR BOARD MEETINGS
The Santa Cruz County Fair Board has met each month in 2024 except September and November. Final 2024 date is Dec. 3.
The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday in the Heritage Building at the fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Blvd., Watsonville.
For agendas, posted 10 days in advance, see santacruzcountyfair.com
ONGOING EVENTS
Last Wednesdays of the Month PARENT/CAREGIVER MENTAL HEALTH SEMINARS 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Online Meeting
Sunday December 1
BEN LOMOND TREE LIGHTING
4-7 pm Ben Lomond Firehouse, 9430 Highway 9
Don’t miss the first-ever Ben Lomond Tree Lighting Party at the Firehouse on Highway 9.
This family-friendly event has free entry, with snacks, beverages, activities available by donation, and dinner available for purchase. Kids’ ornament-making stations, holiday performances, and seasonal music from local musicians, and Santa will make an appearance. Don your festive red attire and bring canned food for donation to Valley Churches United Missions. Parking will be available at the nearby Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9545 Love Creek Road. Special thanks to the BLFD Auxiliary for their help! See www. benlomondvillage.org
HOLIDAY MARKET
11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Hallcrest Vineyards, 379 Empire Road, Felton The White Rabbit Holiday Market is at Hallcrest Vineyards — perfect timing for Christmas shopping.
Up to 80 vendors, including Tiny House Chocolate, Drew’s Bees, Fiddlenug Leather and Dani O Bakeshop — plus food, Santa and activities for the whole family.
Tuesday December 3
GIVING TUESDAY
What if we told you, you are changing the world right now? Would you believe it?
A better future is being built by all of us right now, in the billions of small actions we take each day. Acts of care, love, and understanding extend outward, like the threads of a beautiful tapestry. Whether it’s offering a kind smile, a helping hand, or an hour of your time — these acts have a way of rippling out, becoming part of something much greater.
Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
Join the movement and give, whether it’s your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in your local community.
Dr. Ramona Friedman of the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Soquel will be hosting a free Parent Drop-in Zoom session. Parents and caregivers are invited to log on and ask questions to Dr. Friedman about youth mental health issues, challenges, and ideas.
Parent Drop-Ins are free, 1-hour sessions where parents can seek guidance from experts specializing in specific mental health disorders. Parents can also connect with others facing similar challenges.
Clinical psychologists who specialize in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidality, and medication, experienced youth mental health experts, host each session.
For more info, visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/ parent-drop-in-soquel-ca/247794
DATED EVENTS
Friday November 29
LIONS CHRISTMAS TREE LOT OPENS
2 – 7 p.m. Weekdays | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Weekends, Portuguese Hall, 216 Evergreen St #2136, Santa Cruz The Santa Cruz Host Lions Christmas tree lot opens at the Portuguese Hall near Costco. Proceeds are used to help the community. Call 831-515-7105 for more information.
Every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to contribute toward building the better world we all want to live in.
You could organize a generosity scavenger hunt, take over a busy street corner for a day to raise money for local nonprofits, or organize a compassion tour for kids ages 8-14 to introduce them to nonprofits making a difference.
Visit www.Givingtuesday.org for more information.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Showtimes
Tuesday — 2 p.m.
Wednesday — 7 p.m.
Thursday — 2 p.m.
The concert will include traditional, contemporary, folk, sacred and secular music sung by the choir, directed by Larry Sampson. Invite your friends.
There is no charge but a donation box will be available to accept donations for choir expenses.
Thursday December 5
HOLIDAY STUFF THE BUS FOOD DRIVE
1-7 p.m., Woodstock’s Pizza, 710 Front St., Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Metro Transit District announces its holiday Stuff the Bus Food Drive, with a Metro bus parked in front of Woodstock’s Pizza.
This initiative, in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce, and Woodstock’s Pizza, aims to gather non-perishable food donations to support those in need.
Most needed items: Canned meat, peanut butter, soups, chili beans, cereal, canned fruit or vegetables, whole grain rice, pasta, and oats.
All donations will be distributed to local individuals and families in need. Everyone who donates will receive a complimentary 1-ride bus pass from Santa Cruz Metro.
The Chamber hosts a holiday business after-hours networking event with a raffle at Woodstock’s Pizza from 5 to 7 p.m. Dress in something festive. Refreshments will be provided.
Buy tickets at https://web.santacruzchamber.org/events/ Holiday-Business-After-Hours-Food-Drive-WoodstocksPizza-6406/details (members, $10, non-members, $20) or at the door.
Scotts Valley Unified School District invites all prospective transitional kinder, kindergarten, or new families to the district for an information night at Brook Knoll Elementary School. Child care provided.
Families will receive information about all of SVUSD’s programs and learn how to register their student(s) for the 2025-26 school year.
Come learn about all about our exciting transitional kinder and kindergarten programs as well as the many programs at our middle school and high school.
Children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to be eligible to register for kindergarten. Children must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 to be eligible to register for transitional kindergarten.
Enrollment information is available at https://www.scotts valleyusd.org/ or contact the registrar at each school for details.
Saturday December 7
SEASON OF LIGHT & LOVE
2 p.m., Market Street Theater, 222 Market St., Santa Cruz NextStage Productions presents a holiday show, Season of Light and Love at Market Street Theater.
Along with holiday musical favorites and audience participation, this new production incorporates narration of the native
LEADING LADIES
Thursday – Saturday, December 5-7, 12-14
7 p.m., Student Union, 555 Glenwood Drive, Scotts Valley (Doors open 6:30)
For your entertainment, Scotts Valley High Drama presents a hilarious farce, Leading Ladies, by Ken Ludwig, for six shows in the Student Union.
Set in the 1950s, two down-on-their-luck Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, are performing on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania.
When they hear that an old lady in York, Pennsylvania, is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews, the actors decide to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. It turns out the long lost relatives are nieces —not nephews.
Then Leo falls madly in love with the old lady’s vivacious niece, Meg, who’s engaged to the local minister.
“Some Like it Hot” meets “Twelfth Night,” says Ludwig, who wrote the show in 2004. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $13 for students and are available at CUR8.com or at the door (cash only).
PHOTO: The “Kunkle” Cast — Bottom Row: Mason Fohl, V Nivelle | Second Row: Chloe Kitch, Emma Brooke | Third Row: Kyle Goode, Raffi Pehlivanian | Top Row: Dani Dunn, Aaron Alejandro.
American story, Raven, the bringer of sunlight, and the Fezziwigs party.
Both stories are accompanied by harp played by Catherine Hampton.
Admission is $15 donation at the door.
PHOTO: NextStage cast (from left) — Front Row: Sally Bookman, Shari Gallegos, Claire Paul; Middle Row: Carol Hales, Catt Hampton, Carolyn Crocker, Alan Gable; Back Row: Christa Taylor, Bob Mangel, Ellen Mazaikas, John French
Saturday December 7
Sunday December 8
PARKSTORE HOLIDAY SALE
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Various locations
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks will host its annual ParkStore Holiday Sale at three locations this year:
• Seacliff State Beach, 201 State Park Drive, Aptos
• Natural Bridges State Beach, 2531 W. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
• Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, 144 School St., Santa Cruz
“The Holiday Sale is a fun and meaningful way to show support for our local state parks and beaches,” Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Executive Director Bonny Hawley said. “We’ll have a wide variety of park-themed gifts available, including apparel, jewelry, books, toys, iconic Michael Schwab and more.”
Friends members will receive 30% off on select
Fee: $35. Reservations required; no walk-ins. Call (831) 6881467 or visit aptoschamber.com.
Friday December 13
JAMES DURBIN JOINS WATSONVILLE BAND
7:30 p.m., Mello Center, 250 E Beach St, Watsonville
This year, musical sensation James Durbin, grandson of Watsonville Community Band members Dr. James (Doc) Settle and Shirley Settle, will be the featured soloist for a holiday concert at the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts in Watsonville. The Youth Band will perform at 7 p.m. Band conductor is Brad Gronroos, a 1972 Watsonville High alum.
The Band will also perform Saturday, Dec. 14, at Peace United Church, 900 High St. Santa Cruz and Sunday, Dec. 15, at Scotts Valley Performing Arts, 251 Kings Village Road. Both concerts start at 2 p.m.
HOLIDAY MARKET
11 a.m.–3 p.m., Felton Covered Bridge, Graham Hill Rd. / Mt. Hermon Rd. intersection
The Holiday Market on the Felton Covered Bridge is a festive annual event hosted by the San Lorenzo Valley Chamber of Commerce.
This magical event transforms the historic Felton Covered Bridge and Park into a charming holiday setting featuring local artisans, food vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities.
The event spotlights local businesses, artists, and crafters making it a cherished tradition in the Santa Cruz Mountains and beyond.
Come celebrate the season!
Saturday December 14
HOLIDAY SHOW
7 p.m. (6 p.m. Dinner), Boulder Creek Rec Center, 1333 Middleton Ave.
A spectacular evening featuring local performers, blending the magic of Peter Pan with the adventure of Jurassic Park at Boulder Creek Rec Center. Free.
Come early for a delicious dinner; tickets must be purchased in advance at https://bcrpd2.wufoo.com/forms/ z1y19m5m1h3m037/
Small plate for kids under 10 is $10, large plate $15. Includes beverage and dessert. Dairy free, gluten free & vegetarian options available. This is a youth program fundraiser.
iconic Michael Schwab park illustrations on apparel, plus jewelry, maps, nature guides, local history books, educational toys and other gifts representing the natural and cultural history of our parks.
Look for hats, pins, stickers and key chains by popular artist Tim Ward, Socksmith socks, and silk scarves. Nonmembers receive 20% off.
Proceeds benefit local state parks and beaches.
Tuesday December 10
KOKUA CHRISTMAS CONCERT
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., ReGeneration Church, 1500 Green Hills Road, Suite #103 Scotts Valley
Everyone is invited to celebrate the joy of Christmas with a free concert, presented by Kokua at ReGeneration Church. Come to sing Christmas carols and share the love of Christ.
Thursday December 12
APTOS CHAMBER FAREWELL TO ZACH FRIEND
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive. Join the Aptos Chamber of Commerce for a lunch with County Supervisor Zach Friend at Seascape Golf Club to express gratitude for his years of hard work and warmly welcome our newly elected supervisor! There will be time for questions and community updates.
Come share some laughs and celebrate the end the year at this fundraiser!
Thursday December 19
UKELELE CLUB
6-8:30 p.m., Cork and Fork, 312 Capitola Ave.
The ukulele scene in Santa Cruz has really grown since the founding of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz in January of 2002. Before that, the only ukulele events in town were the once-a-year springtime party in the founder’s living room.
Today things are different. Besides the original, and world famous, there are gatherings of ukulele players almost every day of the week, as well as annual and semiannual events and the latest; Cork and Fork. n
Appreciating Education
When the Santa Cruz Sentinel’s recommendations for the Nov. 5 local ballots was published, I was impressed with the thoughtful tone and discretion they showed in their evaluations.
They showed restraint by not supporting some of the local tax measures, calling into question their purpose and cost.
I am particularly thankful for the endorsement of Scotts Valley’s Measure X, which will modernize our city’s business license tax in a fair and equitable way.
What caught my eye, however, was the support of the 6 school bonds around the county, including our district’s Measure “O.” The size and scope of the measures varies, but each in its own way assesses and explores our commitment to our public schools and the value they provide.
I hesitate to say it, but I was raised in a middle-class family. Maybe even a little lower. My mother worked split shifts for a local Mexican restaurant and my father was unemployed for several years, due to an injury suffered while working for the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Back then you could buy a 3-bedroom house in Concord, California for $6,500 and that is where our family lived. Like most kids, I started my education in kindergarten at age 5.
Because my mother worked, I was left alone most school days for maybe 20 minutes and when the cuckoo clock struck 11:30, I would turn off the T.V. and walk the half-mile to Hillcrest Elementary School, which was aptly named, as there was a pretty big hill to negotiate.
In later years, I would help push my older brother Rick up that hill, as he had polio and needed help from behind, so he wouldn’t teeter and fall backwards.
When I wasn’t there to help, he would actually climb the hill backwards in his braces and crutches to get to school. Not many social services back then to provide transportation for the disabled.
Up into his freshman year, Rick was an average student. But then, something changed. The very first week of his 10th grade, when after dinner I would do a few arithmetic problems and settle in to watch
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. or Bewitched, he was nowhere to be found.
Why? He was ensconced in this room,
By Randy Johnson, Mayor, City of Scotts Valley
studying for 3 or 4 hours each night, transforming his prospects to change his life. And it worked. After graduating in the top 10 of his class, he went on to graduate from San Jose State and ultimately get a doctorate in biochemistry.
That effort allowed him to get a highpaying job, get married and raise a family. The enabling factor for his success was…education. For that, the appreciation runs deep.
His is not a unique story.
For virtually every one of us, regardless of how high we rise, education has played a very fundamental part in our success.
You’re a software engineer? Where would you be without high school algebra and trig? You’re a real estate broker? Without social skills, English lit and composition, without critical thinking and communication, you would be a little lost writing up that offer.
Everyone remembers that one special teacher who mentored and inspired him/ her to reach higher and excel. There’s a reason why you hugged and thanked a teacher at graduation, because of the love
and belief that instructor invested in you in your journey. Education is transformative for those who are aspirational because it ultimately empowers us to be the best version of ourselves.
My “Yes” vote on Measure ”O” will cost my wife and me more than $200 a year. Looking at my current tax bill, which recently arrived, we already pay lots to the school district.
And yet ... Our kids have graduated, done well and I think for that I am grateful for all that the district has done for us and almost every other family we know.
Education is always a good investment because it lends itself to a lifetime of opportunities and promise for our citizens. Extending that dream for a new generation of students is essential and we will all be better for it. n
Randy Johnson, mayor of Scotts Valley, was first elected to the City Council in 1996. When new Council members are sworn in on Dec. 17, he will step down after 28 years. Email him at rlj12@ comcast.net
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SCCAS Featured Pet
A Patch For Your Heart
Our Pet of the Week is Patch (A#315973), the Old English Spotted Rabbit! Patch was found while a good Samaritan was on a walk in a college campus. Unable to find the guardian, the good Sam brought the bun to the Shelter. While being at the shelter this bunny has shown his loving and social side- he loves pets and cuddles. Patch is a very sweet boy and full of personality.
When he is out of his kennel he is inquisitive and brave; always hopping around and looking for interesting things to see and do. Patch is a fun bun, and clearly a great listener- look at those adorable ears!
If you are looking for a sweet and social bunny to light up your home, come to SCCAS and meet Patch! n
The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is full of adoptable animals. Fostering animals is an awesome way to improve a Shelter animal’s life and fill your home with love and fun! If you are interested in fostering any kind of animal please email jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us. You can also Follow SCCAS on Instagram and/or Facebook to stay up-to-date on shelter news and where to find adoptable pets around town at breweries, stores and events. All adoptions are first come, first served.
