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Saddle maker Page 9
APTOS
SOQUEL
CAPITOLA
MAY 2015
EVERYTHING APTOS, CAPITOLA & SOQUEL
Vol. 3 No. 10
Drivers, pedestrians struggle with new roundabout
HISTORY CORNER By John Hibble Call: 688-1467 Visit us online: aptoshistory.org Visit the museum:
Education needed on new traffic pattern, officials say
7605-B Old Dominion Court Aptos, CA
The apple industry in Aptos, part 2
By ERIK CHALHOUB
Dried apples and vinegar Last month we talked about how the lumber industry stripped the hills bare and how Fred Hihn brilliantly created a new apple industry to re-employ out of work lumber jacks. We talked about the fresh apple packing industry, the pretty apples. But what happened to all of the ugly and marginal apples? They were dried. Fruit has been preserved by drying for thousands of years and besides snacking, dried apples were widely used in cooking. But, after the apples were prepared for drying, what happened to the mountain of apple skins and cores? Nothing was wasted. The leftovers were used to produce cider and vinegar. By 1905 the apple business in Aptos was in full swing with two major packing houses. Please turn to Page 6
Pleasure Point is shown stemming off the bottom of 41st Avenue in Live Oak. Photo by Tarmo Hannula
Groups announce plans to tackle homelessness
By ALEX VICARS-HARRIS APTOS — Since 1924, the Polo Grounds Park in Aptos has been home to decades of little leaguers, soccer players and baseball teams. The residents of Santa Cruz County have watched generations of families engage in the bliss of the park but continue to wonder why the absence of permanent bathrooms continues to be an issue. The several scattered portapotties have provided a last resort to park visitors, but many would prefer to hold it in. With the large number of sports teams using the park over
Power line project Capitola mural Fit for the Fight Briefs Guest Columns Calendar
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the weekends, a permanent and clean way to use the bathroom would prove extremely efficient. “The bathrooms were part of a phased project after the park master plan was completed,” newly appointed Santa Cruz County Parks Director Jeff Gaffney said, “but as funding became more limited bathrooms were dropped off the priority list.” Now, along with Supervisor Zach Friend and Gaffney, the Cabrillo Host Lions Club are opening a fundraiser to support
******ECRWSSEDDM****** POSTAL CUSTOMER APTOS, CA 95003 CAPITOLA. CA 95010
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Campaign under way for bathrooms at park
Monthly publication dedicated to covering everything in
a Home for Every County Resident program April 8 in Aptos. Photo by Tarmo Hannula
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APTOS, CAPITOLA & SOQUEL,CA.
hour-long gathering brought together leaders from around the county, including APTOS — A new multi-layered plan County Human Services, Pajaro Valley to deal with homelessness in Santa Cruz Shelter Services, Santa Cruz Police, the County was announced April 8 at an Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County energized meeting to introduce the All In — and United Way of Santa Cruz County. The Homeless Action Partnership, Smart Toward a Home for Every County Resident Solutions to Homelessness, and United program. Hosted by MidPen Housing at the MidPen Way set forth the new Santa Cruz County low-income Aptos Blue Apartments, the Community Strategic Plan with the goal to prevent, reduce and eventually end homelessness. Various speakers outlined steps that community members and leaders can take to implement the plan. “I think the major difference between this plan and the one 10 years ago is we very consciously wanted to talk about the entire county and all the major players that are involved in ending homelessness,” said United Way of Santa Cruz Executive Director Mary Lou Goeke. “I think in the decade that has passed since that plan was passed, we have a much better idea of what works.” Piggybacking on the previous 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness Maria Cerrillos (at podium) talks of how she became (which wound down in 2013) All In homeless during the launching of the All In — Toward will strive to help residents of Santa
By TARMO HANNULA
APTOS — Roundabouts are typically installed at four-way intersections to streamline what was once previously controlled by stop signs, allowing traffic to flow at an almost constant pace. But, based on initial reports, drivers and pedestrians have been experiencing anything but that with the new traffic pattern at the Esplanade in Rio del Mar. Most concerns about the roundabout center around people’s behavior, said Patrick Mulhearn, an analyst from Supervisor Zach Friend’s office. Drivers have been witnessed making their own paths through the intersection, and pedestrians frequently cut through it, ignoring the crosswalks. “It really sounds like people are doing the same sorts of things they did in the old quasi-roundabout that was there before: trying to cut across the intersection, ignoring pedestrians’ right-of-way, and generally looking for the most convenient way to get where they’re going,” he said. The California Highway Patrol has not seen any increases in collisions in the