Aptos Times: April 1, 2022

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April 1, 2022 • Vol 31 No. 7

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Aptos High Hall of Fame Returns

After a two-year delay due to Covid, the Aptos High Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020 finally gets celebrated on April 30.

Highlighting the class are Marissa Ferrante, who earned an unprecedented 15 varsity letters in four years ...

Full Story page 7

New Owner at California Coffee Full Story page 6

Aptos Village RR Track Disappears

By Jondi Gumz Everyone in Aptos Village is talking about the railroad tracks being removed.

I thought it might be a project by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, which owns the rail line, but it’s actually a county project.

On March 11, County Public Works announced construction of the Parade Street railroad crossing would begin March 14 and conclude June 30, with potential delays due to lane closures during work hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ... continues on page 4

Exccdingectatiis!

Exp

2022 Artist of the Year:

Annie Morhauser

The 2022 Artist of the Year is Annie Morhauser, founder of Annieglass, a highly successful line of glass tableware and sculpture sold worldwide.

Handcrafting her glassware in Santa Cruz County since 1983 ...

Full Story page 5

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No. 7

Volume 31

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Table of Contents

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Cover Aptos Village RR Track Disappears, By Jondi Gumz

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Community News 2022 Artist of the Year: Annie Morhauser New Owner at California Coffee Aptos High Hall of Fame: April 30: Most Decorated Student-Athlete, Greatest Baseball Player, Great Two-Way Hoopster & More Not as Deadly Due to Error; 10 Bills To Crush COVID, By Jondi Gumz Startup Business Owners Can Apply for $10,000 Training Grant, By Jondi Gumz Russia Invades Ukraine; Record Gas Prices, $400 Rebate?, By Jondi Gumz Luna y Sol: Community Action Board Opens Drop-in Center for Youth United in Solidarity: Asian American & Pacific Islander Community Plans Festival May 21, By Stephanie Barron Lu Red Apple Donates to Gutzwiller Memorial, By Kieran Kelly • Wanted: New CHP Site 2022 Al Smith Friend of Agriculture: Richard & Mary Travis • National Ag Day 2022 Poster & Poetry Winners No-Cost Chipping Coming April 1 In Memoriam A Tribute To Diane Porter Cooley: Oct. 15, 1928 ~ March 11, 2022, By Susan True

Business Profile 16 The Skylight Place: Getting the Job Done Right, By June Smith Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Star Gates of Spring Have Opened, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29 Featured Columnists 23 ‘Would you rather be right, or would you rather be loved?’, By Joyce and Barry Vissell 24 PVUSD Superintendent: Tests, Masks, Subs & Graduation Dates, Q&A With Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District 30 Meet the Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Girls Trip!

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COVER STORY Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

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contributing writers Jondi Gumz, Stephanie Barron Lu, Kieran Kelly, Susan True, June Smith, Risa D’Angeles, Joyce and Barry Vissell, Michelle Rodriguez, Zach Friend layout Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin photography Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin, Brad King website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti production coordinator Camisa Composti media consultants Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine Cathe Race

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distribution Bill Pooley, Taylor Brougham

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

Entire contents ©2022. All rights reserved.

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

“Aptos Village RR” from page 1 The contractor is Anderson Pacific.

According to a March 18 county blogpost on Aptos Village Phase 2B, “The project is very close to completion.

The new paving has been installed and striping is nearly complete.

Most of the utilities have been raised. Only a few items remain …

Signals are scheduled to be energized March 30.

Finetuning of fiber optic synchronization of the five area signals will take place in the days following …

Railroad signal work will continue through March … Pavement markings and green bike lane striping will be installed by the end of March.

Project signage will be installed by then as well.”

All village businesses will remain open during construction.

Here’s a March 30 update from Steve Wiesner, assistant director of Santa Cruz County Community Development & Infrastructure (the department formerly known as Public Works): Is the new railroad crossing going in?

Yes, the Parade Sreett railroad crossing is currently being constructed by the developer.

What’s the timetable?

Due to delays is material procurement, we anticipate construction will be completed by August 2022.

And the cost?

This project is being managed and constructed by the developer and we are not privy to their construction costs.

PHONE: (831) 688-7549 FAX: (831) 688-7551 GENERAL E-MAIL: info@cyber-times.com Patrice Edwards: patrice@cyber-times.com Publisher’s Assistant: assistant@cyber-times.com Editor: info@cyber-times.com Calendar Listings: www.tpgonlinedaily.com Graphics Department: graphics@cyber-times.com Billing Inquiries: cathe@cyber-times.com Classified Sales: sales@cyber-times.com Production: production@cyber-times.com CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT: www.tpgonlinedaily.com mission statement We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc. are dedicated to providing a voice for the individuals and organizations in our community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses. We seek to promote healthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, school news, senior events, community groups and entertainment 4 / April 1st 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Railroad tracks are being removed in Aptos Village.

I’ve heard that Aptos Village Phase 2 has been held up by the requirement to complete Parade Street in Aptos, and Parade Street construction has been held up by the railroad. Is that correct?

Construction of the Parade Street railroad crossing is included in the Improvement Plans for the Aptos Village Phase II development project.

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While there have been delays, none of the delays were cause by any single or two reasons … there are a myriad of factors.

Watch for updates at https://aptos villageimprovement.blogspot.com/ n ••• Cover Photos: Aptos Village: Bereft of its railroad track. • Credit: Todd Marco

COMMUNITY NEWS

2022 Artist of the Year: Annie Morhauser T he 2022 Artist of the Year is Annie Morhauser, founder of Annieglass, a highly successful line of glass tableware and sculpture sold worldwide.

Handcrafting her glassware in Santa Cruz County since 1983, she developed her company to become one of the largest and most successful American glass studios.

By combining skills as a designer, artisan, and businesswoman, Morhauser has built a highly regarded brand and has been featured in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow, Scotland, and the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York. She has won numerous design awards and patents.

Annieglass can be purchased in the finest stores, and is collected by chefs, celebrities, bridal couples and many loyal local customers.

Next year, she will celebrate 40 years of creating sculptural glassware with her skilled team of artisans.

For 36 years, the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission has presented the award to a local artist for outstanding achievement in performing, visual, or literary arts and who has made a substantial contribution to the cultural enrichment of Santa Cruz County.

She has accomplished something rare: Crossing over into the commercial world while tenaciously retaining her fine art approach.

Her downtown Santa Cruz store was one of the first to

Annie Morhauser signs her works in her Watsonville studio. reopen after the 1989 earthquake, despite the destruction of more than four tons of glass in her studio.

The Annieglass studio, originally 400 square feet in the Old Sash Mill in Santa Cruz, is now a manufacturing facility of more than 16,000 square feet at 310 Harvest Drive in Watsonville. Tours of the factory are available on Saturdays.

Twice each year a new collection is introduced. Annieglass has invigorated the ancient craft of glassmaking with new technology and original design.

Morhauser came to Santa Cruz in 1977. She learned

Save The Date!

glassblowing at the College of San Mateo and San Francisco State University before receiving a scholarship to the glass program as a student of Marvin Lipofsky at the California College of Arts and Crafts, now called the California College of the Arts. She serves there now as an advisor, donor and board trustee.

In 2017, Annie launched The Craftbar with her daughter Ava Reinhold, hosting workshops in arts and crafts, which functions as a community beacon. The Annieglass retail store and website offers all of the Annieglass collections as well the work by other well-known and local craft artists.

Over 400 nonprofits annually receive cash and in-kind donations, including Jacob’s Heart, Girls Inc., Digital Nest, Planned Parenthood of Mar Monte, Salud Para La Gente, Watsonville Film Festival, Second Harvest Food Bank, and the Museum of Art and History. Over 40 scholarships have been awarded to students in need.

Annie’s son, Taylor Reinhold, follows in the family footsteps of art and community service. He recently directed the Sea Walls Santa Cruz murals.

A free “Profile Performance” will take place in fall 2022.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the location and format of the performance will be determined at a later date. Check the Parks Department website in summer 2022. n ••• For more information, including how to nominate an artist for the award, visit www.scparks.com.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

New Owner at California Coffee F or many years, business broker Sylvia Reyes drove by this coffee shop in Aptos on her way to drop off her sons at school in the morning. She fantasized about listing and selling then-Surf City Coffee and what it would be like to own a coffee shop once her sons grew up and left for college.

That fantasy became reality in August when she became the proud owner of California Coffee in Redwood Village.

Reyes hopes customers will continue to enjoy the “best coffee in Aptos,” and support a single mother and a born-andraised local businesswoman.

She’s ready for a ribbon-cutting with the Aptos Chamber of Commerce Friday, April 8, from 11 a.m. to noon, and a grand opening Saturday, April 9, from 2 to 4 p.m.

She has a staff of five.

Reyes has created a grassy patio outside, complete with a waterfall as a comfortable spot to hang out. Inside there’s a tropical vibe, surfing, local art inspired by the sea, music, and Bay Area sports in the cozy sports lounge.

Reyes is committed to sustaining a welcoming diverse atmosphere. She’s

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Sylvia Reyes, new owner of California Coffee, hugs her dog, Pepsi. hosting local musicians on the patio on relax. Yes, California Coffee is licensed to Saturdays, hoping many customers will sell beer and wine.

A longtime resident of Santa Cruz and enjoy their favorite hot, iced, caffeinated, alcoholic or tropical beverages while they Monterey counties, Reyes enjoys volunteering

with nonprofit organizations, local schools and helping the underserved.

Reyes also works for Coast Business Brokerage, which has 20+ successful years helping people buy and sell businesses in Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. She’s assisted many buyers and sellers in untangling the complexities in business transactions.

She’s owned an agribusiness, served as executive director for two California associations and worked in human relations and risk management for large farming companies.

When she chaired the board of Santa Cruz Community Credit Union, she built strong business relationships. She’s newly back on as an associate director.

She chaired the board of SCORE of Monterey Bay and she’s been a board member for the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, Santa Cruz Volunteer Center, California Coastal Rural Development Corp. Loan Review Committee, and the Monterey County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

“California Coffee” page 10

Honoring Our Doctors! We thank all our physicians for their loyalty and dedication to our patients, our community, and our hospital.

Happy Doctors' Day 2022 Our Family Caring for Your Family.

6 / April 1st 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Watsonville Community Hospital 75 Nielson Street, Watsonville, CA 95076 (831) 724-4741 Watsonvillehospital.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Aptos High Hall of Fame: April 30

Most Decorated Student-Athlete, Greatest Baseball Player, Great Two-Way Hoopster & More

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fter a two-year delay due to Covid, the Aptos High Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020 finally gets celebrated on April 30.

Highlighting the class are Marissa Ferrante, who earned an unprecedented 15 varsity letters in four years, Kevin Eichhorn, a two-time Santa Cruz County Athletic League MVP and two-time 1st-team All-State baseball player, Cris Warmerdam, one of the finest two-way basketball players of all time, and Jen Bryan, the winningest volleyball coach in school history.

Former SCCAL Commissioner Pat Lovell will be honored posthumously for his 29 years of service to Santa Cruz County athletics.

These five, and six others, will be honored during the special ceremonies and awards banquet Saturday, April 30, at the Seascape Golf Club.

Marissa Ferrante (Class of 2010) starred in four sports, cross-country, water polo, track and field, and swimming. She earned 15 varsity letters. She also captured 15 individual league titles and 8 SCCAL team championships.

Besides earning multiple All-CCS and All-NorCal honors in multiple sports, she was the 2010 Santa Cruz Marissa Ferrante Sentinel Female Athlete-of-the-Year.

Matriculating to Stanford, Marissa was the 2012 Collegiate National Triathlon champion and represented the USA at the World Championships in New Zealand.

Kevin Eichhorn (Class of 2008) was a four-time 1st-team All-SCCAL baseball player, a two-time SCCAL MVP, a two-time 1st-team All-State selection, and the 2008 SC Sentinel Male Athlete-of-the-Year.

His name is all over the AHS record book Kevin Eichhorn in both pitching and hitting, and he led the Mariners to two SCCAL team titles. Passing-up several full-ride offers, Kevin was drafted in the 3rd round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he pitched seven years in the

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he Class of 2020 also features some of Aptos High’s best competitors in football, basketball, softball, baseball, track and field, and wrestling: Steve Carey (1973) — a four-year starter and 3-time 1st-team All-SCCAL selection in baseball, he was also an allleague football player, and a key member of the 1970 team that beat Soquel 12-0 for the first football victory in AHS history; he earned all-state baseball honors at Cabrillo and helped the Seahawks reach the state championships in 1975.

Vicki Gorman (1976) — earned 8 varsity letters in basketball and softball, and earned two 1st-team All-MBL honors in basketball; also an all-conference basketball player at Cabrillo when the Seahawks won the 1978 state championship; played at Cal State Hayward too.

Cathy Hampton (1980) — played both softball and basketball; her basketball teams went 30-0 in SCCAL play over three years, and as a senior, she was the SCCAL MVP and 1st-team All-CCS; an allconference basketball player at West Valley too, she matriculated to Graceland University on a basketball scholarship.

minors before a shoulder injury derailed his career.

Cris Warmerdam (Class of 1988) was a two-way force on some of the greatest basketball teams in Aptos High and Santa Cruz County history. He is also one of the most intimidating players to ever step onto a basketball court.

Cris put up numbers that still stand more than 30 years after he Cris Warmerdam graduated. He is the Mariners’ all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots, and his 13 blocked shots in a single game is a record that may never be broken. A three-year starter who earned All-SCCAL, All-CCS, and All-NorCal honors, Cris was a key player on the 1986 SCCAL, CCS, and Nor-Cal Championship team.

Jen Bryan won six SCCAL Championships in eight years. No other AHS volleyball coach has won more than two championships. Her teams qualified for the CCS playoffs every year, reaching the CCS semi-Finals five times. Jen is the winningest volleyball coach in AHS history, compiling a 207-70 record.

The next closest has 90 wins. She also owns Jen Bryan the third highest winning percentage of all-time at 75%. More than 15 of her players went on to play in college, including Oregon State, the University of Minnesota, New York University, the University of Portland, and more.

Pat Lovell needs little introduction.

He is an icon in the sports world of Santa

Bill Shirley (1982) — an all-league running back in football, Bill is also one of the most distinguished sprinters in AHS track & field history; he won 5 individual SCCAL titles and led the Mariners to two team championships, and he held four school records when he graduated.

Paige Coulam (1998) — a four-year starter in basketball, Paige was a two-time 1st-team All-SCCAL selection; one of the top scorers in AHS history, Paige was best known for her elite lock-down defense; she matriculated to Mesa College and played basketball for one year before transferring to Santa Clara University.

Tim Smith (2002) — winning 121 matches over four years, including multiple 40-win seasons, Tim is one of the finest wrestlers in SC County history; he was a two-time SCCAL champion, a two-time CCS medalist, and finished 7th in the state in 2002; in 2002, he was also selected as the CCS Wrestler-of-the-Year; he continued to wrestle at Brown University, winning many matches and awards there.

Cruz County, easily owning one of the most recognizable names in county sports history. An All-Conference football player at Cal Poly, and an Olympic wrestler, he was the commissioner of the SCCAL for

29 years, and the importance and impact of his leadership as the SCCAL commissioner cannot be overstated.

“Aptos High Hall of Fame” page 9

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Not as Deadly Due to Error; 10 Bills To Crush COVID

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By Jondi Gumz

n March 18, the federal Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention reported an error in its Covid-19 mortality data, removing 72,277 deaths, including 416 children.

The correction cut the CDC’s estimate of deaths in children by 24% to 1,341 as of March 18.

After The Guardian, based in London, reported on mortality rates for children, the CDC corrected a “coding logic error” that incorrectly added more than 72,000 Covid deaths of all ages to its data tracker.

The agency noted the change in a footnote, not explaining how the error occurred or answering a question on how long coding error was in effect, the Guardian reported.

A source familiar with the issue told The Guardian the problem came out of two questions, one asking if a person died “from illness/complications of illness,” and then asking for the date of death. If

the answer was no or unknown, but the date of death was provided, the system assumed that if the “no” or “unknown” answer was in error, and switched the answer to “yes.”

Hospitalizations from the easily spread but less deadly Omicron variant peaked in January and have plummeted nationwide, in California and locally. See the federal Center for Disease Control map showing most counties green for low transmission except for high transmission in eastern Montana and the center of South Dakota.

Two years after the coronavirus pandemic began, the state Department of Public Health reports hospitalizations down from 20,000 at the peak of the Omicron surge in January to 1,300, and test positivity, 23% in January, now 1.3%.

In Santa Cruz County, only five people are hospitalized for Covid, including two in intensive care.

8 / April 1st 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Proposed Bills n January, a group based in Newbury Park, Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids, filed a lawsuit with Officer Jonathan Wiese, Fire Capt. Justus Norgood, and Police Capt. Manuel Del Toro, filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego, seeking relief from the vaccine mandate for first responders and city employees, calling it unconstitutional.

The group is tracking 10 Covid-19 bills proposed by California lawmakers: SB 871: To end a personal belief exemption in the state’s student vaccine mandate.

SB 866: To allow children 12 and older to get COVID vaccines without parental consent.

SB 920: To authorize a medical board to inspect a doctor’s office and records without patient consent.

SB 1464: To require law enforcement officers to enforce public health orders.

SB 1479: To mandate Covid testing plans at schools.

SB 1390: To prohibit a social media platform from amplifying harmful content such as misinformation or disinformation.

SB 1184: To authorize a health care provider or plan to disclose your child’s medical information to a school-linked services coordinator without parent consent.

AB 1793: To require schools, childcare facilities, family childcare homes, and county human services agencies to disclose vaccination information and assess vaccination status of pupils and clients in a public health emergency.

AB 1993: To mandate vaccines for all employees and independent contractors — and require employers to verify their workers are immunized.

AB 2098: To classify a physician and surgeon disseminating or promoting misinformation or disinformation related to COVID-19 as unprofessional conduct and grounds for disciplinary action.

To track these bills, see https:// leginfo.legislature.ca.gov Dr. Pamela Popper of Ohio has sued HHS, FDA and CDC concerning vaccines for kids under 16, and hopes to get discovery, the point at which both sides can get evidence. Updates are at https:// makeamericansfreeagain.com/ Signs of Normalcy ant to travel again? Kayak.com reports the United Kingdom, Slovenia and Denmark are open to visitors — with no Covid-19 restrictions.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams lifted the vaccine mandate for performers

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and professional athletes, which means Kyrie Irving, a top player for the Brooklyn Nets who was unable to play at home because he opted out of the Covid vaccination, can now play.

Santa Cruz County closed the vaccination site at Felton Community Hall March 9 after giving 2,000 vaccinations and referred residents to the newly opened Santa Cruz Community Health office in Ben Lomond. On March 27, the county closed the vaccine clinic at the old Watsonville City Hall, where 20,000 vaccinations were given.

A new Omicron variant called BA.2 “appears to be about 50% more transmissible than the original omicron strain BA.1, according to UC Davis Health. “Preliminary data suggests omicron BA.1 causes the same severity of disease and symptoms, but it’s affecting younger people more.”

Two Years anta Cruz County, which updates its dashboard on Monday and Thursday, has 500 active cases, down from 10,000 at the peak, and three more deaths, bringing the total to 259.

Underlying conditions were a factor in 19 of the 20 most recent local deaths during the peak of the highly contagious and thought-to-be-mild Omicron variant.

The latest deaths were people 65 and older, two with underlying conditions. The county website lists vaccination status in death as “yes” or “no.”

The most COVID fatalities in the county occurred in January 2021, when vaccines were not available and 22 people died in one week.

There’s no word on a contract agreement between registered nurses, including those at the Santa Cruz VNA, and Sutter Health.

County supervisors have chosen five members for the board of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District Project, the local consortium awarded the bid to buy Watsonville Community Hospital, which has 620 employees, and shares the treatment of Covid-19 patients with Dominican Hospital. See the report by County Supervisor Zach Friend in this issue.

To donate to the consortium, see www. pvhdp.org/ Pajaro Valley Schools est positivity for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, which reports testing for public schools, is 1.06 percent, lower than the state.

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“COVID Update” page 10

COMMUNITY NEWS

Startup Business Owners Can Apply for $10,000 Training Grant S

By Jondi Gumz

mall startup business owners are invited to apply for the California Dream Fund 11-week online training program at El Pajaro Community Development Center and become eligible to receive a $10,000 micro-grant.

A total of $1.7 million is to be distributed to small startups in Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties from the $35 million California Dream Fund.

El Pajaro CDC, a Women’s Business Center in Watsonville offering training, technical assistance, business incubator services and microloans, is partnering with the Santa Cruz Small Business Development Center and the Agriculture Land-based Training Association to offer

the program, with training to start in June.

El Pájaro CDC is a nonprofit with the mission of promoting equal access to economic opportunity. English and Spanish business planning classes and business coaching are available to support entrepreneurs in the process to qualify for the California Dream program and apply for funding.

“We have all kinds of business, restaurants, catering, baker, radio station, a brewery, construction,” said Carmen Herrera-Mansir, executive director of El Pajaro CDC. “We currently have a Spanish class going on and the English class starts on March 22. We will be repeating the class several times during this year.”

ALBA is a nonprofit organic farm incubator and workforce training center in the Salinas Valley, creating economic opportunity in organic farm management for Mexican immigrants and other Latinos.

To participate, submit a request for services at www.elpajarocdc.org or call (831) 722-1224.

Several dozen spaces are available in the training cohort to start in June, according to Brandon Napoli, director of the Santa Cruz Small Business Development Center, based at Cabrillo College.

Online sales are up 9%, according to the Santa Cruz SBDC, citing data from the U.S. Department of Commerce comparing the second quarter of 2021 with that period in 2020.

To help aspiring entrepreneurs get started selling online, Santa Cruz County

SBDC is launching Click 2 Bricks, a startup incubator and e-commerce hub emphasizing Latinx entrepreneurs in Santa Cruz and neighboring counties.

Click 2 Bricks will assist aspiring entrepreneurs and current business owners in starting, growing, and maintaining a best-practice, modern e-commerce website, along with business strategy.

Everything from initial pitch to product development, logistics, a launch checklist will be provided including coworking space and limited warehousing space on an as needed basis.

Startups that expect to sell via Shopify can expect to pay $79 a month for that software. n ••• To apply for the June training cohort, see https://clicks2bricks.org/pages/apply

IN MEMORIAM A Tribute To Diane Porter Cooley: Oct. 15, 1928 ~ March 11, 2022

By Susan True

D

Without Diane, our county may never iane Porter Cooley once said to me: “Susan, community is about living life have had a Land Trust, the Elkhorn Slough together. It’s about getting through hard Foundation, Salud Para la Gente, Pajaro times, floods, and fire; camping with girl Valley Shelter Services, the Community scouts; serving meals and building clinics; Foundation, and so many other organizations and initiatives that work to preserve helping kids and planting trees.”

This was just after I began as CEO of the land we cherish and strengthen who we are as a community. the Foundation in 2017, and Diane Diane loved the fairgrounds. was deeply generous in her time Here she is zipping around with with me. She wanted to be sure Susan True and John Kegebein, the that I had a good understanding leader of the Agricultural History of the institution she’d help found Project and former head of the that I was now going to lead.

Santa Cruz County fairgrounds.

I join many Santa Cruz She said, “I think people, as they County residents in comforting grow older, should not look for so each other as we honor the wild Diane Cooley much security. I think they should wit, ferocious passion, deep knowledge, and endless instruction that still look for adventure.”

For those of you who shared time with we learned from and enjoyed in Diane Diane, you know that every hour with her Porter Cooley.

“Aptos High Hall of Fame” from page 7 He grew the SCCAL from a tiny regional league into a CCS powerhouse.

He pushed for the expansion of women’s sports. He mentored hundreds of local coaches and athletic directors, and he modeled professionalism, selflessness, and respect at all times.

was an adventure. Unexpected stories, spontaneous road trips, a quick stop to meet someone, and of course, a few life lessons. Diane always had something to share. And, that quick laugh. What joy she sparked.

As her friend Bill Simpkins said to me, “Diane was more than an icon.” She was a giant, just like the Sequoias she loved.

“Cooley” page 26

The Hall of Fame event begins with social hour at 4 p.m., with dinner and the program to begin at 5 p.m. n ••• Tickets for the Aptos High Sports Hall of Fame celebration are $60 each and may be reserved through Aptos High Athletic Director Travis Fox, at 7287832, ext. 5201 or travis_fox@pvusd.net, or through Mark Dorfman at mark_dorfman@pvusd.net.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / April 1st 2022 / 9

“COVID Update” from page 8 The state’s guidance to schools and childcare facilities: After March 11, masks are not required but are strongly recommended.

“All community members have a right to make different choices with regard to recommended masking, and it is imperative that we respect personal choice and treat each other with respect and kindness,” posted Dr. Faris Sabbah, Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools.

Pajaro Valley schools, which will be on spring recess April 4-8, report 103 active student cases and 22 staff cases in March.

Aptos High has 12 student cases and two staff cases. Aptos Junior High has one student case and zero staff cases. Mar Vista Elementary has one student cases and one staff case. Rio del Mar Elementary has 6 student cases and two staff cases.

Young Children arents anxious to have shots for their younger children under 5 are still waiting for Pfizer and BioNTech to gather data on whether a third dose is effective.

Pfizer initially applied for emergency use authorization for young children for two doses.

On March 23, vaccine-maker Moderna reported positive results — no severe cases, hospitalizations, or deaths — in two clinical trials for children under 6 — and said it would ask the Food and Drug Administration to authorize its Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use authorization for those children, who have not been eligible for vaccines.

Cases of Covid cases decreased 43.7% for kids 6 to 23 months, and 37.5% for kids 2 to 6. At the outset, the FDA called for vaccines to cut infection by at least 50%.

Mary Holland, president and general counsel of Children’s Health Defense, contends there is no COVID emergency for children under 5 years old.

Children have a 99.995% recovery rate, and a body of medical literature indicates that “almost zero” healthy children under 5 have died from COVID, according to Holland, who cited studies in Germany, England and Wales.

Myocarditis n a 2022 report in the Journal of American Medical Association online, Dr. Matthew Oster of the CDC reported the

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“California Coffee” from page 6 “But my most important role is being a single mom to my sons Marcos and R.J. Reyes,” she said. “They are my super stars!”

Both are graduates of Aptos High School, on their own in the world.

Reyes wants to plan activities for our community, our youth, and especially young women.

government’s VAERS database received 1,991 reports of myocarditis after one dose of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine and 1,626 met the CDC’s definition for probable or confirmed myocarditis.

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart, which can lead to clots, a stroke or heart attack.

Oster’s conclusion: “The risk of myocarditis after receiving mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines was increased across multiple age and sex strata and was highest after the second vaccination dose in adolescent males and young men. This risk should be considered.”

The CDC looked at its data in February: Of 164 million total doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine given to those 18 years and older, there were 359 reports of myocarditis to VAERS in the seven days post-vaccination meeting CDC’s definition.

Reporting rates of myocarditis were higher for males age 18–49 than females, and higher after the second shot.

Most patients were hospitalized, and 69% recovered.

Public health officials say the scientific consensus is that Covid vaccines are safe, but some are skeptical about relying on science from drug-makers, which saw profits rise in 2021. They point to the U.S. government database, https://vaers.hhs.gov/, where health care providers are to report adverse events after a vaccine.

The reporting site was created after Congress passed a law in 1986 protecting vaccine manufacturers from civil personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits resulting from vaccine injuries.

After Covid arrived, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar invoked the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, a 2005 law that allows the HHS secretary to provide legal protection to companies making or distributing critical medical supplies such as vaccines unless there’s “willful misconduct” by the company, according to a report by CNBC. This lowers the cost of immunizations, and the protection lasts until 2024.

Fourth Shot? n March 13, the chief executive of Pfizer, which made one of the vaccines, said fully vaccinated people will need a fourth shot this year.

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“I would like to empower Latinas of all ages, single moms and youth to follow their dreams and never let anyone or anything break their stride!” she said. “We are ‘guerreras,’ warriors, and anything is possible with the right mind set and manifesting techniques.” n ••• he grand reopening of California Coffee in Aptos will be 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday,

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10 / April 1st 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

In an interview on “Face the Nation,” on CBS, Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said a fourth dose — a second booster — is necessary.

“The protection that you are getting from the third, it is good enough, actually quite good for hospitalizations and deaths,” he said. “It’s not that good against infections, but doesn’t last very long.”

Fully vaccinated means having two shots (Pfizer or Moderna) or one Johnson & Johnson shot. All were developed for the initial Covid-19 coronavirus.

For Omicron, a booster shot is needed.

Booster shots are 90 percent effective against preventing Omicron hospitalizations, according to the federal Centers of Disease Control.

California reports 83.8% of residents age 5 and up have had at least one shot.

On the CDC Covid tracker, Santa Cruz County reports 90.4% of residents age 5 and up have at least one shot and 82% fully vaccinated.

Omicron Less Deadly micron is deadly than Delta, which raged in 2021.

Santa Cruz County reports 259 Covid deaths, up from 225 as of Dec. 15, before Omicron was confirmed on Dec. 16 and 17.

One statistic is similar: 79% to 81% of those who died had pre-existing conditions.

Why do people fear Omnicron?

They may have a pre-existing condition (diabetes, obesity, asthma, high blood pressure).

Half of Americans do, so they are at higher risk for severe Covid illness.

So are people 85 and older.

Some people who got Covid experience “long Covid,” with fatigue and brain fog months afterward. A 2022 study in the journal Cell by researchers following more than 200 patients found many acute Covid patients had low cortisol, which could be addressed.

Testing anta Cruz County Office of Education, with Inspire Diagnostic, has provided 392,500 tests.

Cases peaked at 4,407 on Jan. 27, dropping to 108 on March 27. The 14-day positivity rate, 12.25% on January, is down to 1.06%.

The County Office of Education offers

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April 9, at 9105 Soquel Drive, Aptos, with music by the Joint Chiefs, vendors, face painting for youth, food and raffle prizes.

Regular hours: Mon. & Tues., 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wed., 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thurs. & Fri., 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat. & Sun., 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Holidays: Close at 2 p.m.

For information, see the shop’s Facebook page at califcoffee21 or Instagram california_ coffee_ or call 831-684-2750.

drive-though testing for students, staff and families at these locations: Cabrillo College, Aptos, Parking Lot K, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville, Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 399 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, Monday to Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.

School staff have rapid response antigen tests, courtesy of the County Office of Education, and Pajaro Valley schools are providing more for home use when spring break ends.

Directions are at https://drive.google. com/file/d/1U8AdsSyH14sDvrjD6T25kr hvOFRFsuXs/view For test options see: https://tinyurl. com/get-tested-santa-cruz.

Based on federal recommendations, the state shortened the isolation time for those testing positive from 10 days to five days.

Schedule booster shots at https:// myturn.ca.gov/ or by asking your local doctor and pharmacies. For local vaccine providers, visit www.santacruzhealth.org/ coronavirusvaccine.

For help scheduling an appointment, call the Community Bridges Helpline at 831-219-8607 or 831-440-3556 (English, Spanish, Mixteco and Triqui).

For local information on COVID-19, go to www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus or call (831) 454-4242 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. n •••

Total COVID cases: 500

••• COVID Deaths: 259 As of March 28 Age 85 and older: 110 • 75-84: 61 • 65-74: 46 60-64: 15 • 55-59: 4 • 45-54: 10 35-44: 8 • 25-34: 5 Underlying Conditions Yes: 209 • No: 50 Race White 147 • Latinx 89 • Asian 16 • Black 3 Amer Indian 1 • Hawaiian 1 • Another 2 Gender Men: 133 • Women: 126 Location At facility for aged: 115 Not at a facility: 144

“I would like to empower Latinas of all ages, single moms and youth to follow their dreams and never let anyone or anything break their stride!”

— Sylvia Reyes

COMMUNITY NEWS

Russia Invades Ukraine; Record Gas Prices, $400 Rebate?

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By Jondi Gumz

on’t expect a gas tax holiday to make filling up your tank less painful — $6 a gallon since Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered his military forces to invade Ukraine on Feb. 24 — but Gov. Newsom has an $9 billion idea, a $400 rebate for car owners for up to two cars plus $750 million for free bus and train fare for three months. The Legislature must approve.

The vote on an initiative by Assembly member Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, was 40 in favor — one short of the 41 yes votes need — 18 opposed, and 18 did not vote. Democrats do not want to suspend the gas tax, which was increased in 2017 to fund road improvements statewide.

Russia reports 1,300 soldiers killed since the invasion began, while NATO estimates 7,000 to 15,000 have died. The U.N. Human Rights Office confirmed 925 civilians have been killed and 1,496 injured. And 3.6 million people have fled.

At Chevron in Capitola, the price of regular unleaded is $5.99 per gallon — Aptos Safeway, $5.49, Arco Aptos, $6.05 and Chevron Aptos, $6.39.

In Scotts Valley, Union 76 — never a less expensive choice — raised the price to $5.39, then $5.89 and $5.99.

On March 8, when President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian oil, gas and

energy imports to the U.S., California had the highest gas prices of all 50 states, according to GasBuddy.com, averaging $5.44 for a gallon of regular unleaded gas vs. $4.68 in Hawaii.

Last year, the U.S. imported 245 million barrels of oil from Russia — about 8% of all imports, according to Associated Press — and that was up from 198 million barrels in 2020.

The United Kingdom announced a ban on Russian oil the same day as Biden, but it won’t take effect until 2023. Russian oil makes up 4% of the UK supply.

Shell said it would stop buying Russian crude oil on the spot market, and McDonald’s said it would temporarily close its 850 fast-food restaurants in Russia.

During his State of the Union address March 1, Biden said he would release 30 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but that didn’t stop the national average price of gasoline from rising to $4.213 per gallon.

California has a hefty gas tax, 51 cents per gallon, and due for a hike July 1, with the tax revenue for improving roads.

Soaring gas prices could mean political fallout as this is an election year, giving voters an opportunity to cast ballots on June 7 and Nov. 8. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / April 1st 2022 / 11

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Luna y Sol

Community Action Board Opens Drop-in Center for Youth Latinx kids age 12-17 in Watsonville have a new safe place to hang out after school: Luna y Sol Familia Center at 15 Madison St., in Watsonville, a short walk from Watsonville High.

Homework/computer stations, study space and a gym are on the first floor and the second floor has a community room and game room.

Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County is opening the drop-in center, thanks to a 2020 state “youth reinvestment grant” of $1.2 million, according to Maria Rodriguez, programs director of CAB’s employment and reentry services.

The Legislature allocated $37 million in 2018 for programs to keep youth from entering the juvenile justice system, and the Board of State and Community Corrections provided funds to create a one-stop service center for youth and families.

Rodriguez said the goals of Luna y Sol

are to prevent young Latinx males from contact with law enforcement and to divert young Latinx males out of the youth justice system.

Some staffers are youth navigators.

Others focus on job placement or parent engagement. The goal is to increase family capacity to support their children and build capacity of community organizations and the justice system to align with existing youth prevention efforts to meet the needs of Latinx youth.

At the grand opening, which took place in the courtyard, activities included appetizers, games and raffles — with attendees asked to wear a mask and maintain social distancing. In deference to COVID-19, visitors toured the facility in small groups.

Walk-in hours of operation are 3-7 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 1-7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

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COMMUNITY NEWS The Starlings volleyball team practices programs, assisting 10,000 people with in the gym Monday to Thursday starting at emergency response and services aimed 5:30 p.m. and Luna y Sol has access to the at sustaining self-sufficiency in areas of pressing need: Homelessness prevention gym before that and on Fridays.

Community Action Board leased the and intervention, employment and reentry, building through June 30, 2023, and the immigration legal services and advocacy, landlord covered the cost of new carpet and community building and youth development. n and fresh paint, Rodriguez said.

Founded in 1965, Community Action ••• Board of Santa Cruz County has a mission For information about Alcance and the to aid those impacted by poverty to co- Day Worker Center, contact Maria Rodriguez create a thriving, equitable and diverse at MariaR@cabinc.org or call (831) 840.7501 community, free from poverty and For more about CAB, see: http://cabinc.org/. injustice.

Factoring in the cost of living, Santa Cruz County has the second highest poverty rate in California after Los Angeles County.

Community Action Board reports more than three quarters of clients have family incomes less than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

More than Staff of Luna y Sol youth center at 15 Madison St., Watsonville. Left, Alberto Guzman, 50 employees Brando Marin, Alexander Zarazua; middle, YajairA Rae, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Maria work in CAB’s six Rodriguez-Castillo; right, Lizzete Arreola, Adan Saldaña, Yohara Ayala.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

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er to Fly on ov Blvd. rt 416 Airpo nville in Watso

Asian American & Pacific Islander Community Plans Festival May 21

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By Stephanie Barron Lu

he weekend of March 19-20, Asian American & Pacific Islander residents and allies across our diverse Santa Cruz County community hosted a vigil and a community healing event.

The vigil, organized by Shizue Shikuma, Kitty, Aimee and Takashi Mizuno, took place in front of the Watsonville Plaza on Saturday, March 19.

Twenty people came out in the rain to support the vigil with homemade signs and tribute items for a community altar.

On Sunday, March 20, the Asian American & Pacific Islander community gathered at Wagner ’s Grove in Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz. Fifty people, including local leaders, Asian Student Union leaders, friends, families and allies attended and spoke at the event.

The purpose was to recognize those who have been affected by

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BUSINESS PROFILE

The Skylight Place

I

By June Smith

f, like most of us, you have been working from home during the pandemic, has your family noticed the need for a renovation? If so, who should you call? The Skylight Place, that’s who!

The Skylight Place is a full-service one-stop glass shop. Insured, licensed & bonded, they offer residential and commercial glass repair, shower doors, skylights, window screens. and window replacement. Their mantra … “We Cut Glass, Not Quality.”

The business was founded by Rick Burger, assisted by son Paul Eastman, who says, “The pandemic has actually increased our business. When the shutdown first started, we were really slow, but a few weeks after, we noticed an increase in business, with everyone working from home. Suddenly fixing up the house was now the priority instead of taking vacations. We have hired four new employees since Covid started, and yeah, we did take advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program loan. It really helped us make up the losses we had when the pandemic started.”

“Supply chains are a constant issue,” Burger adds. “My lead times for windows are now anywhere from eight to 28 weeks, while before Covid they were from two to eight weeks.”

Often, his manufacturers are not shipping for the complete job.

“With the cost of materials and inflation on the rise I see it might be more challenging for many homeowners to do home improvements but at some point, it has to level out,” he says.

Servicing Santa Cruz County since 1971, The Skylight Place offers prompt, reliable service, priding themselves on expert installation and getting the job done right the first time. When you visit their shop on Capitola Road you will be greeted

“With the cost of materials and inflation on the rise I see it might be more challenging for many homeowners to do home improvements but at some point, it has to level out.”

— Rick Burger, Founder

Getting the Job Done Right

Courtney Barrett is pleased with her bathroom mirrors.

by Butter, the resident Malti-Poo, who when escorting you out, easily entices you to take him home.

The shop features major brands, including Cardinal shower enclosures, Velux skylights, Marvin windows and doors, Western Windows Systems, All Weather Architectural Aluminum, and the highly regarded Milgard windows and doors. The owners say they are proud the Milgard company approached them to feature their products.

A commercial property served several years ago was the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites on 41st Avenue in Capitola. More recently, they have provided entry doors for Dignity Health in Watsonville and shower doors for Googleplex, the corporate Google headquarters in Mountain View.

Matt Slatter, president, Slatter Construction Inc, says,” We love The Skylight

16 / April 1st 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Place and have worked with them for decades on projects for the Boardwalk, Palo Alto Medical, New Leaf Market, and dozens of others. We started working with them when my dad was president in the ‘80s and ‘90s. I took over in 2020 after my brother passed away and we still continue a great working relationship with them.”

During a bathroom remodel, Courtney Barrett and her husband Michael of Santa Cruz contacted The Skylight Place. She hadn’t found mirrors she liked to fit the space, and Michael suggested the shop as he had purchased mirrors there for his gym in the past.

She found the staff to be helpful, asking which thickness she wanted and explaining that thicker mirrors have a truer reflection. She chose the 1/4-inch thickness and is very pleased with them.

Another local couple, Elizabeth Charlton and Jim Furlong had the Skylight team install mirrors on two entire walls when turning their extra upstairs bedroom into a gym.

Furlong said, “The guys pulled up with the mirrors on glass racks and carried them up with giant suction cup handles.

They installed them all with perfect measurements, added trim, and today they are a main feature in Elizabeth’s ‘She Room’ which she uses for her Zumba practice.”

They have referred the business many times over the years. n ••• The Skylight Place • 4850 Capitola Road, Capitola • 831-476-2023 Hours: Monday-Friday 9-4 Online estimates and onsite service available: http://www.skylightplace.com/ Credit cards accepted

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Red Apple Donates to Gutzwiller Memorial I

By Kieran Kelly

t is no secret that the past two years have been difficult for family-owned restaurants, but that has not dampened the giving spirit of Dan and Gracia Krakauer, owners of the Red Apple Cafe in Aptos.

When they first heard about the fundraising campaign to build a memorial for fallen Santa Cruz County Sheriff Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller at Willowbrook County Park in Aptos, the Krakauers quickly offered a unique donation: a portion of all of the restaurant’s sales for the month of February.

“The community of Aptos has always come together when one of their own has been in need. The Red Apple Cafe, and Dan and I personally, we’re happy to be involved in the efforts to memorialize Sgt. Gutzwiller’s ultimate sacrifice for our community,” said owner Gracia Krakauer.

Local diners were eager to help as the Krakauers’ efforts helped raise over $4,100 to build a memorial for Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was killed in the line of duty on June 6, 2020. He is survived by his wife and two young children.

The proposed memorial will include the installation of a circular seating area in a quiet part of the park that faces south towards a new flagpole. The memorial will feature engraved footprints of Sgt. Gutzwiller’s boots alongside the footprints of his young family. As part of the project, improvements will also be made to the park’s entrance, playground, 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

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frequently found there with his dog, Shasta.

The Red Apple Cafe’s fundraiser is not the Krakauers’ first contribution in support of Sgt. Gutzwiller’s family.

Damon Gutzwiller “Whether it was donating meals to the family in the weeks after the tragedy to jumping at the opportunity to generously contribute to the memorial, Dan and Gracia represent the best of our community,” said County Supervisor Zach Friend, an early supporter of the project. “They put the community first, supporting many local causes and always asking how they can help make our community a better place.”

The cafe is a local institution having operated as a family-owned restaurant serving breakfast and lunch 7 days a week since 1988.

As Red Apple Cafe has demonstrated, businesses can come up with unique ways for community members to support the project.

“This is a simple, creative way for businesses to get involved and have an impact,” said Mariah Roberts, executive director of County Park Friends. n ••• The Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriff’s Association is coordinating the fundraising effort in partnership with local nonprofit County Park Friends and they hope to raise $805,000 in community donations and sponsorships through a variety of giving opportunities. Visit https:// www.countyparkfriends.org/willowbrook.html for renderings of planned park renovations and more ways to get involved.

Wanted: New CHP Site

he State of California is seeking 4.8 acres in Santa Cruz County for a new California Highway Patrol facility to replace the one in Aptos, which dates to 1981.

The site should be somewhere between Chestnut Street in Santa Cruz and S. Green Valley Road in Watsonville.

Vacant land with utilities is preferred, but the state will consider properties with existing structures to be demolished and sites that are part of a larger property.

The site must be easily accessible to principal transportation routes. Contact NaTonya Forbes at (916) 617-3635 or NaTonya.Forbes@dgs.ca.gov.

The Aptos office at 10345 Soquel Drive, a 1.5 acre-site near the Highway 1-Freedom Boulevard exit, scored low on an earthquake safety inspection, according to a 2014 report.

Currently, 42 CHP officers, five sergeants, one lieutenant and one captain work out of this location with four clerical staff and a position open.

State inspectors concluded the building would need to be closed for structural repairs if an earthquake occurred. Other issues include foundation problems, asbestos, which can cause cancer, and lead paint, which can cause other health problems. n

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2022 Al Smith Friend of Agriculture: Richard & Mary Travis R ichard Travis, one of the founders of the Santa Cruz County Fair Foundation, and his wife Mary, head of the Education Department at the county fair for 35 years, are the winners of the

Richard and Mary Travis accept the Al Smith Friend of Agriculture Award.

2022 “Al Smith Friend of Agriculture” award.

They received the award March 16 at the National Agriculture Day luncheon, hosted by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau and Agri-Culture, which sold 200 tickets.

The couple married right out of high school while Richard was a volunteer firefighter. After Richard served two years in the Army in Vietnam, he started volunteering by coaching youth baseball. Mary was scorekeeper and announcer at games.

Their daughter, Cynthia, was interested in horses, so they bought a ranch in Watsonville.

Richard became president of the California Horseman’s Association. Mary was secretary.

“Al Smith Award” page 25

COMMUNITY NEWS

National Ag Day 2022 Poster & Poetry Winners A ptos students captured first place in the 2022 National Ag Day poster and poetry contests, sponsored by the Santa Cru County Farm Bureau and Agri-Culture.

Finola McMenamy, 4th grade, St. Abraham’s Classical Christian Academy in Aptos, won the poster contest for grades K-6. Her colorful artwork depicts crops grown in the county, strawberries, grapes and apples, pumpkins, lettuce and broccoli, with a farmhouse, a white picket fence, a pond with cattails and a sleeping cow.

Second: Sophie Rose Liu, 5th grade, Mar Vista Elementary, Aptos.

Third: Giuliana Espinosa, 5th grade, Holy Cross School, Santa Cruz Honorable Mention: Daisy Coonerty, 5th grade, Holy Cross School, Santa Cruz

Finola McMenamy’s winning poster

Veronica Fine, 6th grade, Mountain Elementary School, Soquel.

Dakota Grover, 2nd grade, Mountain Elementary School, Soquel.

Elle Huerta, 5th grade, Holy Cross School, Santa Cruz “Posters & Poetry” page 23

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

‘Would you rather be right, or would you rather be loved?’

By Joyce and Barry Vissell

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t often comes down to this simple choice. All of us like to be right. We all have egos, some of us stronger than others. Of course, sometimes we are clearly right, and it may be important to stand up for what we know to be true.

But other times we are not right. Some of us are very attached to being right, having too much pride to admit making mistakes.

For some of us, saying the words, “I am wrong,” is equated with “I am a mistake,” rather than I made a mistake.

It’s like we are admitting our lives are wrong.

But we ARE NEVER a mistake. We are simply beautiful people who can make mistakes. In theory, we understand this concept. In practice, however, it is sometimes not so easy.

Investment in being right is a trap of wrong perception. This reminds me of the old Indian story: A group of visuallyimpaired men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them were aware of its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they said, “We must inspect and know it by touch.” So, they sought it out, and when they found it, they groped about it. The first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, said, “This being is like a thick snake.” For another one

whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, said the elephant is a pillar like a tree trunk. The man who placed his hand upon its side said, “An elephant is a wall.” Another who felt its tail, described it as a rope.

The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth and like a spear.

In one version of the story, the men become so attached to their perception of the elephant that they get into an argument with each other. That’s exactly what happened to Joyce and me a few years ago. This is humbling and embarrassing for me to tell, but it’s so perfect a blunder that I must share it.

And perhaps, you might also relate.

We were nearing the end of our Hawaii Couple’s Retreat. It was around 6:30 in the morning and we were doing our yoga stretches on the little lanai outside our cottage. Joyce, perhaps 15 feet away, happened to check her Facebook account on her phone and saw a video of our son talking. She clicked on the video, afraid that she would never find it again if she didn’t watch it that moment, as we had such limited reception.

On my side of the lanai, I heard muffled talking and, simultaneously,

“Posters & Poetry” from page 21

Kayla Kalenda

Jack Izzo, 1st grade, Moreland Notre Dame Catholic School, Watsonville Scarlett Pagano, 2nd grade Mountain Elementary School Soquel.

Sara Stark Weather Larolette, 3rd grade, Mountain Elementary School, Soquel.

Claire Weaver, 5th grade, Mar Vista Elementary, Aptos Poetry Kyla Kalenda, sophomore at Aptos High School, won the poetry contest for grades 7-12, with a piece titled “Grown.”

Second: Ian Elliot Burchell, 8th grade, “Gotta Gobble Great Greens,” Creekside School, Santa Cruz Third: Eric Magallon-Cacho, 12th

drum beating coming from Joyce’s direction. It was disturbing to me, and I was concerned about waking the neighbors close to us. I called out to Joyce to please turn down the volume. She called back, “Barry, it’s John-Nuri giving a message. I want to listen to it now.”

I grew irritated. “Joyce, it’s bothering me. It just sounds like noise coming from your phone. Turn it down!”

This time, I left out the “please.”

Meanwhile, Joyce did turn the volume down, and had the phone pressed against her ear to be able to hear.

I could no longer hear the muffled voice, but the sound of the drumbeat coming from her direction was still upsetting. I lost my temper. “Joyce, I can’t believe you’re being so inconsiderate! I would never do this to you!”

My words were not exactly skillful or compassionate.

The video ended a few seconds later, and she turned off her phone.

I was still upset at the sound of the drumbeat coming from her way. I told her so.

She called out, now with her own impatience, “My phone is off. Do you mean the drumming coming from the retreat center?”

It was like I was driving too fast to make such an abrupt turn. My anger was on a roll. I felt embarrassed and foolish. I grumbled, “Sorry,” with no real sincerity and way too much of a sharp edge.

grade “Fruit of our Labor” Pajaro Valley High School, Watsonville Honorable Mention Grace Annabella Paul, 11th grade, “Year After Year,” St. Abraham’s Christian School, Aptos Victoria Ayala, 12th grade, “Flourishing in our Agricultural Community,” Pajaro Valley High School, Watsonville Cooper Brownlee, 11th grade, “Seasons of Farming,” St. Abraham’s Christian School, Aptos Destiny Castrejon, 12th grade, “The Appreciation,” Pajaro Valley High School, Watsonville Fatima Diaz Campos, 12th grade, “Harvest Cheer,” Pajaro Valley High School, Watsonville

Joyce wasn’t having any of it, and turned away from me to finish her stretches as the drumbeat continued.

It took me a few minutes to settle down and swallow my foolish pride. I got up, walked over to Joyce, lay down next to her, vulnerably apologized, and then offered to hold her. She graciously accepted and all was well.

We like to refer to this kind of situation as a “divine setup.” The universe seems to arrange a “perfect storm,” just in case we place too much trust in our own perceptions.

I imagine the angels having a conversation that morning, “Hmmm. You hear that drumbeat perfectly aligned so it sounds like it’s coming from Joyce’s phone?”

“Yes, perfect. Let’s see how Barry handles that one.”

“Oops, not so well. Oh, wait, at least now he’s sincerely apologizing.”

As you can see, our perceptions can sometimes get us into trouble. What appears so clearly to be our reality may not be real at all. Or it may be partially correct, but not the whole picture. We humans have a tendency to interpret our partial experiences as the whole truth and ignore other people’s partial experiences. How brave of us to actually consider that we may be partially right and may have partial information.

“Shared Hearts” page 30

Finola McMenamy

Rachel Gonzalez, 12th grade, “Crop Poem,” Pajaro Valley High School, Watsonville n

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FEATURED COLUMNIST

PVUSD Superintendent: Tests, Masks, Subs & Graduation Dates I heard that the District is providing antigen tests for after the break. Where do I pick them up? nlike during winter break, we received these antigen tests from the State prior to our release for spring break. Therefore, we will be able to provide the antigen tests to the students through their individual school sites.

All PVUSD students will receive their antigen tests from their school on Wednesday, March 30. There will not be additional locations to pick up antigen tests.

Do we have to take the antigen tests and who do I give the results to? e are highly recommending but are not requiring all students and staff to take these antigen tests. We are recommending they take the first test on Friday, April 8, and the second test on Sunday, April 10.

You are not asked to provide the results to the school site if you have a negative result. However, if your child or a staff member has a positive result, they should quarantine and contact their school site.

You sent out a survey about a new nine-hour day. This is too much!

Why are you doing this? he Expanded Learning Opportunities Program provides funding for all California public schools, including PVUSD, to offer enrichment programs before school, after school and non-school days.

The focus of these learning programs is to develop the academic, social-emotional, and physical needs and interests of students through hands-on, engaging learning experiences.

The programs will be student-centered, results-driven and may include community partners. These programs are optional for students and families, however, a school district must provide at least 9 hours of regular-day instructional time and expanded learning opportunities every day. These programs will be offered before school, after school, or a combination of both.

Additionally, PVUSD must also provide the program opportunities for at least 30 additional days during summer, winter and/or spring breaks. While this will not be a needed resource for some students and their families, we do believe that these programs will be valuable for many of our families who desire additional

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Q&A With Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

enrichment programs for their children before or after school.

The survey was released to ensure that we include the voice of our students, staff and families in the development of these opportunities. PVUSD is planning for students to experience a safe and supportive environment, where they are active and engaged in their learning, can build meaningful skills, can participate in leadership activities, and are offered venues to address cultural and linguistic diversity with an equity lens.

I missed the first LCAP Meeting.

When will you have another meeting? e look forward to hearing from more students, staff and families during two additional scheduled LCAP meetings on April 18 and April 25 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and can be assessed through this link: https://tinyurl.com/ydfgovtm.

Thank you for your working with PVFT and the board to draft a resolution on behalf of the district strongly recommending that staff and students continue to wear masks and educate students and families about the importance of doing so after the mask mandate was lifted.

However, I have been disheartened at how widely that “strong recommendation” is being interpreted by district staff, especially some in positions of leadership. I fully understand that staff cannot request students to wear masks, nor should we request colleagues to do so. But shouldn’t administrators and health educators be following the resolution? This week we had a staff meeting and our (otherwise fabulous) administrator did not wear a mask while leading the meeting. Also, this week we had a vision and hearing screening at our site and the nurses did not wear masks. And today a colleague attended a professional development training at the district office and the presenters were not wearing masks. All three of these situations involved district leaders who were clearly disregarding the intent of the board’s resolution. This gives a mixed message to students and staff alike, and certainly to families who come on campus.

Do we or you have any recourse to ask administrators, medical professionals and professional development presenters to model the intent of the resolution? s the author of the resolution, I do model the behavior of wearing a face mask while on school sites or while I am

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indoors at PVUSD buildings with other people.

All staff members including administrators and health care staff have the same option as all other staff of making the choice to wear a mask or not.

How is this district helping support staff and students impacted by staffing issues? his has been a challenging year for vacancies, which is why we did place all of our Teachers on Special Assignment within the classrooms to fill the vacancies at the beginning of the year.

In addition, we increased our substitute rate with PVUSD paying substitutes significantly more than other districts in our county resulting in a larger substitute pool.

PVUSD daily rate is $180 compared to the average daily substitute rate in Santa Cruz County of $130. Previously, PVUSD paid long-term substitutes $200 after 10 consecutive days, compared to $185 for Santa Cruz County after 20 consecutive days.

In an effort to obtain more long- term substitutes, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, the Board approved our recommendation and PVUSD now pays long-term substitutes at the rate of $240 a day after 10 consecutive days.

District Administration, including myself, continues to substitute for teacher and staff vacancies throughout the District with a focus on Mondays and Fridays when absences are higher.

We are seeing a positive impact of the new signing bonuses with many new teaching contracts signed already for the 2022-2023 school year. We are all doing our part to provide the best education for our students.

When will Aptos High have a new cell tower?

We were assured in September, by Sheriff Hart, that this was a main priority for AHS but 7 months later, we are still waiting.

VUSD is in communication with the major cellular carriers to investigate options to deploy cellular infrastructure that would provide better cell coverage at Aptos High.

Although the design, application, environmental impact evaluation, and permit process may take a long time for these types of installations, there is one project through AT&T that has already begun.

It is still in the early stages but we are hopeful that it will progress and eventually be installed. PVUSD remains vigilant in

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doing what we are able to do to speed up and advocate for faster processes, we are in the midst of deploying additional outdoor wifi infrastructure to expand the district wireless network in outdoor areas at Aptos High.

This will allow staff and students to have a stronger network/Internet connection in more outdoor spaces across campus for text communication and wifi calling.

The children at Freedom School used to have access to the courts to play basketball and to the grass field to play soccer and run laps around. My son tells me that there is a fence that prohibits them from entering those areas and that during breaks it is difficult to find areas to play soccer with his friends. It is understood that during construction the area will be fenced off to protect students. Is that fence going to be removed so that the children can use those areas during their breaks as before? he fence that separates the soccer field from Freedom Elementary’s playground is there as a permanent barrier to provide safety during non-school hours.

Fence gates will open during school hours for students to access the field once the field grass is ready for use.

Mr. Morales, Freedom’s principal, will continue to keep students, parents, and staff updated on the timeline for the completion of the field project.

As we’re nearing the 4th quarter of the 2021-2022 school year, when will we receive information about graduation ceremonies for the individual school sites? igh Schools throughout PVUSD have now completed their final plans for the in-person graduations for our 2022 seniors. Some of the sites have already informed their parents of the dates and times of their graduations.

June 2 is the date for Aptos Junior High, 11 a.m., and Aptos High, 4 p.m., both ceremonies at Cabrillo.

I filled an intra- district interest form online. When will I be notified if it was accepted or placed on a waiting list? Should I email someone specifically to ask? f you submitted your intradistrict transfer form during the Open Enrollment timeframe (Nov. 29 – Jan. 28), you should have already been notified. If you completed the online form after Jan. 28, you should have been notified by March 14.

If you have not heard anything please contact Rick Ito, Director of Student Services, at 831-786-2390 ext. 2601. n

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COMMUNITY NEWS

No-Cost Chipping Coming April 1 T he Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County announces the spring 2022 No-Cost Community Chipping Program. The program is available to Santa Cruz County residents who live in areas, defined as the Wildland Urban Interface, that have the potential for wildfire to impact their properties. Pre-registration begins at 6 a.m.

Friday, April 1.

This program is funded through grants from the California Fire Safe Council, US Forest Service and CalFire.

Santa Cruz County is likely to experience greater than normal wildfire risk due to less than average rainfall creating extra dry conditions. This program incentivizes the creation of defensible space around homes in high wildfire risk areas by offering no-cost chipping for residents who clear vegetation within 100 feet of occupied structures or 10 feet on either side of a private road.

“Now more than ever we need to be diligent about the landscape immediately next to our homes,” explained Angie Richman, who manages the chipping

“Al Smith Award” from page 21 For many years, Richard was president of the American Quarter Horse Breeders.

Mary was secretary.

Together, they help put on an annual horse show at the County Fairgrounds.

For 31 years, Mary did school tours for the Agricultural History Project. She creates the champion blankets for the Junior Livestock Auction at the county fair.

For the past 10 years, she managed the 28 department heads at the County Fair to help them set up for the event.

Richard does all alcohol sale events at the County Fair. He also volunteers to do maintenance at the fairgrounds.

Together, they sponsor the Heritage Hog Scholarship, 4-H Scholarships and awards. They volunteer at Farm Bureau and Agri-Culture events.

Their pride and joy are their grandsons Garrett and Russell.

For 34 years, Mary worked as a preschool teacher for local private schools.

Richard worked as a firefighter for 35 years. They are now both retired, which gives them more time to volunteer.

The award was presented by Dr. Nan Mickiewicz, president/CEO, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital, who received the award in 2021.

Each year, the award is presented to

program for the RCD. “By offsetting some of the cost we hope more people will be able to reduce wildfire hazards around their properties and neighborhoods.”

Establishing and maintaining defensible space around your home and outbuildings, before fire-prone summer months, is imperative in avoiding major damages to your property when wildfire strikes. Defensible space is the buffer you create between buildings and the vegetation that surrounds them to prevent structures from catching fire, either from direct flame contact or radiant heat.

Creating ample buffer zones not only increases the chances of your home surviving a fire on its own, but it also gives firefighters a safer location from which to defend your home. In fact, fire crews are more likely to spend time and prioritize defending your property if you have taken steps to limit fuel loads around your buildings.

Having defensible space does not mean you need a ring of bare dirt surrounding your property; with proper planning, you can have a fire safe home

an individual, business or organization not involved in production agriculture but one who has done much for the industry.

The award is named for Al Smith, founder of Orchard Supply Hardware who donated 3,000 acres (Swanton Pacific Ranch) to Cal Poly. The ranch, which burned in the 2020 CZU wildfire, has row crops, timber and a one-third-scale railroad, which was Al’s hobby.

Farm Bureau President Arnett Young was the emcee.

Susan True, CEO, of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, spoke on “Influencing Agriculture’s Future .”

The winners of the four Agri-Culture scholarships were announced: 2022 Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship: Crystal Salazar 2022 Jeannie Witmer Memorial Scholarship: McKenna Wood 2022 JJ Crosetti, Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Miguel Sanchez-Ramirez 2022 Laura Brown Memorial Scholarship: Colby Galassi Notables in attendance include Watsonville councilmembers Jimmy Dutra, Lowell Hurst and Eduardo Montesino; Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez; CASA of Santa Cruz Executive Director Lynne Petrovic; Cabrillo College President Matthew Wetstein, and community leaders Bud Colligan & Ceil Cirillo. n

and a beautiful landscape. The general concept is that trees should be kept farthest from the house, shrubs can be closer, and lawns and bedding plants can be the closest. If your landscaping has a different configuration than this, you can improve defensibility by keeping larger trees limbed up and shrubs free of dead, dry material.

How does the program work?

Signups are first-come-first served by region and each household must complete a two-part registration process to be enrolled and confirmed into the program. Part one is an online pre-

registration application to verify space is available, and part two is a chipping scheduling form that is completed once your materials are stacked and ready for chipping.

A detailed schedule of areas served, deadlines for program applications, chipping dates and guidelines for preparing materials for chipping are posted on the RCD No-Cost Chipping Program page at https://www.rcdsantacruz.org/ chipping-programs n ••• For more info contact Angie Richman at the RCD at arichman@rcdsantacruz.org

Who am I?

ACROSS

1. Campus military org.

5. Pilgrimage to Mecca 8. 1968 hit “Harper Valley ____” 11. Turkish honorific 12. *I captained the Millennium Falcon in “Star Wars” 13. Inlet in Greenland 15. Map out 16. Pharaoh’s symbol 17. Austin Powers and Shrek to Mike Myers 18. *I developed the theory of relativity 20. Sailor’s hail 21. Lyric poem 22. Solar System center 23. Portable stairs

26. *I am Sgt. George Baker’s inept comic strip character 30. Mine deposit 31. Shape 34. Fairy tale cannibal 35. Feline sneakers 37. Lawyer group 38. *I have a coiled shell and eyes on stalks 39. Very dark black 40. Free from obstruction 42. ____ Aviv 43. Most buffoonish 45. Rest or hydration for common cold, e.g 47. Hot springs resort 48. “...he found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked ____” 50. Japanese stringed instrument 52. *I am a runaway slave, an abolitionist, and a best-selling author 55. Email destination

9. *I used to host a sports show with Mike Golic 10. Commercials 12. Buddhist’s enlightenment 13. Sham 14. *I am a WWE Champion, an actor, and my nickname is geology-related 19. Vision correctors, DOWN colloquially Do like Drake 22. Greek letters on Eye up and down campus Bangkok native 23. *My résumé includes Like preserved Fly Girl and “American peaches, sometimes Idol” judge Sharpened 24. CuraÁao neighbor Like Huck Finn’s dad, 25. Evil one e.g.

26. Fence board *Some people call me 27. Popular gemstone the Rocket Man 28. Shed tears *I starred as Pam in 29. *I am an American the “Meet the Parents” who became Princess movies of Monaco

56. Jasmine of “Aladdin,” e.g.

57. Food fish 59. Silly 60. Self-cleaning appliance 61. Ad staple 62. O in IOU 63. P in m.p.g.

64. Affirmative, colloquially 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

32. Harangue 33. Network with an eye 36. *My TV role became synonymous with a hair style 38. Perform at the bee 40. Canada’s neighbor 41. Beginning 44. Strong adhesive 46. Contemptibly small 48. Dry white Italian wine 49. Radio receiver 50. Dr. Seuss: “The more that you read, the more things you will ____” 51. Piercing woodwind 52. Water quantity 53. Loafer, e.g.

54. Adventure story 55. United Nations labor agency 58. Homer’s catchword © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

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Star Gates of Spring Have Opened

“Cooley” from page 9

Esoteric Astrology • April 2022 • By Risa D’Angeles

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he Star Gates of Spring, of Aries, have opened! Spring has arrived!

Spring equinox (Sun at the equator at zero degrees Aries) begins the new spiritual/solar year. In Aries, “all things new” begin. New life emerges in our Northern Hemisphere. Aries is the “fire of the mind”, bringing forth new ideas that become new ideals within humanity. Aries is “electric green fire”, the fire in lightning storms usually experienced in Spring.

All throughout Spring, the Solar Angel streams into Earth a fresh impulse of life and the Plan for the coming new year. And at the Full moon during Aries (April 16, the day before Easter), the Forces of Restoration and the Spirit of Resurrection flow into the Earth. These forces offer humanity a new “livingness” by restoring our moral, ethical and psychological health. Their “presence” supports the new Aquarian culture & civilization and the new Spiritual Materialism (Sharing Society) to emerge. They offer a new hope and vision for the new world to unfold.

Archangel Raphael (the Christian name for Mercury or Hermes), the Healing Angel, begins to preside over the Earth at the equinox, bringing ARIES

So often your compassion and sympathy are so well hidden it’s thought perhaps you don’t possess these virtues. You do, but it takes tremendous effort to bring these forth and as spring unfolds, they will begin to unfold more and more. No longer can you draw the curtain on spiritual realities. No longer will we think you don’t have tender feelings. No longer can you push these away, believing they interfere with daily life. They are actually guideposts, talismans, amulets and protective lucky charms. And lifesaving.

TAURUS

healing and protection. He carries the Caduceus, staff of Mercury. It is written that each evening, Raphael gathers up all of humanity’s requests for healing, carrying them to heaven where he presents them before the throne of God. Here they are transformed into fragrant blossoms, which are then borne down to Earth by Raphael’s (Mercury’s) serving Angels. The flowers, scattered about where there is pain and sorrow, bring solace, care, beauty & comfort to those in need.

Nature responding to the pathway & light of the sun. A faint blush of unfolding green can be seen (etherically). The daffodils are almost over. The tulips are growing an inch a day, reaching up to the Sun. Pisces (water) offers the past year to Aries (fire). We are now in the water/fire mysteries. The Sun moves northward now, from the equinox to the Tropic of Cancer And so also are the new/moon seeds — all gathered in the heart center, which is our equator.

Spring is here. We are in the garden everyday now.

LEO

You will be thinking of accomplishing new creative projects, designs, forms, ideas and new endeavors, bringing forth new challenges, and new ways of utilizing your resources. Notice that your intuition and perception are very strong at this time. If you tune in quietly, you’ll know who is thinking about you and who loves you. You will tune into the Hierarchy, always seeking willing workers in the fields of earth. Concern about resources continues. However, soon this concern will fade away. Did you expect something that didn’t occur?

VIRGO

SAGITTARIUS

Are you paying attention to what your feelings and intuitions are telling you? Are you assessing what signifies peace, safety and security for you?

Are you stirring up activities at home, leaving home, seeking home, or needing a home? Did you finally “go” home for some important reason? What are your support systems? Everything that leads to re-organization is going on or will be going on. Family is involved, too. You are their support, their foundation, their scaffold. You are the pillar, like in Masonry, holding up the temple.

CAPRICORN

It is important to begin to assess your hopes, wishes and goals, all that is needed for the new era and the coming times. As you do, others will be reaching out to you from friends, family and groups asking for your professional sense and for direction. Nurturing and strengthening the ties within your group is a task needed at this time. Your work is valuable to the intelligent understanding of the times. The groups you interact with need nurturing, too. Can you assume that outward loving mantle of care? The color is all shades of blue.

It’s good to develop the skills of diplomacy, like an international ambassador. This skill helps re-define relationships and you can share your Mercury’s ability to communicate with a silver tongue. Everyone significantly needs kind and wise communication, especially in these polarizing times. Everyone feels a lack of support. Begin to support others and all that you give is returned. Be truly gracious. Don’t put on an act or act in a way that you think you should. Learn how to be authentically gracious. It has to do with coming from the heart of the matter.

You are feeling hopeful concerning creative endeavors, your family, children, loved ones and intimates and this optimism will continue to grow in promise and potential. At times there is a need to be highly creative to offset too much work. Capricorns are workers, always climbing the ladder. You sometimes dream things so different and unusual, it takes time for them to manifest. When feeling confused, learn to express your feelings in a neutral tone. Ask everyone to listen. Listening is an artform.

You can help them learn. Will you be traveling soon?

GEMINI

LIBRA

AQUARIUS

There’s a continued assessment and questioning as to what your purpose and work may be in and for the world. And a wondering about how you’re recognized. Soon there will be a new vitality and invigoration concerning your work and how you see your potential coming forth. Make a list of all the things you can do. Then list all that you hope to do and how you want to serve others. These lists will allow you to see a theme that creates greater self-identity. How do you want to be remembered? And what do you idealize?

CANCER

Before graduating from my Master’s program in Psychology, I wrote a white paper on altruism.

That word (altruism) has since then been part of my life. It appears now in the most unexpected times and place. I suggest you write a short paper on altruism, too, because it is part of and responsible for creating new philosophical ideas, attitudes and visions in your life from now on. No matter whether you travel or not, your mind is traveling far distances. Soon to the Wesak Valley when the great yearly ritual with the Buddha takes place. We will see you there.

In between all your artistic endeavors, there will come a time to get down to business, to begin to be practical about every hour of the day and to establish routines that will handle the detail of a great change that is occurring in your life and in the lives of all of humanity. Attempt to work with enthusiasm, summon efficiency and organization, ask for assistance (from humans and angels) when needed, eliminate everything not useful and make health and well-being your priority. Along with gathering more knowledge and beauty, which is Libra’s task. Beauty is the hidden path go God.

Ease in public and social situations may be felt this week. You are seeing a new identity in the world. Tend carefully and with detail to daily life tasks.

When you are at ease with yourself a rapport with others develops spontaneously. Walk around the neighborhood, stroll down the middle of town, connect with others, tend to bills and monetary responsibilities, assess your environments, be alert, be gracious and communicative. And realize with gratitude all that you value surrounds you. And all that is around you, loves you.

PISCES

Something seems to have come to an end. After long years of work, you sense the need for either stopping You need some ease and some just-for-fun endeavors. You need the work you have been doing, or changing it. I things to be playful, lighthearted, humorous, think you need a long rest. Over time you may good natured and spirited. You also need somerecreate, look and express yourself differently. thing or someone calling forth your creative gifts. Only when creativity is involved are you You always want to present your authentic self. It’s important truly pleased. Always you think of the impact your presence for you to be strong and kind, to seek understanding and and your work have on the world. This allows you to be brave harmony with others and for your actions to be understood and bold and always rebuilding your self-identity, courage and and not misinterpreted. Often you dream your way through life, confidence. You’ll express yourself this week and the next and learning self-confidence through self-realization. Be brave in the next and the next, throughout this entire new spiritual year. these endeavors.

••• SCORPIO

Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com 26 / April 1st 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Diane said: “I care for the trees but for humans, too. People should have the chance to thrive just like the Sequoia should stand tall.”

In an oral history interview with the Community Foundation in 2009, Diane said, “You have to be able to live with people in every spectrum, and respect and enjoy and be responsible to and dependent upon many. I think that one of the values of being in a smaller community and maybe even a smaller county, is that we’re more in touch with people and what is really going on. I hope the Community Foundation doesn’t ever lose track of that.”

We won’t lose track, Diane. Your words guide us every day.

We’ve lost so many legends in recent years and now Diane. We stand on their shoulders.

Diane with her beloved husband of seven decades, Don Cooley, at their home, 2018. Photo by Jeremy Lezin.

Anne Youngblood, Diane’s daughter, told the Pajaronian) that above all, Diane’s relationship with her friends and family brought her the most joy. “She had one of the most vast networks of family and friends I have ever witnessed,” she said. n ••• Editor’s Note: At 93, Diane Porter Cooley had deep roots in the Pajaro Valley. Her great-grandfather John T. Porter, who arrived here in 1850, became an owner of vast quantities of land.

In 2001, she donated her family property to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County as a conservation easement — saving land from development while retaining the ag use.

“AAPI Festival” from page 15 Lead organizers Akiko Minami and Stephanie Barron Lu shared that the values of the event were to promote safety, belonging, significance and community connection.

Local artist and photographer Lucien Kubo created a community altar and the were crafts for the children and resource tables, with the day ending in healing circles.

These events brought the community together in mourning, and also in solidarity.

Census data tells us there are upwards of 14,000 Asian identified community members in our county.

Asian American & Pacific Islander residents are organizing the AAPI Heritage Festival for Saturday, May 21.

Currently there are 168+ Asian American and Pacific Islanders across Santa Cruz County who are a part of a private group on Facebook, Asian Americans in the Santa Cruz Area, and more are encouraged to join. n For more about the festival, see aapisc.org/ festival.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / April 1st 2022 / 27

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HOLY WEEK April 10-17 Christians commemorate this week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday when many biblical prophesies were fulfilled. Jesus came to earth to save humanity by dying on the cross on Good Friday and resurrecting on Easter Sunday. By defeating death sacrificially for us, He made a way for our salvation.

PASSOVER April 15-23 Passover (Pesach in Hebrew), one of the most beloved holidays in the Jewish calendar, commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It begins at sundown on April 15 and lasts through sundown on April 23.

HOUSING FOR HEALTH PARTNERSHIP MEMBERS SOUGHT The former Homeless Action Partnership, Santa Cruz County’s federally-designated continuum of care, has been renamed the Housing for Health Partnership — H4HP for short — and three of the 15 seats on the policy board are open to community members. One seat is reserved for someone with lived experience with homelessness.

The new name aligns with the Housing for Health Division, which works under Santa Cruz County’s Human Services Agency and serves as the lead partnership agency.

The Policy Board, responsible for high-level planning, decision-making and system oversight, delegates operational responsibilities to operational committees and working groups.

The 15 board members represent constituencies with significant experience or resources to address homelessness.

Partner members include UCSC Assistant Dean of Students Mariah Lyons, Central California Alliance for Health CEO Stephanie Sonnenshine, and Community Foundation of Santa Cruz CEO Susan True.

To apply to be a member or learn more, visit www.housingforhealthpartnership.org.

SUPPORT FOR MOTHERS OF SURVIVORS Survivors Healing Center is offering online women’s support groups and mothers of survivors of childhood sexual abuse support group. The goals are to empower through a healing process and prevent sexual abuse of children and youth.

You are not alone. You are not to blame.

More info: (831) 423-7601 or www.survivorshealingcenter.org

CALLING ALL ARTISTS Mid County Senior Center, 829 Bay Ave, Capitola, behind Woodworm The Mid County Senior Center is looking for artists to be a part of their May Day sale on May 1. If you are interested in a booth, email Cindy at MCSC4TREASUER@ GMAIL. COM for details.

CAREER MONTH AT CABRILLO In April, Cabrillo College will host virtual and in-person career fairs featuring local employers. Students from Cabrillo and job seekers from the general public are invited to attend. Each career fair is 90 minutes.

Dates and times: April 6: Entrepreneurship & Business and Creative Arts & Design 3:30-5 p.m. (Virtual) April 13: In person Career Fair open to all, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

April 14: Global & Human Studies, 3:30-5 p.m.

(Virtual) April 20: STEM 3:30-5 p.m. (Virtual) April 28: Health & Public Service, 5:00-6:30 p.m.

(Virtual)

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by April 11 For questions, contact Courtney Cogan cocogan@cabrillo.edu The three galleries, all in Santa Cruz, are: R.Blitzer or Desha Staley-Raatior destaley@cabrillo.edu .

Gallery, 2801 Mission St., formerly Wrigley’s, Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-4 p.m., Curated by the Sea, 703 Front St., COUNTY REZONING MEETINGS Tuesday through Saturday 12-4 p.m., and Radius, 1050 River St. Unit 127, Wednesday through Sunday 12-5 Santa Cruz County is revising its general plan for Soquel artist Michele Hausman is showing After the first time in 25 years, planning for a projected Harvest (12x16) along with 2 more vineyard paintings population in the unincorporated area of 141,645, up at R Blitzer, which will host a closing reception Friday, from 133,493.

April 1, first Friday — no fooling. For an appointment, The plan is branded as the Sustainability Update. It call Rob at 831-458-1217. calls for encouraging higher density development in activity centers and along corridors where transporPROPERTY TAXES DUE SUNDAY APRIL 10 tation improvements are planned To view the draft document and meeting dates, see This is the deadline to pay the second installment https://sustainability-update-sccgis.opendata.arcgis. of Santa Cruz County property taxes. Taxes become com/ delinquent after this date, adding a 10 percent penalty.

A recording of an introductory meeting in March is at: See https://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/Departments/TaxCollector/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6sYSHL26-U. GeneralInformationAboutPropertyTaxes/PropertyTaxesThe Three online meetings, each from 6:30-8 p.m., are SimpleStory.aspx on the calendar: Transportation (April 5), Meeting link: https://tinyurl.

ONGOING EVENTS com/3mjuu6yp Agriculture, Environmental Resources, and Public Third Thursday Each Month Facilities (April 12), Meeting link: https://tinyurl.

PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM com/4c2jn377 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting Code Modernization and Map Amendments (April 20), BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support Meeting link: https://tinyurl.com/3az68esp Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated Residents can provide feedback via the survey: by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/23f5a28279e241a Thursday of each month. bbec66d8d42e6770b.

Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport or call 831-471-7255.

BEYOND THE GRAVE Friday and Saturday, April 15-16 & 22-23 DATED EVENTS 6-7 p.m., Saturdays 1-2 p.m., Evergreen Cemetery, 261 Friday April 1 Evergreen St., Santa Cruz The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History announces its FUTURE OF WATSONVILLE HOSPITAL popular Beyond the Grave series, ticketed performances Noon, Online Discussion at the historic Evergreen Cemetery returns.

Join the Aptos Chamber for a virtual lunch meeting via This year, the MAH teamed up with local concert Zoom with State Sen. John Laird, County Administrative producer Indexical to present Madi McGain, Mikhail Officer Carlos Palacios, and Pajaro Valley Healthcare Johnson, Departure Duo, Angel Dominguez, and Aja District CEO Mimi Hall.

Bond, the same program on both weekends.

They will cover the successes and challenges for the The artists were invited to create a new program that Pajaro Valley Healthcare District and its potential effect highlights the cemetery as a place of connection to the on county healthcare as a whole. There will be time for past, and a vibrant source of new life in the present. questions and community updates.

McGain explores the idea of Evergreen Cemetery General admission is $15 per person and $10 for as a silent place, with minimal sonic accompaniment. chamber members. Reservations are required. Call the Departure Duo will perform Evil’s Peak by composer Aptos Chamber at (831) 688-1467 with your credit Johnson, exploring the equalizing force of death in the card and email address or send a check and email context of the colonization of Jamaica and integration of address to 7605 Old Dominion Court, Aptos CA 95003, church and state. or online at aptoschamber.com. A Zoom link will be Dominguez, a Santa Cruz poet of Mayan descent, provided after your reservation. reads from their new book Desgraciado, in which they The presentation will be recorded so if this time does not work communicate through letters with a Spanish conquis- for you, you can get a link to listen later. tador who tried to eradicate the Yucatan language — while building a memorial/monument to their Friday April 1 grandfather out of stone. Bond closes with a meditation on dirt, decomposition, and ways in which the bodies of Saturday April 2 MOANA JR the living return to the earth to nourish new life.

7 p.m. (2 p.m. Saturday), Monte Vista Christian School, 2 If weather is inclement, performances will be rescheduled to Sunday April 17 or 24; ticket holders will School Way, Watsonville The talented 8th-grade students of Monte Vista be contacted.

Christian School will present “Moana Jr.” at the Don Tickets are: General, $20, MAH member, $12, at www.

Price Performing Arts Chapel. santacruzmah.org/btg The community is invited to watch this heartwarming coming-of-age story, which follows the ‘THIS IS NOW’ TRI-GALLERY EXPOSITION strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the The Santa Cruz Visual Arts Network sponsors a Pacific to save her village and discover the truth tri-gallery exhibition, “this is now” through April 10, featuring nearly 400 original works of art in all media about her heritage.

Tickets are $12 at https://www.mvcs.org/eventtickets from 150+ artists throughout Santa Cruz County.

28 / April 1st 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Saturday April 2 CAPITOLA UNVEILS APTOS ARTIST’S MURAL Noon-2 p.m., Capitola Historical Museum, 410 Capitola Ave. “Perspectives: Capitola in the Eye of the Beholder” exhibit is open at the Capitola Historical Museum. The museum is open every Friday through Sunday noon – 4 p.m. Entry is free and family-friendly.

The reception will feature the unveiling of a new painting by Aptos muralist Ann Thiermann. The painting depicts Indigenous people fishing and foraging at what we know today as Capitola Beach and Lagoon.

Ms. Thiermann will speak about her research and method of creating the piece, which was commissioned by the City of Capitola. Her painting will be part of the 2022 exhibition.

TALK ON UKRAINE & RUSSIA 11 a.m., La Selva Beach Library, 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach. Dr. The newly-renovated La Selva Beach Library presents an in-person talk by Robert Strayer, PhD, “Ukraine and Russia: Contextualizing a War.” Strayer will discuss the historical context for the current conflict.

Seating is limited. Registration is required for both in-person and virtual participants at: https://santacruzpl. libcal.com/event/9015346 Dr. Strayer is an historian with a particular focus on world history. He has taught at SUNY Brockport, UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, and Cabrillo College.

He has received awards for excellence in both teaching and scholarship. His published works include books on African, Soviet, and world history.

Sunday April 3 SHMUEL THALER: WHAT A YEAR!

10 a.m.-Noon, Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos The 2016 Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year, Shmuel Thaler, has been a staff photographer at the Santa Cruz Sentinel since 1987 and a member of Temple Beth El since 1982.

A longtime member of the temple Brotherhood, he will show and discuss his photographs from 2021 and 2022 at Sunday Brunch.

His award-winning photographs have appeared in every major newspaper in the United States.

He spent much of 2020 documenting the Black Lives Matter actions, the election, the CZU August Lightning Complex fires, and the pandemic. That work culminated in the book “2020 Hindsight: Looking Back on a Tumultuous Year in Santa Cruz County,” which raised more than $10,000 for the fire response fund at Community Foundation Santa Cruz County.

His photograph of Santa Cruz Police Chief Andy Mills and Mayor Justin Cummings went viral and aired on every major TV network — seen by millions.

Brunch at 10 features bagels, lox, schmears and fixins. Thaler’s presentation is at 11, concluding by noon. Recommended donation is $5 for Brotherhood members and $10 for non-members.

Open to all of Temple Beth El and guests. Masks required.

Sunday April 3 and Tuesday April 5 GENEALOGY PROGRAMS Sat: 2-4 p.m., Santa Cruz Public Libraries, downtown branch, 224 Church St, Santa Cruz Sun: 1-2:30 p.m., Online seminar Two genealogy programs will take place in April at the Santa Cruz Public Libraries.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR A workshop for genealogy beginners will take place Sunday at the downtown branch.

Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County member Mike Epperson will present an introduction aimed toward beginning researchers to equip them with the tools to research their family’s history.

The Genealogical Society will present a virtual talk, “French Immigrants to California with Dr. Annick Foucrier,” on Tuesday. Registration is required at www.santacruzpl.org to receive the link.

Dr. Foucrier, professor emerita of North-American history at the University of Paris, Sorbonne, and previously director of the Centre for Research in NorthAmerican History, will discuss French immigration to California in the 19th century.

She is knowledgeable about the resources available in France and in California to research these pioneers.

Her presentation will mostly discuss French immigrants in California prior to the 20th century, with focus on French settlements in the state, French societies, and migration patterns.

For information visit www.scgensoc.org or call 831-427-7707 ext 5794.

special volunteers are vital members of the hospice team.

Volunteer Visitors may also provide caregivers with much needed respite. Other duties include simple snack preparation, running errands, and other practical tasks.

Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAoceChqD0jHdPp1lT6pOfmlDQhHGHVs1Ch

Thursday April 7

‘FIGHTING FOR HOUSING’ AUTHOR TO SPEAK 6:30-8 p.m., Online and Santa Cruz Public Libraries, downtown branch, 224 Church St, Santa Cruz The Santa Cruz Public Libraries, with the Homeless Garden Project, announce the kickoff for the Book to Action program, featuring Conor Dougherty, author of “Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America,” and Santa Cruz author Jonathan Franzen talking about the factors driving homelessness in America.

In-person attendees will be able to write questions for the authors. The event is free and registration is required via Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/housingconv Through the Book to Action project, Santa Cruz Public Libraries is providing copies of “Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America” to in-person attendees free of charge while supplies last.

Wednesday April 6 This Book to Action program is supported by the U.S. VOLUNTEER VISITORS Q&A Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, 12:30 p.m., Online Seminar Join this virtual Q&A via Zoom with Forbes Ellis, director administered in California by the State Librarian. of volunteer services, at Hospice of Santa Cruz County to learn about this volunteer opportunity.

Friday April 8 Volunteer Visitors provide companionship to SPAGHETTI & RED SNAPPER TAKEOUT hospice patients in their homes or in the care 3:30-7:30 p.m., Resurrection Church, 7600 Soquel Dr, Aptos facilities where they live. As a willing listener, The Italian Catholic Federation Branch 227 invites you a hand holder, and supportive presence, these

to a takeout Spaghetti and Fish Dinner at the Markey Center at Resurrection Church.

The dinner includes: Spaghetti and grilled red snapper from Stagnaro Brothers, Caesar salad, roll, and dessert.

The price is $20; or for a family of two adults and two children under 12, $50.

R.S.V.P to Marie at crochet1951@aol.com by April 4.

Dinners will not be sold at the door.

Part of the proceeds will benefit federation local charities and Resurrection Church Hall remodel.

Saturday April 9 EASTER ON THE FARM 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds The Agricultural History Project, at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds is hosting the annual “Easter On The Farm.”

Egg hunts start at 11:15 a.m. and will be every hour in four separate age groups: From 3 and under up to 12 years old. Times are 11:15 am, 12:15 pm, 1:15 pm, and 2:15 pm.

Activities for children and adults include: Arts & crafts, hayrides, tractor driving, face painting and a photo op with the Easter Bunny!

This event is free! Donations appreciated.

County Parkinson’s Group, a project of nonprofit EASEPD. During the pandemic, most of the group’s classes and meetings needed to pivot quickly to Zoom. Thanks to donations and efforts of the all-volunteer group, most classes and support programs continued and membership grew.

The Parkinson’s Foundation provides a free Hospital Safety Kit to protect, prepare, and empower people with Parkinson’s while hospitalized.

Order at https://www.parkinson.org or call: 800-473-4636.

Wednesday May 4 Thursday May 5

NEST FLIGHT Virtual Conference NEST Flight will be a 2-day virtual experience, in time for graduation season. This annual conference is geared toward young professionals, recent grads and current students in high school or college. If you are 17 to 24 and exploring your options for the future, this conference is for you.

Hosted by Digital NEST and founder Jacob Martinez, this event features 20 inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, powerful panel discussions and Sunday April 24 one of a kind networking opportunities — crafted to help students propel their careers, no matter where DINING FOR PARKINSON’S 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Erik’s DeliCafé, 102 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos, you are in your job exploration.

Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings is 1475 41st Ave, Capitola, and 1664 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz keynote speaker. Emcee is Amber Gonzalez-Vargas, Erik’s DeliCafé in Aptos, Capitola and Santa Cruz will senior program manager at Latino Community host the second “Dine for a Day” for the Santa Cruz Foundation, which has invested $17 million in 150 County Parkinson’s Group.

Dine in-store, online for delivery, curbside, or pick-up grassroots Latino-led nonprofits.

Registration: $20. See https://www.nestflight.org/ n and part of your purchase will benefit the Santa Cruz

Photo by Steve Bartolomeo

Please join us on the beautiful ocean-view bluff at Seascape Beach Resort for a special Reservations: (831) 662-7120 or via OpenTable (Open Table reservations link) Easter celebration.

Bring your family, friends, and children to Seascape on Sunday, April 17, 2022, starting at 9AM for a delectable brunch and entertainment by Santa Cruz String Quartet.

Sip ocean-view Southern bluff Bloody Mary’s Beach or Chef David Tropical Mimosas lease join us on the beautiful at Seascape Resort for aBaron’s special Easter celebration.

Bring whilefriends, your children enjoy festive activities and an 17, egg2022, huntstarting on theaticonic Seascape bluff. our family, and children to Seascape on Sunday, April 9AM for a delectable brunch

nd entertainment by Santa Cruz String Quartet. Sip Southern Bloody Mary’s or Chef David Baron’s Tropical EVENTand SCHEDULE: Mimosas while your children enjoy festive activities an egg hunt on the iconic Seascape bluff.

9AM-2PM: Easter Sunday Brunch at Sanderlings Restaurant and Outdoor Patio 9AM-1PM: Tropical Mimosa/Specialty Bloody Mary Bar starting at $12.00 9AM-12PM: Cotton Candy Cart & Cake Pop Wall 10AM-12PM: Candid Polaroid Photos Event Schedule 10AM-12PM: Balloon Artist & Children’s Activities (Easter-themed coloring books, temporary tattoos) 10AM: Children’s Easter Egg Hunt 5 & under) AM-2PM Easter Sunday Brunch at (Ages Sanderlings Restaurant and Outdoor Patio 10:30AM: Tropical Children’s Easter Egg Hunt (Ages 6 & up) *Easter will be available for sale in the lobby AM-1PM Mimosa/Specialty Bloody Mary Barbaskets starting at $12.00

AM-12PM 0AM-12PM 0AM-12PM 0AM 0:30AM

Cotton Candy Cart & Cake Pop Wall Candid Polaroid Photos (831) 662-7120 or via OpenTable.com Reservations: Balloon Artist & Children’s Activities (Easter-themed coloring books, temporary tattoos) Children’s Easter Egg Hunt (Ages 5 & under) Children’s Easter Egg Hunt (Ages 6 & up)

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / April 1st 2022 / 29

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Meet the Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

A

t the March 22 Board of Supervisors meeting, the initial five-member Board of Directors of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District were selected.

This board will play an integral role guiding the new district through the formation and initial operation of the district and the potential future acquisition and operation of Watsonville Community Hospital as a premier, equitable and stable health provider in our community.

What is the Pajaro Valley Health Care District? n Feb. 4, 2022, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 418 creating the Pajaro Valley Health Care District.

The PVHCD will govern activities associated with the delivery of medical care in the Pajaro Valley, including the potential acquisition and oversight of the Watsonville Community Hospital.

The creation of the PVHCD, and the County’s commitment in funding and administrative support, are essential investments in health equity, access,

O

and the stability of the regional health network.

What was the process for selecting the initial board? nder the California Health and Safety Code, the Board of Supervisors is charged with appointing the initial Board of Directors for the Health Care District.

On Feb, 15, the Board of Supervisors approved the screening and selection process for the PVHCD Board of Directors.

In establishing the selection process, the Board spoke to the need of having a governing body that was reflective of the diverse needs of the health district and exhibited a diverse set of expertise and experience that would ensure the transition to this new regional model would be successful.

The County worked with community-based partners to outreach to prospective candidates and used social and traditional media to cast a wide net for applicants. The application period was open from Feb. 16 to March 4, and 27 applications were received with 26 determined to be eligible based on information provided.

The selection committee, comprised of Supervisors Greg Caput and Zach Friend, County Administrative Officer

U

Carlos Palacios, Health Services Agency Director Mónica Morales, and Salud Para La Gente Executive Director Dori Rose Inda, reviewed all eligible applications and narrowed the list to recommend five initial members representing a qualified and diverse cross-section of our community.

At the March 22 Board of Supervisors meeting, the initial five members were selected unanimously.

Who was selected?

John Friel: Over 50 years of experience in healthcare as a provider and executive including previously as CEO of Watsonville Community Hospital and as CEO of multiple major California health care districts until retiring in 2021. John is an Aptos resident.

Katherine (Katie) Gabriel-Cox: Physician, Board certified OB/GYN currently with Salud Para La Gente and previously with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Sutter, and Kaiser Permanente and served internationally with the nationalized universal health system in New Zealand. Katie is an Aptos resident.

Jasmine Nájera: Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked with Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance and in multiple behavioral health capacities with the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency. Jasmine is a Watsonville resident.

“Shared Hearts” from page 23 It can be healthy to question our perceptions, rather than assuming they’re correct. Our egos hang on to what seems real. Egos have instantaneous attachment to what our eyes seem to be seeing, what our ears seem to be hearing, and what all our senses seem to be telling us. But we are more than our egos and our senses. There is a deeper, more spir-

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30 / April 1st 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Local Local Local

Jose A. (Tony) Nuñez: Regional Journalist, Managing Editor of the Pajaronian and Press-Banner newspapers and lifelong Watsonville resident and Watsonville High School graduate with significant area ties and relationships to reflect community voices and experiences. Tony is a Watsonville resident.

Marcus Pimental: Extensive fiscal and health care experience including serving as Assistant Health Services Agency Director in Santa Cruz County, a board member of Salud Para La Gente and as Budget Manager and Finance Director for Santa Cruz County and the City of Watsonville. Marcus is a resident of Monterey County.

The five positions are voluntary and while the initial terms will be by appointment, subsequent terms will be subject to district-based public elections.

Applicants were required to permanently reside within the boundaries of the Health Care District, be a registered voter in Monterey or Santa Cruz Counties, and be able to complete applicable statements of economic interest filings. n ••• As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue).

I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/supervisorfriend and you can always call me at 454-2200.

itual reality that may be telling us everything is not merely as it seems.

It may require a moment’s pause to get past assumptions. Had I paused a moment to ask myself if Joyce has even one inconsiderate bone in her body, I would have smiled to myself and said no. I know she’s probably the most considerate person I have ever known. n ••• Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/

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therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors in Aptos who are passionate about conscious relationship and personal-spiritual growth. They are the authors of 9 books and a new free audio album of sacred songs and chants. Call 831-684-2130 for further information on counseling sessions by phone, online, or in person, their books, recordings or their schedule of talks and workshops. Visit their web site at SharedHeart.org.

SCCAS Featured Pet

ORTHODONTICS NANCY M. LEUNG, D.D.S., M.S.

Specialist in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics

Now Accepting New Patients!

Initial Exam Complimentary Aptos Office

9515 Soquel Drive, Ste: 103 Aptos, CA 95003 831-685-2800 Conveniently located next to Aptos Junior High

Also in Watsonville 56 Penny Lane, Ste: B Watsonville, CA 95076 831-722-5022

www.SmileCrewOrtho.com

Girls Trip!

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ook at all these chickens! Helen, Ruth, Greta, Frances, Jean, Peggy, Cheryl, Doris, Elaine, Cynthia, Marie, Lois, and Gail have been at our shelter for quite some time and are looking for their forever homes.

Whether you’re looking for some livestock or some farm fresh eggs straight from your yard the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter has some ready to be adopted.

If you’re in the market for some chickens — adopt, don’t shop!

Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals on our website and then visit the Shelter to turn in your application. All adoptions require proof of home ownership or landlord approval. Please have this information prepared. If an animal is in Foster Care, please bring in your adoption application and schedule an appointment to meet the animal. Call 831-454-7200 x0 during business hours or visit www. scanimalshelter.org for more information! n ••• Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter: Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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

Who am I? © Statepoint Media

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / April 1st 2022 / 31

Serving the Agricultural Community Since 1924

Deluxe Foods of Aptos Supporting the Aptos community for 40 years Mon. thru Sat. 8am to 8pm • Sun. 8am to 7pm Peet’s Coffee Available Mon. thru Fri 7am • Sat & Sun 8am

783 Rio Del Mar Boulevard, Suite 7 Aptos, CA 95003

(831) 661-5697

www.scurichinsurance.com

783 Rio Del Mar Boulevard, Aptos, CA 95003 (Located inside Deer Park Marketplace)

(831) 688-7442 www.deluxefoodsofaptos.com

Health and Wellness to You in 2022! give us a call

(831) 688-3012

Implants, Invisalign, Family, Cosmetic

or visit

delcoredental.com

deer park c e n t e r

Highway 1 & Rio Del Mar Boulevard, Aptos

One stop shopping right around the corner!

BANKS:

Bank of America

BUSINESS SERVICES:

Anderson & Company-HOA Management / Employnet Contractor Advertising Galapagos Travel

PDM International / Peak Accounting Services / SAR Asset Mgmt. Inc. Scurich Insurance Cecy Insurance Services

FOOD & DRINK:

Deer Park Wine & Spirits DeluxeFoods / Panda Inn

Mangiamo Pizza & Wine Bar Red Apple Cafe

PERSONAL SERVICES: Agape Dance Academy Black Cat Tattoo Brian Del Core, DDS CVS Pharmacy

Del Mar Cleaners Eye Shapes Opticians Fig St. Design / Highlights for Hair J-Bella Nails / Klub Nico Laser Hair Solutions Rad Academy Royal Paw Spa