Aptos Times: July 15, 2022

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July 15, 2022 • Vol 31 No. 14

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County Fair: 1955 Barns Must Come Down

The pig and sheep barns at the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds, in use since 1955, have been declared “unstable and unsafe” by a state agency, and the fair CEO, Dave Kegebein, recommends they be torn down to make way for temporary facilities for 4-H participants showing animals at this year’s fair Sept. 14-18.

Full Story page 6

County Donates $100,000 to Gutzwiller Memorial

Bernstein’s Candide

Full Story page 9

Little League District 39 Champions

Search for Truth, Love & Happiness

By Mindy Pedlar of optimism that was popular in his day. In many musical circles, the exquisite score of Candide is considered Leonard Bernstein’s masterpiece. ... continues on page 4

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Aptos’ All-Stars swept all 3 District 39 championships.

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Full Story page 5

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No. 14

Volume 31

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20

30

Table of Contents

11

Cover Bernstein’s Candide: Search for Truth, Love & Happiness, By Mindy Pedlar

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Community News Little League District 39 Champs, By Garret LaTorre Santa Cruz County Fair: 1955 Barns Must Come Down, By Jondi Gumz Covid Reinfections Boost Cases, By Jondi Gumz Who is on County Fair Board?, By Jondi Gumz County Donates $100,000 to Gutzwiller Memorial, By Kieran Kelly • Boardwalk Donates $5,000 to Willowbrook Park Project • Watsonville Community Hospital: Local Group $12 Million Short Lithuanians on Fire in Aromas!, By Edita McQuary Cabrillo Robotics Team Places First in International Competition Student Inventor Invited to Global Event New Principals at Aptos High, Jr High World’s Shortest Parade Winners, By John Hibble Aptos High, Jr. High Starting Later in Day, By Jondi Gumz • Natasha’s Run: Fighting Sex Trafficking Second Annual True Love Christian Music & Art Festival, By Simon Cassar • Castro Adobe Building Getting a New Roof Painchaud’s Award-Winning Photo Wins International Honor • Guy George Honored as 2022 Farmer of the Year PV Arts To Buy Porter Building • Sharon Hoffman: New CASA Director

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In Memoriam Sharon Hadley, The Fish Lady

5 6 7 8 9

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Business Profile 20 A Tool Shed, Inc.: Expanding Post-Pandemic, By Edita McQuary Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Love is all There Is & a Prayer for Matthew, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29 Featured Columnists 22 Dog Days Of Summer Warmth, By Tony Tomeo 30 Fire Season: Are You Prepared?, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Mommy Cat

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IN MEMORIAM

Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

publisher editor

contributing writers Mindy Pedlar, Garret LaTorre, Jondi Gumz, Kieran Kelly, Edita McQuary, John Hibble, Simon Cassar, Risa D’Angeles, Tony Tomeo, 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

office coordinator

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

Sharon Hadley, The Fish Lady S

haron Mahfouz Hadley, 70, known locally as “The She will be deeply missed by all her family and Fish Lady,” died on June 26. She lived in Soquel. friends.

She was born on Jan. 2, 1952, in Lafayette, LouiShe is survived by her husband, Mike Hadley; her siana, and married Mike Hadley on April 8, 2001. children, Casey Cowden (Joezette), Lacey Cowden (Daniel); Sharon founded The Fish Lady, a gourmet market grandchildren Cassia and Cash Cowden; stepchildren Nate where she and Mike, a local musician, enjoyed working Hadley (Lani), Caleb Hadley (Kaylee), Cassandra Grubbs together. She enjoyed serving her customers and helping (Joe); stepgrandchildren Robby Hadley, Braeden and Olivia them plan their meals.

Grubbs; sisters, Sandra Mahfouz Delhomme (Duane) The Fish Lady enjoyed 25 years in Soquel at 2510 S. Main and Michelle Mahfouz; brothers Raymond Mahfouz, Jr. Sharon Hadley St., hosting Friday night wine-tasting and live music. In August (Judy) and Stafford Mahfouz (Janet); her beloved fur baby, 2019, The Fish Lady, moved to Capitola, next to Capitola Produce.

Lazarus; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Sharon was known for her love of God and her family. She enjoyed “Hadley” page 17 gardening, cooking and entertaining with Southern hospitality.

COVER STORY “Candide” from page 1 ”He was immensely proud of it,” says award-winning director Gary John La Rosa.

“In truth, it was one of the primary reasons I jumped at the opportunity to direct this production. I find the music majestic, witty, and beautifully nuanced.”

Cheryl Anderson, musical director says, “What I love most about Bernstein’s music is that he is infinitely inventive, weaving together bits of familiarity and new components. He can turn human emotion into a living element with one melodic sweep, coloristic chord or rhythmic motive.”

Jon Nordgren, artistic director, couldn’t be happier with the creative pairing of Anderson, acclaimed Cabrillo College director of vocal studies, and La Rosa, who has directed and/ or choreographed well over two hundred productions nationally, including Cabrillo Stage’s 2019 production of Beehive.

Gary John La Rosa

Cheryl Anderson

In addition to their directorial duties, La Rosa will be choreographing and Anderson will conduct the full live orchestra.

Candide first opened on Broadway in 1956, but was unsuccessful and closed shortly thereafter.

However, the music endured, and producer-director Harold Prince decided to resurrect the show.

After many re-writes, including new lyrics by John Latouche and the incomparable Stephen Sondheim, Candide opened on March 4, 1974, to glowing reviews.

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 / July 15th 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

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It won five Tony Awards, including one for director Prince.

This revised version of Candide is what you’ll see at the Crocker Theater.

In the story, our hero Candide and his true love, Cunegonde, are separated. They travel on separate journeys around the world, meeting misfortune at every turn.

They survive 18th century disasters that continue to challenge their belief in “the best of all possible worlds.”

La Rosa’s concept is to “fully embrace the hilarity and wisdom of Voltaire’s satire in the most energetic, joyful and musically entertaining way.”

He hopes the audience will be “swept away by Candide’s quest for love and happiness and moved by the powerful lessons he learns along the way.”

As the humbled couple reunites, we witness the glorious song, Make Our Garden Grow, a finale that La Rosa describes as one of the greatest theatrical musical compositions ever written.

He wants the audience to come away remembering “the brilliance of Leonard Bernstein’s score, the enormity of our cast’s talent, the timely and relevant message that this 18th century story holds today and perhaps see themselves in Candide’s quest for truth, love and happiness.”

Mostly it is his wish that the audience leaves feeling “the joy of experiencing live theatre once again.”

Candide runs Thursday through Sunday, July 21, through Aug. 14 at the Cabrillo Crocker Theater on the Cabrillo College campus, 6500 Soquel Ave., Aptos.

Tickets are available online at cabrillostage.com. Box Office opens for phone and walk-in sales Thursday through Saturday noon to 6pm. n ••• Cover Photo: Michael Stahl plays Candide and Lori Schulman his love, Cunegonde • Photo Credit: Jana Marcus

COMMUNITY NEWS

Little League District 39 Champs

By Garret LaTorre Editor’s note: Aptos Little League All-Stars swept all 3 District 39 championships. The 10-year-olds, coached by Garret LaTorre, edged Santa Cruz 5-3. Aptos Majors, coached Troy Cope, knocked off Pajaro Valley 8-2.

And the Aptos 11-year-olds, coached by Aaron Meisser, toppled Scotts Valley 12-2, in five innings. Congratulations to all!

••• his year’s Aptos Little League 10-year-old All-Star team is a mix of 10-year-olds, 9-year-olds and one 8-year-old.

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All the kids love the game of baseball and never want to leave the field.

Their drive to play really showed in our local District 39 All-Star Tournament.

We had to battle back in every game to win.

In one game, we were down 9 run in the top of the last inning and scored 12 runs to win the game.

It’s been a great All-Star run so far and we are still playing. We are headed to Section 5 tournament in Los Gatos starting on Thursday the 14th. n

ARTISTIC ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DIRECTOR

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Top: Owen Goodmen, Wyatt Graaskamp, Gavin Guess, Mitch Anderson, Beau Pieracci, Kiran Yager, Koa Osborn, Hunter LaTorre, Cody Pieracci, Bottom: Miles Lee, Ryan Santillian, Easton Wolfe, Vincent Florez, Cole Miller, Lincoln Cope Coaches: Scott Yager, Garret LaTorre (Manager), Matt Anderson

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Santa Cruz County Fair: 1955 Barns Must Come Down

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By Jondi Gumz

he pig and sheep barns at the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds, in use since 1955, have been declared “unstable and unsafe” by a state agency, and the fair CEO, Dave Kegebein, recommends they be torn down to make way for temporary facilities for 4-H participants showing animals at this year’s fair Sept. 14-18.

Long-term, Kegebein proposes putting up a new multi-purpose building he estimates will cost $8 million to $10 million, and phasing in three parts as fundraising allows.

“Tremendous supporters will advance these projects under the right conditions,” he said. “You have to think flexibility.”

The board’s livestock committee, which met July 6, endorsed his recommendation, which goes to the nine-member fair board at a special meeting 6:30 p.m. July 19. See https://www.santacruzcountyfair. com/board/agenda-items Jody Belgard, vice president of the board, said a special meeting planned for July 12 was canceled because the agenda was not posted on the fair website 10 days in advance as required.

The Salinas Valley fair, which did a master plan update in 2017, has a nonprofit foundation with 300 members that raised

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Livestock barn at the county fairgrounds in Watsonville

money to build two event centers in 2005 totaling nearly 120,000 square feet.

New construction at the fairgrounds in Watsonville would allow for a service road wider than what exists.

Kegebein sees this as an opportunity to reduce the odds of a mass shooting like the one at the 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival, where the gunman used bolt cutters to cut through a wire fence and evade security screening.

Kegebein also sees a new facility as a revenue generator, rented for equestrian events, trade shows and other activities while being available for emergency housing for people and livestock, as was needed during the CZU lightning fire.

(Santa Cruz County has a contract with the fairgrounds for emergency housing.)

The Chowchilla-Madera County Fair built a new event center after a 2008 fire destroyed the largest building on the grounds rented for the weddings, meetings and fundraisers.

Rental demand is high at the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds.

“We’re full for the rest of the year,” Kegebein said.

“Fair Barns” page 8

COMMUNITY NEWS

Covid Reinfections Boost Cases

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By Jondi Gumz

t’s hard to believe yet another Covid-19 Omicron subvariant could be more contagious than BA.4 and BA.5 but a new subvariant, BA.2.75 has been spotted in India, where it appears to be spreading faster than others, with two cases on the West Coast.

One factor driving up case counts is “reinfections.” About 12% of cases in the United Kingdom are people getting Covid for a second or even a third time as the coronavirus evolves.

A study published in June by Beth Israel Deaconess researchers in the New England Journal of Medicine comparing 27 vaccinated and boosted people with 27 unvaccinated people who had the BA.1 or BA.2 variant found the antibody protection for both groups was high against the original variant and much less against the current subvariants.

However, the unvaccinated with a prior infection had more antibody protection than the vaccinated.

This is a small study, yet it explains second (or third) cases, such as U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who tested positive for a third time.

One more Santa Cruz County resident has died, bringing the total to 267.

The last five deaths were people who were vaccinated, according to the county dashboard, all 65 and older with medical conditions.

Cases t’s possible reinfections are pushing up active case numbers in California and locally.

Santa Cruz County cases are on a rollercoaster, 1,715 on May 23, then 1,472 on May 26 and 1,705 on June 13, then 2,000 on June 27, and 1,871 on June 30, then 2,040 on July 11.

Cases jumped after Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day and Fourth of July but the high of 180 on July 5 is low compared to 1,312 on Jan. 20.

Santa Cruz County updates the numbers on Mondays and Thursdays.

On Tuesday, the state reported 16 people hospitalized with Covid in Santa Cruz County, down from 27 last month, and none are in intensive care.

With 57,000+ county cases, natural immunity may be a factor.

California reports 79.4% of the population have had at least one shot.

On the CDC Covid tracker, Santa Cruz County reports 91.4% of residents age 5 and up have at least one shot and 83.3% fully vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated means having two

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shots (Pfizer or Moderna) or one Johnson & Johnson shot. All were developed for the initial Wuhan Covid-19 strain, which is no longer circulating.

Santa Cruz County is rated “medium” transmission by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on its COVID tracking map. Hotspots are Monterey County, Santa Clara County, much of California and Montana, parts of Arizona and New Mexico, and Florida all rated high risk.

Subvariants of omicron (and waning immunity from vaccines) are behind the latest wave of cases.

The CDC said BA.4 comprises 36.6% of new cases and BA.5 15.7%. These subvariants have boosted cases — snaring people who were vaccinated.

Among them: Actress Mayim Bialik, entertainer Weird Al Yankovic, and Bill Gates. Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, actor Hugh Jackman and Broadway star Sutton Foster, all shared they got a second case.

California hospitalizations from Omicron peaked in January, then plummeted and have been rising slowly but steadily.

The state reports 4,200+ people hospitalized and the Department of Public Health explains about half are due to Covid, with the other half coming to the hospital for another reason and testing positive.

The state reports test positivity, 23% in January, fell to 1.7% before rising to 16.1% and hospitalizations — 20,000 in January — dropped to 950 before rising.

Workplace rules in California require unvaccinated and vaccinated workers to be treated the same; no mask mandate for the unvaccinated. Employees testing positive can return to work masked five days later. $3.2 Billion Deal n June 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration told Covid vaccinemakers that any changes to booster shots for fall must target Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, which account for 52% of new virus cases in the U.S. The FDA announcement came a day after the Biden administration said it had a $3.2 billion deal to buy 105 million doses of Pfizer ’s Covid vaccine for adults and children for fall. Some of the adult shots will come in one dose

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instead of two. Deliveries are expected in “early fall.”

On July 4, citizen journalist Bernadette Pajer and her husband took the opportunity of a hometown parade to enter a truck with signs to spread the word about Children’s Health Defense, which sees no evidence of a need to vaccinate children. She hosts a radio show, “Informed Life Radio,” 3-5 p.m. Fridays on KKNW 1150 AM. “Courage is contagious,” Pajer said.

“Find a buddy.”

On July 5, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff struck down the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Covid-19 student vaccine mandate. He found that only the state — not a school board — can require students to be vaccinated to attend in-person school.

Beckloff sided with the father of a 12-year-old who sued.

Attorney Arie Spangler, representing the father, said the ruling “confirms that individual school districts do not have the authority to impose vaccination requirements in excess of statewide requirements.”

Spangler said parents can connect with Let Them Breathe, a 501c3 nonprofit founded by Sharon McKeeman, a California mother of four, to educate families on their rights and ensuring students have access to meaningful education during uncertain times.

California Parents United, a 501c4 nonprofit parents rights group, plans a fundraiser at Aug 27 at Armitage Winery on Canham Road in Scotts Valley.

In Santa Cruz County, students will go back to school in mid-August – Aug.15 for Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

In California’s school guidance for 2022-23, masks and vaccination are not required but are recommended.

“COVID Update” page 10

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Who is on County Fair Board?

By Jondi Gumz

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ho is on the District 14 Santa Cruz County Fair board, which will make a decision July 19 on whether to tear down the 1955 livestock barns deemed unsafe by the state and how to move forward?

Directors are appointed by the governor. There is no compensation.

Dana McRae, Santa Cruz County counsel for 22 years before retiring, was appointed in November 2021 by Gov. Gavin Newsom, replacing MariaElena De la Garza, who resigned her October 2017 appointment.

Seven directors were appointed or reappointed in March or April 2017 by Gov. Jerry Brown. Their terms have expired, according to the state Registry of appointments. A 2014 appointment also expired.

As listed by the governor, they are: Loretta Estrada, Watsonville, food service manager for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District from 1974 to 2000 and owner of Estrada Ranch. A director since 1989, she was reappointed by Gov.

“Fair Barns” from page 6 Bingo brings a crowd, for one.

In the spring, the fairgrounds hosted Burning Man Santa Cruz, attracting a reported 3,000 attendees for laser light shows, art, music and camping.

No trace of that event could be seen last week when the 14th District fair board livestock committee heard Kegebein’s presentation.

Alternatively to temporary quarters for county fair participants, Kegebein said he had approved plans for an engineered foundation that could be installed before the September 2023 county fair.

Safety mong the livestock committee members, there was consensus to go with “option one,” temporary livestock facilities this year, which means youths showing pigs must bring their own water, and pursue the multipurpose building for the future.

“Safety is the top priority,” said Kyle Middleton, noting a microphone system would be needed to communicate with the 4-H youth. “I think we can figure out something.”

Kyle Plaskett said, “The sheep barn is maxed out on power,” and he’s seen “a lot of extension cords running around on the grass.”

Loretta Estrada asked about shade for the animals, and Stephanie Fontana observed,

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Schwarzenegger in July 2010. Her term expired in January 2021.

Jody Belgard, Corralitos. She was an account specialist for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education since 1985 when she was first appointed in 2006.

She was reappointed in 2010 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and in again April 2017. Her term expired in January 2018.

Don Dietrich, Scotts Valley, business representative of Operating Engineers Local Union 3 from 1999 to 2010. He is board president. First appointed in 2012, his term expired in January 2019.

Stephanie Fontana, Watsonville, 4-H program representative for the University of California Cooperative Extension Services for San Benito County since 2010.

First appointed in 2012, her term expired in January 2020.

William “Bill” Barton, Aptos, chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and senior vice president. Granite Construction Inc. from 1980 to 2008. He was

appointed in June 2014 and reappointed in 2017. His term expired in January 2018.

Tony Campos, Watsonville, a member of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors from 1999 to 2011. He was appointed in 2014 and reappointed in 2017. His term expired in January 2019.

Michael Pruger, Santa Cruz, deputy sheriff in the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office since 2006. Appointed in 2017, his term expired in January 2021.

Lupe Flores, Watsonville, a salon owner since 1975. Appointed in 2017, her term expired in January 2018.

Aptos Times asked the governor’s office via phone and email about the expired appointments and whether those directors would have authority to cast votes and approve contracts.

A spokesperson for the Governor’s Office provided this statement via email: “Appointees serving in expired terms can continue to serve at the pleasure of the Governor until a successor has been appointed.”

“On the lawn, pigs can root out. I’m really concerned about that.”

Danny Naranjo said, “Let’s start with new barns. We’ve got to move with the times.”

Fair volunteers Yvonne Sowersby and Jodi Corkner supported option one.

Corkner said it’s “really exciting, moving toward a new multipurpose building.”

The task seems “daunting,” Sowersby said, “but take it one step at a time.”

Critics ot everyone supported Kegebein.

Philip Ayala, whose daughter raised 300 chickens in Aromas for the fair, said the scale to weigh animals sold for market has to be calibrated on a steady surface, which the barns provided.

Aptos resident Becky Steinbruner emailed Kegebein her safety concerns three times since October. She contended the barns were declared unsafe because Kegebein demolished the permanent wooden livestock pens, which she said damaged the integrity of in-ground concrete post pilings.

She said the work was funded by the fairgrounds foundation, a nonprofit run by Jeannie Kegebein. Dave Kegebein is her son.

Steinbruner said that last year, Dave Kegebein had volunteers remove and replace all the posts and add large timbers to the roof beams, without approval of the fair board or the California Construction Authority, the joint powers authority organized in 1988 to

provide finance, design and construction services for health and safety and other projects at fairgrounds throughout California.

Steinbruner believes this agency, which evaluates risks and potential issues before the project begins, should be involved.

She has asked the fair board to have a public discussion on proposed agreements between the fair and the county Board of Supervisors on a 38.5- acre property at 188 Whiting Road, next to the fairgrounds where the County intends to create equitable access to athletic fields, hiking, and healthy recreation.

The price is $2.31 million, with a 12-month purchase option ending Nov. 12, 2022.

Steinbruner visited a few CZU fire victims people who were living in 12 to 15 trailers at the fairgrounds, as per the county agreement, in November 2020, learning they paid $900 a month for an RV site. Some got rental assistance from FEMA while others did not know how they would make the payment.

During a severe storm in January 2021 where people were urged to evacuate due to expected “debris flow,” the fair was not prepared to accept evacuated animals, so some were sent to Quail Hollow County Park and some to Animal Services.

If the barns do not exist, Steinbruner asks: How could the fairgrounds provide emergency housing in the future?

In May, Randy Crabtree Jr., executive director of the California Construction

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8 / July 15th 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Fair Future on KSCO Radio July 14

The proposed demolition of livestock barns at the county fairgrounds and the ramifications for sheltering animals of people evacuated in times of flood, fire and earthquake will be addressed during KSCO’s Good Morning Monterey Bay with Rosemary Chalmers Thursday, July 14, from 8:35 to 8:45 a.m. with county resident Becky Steinbruner, and from 8:46 to 9 a.m. with Santa Cruz County Fair CEO David Kegebein.

If you miss it, look for the recording at http://ksco.com/shows/39580-goodmorning-monterey-bay The California Department of Food and Agriculture has oversight of county fairs. Its handbook says, “A director whose term has expired also may serve until replaced or reappointed by the Governor.” n

The fairground’s livestock barns were declared unsafe but no “Keep Out” signs were posted on the side where campers were staying.

Authority emailed Steinbruner to say “CCA is actively working with the Fair, the design team, the State, and our inspectors to ensure the work is completed correctly to safely operate the barns for its many uses.”

He added, “Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds and the State of California are ultimately responsible for construction scheduling and facility planning. CCA remains ready to assist when requested by any of these bodies.”

“Fair Barns” page 13

COMMUNITY NEWS

County Donates $100,000 to Gutzwiller Memorial

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By Kieran Kelly

eviewing the County’s budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to allocate $100,000 in support of the memorial for Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller at Willowbrook County Park.

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The funds will help support efforts to build a memorial seating area, flagpole, a more accessible playground and other improvements throughout the park.

Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller was killed in the line of duty on June 6, 2020, and he

Boardwalk Donates $5,000 to Willowbrook Park Project

he Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is making a $5,000 donation to the Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller Memorial Project at Willowbrook County Park in Aptos.

“The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is honored to support Sgt. Gutzwiller’s legacy,” Boardwalk spokesperson Kris Reyes said. “Our hope is this park can be an eternal reminder to our community of his service and sacrifice.”

Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller was killed in the line of duty on June 6, 2020. Last month, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted to officially rename Willowbrook County Park as “Willowbrook County Park in Honor of Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller” and unveiled the

park’s new signs at a ceremony marking the 2nd anniversary of his passing.

“The Boardwalk has long supported the community efforts and has always supported our local public safety agencies,” said County Supervisor Zach Friend. “Building this park in honor of Damon will require a community wide effort and the community has responded in a very powerful way.”

Lt. Nick Baldrige of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said, “We are appreciative and humbled by the $5,000 donation made by the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and many others like it. Donations like this are what is going to make this project become a reality so that Damon’s sacrifice will never be forgotten.” n

is survived by his spouse and two young children. Damon lived with his family near the Willowbrook neighborhood and he used to frequent the park with his beloved dog, Shasta. Given his strong connection to the park, it seemed a natural site for a memorial in his honor.

“In less than a year, our community in partnership with your County government have come together to turn a vision toward reality. These funds will bring the memorial area to the park and will continue the progress toward reimagining Willowbrook for Damon,” said Supervisor Zach Friend, who represents Aptos and the Willowbrook neighborhood.

In May, the Board voted to officially rename the park “Willowbrook County Park in Honor of Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller.” On June 6, 2020, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office held a ceremony to unveil the park’s new signs and mark the second anniversary since Sgt. Gutzwiller ’s passing.

“I want to congratulate my friend, Supervisor Friend, for the designation of Willowbrook Park in honor of Sgt.

Damon Gutzwiller,” said 5th District Supervisor Bruce McPherson. “What a great way to honor his legacy.”

The Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association is working with County Park Friends, a local nonprofit, to raise funding for the memorial site and associated improvements to the park. Although more than $250,000 has been raised, park funding goals have yet to be met.

The campaign goal is $805,000. n ••• Donors can sponsor individual bricks and pavers for the memorial seating and detailed renderings can be found at https://www.countyparkfriends.org/willowbrook.html.

Watsonville Community Hospital: Local Group $12 Million Short

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he local drive to raise money to buy Watsonville Community Hospital and prevent a shutdown by the outof-state corporate owner, got $25 million from the state — which closed its fiscal year with a record surplus — bringing the total in hand to $49 million.

But it’s still not enough — and an Aug. 31 deadline is approaching for the fate of the hospital, which filed for bankruptcy late in 2021 and got approval from the court for a sale in February 2022.

The Pajaro Valley Health Care District, the nonprofit formed to make the purchase offer, is still $12 million short, according

to Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin.

The goal is $61.7 million.

Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) and Assemblyman Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) secured the state funding, which is included in the 2022-23 budget.

In Laird’s announcement, he said, “This historic investment by the State of California for healthcare access in the Watsonville region will pay significant dividends to the region for decades to come.”

He pointed out the hospital not only provides medical care to tens of thousands of Pajaro Valley residents but also employs hundreds of people.

If the hospital were shuttered, it would leave Dignity Health Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz as the only hospital in the county with an emergency department.

Organizers are contacting potential funders daily to bring in that $12 million.

“It is critical that every resident,

regardless of where in the state they live, has access to comprehensive health services including important preventative and emergency care,” Rivas said. n ••• For more on the health care district, visit PVHDP.org.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2022 / 9

“COVID Update” from page 7 Misinformation Bill Hearing B 2098, declaring it is “unprofessional conduct” for a doctor to give patients “misinformation” or “disinformation” about Covid-19, risks, prevention, treatment and vaccines, passed the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee by 9-4 vote and is scheduled for hearing by the Appropriations Committee on Aug. 1.

Unprofessional conduct charges can result in discipline by the Medical Board.

The California Medical Association and seven more doctor associations are in support, and more than two dozen groups are opposed, including Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids and Children’s Health Defense California Chapter.

President Biden’s Sept. 9 order requiring 3.5 million federal employees to be vaccinated for Covid-19 is on hold until September. The 17 judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will take up the matter.

Feds for Medical Freedom, which has about 6,000 members, contends the president overstepped his authority.

Attorney Bruce Castor Jr., representing the American Federation of Government Employees Local 918, said the Constitution doesn’t allow president to bypass Congress except in wartime.

Oral arguments are tentatively set for the week of Sept. 12, according to the Epoch Times.

Young Children & Covid n June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for children 6 months to 5 years old, joining seven countries that offer vaccines to the youngest.

The seven are China, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Chile, Argentina, Cuba and Venezuela.

Eligibility starts at age 2 in Cuba and Venezuela, and age 3 in Chile and Argentina, Bahrain, Hong Kong and China.

A Chile-based study of 500,000 children, not yet peer-reviewed, found the vaccine was 38% effective in preventing infections in kids ages 3-5 during the Omicron wave.

As for preventing hospitalizations, it was 64.5% effective and preventing intensive care unit admission 69% effective.

In Santa Cruz County, parents who want their children under 5 to receive Covid-19 vaccines should contact their doctor.

Covid has claimed the lives of many elders, those 85 and older with medical conditions, but relatively few children, 442 children age 4 and under, according to the federal Centers for Control & Prevention.

More than 1 million people in the U.S.

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have died of Covid, so young children represent a tiny percentage of deaths.

In June, the American Association of Pediatrics reported that in 46 states plus Puerto Rico, the percentage of child Covid cases resulting in death was 0.00%-0.02%.

A Kaiser Family Foundation survey in April found 18% of parents of children under 5 plan to vaccinate them immediately, with 38% waiting to see about side effects, 27% saying definitely not, and 11% saying they would do so only if required for school or day care.

Could it be that young children represent an untapped windfall for the drug-makers?

It all depends on whether these vaccines are added to the CDC vaccine schedule for children. See https://www. cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/ child-adolescent.html At a press event filmed and posted on Twitter, President Biden said Dr. Ashish Jha, who heads White House Crisis Response, is “the guy that’s running the CDC for me these days basically.”

Data Analysis he CDC was expected to analyze data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System for “safety signals” from Covid-19 vaccines.

This database, https://vaers.hhs. gov/, is where health care providers are to report adverse events after a vaccine. It 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.

An early briefing document said, “The CDC will perform Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR) data mining on a weekly basis or as needed.”

This would compare the proportion of an adverse event after getting a specific vaccine vs. the same adverse event after another vaccine. A higher rate would serve as a safety signal to trigger investigation.

On June 21, Josh Guetzkow, a PhD at Hebrew University, posted the CDC response to his Freedom of Information Act request asking about this data mining.

FOIA Officer Roger Andoh’s June 16 letter said that “no PRRs were conducted

by CDC. Furthermore, data mining is outside of the agency’s purview, staff suggest you inquire with FDA.” Guetzkow called PRRs “one of the oldest, most basic and most well-established tools of pharmacovigilance.”

Test to Treat anta Cruz County offers “Test to Treat” sites, including the three OptumServe testing sites, open to anyone regardless of insurance or documentation status.

To make an appointment, visit https:// lhi.care/covidtesting/. The closest is the county office, 500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville.

According to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, cases in local schools

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peaked at 4,407 on Jan. 27, dropped to 44 on April 1, rose to 1,025 on May 23 and dropped to 442 on June 11, and now 260.

The 14-day positivity rate, 12.25% on January, dropped to .79%, and is up to 7.64%.

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education has completed 534,000 tests with Inspire Diagnostics.

For those who test positive and are at risk of severe illness, the CDC recommends asking your doctor for a prescription for Paxlovid, pills developed

by Pfizer for higher risk individuals age 12 or older and given emergency use authorization by the FDA in December.

Lagevrio, produced by Merck, also got emergency use authorization for mild to moderate Covid.

Paxlovid side effects are: https:// www.fda.gov/media/155051/download Summer Travel Mess ore than 820,000 flights have been delayed this year, according to FlightAware. More than 100,00 flights were canceled.

A shortage of pilots and air traffic controllers is creating problems. JetBlue reduced its summer schedule by 10 percent.

For travelers, check the on-time performance of a flight before booking.

To read Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizzelle’s ruling on airline passenger masks, see https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/ show_public_doc?2021-01693-53-8-cv For those staying home, three new restaurants in Aptos await: Restaurant Malik Williams, Venus Spirits Cocktails + Kitchen and Four Streams Kitchen.

Omicron Less Deadly he Omicron variants are less deadly than the Delta variant, which raged in 2021.

Santa Cruz County reported 42 Covid deaths after Omicron, compared to 225 as of Dec. 15, before Omicron.

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

Why do people fear Omnicron?

They may have a medical 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.

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

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.”

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

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.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar invoked the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, a 2005 law allowing him to provide legal protection to companies making or distributing critical medical supplies such as vaccines unless there’s “willful misconduct” by the company. This protection lasts until 2024.

The June 30 deadline for members of the National Guard and Reserve to get vaccinated has passed. At least 11% of the troops are unvaccinated and could face penalties but it’s unclear what will happen next.

After mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were mandated for the military in 2021, cases of heart attack, pulmonary embolism, cancers, and myocarditis spiked dramatically, according to the Defense Military Epidemiological Database queries by the whistleblowers.

The Department of Defense response: A database glitch affected data from 2016-2020.

Testing he Santa Cruz County Office of Education offers drive-though testing for students, staff and families at: 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 Office of Education, 399 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

See: https://tinyurl.com/get-tested-santa-cruz.

Booster shots: https://myturn.ca.gov/ Vaccine providers: www.santacruzhealth. org/coronavirusvaccine.

Local information: www.santacruzhealth. org/coronavirus or (831) 454-4242 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. n •••

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Total COVID cases: 2,040

••• COVID Deaths: 267 As of July 11 Age 85 and older: 116 • 75-84: 62 • 65-74: 47 60-64: 15 • 55-59: 4 • 45-54: 10 35-44: 8 • 25-34: 5 Underlying Conditions Yes: 217 • No: 50 Vaccinated Yes: 33 • No: 234 Race White 154 • Latinx 90 • Asian 16 Black 3 • Amer Indian 1 Hawaiian 1 • Another 2 Gender Men: 136 • Women: 131 Location At facility for aged: 117 Not at a facility: 150

COMMUNITY NEWS

Lithuanians on Fire in Aromas!

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By Edita McQuary

mong ancient oak trees on private property in Aromas, the Lithuanian language and peals of laughter echoed on the afternoon of Saturday, June 24. Red, yellow, and green Lithuanian flags fluttered throughout the campsite. The San Francisco Bay Area Lithuanian Community was celebrating its annual midsummer festival known as “Jonines” or, in English, St. John’s Festival. This is an ancient preChristian celebration, which includes dancing around a bonfire, singing ancient folk songs and creating floral wreathes which traditionally, the women and girls

wear on their heads but nowadays even the liberated menfolk willingly do so.

You may remember that the small Eastern European country of Lithuania was the first of the Baltic countries to declare itself free of the then-Soviet Union on March 11, 1990. Held captive since the end of World War II in 1945, the three Baltic countries, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia had what came to be called the “Singing Revolution” and are now independent once again.

The San Francisco Bay Area Lithuanian Community did themselves proud as about 50 adults and a dozen or so kids got together from all over the S.F. Bay Area to celebrate this ancient summer festival.

Current Lithuanian popular music played on the loudspeaker for the young people (jaunimas) and adults to enjoy. The tables groaned with delicious food while people stood around getting acquainted and re-acquainted. Tents were set up for those who planned to camp (kemping) overnight. With a nod to American

camping culture, s’mors (s’morzai) stations were set up and ready to go.

Two beautiful, charming pre-teens named Meile (Love) and Diamante (Diamond) were getting settled in their tent and explained how they came to be adopted a few years ago from their foster home in Lithuania. They now

live in San Jose with their parents Renata and Dacijus. Asked what was different about life in the U.S. compared to Lithuania, Meile said there was more freedom but also more dangerous animals.

“Aromas Lithuanians” page 12

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2022 / 11

JULY 2022

Aptos Real Estate Update

Ruth Bates 831.359.2212

ruthbates1@gmail.com CalBRE#01799929

30-YEAR FIXED INTEREST RATES UP TO 6.5%!

Interest rates are climbing! A year ago, one could get a 3.0% 30-year fixed mortgage. As of 7/05/22, one can now pay 6.5% (bankrate.com). Say you want to purchase a $1,600,000 home and you have 20% down. Your loan would then be 80% = $1,280,000. At 3.0% rate, your monthly payment = $5397/month. At 6.5% rate, payment jumps to $8091. To keep the monthly payment at $5397, you would have to reduce your 80% loan to $853,800 which would mean you could only afford a home sales price of $1,067,250 vs. $1,600,000, thus you have lost 33% of your buying power with a 6.5% vs. 3.0% rate. This is significant; I believe home prices will see downward pricing pressure. (Note: rates down to 5.7% as of 7/12) THE MARKET IS SLOWING DOWN As of 7/05/22, 32 homes have sold in Aptos in the past 30 days. All of the high sales took > 14 days to sell.

RDM/SEASCAPE — high sale is 2140 Dolphin, listed for $1,899,000, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1852 SF, 30 days on market, sold for $1,700,000, 89.5% of list SEACLIFF — high sale is 123 Sea Terrace, listed for $2,875,000, 4 bed, 2 bath, 2260 SF, 29 days on market, sold for $2,490,000, 86.6% of list APTOS-East of H1 — high sale is 20 Pleasant Heights, listed for $2,995,000, 5 bed, 3.5 bath, 3773 SF on 1.34 acres, 55 days on market, sold for $2,745,000, 91.6% of list.

The overall high sale was 785 Las Olas which sold for $10,000,000! The lowest sale was 213 Martin in Rio Del Mar, which listed for $1,185,000 and sold for $1,060,000, 89.5% of list.

INVENTORY STILL LOW As of 7/03, there are 42 homes for sales in Aptos (vs. 34 last month), 6 condos, and 6 Townhouses. The Average Days on Market (DOM) has increased; houses (41 DOM), condos (21 DOM), townhomes (33DOM).

The Average List Price remains quite high; houses - $2,373,736 Avg List, $1,900,000 Median List. Condos Avg List $781,750, Townhomes Avg List $1,159,000.

NEW LISTING I have a New Listing in Upper Westside Santa Cruz. 400 Schiller Place, custom built in 2015, 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3131 Sq. Ft. on .9 acres. Asking $2,499,000. Call me for more information.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Cabrillo Robotics Team Places First in International Competition T he Cabrillo College Robotics Club, represented by Ciaran Farley, Isaac Wax, and Spencer Koontz, earned First Place Overall in the worldwide MATE ROV Competition in June 23 – 25 in Long Beach.

The Cabrillo team competed in the Pioneer Division, the next to the highest level, where their underwater robot won champion awards in Engineering Presentation and Technical Documentation.

“All three of us had done MATE in high school, in the Scout and Navigator classes that only go to regional competitions,” said Farley. “Now in college, we had the opportunity to participate in the Pioneer class at the world competition, and we brought home an overall win, plus Engineering and Documentation wins! It made all of the lost sleep and time we took off of work well worth it!”

Cabrillo alum Carter Frost assisted with the code.

The locals brought home $700 for their efforts after facing competitors from

Pasadena, Savannah, Georgia, and Cedar Bluff, Virginia.

Along with the new religion, the Lithuanians accepted the Roman Catholic saints’ days, one of which was St. John (Jonas, in Lithuanian) and as usually happens in circumstances like this, pagan customs were incorporated into religious ceremonies.

Sometimes known as Midsummer Eve’s Festival, Jonines occurs on June 24, the longest day and the shortest night of the year.

Lithuanian-Americans, while happy to be working and living in the United States and enjoying its benefits, want their children to learn their Lithuanian language, history, and culture. Most Lithuanian communities in the United States have churches, schools, cultural and benevolent organizations which they

themselves support without any government assistance.

The S.F. Lithuanian Community opened their own Saturday school called “Genys” (woodpecker) in 2006.

The school has weekly Saturday classes in Castro Valley and has about 50 students.

They learn to speak, read, write and sing in the Lithuanian language as well as Lithuanian history, geography, folk dances, folk songs and customs and culture. There are classes for adults as well. n ••• For more information about the San Francisco Lithuanian Community and their school, Genys, please go to sflithuanians.org For Lithuanian worldwide news in English, please go to www.draugas.org. (Draugas means “friend.”)

“Robotics” page 17

“Aromas Lithuanians” from page 11 Her older sister Diamante said it was too hot and she did not like that but she liked that there were many horses here because she loves horses.

The San Francisco Bay Area Lithuanian Community has been in existence since 1952 and has about 600 or so members, according to its current president, Mindaugas Satis.

A desire to socialize with fellow Lithuanians, speak the language, and experience their homeland’s culture, was the impetus for World War II emigrants from Europe to create the organization in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as other cities in the U.S. and throughout the world where Lithuanians had emigrated.

Nowadays the members are young, highly-educated Lithuanians who have come to this area because of jobs in the technology industry and education. They all speak fluent English, Lithuanian and usually one or more languages.

Did you know that Lithuania was the last European nation to accept Christianity? First Christianized in 1250-51, this christening did not stick as they stubbornly persisted in worshipping their pagan gods of nature. It was not until 1387 that the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, married Queen Jadwiga of Poland that Christianity was fully accepted. As a condition of the marriage treaty, Jogaila and all of Lithuania had to become Roman Catholic.

12 / July 15th 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Student Inventor Invited to Global Event N ecessity is the mother of invention,” a phrase coined by Plato, is indeed true for Kristopher Neil Bayog, 8, a second grader at Bradley Elementary in Corralitos.

Kristopher entered the National Invention Convention to showcase his “D” Shoes, a creation born out of a difficult family experience.

“Dependable Service, Affordable Quality”

“D” stands for detective or doorbell, an alarm in the shoe that allows family members to easily find individuals who may be lost in a crowd.

This idea came to Kristopher during a graduation celebration.

SUMMER SPECIAL

If we paint your interior and/or exterior by August 31, 2022

“Kristopher’s Shoes” page 17

we will buy the paint.

SPECIALIZING IN

Residential Repaints & Custom Homes Homeowners Associations Property Managers

Kristopher Bayog demonstrates how the “D” shoe works in a YouTube video explaining his invention.

“Fair Barns” from page 8 No Need to Respond uring his presentation, Kegebein mentioned pushback, adding, “No engineer on this Earth will say it’s OK to use these barns.”

Jessica Ayala of Aromas, who has attended fair meetings for two years, contended that “$100,000 had been poured into the barns for repairs — this is misuse of public funds.”

Asked about those allegations, Kegebein said, “There’s no need for me to respond to that.”

When the livestock committee met July 6, public comment time was reduced, from three minutes to two minutes per speaker.

Steinbruner ran out of time, asked for more, and Stephanie Fontana, the committee chair, said no.

However, volunteers chairing fair departments and listed in Kegebein’s organization chart were allowed to speak without a time limit.

SB5 Money n page 60 of the fair board packet for June 28, Kegebein requested the fair

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board approve demolition of the livestock barns, which were recently improved with SB 5 money.

SB 5, the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2022, provides $6.5 billion for assistance for, among other things, emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing, home ownership for very low and low-income households, and down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.

Kegebein’s memo on the future of the sheep and pig barns gave cost estimates of $150,000 to install foundations and $250,000 for a new sheep barn foundation, if the work is done by the fairgrounds foundation. If a contractor is hired, the estimate was $400,000+ and $500,000.

Removal of the barns by foundation volunteers was estimated at $25,000 and rental tents at fair time were estimated to cost $10,000 to $20,000 a year.

A new metal roof was estimated at $400,000 for each phase and concrete flooring $240,000 to $720,000, depending on size. n

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2022 / 13

COMMUNITY NEWS

New Principals at Aptos High, Jr High W hen school resumes on Aug. 15, Aptos students will see new faces in the principal’s office.

These appointments were approved by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees in June.

Dr. Alison Hanks Sloan is the new principal of Aptos High School. She began her educational career in 1995 teaching English in Ethiopia with the Peace Corps. She has been the coordinator of English Language Learners, director of TEACH, a community college program, and Alison Hanks Sloan most recently was founding principal of the International High School in Largo, Maryland.

She has a doctorate in teaching and learning from University of Maryland, a master’s in education English as a Second Language from George Washington University and a bachelor’s in cultural anthropology from University of New Mexico and San Diego State.

Peggy Pughe, principal at Aptos High for six years, is the district’s new executive director of teaching and learning. She began her career in 1997 as a social studies teacher at Aptos High, then advanced Peggy Pughe to activities director, assistant principal and then principal.

She has a bachelor’s degree in American studies from UC Santa Cruz. She also has a master’s in education, single-subject credential in social science and an administrative credential, all from San Jose State.

Terry Redfern is joining PVUSD as director of mathematics. He comes from San Lorenzo Valley Middle School in Felton where he was principal and before that assistant principal.

He has a bachelor’s and a master’s Terry Redfern degree in mathematics from CSU Fullerton and UCSC, respectively.

He has worked in education since 2009, with

seven years at Seaside Middle School in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.

Ben Slyder is the district’s new coordinator of student services, coming from Aptos High where he was assistant principal.

He began his teaching career in 1999 at E.A. Hall Middle School.

Ben Slyder He taught next at North Monterey County High School, then became an assistant principal. He returned in 2014 as an assistant principal at Aptos High. He has a bachelor’s in science from Humboldt State University, and a teaching credential and administrative credential from National University.

Kerry le Roux (“luh rue”) will join Aptos Junior High as principal, succeeding Michael Mansfield. She began her career in 1994 in Cape Town, South Africa, and has been a teacher, a middle school Kerry le Roux assistant principal, a

principal at an elementary school, and most recently PVUSD program director of special services.

She has a master’s degree in administration and supervision from San Jose State, a bachelor’s of education from the University of Cape Town and a bachelor’s of arts from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa.

Roisin (roy-sheen) Fahey is the new academic coordinator at Rio Del Mar Elementary in Aptos.

She started her career at the International Academic Assistant program in Sinaloa, Roisin Fahey Mexico, then joined PVUSD in 2005 as a teacher at Mintie White Elementary.

She joined Mar Vista’s team in 2014.

She has a bachelor’s degree in history and languages and a master’s in education from UCSC. Her administrative credential is from CSU Monterey Bay. “PVUSD Faces” page 16

Why Give?

Ways to give:

Leave a legacy in Aptos that will not wash away with the first wave!

Aptos Sports Foundation is a community funded foundation that is building a better Aptos through philanthropy “For Our Kids!”

LEAVE A LEGACY –

Make a donation to the ASF Endowment Fund, a community asset, to fund Aptos sports activities and facilities out into the future!

GIVE TODAY –

Improve our schools by donating funds, labor or materials for current projects.

HAVE FUN WITH ASF – Sponsor or attend an event: • Cornhole Tournament • Poker Tournament • Golf Tournament

OUR MISSION STATEMENT: To develop community leaders of tomorrow by providing a quality student athlete experience for the youth of Aptos. Providing quality athletic facilities and programs at Aptos High School, its feeder schools and sports related organizations. Building a better Aptos through philanthropy. “For Our Kids.”

ASF P.O. Box 2405, Aptos, California 95001

Contact: Paul Bailey – 831-818-0406 • Brent Chapman 831-566-7677 or Dan Braga – 831-239-3402 14 / July 15th 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

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“PVUSD Faces” from page 14 Ricky Maldonado is the new academic coordinator at the Mar Vista Elementary in Aptos.

He joined PVUSD in 2016 as a social emotional counselor and worked as an assistant principal.

He has a bachRicky Maldonado elor ’s in human communication from CSU Monterey Bay, a pupil personnel services credential from National University and administrative credential from Santa Clara University.

Joshua Phillips is the new academic coordinator for Calabasas Elementary, coming from Aptos Junior High where he was assistant principal since 2018.

He has worked with students since 2012 at the secondary level and is bringing his experience to the elementary level.

He has been a teacher, coach and administrator.

He has a bachelor ’s in history from UC Santa Barbara, a teaching credential from National University and a master ’s and administrative credential from Cal State Northridge.

••• More Appointments Selene Munoz Casas is the new principal of Rolling Hills Middle School.

She began her career in PVUSD as a behavior technician in the special education program.

She moved into teaching special education in 2009. In 2017, she became an Selene Munoz Casas assistant principal at Pajaro Valley High and Rolling Hills Middle School since 2017. She has a bachelor’s degree in history from UCSC and an education specialist credential from CSU Monterey Bay. She is working on her doctorate at San Jose State.

Juan Alcantar is the new principal of Pajaro Middle School, coming from Lakeview Middle School, where he was assistant principal for 7 years.

Before that, he was an elementary school teacher at Alianza and a migrant support Juan Alcantar teacher. He has a bachelor’s in social sciences from CSU Sacramento and a master’s in educational leadership from San Jose State University.

Dr. Dagoberto Garcia is the new principal of E.A. Hall Middle School. He started as a kindergarten teacher and a 5th grade teacher. He has been a special education teacher at middle and elementary schools, assistant principal, dean of students and a superintendent.

Aptos Jr. High School

He has a bachelor’s degree from UCSC, teaching and administrative credentials from Chapman University, and a doctorate from University of the Pacific, where his dissertation was on English language Dagoberto Garcia learner parental involvement.

Heather Bailey is the new principal at Radcliff Elementary, advancing from assistant principal. She started in 2006 as

a 2nd and 3rd grade teacher. In 2013 she became after-school coordinator and assistant principal at Freedom Elementary and in 2018 academic coordinator at Radcliff.

Heather Bailey She has a master’s in educational leadership from San Jose State and a bachelor’s in elementary education from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. n

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“Kristopher’s Shoes” from page 13 He explains, “When my grandmother, who has dementia, was lost at a graduation, there were a lot of people, and it was hard for us to find her. While we were looking for her, I saw a lot of kids on a leash because their parents did not want to lose them. Later that day, my father used his car alarm to find our car because he could not remember where he parked it and that is how this idea came to me.”

The “D” Shoe builds on the “wheelie” shoe concept and uses a receiver in the shoe and a keychain type of transmitter that acts as the “detective” and “doorbell.”

When the transmitter is activated, the alarm in the shoe will sound if the receiver is within 1,000 feet.

He won $200 and a special award from Consumer Goods and Fashion at the National Convention, attended by hundreds of invited young inventors June 1-3 at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.

Moreover, he is invited to the Global

“Hadley” from page 4 She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and JoAnn Mahfouz; brother Louis Mahfouz, Sr.; and a niece, Alexandra Dominque.

Pastor Todd Menard of Family Life Church conducted the funeral services July 6

“Robotics” from page 12 Teams from China, Russia, and Turkey at the top level, Ranger Division, competed virtually, but twice as many competed in person, representing Egypt, Hong Kong, Peru, Mexico, Italy and the 10 teams from the U.S. Live-streaming was available via Twitch.

This was the 20th world championship, timed near the 25th anniversary of the first rover mission to land on Mars.

MATE international and regional competitions challenge students to design and build underwater robots to tackle tasks based upon real-world applications.

For this year’s competition, MATE ROV accepted an invitation from the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development to “explore solutions to problems that impact all of us.”

Among this year’s tasks: Remove a ghost net caught on an offshore wind turbine substructure, inspect offshore aquaculture pens and measure fish size, and design an operational float to profile

Invention Convention, a virtual event, in August.

California sent 84 students to the national convention, which gave an opportunity for Kristopher and all the participants to explain their thinking and pitch their inventions to judges from industry.

Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent of Schools, was impressed.

“It is inspiring to learn that Kristopher, a PVUSD 2nd grade student, will be one of only 5 students selected from California continuing to the Global Invention Convention,” she said.

“His potentially life-saving creation is thoughtful. It is important to share it with the world.”

She said she was proud of PVUSD staff who “support a safe and engaging learning environment where students like Kristopher can innovate and have supportive opportunities to be curious and explore their interest.” n ••• To view Kristopher’s “D” Shoes invention presentation, go to: https://youtu.be/ Bh66HrmrnE0. at Delhomme Funeral Home’s Chapel of the Flowers, Lafayette, Louisiana. Entombment was in Calvary Mausoleum.

A local service will be at 11 a.m. Friday July 15 at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos.

Donations are preferred to www. milelehmne.org, which provides restorative care to the street children of Kenya. n creatures in the Weddell Sea, where Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship sank in 1915.

All of the participating Cabrillo Robotics team members, who had heard about this competition from their time in high school, came together to represent Cabrillo.

The experience gives participants a head start career-wise. MATE ROV contest alumni have gone on to positions as mechanical/ocean engineer, advanced robotics engineer, and hardware systems engineer, to name a few.

“I am in awe of the hard work and the brilliance of the club members,” said Mike Matera, faculty advisor of the Cabrillo Robotics Club. “This win is even more impressive from a team that met mostly online last year. I can’t wait to see what they do next.” n ••• Cabrillo’s Robotics Club Team Wins Pioneer First Place, All-Around Champion ($500 check) Pioneer Best Engineering Presentation ($100 check, magazine subscription, ROV fellowship membership) Pioneer Best Technical Documentation ($100 check, magazine subscription, ROV fellowship membership)

50 Years of Feeding Hope

You’re Invited!

Thursday, July 21, 2022 @ 4:30 p.m. at The Fairgrounds | Crosetti Hall

Second Harvest is marking 50 years of serving the community and Willy Elliott-McCrea’s retirement, marking 44 years of amazing service to The Food Bank

visit thefoodbank.org/50th

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Major Sponsors

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2022 / 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

World’s Shortest Parade Winners

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By John Hibble

his year’s Aptos 4th of July “World’s Shortest Parade” had the most participants in years and yet everyone was out of the gate in 45 minutes.

That is the quickest that we can remember. We asked the community to judge the entries and send the Aptos Chamber their favorites.

The winners are: Grand Prize: Santa Cruz Drama Academy “Star Wars” Crowd Pleaser: Caroline’s Non-Profit Thrift Shop Best Band: Sam Nigh, “Grand Sam” Most Patriotic: Trout Gulch Marching Band Best- Pet: Tiny Paws Pug Rescue Best- Individual: Robert Bailey: 1968 Triumph Spitfire Best- Trucks: Santa Cruz 4 Wheel Drive Best- Tractor: Ag History Project Best- School: Aptos High Cheer Best- Group: Aptos Little League All Stars, 2002 Best- Car: Aptos 831, Red Convertible n

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Amy Brandolino leads the Watsonville Community Band in the 2022 World’s Shortest Parade in Aptos on the 4th of July.

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2022 / 19

BUSINESS PROFILE

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A Tool Shed, Inc. Expanding Post-Pandemic

By Edita McQuary

omewhere in heaven, greatgrandparents Robert and Geneva McArdell are extremely proud of Robert and Barbara Pedersen and their kids, Rob W. and Meghann Lovlein, owners and operators of the 77-year-old family business which they founded in 1945.

In spite of tough times, the Pedersens are adding another store to their list of seven South Bay area stores, this time in Greenfield in Monterey County.

The Greenfield store will open later in July with seven employees to serve the expanding housing and agricultural communities there and in the surrounding cities. It is located right off Highway 101.

The front of the store with its sign is visible to 101 traffic – a great advertisement.

“We felt this was a good time to expand our business into this underserved area. As we do at all of our locations, we are proud to serve the public and are looking forward to becoming part of the Greenfield community,” said Robert.

A Tool Shed, Inc. has stores in Campbell, Morgan Hill, Hollister, Salinas, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Watsonville. They carry a full range of construction, agricultural, and landscaping equipment.

Whether you need an air compressor, backhoe, chain saw or log

An old newspaper image of Robert and Geneva McArdell.

Rob & Meghann hold an old photo of A Tool Shed, at the intersection on the left. splitter, they have these tools as well as trucks, trailers, auto tools, generators, forklifts, manlifts, light towers, reach lifts, and mixers. If you need it, they likely have it!

For those living in south Santa Cruz County, their Watsonville store is located at 285 West Beach St., telephone 831-722-0334.

This family-owned and operated business prides itself on honesty and excellent customer service. They have a total staff of just under 100 employees, most of whom are long-term employees.

They are also a community-minded company and support Veterans Foundations in Campbell and Los Gatos, The American Cancer Society, The Autism Society, as well as Roaring Camp Railroad, Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad,

20 / July 15th 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

the San Jose Giants, and the Santa Cruz Warriors.

In this area, A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals is located at 3700 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, at the corner of 17th Avenue

across from Staples, telephone 831-4777133. Hours: Mon-Sat 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Check their website for other locations: www.AToolShed.com n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Aptos High, Jr. High Starting Later in Day

By Jondi Gumz

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hen school resumes on Aug. 15, students and parents will notice starting times are changing dramatically.

Why? Senate Bill 328, passed in 2019, took effect July 1.

It says: Middle schools cannot start before 8 a.m. and high schools cannot start before 8:30 a.m.

So, in Aptos, Aptos High starts at 8:30 a.m. and Aptos Junior High at 8:45 a.m.

The elementary schools, Mar Vista, Rio Del Mar and Valencia: 7:50 a.m.

Alicia Jimenez, public information officer for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, explained via email,“ Elementary schools are not included on this mandate and students can start school at the times those school communities are accustomed to.”

This bill passed 44-20 in the Assembly with 15 members not voting, and 24-9 in the Senate with 5 members not voting, then signed by the governor.

Voting yes were Assembly members Robert Rivas and Mark Stone and Senator Bill Monning.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Anthony Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge, who followed the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatricians and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the CDC, the average start time for middle and high schools in California in 2011-12 was 8:07 a.m.

A widely-cited 2014 policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics supported later start times for adolescents.

Studies over the last 15 years investigating the impact of delayed school start times on student outcomes reached a wide variety of conclusions.

According to Portantino, “There is overwhelming evidence that moving high school and middle school start time later in the day increases academic performance and the public health of teenage students.”

Supporters argue that adolescents’ brains are “hard wired” to not sleep before 11 p.m., so simply going to bed earlier is not a solution. They contend schools benefit from later start times, because experience has shown they increases attendance (which increases school district revenue) and reduces tardiness and behavioral problems.

Until now, the state Education Code allowed school districts to set their own start times.

The Elk Grove Unified School District contended the later start “would present tremendous difficulties with significant opportunity costs. And because school schedules have such a wide-ranging and significant impact on operations and expenses, a great number of districts would be hurt by this legislation for a number of different reasons. Determining school schedules is a decision that even more than most should reflect specific conditions and be decided locally, not from Sacramento.” n

Natasha’s Run: Fighting Sex Trafficking

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n June 12, dozens of people gathered at Aptos Village Park for the first annual Natasha’s Run for Justice, presented by Arukah Project and Truth2Freedom.

The event featured a 5k walk/run through Nisene Marks State Park, followed by a family day with jump houses, guest speakers, face painting, balloon twisting, a beer and wine garden, food trucks, and the Alison Sharino Band.

“Natasha’s Run” page 26

From left: Kenny Besk, Loreal Weitzel, and Natasha Herzig, outreach director for Arukah Project and the local survivor to whom the run is dedicated.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2022 / 21

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By Tony Tomeo

ummer began more than a week ago.

Subsequently, the dog days of summer continue from the third of July to the eleventh of August. These 40 dog days are the twenty days prior to and after the twentythird of July.

That is when the Sun aligns with Sirius, the Dog Star of the constellation of Canis Major, or ‘the Great Dog.’ Dogs are actually uninvolved.

Nonetheless, dog days actually are a time for dogs to languish through much of the most unpleasantly warm weather of summer. Although local climates are generally mild, warm weather is not rare.

It merely seems to be less oppressive than in other climates because of less humidity, and perhaps more of a breeze. Coastal influence is a major advantage.

Dogs drink more water during the dog days of summer because they lose moisture, with warmth, while panting.

Vegetation also needs more than typical quantities of moisture to compensate for increasing evaporation from foliar surfaces. Aridity and any wind, both of which render warmth more comfortable for dogs and people, increase such evaporation.

Also, for most exotic (nonnative) vegetation, regular watering helps to sustain growth that warmth stimulates. Lily of the Nile can likely get enough moisture through the local rainy season to survive through the dry season. However, it is healthier and more appealing if occasionally watered to sustain its most vigorous growth during the dog days of summer.

Many plants are native to climates that supply rain in conjunction with warmth.

They rely on moisture for normal growth.

Transforming Your Water for Tomorrow

22 / July 15th 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Every lawn has its dog days.

Various bananas, canna, angel’s trumpet and giant bird of Paradise grow very vigorously with sufficient moisture. Unfortunately though, insufficient moisture is very distressing to them. Drought tolerant species have a distinct advantage.

Turf, bedding plants and vegetable gardens need abundant water during the dog days of summer. Although some can survive with less than others, none are exempt. Most potted plants, especially those in hanging pots, are likewise dependent on systematic watering.

Even if the weather is too warm to enjoy other gardening, watering can not be neglected.

••• Blooming Jasmine he warm nights between the dog days of summer are ideal for night blooming jasmine, Cestrum nocturnum. That is when it disperses its famously sweet fragrance to attract bat and moth pollinators.

A bit of humidity, although unnecessary and locally rare, enhances the permeating nature of the fragrance.

Some might find such fragrance to be excessive.

Otherwise, night blooming jasmine is quite modest.

Those who experience These dinky flowers disperse the powerful fragrand fragrance. grance at night may be unable to identify its source while visible during the day. Small floral trusses hold several small and narrowly tubular flowers that are about an inch long. Bloom is greenish white or pallid yellow. Simple evergreen leaves are a few inches long.

Therefore, night blooming jasmine works best in the background of more colorful bloom. It will not mind if other flowers get the credit for its fragrance.

With regular watering, night blooming jasmine is happy in unseen areas between buildings, and under high windows that lack views. Aggressive pruning only in early spring promotes blooming new growth. Most plants stay shorter than ten feet. Rare white berries are toxic. n ••• Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo. com.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Second Annual True Love Christian Music & Art Festival

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By Simon Cassar

ur community has seen other groups come together to promote a lifestyle -- that is the blessing of living in the USA that has freedom of speech.

However, there is another thought of how one can live their life: Having a true love relationship with the Creator of life itself. That is the hope of the True Love Christian Festival.

This year more than 12 churches are participating to show their love for God and their neighbors. Each church will bring to the gathering their unique styles of how

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they love God through music, art, ministries and fellowship.

As many pastors have said in the past, you cannot put God in a box; God is amazingly creative and you will see that creativity in the True Love Christian Music and Art Festival.

Two years have passed since the pandemic first pushed many Christians outside the walls of our church buildings.

At first, this may have been unsettling, but perhaps this was the very thing needed to shake us up and send us to a world looking more than ever for true love.

The gathering of churches, showing that true perfect love, at the True Love Christian Music and Art Festival will be on Saturday, July 30, at Aptos Village Park.

This event has a threefold purpose: • To unite God’s church physically for one day, • To reveal God’s creativity in awesome uplifting music for all to see and hear • To bless our community and show what heaven can be like.

This event will combine Christian music, art, and local nonprofit organizations in an all-day event similar to an art and wine festival, where all is free, and where the church goes to the people, rather than expecting them to come to us.

Participation includes pastors, elders, lay leaders, and musicians from Santa Cruz Bible Church, The Point-A Jesus Community, Coastlands, Green Valley Christian, Vintage Faith, Calvary Chapel Capitola, St. Joseph, Calvary Chapel Aptos, ReGeneration Church, Scotts Valley, Twin Lakes and Watsonville Nazarene.

Last year we had a small taste of what God can do when we deny ourselves, with free services brought by the church, Second Harvest Food Bank, Monte Vista Christian School, Pregnancy Resource Center, Guadalupe Pregnancy Outreach, and Teen Challenge. We gave out 300 free meals, the

way Jesus gave out loaves and fishes when he spoke.

The plan is to go bigger this year. In a time of such disunity, and where some of the church has not exactly led by example, we want to set the example of love for our community—as we should. n ••• For info, see www.TrueLoveChristian.com or email TruLuvJohn316@gmail.com

Castro Adobe Building Getting a New Roof

he two-story Castro Adobe in Larkin Valley, built between 1848 and 1849, is one of the finest examples of a rancho hacienda in the Monterey Bay area.

Now the adobe, part of Castro Adobe State Historic Park, has a new roof, thanks to Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks.

The $175,211 project was supported wholly via Proposition 68 funds directed to projects in state parks operated by a nonprofit.

Prop. 68, passed in 2018, dedicated nearly $200 million in grant funding for underserved communities for access to outdoor recreation facilities.

“We are proud to partner with State Parks to restore and interpret this critical part of Pajaro Valley’s history,” Friends Executive Director Bonny Hawley said.

“The Castro Adobe provides a hub to share

stories from many moments in history, helping visitors better understand and appreciate the generations of people who have called the Pajaro Valley home.”

Castro Adobe suffered major damage in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Repairs have ben made as funding becomes available.

Work has included earthquake repair and seismic stabilization, second floor strengthening and installing an ADA lift, and restoring exterior elements.

The property includes the restored cocina (kitchen) and the Potter-Church Garden, an outdoor space originally created by then-owners (1968-72) Elizabeth and David Potter in consultation with noted landscape architect Thomas Church. n For updates, visit www.thatsmypark.org/ castro-blog.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2022 / 23

COMMUNITY NEWS Painchaud’s Award-Winning Photo Wins International Honor

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ptos photographer Kevin Painchaud’s photo “Getting the Shot” — showing photographer Shmuel Thaler running towards the wall of flames to get the shot during the 2020 CZU Fire, won the Gold award in the Moscow International Foto Award 2022 in the editorial/general news category.

That was a once-in-a-lifetime photo!

To see the winners, visit https://www.moscowfotoawards.com/winners/mifa/2022/7022/

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Guy George Honored as 2022 Farmer of the Year

uy George, who has been farming in Santa Cruz County for 70 years, is the 2022 Farmer of the Year.

He was honored June 23 during the Farm Bureau’s 105th annual meeting dinner at the Rodgers House patio at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

The board of directors felt it was appropriate to honor him because of his leadership and his role as a mentor to young farmers in the community.

He was the third child born to Portuguese parents Manuel & Evelyn George.

Manuel was born on Gaffey Road in the Casserly area and he started farming at age 12, having a small dairy. Evelyn came from Dos Palos dairy cattle area of California.

Guy “King George” George with his award

Guy started working as a janitor at Pajaro Grammar School at age 12.

He graduated from Watsonville High School. He worked, after high school, as a dishwasher at Loma Linda restaurant on Werners Hill.

He enlisted in the Navy and became an aviation mechanic. After his Navy service, he returned to Watsonville and began farming strawberries and fruit trees with his dad while attending San Jose State part-time. After graduating from San Jose State, he started farming full-time on the Redmond Ranch on Lakeview Road.

He farmed vegetables and cabbage, delivering to the Monterey Bay Shipping Co. in Castroville. He packed and shipped under his own label, “King George.”

He farmed cabbage and lettuces for 20 years on the George Braycovich property, then spent 25 years farming vegetables on many individual properties all over the Pajaro Valley.

He shifted his focus to strawberries and became a Driscoll’s grower in 1998. He formed an LLC, Rancho Alitos, growing strawberries and blackberries.

He has been a continual supporter of agricultural organizations such as the Santa Cruz County Fair, the Agricultural History Project, and the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau.

Guy’s lifetime of hard work, endurance, dedication, perseverance during bountiful years and challenging years sum up the 70+ years of farming.

24 / July 15th 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

The Rodgers House Patio was a beautiful venue for the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau 105th Annual Meeting.

This award is presented annually 1st term, one-year director: Brendan to the farmer(s) who have contributed Miele, Ag Support Industry beyond their normal farming duties to help 2nd term, three-year director: Tom Broz, the community.

Organics, Amanda Peixoto-Castro, Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau Organics President Arnett Young was the emcee for 3rd term, three-year director: Nita the dinner.

Gizdich, Apples, Cynthia Mathiesen, Directors and officers were elected, Berries filling 19 director positions, with terms Officers starting Nov. 1. n President and State Delegate, two-years: ••• Dennis Webb - Timber Directors 1st Vice President and State Delegate, 1st term, three-year director: Sean Baird, two-years: Peter Navarro - Berries Cattle 2nd Vice President and State Delegate, 1st term, two-year director: James Cuntwo-years: John Pisturino - Cattle ningham, Cannabis, Adriana Silva, Past-President & Alternate State Delegate, Organics two-years: Arnett Young – Vegetables

COMMUNITY NEWS

PV Arts To Buy Porter Building W e are one step closer to achieving our dream of owning the Porter Building on the corner of Maple and Main Streets.”

That’s the announcement from the nonprofit Pajaro Valley Arts, anticipating its new headquarters and close of escrow by July 31.

The vision for this new space is to provide an inclusive, safe, and professional space where the community can create and share their creativity, culture, and history.

At the June 28 City Council meeting, council members approved the agreement for Pajaro Valley Arts to purchase the historic Porter Building in downtown Watsonville for a fair market value cash offer at the appraised price of $1,150,000.

The two-story building, erected in 1946, comprises 11,980 square feet plus 30 parking spaces. It requires extensive renovation.

Pajaro Valley Arts plans a building campaign to cover the renovation costs.

Next steps include: A community input process, obtaining architectural

plans and applying for development and building permits prior to starting work on the building.

The Pajaro Valley Arts acquisition team includes: Trina Coffman-Gomez, finance, real estate, escrow; Bruce Nicholson, architecture, construction, and property development; Valéria Miranda, business, arts programming, and management experience; and Judy Stabile, PVA programming and grant writing.

They worked with the City management team of Tamara Vides and Raunel Zavala, along with both legal teams to realize the sale of the property.

Pajaro Valley Arts will continue operations at 37 Sudden St. until the Porter Building is renovated and anticipate moving into their new home in 2025.

The purchase was made possible through the $1 million donation from an “angel” donor whose interest is in providing workshops for seniors and youth, combined with a grant of $540,000 administered by Community Vision Capital & Consulting, with

support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

The grant to purchase the Porter Building was awarded to further expand the ability of Pajaro Valley Arts to provide space and programming in visual and performing arts.

The purchase process started in 2020, right before the outbreak of the COVD-19 pandemic.

Despite the delay, PVA leaders recognize the City’s heroic efforts during this time, and the need to prioritize the health of the community over the sale of the property. n

Sharon Hoffman: New CASA Director

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haron Hoffman has joined the board of directors of CASA of Santa Cruz County.

She’s a new Santa Cruz resident who previously was on the board of a local CASA in New Jersey and a trustee of New Jersey Sharon Hoffman State CASA. She brings financial, strategic planning, and governance knowledge. n

Annual Traditions

ACROSS

1. Verdant 5. Vietnamese neighbor 8. “Before” prefix 11. Curved molding 12. *It rings at midnight on Christmas Eve at church 13. Yarn store unit 15. Relating to armpit 16. Criminal’s surprise 17. Nephew’s sister 18. *4th of July spectacle 20. 1952 Olympics host 21. 1,000 kilograms 22. Meat sauce 23. Vacation location 26. French painter of “La Danse” fame

30. Menu words (2 words) 31. Lean 34. Wine valley 35. Impertinent 37. *Annual Assumption tradition blesses it 38. #2 Down, pl.

39. Highest volcano in Europe 40. Puppies 42. Bit of binary code 43. Dean’s official residence 45. Small stream 47. Wine quality 48. Bilbo Baggins’ land 50. Windsor family’s sport 52. *Popular New Year’s libation 56. Stored by bees

57. ____-de-camp 58. “On the ____” by Jack Kerouac 59. Make laugh 60. Tear 61. Tibetan priest 62. Woolen cap 63. Banned insecticide 64. Big Bang’s original matter 1.

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Bakery serving Tangelo Scorch Regarding this point “Live and ____” Description for twins Auto pioneer Banana remnant Puerto ____

10. Compass bearing 12. “Jane Eyre” author 13. Pig part 14. *Action under mistletoe 19. Like a damaged apple, possibly 22. Jam container 23. Torn down 24. Fill with optimism 25. Sweating room 26. *Thanksgiving’s main event?

27. Beauty parlor 28. Chiropractor’s concern 29. Painting holder 32. Light gray 33. “Wow!” 36. *Birthday cake decorations

38. Seize the throne 40. Kind of humor 41. Ready 44. Deteriorate 46. Just about 48. Jumped aside 49. Lacked 50. Type of cotton 51. Female gamete 52. *Valentine’s Day tradition 53. *New Year’s resolution weight or savings target 54. One in a roster 55. Red-encased cheese 56. *Graduation flyer © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2022 / 25

Love is all There Is & a Prayer for Matthew Esoteric Astrology • Mid-July 2022 • By Risa D’Angeles

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ear Readers, this is a different introduction than I have written before. I wanted to share with you that my son, Matthew (age 52), was in a motorcycle accident July 1st.

He was on the highway (at the Fishhook) when his bike slid and he was thrown to the side of the road and down a hill. He landed on his head and face. A truck driver drove by later, saw the motorcycle lights and called 911.

When the ambulance arrived Matthew was barely breathing. He was helicoptered to the trauma hospital in Salinas. He remains in an induced coma with a traumatic head injury, breathing tube, with the bones in his face fractured.

We are praying daily with people around the world, in all countries that Matthew emerge healed and whole. Matthew’s friends gathered in the hospital parking lot with Matt’s art (heartwrencher) on their T-shirts to show their support and to be close to him. I am grateful to the excellent service workers, doctors and nurses who have and continue to care for Matthew.

Matthew is Pisces Moon, Aquarius Sun with Cancer rising. Aquarius is the forerunner, lover of humanity, friend to everyone. Pisces is the artist and sign of compassion. Cancer is the mother, nurturing the little ones, and the sign of nourishment ARIES

(Matthew loves to cook). Aquarius, sign of the new era, Pisces moon (the previous era). Suspended between two worlds this past week, Matthew’s experience represents the place humanity also finds itself — suspended between two eras — one passing away (Pisces) the other incoming (Aquarius).

I have learned something in this very terrible and heartbreaking week. Something only learned when on the precipice, between hope and sorrow, life and death. I have realized there is only Love and nothing but Love. And anything not love is not real.

And that we only have time for Love. We have time only for Love.

And like Aeneas, carrying his father out of the flames, we can say to Matthew together, “Come then, dear friend (Matthew), place your arms around our collective necks & shoulders & we will support you.” And with our prayers give you strength & with our breath, breathe life into you!”

A Go Fund Me page has been set up for Matthew at www.gofundme.com/f/matthew-cole-scotts-journey-to-recovery.

You can also learn more at the Facebook group page keeping track of his condition — Love For Matt Scott.

Please pray with me for Matthew’s healing, everyone.

— Thank you, Risa

LEO

SAGITTARIUS

You wonder these days what your true values and ideals are.

You ponder upon friendships. Is there comfort and like-mindedness? Friends are for support and nurturing. Who are your friends? In the coming months and years you’ll re-evaluate friendships — who and why — also assessing your importance to them. Your communication can deepen the spiritual basis that holds all things together. Or separate. We all have that choice.

It is good to review our relationships, past and present, seeking to understand how we communicate and what we expect and offer others. You specifically must realize making contact releases love which nurtures relationships, allows there to be no illusion or distortions. Did you long ago expect too much and were you defensive and demanding? Leos seek freedom along with praise and recognition. Sometimes we have to gently teach our partners.

You reflect on deep inner concerns. Outer success seems less important. Instead you question and evaluate your life in spiritual terms. You ponder upon inner fulfillment wondering if you’ve been masquerading. Spiritual dimensions are tugging at you, perhaps not completely apparent. You ponder death and transformation and wonder about heaven. At times you want to withdraw, find peace, drop into deeper dimensions. It will happen.

TAURUS

VIRGO

Something in the world has called you to a great service. And you have responded from the heart. There is also a need to ensure your future through expanded resources. Financial security is a focus and goal. Begin with a budget, learning in detail how your money is spent, what you must have and what you can do without. A fundamental change of values has appeared. They have spiritualized. Take great care in relationships. They are your heart’s content and you theirs’s.

CAPRICORN

Long held dreams, hidden and for years may emerge, highlighting your future endeavors. Perhaps you’re considering new study and trainings, allowing you to finally venture into a new field of financial or agricultural endeavors. You’ll assess your needs and that of humanity during these critical times. Your work must be service oriented. You know the future is about creating a society of cooperation and sharing.

You will lead us into it.

You can be very sensitive at this time. Careful with what you are eating, seeking to create a balance with foods, using all colors and textures. We are to eat all types of foods, prepared in all types of ways. Do not ignore what your body needs.

Virgos are to serve themselves first, tending to body, mind and heart before caring to other. Otherwise strength diminishes.

Tending first to self creates the balance needed. Then the body is grateful.

GEMINI

LIBRA

AQUARIUS

You constantly seek knowledge, which is a spiritual task leading to wisdom, then to love (your purpose). Assess all that you have learned, the many fields of study you’ve assimilated.

What would you like to pursue now? Previous beliefs and ideas are now becoming unavailable. You seek new philosophies that expand you spiritually. Long distance travel may be involved. You as a Gemini needs someone to join you.

You have persevered in your profession until you are recognized as very skilled and thus known in your field. You have also displayed great courage in your work . Now you feel independent, not wanting to depend on others. Teamwork and being cooperative, however, are most important now. This shows leadership and wisdom. Careful to balance home and professional lives. If you have children tend to them with extra care. In between work and family life, art becomes your refuge.

You are in a state of spiritual transformation. You will review who you think you are as a person and who you are with others. Then you will think about getting into and remaining in tip top shape.

What do you think of your life thus far? Is it exciting and wholesome or is it sad and dreary? You will ponder upon and learn more about yourself in the next few months. Then a new self-identity gradually emerges and more and more energy is available.

PISCES

CANCER

In your daily life you often think of loved ones who have passed on and sometimes you feel left behind. Know those on the other side are working quite closely with you. Communicate from the heart with them. On another subject, you will begin to use resources creating a future that looks and feels different than the past. You will be called to nurture the family. Everyone is grateful for you.

Take time to focus upon yourself and your body’s needs. Seek people whom you enjoy and meet in places of Has your home undergone perhaps unusual and subtle quiet and solitude. Establish and recognize changes in the past several years? Are you yourself as someone who is creative. You need feeling strange and subtle changes within, to dare yourself to have fun and to experience too? Our homes are our psychological fortresses. When we transform and change, they more pleasure. These are strange realities for you. Notice transform and change too. And those changes disassemble so much of the past is no longer important. Your life energy our sense of security and safety. Attempt to make your home, is attempting to establish a more secure spiritual sense of or wherever you find yourself, a citadel, a refuge, sacred as a direction. The future isn’t formed yet. But it’s not too far away.

Pray more. temple. Diplomacy sustains you.

••• SCORPIO

Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com 26 / July 15th 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Natasha’s Run” from page 21 Natasha’s Run for Justice is a fundraiser for victims of sex trafficking in Santa Cruz County.

It is dedicated to a local survivor who fought for 15 years for her voice to be heard, for people to believe her, and to see her trafficker brought to justice.

Due to her unwavering determination, her trafficker was sentenced to 174 years in prison, preventing him from ever terrorizing another victim again.

According to Arukah Project, a Santa Cruz-based nonprofit, there are up to 200 sex trafficking victims every week in Santa Cruz County.

Social media is used to lure in young people.

“Through my experience with the DA’s office, I know that the trafficking here is predominantly done online, whether it’s exploitation done online or whether it’s actual advertisements,” said Kenny Besk, law enforcement liaison for Arukah Project.

“There’s kids thinking they’re talking to other kids, but they’re not,” Natasha said. “They’re going to meet up with a trafficker and they don’t know that.”

Arukah Project, a Santa Cruz based non-profit 501c3, works to restore, renew, and rebuild the lives of sex trafficking survivors in Santa Cruz County.

The founders are passionate about building a community where victims can come forward and get the help they need as well as raising awareness among parents and children on how to keep their children safe on social media and online through their online awareness and safety training course, Guardrails.

Loreal Weitzel, president of Arukah Project, said, “You can join the fight against human trafficking by signing up for our monthly newsletter to find out more about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to get involved.” n You can support local victims by making tax-deductible donations to Arukah Project.

See www.arukahproject.org

“You can join the fight against human trafficking by signing up for our monthly newsletter to find out more about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to get involved.”

— Loreal Weitzel, president of Arukah Project

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2022 / 27

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CZU REMEMBRANCE The second annual CZU Remembrance Gathering will be Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Historic Brookdale Lodge, Highway 9, Brookdale.

Organizers Antonia Bradford and Julie Horner say there will be food, music, information on “hardening your home,” artifacts on display, donation opportunities, vendors, and art installations. To showcase your art, fire survivor or otherwise, email info@czuevent.com.

The CZU Fire took the homes of 911 families. The road to recovery has been filled with challenges and heartbreak.

There will be the chance to volunteer or make your needs known, whether you are a fire victim who needs help with your rebuild finishes or you need help clearing your property of fuel load to make your land more fire-resistant.

Bradford is working on an art installation to shine a light on what the fire community is contending with, to not only educate but also garner support. She’s asking families to fill out this survey and she will arrange a time to meet you: https://forms.gle/YoLiQAqcHW1EzpMN7

COUNTY FAIR ENTRY INFO Most Entries due Thursday, August 25 The Santa Cruz County Fair, which will be Sept. 14-18, is using the ShoWorks online entry system this year for all departments.

For most entries, the deadline is Aug. 25. See https:// santacruz.fairwire.com/ Submitting your entries online will save you time on receiving day and help the fair display your items.

You can pay any entry fees by credit card online! Paying by credit card will incur a 3% processing fee. Checks can be dropped off at the fair office.

If you prefer paper entry forms, they are in the entry guide. The first time you use the system, click on the blue button in the upper right corner of the page to create an exhibitor account using your name, address & email address. Youth exhibitors are asked to enter birthdate & age.

This year, everyone needs to create an account. Write down your password. Once your account is created, you can use the username and password each time you visit the system.

Use the blue buttons in the middle of the page to move to each step.

Find the department, division and class you wish to enter.

Departments are listed alphabetically with some departments broken into categories (Home Arts and Agriculture Horticulture.) Fill in the required fields, marked by blue asterisk (*), and any optional fields needed to describe your entry.

LA SELVA BEACH LIBRARY ACTIVITIES Hours: Tues-Thurs: 11-6 | Fri-Sat 12-5 | Book drops open 24/7.

Preschool Storytime: Tuesdays, 11 am – noon outside on the patio. Dress for the weather.

Stories for Bedtime: New programs every other Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Facebook, presented by SCPL Librarian Jackie. The episode then is added to the library’s YouTube Channel after that. See Storytimes for Children playlist at the SCPL YouTube page: https:// www.youtube.com/user/santacruzpl Passionate Readers Book Discussion: 4th Thursday at 10:30 am.

In-Person Tech Help: Fridays 10 am to noon.

Tech-savvy staff will help you troubleshoot your issue with a 25-minute (or less) appointment. Make an appointment: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/appointments/laselva Advance appointments are prioritized. Visit information

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by July 22 desk or call 831-427-7713 for help making an appointment. Arriving later than 5 minutes after scheduled time may result in appointment cancellation.

••• Visit https://tinyurl.com/la-selva-library-events for more details and future events.

Phone: 831.427.7713; text: 831.264.0647 or send a question at https://www.santacruzpl.org/contact/ SANTA CRUZ PUBLIC LIBRARIES SUMMER READING PROGRAM Ongoing thru July 31 Santa Cruz Public Libraries will offer a variety of events, including circus, magic, and puppet shows, dancers, drumming, and a virtual interactive bilingual presentation featuring Delrita the Elephant.

The goal is to prevent summer learning loss.

July 19: Rock Painting, downtown Santa Cruz, 1-3 pm July 20: Perry Yan’s Magic Show, Boulder Creek, 2-2:30 pm July 20: Perry Yan’s Magic Show, Garfield Park, 11-11:30 am July 23: Fratello Marionettes, Scotts Valley Community Center, 11 am to noon July 23, Fratello Marionettes, Anna Jean Cummings Park, 2:30-3 pm July 26: Germar the Magician, Felton, noon to 1 pm July 26: Perler Beads, Garfield Par, 1-3 pm July 30: Taiko Drumming, La Selva Beach, 1-2 pm There are incentives that encourage children and teens to read. Upon signing up, children and teens receive an Atlantis Fantasyworld coupon they can use to select a book.

After completing 5 hours of reading, kids 0-11 receive a free book to keep, and teens receive a backpack with goodies. After reading 20 hours, kids and teens receive a free scoop coupon from Penny Ice Creamery. They also receive raffle tickets for completing activities incorporating STEAM, outdoor exploration, and creative expression while practicing critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.

Parents are encouraged to read together with their children and participate in the Adult Summer Reading Program. Incentives include an SCPL Bookbag and raffle prizes, including a family pass to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Everyone can participate in Summer Reading using the paper log or the Beanstack App. Visit any open branch of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries to sign up or go to https://santacruzpl. beanstack.org/reader365 For a list of all the Summer Reading Program activities, see www.santacruzpl.org/srp RED CROSS DONATION DRIVES Join the American Red Cross and Discovery to get your heart pumping in July! We’re teaming up for Shark Week to encourage donors to give blood to help prevent a summer blood shortage after a steep drop recently in donations.

To encourage donations throughout the month, all those who come to give July 1-31 will be automatically entered for a chance to win a Shark Week merchandise package, including: • Beach bike • Smokeless portable fire pit • Paddle board • Kayak • $500 gift card to put toward accessories Those who come to give July 21-24 will also receive an exclusive Shark Week T-shirt •••

28 / July 15th 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated by a licensed grief counseling therapist.

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

Ben Lomond Friday, July 15: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ben Lomond, 9545 Lovecreek Road Santa Cruz Wednesday, July 20: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk Street Tuesday, July 26: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk Street Scotts Valley Saturday, July 16: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Saint Philip’s Episcopal Church, 5271 Scotts Valley Drive Watsonville Tuesday, July 19: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson Street Friday, July 22: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson Street

FARMERS’ MARKET AT RAMSAY PARK 2–6 p.m., Ramsay Park, Watsonville El Mercado is a new farmers’ market hosted by Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley.

There will be healthy locally grown produce, a veggie Rx redemption site, cooking demonstrations and wellness screenings.

Sponsors include Lakeside Organic, Salud Para La Gente and Kaiser Permanente. Visit pvhealthtrust.org/elmercado for more info.

ONGOING EVENTS

Sunday July 17

Wednesdays thru Aug. 31 CAPITOLA TWILIGHT CONCERT SERIES 6-8 p.m., Capitola Village Esplanade Park bandstand Come out to see, hear, and dance to your favorite band playing your favorite genre of music whether it be blues, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, salsa & latin, or classic rock.

Bands appearing throughout the summer include the John Michael Band, Mike Hammar & The Nails, The Joint Chiefs Band, Live Again, Santa Cruz Latin Collective, Billy NATURE BOWL 2022: FAMILY CHALLENGE Martini Show, Jive Machine, Dirty Cello, B-Movie Kings, and Back by popular demand, the California Department of the Digbeats.

Fish and Wildlife’s Nature Bowl 2022: Family Challenge Thursdays thru Aug. 11 is open, with the deadline to PVUSD COVID VACCINE/BOOSTER CLINIC enter Wed., Aug. 31.

1-5 p.m., 294 Green Valley Road, Watsonville CDFW’s North Central Region Pajaro Valley Unified School District Office will house a initiated this family-friendly free Inspire Diagnostics COVID-19 vaccines/booster clinic. competition during the pandemic Most sessions are in the Boardroom, except July 28, as a delightful and educational which is in the human resources conference room. way for families to explore nature No appointment is needed. close to home — in their backyards, neighborhoods and local wild areas — while having fun outside and working Fridays through Sept 30 together to complete nature-related activities.

MIDTOWN FRIDAYS The 2022 challenge includes two scavenger hunts, 5-8:30 p.m., Midtown Square, 1111 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz one provided by CDFW and the other to be created by Featuring 25 local bands plus local eats and local your family. There is also an extra credit element of artists and vendors. cataloging your found items – just like a scientist.

The live music lineup presented by Off The Lip Radio To sign up and receive the Nature Bowl 2022: Family Show includes (in order of appearance): Challenge packet, email genelle.treaster@wildlife.ca.gov July Superblume (Opening – Tatiana and the Treetop Band) . The Family Challenge packet is available at https:// • The Jive Machine • Otilia Donaire (Opening – Geoff wildlife.ca.gov/Regions/2/Nature-Bowl Weers, Lead singer of The Expendables) August VENDORS WANTED Fuse (Opening – John Michael sings Sinatra) • Pacific The Cabrillo Host Lions Club is looking for vendors Roots (Opening – The Dead Kampers) • John Michael for the 2022 Midsummer Magic Market, taking place Van Halen Tribute Band • Locomotive Breath Saturday, Aug. 20, at Aptos Village Park.

September The Market features collectables, gifts, art, jewelry, The Joint Chiefs • Papiba & Friends • Anthony Arya produce, and more. What do you have?

Band • Sweet Voodoo • The Grand Finale See https://www.eventsantacruz.com/event/midtown-fridaysCanopies on the grass are $30 each. Reservations summer-block-party-2022/ are due by July 31.

Proceeds go to Lions local charities. Contact 831-688-3356 Saturdays & Sundays for information.

ECOLOGICAL RESERVE TOURS AT ELKHORN SLOUGH Tours start: 10 a.m. Sat. and Sun.,1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville CANDIDATE FILING BEGINS JULY 18 Volunteers lead walks highlighting the natural history Candidate filing begins for the Nov. 8 election. Visit of the Elkhorn Slough. Group size is limited to one votescount.us for more information. household or up to five people, and individuals must sign up on a first-come, first-served basis.

SUPPORT FOR MOTHERS OF SURVIVORS Groups of six or more should call ahead at (831) Survivors Healing Center is offering online women’s support 728-2822 or visit https://www.elkhornslough.org/ groups and mothers of survivors of childhood sexual abuse group-reservation/ to reserve a tour. support group. The goals are to empower through a healing For more info, visit www.elkhornslough.org/esnerr/tours/ 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 DATED EVENTS

Tuesdays PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support

CASTRO ADOBE OPEN HOUSE 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 184 Old Adobe Road, Watsonville The two-story Castro Adobe in Larkin Valley, built between 1848 and 1849, is one of the finest examples of a rancho hacienda in the Monterey Bay area.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Now the adobe, part of Castro Adobe State Historic Park, with a new roof thanks to Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, will host an open house. Interpreters and docents will be on hand to explain the history.

“We are proud to partner with State Parks to restore and interpret this critical part of Pajaro Valley’s history,” Friends Executive Director Bonny Hawley said.

Register at www.thatsmypark.org/castro-blog.

What is true love? The mission of this festival is to engage with our local community and ask and answer this question.

SOQUEL PIONEER PICNIC 11:30 a.m., Pringle Grove, 5270 Pringle Lane, Soquel (Off N. Main St.) The Soquel Pioneer & Historical Association announces the 84th annual Soquel Pioneer Picnic at Pringle Grove.

Guest speaker is Bertram C. Izant, whose grandparents moved to Soquel in 1920 and whose father founded Izant Hardware in 1941. He’s the author of “Memories: Glimpses of Santa Cruz and Soquel From Three Pioneer Families.”

Bertram C. Izant There will be music by the Open Hearts String Old Timey String Band, a chance to browse historical photos, meet longtime friends and make new ones, a raffle of items donated by local merchants & residents and coffee from the Ugly Mug. Bring a picnic for your family; suggested donation is $5. www.soquelpioneers.com/. n

Tuesday July 19 SENIOR FRIENDS WELLNESS CLINIC 1-5 p.m., Chanticleer Veterinary Hospital, 2701 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz In partnership with Chanticleer Veterinary Hospital, the Santa Cruz SPCA will host Dr. Jean’s Senior Friends Fund Wellness Day. This is a day of free preventative veterinary care for cats and dogs owned by local seniors 62 and over — by appointment only.

A licensed veterinarian will provide basic exams, vaccinations, flea & tick treatment and microchipping.

Senior pet guardians living on a fixed or low income in Santa Cruz County are eligible.

The Santa Cruz SPCA’s Dr. Jean’s Senior Friends Fund underwrites veterinary care for senior citizens who are unable to provide medical care due to the expense and would otherwise have to give up their companion animal.

Walk-ins cannot be accommodated so call the Santa Cruz SPCA, 831-465-5000 x 21 (not the veterinary hospital) to make an appointment for the day.

Thursday July 21 CELEBRATING WILLY ELLIOTT-MCCREA 4:30-8:30 p.m., Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds You are invited to join Second Harvest Food Bank at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, celebrating 50 years serving the community and Willy Elliot-McCrea’s retirement after 44 years.

A host of community leaders will be on hand. Dinner and dessert will be served, and a no-host bar available. There will be time during the reception to catch up with old friends and take part in festivities.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities and table purchases, contact Richelle Noroyan at richelle@thefoodbank.org The Food Bank will host an open house with tours that day. Register at https://give.thefoodbank.org/ ge/50thtour Help fund a legacy project in Willy Elliott-McCrea’s honor, the Community Kitchen at Second Harvest. The goal is $220,000. See https://give.thefoodbank.org/ge/kitchen

Saturday July 23 SUSTAIN SUPPER 4-7:30 p m., Natural Bridges Organic Farm, Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz Sustain Supper, a farm-to-table dinner fundraiser for

BOOKS & BREWS LA SELVA BEACH SUMMER FAIR Saturday July 30

10 a.m.-4 p.m., La Selva Beach Clubhouse & Lawn, 314 Estrella Ave. La Selva Beach Improvement Association and Friends of the La Selva Library present Books & Brews La Selva Beach Summer Fair at La Selva Beach Clubhouse.

More than 40 unique art & craft vendors sell handcrafted goods. Huge used book sale. Live music and Watsonville Taiko. Bake sale and prize raffle benefit La Selva CERT. Food trucks S& B and Ate3One plus local microbrews. Free admission! More info: BooksandBrewsLSB@ gmail.com the Homeless Garden Project’s education and training programs for individuals experiencing homelessness, returns Saturday, July 23, from 4-7:30 p m. at the Natural Bridges organic farm on Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz.

The event will feature vegetarian dishes with vegan options prepared by four Bryant Terry local chefs and a keynote speech by James Beard & NAACP Image Award-winning chef Bryant Terry.

His latest book, Black Food, published in 2021, was critically acclaimed. Chefs include Yulanda Santos of Aubergine and Anna Bartolini of La Balena. There will be wine, live music, and a farm tour.

Tickets are $175 per person at: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/sustain-supper-registration-345872563147 Public health recommendations for Covid-19 safety for gatherings of this size will be followed.

Sunday July 24 50TH WHARF TO WHARF RACE 8:30 a.m., Santa Cruz Wharf (start line in front of Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz) This is a scenic 6-mile race for up to 16,000 runners beginning at the Santa Cruz wharf and finishing at Wharf Road in Capitola, with 45 bands and plenty of spectators along the way.

The awards ceremony is at 10:20 a.m. at the Capitola Bandstand on the Esplanade. Winners receive $4,000.

Many veteran runners carpool and/or park in Capitola.

Note that Capitola Village is closed to ALL traffic from 5 am to noon. Free shuttles will run from Capitola back to Santa Cruz until noon, dropping people off at one spot, the Government Center on Ocean Street.

Info: 831-475-2196 or email info@wharftowharf.com

Friday July 29 FAIR TRADE & HUMAN TRAFFICKING 11 a.m., Online Seminar The Santa Cruz County Branch of the American Association of University Women will host an educational seminar on the connection between the Fair Trade global movement, child labor and human trafficking at 11 a.m. July 29 on Zoom.

Taryn Lemmon, Fair Trade USA campaigns & communications coordinator, will explain what is Fair Trade, who is affected by it, how it relates to child labor and human trafficking and what happens without Fair Trade.

“This will be a fascinating exploration between Fair Trade, child labor and human trafficking, a connection that is not commonly known by many of us working to end human trafficking,” said AAUW President Mary Ripma. “It will be a real eye-opener for all of us.”

Join the meeting at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82 164069348?pwd=eEZ4TTNtNDYvdklDaC9WTFdGS Up6UT09 Meeting ID: 821 6406 9348 Passcode: 1234 For information, call AAUW at (831) 425-1306.

Saturday July 30 TRUE LOVE CHRISTIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 10 a.m–Sunset, Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road True Love Christian Music Festival is coming to Aptos Village Park.

An unprecedented gathering of Bay Area churches and Christian musicians and songwriters will join with area nonprofits to provide free music, services (and food) to show the love of Jesus by loving our neighbors.

Shuttle buses provided by Monte Vista Christian School will run from Coastlands Church, Resurrection Church and Twin Lakes Church parking lots to Aptos Village Park throughout the event.

CREATE YOUR OWN SUCCULENT ARRANGEMENT 10-11 a.m., UC Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden, Watsonville Join UC Master Gardeners Stephanie Kister-Campbell and Barbara Davidge for a hands-on DIY Succulent Arrangement workshop outdoors at UC Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden.

Learn how to put together an attractive arrangement, then create an arrangement to take home.

A hat and layers are recommended. Mask recommended, maintain 6 feet of distance.

Attendance is limited. The $30 fee includes all materials. To register, go to mbmg.ucanr.edu

Saturday July 30 Sunday July 31

11TH ANNUAL DOON ART TOUR 11 a.m.– 5 p.m., Various Locations Doon Art 2022, the Bonny Doon studio tour, will take place the final weekend of July.

A total of 29 artists open their studios to the public, one weekend only. There will be paintings, drawings, watercolors, clay, sculpture, ceramic tile art, fused glass & bead jewelry, photography, plein air oils, painted wood panels, wood block prints, hand-blown art glass, carpet bags, mystery novels, hand-made violins, handmade books, hand-turned wooden bowls and leather furniture.

Admission is free.

Visit the studios and meet the artists from this unique area in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Over the last 10 years, our artists have opened their studios to the public during the last weekend in July.

Adventure down the roads less traveled, above the fog & ocean, to where the wild things are. Hidden within the majestic redwood forests of Bonny Doon you will discover the wonderful art created in this quiet and peaceful environment.

For a list of artists & a map, see http://www.doonarttour.com/ index.html

Sunday July 31 | Aug. 14 ART AT THE BEACH 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., City of Capitola Beach On these Sundays, there will be booths with quality artwork including painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry and mixed media from local artists. If you arrive early, you may be serenaded by the impromptu ukulele players. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / July 15th 2022 / 29

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Fire Season: Are You Prepared?

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

W

ith our continued drought conditions comes the increased risk of a serious fire season.

At a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, Santa Cruz County Fire Chief Nate Armstrong provided an overview of our current fire conditions as well as an overview of the work that CalFire/County Fire have been doing on prevention.

As expected, this year the fire risk remains high.

Following an extremely dry first quarter of the year, local fire agencies are encouraging residents to help protect your homes and businesses from fire risk.

What Steps Can You Take to Mitigate Risk? here are some things that you can do to help protect your home or business from a wildfire or a structure fire. Here are some general tips to get started.

One of the first things is to ensure you have a home emergency plan (and evacuation plan) and practice it with your family. All homes should have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and at least one ABC-rated fire extinguisher in your home. You can sign up for emergency notices, such as Code Red at www.scr911.org to learn about possible evacuations or changes in conditions.

Ensuring the Fire Department can respond quickly also means having visible address numbers on the outside of your home and business (and if you have a sidewalk — along the curb).

All homes should be kept clear of combustible debris such as cardboard boxes, rags, paper products, flammable liquids.

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SPECIALTY SCREEN & GLASS SHOP Contact us for a free on-site consultation.

831-476-2023 Skylightplace.com

30 / July 15th 2022 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Fireplaces and wood stoves should be maintained and cleaned and inspected annually.

The topography of Santa Cruz County, and location of homes within the rural areas, means that it’s imperative to create a defensible space around your home.

Defensible space is the buffer you create between your home or business and the vegetation that surrounds them to prevent these structures from catching fire. The defensible space can reduce risk to both your home (from fire directly or radiant heat associated with fire) as well as to firefighters using the space to defend your property.

How Do You Create a Defensible Space? alifornia State law requires you maintain 100 feet of defensible space around your home and other buildings on your property. This is a minimum recommended amount and should be increased if your home is on a steep slope.

You can create a defensible space by ensuring that trees are the furthest from your home and that elements that are less likely to burn (or burn at lower temperatures) such as small plants/beddings/high-water content plants are closer to the home.

For the first 30 feet from all buildings, decks and structures you should: • Remove or mow all dead plants, grass, or weeds.

• Create paved or gravel driveways, walkways, patios as firebreaks • Remove dead or dry leaves and needles from yard, roof, and gutters.

• Trim trees regularly and maintain a minimum of 10 feet between canopies.

• Remove branches that overhang your roof and any dead branches close to the chimney.

• Remove flammable items near any structure For the next 70+ feet from your home (extending to at least 100 feet from your home) you should:

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• Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4” • Maintain 10 foot clearance around woodpiles • Thin trees and shrubs and leave big gaps between plants • Remove dead or dry leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and branches from ground.

How Can You Get More Information? he Central Fire Protection District website — https:// www.centralfiresc.org — contains preparedness information on defensible space, general fire prevention and even the power shutoffs that have occurred.

Fire Safe Santa Cruz County also maintains a comprehensive site with downloadable fact sheets and videos on how to prepare your home or business www.firesafesantacruz.org.

Lastly, the County’s OR3 website has a resources link with a lot of valuable information: https://www.co.santacruz.ca.us/OR3.aspx As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue). n I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www. facebook.com/supervisorfriend and you can always call me at 454-2200.

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A

Mommy Cat

t the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, “kitten season” is in full swing!! We have hundreds of beautiful adoptable cats and kittens, and sweet Mommy Cat is one of many kitties looking for a forever

home!

Mommy Cat is in a foster home taking care of her four kittens, but she is ready to start looking for a soft spot to land. Her foster family said, “She is SOOOO sweet. Mommy Cat is amazing with my 5- and 2-yearold daughters. She is potty trained, very mellow, and just likes to lounge around. She was super playful with her babies and almost looks like a baby herself.”

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

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••• 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

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