Aptos Times: February 15, 2023

Meet the Stitch Witch

By Jondi Gumz

Sara Roche is the Stitch Witch, and it’s easy to see why. If you visit during Open Studios, you’ll see her many of her colorful quilts displayed on clothesline rippling in the breeze.

She quilts a dozen quilts a month for local charities. She takes custom orders, producing one-of-a-kind quilts in about 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the complexity. ... continues on page 4

Shark Attack: Saving a Stranger’s Life

When Steve Bruemmer was bitten by a shark while swimming near Lover’s Point beach in Pacific Grove, Paul Bandy, Aimee Johns and Heath Braddock worked together to save his life. That was in June 2022.

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Cabrillo Building to Honor Tom Sourisseau

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Nadherny/ Calciano

Symposium Mar 10: Suicide Prevention

The 25th Annual Jon E. Nadherny/Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium will focus on youth suicide, prevention, recovery and resilience.

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Cover

Meet the Stitch Witch, By Jondi Gumz

Community News

5 Nadherny/Calciano Symposium March 10: Suicide Prevention

7 Sea Inspires Art for Aptos Library • Cabrillo Stage Auditions

‘Hunchback’ • Cool Car Earns ‘Photo of the Month’ Award

8 Focus Agriculture Class 32 • PVUSD Parent Conferences: Feb. 25 • Free Roller Skating • Storm Property Tax Relief

9 Hitchcock Festival: March 10 in Scotts Valley • Monterey Airport: JSX Service Starts April 6 • Safety Sam is the New Mascot for California

Department of Transportation

12 Shark Attack: Saving a Stranger’s Life

15 AG: The Pill Club Settles for $15 Million

16 Digging Deep: Agroecology for Mount Madonna School Sixth Graders • Mt. Madonna Hosts Model United Nations for Youth

19 Students Win Vote to Halt Monterey Support for Cruise Ships

21 Dignity Health Dominican Awards Grants

23 Comcast Gives $50,000 To Storm Recovery

25 New Disaster Recovery Hours

27 Cabrillo Pursues On-Campus Student Housing with UC Santa Cruz, By Jondi Gumz • Allied Health Building to be Renamed in Tom Sourisseau’s Honor March 1

California News

6 Introducing Coastal Natural Monument Manager Leisyka Parrott • Mind Over Marijuana: How Cannabis Use Affects Teens

Local History

10 Tempest Tossed: Capitola’s Long Struggle with the Sea, By Deborah Osterberg

Local Sports

11 2022-23 All-League Girls’ Basketball

In Memoriam

14 Love for Rowan Parham, 18, Lost to Gun Violence

Business Profile

20 American Leisure Furniture: Customer-Friendly, By Aracelly Bibl

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Aquarius Era — ‘Love Underlies the Happenings of Our Times, By Risa D’Angeles

Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

Featured Columnists

18 Summer Bulbs Require No Chill, By Tony Tomeo

24 Bonus, Raise, Calendar, Science & Mar Vista Heat, Q&A With Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

25 PVUSD Q&A Continued: No Covid Vaccine Required for Students This Fall

30 County Broadband Master Plan and Improving Internet Access, By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – A Different Kind of Hershey’s Kiss

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Jondi Gumz

“Stitch Witch” from page 1

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layout

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Cathe Race distribution

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And now, you have a chance to see her work up close and in person at the Pajaro Valley Quilt Association’s Annual Show “Through the Looking Glass” Saturday, Feb. 25 & Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds: 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville.

She has designed the quilting for “opportunity quilt” being created by the Apple Piecers group of the guild, which meets twice a month to make quilts for those in need. This quilt will be raffled next year — 2024 — and you get a sneak preview.

Roche, 64, originally from the East Coast, went to art school thinking she would become a fine artist.

An assignment to make a 4x6-foot rug of her own design gave her pause.

She wanted to do “stuff that would enhance people’s everyday life,” not niche projects.

She became an award-winning weaver, spending 20 years traveling to major craft shows all over the U.S.

She met her husband, Greg Roche, at a show in Baltimore.

He was selling leather for his familyowned business, Roche Leather Co., in Watsonville.

She was in her weaving booth.

After they got married, they lived outside Watsonville in a rural area where the Trabing Fire would take place.

That’s the high-tech device she uses. It speeds up the time needed to sew the three layers of the quilt together, and the computer can automate patterns and designs.

The 2008 Trabing fire, which burned 500 acres, destroyed some 15 homes in her neighborhood.

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When her son was 3 — she’s the mother of two sons — she realized it was time for a change.

In 2008 she shifted into quilting and never looked back.

Her studio is chock-a-block full of color, fabrics, threads, works in progress and her Long Arm quilting machine.

Her home, where she made defensible space a priority, was saved by Aptos La Selva firefighters.

The silver lining is that after the fire, the county allowed Roche to build her quilting studio and an accessory dwelling unit.

The Covid-19 pandemic halted inperson classes featuring expert quilt instructors.

But the Pajaro Valley Quilt Association got creative, and scheduled classes via Zoom, which attracted experts from around the world.

With the pandemic shifting to normalcy, Roche said, “We’re going to stay hybrid.”

That means some in-person classes, some via Zoom.

If you would like to order your own “art quilt,” or have a quilt top quilted, email stitchwitchquilting@gmail.com.

Hours of the Quilt Show, which features three buildings full of quilts, are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10.

For details about special features at this year’s event, go to www.pvqa.org and click on the Quilt Show tab. n •••

Cover Photo: Sara Roche with the “opportunity quilt” that will be raffled off at the 2024 Pajaro Valley Quilt Association show. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz Roche won PVQA Best of Show in 2022.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

Sara Roche with her Long Arm quilting machine.

Nadherny/Calciano Symposium March 10: Suicide Prevention

The 25th Annual Jon E. Nadherny/Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium will take place 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the Coconut Grove, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz, with a focus on youth suicide, prevention, recovery and resilience. Reservations are required.

Featured speakers are Christine Yu Moutier, M.D., chief medical officer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and DeQuincy Meiffren-Lezine, Ph.D., director of the Lived Experience Academy and author of “Eight Stories Up: An Adolescent Chooses Hope Over Suicide.”

At 9 a.m., Moutier will speak on science and solutions for preventing suicide in youth and young adults.

Moutier has authored Suicide Prevention, a Cambridge University Press clinical handbook. She also has contributed articles to the Journal of the American Medical Association, Lancet, Academic Medicine, American Journal of Psychiatry, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Depression and Anxiety, and Academic Psychiatry. She has testified before Congress, presented at the White House and National Academy of Sciences, and provided Congressional briefings on suicide prevention. She coanchored CNN’s Emmy Award-winning Finding Hope suicide prevention town hall with Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

At 10:45 a.m., there will be a panel: Andrea Tolaio, program director, Santa Cruz County Suicide Prevention Services, Andrea Turnbull, LCSW, program manager for access services and interim program manager, crisis services, County Behavioral Health, Carly Memoli, president, Applied Crisis Training and Consulting Inc., and Faris Sabbah, Ed.D., Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools.

Lunch is at 11:55 a.m.

At 12:40 p.m., Meiffren-Lezine will speak on “From Suicidal to Post-Suicidal Growth.”

Santa Cruz County Suicides

Under age 25

2019: 5 2021: 4

2020: 4 2022: 4

At 2:10 a.m., there will be panel discussions moderated by Jen Hastings, M.D., with all local experts and keynote speakers including: Ben Geilhufe, LPCC, program manager, Gender Specialty Clinic, Santa Clara County Behavioral Health.

Continuing education credits are available to physicians, therapists, psychologists and registered nurses. The symposium is designed to train participants to be able to:

• Identify trends in mental health and suicide in the United States, with a focus on youth and young adults, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Describe features of the public health approach to suicide prevention, including the importance of education, advocacy by loss and attempt survivors, and the roles of clinicians and people/families with lived experience.

• Screen for suicide risk using evidencebased tools.

• Use brief intervention, including Safety Planning and Counseling for Lethal Means Safety.

• Specify 2 paths someone can pursue for personal growth following a suicidal crisis

• Outline a client plan for recovery and growth that can be used by people in the post-crisis phase, including local services and supports. n

•••

Walk-ins cannot be accommodated. Admission is $100. RSVP by March 1 at https:// calcianoyouthsymposium.org/event/2023-jone-nadherny-memorial-youth-symposium/

Christine Yu Moutier

Source: Dr. Stephany Fiore, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office chief forensic pathologist

Leisyka Parrott is the new Bureau of Land Management California Coastal National Monument manager.

With nearly 20 years of public service, she brings a diversity of natural resource expertise to the position where she will oversee the management of approximately 20,000 offshore rocks and islands, and more than 7,900 acres of public land in six onshore units along California’s coastline.

“This spectacular coastal resource is an inspiration for Californians and visitors from around the world,” said Central California District Manager Chris Heppe. “Leisyka is an experienced leader who brings a strong background in collaboration, cooperation, and coordination needed to manage this important and complex resource.”

A native of coastal California, and graduate of Humboldt State University, Parrott began her career in the northwest Great Basin as a fire lookout for the BLM fire program for eight years. In 2010, she joined the BLM Arcata field office as an interpretive specialist, in the monument’s gateway community of Trinidad, bringing interpretation, education, and stewardship opportunities to the north coast and its watersheds. Working with local partners, she led the North Coast Seabird Protection Network which serves to reduce impacts on seabirds through monitoring populations, and public education programs.

In her more recent role as assistant field manager in Ukiah, she worked with the Point Arena Gateway partners and led interdisciplinary resource staff in developing plans for trails, implementing fuel

reduction work, and completing watershed restoration.

“I look forward to collaborating with coastal Tribal governments, local communities, organizations, and agency partners,” says Leisyka. “We will work together to keep these iconic public lands healthy and accessible for generations to come.”

The California Coastal National Monument provides important habitat for nesting seabirds and marine mammals. The six onshore units include Trinidad Head Lighthouse, Waluplh-Lighthouse Ranch, Lost Coast Headlands, Point ArenaStornetta, Piedras Blancas Light Station, and Cotoni-Coast Dairies in Santa Cruz.

Parrott grew up on a 35-foot sailboat in the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor. Homeschooled by her parents during the winter months, her family would sail to Baja and use the ocean and coastal ecosystems as a classroom.

Her most recent international trip

Introducing Coastal Natural Monument Manager Leisyka Parrott Mind Over Marijuana: How Cannabis Use Affects Teens

Mind Over Marijuana is the California Department of Public Health’s new campaign to inform youth about the dangers of underage cannabis use, and how it can impact their social and emotional wellbeing later in life.

The campaign provides facts about the detrimental effects of cannabis use on developing brains and resources for talking to young people.

“We’ve all struggled as the pandemic took away many of our social outlets,” said CDPH Director and State Public

Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón. “This was especially hard on teens, so our ultimate goal with this campaign is to help California adolescents develop healthy ways to cope with life’s stressors.”

The effort is mandated by Proposition 64 (2016) which legalized the recreational sale and use of cannabis to people over age 21 and set up the Cannabis Tax Fund to fund youth education, prevention, early intervention, treatment, and school retention.

According to a 2020 federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report, about one in 10 adolescents ages 12 to 17 had used cannabis in the past year.

A 2017-19 California Healthy Kids Survey, the most recent available, found 16 percent of 11th graders using cannabis — that was down from 20% in 2015-17.

The campaign is part of an annual $12 million initiative designed to educate teens and their parents and guardians about the effects of cannabis use during this important developmental period.

The effort is mandated by Proposition 64 (2016) which legalized the recreational sale and use of cannabis to people over age 21 and set up the Cannabis Tax Fund to fund youth education, prevention, early intervention, treatment, and school retention.

The Mind Over Marijuana campaign was created based on research and feedback from young people and parents participating in focus groups.

The campaign addresses the effects of underage cannabis use on two key pillars of mental health: social and emotional wellbeing.

Starting in February, Mind Over

took her to the Santa Marta Mountains of Colombia to see the endemic Santa Marta warbler.

She enjoys adventuring with her son Izaak to visit family, soaking in hot springs, and bird watching with her partner Russ. n

Marijuana messages launched on social media, radio, television, billboards and at bus stops.

Materials for campaigns will be available in English and Spanish. For more information, visit the Youth Cannabis Prevention Initiative.

To help parents start conversations with their children, the Let’s Talk Cannabis component will provide tips, tools and guidelines to help parents and guardians talk with their children.

Let’s Talk Cannabis will include virtual and in-person events, conversation guides and fact sheets. n

Photo courtesy of Bureau of Land Management Leisyka Parrott from the top of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse.

Sea Inspires Art for Aptos Library

Artwork to grace the new $12.4 million Aptos Library under construction will be created by artist Lea de Wit, who proposed two series of glass and steel sculptural panels inspired by the sea to the redwoods theme.

The first series of panels are to comprise the fence line in the teen courtyard, with blue waves,inspired by nearby Monterey Bay flowing through the fence line.

The artist, who lives in Boulder Creek, plans to collaborate with the library’s Advisory Council of Teens to solicit ideas

for engaging Aptos High School art students to propose additional bay imagery.

The second series, to flank the Children’s Garden, will consists of two pairs of panels inspired by the flora and fauna in the redwoods in Aptos.

Last month, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with de Wit of up too $106,000 to design, fabricate, and install the artwork at the library, which will encompass 12,400square feet when finished.

The Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services is overseeing the project.

Artists were invited to submit proposals. The County Arts Commission formed a panel, which met in February and March 2022 to select an artist. After the artists’ presentation, the panel selected Cheney Metals, Inc. of Watsonville, and the Board of Supervisors approved on May 24.

In September 2022, Cheney Metals requested the contract be terminated.

The selection panel then met with de Wit, a finalist from the first round, recommending her proposal t to the Arts Commission, which voted Nov. 7 to send it to the supervisors. n

Cabrillo Stage Auditions ‘Hunchback’

Locally, one of the highlights of summer is attending the high-caliber Broadway-style musicals produced by Cabrillo Stage and presented at the beautiful Crocker Theater on the Cabrillo College campus. Under new Artistic Director Andrea Hart, the company has opted to produce one grand musical offering this season, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” This sweeping musical involves a full choir and Academy Award-nominated songs.

Director Vinh Nguyen is “seeking a diverse, versatile and physically-driven company of storytellers to help bring the sweeping score and powerful story to life. We value unique talents and skills and especially encourage performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and abilities to audition.”

Mickey McGushin is musical director/conductor, Cheryl Anderson is choir director and Brance Williams is choreographer.

Cool Car Earns ‘Photo of the Month’ Award

Carmel Valley auto enthusiast Everett Anton “Tony” Singer won the Porsche Club of America’s Photo of the Month for December 2022, for a photo of his blue Porsche 356.

“It is a 1964 Porsche 356 C coupe, sky blue with navy interior, 65,000 real miles and completely original except for the tires,” says Singer, a collector, curator, packer and shipper of vintage automobile posters. “I have been a constant Porsche 356 owner since March 1971, and this was the only totally original 356 I’ve ever owned.

It was a car I owned for about 18-20 months, I was the third owner.”

Singer offers one-ofa-kind vintage automotive posters that go as far back as the late-1800s, at his online business Vintage Auto Posters (https://vintageautoposters. com), that he founded 28

years ago. His umbrella company, Spyder Enterprises, Inc., under which Vintage Auto Posters exists, was founded in March 1980.

He said he took the photo on Saddle Road in Carmel Valley and this was the first time one of his photos was accepted by the Porsche Club’s Photo of the Month contest. n

General call auditions will be Saturday, Feb. 25 and Sunday Feb. 26, at the Cabrillo College Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos.

Vocal call auditions will be 10 am–2 pm and dance auditions from 3–6pm. Anyone wishing to audition should come during the 10–2 timeslot and will be notified if

they need to return for the dance call (not all roles require dancing). Actors may also submit a video audition any time before Feb. 24. n •••

Information on how to submit can be found at https://www.cabrillostage.com/. Callbacks will be on Sunday, March 5.

Plenty of Free Customer Parking

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Property Management Specialists

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Kumon Math & Reading Center

Learning for the Long Run 508-8200

Village Liquors

For All Your Beverage Needs 688-5691

Joy of Movement Pilates & Gyrotonic®

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Epicenter Cycling

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Dentistry for Animals

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1964 Porsche 356 C coupe

Focus Agriculture Class 32

Agri-Culture announces 20 community leaders selected for Class 32 of Focus Agriculture, an award-winning program designed to help community leaders learn about agriculture, one of the economic engines of Santa Cruz County.

They are, in alphabetical order:

Tony Balistreri, chief financial officer, Salud Para La Gente

Elissa Benson, Santa Cruz County assistant administrative officer

Yvette Brooks, councilmember, City of Capitola

Jim Brown, executive director, Arts Council of Santa Cruz County

Erica Padilla-Chavez, CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County

Virgilio Ricardo (Ric) de la Cruz, owner, Seasons Living LLC/marketing & sales manager, Westwind Memory Care

Evan Ditmars, development review planner, Santa Cruz County Planning Department

Lynne Drummond, director of quality & patient safety, Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center

Adrian Fischer, program director, CCOF Foundation

Darrie Ganzhorn, executive director, Homeless Garden Project

Lillian (Lily) Gerrans, interior designer , Lillian Gerrans Design

Megan Goddard, senior program manager, Google Maps, Google

Kevin Heuer, director of engagement & impact, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

Leeann Luna, program director, Monarch Services

Jennifer Merchant, executive director, Grey Bears

Sarah Newkirk, executive director, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

Anthony Pagliaro, chief philanthropy officer, Dominican Hospital Foundation

Krista Snelling, CEO & president, Santa Cruz County Bank

Phil Tavarez, bulk & fleet fueling manager, Sturdy Oil Company

Darryl Wong, executive director, UCSC Center for Agroecology

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

PVUSD Parent Conferences: Feb. 25

By Dr. Michelle Rodriguez

This year, we are excited that our Annual Parent Conference is back in person on Saturday, Feb. 25!

We have 14 workshop topics being offered by community partner agencies and PVUSD departments. We will also provide a tasty breakfast and lunch as well as childcare.

Participants will have an opportunity to attend three sessions, participate in our Resource Fair, and possibly win a prize in our drawing.

Sessions will be offered in English, Spanish and Mixteco Bajo. Some topics will be:

• PVUSD Social Emotional Supports: Caring for the Whole Child

• What I need to know about Community Schools and how they support the Whole Child, Whole Family and Whole Community

• How to create safe & welcoming environments for LGBTQ youth

• Digital awareness: How to keep your kids safe, happy and healthy while online

• Gang awareness and prevention

• Parenting through stressful times

In collaboration with PVUSD’s Pajaro Passport, all conference participants will

enjoy a free family fun event following the conference later that day!

•••

Free Roller Skating

Come explore the wonders of Pajaro with PVUSD’s Expanded Learning Intersession Day 5. On Saturday, Feb. 25, there will be events across Watsonville for TK-6th grade students and their families to explore and access engaging activities.

We are thrilled to announce two family events after the Parent Conference: Roller-skating with the City of Watsonville and Pajaro Movie Night at CineLux Green Valley Cinema.

Space is limited at both events! Priority will go to the first families to sign up & families participating in the Parent Conference. Both events are free and transportation is available upon request.

Roller-skating with City of Watsonville: Family-friendly roller-skating in a pop-up rink at Ramsey Park.

Location at Ramsey Park will be weather permitting. Free skate rental will be provided.

To ensure your space, we highly recommend you pre-register. Event hours and registration links are:

2-3 p.m. Open to drop-in (limited capacity, no registration needed)

•••

Each year, more applications are received for this program than spaces available

Starting March 10, participants attend once-a-month, daylong seminars. Speakers range from farmers, to elected officials, to representatives from environmental groups. Topics include ethnic groups in agriculture, new technology, and diversity of commodities locally grown.

There are many farm tours and hands-on experiences. Participants spend one day working on a farm.

Agri-Culture President Steve Bontadelli, said, “Community leaders will find this program beneficial and, in turn, growers who present information to the class will learn the public’s current perspective of local agriculture. The program is designed to be a two-way learning process.” n

3-4 p.m. Open by pre-registration/ ticket at bit.ly/3jGrUUQ

4-5:30 p.m. Open to families attending the Parent Conference

5:30-7 p.m. Open by pre-registration/ ticket at bit.ly/3jGrUUQ

Get ready for a night at the CineLux Green Valley Cinema with Pajaro Passport. Come see a new release movie or one of our favorite family movies. Your ticket will include popcorn, soda and a candy treat.

Sign up for your tickets today to join us at CineLux Green Valley Cinema at bit. ly/3jGrUUQ

Show times & movie line up will be released on Feb. 17 to families that sign up. Reserve your space today.

Showtimes are expected to start every thirty minutes between 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and will include a variety of family fun movies.

Dr. Michelle Rodriguez is superintendent of Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

•••

Storm Property Tax Relief

Property owners with homes or property impacted by the 2022-23 winter storms may be eligible for calamity property tax relief.

This relief includes a temporary reduction in assessed values as well as

an exclusion from reassessment when the property is repaired or rebuilt.

To be eligible, your property must have suffered at least $10,000 in physical damage to taxable property. Damage to personal belongings such as household furnishings, are not eligible as they are not assessed for property tax purposes.

To fill out a calamity application, visit https://tinyurl.com/ winter-storm-calamity-packet.

If your calamity application is approved and your taxes are not paid by your mortgage company, you may also be eligible to defer the 2nd installment of your property tax bill, which is due April 10.

For those seeking a deferral, both a calamity application and request for deferral must be filed with the Santa Cruz County Assessor’s Office before April 10.

Those seeking only a temporary reduction in assessed values must submit a calamity application to the Assessor’s Office within 12 months of the date of damage. Applications received after that date are not eligible for relief through a temporary reduction in assessed value and/or exclusion from reassessment upon repair/rebuilding. n

Full URL: https://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ portals/0/County/asr/Winter%20Storm%20 Calamity%20packet.pdf?rev=01262023

Yvette Brooks Jim Brown Erica Padilla-Chavez Krista Snelling

Hitchcock Festival: March 10 in Scotts Valley

Did you know Alfred Hitchcock lived in Scotts Valley? Yes, this world-famous director lived in Scotts Valley from 1940-1974.

Many of his creations were filmed on the Northern California Coast, including Vertigo, based in San Francisco and San Juan Batista; The Birds, inspired by an actual event in Capitola; as well as Psycho filmed in Bodega Bay.

The Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild will host the inaugural Hitchcock Festival on the weekend nearest to National Hitchcock Day March 12.

This year’s activities include a Friday, March 10, evening kickoff with a review of related local history by Jay Topping, Scotts Valley Historical Society, followed by a Hitchcock movie.

The Theater Guild will host UC Santa Cruz professors on Saturday, March 11, to highlight

his unique approach to movie making, followed by a Hitchcock movie.

A Hitchcock-themed costume party with prizes will close out activities at Scotts Valley’s recently opened Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley.

Sponsors and donors can contact Dave Hodgin at pathfinder@pacbell.net to support this event and the Guild’s ongoing mission. n •••

Tickets will go on sale closer to the event. See https://svctheaterguild.org/.

Monterey Airport: JSX Service Starts April 6

Jet away this summer to Orange County with new summer weekender routes on JSX hop-on jet service from Monterey to Orange County starting April 6.

Flights will operate out of Monterey Jet Center at 200 Sky Park Drive, Monterey, through Sept. 30.

Flights land at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana.

Tickets start at $279 each way.

JSX, based in Dallas, is a hop-on jet service that offers more comfort in the air. The benefits: Roomy 30-seat jets. No lines,

no crowds, no hassles. Just get onboard. You’ll find:

• Comfortable roomy seats

• Business class legroom

• Power outlets at every row

• Full flight attendant service

• Complimentary gourmet snacks, beer, wine and spirits

• Free onboard Starlink WiFi, rolling out fleetwide through spring 2023 Planeside baggage retrieval gets you out and on your way just minutes after touchdown.

JSX will have round-trip flights on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday, departing Monterey at 7:35 p.m. and arriving in Orange County at 8:55 p.m. (one-hour, 20 minutes); and departing Orange County at 5:55 p.m. and arriving in Monterey at 7:10 p.m. (one-hour, 15 minutes).

JSX, founded as JetSuiteX in April 2016, is funded by JetBlue Airways. The company has raised $11.6 million from investors. According to chief executive

officer Alex Wilcox, the air carrier was created in response to declining short-haul traffic and the rise in fares on short-haul flights in the United States.

Suresh Narayanan became chief operating officer in January.

More details at jsx.com. n

•••

Monterey Regional Airport is Monterey County’s only commercial airport and accommodates over 400,000 passengers each year. The airport at 200 Fred Kane Drive, Monterey, serves 10 nonstop markets. See montereyairport.com

Safety Sam is the New Mascot for California Department of Transportation

Safety Sam, created by Huntington Christian School student Miller Ruiz, is the new mascot of Caltrans and the California Office of Traffic Safety.

The mascot will educate Californians on the importance of moving over a lane or slowing down when they see his orange friends and highway workers.

The name was selected from nearly 2,000 entries submitted by K-12 students across the state. The contest is part of the campaign to expand public safety awareness to protect highway workers in California.

Miller will receive a laptop, a $500 gift card, a $500 gift card for their teacher’s

classroom, T-shirts, and a visit from Safety Sam.

In 2020, nearly 7,000 work-zone crashes occurred on California roadways, resulting in more than 3,000 injuries and nearly 100 fatalities.

Nationally, drivers and passengers account for 85% of people killed in work zones.

“Caltrans makes safety priority number one, and safety cones are critical to let drivers know when and where highway workers are on the road,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “Including young people in our safety awareness campaigns helps us raise the awareness of both the next generation and current drivers.”

California’s “Move Over” law requires all drivers to move over a lane if safe to do so, or if unable to do so safely, slow down when they see amber flashing lights on Caltrans vehicles, law enforcement, and other emergency vehicles and tow trucks.

Failure to obey the “Move Over” law can result in fines up to $1,000, plus points on your driving record.

“Educating the public on safe driving

behaviors is key to helping save lives on our roadways,” said OTS Director Barbara Rooney. “Safety Sam engages the public in a fun and interactive way while serving as an important reminder to be attentive when approaching work zones.” n •••

For information on Caltrans and OTS initiatives, visit BeWorkZoneAlert.com and GoSafelyCA.org.

Tempest Tossed Capitola’s Long Struggle with the Sea

By Deborah Osterberg

The main attraction of Capitola, its location along a picturesque shoreline, is also its Achilles heel. The lowlands are prone to flooding and the destructive power of high tides. Many of the initial, poorly constructed canvas tents and wooden cabins of Camp Capitola (1874), built near the shore, often suffered storm damage.

The first long-lasting, durable resort structures were the ones constructed at the base of what we know today as Depot Hill along El Camino Medio.

Capitola’s owner, Frederick Augustus Hihn, sought to expand and upgrade the beach resort into a more elegant tourist destination and locale for vacation homes. Unfortunately, he appeared to dismiss the dangers inherent in Capitola’s low-lying areas and continued to build upon them for the next couple of decades.

Starting in 1882, Hihn embarked upon an infrastructure upgrade starting with cutting and grading Monterey Avenue (then known as Bay Avenue). After a landslide the following winter, a retaining wall was constructed with fossilized rock from the area below “Lover’s Lane” (Grand Avenue).

Dirt fill taken from the cliff by tramcar, was spread over one and a half acres of creek flodplain and smoothed for new construction. Pilings were driven along the edge of Ocean Front Avenue for a boardwalk “to afford a charming stroll for day or evening.” Soquel Creek’s natural bed was shifted west to widen the beach and provide easier access.

Hihn then hired Edward L. Van Cleeck to design a replacement for the original

hotel. In 1895, Van Cleeck built a 160-room hotel (Hotel Capitola) at the base of Depot Hill.

Hihn also directed that six large houses (the Six Sisters) and a line of resort concessions be built along Ocean Front Avenue.

It was only a matter of time until the sea swept back in to challenge the new man-made landscape.

On the morning of Nov. 26, 1913, a storm surge carried water up Capitola Avenue and over the tracks of the Union Traction Company streetcar line, presenting “a scene of wild desolation.”

Realizing the potential damage to his boats, fisherman Alberto Gibelli hurried out to the wharf. As he was securing his gear, the rough surf collapsed the midsection of the wharf deck about 20 feet from him.

Gibelli was stranded.

On shore Gibelli’s wife “… fell on her knees and called on heavenly aid to bring her husband relief.”

An initial attempt at rescue was made by local celebrity and member of the championship Boston Red Sox, Harry Hooper. The right fielder was unsuccessful at pitching a baseball tied with a rope out as far as the wharf.

Four hours later, G. Stagnero, a fishman of Santa Cruz, threw a fishline with a lead on it to the marooned man. He caught it and hauled it across and the larger

rope attached to it, and a life preserver. He put on the life preserver and tied the rope under his arms.

Gibelli leapt into the ocean and a group of fishermen on the beach pulled him to safety. He resurfaced “as calm as a cucumber and the least ruffled of any one concerned in the crowd.”

Although efforts to clean the beach of pilings, logs, and other rubble took more than two months, the beach was spotless, and life was back to normal for the resort town when tourists flocked back that May.

In 1919, the new owner of the resort, Henry Allen Rispin, began demolishing Hihn’s old concessions along Ocean Front Avenue.

In architecture, Rispin favored the popular Spanish Colonial Revival style, using concrete and stucco. At his direction, architects George McCrea and Helen Benbow redesigned and curved the road along the shoreline, moving it closer to the sea.

They rebuilt concession buildings along what Rispin christened “the Esplanade.”

Van Cleeck’s bathhouse along Soquel Creek was replaced with a stucco building featuring three central arches.

On Feb. 12, 1926, the sea returned. A 20-foot surge battered the Esplanade, cutting into the foundations of the new

Venetian Court Apartments and once again flooding Capitola Avenue.

The entire village was under from six to eighteen inches of water. Much of the Esplanade was destroyed, with damages estimated between $6,000 to $10,000.

At 9 a.m. the waves here were breaking over the top of the bathhouse and in one half an hour this (wooden) building was virtually destroyed.

The diving platform to the right of the bathhouse was also practically demolished, as was the shoot-the-chutes on the left of the main building. The big concession building, erected only last spring, lost practically all its underpinning and was sagging precariously …

And so, it continues, the one constant in Capitola’s history --- the relentless cycle of storms and tides, destruction, struggle, and the subsequent determination to pick up, rebuild and carry on because we love this special, beautiful place and there is nowhere else in the world we’d rather call home.

•••

Deborah Osterberg is curator of the Capitola Historical Museum, which will reopen in March with a new exhibition, “Capitola: Signs of the Times.” Hours will be noon to 4 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

For research questions, email capitolamuseum@gmail.com

Photo Courtesy of Capitola Historical Museum

Capitola Wharf damage, November 1913.The wharf was built in 1856.

Photo Courtesy of Capitola Historical Museum Camp Capitola advertisement: Built in 1874, the wooden cabins erected near the shore to attract vacationers often suffered storm damage.

2022-23 All-League Girls’ Basketball

Laurel Southall, junior on the Aptos High School Mariners girls’ basketball team, was named to the Santa Cruz County Athletic League all-league first team.

Guin Linea, Aptos junior, was named to the all-league second team.

Aptos junior Sophia Pursley and Aptos freshman Abby Sherwood were honorable mention selections.

Aptos finished 3-7 in league and 8-18 overall.

Claire Thompson, Santa Cruz senior, was named MVP, and Santa Cruz coach Todd Trowbridge, whose team was 10-0 and first in league and won the SCCAL tournament, was named coach of the year.

Here are the rest of the honorees:

First-Team: Gianna Winterhalder, Soquel (senior); Madison Yazalina, Santa Cruz (senior); Tiera O’Connor, Santa Cruz (sophomore); Amelia Sizemore, SLV (senior).

Second-Team: Maya Manildi, Harbor (senior); Elana McGrew, Scotts Valley (senior); Mackenzie Gomes, Santa Cruz (senior); Lucy Lilienthal-Wynn, SLV (senior).

Honorable Mention: Amelia Wyland, Harbor (senior); Molly Endert-Tatum, Harbor (senior); Abigail Shi, Scotts Valley (sophomore); Amy Weiss, Scotts Valley (senior); Ava Lord, Santa Cruz (junior); Natalia Espinosa, Santa Cruz (junior); Bella Reynolds, SLV (senior); Lily Thayer, Soquel (senior); and Meaghan Diaz, Soquel (senior). n

Every heart has a story. We can help you live yours.

Sharing family traditions with your grandkids. That big career move. These moments define your story, and a healthy heart makes it possible. At Dignity Health, our nationally recognized heart and vascular program provides the area’s most comprehensive cardiac care. So, whether you have concerns or are due for a checkup, we’ll help you write your next chapter. Learn more about our innovative services at DignityHealth.org/DominicanHearts.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz Aptos was tied with Santa Cruz in the fourth quarter of the tournament semifinal, but Santa Cruz eventually prevailed 52-37.

Shark Attack: Saving a Stranger’s Life

When Steve Bruemmer was bitten by a shark while swimming near Lover’s Point beach in Pacific Grove, Paul Bandy, Aimee Johns and Heath Braddock worked together to save his life. That was in June 2022.

On Jan 12, Paul, Aimee and Heath received the Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action in a ceremony in Pacific Grove for their heroic and lifesaving actions

“The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action is given to individuals, like Paul, Aimee and Heath, who step up in an emergency situation and help save or sustain a life,” said Michele Averill, CEO for the Central Coast Chapter of the Red Cross. “These individuals exemplify the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies and I could not be more honored to commend each of them for their willingness to help a stranger in distress.”

Heath was teaching surfing lessons to a group of teens on Lover’s Point beach when someone alerted him to the shark

attack. He immediately grabbed two surfboards and rushed into the water.

Steve was 150 yards off the beach, severely injured, bleeding and unable to swim.

Meanwhile, Paul and Aimee were stand-up paddleboarding when they realized what had happened. They rushed over as fast as they could, providing help to Heath.

The three of them, working together, managed to get Steve onto Heath’s spare surfboard and brought him back to the beach.

Paul called 911 from his paddleboard and shouted to the people on the beach, asking for tourniquets to stop Steve’s bleeding, and then provided first aid until the paramedics arrived.

The bravery of Paul, Aimee and Heath, combined with their skills and the speed of their actions, was the key to saving Steve’s life.

“When Paul, Aimee, and Heath witnessed their neighbor in distress, after a bite by a great white shark, they sprung into action to save his life, exhibiting bravery and care that deserves recognition,” said Rep. Jimmy Panetta. “Thanks to this off-duty Sacramento police officer, Folsom nurse, and business owner and surfer, we avoided tragedy at Lover’s Point beach in Pacific Grove this June and Steve Bruemmer was able to recover from his injuries and return to his family. This trio not only saved a life that day but provided inspiration for others to do the same when called upon and deserve this honor.”

The awards ceremony took place alongside a Red Cross blood drive,

4.55 4.70

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organized by St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church and hosted in honor of Steve and the lifesaving blood he received following the incident.

“It’s easy to say, ‘It could be you.’ You should donate blood because some day you might need it. But that’s not the right answer,” Steve said. “We are best when we take care of each other, when we come together as a community, take care of each other, and love one another. We do that when we give blood. I can’t think of a more tangible, meaningful, important way of caring for each other.”

To read Steve’s incredible story of survival and hope, visit the local Red Cross blog. Get Trained: Red Cross training gives people the knowledge and skills to act in an emergency and save a life. Online, blended (online and in-person skills session) and classroom courses are available at redcross. org/takeaclass.

Nominate Someone: Visit LifesavingAwards.org to nominate and recognize an individual or group of individuals who have used the skills and knowledge learned in a Red Cross Training Services course to help save or sustain a life. n

Aimee Johns and Paul Bandy

Steve Bruemmer and Heath Braddock

Love for Rowan Parham, 18, Lost to Gun Violence

Friends and family are mourning the loss of Rowan Parham, 18, who attended Mar Vista Elementary in Aptos and was shot to death at a party on Brimblecom Road in Bolder Creek on Jan. 28.

He had been added to the Gun Violence Memorial at https://gunmemorial. org/2023/01/28/rowan-parham

A 16-year-old was arrested the day after the party by Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives; that teen’s name has not been released because he is a juvenile and all records are confidential.

Philip Wartena posted this on GoFundMe: “It’s with deeply heavy hearts that we mourn the tragic loss of Rowan Parham, 18 years young, to gun violence.

Rowan truly loved and cared for all of his friends & family, and was loved and cared for in return by so many. Anyone that knew Rowan, knew that he was an extraordinarily loyal friend with a quick wit, an infectious laugh and a smile that always lit up the room.

On behalf of his family, we are asking for donations to help cover the costs of funeral expenses and a Celebration of Life (to be held at a later date).

Thank you for your generosity and compassion during this extremely difficult time.

The world is a better place when we come together to help each other.”

On Feb. 2, he posted that the campaign had met its $15,000 goal to fund the funeral service and celebration of life for Rowan.

Supporters contributed more than $27,000 in an outpouring of love for Rowan and his family.

On Feb. 13, Bryan Parham, his dad, posted this followup: “Just wanted to send an update that Lindsay, Antoinette and I continue to make progress on preparing for Rowan’s celebration of life and we hope to share more details soon. While we have been so devastated by our loss, we are also finding the blessings, love and support within the community, family and friends. It is an incredible aspect of a situation like this, that real humanness shows up in all of us to help and support each other through difficult life challenges. To all of the donors helping our family arrange to remember Rowan, please accept our deep gratitude at your generosity, it is truly heartfelt and leaves us humbled.

Even while we work through the tears and sorrow of our loss, it is an amazing thing to also have these memories of our son that lighten us and cause us to laugh out loud when sharing fond memories of him. We look forward to celebrating Rowan and sharing our combined memories, that will help keep him in our hearts forever. n

See: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ remembering-rowan-parham

Rowan Parham

Rowan truly loved and cared for all of his friends & family, and was loved and cared for in return by so many. Anyone that knew Rowan, knew that he was an extraordinarily loyal friend with a quick wit, an infectious laugh and a smile that always lit up the room.

AG: The Pill Club Settles for $15 Million

On Feb. 7, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a $15 million settlement against The Pill Club, a Silicon Valley startup operating an online birth control delivery service.

The settlement resolves allegations that the company unlawfully billed California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, millions of dollars in public funds in an allegedly fraudulent scheme that exploited the Affordable Care Act’s essential coverage mandate, which ensures that insurance providers, including Medi-Cal, cover contraception.

The investigation by the California Department of Justice found that The Pill Club defrauded Medi-Cal of millions of dollars by dispensing and reimbursing for costly products that customers had not asked for, and submitting reimbursements for ineligible services and prescriptions.

“The Pill Club unacceptably siphoned off Medi-Cal funding intended to help vulnerable communities access essential healthcare,” said Bonta. “I am grateful to the whistleblowers and our investigators who were instrumental in holding The Pill Club accountable. At the California Department of Justice, we fight every day to protect and expand access to healthcare. We will not tolerate companies who attempt to unlawfully enrich themselves at Medi-Cal’s expense.”

California’s Medi-Cal program is funded by the state and federal governments, and is intended to help people with limited income and resources get the healthcare they need. After the Affordable Care Act’s essential coverage mandate took effect in 2010, Californians who depended on Medi-Cal were guaranteed insurance coverage for birth control and contraceptives.

The Pill Club was formed in 2016, offering California patients, including Medi-Cal beneficiaries, an online-only prescription and delivery service for reproductive care products. The startup wrote prescriptions virtually using online questionnaires and text or video consultations.

The DOJ’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse found over a threeyear-long investigation that the company defrauded the Medi-Cal program in several ways, including by:

Billing for Services Never Rendered

example, investigators found multiple instances in which the company had submitted claims for 30-minute faceto-face counseling sessions when in reality,

The Pill Club’s nurse practitioners had no direct or real-time contact with those patients.

Investigators found as many as 3,000 Medi-Cal claims submitted by the Pill Club for purported medical services that were actually never rendered.

Dispensing Enormous Quantities of Costly Products Customers had not Asked For For example, DOJ investigators found that The Pill Club dispensed shipments of FC2 female condoms, to multiple women who were Medi-Cal beneficiaries, but who had no interest in receiving or using these devices.

The company billed Medi-Cal for these products at prices that were, on average, 250% higher than the retail price. FC2 would be sent out as part of a ‘bundle’ when patients requested emergency contraception.

Patients could not easily opt out of the bundle. In addition, the Pill Club regularly sent the maximum quantity of FC2 to new patients and with refills. Medi-Cal beneficiaries were sent massive quantities of FC2 — sometimes as many as 96 at a time — and The Pill Club was in turn reimbursed as much as $2,253.80 for a single prescription delivery.

The DOJ investigation found The Pill Club continued sending many patients large quantities of the condoms and submitting Medi-Cal claims for the condoms, even after the patients asked to stop receiving them.

The $15 million settlement recovers damages and civil penalties under the California False Claims Act. It recovers all losses, and ensures full restitution to the Medi-Cal program.

The Pill Club was founded by Dr. Iman Abuzeid, who had launched Incredible Health in 2017 to help nurses find permanent positions.

“The Pill Club” page 23

Real Estate Update

Ruth Bates

SOLD PAST 30 DAYS

Only 6 homes sold in Aptos: 365 Beach – $2,200,000, 2bed/2ba/1223sf, 35 Days on Market (DOM), 644 Hidden Beach – $1,540,000, 3bed/2.5ba/2096sf, 4 DOM, 335 Granite Way (TH) – $1,400,000, 3bed/2.5ba/2003sf, 154 DOM, 240 Meadowlark – $1,310,000, 3bed/2ba/1906sf, 13 DOM, 104 Atherton (TH) – $1,075,000, 3bed/2.5ba/1558sf, 3 DOM, 515 Gertrude, $620,000 –2bed/1ba/810sf, 30 DOM.

APTOS: ACTIVE LISTINGS — There are only 17 homes for sale as of 2/06 and none of them are listed under $1 Million. High is 259 Via Concha – $5,425,000, 3bed/3ba/2050sf, 42 DOM, Low is 614 Bonita, $1,120,000 – 3bed/3ba/1596, 17 DOM.

SELLER’S MARKET STILL — It is a great time to be a Seller, there are tons of buyers looking, so take advantage of our high home values and low inventory. And Prop. 19 (passed 2/16/21) permits eligible homeowners (defined as over 55, severely disabled, or whose homes were destroyed by wildfire or disaster) to transfer their primary residence’s property tax base value to a replacement residence of any value, anywhere in the state.

INTEREST RATES — (Mortgage News Daily-2/06) 30-year – 6.19% (down from 6.96% last month); 15-year – 5.03%, Jumbo – 5.75% . Note that Jumbo Loans are $726,000+ in 2023, up from $647,200 in 2022, and if you are putting 20% down on a $1M property, your loan is $800,000 and thus Jumbo. These rates are much improved over last year’s second half, so Buyers, don’t despair, get pre-qualified and ready to go!

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SELLERS–Buy Before You Sell Program: go ahead and find your new home, buy it (without a home-for-sale contingency), then sell your old home on the open market • BUYERS–Cash Offer program: be able to compete and win in any multi-offer situation as a cash buyer. Call me for more details.

Call, email, text anytime and Get Results With Ruth!

Digging Deep Agroecology for Mount Madonna School Sixth Graders

Agroecology, which views agricultural areas as ecosystems and is concerned with the ecological impact of agricultural practices, is the topic of experiential learning by Mount Madonna School sixth grade students as part of their science curriculum.

Guided by teacher Hilary Alvarado, students “embarked” on a semester-long study that included several “stops” or community learning journeys curated to develop students’ thinking about agriculture as an ecosystem, with inputs — like sunlight, water and compost — outputs such as food and habitat for organisms, and species interactions involving competition, predation and symbiosis.

Students visited a working organic farm, had a personal glimpse into the lives of migrant farmworkers, observed

professional research in action on a college farm, viewed artists’ expressions on this topic at a museum exhibition, and prepared a sustainable food potluck.

Their field studies began with a trip to Live Earth Farm in Watsonville, where

Mt. Madonna Hosts

On Feb. 11, middle and high school students from six schools in four counties joined their peers at Mount Madonna School for the inaugural regional Model United Nations conference.

The theme , “Climate Justice for All: Addressing Inequality,” had students debating global issues from the perspective of their adopted countries, including sustainable tourism, women in climate leadership and green technology transfer to less developed countries.

Student delegates spent four hours over the course of the day drafting solutions to these issues, working in groups

students were introduced to the practices of organic farming, and had fun harvesting Concord grapes and strawberries and pressing apples into juice.

“Agroecology” page 22

Model United Nations for Youth

and then individually through formal debate.

“Doing Model UN has made me much more confident and a lot less nervous talking in front of larger audiences,” said MMS sixth grader Emma Killough.

“I enjoyed learning more about MUN at the conference and speaking for my country to support my committee’s cause,” said MMS student Nolan McKibbin, who received the “Best Delegate” award in the committee focusing on sustainable tourism.

The student organizing team from Mount Madonna School, Moreland Notre Dame, Santa Cruz Montessori and Stevenson School, Pebble Beach, kicked off the opening ceremony by inviting Jackie McCloud, sustainability chief for the City of Watsonville, to talk about the local impact and challenges of climate change, particularly in light of recent flooding in the Pajaro Valley.

Lisa Martin, director of the lower school and the MUN coordinator at Mount Madonna School, then presented longtime Watsonville High School educator and MUN advisor Ron Jones with an award recognizing his 30+-year contribution to

the development of Model United Nations in the Pajaro Valley.

“As we start the process of relaunching MUN in the region after almost two decades of absence,” Martin told the audience, “we would like to recognize and thank Ron Jones, history teacher, MUN director extraordinaire, a legend at Watsonville High School and wonderful human being for his enduring contributions to youth in Watsonville.” n

Model United Nations student delegates at work.

Jackie McCloud, Watsonville’s sustainability chief.

Ron Jones, Watsonville High School history teacher, is recognized.

Summer Bulbs Require No Chill

By Tony Tomeo

Narcissus, including daffodil, started to bloom during all that earlier torrential rain. Those that bloomed after the rain stood up a bit better than those that started earlier. Crocus are stouter so are more resilient. Hyacinth are both relatively stouter and slightly later. While such spring bulbs contend with late wintry weather, it is about time to add summer bulbs.

Unlike spring bulbs that like to be in the garden early enough to benefit from winter chill, summer bulbs do not benefit from chill. Some actually dislike it. Also unlike spring bulbs, very few summer bulbs, or late bulbs, are actually bulbs. Almost all are rhizomes, tubers, tuberous roots, corms or other types of dormant but reliably perennial storage structures.

Summer bulbs do not grow through early winter to bloom later in winter or early in spring like spring bulbs do. They instead grow through late winter and early spring to bloom for late spring or summer. A few bloom for autumn. Several are more reliably perennial than the majority of spring bulbs. However, some bloom splendidly only for their first seasons.

Gladiolus is one of the most popular summer bulbs, but like many spring bulbs, it blooms only once annually, and is not reliably perennial. Planting in phases every two weeks or so through their planting season prolongs bloom. However, most corms do not survive to bloom for a second season. Those that do will synchronize for their subsequent blooms.

Dahlia blooms for a longer season from the middle of summer until the middle of autumn. Also, it is more reliably perennial.

Tubers remain dormant through winter after stems and foliage die back. They generate new stems and foliage through warming spring weather. Overgrown or crowded tubers propagate efficiently and easily by division while dormant. Summer bulbs are not quite as diverse as spring bulbs, but some types are too vigorous for much diversity. A few rhizomes of canna can become overwhelming within a year. Old fashioned white calla forms broad colonies that might exclude other perennials. Smaller and more colorful modern cultivars are fortunately docile. Crocosmia might get invasive, and is difficult to mitigate.

•••

Flame Vine

Like so many popular spring bulbs, flame vine, Pyrostegia venusta, may not delay bloom until spring as it should. Within the warmly sunny situations that it prefers, it is more likely to bloom during winter. It may wait until the end of winter or even the beginning of spring only where winter weather is cooler. Bloom is already finishing where winters are milder.

Bloom is spectacular, particularly while not much else blooms so copiously. It is about as profuse as bougainvillea bloom, but earlier. It is about as vibrant orange as poppy bloom, but earlier. With warmth, sunlight and regular watering, flame vine performs very reliably. Perhaps it should not be as uncommon as it is. Yellow blooming flame vine is quite rare.

Although a bit tamer than related red trumpet vine and royal trumpet vine, flame vine may be uncommon partly because it is so vigorous. If pruned to the ground after bloom, it can reach second story eaves to bloom there for the next season. It can grow absurdly high if it grows into trees. Its evergreen foliar tendrils can cling to and damage painted surfaces. n

Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo. com.

Many bulbs are not actually bulbs.

Flame vine bloom before spring here.

Win Vote to Halt

Monterey Support for Cruise Ships

With the advocacy of student leaders from local nonprofit Protect Monterey Bay, the Monterey City Council voted to end the city’s support of visiting cruise ships by ceasing all security and disembarkation services for ships scheduled to start arriving again in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

The 3-2 vote on Feb. 7 came after public comments from business leaders and concerned citizens and authorized City Manager Hans Uslar’s plan to alert cruise lines that the City of Monterey would stop all assistance. Uslar cited the risk of a diesel spill in Monterey Bay and the industry’s record of environmental violations.

Voting yes were Mayor Tyller Williamson and council members Alan Haffa and Gino Garcia. Council members Kim Barber and Ed Smith voted no.

The cruise ship industry had been operating in Monterey since 2002 until the Covid-19 pandemic brought it to a halt in March 2020.

It’s not clear whether the lack of municipal services will keep cruise ships away as Monterey Bay is federally regulated.

Middle school students from Protect

Monterey Bay drew praise from the City Council for their poised comments, with many others citing their statements and presence as having outsized influence on the outcome.

Said Mayor Williamson, “ I think this sends a very powerful message that we do not want cruise lines coming into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.”

Heidi Witten-Forsythe, 12, said, “We have to be a voice for the voiceless — even if this is way past my bedtime.”

“The battle isn’t over,” said Taylor Adams, 13, noting that they were outnumbered during comments 5-1 by business leaders and cruise lobbyists, “but we asked them to think about planet over profits, and stop risking the long-term health of our ocean for the short-term revenue of a few.”

Aliya Denton, 13, reminded the council that the cruise lobby had claimed an average of $125 spent per person during shore excursions — a drop in the bucket of Monterey County’s 3 million annual visitors spending more than $3 billion.

“Cruise Ships Vote” page 23

From left, Taylor Adams, Aliya Denton, Heidi Witten-Forsythe and Hamish Witten-Forsythe.

AmericAn Leisure Furniture

Customer-Friendly

By Aracelly Bibl

Are you dreaming of longer days and warmer weather? With spring on the horizon, it might be time to consider creating a comfortable outdoor space where you can unwind with a book or host a fun evening with friends. If this rings true for you, a visit to American Leisure Patio is in order.

The company has built a reputation for its exceptional sales and service experience. The family-owned business, which started as a PVC furniture factory in 1980, has evolved over the years to become a full-service outdoor living retailer with two locations in Santa Cruz and San Jose.

As online shopping continues to grow in popularity, this knowledgeable brickand-mortar specialty store focuses on the importance of face-to-face interactions, which cannot be replicated online.

“Our customers know that they always have someone in their corner,” says owner Brett Freiberg.

The company’s focus on customer relationships sets it apart from other retailers, as it creates an inviting atmosphere that makes customers feel relaxed and at ease.

“We have created a friendly and welcoming ambiance,” Freiberg says. “We prefer to guide our customers in the decision-making process when it comes to their outdoor space.”

The Santa Cruz location features a 6,700-square-foot showroom and a 3,000-square-foot backyard showroom, complete with a large deck, pergola, and a collection of deep seating and dining furniture. The San Jose location features an 8,500-square-foot showroom.

The goal is to create a cozy outdoor environment where customers can imagine themselves relaxing on the furniture in their backyard. The company’s selective approach to product mix, careful merchandise curation, and partnerships with manufacturers who care about customer satisfaction all contribute to its success.

The stores carry a wide selection of reliable brands: Berlin Gardens, Frankford Umbrellas, Galtech, Gloster, Gensun Casual Living, Jensen Leisure Ipe, Kingsley Bate, Northcape, OW Lee, Patio Renaissance, Sunset West, Telescope Casual, Treasure Garden, Tropitone, and Woodard.

Freiberg is delighted to stock an abundance of furniture for clients who wish to purchase something off the floor for a party or event. For clients who wish to special order specific frame colors and fabrics, the possibilities are endless!

Freiberg travels to markets throughout the United States and overseas to find unique furniture and goods. They take the process seriously, laying out everything they’re considering in the office to make sure it works together, and they are careful to bring in a combination of textures, colors, and finishes to provide customers with choices. The showrooms are expertly merchandised to inspire customers and give the furniture a designer feel.

According to Freiberg, combining pieces that aren’t strictly supposed to go together has become a fashionable method to display furniture.

“It gives an outdoor room an indoor designer feel,” he says. “People aren’t interested in buying matching sets like they used to — they want to create a look with personality.”

In addition to selling furniture, American Leisure Patio also has a thriving casual furniture restoration and repair business where they restore worn out furniture to its former glory. They offer powder coating, re-strapping, weld repairs, heater,

and umbrella repairs, as well as custom cushions and slings.

American Leisure Patio has built a successful business by putting the customer first. From the inviting atmosphere of the showroom to the carefully curated product mix and exceptional restoration and repair services, the company’s focus on creating a personal connection sets it apart from other retailers.

The next time you’re in the market for outdoor furniture, stop by American Leisure Patio in Santa Cruz at 1118 Ocean St. or the San Jose location at 944A Blossom Hill Rd and experience the difference for yourself. n

•••

Santa Cruz — American Leisure Patio, 831-423-2425. San Jose — American Leisure Patio, 408-446-9350.

Website: www.AmericanLeisurePatio.com

Dignity Health Dominican Awards Grants

Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has awarded nearly $200,000 in grants to five local nonprofits providing innovative resources and support to improve quality of life for the Santa Cruz County residents most in need.

“Our guiding mission with the Community Grants Program is to ensure we support the most underserved among us, and it couldn’t be done without collaboration,” said Dominican Hospital President Nanette Mickiewicz, MD. “Each of these organizations has a proven track record of affecting change both meaningful and measurable for the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Recipients are:

Dientes Community Dental Care

Its mission to create lasting oral health for children and adults living in poverty in Santa Cruz County and neighboring communities. For more than 30 years, Dientes has worked to ensure that cost, insurance, income, race, language and transportation do not prevent people from visiting the dentist.

“The funds from Dominican Hospital will be used to support oral health care for

people who are experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz County,” said Kristyn Glenn, associate director of development & dommunications. “With Housing Matters and the Homeless Persons Health project, Dientes will work with our partners to help patients establish a dental home. The goal is to improve oral health and reduce preventable oral health emergencies with increased access to care.”

Food, What?!

The youth empowerment and food justice organization each year hires more than 75 youth and reaches more than

500 youth through community events and education series.

“These funds will support our core programming, specifically our spring internship program,” said Francisco “Paco” Estrada, executive director of development and communications. During the internship, youth engage in organic farming, cooking activities, eating in community and wellness/empowerment workshops.

Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower

Kidpower is dedicated to building cultures of care, respect, and safety

for everyone. The grant will help provide online workshops that teach boundary setting, advocacy and other social-emotional skills that participants can use right away.

“All of us at Kidpower are so very grateful for the generous support of Dignity Health,” said Erika Leonard, community education director. “The grant is already at work providing Santa Cruz County residents among the most vulnerable to the most detrimental impacts of the pandemic with skills for taking charge of physical and emotional safety for themselves and their loved ones.”

Teen Kitchen Project

The project invites teens ages 14-18 into commercial kitchens in Santa Cruz County to prepare medically tailored meals that are delivered to people with a medical condition such as cancer, congestive heart failure, and complications of diabetes. Volunteer drivers deliver more than 1,600 meals per week; each client receives seven meals per delivery, at least once per week, at their home.

“Grants” page 23

“Agroecology” from page 16

In their science notebooks, students mapped out the complex farm food web.

Sixth grader Rebecca Piccardo said she went into the trip with a question about how much water the farm used in a year, and came away with an understanding about the ways farmers work to reduce water consumption.

Student Felix Alvarado observed that producers such as weeds, pumpkin, kale or peas, are the most important organisms to the survival of the whole community because they provide food for primary consumers.

Another classmate, meanwhile, said “decomposers” play an essential role.

“Without decomposers,” commented the student, “our planet would rot.”

Student Giavanna Iacocca learned about the role of different crops, including cover crops, and the effects of disease, pests and growing conditions.

“Once squash gets powdery mildew, it will begin to reproduce slower,” said Iacocca. “Mustard is invasive, and some parasites prefer plants on the ground instead of trees.”

“I learned that scale bugs eat plants, and what broccolini is,” added classmate Leyla Klosinski.

In mid-October, sixth graders — along with several twelfth grade students — had some eye-opening lessons into the harsh

subsistence of migrants from Oaxaca, Mexico, who are employed locally as farmworkers, through the Farmworker Reality Tour hosted by Dr. Ann López of the Center for Farmworker Families.

“Learning about farm labor is an essential piece of learning about agriculture,” said teacher Hilary Alvarado. “Understanding the human element of it, how farmworkers are affected, and the irony that they are producing our food and at the same time are personally experiencing food insecurity.

“We heard first-hand stories of farmworkers crossing the border, living in a migrant labor camp, and working in the fields,” she continued. “Students learned about the injustices experienced by farmworkers and I believe they gained gratitude and appreciation for the work they do. In the aftermath of the tour, they are learning to channel any strong emotions they may feel about the subject into doing something constructive, such as learning more, volunteering, donating and buying organic produce.”

“There are a lot of injustices we would never know of without things like the reality tour,” said student Nolan McKibbin.

“I learned about how farmworkers live,” said classmate Pierce Culbertson. “Now that I know, I want to make change.”

The next day, students visited the farm at UC Santa Cruz, to learn from a docent about the professional agroecology research underway.

Students learned about organic growing techniques at the UCSC Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems while enjoying the beautiful views of the farm, the city of Santa Cruz, and the ocean.

The docent talked about the importance of polyculture agriculture — planting more than one crop species in one space — to promote biodiversity, soil health, and elimination of fossil-fuel dependent pesticides and fertilizers.

Students also learned about doubledigging planting techniques, pioneered at UC Santa Cruz, to loosen soil and increase air and water availability to roots, making it easier for plants to access nutrients deeper in the soil.

Students observed a research plot of blueberries, where researchers were experimenting with levels of vinegar added to the soil to promote acidic growing conditions needed for blueberry production. They also heard about the importance

of nitrogen-fixing crops. This lesson was reinforced in the science classroom where students learned how legume crops have evolved a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which provides organisms with nitrogen, an essential nutrient, in a form that is accessible to all living things.

Next, students headed to “The Land of Milk and Honey,” an exhibition at the Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz, where they viewed art related to modern agriculture in California and Mexico that grapple with food justice, migration, economics and agri-food politics.

At the exhibit, students were drawn to colorful large-scale portraits of farmworker women, and made comments on how the clothing and masks the women wore protected them from dust, irritation from plants, weather, sun, and pesticides while they worked in the fields. Another art piece showed a cob of corn constructed out of human teeth found in Tijuana close to the border of the U.S. and Mexico. Students made connections between the art on exhibit and the testimonials given by farmworkers during the Farmworker Realty Tour, where they learned about the hardships experienced by farmworkers while crossing the border and working in the local agricultural fields.

To conclude, students asked to prepare dishes to share with their classmates and their invited third grade buddies at a “sustainable food potluck.” This meal included a “dash” of learning as each dish had to include at least three ingredients from local sources produced within a 50-mile radius of the student’s home, and students each created a “food map” depicting their home and proximity to the local ingredients.

“Agroecology is simultaneously a scientific discipline, an agricultural practice, and a political or social movement,” said Alvarado, who has a Ph.D. in environmental studies, with a focus in urban agroecosystems and sustainable agriculture. “The hands-on experiences and field trips this year have helped students see the various ways that the concept of agroecology can be applied in the real world. It has long been my intent to expose students to these issues, and this year the opportunities came together to make his an enriching learning experience.” n

Comcast Gives $50,000 To Storm Recovery

On Feb. 1, Comcast hosted an event in Scotts Valley to support the community and made a $50,000 donation to the United Way of Santa Cruz County and Community Bridges of Santa Cruz to help rebuild from January’s historic rainstorms that caused massive flooding, downed trees and landslides.

“The Santa Cruz area has suffered so much from the recent storms — the devastation has been heart wrenching

to experience and witness,” said Ray Cancino, CEO of Community Bridges.

“This partnership and financial support from Comcast is coming at the ideal time and will provide important, valuable resources as the community strives to get back on its feet.”

The event included the Xfinity Experience trailer, which has a 12x18-foot LED screen on which the movies Sing 2 and Minions: Rise of Gru were screened.

The trailer enabled free WiFi access and power so attendees could get online and charge their devices. Local restaurants provided free food and beverages to attendees.

“ It was so nice to enable this hard-hit community to take a break, come together and support each other, while having some fun.” said Keisha Browder, CEO, United Way of Santa Cruz County. “Comcast’s financial contribution to our community will help us not only expand our recovery efforts but also help us rebuild from this catastrophic disaster.”

During the epic storms, which caused epic damages, Comcast said its network and engineering technicians monitored the impacts and worked diligently to restore Xfinity and Comcast Business services as quickly and safely as possible.

Also, Comcast made available for free use by anyone its 147,000 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots throughout Northern and Central California to help residents and emergency personnel stay connected during the rainstorms. n

“Grants” from page 21

“Through the support of Dignity Health, we are able to provide reducedsodium and diabetes-friendly meals for clients struggling with food security and critical and chronic illness,” said Angela Farley, executive director of Teen Kitchen

“Cruise Ships Vote” from page 19

“Millions of tourists visit, and call the Monterey Bay ‘priceless,’” she said. “Well, according to the cruise lobby, it isn’t priceless. It has a price: $125 on average per passenger. No amount is worth sacrificing our integrity and allowing cruise ships into a protected marine sanctuary.”

In 2003, Monterey banned the Crystal Harmony, a 940-passenger ship, for dumping wastewater into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary the prior October. A company spokesman told The

“The Pill Club” from page 15

In 2021, former Uber Eats veteran Liz Meyerdirk became The Pill Club’s CEO overseeing a nearly 350-person team and garnering $41.9 million in new investments. Investors included Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.

Project. “This support keeps clients nourished and often reduces complications and re-hospitalizations. Thank you, Dignity Health!”

Monarch Services

Monarch serves survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, as well as their

New York Times there was no requirement to report it sooner.

From 1993 to 1998, cruise lines paid more than $30 million in fines for 87 illegal discharges of trash, oil and hazardous wastes in U.S. waters, according to The New York Times.

Hamish Witten-Forsythe, 12, said the first ship slated to come to Monterey on March 14 is run by Princess Cruise Lines, a company that pleaded guilty to seven felonies and was handed the largest-ever criminal penalty involving deliberate vessel pollution for dumping and covering

The Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse investigates and prosecutes those who defraud the Medi-Cal program. These settlements are made possible through the coordination and collaboration of governmental agencies, as well as the critical help from whistleblowers who

families, and offers the only emergency confidential shelter in Santa Cruz County, as well as wrap-around case management, therapy, housing support and a 24-hour bilingual crisis and support line.

“The goal with this grant is to provide a continuum of care services to survivors of

up through falsifying records and ordering staff to lie.

Insurance Journal reported Princess was fined $40 million in 2017 after pleading guilty to felony charges stemming from deliberate dumping of oil-contaminated waste from one of its vessels and intentional acts to cover it up.

As part of its probation, all Carnivalrelated cruise ships that used U.S. ports were required to comply with a supervised environmental compliance plan. Princess was convicted of six probation violations in 2019 and fined an additional $20 million.

report incidences of abuse or Medi-Cal fraud at https://oag.ca.gov/dmfea/reporting

DMFEA receives 75% of its funding from HHS under a grant award totaling $53,792,132 for federal fiscal year Oct 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023. The remaining 25% is funded by the State of California.

human trafficking through a collaborative case management model,” said Kalyne Renda, CEO of Monarch Services. n

Since the early 1990s, Dominican Hospital has provided $3 million in grants to local nonprofits to improve health and wellness in Santa Cruz County.

Witten-Forsythe said a third fine was ordered in 20219 — “They don’t belong here,” he said.

Brian Salerno, senior vice president of maritime policy for the Cruise Lines International Association, told the council the cruise industry “is a comparatively safe industry. It is an environmentally sound industry. Have incidents occurred? Yes. Is that emblematic of the industry overall? No.” n

For more about Protect Monterey Bay, see https://www.protectmontereybay.org/

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. n

Read the settlement agreement is at https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/ press-docs/TPC%20Fully%20Executed%20 Settlement%20Agreement%20%281%29.pdf

Bonus, Raise, Calendar, Science & Mar Vista Heat

When are we getting the second half of our retention bonus?

The second half of the 2022-2023 retention bonus will be paid on the June end of month payroll. Here is the language directly from the MOU (agreement).

1. The District shall pay a $2,500 retention bonus

2. The bonus will be paid out in two equal payments

• The first payment shall be made on the October 2022 end of month payroll

• The second payment shall be made on the June 2023 end of month payroll

3. To qualify for the bonus employees must have been in employed status on April 1, 2022, and remain employed through Aug. 25, 2022, and in paid status to receive the first payment; remain employed through March 31, 2023, and be in paid status on March 31, 2023, to receive the second payment.

Any updates on the new CSEA negotiations and when classified new pay raise is to be in effect? When are retroactive checks being sent out?

The district is currently waiting for CSEA to ratify the vote for the proposed contract language and salary increase.

The vote was to occur on Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. at Watsonville Elks Lodge. Once ratified, the district is planning to take the agreement to the March 8 board meeting for approval.

If board approves, the new salary increase is projected to go into effect April end of month, April 28. More information will be provided as the process moves forward.

When will we know who has applied for the vacant Board seat?

The names of the qualified applicants will be posted on Board Docs on Tuesday, Feb. 7, for the scheduled board meeting on Saturday, Feb. 11. The applicants will be interviewed Saturday, Feb. 11.

The names will also be announced during an update at the Feb. 8 board meeting.

I received a message that my child was invited to the credit recovery program that starts in February. I was told that the

information was sent to my daughter’s PVUSD Google email account. What is this all about?

Expanded Learning sent an interest form to 9th-12th grade students at our three comprehensive high schools who have a D, F or No Credit on their transcript. We want to ensure students have the opportunity to earn credit for these courses and be on track to graduate.

The Expanded Learning Program offers Credit Recovery at our three comprehensive high schools and our two continuation schools. Credit Recovery is offered for students who have earned a D in a core course and want to improve their grade in order to be A-G eligible. In addition, if a student attempted a course and received an F or No Credit (NC) they are able to make up the missing credit in our program.

Our spring session begins Feb. 21 and runs through May 5. For more assistance on credit recovery options and the credits your student needs to recover, please contact your child’s Academic Counselor or email creditrecovery@pvusd.net. You can also visit our website at Spring Credit Recovery.

My son’s old school was on a modified year-round schedule, where they had seven weeks off for summer, two weeks off in the fall, two weeks off for winter break and two weeks off in the spring. This schedule is different, but it really helped with the academic loss we see over the long break and they ended up having less absences for family vacations during the school year. Since we are seeing so many students struggle to catch up academically from the pandemic, has the district considered a different schedule in their strategy to catch students up? When will the 2024/25 calendar be decided on? And who makes that decision?

The school calendars are created by the Calendar Committee, which is outlined in both Collective Bargaining Agreements with PVFT and CSEA.

The Calendar Committee is composed of bargaining unit members, District administration, Board Members and parent representatives, which are typically a School Site Council member and member of DELAC. The committee reviews the layout of the holidays, takes

into consideration the professional development days for the year, report card windows, parent teacher conferences and ensures the Fall and Spring semester are as equal in length as possible.

In addition, the committee reviews attendance data, conducts surveys of parents and staff, reviews historical calendars and reviews calendars from neighboring districts in the county for possible alignment.

The length of Winter Break is not solely determined by our population of families who travel to Mexico during that time but rather by all of the other data points mentioned above.

The Calendar Committee will be convening at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year to puttogether the next three years of school calendars. These will need to be completed no later than Jan. 1, 2024, and presented for a first reading at the next regular board meeting that January. With COVID and the flu’s going around why would the schools still send truancy notices even after excused absences.

My kid was sick with Covid at the beginning of the year during the holiday’s influenza had a huge spike here. With the constant exposure notices and small symptoms, we’ve had to miss a couple of days here and there. When will they change those truancy policies?

PVUSD, as well as all other California school districts, must follow California Education Code 48205 which states that a student may be excused from school when the absence is related to an illness or due to quarantine. As a district, we use a specific attendance code for students who are absent due to an illness or needing to quarantine. This allows the absence to be noted as an excused absence.

Please contact the school attendance office to report absences due to an illness or due to quarantine. All absences need to be reported to the attendance office within 3 school days of the absence in order to clear any excusable absences.

Failure to report the absences within the three-school day period may result in receiving the truancy letter. To change truancy policies outside these parameters, there wouldhave to be a change at the State level.

When will I know if my interdistrict transfer was approved?

Open enrollment for our intra-district transfers and inter-district transfers ended Jan. 31. Student Services is currently reviewing all of the requests received and is evaluating enrollment capacity at each site.

Notices regarding the status of the inter-district transfers, as well as intradistrict transfer requests will be sent out to families starting March 1.

When are your science classes, at all levels, going to move past this “green” fantasy idealism and finally start teaching real science? Your “science” teachers are currently only teaching students that all human activity is bad for the planet, and that “science” consists only of trying to “save the planet,” whatever that means. This is useless propaganda and will do nothing to further their education nor to enhance the prospects of any kind of technical or actual science-based career. The State Board of Education convened a team of educators, higher education faculty, scientists, and engineers to recommend new science content standards for California public schools based upon the nationally developed Next Generation Science Standards.

Additionally, two public review periods that captured tens of thousands of comments were used to inform the adopted CA NGSS on Sept. 4, 2013, as required by Education Code 60605.85. Over the past four years, PVUSD has invested in updating our science curricular adoptions to align with the CA Next Generation Science Standards.

We are presently piloting TK-5 science curriculum to adopt and implement in 2023-24. Next Generation Science Standards “Disciplinary Core Ideas” focus K-12 science curriculum and instruction on the most important aspects of science and spiral throughout K-12 where they are taught at increasing levels of depth and sophistication. Environmental issues are included in the state science standards and represented in Disciplinary Core Ideas on “Human Impacts on Earth’s Systems” and “Global Climate Change.”

“PVUSD

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

New Disaster Recovery Hours

Beginning Thursday, Feb. 16, the Disaster Recovery Centers in Watsonville and Felton will change their hours to provide recovery services to residents impacted by the December-January atmospheric rivers that impacted Santa Cruz County. The deadline to apply for FEMA individual assistance is March 16.

Hours at the Felton Library are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Friday.

Hours at Watsonville City Government Center, 250 Main St. are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday (change from Ramsay Park).

Staff from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Small Business Administration will be available for in-person assistance for residents and businesses to ask questions, register, or follow up on assistance related the event. President Biden has authorized a major disaster declaration for the storms, freeing up funding for community recovery.

County recovery staff will be

available during regular business hours at the county Governmental Center, 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. To reach the Recovery Permit Center, call 831-454-5323 or email rpc@santacruzcounty.us during business hours.

On Jan. 31, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors authorized an extension of a contract with 4Leaf Inc. to help those rebuilding or repairing homes after January’s epic storms.

4Leaf has been under contract with the County to provide permitting services to those rebuilding after the CZU Fire.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

PVUSD: No Covid Vaccine Required for Students This Fall

Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, superintendent of Pajaro Valley Unified School District, answers questions about Covid-19 vaccine requirements, exposure notices and quarantine.

What is the status of the COVID vaccine for students entering the 2023-2024 school year? Is there a mandatory order in place at this time?

OnFeb. 3, 2023, the California Department of Public Health announced that it will no longer explore emergency rulemaking to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required inoculations for California students to attend school in person.

The plan will officially be dropped when Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 State of Emergency comes to an end on Feb. 28, 2023.

Therefore, PVUSD will not require the COVID-19 vaccine for upcoming school years.

I keep getting exposure notices for COVID for my child. I, as along with a majority of the people I know, have Covid fatigue. We all know how to deal with this virus by now just like we know how to deal with a cold and the flu. Can we move

on now and focus resources on more important things ... like education.

Current CDPH and local guidelines require schools to send out an exposure notice when a student or staff tests positive at a school site.

The exposure notice is sent to all students and staff who are considered exposed (students or staff in the same shared indoor airspace for 15 minutes or more).

This guidance is currently in effect and is regularly reviewed by the California Department of Public Health. Once guidelines change, PVUSD will immediately shift to the new requirements.

When are you going to stop requiring students to quarantine?

CDPH continues to require students and staff to quarantine when they test positive for COVID-19.

If symptoms are no longer present, both students and staff members may take an antigen test to determine if they can come back to school or work on the sixth day.

There is currently no proposed date for CDPH to remove the quarantine requirement. n

The goal of the extended contract is to accelerate permitting for those working with insurance companies, contractors, FEMA, CalFire and other agencies involved in the rebuilding process.

“The County is doing everything in

its power to not be a regulatory barrier to those who are trying to rebuild their homes, their businesses and their lives,” Board Chair Zach Friend said.

“By providing permit staff dedicated solely to recovery, we hope to streamline the process for those who have been impacted by disasters.”

The board directed County staff to create a mediation process for those seeking permits, and to track and report back on progress for building and other necessary permits. n

More resources are at the Virtual Recovery Center at https://santacruzcounty.us/OR3/ Emergency.asp

U.S. Presidents

51. Campbell’s container

52. International Civil Aviation Organization

53. *President Hayes’ first name 60. “Through” in a text?

61. Pelvic bones

62. Plural of #54 Down

63. Andrew Sean Greer’s 2018 Pulitzer Prize winner

64. Reverse action

65. Mother-of-pearl

66. *Lake off Ohio, the state known as “the Mother of Presidents”

67. Baseball’s “The Say Hey Kid”

68. Navigate

1. *Present tense of #26 Across

2. Tibetan priest

3. “Singes” in “La PlanËte des singes”

4. Nearly

5. Apprentice

6. Name on apple cider vinegar bottle

7. R in R&R

8. Cognizant of

9. “Sophie’s Choice” protagonist

10. *F in JFK

11. Bye, to Emmanuel Macron

12. Relating to Scandinavia

13. Casino bandits

21. Sign of assent

25. *Civil Rights Act of 1957 signer

26. Dueler’s blow

27. Hyperbolic tangent

28. Football great Graham

29. *Executive Mansion, colloquially (2 words)

30. Misrepresent

31. Make over

33. *One of four presidents to have never been elected

35. “Goodness gracious!”

36. “Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me” band, The

37. High school student, usually

42. Spermatozoa counterparts

44. Not marathons, pl. (2 words)

46. Central court in domus

47. Certain frat house letters

48. Ownership document

49. Autumn color

50. Zoroaster follower

51. Pandemonium

Elbow-wrist connection 55. Not a slob

Like certain Stanley 57. A third of thrice 58. Steak choice 59. Whitetail, e.g.

The goal of the extended contract is to accelerate permitting for those working with insurance companies, contractors, FEMA, CalFire and other agencies involved in the rebuilding process.

Aquarius Era — ‘Love Underlies the Happenings of Our Times

Theconstellation Aquarius (water-bearer) is of great importance in our solar system at this time as our Sun is rapidly moving into its atmosphere and influence. Thus the energies of Aquaria (electrical waters) are gaining momentum. Aquarius is the call to freedom. And the heart of Aquarius, which is Jupiter (love, Ray 2) is that which brings forth freedom. The Earth (and her kingdoms — mineral, plant, animal, human) is entering two new great cycles — a 2500 year and a 25,000-year cycle. We again begin another great cycle around the zodiac and Aquarius governs both cycles. Aquarius (sign, energy, influence) is of great significance for humanity and the Earth. As the new Aquarian cycles progress forward, they are aided by the seven stars (Seven Rays) in the Big Dipper, especially by the Second Ray (love/wisdom) and Seventh Ray, which flows through Uranus — planet of revolution, revelations, and all things new. The Seventh Ray star (or Ray 7) offers humanity new ceremonies, rituals, new archetypes and new rhythms. This star stimulates humanity’s minds and hearts to be ready for Aquarius and new revelations.

ARIES

You already know about freedom. In the times to come your focus only on self will change. You will seek freedom and liberty for others, becoming a mentor and presenting yourself to the world as an archetype of freedom. Be careful that you understand what freedom truly is. It’s sacrifice. It comes from the heart. It’s service to others. It’s a quality of the Soul & Spirit. We are not “free” until we love and serve others.

TAURUS

You have had the sense that it’s your task, divinely inspired, deeply altruistic, to help others, educating them in truth concerning the changes in our world. You will perform your duties and do your part by modeling a template of Goodwill for humanity. Humanity learns how to protect themselves and Goodwill offers one a refuge. You see the need and become a leader in educating humanity. All awakened, resourceful and creative people will stay by and assist you.

GEMINI

Your mind always remains free and independent. Though many think you’re their best friend, you are actually somewhat detached and aloof, not allowing yourself to get too close. You have too many ideas and ideals to fit into one group of friends. Compromise is not your main task. Instead you use charm, wit, humor, offering information. These create a veil between you and others. Your display of duality helps humanity choose.

CANCER

You accomplish your work with creative competence. You laugh at these words. It’s true. So often you hide under your protective shell. I think you must really be studying everything there is to know. You emerge for a while, provide information needed, and return to the shadows. You’re like a turtle. We found one on the road today. We moved it into the grasses on the other side of the gate. It was grateful. You are the “gate.”

Ray 7 via Uranus inaugurates the new era (Age of Aquarius), encourages spiritual aspiration, mental freedom, liberty, loving understanding and a new rhythm for humanity’s full creative expression (Leo, opposite sign of Aquarius). The energy from Shamballa (the Will-to Good) organizes the influence of Ray 7. The energy of Hierarchy (inner spiritual government) then infuses Ray 7 with Love, and, when fused with love and will, the Aquarian energies (Waters of life) are anchored (made physically visible) into the hearts and minds of humanity. Humanity then begins to realize its true identity, as World Server and Disciples, called to ‘save the world.”

The heart of Aquarius is Jupiter (Ray 2), which distributes Love & Wisdom. It is with great wisdom that Valentine’s day occurs during the month of Aquarius. The very heart of Aquarius streams forth divine love and wisdom into the minds and hearts of humanity with the message, ”Love underlies all happenings of our time” — all reasons, events, births, deaths, relationships and realities of our time — love streaming forth into the minds and hearts of humanity. n

LEO

You must become aware and more comfortable, more radical, entering into the new era of Aquarius, no longer remaining in the old. You are to meet new people who also think in new ways. Everything traditional soon becomes unavailable, all doors closing. New Aquarian ideas appear, providing opportunities for your future life and well-being. Be discerning though. You never were able to accept traditional boundaries and limits. Creativity for you is true freedom.

VIRGO

Are you having feelings, ideas or dreams of being uplifted, of resurrecting? There’s an inner state of regeneration, of rebirth occurring in your life. Others will wonder why you seem to be changing so fast. You have no answers for them. You know it’s the influence of the stars, sun and planets. Be careful of others’ feelings. Don’t be impatient. Stay within a balanced equilibrium. Like Libra tries to, always with a bright and shiny smile.

LIBRA

Are you feeling inconsistent, in states of unease and difficulty, rather erratic and changeable? Is your usual charm flagging? Actually, your charm never disappears. But you do need more rest. Your genuine care and concern for others is your saving grace. Although you love being in relationship, at times you need to be alone. In relationships you’re secure when your partner is free. Two free people equal one brilliant secure relationship. Have you contemplated on the need for forgiveness yet?

SCORPIO

Whatever daily work you do, a new level of technology and concrete scientific knowledge will enhance it, providing you with more freedom of choice, of time and personal independence to pursue other interests. Is your work area rather messy? How is your health? Often your research leads to breakthroughs that assist in liberating the life force of others. You do not follow the usual ways of being. Do you need a new computer? New shoes? New anything?

SAGITTARIUS

For whatever ails you, you need a child-like sense of play, a self-expression that frees and liberates your happiness. You must also do things quite differently now. Nothing of the old ways will do. Naturally creative, often laughing, quite charming and at times, crazy and madcap, creating your new world would be quite easy. You need something Broadway, too. Theatre, lights, action! Don’t you think? You challenge the many who follow you.

CAPRICORN

You have expanded your ability to care for and nurture others. It’s important that you tend to self-care too. Rest is needed. You know this. You rely on intuition and independent thinking, always making Right Choice when needs arise. Here’s a prayer you, an invocation. “Let reality govern my every thought and truth be the master of my life.” You will understand your mother’s nurturing. You are its result.

AQUARIUS

Even though others see you as different, eccentric, rather brilliant and quick, you also need rhythms and structure. You often make people laugh. Laughter is a special meditation. Friends understand your humor. Often you integrate new ideas, realities and ways of life into conversations. Sometimes you create in others a sense of puzzlement. Sometimes you will annoy. But always you will be creative, playful and honest. Not boring. We like you. Friends love you.

PISCES

You view resources in a way different than most. You see resources as a way to help humanity create a new way of living. You ask that all things financial be easy and uncomplicated. You do not want to be hindered by material needs, not even money. More and more of your possessions are being left behind or given away. You seek freedom. You value all that assists humanity. You are “one with your group brothers and sisters and all that you have is theirs”.

“PVUSD Q&A” from page 24

As citizens, students are asked to make informed decisions about a variety of issues that affect them, their families, and communities. The NGSS equip students with the ability to think critically, analyze information, and become scientifically literate to make sense of the complex world around them, while providing foundational skills to prepare students for college, careers, and life.

For more information, go to: www.cde. ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/ngssstandards.asp

Where will TK programs be located for the 2023-24 school year?

When will the information on eligibility, locations, and hours of each program be made available to our families?

For the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, PVUSD Transitional Kindergarten programs will be offered at the following school sites: Amesti, Bradley, Calabasas, H.A. Hyde, Hall District, Mar Vista, Mintie White, Radcliff, Starlight, and Valencia elementary schools. Children who turn 5 years of age between Sept. 2, 2023, and April 2, 2024, will be eligible for TK for the 2023-2024 school year.

Online registration began Feb. 6 and in-person registration packets were to be available at school site offices on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Please contact your school of residence or Child Development Department for further information or questions at (831) 786-8270. There continues to be heating problems at Mar Vista. What are you doing about it?

The District has been working to improve the HVAC at Mar Vista Elementary. In October 2020, a new boiler was installed for rooms 1-6. The District has a ESSER project scheduled for this summer to replace two additional boilers at Mar Vista for rooms 7-12 and for the Multipurpose Room.

Recently, Mar Vista has had individual parts fail and our Maintenance and Operations department has responded by replacing two circulation pumps, motors, and couplings that circulate the hot water through the coils. In recent years the District was bringing in 100% outside air which, when cold, was very difficult to heat with any system.

Our Maintenance and Operations Department believes with the recently replaced parts and the summer project we will be able to improve the heating systems at Mar Vista.

Our team will continue to monitor the site and provide support to ensure our rooms are at a comfortable temperature for our students and staff. n

As citizens, students are asked to make informed decisions about a variety of issues that affect them, their families, and communities.

Cabrillo Pursues On-Campus Student Housing with UC Santa Cruz

By Jondi Gumz

Facing a dire shortage of affordable places for students to live, Cabrillo College has partnered with UC Santa Cruz to pursue construction of a four-story housing complex with 624 beds and a child care center estimated to cost $160 million next to the softball fields and Highway 1 in Aptos.

On Jan. 17, Cabrillo trustees voted 5-0 to approve a 13-page conceptual draft prepared by Jones, Lang, LaSalle Inc., and apply for state funding for construction by the Jan. 26 deadline. Trustees Rachael Spencer and Steve Trujillo were absent.

The concept is for 271 units in three

wings, pinwheel style with courtyards on 200,511 square feet: Family wing*** — 60 units with one bed per unit.

Apartment wing*** — 56 units with two beds per unit and 40 units with 4 beds per unit.

Traditional dormitory wing*** — 31 units with four beds per unit and 84 units with two beds per unit.

The daycare space would be 5,788 square feet in the family wing. Other wings would offer other amenities, not yet detailed. Access would be on Cabrillo College Drive.

No new parking is proposed. Cabrillo expects students to use the existing parking lot located north of the family wing.

The construction cost estimate is $381$384 per gross square foot.

State Community College leaders will review applications in the summer.

Construction of the proposed 261,905 square feet of buildings is estimated at $108.1 million with $51.5 million in soft costs such as contingencies.

Rental revenue is estimated at $5.2 million, with increases of 3% each year.

Construction is estimated to take 24 months.

In October 2021 Cabrillo applied for a 300-bed project estimated to cost $60 million, just for Cabrillo students. The college received $240,000 for planning costs, which resulted in this new concept.

UCSC is rebuilding its Kresge College student housing to boost the number of beds from 365 to 970 and adding classrooms, a computer lab and lecture halls. This is estimated to cost $250 million.

In the summer of 2022, Cabrillo approached UCSC, in hopes of garnering more state funding with the larger project. Bradley Olin, Cabrillo’s assistant superintendent/vice president of finance & administrative services, cautioned on the conceptual figures in the JLL presentation, indicating a decision on an exact funding request has not been made. Inflation, for example, is assumed to be 7% a year. n

Allied Health Building to be Renamed in Tom Sourisseau’s Honor March 1

Tom Sourisseau, the beloved anatomy instructor at Cabrillo College, left $2.5 million to the Cabrillo College Foundation for biology scholarships and faculty and staff grants.

And the campus is recognizing him by renaming the Allied Health Building in his honor. The dedication ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, at 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. The community is invited.

This is the largest estate gift in Cabrillo College Foundation history.

The former Cabrillo faculty member died at the end of 2021.

“Tom was a beloved anatomy and physiology instructor who taught many of the current healthcare workers in this community. He was a strong presence at Cabrillo and was deeply committed to the College. When he wasn’t teaching biology, he was teaching County

lifeguards,” said interim Vice President of Instruction Robin McFarland. “Personally, he was an inspiration--he helped me buy my first wetsuit and swam in the ocean with me, helped me train for my first half marathon, and invited me to a book club which he participated in until the end of his life. He was a respected and valued colleague and friend.”

Sourisseau dedicated over three decades of his career to teaching at Cabrillo College, where he established a top-notch human anatomy program, prepping students for careers in healthcare. His focus on delivering an exceptional curriculum, and its impact on students, elevated Cabrillo’s anatomy program to a level of distinction.

He served as Faculty Senate president and Biology Department chair.

A lifelong learner, he took a variety

of courses at Cabrillo, including Spanish, chocolate-making, dance, and wine classes through the Culinary Arts program.

He received his degree from UC Berkeley in 1968, followed by two and a half years with the Peace Corps in West Africa. He had a passion for travel and was fluent in seven languages.

He was a lifeguard and trained others in the profession. He loved swimming in the ocean, was an avid runner, and often rode his bike to work.

After experiencing two strokes, he became a student in the Disability and Stroke Center and swam in the Cabrillo pool several times a week.

“Tom will always be remembered for his contributions to Cabrillo and our local community,” said Cabrillo College Foundation Executive Director

Eileen Hill. “This gift will be a permanent endowment, ensuring student support for generations to come. I think he would be very proud to make such a lasting contribution to the education of students, especially those walking through the doors of the Sourisseau Allied Health Building.”

Proposal Render © 2022 Jones Lang LaSalle IP, Inc. All rights reserved.

Planned Location © 2022 Jones Lang LaSalle IP, Inc. All rights reserved.

Tom Sourisseau

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GARDEN SPACE AVAILABLE IN APTOS

Garden Showcase on Saturday, Feb. 18 • Event starts at 10 a.m., 10707 Soquel Drive.

Springtime has us thinking about vegetable gardens. Many of us are looking for more sun, more space, perhaps deer fencing?

At Aptos Community Garden, a variety of individual plots is available for rent annually starting at $60. Many have planting boxes and gopher wire. The entire garden is enclosed with deer fencing This area gets great sun and has an automated drip system.

Check out plots and talk with gardeners on Saturday, Feb. 18, starting at 10 a.m. when signups for garden space take place.

For information, call (831) 688-5727 x2. Remember: the early bird gets the worm!

OUR COMMUNITY READS PRESENTS: MARY COIN

Upcoming Events

Sunday, Feb. 19 • 1 p.m.

Film: “The Grapes of Wrath”

In-person only, La Selva Beach Library, 316 Estrella Ave. Topsy Smalley, Librarian with a special interest in Steinbeck, introduces John Ford’s classic adaptation of the immortal Steinbeck novel.

Sponsored by Friends of La Selva Beach Library.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 • 6 p.m.

Film: “Dolores”

In-person only at Garden Room

Museum of Art and History,705 Front St., Santa Cruz A documentary about Dolores Huerta, co-founder— with César Chávez—of the precursor to the United Farmworkers union. Introduction by Jerry Kay, longtime friend of Ms. Huerta.

Come a few minutes early to view a video display of the work of Aptos High School students, whose class assignment was to redesign the book cover for Mary Coin or use art to tell the story behind the photo. Student work will be judged by members of the Bookshop Santa Cruz staff and awards given to the top work. Sponsored by the Friends of the Aptos Library.

Saturday, Feb. 25 • 2:30 p.m.

Music & Film: The Depression, the Dust Bowl, and Dorothea In-person only at Felton Library Community Room, 6121 Gushee St., Felton

During the 1930s, music painted a vivid picture of a nation in crisis. Felton’s own Patti Maxine, along with Alison Steele of Sugar by the Pound, will play songs of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

The music will be followed by the short documentary “Dorothea Lange, An American Odyssey,” a portrait of the photographer portrayed as Vera Dare in Mary Coin, best known for her work documenting and humanizing the plight of migrants and farm workers in the 1930s. Refreshments served.

Sponsored by Felton Library Friends.

Tuesday, Feb. 28 • 6:30 p.m.

Reminiscence: A Universal Language (H)

Rio Sands Hotel, 116 Aptos Beach Drive, Aptos

A personal glimpse into the life of Dorothea Lange— portrait photographer, witness to the Great Depression and the Japanese Internment, visual chronicler of the Irish Country people—as told by her son Daniel Dixon. Presented by Dixie Dixon, widow of Daniel and herself a photographer.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Aptos Library.

To register: Go to www.SantaCruzPL.org and click on Calendar at the top of the home page. Scroll the Calendar page to the event you want to attend and click the link for the name of the event. You will find registration instructions.

NOTE: This calendar is as accurate as was possible at the time of printing. For the most up-to-date Our Community Reads info, go to www.FriendsofAptosLibrary.org

IRS TAX DEADLINE NOW MAY 15 DUE TO STORM EMERGENCY

In response to the havoc wreaked by winter storms slamming the Bay Area and California, the Internal Revenue Service is extending the deadline to May 15 to file federal tax returns and make payments.

The IRS said it will provide “tax relief” to people who have been impacted by the storms as part of a coordinated effort by federal agencies. The extension applies to several deadlines for federal tax filing and payment that began as early as Jan. 8.

Individuals and businesses will have until May 15 to file federal income tax returns and make any payments. Eligible individuals can wait until May 15 to make 2022 contributions to their health savings accounts and individual retirement accounts, officials said.

The deadline extension also applies to quarterly estimated tax payments, quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on Jan. 31 and April 30, and farmers who elect to forgo making estimated tax payments and normally file their returns by March 1. For information on the state deadline, see https://www. ftb.ca.gov/ • For IRS tax tips, see https://www.irs.gov/ newsroom/irs-tax-tips

READ SING PLAY COUNT

Each year in collaboration with the American Libraries Association the Santa Cruz Public Libraries produces an Early Literacy Calendar in English and Spanish. Based on the Every Child Ready to Read practices of reading, writing, singing, talking, playing, and counting, each calendar contains 12 months of learning activities, book lists, nursery rhymes, and more. Explore the daily literacy-building prompts and activities with your child. February kicks off with a drawing activity: “Draw all the people in your family. Talk about each person while drawing them.”

Santa Cruz Public Libraries supports early literacy with programs and resources for children and families: Story time, Read to Me kits, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program, and more. Calendars can be picked up at local library branches or downloaded at www.santacruzpl.org/kids/birth/

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

The Santa Cruz Public Libraries celebrates Black History Month, which commemorates the achievements of African-Americans in the history of the United States. Check out the Black History Month Book displays at the branch libraries. Select a book from the booklist of Award Winning African American Authors or choose a book from the Youth Black History Month list

Watch a movie celebrating black artists and black stories on Kanopy - a free resource with your library card. Download e-content on Libby: African American Fiction & Non-Fiction.

Film Series presented by Father Taj & The 418 project, at The 418 Project, 155 South River St., Santa Cruz.

Feb 23: Surprise film with Maiya Evans followed by a DJ dance party with DJ Mai Girl. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/a-special-surprise-film-with-host-maiya-evanstickets-518476265467?aff=odcleoeventsincollection

Community Events

All Month: Black History Month Virtual Festival. See https://asalh.org/festival/

Ends Feb 19: Call for Collaboration - MLK Day Justice Journal (Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History)

Feb 18 - 27: ‘da Kink in My Hair (UC Santa Cruz)

Feb 23 at 5:30pm: 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Convocation UCSC virtual event featuring Ruha Benjamin, a professor of African American studies at Princeton University and author of People’s Science: Bodies and Rights on the Stem Cell Frontier as well as Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code, and Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want, released in 2022. Race After Technology was awarded Brooklyn Public Library’s 2020 Nonfiction Prize. Register at https://specialevents.ucsc.edu/events/ mlk/2022/

HARTNELL COLLEGE STEM TALENT EXPO

Wednesday March 22 1:30-4:30 p.m., Hartnell College, Building S, 411 Central Ave., Salinas Hartnell College will host the Monterey County STEM Talent Expo, a free event connecting businesses with students and community members looking for opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Building S.

Keynote speaker will be Jenét DeCosta, chief of staff at Driscoll’s, the global leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries with more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers worldwide.

DeCosta is responsible for board and shareholder relations, global internal communications, and charitable giving. Before joining Driscoll’s in 2012, she worked for the American Red Cross Biomedical Services Penn-Jersey region.

In 2022, DeCosta was appointed to the California State Board of Food & Agriculture.

She received her degree in international business from Ramapo College in New Jersey. She and her partner Scott live in Santa Cruz County. •••

For full details: https://mcstemtalentexpo.com

15th 2023 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

BURN TRAINING

The 2023 Central Coast CAL-TREX will take place June 3-10, across Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties.

This will be eight days burning on diverse lands, learning alongside fire practitioners, tribal partners, ranchers, land managers and community members to meet objectives with “good fire.”

Apply by midnight Tuesday Feb. 28 at https://tinyurl. com/cencal-trex-june3-10.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/cctrex-fire-training-june-2023 for more details.

Notification will be made by March 10.

BIG CREEK LUMBER SCHOLARSHIP

Big Creek Lumber will be offering the McCrary Family Scholarship for the third consecutive year to graduating high school seniors who will be pursuing careers in the skilled trades or forestry.

Past scholarship recipients are invited to apply for a one-time scholarship renewal for continued support of their education.

The deadline to apply is April 28.

To apply see: www.bigcreeklumber.com/scholarships

SPOTLIGHT AWARD NOMINATIONS

Nominations will be accepted through March 3 for the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission’s Spotlight Award. The award recognizes individuals who have achieved a high level of excellence and creativity, but who have not received widespread acknowledgment. It recognizes younger artists as well as those discovering their artistic voice later in life.

The award will be given to one artist or artist group in each of the following mediums: Visual art, performing arts, and literary arts. Judging criteria will include effective use of media and tools to communicate their own personal style.

Nominees must live in Santa Cruz County. Their work must show artistic promise as demonstrated in a significant achievement for at least one completed piece of artwork, performance, exhibit, or written work which is recognized by critics, educators or arts professionals.

Only Santa Cruz County residents may nominate an artist by submitting a letter of no more than two pages. The letter must include the name of the artist and their contact information (e-mail, website if available, phone and local address), a brief description of your relationship to the artist, why you are nominating them for the award, and how they meet the criteria.

Email the letter to: prc039@scparks.com (Subject Line: Spotlight Award Nomination). More info at www.scparks.com.

VISIT SC COUNTY BOARD NOMINATIONS

Due by Thursday February 23, 5 p.m.

Visit Santa Cruz County is accepting nominations for two seats on its Board of Directors. The seats must be filled by representatives of the local lodging industry.

VSCC is governed by a 25-member Board of Directors comprised of representatives of various regions of the county, 13 lodging seats and a cross-section of representatives of businesses, cultural, governmental and organizations with affiliation to the travel and tourism industry. Responsibilities include participation in the governance of the organization, advocacy for the tourism industry, and active participation at board meetings six times per year. The two-year term begins on July 1.

For a nominating form, see https://www.santacruz. org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-BoardNominating-Form-Application-fillable.pdf

The VSCC Nominating Task Force will review all nominees. For information, email Visit Santa Cruz County at dharris@ santacruz.org.

Jenét DeCosta

Ruha Benjamin

BAY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

Bay Federal Credit Union’s Education Scholarship is for students pursuing education and career training opportunities after high school. Up to three applicants will receive $1,500 to pay for expenses directly related to their continuing education.

Those who wish to be considered for an award must meet all eligibility requirements. Applicants must submit a completed 2023 Education Scholarship Application and all required documents by 11:59 p.m. Friday, March 17.

Award recipients will be notified via phone call and/or email by April 28.

See the 2023 Student Scholarship Application for complete details and rules. Questions? Email scholarship@bayfed.com.

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays

BRIDGE CLUB

10:30 a.m.-Noon, Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road

The Capitola Branch Library will host Bridge Club sessions on Mondays (except holidays).

Everyone is welcomed from beginners to social players. Make new friends and sharpen your mind. Bridge Club is a partnership between Santa Cruz County Parks and Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Register at scparks.com or in-person the day of the event.

Third Thursdays and Fourth Tuesdays

HOUSING MATTERS NEIGHBORS

Thursdays: 4:30-6 p.m., Garfield Park Library, 705 Woodrow Ave., Santa Cruz Tuesdays, 5:30-7 p.m., Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Rd. A meet-up for people who want to learn how to take an active role in their neighborhood to bridge divides on the topic of homelessness.

At these monthly in-person meet-ups for neighbors can:

• Learn from local experts about real solutions to homelessness together

• Problem-solve and create solutions in your neighborhood together

• Help to foster compassion and equity in Santa Cruz County neighborhoods together

For information call Marsa Greenspan, Housing Matters Volunteer Program Manager: (831) 226-2486

Fourth Thursdays of the Month

PASSIONATE READERS BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

10:30 a.m.-Noon, La Selva Beach Library, 316 Estrella Ave.

The Passionate Readers Book Discussion group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at the La Selva Beach Branch Library. All adults are welcome. Meeting will be in-person and virtually via Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, register at https://santacruzpl. libcal.com/event/9844949

This month’s selection is Horse, by Geraldine Brooks

Second Sundays of the Month

SANTA CRUZ ANTIQUE STREET FAIRE

9 a.m.-5 p.m., Pacific Ave., Lincoln St. and Cedar St. More than 40 vendors participate in this monthly outdoor fair. Weather updates are posted on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/santacruzantiquefaire

DATED EVENTS

Saturday February 18

SEACLIFF STATE BEACH CLEAN UP

Noon-2 p.m., Seacliff State Beach, State Park Dr, Aptos

Attend a Seacliff State Beach Clean Up with Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, Save our Shores, and California State Parks on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 12–2 p.m. at the upper parking lot.

2023 BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR

Friday February 24 thru Sunday February 26

7 p.m. each night, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz

Get off the beaten path, stand on the highest peaks, ski the steepest slopes, and be a part of the gripping adventures waiting for you at the 2023 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour, brought to you by UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec.

Tickets are $23 for Aspen (Fri) and Juniper (Sun), $25 for Willow (Sat), with each night featuring completely different films. A special $10 rate is available for UCSC students for the Juniper show. This event supports UCSC Adventure Rec student programs, affording UCSC students the chance to share in the magic of outdoor adventures. Film ratings and advisories are included in the descriptions. Consider checking before purchasing tickets for the young adventurers in your life. For tickets and list of films visit https://recreation.ucsc.edu/adventure/banff.html

BENEFIT CONCERT FOR CAPITOLA

Noon-6 p.m., Esplanade Park

Local bands will headline a benefit concert for Capitola at Esplanade Park in Capitola.

The lineup: Jive Machine, Alex Lucero, & The Joint Chiefs with Tony Lindsay. For refreshment, Sierra Nevada Beer Garden.

All proceeds will be donated to the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County to benefit those in need due to the atmospheric river storm events in January. The city of Capitola reports $2.6 million in damages to city facilities during the storms; three staircases need repair — two connect the rail corridor to Prospect Avenue and a third connects the rail corridor to Wharf Road.

The event, supported by the Capitola Wharf and Village Business Improvement Association, is modeled after the city’s Twilight Concert Series.

Tuesday February 21

APTOS HISTORY MUSEUM MARDI GRAS FUNDRAISER

5-7 p.m., Seascape Golf Course, 610 Clubhouse Dr, Aptos

A fun filled evening at Seascape Golf Course, featuring the Soquel High Jazz Band and a presentation by John Hibble: “How Storms Created Seacliff and the Cement Ship.”

There will be a silent auction, costume contest, appetizers and a no-host bar. You won’t want to miss out!

General admission: $40; museum members $35. RSVP by calling the Aptos Chamber: 831-688-1467

Tuesday February 21

AGE WELL, DRIVE SMART

10 a.m.-Noon, location TBA

The California Highway Patrol is offering a free traffic safety program for seniors.

The Age Well, Drive Smart Program is designed to provide mature drivers with the keys to driving safer and driving longer.

Topics will include: How to tune up driving skills, refreshing knowledge of the rules of the road, learning about normal, age-related physical changes and how to adjust them, when it may be time to limit or stop driving.

Registration required. Call: 831-662-0511 to register and for more information.

SURVIVOR TO SURVIVOR FORUM

7 p.m., Online Meeting

United Policyholders will host a Survivor to Survivor Forum for wildfire survivors via Zoom. Connect with trained UP volunteers who navigated recovery after previous wildfires, and others on the road to recovery.

Register at https://uphelp.org/events/survivor-to-survivorforum-28-2/

Wednesday February 22

HABITAT HOME DEDICATION

4-5 p.m., 16-1/2 Blake Lane C, Scotts Valley Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay will host a home dedication ceremony for the Sullivan family. Light refreshments will be served.

Satish Rishi, CEO Habitat Monterey Bay will share about this project, and Anna and William will share what the home means for their family.

Anna, William, and their three young children are eager to become first-time homeowners. Anna is a stay-at-home mom, and William works for a local bike company. They have been sharing a home with relatives and it has been a tight squeeze for the 7 household members. Their new home will provide each child with their own bedroom. To support Habitat, see https://secure.givelively.org/donate/ habitat-for-humanity-monterey-bay

Thursday February 23

CLIMATE OF HOPE FORUM

4-6 p.m., Online Forum

Regeneration-Pájaro Valley Climate Action’s 5th annual Climate of Hope Forum will stream live online. This year’s theme is “ARTivism — Creative Action for Justice,” with a program featuring Lil Milagro Henriquez, founder and executive director of the Mycelium Network and other artists who promote healing, environmental justice, and community resilience through poetry, film, music, photography, murals and other art forms. Register at bit.ly/3YDj0XH

Thursday February 23

HOMELESS COUNT

5-10 a.m., throughout Santa Cruz County

Using an app to collect data, Santa Cruz County’s Point-in-Time Count to record the number of people experiencing homelessness will be performed by volunteers covering the entire county in one morning. The annual count is vital for state and federal funding to respond to homelessness in Santa Cruz County. Community members, staff from city and county departments and law enforcement, and people experiencing homelessness will participate. Volunteers are needed. Volunteers will work in teams. All teams are led by a trained guide. To volunteer, email alex@ appliedsurveyresearch.org or call (877) 728-4545.

Thursday February 23

Thursday March 23

EATING HEALTHY TOUR

4-5 p.m., Staff of Life Watsonville, 906 E. Lake Ave. Staff of Life Watsonville hosts a free Eating Healthy Tour with registered dietitian on the fourth Thursday of each month. Learn how to make smart and healthful food choices; free sample bag.

Registration required at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/546339675677

Saturday February 25

SPECIAL OLYMPICS NORCAL POLAR PLUNGE

10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Simpkins Family Swim Center, 979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz Jump in! Polar Plunge season is open!

The Simpkins Family Swim Center will be the new site of a Polar Plunge for Special Olympics. This location replaces Rio Del Mar State Beach, due to storm damage in January.

The goal is to raise $45,000. So far, 81 individuals and 17 teams have signed up.

Photo: Continuum • Robb Thompson

County Broadband Master Plan and Improving Internet Access

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

Recently, the County received $500,000 from the California Public Utilities Commission to fund technical assistance for our Broadband Master Plan. What is the Broadband Master Plan and why is it important for improving Internet access in our area?

Last year, I brought an item to the Board of Supervisors to use some of our federal recovery funding toward broadband expansion.

The County awarded a grant to Cruzio Internet on a first phase of broadband expansion in our area. Cruzio will ultimately use the funding to serve 4,000 homes with highspeed Internet access across all five supervisorial districts through the Equal Access Santa Cruz program, and provide needed Internet resources to affordable housing projects and school neighborhoods.

The goal is to improve service in areas that haven’t historically been served.

Some locations in the Second District have already come online — including Bradley Elementary and Amesti Elementary.

However, this funding was just the beginning. In order to connect with additional state and federal funds allocated toward broadband expansion, the County awarded a contract to a technical consultancy to create a comprehensive Broadband Master Plan.

The Plan’s main objective is to direct broadband investments by assessing existing resources, gaps, and needs. The goal of the Broadband Master Plan is to clearly state how we can address the present gaps in Internet accessibility and integrate ongoing and future expansion projects within our County. Additionally,

the Master Plan will identify short-term and long-term projects and offer recommendations for policies, funding mechanisms, governance structures and maintenance plans to enable and promote broadband availability.

Internet Speed Test Website

The County’s Information Services Department and the consultant team have completed early data-gathering efforts on current service conditions, regulatory changes and other important data sets related to broadband expansion and access.

This includes gathering known data on existing broadband resources in Santa Cruz County, as well as tracking federal and state grant opportunities. Additionally, the team launched an Internet speed test website (the link is available on the County’s main site — www.santacruzcounty.gov) for the public to use to test their internet speeds and provide that data for the study. This information is very helpful in identifying where there are gaps in coverage or where the speeds provided are inadequate.

In the coming months, the project team will hold outreach meetings to gather feedback and understand the concerns of County residents regarding access to useable broadband in their neighborhoods.

How is the Plan Funded?

The Broadband Master Plan is funded through the Local Agency Technical Assistance grant program from the California Public Utilities Commission. This program was created to provide funding for qualified pre-construction activities aiding broadband network projects in underserved areas.

Technical assistance grants support local agencies in their efforts to expand broadband to communities lacking sufficient Internet.

Grant recipients, like the County, are reimbursed for eligible pre-construction expenses to provide last-mile connections to unserved and underserved communities.

These expenses include consultant or staff time for conducting needs assessments, environmental and engineering studies, network design, and broadband strategic plans.

Why Does it Matter?

Additional funding for broadband expansion will be available through state and federal grants in the coming months — and this will lead to new options

The latest estimates show that the County is slated to receive about $11 million in new middle mile funding for broadband expansion.

This funding becomes easier to obtain (and the County can potentially become eligible for additional funding) if we have completed a Broadband Master Plan. Once the funding is allocated, it will also speed up deployment of the funds to the highest impact locations in our area. n

•••

If you have any questions about the Broadband Master Plan, or any other matters in our district, please don’t hesitate to call me at 454-2200. I’m maintaining regular updates on social media as well at www.facebook.com/

SCCAS Featured Pet

“Calendar” from page 29

Make a splash with costumed friends for the iconic Polar Plunge. Plungers can dive into the water all the way, just dip in and out, or stay completely dry and still enjoy the experience.

Every Plunger must raise a minimum of $125 and will receive a Polar Plunge T-shirt and lunch. Cool School participants must raise at least $50 to Plunge but must raise $125 to earn the T-shirt and lunch.

All funds raised from the Polar Plunge support Special Olympics’ programs in sports, health, education and athlete leadership provided free of charge to athletes and families.

Register at https://www.sonc.org/ PVUSD PARENT CONFERENCE

8 a.m.-3 p.m., EA Hall Middle School, 201 Brewington Ave., Watsonville

This year the PVUSD parent conference is in person at EA Hall Middle School’s cafeteria.

A Different Kind of Hershey’s Kiss

Are you looking for a sweet (and salty) little Valentine? Then you should meet our Pet of the Week- Hershey!

This 8-year-old brown Min-Pin/Chihuahua mix came to the Shelter as an owner surrender. He was very nervous when he first came to SCCAS, but with time, love and the help of hot dogs he has really opened up to staff and volunteers. His circle of people is getting larger by the day and the right adopters can help him start his new life and flourish in a new home. Hershey would thrive in a low-key home without children and with an adopter who would like to take him on daily strolls around the neighborhood.

While he has met dogs at the Shelter, he would rather coexist than play, and while he does not have a history with cats he might do well with a cat with slow introduction.

Also, Hershey does tend to guard his people (and their laps and affection) from other dogs. Sometimes he is as sweet as a Hershey kiss, but sometimes he is a Sour Patch kid, but in the right home Hershey the dog will melt your heart!

If you are single this Valentine’s day and want a big treat in a little packagecome in and meet Hershey!

To meet Hershey please come to the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter at 1001 Rodriguez — open every day from 10am-6pm (adoptions end at 5) and visit our website for more information at scanimalshelter.org. n

•••

Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter: Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Watsonville Location: CURRENTLY CLOSED 580 Airport Blvd, Watsonville, CA 95076

SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us

This is a full day geared for parents and guardians offering important information on a variety of topics, such as hopes and dreams, the danger of fentanyl, calming yourself through conscious breathing and the Mexican consulate.

Free breakfast, lunch and childcare.

To register for child care, call Isabel Jimenez at 728-9622.

Saturday February 25

Sunday February 26

CLAM CHOWDER COOK OFF

1-4 p.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St. The 42nd annual Clam Chowder Cook Off takes place Saturday, Feb 25, and Sunday, Feb 26, at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. It is the largest and longest-running Clam Chowder Cook Off in the country. Talented chefs compete in two categories: Boston & Manhattan.

Contestants prepare their ingredients outdoors along the Boardwalk to the delight of thousands of spectators. Amateurs compete Saturday; professionals compete Sunday.

Public tasting begins at 1 p.m. Awards are given at 4 p.m. for Best Clam Chowder in each category, plus People’s Choice, Most Tasted, and Best Themed Booth.

Entry fee: $75. Teams may enter in either Boston or Manhattan categories or both! If entering both, separate registration is required for each category. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/clam-chowder-2023

Monday February 27

CABRILLO TRUSTEE SELECTION

6 p.m., Cabrillo College’s Watsonville Center, Room C107, 318 Union St

Three candidates will interview at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 for the Cabrillo College Board of Trustees vacancy for Area 5 (Watsonville) created when Felipe Hernandez was elected to the County Board of Supervisors. They are:

• Manuel Bersamin, former mayor and Watsonville City Council member, and current director of TRIO Student Support Programs at Hartnell College

• Rebecca Garcia, former mayor and Watsonville City Council member, and former Cabrillo trustee

• Martha Victoria Vega, a teacher in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District and member of the Watsonville City Planning Commission

“We are holding this in-person meeting of our Governing Board at our Watsonville Center knowing how valuable it is to include the local community as we interview candidates and vote to appoint a new Area 5 trustee,” said Adam Spickler, president of the Board of Trustees.

This special meeting will take place at Cabrillo College’s Watsonville Center.

A vote will follow the interviews. The public is welcome to attend.

Tuesday February 28

SCOTS FOLKSINGERS THE MALCOLMS

7:30 p.m., Private Location, Soquel

The nonprofit Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay will present the Scots folksingers Jim, Susie and Beth Malcolm at a house concert in Soquel.

Jim Malcolm is the ultimate Scots troubadour. Traveling the world with his guitar, harmonicas, engaging wit (and recently his trumpet!), he sings the traditional songs of Scotland and his own masterfully crafted songs in a style which is modern, yet authentic. As a solo performer with ten solo CDs to his credit, he can mix it with anyone.

Joining him are his wife Susie, an awardwinning Scottish traditional singer, and daughter Beth, named Scots Singer of the year at the BBC Trad Awards and winner of the coveted Danny award.

For information on Jim Malcolm, see http://www. jimmalcolm.com/

Advance tickets and reservations are available for a suggested donation of $25. For tickets, visit www.celticsociety.org

Thursday March 2

ROSE WORKSHOP

5 – 6:30 pm, Online Seminar

Roses, often referred to as the queen of flowers, are thought to be fussy and difficult to grow. But with routine care, they are often quite resilient.

UC Master Gardeners Debra Stone and Suzanne Cooke will introduce you to simple techniques that encourage healthy, vigorous, and beautiful roses. T

hey’ll talk about summer and winter pruning, as well as basic watering, mulching, and fertilizing, followed by a discussion of rose disorders and pests, and how you can avoid them.

Free. Donations appreciated. To register, go to mbmg. ucanr.edu

Saturday March 4

ROSE PRUNING WORKSHOPS

10:30 a.m.-Noon / 1:30-3 p.m., San Juan Bautista Historical Park Rose Gardens, 19 Franklin St. Get hands-on practice pruning roses!

Bring your gloves and clippers for a hands-on rose pruning demonstration with UC Master Gardeners of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.

After a brief demonstration and orientation, you’ll join UC Master Gardeners Debra Stone and Suzanne Cook in the rose gardens for an opportunity to practice your newfound pruning skills.

Do you have potted roses that need some TLC? Bring them, too, and Suzanne will show you how to prune for health and vigor.

These free workshops are expected to fill quickly. Each workshop is limited to 30 attendees. Pre-registration is required. To register, go to mbmg.ucanr.edu

Thursday March 9

SHERIFF JIM HART AT CHAMBER LUNCHEON

11:30 a.m.-1 pm, Seascape Golf Course, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will host its second luncheon meeting of the year at Seascape Golf Course. Guest speaker is Sheriff Jim Hart. Price: $30 members/ $35 general admission. RSVP at https:// tinyurl.com/aptos-chamber-jim-hart, or call 831-688-1467. n