Counties, Non-profits Collaborate to Create Hope Village
Housing Built for Homeless Living Along Pajaro River Levee
By CLAUDIA ISEMAN
WATSONVILLE — It takes a village to build a village was the refrain ringing through the pews at the Westview Presbyterian Church in Watsonville on May 18, as officials from Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties celebrated the unveiling of Hope Village.
A unique regional partnership between Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties built the 34-bed shelter with the goal of housing the individuals living on the Pajaro River levee. The levee is located in Monterey County, yet a stone’s throw away from Watsonville city limits. ... continues on page 4
County Supervisors Review Long-Term Strategic Plan
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors reviewed a proposed long-range strategic plan May 19 that calls for building more than 2,500 housing units, cutting traffic deaths, expanding mental health care, reducing homelessness and using artificial intelligence to improve county services by 2032.
Robert Ratner, director of Santa Cruz Housing for Health Partnership, and Roxanne Wilson, director
Monterey County Homeless Services, cut the ribbon for Hope Village as Margo Loehr from Sonrise Kitchen and Dania Valdez from Monterey County Services look on.
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Counties, Non-profits Collaborate to Create Hope Village: Housing Built for Homeless Living Along Pajaro River Levee, By Claudia Iseman Community News
5 County Supervisors Review Long-Term Strategic Plan: Ambitious Goals Laid Out to Improve Residents’ Lives, By Jon Chown
6 Sister Act at Cabrillo Stage, By Mindy Pedlar
9 Six Local Girl Scouts Cap Remarkable Journey With Scouting’s Highest Honor, By Peter Levy
10 The Healthy Way Celebrates 40 Years of Service to the Community June 27
12 Watonsville High School Student Wins SC Fair Poster Contest • Assembly Member Addis Names Small Business of the Year
13 Joe Ortiz to Bring Musical Memoir to Actors’ Theater
14 A Pioneer of the Beach: Aptos Woman Writes of Early Life as Lifeguard, By Jon Chown
16 Summer Shuttle Operating Again at Big Basin
17 Panetta Announces Congressional Student Art Winners
18 STS9 Amazes Crowd With Sound and Vision: Santa-Cruz Based Band Headlines Music Festival, By Jon Chown
24 Capitola’s Premier Classic Car Event Returns to the Coast
25 ‘Sip for Second Harvest’ Returns to Seascape Resort: Local Craft Beers Added to Wine Tasting Event
30 CASA Welcomes New Advocates for Children in Foster Care or Juvenile Justice • YRB Raises $40,000 at Annual Event • Jacob’s Heart Golf Fundraiser Seeks Support • Paving Projects to Continue Through July California News
20 California Lawmakers Rush $25 Million to Hospitals Without Knowing who Qualifies. By Yue Stella Yu and Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters
Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – The Light of Gemini (the Two Brothers) & Mercury with Wings on His Feet, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar | Arts & Entertainment • Pages 28, 29
Featured Columnists
15 Van Gogh and the Yarn, By Joe Ortiz
21 Understanding Chromium-6 in Our Water — and What We Are Doing About It, From the Soquel Creek Water District
27 Vines Are Naturally Very Competitive, By Tony Tomeo SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Run, Lola, Run!
Bill Pooley, Erik Long
COVER STORY
“Hope Village” from page 1
“We are bringing down the boundaries,” said Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church. Church’s district includes the Pajaro River levee. “We are one region, one community,” Church added. For years officials struggled through a mire of bureaucratic red tape, trying to protect the vulnerable homeless population living along the river and the environmental impact of the tent encampments on the river itself. After three years of hard work, the red tape gave way to a green ribbon that signifies hope and collaboration.
“I feel tears of joy today,” said pastor Dan Hoffman of Westview Church. Hope Village is operated by Community Action Board of Santa Cruz. The low barrier navigation center provides individual bedrooms, showers, laundry services, storage and meals. Pets are allowed and residents are provided with mental health and immigration services and employment opportunities. Finding permanent housing is a priority but residents are welcome to stay six months.
According to case worker Marina Ramos, most of the residents are male and the biggest challenge they face is obtaining their lost
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citizenship documents and proof of identity, so they can begin applying for benefits. Many things are either lost or stolen when living in tent encampments. Hope Village is described as “low barrier” which means there aren’t rigid requirements for participation.
According to Mike Kittredge, Director of homelessness prevention for Community Action Board, there were roughly 100 unhoused individuals living along the levee. Officials would conduct “homeless sweeps” removing the individuals from their encampments only to have them move to a different spot up or down river
“Homeless sweeps are traumatic,” said Kittredge.
Pastor Hoffman and Margo Loehr from the non-profit Sonrise Kitchen, have been serving breakfast to the unhoused five days a week and have witnessed the suffering first hand.
“Now when I walk in the village, I see them happy and there’s a spark in their eyes,” said Hoffman.
Westlake church agreed to rent the space to build the village on a portion of its large parking lot. According to Hoffman, it cost approximately $8 million dollars to construct the facility and the primary funding sources are Monterey’s Encampment Resolution award and the Central California Alliance for Health.
Donations are accepted at Hope Village and those items most in need are men’s clothing, especially underwear and socks. Women’s clothing, underwear, toiletries and dog food are also high on the list. n
Bedroom in Hope Village.
Common area in Hope Village
Pastor Dan Hoffman of Westview Presbyterian Church blesses Hope Village with Margo Loehr from Sonrise Kitchen.
County Supervisors Review Long-Term Strategic Plan
Ambitious Goals Laid Out to Improve Residents’ Lives
By JON CHOWN
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors reviewed a proposed long-range strategic plan May 19 that calls for building more than 2,500 housing units, cutting traffic deaths, expanding mental health care, reducing homelessness and using artificial intelligence to improve county services by 2032.
The proposed “County Strategic Plan 2026–2032” is meant to guide county decisions, priorities and spending over the next six years while reflecting what residents said they want for the future of Santa Cruz County.
“The purpose of the strategic plan is to set forth a vision grounded in the hopes of the people that we serve,” County CEO Nicole D. Coburn wrote in a message included with the report.
The plan lays out a vision for a county that is “healthy, safe, and affordable,” while also being “culturally diverse, economically inclusive, and environmentally vibrant.”
County leaders said the document is designed to act as a roadmap for government decisions, programs and investments through 2032. It includes goals, measurements and strategies in six major focus areas: housing and infrastructure; health, wellbeing and connection; safety and justice; environment, climate and resilience; access to basic needs and support; and economy and job growth.
Among the county’s top goals are permitting more than 2,541 housing units by 2032, cutting transportation deaths and serious injuries by 25%, increasing mental health treatment beds by 50%, and reducing recidivism by 10% over six years.
The plan also calls for reducing homelessness by helping more than half of unhoused households find permanent housing, expanding community gathering spaces, growing family-wage jobs and using artificial intelligence to improve county services.
What’s in the Plan
County officials said the plan is built around three main values: collaboration, accessibility and integrity.
The proposal also includes what county leaders call “implementation lenses,” which are meant to guide decision-making. Those lenses focus on health impacts, equity and financial responsibility.
Housing is one of the biggest parts of the plan. County leaders said the county’s housing shortage affects workers, families and renters across all income levels.
The county hopes to permit more than 2,541 housing units by 2032 by streamlining permits, coordinating infrastructure improvements and supporting affordable housing projects.
Transportation safety is another major focus. The county wants to reduce deadly and serious crashes in unincorporated areas by 25% through safer roads, bike and pedestrian improvements and expanded public transportation options. The plan also mentions continued support for projects like the rail trail.
Mental health care was identified as one of the county’s most urgent unmet needs. The plan calls for a 50% increase in step-down treatment beds and better coordination between health, housing and justice systems.
Second District Supervisor Kim DeSerpa said she was grateful the plan addressed mental health care needs, including more room to care for patients, instead of paying other counties for the care. “It’d be much cheaper to house people in hour own community, so thank you for putting that in there,” she said.
The strategy on safety and justice focuses on reducing recidivism by 10% over six years.
“Strategic Plan” page 8
ESister Act at Cabrillo Stage
By MINDY PEDLAR
xperience Joy … Soul … and Sisterhood! The irresistible musical comedy Sister Act – just like in the smash 1992 film – delivers all three!
Sister Act tells the story of Deloris, a savvy, far from pious nightclub singer whose world is upended when she witnesses a crime and has to be stashed where no one would ever think of looking for her. And that would be … a convent.
It comes as a surprise to everyone, especially Deloris, that her hideout soon becomes her chance to shine as she turns the convent’s dull, soulless choir into an invigorating, heart-thumping sensation. Can nuns rock out? Can they bring down the house? You bet they can!
“This summer needs to be about joy,” Artistic Director, Andrea L. Hart says “and Sister Act is the perfect vessel to deliver it! It’s a show where strangers become family, confidence blooms and music transforms a community from the inside out. It celebrates the power of finding your voice and lifting it up.”
To bring this show to life, Hart has put together a dynamic creative team which
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includes Director, Rebecca Haley Clark, Choreographer Babe Payne and Music and Vocal Director, Daniel Goldsmith. Goldsmith will also be conducting the
pit band saying “orchestra is too highfalutin for this kind of show. We’ll have 11 pieces, a six person rhythm section with two keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and
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Applicants selected by lottery, income restrictions and preferences apply.
Music and Vocal Director Daniel Goldsmith works with the cast of Sister Act.
COMMUNITY NEWS
percussion, and a really solid five person wind/brass section-great players all around. The score, influenced by popular music of the 70s, should feel organic and spontaneous while keeping the musical authenticity of the genres. The audience can expect to hear a little R&B, soul and disco in addition to soul-stirring gospel music that will bring even non-believers to their feet!”
From creating Vegas style nightclub acts to getting a group of Nuns to move while singing sounds challenging but Choreographer Babe Payne is up to the task. “This musical takes place in the late 70s” Babe says, “so we’ll have a lot of fun dancing like they did then. As the story evolves, there is a really interesting split between reality, fantasy and where the two meet. It’s a wonderful opportunity tell the story through movement. I hope the audience leaves the theatre feeling lighter and more joyful, wanting to see more live theatre and, of course, wanting to dance!”
Sister Act marks Director Rebecca Haley Clark’s first time working with Cabrillo Stage. Her most recent work includes directing Charlotte Jones’ comedy-drama Humble Boy at The Western Stage, The Coast Starlight by Keith Bunin at San Jose Stage Company as well as the critically acclaimed Master Harold and the Boys by Athol Fugard for Santa Cruz Shakespeare. As rehearsals continue, she looks forward to seeing how “communion, theatre, and worship play with each other. I think we all worship coming together in different ways” says Clark. “I’m looking forward to exploring that through a musical about how performance can bring us together. The world needs a
little hope right now and if we can provide that through a story about following your passion, never giving up, and finding the beauty and strengths in the people around you then I think we will be successful.”
Sister Act promises to fill the theatre with laughter, heart and radiant show stopping music! n
•••
Purchase tickets online: www.cabrillostage. com
Performances are July 9th through Aug. 2.
All performances are at the Crocker Theater on the Cabrillo College campus, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Thurs, Fri, and Sat evening at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Please note there is no performance on Thursday, July 16. Box Office opens June 18 for phone and walk-up sales Thursday-Saturday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 1 hour prior to each performance or call 831-479-6154
COVER PHOTO: From left: Marlene Evelyn Bruce (Nun/Inmate), Kiana Van Kregten (Nun/Bar Patron) and Mindy Pedlar (Mother Superior/Nun).
Choreographer Babe Payne (left) and Director Rebecca Haley Clark.
Carlos Joel Gonzales (Pablo – left) and Marcus Cato (Monsignor O’Hara) enjoying the first rehearsal for Sister Act.
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“Strategic Plan” from page 5
County leaders said residents want safer communities, stronger support for crime victims and more prevention and reentry programs for people leaving the justice system.
One of the plan’s largest sections focuses on homelessness and access to basic needs.
County officials said homelessness in Santa Cruz County is driven by high housing costs, a lack of affordable housing and gaps in services for people with health or behavioral health needs.
The county wants to maintain a rate where more than half of unhoused households move into permanent housing. The strategy calls for better coordination between housing, health care and social service agencies, while expanding supportive housing and improving access to services.
The report notes that African Americans, Native Americans, LGBTQ+ residents and men are disproportionately represented among people experiencing homelessness. County leaders also said adults with disabilities are becoming a larger part of the unhoused population.
Third District Supervisor Justin Cummings said he’d still like to see the plan address housing more substantively. “How do we build affordable units? Because we can build housing and we can meet all the numbers, but if the number of units that we’re building aren’t ones that people can afford, then were building housing without actually addressing the problem,” he said, also noting that the community and local economy is more stable when community members like teachers could afford homes. “A lot of middle class people are mostly renting because they can’t afford home ownership, right? And we have a hard time recruiting and retaining people in a variety of different sectors.”
The plan also includes a future federal policy response strategy that is expected to return in fall 2026. County officials said changes in federal funding, immigration enforcement and health and housing policies could have major impacts on local residents and county programs.
Economic development is another major priority in the proposed plan.
County officials said industries such as biotechnology, health care, aviation and emerging drone technology could help create more family-wage jobs in the county. Tourism, agriculture and hospitality were also described as key parts of the local economy.
The county’s goal is to increase the share of family-wage jobs to 46% by strengthening workforce partnerships, expanding career training and supporting higher-paying industries.
The report points to partnerships with groups such as Cabrillo College, University of California, Santa Cruz and El Pajaro Community Development Corporation as important parts of workforce development efforts.
The plan also highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in county government.
County officials said AI tools could help reduce paperwork and administrative tasks, allowing employees to spend more time directly serving residents. The county said it hopes to create custom AI systems based on local data while avoiding privacy risks, surveillance concerns and bias.
The proposal includes goals for improving service response times, increasing transparency and making services easier to access across different languages and communities.
How the Plan Was Made
Officials said one of the most important parts of the process was hearing directly from residents.
According to the county, the plan was shaped through more than 4,500 points of community engagement between 2024 and 2026. That outreach included town halls, surveys, focus groups and meetings across all five supervisorial districts.
Supervisor Monica Martinez, District 5, said having the plan in regular language that people can understand has resonated with the public.
“It has just been so refreshing to go through a process that continues to emerge based on real feedback and I think that is reflected throughout this entire document.,” she said.
The county said it made special efforts to reach groups that are often left out of government planning, including farmworkers, immigrants, seniors, youth, people experiencing homelessness, small business owners and rural residents.
County officials said five major themes came up again and again during the outreach process.
Housing was described as the county’s top issue across nearly every community. Residents also said mental health services remain one of the biggest unmet needs.
People repeatedly pointed to the high cost of living as a major barrier, saying wages have not kept up with housing and other expenses.
Residents also stressed the importance of trust in government, especially through bilingual services, trusted community partners and clear communication.
Another common concern was the difficulty of navigating county systems and services.
The county said the strategic plan is meant to stay flexible as conditions change. Two major strategies — a federal policy response strategy and a climate action strategy — are still being developed and are expected to return in 2026 and 2027.
“I’d like to see this continue to be refined down,” said First District Supervisor Manu Koenig. He referrred to the Rule of Three, noting how easy it is to remember and repeat three simple ideas. “What I see here are six things, seven things. Let’s just keep simplifying.”
Supervisors are expected to continue gathering feedback from residents, county staff and community organizations before the final version comes back for approval later this summer. n
Six Local Girl Scouts Cap Remarkable Journey With Scouting’s Highest Honor
By PETER LEVY
Heather Hughes didn’t set out to change the world. In 2011, she helped start a Girl Scout troop at Rio del Mar Elementary School for a group of 5-, 6- and 7-year-old girls. Her volunteer efforts over the next 13 years brought an unexpected positive impact to the community.
In the early years, the troop collected teddy bears for children in need, assembled and distributed kits with socks and toothbrushes for people experiencing homelessness, and shared Thanksgiving meals together. When the girls reached sixth grade, Carol-Anne Byck joined Hughes, and the two women shared leadership responsibilities.
Together, they led the troop on camping trips to Mount Madonna, Fremont Peak and Santa Rosa, where the girls learned to build fires, tie knots, set up tents, and plan and cook their own meals. They earned their Outdoor Journey badge, learned first aid and CPR, and paddled kayaks down the Russian River. They attended Camporee and Girl Scout camp. As the girls grew older and more confident, they took over the camping trips entirely, handling everything themselves, from the shopping list to responsibly putting out the last ember.
They moved through every level of scouting together, from Daisies to Brownies, Juniors to Cadettes, Seniors to Ambassadors — a progression that traces not just the arc of a program, but the arc of growing up.
Reflecting on what the girls learned, Hughes said: “They learned how to take charge. They learned how to be leaders and how to work together to do something positive for their community.”
After 13 years together, eight members of the troop are graduating this month from Aptos High School. Six of them — Emma Ingram, Carina Kessler, Evie Kinkead, Cayla Federman, Hannah Levy and Reve MaGuire
— have earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the most prestigious honor in Girl Scouting and a distinction achieved by fewer than 5% of eligible scouts.
The Girl Scouts organization, noting how exceptional it is for six girls from a single troop to achieve Gold Award status in one year, sent Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast CEO Dr. Tammie Helmuth to honor the girls.
“The Gold Award requires each candidate to identify a real community need, design and execute a sustainable solution, and continue to demonstrate impact after the initial project is complete,” Helmuth said. “All of you have met that rigorous test.”
“These achievements are the result of years of commitment, resilience and learning how to lead,” Helmuth added. “The Gold Award may mark the end of their Girl Scout journey, but it is clearly only the beginning of the impact they will have on their communities.”
None of this was inevitable. It took two women who gave their time generously and without fanfare, families who supported the work, and six young people who chose, over and over again, to stay with it. The fact that they did says something important about the community.
For those who worry about the next generation, look no further than these six young women. Given the right support, the right mentors and the space to lead, young people will not disappoint. They will plant gardens and build sanctuaries. They will put up signs, paint murals and light trees in the dark. They will do things that matter.
The projects that follow are proof of that. Each one began with a young woman who saw a problem her community had not yet solved and decided she was the one to solve it.
“Girl Scouts Gold Award” page 11
The Healthy Way Celebrates 40 Years of Service to the Community June 27
SANTA CRUZ — The Healthy Way has reached a major milestone this year that is a measure of its own health: 40 years in business in Santa Cruz County and the pleasure of serving over 10,000 clients.
20 years! They really know their stuff and we are like a finely oiled machine, working together to create lasting health benefits.”
Local music icon Sherry Austin, who successfully lost 30 pounds with the help of The Healthy Way several years ago, continues to participate in the maintenance program to ensure her ongoing success.
There have been some major challenges over the years, like the ’89 earthquake, the CZU fire, Covid, recessionary periods, increased competition, but the company has enjoyed steady growth and has never laid off any employees.
The Healthy Way currently employs seven Santa Cruz County residents at their original location: 3251 Mission Drive, near Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz.
The Healthy Way founder and president Cheri Bianchini was a hard-working, 28-yearold nurse when she decided to leave her head nurse position at Stanford Hospital to help people improve their health and lifestyle. She purchased The Diet Center of Santa Cruz County franchise and four years later re-launched the business as The Healthy Way.
“Realizing what we eat is ground zero for all health, we pioneered an approach that continues to be a cornerstone of our successful programs today,” said Bianchini. “We help people overcome their addiction to sugar and highly processed foods and teach them strategies for proper nutrition for long-term weight loss.”
When clients eat well to lose weight, they don’t feel deprived.
“I’ve never eaten so well!” exclaimed Ed Martinez, a Healthy Way graduate who has maintained a 30-pound weight loss.
Open most days 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Healthy Way’s caring staff, who have all been clients, are dedicated to providing extraordinary customer service and ongoing weight maintenance support.
According to Bianchini, “The shining glory at Healthy Way is our long-term staff, all of which have been working here more than
Bianchini says long-term success rates are the reason for The Healthy Way’s longevity.
“What I am most proud of is that two years after completing The Healthy Way, 60% of clients are within five pounds of when they graduated,” she explained. “That’s unheard of in the industry. Local health professionals realize this and regularly refer us clients.”
The Healthy Way is also proud of their long-standing partnership with Hospice of Santa Cruz County. Dozens of fundraisers over the years have generated over $10,000 in donations to Hospice. Cheri Bianchini is an active volunteer for Hospice, leading Loss of Spouse groups for their Grief Support Program.
Anniversary Celebration Planned The Healthy Way is holding a 40th anniversary health fair extravaganza to thank its many clients and Santa Cruz County for 4 wonderful decades!
The event will feature a variety of free activities including lots of healthy food sampling and giveaways, cooking demonstrations, health consultations, special pricing on programs, lots of free raffle prizes, health related vendors, and class presentations by internationally known icons of health, Dr. Christopher Hobbs and Rainya Dann.
Music will be provided by KPIG radio who will broadcast live from The Healthy Way parking lot. n
The celebration will take place Saturday, June 27, noon – 3 p.m. at 3251 Mission Drive, Santa Cruz, near Dominican Hospital. For more information about The Healthy Way and the celebration schedule visit www.thehealthyway.us.
Emma Ingram
Turning Heartbreak Into Hope
When Emma Ingram’s cousin was diagnosed with brain cancer, she responded with purpose. Channeling her grief into action, Ingram founded a school club called Hearts of Gold. The club’s mission is to raise awareness about childhood cancer during September, Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, when the gold ribbon serves as an international symbol of hope for families navigating one of life’s hardest roads.
others saw clutter. At Siena House, a facility serving unhoused mothers, she transformed a neglected storage space into a fully equipped postpartum recovery room, a place where new mothers experiencing homelessness can rest, heal and bond with their newborns in comfort and dignity.
Ingram partnered with Jacob’s Heart to organize an annual gold ribbon tree-lighting ceremony in the town center, where each ribbon represented a reminder that no family faces childhood cancer alone. The event raised more than $2,000 for families in need and is designed to grow each September, building awareness, funding research and strengthening community support year after year.
Ingram also created permanent educational signs at Aptos High School and Aptos BBQ linking visitors directly to Jacob’s Heart and resources for patients and families. She created and distributed awareness toolkits to students at Aptos Junior High School that provided seventh- and eighth-grade students with information about signs of pediatric cancer, ideas for healthy diets to help prevent cancer, and a gold ribbon for each student.
This fall, Ingram will attend Loyola Marymount University.
Evie Kinkead
Building Monarchs a Home on Campus
When Evie Kinkead looked at the alarming decline in monarch butterfly populations, she didn’t just raise awareness — she built a habitat. Working at Aptos High School, Kinkead designed and planted a pollinator garden filled with native species and founded a student conservation club that has grown to 65 active members.
An article she wrote for The Pajaronian and a YouTube video she produced, accessible through a QR code at Natural Bridges State Park, brought her message to the broader community.
Monarch sightings near the garden are already increasing, and with underclassmen prepared to carry the club forward, Kinkead’s garden will keep blooming long after graduation.
This fall, Kinkead will attend San Diego State University.
Carina Kessler
Where Others Saw Storage, She Saw Sanctuary
Of all the spaces one might overlook in a shelter, a storage room might be the easiest to miss. Carina Kessler saw potential where
Coordinating donations, working alongside staff and advocating for maternal wellness, Kessler did more than renovate a room. She built a system. Her sustainability plan ensures the space will be maintained and restocked well into the future, extending her compassion beyond her own hours of service.
Kessler will attend UC Santa Barbara this fall.
Cayla Federman
Protecting the Area’s Smallest Creatures
The tide pools along Pleasure Point are a fragile ecosystem that many visitors do not fully understand, and Cayla Federman made it her mission to change that.
She collaborated with the Aptos High School graphic design class to create permanent protective signage, launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund the project, and partnered with Santa Cruz Public Works to produce and install the signs. The message is simple and lasting: Visitors can protect these ecosystems by observing animals and marine life gently rather than picking them up or taking them home.
Federman also developed printed educational materials, delivered presentations at local schools, and recruited volunteers to participate in beach cleanups alongside Save Our Shores. Each part of the project reinforced the same goal: reducing human impact on the intertidal zone and preserving it for future generations.
Federman will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this fall.
Hannah
Levy
Turning Art Into a Lifeline
Mental health stigma keeps too many teenagers from asking for help when they need it most. Hannah Levy set out to dismantle that barrier at Aptos High School.
Working with school staff, art advisers and district leadership, Levy created a large mural in one of the school’s highest-traffic areas. Embedded in the mural is a QR code linking directly to the school’s wellness webpage, which offers a range of free and accessible resources.
“Girl Scouts Gold Award” page 13
Watonsville High School Student Wins SC Fair Poster Contest
WATSONVILLE — The Santa Cruz County Fair has selected 17-year-old Watsonville High School student Alondra Jaramillo-Arreola as the winner of its 2026 fair poster art contest.
Fair organizers said the contest drew more than 20 submissions from community and youth artists after organizers called for artwork reflecting the 2026 theme, “Apple Pies and Starry Skies.”
According to the fair, Jaramillo-Arreola’s hand-drawn poster features “all the elements” of the theme, including “a cute cow and pink pig” picnicking on apple pie beneath a night sky filled with constellations.
“Thank you so much for this incredible opportunity,” Jaramillo-Arreola said in a statement
released by the fair. “It was an honor being able to participate in this big and well-known community event. Being able to put my work out in this community means so much to me. I was born here and my dream is to become an artist. I can’t thank you enough.”
Fair organizers said they were pleased to feature her artwork at the 2026 fair, adding that youth and community involvement help make the fair successful.
The poster art contest was judged by Dori Rose Inda, CEO of the fair; Ron Haedicke of Freedom Media and the fair’s marketing team; Donna Giubbini, head of the fair’s fine arts department; and Hassyel Rangel, brand manager for Digital NEST.
Assembly Member Addis Names Small Business of the Year
Paradise Beach Grille has been recognized as the 2026 Small Business of the Year by Dawn Addis as part of a statewide Small Business Month initiative organized by the California Small Business Development Center Network.
The SBDC Network is a nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs and small businesses across California.
“I’m proud to recognize Paradise Beach Grille as my 2026 ‘Small Business of the Year,’” Addis said in a statement.
Addis said she visited the restaurant following the 2023 winter storms and witnessed “the damage, the debris, and the uncertainty facing this beloved local business.”
“What we see today is a full rebuild driven by resilience, heart, and an unwavering
commitment to the community,” Addis said.
“Paradise Beach Grille has come back stronger, continuing to serve as a staple of Capitola’s local economy and helping foster a vibrant,
thriving coastal community for residents and visitors alike.
Today, we celebrate a well-earned achievement. Congratulations!” n
Alondra Jaramillo-Arreola
The Maier family poses for a photo.
Joe Ortiz to Bring Musical Memoir to Actors’ Theater
Capitola songwriter and restaurateur
Joe Ortiz will bring his musical memoir Escaping Queens–Over the Roof to the Santa Cruz Actors’ Theater this summer.
The production runs Thursdays through Sundays from July 3 through Aug. 2 at Santa Cruz Actors’ Theater.
The musical tells the story of an immigrant family living near New York’s Queensboro Bridge. The family struggles with poverty and a father’s problems with alcohol, gambling and money. At the center of the story is 12-year-old Joey, who learns about family, music and hope while trying to escape a difficult life.
The show includes colorful characters such as a Puerto Rican father, an Italian mother, a teenage daughter, a neighborhood bookie and a group of Doo Wop singers.
Ortiz based the musical on his memoir, Pastina—My Father’s Misfortune, My Mother’s
“Girl Scouts Gold Award” from page 11
Realizing students might feel self-conscious about scanning the QR code in public, Levy expanded the project. Mental health awareness posters with the same QR codes now appear on the backs of bathroom stall doors across campus, ensuring that no corner of the school is without that quiet lifeline. Levy will attend UCLA this fall.
Reve MaGuire
Planting Beautifying Seeds of Change
Life inside a low-income housing community can feel isolating and gray, especially for children with nowhere green to play. Reve MaGuire set out to change that at Parkhurst Terrace, a local MidPen Housing community. She partnered with the after-school program coordinator to design a project that would beautify the space while teaching children how to improve their own environment.
MaGuire installed a planter box and led
. The production first premiered at Cabrillo Stage in 2012.
Actor Adam Saucedo stars as Herman, the father of the family. Saucedo previously played the lead role in Cabrillo Stage’s production of Sweeney Todd. Lori Rivera stars as Mama, the family’s mother. Rivera has performed in Santa Cruz productions for many years.
The musical is co-directed by Greg Fritsch and Cathy D. Warner.
According to reviewer Wallace Baine, the musical turns “an earthy story full of pain and passion into an elegant and sophisticated evening of cultivated emotional complexity.”
Ortiz is also known in Santa Cruz County as co-owner of Gayle›s Bakery in Capitola. In addition to his bakery work, he has written theater productions including Bread!—The Musical and Smoke Cabaret n
hands-on gardening lessons for the community’s children. Through visual aids and interactive activities, she taught young residents practical lessons about growing food and making healthier choices, turning a neglected corner of the property into a living classroom.
MidPen Housing was so impressed that it featured her work across its internal communications platform, signaling to Bay Area communities that MaGuire’s model is worth replicating.
MaGuire will attend UCLA this fall. n
Good Soup
Greg Fritsch at Rehearsal
Lori Rivera and Darren Daily
A Pioneer of the Beach Aptos Woman Writes of Early Life as Lifeguard
By JON CHOWN
Before Baywatch turned California lifeguards into pop culture icons running in slow motion down the beach, Aptos resident Debbie Friedman was already on the job — pulling swimmers from dangerous surf, responding to car crashes and breaking barriers as one of California’s first female ocean lifeguards.
Now the 66-year-old Debbie Friedman is telling those stories in her new memoir, Guarded: Women, Water, and Saving Lives, which follows the first generation of women who entered the male-dominated world of California ocean lifeguarding in the late 1970s.
“Nothing had been written about that generation,” Friedman said. “And that’s a big part of why I wrote it.”
Friedman began lifeguarding in 1978 at Huntington and San Clemente state beaches. She said she was the only woman standing on the starting line during her first tryout.
“Baywatch is still relevant today. That’s the public touchstone, it’s what people think of when you mention lifeguarding,” she said. “People look for lifeguards now.”
But Friedman said the real experience was far different from the television version.
“Think about yourself in the late teens and 20s, and charged with life and death responsibilities, and your coming of age,” she said. “I write a lot about the fear that nobody loses their life.”
She said the work created lifelong friendships and shaped who she became.
“These people are your tribe,” Friedman said. “It just helped balance who I became, the woman I wanted to become.”
Friedman worked as an ocean lifeguard for 12 years before moving to Santa Cruz County in 1989. She now lives in Aptos and said she still walks the beaches below her home and watches the ocean.
In the book, Friedman mixes her own memories with stories from other early women lifeguards across California, including pioneering surfer and lifeguard Joyce Hoffman.
“Different women up and down the coast of California, we experienced different cultures, different beaches with different conditions,” she said. “It wasn’t all the same story.”
“Guarded” page 22
Photo courtesy Ed Vodrazka
Kim Raymont and Debbie Friedman at San Clemente Beach in 1978.
Van Gogh and the Yarn
While giving a lecture to an audience of followers, Zen teacher Baba Ram Das noticed an elderly woman in the crowd nodding her head in agreement to each of his points about meditation and mystical experiences. Later, he went up to the woman and asked her why she was so enthusiastic about his talk. And she said, “I knit.”
Insights sparked from intense concentration on a task or craft can come from anywhere. Even from a craft like knitting.
Knitters have learned from experience to make a “swatch” before they knit a sweater. This miniature sample of the finished garment helps knitters see in advance how the interplay of pattern and color will influence a finished work. What better way for an artist to gain confidence, and inspire numerous adjustments along the way to enhance the final plan?
Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh gave this technique a new twist. At the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, one can view a box of colored yarn that Van Gogh used to weave colors together as a study for a future painting. While most artistic “studies” we see in museums by Old Masters are made in graphite or charcoal, Van Gogh created his version in yarn. Why?
One can imagine that the process allowed him to experiment with the colors he envisioned for the finished painting, which benefited Van Gogh with the
By JOE ORTIZ
ease of reworking various shades of color into different combinations.
This technique may not be as demanding a tool as, say, the rigid form of a sonnet or a haiku to stimulate right-brain activity for poets. But as dedicated knitters will tell you — at least a few times during the process — Van Gogh must have felt the creative tumblers to the lock on his artistic zone clicking in- and out-of-place.
What Does it Teach Us?
Any preparatory craft device we use to kick start a project can help boost our imagination in ways we might never have envisioned before we began.
Such devices can act as triggers to help us jump into a highly productive creative zone. Think back on a time you drew a sketch before laying out your kitchen, for example, and you’ll be reminded of a moment when some — perhaps unrelated detail — flashed into your mind. This is how creativity works. Some structure or limitation coupled with our need to follow its requirements, can cause mental correlations, which lead us to some new flash of insight.
Furthermore — as we might imagine occurred to the woman who surprised Ram Das with her metaphysical revelation — any physical manipulation we make with our hands to distract ourselves from excessive thinking, can also put the mind just off kilter enough to incite a new breakthrough. n
Let me know your thoughts via email: joe@gocapitola.com. Also, check out my musical memoir, Escaping Queens, which will be staged at Santa Cruz Actors’ Theater this July. For Tickets: www. santacruzactorstheater.org/tickets.
Insights sparked from intense concentration on a task or craft can come from anywhere. Even from a craft like knitting.
Life’s waiting.
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Summer Shuttle Operating Again at Big Basin
BOULDER CREEK — Summer shuttle has returned to Big Basin Redwoods State Park beginning Memorial Day weekend, providing expanded public access as the park continues to recover from the devastating 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire.
The seasonal shuttle program will operate weekends and holidays through Labor Day. The free shuttle service will carry visitors between the Saddle Mountain overflow parking lot and the park’s main day-use area near the historic core.
The shuttle, which is ADA-accessible and equipped with a bike rack, will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. When parking in the main day-use area reaches capacity, visitors will be directed to the Saddle Mountain lot at Highway 236 and Little Basin Road. Parking there costs $10, though the shuttle ride itself is free.
The announcement also marks the reopening Friday of the park’s Sequoia Trail and Sempervirens Falls loop for the first time since the fire. The 2.9-mile trail offers views of the 20-foot Sempervirens Falls and can be combined with part of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail to create a 4.3-mile loop through recovering redwood forest.
More than 230,000 people have visited Big Basin since California’s oldest state park
partially reopened in July 2022. Since then, officials said an interim visitor center has opened, more than 20 miles of trails have been restored and camping has resumed on the coastal side of the park at Rancho del Oso through a temporary walk-in and bike-in campground.
Visitors are encouraged to reserve parking in advance online. Reservations cost $8, including a $2 reservation fee that supports park programs through Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. All California State Parks day-use passes are accepted.
In addition to the shuttle service, visitors can reach the park using Santa Cruz METRO Route 35 bus service, which operates weekends and holidays with five scheduled stops daily. Riders can park for free at the Scotts Valley METRO Station and take the bus directly to the park. Bus riders receive free park entry and guaranteed access.
The CZU Lightning Complex Fire burned more than 97% of Big Basin in 2020, destroying nearly every structure in the park, including headquarters buildings, campgrounds and employee housing. State parks officials said a full reopening will take several more years as long-term rebuilding and restoration plans move forward. n
Big Basin Forest
Panetta Announces Congressional Student Art Winners
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta announced the winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition, with several students from Santa Cruz County schools earning honors.
Among the local winners were Stella Rae Thelen of Pacific Collegiate School, who received honorable mention for design for her piece “Hidden Mind,” Finn Maxwell of San Lorenzo Valley High School, who earned honorable mention for composition for “Sapere Aude,” and Clara Latham of Soquel High School, who received honorable mention for storytelling for “I’d Be Fine.”
The annual competition, which began in 1982, invites high school students from congressional districts across the country to submit original artwork. Winning entries are selected each spring by congressional offices, with first-place artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol.
This year, 33 students from across California’s 19th Congressional District submitted entries.
The top prize went to Adelaide Strom of Pacific Grove High School for her piece “Adelaide in Aubergine.” Her artwork will be displayed in the United States Capitol alongside winning submissions from other congressional districts nationwide. Firstplace winners and a family member are also invited to Washington, D.C., for a ceremony recognizing their achievement.
“The immense talent we saw on
display showcases the unparalleled beauty of our district and unique talent of our students in California’s 19th Congressional District,” Panetta said in a statement. “This contest also illustrates the importance of arts education and programming for our youth as a means of self-expression and of opening students to new skills, ideas, and interests.”
Other winners included Katherine Zhu of Leland High School, who placed second for “Passengers of Life,” Emma Wang of Leland High School, who placed third for “My Wish,” and Jessamine Sloan of Leland High School, who received honorable mention for technique for “Our Beginning.” n
“The immense talent we saw on display showcases the unparalleled beauty of our district and unique talent of our students in California’s 19th Congressional District. This contest also illustrates the importance of arts education and programming for our youth as a means of self-expression and of opening students to new skills, ideas, and interests.”
I’ll Be Fine • Clara Latham Sapere Aude • Finn Maxwell
Hidden Mind • Stella Rae Thelen
— Jimmy Panetta, U.S. Representative, District 19, California
STS9 Amazes Crowd With Sound and Vision
Santa-Cruz Based Band Headlines Music Festival
By JON CHOWN
PLACERVILLE — Santa Cruz-based Sound Tribe Sector Nine helped sell a record number of tickets to the Golden Road Gathering musical festival May 15-17, thrilling the crowd of 3,000+ music fans.
Bob Hollis, one of four partners who put Golden Road Gathering together, said with STS9 headlining the event for the first time, sales were up more than 50% this year over last.
“They had the whole audience mesmerized. You could see, just looking at
people’s faces that they were totally tuned into the music,” Hollis said. “People were definitely really into it and I think they contributed a lot to our record sales this year.”
STS9 played two sets, about 2 1/2 hours of music, to headline Saturday’s musical lineup at the event that included nine other bands. For most fans, Sound Tribe Sector was the highlight of the day.
“That was amazing!” said Timothee Smith, who drove from Southern California to see the show. It was the only appearance STS9 would make this summer that was west of Texas.
Weeks before the event, bass player Alana Rocklin said the band was planning something for Placerville. “We’ve got some special things in the works for California,” Rocklin said. She was not kidding.
“I used to live in Santa Cruz and first heard them at the Quarry,” Smith said. “They’ve always been amazing, but tonight was just the best. It was more than just the music, the whole environment. Everything!
The light show was off the charts!”
The laser light show that STS9 brought was impressive.
“They said they were gonna go all out for this and bring everything they had for the light show,” said Hollis. “It was fantastic. It added a lot to the whole venue. It was perfectly done to the music they were playing.”
Hollis noted that the Santa Cruz
contingent of ticket buyers were stronger than ever this year.
“It’s been growing and growing. We get a lot of people from down in Santa Cruz and we’re talking about possibly doing some run-up shows in Santa Cruz in the future, possibly featuring some of the same artists that we booked for next year,” said Hollis.
Santa Cruz resident Steve Engel was at the festival with another one of his crazy hats he invented. He said he not only enjoyed the music, but spent a few days in Placerville shopping at antique stores and enjoying the town.
“I cruised through most or all of the antique and vintage stores and actually bought a pre-dial phone because it had a good magneto that I want to use for a project,” he said. n
“They said they were gonna go all out for this and bring everything they had for the light show. It was fantastic. It added a lot to the whole venue. It was perfectly done to the music they were playing.”
Photo Credit: Tony Dellacioppa Sound Tribe Sector Nine performs at the Golden Road Gathering in Placerville on May 16.
Photo Credit: Tony Dellacioppa Santa Cruz resident Steve Engel enjoys the music at Golden Road Gathering.
Bob Hollis, partner, Golden Road Gathering
CALIFORNIA NEWS
California Lawmakers Rush $25 Million to Hospitals Without Knowing who Qualifies
By YUE STELLA YU and ANA B. IBARRA, CalMatters
Watsonville Community Hospital appears to be one of a very few recipients of a $25 million grant to cash-strapped hospitals that became law less than a week after it was introduced — so fast that it caught some hospitals, their advocates, and even some lawmakers, off guard.
It also left a litany of unanswered questions: who came up with the narrow criteria, how many hospitals would have qualified and whether the funding will be enough to prevent hospital closures in the near term. Those questions may be delaying the announcement that Watsonville Community Hospital is receiving the money.
Assembly Bill 108, signed into law in early May, provides grants to public and nonprofit hospitals that meet several criteria, including having less than 10 days of cash on hand and having more than half of their patients on government-funded insurance programs or uninsured. The goal is to tide eligible hospitals over until July 1, when the new fiscal year begins, said Sen. John Laird, a Santa Cruz Democrat who chairs the Senate Budget Committee and championed the funding bill.
The measure, put in print on May 4, flew through both legislative chambers in just three days before Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it within hours. In days, the program was up and running and hospitals had just a week to apply. The Department of Health Care Access and Information announced were scheduled to be announced to recipients on May 26, but there still had been no word on the morning of May 29, hours before this publication was sent to print.
“It is a rare occurrence for bills to go from the starting block to the finish line in just a few days,” said veteran lobbyist and Capitol watcher Chris Micheli, who said the speed reflects the urgent need of hospitals and a consensus among leaders.
Hospital leaders interested in applying said they were pleased the Legislature acted so quickly, though some scrambled to meet the application deadline after learning about it just about a week before the deadline.
Laird told CalMatters that he knew of two to three hospitals that would likely qualify but declined to name them, arguing that doing so could scare off vendors and hospital staff.
When pressed, he acknowledged that potential recipients include Watsonville Community Hospital in his own district.
“This bill comes at a completely inopportune time in the budget process, and the time was not dictated by us,” Laird said during a budget hearing last Tuesday. “It was dictated by a few hospitals going under.”
The criteria are so narrow and the bill
moved in such an “expedited fashion” that it seemed tailored to the needs of a specific hospital, said Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair David Tangipa, a Fresno Republican, who voted for the bill nonetheless.
“It says 10 days. Why not put it at 30 days?” he said. “They needed to make sure that even though it appears to be a general fund that all of these other hospitals could apply for, that probably only one hospital met all of those qualifications.”
Neither Laird nor the finance department staff was able to explain how they came up with the criteria, including why they picked 10 days — instead of any other number — of cash on hand to indicate a dire enough financial situation. Hospital administrators said the typical goal is at least 90 days of cash on hand.
The ambiguity frustrated some state lawmakers, who repeatedly pressed for clarity during the budget hearing. Sen. Chris Cabaldon, a Napa Democrat, called the lack of answers “profoundly disturbing.”
“It’s been one long ‘I said what I said’ hearing,” he said. Still, he voted for it.
Others lamented that the criteria, especially the 10-day threshold, should have been expanded to allow more hospitals to compete for the funding.
“Right now, it’s far too narrow, and really by this time the hospital has gone over the cliff,” Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, a Los Angeles Democrat, told CalMatters in an interview. She, too, voted for it. “We want to figure out who›s standing on the cliff, who›s a few feet from the cliffs, who›s a mile from the cliff.”
The $25 million grant comes as hospitals across California, particularly in rural areas, say they are at risk of dropping services or shutting their doors due to rising labor costs and federal Medi-Cal funding cuts.
The funding woes sparked calls for renewed funding for the state’s Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which in 2023 gave 16 financially distressed hospitals nearly $300 million. Of those, 15 have asked for more
time to repay the debt, and nine of them have also applied for loan forgiveness, according to the California Health Facilities Financing Authority.
The California Hospital Association, which represents nearly 400 hospitals, is sponsoring a bill to put another $300 million into the loan program. Senate Democrats proposed $200 million in funding in mid-April but have not specified if the dollars would be a loan or a grant.
Newsom proposed up to $50 million toward hospitals in “immediate and significant financial distress” in 2026-27 in his budget revision Thursday.
A Few Hospitals Plan to Apply
Watsonville Community Hospital, which has publicly shared its financial struggles, reported having 8 days of cash on hand in the last quarter of 2025, according to the most recent financial records collected by the state.
The hospital received an $8.3 million state loan in 2023 as part of the distressed hospital program lawmakers passed that year. When asked about the hospital, Laird said the hospital is “quite likely” to be eligible.
“This is critically important for the hospital as we navigate fiscal challenges brought on by funding delays and cutbacks at the federal level,” hospital spokesperson Jennifer Murray said in an email.
Hospitals in the Central Valley and rural Southern California also could benefit from the grant, according to Laird.
Madera Community Hospital told CalMatters it intended to apply for a slice of the grant money. The hospital reopened its doors in March 2025 after closing at the start of 2023. American Advanced Management, the company that took over the hospital, received $57 million from the state to reopen it. State data show the hospital ended 2025 with two days of cash on hand.
Delays in reimbursements and low patient volume in its outpatient clinics
are contributing to Madera Community’s slower-than-expected recovery, said Matthew Beehler, a spokesperson for the hospital. He said Madera Community is still working on contracting with some insurers and is not yet receiving funds from the Hospital Quality Assurance Fee, a state-federal supplemental payment program for hospitals that serve a high number of Medi-Cal and uninsured patients. State data show that in 2022, before the hospital closed, it relied on more than $16 million in supplemental payments.
The $57 million from the state, Beehler said, helped cover the hospital’s first six months of operations. Beyond that, American Advanced Management has covered the shortfalls.
“I think that we are headed towards the path of real sustainability for the hospital,” Beehler said. “It just takes time to have all that sort of reach its state of equilibrium.”
Unanswered Questions
Laird told CalMatters he is confident the $25 million will be enough to save hospitals facing the most imminent threat of closure.
But it’s unclear how he and the finance department arrived at the dollar amount. Department of Finance spokesperson H.D. Palmer said the figure represents the administration’s “best assessment of potential funding needs” and is partly based on the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which gave 16 hospitals an average of $19 million each to keep them afloat for several years.
Laird said the amount was based on the number of hospitals legislators “informally” think would be eligible. Whatever is left untapped by June 30 would revert back to the state, he said, and legislators could add more funding if it runs out.
“It is what we think is necessary now,” Laird said.
The Department of Health Care Access and Information collects and publishes financial data from hospitals quarterly, but that data lags. Which hospitals qualify for the grant will depend largely on their self-reported finances as of April 15, the department said.
Many state lawmakers want more answers, too. Sen. Shannon Grove, a Bakersfield Republican, grilled finance department staff over the bill details.
“How long is this lifeline going to last? Is it even going to save the people who are in the 10-day timeframe?” she asked.
“That is the intent,” said Lupe Manriquez of the Department of Finance.
“I know it’s the intent. Is it going to save them?” Grove pressed.
“That’s the goal,” Manriquez answered.
“Hospital Funds” page 26
Understanding Chromium-6 in Our Water — and What We Are Doing About It
From the Soquel Creek Water District
If you’ve seen recent headlines about hexavalent chromium — often called chromium-6 or “chrome-6” — you might have some questions. That’s understandable. The topic has been in the public eye for decades, especially since the movie Erin Brockovich brought national attention to contamination in the Mojave Desert town of Hinkley, California. But it’s important to know that what’s happening here in Santa Cruz County is very different. Chromium is a naturally occurring metal found in rocks, soil, and groundwater throughout the western United States. It exists mainly in two forms: chromium-3 and chromium-6. Chromium-3 is an essential nutrient that helps the body process sugars and fats, while chromium-6 is a form that, at high levels and with long-term exposure, can be harmful.
chromium-6 above the State of California’s newly reestablished drinking water standard of 10 parts per billion (ppb). Average concentrations in these wells range from approximately 10.5 ppb to 12 ppb.
Importantly, this is not the result of any industrial spill or discharge. The chromium-6 found in these wells is naturally occurring. Scientists have estimated that up to 80% of drinking water sources in the United States may contain some detectable levels of chromium-6.
The State also recognizes that compliance requires time and major infrastructure improvements. Water systems the size of Soquel Creek Water District are not currently considered out of compliance with the chromium-6 regulation until after October 1, 2026, allowing time for agencies statewide to plan, fund, design, and construct treatment facilities.
What We’ve Done — and Continue to Do
The District has been proactively preparing for this regulatory deadline for more than a decade.
• Completed a new pilot study using lower-cost Reduction Coagulation Filtration technology,
• Completed environmental review for the treatment project,
• Completed the design-build procurement process,
• Finalized design of the treatment system, and
• Received State approval of the District’s compliance plan on October 3, 2025.
Treatment Facility
In our area, the source of chromium-6 is completely natural. Over time, certain types of rock — especially those found in the Aromas Red Sands aquifer — contain chromium-3 that can transform into chromium-6 through naturally occurring chemical reactions underground. This is very different from the situation that occurred in Hinkley, where industrial waste from a utility company was discharged into unlined ponds, allowing extremely high levels of chromium-6 to seep into their groundwater.
What’s Happening Locally
Routine water monitoring has shown that three of the District’s 18 groundwater wells — Bonita, San Andreas, and Seascape, all located in the Seascape area — contain
While recent water quality results show that levels in these three wells exceed the newly adopted State Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), this is not a public health emergency. There is no immediate risk, and customers do not need to boil water or avoid normal water use. The California regulatory threshold is based on long-term exposure over many years, not short-term health concerns.
Understanding the New State Standard
In October 2024, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a new drinking water standard for chromium-6 of 10 ppb. To put that into perspective, one part per billion is like a single drop of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
The previous state limit, established in 1977, regulated total chromium — a combination of chromium-3 and chromium-6 — at 50 ppb. The new regulation specifically targets chromium-6 and is five times more stringent. California is currently the only place in the world with a drinking water standard specifically for chromium-6.
In 2013, the District conducted a successful pilot treatment project using strong-base anion exchange technology (a water treatment and purification process) through a grant funded by the Water Research Foundation. From 2014 through 2017, the District continued demonstration treatment testing using multiple technologies to determine the most effective and cost-efficient approach for removing chromium-6 while maintaining high water quality.
During this same period, the District completed environmental permitting for a permanent treatment facility and installed new water transmission mains to support these centralized treatment operations.
Later in 2017, the State rescinded the chromium-6 MCL, and the District paused design and construction activities while awaiting further direction from the State.
After the State reestablished the chromium-6 standard in October 2024, the District resumed work. Since then, the District has:
Construction Beginning Soon
Only three of the District’s 18 groundwater wells required treatment to comply with the new chromium-6 standard: Bonita, San Andreas, and Seascape.
The District’s treatment solution will use a centralized approach, with a new treatment facility constructed at the San Andreas site to treat water from all three wells.
With the procurement process complete and the compliance plan approved by the State, construction of the new treatment facility is expected to begin shortly.
Looking Ahead
Soquel Creek Water District is not alone in facing this challenge. Many public water agencies across California — from Los Angeles to the Central Valley to the Sierra foothills- and even within our own Santa Cruz County — are addressing naturally occurring chromium-6 in groundwater.
“Chromium-6” page 22
“Guarded” from page 14
But in general, Friedman said conditions on the beach in the late 1970s and 1980s were rougher and more dangerous than they are today.
“There were no jet skis, the paddle boards were heavy,” she said. “Alcohol was allowed on the beach. We dealt with drunks a lot and spent a lot of time dealing with chaos and violence on the beach.”
She also remembered the poor working conditions women faced.
“I talk about how horrible our swimsuits were … and the bathroom,” Friedman said. “There was just great concern over where everyone was going to the bathroom.”
She said many beaches did not provide women with equal access to restrooms or changing facilities.
“The bathroom thing was really about otherizing women,” she said. “Women didn’t have access to the same facilities.”
Friedman said sexism also came from the public, especially while working at San Clemente’s military beach.
“A lot of Marines didn’t know how to swim and didn’t want to be rescued by a woman,” she said. “These big guys did not want to be rescued by a woman.”
Still, she said emergencies usually erased those attitudes, but at times she had to shout at them like drill sergeant.
“When a person is in real trouble, they are not going to care who you are,” she said.
Friedman said the job is centered on prevention more than dramatic rescues.
“The idea is always stressed upon to be as preventative as possible,” she said. “You get people out of the water before they even know they are in trouble.”
Over her career, she estimated she saves at least a couple hundred lives while making hundreds of rescues.
“The scariest ones are the ones that have already escalated,” she said.
She also recalled responding to serious traffic crashes along Pacific Coast Highway before paramedics arrived, discovering grisly scenes that she still can’t erase from memory.
“That was a big part of it, unfortunately,” Friedman said.
The book project began about three years ago after Friedman realized there were few written accounts from the first generation of women lifeguards.
“At first I thought I was writing a
“Chromium-6” from page 21
Because chromium-6 is naturally present in the rocks and sediments that make up much of California’s geology, this is a widespread issue, not one limited to a single community.
We also understand that our customers care deeply about both public health and fiscal responsibility. We are committed to transparent communication as we move forward.
This includes required state notifications and regular updates about our progress toward meeting the new standard. We’ll continue to keep you informed and share new
history,” she said. “Then I started writing about myself.”
She said looking through old photographs and interviewing former lifeguards brought back memories she thought were gone.
“I thought my memory was poor,” Friedman said. “But things came back the longer I worked on it.”
The book also explores the impact of Title IX, the federal law that expanded opportunities for women in sports and education.
“Fewer women remember what it was like not having sports programs,” Friedman said. “It was a time when women were being introduced into a lot of new professions.”
She said writing the memoir helped her reflect on those years with more perspective.
“You are able to see things with more humor and perspective, and look back without anger and malice,” Friedman said. “It was not all obstacles. It was just a time of great unknowns and fears.”
Friedman recently held a book event at the La Selva Community Center that drew about 100 people, including old friends and former coworkers.
“Santa Cruz County loves its lifeguards,” she said. “It’s been an incredible experience to feel that.” n
The book is also available locally through Two Birds Books and Bookshop Santa Cruz, and online at www.towerpress.com. Friedman is scheduled to speak about the book July 12 at the Live Oak Library Annex in Santa Cruz County. Register at: santacruzpl.libnet.info/event/16247280
information through bill messages and our website.
While chromium-6 can sound concerning at first, it’s important to keep the facts in perspective:
• The levels here are much, much lower than what people remember about Hinkley, CA;
• The source is natural and not from a chemical spill, and
• Soquel Creek Water District has been proactive in protecting our community’s drinking water.
With our approved compliance plan and upcoming treatment improvements, we are continuing to invest in safe, clean, and sustainable water for generations to come. n
Debbie Friedman holds a copy of her book.
Capitola’s Premier Classic Car Event Returns to the Coast
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 13, 2026, as Capitola Village welcomes the 19th Annual Capitola Rod and Classic Custom Car Show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This highly anticipated seaside tradition brings together an impressive lineup of vintage and custom vehicles, celebrating decades of automotive design and craftsmanship.
Hosted by the Capitola Public Safety and Community Foundation, the event is organized by a passionate team of local volunteers dedicated to supporting community and public safety programs throughout Capitola and Santa Cruz County. The festivities begin early, with registered participants gathering for a special escorted cruise into Capitola Village along the scenic coastline beginning at 8:30 a.m.
With the Pacific Ocean as its backdrop, the show offers visitors the perfect opportunity
to experience beautifully restored classics ranging from timeless convertibles and hot rods to iconic muscle cars.
Guests can meet vehicle owners, hear the stories behind the restorations, and spend the day enjoying Capitola’s restaurants, boutiques, and beachfront atmosphere.
Whether you’re a lifelong car enthusiast, a collector, or simply looking for a memorable day by the sea, the Capitola Car Show offers something for everyone. Families, visitors, and locals alike return year after year to enjoy the unique blend of nostalgia, community spirit, and coastal charm.
Widely recognized as one of California’s standout classic car events, the show continues to attract participants and spectators from across the region. “The Capitola Car Show has always been a favorite community tradition,” said Kurt Langhoff, President of the Capitola Foundation. “There’s something special about seeing these incredible vehicles displayed along the coast while bringing people together to celebrate automotive history and community pride.”
Registration for vehicle entries remains open at https://www.capitolafoundation. com/group-events and organizers encourage participants to reserve their spot soon. Don’t miss this exciting day of classic cars, ocean views, and family-friendly fun in beautiful Capitola Village. n
Last year’s winner, a 1954 Cadillac Convertible.
‘Sip for Second Harvest’ Returns to Seascape Resort
Local Craft Beers Added to Wine Tasting Event
Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County will host the ‘Sip for Second Harvest’ on Sunday, June 28 at the beautiful Seascape Beach Resort in Aptos. This fundraising event directly benefits the Food Bank’s efforts to provide healthy food and nutrition education to its neighbors across Santa Cruz County.
It is the second year for the event has been held at the Seascape Beach Resort, and ‘Sip for Second Harvest’ continues a nine-year tradition of community support and fundraising. After a successful turnout in 2025, the Food Bank is excited to continue building on that momentum in 2026.
Recently recognized as the Good Times
2025 Best Charity Event (Silver), ‘Sip for Second Harvest’ brings together local wineries and, for the first time, introduces local breweries to its tasting menu. All attendees will get to enjoy a day of pourings from local partners, light bites, a silent auction, scenic coastal views, and live music from Ripatti Rose Band.
so many families, and federal programs that support hunger relief face growing cuts, community support is more important than ever. This event is a meaningful and joyful way for people to come together, to nourish our neighbors today while helping build a stronger, more connected community for tomorrow.” n
VIP Admission : Limited VIP tickets are available for $125 and include unlimited tastings and access to a private VIP experience.
Only 100 VIP tickets will be sold.
POURING PARTNERS
Aptos Vineyards • Alfaro Family Vineyards
Big Basin Vineyard • Birichino Winery
Burrell School Vineyards • Compache Cellars
Kathryn Kennedy Winery • Lester Estate Wines
Pelican Ranch Winery • Deauratus Wine
“Every dollar raised through Sip for Second Harvest stays right here in Santa Cruz County,” said Erica Padilla Chavez, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. “At a time when food insecurity continues to impact
Early Bird General Admission: $75 through May 31; ticket prices increase to $100 beginning June 1 and will also be $100 at the door on June 28.
Silver Mountain Vineyards • Stirm Wine Company
Testarossa Winery • Rosscienda Vineyard
Buena Vista Brewing Co. • Martinelli’s
Sante Adairus Rustic Ales • Sierra Nevada
Firestone Walker Brewing Co. • Golden State Cider
The Light of Gemini (the Two Brothers) & Mercury with Wings on His Feet
“Hospital Funds” from page 20
The Sun is distributing to Earth the light of Gemini — the twins, the two brothers, sign of duality and interplay. “Let instability do its work,” is the keynote on the personality building level of Gemini. These words refer to daily life on earth with its constant vicissitudes, confusions, disharmonies and instabilities. Gemini tells us they have purpose — they spur us to seek comfort, ease, balance and harmony. Gemini (sign, person, month), is playful, curious, humorous and fun, the “tricksters” of the zodiac. Moving one way, then another, then disappearing without notice, Gemini signifies duality. Gemini always appears as “two” — two ways, two paths, two lights, two directions, etc. When we have two of something we then have choice. Humanity was created with the free will to choose.
Gemini is the butterfly, “the light of interplay, a line of light beams,” revealing all that opposes in our world — basic duality in form and matter. Duality is a relationship of two things seemingly opposed to each other, like Spirit and matter, the original duality. However, the two are one and that is the mystery of Gemini. Two minds, two columns (Masonic columns), two hands, two brothers/sisters, etc., each offering two realities. Gemini points out the relationship between them. Pondering these words, we begin to understand
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 9)
As you acquire multiple new abilities, it’s important to learn to share a few. Sharing is new to you. You research the causes of things. Some call this studying conspiracy theories. But actually, those theories often end up to be true. You’re more energetic, active, forceful and even, at times, overly assertive (shocking!). Rarely are you this way. It’s six planets, including Mars (the 9 tests) in Aries playing havoc in your life. Forge forward, Aries. You initiate and thus create new fields of endeavor. Then Taurus steps in and anchors them.
TAURUS (Apr 10 – May 20)
You are becoming more like a Pisces these days. Meaning? More sensitive, more in tune, reluctant to push the river, a sense of other worldliness, a bit forgetfulness, a bit of disorder, seeing other worlds and walking a different path. You’re working more in secret and can be blamed for things you didn’t do. You sense and intuit the past is merging with the present. For a while everything becomes more private. Dreams (day and night) appear, imagination is sparked, creativity comes alive. Music (more of it) is needed.
GEMINI (May 21 – Jun 20)
It’s most important to ponder upon the word “cooperation” and consider how you interact with, work with and impact those around you. Are you able to cooperate with others? With new and emerging thoughts and ideas, you may be inclined to seek others to work with and co-create with them the new culture and civilization. In the new times to come cooperation is needed, working in teams towards a group goal. On a personal level, create daily agendas, schedules and plans. They become your future’s purpose, context and protection.
CANCER (Jun 21 – Jul 22)
You’re the leader, the voice everyone hears, the one everyone looks to, hopes to become, learns from, seeks, dreams of, is nourished by and emulates. Your accomplishments are recognized. This pleases you. I have written before that for each sign to evolve adequately, others must see, recognize and praise their efforts, gifts and abilities. Praise is how we more fully identify ourselves as valuable and creative. Say, “I am creative and I recognize this in my life.” A sense of new awareness and gratitude follow.
Risa D’Angeles
Gemini people. We see them accomplishing their spiritual task (job). Notice we especially experience duality during the month of Gemini. Mercury just entered Gemini this past week. Notice everyone begins to talk more, to chatter and to gossip. Disciples never gossip.
The major sign of relatedness, Gemini must connect two seemingly unrelated ideas, realities, people, events. Often Gemini will introduce two people and disappear, their work of relating things complete. Geminis step out of the picture and into their next task of relating things.
Gemini flows through and works with Mercury, gathering information to distribute, share and create new awareness in humanity. Gemini and Mercury build the Rainbow Bridge. Sometimes Mercury offers too much information. Then Venus (Gemini Soul ruler) steps in. Venus balances, synthesizes, unifies and eases us into new realities with grace and beauty. Our God is from Venus. Bees, wheat, corn and ants (communities) are also from Venus. Venus is Earth’s elder sister.
Look for feathers in the wild, from the wings of Mercury. Mercury, working tirelessly with Gemini, has wings on his feet. n
Read Risa’s Daily writings on FB & at https://nightlightnews.org/ daily-postings/
LEO (Jul 23 – Aug 22)
A hunger for expansion, for newness, adventure, a restlessness that won’t accept no for an answer, all these engulf your mind and present you with new ideas and a level of impatience Your life actually does need expansion, new studies, new people, new experiences. All this energy propels you into travel, new interests, new books, opinions leading to disagreements, arguments and discourses. Stay away from gambling, speculation and things illegal. Read the magazine Travel and Leisure. It is a most interesting study.
VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sep 22)
Careful with projecting anger and/or suppressed passion (from long ago to present) toward others, especially ones close to you. You may be unaware of this. Be aware of issues concerning joint money and resources, conflicts and crises concerning differently learned values. Careful with communication. You may suffer from others’ misunderstandings and/or harshness. Or your own. Home is where all transformations take place. Guard yourself and loved ones, carefully. Attend church or temple. Pray.
LIBRA (Sep 23 – Oct 22)
Everything may feel personally challenging. A great wave of change is washing over you. Let’s understand about conflict. Any conflict experienced means harmony, in shadow form, is hidden within the conflict, harmony, a seed of light, seeking to emerge. Libras are ruled by a star in the Big Dipper called Ray 3 which gives them great intelligence and balance, beauty and harmony. Know these things about yourself. Seeking harmony is Libra’s divine task. Relationships are the training grounds for that harmony to come forth.
SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
It’s possible you feel restricted with Saturn in Aries. At first it can feel like obstacles are a way of life. Saturn, however, is the new Teacher. He informs us of disciplines, new rituals and rhythms. He teaches us restraint, right timing, right direction and right thinking. Saturn teaches us to take care of ourselves with right priorities. Don’t dispute anything (mostly yourself). Recite silent Ohms and laugh more. “Laughter is a meditation,” says Alan Watts. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=xZ3wWisRtTA
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
You also would appreciate the Alan Watts laughter video I posted above for Scorpio. Sag’s love to laugh. Laughing dispels any sense of doom or overwhelm we may be feeling. With Pluto in Aquarius, the depth of responsibility for creating the new culture can overwhelm. Laughter helps. Tend to loved ones, especially your partner (first). The result will be more play, pleasure and sleep. Do you need new items in your home? New pathways, a gate or bridge over water? Gaze at Monet’s Water Lilies painting.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
Are you feeling the need for protection and for security? Be clear, ordered and organized and shield your finances and resources. Keep track of monies coming in and going out. It’s possible you could feel lost or confused around money. Unexpected events and outlays of money continue to occur. Remain hopeful, aware and alert. Continue to tell friends and family of your needs. If issues from the past emerge, talk with someone about them. The past appears in order to understand it more deeply.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
Work slowly each day on physical tasks. Order and organize all environments. Create greater efficiency. Ponder upon real wants and needs. Soon ideas from the Mind of God come forth. Communicate with more compassion and loving kindness. This is Mercury in Gemini. Mars on the other hand provides new selfawareness and values. You will want to create a foundation. Tend to hands and feet. Sew, draw and paint. Use your heart to make order. A new path appears.
PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
The month ahead sees you working towards and within your sense of values. If you don’t actually know your values, then observe yourself – thoughts, ideas, actions, communications. Note you’re slower than usual, focusing and caring for what you love (and value) with extra care. You see your ambition, the acquiring of possessions, your impatience and impulsiveness. Your senses are more alive. You’re taking on the sturdy and consistent virtues, values and needs of Taurus. Comforting for Pisces.
Cabaldon told the staff he wouldn’t even bother asking about the criteria because “I already know what the answer is going to be.”
“It is incumbent on this committee to be able to have real answers to the questions that are posed about the why and the evidence,” Cabaldon said. “We are not having a conversation. We are asking questions of fulfilling our constitutional role in this process and getting zero answers.”
Palmer called the heat on his staff “undignified sniping and sarcasm,” noting that the bill originated from the same legislative chamber that’s now questioning it.
“They asked for our assistance in the expedited consideration of the bill outside of the regular budget process — and we complied and cooperated,” Palmer said in an email. “If members were either unable or unwilling to do some basic homework on their own bill that they wanted to be put on a fast track, then that’s a question that’s better posed to them — not us.”
How Long a Lifeline?
But throwing money at hospitals to keep them afloat is not the answer, some lawmakers argued.
“We can’t just keep giving $25 million handouts over 10 days where a hospital is looking to close,” Smallwood-Cuevas said, noting that President Donald Trump’s H.R. 1, which sharply reduces federal spending on Medicaid, could devastate hospitals.
“What is the state doing to identify and support vulnerable safety net hospitals before they reach the point of fiscal crisis? That is an answer I want to hear.”
Some hospital administrators also called for longer-term solutions. Katherine Burnworth, board president of the Imperial Valley Healthcare District, which oversees Imperial County’s two hospitals, told CalMatters that while she appreciates state action, $25 million statewide “is a drop in the bucket compared to the scale of the problem.”
“That may help a small number of hospitals avoid a near-term emergency, but it does not address the ongoing instability that communities like ours live with year after year,” Burnworth said.
While acknowledging the importance of emergency grants, Republicans on the committee argued that California has shortchanged hospitals’ Medi-Cal reimbursements. The California Hospital Association estimates that hospitals are reimbursed 74 cents for each dollar they spend on Medi-Cal patients. Hospitals that see a high share of Medi-Cal patients do get supplemental payments to help offset some of the gaps in reimbursement.
The GOP lawmakers also said that some state regulations, such as a minimum wage hike for health care workers and the requirement that all hospitals comply with new seismic safety requirements by 2030, will burden hospitals with high costs.
“We are throwing Band-Aids on everything, when really we need to just get together and fix the issues of what are the unfunded state mandates that are on our hospitals right now,” Tangipa said. n
FEATURED COLUMNIST
Vines Are Naturally Very Competitive
By TONY TOMEO
Nature is competitive. Competition is natural. In the wild, vegetation competes for limited resources. Where sunlight is a limited resource within forest ecosystems, competition for it is fierce. Understory vegetation does what it can in the shade of taller trees. Taller trees strive to be the tallest for more sunlight. Vines are the most aggressive competitors of all.
Vines are blatantly exploitative. They rely on trees to do the work of growing to the top of the forest canopy. Then, they climb into and over such trees to grow even higher than the trees do. Some can overwhelm and even shade out and kill the trees that they rely on for support. Strangler fig literally strangles its hosts as it develops its own supportive trunks.
Vines climb with clinging roots, twining stems, tendrils, twining leaves or hooked thorns. Some are perennials or even annuals. Some sprawl over the ground while juvenile, and then climb as they encounter support. As they reach the top of their supports, such vines generate shrubbier adult growth. Then, such adult growth can bloom and generate seed.
English ivy, for example, is a practical groundcover plant in its juvenile form. However, it becomes a clinging vine when it finds support. It quite often climbs shrubbery, trees and buildings. If left unattended, it develops into shrubbier growth that blooms and produces seed. Such shrubby growth shades desirable vegetation, and on buildings, promotes rot.
Carolina jessamine, lilac vine, mandevilla and wisteria climb by twining stems. They are generally not as potentially destructive as clinging vines. However, they can crush lattice or small trellises. Wisteria can crush substantial trellises. Like English ivy, star
jasmine is likely more popular as a ground cover. It performs double duty, though, as a twining vine.
Bougainvillea neither clings nor twines. It merely produces vigorously tall canes that flop over on top of their support. Long thorns help to anchor them into place. Therefore, such canes need a bit of help to climb trellises or other support. They must be tied in place or woven into their trellises. Various other vines exhibit various and distinct characteristics.
•••
Highlight: English Ivy
With containment, English ivy, Hedera helix, is a dense and evergreen groundcover. As it matures, it eventually excludes weeds. Containment is very important, though. It grows fast into trees and shrubbery, and clings to buildings. On buildings, it promotes decay of wood siding and ruins paint. As a vine, it is safe only on concrete and cinder block walls.
Juvenile growth of English ivy is mostly rather compact. Ideally, it is less than six inches deep. It gets a bit deeper where shaded. Leaves are as wide as three and a half inches. Stems develop roots where they touch the soil. Adult growth is shrubby, though, and can protrude several feet higher than its support. It blooms and produces small black berries.
‘Hahn’s’ is probably the most popular cultivar of English ivy because it branches so well. ‘Needlepoint’ has elegantly narrow foliar lobes. Cultivars with yellow or white variegation grow notably slower. They are popular as foliar components in big pots of mixed annuals and perennials. Some of the hundreds of cultivars are more popular as houseplants than outside. n
•••
Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo. com.
Some vines climb with clinging roots.
English Ivy often climbs into trees.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
ONGOING EVENTS
Mondays
BRIDGE CLUB
10:30 a.m.-Noon, 7695 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003
The Aptos Branch Library hosts Bridge Club sessions on Mondays (except holidays).
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.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
7 p.m., Congregational Church Preschool Meeting Room, 4951 Soquel Ave., Soquel
Overeaters Anonymous welcomes any type of eating disorder or problems with food.
No dues, fees or weigh-ins.
Meetings take place at Congregational Church in the preschool meeting room.
All are welcome.
Overeaters Anonymous (OA) has meetings daily both inperson and on-line in Santa Cruz County at santacruzoa.org
Fourth Mondays (Third Monday in May due to Memorial Day)
THE SPOKEN EXPERIENCE
Noon – 1 p.m., Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Rd
Each month a community of readers gather to share selections from a featured poet.
Join local poets Paola Bruni, Elaine Fletcher Chapman and Jessica Cohn as they lead the discussion.
Upcoming poet focus:
June 22: Gary Snyder
July 27: Dean Young
August 24: Lucile Clifton
September 28: Sharon Olds
October 26: Juan Felipe Herrera
November 23: Ada Limon
December 28: Jericho Brown
Tuesdays
TUESDAY NIGHT SALSA SOCIAL
7 – 10 p.m., Abbott Square Market, 725 Front St., Santa Cruz
Join a midweek salsa social at Abbott Square Market with salsa, cumbia, merengue, and bachata.
Free and open to all skill levels—just bring energy and dancing shoes.
More information: www.abbottsquaremarket.com
BINGO AT MCSC
1-3 p.m., Mid County Senior Center, 829 Bay Avenue, Capitola (behind the Party Store)
Hot Dogs, Chili and snacks available for purchase courtesy of our Snack Shack. A lot of fun for all and a possible big win!
Door opens at 12:15 p.m.
Thursdays
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING
7:15-9:15 p.m., Peace United Church 900 High St, Santa Cruz. Beginners welcome, partners not required. $10 each. Come dance!
HAPPY HOUR
5-7 p.m., California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Drive, Aptos California Coffee in Redwood Village hosts an open mic happy hour every week.
Third Thursdays
SIP AND STROLL
6-9 p.m. (check-in 5 p.m.), Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos
Come to the Seacliff Inn: Tapestry Collection by Hilton, for a Sip & Stroll event where local artists to show and sell their works.
Wines are 30% off, and the featured winery will offer tastings of three varietals for $10 per person. Details of this and more Sevy’s events at www.sevysbarand kitchen.com/events
Fridays (except First Friday of the Month)
LA SELVA BEACH LIBRARY BRIDGE GROUP
10:30-Noon, La Selva Beach Public Library, 316 Estrella Ave. Come for bridge from 10:30 to noon at the La Selva Beach library.
Call La Selva Beach Library to reserve your seat: 831-427-7710.
First and Third Fridays
JIM GREINER’S HANDS-ON! DRUMMING
7-8:30 p.m., Congregational Church of Soquel, 4951 Soquel Dr. Percussionist/educator Jim Greiner continues his Community Rhythms Class on the first and third Fridays of every month at the Congregational Church of Soquel. All levels of experience are very welcome to this familyfriendly community gathering. Jim provides percussion instruments and you are welcome to bring your own.
Come play, socialize and reinforce Jim’s fundamental themes of communicating, collaborating and celebrating through rhythm!
$10 donation is requested. Doors open at 6:30.
Last Friday of the Month thru October FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY AT SKYPARK
5–8 p.m., Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley Food Trucks A Go Go presents an evening of local eats, live music and activities for all ages.
The monthly event supports Scotts Valley schools through beverage sales and offers a welcoming community gathering. Admission is free.
For details, visit foodtrucksagogo.com.
First Saturdays
CAPITOLA BEACH CLEANUP
9-10 a.m., Esplanade Park
Help preserve and maintain the coastal beauty of Capitola. Join a beach cleanup every month at Esplanade Park.
Keep Capitola Salty is a grassroots movement dedicated to responsible efforts helping to maintain and preserve the environment, scenic beauty and coastal recreational activities of Capitola.
This movement is always looking for volunteers. Email KeepCapitolaSalty@gmail.com.
Second Saturdays
HISTORICAL AIRCRAFT DISPLAY
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Watsonville Municipal Airport, 100 Aviation Way Watsonville Municipal Airport hosts a Historical Aircraft Display every second Saturday. Admission is free.
Saturdays and Sundays
ELKHORN SLOUGH: FREE TOUR OF THE PRESERVE
10 a.m. | 11 a.m., Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville
Docent-led tours offer visitors a guided introduction to Elkhorn Slough’s remarkable landscapes, wildlife, and tidal wetlands.
Each walk is tailored to participants’ interests and abilities, creating an engaging, educational experience. Space is limited, and tours are first-come, first-served. Guests can sign up at the Visitor Center front desk or call ahead the same morning at (831) 728-2822 for availability.
First Sundays
SANTA CRUZ DINNER CLUB
5 p.m. at various member homes throughout county Love to cook, entertain and socialize? Our monthly dinner club events will be held in several homes throughout Santa Cruz County where members enjoy delicious meals, fine wine and conversation.
Joining the club provides a great opportunity to cook, to entertain, and to meet locals that share your interests. Want to join us? Learn more about the SC Dinner Club and the fun we have by contacting Rhonda Mills at rhondaloves2paint@gmail.com.
DATED EVENTS
Wednesday June 3
CAPITOLA SUMMER TWILIGHT CONCERTS: THE DELTA WIRES
6–9 p.m., Esplanade Bandstand, Esplanade Park, Capitola The Capitola Summer Twilight Concert series opens with Rockin’ Big Band Blues by The Delta Wires. Guests are encouraged to bring low-back chairs, blankets and picnic dinners while enjoying free live music and sunset views along the beach.
The family-friendly event does not allow dogs or alcohol. For more information, go online at https://www.santacruz.org/ upcoming-events/
Thursday June 4
MIXER & RIBBON CUTTING SOULCARE STUDIOS
5:30–7 p.m., 8035 Soquel Drive, Suite 35, Aptos Join the Aptos Chamber of Commerce for a mixer and ribbon-cutting celebration at Soulcare Studios.
Community members and local professionals are invited to network, meet the business owners, and learn more about the studio in a relaxed social setting.
Admission is $5 for chamber members and $10 for non-members.
For more information, call 831-688-1467 or visit https:// aptoschamber.com.
PICTURE THIS: BELONGING BUILDS COMMUNITY
6–8 p.m., 705 Front St., Santa Cruz Housing Matters will launch its quarterly “Picture This: Belonging Builds Community” storytelling series focused on connection, inclusion and community care in Santa Cruz County.
CAPITOLA ROD & CUSTOM CLASSIC CAR SHOW
Saturday
8:30
The evening includes a featured storyteller, facilitated discussion with a local community partner and smallgroup reflection activities.
For more information or to register, visit https://housingmatterssc.org.
Friday June 5
THE PHENOMENON OF HEALING
10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Community Foundation Santa Cruz County (in the Solari room), 7807 Soquel Drive, Aptos “The Phenomenon of Healing” is a documentary about events that happened after the death of Bruno Groening in 1959.
Viewers learn how his work developed after his passing and the great extent of help and healing on the spiritual path that is still happening today — irrespective of religious affiliation, skin color and culture.
Fascinating interviews, professional comments by doctors and personal reports from Bruno Groening friends from many countries, give a broad overview of this big Circle of Friends.
Organized by Bruno Groening Circle of Friends: https://www. bruno-groening.org/en.
Friday June 5
Saturday June 6
52ND ANNUAL UCSC PRINT SALE
10 a.m.–6 p.m., UC Santa Cruz Elena Baskin Visual Arts Center & Printmaking Studio Room G-101, 1156 High St. The 52nd Annual UCSC Print Sale will feature hundreds of original prints created in a variety of media, including woodcuts, lithographs, etchings, screen prints and photobased works.
The two-day event is presented in conjunction with the Art Department’s Spring Open Studios and admission is free.
For more information, visit https://arts.ucsc.edu/news-events/.
Saturday June 6
SANTA CRUZ VEGFEST
11 a.m.–5 p.m., Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville Santa Cruz VegFest brings together thousands of attendees to celebrate plant-based, cruelty-free and environmentally sustainable living.
The event features food vendors, educational booths, speakers and community resources focused on animal welfare and climate-friendly lifestyles at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. For more information, visit https://vegfestsantacruz.org.
Saturday June 6
Sunday June 7
POSTCARDS FROM PARADISE
2 p.m., Market Street Theater and Senior Center, 222 Market St, Santa Cruz
Feel the rhythm. Taste the tropics. Escape to paradise.
Come to the Market Street Theater and Senior Center for two unforgettable performances of “Postcards From Paradise”— where the spirit of aloha comes alive!
From the moment the show starts, you’ll be swept away by the vibrant sounds of live ukulele and island drums, breathtaking hula performances, and captivating songs of Aloha.
Talented performers bring the traditions of Hawaii and the Tropics to the stage with grace, power, and heart.
Sunday June 7
UNITING WITH PRIDE
11 a.m., Downtown Santa Cruz along Pacific Ave., starting at Cathcart St. and Pacific Ave.
Santa Cruz Pride returns with its annual parade and festival celebrating inclusivity, community and equality.
The event features colorful floats, live entertainment, local organizations and activities for all ages in downtown Santa Cruz.
The parade begins at Cathcart Street and Pacific Avenue before continuing along the Pride Parade Route. For more information, visit https://santacruzpride.org.
FREE PARENT AND BABY SWIM CLASS INTRODUCTION
10 a.m., Jim Booth Swim School, Watsonville Free parent and baby swim class introduction at Jim Booth Swim School’s 94-degree indoor pool.
Parents and caregivers of children ages three months to three years are invited to learn a step-by-step approach to introducing infants safely and confidently to the water while building comfort and family connection. Reserve by calling 722-3500.
Monday June 8
BOOKSHOP SANTA CRUZ: DUSTY BAKER BOOK LAUNCH
7–8 p.m., Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
Legendary baseball player and manager Dusty Baker visits Bookshop Santa Cruz to discuss his memoir, “Crossroads: A Memoir in Baseball and Life,” with co-author Steve Kettmann.
The free event includes a talk and conversation, followed by a ticketed photo opportunity with Baker. For more information and tickets, visit Bookshop Santa Cruz.
Wednesday June 10
CAPITOLA SUMMER TWILIGHT CONCERTS: THE TRESTLES
6–9 p.m., Esplanade Bandstand, Esplanade Park, Capitola
The Trestles bring Surf and Garage Rock to Capitola’s free Summer Twilight Concert series.
Community members can enjoy live music at the beach while relaxing with picnic dinners, blankets and low-back chairs.
The concerts are family friendly and take place beside the sunset on the Capitola Esplanade.
For more information, go online at https://www.santacruz.org/ upcoming-events/
Saturday June 13
DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ JUNETEENTH PARADE
12–5 p.m., Pacific Ave. between Water and Locust St., Santa Cruz
The Downtown Santa Cruz Juneteenth Parade celebrates freedom and equality with a community event featuring music, poetry, dance, soul food, arts and crafts, basketball skills contests and a sack race.
Festive dress is encouraged, and the event is free and open to all ages.
SANTA CRUZ JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
Noon–6 p.m., Laurel Park behind the London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Juneteenth Celebration returns for its 35th year with the theme “Resilience,” featuring live music, dance, poetry, soul food, craft booths and family activities.
The free event also includes a second-line sidewalk parade, children’s games and a basketball clinic. For more information, visit https://www.santacruzjuneteenth.com.
FELT STREET FLEA MARKET
9 a.m.–2 p.m., CSL Santa Cruz, 1818 Felt St., Santa Cruz
The Felt St. Flea Market features 18 vendors offering antiques, collectibles, clothing, crafts, books, electronics, toys and tools all in one location.
Visitors can shop a wide variety of unique items and find special gifts in a community market setting. Admission is free and open to the public.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
THE HEALTHY WAY 40TH ANNIVERSARY HEALTH FAIR EXTRAVAGANZA
Saturday June 27
12 p.m. – 3 p.m., The Healthy Way, 3251 Mission Dr., Santa Cruz (Near Dominican Hospital)
The Healthy Way wants to thank its many clients and the community for 40 wonderful years in Santa Cruz County! Come and enjoy lots of free, great-tasting food, cooking demonstrations, giveaways, health consults, specials on services, and much much more! Music will be provided by KPIG radio’s live broadcast from our parking lot and meet the famous morning DJ, Ralph Anybody!
Internationally known, Santa Cruz local Dr. Christopher Hobbs will be the keynote speaker discussing The Science of Weight Loss. Health related vendors will be on hand to offer giveaways, ongoing raffle prizes and educate the public on their services. Free admission. www.thehealthyway.us • (831) 462-5900.
THREE FLAGS OVER APTOS:
CELEBRATING 250 YEARS IN APTOS
3–5 p.m., Aptos Branch Library Betty Leonard Community Room, 7695 Soquel Drive, Aptos
Celebrate 250 years of Aptos history through stories from the eras of Spain, Mexico, and the United States.
The presentation explores the Aptos Ohlone village, the creation of Aptos Rancho following Mexico’s independence, and the 1876 centennial celebrations hosted by Claus Spreckels at the Aptos Hotel.
Advance registration is required and seating is limited.
For more information or to register, visit https://santacruzpl.libnet. info/event/16222528 or contact John Hibble at (831) 688-9514 or john@aptoschamber.com.
SANTA CRUZ SYMPHONY MOVIE NIGHT
5 p.m. Street Party | 7:30 p.m. Concert, Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Symphony presents Movie Night, featuring music from blockbuster films including Titanic, The Lord of the Rings, Interstellar, Avengers, Star Trek, and Howl’s Moving Castle.
The evening begins with a free street party featuring live music, dancing, food trucks, and face painting, followed by the concert.
Movie costumes are encouraged.
For tickets or information, call 831-420-5260 or visit www. santacruztickets.com/Online/default.asp.
2ND SATURDAY ON THE FARM: DAIRY DAYS ON THE FARM
11 a.m.–3 p.m., Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville
The Agricultural History Project will host “Dairy Days on the Farm” as part of its monthly 2nd Saturday on the Farm series.
Families can enjoy hands-on agricultural activities including wooden cow milking, a kid-driven tractor, tractor
simulator and puppet theater performances focused on farming and rural life.
For more information, visit https://aghistoryproject.org.
Sunday June 14
CASTRO ADOBE STATE HISTORIC PARK OPEN HOUSE
10:30 a.m.–2 p.m., Castro Adobe State Historic Park, 184 Old Adobe Road, Watsonville
Visitors can explore more than 170 years of California history during an open house at Castro Adobe State Historic Park. State Parks docents will lead 90-minute tours highlighting the Castro family, vaquero culture and life during California’s Mexican Rancho period.
Advance registration is required for the free event. For more information, go online at https://www.santacruz.org/ upcoming-events/
HONOR SCOTT ROSEMAN
4 p.m., Temple Beth El Jewish Community Center, Aptos Temple Beth El will host an evening honoring Scott Roseman with stories, music, group singing, appetizers and drinks.
Organizers say the gathering will celebrate Roseman through community, laughter and connection with friends and family. For more information or to RSVP, visit https://www.tbeaptos.org/ event/fundraiser1.html.
Monday June 15
FIFA WORLD CUP SCREENING: SPAIN V CABO VERDE
9–11 a.m., Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History will host a free public screening of the FIFA World Cup match between Spain and Cabo Verde.
The family-friendly event includes complimentary popcorn and an all-ages art activity as fans gather to cheer on their favorite teams. For more information, visit https://www.santacruzmah.org.
Wednesday June 17
TREASURE COVE AT JADE STREET PARK GRAND OPENING
1 p.m., Jade Street Park, 4400 Jade Street, Capitola Celebrate the grand opening of Treasure Cove, a new inclusive playground at Jade Street Park designed for children and families of all abilities.
Community members are invited to attend the opening ceremony and explore the park’s accessible play features and gathering spaces.
For more information, visit County Park Friends at https://www. countyparkfriends.org.
Saturday June 20
A TASTE OF THE FESTIVAL –
CABRILLO FESTIVAL 2026 PREVIEW AND BENEFIT
3–5 p.m., Bargetto Winery, 3535 N. Main St., Soquel The Cabrillo Festival preview and benefit offers an afternoon of chamber music, wine and hors d’oeuvres in support of the 2026 festival season.
Friction Quartet will perform works by Vivian Fung, Clarice Assad and Philip Glass, with composer Vivian Fung joining for a Q&A.
The event also includes a silent auction benefiting upcoming festival programs.
For more information, visit https://cabrillomusic.org.
Sunday June 21
SOLSTICE VIEWING: JOSHUA MORENO
12–3 p.m., Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz
This final viewing presents the culmination of artist-inresidence Joshua Moreno’s year-long project tracing light and reflection at the decommissioned Davenport Jail. The installation features graphite wall tracings capturing shifting light patterns from the surrounding environment, highlighting Moreno’s experimental, site-specific artistic process developed over time.
Wednesday June 24
CAPITOLA SUMMER TWILIGHT CONCERTS: COFFEE ZOMBIE COLLECTIVE
6–9 p.m., Esplanade Bandstand, Esplanade Park, Capitola Coffee Zombie Collective performs originals and quirky covers during Capitola’s Summer Twilight Concert series. The free beachside event invites residents and visitors to enjoy music, picnic dinners and sunset views from the Esplanade.
Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or low-back chairs for seating. Dogs and alcohol are prohibited. For more information, go online at https://www.santacruz.org/ upcoming-events/
Thursday June 25
Saturday June 27
FREE HYPNOTHERAPY WORKSHOP
Thurs: 4:45 p.m., Aptos Public Library conference room, 1111 Soquel Dr. Sat: 3:15 p.m., London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St, Santa Cruz
Change your mind—Change your life by learning self & auto hypnosis to solve bad habits, attitudes, anx/dep and much more.
With clinically certified behavioral specialist, Scott Spackey, CATC, RAS, CCHt, CLC Details & RSVP: Life-Mind.com • 408-430-3693
Saturday June 27
WOODIES ON THE WHARF CAR SHOW
10 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Santa Cruz Wharf, Santa Cruz Woodies On The Wharf Car Show is the annual gathering of classic woodie vehicles on the Santa Cruz Wharf. Although the show runs 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., cars begin arriving as early as 6 a.m. to secure parking. Free event requires no registration or entry fee. More info available at https://www.santacruzwoodies.com. n
CASA Welcomes New Advocates for Children in Foster Care or Juvenile Justice
On May 19th, the Hon. Rebecca Connolly swore in 15 community members as Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in foster care or juvenile justice.
The new members had recently completed the CASA 35-hour training program. CASA of Santa Cruz County recruits, trains, and supervises volunteer Advocates who are matched one-on-one with a child in the county’s dependency (foster care) or juvenile justice court system. Advocates support and speak up for their assigned child throughout the duration of their case.
As officers of the Court, CASA volunteers spend 2–4 hours per week with their assigned child or youth, ensuring their needs are recognized, and their best interests are represented in the courtroom, at school, and in the community.
CASA encourages individuals from all cultures, professions, and ethnic and educational backgrounds to learn more and show up for a child or youth in our community. n •••
For more information on how to become a CASA volunteer Advocate, please contact Clarita Cortes at (831) 761-2956, ext. 102, or visit www.casaofsantacruz.org/ volunteer
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
YRB Raises $40,000 at Annual Event
T
he Santa Cruz County Youth Resource Bank raised more than $40,000 in community donations its annual “Investing in Our Children” fundraising event on April 25 at the historic cellars of Bargetto Winery. Guests enjoyed an evening featuring live music by the Matt Masih Trio, a curated selection of Bargetto wines, and gourmet charcuterie provided by The Wild Bite.
Led by award-winning auctioneer Robert Slawinski, attendees participated in both live and silent auctions featuring
more than 80 community-donated items. All auction proceeds will directly benefit vulnerable youth and families throughout Santa Cruz County.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters, the YRB will be able to aid an additional 200 local youth and their families this year. Since 1988, the Youth Resource Bank has supported youth and families in need throughout Santa Cruz County. In 2025 alone, the organization provided support and resources to more than 600 youth.
Jacob’s Heart Golf Fundraiser Seeks Support
Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services has opened registration for its 2026 golf tournament fundraiser, inviting community members to support local families facing childhood cancer through a day of golf and philanthropy.
The Jacob’s Heart Golf Tournament will be held Sept. 11, 2026, at Seascape Golf Club
in Aptos. Registration begins at 9 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. shotgun start. The event also includes a reception at 3:30 p.m. and dinner at 5 p.m.
Organizers said proceeds from the tournament will benefit Jacob’s Heart programs serving children with cancer and their families.
The nonprofit is also seeking event sponsors. Sponsorships may be completed through the event registration process or by mailing a check. Sponsorship information, including a sponsor deck and sponsor form, is available through the organization.
For sponsorship questions, attendees may contact Development Manager Eli Garnica at eli@jacobsheart.org or (831) 717-7797.
Paving Projects to Continue Through July
Pavement rehabilitation projects on bridges and ramps along three state highways in Santa Cruz County began in late May and
will continue through July, according to transportation officials.
The work is taking place on Highway 1 at the Highway 17 onramp in Santa Cruz, on Highway 17 near Granite Creek Road in Scotts Valley and on Highway 129 near Blackburn Street in Watsonville.
Motorists can expect intermittent overnight lane and ramp closures throughout the project areas during construction.
Single-lane closures are scheduled intermittently from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. No lane closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Monday.
Drivers should expect delays of up to five minutes.
Officials said the pavement rehabilitation work is intended to provide a smoother and safer drive for motorists.
The contractor for the $1 million project is Truesdell Corporation. Construction is expected to be completed by July 31, 2026. n
The new graduates are Marianne Taflinger, Sarai Zayas, Jocelyn Tafolla, Brenna Ramsey, Denia Aispuro-Quinonez, Diane Zipursky, Kenady McCall Osborne, Dana Dentino, Judy Kash, Joseph Sanchez, Julie Colligan, Carina Padilla, Nancy Fiedhoff, Amanda Cortes, and Elizabeth Solorio.
SCCAS Featured Pet
Run, Lola, Run!
Lola (A331148), a beautiful and active shepherd, came to the shelter because a landlord changed their pet policy.
She’s lived with other animals, including a small dog and a cat, with whom she’d play, and she did well with chickens and peacocks in her old home. While here at the shelter, she’s played readily with some dogs, but she’s also shown some selectivity, so we recommend a structured introduction here at the shelter if you already have a dog.
Lola was indoor-outdoor previously, sleeping indoors at night. She is house trained and lets you know when she has to go out, although anyone who adopts should expect to do a little bit of remedial house-training while a pet gets used to a new environment, new schedules, and a new lifestyle.
She walks well on a harness and she loves to play fetch and retrieve her ball. She’s been sociable and easy to handle by staff and volunteers, and she’ll thrive with an active adopter who can provide her with some daily mental and physical exercise.
The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is full of adoptable animals. Fostering animals is an awesome way to improve a Shelter animal’s life and fill your home with love and fun! If you are interested in fostering any kind of animal please email jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us. You can also Follow SCCAS on Instagram and/or Facebook to stay up-to-date on shelter news and where to find adoptable pets around town at breweries, stores and events. All adoptions are first come, first served.
Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 • Hours: Daily 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Arrive before 4 p.m. for “meet and greet” — Please ring bell for stray animal drop-off from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.) 580 Airport Blvd., Watsonville, 95076 • Hours: Tues.-Sat. 9:30 a.m.–noon; 1–5 p.m. (Closed Sun/Mon — Please ring bell for stray animal dropoff 9:30 a.m.-noon; 1-5 p.m.) Website: www.scanimalshelter.org
SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us
