Aptos Times: March 15, 2025

Extreme Generosity at Time of Need

Holiday Food & Fund Drive Shatters Records Again

On March 6, in a powerful show of solidarity, Santa Cruz County donors came together at a time to support Second Harvest Food Bank’s largest-ever fundraising event.

As federal food assistance programs face unprecedented cuts, the Holiday Food & Fund Drive Awards Dinner shattered records, ensuring that millions of meals will reach families in need.

Chaired by Dr. Faris Sabbah, Santa Cruz County

superintendent of schools, and Chris Murphy, president of the Santa Cruz Warriors, the sold-out event at Hotel Paradox showcased the deep commitment of local leaders, businesses, and residents to fighting hunger in their community.

“As we navigate uncertain times and the looming threats to federal funding, the generosity of our community is more important than ever,” said Erica Padilla-Chavez, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. ... continues on page 4

Delta School Moves to Heart of Cabrillo Campus

On Feb. 27, Cabrillo College and the nonprofit charter Delta School announced that, coinciding with its 30th anniversary, the Delta School will move from the lower campus to Building 500, in the upper campus.

Story page 6

The Santa Cruz County Fair announces the winner of the Fair Theme Contest and the 2025 Fair theme!

Laurie Gillmore, of Aptos, submitted the winning theme: “Hay Bales, Piggy Tails, and Ewe!”

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“Second Harvest” from page 1

Padilla-Chavez Continued: “Every contribution reflects not just a commitment to ending hunger, but a deep belief in the dignity of every individual. We are profoundly grateful for our partners’ continued support in ensuring that no one in Santa Cruz County goes without the nourishment they deserve.”

Inspired by her passionate leadership, Mari Rossi, a philanthropist and dedicated donor in Scotts Valley, took a bold stand, offering a surprise cash match donation and challenging attendees to step up in support.

Her call to action was met with enthusiasm, as The Seaside Company, better known as the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, and several other community members and local organizations answered the challenge, collectively raising an additional $30,000.

This remarkable show of support comes as Second Harvest Food Bank prepares for what is expected to be a difficult year for funding amid federal food assistance cuts. Such support underscores the power of community-driven action in the fight against hunger.

This momentum builds on the incredible generosity of the Santa Cruz County community during the holiday season.

BOWMAN RANCH BREAKFAST

From Nov. 7, 2024, through Jan. 15, 2025, the Santa Cruz County community raised the equivalent of 5,224,998 nutritious meals.

Sunday - March 23, 2025

8:30am

Bacon or Sausage, Fruit and ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKES !!

Every dollar contributed directly supports food-insecure residents, reinforcing the power of collective action in fighting hunger.

Individual Awards

Recognized as Second Harvest Food Bank’s Hunger Fighters of the Year, Vinita Fernandes and Diana Valdez exemplify dedication to combating hunger.

Vinita has spent over a decade rescuing and distributing food through Grey Bears and St. Joseph’s Church, ensuring seniors, the homeless, and disaster evacuees receive nourishment with dignity.

Diana’s initiative at Live Oak Elementary

has grown into a vital program serving over 100 families bi-monthly, showcasing the transformative power of community commitment.

Local businesses and organizations also played pivotal roles in the fundraiser’s success, including Twin Lakes Church, Boardwalk Bowl, UC Santa Cruz, Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, Dominican Hospital, Sequoia Wealth Advisors, Santa Cruz Montessori, and Park Avenue Fitness.

“Holiday Food Drive” page 5

OPTION#2 French Toast, Bacon or Sausage & Fruit $15/ Adults - $5/ Kids Ages 10 & Under

Bacon or Sausage, Fruit and ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKES !! OPTION#2 French Toast, Bacon or Sausage & Fruit $15/ Adults - $5/ Kids Ages 10 & Under

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The number of meals raised

Erica Padilla-Chavez, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, welcomes unexpected call to action by Mari Rossi.

COVER STORY

“Holiday Food Drive” from page 4

Individual community members Gun Ruder of S. Martinelli & Co., County of Santa Cruz’s Caitlin Smith and Adam Spickler, and community member John FitzGibbon were commended for their significant contributions as well.

While large donations made a substantial impact, the collective effort

This united community effort embodies the spirit of compassion that defines Santa Cruz County.

Looking ahead, Chris Murphy and Karl J. Rice, president and CEO of the Santa Cruz Seaside Company, will serve as co-chairs for the 2025-26 Holiday Food & Fund Drive and hope to raise even more meals next year. With current and potential funding cuts, Second Harvest Food Bank plans to launch a campaign to bridge the gap. So stay tuned for those details. n

Photo:

Holiday Food & Fund Drive Co-Chairs Chris Murphy and Dr. Faris Sabbah with Co-Hunger Fighter of the Year Diana Valadez.

Holiday Food & Fund Drive Co-Chairs Dr. Faris Sabbah and Chris Murphy with Co-Hunger Fighter of the Year Vinita Fernandes.

Delta School Moves to Heart of Cabrillo Campus

On Feb. 27, Cabrillo College and the nonprofit charter Delta School announced that, coinciding with its 30th anniversary, the Delta School will move from the lower campus to Building 500, in the upper campus.

The 500 Building, which has been home to the Estrellas program for freshmen and the grant-funded Title V program to improve transfer rates to CSU Monterey Bay for lowincome and Latino students, is undergoing renovations to prepare for Delta’s move-in during the summer.

Delta plans a grand opening/30th anniversary party in late April or early May when the renovations are complete.

About 65% of Delta High School students take Cabrillo classes along with high school classes.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Delta School to our upper campus,” said Cabrillo College Superintendent and President Matt Wetstein. “With 65% of Delta students also taking classes at Cabrillo as concurrently enrolled students, this new

location gives them better access to campus amenities and more of a true college student experience — it makes sense on many levels.”

“We are very excited to provide a highquality learning environment for all of our students,” said Delta Superintendent/Principal Jen Ra’anan. “Dual-enrolled students will have easier access to their courses, the library, and the HUB. Additionally, with 80% of our students enrolling at Cabrillo postgraduation, the familiarity with the campus will provide our seniors a smoother transition when they start college.”

Delta High School, the fifth oldest charter school in the state, was established in July 1994 by local businesspeople as a nonprofit public charter Cities in Schools to serve students who had not been supported by traditional school environments.

Starting in one classroom at UC Santa Cruz, Delta moved to Cabrillo College in Aptos in 2002 and since then, has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the community college.

Delta’s veteran staff supports 120 students spanning grades 9–12 with levels ranging from academically accelerated to those needing extra support.

Delta intentionally aims to keep class sizes small, though the move to Cabrillo’s upper campus could allow the school to add 15 more students. Delta graduates between 40 and 60 students each year, and this year is on schedule to graduate 50 seniors.

With the move taking place over the summer, Delta is to offer classes in the 500 Building starting in fall 2025.

“The Delta Board is so appreciative of the educational partnership with Cabrillo College, which has enabled the move to our new facility on the Cabrillo campus,” said Mary Altier, Delta board president. “The shared vision between our two independent entities will provide better educational opportunities for students seeking a smaller, more personalized learning environment.” n

Delta School is accepting applications for the 2025-26 school year. Families interested in enrolling or learning more about Delta can visit www.deltaschool.org or email Superintendent/ Principal Jen Ra’anan at jraanan@deltaschool.org.

Cabrillo President Matt Wetstein with Delta School Superintendent Jen Ra’anan.

Hay Bales, Piggy Tails, and Ewe!

The Santa Cruz County Fair announces the winner of the Fair Theme Contest and the 2025 Fair theme!

Laurie Gillmore, of Aptos, submitted the winning theme: “Hay Bales, Piggy Tails, and Ewe!”

“I’ve always loved going to the Santa Cruz County Fair. As a child, I couldn’t wait for the Fair Entry Guide to come out. It was great fun to select an exhibit to compete in, and helped foster a love for horticulture that still exists today. I’m grateful for that experience, and hope that children (of all ages) continue to be inspired by the beauty that surrounds them,” says Gillmore.

As the winner of the contest, Gillmore will receive tickets to the Fair and a parking pass.

The 2025 Fair will feature several new

offerings, including FMX Ramp-Age (featuring an X-Games gold medalist), Pro Wrestling Revolution and a new bilingual circus, It’s Showtime Circus!

The Fair will also host all the annual favorites… the Tractor Parade, Junior Livestock Auction, Horse Show, Charras, magic shows and much more! There will also be live concerts, including a Taylor Swift tribute and Beatles tribute.

For all our local bakers, makers, florists, farmers, quilters, poets, artists and LEGO lovers… please look for the Fair Entry Guide, online and in stores, in early May.

The Fair runs Sept. 10-14. See you there! n

One Person with Autism: Never Give Up

Matthew Kenslow has an empowering message for anyone with a disability and those around them.

“I never asked for autism, and other people never asked for a disability, whether it’s developmental or physical,” said Kenslow, 29, who graduated from Newport High School, Orange Coast College and Vanguard University and is working as a substitute teacher. “But I chose not to let it [discrimination] stop me. One of the things that I do is — although I don’t condone what was said or done to me — I forgive. And I think that forgiveness is the key to helping me move on in life.”

As Kenslow persevered to obtain his teaching credentials, he processed what he was experiencing by writing down his thoughts and sharing his journey on YouTube, where he now has more than 80,000 subscribers.

The 384-page book, with a cover featuring a red megaphone, traces Kenslow’s journey through student teaching, as he overcame challenges and became a soughtafter substitute teacher who has been a favorite among thousands of students across dozens of schools.

He chronicles his highs and lows with candor, as he walks readers through what life is really like for people who are neurodivergent.

The positive feedback he received from around the world prompted him to write his second book, Unstoppable, in which he shares his inspiring story to encourage others to find and pursue their passion, despite any obstacles.

His mission is to teach others from a firsthand perspective about how people with autism interpret things differently from the rest of the world.

Kenslow is currently a substitute teacher in the NewportMesa Unified School District, as he awaits landing a full-time teaching position, preferably middle school math.

He grew up with a form of autism that was once referred to as Asperger’s syndrome, diagnosed at age 6.

He feels he has been blessed with the gifts to juggle, play piano and recall facts about the American presidents, geography, science, and mathematics

“Matthew Kenslow” page 8

Matthew Kenslow

Aptos

Real Estate Update

Ruth Bates

831.359.2212

ruthbates1@gmail.com

CalBRE#01799929

NEW LISTING: 323 LOS ALTOS – $1,649,000

Come see my fabulous new listing at 323 Los Altos in Rio Del Mar. Custom build completed in 2005. 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1900 Sq. Ft., 2-car garage on a 5184 SF lot. The Primary bed and bath are on the ground floor – so single-level living if you want it! Features include all exposed beams, vaulted ceilings, milled wide plank oak floors, and dual-pane windows. Kitchen has granite countertops and 5-burner gas stove. The Primary Bedroom and Living Room open to a back balcony deck and an expansive backyard with real artichokes, limes, garden beds, and firepit area. 6000 watts solar – 3 electric car charging stations. Great Walkability! – ½ mile to Hidden Beach, around the corner to Seascape Golf course, walk to Dining and Shopping. Listen to the ocean from your backyard. Open House Sun 3/15 1-4, Thu 3/20 12:30-3, Sat 3/22 1-4, Sun 3/23 1-4.

APTOS SOLD (FEBRUARY)

February was a slow month. Only 8 homes and 3 townhomes sold. High sale was 103 Carlino Lane at $3,454,000, 5B/3.5Ba/4486SF ocean view home on ¾ acre. Followed by: 9742 Monroe - $2,975,000 – 3B/2.5Ba/2732SF on 1.4 acres; 150 Pebble Beach Way$2,785,000 – 4B/3.5Ba/2630 new build, originally listed last year for $3,198,000; 509 Woodhaven - $1,698,000 – 3B/2.5Ba/1908SF, on sale since 2021 starting at $2,395,000; 306 Los Altos - $1,475,000 – 3B/2.5BA/1970SF; 1440 Fern Flat - $1,300,000 – 4B/2Ba/2067SF; 603 Harriet - $1,050,000 – 2B/1Ba/831SF, and 422 Loma Prieta sold for ‘land value’ at $450,000. Townhomes sold: 123 Marina – $1,158,000 – 2B/2.5Ba/1224SF after 253 days on market; 279 Aptos Beach - $1,125,000 – 3B/2.5BA/1930SF; and 111 Vineyard CT$958,000 – 2B/2Ba/1692SF.

APTOS ACTIVE

As of 3/07, there are 48 homes for sale. Avg. List Price is a whopping $2,239,978, Median List Price is $1,722,500. High list remains to be 422 Seaview, asking $8,000,000 on market for 267 days. Only 8 homes are <$1million, 704 Encino-$995K, 422 Seacliff-$950K, 3358 S Polo-$950K, 734 Loma Prieta-$949K, 9961 Monroe-$945K, 857 Bruns-$899K, 851 Burns-$899K, and 812 Cathedral-$699K. Homes around Median: 100 Pleasant Heights - $2,099,000 – 4B/4Ba/3600SF on 1.9 acres; 500 Valencia School Road - $1,895,000 – 2B/2Ba/1852SF on 12 acres; 416 Semple$1,750,000 – 5B/2.5BA/2085SF; 524 Yoshiko - $1,600,000 – 3B/2.5Ba/2474SF; 108 Santa Cruz – $1,579,000 - 3B/2BA/1340SF; 7149 Danko - $1,525,000 – 3B/2.5Ba/1889SF.

30-YEAR MORTGAGE

INTEREST RATE – 6.70% (3/07)

New Principals at Valencia & Renaissance

Patrick Lynch is the new principal of Valencia Elementary in Aptos, starting in July. Currently he is the academic coordinator for both Rio Del Mar Elementary and Calabasas Elementary.

Lynch started his education career in 2012 as a paraprofessional in a special education program. He became an elementary school teacher in 2015 and he also has experience teaching 7th grade.

He has a bachelor‘s degree in psychology from John F. Kennedy University and a master’s degree in education from CSU Monterey Bay. He also has a multiple subject credential and an administrative credential from CSU Monterey Bay.

•••

Joe

Smith has been selected as the permanent principal for Renaissance High School after working as interim principal this school year.

He has spent most of his career at Aptos High School, joining the staff in 1996 as an academic learning coordinator, then social studies teacher and assistant principal. He has coached the basketball teams at Aptos High, both

“Matthew Kenslow” from page 7

His life has been filled with struggle and adventure.

He earned the Gold Medal of Achievement — equivalent to the rank of Eagle Scout — through Royal Rangers, a program he began at age 5. Now, he is giving back to children and teens teaching and mentoring them.

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

His first book, Juggling the Issues, was published in 2019 and won two awards.

He has a master’s degree in education from Vanguard University, two science degrees, and a full math credential.

He also volunteers for speaking engagements at local schools on the topic

the boys and girls and won several league championships.

Before taking the Renaissance interim role, he was a program director for Expanded Learning focusing on credit recovery.

Smith has a bachelor’s degree in history from UC Santa Cruz, a single subject teaching credential from National University, a master’s degree in educational administration from San Jose State, a master’s degree in kinesiology from Fresno Pacific and an administrative credential from San Mateo County Office of Education. •••

Chrissy

MacLean has been selected as the new director of Equity, State and Federal Programs and Accountability after working as the interim director for most of this school year. Previously MacLean was the coordinator of academic and social emotional counseling programs in PVUSD.

MacLean has been a teacher at both Diamond Technology Institute and Watsonville High and as a technology integration coach. She also he assistant principal in charge of master scheduling and an interim principal at Watsonville High School.

MacLean has a degree in American studies and a master’s in education, both from UCSC. She holds single subject credentials in English, social science and health. She also has an administrative credential from the Santa Clara Office of Education. Currently she is working on her doctorate in educational leadership through San Jose State University.

of disability awareness, acceptance and inclusion. He has shared his inspiring message with more than 10,000 students and counting.

Over a million people follow his story on social media.

He’s on Instagram (matthew_ kenslow), Facebook (JugglingTheIssues), YouTube (@matthewkenslow722), X (@KenslowMatthew) and TikTok (@ matthewkenslow).

In one video on YouTube titled “Empathy for Muscular Dystrophy,” he said, “I take it upon myself to be an advocate, a voice for the voiceless.”

“If I could accomplish all that (plus more) with a so-called ‘disability,’ then what’s your

March 5 Red Apple Award Winners!

Congratulations to the following staff who were honored at the most recent Board meeting. As a reminder, staffers are nominated by their peers for embodying the core values approved by the board: Excellence; Integrity; Resilience; Empathy; Unity; Grace; Courage; and or Faith:

• Leticia Quintana, Instructional Assistant, Migrant Education; Core Value: Excellence

• Monica Nowlin, Counselor, Rolling Hills Middle School; Core Value: Integirty

• Nancy Zuniga, Assistant Director, Expanded Learning; Core Value: Unity

Visit the Red Apple Award site at https://sites.google.com/pvusd.net/redappleawards/home to see all honorees! n

excuse?” Kenslow quipped. “Everybody has a purpose, despite a disability. I am a proponent of inclusion, appealing for the ‘nondisabled’ to make time to get to know us. There’s still a need to spread not only awareness but also acceptance.” n

Unstoppable: How One Person With Autism Is Never Giving Up on His Lifelong Dream To Become a Teacher and Worldwide Influencer • Publisher: River Birch Press

Available for $20.19 at: https://www. amazon.com/Unstoppable-Matthew-Kenslow/ dp/1956365583

For information, visit https://matthewkenslow-shop.fourthwall.com/pages/bio-andsocial-media.

Joe Smith

Patrick Lynchas

Chrissy MacLean

The beauty of cork, wood and laminates

Featuring Graber and Hunter Douglas Custom Draperies and Roman Shades!

Local Stalker

Becky Steinbruner recently received some security cam footage from a Newell Drive resident of a mountain lion checking out their driveway.

She felt it was important to remind people to keep your pets indoors at night and to stay alert if you’re going to enjoy the night air yourself.

Stay safe neighbors! n

Rail Advocates Give Capitola Trail Update

Here’s an update from Sally Arnold of Santa Cruz County Friends of the Rail and Trail on the situation in Capitola, asking for help with keeping the Rail & Trail work on track. •••

Capitola Trail Decision Delayed

The Park Avenue Rail Trail is not on the March 13 Capitola City Council meeting agenda. Instead, the council will vote on whether to hold another community meeting at New Brighton Middle School, April 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

In Case You Missed It: What Happened in Capitola

Here’s a timeline of the drama, starting with the February Capitola City Council Meeting:

• In early February, Friends of the Rail & Trail heard that the Capitola Rail Trail along Park Avenue was under attack. We sent out an action alert and more than 80 Rail & Trail supporters sent positive emails to the Capitola City Council.

• At the Feb. 13 Capitola Council meeting, the Regional Transportation Commission

and the County of Santa Cruz proposed a fully funded, elevated, buffered Rail Trail project for Capitola. The trail is placed between the railroad tracks and Park Avenue. It runs from New Brighton State Beach to Depot Hill, just above Capitola Village.

• Rail & Trail supporters came to the meeting and urged the Capitola Council to approve the trail. Opposition was there as well. Opponents erroneously claimed the trail would be mixing with car traffic on Park Avenue, and they brought up unrelated issues like the Capitola trestle and mobile homes elsewhere on the rail line.

• At the meeting, the Capitola Council chose not to approve the Park Avenue trail, and instead asked the County to provide more information about all of these issues.

After the Capitola City Council meeting:

• The County and RTC announced a March 4 informational Rail Trail and Rail Transit Open House to fulfill Capitola’s request.

• Friends of the Rail & Trail sent an action alert for the Open House and the

upcoming March 13 Capitola Council meeting. Capitola Council members have received a flood of positive emails from Rail & Trail supporters. We have heard that the letters are having an impact. Thank you to everyone who sent an email!

• The RTC hosted the Open House in Capitola. More than 200 people turned out. Big thanks go out to the RTC and County staff for preparing the event on short notice. They patiently explained everything to the curious public and to trail opponents. And big thanks to the Rail & Trail supporters who came. A friendly presence is an important morale booster for the staff who have worked so hard on these projects!

• On March 7, the Capitola City Council agenda for March 13 was released, but is missing an agenda item to vote on the Park Ave Rail Trail. Instead the City Council will vote on whether to hold another public outreach meeting. This one proposed for April 2.

On April 2 there will likely be another community meeting about the proposed trail.

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at New Brighton Middle School Performing Arts Center. We all need to attend to speak up.

Meanwhile, we will let you know once the Park Ave trail vote has been rescheduled.

What’s happening right now with the Capitola trail shows again how much the Rail & Trail projects needs our advocacy. It takes the whole community coming together to get these projects built. To keep this amazing movement for a more connected community strong and effective, we rely on gifts from individual donors like you.

A group of generous FORT supporters has pledged $40,000 as a Spring Challenge Grant. From now until June 1, they will be matching all donations, dollar for dollar. This means that right now, any donation you make to Friends of the Rail & Trail is doubled!

Individual donations are the fuel that powers us to create websites and newsletters, maintain our activist database, do community outreach, and bring new people to the Rail & Trail. Please donate now, and see your impact doubled by the Spring Challenge Grant! n

Lewis Rice Law Firm Wins Millions for Rail Trail Takings

Landowners across the United States whose property has been taken by the federal government have turned to the attorneys in Lewis Rice’s Federal Takings & Rails to Trails Practice Group to get the compensation they are owed.

By proving that a taking occurred and the value of the property taken, these attorneys have represented landowners in 11 states and secured multi-million-dollar awards for their clients.

Three such awards were made in June.

Lewis Rice attorneys Lindsay S. C. Brinton and Meghan S. Largent won $17,859,000 in compensation for three St. Petersburg, Florida landowners who brought takings claims against the federal government over conversion of an abandoned 0.86-mile railroad easement into a public hiking and biking trail, which crossed or trespassed on the landowners’ property.

They won $5,039,224 in compensation for 164 landowners who brought takings claims against the federal government for taking their property for the 19.4-mile Ecusta Trail, a hiking and biking trail between Hendersonville and Brevard that crossed or trespassed

on the landowners’ property.

They won more than $220,000 in compensation for eight landowners in southern Indiana who brought takings claims against the federal government for the taking of their property for the Monon South Trail, a hiking and biking trail that crossed or trespassed on the landowners’ property.

In May, they won more than $7.4 million for eight clients who owned property along the Downtown Greenway trail, formerly the Atlantic & Yadkin railroad. Amounts ranging from nearly $42,000 to $3.3 million.

What all of these cases have in common:

Property is taken pursuant to the National Trails System Act, which authorizes abandoned railroad lines to be converted to public parks.

Attorneys litigate these cases in the United States Court of Federal Claims.

The Rails to Trails Conservancy, founded in 1986, is pushing for the Great American Rail-Trail, a 3,700-mile bike trail from Washington State to Washington D.C., which so far has 2,057 miles in 12 states excluding California.

Funds secured so far total $148 million.

The 2021 infrastructure law allowed for as much as $1 billion over five years for the program, but Congress has authorized less than $45 million.

Lewis Rice, based in Missouri, represents landowners when their property is seized by the federal government pursuant to the National Trails System Act, which allows abandoned railroad lines to be converted to public parks.

The law firm says these rail-trail conversions are a constitutional taking of private property for public purposes, and under the Fifth Amendment, affected landowners have

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a right to seek compensation from the federal government.

If your property has been taken for a railtrail conversion, the law firm can take these steps to make sure you are paid:

1) File a claim for compensation in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

2) Gather and examine documents such as maps, deeds and other title records to prove the government took your property.

3) Determine the amount of compensation you are entitled to if the government is found responsible for taking your property. Compensation includes:

• Value of the land.

• Interest that has accrued since the day of the taking.

• Attorney fees and expenses.

•••

FAQ from Lewis Rice

Rail-trail conversions occur when an abandoned railroad corridor is converted into a public recreational park or trail.

“Lewis Rice” page 12

SEACLIFF

Saturday Smogs 8-1

COMMUNITY NEWS

Second District Office Hours

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Kim De Serpa announced upcoming office hours to connect directly with constituents and address community concerns.

Monday, March 17, from 10 am to noon — Capitola City Hall Community Room, 420 Capitola Ave., Capitola.

De Serpa

Tuesday, April 1, from 3-5 pm — Aptos Library Conference Room, 7695 Soquel Drive, Aptos.

Friday, April 11, from 10 am to noon — La Selva Beach Library, 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach.

“Lewis Rice” from page 11

How do rail-trail conversions affect landowners?

The federal government may have initially seized land from individuals, businesses and farms to encourage expansion of the railroad system.

At that time these landowners were not eligible to receive compensation for their property due to federal laws.

However, when the land formerly used for railroads started to be repurposed, the federal courts ruled the government must pay any landowners whose property was taken.

How do I know if my property could be affected by a rail-trail conversion?

The federal government will not directly notify you about a rail-trail conversion that may affect your property.

The railroad must publish notice of its abandonment of the line in a local newspaper and announce it in the Federal Register.

However, most landowners learn about these developments only through local news reports or correspondence from an attorney.

How is this a “taking” of my property?

According to state law, once a railroad abandons using its right-of-way for railroad purposes, the right-of-way disappears. This leaves the property owner with an unencumbered possession.

But because the National Trails System Act overrides state law, the railroad is allowed to sell the right-of-way to the federal government for use as a public park instead.

When the National Trails System Act went into effect in 1968 there was no provision allowing landowners to be compensated for property taken from them. In the 1980s, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that while the federal government has the right to seize landowners’ property for a public purpose, landowners must be compensated for the taking.

These sessions provide residents with an opportunity to discuss issues, ask questions, and share feedback with their elected representative in an informal setting.

“Engaging with the community is my top priority, and I want to ensure that every resident has access to their county government,” said De Serpa.

No appointments are required, but if you wish to reserve a specific time, email second. district@santacruzcountyca.gov.

Topics of discussion may include local government services, public safety, housing, infrastructure, and other community concerns. Supervisor De Serpa welcomes input from all constituents and encourages residents to bring their questions and ideas. n

Do I have to file a lawsuit?

Yes. When the federal government seizes your property, it does not have to compensate you unless you file a claim for compensation and prove your property was taken.

If the federal government is found to be responsible for the taking, attorneys will work with you and the court to determine the amount of money you are owed.

What if I don’t make a claim for compensation?

If you do not make a claim for compensation, you will not be compensated for the land taken from you.

What if I don’t know how the original railroad obtained the right-of-way?

Your attorney must gather the documents needed to prove the government is responsible for taking your property, including historical records, maps, deeds and other title records.

Will this lawsuit hurt or affect the creation of the public park or trail?

No, the lawsuit will not affect whether a trail is built. The lawsuit is not against the railroad or the trail group. It is only against the federal government for taking your property and converting it to a public park or trail.

The funds for your compensation will come from the Judgment Fund at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

What is “just compensation” for the taking of my property?

Justcompensation is the amount of money landowners are entitled to when their land is taken by the federal government. It includes three things:

• Value of the land before and after the taking. This is determined by an expert appraiser.

• Interest, which begins accruing on the date of the taking and continues accruing until payment is made.

• Attorney fees and expenses, which are reimbursed to landowners. n

Kim

Charter Arts School Wins Judges Choice Showcase Award

On Feb. 1, Watsonville Charter School of the Arts middle school students won the prestigious Judges Choice Showcase award at the annual California Junior Thespian Festival at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana.

Belly Marquez, a 7th grader, won the Judges Choice Thespy award for her solo musical theatre performance.

This was the first year Watsonville Charter School of the Arts has participated in the event.

The trip was made possible through funding provided by Prop. 28 which provides additional funding to public schools for arts and music education in California schools.

in themselves and their abilities, to be kind and authentic in their interactions with adults and peers, and to show respect to their teachers and directors. Watching them perform with such grace and confidence was nothing short of inspiring.”

Having known this group since their kindergarten days, Thomas has witnessed their growth firsthand — not only in their theatrical talents but also in their character.

“Our students worked hard to prepare for this opportunity and we couldn’t be more proud of them and their representation of our school and Watsonville,” said WCSA music teacher and theatre director Bobby Marchessault.

“These students embody everything we stand for,” said Amy Thomas, WCSA principal. “They have been taught to believe

“I’ve seen their transformation over the years, and their dedication to their craft is a testament to the power of education, mentorship, and community support,” she said. “I have no doubt that one day, I’ll see them on the big screen and hope they remember their Chameleon roots.”

The Thespian Festival is known for attracting some of the most talented young performers in the state.

Students also participated in educational workshops, including one with theater professionals at Walt Disney Imagination Campus.

Watsonville Charter School of the Arts

presented The SpongeBob Musical in spring 2024, Matilda Jr. in spring 2023, and The Lion King Jr. in spring 2022.

This year’s musical is Once On This Island Jr. on Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17, at the Henry J. Mello Center for the

Watsonville Charter School

is a public charter school part of

School District.

Performing Arts in Watsonville. Admission is free.

The

of the Arts

the Pajaro Valley Unified

Dominican Offers HeartFlow Analysis

ignity Health Dominican Hospital now offers a new non-invasive diagnostic option for individuals with suspected heart disease.

HeartFlow Analysis uses CT images along with CT-derived fractional flow reserve to helps diagnose coronary artery disease. Analysts use AI algorithms create a detailed anatomical model of the patient’s heart, enabling physicians to visualize blood flow and detect stenosis, or plaque obstructing the coronary arteries.

HeartFlow Plaque Analysis is the only FDA cleared AI-enabled plaque quantification tool validated in a prospective international trial against the gold standard of invasive imaging, with a reported 95% agreement.

The SCOT-HEART trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2018, randomized 4,146 patients between standard care and coronary computed tomography angiography. The latter reduced the death from coronary heart disease or nonfatal myocardial infarction by 41% at 5 years compared to standard care.

Heart Flow reports 1,400 institutions use the tool for more than 400,000 patients.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States,

with coronary artery disease being the most common type, affecting nearly half of the adult population.

This occurs when arteries supplying blood to the heart narrow or become blocked, reducing blood flow to the organ. This can lead to chest pain, heart attacks and even death.

Accurately identifying the location and extent of artery blockages is crucial for developing an effective treatment plan and determining whether intervention is needed.

“This new tool revolutionizes the approach to heart care by providing critical information that can help us determine the best treatment plan for each patient through a convenient, non-invasive platform,” said Dr. Charnjeet Sandu, interventional cardiologist, Dominican Hospital. “This innovation underscores Dignity Health’s commitment to prioritizing patients by investing in advanced technologies that enhance care, improve outcomes, and ensure overall well-being.”

This tool enables a more accurate, noninvasive diagnosis, significantly reducing false negatives and positives compared to traditional testing for coronary artery disease, according to Dominican Hospital, which pointed out it cuts invasive catheterization procedures by 75% and reduces the need for initial diagnostic tests.

Additionally, it is 75% more likely to identify patients who require intervention.

For 2025, Medicare boosted the payment rate for the Heart Flow analysis to $1,017 and

the rate for the AI-enabled plaque analysis to $950.

In addition, Medicare doubled the rate for coronary computed tomography angiography, from $175 to $357.13, a change applauded by the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, which said the new number reflects the value provided.

The company has raised $757 from investors who expect an initial public offering this year.

Top competitors include Cleerly, Caristo Diagnostics, and MEDICAL IP, according to CB Insights. n

Founded as Cardiovascular Simulation in Mountain View in 2010, HeartFlow’s technology became commercially available in the U.S. in 2014.

Jade Street Community Center Renovation to Begin

By Jondi Gumz

Along-awaited renovation of the Jade Street Community Center took a big step forward on Jan. 30 with the Capitola City Council awarding a $4.726 million contract to SSB Contracting of Salinas.

The vote was 5-0.

With a 9.5% contingency and a $75,000 PG&E upgrade, that brings the total cost to $5.247 million.

The building owned by the Soquel Union Elementary School District and designated an emergency evacuation center, has not been renovated since it was built in the 1980s.

Capitola has a long-term use agreement specifying that the city to make improvements by November of 2026.

These include a new roof, new siding, windows, and doors, ADA upgrades such as an accessible single-user restroom, new HVAC system with zones for greater efficiency, kitchen improvements, and inside a new permanent wall with storage.

Design is by Boone Low Ratliff Architects.

SSB was the lowest responsive bid of six bidders.

Items such as kitchen, electrical upgrades, exterior site improvements, EV charging, landscaping and generator upgrades were bid as add-ons and the city will forego the $960,000 landscaping and $160,000 generator improvements for now, looking for future grant opportunities.

City Public Works Director Jessica Kahn said, “We wanted to make sure that when we bid this project, we had a project we could afford to construct.”

Construction is expected to start toward the end of February or beginning of March and last about a year.

The city has put aside $1.8 million for the project since 2022, was awarded a $1 million grant a year ago from the California, Natural

Resources Agency facilitated by Assemblymember Dawn Addis, got a $3.2 million Community Development Block Grant, and then added $160,240 left over from a CDBG project for a $6,160,240 budget.

The city spent about $600,000 on the design and earmarked $300,000 for a construction manager day to day with about $5,024,000 remaining for construction.

Leslie Nielsen, who is on the Financial Advisory Committee, commended the staff for keeping the project on budget but made a pitch to add the generator if possible.

“It’s quite an investment we’re making,” said Councilman Gerry Jensen, noting the Jade Street Park playground is seeing an upgrade to make it accessible, with County Park Friends raising $1 million to go with city funds. “What is the downside to that is that other things go undone.”

One example: Paving to keep streets from crumbling, supposed to be allocated $2.2 million a year but the number is under $1 million.

Council member Melinda Orbach said, “My kids, you know, they they’re there for Camp Capitola. We go to Jade Street Park often, so I’m really excited for the upgrades. And I’m also excited that the community will have the space for events and hopefully we’ll see it be utilized in that way in the future.” n

Charnjeet Sandu

COMMUNITY NEWS

Santa Cruz County Office of Inspector General: Quarterly Report of Feb. 27

Released by the OIG Group (OIRGroup.com): Michael Gennaco, Julie Ruhlin, Samara Marion.

This quarterly report is intended to provide the community with an update on our activities as the Inspector General for Santa Cruz County since we presented our First Annual Report to the Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz community in October 2024.

We have largely continued the activities of our first year — listening and responding to complaints or inquiries from the public, including individuals incarcerated in the County’s jails; reviewing Internal Affairs investigations into allegations of deputy misconduct; reviewing use of force incidents; and connecting with community stakeholders on issues of importance to those they represent.

In addition, we have been working with the Sheriff’s Office on its plan to implement the 21 recommendations we made in our Annual Report.

We reviewed the case and found it had been investigated by IA in 2022, with a finding that the involved deputies had not violated any policies. The complainant had received a letter regarding this disposition in 2022. It was a standard form letter, which we understand did not satisfy the complainant’s concerns.

As we noted in our 2024 Annual Report, the Sheriff’s Office has committed to changing its approach to disposition letters sent to complainants, to include a more personalized statement that will assure complainants their concerns were understood and taken seriously.

While this complainant may still not have been satisfied with the ultimate result, a more detailed closing letter could have at least resulted in less confusion about the resolution of the complaint.

• Another individual reached out to our office complaining about the Sheriff’s Office response to her calls for service relating to her allegation that her tenant (who lived in an adjoining structure on the same property) was manufacturing illegal substances.

The Sheriff’s Office went through a leadership transition in December, with Sheriff Hart retiring and former Undersheriff Chris Clark assuming the helm of the agency. That compelled other movement within the leadership ranks, including the promotion of a new Undersheriff and shifts at the Chief’s level and below.

From the OIG’s perspective, the transition has been seamless. We had established a positive working relationship with Sheriff Clark when he was Undersheriff, and we have maintained our open lines of communication since the promotional moves.

We look forward to continuing to work with the new leadership team, both on our prior recommendations and on an ongoing basis throughout the coming year.

Complaints Received by OIG

Operations Bureau Complaints

During the past three months, we received three complaints from members of the public.

We communicated with the Sheriff’s Office on each, and each has been resolved:

• One complainant raised a concern about a use of force she had witnessed in 2022 that she felt had not been resolved.

We inquired with the Sheriff’s Office about its record of contacts with the complainant and learned she had nearly 100 calls for service in 2024, all of them relating to issues with her tenant. This is a remarkable number of calls for one location, and we learned the issues around this situation are complex.

Ultimately, the Sheriff’s Office began coordinating with other more appropriate County agencies to provide services and develop long term plans for both of the involved individuals.

• The third complaint was from an individual with a long history with the Sheriff’s Office in various capacities — witness, arrestee, and incarcerated person.

Most of the individual’s complaints were related to issues surrounding the District Attorney and the Courts, but he also complained about interactions with the Sheriff’s Office, including allegations of unlawful surveillance and warrantless arrest in 2023, and an unlawful arrest after he had been assaulted.

We asked the Sheriff’s Office for information on each of these interactions and found that none of the complainant’s allegations were supported by the extrinsic evidence. We continue to have ongoing communications with this complainant and will review any further allegations raised.

Internal Affairs recently completed investigations into two complaints we

received from members of the public during 2024. Following our usual practice, we discussed our role with the complainants and ultimately forwarded each complaint to the Sheriff’s Office for investigation.

When the IA investigation was complete, we received and reviewed all the materials associated with both.

• One closed investigation stemmed from a complaint alleging that a Sheriff’s Office employee inappropriately used his influence to keep his adult child out of trouble while steering authorities to arrest the complainant’s adult child.

IA investigated and determined the conduct of the employee was within policy. We found a number of aspects of the investigation into these allegations to be lacking, with some inconsistencies not fully pursued in the interviews.

We were also disappointed that the disposition letter to the complainant — sent after publication of our annual report — was the type of form letter we criticized in that report. We communicated with the Sheriff’s Office on this case, and felt that our concerns were heard and understood, with an acknowledgement of the type of improvement needed.

One important aspect of the case related to the level and type of details included in a social media post on a Sheriff’s Office account announcing the arrest of the complainant’s child. The Sheriff’s Office acknowledged our concerns about

this allegation and agreed to work with us to develop a new social media policy.

• In a second case, an individual reported that the Sheriff’s Office deputies ordered him out of his lawfully parked RV at gunpoint, handcuffed him, searched him, his vehicles, and then ordered him to leave the parking spot and the county. He alleged that when he refused to leave (saying he was parked lawfully and also had nowhere else to go), the officers then unlawfully cited him for drug paraphernalia and tagged his RV and car with a 72-hour notice to tow. He also alleged that the SO’s use of a canine to sniff his RV and car were illegal.

The Sheriff’s Office completed a thorough IA investigation and concluded that all of the allegations were either “unfounded” or the deputies were “exonerated.” We reviewed the entire file, including body-worn camera footage.

On most of these allegations, we concurred with the Sheriff’s Office conclusions. However, we did have concerns with a couple aspects of the investigation and findings, particularly regarding the lawfulness of ordering the complainant to vacate the parking spot and the documentation of officer actions that implicated the Fourth Amendment.

While we understand deputies’ motivation for wanting the complainant to vacate the area (he was parked near the County’s sobering center and the Sheriff’s Office has a strong and understandable desire to limit

Chris Clark

drug activity in that location), we found that this incident (coupled with concerns we noted in a case we reviewed for our Annual Report) points to an opportunity to provide additional training on Fourth Amendment issues and the standards and expectations for addressing searches and seizures in incident reports.

One very positive note about this case was the closing letter provided to the complainant. Consistent with the Sheriff’s Office representation that it had changed its practice to provide more specific details in its communications about case disposition, the letter sent in this case provided an adequate explanation as to each of its findings. On each of these cases, we spoke at length with a Sheriff’s Office executive. We were grateful for the constructive conversations and are confident that this positive working relationship will lead to stronger investigations and more reliable outcomes in future cases.

Because of the concerns raised about these two investigations, we requested — and the Sheriff’s Office agreed — that we review any IA investigation that was initiated as a complaint to the OIG prior to its completion.

This will provide us the opportunity to request any additional investigative work before the case is closed and the disposition finalized.

Corrections Bureau Complaints

The number of contacts we had with incarcerated individuals was down over the past few months, relative at least to our entire first year of operating as the OIG.

We exchanged numerous emails (via the jail’s tablet system) with two different incarcerated persons. One of them made two specific complaints about particular incidents. We reviewed the documentation and body-worn camera footage for each, then had follow-up conversations with Sheriff’s Office personnel to discuss their review and conclusions.

One case resulted in informal counseling about the de-escalation efforts made, and one was resolved with the conclusion that deputies had properly followed all necessary protocols. We agreed with both conclusions. We also met in person with the parent of an incarcerated person regarding her concerns about her son’s treatment in jail.

During a prior meeting with Sheriff’s Office personnel, we had already heard about this individual, as Corrections staff proactively discussed with us the challenges of navigating this person’s mental health treatment in the context of the larger behavioral health system.

We subsequently met again with Sheriff’s Office personnel and learned that they, too, have met with the parent.

We have offered our assistance if that individual decides to file a formal complaint and will continue to monitor the status of the incarcerated person involved.

Use of Force Review

Many of the recommendations in our Annual Report focused on the Sheriff’s Office policies on the use of force and its processes for documenting and reviewing force incidents. Since we completed our Annual Report, we have had the opportunity to attend four monthly Use of Force Review meetings (two each for Corrections and Operations Bureaus).

During these meetings, command staff discusses each use of force from the prior month. A lieutenant presents the facts of each incident, and other participants ask follow-up questions and discuss the need for any training or other remedial actions. For some of the more serious incidents, participants view the body-worn camera footage during the meeting.

In these cases, it is clear that participants had already seen the video and discussed the incident well before the monthly meeting.

The OIG is a full participant in these meetings, with the opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns, and make suggestions. We also can and have asked to see the video and review the written reports with any of the force incidents discussed.

We appreciate this ongoing complete access to Sheriff’s Office information, systems, and personnel. We have been impressed with the scope of the Use of Force Review meetings, as well as the time and effort Sheriff’s Office personnel devote to a thorough review of each incident.

During the meetings we’ve attended, Operations reviewed a total of 46 incidents. Almost all of these were no more significant than the use of control holds

and takedowns. In seven of these, deputies displayed a firearm. In one, a deputy threw two punches, and there was one use of a Taser.

None led to anything more than minor injuries. Some of these incidents actually did not involve any use of force but were included on the list to review because the subject had been arrested for resisting a deputy — a situation that often leads to force and are reviewed to ensure there was no unreported force and as a way to recognize successful de-escalation efforts.

During the Corrections Bureau meetings, command staff reviewed 24 use of force incidents from the jails or courts. Again, most involved no greater force than control holds and none resulted in significant injury. Officers used OC spray in five incidents. Five uses of force were associated with orders for medical staff to administer involuntary medications.

In addition to evaluating the actual application of force, we found the command staff that attends these meetings do a good job of identifying systemic issues and areas of potential improvement, performing the type of holistic evaluation that is critical to an effective force review process. For example, personnel discussed the following during the various meetings we attended:

• Issues with poor communications due to radio malfunctions.

This is an ongoing problem that is being addressed with equipment and technology upgrades.

• Failure to activate body-worn cameras or other issues with camera activation.

In one case where the deputy did not activate his camera, command staff

had addressed the issue with the deputy, who did not have any history of similar failures to activate. In another, the camera had inadvertently been turned off during the struggle with the subject.

• Foot pursuits. Command staff discussed the circumstances around these pursuits and appropriately weighed various factors associated with the decision to pursue.

• Communications with mental health professionals in the jails.

Particularly in those circumstances involving involuntary medication orders, staff discussed the sometimes-complex interactions involving different components of the behavioral health system.

While we appreciate the thorough scrutiny of these incidents we observed in the meetings we attended, we continue to advocate for a greater degree of documentation of identified issues relating to these incidents and will collaborate with the Sheriff’s Office as it works to establish a mechanism to achieve this.

Community Outreach Efforts

We have had continuing conversations with community members and stakeholders throughout the past several months. Some of those were a direct follow up to the public meeting convened in conjunction with the release of our Annual Report.

We reached out to everyone who shared their contact information with us and heard from them more directly about their experiences with the Sheriff’s Office. We followed up as necessary with the Sheriff’s Office, asking questions and reviewing past complaints and grievances.

“OIG” page 26

PVUSD Board Approves Closure of Pacific Coast Charter School

On March 7, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District released a statement on the June 30 closure of the 26-yearold Pacific Coast Charter School, where student performance in math and English was substandard, absenteeism reached 20% and graduation rate of 81%. The closure will mean changes for the Virtual Academy.

At the March 5 Board of Trustees meeting, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District approved the closure of Pacific Coast Charter School and the transition of its 136 students to a newly structured PVUSD independent study program.

Students will be enrolled at each of their neighborhood/home PVUSD schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The Board approval follows a previous vote by the PCCS Council, moving forward with the charter school closure.

Another key change includes a proposal to integrate Virtual Academy students and staff from a stand-alone school into the new independent study program.

Virtual Academy’s 43 students will now enroll in PVUSD’s independent study program at each of PVUSD’s neighborhood/ home schools.

The new independent study program will be available to all TK-12th grade students

ensuring greater accessibility across the district to an educational option.

“We recognize that transitions like these bring both challenges and opportunities, and our priority is to support students, families, and staff every step of the way. By

Srestructuring our online independent study program, we are expanding access to flexible, high-quality learning options while maintaining strong connections to neighborhood schools. This new independent study program will ensure a smooth transition,

provide comprehensive support, and continue to offer engaging learning experiences that meet the diverse needs of our students,” stated Dr. Heather Contreras, Superintendent of Schools.

PVUSD is committed to teacher continuity and current PCCS and Virtual Academy teachers will have the opportunity to continue teaching within the restructured independent study program. The District remains committed to offering enrichment and engagement opportunities for students, including an in-person art program, new optional in-person classes and enrichment opportunities at the neighborhood/ home school.

The District will now implement a comprehensive student support plan to facilitate a smooth transition for all PCCS and Virtual Academy students to independent study programs at their neighborhood/home PVUSD schools.

PVUSD is committed to supporting families of these school communities throughout this transition and ensuring all students receive high-quality, flexible learning opportunities.

The District will provide additional details and resources in the coming weeks to assist students and families with this transition for the 2025-26 school year. n

Laura Whaley Promoted to Assistant Library Director

anta Cruz Public Libraries announces Laura Whaley has been selected assistant director of libraries, effective

March 1, succeeding Eric Howard, who left last fall. The assistant director oversees the

public service divisions of the organization which include all branches, Outreach, and Adult and Youth Programs and Services.

Library Director Christopher Platt said, “As assistant director, Laura brings her knowledge, experience and commitment to our Santa Cruz region to support the staff and patrons in bringing the Library’s mission of “Inclusion, Connection, Collaboration” to life.”

With a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of North Texas, Whaley expanded her leadership skills as a Fellow with the California State Library’s Eureka Leadership Program and was a member of the 2017 cohort of Leadership Santa Cruz County.

Whaley began her career with Santa Cruz Public Libraries in 1997 and since then has held many different positions with the organization as a library assistant for Youth Programs, branch manager in Boulder Creek, volunteer coordinator, a librarian in the Programs and Partnerships Dept, regional manager, and prior role as Facilities Manager.

She has served in a variety of interim leadership assignments in different library

departments including interim assistant director in several instances.

“It is always exciting to embark on a new opportunity,” said Whaley. “I am looking forward to supporting our director’s goals, working with staff, and sharing my years of experience with SCPL supporting the organization in this capacity.” n

Laura Whaley

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter sent to RTC Chairperson Montesino W e are contacting you to request that RTC Staff present all relevant information to the Capitola City Council regarding the discussion on the proposed diversion of the Coastal Trail throughout Capitola City.

Capitola City Manager has communicated with RTC staff, expressing public concerns regarding the proposed Park Ave Sidewalk Options A and B, which involve rerouting the Coastal Trail onto surface streets. The City Manager has sought additional information on alternative options, particularly those that would involve repurposing the Capitola Trestle into a trail and the Interim Coastal Trail (Option C).

Yesterday, I encountered Capitola Mayor Joe Clarke, and we engaged in a conversation about the RTC’s proposed trail diversion and the subsequent request from the City Manager to RTC Staff. During our discussion, I informed Mayor Clarke that RTC staff has declined to provide information regarding the Interim Trail option and the repurposing of the Capitola Trestle into a trail, stating that if Capitola does not wish to pursue the Park Ave Sidewalk option, RTC will simply allocate funds to other trail sections. This refusal by RTC Staff to furnish details on all options for the Coastal Trail and telling the city “if you don’t approve the Park Ave Sidewalk option, we will use funds in other county sections” is poor public policy.

RTC Staff should not dismiss Capitola’s request for comprehensive information on the various options available nor bully city officials. RTC staff asserts that the Interim Trail option will not comply with the deadlines set by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for grants; however, they have not disclosed the specific deadline requirements or construction timelines for the various options (A, B, C). Previous evaluations by former RTC Executive Director Guy Preston regarding the federal railbanking process, along with historical railbanking data from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) database, indicate that railbanking the Santa Cruz Branchline would require approximately 4 to 6 months. Other concerns raised by Mayor Clarke included the possibility that RTC’s plan to reroute the trail would contravene Measure L, leading to protracted legal disputes and delays in the construction of the Coastal Trail. The fact is, rerouting the trail onto Capitola surface-streets would indeed violate Measure L and hinder the trail’s development. Additionally, the Park Ave Sidewalk options face potential delays as they are not included in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Segment 11 of the Coastal Trail, necessitating a new EIR to evaluate the Sidewalk option. Given that the design and construction phase for the Interim Trail would be considerably shorter than that of the Park Ave Sidewalk options, the Interim Trail (with railbanking) would be completed more swiftly than the Park Ave Sidewalk options.

Park Avenue Trail Alternative

I’m not speaking for Friends of the Rail and Trail, but as you know, I’m very active independently and as a FORT Board member.

These are a few of my observations:

The Park Avenue Trail alternative is an independent project from the Coastal Trail project’s trestle, Village, and mobile home park sections.

It can be approved without solving all the other sections at the same time.

The new Park Avenue plan effectively connects homes, schools, and side streets and is not separated by fences like the older plan.

Putting a trail on the coastal side of the tracks is too expensive, and there are no funds to cover that expense.

The new plan costs the City of Capitola nothing and covers $80,500 in construction plans that were in play for a Park Avenue Traffic Calming program.

The new plan does NOT put the trail on the street but shares RTC and City of Capitola property and is separated from traffic lanes by a raised 3-5 foot wide median.

The RTC plans are 100% consistent with the City goals and plans for transit and active transportation

Watsonville and Santa Cruz are cooperating with the RTC, including sharing rights of way to make the best trail possible

Failure to approve Option A or B for Park Avenue could mean that no trail is built for a long time due to limited or lost funding.

The Trestle conversion is not an option; Supervisors and state and federal agencies forbid it without complicated and expensive steps.

RTC has written to the Capitola City Manager that rail banking will take too long, has unknown risks, and could result in losing funds, so the Park Ave option is the right choice.

— Barry Scott, Aptos

Finally, Mayor Clarke expressed confusion regarding RTC’s rationale for allowing the historic Capitola Trestle to remain unused indefinitely. I concurred with him, noting that if the Capitola City Council opts for the Park Ave Sidewalk option, the Capitola Trestle will likely never be transformed into a trail and result in the trail being redirected onto surface streets throughout Capitola.

We request that you ask RTC staff to include all the information requested by Capitola City Council, which would include the Interim Trail and Capitola Trestle repurposing into trail, CTC Grant deadlines and construction schedules (permits, design, construction, etc.) for the various options (A, B, C).

— Brian Peoples, Trail Now

The Naughty Surf of 1926 Capitola Historical Museum: 2025 Exhibition

By Deborah Osterberg

Dramatic turning points in fashion, especially women’s fashion, have initially been seen by many as disruptive, even scandalous.

Nowhere has this been truer than at the seaside … Capitola, one of the earliest seaside resorts in California, is one such place.

Women’s bathing costumes first stirred up the sands of Capitola Beach in the late 19th century.

In 1887, the “modern” bathing costumes worn at Camp Capitola were said to reveal “nature ‘as she is’ and it is a noticeable feature that the better developed the wearer, the more scanty the suit.” These so-called “scanty” outfits still required women to cover their shoulders and to wear opaque stockings with slippers.

Fashion, a form of self-expression, also acts as a cultural mirror. The 2025 exhibition, The Naughty Surf — Fashion Turning Points in Capitola, 1860s-1960s, will explore how changes in society, especially women’s roles and expectations, were reflected in fashion. It will also examine how some innovations in fashion technology contributed to moments of cultural transformation.

Inspiration for this exhibition came from an 1888 Stockton Evening Mail article entitled “The Naughty Surf,” written by a local pastor. In the article Reverend Bane declared that at seaside resorts “…naughty abbreviated bathing suits are to be seen … They are an abomination to decency and to modesty.” The Reverend also warned of the temptation to form hasty resort alliances as well as the wickedness of women drinking and reading trashy novels during their seaside vacations.

To understand the freedom Victorian women felt when visiting a seaside resort like

Capitola, the exhibition reviews how women of that time dressed in everyday life, especially why, not just women (yes — children and some men, too) wore corsets.

Exhibits will examine both the benefits and health consequences of such undergarments.

Early visitors to Camp Capitola were farmers, temporarily escaping the sweltering inland valleys, who came in their old clothes to wade into the surf. The subsequent bathing costumes of the late1860s through the 1890s were not meant for swimming, but instead for the surf bathing craze in which one gently waded into the surf (often holding on to a safety rope) to receive the circulation benefits of salt-water.

According to Doretta Davanzo Poli, author of the book, Beachwear and Bathing Costume, the mid-19th century woman’s bathing costume (often made of wool or flannel) consisted of:

“… puffed trousers, narrowing at the ankles only, covered by an overgarment with a closefitting bodice, a belted waist and a short skirt reaching to the knee. The hair was hidden under a large bathing cap or straw hat, and the feet shod with flat, light slippers.”

The new exhibition traces the change from bathing costumes to swimsuits from the late 19th to the early 20th century … a change spurred by women’s entrance into competitive swimming for the first time.

One exhibit will focus on how the revolutionary one-piece, form-fitting swimsuit invented by Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman in 1905 ushered in a period of rapid and disruptive change in seaside fashions.

This fashion turning point led to swimsuit regulations, complete with officers equipped with tape measures to ensure the proper length of a lady’s swimsuit. Some women at East Coast and Southern California beaches were even arrested for violations.

Thankfully, Santa Cruz and Capitola area beaches avoided such scenes. A local commentor put it nicely in 1916 …

“Everything goes on the Bay of Monterey, or nearly nothing, if the garments are made up that way.”

The exhibition follows the evolution of the swimsuit in the 20th century, from the first two-piece swimsuits in the 1940s (which dared not reveal the belly button) to the 1946 debut of the shocking bikini in Paris (which did).

One hundred years of the swimsuit concludes with the skimpier bikinis of the1960s, and even a call by some of the counterculture, for getting rid of the swimsuit all together. n

The Naughty Surf exhibition will run through the end of December. Throughout 2025, the admission-free museum will be open every Friday through Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. For information, call 831-464-0322.

Daubenbis Collection, courtesy of the Capitola Historical Museum.

By the mid-1920s the form-fitting swimsuit conceived of by Kellerman, sans stockings, became the norm for the entire family as seen in this photo of the Daubenbis family on Capitola Beach.

Postcard, courtesy of the Capitola Historical Museum. Women bathers were still expected to wear stockings with their bathing costumes up to World War I. Note that gentlemen of the era could bare both their shoulders and legs without care.

Image: Library of Congress.

In 1905, Annette Kellerman, an Australian, was the first woman to attempt a swim of the English Channel, a feat achieved by American Gertrude Ederle in 1926. Kellerman’s life story was dramatized in the 1952 motion picture, Million Dollar Mermaid, starring Esther Williams, and Ederle’s achievement was depicted in the 2024 film, Young Woman and the Sea.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Tax Season: Here is How We Do It

Tax season is once again upon us. Both the wife and I dread the paperwork.

Consolidation of all those 1099 forms, the employment stubs, the home expenses and all the other stuff is a multi-day endeavor.

Those having home businesses, multiple businesses, rentals or several sources of income know of which I speak. When I was young, I used to just throw everything in a box and at year end, haul it over to my accountant and let him figure it out.

As the years went by, the increase in accounts, incomes and deductions made that exercise maddening for my CPA. It also increased his bill as he spent hours flipping through papers.

My wife started to keep file folders and that helped but file folders contain papers and there we go again, page surfing to find the applicable information on some random page somewhere.

Since I have been filing taxes for longer then I care to admit, businesses, brokerage firms, banks and other company entities have progressively gotten better at producing year end statements. Their methods of reporting and providing detailed tax information to consumers has vastly improved and we are all thankful for it.

Not that the improvements and simplifications of tax forms have alleviated all the pain of filing taxes altogether. But the box full of papers is long gone.

With the advent of email, reports can be moved to various email inboxes. Come year end, we email the content folders to the accountant. But that’s just a paperless box of forms that they still have to weed through. And weeding costs money.

Excel program. It may not be the best but my wife uses it a lot with it and its familiar territory for her. And you can probably tell from that who does the paperwork.

So after ever increasing accountant bills, we developed a spread sheet on our computer that lists all the things we spend money on, less the obvious nontaxable stuff. We decided not to list all our expenses as that would just take more time and I am not sure I want to see the household “budget” anyways. It might be too depressing.

Ya, I know I’m a money guy. But I am not so engrossed in it where I want to spend even more time logging everywhere I drop some coin. That would only add to my anxiety over money so we just list the taxable stuff and the stuff we might consider deducting.

We made our own spread sheet on the

So everything we buy that is not a consumable like a stereo, solar light, suitcase, printer or whatever, we make a folder for, and file alphabetically in a file cabinet. That particular exercise is not really for taxes but it clears the clutter, and tracks the purchase, any warranty it may have, its instruction book, model number, date of purchase and source. If it is used in business or home office, the receipt is copied and filed separately under business expenses and then logged in the spread sheet as a possible tax consideration. The wife tracks everything we think might be considered for possible full or partial deduction. She has many different columns for things like business expenses, utilities, equipment, taxes paid during the year, maintenance items, home office expenses, business travel, major car repairs, home improvements, medical expense and a host of other things. Income is also tracked as well as where it came from, when, how much and the method of payment.

No longer waiting to track things down at year end, the spreadsheet is updated weekly as receipts, paystubs, checks and other applicable paperwork are tossed into the INBOX on her desk until she decides

to update the spread sheet and then file the paperwork in their appropriate file folders. The companion part of this is the file cabinet I previously mentioned contains not only folders on all the stuff we bought and its

By Marc Cuniberti

paperwork, but separate folders holding the paperwork on the entries on the spread sheet in case we ever have to review the details or actual paperwork on whatever entry might be in question. The paperwork back up also would come in handy in an audit obviously. When the CPA meeting day comes, we waltz in with a copy of the spreadsheet, our 1099s and year end statements from whomever and the meeting goes a hell of a lot quicker (and cheaper) then that huge box of papers we used to schlep.

In conclusion, file folders and a spreadsheet kept up weekly helps simplify our tax reporting for both us and our accountant. And that’s how we do it! n

This article expresses the opinion of Marc Cuniberti and is not meant as investment advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities, nor represents the opinion of any bank, investment firm or RIA, nor this media outlet, its staff, members or underwriters. He holds a B.A. in Economics with honors, 1979, and California Insurance License #0L34249 His insurance agency is BAP INC. insurance services. Email: news@moneymanagementradio.com

Beverly Graham Remembers Water Carnival Star Recalls First Tornado & Shark Teeth

By Jondi Gumz

When people said the tornado that touched down Dec. 14 in Scotts Valley was a first, that was just part of the story.

In fact, a tornado blew through in the same location before Scotts Valley became a city, according to eyewitness Beverly Graham Forson.

She’s 91 and lives in Oregon today.

She wanted to set the record straight.

She doesn’t know the exact year but figures it was during the 1930s or 1940s when she was growing up on a ranch, the daughter of Jack and Lola Graham.

She said the tornado picked up their barn without any warning and sent it across Mount Hermon Road.

The roof was made of 4x8 pieces, and some sailed away — “it looked like a checkerboard,” she said.

The location: Where the Target shopping center is now, and 7-Eleven painted “Graham and Son,” recalling the days when sand was sold.

The Spring Lakes Mobile Home Park had not been built; it was a peat bog.

Beverly recalled, “My dad bought some adjoining property to our ranch from a Mr. Locke. He paid $100 an acre. But the interesting part is that Mr. Locke had acquired that property from a gentleman (don’t remember his name) by a swap — the land in exchange for a team of horses!”

According to the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, the David Locke Victorian home was built circa 1880, near where Target is now, and was

destroyed in 1929 by a fire that burned from Zayante to Camp Evers in Scotts Valley. So picturesque, the Locke home appeared on postcards.

During World War II, Beverly was in 4-H, about age 12.

She raised day-old baby chicks in batches of 200, one after the other.

She sold the males and kept the females for the eggs.

“I sold out the first day,” she said.

“My Dad kept my money I made for me, and my husband, Bob and I, used it as a down payment on our first home outside of Auburn,” she added.

Forson recalls an idyllic childhood hunting for shark’s teeth in the sand.

“I still have my collection,” she said.

A boy by the name of Keith Roynon got her interested in hunting the teeth.

He gathered so many petrified animals and relics from all over that he opened a museum to show them in Escondido.

Her first school was a one-room schoolhouse, then in 1940, “the new school,” going up to the eighth grade, opened.

That’s Scotts Valley Middle School today.

After eighth grade, she went by bus to Santa Cruz High School, graduating in 1952.

Beverly looked up to her sister Helen, who was eight years older and became an All-American swimmer at Stockton College.

Helen’s sorority sister: The soonto-be famous actress Janet Leigh.

“Remember” page 24

People Are Talking About Housing Rezone at Seascape Golf Club

We here at the County of Santa Cruz have heard concerns about the Seascape Golf Course being rezoned for housing.

Here are the facts:

• The rezoning only affects a small portion of the parcel where the golf course is located—about 1/3 of an acre, currently consisting of a portion of an existing parking lot—not the golf course itself.

• The parcel where the golf course is located is split-zoned meaning it will have two types of zoning—part of the parking lot is within the same parcel

as the golf course. The rezoning would apply only to the parking lot portion, not the golf course.

• The proposal is to rezone the existing paved parking and clubhouse area (smaller parcel of land) to allow housing if the property owner chooses to propose it in the future.

• No housing is currently planned—this change only creates the possibility down the road. n

Check out the map on page 10 of Appendix F in our Housing Element for details: https://bit.ly/ planning-maps

CASA: 21 New Child Advocates!

On Feb. 25, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Erika Ziegenhorn swore in 21 community members as Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in foster care.

Each completed the 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 and Juvenile Justice court systems advocating for them the entire time they have a case open with the Court which on average is 12 to 18 months.

As officers of the Court, CASA volunteers ensure that the children’s needs are recognized and their best interests are considered in the courtroom, school, and in the community.

You create a lifetime of a difference by sharing at least 2-4 hours a week with one child or youth in our community.

Although there is a great need for bilingual and male volunteers, CASA always encourages people from all cultures and professions and of all ethnic and educational backgrounds to support and learn more.

SB 375 to Exempt Fuel Reduction Projects from CEQA

On Feb. 13, Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) intoduced Senate Bill 375, legislation aimed at enhancing emergency response efforts and ensuring California communities are better prepared to mitigate wildfire threats.

She said this measure will remove regulatory hurdles in the California Endangered Species Act, California Environmental Quality Act and The California Coastal Act. “Wildfires have devastated communities across our state, leaving countless families displaced and businesses struggling to recover. SB 375 is a step forward in ensuring that our local agencies have the necessary tools and resources to reduce fire risks while protecting our environment and wildlife,” said Grove. “We must act swiftly to streamline wildfire preparedness efforts before we have another historic wildfire that devastates entire communities.”

This bill would exempt from the requirements of CEQA a project for the reduction of fuels in areas within moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones.

The bill would also exempt those projects from the Coastal Act’s requirement of obtaining a coastal development permit.

SB 375 establishes a framework for counties and cities to submit wildfire preparedness plans that prioritize vegetation management and other fire mitigation

activities within fire hazard severity zones such as Santa Cruz County.

The bill requires the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to work closely with local agencies, providing clear guidance on incidental take permits and environmental compliance, ensuring that wildfire mitigation projects can proceed without unnecessary delays.

Additionally, SB 375 mandates transparency by requiring annual updates on wildfire preparedness plans and their effectiveness in preventing future disasters.

Grove contends SB 375 provides a comprehensive approach to wildfire preparedness, cutting bureaucratic red tape, and delivering solutions to protect lives, homes, and our natural resources.

She urged “colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in passing SB 375 and taking decisive action to protect our communities.”

SB 375 is awaiting committee referral. n

New CASA Advocates: Elizabeth Cameron, Maria Quiroz, Ari Martinez, Courtney Harrison, Rachel Zuercher, Rachel Fadlovich, Renee Wall, Marisol Arnold, Andrea Reyes, Jose Martinez, Sarah Domondon, Nora Alvord, Abigail Kim, Vanessa Arizmendi, Joscelyn Boudreau, Viviane Perrault, Sheina Rapoport, Brenda Ehle, Ariel Tse-Mckeown, and Mary Jane Reiley.

Not Enough Homes for Sale: Is Tax Code Outdated?

Representative Panetta Proposes to Raise Capital Gains Exclusion

By Jondi Gumz

U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) and Mike Kelly (D-Butler, PA), along with Representatives Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten, Island, NY), Suzan DelBene (D-Medina, WA), Rudy Yakym (R-Granger, IN), and Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), reintroduced the More Homes on the Market Act to update the tax code to incentivize homeowners to sell their properties, increasing the housing supply and alleviating affordability challenges.

This bipartisan bill would raise the capital gains tax exclusion on the sale of a primary residence from $250,000 to $500,000 for single filers and from $500,000 to $1 million for joint filers. These thresholds, originally set in 1997, have never been adjusted for inflation, making it increasingly difficult for homeowners, especially seniors and middle-class families, to sell without facing significant tax burdens.

“As home prices rise and tax exemptions stay the same, homeowners feel financially locked into their homes and homebuyers feel locked out of the housing market,” said Panetta.

“By modernizing the capital gains exclusion, our bipartisan More Homes on the Market Act will enable more people to sell their homes, downsize if they choose, and retain the savings they’ve built over a lifetime. This commonsense fix will expand housing inventory, ease affordability challenges, and help more families achieve the dream of homeownership.”

The bill also would include an index for inflation.

When Panetta introduced HR 1321 in 2023, it died in the Ways and Means Committee.

“As housing prices have increased, people who have chosen to downsize have been unfairly punished with massive tax burdens,” said Kelly.

There used to be an exemption for capital gains tax on home sales for people 55 or older. However, that exemption was eliminated in 1997.

Housing experts say the outdated capital gains tax exclusion is a major contributor to the nation’s tight housing market.

In 2023, a CoreLogic report found 8% of U.S. home sellers made more than $500,000 in profit on their home sale, compared to just 1.3% in 2003.

If the exclusion had been indexed to inflation, it would stand at approximately

P$500,000 for single filers and $1 million for joint filers today.

The 8% is the average across 50 states.

That’s not the whole story, according to Glen Luke Flanagan, who writes in Fortune, “when you look at high-cost-of-living areas, overshooting the exclusion amount seems to be more common.

California leads the way: 28.8% of existing home sales with capital gains above $500,000.

Hawaii, 23.8%, and Washington, D.C., 22.1%.

Massachusetts,17.9%, Washington,15.2%, New York, 13.1%, Colorado, 13%, and New Jersey, 11.7%.

Florida CPA Spencer Carroll, living in a state where home values have escalated, said holding onto a home and leaving it to an heir has become a strategy for passing along family wealth.

Malliotakis, a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, said, “I am committed to advancing legislation that reduces the tax burden on Americans.”

DelBene said, “I regularly hear from people in my district and across the country who want to sell their homes but can’t afford to because of the significant tax bill they will incur. This means fewer homes on the market, which

pushes home prices higher and puts homeownership out of reach for too many Americans.”

She added, “This legislation would provide meaningful tax relief by doubling the capital gains tax exclusion, allowing homeowners to keep more of their investment.

This will decrease pressure on the housing market nationwide and help address affordability issues.”

Yakym agreed, “Amid rising housing prices and inflation, Americans that have opted to downsize have faced unfair tax burdens. I am pleased to co-lead this legislation which provides meaningful tax relief for seniors and others looking to downsize by doubling the capital gains tax exclusion for the sale of a principal residence.”

Correa called it “common-sense, bipartisan legislation” to “ensure that American who choose to downsize their homes don’t face an unnecessary tax burden—and make more homes more affordable for even more hardworking families here in Orange County and across the country.” n

The CoreLogic report is at https://www. corelogic.com/intelligence/unexpected-surprisemore-homeowners-paying-capital-gains-taxesstrong-price-growth/

Año Nuevo State Park Gets Visitor Upgrade

lanning a visit to Año Nuevo State Park to see the elephant seals? The staging area has been renovated for guided walks through March 31.

The new facility is bigger and features beautiful 8-foot-tall panels with more-recent information about the wildlife people will see. There is also a map of the trails with distances, an overview of Año Nuevo Point, and a display of skulls, teeth, fur and whiskers.

“This project is an outstanding example of our partners in action!” said State Parks District Superintendent Chris Spohrer. “We could not have completed this wonderful facility enhancement without the dedicated efforts of the Coastside State Parks Association and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks.”

The $500,000+ project provides park visitors with a greater area to shelter from inclement weather and allows for larger

“Remember” from page 22

One of Janet Leigh’s early roles was in “The Romance of Rosy Ridge,” with Van Johnson, filmed along Graham Hill Road.

Beverly, admiring her sister, learned to swim in a swimming hole behind where Valley Gardens used to be.

“Necessity is the mother of invention,” she said. “A spring would bubble up.”

She was something of a daredevil.

interpretive tours and talks. Coastside State Parks Association and Año Nuevo volunteer docents began a fundraising campaign in 2018 to improve the staging area. Fires and COVID slowed progress, but construction started in June 2024.

Through their partnership with State Parks, Friends entered a contract with M3 Integrated Services, Inc. on behalf of State Parks to manage this project. Local businesses hired include Knox Roofing and architect Brett Brenkwitz of Franks and Brenkwitz.

Roads & Trails crews graded the ½-mile trail to the facility.

Noticed by Skip Littlefield, a competitive swimmer who created the Plunge Water Carnival at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in the 1930s and 1940s when she went with her sister for swim training, Beverly became a trapeze artist.

“It seemed natural to me,” she said.

She also appeared in the Ring Ballet and the Aerial Human Triangle.

How old was she?

“Eight to 12,” she recalled.

Northern elephant seals have one of the longest migrations of any mammal and some have been recorded traveling over 13,000 miles round trip. During the winter, male elephant seals come ashore to battle on the beaches to establish dominance to mate. Females are pregnant and often give birth on the dunes at Año Nuevo. Docents keep a “pup count” during this time. n

Guided walks are required thru March 31. Make a reservation through Reserve California to guarantee a spot on a tour. Space is limited to 15 people per tour. Tickets are $10.99 per person ($7 tour fee plus a $3.99 reservation fee). Same-day elephant seal tours are available on a first come, first served basis. Arrive before 10 a.m. on weekends and holidays for a walk-up ticket; arrive by noon on weekdays. For visitors without a reservation, tickets are $7 per person. Parking is $10 and helps Friends support parks.

The Plunge was where Neptune’s Kingdom arcade is now.

Her mother sewed her swimsuits out of material that was glittery to add to the act.

Today, those swimsuits are at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, donated by Beverly to share her memories of a very special time.

Look closely and maybe you will see the brass likeness of Beverly outside. n

Jimmy Panetta

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Pull Weeds When Soil is Damp

By Tony Tomeo

With few exceptions, the most aggressively invasive weeds here are exotic. In other words, they are not native. They came from other regions where they were likely compliant participants of their respective ecosystems. At home, where they must compete with other members of their ecosystem, they may not be so aggressively invasive. Ecology is the opposite of a home field advantage.

Exotic species become invasive weeds in foreign ecosystems for a variety of reasons. For some, the climate is more favorable. Some grow and proliferate more freely without diseases, insects and animals that troubled them back home. There are also several that simply compete more aggressively for space and resources than native species are accustomed to. It is a jungle out there.

Most invasive exotic species are annuals. Many are biennials or perennials. Some are vines, shrubs or even trees. Most were imported intentionally, for a variety of reasons, and then naturalized. Forage and cover crops were some of the earliest of exotic species to become invasive. Other invasive species escaped from home gardens. Blue gum eucalyptus was imported for wood pulp.

Regardless of their origins or physiological forms, invasive species are weeds. They compete for the same resources that desirable plants use. They impede on the aesthetic appeal of gardens and landscapes.

Some types of weeds become hazardously combustible. Even if not directly problematic, invasive weeds disperse seed that can be problematic nearby. Many disperse stolons. Most weeds start early and grow fast to get ahead of their competition. They are more active at this time of year than at any other time. They are also vulnerable. While the soil remains damp from winter rain, they are relatively easy to pull intact. They have not yet dispersed seed for their subsequent generation. Later, they are likely to leave behind seed and bits of roots that can regenerate.

It is important to pull or grub out seedlings of unwanted shrubbery and trees, as annual weeds. They are likely to regenerate if merely cut.

Silver Wattle

Almosteveryone on the West Coast of California has encountered silver wattle, Acacia dealbata. Some of us know how resilient it is to most methods of eradication. The more fortunate enjoy its magnificently bloom from a distance. It is almost never planted intentionally. It is an aggressively naturalized exotic species. Most grows wild near roadside ditches. Some invades home gardens.

The profuse and bright yellow bloom of silver wattle is spectacular while most deciduous trees remain bare late in winter. Big and billowy trusses of smaller round floral structures obscure most of their slightly grayish foliage. The many individual staminate flowers within this impressive bloom are actually minute. Their hearty floral fragrance is appealing to some, but objectionable to others.

Silver wattle lives fast and dies young. Some trees are so vigorous while young that they are unable to support their own weight. Without appropriate pruning, they simply fall over. Even stable and structurally sound trees deteriorate after about thirty years. Few survive for fifty. They seed prolifically, though! Mature trees can get forty feet tall. The finely textured foliage is bipinnately compound. n •••

Silver wattle is a magnificent weed.

Venus Retrograde Then Mercury Retrogrades, Too!

Esoteric Astrology • Mid-March 2025 •

By Risa D’Angeles

On Saturday March 1st, Venus, the brilliant yellow-white Evening Star stationed retrograde at 11 degrees Aries. Venus began its retrograde four days before Lent began, and like Lent (beginning this week, Wednesday, March 5), Venus is retrograde for 40 days and 40 nights, the time it takes to break a habit!

Venus is retrograde until April 12, full moon day, which is also when Passover begins and it’s the day before Palm Sunday! Notice the festivals of two different religions (Jewish/Christian) occurring simultaneously. When this occurs we are seeing the formation of the new Aquarian world religion.

Venus retrogrades every 584 days (every 19 months). After eight years of five retrogrades, Venus forms a five-pointed star (rose shaped) in the sky. Venus works with a ray star in the Big Dipper called Ray 5 (symbol is the five-pointed star). This is the ray of the scientist, of truth, the ray of concrete knowledge. Ray 5 along with Venus stimulate humanity’s minds to build and create the new Aquarius culture and civilization. Understanding the math of Venus’ retrogrades takes a scientific (Ray 5, Venusian) mind.

ARIES

A new sense of self identity and values. Although you’re considered rather wild, there are stable, responsible and detailed aspects of yourself and these help you be successful in the outer world. Few if any, except astrologers, may know this about you. Those qualities will now be internalized so you can assess your personal value and worth. You know it’s not how much money you have. It’s more about perseverance, reliability and being steadfast in adversity and challenges. Venus changes you.

TAURUS

Spirituality and the inner world. Your patience and deliberateness are how you assess anything new, moving step-by-step thinking everything through with care. With Venus, you become visionary, your mind filled with spiritual illuminations and revelations. You are influenced by the stars, Aldebaran and Alcyone in the Pleiades. You bring forth the wisdom of the Buddha. When faced with a monetary situation you’re quick and instinctive. These are your gifts. Ponder them with a partner as Venus retrogrades.

GEMINI

Groups and people in your life. It’s most important that your work in the world aligns with your sense of self and values. Gemini is a complex, dual sign. You have a fluid mind however, so all information must be filtered through your emotional nature. Therefore that field (astral) must be clear, pure, containing no judgments or opinions. This purity must be developed. You’re the sign of hidden treasures few can recognize. You are the jewel in the lotus. Security for you isn’t money or wealth. It’s emotional ethics and who/what you love.

CANCER

World Recognition. Being recognized in the world, thoughts of your profession. There’s a challenge now for you to emerge from under your Cancer shell, have a sense of adventure, step beyond comfort and tend to things more worldly, professional and cultural. It is important to cultivate charisma, a compassion with and for others. It furthers self-expression and creativity, things you deeply seek. You are a leader, though you often choose not to be. But something or someone is calling you out now.

What does Venus retrograde represent on personality and Soul levels? Venus, on the personality-building (mutable cross) level influences money, possessions, values, and all types of relationships. On the Soul level, Venus is the intelligent, loving heart. It unifies all that separates, allowing for the emergence of Love, which then becomes Wisdom. Venus resolves duality (through knowledge), promotes diplomacy (Libra). Venus coordinates our intelligence so that we choose to act with Goodwill, which creates Right Relations and peace in our world. This is an ancient esoteric equation. It is the only way peace comes forth and this is the task of all of humanity. To bring forth peace.

When a planet is retrograde, the past appears and reappears, decisions must be delayed, plans set aside in order that we may review, reflect upon and assess all areas and subjects associated with that planet (in this case Venus, love, intelligence, money, relationships, possessions, values). We review in order to either renew, revitalize or set those areas of life aside forever. Note: Mercury begins its retrograde Saturday, March 15th, joining Venus.

Below, in the signs, Venus will influence ... n

LEO

Adventure and the Bow and Arrow of truth. Most Leos are captivating, charming, held by the heart of the Sun. However, some Leos are hidden. But all are magnetic - an important quality to understand because it attracts others to you. Leos are powerful. They are either kind and compassionate or they create fear in others if power and love aren’t in balance. What are people seeking when encountering you? Light, intelligence, vitality, discipline, direction and guidance and the willingness to lead with loving kindness. Do you have these qualities? Life for you is an adventure.

VIRGO

Shared Realities. Within your excellent qualities of order, discipline and lists of organized ideas, you also seek to display the skill of subtlety, discretion, diplomacy and peace keeping. All Virgos are also learning tact, refinement, how to relate with quiet sophistication and to act with Right Relations. All these qualities are of high value but perhaps they are not conscious yet. It is therefore good to know these are the seeds planted within all Virgos. They lead to the art of cooperation, and conciliation through negotiation. You are learning how to be a Libra.

LIBRA

Relationships. Your smile, which lights up your eyes, invites others to trust you and begin to share and talk about themselves - their hopes, wishes and dreams, their joys and sorrows. Everyone wants to be friends with you. Libra on the Soul level demonstrates Goodwill which creates Right Relations, fairness, justice, openness and kindness. If you are not yet within this expanded Soul reality, visualize yourself stepping into it. The results will strengthen any fears and vulnerabilities around money and resources. And the boundaries you have created to protect yourself will be less critical and more loving. Who needs forgiving?

SCORPIO

Daily life. Are you aware that most of what you do and say often challenges others? This is your task. As your life is ceaselessly challenged to transform and regenerate, you also ask (unconsciously demand) this of others. Because your life has such intensity, you must schedule consistent times for rest and retreat – times to gather strength, and rediscover inner meaning and purpose. Vision is found here, too. Only a few know, through constant little deaths and, phoenix-like flying out of the fire, that you experience such depth. You are also a visionary.

SAGITTARIUS

Creativity. You usually view life with optimism and a broad hopeful vision of happiness and joy. And even though you’re an imaginative thinker who sees signs and reads oracles in every situation, you also have a sense of being duty bound, responsible, traditional and conservative. Most aren’t aware of this as it hides behind fiery enthusiasm. You are quite capable of working with rules and regulations and this brings forth your serious side. This you must begin to value. It is your mastery and your wisdom.

CAPRICORN

Home. You exhibit great reserve, discipline, control and structure, often playing the role of (even if not) the eldest child, parent and wise one. Traditions, following and creating them, are therefore most important. But there is another valuable part to you –being progressive and inventive. Through these you enter the future, making you quite different than most. Often people can’t quite figure out who you are with your abilities to change quickly and to offer everyone freedom to be (you and me). A family life change may be occurring.

AQUARIUS

Communication. It is important to acknowledge that you, like the planet Uranus, are distinctly different than most. Aquarius energy flows through Uranus (future realities). Do you know Uranus is tipped on its side, its atmosphere is arranged in layers of clouds, its magnetic-tail is twisted into a long corkscrew, its magnetic field’s source is unknown, it’s blue/ green, has a moon, many rings and satellites, seventh planet from the Sun and 3rd largest planet in the solar system? This unusual planet rules your entire life. Value your differentness. It’s unique and beloved and wise.

PISCES

Values. Self-Value. The two signs most misunderstood are Scorpio and Pisces. Often the fish is seen as wandering about, confused, idealistic, and too sensitive for the world. To most you can seem lost and dreamy, impractical and confused. But there is more to you. You are also very brave and courageous, especially when someone is in danger. You are independent and free and always recognize others’ innate gifts. These you see while others cannot. When you are spontaneous a golden light fills the air. When you are sad you fall into despair. Always take action. It brings you freedom.

“OIG” from page 17

We emailed the link to our report to representative of those agencies we had engaged with in 2024 — including the NAACP, NAMI, MILPA (Motivating Individual Leadership for Public Advancement), Monarch Services, the Public Defender’s Office, and the County’s Justice and Gender Commission — thanking them for their input to our work and reminding them we are available to discuss any questions, concerns, or issues they have.

We also continue to have regular communications with a faith leader who works frequently in the jail. We also appeared on a local community radio show to discuss our Annual Report and take any questions from callers.

Sheriff’s Office Response to OIG Recommendations

In our First Annual Report, published in October 2024, we made 21 recommendations related to Sheriff’s Office operations. The Sheriff’s Office response to these recommendations had been consistently constructive.

In October 2024, the executive team (Sheriff, Undersheriff, and both Chiefs) met to map out a strategy for responding to the recommendations. They created five workgroups to address different categories of recommendations:

• Policies and Procedures

• Use of Force

• Administrative Investigations

• Use of Force Review Practices

• Other (training, equipment, and transparency around in-custody deaths)

The executive team assigned staff to each workgroup, and each workgroup divided up specific tasks within each category. Members of each group have at times reached out to us for feedback or guidance, or references to the policies or practices of other agencies that we think might serve as a good model for Santa Cruz County.

We have been pleased to engage with the workgroups in these ways. The Sheriff’s Office reported to us that it will have a complete written response to the 21 recommendations by the beginning of April.

We look forward to reviewing that formal response and continuing to work with the Sheriff’s office as it implements the recommended changes to policy and procedures and will continue to provide updates on that work in future quarterly reports. n

In October 2024, the executive team (Sheriff, Undersheriff, and both Chiefs) met to map out a strategy for responding to the recommendations.

Measure M Projects Process

By Dr. Heather Contreras, PVUSD Superintendent

Right now, our local public schools are not yet affected by the changes being talked about for the U.S. Department of Education. However, my fellow superintendents and I are paying close attention to make sure we are ready for any big changes in the future.

Our PVUSD community will need

to support each other through any challenges to ensure schools are places of safety, connection, inclusion and learning for our students of all ages and experiences. We also need to allow for growth, be understanding, and hold each other accountable.

My deep commitment to public education is generationally rooted

and unwavering. My grandfather was a math teacher at Watsonville High School and Aptos High School, my father was a superintendent, and I have siblings who work in K-12 education and at the community college level. This exposure during my formative years to the power of education as the great equalizer was profound and has shaped my leadership.

I would like to provide a brief update regarding Measure M. Thank you again to our community for passing Measure M, which signifies an understanding of the promise that our students represent for a thriving future here in the Pajaro Valley.

The Measure M Bond Program Management Firm determination is still in process. PVUSD Facilities is making final lists of required health, safety and accessibility projects by site. And finally, a Measure M Toolkit is in the works for our site shared leadership teams regarding participatory decision-making process once the final site discretionary allocation amounts are determined.

As I mentioned, the PVUSD commitment to all of our children and families, regardless of the circumstances, is to ensure that every child receives a comprehensive education in reading, writing, math, science, and the arts, along with whole-child support.

This approach will equip each student with the tools needed to graduate prepared for careers, college, and life. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our students and community, and we will hold ourselves accountable to these outcomes through ongoing collaboration, transparency, and honesty. n

Can Parched Western States Afford to Keep Growing?

By Eric Ruark

Environmental leaders in Arizona, Utah, and other western states are scrambling to avert an impending ecological catastrophe.

The Colorado River — which supplies water to around 40 million people across seven states — is rapidly drying up.

Eric Ruark

These sorts of resource challenges are only becoming more pervasive across the country. Climate change is unquestionably a contributor, and it’s imperative that our leaders pursue policies that realistically deal with it instead of using climate change as an excuse for not taking actions that can protect the nation’s national resources.

Like the elephant in the room that most policymakers refuse to acknowledge: Explosive population growth.

The U.S. population has increased by a staggering 50 million people since 2000, with arid southwestern states experiencing some of the most rapid growth.

This growth isn’t the result of Americans having more kids. Our birth rate has actually

trended downwards over the last several decades.

Yet the population keeps booming because we’ve opened our doors to tens of millions of immigrants. Those immigrants — most of whom are indeed seeking a better

life — have good reasons for wanting to come here. The United States, despite its flaws, is still arguably the best place on earth for the global poor to accrue material wealth and enjoy the political and personal freedoms in a modern, advanced society.

But providing these opportunities to everyone in the world who wants to come here is not why U.S. immigration policy exists. Our nation needs sustainable immigration policies that ensure we have enough water, land, and jobs for everyone already here.

For much of our country’s history, newcomers to the United States could pursue

“Manifest Destiny” all the way to the west coast, where the American landmass drops into the Pacific. But that era ended long ago. There’s no more frontier to settle. Now, adding more people inevitably means draining more reservoirs, bulldozing more forests, and scraping up more open spaces to construct additional houses, businesses, and shopping centers.

“Parched” page 30

Watsonville High School

Aptos High School

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PVUSD STUDENT EVENTS

The PVUSD Health Careers Speaker Series returns on the evenings of March 17 and 19.

In January, local colleges and universities presented about the health pathways they offer, as well as financial aid and local apprenticeship opportunities.

This time, employers will talk about who’s hiring, what they have to offer, and what they’re looking for when hiring. Dinner and childcare will be provided. Food at 5:30 p.m., Speakers from 6–7:30 p.m.

• March 17 – Aptos High, Cafeteria

• March 19 – Watsonville High, Cafeteria

More information/registration: https://forms.gle/NVsg 7Q5aed9714UD9

Event Flyer: https://drive.google.com/ file/d/1aNqkoNpAOECLqWUK4b-N4egCdHmxm01z/ view?usp=drive_link

The Watsonville Ivy League Project is made up of 15 high-achieving students from Watsonville High School and Pajaro Valley High School. This program empowers first-generation and low-income students by giving them the opportunity to visit prestigious East Coast universities in September.

WILP is hosting a Benefit Show Sunday, March 23, 3-5 p.m., at Watsonville High School’s Mello Center, featuring talented local youth, including performances by Estrellas de Esperanza folklórico, Mariachi Ilusión, El Sistema youth orchestra, the PVHS Band, Sueños Aztecas folklórico, and more!

LAUNCHPAD JOB FAIR COMING

The 8th annual Santa Cruz Launchpad career fair and student pitch competition is returning on Wednesday, May 21, at the Coconut Grove, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. Last year’s event drew in over 500 job seekers, making it the place to be for employers looking to hire or build their talent pipeline. Employers from all industries with any type of opening (internships, part-time, full-time, etc.) are welcome. The job fair portion of the event is from 5-7 p.m. Registration is free to Santa Cruz Works partners, $250 for others, reduced rate for nonprofits.

Space is limited, and registration closes on Wednesday, April 30. Sign up at www.santacruzworks.org/sclaunchpad

TREE SCHOOL

UC Cooperative Extension will host California Tree School at San Lorenzo Valley High School in Felton on Saturday, April 5.

There will be 25+ classes on forestry and natural resources throughout the day, led by regional and global experts on forestry, ecology, and natural resource management.

Topics include forest health, fire ecology, pile burning, prescribed burning and tax tips for forest owners. Classes range from beginner to expert level, and participants choose 4 classes.

The fee is $70; assistance is available. Email Kim Ingram at Registration is open at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey. cfm?surveynumber=44008

PROJECT SCOUT TAX PREP ASSISTANCE

Project Scout offers volunteer income tax assistance and tax counseling for local residents during tax season at sites throughout Santa Cruz County.

Volunteers are trained by Internal Revenue Service and Franchise Tax Board personnel. For disabled individuals unable to get to the tax sites, they have trained volunteers who can do in-home tax preparation.

Seniors get priority at all library sessions.

Income of $64,000 and below, simple returns only.

The Project Scout schedule for libraries is:

• Aptos Tuesdays 10am – 1 pm Feb. 4 thru April 15

• Capitola Wednesdays 2 – 5 pm Feb. 5 thru April 16

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

E-mail info (no PDFs please) to info@cyber-times.com

For beginning of the month, due the 15th • For mid-month, due the 1st

• Downtown Tuesdays 10am – 3 pm Feb. 4 thru April 15

• Downtown Saturdays 10am – 3 pm Feb. 1 thru April 12

Appointments are necessary for tax help and can be made by calling 831-427-7713 or by visiting the Downtown or Capitola Branch Library Information Desk.

For info, call the Watsonville Office at 1-831-724-2606 or toll-free at 1-877-373-8297, or visit https://seniorscouncil.org/project-scout/

MIKE ROWE WORKS SCHOLARSHIP

For the eleventh year in a row, Mike Rowe Works Foundation is launching the next Work Ethic Scholarship Program and giving away another $2,500,000 in scholarships.

He’s looking for hardworking men and women who will keep the lights on, water running, and air flowing — people who will show up early, stay late, and bust their asses to get the job done.

It’s not for everyone, but he knows hard workers are out there.

Apply at https://mikeroweworks.org/scholarship/

CAL GRANT DEADLINE

California students who need help to pay for college have more time — until April 2 — to submit priority applications for a Cal Grant.

State officials extended the deadline because of a 2-month delay in release of the latest FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

PG&E

OFFERS FREE GAS APPLIANCE SAFETY CHECKS

To help customers prepare their gas appliances for safe use during the cold weather months, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is offering free in-home gas safety checks. During the gas safety checks, PG&E will re-light pilot lights for customers who have heaters or other appliances that have been turned off during warmer months.

Free safety checks help ensure that gas appliances, including water heaters, furnaces and ovens, are operating safely and efficiently, reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning within the home.

Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous because it can’t be seen, smelled or heard.

“This free safety program is a great way for customers to prepare for increased use of their natural gas appliances as the cold season approaches. One of our gas team members will conduct safety inspections to help ensure that gas appliances are in proper working order and also relight pilot lights,” said Joe Forline, PG&E senior vice president, gas operations.

Before the colder winter months when natural gas appliances typically see the most use, PG&E encourages customers to schedule an inspection by visiting www. pge.com/pilotlights. Scheduling your appointment online is free and easy and will help you avoid hold times on our customer service line.

MARY ANN GOMEZ SCHOLARSHIP

Customers can also call 800-743-5000 to schedule appointments. If you suspect carbon monoxide in your home, you should get out immediately and call 911. If a PG&E customer ever smells the distinctive “rotten egg” odor of natural gas in or around their home or business, they should immediately evacuate and then call 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

APTOS PUBLIC LIBRARY EVENTS

Saturdays

Saturday Shakespeare • 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The play will be Timon of Athens Timon is one of the less-often performed Shakespeare plays. He is immensely wealthy and his generosity makes him extremely popular, until his money runs out.

Saturday, March 15 • Saving the Redwoods, 10:1511:45 a.m. — Saving the Redwoods: The Story of Big Trees Grove. The event is free. AAUW presents an engaging talk by author Deborah Osterberg.

CABRILLO JOB & INTERNSHIP FAIRS

Two dates are set:

• Tuesday, April 22 from 4-6 pm Watsonville Center

• Wednesday, April 23 from 11 am-1 pm Aptos Campus-Upper Quad

Meet with local employers to learn about a variety of job & internship opportunities. Have your current resume reviewed and edited.

Check out the Seahawk Job Board at https://www. cabrillo.edu/career-services/jobs/ For questions, email StudentJobs @cabrillo.edu

CORRALITOS WOMAN’S CLUB SCHOLARSHIP

The deadline is March 15 to apply for the Corralitos Woman’s Club College Scholarship. Applicants must be a high school student in a Pajaro Valley school with a minimum 3.5 GPA; or be a Santa Cruz County resident in one of the following zip codes: 95076, 95019, 95003; and be a U.S. citizen.

Recipients will be notified in May; scholarship awards will be sent to the college of their choice once a student ID# has been provided to the Corralitos Woman’s Club. This form is at: www.corralitoswomansclub.com

Application must be postmarked by March 15 and mailed to: Corralitos Woman’s Club PO Box 997 Freedom, CA 95019-0997

COUNTY FAIR BOARD MEETINGS

The Santa Cruz County Fair Board will meet most months at 1:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday in the Heritage Building at the fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Blvd., Watsonville.

Upcoming Meetings: March 25, April 22, May 27, June 24, July 22, Aug. 26, and Oct. 28; none in September.

The Personnel Commission of the PVUSD announce the 10th annual Personnel Commission Scholarship in honor of Mary Ann Gomez Submissions are due March 28.

The Commissioners established a scholarship fund in Mary Ann’s honor for the purpose of awarding a scholarship to a graduating senior who plans to attend an institution of higher learning after high school. For the past nine years, the Personnel Commission has awarded scholarships up to $1,000 to 44 recipients. Children of classified employees (bargaining unit, management and confidential) are eligible to apply. They can be high school seniors or in college or technical school. Applicants answer this essay questions: Describe a change you would like to make in the world. Tell us about how you would plan to make that change, and what obstacles you might encounter along the way.

Applicants apply at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aUwS4SQIWF63C0af0AsJt0nE8KB xPTft/view?usp=sharing

Dates in November and December have not yet been decided.

For agendas, posted 10 days in advance, see santacruzcountyfair.com

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays

LEARN TO PLAY BRIDGE

10 a.m.-Noon, Santa Cruz Bridge Center, 2450 17th Ave. Beginner bridge classes will start on Monday, Jan. 6 at the Santa Cruz Bridge Center.

Classes are taught by Nancy Wainer. Come and check out the world’s greatest game! First class is free. Reserve a spot via emai: NLMBRIDGE@yahoo.com.

BRIDGE CLUB

10:30 a.m.-Noon, 7695 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003

The Aptos Branch Library will host 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.

Last Wednesdays of the Month

PV HEALTH CARE DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS

6 p.m., Watsonville Community Hospital, 85 Nielson St. Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board, which oversees Watsonville Community Hospital, is holding monthly meetings on the last Wednesday of each month through 2024, except Nov. 20 and Dec. 18 due to the holidays.

PARENT/CAREGIVER MENTAL HEALTH SEMINARS

5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Online Meeting

Dr. Ramona Friedman of the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Soquel will be hosting a free Parent Drop-in Zoom session. Parents and caregivers are invited to log on and ask questions to Dr. Friedman about youth mental health issues, challenges, and ideas.

Parent Drop-Ins are free, 1-hour sessions where parents can seek guidance from experts specializing in specific mental health disorders. Parents can also connect with others facing similar challenges. Clinical psychologists who specialize in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidality, and medication, experienced youth mental health experts, host each session. For more info, visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/ groups/parent-drop-in-soquel-ca/247794

Third Thursday of the Month SPRING WELLNESS SERIES

6-7 p.m. (arrive at 5:30 p.m.), Pilgrim’s Way Bookstore & Secret Garden, Dolores Street between 5th & 6th, Carmel-by-the-Sea Pilgrim’s Way Bookstore & Secret Garden, nestled in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea, launches a Spring Wellness Series.

The series is designed to introduce attendees to local healing professionals and their transformative practices.

Seating allows 5 to 12 participants a rare chance for deep connection, hands-on learning, and personal rejuvenation.

Tickets are $25 per session per person, and advance reservations are required.

Upcoming events:

March 20 – Radiant Aging with Gina Renee, L.Ac.

Licensed acupuncturist Gina Renee will guide attendees through an interactive exploration of Chinese Face Reading and Holistic Facial Rejuvenation, showing how facial features reflect inner health, emotions, and personal strengths.

Information: www.ginarenelac.com

April 17 – Sound Immersion with Kiana & Kathleen This experience will combine toning, breathwork, and the resonant frequencies of crystal bowls, chimes, and spoken word to help release stagnant energy, activate relaxation, and restore harmony to the body and mind.

• Kathleen, a certified sound healer, uses vibrational sound therapy to encourage self-acceptance, creativity, and spiritual awakening. Instagram: @healingharmonics4u

• Kiana, also certified in sound healing, incorporates Tibetan singing bowls into her practice, helping others find relief from chronic pain and stress. Information: www. ventanawildwellness.com

May 15 – Movement, Awareness & Energy with Domini Anne

A session blending anatomy, neuroscience, and energetic practices for enhanced self-awareness and well-being. Domini Anne will introduce participants to movement techniques designed to improve posture, release tension, and cultivate vitality.

Information: www.dominianne.com Reserve a seat at https://www.pilgrimsway.com/event

Saturdays beginning April 27

SATURDAY SHAKESPEARE

April 27-May 25 online: See https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/ event/12190276 for details

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.

DATED EVENTS

Friday March 14 thru Sunday March16

SCOTTS VALLEY HITCHCOCK FESTIVAL

The Landing (Scotts Valley Cultural & Performing Arts Center), 251B Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley

Friday — Box Office opens 5 p.m., Doors Open 6 p.m.

6:45 PM Welcome by Mayor Derek Timm

7:00 PM “Hitchcock in Scotts Valley

7:45 PM 30-minute intermission.

8:15 PM Panel discussion. Audience Q&A afterwards. Saturday — Doors Open 12 p.m.

1:00 PM Alfred Hitchcock and the Wrong Man. (followed by 10-minute break)

3:00 PM A discussion about the real story of Manny Balestrero. Audience Q&A afterward.

Evening Reception Gala

6:30 PM Doors Open

7:30 PM The Lodger (silent movie)

Sunday — Doors Open 11 a.m.

12:00 PM “The Hitchcock 20: The Forgotten TV Gems. Directed by the Master Filmmaker”

1:00 PM TV Episodes: “Bang You’re Dead!”, “Breakdown”, “One More Mile to Go”. Audience Q&A afterwards.

Tickets for all three days: $110 | For other option and more details visit www.hitchcockfestival.com or call (831) 566-9411.

Saturday March 15

SAVING THE REDWOODS: THE STORY OF BIG TREES GROVE

10:15 a.m. – 11:45 p.m., Aptos Library, 7695 Soquel Dr, Aptos AAUW presents a free talk by author Deborah Osterberg at Aptos Library. She will explore the fascinating history of Big Trees Grove, the first coastal redwood grove preserved for public enjoyment, now part of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

Osterberg’s 2020 book, Historic Tales of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park — Big Trees Grove , traces the site’s transformation from a celebrated 19th-century resort to a cherished natural landmark. Established by Joseph Warren Welch in 1867, the grove became

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

JOBY AVIATION AT APTOS CHAMBER LUNCH

Thursday April 17

11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos.

Local business leaders and community members are invited to the April Aptos Chamber Luncheon at the Seascape Golf Club to engage with Joby Aviation — one of the most innovative companies in the aviation industry.

Attendees will learn how the company’s electric air taxi and the Joby app could shape the future of Aptos’s transportation.

General admission $35, reservations required. No walk-ins. (831) 688-1467, aptoschamber.com

a world-renowned retreat, welcoming thousands of visitors — including President Theodore Roosevelt — long before Big Basin.

Join us to uncover the stories of the first visitors, the explorers, and the visionaries who helped protect these towering giants for generations to come.

BRUNO GROENING DOCUMENTARY SHOWING

1-6:30 p.m., London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz

Bruno Groening Circle of Friends has put together a showing of The Phenomenon Bruno Groening — On the tracks of the “Miracle Healer” at the London Nelson Community Center.

Bruno Groening was a simple man who devoted his life to reconnecting people with God and ending people’s suffering. Often viewers report feeling a power, a tingling or current in their bodies while watching the film and some have reported the disappearance of pain and other forms of suffering.

“There is no incurable, God is the greatest physician!” were his words.

See this film and convince yourself about the Phenomenon Bruno Groening.

The duration of the film is approximately 5 ½ hrs (incl. 2 Intermissions).

Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. For more information, please contact Lisa Lemucchi at 831-227-0954

Web: www.bruno-groening.org/english • https://linktr.ee/ bgf_circle_of_friends_en

TRADES JOB FAIR

4-6:30 p.m., Watsonville Civic Plaza Community Room, 275 Main St.

The Santa Cruz County Skilled Trades Job Fair takes place on the top floor of the Watsonville Civic Plaza Community Room. Hosted by the Cities of Santa Cruz and Watsonville, the Skilled Trades Job Fair provides job, training, and career opportunities for applicants ages 18+.

The Santa Cruz County Skilled Trades Job Fair 2025 will bring together skilled trades employers and job-seekers. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet employers in the trades, and learn about job opportunities, classes, apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. On-site resume review and translation services will be available. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/santa-cruz-county-skilledtrades-job-fair-2025-tickets-1049202863007

Thursday March 20

Friday March 28

APTOS CHAMBER LUNCHEONS

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos.

Don’t miss this chance to hear important news straight from the source!

On March 20, Enjoy lunch with CAO Carlos Palacios from the County of Santa Cruz. He will bring the latest county updates.

On March 28, hear from Rep. Jimmy Panetta. There will be time for questions and community reports. Come out to the Seascape Golf Club for each event to enjoy lunch and learn from a professional. General Admission $35. Reservations required, no walk-ins please.

To register for Palacios’ meeting, visit https://forms.gle/ ZTRPeMFtdC5hFLvN8

For Panetta, register at https://forms.gle/UbC4VeeqUK KVLQQSA (831) 688-1467, aptoschamber.com.

Friday March 21

SANTA CRUZ SMALL BUSINESS BOOT CAMP

Wednesday March 19

NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY SPRING LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Heritage Hall at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E Lake Ave, Watsonville

The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau with the organization, Agri-Culture, will again host the National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon in the Heritage Hall at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

This popular annual event brings together the community from North and South County, elementary school students, high school students, and the farming community.

One highlight will be the presentation of the Al Smith Friend of Agriculture Award, presented by last year’s honoree, Zach Friend.

Farm Bureau and Agri-Culture co-sponsor a poster contest (grades K-6) and poetry contest (grades 7-12) in Santa Cruz County and Pajaro Valley schools. Winning entries will be displayed during the luncheon and contest winners will be introduced.

Tickets are $75 per person. Reservations and sponsorships are available. Call (831) 724-1356.

OUTSMART DISASTER WEBINAR

4 p.m., Online seminar

Small business owners, are you prepared for the unexpected? A power outage, a natural disaster, or a cyberattack can bring your business to a halt in an instant. Don’t let it be your worst nightmare. Register for a free webinar to create your customized plan. Join the California Office of the Small Business Advocate to learn practical steps to build business resiliency. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_w7QJOsvRSY2iuzB6K1rYzA#/registration

8 a.m.–3 p.m., Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St Event Santa Cruz will host the Santa Cruz Small Business Camp, an all-day event at MAH and downtown Santa Cruz crafted to inspire, educate, and empower local entrepreneurs. There will be 14 interactive breakout sessions covering essential topics like marketing, financial strategies, social media, business funding, and more, and a keynote address by Jared Truby, Cat & Cloud, co-founder, early bird networking and a closing session at Abbott Square Market.

Speakers include Nicole Fischer of Rootstock Collective, Kenne Johnson-Sciarra, founder of Terra and Self skin care, podcaster Jay Brown of MindFrame and Justine Willeford, founder of Pelican House swimwear. Tickets are $43 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/santa-cruzsmall-business-camp-tickets-1217072268919?aff= oddtdtcreator

43RD IN CELEBRATION OF THE MUSE

6:-8:30 p.m., Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz

Carrying on a four-plus decades tradition of elevating the voices of woman-identified poets in our community and proud to further its efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion, The Hive Poetry Collective presents the 43rd annual In Celebration of the Muse.

Eighteen poets, including four UC Santa Cruz students, will read their work at the Resource Center for Nonviolence.

The event is free, but donations will be asked to support Monarch Services of Santa Cruz County — which offers immediate crisis response to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, violence, and abuse.

“Calendar” page 31

Bruno Groening

FEATURED COLUMNIST

The Role of the Board of Education

By Dr. Alison Hanks-Sloan, aka Dr. AHS

What is the role of the Board of Education? This has been a common question as our students attend and/or watch the board meetings.

In our community, most schools have seven publicly elected board members. Each member represents a geographical area. All members usually serve four-year terms and are elected by their constituents in November. They can also be appointed if they are filling a vacancy mid-term of a person who vacates the position.

The board members must reside in the community that they represent. They do not need any prior experience in public education nor hold any specific degree. They are not paid to do the job. Also, they often hold another job, which cannot be part of the school district.

There is also a student board member. Every spring, the superintendent invites students to complete an application. A group of finalists is selected to interview, and the selected student makes a commitment to serve for a year. The student serves on the board all year. Engaged student board members attend all the meetings, prepare for them by inquiring about different topics, and actively engage in the meetings.

The board usually meets every two to three weeks. Public agendas are to be shared 72 hours in advance. They are both emailed and posted on the school board website. Additional board meetings can be called in between the scheduled meetings, as well. Most meetings begin at 6 PM following the closed session which happens before the public session.

“Parched” from page 27

Simply put, we’re operating a 19thcentury immigration policy with 21st-century resource constraints. And nearly unlimited demand for limited resources is a recipe for disaster.

The board members must reside in the community that they represent. They do not need any prior experience in public education nor hold any specific degree. They are not paid to do the job. Also, they often hold another job, which cannot be part of the school district.

It is the board of education members’ roles to govern the public schools in the district. They hold the superintendent accountable as they lead the hiring, conduct the evaluation, and renew the contract. They approve the district’s budget, goals, and policies, as they represent the community’s interests.

The board members should reflect the priorities and values of their constituents. They should be the checks and balances that ask the important questions to inform and help the community understand the district’s goals, systems and structures, need for support, and accountability process.

The California Schools Boards Association identified the school board member’s role as “providing community leadership as advocates for children, the school district and public schools.”

The school board serves the community, not the superintendent. Ideally, the school board collaborates with the superintendent to communicate a shared vision and policy direction, as the superintendent is the chief officer guiding the daily operations. The superintendent implements the board decisions, makes recommendations, expertly advises, and supervises the instructional and operational leaders.

Both superintendent and school board work together, not for one or for the other. When there is balanced collaboration, they can make decisions that best serve the students, staff, and families. There are over 1,000 school districts and 5,000 school board members in California.

The school board and superintendent are guided by the California Department of Education, the state organization that develops the Educational Code, also referred to as the “Ed Code”. The board follows Ed Code and then uses Robert’s Rules of Orders to guide the process: motion making, discussion, amending, and voting.

In open sessions of the board meeting, school board members adopt resolutions which should clearly explain the guidelines of the implementation. Resolutions often begin with the historical context and details about why it was proposed. This is where the discussion traditionally happens. They also discuss the action needed to implement it. Then, they make a motion to vote on the issue, which requires a majority vote to be approved.

In closed sessions of the board meeting, they discuss personnel matters including new hires; renewals of positions, student disciplinary action including expulsions or long term suspensions, and reassignments, which

can include administrators. The superintendent brings these discussions to the board for their approval.

Many of these decisions must be made under the Ed Code guidelines and timelines. For example, if the superintendent chooses to reassign administrators (principals. assistant principals, supervisors, etc) in these closed door discussions, the board must approve it before March 15. Then, it would be effective July 1. The superintendent needs no official basis for the removal. The selected administrator would be reassigned to another school and/or in another role for which s/he qualifies. If the administrator had a disciplinary record and was not being renewed, s/he would be released July 1.

All constituents (the voter, student, and/ or parent) have the right to contact their school board member. Each school board member has a school district email. Constituents can express concerns or gratitude, ask questions, or provide information that pertains to the issues most important to you. Also, constituents should encourage the board members to visit schools and share a special event invitation with them.

Remember that the school board member represents you (their constituents). Use your voice and stay informed. What happens in your local school district impacts the students, staff, and the community. Help our community SAIL (Safe community, Aspire higher, Integrity oriented, and Lead by example.) n •••

Dr. Alison Hanks-Sloan has spent 30 years in education as a principal, district supervisor, teacher, college instructor & program leader, & Peace Corps volunteer.

With about 340 million residents, we’re the third most populous country behind India and China. And we’re projected to reach 404 million inhabitants by 2060, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost entirely due to immigration rather than births.

Unfortunately, that pace of growth is straining our natural resources. Over the last four decades, we sacrificed nearly 69,000 square miles — an area larger than Florida, comprising around 3,455 acres per day — to make room for burgeoning cities and towns. That’s goodbye to approximately 11.1 million acres of cropland, 13.1 million acres of pasture and rangeland, and 18.8 million acres of forest.

And here’s the kicker: a startling 60% of this land loss resulted directly from population growth, as opposed to consumption habits.

It’s even beginning to imperil our most treasured national parks, like Yellowstone. Several of Yellowstone’s fauna, including Bison, bighorn sheep, and songbirds, rely on the areas surrounding the park for migration. But many of these crucial habitats are now being razed to create commercial centers and housing developments. That isn’t sustainable.

Too many Americans still hold to the false idea that our nation has the capacity to grow indefinitely. It’s past time to reject that narrative — along with policies of infinite expansion that drain our aquifers, deplete our rivers, and transform our stunning natural landscapes into strip malls. n

Eric Ruark is director of research for NumbersUSA. A version of this column originally appeared in the Standard-Examiner in Ogden, UT.

SCCAS Featured Pet

Lovable Baby Bear?

Meet Bear Cub (A318438), the adoptable Cane Corso puppy!

Bear Cub came to the Shelter as a little squirt and went to a foster home for a few weeks to gain some weight and confidence about the world around him.

In his foster home, he enjoyed playing with the resident dogs (both big and small) and even learned how to keep his cool around the really cool resident dog-savvy kitties.

Bear Cub is ready to warm up someone’s heart and home — could that be you?

Bear Cub is unaltered male which arrived at the Santa Cruz shelter Feb. 27, is estimated to be 6 months old, and can be adopted as soon as he is neutered. n

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”)

580 Airport Blvd., Watsonville, 95076 • Hours: Tues.-Sat. 9:30 a.m. – noon; 1–5 p.m. (Closed Sun/Mon)

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

“Calendar” from page 29

Saturday March 22

TOP DOG FILM FESTIVAL

7 pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

The Top Dog Film Festival — Australia’s premier showcase of the best dog-themed movies from around the world — comes to Santa Cruz to celebrate the passion of dog lovers at Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz with Yappy Hour at Sante Adairius Midtown.

A curated selection of hilarious, heartwarming, and delightfully dog-centric films, supporting the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.

Don’t miss out on this year’s event. It sells out each year. You’d be barking mad to miss it!

Tickets are $21 at https://www.riotheatre.com/events2/2025/3/22/topdog

Films

Bionic Pets: In a modest workshop in Virginia, a modernday miracle worker is animals in need.

Andy A Dog’s Tale: A puppy with an unwavering spirit overcomes obstacles to become a service dog.

Dogsville: A Shakespearean drama set in the world of dog sports. Mutt competes against the best purebred dogs in the world at the Agility World Championship in the Netherlands, determined to prove that talent and heart can defeat bloodlines and privilege.

The Comforter: Penny Ruthberg is an artist on an emotional quest to capture the essence of man’s best through her ceramics in rugged Tasmania.

A Dog’s Tale: This is a trail dog’s life, one cherished by both dogs and their humans every time they head out for a ride together.

Man’s First Friend: In the forbidding elevations of the Tibetan Plateau, we bear witness to the ancient Mastiff lines developed by nomadic tribes to fearlessly guard their camps and herds against predators and thieves.

Friday March 28

PVUSD ETHNICS STUDIES

5:30 p.m., PVUSD Boardroom, 294 Green Valley Road, Watsonville

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board will have a special meeting to discuss ethnic studies curriculum options.

Sunday March 30

CULTIVATING OUR COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY

Picture This: Cultivating Our Compassionate Community is a powerful storytelling event at Hotel Paradox, 611 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz.

Presenters bring unique perspectives on the themes of equity, shared responsibility and power, and the honesty and bravery required to advance solutions resolving homelessness in Santa Cruz County.

Emceed by Housing Matters Speakers Bureau members China Clark and Chris Field with music by Anthony Steinberg, direct services coordinator at Housing Matters, presenters will include:

• Bella Bonner, Founder/Executive Director of Black Surf Santa Cruz

• Gina Castaneda, Santa Cruz County Deputy Probation Officer

• Tenzin Chogkyi, Compassion educator

• MariaElena De La Garza, CEO, Community Action Board

• Edward Estrada, Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Manager, Housing Matters

• Curtis Reliford, Founder of Follow Your Heart Action Network

• Heather Rodgers, Public Defender of Santa Cruz County

• Donnie Veal, Program Coordinator of the Rising Scholars program at Cabrillo College Tickets: $30/person at https://give.housingmatterssc.org/ event/2025-picture-this-cultivating-a-compassionatecommunity/e650308

Saturday April 12

TWO PLANT SALES!

9 a.m. –1 p.m., Cabrillo College Horticulture Center, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos

Cabrillo College’s Horticulture Department will celebrate 50 years and host the Santa Cruz County chapter of the California Native Plant Society’s spring native plant sale. Come early; there is limited parking and plants can sell out fast. Carpooling is encouraged.

Highlights of the event:

Featured Artist — Lili Arnold, Botanical Illustrator Cabrillo Ceramics Department — Unique, handcrafted treasures

Empanada Pop-Up — Fonda Felix serving up tasty bites Plants: Native Plants, Water-Wise Perennials & Shrubs, Succulents & Cacti, Organic Veggie Starts, Houseplants, Unusual Plant Collection curated by Cabrillo instructor Nicky Hughes Visit www.cruzcnps.org for more info.

SECOND SATURDAY ON THE FARM

11 a.m.–3 p.m., Santa Cruz Cunty Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville Ag History Project hosts 2nd Saturday on the Farm at the Santa Cruz Cunty Fairgrounds, and the theme will be “Easter on the Farm.” Kids can join in the ever-popular Easter Egg Hunt.

Admission is free and donations are gladly accepted. Bring your lunch and enjoy a picnic on the lawn or at the picnic Tables.

Statepoint Media

The presentation could be 60-90 minutes, followed by discussion. About 30 speakers spoke on this issue Jan. 15.

The previous board declined to renew the contract of a consultant favored by students and staff and three of the yes votes were replaced in the November election.

APTOS CHAMBER LUNCHEON: JIMMY PANETTA

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos.

Get the inside scoop on all things Washington D.C. straight from Congressman Jimmy Panetta! Join us at Seascape Golf Club and enjoy a delicious lunch while gaining exclusive insights into the latest from D.C.

General Admission $40, Non-Member $50. Reservations required, no walk-ins please. (831) 688-1467, aptoschamber.com.

Wednesday April 24

UNITED WAY ANNUAL AWARDS CELEBRATION

6:30-8:30 p.m., Dream Inn, 175 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz United Way of Santa Cruz County’s Annual Awards Celebration will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 at the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz.

This special evening will recognize the outstanding individuals, businesses, and organizations that have made a lasting impact in our community through their dedication and generosity.

This is the first recognition since Yvette Lopez Brooks became CEO.

Join us as we celebrate the spirit of collaboration and commitment that drives our mission forward. Together, we are creating a stronger, more resilient Santa Cruz County for all. Tickets are $125 each at: unitedwaysc.org/awards n

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