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PVUSD Trustee Candidates Q&As
Brian Roeder holds a sign up while Scott Smith speaks during a press conference held Sept. 25 in Moss Landing.
Moss Landing BESS Monitoring Questioned
Whistleblower Sounds the Alarm Regarding Cleanup Efforts By JON CHOWN brought to the public’s attention Friday at a news conference near the Vistra power plant. Dixon was not at the event, but activists from Never Again Moss Landing discussed her sworn affidavit and a new complaint filed on her behalf with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General. ... continues on page 4
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MOSS LANDING — A former Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health scientist alleges the company hired by Vistra to monitor air after the 2025 battery fire didn’t test for all the toxic substances it should have and that when monitors did show toxins in the air, it was not always made public. The allegations by Peggy Dixon, formerly of CTEH, were
There are five candidates vying for two spots in Areas 1 and 7 of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustees. Andrew Goldenkranz, Robin Sukow and Meilin Obinata are fighting for Area 1 while Misty Navarro is facing challenger Mads Stockwell Realmuto in Area 7. Full Stories pages 6 & 7
Monte Foundation Fireworks Continues Tradition Full Story page 15
‘Watchfire’ a Beacon for Help and Hope
On the evening of Sept. 11, a bonfire was lit on the beach at Rio del Mar. Bonfires are a common way to end a sunny September day in Aptos, but this was not an ordinary fire for roasting marshmallows. The flames marked the annual Journey for Change Watchfire ... Full Story page 14
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Volume 35 No. 19
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Table of Contents
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Cover Moss Landing BESS Monitoring Questioned: Whistleblower Sounds the Alarm Re-garding Cleanup Efforts, By Jon Chown
5 12 14 15 16 18 20 25 27 30
Community News Fire Erupts Again at Moss Landing Battery Storage Facility: Plant Evacuated, Resi-dents Told to Shelter In Place, By Jon Chown Thinking About Getting A New Wood Stove? ‘Watchfire’ a Beacon for Help and Hope: Annual Veterans Event Celebrates Honor, Remembrance and Camaraderie, By Tad Stearn Monte Foundation Fireworks Continue a Tradition of Giving Back PVUSD Forced into Special Meeting to Save Millions: Arts Funding in Jeopardy After Trustee Refuses to Approve Report, By Jon Chown PVUSD Submits More Than 1,200 Seniors for CSU Direct Admissions Program Poultry Return to County Fair: Teens Excited to Show Off Their Hard Work, By Jon Chown Twin Lakes Church Opens the Hope Center: A New $11.3 Million Facility Dedicated to Community Outreach and Support New Nonprofit Promotes Safer Travel Throughout County KoaStrong Fishing Derby Brings a Mission of Childhood Cancer Prevention to Capi-tola Wharf
Election 2026 6 Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 1 Q&A 7 PVUSD Trustee Area 7 Candidates Q&A 19 Cabrillo College Trustee Area 6 Candidates Q&A 24 Don’t Be Fooled!: Santa Cruz County’s Measure E is Littered with Empty Campaign Promises, By Becky Steinbruner Local Sports 30 Santa Cruz Crushers Capture NorCal State Title Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Venus, Star of the Evening, Retrogrades, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar | Arts & Entertainment • Pages 28, 29 Featured Columnists 23 65 Years, One Remarkable Water Story. By Rebecca Gold Rubin, Public Outreach Coordinator, Soquel Creek Water District 31 Dried Floral Material Worth Recycling, By Tony Tomeo SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Pickles Will Keep You Fit!
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“Whistleblower” from page 1
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The Government Accountability Project filed the complaint Wednesday. It asks the watchdog office to investigate CTEH’s work at Moss Landing, the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and at other disaster sites. CTEH now operates under the name Onterris. Dixon’s story was originally reported by the Wall Street Journal and Onterris denied Dixon’s allegations in a statement to WSJ. Dixon, in a sworn statement, said that she worked for CTEH for five years as an environmental rapid responder. She has bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry. She said she was sent to Moss Landing and took part in air monitoring under CTEH’s Feb. 17, 2025, draft plan for Vistra. Her main complaint centers on East Palestine, where she said managers pressed field workers to produce zero or “non-detect” readings. She also alleged that some higher readings were played down or left out, ash samples were not sent to a lab and evidence was kept from residents and reporters. Dixon said she later saw the same basic approach at other sites. “I signed up to help impacted communities,” she wrote in her affidavit. “I did not sign up to deceive people.”
Limited Testing at Moss Landing
At Moss Landing, CTEH’s 16-page draft plan, which Dixon made public, called for testing outside the plant fence. It listed cobalt, nickel and manganese, along with hydrogen fluoride and other acid gases, fine particles, volatile organic compounds and possible asbestos. Dixon said that list was too limited because it left out dioxins, PFAS, PAHs and other chemicals that can be left by an industrial fire. She also said the plan focused on short-term exposure limits and did not fully address long-term exposure.
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The plan also said readings above an “action level,” a point that can trigger more safety steps, would be sent to CTEH managers, site management and the response command. Any hydrogen fluoride detection would also trigger an internal notice. Left out of the draft was any effort to alert or inform the public. Scott Smith of the Blue Shirt Justice Group held up copies of the plan and Dixon’s affidavit at Friday’s news conference. “You can’t find what you don’t look for,” he said. Smith also said records he reviewed showed hydrogen fluoride detections at the plant as late as September 2025. The press conference was held a week after the latest fire at the Vistra battery building. The EPA said about 1,300 battery modules burned Sept. 18. The blaze was first detected around 6 a.m. and had largely died down by about 10 a.m. Monterey County kept a shelter order in place within one-third of a mile until about 4:15 p.m. Tanya Rivera, the founder of Never Again Moss Landing, said she wasn’t notified of the shelter warning until 8:23 a.m., more than two hours after the fire started.
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She questioned why the warning took so long and why Highway 1 remained open. According to Rivera, air monitors had not been running around the clock. The EPA’s public cleanup page says air monitoring and sampling are required around the property during work hours. It separately says Vistra must keep a private firefighting company at the site 24 hours a day. Rivera asked where that crew was when the new fire began. “Profits should never supersede health and safety,” she said. Ed Mitchell, chief investigator for Never Again Moss Landing, also questioned the type of monitoring used during the January fire. He said local officials relied too heavily on PM2.5 sensors. Those devices measure the amount of very small particles in the air, but they do not identify which metals or chemicals are in the particles. The Monterey Bay Air Resources District said on Jan. 22, 2025 that its particle monitors and wildfire sensors showed the smoke did not affect ground-level residential areas. “Whistleblower” page 10
COMMUNITY NEWS
Fire Erupts Again at Moss Landing Battery Storage Facility
Plant Evacuated, Residents Told to Shelter In Place By JON CHOWN MOSS LANDING — A fire broke out Sept. 18 at the Vistra battery energy storage facility in Moss Landing, more than a year and a half after a major fire heavily damaged the same site. Firefighters from the North Monterey County Fire District were dispatched shortly after 6:15 a.m. to the Moss Landing power plant near Highway 1 and Dolan Road, according to CAL FIRE. Crews arrived to find smoke and fire coming from the north side of the facility. Firefighters evacuated workers from the plant, while also stabilizing the incident. Authorities issued a shelter-in-place warning for nearby residents and traffic was brought to a crawl on Highway 1. Dolan Road was blocked between Highway 1 and Via Tanques Road. The fire was burning in the same facility damaged by the Jan. 16, 2025, fire, where cleanup and removal of lithium-ion batteries has been taking place under the oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency. The shelter-in-place order was lifted later the same day, according to the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, as was the closure on Dolan Road. It wasn’t until the next afternoon that CAL FIRE listed the incident as finalized and the cause of the fire was still under investigation as of Sept. 23. The latest fire occurred as crews were beginning the final and most difficult stage of removing batteries left from the 2025 fire. The EPA announced Sept. 8 that Vistra had begun removing and processing the remaining severely damaged batteries and other material from the burned
building. Portions of the building are being demolished so crews can reach batteries and debris that previously could not be safely accessed. The EPA has said damaged lithium-ion batteries can remain unstable and present a risk of another fire. Lithium-ion battery fires also can release hydrogen fluoride and other flammable or toxic gases. The original fire spread heavy metals for miles across the region and a thin dust of pollution was later discovered throughout Elkhorn Slough. Brian Roeder, co-founder of Never Again Moss Landing, said he was disappointed in both the EPA and the county. Even if the most recent fire was inevitable, the public could have been alerted earlier and better informed during the emergency. He said the site was only monitored when the cleanup crews were working, leaving the community at risk when they are not. The original fire began Jan. 16, 2025, in Vistra’s 300-megawatt Moss Landing 300 battery energy storage system. The building contained about 100,000 lithium-ion battery modules, and the EPA estimates about 55% were damaged. That fire continued until Jan. 18 and flared up again Feb. 18, 2025. Since then, the EPA has overseen the removal of batteries from the damaged building. During the first phase of the cleanup, nearly 40,000 intact batteries were removed for recycling, according to the agency. Batteries were de-energized before being transported to EPA-approved recycling facilities in Nevada and Ohio. “New BESS Fire” page 10
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ELECTION 2026
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Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 1 Q&A T hree candidates are running for PVUSD Trustee Area 1: Andrew Goldenkranz, Robin Sukow and Meilin Obinata. Unfortunately, Sukow’s contact information was not included on the county elections website as it was for the other two candidates, and late efforts to reach Sukow were unsuccessful. Here are Goldenkranz’s and Obinata’s responses to our questions. This school district is confronting declining enrollment, possible school consolidation and budget reductions, and it has a mostly dysfunctional board. What programs or services should be protected from further cuts? Or should any?
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Meilin Obinata
t’s important to think about the problems the district is facing as structural and not a patchwork quilt of issues. I believe the district needs a meaningful strategic plan that goes well beyond the requirements of an LCAP. We need to be thinking generationally because that is what families do. Meilin Obinata A good strategic plan could address student achievement, student well-being and the budget as a unified set of goals. There are so many programs and services that are hurting because of the overreach of the job cuts. Special education, mental health and the arts come to mind. Families who have children with special needs should not need to sue the district to get its attention and make sure students have equal access to education. Providing access to mental health personnel makes for a better environment for students and staff. The arts are a graduation requirement for high school and are required for minimum eligibility for many colleges, such as the University of California and California
State University campuses, so it is best to help prepare students for this by supporting the arts when students are younger. I am extremely familiar with what colleges are looking for in terms of applicants because I currently work as a college counselor, something I have been doing for the last 14 years. I am open-minded about which programs other trustees would want to prioritize, of course.
Andrew Goldenkranz
• Special Ed is one example of a program that is legally mandated. I would investigate whether it is in our interest to merge into the county SELPA to save administrative costs rather than running our own program. • In a strong district, talent is grown and utilized from within. We are currently spending too much on consultants and outside help for budget, bond management, school closure considerations and professional development. I think we can effectively use our own talented staff for this. • In general, once the board is clear on accepted goals and Andrew Goldenkranz guardrails for student outcomes, budget decisions would follow that and be more consistent with our direction as a district. • While the teachers’ contract is settled for now, I think a more appropriate frame for budget considerations is to build it around total compensation rather than treating salaries and benefits as separate issues. Then the unions would own the distribution. • I would support changes to the funding formula, from attendance-based to enrollment-based. • The reserve should be in play. In my family, while we all like to have money in a rainy-day account, sometimes you need to take care of present needs. Our current reserve of 10% plus millions extra is arbitrary and should be negotiated. “PVUSD Trustee Area 1” page 13
ELECTION 2026
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PVUSD Trustee Area 7 Candidates Q&A
ncumbent Misty Navarro is facing challenger Mads Stockwell Realmuto. We had some questions.
Misty Navarro
Emergency Physician / Mother PVUSD is confronting declining enrollment and possible school consolidation. What programs or services should be protected from further cuts? Or should any? VUSD spends over 90 percent of its unrestricted budget on salaries and benefits while enrollment keeps falling. With ESSER funds gone, we have a gap of about $20 million to close by 2028-29 to avoid state receivership. That requires hard votes. Our three-year plan was staffing reductions in years one and two, then consolidation and Misty Navarro possible closures in year three. Because we didn’t make the year-one reductions, the December 2025 layoffs were more painful than they needed to be. But the retirement incentive and reassignments saved many jobs and significantly reduced layoffs. Should anything be protected? Yes,
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using four tests: Is it redundant? How many students does it reach? Does it protect vulnerable students? Does the logic hold up? Programs that pass, like LETRS reading training, Swun Math, our 26 CTE pathways and PV Elevate dual enrollment, are where I’d hold the line. They build reading, math, and career and college readiness. Mental health shows what that test looks like in practice. I resisted cutting those positions for over a year. As an emergency physician, I know firsthand how great the need for pediatric mental health care is, and how hard it can be to access. In early 2025, I met with clinicians to discuss improving documentation and billing so the district could recover part of the cost. The cost per student served still wasn’t sustainable. I remain committed to expanding student mental health support, though it will look different. I’m actively working with the County Office of Education and community partners, and I’m open to other partnerships. As a board, we must make sure students can still get the support they need. I consider psychological safety as essential as physical safety to a student’s ability to learn. Solvency is what keeps the programs that work open, and that’s what I’m fighting for.
How would you rebuild trust and civility among trustees, administrators, teachers and families? Do trustees have a responsibility to act civilly to other duly elected trustees? rust is a two-way street, built on honesty and a shared vision. On a board of seven, no one person accomplishes anything alone. It takes respecting different viewpoints and genuine curiosity about them. As Stephen Covey put it, seek first to understand, then to be understood. Yes, trustees have a responsibility to treat each other, and every duly elected colleague, with respect and civility. Bullying has no place in our schools or our boardroom. We have a policy on this, but no actionable way to enforce it, and I’ve been advocating for one that does. Most of the board has led with that approach, and you can see it in the goals and guardrails we set for Superintendent Contreras. We spent months gathering input from across the district, end to end, and found consistent themes in what families, teachers and staff wanted. We turned those into specific, measurable, time-bound goals we can check and adjust along the way: 4th grade reading, 7th grade algebra readiness, critical thinking and media literacy, and college and career readiness. The details
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are on the district website and in our board meeting minutes. Rebuilding trust with families and teachers also means following through. That’s why we invested in LETRS literacy training with stipends for teachers, adopted Swun Math, built 26 CTE pathways including a Joby Aviation and FAA partnership at PV High, and launched PV Elevate dual enrollment, which reached 200 students in its first year. When a decision affects daily life at school, like our new phone-free policy or updated bell schedules, we made sure staff and families had a voice before it took effect. With classified staff, trust means safety and fairness on the job, which is why I’ve been working on a CSEA-focused equity and safety platform. Trust with trustees themselves starts with honest, straightforward conversation. That’s why I answer my emails, meet face to face and take phone calls. I don’t avoid difficult conversations, even when they’re uncomfortable. Families and teachers deserve trustees who show up, listen first and follow through on what they hear. “PVUSD Area 7” page 8
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ELECTION 2026 Mads Stockwell Realmuto
Parent / Education Advocate PVUSD is confronting declining enrollment, possible school consolidation and budget reductions. What programs or services should be protected from further cuts? Or should any? e should protect programs and services that directly support student learning, safety and well-being: classroom instruction, reading and math intervention, special education, counselors, nurses, psychologists and instructional and behavioral support. Arts, physical education and Mads Realmuto career technical education also belong in a well-rounded public education. Declining enrollment compounds our difficult budget realities, requiring decisions about staffing, facilities and spending. Those decisions must reflect students’ actual needs. Eliminating a position does not eliminate the need or the work. That is why I joined parents and educators in opposing last year’s nearly 160 position cuts. We challenged the underlying data and the lack of a student-impact assessment or credible continuity plan. This school year has exposed the consequences: understaffed special education classrooms, inadequately prepared substitutes and supervision gaps that have put children and staff at risk. Principals are covering staffing gaps, while teachers face greater needs with fewer resources. Rehiring coupled with expensive temporary agency staffing calls projected savings into question. Before cuts to student programs and services, the board has a responsibility to pursue other avenues, including: 1) Stronger contract oversight. Scrutinize costs, use consultants selectively and draw on internal expertise. Where consultants fill ongoing skill gaps, establish a plan to build internal expertise to reduce recurring expenses. 2) Thoughtful school consolidation. Fewer, more fully utilized campuses could help sustain programs and stretch Measure M dollars. Savings are not guaranteed: proposals must demonstrate educational benefits and address impacts on students and families. 3) Increased Medi-Cal reimbursement. Expand billing for eligible services, including the $750,000–$1.1 million in potential mental health reimbursements identified by the Sustainable Budget Team. 4) Increase adoption of voluntary benefit alternatives that increase take-home pay. Partner with educators to improve access to and awareness of lower-cost health care plans under the available cost-sharing model, helping participating employees and the district save. Before approving reductions, I will require clear answers: What will students lose? Who will absorb the work, and do they have capacity? What alternatives have been considered? How will student outcomes be affected? What happens
W “PVUSD Area 7” from page 7 What is the most pressing educational need in your trustee area, and what specific action would you take to address it? he most pressing need in Area 7 is recovering ground in reading and math. Many districts across the state have recovered from pandemic learning loss. PVUSD has not, and our students can’t afford to lose more time. As an emergency physician, I’m trained to look at the data, identify the root cause, and act on evidence rather than guesswork. I’ve brought that same discipline to this problem as a trustee. Instead of scattering resources across many initiatives, we focused on a data-driven curriculum and sustained, structured support for teachers. We invested in LETRS literacy training with ongoing stipends for teachers, not a one-time workshop, because durable change requires durable support. We adopted Swun Math districtwide to bring consistency to how we teach math across schools. And we set specific, measurable, time-bound goals for Superintendent Contreras anchored in 4th grade reading and 7th grade algebra readiness, so the board can track real results and adjust course if something isn’t working. We’re just beginning to see the fruits of that labor, and I intend to stay on this board to see it through. That matters because these investments are competing for dollars against a roughly $20 million structural budget gap. It would be easy to cut professional development or curriculum adoption to save money in the short term. I won’t. Reading and math are foundational to everything else, including the career and college readiness pathways, like our CTE programs and PV Elevate dual enrollment, that depend on students arriving prepared. In medicine, you don’t declare success halfway through treatment; you follow the data to confirm the intervention is actually working and adjust if it isn’t. I hold our academic investments to that same standard. It’s why I supported specific, measurable goals rather than vague commitments and why I’ll keep pushing to protect what the data shows is working, even as we make hard budget choices elsewhere. Area 7 families deserve a trustee who treats their children’s education with the same rigor I bring to patient care: evidencebased, closely monitored and adjusted when the results demand it.
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ELECTION 2026 to projected savings if services require expensive outside providers? I cannot promise to preserve every position or program. I can commit to protecting student services, preventing disproportionate harm to any student group, and working with educators, families and district leadership to develop workable solutions. How would you rebuild trust and civility among trustees, administrators, teachers and families? Do trustees have a responsibility to act civilly to other duly elected trustees? es. Trustees have a responsibility to treat fellow elected trustees, employees, students, families and community members civilly, including those with whom they strongly disagree. Civility must make room for rigorous questions, honest disagreement and accountability. It must never be used to silence someone, dismiss legitimate concerns or avoid uncomfortable issues. The entire board shares responsibility for listening to understand, de-escalating tension without minimizing concerns and keeping discussion focused on evidence, options and student needs. We should model how to work through disagreement with courage and respect. Discriminatory or derogatory language toward any person or group is unacceptable and should be addressed calmly and directly. For nearly two decades, my work in public policy and stakeholder engagement involved bringing together people with competing priorities, differing views and, sometimes, deep distrust of one another. Progress began with careful listening, understanding disagreements, identifying shared interests and establishing a process people could trust. I will work with fellow trustees to establish clear goals for student success, consistent meeting rules and shared expectations for our conduct. Those expectations should include coming prepared, listening without interruption, avoiding side conversations and personal attacks and disagreeing on the merits. Governance training and regular evaluation should reinforce those commitments. Rebuilding trust also requires improving how decisions are made. Families and employees need understandable information and meaningful opportunities to ask questions and shape proposals before decisions are effectively settled. Major proposals should include clear alternatives, trade-offs, anticipated student impacts and sufficient time for review. The board and district must provide more meaningful opportunities for public input beyond the boardroom. I will build on my engagement with school site councils, PTAs and other school groups while advocating for additional ways to participate, including digital public comment options like those offered by other public agencies. The board and district must also clearly explain what concerns and ideas community members have raised, how that input has shaped decisions and why some suggestions are not adopted. Trust grows when people see that their input matters, commitments are kept and mistakes are acknowledged.
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My responsibility will be to model that behavior consistently and help the board keep its attention on students. What is the most pressing educational need in your trustee area, and what specific action would you take to address it? tudents living in Trustee Area 7 generally attend Mar Vista, Rio del Mar, Valencia, Aptos Junior High and Aptos High. For these students, and across PVUSD, the most pressing educational need is meaningful academic progress and preparation for life after graduation, whatever pathway they choose. That requires strong foundational instruction, broader opportunities and healthy learning environments. We need to aim higher. A goal of only one in three third graders reading at grade level by 2031 is not ambitious enough. I will press the district to identify what stronger progress requires and align the budget accordingly. Literacy and mathematics improvement plans must include ambitious, measurable goals, regular public progress reviews and direct input from teachers about classroom challenges and needed support. Evidencebased instruction, early identification of struggling students and timely intervention and tutoring should anchor that work, alongside enrichment opportunities that keep students who are excelling challenged and engaged. Area 7 schools generally do not receive Title I funding, making community support especially important. I will work to remove recent district barriers that make it harder for parent associations to fund additional support, including reading aides. We must also expand career and technical education alongside strong college preparation. Partnerships with community colleges, employers, unions and apprenticeship programs can connect introductory courses to advanced training, internships, recognized credentials and employment. I will ask the district to identify gaps and address scheduling, transportation and capacity barriers. Every student should graduate with a realistic next step connected to their strengths, interests and goals. Students also need to feel safe, included and connected to learn. I will seek a review of mental health staffing reductions, caseloads and access to support, alongside stronger accountability for addressing bullying and discrimination. I will advance age-appropriate, evidence-informed expectations for technology, cellphones and AI literacy while protecting hands-on learning, arts, music, physical activity, outdoor education and relationships with trusted adults. As a PVUSD graduate, district parent and Special Education Community Advisory Committee chair, I want families to be able to rely on our schools. The board must align spending with these priorities, provide effective oversight and communicate clearly with the public about what is improving, where student needs are not yet being met and what steps the district will take next. n
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“New BESS Fire” from page 5 The more heavily damaged batteries present a different challenge. The EPA said some severely damaged batteries must be treated at the Moss Landing site before they can be transported. Battery debris and other fire-related waste will be tested to determine how it must be handled before being sent to approved disposal facilities. The EPA said safety measures during
“Whistleblower” from page 4 Readings at nearby stations stayed in the good or moderate range, the district said. But the agency also said its equipment could not test for hydrogen fluoride. Mitchell said responders should have sampled the smoke plume from the air and tested dark residue found after the fire.
Separate Studies, Different Results
The first fire began Jan. 16, 2025, inside Vistra’s 300-megawatt battery building. The EPA says the building held about 100,000 battery modules and roughly 55% were damaged. Federal workers set up nine monitoring stations around the property for particles and acid gases, including hydrogen fluoride, before turning the equipment over to Vistra on Jan. 20. According to the EPA, there was little pollution from the fire. However, a peer-reviewed study led by Moss Landing Marine Laboratories found sharp increases in nickel, manganese and cobalt in surface soil at Elkhorn Slough. Some hot spots were 10 to 1,000 times higher than levels measured before the fire. The research team found evidence of pollution as far as 4 kilometers from the plant and estimated about 55,000 pounds of metal-rich particles fell across the slough. A separate Phase II study prepared by Terraphase, hired by Vistra, reached a far different conclusion. It said the detected metals and other pollutants did not come from the fire and did not pose a threat to people or wildlife. That study often used samples about 3 inches deep, while the Marine Lab study focused on a much thinner surface layer. Cleanup at the plant is in its final phase. The EPA oversees work inside the fence, while state and local agencies oversee areas outside it. Vistra is paying for and carrying out the cleanup under EPA oversight. Smith said his group planned to run independent air tests over the weekend with a remote-sensing instrument and discuss the results at a town hall. Brian Roeder of Never Again Moss Landing compared the response by local, state and federal authorities to the Three Stooges, assigning Curly to Monterey County, Larry to the state and Moe to the federal government. “I characterize our authorities at the local, state and federal level as the Three Stooges,” Roeder said. “I call the county Curly, because Curly is kind of a friendly guy. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.”
the cleanup include air monitoring and sampling, battery temperature monitoring, water collection and testing, dust suppression and a fire and smoke watch. The agency also requires an emergency response plan to be in place in case another fire occurs. Vistra is performing and paying for the battery removal under EPA oversight. The EPA said earlier this month that it expects removal of the remaining batteries and demolition of the damaged building to continue until mid-2027. n
The county was just overwhelmed, Roeder explained, and was trying. “Let’s talk about Larry. Larry’s the state,” he said. Larry could do better, but wasn’t trying hard enough, Roeder went on. He then cast the EPA as Moe. “And finally, we have Moe, who’s slapping everybody around,” he said. “And that is the feds in the form of the EPA.” Roeder accused the EPA of putting industry interests ahead of the public, a practice he called corporate capture. “The EPA has been throwing elbows for industry for years, decades,” Roeder said. “It’s called corporate capture. We’ve seen it here.” Roeder said the group worked with EPA public relations staff for information. He said the employees were pleasant, but complained that the agency’s website did not tell the community “what’s really happening.” “You know who’s giving them their marching orders, folks? Vistra. CTEH. Terraphase,” Roeder said. “They’re setting the rules, and the EPA knows they’re not setting fair rules, and yet they’re following those rules.” Roeder also returned to the public assurances given after the January fire. He said four days after the fire, an EPA representative told the community, in effect, “We have detected nothing to cause concern.” Roeder disputed that conclusion and accused the agency of failing to correct it. “Every time Vistra speaks, they say the EPA said there was nothing to see here,” Roeder said. “In effect, go back to sleep. Today’s about telling you why we can’t go back to sleep.” Roeder also complained that the fire had not resulted in fines or citations. He pointed out that a homeowner could get a fine for the slightest violation along the coastline, and yet a negligent fire that resulted in massive pollution along the coastline hasn’t resulted in any penalty. “There have been no fines, no citations,” he said. “How is that possible?” The inspector general has not said whether it will open a formal investigation on Dixon’s revelations. Her whistleblower complaint asks it to obtain the raw, unedited monitoring records and the history of any changes made to them. This newspaper will seek answers from the public agencies and responses from the companies involved and report more as we discover more. n
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / October 1st 2026 / 11
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Are People Still Heating With Wood?
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ELECTION 2026 “PVUSD Trustee Area 1” from page 6 • In general, my bias is to work from the kids and classroom up as priorities for funding. How would you rebuild trust and civility among trustees, administrators, teachers and families? Do trustees have a responsibility to act civilly toward other duly elected trustees?
Goldenkranz: Yes, they do. Trustees, and adult public speakers, have a responsibility to model the behaviors we expect from kids in personal interactions and problem-solving. • My career in community advocacy has been around “relational organizing.” This means taking the time to listen and understand motivations behind the debate of the moment. Currently, we have lots of agitation without the underlying solid relationships, and that is simply irritation. • I would propose a set of behavioral norms for the board, as we have in classrooms and most organizations: Don’t interrupt, criticize ideas, not people, presume positive intentions, respect time, etc. We could take some ideas from the Legislature and Board of Supervisors on imposing time limits for outside speakers and putting a “me too” rule in place to accommodate many speakers when needed. We should read them at the opening of each meeting as part of our mission. • Unruly board meetings can also be addressed by more advance planning. Board meetings are fundamentally for making decisions. The preplanning, discussions, negotiations, Q&A, etc., can mostly be handled offline between meetings. A draft agenda, time for Q&A, staff preparations and moving the agenda posting deadline from three days to at least 10 days can help streamline meetings while allowing for public input. • Making sure unions and other stakeholders have an ongoing seat at the table and are treated as true partners is an important guardrail that will improve conduct at meetings. Obinata: Yes, absolutely, trustees should be civil
toward each other. I would do my best to remind my fellow trustees of why we are all here: to solve problems and move forward. I would encourage all of us as trustees to learn about the rules and procedures so that we can understand how to use them most effectively. There are many missed opportunities for the board leadership to use existing rules, procedures and just plain old communication skills to make meetings more productive and peaceful. I have worked as a mediator to resolve conflicts between hostile parties and also have informally settled disputes when I worked in tech and in other roles. I know that we can get so much done if we actually want to reconcile. To establish trust, we need transparency because transparency and trust go hand in hand. Transparency about money would especially go a long way toward building trust. There is a lot of miscommunication and confusion about the district’s money. I’ve heard multiple narratives about reserves, for example. The budget tells us what is or is not important. We need to make sure that people have easy access to the budget information and can see clear connections between what we are spending and what we are getting out of those
dollars. We also need to make sure our budgets reflect how closely trustees and administrators are listening to teachers and families. There is a huge demand for change at this moment because there has been a lack of listening. Along with a foundation of trust, yes, we can and should pursue civility. Toward that goal, I would do my utmost to establish productive relationships and help others do the same. I have more thoughts regarding civility in my response to the next question. What is the most pressing educational need in your trustee area, and what specific action would you take to address it?
Obinata: Since the start of this school year, I’ve
been hearing about how extremely difficult things have been. I am hearing about burnout and stress among staff. One parent told me she was even worried about the mental health of teachers. Bad decisions were made in the past. The administration wanted, and a board majority voted for, sweeping cuts without a sufficient plan, leaving the district scrambling to re-recruit for essential roles that it realized too late were critical — and recruitment costs money. If we need to restore other key frontline positions, I would advocate for that, not by adding to our deficit but by restructuring topheavy central office administrative roles and eliminating non-classroom overhead to pay for them.
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Goldenkranz: While I’m hearing about a lot
of different issues, school closures, the sevenperiod day and the presence of SROs are three Aptos-specific issues that keep coming up. • School closures: We need three things that I’d fight for: 1) taking some time to reimagine and redesign schools so movement to desired programs is an opportunity more than a disruption; 2) a clear plan for the disposition of any sites to be closed, which gets back to the budget; and 3) a clearly described service plan for continuity of student learning. For example, if Valencia, a strong, high-functioning school, needs to close because of facility and transportation fragility, then rather than split up those kids, teachers and programs, we should move the whole school as an integral package. • Seven-period day: I worked in a seven-period environment for almost 20 years and see the clear educational and mental health benefits. But the need for fairness means that we achieve equity by expanding opportunity, not shrinking it. I’d like to see a seven-period day in all high schools and would start with a full cost analysis and by engaging the union in an equitable approach to staffing in this model. • SROs: I wish we lived in a world that didn’t require SROs, active shooter drills and other safety measures. The history of policing is complicated, and people have different lived experiences that influence their positions on this issue. But we need a current partnership with the Sheriff’s Department on issues ranging from e-bike safety to gun violence prevention. I’m encouraged that Sheriff Clark and his team understand community policing and the need to collaborate on training, scope of work and selection of officers who fit the school community. A large majority of Area 1 respondents support the presence of SROs, and we need to carefully proceed toward best practices with a light touch consistent with protecting kids. n
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COMMUNITY NEWS
‘Watchfire’ a Beacon for Help and Hope
Annual Veterans Event Celebrates Honor, Remembrance and Camaraderie
O
By TAD STEARN
n the evening of Sept. 11, a bonfire was lit on the beach at Rio del Mar. Bonfires are a common way to end a sunny September day in Aptos, but this was not an ordinary fire for roasting marshmallows. The flames marked the annual Journey for Change Watchfire, a community gathering sponsored by Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz. Watchfires are an ancient military tradition. They were once lit on high ground or along shorelines after battles to help guide lost or separated soldiers back to their units and safety. Watchfires served as beacons, burning through the night for those still searching for a path home. In that tradition, the Sept. 11 event honored local veterans, remembered prisoners of war and service members missing in action, reconnected friends and fellow veterans and supported veterans who may still carry the invisible weight of war, service or separation. The fire provided warmth and was also used to respectfully retire several worn American flags brought by attendees.
Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz
Vets 4 Vets was founded by board member Dean Kaufman, a veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Vets 4 Vets is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit made up of veterans and friends dedicated to helping fellow veterans in need. Kaufman worked as a veterans service officer in the Santa Cruz area and saw firsthand that local veterans could benefit from more direct and immediate help navigating the challenges of daily life. The organization was created to provide timely
Buzz Gray prepares to retire a flag
officials at the California Capitol. Although officials held a ceremony and the group gained welcome attention for its cause, little action was taken on the proposal. “Not much came from that, no legislation or political help,” Gray recalled, “so we started focusing our efforts locally in Santa Cruz with events like this (Watchfire). If you can just have something like this, with the fire and the pizza, there’s no pressure on anybody, and nobody judges you for anything no matter your circumstances. It kind of works, and I have hope that it will help somebody.”
Never Too Old to Stay Involved
assistance that could make a meaningful difference in a veteran’s life. “Our focus is on direct service to veterans, helping fill the gaps when other resources aren’t available or accessible. Sometimes that means helping a veteran navigate the benefits they’re entitled to, providing emergency assistance, or simply offering a helping hand when life gets difficult,” Vets 4 Vets executive director Wendy Core said. That is where the Vets 4 Vets Emergency Assistance Fund can help. The fund provides assistance with food, clothing, transportation to interviews or appointments, temporary shelter, minor car or home repairs, employment-related needs and other essentials. Core said the organization’s support goes beyond financial assistance. “Just as important is the sense of community we create through our regular gatherings and events. Veterans have an opportunity to connect with one another, share experiences, and build friendships. That camaraderie and knowing you’re not alone can make a tremendous difference, especially for those experiencing isolation,” she said.
Journey for Change
Buzz Gray is a Vietnam War veteran and also a veteran of the classroom, having taught fourth-graders at Gault School for the past 25 years. More than a decade ago, Gray became aware of the staggering number of veterans dying by suicide and knew he had to do
14 / October 1st 2026 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
something. In 2015, Gray and four other veterans met weekly for a year to write a policy proposal aimed at ending veteran suicide. “I started Journey for Change to end veteran suicide when I learned that the suicide rate was 22 per day,” Gray said. “So I got together with other veterans and hammered out a proposal that we wanted to deliver to the VA, with ideas coming from veterans on how to address the issue and help prevent veteran suicides. We decided the best way to get attention was to walk it all the way from downtown Santa Cruz to Sacramento.” The group made the walk in 2016 and hand-delivered the proposal to government
Operating a local nonprofit takes considerable work and commitment, and Vets 4 Vets is no exception. The success of its mission relies on the passion of individual members, volunteers and friends, along with generous support from donors and sponsors. Lois Guin is one of those friends and volunteers and is herself a war veteran. In the Korean War, Guin served as a nurse on the USS Haven, the “mother ship of all the hospital ships at the time,” she recalled proudly. “We brought the POWs back (on the Haven) after the armistice was signed.” Guin will turn 99 in October and continues to volunteer her time. After her husband died, she became involved with veterans groups and Vets 4 Vets to help cope with her loss and remain connected to the veteran community. She volunteered at a National Poppy Day donation booth and has been active with veterans groups ever since. Her energy and wit are inspiring, and she still has goals she wants to achieve. “9-11” page 16
COMMUNITY NEWS
Monte Foundation Fireworks Continue a Tradition of Giving Back
T
he Monte Foundation Fireworks Extravaganza returns to Capitola Oct. 11, continuing a tradition that has grown from a fundraiser at Seacliff State Park into one of the area’s largest annual community celebrations. Marc Monte, president and CEO of Deluxe Foods in Aptos, started the event in 1996 as a way to raise money and give back to the community where his family has operated its grocery business for nearly five decades.
Marc Monte and family
The foundation’s work extends well beyond the annual fireworks show. It has supported projects including the McGregor Pump Track and Skateboard Park in Capitola, the Monte Fields at the Aptos Polo Grounds and the Polo Grounds Bike Park. “I like to do projects that help kids in the community,” Monte said in an interview last year. Monte has also made plans for the foundation to continue that work after his lifetime. He said last year that he intends to leave his estate to the Monte Foundation, providing money for future community projects. “It’s going to survive,” Monte said at the time. “My whole estate is going to the Monte Foundation.” The fireworks tradition has personal roots for Monte. He recalled last year that when he was growing up, Capitola held Fourth of July fireworks shows that he loved attending. Monte’s parents, Rudolph and Doris Monte, opened Deluxe Foods in Aptos in 1977. The store distinguished itself with
high-end groceries, a floral department, bakery and an emphasis on customer service. The first Monte Foundation Fireworks Extravaganza was held at Seacliff State Park in 1996. Tickets were sold to the event, which became an annual tradition and fundraiser. Permitting issues led to the show moving to Capitola in 2013, where it became a free event. Monte said last year that the fireworks show costs him about $60,000, with the
fireworks company also contributing to the display. For Monte, the event is another part of a larger effort to reinvest in the community that has supported his family’s business for generations. He described the fireworks show last year as an annual reminder that his family “did well and gives back to the community.” n ••• The show is scheduled from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / October 1st 2026 / 15
COMMUNITY NEWS
PVUSD Forced into Special Meeting to Save Millions Arts Funding in Jeopardy After Trustee Refuses to Approve Report By JON CHOWN
WATSONVILLE — The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees was forced to schedule an emergency meeting on Sept. 30 in order to save millions of dollars in state funding. The emergency was caused by PVUSD Trustee Gabriel Medina’s refusal to sign off on the district’s Prop. 28 report to the state, which was part of the Consent Agenda during the PVUSD board meeting on Sept. 16. “How many times have I asked you to bring us a Prop. 28 report?” Medina asked.
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The report, required by the state, was brief and less than one page long. It stated that the equivalent of 14.2 teachers are providing programs with Arts and Music in Schools funds, along with 1.06 classified employees. They are serving 14,100 students at 30 sites. According to PVUSD staff, the report was created from a template that CDE (California Department of Education) provides for approval by the board, which is required and mandated by Sept. 30. “If we don’t, then we will have to return the money back to CDE,” PVUSD staff advised the trustees. Medina had wanted far more. He had wanted a presentation, which staff advised they were ready to give. However, Medina said he had wanted the presentation attached to the agenda so the public could view it beforehand. “So I’m not going to vote for this if that doesn’t get moved and we have a special meeting because I want the community to be able to see that presentation,” he said. PVUSD Superintendent Heather
Contreras pointed out that all of the budgeting regarding the Prop. 28 funds was provided in the packet, as it contained the district’s overall budget. PVUSD spent $2.9 million in Prop. 28 money during fiscal year 2025-26, according to the financial schedules in the Sept. 16 agenda packet. Of that, $225,643 went to charter schools. Little else could be determined from the information given. “I wanted a slide deck of the information of what we are doing with our arts within our community with Prop. 28,” Medina said. “So unless you meet my standards I am going to vote ‘no.’” Just four trustees of the seven were present. Trustee Joy Flynn rarely attends meetings. Trustee Daniel Dodge had announced he would be late to arrive, and Trustee Misty Navarro, an
emergency physician, was missing due to work. Without Medina’s vote, the issue was dead. “So that leads me back to what is the date where we’re going to have a special meeting to talk about this because we have to get it done by Sept. 30 or we will have to give that money back,” said Board Chair Carol Turley. The board took a five-minute recess hoping Dodge might show, but he did not. “It’s a shame we would have to potentially lose funds for our students,” Trustee Olivia Flores observed. The board then voted to remove the Prop. 28 report from the consent agenda and set a special meeting for Sept. 30. If four board members are not present or vote to approve the document on that date, the district stands to lose the Prop. 28 funds. n
“9-11” from page 14 “I want to go back to Korea in two years, so I want to stay healthy,” she said. “We went last September and it was wonderful. They treat you like rock stars over there!”
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Although the watchfire was largely a symbolic beacon intended to guide soldiers to safety, it appeared to serve a similar purpose that night. As the sun set, a lone veteran made his way to the information tent. He was seeking help with an upcoming move and wondered whether assistance was available. He had come to the right place. n •••
A flag is retired in the flames of the watchfire For more information about Vets 4 Vets or Journey for Change, upcoming gatherings and events, or opportunities to volunteer or donate, visit vets4vetssantacruz. org. If you or a veteran you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Dial 988, then press 1; text 838255; or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat to reach the free, confidential Veterans Crisis Line.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
PVUSD Submits More Than 1,200 Seniors for CSU Direct Admissions Program WATSONVILLE — More than 1,200 graduating high school seniors across Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) are one step closer to earning a college degree after the district submitted 1,207 verified student records to the California State University (CSU) Office of the Chancellor for consideration for direct admission processing. The submission was completed a full week ahead of the state deadline. This marks PVUSD’s inaugural participation in the groundbreaking CSU Direct Admissions Program. Designed to remove traditional application barriers, the program automatically matches eligible high school seniors with available seats across participating CSU campuses statewide. The district’s verification process revealed that more than 68% of reviewed seniors met direct eligibility benchmarks: • 483 students (Category 1): Fully CSU eligible for direct admission across 17 CSU campuses. • 346 students (Category 2): On the cusp of full CSU eligibility, with clear, actionable steps identified to finalize their qualification before graduation. • 378 students (Category 3): Positioned with direct transfer pathways to partner community colleges with guaranteed transition routes to a four-year university. The student records represent six PVUSD high school sites: Aptos High School, Pajaro Valley High School, Watsonville High School, Diamond Technology
“Woodstove & Sun” from page 12 The best stores will have knowledgeable, experienced staff who can help walk you through the project. They’ll be able to provide technical advice, or connect you with a qualified, experienced installer if needed.
Institute (DTI), New School and Renaissance High School. “This is a milestone moment for our students and families,” said Heather Contreras, PVUSD superintendent of schools. “By proactively clearing the path to higher education, we are telling more than 1,200 of our seniors that college isn’t just a distant dream; it is an accessible reality. This effort reflects our relentless commitment to equity, student achievement and preparing every PVUSD graduate for lifelong success.” The massive data verification project was spearheaded by district counseling program leadership in collaboration with high school teams across the district. To ensure long-term sustainability, district leaders established a standardized operating procedure that will ensure the submission for future PVUSD graduating classes occurs smoothly each year. “Reaching this benchmark ahead of schedule required an incredible lift from our school counselors, site administrators and district team,” said Julie Edwards, director of Strategic Educational Options for PVUSD. “To see hundreds of our students immediately qualify for direct admission to 17 universities is deeply inspiring. Our team worked tirelessly to ensure every eligible senior was accounted for so that when these official CSU letters hit their mailboxes, our students know their hard work paid off.” The CSU Chancellor’s Office will begin issuing official direct admission notifications directly to qualifying PVUSD students by mail in the coming weeks. n
The store you choose to do business with will help you with post-installation service and answer any questions that come up. A high-quality fireplace is built to last 20-25 years, so the folks you choose to work with are people you’ll be connected to for years to come. ••• Please consider choosing Woodstove & Sun to help you with your fireplace or outdoor living needs. We offer wood, gas, pellet and electric stoves, fireplaces and inserts, as well as POLYWOOD outdoor furniture, fire pits, pizza ovens, custom outdoor kitchens, Infratech heating and True refrigeration. Our showroom is located at 510 Soquel Ave in Santa Cruz. Please call, email or stop by! Our friendly staff will be happy to help you and answer any further questions you may have to begin this process. We can be reached at (831) 425-5123 and woodstoveandsun@gmail.com. n
ELECTION 2026
Cabrillo College Trustee Area 6 Candidates Q&A
W
e asked the candidates vying for the Trustee Area 6 seat on the Cabrillo Community College Board this question: What do you believe is the most important change Cabrillo College should make over the next four years, and what would you do as a trustee to make it happen?
Karen Cogswell, retired business owner
S
tudent success must be Cabrillo’s top priority. Whether students plan to transfer or enter the workforce, they should leave with a clear career path and the coursework to reach it. As a trustee, I will push for an inclusive review of what four-year universities and local employers require, then Karen Cogswell support faculty and staff in aligning our curricula to those expectations. Sound finances are essential. Colleges nationwide face declining enrollment as birth rates fall and immigration policies shift. Cabrillo can respond by expanding dual enrollment for high school students, welcoming lifelong learners to any class and advocating for the option to repeat classes. Demand is strongest in health care, from front-line administrative roles to RN positions, yet long waits push many students to enroll elsewhere. New anatomy and other labs at the Watsonville campus are close to where many of these students live. We must keep finding ways to meet this demand. Finally, students feel the promise and peril of AI as they navigate their futures. Cabrillo should lead a coalition of community colleges in confronting these issues, drawing on the statewide system’s strength. The pace of change demands immediate action, from state and federal advocacy to substantive discussions with local business and political leaders. Our college and community have the knowledge and experience to lead. Let’s roll up our sleeves.
I
Ben Finke, bus operator
believe that Cabrillo should take steps to support and compensate faculty and staff at a rate comparable to that paid to employees at colleges in other similar California counties. Primarily, hardworking people are entitled to a comfortable living wage — and, as the people directly responsible for student mentorship and success, it is integral to the good of the school and student outcomes that they be treated fairly and given the accommodations and resources they need to perform at their absolute best. As a trustee, I would analyze and contrast the budgets of Cabrillo and similar schools and plan steps to move toward closing the pay gap between them. I understand that the school is currently operating with a nearly $3 million budget deficit, but I believe that front-line faculty and staff should be the last to be cut when funds are tight and the first to benefit when the capital is available. I would also look to work closely with the Community College League to advocate for the alteration of the Student Centered Funding Formula, moving to allow schools like Cabrillo with moderate numbers of lifelong learners and adult students to receive more funding from their enrollment, rather than focusing heavily on first-time students. Similarly, I would work to petition the state to allow community members and students to retake classes. This would increase enrollment, as well as allow our neighbors to recreationally engage in programs they enjoy, building real community and lending to strong local culture. Holistic and needs-based enrollment and waitlist weighting could be altered to ensure first-time students are able to take the classes they need but not completely exclude elective participants. It would also be integral to advocate for the state to defund Calbright, an online-only community college. “Cabrillo Trustee” page 21
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / October 1st 2026 / 19
20 / October 1st 2026 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
COMMUNITY NEWS
Torunn Winstrom of Watsonville (left) and Savanna Losness of Soquel at the Poultry Barn during the Santa Cruz County Fair.
Poultry Return to County Fair
Teens Excited to Show Off Their Hard Work By JON CHOWN WATSONVILLE — After a year without live chickens, the poultry barn returned to the Santa Cruz County Fair and Torunn Winstrom of Watsonville and Savanna Losness of Soquel, both 14, were thrilled. Both raised chickens to exhibit and for the auction at the end of the fair. “Raising chickens is the best,” Winstrom said. Winstrom gets chicks from local suppliers or buys them online from breeders. “It’s amazing watching them grow up because you get to see all that progress from a little fluffy chick to a beautiful, flourishing bird,” Winstrom said. She has been raising chickens since she was 1. Losness was equally happy to have her birds at the fair, which ran from Sept. 16-20. “Raising chickens has been very, very
Adrían Garcia of Salinas holds a chicken he raised.
fun,” Losness said. “I currently have three, and I’m showing all of them. It’s just been a wonderful time raising all of them.” Losness once had more than 30 chickens, but most were killed by dogs and coyotes near her rural home. One of the birds she brought to the fair was a 3-year-old hen that survived after the other chickens in its flock were all killed. “It’s very fun seeing them as chicks and watching them grow up,” Losness said. “I’ve had this girl for about three years. The rest of her flock did end up dying off, sadly, but she is the survivor.” Live chickens were missing from the 2025 fair because California prohibited poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs and shows over concerns about the spread of H5N1 avian influenza. The California Department of Food and Agriculture imposed the statewide prohibition in January 2025. It was lifted near the end of the year. With no live birds, poultry exhibitors in 2025 submitted videos showing themselves examining, posing and walking their birds. They completed the remainder of showmanship in person without live birds. “There was the avian flu, or the bird flu, and people were scared that if one bird has it, it’s going to carry to other birds, and there’s going to be a whole outbreak in California,” said Adrian Garcia, a 14-year-old freshman at Palma School in Salinas. “And so they decided to shut that down so there wasn’t any risk of that.” “Eggs at County Fair” page 27
ELECTION 2026 “Cabrillo Trustee” from page 19 While, in principle, it is beneficial to offer online courses, this option is redundant, draws funding away from local communityserving institutions and does not offer the same quality of education or levels of student success as even online classes offered by traditional brick-and-mortar schools. I would also explore the reintroduction of bond measures, the implementation of which would allow the school to keep general fund capital available for operations costs, rather than having to be spent on facilities maintenance. Were we able to achieve one or two of these goals, let alone all of them, Cabrillo would have the funds to ensure that faculty and staff can comfortably focus on student success while benefiting our entire community.
T
Milissa Ales-Barnicoat, chief executive officer
he most important change I would like to see over the next four years is Cabrillo Community College positioning itself for the future. For me, that starts with students. Access can’t just mean getting through the door. Students need to be able to afford to stay, feel like Milissa Ales-Barnicoat they belong, finish what they came for and see opportunity on the other side — whether
that’s transferring, starting a career, earning a credential or continuing to learn. I also think we need to stay connected to what is happening outside the college. That means listening to our community, understanding where jobs and careers are changing and building strong relationships with employers and other partners. There is also a very real financial piece. Funding is changing, and costs aren’t getting any lower. I don’t think Cabrillo can simply cut its way to a stronger future. We need to be looking for new resources, too. That’s an area where I have experience. Much of my work involves bringing together education, government, labor, employers and community organizations. I know how important relationships are when you’re looking for funding, building partnerships or trying to get something new off the ground. As a trustee, I would bring that experience to the board. I would want us actively advocating for Cabrillo in Sacramento and beyond, looking for state and federal funding, grants, private funding and partnerships while making thoughtful decisions about the resources we already have. A trustee isn’t there to run the college. We’re there to ask questions, set direction, make responsible decisions and hold leadership accountable. Four years from now, I want Cabrillo to be financially stronger and a place where students feel they belong, where great faculty and staff want to stay and where students can see a future for themselves. n
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FEATURED COLUMNIST
65 Years, One Remarkable Water Story By REBECCA GOLD RUBIN, Public Outreach Coordinator, Soquel Creek Water District
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hat do a devastating flood, a “Tadpole Water Company,” a building constructed six feet below the road, and an advanced water purification project have in common? They’re all part of Soquel Creek Water District’s story. On October 16, the District turns 65. To mark the occasion, we’ve been looking back through our newly updated History of the Soquel Creek Water District — and it turns out our story has a few twists and turns that even longtime customers may not know.
Too Much Water?
For starters, our story begins with too much water. Just before Christmas in 1955, more than a foot of rain fell in the Soquel Creek watershed in just three days. Logs and debris jammed behind the Soquel Drive bridge, sending the creek into downtown Soquel, breaking windows, destroying homes and businesses, and severely damaging the bridge. Property damage in Soquel and Capitola was estimated at more than $1 million. The devastating flood renewed efforts to address flood protection along Soquel Creek and ultimately helped set the stage for creation of the District. In fact, when the Soquel Creek County Water District was formed in 1961, it was established for two purposes: water conservation and flood control. At the time, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was studying a dam on Soquel Creek that could do double duty — help alleviate winter flooding while also providing a reliable source of drinking water. The dam was never built, and flood-control responsibilities eventually shifted to other local agencies. The District’s focus increasingly turned to developing and improving the community’s drinking water system.
And there are many more stories where these came from.
Celebrating 65 Years — and Looking Ahead
From “Tadpole” to Water District
And those early years were pretty humble. So humble, in fact, that some residents affectionately referred to the fledgling agency as the “Tadpole Water Company.” As Mid-County grew, the little water district grew with it. The District acquired and improved water systems, added wells, pipelines, storage and treatment facilities, and began building the interconnected water system that serves our community today. Even our headquarters has a quirky piece of history. When it was constructed in 1971, the building was purposely built about six feet below the existing level of Soquel Drive because District leaders knew the road would eventually be lowered. What may have looked like an odd decision at the time turned out to be some very good planning. That idea — looking beyond today’s needs — appears again and again in our history.
As part of our 65th anniversary, we’ve updated the District’s history book to tell the story from 1961 through 2025. The new edition combines historian Sandy Lydon’s original account of 1961–1988 with a new second part by Malcolm Smith covering 1989–2025 — including groundwater sustainability, seawater intrusion, changing water-quality regulations and the development of Pure Water Soquel. “Water Story” page 26
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Over time, the challenge facing our community shifted from building enough infrastructure to understanding whether the groundwater beneath us could support our needs over the long term. New science and monitoring eventually confirmed that groundwater levels had fallen too low and seawater intrusion threatened our community’s water supply. Once again, the District had to adapt.
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From Flood Control to Groundwater Replenishment
Courtesy of SqCWD
Flood in February, 1940, on Soquel’s Main St.
After years of studying alternatives, planning and community engagement, the District developed Pure Water Soquel, an advanced water purification and groundwater replenishment project. The Board approved the project in 2018, setting in motion years of design, funding and construction. In late 2025, Pure Water Soquel began replenishing the groundwater basin. Think about that evolution: a District whose story began with plans to control water flowing through Soquel Creek is now putting highly purified water back into the ground to help protect our community’s groundwater supply.
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ELECTION 2026
Don’t Be Fooled! Santa Cruz County’s Measure E is
Littered with Empty Campaign Promises
D
By BECKY STEINBRUNER
on’t be fooled by promises making you think this new Countywide halfcent sales tax would focus on saving local emergency medical care. In truth, the County would have no restrictions whatsoever on how the anticipated annual $27 Million would be spent. The County’s history of empty promises merits no trust. Although the problems associated with HR-1 loss of federal funding are real for many residents in the County, half of whom live in the Pajaro Valley, this regressive tax is no solution. Measure E would hurt those most who are already struggling to make ends meet, especially those in the Pajaro Valley, where the sales tax would leap to 10.25%. Purchases in unincorporated areas would be taxed at 10%. Measure E would cause a 10.25% spike in sales tax in the City of Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley. It would harm the homeless, who depend on prepared food, which is taxable. Because pet food is taxable, homeless people owning dogs for companionship and protection will struggle more to feed them. Residents throughout the County will likely increase online shopping for larger purchase items, such as electronics, appliances, clothing, vitamins, books and school supplies, further harming our local businesses. Those purchasing autos, including EV’s, will likely look outside the County first. The CEO will need Measure E’s windfall to address pressing problems other than HR-1. Santa Cruz County government has great debt liability advancing in the near future due to the unprecedented $80 Million borrowed last year, just to make ends meet. This year, Supervisors approved withdrawing $43 Million from reserves to balance the budget, bringing reserves dangerously low. The County’s unfunded employee pension liability payments loom large with that liability valued at $628.7 million, and is expected to climb higher. However, despite gloomy economic forecasts, County Supervisors approved 4% salary increases for all County employees, including middle management staff, many having annual salaries approaching half a million. Current SEIU contract guarantees a 3.5% salary increase next year. Supervisors evaded possible contract re-negotiation by taking “urgency” action, rather than “emergency”, evidence that Measure E would likely be used to fund future larger salaries. After placing Measure E on the ballot, Supervisors showed poor leadership in approving new procedures to give themselves a salary increase.
If Measure E were approved, no accountability exists, including for the many non-profits in line for funding to demonstrate actual public benefit, and not simply supporting high salaries of those CEO’s. One example is the Santa Cruz Community Health Care CEO’s salary of about $300,000 annually. Santa Cruz Community Health Centers | Santa Cruz, CA | Cause IQ (https://www. causeiq.com/organizations/santa-cruz-community-health-centers,237428303/) County CEO Coburn cautioned Supervisors against restricting allocation of Measure E’s anticipated annual $27 Million, even though Santa Cruz Mayor Keeley begged for some guarantee the City’s homeless services would be assured funding. What a sly tactic to keep Measure E a broad tax to bolster the County General Fund, allowing a green light upon 51% of the voters. If the County were sincere in addressing future impacts of HR-1, the sales tax would be dedicated to only that use, and would require 2/3 voter approval. In 2024, Measure N accomplished just that, to fund the Pajaro Valley Health Care District and Watsonville Hospital. The County has established a pattern of ballot deceit. In 2018, voters approved Measure G, a “temporary” half-cent sales tax for 12 years promising “To continue funding 9-1-1 emergency response, paramedic, sheriff, fire, emergency preparedness, local street repairs, mental health services, homelessness programs, parks, economic development and other general county services” and provide approximately $5,750,000 annually. The 2021-2022 County Civil Grand Jury investigation deemed Measure G ballot language “misleading” [https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Portals/0/County/GrandJury/ GJ2022_final/2022-4_MeasureG_Report.pdf] That revenue stream will end in 2030. In 2024, voters approved Measure K, a permanent half-cent sales tax in the unincorporated area “To fund essential Santa Cruz County services, including wildfire response/prevention/recovery; affordable housing to support working families and frontline workers including nurses, emergency responders, and educators; mental health crisis programs for children/vulnerable populations; substance abuse programs; improved public safety, road maintenance/pothole repair, parks/recreation; and programs to reduce homelessness” providing approximately $10,000,000 annually. “Measure E” page 25
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Twin Lakes Church Opens the Hope Center
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A New $11.3 Million Facility Dedicated to Community Outreach and Support
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win Lakes Church recently held the grand opening for its new Hope Center, a new state-of-the-art facility designed to centralize and expand the church’s local community outreach, support programs, and emergency assistance operations. Replacing several aging portable structures on the Aptos campus, the $11.3 million, two-story, 13,000-square-foot structural steel building will serve as a permanent, dedicated home for a wide array of vital local ministries while creating welcoming spaces for community partners. At the heart of the Hope Center is the expanded home for The People’s Pantry, one of Santa Cruz County’s crucial food distribution networks. The new facility includes a large, walk-in commercial cooler and freezer to store fresh produce, dairy, and perishables; a covered outdoor portico designed to streamline drive-through food distribution and shelter volunteers during inclement weather; and dedicated staging areas for receiving, sorting, and storing food items efficiently. Beyond food assistance, the Hope Center will provide tailored infrastructure for personal support and education. It has living-room style meeting spaces designed to
“Measure E” from page 24 Because the County allowed voters in the four cities to vote on this even though not affected by the tax, the County was sued, resulting in settlement mandating the money be spent within the unincorporated area and held accountable for allocations. County leaders have mismanaged the money we have, spending wildly on a new South County Government Center real estate purchase and expensive remodel. The facility sees little use, not even
offer a comfortable environment for 12-step recovery programs, grief support, divorce care, cancer encouragement, and mental health groups. It has multipurpose classrooms for Bible studies, adult education, and Sunday school programs. And it has a community meeting space with an outdoor trellis-covered patio designed for gatherings and fellowship. The facility’s meeting rooms are also available to local civic and community groups. In keeping with Twin Lakes Church’s tradition of pairing local capital improvements with international mission support, $100,000 from the Hope Center capital campaign was allocated to assist the expansion of the Nazareth Evangelical College and Seminary in Israel. n a Board of Supervisor meeting. Other wasteful pet projects include complete remodel design for the 701 Ocean Street government building, and Court House demolition study to build market rate housing. Clearly, we cannot trust the County to fulfill any Measure E campaign promises. Don’t be fooled. Vote NO on Measure E. n ••• Supporters of Measure E declined to comment prior to deadline.
ACROSS
1. Give benediction 6. World’s oldest broadcasting company, acr. 9. Hoodwink 13. H, spelled out 14. Have a cold, e.g. 15. Dogma 16. Raja’s wife 17. Shel Silverstein’s constrictor 18. Extreme, prefix 19. *”____, my dear, I don’t give a damn” 21. *”Why so ____?” 23. “High” beverage 24. Fairytale’s second word 25. “Swan Lake” step, e.g.
28. Potassium hydroxide 61. *”What we’ve got 6. *”Hasta la vista, ____” here is ____ to solution, pl. 7. Life story, for short communicate” 30. Nincompoop 8. Fastener 65. Like United States 35. Month of Purim 9. Hero shop Capitol 37. At any time 10. “Do ____ others...” 39. Coastal town in southern 66. Food safety org. 11. Paddington Bear’s 68. Ritual basin England homeland 40. Flick part 69. Tooth trouble 12. Airport postings, acr. 70. Husk of corn 41. 4 x 4 race 15. Rutabaga cousin 71. Sharks’ domain 43. Like most Brothers 20. Extra sweatshirt, e.g. Grimm stories 72. Fence board 22. Long period of time 44. “Peer Gynt” playwright 73. Pastrami partner 24. No-good 74. Paper quantities 46. Actress Campbell 25. *”We’ll always have 47. Please do not delay, acr. ____” 48. Experienced sailor (2 DOWN 26. Hacienda brick words) 1. Vomit 27. Mexican cuisine staple 50. Dispatched 2. The one with pants on 29. *”She doesn’t ____ go 52. a.k.a. Tokyo fire here” 53. Window guards 3. Volcano in Sicily 31. Party garb? 55. Beer faucet 4. *”I can smell the ____ 32. Not better 57. *”I’m mad as hell, and of a woman ... Honey oil, 33. Homer’s famous poem, I’m not going to take it with The lavender, soap” ____” 5. Israeli monetary unit 34. *”Not quite my ____”
36. Donna or Lou 38. Techno dance party 42. Busybody, in Yiddish 45. *”____ puts Baby in a corner” 49. Toothy fish 51. Alterations specialist 54. Mention something 56. *”There’s no ____ like home” 57. Contributes 58. Season to be jolly 59. Village People hit 60. Source of protein 61. Cab payment 62. Eye layer 63. #74 Across, sing. 64. Sea eagles 67. *”Go ahead, make my ____”
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Answers on 31 »
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / October 1st 2026 / 25
Venus, Star of the Evening, Retrogrades
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Esoteric Astrology • October 2026 • By Risa D’Angeles
he month of October 2026 begins with Venus, the brilliant yellow-white Evening Star (Hesperus), retrograding at 8 degrees Scorpio. Venus continues its retrograde until Friday, November 13, the same day retrograde Mercury (begins Saturday, Oct. 24) also turns direct (an unusual occurrence). Venus has multiple names — Ray of Light, Shepherd’s Star, Hesperus, Star of the Evening. Venus is retrograde for 40 days and 40 nights, the time it takes to break a habit! When a planet is retrograde, the past appears and reappears, decisions must be delayed and plans set aside in order that we may review, reflect upon and assess all areas associated with the retrograde planet (in this case Venus - love, values, resources, intelligence, money, relationships, possessions). We review in order to either renew, revitalize or place aspects of those areas of life aside forever. Venus retrogrades every 584 days (every 19 months) making five retrograde points around the Sun and after eight years, forms a five-pointed star (rose shaped) in the sky. Venus works with a star
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 9)
ray in the Big Dipper, Ray 5 (symbol for Ray 5 is the five-pointed star). This is the ray of the scientist and truth, the ray of concrete knowledge. Ray 5 along with Venus offers humanity the mental stimulus needed to create and build the new Aquarius culture and civilization. Understanding the math of Venus’ retrogrades takes a scientific (Ray 5, Venusian) mind. Venus is the intelligent heart. It unifies all that is separated and allows for the emergence of Love which then becomes Wisdom. Venus resolves duality (through knowledge), promotes diplomacy (Libra) and establishes Right Human Relations, created through intentions for Goodwill (the mother principle). Venus coordinates our intelligence so that we can choose to act with Goodwill, which creates Right Relations which, in turn creates active peace in our world. This is an ancient esoteric equation. It is the only way peace comes forth and this is the task for of all of humanity. To bring forth peace. n Note: Mercury begins its retrograde Saturday, October 24th, joining Venus in Scorpio!
LEO (Jul 23 – Aug 22)
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
A new sense of self identity and values appears. Although you’re considered rather untamed, there are stable, responsible and detailed aspects of yourself and these help you do and 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.
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 and reclusive. 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 the state of your heart.
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.
TAURUS (Apr 10 – May 20)
VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sep 22)
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.
Spirituality and the inner world. Your patience and deliberateness are how you assess anything new, moving stepby-step thinking everything through with care. With Venus, you become a 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 (May 21 – Jun 20)
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. Venus loves you.
CANCER (Jun 21 – Jul 22)
Group and/or 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. It’s the times that need nurturing.
Daily & Weekly Updates
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 (Sep 23 – Oct 22)
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 (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
Daily life of living one’s self identity. 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.
•••
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
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 (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
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.
@risagoodwill • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com
26 / October 1st 2026 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
Ken Izant • 1971 “Water Story” from page 23 The complete history book will soon be available on our website for anyone interested in taking a deeper dive into our past. Of course, a 65th anniversary isn’t only about looking backward. Today we’re monitoring the groundwater basin’s response to Pure Water Soquel, replacing aging infrastructure, meeting evolving water-quality requirements, working with regional partners and planning for an uncertain climate future. The technology may have changed dramatically since 1961, but one responsibility hasn’t: looking ahead and preparing for what comes next. And now it’s time to celebrate! Join us Friday, October 16, from 5–8 p.m. at Sante Adairius, 103 Kennedy Drive in Capitola, for live music, cake and treats, food available for purchase, and the debut of a special Pure Water Soquel beer created for the occasion. Come raise a glass with us to 65 years of history — and the next chapter still to come. n
COMMUNITY NEWS
New Nonprofit Promotes Safer Travel Throughout County
SANTA CRUZ — A new nonprofit organization has formed to improve safety for people who walk, ride bicycles or use public transportation in Santa Cruz County. Cruzin’ Together Santa Cruz County was formed in 2026. The organization will focus on education, public outreach and community advocacy. The group says nearly 30% of county residents do not or cannot drive. Those residents may face challenges getting to work, school, medical appointments, grocery stores and community events. “Cruzin’ Together was created because safe travel shouldn’t depend on whether you can drive. Every resident in Santa Cruz County deserves streets, crossings, and pathways that protect them, whether they’re walking to school, biking to work, or riding the bus,” board Chair Rebecca Downing said. “Our mission is to build a community that looks out for one another and makes safety a shared responsibility.” Cruzin’ Together plans to work with local governments, public agencies, schools, businesses and other nonprofit organizations. Its goals include reducing crashes and injuries, supporting lower speeds and safer roads, and teaching the public about transportation safety. The organization will also encourage residents to report unsafe crossings, dangerous road conditions and other barriers that make travel difficult. Those reports could help public agencies decide where improvements are most needed.
Cruzin’ Together serves the entire county, including unincorporated communities. Its work is aimed at pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, older adults, students, people with disabilities and lowincome residents. “We’re already seeing how powerful it is when people experience our county without relying on a car. Cruzin’ Together is here to amplify those voices, highlight the barriers nondrivers face, and push for changes that save lives,” board member Kelly Dillon said. “When we slow down, pay attention, and make room for others, we create a safer Santa Cruz County for everyone.” The nonprofit is supporting the 2026 Week Without Driving, which will run Oct. 1-8. The campaign asks residents to experience the county without depending on a personal vehicle. A countywide celebration will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at Capitola Mall. The family-friendly event will include safety and transportation activities, community surveys and storytelling. Public agencies and elected officials will also take part. During the week, residents will be encouraged to walk, use a wheelchair or other mobility device, ride a bicycle, take public transportation or share rides. Go Santa Cruz County will also host a Week Without Driving contest. n ••• More information about Cruzin’ Together, Week Without Driving and ways to support the organization is available at cruzintogetherscc.org.
“Eggs at County Fair” from page 20
“People are so excited,” Evans said. “Last year, it was very disappointing with all the people that would walk in the door and see the change in what was in here.” The barn was not entirely without birds in 2025. Visitors could still watch chicks hatch in incubators, an attraction that returned this year. “We did have baby chicks hatching, which was really popular last year, and we’re doing it again this year,” Evans said. Evans said one of her partners in the division supplied the eggs and incubators for this year’s exhibit. After hatching, the chicks remained in the incubators for at least a day before being moved into brooders. “It’s been really fun,” she said. n
Garcia raised chickens last year but did not participate in the modified competition because of his sports commitments. “But this year, I entered my chickens, which is better than what the outcome would have been last year,” he said. Garcia balances caring for his birds with school, sports and family. His brothers help with the daily work. “We’ll go collect the eggs,” Garcia said. “We’ll make sure their coop’s clean. We’ll give them food, we’ll give them water, and we’ll wash them when it comes time.” Poultry division co-lead Kathleen Evans said the return of live birds was welcomed by exhibitors and visitors.
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / October 1st 2026 / 27
COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? E-mail info (no PDFs please) to info@cyber-times.com
to responsible efforts helping to maintain and preserve the environment, scenic beauty and coastal recreational activities of Capitola. This movement is always looking for volunteers. Email KeepCapitolaSalty@gmail.com.
SENIORS SOUGHT FOR THEATER GROUP Seniors are being sought to join the Market Street Theater SUBMIT AN EVENT FOR OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.TPGONLINEDAILY.COM/SUBMIT-TO-CALENDAR/ Group. Whether you love being on stage or helping behind Saturdays and Sundays the scenes, there’s a place for you in their comTickets are $30, or $20 for seniors and students. Free and open to all skill levels—just bring energy and ELKHORN SLOUGH: FREE TOUR OF THE PRESERVE munity. dancing shoes. Details: mctshows.org. 10 a.m. | 11 a.m., Elkhorn Slough Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Rd., Discover the power of music, dance, and performing More information: www.abbottsquaremarket.com Watsonville by calling 831-423-6640 or email marketstreettheater@ Fridays (except First Friday of the Month) Docent-led tours offer visitors a guided introduction to First Wednesdays gmail for more information. LA SELVA BEACH LIBRARY BRIDGE GROUP Elkhorn Slough’s remarkable landscapes, wildlife, and PAJARO VALLEY STAMP CLUB 10:30-Noon, La Selva Beach Public Library, 316 Estrella Ave. tidal wetlands. 1 – 3 p.m., Watsonville Senior Center, 114 E 5th St. Come for bridge from 10:30 to noon at the La Selva ONGOING EVENTS Each walk is tailored to participants’ interests and Stamp collecting is more than a hobby — it’s a journey. Beach library. abilities, creating an engaging, educational experience. Mondays Explore the world, history, and art through every stamp. Call La Selva Beach Library to reserve your seat: 831-427-7710. Space is limited, and tours are first-come, firstLEARN TO MEDITATE THE HEARTFULNESS WAY Whatever you love, there’s a served. 10:00 a.m., Grey Bears’ Board Room, 2710 Chanticlear Avenue, stamp for it. First and Third Fridays Guests can sign up at the Visitor Center front desk or call Santa Cruz No rules. No limits. Just JIM GREINER’S HANDS-ON! DRUMMING ahead the same morning at (831) 728-2822 for availability. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned meditator, discover. Join our stamp club 7-8:30 p.m., Congregational Church of Soquel, 4951 Soquel Dr. guided relaxation and meditation can carry you to your today! First Sundays Percussionist/educator Jim Greiner continues his heart’s wisdom. Beginners to experienced Community Rhythms SANTA CRUZ DINNER CLUB Sessions are always free and open to everyone. collectors welcome. Class on the first and third 5 p.m., various member homes throughout county For more information contact marsha.thompson@volunteer. For more info, contact William Horne at weh655@icloud.com Fridays of every month at Looking to make new friends while enjoying amazing food heartfulness.org or visit www.heartfulness.org. or Christopher Ring at drring8435@gmail.com. the Congregational Church and great wine with your cooking friend or partner? of Soquel. The SC Dinner Club is welcoming new member teams! BRIDGE CLUB Thursdays All levels of experience Each month, we 10:30 a.m.-Noon, 7695 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003 SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING are very welcome to this gather in homes The Aptos Branch Library hosts Bridge Club sessions on 7:15-9:15 p.m., Peace United Church 900 High St, Santa family-friendly community throughout Santa Mondays (except holidays). Cruz. gathering. Jim provides percussion instruments and you Cruz County for Bridge Club is a partnership between Santa Cruz County Beginners welcome, partners not required. are welcome to bring your own. delicious dinners, Parks and Santa Cruz Public Libraries. $10 each. Come dance! Come play, socialize and reinforce Jim’s fundamental fine wine, lively Register at scparks.com or in-person the day of the event. themes of communicating, collaborating and celebrating conversation, and HAPPY HOUR through rhythm! lots of laughter. OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS 5-7 p.m., California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Drive, Aptos $10 donation is requested. Doors open at 6:30. Whether you 7 p.m., Congregational Church Preschool Meeting Room, 4951 California Coffee in Redwood Village hosts an open mic love to cook, enjoy Last Friday of the Month thru October Soquel Ave., Soquel happy hour every week. entertaining, or Overeaters Anonymous welcomes any type of eating FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY AT SKYPARK simply want to Third Thursdays disorder or problems with food. 5–8 p.m., Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley meet friendly people who share your interests, our dinner No dues, fees or weigh-ins. SIP AND STROLL Food Trucks A Go Go presents an evening of local eats, live club is a fun way to join with a friend and/or cooking Meetings take place at Congregational Church in the 6-9 p.m. (check-in 5 p.m.), Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion music and activities for all ages. partner to build even more new friendships and create preschool meeting room. Court, Aptos The monthly event supports Scotts Valley schools through memorable evenings. All are welcome. Come to the Seacliff Inn: Tapestry Collection by Hilton, for beverage sales and offers a welcoming community gathering. Come join us at the table! Overeaters Anonymous (OA) has meetings daily both Admission is free. a Sip & Stroll event where local artists to show and sell For more info, email Rhonda Mills: atrhondaloves2paint@gmail. in-person and on-line in Santa Cruz County at santacruzoa. their works. For details, visit foodtrucksagogo.com. com. org. Wines are 30% off, and the featured winery will offer Second Saturdays tastings of three varietals for $10 per person. DATED EVENTS Fourth Mondays Details of this and more Sevy’s events at HISTORICAL AIRCRAFT DISPLAY THE SPOKEN EXPERIENCE www.sevysbarandkitchen.com/events 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Watsonville Municipal Airport, 100 Aviation Way Friday October 2 and Saturday October 3 Noon – 1 p.m., Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Rd. Watsonville Municipal Airport hosts a Historical DIGGIN DIRT Fridays thru Sundays thru October 11 This community of readers meets monthly to enjoy a Aircraft Display every second Saturday. Admission is Doors 8 p.m.; shows 9 p.m., Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, featured poet’s work. ‘RUMORS’ free. Santa Cruz Discussions are facilitated by local poets Paola Bruni, Fri & Sat: 8 p.m. | Sun: 2 p.m., Park Hall Humboldt County’s seven-piece funk-soul band Diggin Dirt Elaine Fletcher Chapman, and Jessica Cohn. First Saturdays Community Center, 9400 Mill St., Ben Lomond performs two nights, mixing psychedelic rock, Motown soul, Starting in September, the group will begin meeting at 1 p.m. Mountain Community Theater presents Neil Simon’s CAPITOLA BEACH CLEANUP Afrobeat and reggae over a foundation of late-1960s funk. rather than noon. comedy about four couples whose anniversary dinner 9-10 a.m., Esplanade Park The shows are limited to ages 21 and older. Upcoming poet focus: falls into chaos as they conceal their host’s mishap and Help preserve and maintain the coastal beauty of Tickets are $23 per night in advance, $28 on show day October 26: Juan Felipe Herrera his wife’s disappearance. Capitola. Join a beach cleanup every month at Esplanade or $40 for both nights. November 23: Ada Limon An opening reception follows the Sept. 18 show. Park. Details: moesalley.com. December 28: Jericho Brown Sept. 19 is Community Night, with two tickets for Keep Capitola Salty is a grassroots movement dedicated $30. Saturday October 3 Tuesdays GOURMET GRAZING ON THE GREEN BINGO AT MCSC NORTH BOOKMOBILE AT PAJARO PARK Noon–4 p.m., Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road 1-3 p.m., Mid County Senior Center, 829 Bay Avenue, Capitola Gourmet Grazing on the Green brings together dozens of Tuesdays and Fridays (behind the Party Store) local wineries, restaurants and breweries for unlimited Hot Dogs, Chili and Tues.: 3 –5 p.m. | Fri.: 2-3:30 p.m., Pajaro food, wine and beer tasting, with live music on two stages. snacks available for Community Park, 24 San Juan Rd. Tickets are $99 in advance or $120 at the door and purchase courtesy of The Monterey County Free Libraries include a souvenir wine glass. our Snack Shack. North Bookmobile serves Pajaro with Proceeds support local cancer services. A lot of fun for all scheduled visits, offering books, audioTickets: sccbg.org/gourmetgrazingonthegreen. and a possible big books, DVDs, magazines, and bilingual win! materials in English and Spanish. Tuesday October 6 Door opens at 12:15 p.m. Upcoming Dates: LIVING ON RURAL PROPERTIES: WINTER PREPAREDNESS Tues: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 Fri: Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 6–9 p.m., Scotts Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village TUESDAY NIGHT SALSA SOCIAL Road 7 – 10 p.m., Abbott Square Market, 725 Front St., Santa Cruz Schedule: https://tinyurl.com/Pajaro-Parkbookmobile-visits. Santa Cruz County residents can learn practical ways to Join a midweek salsa social at Abbott Square Market prepare rural properties for winter. with salsa, cumbia, merengue, and bachata. 28 / October 1st 2026 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
COMMUNITY CALENDAR The free workshop covers private-road maintenance, drainage, erosion prevention, wells, septic systems, wood in streams, local waterways and technical assistance. Space is limited, and registration is required. For information or registration, visit rcdsantacruz.org/rcd-publicevents/124-rural-living-2026 or call 831-205-3487.
A preparedness fair follows. Registration costs $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger. Net proceeds benefit Friends of Parks & Rec Santa Cruz. Register at: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/SantaCruz/ RaceTheFlame.
MONICA MARTINEZ TO SPEAK TO NORTH COUNTY DEMOCRATS 6:30 p.m., Scotts Valley Water District Santa Margarita Community Room, 2 Civic Center Drive Fifth District Supervisor Monica Martinez will discuss the state of Santa Cruz County, challenges ahead, expected federal funding cuts and Measure E on the Nov. 3 ballot at a Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County meeting. The public is welcome. For more information, visit svslvdemocrats.org or email slvsvdems@gmail.com.
Thursday October 22 CREATIVE ECONOMY SUMMIT 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Watsonville Civic Plaza, Watsonville Monterey Bay Economic Partnership brings together artists, designers, filmmakers, educators, entrepreneurs, cultural organizations, business leaders and innovators to explore the region’s creative economy. Panels and interactive discussions will examine economic development, workforce training, education, entrepreneurship, tourism and placemaking. Space is limited, and advance registration is required. For tickets and details, visit mbep.biz/creative-economysummit.
Saturday October 10 NEST FEST AT RANCHO DEL OSO 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Nature and History Center at Rancho del Oso, 3600 Highway 1, Davenport Get a closer look at some of the forest’s busiest builders and the impressive nests of dusky-footed woodrats. Learn about these fascinating rodents and build a scalemodel woodrat nest during the free program. Wear clothes and shoes that can get messy. For more information, call 831-425-3758.
Sunday October 11 WELCOME BACK MONARCHS FESTIVAL 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Natural Bridges State Beach, 2531 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz Celebrate the return of monarch butterflies with interactive activities, live music, vendors, pumpkin ice cream, face painting, arts and crafts, a parade and free cake. A 12:30 p.m. screening of “Creating the West Marin Monarch Sanctuary” will be followed by Julia Butterfly Hill. Admission is free; parking is $10. For information, call 831-423-4609.
Tuesday October 13 CAPITOLA SOROPTIMIST CLUB MEETING 4 p.m., United Way of Santa Cruz County, 4450 Capitola Road, Suite 106, Capitola Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea will discuss fundraising plans and its search for eligible candidates for the 2027 Live Your Dream awards. The program supports qualifying women pursuing undergraduate degrees or technical training. The meeting is free and open to the public. Applications close Nov. 15. For more information, visit best4women.org or email sicapitola. by.the.sea@gmail.com.
Wednesday October 14 JAY BUCHANAN Doors 7 p.m.; show 8 p.m., Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton Jay Buchanan, lead vocalist of the rock band Rival Sons, performs in Felton. The American singer-songwriter is known for a powerful, wide-ranging voice and bluesinfluenced phrasing. He has released solo material, collaborated with a wide range of artists and contributed to film soundtracks. The show is for ages 21 and older. For tickets, visit feltonmusichall.com/events.
Wednesday October 14 and Saturday October 17 CONCERTINO STRINGS SEASON-OPENING CONCERT Wed: 11:30 a.m. | Sat: 3 p.m., Boulder Creek United Methodist Church, 12855 Boulder St. Concertino Strings opens its sixth season with selections from Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite” and Corelli’s “Concerto Grosso No. 9.”
Saturday October 24
SANTA CRUZ BAKE & GATHER Saturday October 10
1:30 p.m. baker arrival; 2 p.m. gathering, Midtown Community Center, 115 S. Morrissey Ave., Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Bake & Gather welcomes bakers and dessert lovers to a free community potluck. Each group is encouraged to bring a baked item to display and share. There is no competition, and all skill levels are welcome. Space is limited, and registration is required. For details, visit santacruzbakegather.com.
BALTHVS Doors 7 p.m.; show 8 p.m., Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9 BALTHVS brings its blend of psychedelic funk, global grooves, Middle Eastern melodies, spiritual jazz improvisation and Latin-influenced rhythms to Felton. The Colombian trio includes guitarist Balthazar Aguirre, bassist Johanna Mercuriana and drummer Santiago Lizcano. This standing-room general admission show is for ages 21 and older. For tickets, visit feltonmusichall.com/events.
Saturday November 7
APTOS SPORTS FOUNDATION ANNUAL POKER TOURNAMENT AND GAMES Doors 6 p.m.; play begins 6:30 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Harpist Jennifer Cass and harpsichordist Martin Gaskell book, “Nature Spirits Want to Talk With Us,” followed by a short Clubhouse Drive, Aptos Aptos Sports Foundation hosts a night of Texas Hold join the 25-person string chamber orchestra, directed by walk on paved paths to practice communicating with trees. ’em, dinner and games benefiting Aptos school sports Joanne Tanner and Renata Bratt. For details, contact the Felton Public Library. programs and facilities. The casual concert lasts about an hour. Admission is free. Poker entry is $150. Dinner and games cost $75 SEA DUBS FAN FEST For information, visit concertinostrings.com. through Oct. 6 and $100 beginning Oct. 7. Participants 1–3 p.m., Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St., Santa Cruz The Santa Cruz Warriors celebrate the upcoming NBA G must be 21 or older. Saturday October 17 League season with free Chalk Talk sessions, player and For information or registration, visit aptossportsfoundation.com or FAMILY DEMOCRACY DAY call 831-600-4345. coach autographs, family activities, merchandise deals Noon–3:30 p.m., Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St., and ticket offers. Watsonville; Simpkins Family Center, 979 17th Ave., Santa SPRING LAKES PARK HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE A raffle featuring signed memorabilia and ticket Cruz; Felton Library, 6121 Gushee St., Felton 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Spring Lakes Park Clubhouse, 225 Mount packages will benefit Save Our Shores. Families can learn about elections and civic participation Hermon Road, Scotts Valley Registration is required. through free, interactive activities offered simultaneously at Spring Lakes Park hosts its fourth Holiday Boutique, For details and registration, visit santacruzwarriors.com. three county locations. featuring handmade watercolors, pottery, jewelry, The family-friendly program is designed to make the RACE THE FLAME: WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS RUN/WALK crocheted rugs and clothing, children’s clothing, voting process accessible and help residents prepare for nature-inspired art, succulent designs, quill art, 8 a.m., East Upper Field, UC Santa Cruz, 1156 High St. the Nov. 3 general election. homemade caramel corn, crushed-glass art, floral Race the Flame challenges runners and walkers to follow For event details and volunteer opportunities, visit votescount. designs and more. a 2.2-mile wildfire evacuation route from UCSC’s East santacruzcountyca.gov or call 831-454-2060. For information, call 831-438-2407. n Field to the Bay Tree Campus Bookstore. WILDER RANCH STATE PARK HARVEST FESTIVAL 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Wilder Ranch State Park, 1842 Coast Road, Santa Cruz Celebrate fall at Wilder Ranch State Park with living history demonstrations, crafts, games, live music, food and a Heritage Apple Tasting hosted by the California Rare Fruit Growers Association. Admission is free, with a $10 vehicle day-use fee. Rain cancels. For more information, call 831-429-1840. NATURE COMMUNICATION WITH THE TREES 10:30 a.m.–noon, Felton Public Library, 6121 Gushee St. Biologist and nature communicator Coleen Douglas leads a free, 90-minute program on communicating with nature spirits. The event includes a reading and indoor discussion of her
Race The Flame
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / October 1st 2026 / 29
LOCAL SPORTS
Santa Cruz Crushers Capture NorCal State Title T he Santa Cruz Crushers 12UC Summer team had a spectacular summer, winning the 12C state title at the USA Softball of Northern California Championships. The Crushers finished 4-0 in the 10-team division, outscoring their opponents 54-27 during the June 26-28 tournament at Legacy Fields in Tracy. Santa Cruz opened with a 17-1 victory over the Screaming Eagles and followed that with an 11-7 win over the West Valley Slammers. Santa Cruz then overcame an early deficit to defeat Millbrae Mischief 10-9. The Crushers saved their biggest rally for the championship game against Windsor Wicked. Trailing 10-6 in the fourth inning, Santa Cruz scored 10 runs on seven hits to take a 16-10 lead. The team was coached by Django Whittington, Zak Warren and Darryl Williams. The Crushers are the competitive program of Cabrillo GALS Fastpitch Softball, a volunteer-run league for girls ages 5-18 throughout Santa Cruz County. Registration for the 2027 spring recreational season opens in March at cabrillogals.com. n
COMMUNITY NEWS KoaStrong Fishing Derby Brings a Mission of Childhood Cancer Prevention to Capitola Wharf
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n a late August morning, families lined the Capitola Wharf with fishing poles in hand, waiting to see who might catch the biggest fish, the smallest fish or the most fish of the day. For KoaStrong Childhood Cancer Prevention Organization, however, the first KoaStrong Fishing Derby was about much more than fishing. It was about a little boy named Koa. Koa Pagán loved to fish. He fished close to home, on family trips and anywhere he could drop a line in the water. And he fished from the Capitola Wharf with his family. Those ordinary days became treasured memories after Koa died from acute myeloid leukemia in April 2020, just before his ninth birthday. KoaStrong was founded by his family to answer the question: Why are children getting cancer, and what can be done to prevent it? Much of the childhood cancer conversation begins after a child has already been diagnosed. KoaStrong is working to move that conversation upstream. The nonprofit focuses on childhood
cancer prevention and early detection by supporting research and initiatives that seek to understand why cancer develops in children and young adults, identifying preventable risk factors and exposures. That includes research into environmental and parental exposures. The organization supports scientific research, education and advocacy for preventing childhood cancer and emerging approaches such as genomic newborn screening. Koa’s mother and KoaStrong founder, Lisa Pagán, emphasizes the distinction: “We will always need better treatments for children who have cancer,” Pagán said. “But we are also asking why children are developing cancer in the first place. We need research focused on prevention, and better ways to identify risk and disease earlier.” Bringing KoaStrong›s first fishing derby to the Capitola Wharf was intentional. Koa enjoyed fishing on that wharf. It represents fond, happy family memories. It is a place connected to his precious childhood. The location also offered something
30 / October 1st 2026 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
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important to KoaStrong: an opportunity to create new memories for other families. The Aug. 30 derby was free and open to the community. Children, parents and experienced anglers could all participate. Fish were weighed and recorded as part of the competition, with awards for the biggest, smallest and most fish caught. Capitola Candy Co. and other merchants embraced our fishing derby with donated prizes and giveaways. Capitola Boat and Bait provided encouragement, expertise and prizes. A “one that got away” moment occurred when two of Koa’s childhood friends partnered to land what was clearly going to be the largest catch of the day. After nearly two hours of being pulled halfway around the wharf by this mystery fish, the boys caught a glimpse of the giant ray that ultimately snapped their line. But competition was secondary. The point was to get families outside together in celebration of Koa. There is something particularly fitting about doing so on the Capitola Wharf. For
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generations, fishing has been part of the wharf’s history and the community surrounding it. Families still arrive early with poles and tackle, continuing a tradition that has long been part of Capitola. “KoaStrong” page 31
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Pickles Will Keep You Fit!
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ickles (A333582), a 7-year-old white and black Queensland Heeler, arrived at the shelter at the end of July after a member of his family passed away, and he proved a bit too strong for the remaining family member to handle. Since his arrival, he has stolen the hearts of everyone he meets. Our volunteers affectionately know him as a “big sweetheart” who just wants to love and be loved. If you are looking for an activity partner, Pickles is your guy. He absolutely loves going for walks and hikes and enjoys running around in the play yards. After a fun session of play, there is nothing he enjoys more than a good round of bootie scratches — it is the absolute fastest way to his heart! Pickles has been going on overnight visits with one of our volunteers, and she reports that he is the “best boy.” He is completely potty trained and handles the indoor life like an absolute pro. A cat-free home is a strict requirement for him, and Pickles has mixed feelings about other dogs. He has a designated doggy walking buddy at the shelter; however, he can also be reactive to other dogs, so he needs an adopter who is willing to continue working on his socialization and training. At the end of the day, Pickles is just a massive love bug looking for a second chance at a happy life. If you have room in your heart (and your couch) for this sweet boy, come visit him at the shelter today! ••• The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is full of adoptable animals. Fostering animals is an awesome way to improve a Shelter animal’s life and fill your home with love and fun! If you are interested in fostering any kind of animal please email jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us. You can also Follow SCCAS on Instagram and/or Facebook to stay up-to-date on shelter news and where to find adoptable pets around town at breweries, stores and events. All adoptions are first come, first served. ••• Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 • Hours: Daily 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Arrive before 4 p.m. for “meet and greet” — Please ring bell for stray animal drop-off from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.) 580 Airport Blvd., Watsonville, 95076 • Hours: Tues.-Sat. 9:30 a.m.–noon; 1–5 p.m. (Closed Sun/Mon — Please ring bell for stray animal dropoff 9:30 a.m.-noon; 1-5 p.m.) Website: www.scanimalshelter.org SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us
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Yucca bloom produces interesting floral stalks. ardens might be colorful throughout the year here. There is not much time between the latest of the autumn flowers and the earliest of the spring flowers. Winter flowers are glad to compensate for the lapse. Of course, there are plenty of flowers in spring and summer. Nonetheless, dried flowers are more popular now that there are fewer flowers for cutting. The quantity of flowers blooming within a particular season might not be proportionate to the quantity of flowers available for cutting. Flowers that bloom through winter, even if as abundant as spring or summer flowers, do not develop as fast. Harvesting too many bird of paradise flowers depletes the limited supply before something else can replace them. Deciduous foliage that provides spectacular color through autumn is no substitute for cut flowers. Nor is the majority of colorful
bark that becomes more prominent through winter. Some colorful berries can function like cut flowers, but only if there are plenty to spare in the garden. Conventional dried flowers that grew last summer may be useful about now. For the venturesome and resourceful, unconventional dried flowers and other dried plant parts can also be fun. Such items, unlike statice, straw flower, lavender and other familiar dried flowers, might be byproducts of gardening. They might be derived from detritus that should otherwise go to compost or greenwaste. Some might even be products of weeds! Pampas grass, both garden varieties and the invasively naturalized type, produces bold blooms that dry quite well. Because the leaves can cause such nasty paper cuts, flowers might be easier to harvest from a distance, with a pole pruner. Hair spray can contain the fuzz, so that it does not disperse indoors. Cat tails, if still intact, are compatible with them. Floral stems of lily of the Nile, New Zealand flax, and some species of Yucca are striking even after bloom. After deadheading, they can become flowerless dried flowers. Fruiting structures are no problem to remove. If within reach, some palms may provide distinctive bloom trusses. Floral design can be as imaginative as gardening and landscape design. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.
“KoaStrong” from page 30 For KoaStrong, that history provided the perfect setting for something new. KoaStrong was created out of profound loss, but its work is deliberately focused on the future. The goal is to make sure researchers are asking the right questions concerning early detection and prevention. That philosophy has become the foundation of KoaStrong: Screen Early. Detect Fast. Prevent More. Protect Always. And sometimes advancing that mission looks like laboratories, research studies and policy discussions. Sometimes it looks like a fishing pole. The Capitola event also marked the beginning of the KoaStrong Fishing Series, inspired by places where Koa himself loved to fish. The organization plans to use fishing events to bring communities together while introducing more families to the idea of childhood cancer prevention and early detection. For a mother who knows how precious
those ordinary moments can become, that may have been the most meaningful part of the August day. KoaStrong hopes the Fishing Derby will become another reason for families to return to the Capitola Wharf — to cast a line, spend a morning together and perhaps learn something they had never considered before: The fight against childhood cancer shouldn’t wait to begin with a diagnosis. n ••• Learn more about KoaStrong Childhood Cancer Prevention Organization at www.koastrong.org.
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / October 1st 2026 / 31
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