Aptos Times January 1st 2012

January 1 2012

C O M M U N I T Y N E W S T H AT M A K E S A D I F F E R E N C E

Vol 21 No. 1

Serving Aptos, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, Freedom, Watsonville, & Pajaro

2012’s Valentine’s Day Poetry Contest

Dinner for Two

12th Annual Times Publishing Group, Inc Competition

By Noel Smith hether it’s young Love, Love that has stood the test of time, or the memory of Love, it is Love that is at the center of what we celebrate each February 14, Valentine’s Day. And what could be more romantic The Aptos Times’ than to write poet- winning prize is ry about that Love a Valentine’s Day for your lover - and dinner for two for our readers to at Sanderlings read. So, submit Restaurant — your poem about Seascape Beach those tender, pasResort. sionate feelings and romantic thoughts to our annual poetry contest.

Times Publishing Group is sponsoring its 12th Annual Times Publishing Annual Valentine’s Day Poetry Contest to reward three local poets (and their sweethearts) with the ultimate in Valentine’s Day romance.

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The Aptos Village Project is on hold after a recent delay.

APTOS

IN

2011: FINE TUNING

FOR THE

FUTURE

By Noel Smith

Try to keep up

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ning commission would be delayed to February 2012 in order to accommodate the realignment of the Valencia Street Extension.

The Aptos Village Plan envisions a village that is the “heart” of Aptos, a place for the young and old to live, work, shop, walk, eat and be entertained, with a mix of housing, shops and

Discover Aptos in 2012 Our Amazing Community

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California Laws for 2012

before the County Planning Commission on November 9, 2011, Bayview Hotel owner, Cristina Locke, called a halt to negotiations to buy land for the Valencia Street Extension for the Aptos Village Plan.

Wanda Williams, Assistant County Planning Director, said that the hearing before the plan-

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etween having the economy in the doldrums and bureaucratic red tape, Aptos seemed to be in a period of stasis for most of 2011. There is still a viable Aptos Village Plan in place and the developer, Barry Swenson Builder, say they are poised to begin. But just when the Aptos Village Plan was set to go

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offices. Multi-use buildings and areas combining residential, retail and commercial uses using an architectural style that mirrors the village’s historic buildings, which will be preserved and/or relocated to provide the setting for new buildings and related infrastructure.

Scout’s Project Remembers Unborn

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Locally owned & operated www.TPGonlinedaily.com

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Photo Credit: Patrice Edwards

Chris Rene Comes Home to his Fans

fter a fantastic ride all the way to a third place finish in the new “X Factor” talent extravaganza, Chris Rene is back home in Santa Cruz. He found himself surrounded by two devoted fans, Camisa Composti and Kayla Davies who found him in Supercuts in Capitola.

Rene charmed his small audience with his positive outlook and personality just as he has the whole country for the past 10 weeks. Composti told us, “He is awesome, really a nice guy and was so patient and kind to us. He’s special.” n

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CommunityNews

Table of Contents

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Cover Aptos in 2011: Fine Tuning For The Future By Noel Smith 2012’s Valentine’s Day Poetry Contest – 12th Annual Times Publishing Group, Inc Competition By Noel Smith 2 3 6

VOL. 21 NO. 1

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APTOS TIMES

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Community News Chris Rene Comes Home to his Fans PVUSD’s November Educator and Classified Employees of the Month New California Laws for 2012 Kicking In – Try to keep up with all the changes to the codes this year Take the time in 2012 to discover Aptos By Noel Smith County Fair Garners Five First Places! – Honored by the Western Fairs Association (WFA) for Excellence CPT Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (Ic3) Scam Alerts One Hundred Years of Reading – Porter Memorial Library Celebrates Century of Service UC Santa Cruz astronomer to receive 2012 Franklin Medal New Electronics for Christmas – Now What Should You Do With the Old Ones? By Steve Skurnac • New Director appointed to the County Health Scout’s Project Remembers the Unborn – Chris Randolph of Scout Troop 599 brings together Prolife memorial • Volunteers for Literacy Program Needed • Watsonville Wetlands Watch Docent Training Begins in January Return to the Autorama… Forty Years Later – Dedicated to Ralph Arias, July 12, 1937 ~ Jan. 20, 2009 By Monica Arias Needed: Sanctuary Stewards – Save Our Shores Recruiting Community Members for 2012

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Sports Wrap Cardinal Corner – Stanford’s Basketball Teams Looking Good By Chuck Walker • Aptos High School Scoreboard

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Private School Open House Motivating Kids to Exercise The Difference Between Private & Public Schools – How to find a school that will meet your child’s needs

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Health & Fitness Taking it Off! – Simple steps to a smaller you Three steps to maximize your fitness routine Lose Weight with Protein

PVUSD’s November Educator and Classified Employees of the Month

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n Wednesday, November 16, the Board of Education and administration of Pajaro Valley Unified School District recognized two employees who had been nominated and selected to receive an award. Both employees received a $50.00 gift card and a certificate from Jacob Young Financial.

••• Educator of the Month anny Leighton, a teacher at Mintie White Elementary School, was nominated by her peer to receive the Educator of the Month Award. Creating a welcoming classroom, effective organizing skills and a positive disposition defines Ms. Leighton’s character. The letter nominating her states, “I nominate Ms. Leighton for this honor because she is hard-working, innovative, and inspirational…. Trying new things is one reason why Ms. Leighton is always improving as a teacher.

Watching a colleague grow like this is an inspiration.” In attendance at the meeting were Bertha Torres, Principal, as well as some of her peers.

Classified Employee of the Month erri Johnson, an Instructional Assistant at MacQuiddy Elementary School, was nominated by her peer to receive the Classified Employee of the Month award.

In the nominating letter, Ms. Johnson was described as an inspirational role model

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Lanny Leighton Receives Award

who “exudes positive energy ... She also finds time to plan fun and motivational events for the kids and fundraisers for the school.” She was described as possessing the will and desire to do great things in small ways simply for the sake of the happiness that comes from making others happy. In attendance were her peers who were very proud to be part of the team.

The Board congratulated both employees and thanked them for their teamwork mentality and for going the extra mile for students. n ••• Jacob Young Financial is a Financial Planning Firm located in Watsonville, specializing in retirement planning. The company sponsors and manages the Educator of the Month Award and the Classified Employee of the Month programs.

Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28 & 29

Monthly Horoscope • Page 29 - Your January Horoscope - Annabel Burton, Astrologer©

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Featured Columnists The Book Bag by Robert Francis – Riveting mysteries and thrillers for winter evening reading…

Social Security Resolutions for 2012 By Terry McFall, Social Security District Manager in Santa Cruz Work in Progress by Camille Smith – Bring in the New Year with a big WHY? Out & About by Josie Cowden Just Cruzin’ by Noel Smith – Will School Bonds solve PVUSD Funding Problems?

Pet Potpourri by River May, D.V.M. – Recession Proofing Your Pet SPCA Featured Pet • Page 31 – Homeless, Hairless and Voiceless

www.tpgonlinedaily.com

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APTOS TIMES publisher

Patrice Edwards publisher’s assistant

Lindsay Nelson editor

Noel Smith contributing writers

Noel Smith, Monica Arias, Steve Skurnac, Chuck Walker, Annabel Burton, Robert Francis, Terry McFall, Camille Smith, Josie Cowden, River May layout

Michael Oppenheimer, Mike Lyon graphic artists

Mike Lyon, Michael Oppenheimer production coordinator

Sandra Gonzalez advertising sales

Don Beaumont, Sadie Wittkins, Meredith Pozzi Feldsted office coordinator

Cathe Race distribution

Bill Pooley, Jana Mears

Times Publishing Group, Inc. 9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003

CoverStory

“Poetry Contest” from pg 1

It’s time for poets throughout the county to again wear their hearts on their sleeves making public their feelings for those whom they love.

By entering the 2012 Times Publishing Annual Valentine’s Day Poetry Contest, you could be one of our three First Place winners.

The 2011 Times Publishing Annual Valentine’s Day Poetry Contest drew poems from Watsonville to Boulder Creek in every style imaginable. Some were funny, some romantic, some touching, and all were a joy to read! A winning poem was chosen for each of our three newspapers (Aptos Times, Capitola Soquel Times, and Scotts Valley Times).

To express your love – in 250 words or less – (see “Contest Rules” for complete details) tell the world what makes your Valentine special. All entries must be received by 5 pm, Monday February 6.

Three first Place winners will be selected with the winning poems published in the March 1 issues of the Aptos Times, Capitola Soquel Times and Scotts Valley Times. n ••• 2012 Poetry Contest Rules Please Read Carefully rite a poem about, or to your Valentine and send it to us. Only

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The Times Publishing Group Inc., publishers of the Aptos Times, a bi-weekly publication, the Capitola Times and Scotts Valley Times, each printed monthly, Coastal Weddings Magazine, printed twice annually and Hospice Magazine, printed once annually, is owned by Patrice Edwards. Entire contents ©2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission.

PHONE: (831) 688-7549 FAX: (831) 688-7551 GENERAL E-MAIL: info@cyber-times.com Patrice Edwards: patrice@cyber-times.com Publisher’s Assistant: assistant@cyber-times.com Editor: info@cyber-times.com Opinions / Letters: editorial@cyber-times.com Calendar Listings: www.cyber-times.com Graphics Dept: graphics@cyber-times.com Billing Inquiries: cathe@cyber-times.com Classified Sales: assistant@cyber-times.com Production: production@cyber-times.com

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT:

www.tpgonlinedaily.com mission statement We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc. are dedicated to providing a voice for the individuals and organizations in our community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses. We seek to promote healthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, school news, senior events, community groups and entertainment.

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It’s time for poets throughout the county to again wear their hearts on their sleeves making public their feelings for those whom they love.

one poem per poet and no more than 250 words and 25 lines. Submit it via email to info@cyber-times.com with Poetry Contest in the subject line or mail it to 9601 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95Be sure to include your name, address, day and evening phone numbers, e-mail address, and for whom (fiancée, spouse, lost love, etc.) your poem is written.

Three First Place winning poems will be selected by the Times Publishing editorial staff: from south county representing the Aptos Times; from Capitola/Soquel/Santa Cruz representing the Capitola Soquel Times and from Scotts Valley/San Lorenzo Valley representing the Scotts Valley Times. (Note: We welcome submissions from all readers living within Santa Cruz County.)

The Aptos Times’ winning prize is a Valentine’s Day dinner for two at Sanderlings Restaurant – Seascape Beach Resort.

The winning poems will be published in the March 1 editions. All entries must be received by 5 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012. The winner will be notified on or before Friday, February 10. Please call us at 831/688-7549 if you have any questions.

••• 2011 Winners Aptos Times – Robin Moyer Capitola Soquel Times – Bob Lilley Scotts Valley Times – Barbara Obey Aptos Times First Place — Robin Moyer In Tribute to My Mom, Diane

As a kid, we’d spend hours with doilies and glue, glitter and hearts, for all the Valentines I knew.

You’d run off to check on your pasta and sauce, sausage and meatballs, a salad to toss.

We’d practice a tap, from the dances you knew, curl my hair in white rags, start the next day anew.

As I aged, so you aged, with class and with grace, greeting me always, with a smile on your face.

My years went by waiting, for romance to bloom, but you’d send a Valentine, to free me from gloom.

The years, they kept passing, now with child of my own, your love remained solid; I was never alone.

So, this year dear mom, as I wait at your side, knowing your passing has finally arrived.

My heart, in these words of farewell do I send, to my Valentine, my mom, and yes mom, my friend.

With honor and reverence, I dedicate this to my dear mother Diane. After hours in a nursing home sitting by my mom’s side as she passes, I came home and saw that this contest was taking place again. I thought it was fitting that I write this tribute to her. She was an amazing woman, a professional dancer in her youth, and a housewife, I honor my mother Diane with this tribute.

CoverStory

“Year In Aptos” from pg 1

Let’s hope that 2012 will finally see the first steps to realizing that dream.

Seacliff Village hen there is the community plan for Seacliff Village. This plan seems to hinge on the zoning and development of the neighboring 13acre Poor Clares property owned by Dominican Hospital and currently leased to Coastlands Church.

In April of 2009 the county changed its zoning for these 13 acres from Visitor Accommodation to 4 acres zoned highdensity housing, 6 acres zoned commercial for an 80,000 square foot medical facility with just 3 acres retained for Visitor Accommodation.

Seacliff Residents sued the county and the Coastal Commission failed to sign off on the zoning change. There was a proposal to develop 4-acres of it with 100 units of senior housing to help meet the county’s low-income housing requirements. But with many of its neighbors opposing the project, and the many bureaucratic hurdles in its path, the project has been abandoned… probably.

With the rejection of the senior housing project, the Seacliff Village Plan remains in limbo leaving Seacliff residents confused about what the county’s true intentions are for the area.

Rio Del Mar io Del Mar has undergone tough times with the Aptos Esplanade Sewer Project disrupting business on the Esplanade for the last couple of years.

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Poor Clares property in Seacliff Village

With the reopening of the popular Café Rio, things may finally be looking up for the Esplanade. The new palm trees between the parking area and the beach are growing along with the hopes of local residents. Governmental bureaucracies seem to have finally agreed to allow the runoff from Aptos Creek to reach the bay rather that forming a lake along the beach. Time and some rain will tell.

Last March a county mental health facility that had planned to open on Claudius street ran into vehement resident rejection forcing the County Mental Health Department to find someplace

else for their 320-patient per year “respite house.”

Santa Cruz County Fair he Fair finds itself in financial trouble because the state has stopped providing any funding for operation or maintenance so the Fairgrounds has to find ways to raise money to keep the gates open and to pay for upkeep and improvements.

The Fair has also been under attack by its “neighbors” who object to any activity (other than - until now - the once-a-year fair itself) that creates noise, dirt or manure. This includes the racetrack, flea markets, rodeos, etc. events to raise money to keep the fair grounds open.

To stay informed for 2012, read the Aptos Times! n

The planned mental health facility at 218 Claudius Dr in Rio Del Mar has been shelved and a new location is being sought after heavy opposition from neighbors. www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / January 1st 2012 / 5

CommunityNews

New California Laws for 2012 Kicking In

Try to keep up with all the changes to the codes this year

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alifornia’s State Legislature and Governor Brown have been very busy in 2011 passing laws that affect all us Californians in our schools, our cars, our wallets and our homes.

Here are some of the new laws affecting California motorists starting January 1, 2012 unless otherwise noted: Vehicle License Fee (VLF) n July 1, 2011, the VLF was reduced from 1.15% of a vehicle’s assessed value to 0.65%. In 2009, the VLF had been temporarily raised to help reduce California chronic budget deficit; the 0.5% increase generated approximately $1.7 billion each year for the state. An extension of the VLF increase was not included in the state’s 2011-2012 fiscal year budget.

Registration Fees enate Bill 89 increased the registration fee for vehicles to $43 per year, up from$31, effective July 1. The increase, which will raise approximately $360 million per year for the state, will be used to

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fund DMV operations. A number of additional state and local registration fees assessed bring the overall fee total to about $100. These are added to the VLF charge (see above item), which is assessed as a percentage of a vehicle’s value.

Booster Seats B 949 strengthens California’s child passenger restraint law by requiring children under the age of eight (unless they are at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall) to be properly restrained in a booster seat in a vehicle’s backseat.

Previously, children up to age 6 or weighing less than 60 pounds were required to use booster seats. The Automobile Club of Southern California supported this measure.

Vehicle Purchases tarting July 1, Assembly Bill 1215 requires that when new-car dealers sell

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a vehicle, they register it electronically with the DMV. The measure also allows dealers to charge up to $80 for electronic document processing and up to $65 for manual processing. AB 1215 also requires used-car dealers to make a vehicle history report from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information Service (NMVTIS) available to buyers prior to sale and prohibits the dealer from offering a used vehicle for sale unless the dealer first obtains the report. This requirement does not apply to the sale of motorcycles, off-road vehicles, or recreational vehicles.

Drunk Driving wo measures signed into law alter DUI (driving under the influence) penalties in noteworthy ways.

AB 353 prohibits law enforcement from impounding a vehicle at a sobriety checkpoint if the driver’s only offense is not having a valid driver license. Police must also make a reasonable attempt to identify the registered owner of the vehicle in order to release the vehicle to the registered owner or to a licensed driver authorized by the registered owner.

AB 520 allows a person convicted of alcohol-related reckless driving (“wet reckless”) to apply for a restricted license early if he or she complies with specified requirements, including the installation of an ignition-interlock device.

••• Here are just some of the laws telling Californians what they can and cannot do starting in 2012.

Employment Credit Check Law mployers can only request credit reports for Californians who are working or seeking work in a financial institution, law enforcement or the state Justice Department.

Also subject to employment credit checks are those who:

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1 Have access to people’s bank or credit card account information, SSN number and date of birth, 2 Have access to an employer’s proprietary information or trade secrets, 3 Signs a check, credit card, financial contract, or transfers money for an employer, 4 Have access to more than $10,000 cash, or 5 Is a manager in ‘certain industries.

California Handgun Open Carry Law pen-carry citizen handgun ban.

Supported by cops who cannot tell whether openly carried weapons are loaded or not. Violators pay $1,000 plus 6 months in jail (misdemeanor). Californians can still get permits for concealed weapons.

California Human Trafficking Law nforces mandatory disclosure of efforts that companies take to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their entire supply chains. Being watched as a prototype of future legislation in other states and nations.

California Gay Bullying Law (Seth’s Law) ombats bullying of gay and lesbian students in public schools by requiring school districts to have a uniform process for dealing with gay bullying complaints.

Mandates that school personnel intervene if they witness gay bullying.

Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) Equality and Equal Access in Higher Education Law tate universities and colleges must create and enforce campus policies protecting LGBTs from harassment and appoint employee contact persons to address on-campus LGBT matters. The law includes community colleges statewide.

Domestic Partnership Equality Law orrects inequalities between domestic partnerships and heterosexual marriages, including domestic partner health benefits sharing.

Protection of Parent-Child Relationships Law llows courts to consider the relationship between a child and a non-biological parent when considering child rights cases involving birth parents, adoptive parents, and gay or lesbian guardians.

Transgender Non-Discrimination Law rovides public accommodation and protection in education, housing and

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CardinalCorner

Stanford’s Basketball Teams Looking Good

By Chuck Walker

PALO ALTO — If preseason is any indicator of regular season play, then things are looking very good for both of Stanford’s basketball teams.

Stanford’s Women’s Basketball has turned in some very impressive performances against formidable opponents. The Cardinal’s only loss has been to second-ranked (nationally), University of Connecticut. It seems as if this loss has made the Cardinal even more focused at winning games — by wide margins.

While beating outranked teams like UC Davis, UC San Diego, Vanguard and Fresno State by nearly 50 point spreads in preseason, may seem a bit unfair, their stunning win over sixth ranked, Tennessee, by 17 points (97-80) has certified the Stanford women as serious contenders for the Final Four.

Senior forward and star of the team, Nnemkadi Ogwumike, (#30 - 6’2” Senior - Forward) has already broken her career record for most points in a game (42 and 17 rebounds) against Tennessee, of all teams. Meanwhile, sophomore guard, Toni Kokenis, (#31 – 5’11”) scored 26 points making 5 of 10 attempts of her 3point shots, more than the rest of her team collectively. You might think that Tennessee was having an off night, but Stanford was just having a great night.

“Tennessee is a good team . . . and Stanford is a great team,” said Tennessee head coach, Pat Summitt.

“This is a Final Four team right here.

Stanford is a great team,” added

Tennessee’s Shekinna Stricklen.

Stanford’s women now head into their first regular season game against USC (5-5) at Los Angeles on Thursday, Dec. 29, and play UCLA two days later on New years Eve in an afternoon game.

Meanwhile, Stanford’s Men’s Basketball finished their preseason with an excellent winning record (10-2) but had a surprising late loss to a faltering Butler (6-7). After nearly shocking Syracuse (69-63), a loss to Butler was unexpected (71-66). But everything seemed to go Butler’s way, even when they missed their shots, the ball seemed to careen into the hands of a waiting Butler forward, ending in an easily made layup.

Ironically, the Syracuse game was quite the opposite, where the full-court press and turnovers were the game killers for the Cardinal. With 24 turnovers being converted into 25 points and being outscored 15-3 during the press, Syracuse miraculously worked themselves back into the game. But even with the turnovers, Stanford still dominated the offensive play.

So, it has been for the Cardinal men.

Only two losses and most of the wins have been by multiples of tens.

Next up for the Cardinal men is the regular season starter versus UCLA on Dec 29 and then USC on the 31 with both games being played at Maples Pavilion. n ••• Full schedules for all Stanford sports can be viewed at www.gostanford.com

Photo Credit: Chuck Walker

Sisters Nnemkadi (30) and Chiney Ogwumike guard their oponent in a recent Cardinal game.

SportsWrap

Aptos High School Scoreboard Boys Basketball

Steinbach Classic Championship Game Aptos 50 – Woodside 47 Aptos Season Record: (8-4) ptos Scoring: Jake Harrell 16 pts, 8 rbds, 3 stls, 2 blks; John Sakoda 4 pts, 7 rbds; Justin Montoya 8 pts, 7 rbds; Danny Victory 15 pts.

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Steinbach Classic Aptos 70 – Burton 36 ptos Scoring: Justin Montoya 18 pts; Danny Victory 17 pts; Jake Harrell 14 pts; John Sakoda 8 pts; Cole Welle 8 pts; Rewyn Reyes 2; Antonia Andrade 2 pts, Justin Cellona 2 pts.

Preseason Game Aptos 57 – Watsonville 53 p t o s Scoring: J u s t i n Montoya 21 pts; Danny Victory 9 pts; Ryan Parker 9 pts; Jake Harrell 8 pts; John Sakoda 4 pts; Cole Welle 6 pts.

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CommunityNews

Take the time in 2012 to discover Aptos

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By Noel Smith

e live in an amazing community.

There are the musical productions of Cabrillo Stage, the Santa Cruz Symphony, and the Santa Cruz Chamber Players performed in marvelous venues such as Cabrillo College’s Crocker Theater, Music Recital Hall, and Black Box Theater, along with the Performing Arts Center at Aptos High and the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts in Watsonville.

Then there are the annual events that make this a special place such as the Aptos 4th of July Parade, the Santa Cruz Blues Festival (which actually takes place in Aptos), the Santa Cruz County Fair and the Monte Fireworks Extravaganza at Seacliff Beach.

If that’s not enough, how about all the talented artists in our community creating in media from paint, to metal, to glass, to stone, to plastic… and beyond! Be sure to attend the art exhibits at Cabrillo College and the next Open Studios in October – truly an eye-opener for those that appreciate the visual arts.

As far as fine education, we have Cabrillo College and some of the most advanced college prep educational institutions along the Central Coast: Aptos High School, Monte Vista Christian School, Monterey Bay Academy, Aptos Academy,

Open Studio • Peter Vizzusi

St Francis High School and Mount Madonna School.

If you are a sports fan, we have some of the finest athletes in the country attending Aptos High School, Monte Vista Christian School, St Francis High School, Mount Madonna School and Cabrillo College. Get out and go to the game, match or tournament to see these young athletes competing for the prize.

All of this adds up to many rich experiences just waiting for us.

Take the time in 2012 to discover Aptos.

We at TPG wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year! n

Aptos High School Performing Arts Center

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CommunityNews

County Fair Garners Five First Places!

Honored by the Western Fairs Association (WFA) for Excellence

WATSONVILLE — The 2011 Santa Cruz County Fair was recently honored by the Western Fairs Association (WFA) for marketing excellence. WFA membership is made up of more than 800 fairs, festivals and related businesses located in the Western United States and Canada. The seven marketing efforts submitted for the Annual Achievement Awards program garnered five first and two second place awards from the industry association.

Over 400 entries were considered and the Santa Cruz County Fair was honored in the following categories: Viral / Video – First Place • Facility Website – First Place • Marketing Campaign - Social Media – First Place • Outdoor

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Advertising – First Place • Times Publishing Group, Inc.’s Fair Program / Schedule – First Place • Radio Advertising – Second Place • Poster – Second Place The awards will be presented during the annual WFA Convention scheduled for the second week of January 2012 in Anaheim, California. n The Santa Cruz County Fair celebrates the rich agricultural history of our community and people, and invests heavily in bringing this heritage to our youth. The 2012 Fair will be held September 11 - 16 at the Fairgrounds located on Highway 152 just east of Watsonville.

Information on the Fair, and the Fairgrounds a year round entertainment and event venue, can be found at www.santacruzcountyfair.com

CommunityNews

Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (Ic3) Scam Alerts

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his report is based upon information from law enforcement and complaints submitted to the IC3. It details recent cyber crime trends, new twists to previously-existing cyber scams, warnings and announcements.

Popular Passwords n Internet site who manages passwords recently posted an article pertaining to the lack of secure passwords being utilized which may be a factor in data breaches — past, present, and future. One reason for the lack of security is the amount of passwords a user is required to remember to access the many databases, applications, multiple networks, etc., used on a daily basis. Sharing passwords among users in a workplace is becoming a common theme to continue the flow of operations. Users have prioritized convenience over security when establishing passwords.

The article provided a list of millions of stolen passwords posted on-line by

employment for gender identity and expression.

Transgender Vital Statistics Law akes it easier for transgender Californians to get a court petition to change their gender on official documents.

LGBT Equal Benefits Law equires an employer with a state contract worth more than $100,000 to have non-discrimination policies in place for LGBT workers and their partners.

Judicial Applicant and Appointment Demographics Inclusion Law ncludes gender identity and sexual orientation of potential judges into the state’s Judicial Applicant Data Report to ensure that state courts are diverse.

Gay Divorce Law rovides that if a gay couple got married in California but lives in a state that won’t grant them a divorce, the California court will have jurisdiction to grant them a legal divorce. The case will be filed in the county where the gay couple got married.

California Gay History Law overnor Jerry Brown signed the Gay History Law, which mandates that school textbooks and social studies include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender accomplishments Internet Sales Tax overnor Brown signed into law that out-of-state Internet retailers must collect California sales tax on transactions if the retailer has a presence in the state.

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Private Fitness Training Studio

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“2012 Laws” from pg 6

CPT

hackers and ranked the top 25 common passwords: 1.) password; 2.) 123456; 3.) 12345678; 4.) qwerty; 5.) abc123; 6.) monkey; 7.)

1234567; 8.) letmein; 9.) trustno1; 10.) dragon; 11.) baseball; 12.) 111111; 13.) iloveyou; 14.) master; 15.) sunshine; 16.) Ashley; 17.) bailey; 18.) passw0rd; 19.) shadow; 20.)

123123; 21.) 654321; 22.) superman; 23.) qazwsx; 24.) Michael; 25.) football n

www.suesmythefitness.com 7965 Soquel Drive, Aptos • 688-4528

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California Renters Right to Recycling Law partment building landlords will have to start providing recycling services for 7 million California tenants. Law effective 2012.

California Reader Privacy Law overnment and third-party snoops can no longer gather information on Internet users’ reading, book shopping or eBook using habits without a legal court order.

••• New Laws Already Enforced in 2011 California Male Circumcision Law ocal governments, such as cities and counties, can no longer ban infant male circumcision.

When consumer data has been breached, the holder of the data must notify the affected consumers of the occurrence in order to halt identity theft.

California Presidential Primary Law he presidential primary has officially been moved from February back to June.

California National Popular Vote Law ll of California’s 55 electoral votes will ultimately go to the winner of the popular vote in U.S. presidential elections.

Mandatory DMV Organ Donation Answer he State of California now requires all driver’s license and ID applicants to answer YES or NO to whether they want their organs donated.

••• There were more than 700 new California laws in effect just for 2011 and many more new laws than that become effective in 2012. n

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CommunityNews

One Hundred Years of Reading

Porter Memorial Library Celebrates Century of Service

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he Porter Memorial Library will celebrate its 100th birthday with the 2012 “Meet the Author” series. Programs take place a ro u n d t h e f i re p l a c e t h e s e c o n d Wednesdays of January, February, March and April from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Local authors will discuss their works, answer questions from the audience, and autograph their books. Refreshments will be served with coffee provided by The Ugly Mug. The first program will be on January 11, 2012 and will feature James Irwin Kruger, a distinguished former newspaperman and the author of seven novels, all of which are owned by The Porter Memorial Library. He will discuss “Beach Street,” a murder mystery set in a California seaside tourist town (Wonder where?) populated by assorted homeless people, some of whom are unsavory and

aggressive panhandlers. Suddenly, a serial murderer begins killing off transients one by one.

James Kruger started his newspaper career at the Star Minneapolis Tribune.

He left Minneapolis to work for the San Francisco News, a now-defunct Scripps-Howard newspaper. Next stop was Santa Cruz where he was city James Kruger editor of the Sentinel from 1963 to 1973 and then he was wire editor of the San Jose Mercury News for 18 years before retiring in 1992. After 42 years as a editor which was all writing and rewriting, Kruger is delighted to finally have a chance to write fiction: “ a great relief from facts, facts, facts— checking all your facts—before publish-

12 / January 1st 2012 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

ing. With writing fiction, you’re free as a bird. It’s a lot of fun.”

Kruger is a longtime Santa Cruz County resident who has recently returned to the area with his wife, Carolyn. Aptos provides a good setting for him to work on his eighth novel.

The program on February 8 will feature the work of ten Soquel Pioneer and Historical Association members, which resulted in the book entitled “Soquel,” a pictorial history of the town of Soquel.

Several of the authors, including Carolyn Swift, local historian, will talk about their roles in this massive undertaking.

On March 14th, popular Santa Cruz Sentinel columnist for many years and a teacher of creative writing, Claudia Sternbach, will present her charming memoir “Reading Lips”, revealing her life “one kiss at a time.”

The last of the series will be on April

11th when author and history buff, Kathryn Gualtieri, discusses her debut mystery novel, “Murder in the Pines”, set in the “bohemian” enclave where artists and writers gathered in Carmel-by-the Sea in 1921.

The public is invited to gather around the library fireplace and enjoy meeting local authors who will discuss and autograph their works and answer questions from the audience.

Refreshments will be served with the coffee provided by The Ugly Mug. Limited parking is available behind the library by entering from Soquel Drive into the Bagelry parking lot and driving through to the left. n ••• Further information is available by calling the library at 475-3326 during library hours: Monday-Friday from 12-4p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Also, find us on the web a www.porterml.org

CommunityNews

UC Santa Cruz astronomer to receive 2012 Franklin Medal

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he Franklin Institute i n currently in the design phase. The TMT P h i l a d e l p h i a h a s a n n o u n c e d will be far more powerful than any that Jerry Nelson, professor of existing telescope, its 30-meter primary astronomy and astrophysics at the mirror providing almost ten times the light-gathering University of California, Santa capacity of each of Cruz, will re c e i v e the 2012 the Kecks. Like the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Kecks, the TMT mirElectrical Engineering. ror will have a segNelson is internationally renowned mented design, with as a developer of innovative designs 492 individual segfor advanced telescopes. The Franklin ments, each 1.45 Institute is honoring him “for his piometers across. All neering contributions to the developsegments will be ment of segmented-mirror telescopes.

Jerry Nelson under precision The Franklin Institute awards are computer control so that they will work among the oldest and most prestigious comprehensive science awards in the together as a single mirror.

A member of the National world. Since 1824, the institute has honored excellence and achievement in Academy of Sciences, Nelson has science, engineering and technology. received many awards for his achievements, including the Nelson will receive 2010 Kavli Prize in the Franklin Medal at Nelson played a cen- Astrophysics from the an awards ceremony Academy in Philadelphia in tral role in the design Norwegian of Science and April. of the twin Keck Letters, the André Nelson played a Lallemand Prize of central role in the Telescopes at the W. the French Academy design of the twin Keck Telescopes at the M. Keck Observatory of Sciences, and the A m e r i c a n W. M. Keck in Hawaii, conceiving A s t r o n o m i c a l Observatory in Society’s Dannie Hawaii, conceiving the the revolutionary Heineman Prize for revolutionary segAstrophysics.

He mented design of the segmented design of earned a B.S. in Kecks’ 10-meter prithe Kecks’ 10-meter physics from the mary mirrors.

As California Institute of founding director of primary mirrors.

Technology and a the Center for Ph.D. in elementary Adaptive Optics, a National Science Foundation science and particle physics from UC Berkeley. technology center headquartered at UC Nelson joined the faculty at UC Santa Santa Cruz, Nelson helped pioneer the Cruz in 1994. n ••• use of adaptive optics for astronomy, The Franklin Institute’s mission is to enabling scientists to get sharp images inspire an understanding of and passion for from ground-based telescopes.

He is now project scientist for the science and technology learning. For more info Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT), which is visit www.fi.edu/franklinawards/index.html.

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Houser 3 pts, Mariah Rojas 2 pts.

Aptos 36 – North Monterey County 31 ptos Scoring: Dierdre Wilson 20 pts, 10 rbds; Camisa Composti 6 pts, 5 assists, 3 steals; Josie Bruce 2 pts, Kristin Haduca 2 pts; Vanessa Ramos 2 pts; Jackie Houser 3 pts.

Clovis 62 – Aptos 34 ptos Scoring: Dierdre Wilson 10 pts, Karianna Crowder 6 pts, Josie Bruce 6 pts, Camisa Composti 5 pts, Megan Maxwell 3, Jackie Houser 4 pts.

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SELECT SHOPPING / APTOS VILLAGE www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / January 1st 2012 / 13

CommunityNews

New Electronics for Christmas

Now What Should You Do With the Old Ones?

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By Steve Skurnac

lectronics are once again dominating holiday shopping lists this season. In fact, analysts with the Consumer

Electronics Association predict shoppers will spend six percent more on electronics this year compared to last – or about $250 per consumer. And every for new laptop, t a b l e t , phone, TV, gaming system and scores of other gadgets, another device likely will be replaced. For those old electronics, the question is, “Now what?”

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Do not throw replaced electronics in the trash. Electronic devices have toxic components that can be harmful to human health and the environment if discarded in your household trash. E-waste contains heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, which can leach out of landfills and into groundwater or nearby waterways. There are several alternatives, including reuse and recycling, for disposing of your e-waste.

Recycling Organizations n keeping with the holiday spirit a local community electronics recycling fund-raiser such as the California Grey Bears (www.greybears.com) will properly dispose of your outdated electronics.

Most nonprofits, schools and other organizations are experiencing hard times.

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“Recycle Electronics” > 17

New Director appointed to the County Health

14 / January 1st 2012 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

usan A. Mauriello announced the appointment of Giang Nguyen as the new Director of the County Health Services Agency Ms. Nguyen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this critical position.

She has both a Nursing Degree from Fresno State University and a Masters Degree in Nursing Leadership and Management from Sonoma State University. She is currently studying for a Ph.D. in Education in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University in Orange County.

During her 21year tenure in Fresno Giang Nguyen County, Ms. Nguyen provided direct care in a psychiatric hospital and served as the Director of Nursing in the Fresno County Acute Psychiatric Hospital. While in Fresno, she also served as the Division Manager for the California Children’s Services Program, the Assistant Public Health Director, the Public Health Director and the Behavioral Health Director. In 2009, she became an Executive Administrator for the California Department of Mental Health, where she was a key member of the Department’s

Executive Team and managed a $4.5 billion annual appropriation for the California Community Mental Health Program. In April 2011, after an extensive recruitment, Ms. Nguyen was appointed Assistant Director of the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency.

Ms. Nguyen said, “I am excited to have the opportunity to lead the Santa Cruz Health Services Agency because of the partnerships, the collaboration, and the sophistication of the whole health care system.

Everyone here, from line staff to leadership and at the community level, has a genuine sense of caring for the health of everyone in the community. I look forward to advancing the agency’s mission even further in these challenging and exciting times.”

As the Director of the Health Services Agency, Ms. Nguyen will be responsible for an operating budget of $127 million and a staff of 522 employees. The department’s program areas include Public Health, Environmental Health, Emergency Medical Care, Outpatient Medical Clinics, Community Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Health Benefits/MediCruz.

“I am delighted to welcome Ms. Nguyen to Santa Cruz County, and I know that she will bring a wealth of knowledge and ability to serve the residents of our community,” said Mauriello. n

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CommunityNews

Scout’s Project Remembers the Unborn

Chris Randolph of Scout Troop 599 brings together Prolife memorial

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here is a new monument at the Mount Carmel Cemetery whose inscription reads, “Remembering Our Unborn Children – ‘I will never forget you… I hold you in the palm of my hand.’ Isaiah 49.”

Chris Randolph is the young person who made it all happen. “I wanted to remember those children who through miscarriage, mishap or abortion are among the unborn. There are many families I know of, including my own, who have experienced such a loss. This memorial is for them.”

The white marble statue is of a woman in biblical dress holding a child and a lamb.

The memorial stands in it’s own courtyard with benches for those visiting to rest in contemplation of the memorial’s purpose and message just off the path that leads through the historic Mount Carmel cemetery to Resurrection Church at 7600 Soquel Drive Aptos. The cemetery was established in 1868 on Aptos Rancho land

donated by its owner, Rafael Castro.

Chris Randolph was looking for a project as part of his Eagle Scout requirements. The official Eagle rank requirements read in part, “While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community.”

Chris is a sophomore at Aptos High School and a member of the robotics team that won the 2011 international Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) competition against teams from nine countries in June of 2011 and was the software designer for the ROV control system.

Christ is one of the two returning team members for 2012. Robotics and scouting aren’t the only interests Chris has; he is also on the Aptos wrestling team.

The Project for the unborn wasn’t easy.

First, Chris had to convince the church committee of Resurrection Catholic Church to allow the memorial to be built on historic church property. That took six

months. Then it took another year to arrange for all the elements to be donated and finally, to build and install the memorial which was formally dedicated on Sunday December 8, 2011.

Resurrection Catholic Church and the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus donated the most important element, the $15,000 statue. Lyons Marble & Granite of Santa Cruz contributed the granite plaques and Wallace Memorial donated the engraving.

Chris Randolph stands with the Mount Carmel Cemetery memorial to Other generous unborn children. members of the community were: Probuild donated all the donated many hours of their time to help miscellaneous building supplies for forms make this project a reality and provided and construction; Las Animas donated guidance on how to build the memorial; three yards of concrete. David Kies donat- Fellow parishioners of the Church donated his concrete pump; Kelly Moore Paints ed $1385 towards the installation. Others donated 3 gallons of primer and 3 gallons that helped were fellow scouts from troop of paint, along with painting supplies; 599 and troop 609 along with Scoutmaster Greg Hipkin of HD Construction and Fred Fisher of Troop 599, and Chris’ Doug Arthur of Terracoast Construction friends and family. n

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16 / January 1st 2012 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Volunteers for Literacy Program Needed he Literacy Program of the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County welcomes all interested individuals to a free one-hour orientation to learn about becoming a tutor to a motivated adult learner who wants to learn English. No teaching or foreign language skills are required, just fluent English and a desire to be of service.

Join the Literacy Program staff for an informative talk to have your questions answered and determine if this volunteer opportunity is right for you.

Orientation Dates are as follows: Monday, January 9, 6 p.m., Saturday, January 14, 10 a.m., Monday, January 23, 6 p.m., Saturday, January 28, 10 a.m., Monday, January 30, 6 p.m.

Location: The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, 1740 17th Ave Suite 2, Santa Cruz CA 95062

CommunityBriefs The Literacy Program works year round to serve adult learners, who want to speak, read and write English. Volunteers range from 20somethings to retired professionals who want the satisfaction of teaching a motivated learner. All tutors receive initial training and ongoing support. For more information call 831427-5077 or go to www.scvolunteercenter.org.

••• Watsonville Wetlands Watch Docent Training Begins in January he Watsonville Wetlands Watch 2012 Docent Training Program will begin in late January. Local experts will provide an inside look at the wetlands of Watsonville, including the ecology, history and restoration of the wetlands. This 7-week program includes Wednesday evening presentations and Saturday morning field trips.

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“Briefs” > 30

HealthandF Fitness

Simple steps to a smaller you T

Taking it Off!

he growing obesity rates in the United States have companies, health care workers and even the government discussing concerns about the physical and mental health effects and costs associated with weight gain. Did you

“Recycle Electronics” from pg 14

Recycling will benefit an organization in need, and the environment as well by keeping e-waste out of the landfill.

Take-back Programs any electronics retailers, like Best Buy or Staples, will accept your ewaste free or for a small handling fee, regardless of brand or condition. Some manufacturers will take back retired products, although these take-back programs vary in terms of fees and conditions. An Internet search of your local electronics retailer or manufacturers’ recycling policy

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know that the ferries in the state of Washington have increased their per passenger weight estimate by 15 lbs! (How did they find out I was planning a trip to Seattle?)

There are fortunately, ways for each of us to reverse this disturbing trend. By taking responsibility for your own health and wellness, obesity can be controlled. Start with a weight loss goal (perhaps 5, 10 or 15 lbs), but make it a realistic one that will leave you with a sense of accomplishment when you achieve it. Then the next step is to maintain it then perhaps even lose more from there.

The following steps can help you take charge of your weight loss, achieve your goal and become a healthier person: ••• 1. Talk with your doctor. Have him or her help you set a realistic goal and ensure you make healthy weight-loss decisions. A weight loss between 5 and 10 percent is shown to have significant health benefits and reduces the risks of diabetes and heart disease.

2. Create a supportive environment. A

recent study in The Lancet showed that overweight and obese patients that used support groups such as Weight Watchers lost more than twice as much weight on average when compared to those who went it alone. Talk with your family, friends and coworkers. Ask them to help you keep your goal a priority.

3. Use technology. Download an App such as Lose It! or TargetWeight to help you keep track of your diet and weight. Using your smart phone or iPod, which is always with you, will help you stay accountable to your goals no matter where you are.

4. Get active. Being active can help you lose weight and is critical to weight maintenance. Find an activity that you enjoy and/or start daily workouts at a gym or health spa. Try exploring new activities that involve different muscle groups in your body such as aerobics or tennis or bike riding. And for a lowimpact workout, try swimming or water aerobics classes.

will provide instructions for their takeback program.

Trash Collection any cities and counties also have electronics recycling programs. Some have designated e-waste collection sites, while others host periodic events to collect e-waste.

Check your city or county’s website to learn about their opportunities to drop off or to have your e-waste collected.

E-waste Recycling Companies ind out if e-waste recycling companies have a facility nearby. Such companies contract with municipalities, organizations and businesses to handle large volumes of e-waste, but may welcome materials from individuals. Some accept electronics at their local facility at any time, others have designated days for public drop-off while others host periodic collection events.

Protect Your Personal Information ven if you think your electronic device has been cleared of personal data, be sure the recycler offers data destruction compliant with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to make certain all data is wiped clean.

When making room for your new electronic devices this holiday season, remember there are plenty of homes for your old ones, but a landfill is not one of them. n ••• Steve Skurnac is the president of Sims Recycling Solutions (SRS), the global leader in electronics reuse and recycling. SRS operates 14 facilities across the U.S. and Canada. To find the location nearest you, visit us.simsrecycling.com.

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5. Re-evaluate regularly. As you lose weight, check in with your doctor, your App, and your support group to review how you are progressing toward your goal. Don’t get discouraged if your weight loss reaches a plateau. Reset your determination (and your App) and go for small, attainable goals such as another 5 lbs of weight loss.

••• Being overweight is a condition you can overcome. Reaching your weight loss goals will lead to a healthier, happier you in 2012. n

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / January 1st 2012 / 17

PrivateSchoolO OpenHouse

Motivating Kids to Exercise

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ideo games - Internet surfing – Social Networking: It’s all helping to create a new generation of unhealthier, more sedentary youth. There are so many distractions found in today’s society, without strong motivation, adolescents are at risk of becoming inactive.

Parental Motivation esearch has shown that a child’s parents have an effect on the way they think about exercise and dieting. Children not only imitate their parents’ habits, good or bad, but also respond to what they believe is important to their parents.

In a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, researchers questioned over 9,000 teens and their mothers about weight and dieting. They found that girls were much more likely to think about being thinner if they thought it was important to their mothers.

Whether or not a mother actually wanted her daughter to be thinner had less of an impact than the daughter’s perception of her mother’s opinion. There was also an association between a mother’s attempts at

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weight loss and her daughter ’s d i e t i n g .

Mothers were found to have less of an effect on their sons’ ideas about weight.

T h e researchers suggested that p a r e n t s should be role models to their children by incorporating exercise and healthy eating into their everyday lives, rather than imposing these strategies on their kids. Doctors who treat overweight adolescents should be sure to promote exercise for benefits other than weight loss, such as improving self-esteem.

18 / January 1st 2012 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

T h e study’s lead a u t h o r , Alison E. Field, Sc.D., of Harvard M e d i c a l School, said, “Parents are justified in not wanting their adolescents to be overweight.

However, it is essential to strike a balance between promoting a h e a l t h y weight and not placing too much emphasis on the importance of weight.”

School Motivation artly to blame for low fitness levels of young people in some schools is low

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participation in school sports, cuts in physical education and less walking and biking to school. So, what will motivate teens to exercise and stay healthy?

Researchers at the State University of New York at Albany surveyed 200 middle school students on their motivations for exercising. They found that both boys and girls were likely to say that personal enjoyment or wanting to be fit was their main motivation to exercise, a finding that surprised lead researcher, Katie Haverly, M.S. “You might expect that adolescent girls would be motivated to be physically active for the purposes of weight loss or weight maintenance, but we did not find that to be true.” Haverly stated that the students who were motivated by personal enjoyment exercised or played sports because it felt good, to be healthy and to improve their skills. “We were just surprised that adolescents would report that they felt that way about physical activity.”

“Motivation” > 21

PrivateSchoolO OpenHouse

The Difference Between Private & Public Schools

How to find a school that will meet your child’s needs

Cost Public schools cannot charge tuition.

They are funded through federal, state and local taxes. When you pay your taxes, you are paying for your child’s education and the education of other children in your community.

Private schools cost money. Private schools do not receive tax revenues, but instead are funded through tuition, fundraising, donations and private grants.

According to the National Association of Independent Schools, the median tuition for private day schools in the United States is $16,500. The median tuition for

boarding schools is $29,000. Parochial schools generally charge somewhat less.

Admission Public schools admit all children. By law, public schools must educate all children, including students with special needs. To enroll in a public school you simply register your child by filling out the necessary paperwork.

Private schools are selective. They are not obligated to accept every child, and in many private schools, admission is very competitive.

“Public vs. Private” > 20

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / January 1st 2012 / 19

HealthandF Fitness

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Three steps to maximize your fitness routine

our health is always a priority, and making sure you exercise regularly is your goal. Because life is busy, you want to get the most out of any time you dedicate to getting in shape. So how can you maximize your efforts?

“Whether you’re a professional athlete or an ‘average Jane or Joe’, adopting some simple strategies can make a huge difference in your physical fitness,” says Mackie Shilstone, a sports performance manager who has worked with professional athletes like tennis star Serena Williams and baseball hall-of-famer Ozzie Smith.

Here are three easy steps he thinks everyone should take in order to get the most out of their exercise regimen.

Step one: Prepare If you are just starting a fitness program or have not exercised in some time, it’s important to see your physician first.

After you get the go-ahead, remember that preparing before any physical activity is crucial. What you put into your body can make all the difference, so getting adequate sleep and eating healthy foods gives your body what it needs for peak performance.

There is a very important nutrient that the typical American diet is low in; omega3 fatty acids, so most people do not get as much as they need. The good news is that you can easily fill any void by incorporating a high quality fish oil supplement into your daily routine.

“Research shows that supplementing with fish oil helps you maintain a healthy

“Public vs. Private” from pg 19

Governance Public schools must follow all federal, state and local laws in educating children.

Such laws usually include specifics about funding, program development and curriculum.

Private schools are not subject to as many state and federal regulations as public schools. Since private schools are funded independently, they are not subject to the limitations of state education budgets and have more freedom in designing curriculum and instruction.

Curriculum Public schools offer a general program, designed for all children, which usually includes math, English, reading, writing, science, history and physical education. In addition to these key subjects, many public schools offer programs in music and art. In a public school, the substance of what children learn is mandated by the state and, in most states, learning is measured through standardized tests.

weight, elevates mood, supports hydration of the cells, and keeps your joints lubricated, flexible and mobile,” says Shilstone.

Step two: Perform After a good warm up, your body is ready for physical activity. If you’re beginning a new workout routine or trying a new activity, remember to start slow and go at your own pace. Listen to your body’s internal cues and slow down or take a break if you need one.

The guidelines on exercise from the American College of Sports Medicine recommend exercising a minimum of 30 minutes for five days a week at a light to moderate intensity – that is before you break a sweat. Or you could exercise three days a week at a light to moderate level, and on two days push yourself to a level where you break a sweat.

Shilstone stresses the importance of staying hydrated during any exercise. “To

NOTE: The charter school movement is picking up momentum in many states; these schools are public, but many offer specialized programs and smaller classes.

Private schools have the flexibility to create a specialized program for students.

For example, private schools may use art or science in all classes, or take children on extended outdoor trips that blend lessons across the curriculum. Private schools can create their own curriculum and assessment systems, although many also choose to use standardized tests.

Teachers Public schools: All teachers in a public school are usually state certified or, at a minimum, working toward certification.

Certification ensures that a teacher has gone through the training required by the state, which includes student teaching and coursework.

Private schools: Teachers in private schools may not be required to have certification, and instead often have subject area expertise and an undergraduate or graduate degree in the subject they teach.

Students Public schools: The children at most public schools usually reflect the neighboring community. Students may be split up based on ability or interests, but in most public schools, there is a diversity of student backgrounds.

NOTE: In many states, if you are not satisfied with your assigned school, you may be able to send your child to another public school in the area.

Private schools: The student population at a private school is determined through a selection process; all students must apply and be accepted in order to attend. Although students may be from different neighborhoods, they will probably have similar goals and interests. This tends to create a homogenous student body.

Special Needs Public schools: Due to special education laws, public schools must educate all children, and provide the necessary programs to meet their special needs. This means that most public schools have special education programs and teachers who

20 / January 1st 2012 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

promote joint and muscle health, remember to stay hydrated. A basic rule is to drink one ounce of water daily for every two pounds of weight. More may be needed as you become more physically active.

Temperature plays a factor as well,” he says.

Choose an activity you enjoy. You might even want to try something new, like taking a dance class or trying rock climbing. Remember to have fun and enjoy the endless ways you can exercise to get healthy.

Step three: Recover Be sure to follow any physical activity with stretching to help reduce muscle soreness. A proper cool down, including gentle stretching, allows the body to relax and recover.

After a workout, your energy stores will be depleted. It’s a smart idea to eat a combination of protein, along with a carbohydrate within two hours after your exercise. Shilstone recommends a 1-to-2 ratio, such as 20 grams of protein to 40 grams of a carbohydrate. This gives your body additional fuel to heal and rebuild muscles.

Also, omega-3s from fish oil support the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response and protects against free radical damage to help revitalize your body in time for your next round of activity.

“These three tips can help anyone of any age perform better,” adds Shilstone.

“There’s no better time to start being physically fit than the present.” n ARA Content are trained to work with students who have particular needs.

Private schools: Private schools do not have to accept children with special needs.

There are a small number of private schools specifically designed for special needs children. Most private schools do not have special education programs or teachers trained to work with students with severe special needs. Private schools will try to help all the students they admit, but extra resources may also come at an additional cost.

Class Size Public schools: Many states recognize the value of small classes and have provided funding to keep class sizes small in grades K3. As students become older, class size tends to get bigger in public schools, especially in large school districts and urban schools.

Private schools: Private schools are generally committed to providing small classes and individual attention to students. The median class size for private schools is 16 and the average stu“Public vs. Private cont.” > 21

CommunityNews

Return to the Autorama … Forty Years Later

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By Monica Arias

Dedicated to Ralph Arias, July 12, 1937 ~ Jan. 20, 2009

y dad, Ralph Arias, was an old hot rodder who still had his first car, a 1932 Fordor sedan that he bought in 1955. He raced it in the 50’s and 60’s, and rebuilt it for car shows in the early 70’s. The “32” as we called it, was more than just a beautiful show car; it was a well-cared for family member which we took on trips, used in weddings, my children’s first day of school, etc.

In 2005, shortly after driving my friends from their wedding and under much protest from the family, dad started to tear it down to rebuild it for the ‘next generation’. He wanted it to be safer, updated, and to take family trips in

it once again; something we could not do in his 1932 roadster that he had finished customizing in 2003. (We drove the roadster to Vancouver BC for the 75th anniversary of the 1932 Ford which was featured in the Aptos Times January 15, 2008 “Road Trip to Remember.”)

I remember the sinking feeling and tears the first time I saw the sedan torn apart in his garage. Somehow, I knew he would not finish it.

In 2008, my Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. His energy was low even before he began his aggressive cancer treatments. He stopped working on restoring the car around that time, but in his mind, he was very close to finished.

He had made a beautiful custom trunk rack, and the final project would be the trunk. This did not happen. There were many other little details to be finished but the major stuff he had already completed.

At the end of his treatments In November ‘08, they said his tumor was shrinking.

He had had a heart valve replacement previously in 2001 and the treatments had taken their toll. It is God who numbers our days, and In January of ‘09, he passed peacefully in his comfy chair.

Dad’s profession was in Sheet Metal.

He built his dream home with his shop

“Public vs. Private cont.” from pg 20

take the time to visit them.

Note: There are other education options beside private and public schools. You may also consider charter schools or homeschooling for your child.

•••

By Victoria Thorp and Jesse James, GreatSchools.net Staff. Visit GreatSchools.org for public, private and charter elementary, middle and high schools information nationwide.

“Motivation” from pg 18

fident in their abilities. “These students would be most motivated to be active if they could improve their skills while being active, if the activity is enjoyable and if the activity improves their health and fitness,” Haverly says.

In addition to requiring physical education in schools, Haverly recommends that administrators promote a wide variety of fun, skill-building activities. “An environment that offers different choices or ways to be active would be helpful, because not all adolescents will find the same activities fun, rewarding or motivating.” n

dent/teach ratio is nine. Many parents choose private schools for this reason.

Summing Up The bottom line: there are both great private and public schools. The goal is finding the school that best fits your child’s needs. Research both the public and private the schools that interest you, and then

But the researchers also found that a child’s motivations changed depending on their perceived athletic abilities. Students who felt or thought that they weren’t skilled at sports were less likely to be motivated by personal enjoyment than those who were or saw themselves as more athletic.

Haverly suggests that stressing the health aspects of physical activity, instead of athleticism and competition, could encourage participation by kids who feel less con-

(or maybe I should say, dream shop with attached house), became a professional bowler (at times with the highest average in the county), became a devoted ‘Papa’, built a beautiful granny house for his mother and put together his ’32 roadster – which is an America’s Most Beautiful Roadster’ (AMBR) class car.

To honor my Dad, my mom has had the Sedan completed by his close friend, Mike Dutra. Mike has respectfully, carefully, toiled and tortured over putting Humpty Dumpty together again—to a standard that he hopes Ralph would have approved. We could not be more appreciative.

In 1972, exactly FORTY years ago, this very car was in the Sacramento Autorama and was the recipient of the Sam Barris trophy. During that time, the ’32 sedan was featured in several major hot rod magazines and won several awards. Because of the history and the fame of this car, my father was inducted into the Sacramento Autorama Hall of Fame in 1989. The 2012 show is very important to our family, as we will be there to honor my Dad, and to complete what he started.

For my Mother and I, entering the sedan into this major, national show

would not have been possible without the help and support of dad’s friends. For us, completing the car, being there and honoring him, IS the award. I am so incredibly proud to be his daughter and I miss him so much. n ••• You can find the details for the Sacramento Autorama Feb. 17-19, 2012 by going to the website: www.rodshows.com/sa/ Each of my dad’s ‘32’s have their own website. If you visit ralpharias.com, select the car’s photo, and it will take you to that vehicle’s website. To read his obituary, select the picture of my dad, Ralph Arias. There is also a link to an online guestbook, legacy.com/ralpharias. I would be honored if you signed the online guestbook.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / January 1st 2012 / 21

FeaturedColumnist The Book Bag by Robert Francis

The Book Bag

by Robert Francis

KBL: Kill bin Laden A Novel Based On True Events

By John Weisman William Morrow. $26.99 (Rating-Excellent) t is the story that captured the world’s attention but probably will not be told from an insider’s point of view for quite a few decades, if ever. The operation to find and take out Osama bin Laden was and is still highly classified, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t information available or that some people don’t mind talking “off the record.”

John Weisman, who pioneered coverage of Naval Special Warfare when he co-authored “Rogue Warrior,” uses his knowledge of the government’s secret operations and his sources to create this fictional account of bin Laden’s demise.

The story unfolds in the strongholds of power in Washington, D.C., (the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department and the CIA) as well as the Virginia base where the Navy SEALs trained to carry out Neptune Spear and in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where the terrorist was holed up.

How accurate is this novel you might wonder? Some special operations experts have said it is probably closer to the truth than anything published in the media up to now.

Why read this novel? As the author explains, “it’s the first holistic book about Operation Spear, by which I mean it deals not just with the SEAL portion, but also the political tussles, the year-long CIA operation, and all the internal debate that took place before the president finally gave the go-ahead.”

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Act of Deceit

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By Steve Gore Harper. $9.99 (Rating: Very Good) his novel launches a new series featuring ex-SFPD detective Harlan

Riveting mysteries and thrillers for winter evening reading …

Donnally. It has been a decade after Donnally took a bullet on the job and retired. Content to flip pancakes at a Mount Shasta café in Northern California, the ex-cop wants nothing more to do with crime investigations.

That all changes, though, when a dying friend asks Donnally to deliver a message to his long-lost sister.

Unfortunately, the woman was murdered and her assailant was never found.

Against his better instincts, the ex-cop does a little digging and is soon pulled into an investigation that involves a series of old murders linked to a 1970s Berkeley commune, church corruption and sex trafficking. It’s a nasty situation and one perhaps better left alone, but once a cop, always a cop. Even though he isn’t wearing a badge anymore, Donnally won’t rest until he sees justice done.

And, once you begin reading this thriller, you won’t get much rest either until you finish “Act of Deceit.”

Egypt: The Book of Chaos

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By Nick Drake Harper. $24.99 (Rating-Excellent) ere’s the final book in Drake’s trilogy featuring ancient Thebes police detective Rahotep. In previous cases, the shrewd, royal detective has had to deal with Nefertiti and Tutankamun. This time around he must help the widow of the young king, Queen Ankhesenamun, retain the throne in the wake of Tutankamun’s death.

To do so, Rahotep must undertake a perilous, top-secret journey to see the King of the Hittites and persuade him to marry one of his sons to Ankhesenamun. This will be the only way the queen can maintain her position and keep General Horemheb from seizing power.

If this weren’t enough to occupy Rahotep, his old friend and ex-partner, Khety, has been killed by the members of a new drug syndicate operating in the city.

The thugs’ attempt to take over the city’s underworld and corrupt the government must be stopped or the streets of Thebes won’t be safe for anyone.

22 / January 1st 2012 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

If you’ve followed this series set about 3,300 years ago during Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, you’ll not want to miss this final installment. Hopefully there will be further adventures featuring this wily detective, but Drake has indicated that may not happen so this would be Rahotep’s swan song!

To Have and To Kill

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By Mary Jane Clark Harper. $7.99 (Rating-Excellent) bit down on her luck and having just broken up with her boyfriend, unemployed actress Piper Donovan has decided to move home to live with her parents in New Jersey. Since she has the time, Piper has also decided now’s as good a time as any to try her hand in the family baking business, so she’s agreed to make one of her girlfriend’s wedding cake.

Unfortunately, what Piper discovers is a recipe for danger.

Someone apparently wants to make sure the brideto-be’s wedding never happens. As the body count begins to mount, Piper is thrown into the role of amateur sleuth. She joins forces with FBI agent Jack Lombardi, a neighbor who is interested in more than just Piper’s baking skills, to see if she can salvage her friend’s nuptials.

It is going to get pretty hot in the kitchen before this case is solved. The question is can the comely cake maker stand the heat? Of course, she can and that’s what makes “To Have and To Kill” such a treat.

Slash and Burn

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By Matt Hilton Harper. $9.99 (Rating-Good) he third novel in the Joe Hunter series, this newest thriller finds the former military operative enjoying a little vacation time in Florida. Then Kate Piers, the sister of a man who once saved Joe’s life, shows up on his doorstep seeking a favor.

Imogen, Kate’s sister, has gone missing

and it is time for Joe to repay the favor he owes the family.

Joe and Kate quickly learn that Imogen has done something to upset a very rich man with some very nasty associates who are now looking for her. On the run from two brothers who are in the employ of her adversary, Imogen is intent on “disappearing” in the hills of Kentucky.

The question I, can her sister and Joe find her before the bad guys do?

Joe also finds that his feelings for Kate are quickly becoming more than just centered on repaying a long overdue debt. The more he is around the beautiful young woman, the more Joe realizes he may have a much deeper attachment to the Piers family!

The Final Reckoning

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By Sam Bourne Harper. $7.99 (Rating-Very Good) om Byrne, once an idealistic lawyer, now does whatever he has to do to put bread on the table. When he’s asked by an official at the United Nations to placate the family of a man mistaken for a suicide bomber and shot to death, Byrne agrees.

You do what you have to do, right?

It doesn’t take Tom long, though, to realize perhaps the victim wasn’t that “innocent” after all.

Along with the dead man’s daughter, the lawyer uncovers the existence of a clandestine brotherhood responsible for a staggering number of deaths worldwide.

Protecting the last great secret of World War II, this group has spent six decades making sure certain information never becomes common knowledge. They aren’t about to let Tom Byrne unearth the mystery, so he is now a marked man.

If you haven’t become too tired of conspiracy fiction, this one is worth a try.

It’s a quick read and actually somewhat plausible. n

HealthandF Fitness

Lose Weight with Protein

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fter suffering from a severe injury while racing motocross, I slowly gained weight over a 2-year period. I was fortunate enough to find this program and was able to lose 20 pounds in just 3 weeks” said an Ideal Protein client.

Another client, said “At 47 years old with 50 pounds to lose and already having tried multiple “diets” with no success, I found the Ideal Protein protocol. With consistent fat loss of 5 pounds each week I was encouraged to stay with this program.”

Since Santa Cruz Chiropractic implemented the Ideal Protein weight loss program in 2010, we have witnessed weight losses and an increase in general health among the participants.

Diets higher in protein and moderate in carbs, along with a lifestyle of regular exercise are often purported by experts to reduce blood fats and maintain lean tissue while burning fat for fuel without dieters being sidetracked with constant hunger.

This program has given us the opportunity to provide our patients with a safe and effective nutrition plan that can transform their body from the inside out. The protocol promotes fat loss and preserves valuable lean muscle mass by minimizing sugar and fat intake and providing the body the protein it needs, providing health benefits and improving one’s quality of life.

Some of the health benefits we have seen are the dramatic reductions in cardiovascular risks, and reducing diabetic related symptoms. We have seen the LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides levels dropping, as well as blood sugar and blood pressure levels. Participants have lost a significant amount of weight while gaining valu-

able insight into how the body uses food helping them develop healthier lifestyles.

This is truly a weight management system, not a diet. Dr. Tran Tien Chanh, MD, PhD developed the protocol in France over 23 years ago. Dr. Chanh has focused his career and research on nutrition on the treatment of obesity and obesity related issues. These FDA approved products are now available from accredited Ideal Protein Healthcare Professionals with Santa Cruz Chiropractic as the first facility in Santa Cruz County offering the Ideal Protein plan.

It is impressive to see the changes in body fat percentages, which are measured

and evaluated weekly throughout the program, as well as the lab results for each participant.

Dedicated coaches work with each participant to offer individualized weekly support sessions, nutritional education as well as a weight, body fat, and measurement progress analysis. This helps to ensure that individuals not only lose weight, but also continue to keep it off. To date, participants have not only realized great losses in weight, but also the education and health benefits that accompany the program have helped in changing the participant’s lifestyle and eating habits.

B e g i n n i n g Thursday January 5 and each Thursday throughout the month of January, Santa Cruz David Love Chiropractic Clinic will

Owner of Santa be hosting presentaCruz Chiropractic tions designed to give our guests an overview of the Ideal Protein Program which are open to all, free of charge. Please join us at Santa Cruz Chiropractic Clinic, 1220 41st Ave. Ste I, Capitola, CA (located in the Begonia Plaza near New Leaf Market) from 7-8 P.M. Call 831-462-2002 Ext. 4, as seating is limited.

If you or a loved one is struggling with significant weight and its associated medical problems, we are here to help. For questions about the program or our upcoming informational presentation schedules, please call Tennille at Santa Cruz Chiropractic Clinic, 831-462-2002 Ext. 4. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / January 1st 2012 / 23

FeaturedColumnist

Social Security Resolutions for 2012

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By Terry McFall, Social Security District Manager in Santa Cruz

appy 2012 from Social Security!

With the New Year, many people put together lists of goals and resolutions. Allow us to share with you some new year’s resolutions that you may find worth keeping.

Think about retirement. Whether you’re 26 and beginning a career or 62 and thinking about the best time to stop working, give some thought to what your retirement plan will be. Social Security is the largest source of income for elderly Americans today, but it was never intended to be your only source of income when you retire. You also will need savings, investments, pensions or retirement accounts to make sure you have enough money to live comfortably when you retire.

The earlier you begin your financial planning, the better off you will be. For tips to help you save, visit www.mymoney.gov.

Plan ahead. The best way to begin planning for retirement is by using the free resources provided by Social Security. Start by using our Retirement Estimator, where you can get a personalized, instant estimate of your future retirement benefits using different retirement ages and scenarios. Visit the Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

Make sure you have all your numbers.

While tax season may seem far away, now is the time that many taxpayers start gathering records and documentation for filing tax returns. One of the most important things you need is a Social Security number for everyone whom you will claim as a dependent. If you don’t have a number for one of your dependents, you need to apply now to have the Social Security number in time to file your tax return. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

The best way to begin planning for retirement is by using the free resources provided by Social Security. Start by using our Retirement Estimator, where you can get a personalized, instant estimate of your future retirement benefits using different retirement ages and scenarios.

Do a little light reading. The best way to learn more about Social Security, the benefit programs and what they mean to you and your family is to browse through our online library of publications. You can find overviews as well as booklets that are more detailed.

Our library at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs is always open.

Help a loved one. Sometimes we get the most satisfaction out of helping someone else. If you have a grandparent, parent, relative, or friend who could

benefit from Social Security, share our website and online services with them.

You can even help a loved one apply for retirement or Medicare benefits — or for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs — in as little as 10 minutes.

Whether you forward a publication or sit down to help someone apply for Social Security, the place to go is www.socialsecurity.gov.

We hope you’ll consider some of these resolutions. Happy New Year from Social Security! n

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Local News, King of the Hill Traffic, Sports in Your Shorts, Weather, Music from the Past, Comments about the Present and Your Telephone Calls about Everything 24 / January 1st 2012 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Listen as 89 of your friends and neighbors talk their walk on AM 1080 KSCO

Be heard by KSCO/KOMY’s audience of decision-making adults.

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FeaturedColumnist

Bring in the New Year with a big WHY?

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By Camille Smith

h, the end is here — of the year, that is. A time when we look back and reflect on all that has and hasn’t happened. For the resolutions we achieved, we’ll cheer wildly and thank our lucky stars. For the ones we didn’t, we’ll lament the loss and profess how hard we tried.

As we bid 2011 goodbye, many of us will bring in the New Year with yet another set of wishes that, by golly, we really are going to accomplish in 2012. Really.

You name them: we’ll resolve to lose weight, spend

more quality time with our loved ones, find a new loved one, reduce our credit card debt, volunteer more, get promoted, be kinder and more forgiving … we’ll resolve stop something and start other things. We’ll punctuate our proclamations by raising our glass in one hand and crossing our fingers in the other because we’re not so sure we’ll really going to achieve them. Besides, these new resolutions sound a lot like the old ones. Ah, tradition!

How about we buck tradition, just a bit? Let’s shift from being resolved to being committed to making the unpredictable happen. To do that, we have to create a Big Enough Why? A big enough WHY? is something that matters to you, deep down.

It’s the reason you commit to accomplishing what isn’t predictable or easy to do. Your big enough WHY is more than a nice-to-have for you; it’s a worth-tohave. It’s worth going for, worth spending your time, resources, and energies to achieve. When you think about it, you light up.

To create your big e n o u g h WHY, ask yourself: What is the difference I want to make in t h e world?

K e e p asking

Everyone’s big enough WHY also comes with a lovely set of companion gifts: setbacks.

The bigger the big enough, the bigger the setbacks.

WaHoo! Bring ‘em on!

this question until your answer stirs your heart and inspires you. Your big enough WHY has a unique meaning to you. You will feel it in your bones. Call it purpose, personal mission or calling.

It’s what you say you were put on the planet to contribute.

Here’s what the “big enough” part is about.

• Your WHY has to be compelling enough to you to pull you through the times when it looks like it won’t happen and you want to give up.

• Your WHY has to matter more to you than looking good, being right or protecting your ego.

• Your WHY has to be big enough that you don’t need agreement, approval or permission to go after it.

Everyone’s big enough WHY also comes with a lovely set of companion gifts: setbacks. The bigger the big enough, the bigger the setbacks.

When you take on living your WHY, you will see all the stuff that doesn’t match it. The good news is that when you take on and transform what doesn’t match your WHY, you’ll be making your WHY more real. You don’t have to ignore the setbacks or wish they weren’t there. You can use them to make your contribution. Being confronted with stuff that isn’t what we

desire and using it to get what we desire is a piece, I think, is missing in our traditional “let’s make resolutions” game.

To create your unique big enough WHY, ask yourself: If I could make anything happen, without the fear of failing, what would that be? Ask and answer this question several times. Go beyond your first response. You’ll know when you’ve hit the vein of what really matters to you.

I recognize we don’t allow ourselves to imagine, let alone share with others what really matters to us because we are afraid of what they will say: you’re crazy… we tried that before, it didn’t work …you’re a dreamer … wise up … grow up … get real. If they don’t say it to us, we’ll say it to ourselves, shrinking our dreams from inspiring to acceptable and normal and, worse, shrinking ourselves.

Recognize this, don’t let it stop you.

To move from being inspired to being in action in an inspired way, you need to create a structure for fulfillment. The design of the structure includes sharing your WHY widely, not being attached to one particular way of achieving it, keeping it in existence, and creating a network of supporters.

Speaking of a network of supporters, I want to give a shout out to Times Publishing Group for the opportunity to connect with you and to you, dear reader. Your comments about how my words benefit you inspire me to keep doing what I do. Contributing to you realizing how great you are is one of my big enough WHYs. I am grateful.

Happy New Year! n

W HEN

TIMES ARE UNCERTAIN , DO YOU : 1. Feel out of control?

2. Stop communicating effectively?

3. Get crankier than usual?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these and you’re ready to get a grip and learn how to say “No” to these same questions, here’s a special offer:

Take an online assessment and receive coaching from Camille Go to www.wipcoaching.com/assessment, enter promocode: TPG to receive a $175 discount…and get a grip.

Questions? Call Camille, 831-685-1480 www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / January 1st 2012 / 25

CommunityNews

Needed: Sanctuary Stewards

Save Our Shores Recruiting Community Members for 2012

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or the benefit of the marine environment, Save Our Shores (SOS), the leader in ocean awareness and advocacy on the Central Coast, is looking for the next class of local leaders to join the 2012 Sanctuary Steward Program. Sanctuary Stewards are the core volunteer force of Save Our Shores, each one of them instrumental in advancing ocean conservation work in the communities surrounding Monterey Bay. The Sanctuary Steward training course begins in Santa Cruz on February 21, and continues on Tuesday evening through April 10. The course includes presentations from local experts on the ecology of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, sustainable fisheries, plastic pollution, clean boating, ocean policy and advocacy. Stewards also receive hands-on training in classroom and outdoor event leadership with the staff of Save Our Shores. An alternate training based in Monterey will be held in April and May.

3 Convenient locations to serve you

Soquel

Following the training, Stewards will take the lead on Save Our Shores’ beach and river cleanups, as well as have numerous opportunities to educate, advocate, and share their skills. Those looking for

opportunities to make a difference in ocean conservation are encouraged to apply to the 2012 Sanctuary Steward Program.

“The Sanctuary Stewards Program is

your chance to make a difference for the ocean and your community. Get educated, get trained, and get busy as a volunteer leader for the environment with Save Our Shores in 2012,” says Andrew Hoeksema, coordinator of volunteer programs at Save Our Shores.

“I had three goals for the summer of 2011: do something that would benefit my local community, be outdoors as much as possible, and hopefully learn something in the process. The Save Our Shores Sanctuary Steward program allowed me to achieve all three,” said Curtis Luckado, 2011 Sanctuary Steward. n ••• For more information, contact Andrew Hoeksema, Coordinator of Volunteer Programs at SOS at 831.462.5660 ext. 3 or volunteer@saveourshores.org. Information and applications can be found online at: http://saveourshores.org/volunteer/sanctuarystewards.php.

Have a Very Happy New Year!

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Watsonville

728-0123 445 Herman Ave, 95076 Holm Rd. (Off Airport Blvd.)

• Staffed to meet your storage needs • Happy to answer all questions • Well lit and completely secure • Locally owned and operated • Ask about reduced rates

“Self Storage you can trust with a personal touch” 26 / January 1st 2012 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

FeaturedColumnist

&About

Out L

Cherryvale Farms indsey Rosenberg was outside Aptos Natural Foods one day with samples of her new unique baking mixes. The different products available, such as pumpkin bread, banana bread and zucchini cornbread muffins, are really delicious – and very convenient, too. Instead of spending hours in the kitchen making muffins and breads from scratch, all you need is a few minutes to prepare delicious baked goods your family will love.

Cherryvale Farms uses only the best quality fruits and vegetables they can find in their mixes – and that’s why the end product doesn’t taste like a packet mix.

Cherryvale Farms grows a lot of organic fruit that is used in the mixes, and there are no preservatives or refined sugars. All are available at Aptos Natural Foods and many other stores in California.

Info: Lindsay@CherryValeFarms.com www.CherryValeFarms.com.

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Frank Duncan Puts On A Brand New Show rank Duncan, the ebullient owner of DanceSynergy Studio in Aptos, is putting on another of his fun and upbeat shows. This time it’s a two-man show with a pianist. Bruce Hall is coming from Los Angeles to partner with Duncan in singing and dancing roles, and pianist Dashiel Reed will be kicking up the action with some lively tickling of the ivories.

Performance dates are: Jan. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 & 29. There will be two performances on Friday and Saturday nights at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. and one matinee on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Performances will be held in Duncan’s DanceSynergy studio – a 40-seat intimate setting. Tickets are $30 and include cheese, crackers and wine.

Info: Dance Synergy, 9055 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 661-0235. www.dance-synergy.com.

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Kona Beer few weeks ago, I went to a beer maker’s dinner at Seascape Resort – with Kona beer as the featured brew.

Several different types were served, but I was hooked on the Pipeline Porter dark brew. It’s a delicious beer that is brewed with freshly roasted Kona coffee. Made by Kona Brewing Co., Kona, Hawaii, it goes perfectly with hearty soups and stews, pot roast and mashed potatoes or a roast beef sandwich. You can even drop rich vanilla

By Josie Cowden

often inviting guests to play along with him. He is also a founder of the Celtic music group Molly’s Revenge. The group is playing at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 in advance and $18 at the door.

Email David Brewer at pipeyspice@gmail.com. www.mollysrevenge.com.

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Dining Etiquette ry to time your eating to match your dining companions. There’s nothing worse than finishing all your food at top-notch speed – leaving your fellow diner/s with a huge plate of food – and desperately trying to catch up.

••• Josie Cowden is a freelance writer and proofreader. Contact her at ravenone274@comcast.net.

2011 in Review David Brewer

bean ice cream into a Pipeline Porter for a creamy dessert float. Doesn’t that sound good!

Info: www.KonaBrewingCo.com.

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Patine – La Selva Beach atine is an eclectic little store in La Selva Beach owned by Eric and Daniela Davis. When Eric and Daniela began their linen business nine years ago, they started buying all kinds of old fabrics from Europe – shirts, dresses, ticking, you name it. They found homespun linen in France, European shams and kitchen towels in Germany, lace and nightshirts in Italy, and the most beautiful fabrics from Sweden and Hungary. Eric bought an industrial sewing machine and started to design and create gorgeous pillows, bolsters and duvet covers. These unique handmade goods are usually sold at antique fairs far and wide, but now you have the opportunity to buy them at Patine.

Patine, 304 Playa Blvd., La Selva Beach, 661-0950, info@patinedecor.com — www.eurolinens.com and www.patinedecor.com.

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David Brewer – Piper Extraordinaire f you have never seen David Brewer play the bagpipes, then you’re in for a treat. I have experienced many a piper in my lifetime, but Brewer’s performances are always stunning. Brewer is a teacher, outstanding musician and multi-talented performer – playing an assortment of different instruments. Brewer performs regularly at St. Andrew Church in Aptos,

ACROSS 1. Presumptuously daring 6. He has final say at the plate 9. Where to get pampered, pl.

13. Scoundrel 14. Needlefish 15. Diver's lung 16. Independent African ruler 17. Big Island necklace 18. Type of paint 19. *Deposed despot 21. *Atlantis was the last one 23. Right-angle building extension

24. Another spelling for 57. *They were super 61. *Royal beau #16 Across 65. Autumn color 25. ___ Bon Jovi 66. Witness 28. Like Jekyll and Hyde's personality 68. Polynesian kingdom 69. Like a new car 30. *Arab ______ 35. Stratfor-upon-____, 70. Employ Shakespeare's birth- 71. Homework assignment place 37. "The Man Who ____ 72. *Pitched at Occupy Wall Street Too Much" 39. Become established 73. 6th sense?

74. Reminiscent of the 40. Holy Father past 41. It cuts edge of yard 43. ____ Verde National DOWN Park 44. A rooster to farmers? 1. Big talk 2. "Rome" in Italy 46. Ready and eager 3. Matured, as in wine 47. Eurasian duck 48. Scandinavian, e.g. 4. Like Elvis's famous shoes 50. It can be wringed?

52. Greed or sloth, e.g. 5. Official messenger of news 53. Diamonds or hearts, 6. Tangerine/grapefruit e.g. hybrid 55. Nervous twitching

36. Smart but awkward 7. Legendary West 8. Rainbow-producing 38. "The Way We ____" 42. Straight muscles device 45. It loves company 9. Jazz singing 10. Stroke on a green 49. Mixed breed puppy 11. Cain's unfortunate 51. Out of ______ 54. October's "Time," e.g. brother 12. Original home of the 56. Bring to an end 57. Well-mannered Saxons Emily 15. Eats noisily 58. Heart feeling 20. Stroke of luck 59. Body part that can 22. Her counterpart double 24. Graceful or refined 25. *Site of nuclear dis- 60. Superman's last name aster 61. "Read'em and ____" 26. Convex molding 27. With no face value 62. In or of the present month 29. *Retired from "60 63. Petri dish gel Minutes" 31. Roentgen Equivalent 64. ____ Clinic 67. Female suffix Man, pl.

32. Particulars 33. One born to © Statepoint Media Japanese immigrants Answers on 31 » 34. Chewed on

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / January 1st 2012 / 27

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Announcements

The I-You Venture

he I-You Venture needs volunteers of all ages with various talents and interests to share some time with our care facility neighbors living in residential care homes, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.

For more information, call (831) 459-8917 or ext. 205

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Become a CASA Advocate

or a child who has been neglected or abused, the world is a lonely place. In santa cruz county there are more than 250 kids living in foster care because they have suffered severe abuse or neglect at home. You can be a friend, mentor, and a powerful voice in court for a child in foster care. Join more than 1,000 members of our community who have been trained to serve children in foster care and as sworn officials of the court.

Becoming a Court Appointed Security Advocate means volunteering 3-5 hours a week.

For more information, call CASA at (831) 761-2956 today and find out how you can help.

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Survivors Healing Center

urvivors healing center is a place where people victimized by sexual abuse can heal.

The goal of this center is to prevent the sexual abuse of children and youth in our community. SHC is forming new ongoing twelve-week, closed intensive therapy groups for men and women who are survivors of sexual abuse.

Call (831)423-7601 to register

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Al-Anon

re you bothered by someone else’s drinking?

Al-Anon is a 12-Step program for family and friends of alcoholics. There are meetings every day of the week and there are no dues or fees.

For a meeting near you call 831-462-1818 or visit www.ncwsa.org/d23. Everyone is welcome.

Ongoing Events First Mondays of the Month

Lecture Series on "Great Decisions"

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7:00pm-8:30 pm, Episcopal Church of St. John, 125 Canterbury Dr. in Aptos ectures will be lead by Dr. Laina FarhatHolzman, sponsored by Santa Cruz Beach, American Association of University Women.

For more information, call (831) 688-0541

Second and Fourth Mondays First and Third Wednesdays

Alzheimers Support Groups

Monday: 2:00 - 3:30pm Wednesday: 5:30 – 7:00pm Conference Room at Elena Baskin/Live Oak Senior Center, 1777-A Capitola Rd, Santa Cruz acilitated by Jill Ginghofer, this group is for caregivers and family members of people with Alzheimers.

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Tuesdays

Ocean Gate Zendo

7 p.m., 920 41st Ave., Suite B, Santa Cruz. (next to Family Cycling Center) lease join us on Tues. nights at 7pm beginning with a 30 min. meditation, followed by a Dharma talk. Tea & cookies served after the talk, during a discussion/question period.

Visit oceangatezen.org for more info.

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Drop in Grief Support

6:00pm at Aegis, 125 Heather Terrace, Aptos oin other adults who are grieving the death of a friend or family member. Learn helpful tools for coping: Share stories and receive support from people who care.

No registration required, please call (831) 430-3000 for information.

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Women Care Drop in Cancer Support

rop in Support Group is a gathering for women with all types of cancer. We offer support for women through all stages from diagnoses through treatment.

For more information or to register call (831) 457-2273

Tuesdays thru Fridays, Sundays

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Svaroopa® Yoga Instruction at Aptos Yoga

Aptos Yoga, 783 Rio Del Mar Blvd. Ste.23B, Aptos. 831-688-1019 varoopa® Yoga is very different from what most of us think of as yoga. With the support of blankets, beginning students relax into easy poses designed to release the deepest tensions in the body along the spine. This release deeply relaxes the body, quiets the mind, reduces pain, accelerates injury recovery, and promotes better overall health. Classes five days each week. First Class free.

For more information, call 688-1019 www.aptosyoga.org

First Tuesdays of the month

Tail Wagging World of Dog Ownership

6:30pm at the Santa Cruz SPCA, 2685 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz (cross street is Soquel Ave.). his free, drop-in group will coach you in training your newly adopted dog and helping you overcome some of their challenging behaviors and common problems. These sessions are for people, so please leave your dogs at home.

Space is limited. Please call to reserve your spot at (831) 475-1580

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First Tuesdays and Third Wednesdays each month

Orientations to Become Advocates for Children

North County, 5:30-7p.m., first Tuesday of month (for location details contact Danielle at 761-2956 X102) South County, 5:30-7 p.m., third Wednesday of the month at the CASA Office, 294 Green Valley Rd. Suite 326, Watsonville.

ASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Santa Cruz County needs your help.

Volunteer 3-5 hours per week to provide support, guidance, and a powerful voice in court for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.

Everyone welcome, men and bilingual folks especially encouraged.

To RSVP call 761-2956 Ext. 102, or email Danielle@casaofsantacruz.org

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Wednesdays

Cooking Course on Cancer Prevention and Survival

January 25-February 15, 6:00pm-8:00pm, New Leaf Community Markets, 1101 Fair Ave. Santa Cruz hysicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is sponsoring a 4-week course

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28 / January 1st 2012 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

entitled “Food for Life: The Power of Food for Cancer Prevention and Survival.” Learn how proper diet can help prevent and survive cancer. Topics: how foods fight cancer; beneficial low-fat, high-fiber foods; dairy and meat alternatives; cancer-fighting compounds; and healthy weight control. $95 To register, visit www.cancerproject.org/ classes, call 831-325-381l, or email simplynutritious@gmail.com

Aptos Toastmasters

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Noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Rio Sands Motel, 116 Aptos Beach Drive, Aptos. f you have trouble or fear of public speaking, this is a perfect opportunity for you to get over your fears!

Call 970-2229 for more information.

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Lectures on Western Civilization

1:30pm-2:30pm, Monterey Peninsula College xciting lectures will cover fascinating topics such as "The Art of Alchemy," as well as "Lord Byron: Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know." Purchase free parking tickets at the college, lectures are free.

RR Toastmasters meetings

12:00pm at St. Philip Episcopal Church, 5271 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley. ear of public speaking is the #1 fear in America. Since public speaking fears are so common, realize the tremendous power of influence that you will hold when you master speaking skills. Come and find out how you can lose your fears and realize your full potential at Redwood Ramblers Toastmasters Club.

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Coastal Professionals

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8:00am to 9:30am at Aptos History Museum, Old Dominion Court, Aptos. earn tips and make connections. Local professionals meet weekly to focus on business building and collaboration. Interested business owners, independent professionals and guests welcome.

For more information: 621-1153, www.CoastalProfessionals.net

Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay ADHD Support Group Meetings

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6:30pm-8:00pm at Mar Vista Elementary School on Soquel Dr. or more information, contact Jude Brenis at jbrenis@sbcglobal.net or call (831) 684-0590

First Wednesday of the Month

Child Welfare Review

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6:00pm- 9:00pm 1400 Emeline Avenue room 206, Santa Cruz. he orientation is designed to review the child welfare system and to give you a chance to have your question answered by child welfare staff.

To register to one of the meeting and for directions, please call 454-4024.

Fourth Wednesday each Month

Ongoing Constitution Classes

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7:00 pm Quaker Meeting House, 225 Rooney St. Santa Cruz iew video lessons of an in-depth teaching about our Constitution, one of the most respected and copied documents in our nations history.

For more information, visit www.meetup.com/santacruz-freedom-forum or email scfreedomforum@gmail.com

Thursdays

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Capitola-Aptos Rotary Club Meeting

12-1:30 p.m. at Seascape Golf Course. ontact Doug at 831- 724-9192 or e-mail dnakashima@razzolink.com for more information.

City Council Member Stephanie Harlan to hold Office Hours in Capitola Mall

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1:00pm-4:00pm Capitola Mall ouncil Member Harlan will meet with residents and persons interested in discussing City issues at Capitola Mall. She looks forward to meeting with her constituents and encourages Capitola residents to stop by and meet with her.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (831) 475-7184

flowers, local honey, fresh eggs, fresh fish, artisan baked goods and gourmet foods. In addition, family activities, music, cooking demos by professional chefs, gardening workshops, seasonal fairs and events are a part of the market.

Scotts Valley Farmer’s Market

9a.m.-1p.m. SV Community Center, 360 Kings Village Drive www.santacruzfarmersmarket.org

Sundays

Main Beach Volleyball Club Blenders Program 9:30am - 11:30 am Cabrillo College Gym 5-6th grade coed, 7-8th grade girls.

Contact Jan Furman at 831-345-1441

Dated Events

Thursdays, Jan 5, 12, 19

Learn to Meditate with Ease

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7 – 8:30 pm, Aptos Yoga, 783 Rio Del Mar Blvd, Ste 23B, Aptos. ain powerful, effective tools to quiet your mind and help you settle into deep and easy meditation from the beginning. Includes discussion on meditation and yoga philosophy. 3-part class. $75. 25% discount if you also register for Core Opening series.

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Core Opening Svaroopa® Yoga Series

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4:30 – 6 pm, Aptos Yoga, 783 Rio Del Mar Blvd, Ste 23B, Aptos. 688-1019, ore opening” is spinal decompression that relieves pressure on organs and glands so everything functions better. Enjoy stress relief and relaxation. $45, 25% discount if you also register for Learn to Meditate.

For more information and registration, email chudala@aptosyoga.org or call 688-1019. www.aptosyoga.org

Second and Fourth Thursdays of the month

Cabrillo Host Lions

7:30pm at the Cabrillo Community Center, Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Rd. ublic is invited to all programs. Contact President Paul Henry 831-688-31 or Past President Barbara Chamberlain at 831-688-3356.

For meeting/dinner reservations or information or visit www.cabrillohostlions.org.

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Fridays

Clutterers Anonymous

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5:30-6:45 Sutter Maternity & Surgical Center, 2900 Chanticleer Ave, Soquel Dr. Santa Cruz. ired of Clutter? Stuff piling up? Support is available. CLA meeting every Friday.

For more info call 426-1868 FREE

Saturdays

Come As You Are Zen

9-10:30 am, Ocean Gate Zendo, 920 41st Ave. Suite B, Santa Cruz (next to Family Cycling Center) ome as you are Zen focuses on Buddhist practices that enhance our daily lives.

This will be an informal talk with time for discussion. Free - donation accepted.

Visit oceangatezen.org for more info.

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Aptos Certified Farmers Market

8:00 -12:00pm at Cabrillo College, Aptos. he Aptos Market, with over 80 vendors, is open year round, with the best selections of fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, seedlings,

Saturday December 31 New Year's Eve All Ages Dance Party

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8:00pm-1:00am, 418 Project, 418 Front St. Santa Cruz n uplifting, family-friendly evening featuring four great musical acts to raise our spirits and dance in the New Year. Featuring headliner Love Eternal, a six-piece Roots Reggae and Rock band, Mystic Truebudoors, who play World and New Age Fusion that nourishes the spirit, plus singer-songwriters Ashley Love and Marya Stark. $7, for more information visit www.loveeternal.org

Saturday, January 7 Free Intro to Svaroopa® Yoga

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9am - 10:30am. Aptos Yoga, 783 Rio Del Mar Blvd, Ste 23B, Aptos. xperience how Svaroopa® Yoga works in your body at an introductory class – free with no obligations. Supported by blankets, you’ll relax into poses that release deep tensions in your spine. This unique form of yoga quiets your mind, reduces pain, accelerates injury recovery, and promotes a healthier you.

To register call 688-1019 or email chudala@aptosyoga.org. www.aptosyoga.org.

Thursday January 19 Open House at the Aptos Academy

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6:00pm- 8:00pm, The Aptos Academy, 1940 Bonita Dr. Aptos he Aptos Academy invites you to an evening Open House. Join us at our beautiful five-acre campus to learn how PreK- 8th grade students are inspired by individualized, arts-enriched academic programs, and daily PE. Meet our friendly, dedicated teachers, and explore the Science Fair in our fully equipped theatre. The Aptos Academy is an affordable, WASC-accredited, non-denominational, non-profit school.

For more information, call (831) 688-1080 or visit www.aptosacademy.org.

Tuesday January 24 Sons In Retirement(SIR) Luncheon Meeting

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11:30 am at Severino's Bar&Grill, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos. ptos Branch will have monthly meeting.

Speaker will be Louis Arbanas of Pajaro Valley Historical Association on"The Fascinating History of our Pajaro Valley." Sir is an organization for retired men which there is no dues,fees,religious or political agenda.

Call 688-0977 for information. n

Your January Horoscope Annabel Burton • Astrologer ©

Venus is in your sign at the start of the month and this favours your friendships and close relationships. You enjoy the company of others and this could also be the start of something new, if you are single. Meanwhile, you have plans and ideas that you are working on which are still at the drawing board stage. You could be thinking of working for yourself and these ideas could begin to take shape as early as the 21st. The Sun is in your sign form this time onwards, and you are energized and empowered to make the changes you wish. Push yourself a little harder and believe in yourself.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb. 18)

Announcements

Friends, organizations and clubs are favoured at the start of the month while the Sun is in Capricorn. Being part of a team or belonging to a group which has a common goal can be a source of satisfaction and importance to you as you seek to make a difference. This is a good time share knowledge and information as well the fun of knowing that others are in the same boat. But after the 14th Venus enters your sign which is even better for relationships for you. This also helps with your priorities as you make simple pleasures an option rather than achieving goals on a list.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

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The 2012 Aptos History Calendar is finally Available!

his calendar, created by Heidi and Dick Garwood of Aptos, features photographs and brief anecdotes describing historical events in mid-county. It also features ads from many local advertisors!

Buy it now at seven Aptos locations as well as the Capitola Book Cafe.

This month brings the possibilities of promising interviews if you are keen to forge ahead with your career. You can be organized and prepared as you look further ahead towards your ideal situation. Make your plans and goals early on but avoid anything that is simply too hard to achieve in the time frame you have set yourself. Mercury, planet of communication is helpful to you from the 8th to the 28th. Better news regarding your finances is welcome but you are somewhat restrained in your spending.

After the 21st, you can be impulsive without worrying so much about the consequences.

Aries (March 21-April 20)

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Ageless Art Project

rtists/Crafts people volunteers Share your talent and make creative expression possible by leading an art group of care facility residents. Become an Ageless Art Project Volunteer.

For information call 459-8917 ext. 208

While the Sun is in your fellow earth sign of Capricorn, life is a lot more harmonious for you. Your focus is on your higher ideals and aspirations and you could be signing up for courses and furthering your knowledge in an area that really interests you. Travel is likely for some and connections with overseas could prove reasonably lucrative both in terms of your emotional well being and your financial status. Your ruler, Venus, is helping with your career options and business relations are good this month. Your best time for creativity is from the 15th onwards.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

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SPECTRA Arts Learning

he Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County is seeking stories and anecdotes from people with current or past experience with SPECTRA Arts Learning. These stories will serve as examples of successes students have found through the Council’s SPECTRA program over the years, and may be used to promote the Council’s Arts Learning Resource Directory. If you are an artist, parent, teacher or student with a story to share about your experience with SPECTRA, you are invited to send a brief narrative to Sonia Deetz at the Cultural Council: sonia@ccscc.org.

Ongoing Events

Mondays and Wednesdays

Mercury, your ruler, whizzes through Capricorn from the 8th. This is your wake up call to clear out your clutter, deal with unfinished business, and prepare the way for new ventures. Expect some intriguing offers but you are going to have to juggle a bit to fit everything in. You can be fairly ruthless when necessary, and you don't allow sentimentality to get in the way, at least sometimes. Travel is good for you this month, and love and romance can begin with someone from overseas.

You come to an interesting conclusion regarding your finances around the 9th.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

Love Eternal

Fridays

Every other Friday

Ballroom Dancing

Shakespeare Club of Santa Cruz

7:00pm at Louden Nelson Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz. earn Salsa Rueda. For more information visit www.salsaruedasantacruz.com or call 831-457-7432

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Tuesdays

First Fridays of each month

Salsa Rueda Class

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BINGO

6:30 p.m. Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, 150 Jewell St. osted by Soquel Sports Foundation. BuyIn $25. Also, we have a special BINGO, celebrating our 2nd anniversary, on Sept. 28 at 6:30. Buy-in only $15. www.soquelsports.com

Tuesdays and Weekends

Live Music on the Esplanade

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Paradise Beach Grille 215 Esplanade, Capitola. ive music weekends and acoustic guitar Tuesdays.

For schedule and more information: (831) 476-4900 Or visit paradisebeachgrille.com

7:30- 11:00pm at Mid-County Senior Center, 829 Bay Ave, Capitola. ive music by The Rainbows. Refreshments, large floor, friendly atmosphere, free parking. All for a donation of $8 per person.

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he First Friday Art Tour is a Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts event, managed in conjunction with the participating art venues. The event takes place year-round and illuminates some of the most talented local artists from local galleries.

To find out where to participate in a First Friday art tour, visit firstfridaysantacruz.com (Most galleries are open 12-9 pm for First Friday viewings.)

First Friday Art Tour

10:30-12:30 pm, First Congregational Church, 900 High St. Santa Cruz, Next: January 13 hakespeare's club is seeking new members to join in the study of his plays.

For more information, visit www.fridayshakespeare.org

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Fourth Friday of each month

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Musical Me Inc. Family Jam Night

6:30-8:30p.m. 239 High St., Santa Cruz. ring your favorite music to dance to and any instruments you'd like to share or perform with. Sliding Scale donation per family of $10-$25 (all proceeds going to our scholarship fund.)

For more information call 831-438-3514.

Fourth Saturdays of each month

Writers and Poets Open Mike

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2:00pm-4:00pm, Porter Memorial Library, 3050 Porter St. Soquel riters and Poets are invited to a new monthly open mike reading series. Come and read your fiction, essays, or poetry.

For more information, call Jean at (831) 475-4221

Wednesdays

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Peninsula Banjo Band

7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Harry’s Hofbrau, 390 Saratoga Ave, San Jose orty-seven years of performing in the Bay Area, over 250 popular tunes. Come see our band for Free in Sunnyvale Every Wednesday. No cover.

Contact Lee McLaughlin, Booking Agent, at 408-993-BAND (2263) for information about booking the band for Non-profit events (donations are tax deductible). www.PeninsulaBanjoBand.org

You may be in a bit of a quandary romantically at the start of the month.

You don't do ultimatums, but you feel something has to give, and a successful conclusion to this state of affairs is nearer than your think. The Full Moon in your sign on the 9th brings a situation to a head and a natural conclusion. The time is right to move onwards and upwards. After the 21st, your attention is on new beginnings in terms of money and/or your love life. You are more passionate and involved as you become creative and engaged in the process of living.

Dated Events Saturday, December 31 New Year's Eve All Ages Dance Party

Peninsula Banjo Band

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8:00pm-1:00am, 418 Project, 418 Front St. Santa Cruz n uplifting, family-friendly evening featuring four great musical acts to raise our spirits and dance in the New Year. Featuring

headliner Love Eternal, a six-piece Roots Reggae and Rock band, Mystic Truebudoors, who play World and New Age Fusion that nourishes the spirit, plus singer-songwriters Ashley Love and Marya Stark. $7, for more information visit www.loveeternal.org

First Night Monterey 2012: A FantaSea

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3:00pm-Midnight, Historic Downtown Monterey community celebration of the arts on New Year's Eve First Night is Monterey's most exciting, imaginative and uplifting cultural event. Our theme for 2012 is "A FantaSea of Art." Explore the website for overview of program, tickets information and sales. Download the complete program guide in December. Plan your night ahead by reviewing program and performers - it's a big night!

For more information, visit firstnightmonterey.org

Saturday January 21 Sunday January 22 Alla Zingarese: A Winter Dance Festival Inspired by European Folk Dances

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Saturday: 8:00pm, Sunday: 3:00pm, Christ Lutheran Church, 10707 Soquel Dr. Aptos eaturing Dvorak's Piano Quintet in A Major and works by Brahms, Bartok, and Kreisler. Director and pianist Ian Scarfe with violinists Roy Malan and Philip Brezina, violinist Polly Malan, and cellest Erin Wang.

Tickets will be available at the door and 1/2 hour before performances, you can also purchase them at santacruztickets.com n

This could be a fabulously romantic time for you as Venus, planet of love, spends a little while in your chart area of relationships. Make the most of future plans together and creating the life you want with your loved one, or be alert to new relationships if you are currently single. There are progressive times ahead for you in your career as your role is expanding. This brings responsibilities but also benefits. After the 21st earlier plans take shape and while you have felt a little stuck now you can expect some significant change for the better.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 23)

Mars in your sign continues to set the pace as you initiate change and improvement in so many areas. This may involve a certain amount of disruption, but it is temporary as the results are well worth it. Since this action planet is in your sign for the next few months (around eight months in total) then you need to be clear and motivated about what needs to happen. It's hard to take a back seat and go with the flow, but you can move mountains if you want since you have the energy to do so. You are encouraged to work hard, and of course, play hard.

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sep. 22)

Venus is in a helpful position for you until at least mid month. this is the best time for you to be creative and follow your bliss. You have already done your homework and you have high hopes for the New Year. Saturn is set to leave your sign in October, so learn the lessons of your experiences over the last couple of years or so. It is useful to take stock but also know what you don't want. Meanwhile, enjoy a time of socializing, and getting to know people in January. Your love life is picking up to with some interesting liaisons promised.

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 23)

You are seeking out knowledge and perhaps reading and discussing new ideas. You are after something a little elusive which may simply be about happiness. Since your values may be changing what once seemed important is now less so, as the simple and uncomplicated life beckons. This is the perfect time to eliminate what isn't strictly necessary which will be good for your bank balance too. You have been learning about the importance of spirituality as a foundation to peace of mind, but in your own way.

After the 21st, your home life is a source of much pleasure and satisfaction.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

While it is natural at the start of the year to review the last and think about what you want for the New Year, it is also important to acknowledge what you already have going for you. So often it is about going on to the ext stage, and ticking off the list of what has to be done. Give yourself a break and appreciate who you are and what your values are.

The Sun in Capricorn can bring things down to earth and how you measure your success in terms of money and finance. There is still a theme of getting the balance right with home and work but you make some massive breakthroughs this month.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Since the Sun is in your sign now until the 21st, it is as if everyone else is on the same wavelength as you and you find that it's easy to say ' I told you so' . Your good sense and perfect timing have proved right and this continues to help you make the right decisions and choices, especially about what it is that you want to pursue over the next few months. Write a list if necessary, not so much about resolutions that are too fixed but 'what if's'. You make the ordinary quite special and this is your gift. Consider it more.

••• Find Out More www.AnnabelBurton.tv

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / January 1st 2012 / 29

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Will School Bonds Solve PVUSD Funding Problems?

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Bryan Godbe of Godbe Research said their poll showed that at least twothirds of voters would look favorably on a bond making passage seem possible.

According to McFadden, even though the ballot measure talks only generally about the bond, the actual legislation passed is very specific about what capital improvements will be made and that by law, bond money cannot be spent for employee salaries or benefits. There will be an independent finance committee to oversee the use of bond funds. Such funds must ordinarily be spent within the first ten years after passage.

Because of the fast pace of technological change, McFadden said that part of the money could be held aside in a “Technology Endowment” so that future improvements could be funded.

The major reason that districts throughout the state are resorting to bond issues and parcel taxes to help fund education, is that; 1.) The state of California has failed to adequately fund education and 2.) In many cases, school districts are broke because they have not been good stewards of the taxpayers’ money in part because of the number of school administrators, their salaries and benefits The questions facing the electorate in voting on a school bond: 1. Are voters willing to tax themselves even more for education in this weak economy on top of the tax burden they already bear to fund their local, state, and national governments?

2. Do voters trust the administrators and trustees of PVUSD to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ $200 million dollars? n

any of the Pajaro Valley District Schools were originally built before 1970. That means that a lot of of their parts such as roofs, windows, plumbing and heating systems are reaching the end of their design life or are too inefficient to meet current standards. These schools are also missing much of the infrastructure, design improvements and amenities we have come to expect in our public schools.

For example, at Aptos Junior High students eat outside in good weather and in the gym during cold or wet weather. The school needs a new cafeteria/multi-purpose room to bring it up-to-date.

Many district schools also need technological infrastructure improvements so that they can use 21st century instructional technology. By taking advantage of smart boards, the highspeed Internet and cloud computing technology, tablet computers could replace textbooks, and student’s homework could be posted to the teacher’s Email for grading.

Many of these technology improvements have already been made in some district schools. There are federal and state funds available to some schools in the district for these improvements because a majority of their students qualify for free and reduced cost lunches. Schools such as Aptos Junior High and Aptos High have fallen far behind the rest of the district’s schools in the technology provided by the district because not enough of their students qualify for free meals.

Another area the district wants to improve is in using less energy. The claim is that with solar power and greater energy efficiencies they could lower overhead and protect teacher and staff salaries.

What is the solution? A $200 million dollar bond Issue!

Brett McFadden, the PVUSD Chief Business Officer, sees that a bond issue could even the playing field by giving the district enough funds to provide the brick & mortar and the technological improvements needed for district schools. “This would provide greater equity by upgrading all facilities.”

The district also claims that passing a bond would allow the district to qualify for state matching funds and that with no “shovel ready” projects they are currently missing out on funding available from the state and federal governments.

Still on your tax bill for the next 22 years – if you live in the district – is a $60 million bond issue, Measure J, passed in 2002 by PVUSD voters which is costing property owners approximately $28 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.

The soon-to-be proposed 30-year bond issue would be between $160 million and $200 million dollars and would amount to about $50 - $60 per $100,000 of assessed valuation for property owners in the PVUSD. Something to remember about bonds is that 30-year bonds sold for $200 million dollars must be bought back by the taxpayer (depending on interest rates) for more than $300 million dollars!

McFadden said he is developing a school-by-school budget for facility and infrastructure improvements to be included in a proposal for the board’s consideration in February. That is when the board will decide whether to put the bond measure before voters in June or wait until November.

School bonds require a 55 percent majority to pass. Consultants Jared Boigan of TBWB Strategies and

“Briefs” from pg 16

is a nonprofit community-based organization dedicated to the protection, restoration and appreciation of the wetlands of Pajaro Valley. For more information, visit our website at www.watsonvillewetlandswatch.org.

Please contact the Volunteer There is a need for bilingual (Spanish/English) docents, but being Coordinator, Kathy Fieberling, at 831-3451226 or email kathyfieb@yahoo.com for bilingual is not requirement.

The Watsonville Wetlands Watch details and to enroll. n

New docents will be prepared to assist with field trips and lead walks.

Docents also have the opportunity to help with community events, work in the library or greenhouse at the Fitz Wetlands Education Resource Center, work on special projects, and participate in wetlands restoration.

:

SPCA Featured Pet

F

or Feather, Pixie and Jheri Curl, life has not been particularly kind to them. These three American Hairless Terriers females were recently surrendered to the shelter from a breeder who needed to downsize her load of nearly 30 dogs. They had been de-barked and were used to a strict schedule of crating and every other day feedings. When they arrived at the Santa Cruz SPCA Feather, Pixie and Jheri Curl were in a fearful daze having only each other for comfort. Within a day, these three hairless sweethearts were making themselves at home in our warm office and giving kisses and cuddles.

Once the initial shock of being uprooted had passed, their true colors began to show bright and warm! These girls absolutely ADORE affection and are proving themselves top rate lap dogs.

When invited, each girl will climb into your arms, give a few kisses and sit contently for however long you will let them.

Yes, they may look and feel a bit different but they have the loyal and loving hearts of a dog WITH fur. Their spotted skin is smooth, warm and soft, resembling a human baby! They are completely paper-trained which would make apartment or city living a cinch. Although they are a “terrier” breed, these three have relatively low energy and don’t need a ton in the way of exercise. Even though they are debarked, these girls still have a soft voice that can be heard and will use it when they feel something is threatening their home. They get along well with other small dogs as well as cats but we would not recommend they go to a home with small children.

The American Hairless Terrier is a relatively new breed and is a Rat Terrier with no hair, weighting around 10-12 pounds. Fortunately, they don’t have all the health issues common in other hairless breeds and are completely hypoallergenic. Because of their lack of fur, they are prone to sunburns and get cold very easy so it’s important that they be indoor dogs that wear sweaters or shirts when outdoors.

If you are looking for an intelligent, alert, loving, affectionate and loyal lap companion who won’t shed or get fleas and will make a perfect watchdog than we highly recommend you come and meet Feather, Pixie, and Jheri-Curl today!

Our adoption package for dogs and cats includes spay/neuter, vaccinations, micro-chipping, an ID tag, collar, a free health exam with a licensed Veterinarian, one month’s free health insurance, discounted crate purchase and other animal care materials.

If you would like to help orphaned animals like Feather, Pixie and Jheri-Curl, please consider donating to the Santa Cruz SPCA. The Santa Cruz SPCA is a 501c3 charitable organization and receives no government funding, relying solely on public donations to run its many programs that benefit the animals and people of our community.

For more information call the Santa Cruz SPCA at 465-5000, or visit www.santacruzspca.org. The SPCA is located at 2685 Chanticleer Avenue in Santa Cruz, CA 95065 and is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 p.m. n

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Homeless, Hairless and Voiceless

2011 in Review © Statepoint Media

FeaturedColumnist

Recession Proofing Your Pet

L

ike all veterinarians, and now more than ever, I face the daily challenge of balancing a patient’s health care needs with their owner’s checkbook.

Many people ask how they can reduce their pet’s health care costs. Actually it’s no secret, a penny of prevention is worth a buck of cure. Preventative care won’t just save you money. It may save your pet from painful or even life threatening problems.

Here are 5 tips to help keep the green in your pocket: 1) Feed high quality food and provide plenty of exercise to maintain ideal weight.

Approximately half of my patients’ health problems can be attributed to improper diet or obesity. Ear infections, skin diseases, arthritis and vomiting are just a few. Don’t feed table scraps and avoid too many treats, which quickly add up in calories. I recommend grain-free foods for dogs and cats. One hundred percent canned food is best for cats.

2) Brush your pet’s teeth. Brushing can be done!

Search YouTube for a plethora of video proof that may inspire you. Your pet’s teeth are almost identical to yours.

W h a t would y o u r teeth l o o k like if y o u didn’t brush t h e m for 5 years?

Dental disease not only causes your furry friend’s breath to offend your guests, it can take a toll on their internal organs. Untreated dental disease will lead to the need for costly extractions. Brushing won’t help, and may hurt, if your pet already has advanced dental disease so check with your veterinarian before beginning a home care program. The website http://www.vohc.org/ is a reliable reference for proven home care products to augment brushing.

Pet Potpourri

By River May, D.V.M.

3) Buy health insurance for your pet.

Consider the likely possibility that your pet will get sick or injured in their lifetime. How you would pay their care? Pet owners and veterinarians are often faced with extremely difficult decisions when financial resources aren’t sufficient to provide ideal care for our four legged family members.

Insurance can often make the difference between healing and heartache in these circumstances.

Many pet insurance companies offer a variety of plans. Illness and injury coverage is essential but you can also purchase plans that cover wellness care. Read the fine print closely regarding what is and what is not covered (i.e. many exclude coverage for problems associated with specific breeds) and whether or not there is a waiting period before coverage starts.

4) Use regular flea control.

Many of my patients develop serious skin disease because of flea allergies. Don’t let the thought of giving regular flea medications deter you. There are wonderful new products that are less toxic and easier to administer than ever. Avoid purchasing from Internet pharmacies, which are often tainted with counterfeit products. Most veterinary hospitals have online stores, which will be set to meet or beat Internet pharmacies prices with the same quality assurance of in clinic products.

5) Watch for and ask about specials on common products and routine services.

Some typical discounted items are vaccines, flea control, dental care (February is National Pet Dental Health Month) and kitten/puppy packages. Don’t forget to ask about senior, military, disabled, service dog, and rescue discounts if these criteria apply to you or your pet.

If everyone followed these tips, I’d have a lot less work to do. I like to think I’m doing the best I can for as many animals and clients as possible though so I’m willing to take a chance. Here’s to your pet’s health! n ••• Capitola Veterinary Hospital, 1220 41st Avenue, Capitola CA 95010. To Contact River May, DVM Email Capvet1@gmail.com

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / January 1st 2012 / 31