Capitola Soquel Times: May 2025

Auto History Comes to Capitola

18th Annual Car Show Takes Place June 18 on the Esplanade

By Esther Sylvan

Capitola Village is set to come alive on Saturday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as it hosts the 18th Annual Capitola Rod and Classic Custom Car Show.

This beloved event showcases a dazzling collection of classic cars, offering attendees a glimpse into automotive history—from powerful muscle cars to sophisticated roadsters.

The Car Show is presented by the Capitola Public Safety

and Community Foundation, a dedicated group of local volunteers who sponsor and fund programs and initiatives to improve Santa Cruz County and Capitola public safety and community services.

The day’s excitement kicks off at 8:30 a.m. when participants will enjoy a police escort as they drive in procession from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, along the beautiful coastal route to Capitola Village. ... continues on page 4

City Code: Rail Corridor & Trestle

Chapter 8.72

It is the purpose of this chapter to improve safety and reduce traffic by keeping the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail in the Santa Cruz Branch Line Rail Corridor within the city of Capitola while protecting the Capitola Trestle. Full Story page 4 Federal Student Loans: Time to Resume Payments Full Story page 10

Camp New Brighton

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp New Brighton was established in Capitola in 1934.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the CCC with an executive order on April 5, 1933, as a relief program during the Great Depression.

Full Story page 13

contributing writers

Esther Sylvan, Jondi Gumz, Lynne Petrovic, Rebecca Levy, Teresa Hidalgo Dance, Deborah Osterberg, Risa D’Angeles, Joe Clarke, Joe Ortiz, Erin Brockovich, Christopher Elliott, Rebecca Gold Rubin, Scott J. Turnbull

COMMUNITY NEWS

City Code: Rail Corridor & Trestle

Editor’s note: This is the Capitola municipal code voters passed as Measure L in 2018.

Chapter 8.72

It is the purpose of this chapter to improve safety and reduce traffic by keeping the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail in the Santa Cruz Branch Line Rail Corridor within the city of Capitola while protecting the Capitola Trestle.

Findings:

A. New Public Asset. In 2012, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) acquired the Corridor from Union Pacific. The Corridor includes the historic Trestle.

For the first time, the Corridor and Trestle have the potential to be accessible for bike and pedestrian use. The SCCRTC is planning bike and pedestrian use along the majority of the Corridor.

B. Trestle Detour. The SCCRTC has proposed making the Trestle off-limits to pedestrians, bikes, electric bikes, and skate-

COVER STORY

“Esplanade Car Show” from page 1

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Set against Capitola’s picturesque seaside backdrop, visitors will have the opportunity to marvel at impeccably restored vehicles, engage with car owners, and explore the area’s lively shops and eateries. This event caters to everyone—whether you’re an avid collector, a casual car enthusiast, or simply seeking a delightful day by the ocean, the Capitola Car Show promises to provide a memorable experience.

Recognized as one of the top ten car shows in California, this annual gathering has garnered praise from both participants and attendees alike.

boarders, detouring pedestrian and bike traffic from the Corridor onto bike lanes and sidewalks in the local Capitola street network and across the Stockton Avenue Bridge.

C. Accessibility. A detour from the Trestle through Capitola Village would require an approximately 200-foot grade change on both ends of the Trail. Keeping the Trail on the Trestle provides a flat path across Capitola, which increases accessibility for people of all ages and abilities.

D. Skateboarding for Transportation. A detour would enter Capitola’s “no skateboarding zone,” inhibiting skateboarding for transportation to New Brighton Middle School and the McGregor Pump Track and Skateboard Park. In contrast, a trail that crosses the Trestle would provide safe access to both locations.

E. Traffic and Safety. Capitola Village streets are often congested, preventing residents and visitors from getting from one side of Capitola to the other quickly and safely.

Increasing pass-through bicycle and pedestrian traffic would exacerbate the existing problem.

F. Safe Routes to School. It is the stated goal of Santa Cruz County, California, Transportation Sales Tax Measure D (November 2016) to “provide safe routes to schools.” Walking and biking via the Trestle will provide safe access to New Brighton Middle School. A detour that navigates a significant grade change on narrow, busy streets will not.

G. Stated Preference. 82% of residents who provided input regarding the Corridor in Vision Capitola 2016 supported using the Corridor for active transportation and recreation rather than a train.

H. Efficient Route. Keeping the Trail in the Corridor as it crosses the Trestle will provide a direct pathway from one side of Capitola to the other.

I. Tourism. The ability to actively use the Trestle will support the local economy by attracting tourists with a safe new way to experience breathtaking views.

“As a longtime resident of Capitola, I’ve always cherished the car show,” said Kurt Langhoff, president of the Capitola Foundation. “I’m a ‘car guy’ at heart, and the stunning beauty of these classic cars reminds me of my youth. It’s a wonderful family event that highlights American automotive excellence from the ‘30s to the ‘70s. It’s truly special to connect with the owners and share this slice of Americana.”

Tom and JoAnn Martindale, members of the Antique Auto Club, shared their fondness for the event, stating, “We have spent over 50 years attending car shows and Concours events across the country, and the Capitola show stands out as one of the

best. The combination of the village, beach, high-quality cars, dedicated volunteers, and enthusiastic crowds make for a truly enjoyable day.”

Don’t miss out on this celebration of automotive artistry. Mark your calendar and join us for a day of fun, nostalgia, and community spirit at the Capitola Rod and Classic Custom Car Show! n

If you’re interested in participating in the show, vehicle registration is still available at https:// capitolafoundation.com/vehicle-registration.

COVER PHOTO: Winner of the 2024 Capitola Rod and Classic Custom Car Show.

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J. Healthy Community and Sustainable Transportation. Bicycling and walking are by far the healthiest, most sustainable forms of transportation. Building a safer Trail will encourage more people to choose these options.

Implementation:

A. The city of Capitola, through its constituent departments, shall take all steps necessary to preserve and utilize the Corridor and Trestle for active transportation and recreation.

B. No city of Capitola department, agency or employee shall expend any funds or resources related to the construction, reconstruction, operation, maintenance, financing, marketing, or signage for a detour of the Trail onto Capitola streets or sidewalks.

Changes:

This chapter shall not be amended or repealed except by vote of the people.

Effect of Adoption:

Adoption of this chapter by the people shall not be construed as amending or rescinding any provisions of the general plan, local coastal program or zoning ordinances, but rather shall be construed and harmonized in a manner to strengthen and define such provisions. n

Council Upholds Measure L: No Detour of Rail Trail to Park Ave.

By Jondi Gumz

On April 17, Capitola residents wearing blue circle stickers turned out in force at City Hall to overflow to see how the City Council would vote on the biggest issue facing the community.

Would they see, as city staff did, that Measure L passed by voters in 2018 protecting the historic (1874) rail trestle for active transportation and recreation had multiple interpretations and could allow detouring the planned Rail Trail onto Park Avenue to lower costs?

Not a seat was empty as people wearing t-shirts with Santa Cruz County Friends of Rail and Trail logo advocating for pursuing their vision of trail and rail transit which is not fully funded.

Would they sympathize with the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, which bought the 32-mile rail corridor and in 2012 with an $11 million state grant for rail projects and now is told retrofitting the bridges on the corridor could cost close to $1 billion.

Treat Your Body right

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Rob Tidmore is the planner on a mission to build this trail for the RTC.

So far, segments have been built in Santa Cruz at higher than expected costs, leaving an $18 million shortfall, prompting a look at strategies to whittle down the estimates.

The MidCounty stretches are especially problematic where 44 homeowners at Castle Mobile Estates in Capitola and Blue and Gold Mobile Home Park in Live Oak have been told they need to move out of the “encroachment” area by June 2025 — which would cost thousands of dollars.

“Measure L” page 7

10% of profits go back to the community

Photo Credit: Cheryl Ban

Historic Trestle in Capitola Village

Good Time to Visit Capitola Wharf

By Joe Clarke, Mayor, City of Capitola

Summer is approaching in Capitola, with it comes energy and growth.

As we look forward to longer days and the return of many beloved seasonal traditions, I’d like to take a moment to share some exciting updates and celebrate the incredible work being done across our beautiful city.

Capitola Lifeguard Service

The City of Capitola is proud to spotlight our exceptional Lifeguard Service — an integral part of our coastal community. These men and women are not only highly trained professionals but also dedicated public servants committed to ensuring the safety of everyone who visits our beach.

Becoming a Capitola Lifeguard is no easy task. Each candidate undergoes a rigorous selection process that includes interviews, a 500-meter open ocean swim completed in under ten minutes, and a 200-meter run in under two minutes.

Successful candidates then complete intensive training that covers first aid, CPR, open water rescue, and emergency medical procedures. They also receive recurrent training in alignment with California State

Title 22 and Santa Cruz County EMISA protocols.

Our Lifeguards are more than just watchful eyes from the towers — they perform water rescues, administer emergency medical aid, assist with lost persons, and offer public education on safety and beach regulations. Operating year-round and staffed primarily between Memorial Day and Labor Day, this team is a critical part of our city’s commitment to public safety and service excellence.

Rebirth of Capitola Wharf

This summer marks the first since the reopening of the Capitola Wharf.

After the devastating winter storms of 2023 left our historic wharf badly damaged, it has undergone a remarkable $8 million reconstruction — made possible through a combination of public funding, over $425,000 in community contributions, $3.5 million in Federal aid from Congressman Jimmy Panetta, and an additional $500k from State Senator John Laird.

SPRING GARDEN SALE & CRAFT FAIR

Saturday, May 10 • 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Artisans: Lavender Products, MCSC Gift Shop

Items, Ceramics, Candles, Crochet Gifts “Upcycle Tins”, Driftwood, Succulents and Much More!

From the Garden: Fresh Bouquets, Spring Starts, Organic Veggies, Irises

Just for Fun: Art for Kids, Tour the Garden BBQ & Snacks Available for Sale

This outpouring of support speaks volumes about the love our community has for this cherished landmark.

Today, the Wharf stands not only restored but reimagined. With a widened pier, new decking and railings, upgraded lighting, and modern amenities like ADAcompliant viewing stations and accessible public restrooms, the Wharf now offers a safe and welcoming space for all to enjoy.

Capitola Boat and Bait has returned as well, offering rentals and fishing supplies for visitors eager to get out on the water.

More than a place to fish or take in the views, the Wharf has evolved into a vibrant gathering space. Events featuring live music, local food, and more are already in the works — transforming this scenic boardwalk into a true community hub.

With seating areas, picnic tables, public art installations, and even a color-blind accessible viewing station, the new Wharf is an inclusive and inspiring place for locals and tourists alike. I encourage everyone to plan a visit soon and take in the sweeping views of Monterey Bay — you may even spot a sea otter or two!

Sip & Stroll

Mark your calendars for one of Capitola Village’s most popular events — the Sip & Stroll — returning Saturday, May 10. Hosted by the Capitola Business Improvement Association, this lively event brings together around 30 Village shops and a variety of local wineries for a unique shopping and tasting experience.

Ticket holders will receive a commemorative Sip & Stroll glass, 12 tasting tickets, and a map to help you navigate the participating boutiques and wine stations. It’s a wonderful way to support our local businesses, discover new favorites, and enjoy a relaxing day in the heart of the Village. Check-in begins at 11 am at the Capitola Community Room, right next to City Hall and the Police Department. Visit www.capitolavillage.com for more information and to purchase your tickets in advance.

Capitola continues to thrive thanks to the hard work, generosity, and community spirit of our residents, volunteers, and City staff. From lifeguards on the beach to business owners in the Village, and from public servants to passionate volunteers — we are truly a city powered by people.

As we move through spring and into the busy summer season, I invite you to take part in all that Capitola has to offer. Whether you’re enjoying a sunny day at the beach, exploring the new Wharf, or sipping wine while supporting local businesses, there’s no better time to enjoy life in our special corner of the California coast. n

Joe Clarke is mayor of Capitola. Contact him at jclarke@ci.capitola.ca.us

“Measure L” from page 5

Matt Arthur, owner of Capitola Beach Co., said, “The trail needs to stay on the rail corridor.”

Capitola resident Chris Amsden, who attended with his daughter Alexis, said “Don’t sacrifice our safety for the RTC.”

TJ Welch, who served on the Capitola Planning Commission, noted private fundraising supported the Capitola Wharf rebuild and added, “We can help the RTC get that trail in the corridor.”

Santa Cruz resident Veronica Elsea, supporting the County Friends of Rail and Trail, said, “We were hoping senior citizens could get out and walk more.”

Former Watsonville mayor Lowell Hurst said, “Biking here is not safe.”

After two hours of public comment on interpreting Measure L as codified, City Attorney Samantha Zutler said, “ I do think the council should enforce 8.72 — or challenge it. There’s no indication council is prepared to challenge measure L.”

Council member Melinda Orbach seconded his motion and said, “I was not aware of Measure L in 2018.”

She added, “We are here to stand behind the community. We passed an ordinance protecting the Trestle when we don’t own the Trestle, a lot of other things we don’t have control over … We are going to disagree but we are going to find solutions together … This multi-use safe trail we all want.”

She felt a trail to Park Avenue would be superior, but added, “I believe we need to work together despite our differences.”

Mayor Joe Clarke said, “I’m all in support of Capitola ordinance 8.72.”

Council Comments

None of the current city council members was serving when Measure L was on the ballot.

Council member Gerry Jensen said he had spent 100 hours on this issue last month and received hundreds of emails.

He was surprised to see a 4th interpretation of Measure L at the meeting that was on in the agenda posted the previous Friday.

“I urge you to remember your oath of office … to enforce the laws of Capitola,” he said, making a motion for city manager to follow the municipal code.

Homeowners Associations

If

Property Managers

With council members Margaux Morgan and Alexander Pedersen voting yes, it was unanimous.

That vote made a vote on the Park Avenue route moot.

Morgan said, “We’re trying to work with RTC so we can move a project forward.”

Pedersen said, “I’m in favor of moving forward with a trail in the rail corridor and look at calming measures for Park Avenue for bicyclists.”

He apologized for missing 3 RTC meetings in two years.

Jensen said he had met with Sarah Christensen, executive director of the RTC, and walked the corridor with Rob Tidmore to see the issues.

As for mobile home encroachments, “we need to talk about that now,” he said.

Mayor Clarke said moving the trail to Park Ave is “a violation of measure L,” but added, “I don’t want to blame RTC, we need to work together .” n

Photos Credit: Jondi Gumz

Chris Amsden and daughter Alexis attend the meeting.

Foster Children Advocate Funding Left Out of State Budget

By Lynne Petrovic

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to acknowledge the thousands of children across the country suffering from abuse and neglect. For their own safety, many of these children are removed not only from unsafe caregivers but also from their homes, pets, toys, and everything familiar. Children removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse become wards of the state.

April is also National Volunteer Appreciation Month, making it a perfect time to recognize a crucial person in a foster child’s life—the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, who is appointed to represent the child’s best interests.

At CASA of Santa Cruz County. we recruit, train, and supervise CASAs to provide one-on-one volunteer advocacy to children. CASAs talk to teachers, social workers, caregivers, doctors, and, most importantly, the children themselves. A CASA learns what the child needs and what’s truly in their best interest. Sometimes a CASA’s “job” means being a proud audience member for a child’s school play or baseball game, or getting them a reading tutor, or making sure they see a

Bay Federal Credit Union announces the promotion of Creedence Shaw to Senior Vice President, Chief Business Services Officer.

He will guide the strategic vision and operational leadership of the Business Services Department, further advancing Bay Federal’s mission to empower local businesses throughout Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties.

A seasoned financial executive and longstanding advocate for community-focused banking, Shaw has consistently gone above and beyond in supporting small and midsized businesses. Under his leadership, the Business Services team is expanding its reach, delivering tailored lending and deposit solutions to meet the evolving needs of the region’s business community.

With decades of experience in commercial lending, compliance, and risk management, Shaw brings a particular

doctor or dentist. When a child is assigned a CASA, they gain a mentor and friend to set them on a better path. The CASA makes sure the child’s voice is heard – in court, in school, and in the community.

Research shows that children paired with CASAs are more likely to find safe, permanent homes, succeed in school, have better medical outcomes, and are half as likely to re-enter foster care. To learn more, go to www.casaofsantacruz.org. Although CASA of Santa Cruz County is a private nonprofit organization, we provide vital, no cost support to our county’s courts and social workers. But private funding alone is not enough to sustain the level of care our children and families need. We depend on state support to ensure every child in our foster care system has access to a dedicated CASA volunteer.

By helping youth achieve stability and opportunity, CASA programs save local and state governments millions of dollars each year. For all these reasons, investing in CASA is both a compassionate and cost-effective choice.

“Foster Kids Budget” page 16

Bay Fed Promotes Creedence Shaw

expertise in Commercial Real Estate, Small Business Administration, and Commercial & Industrial lending.

His community impact is well known, particularly during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he led a team that secured over $500 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans for more than 4,500 small businesses.

“Creedence’s promotion was wellearned based on the level of professionalism and commitment he brings to our members and the local business community,” said Carrie Birkhofer, president and CEO of Bay Federal Credit Union. “During his tenure at Bay Federal, he has added significant value to our business program, and we’re excited to see how he’ll continue to shape the future of business banking in our region.”

Outside the office, Shaw is an avid runner, cyclist, sailor, and hiker, and an active member of the county’s Search and Rescue team. Whether navigating mountain trails or business strategy, he is known for staying calm under pressure and always finding the path forward. n

Creedence Shaw

County Paving Schedule: State Park Drive

Story and Photo By Jondi Gumz

On April 21, Aptos residents were surprised to see county public works crew paving a potholed section of westbound State Park Drive, a key route to Seacliff State Beach.

For those wondering about the eastbound section, not this year, maybe next year, according to Steven J. Garcia, with county public works since 2017 and overseeing the job.

All of the county roads getting attention as part of the annual road maintenance program made it onto the list after inspection by cunty staff.

Garcia told Aptos Times that he told his boss this piece of State Park Drive could be done in one day.

So the traffic light was disabled, and some of the crew were manually directing cars, trucks and pedestrians while others applied blacktop paving.

The road work schedule coincides with the county’s 27-week construction window, when crews can take advantage of dry weather to complete roadwork, according to county staff.

Of those 27 weeks, about nine are to be dedicated to paving in each region—MidCounty, South County, and North County.

While paving crews focus on those areas, other teams will carry out maintenance such as roadside mowing, roadside ditch clearing, and striping.

“We’re taking advantage of the good weather to deliver critical annual maintenance to roads our community relies on,” said Commnity Development and Infrastructure Director Matt Machado. “This is the ideal time to pave, maintain, and prep before the winter season.”

This season’s MidCounty maintenance work includes:

• State Park Drive – At the overpass, work is scheduled for April 21.

• East Cliff Drive – From Moran Lake Park to Pleasure Point Drive, April 22–25.

• Porter Gulch Road – Between Soquel Drive and Hudson Lane near Cabrillo College, April 28 to May 5.

• Branciforte Drive – Between Branciforte Ridge and Treehouse Way, May 6–12.

• Happy Valley Road – Between Branciforte Drive and the Conservancy Loop area, May 13–16.

• Jarvis Road – From Vine Hill Road to Hall Ranch Drive, May 19–23.

• Laurel Road – A short section between Highway 17 and Laurel Road Loop near Redtail Ridge, May 26 to June 3.

• Schulties Road – Short section near Redwood Lodge Road, June 4–5.

• Morrell Road – The majority of the roadway section between Soquel San Jose Road and Summit Road, June 6–11.

• Stetson Road – The majority of the roadway between Soquel San Jose Road and Skyland Road, June 12–20.

Crews will work weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will have traffic control measures in place for safety and to minimize disruptions.

“Our crews are out there every day—mowing, patching, clearing ditches, and responding to emergencies—so we see firsthand which roads need help the most,” said Roads Superintendent Alex Sandoval. “We’re looking at safety, access, and how each road serves the larger network.”

This phase of work is funded by the Highway Users Tax Account, also known as the “Gas Tax.” This maintenance cycle is part of the County’s regular annual road maintenance program. n

For project updates, subscribe to receive Road Impact Notifications at: bit.ly/newsletter-cdi

Federal Student Loans: Time to Resume Payments

Editor’s note: For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Trump administration will resume collections on student loan debt on May 5 affecting 5 million borrowers who haven’t paid. Here is the Department of Education’s April 21 press release:

The U.S. Department of Education today announced its Office of Federal Student Aid will resume collections of its defaulted federal student loan portfolio on Monday, May 5.

The Department has not collected on defaulted loans since March 2020 (when Trump signed a stimulus package passed by Congress).

Resuming collections protects taxpayers from shouldering the cost of federal student loans that borrowers willingly undertook to finance their postsecondary education. This initiative will be paired with a comprehensive communications and outreach campaign to ensure borrowers understand how to return to repayment or get out of default.

While Congress mandated that student and parent borrowers begin to repay their student loans in October 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration refused to lift the collections pause and kept borrowers in a confusing limbo. The previous Administration failed to process applications for borrowers who applied for income-driven repayment and continued to push misguided “on-ramps” and illegal loan forgiveness schemes to win points with borrowers and mask rising delinquency and default rates.

“American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “The Biden Administration misled borrowers: the executive branch does not have the constitutional authority to wipe debt away, nor do the loan balances simply disappear. Hundreds of billions have already been transferred to taxpayers. Going forward, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Treasury, will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law, which means helping borrowers return to repayment — both for the sake of their own financial health and our nation’s economic outlook.”

Federal student loans are financed by the American people.

Instead of protecting responsible taxpayers, the Biden-Harris Administration put them on the hook for irresponsible lending, pushing the federal student loan portfolio toward a fiscal cliff:

• Today, 42.7 million borrowers owe more than $1.6 trillion in student debt.

• More than 5 million borrowers have not made a monthly payment in over 360 days and sit in default — many for more than 7 years — and 4 million borrowers are in late-stage delinquency (91-180 days). As a result, there could be almost 10 million borrowers in default in a few months. When this happens, almost 25% of the federal student loan portfolio will be in default

• Only 38% of borrowers are in repayment and current on their student loans. Most of the remaining borrowers are either delinquent on their payments, in an interest-free forbearance, or in an interestfree deferment. A small percentage of borrowers are in a 6-month grace period or in-school.

• Currently, almost 1.9 million borrowers have been unable to even begin repayment because of a processing pause put in place by the previous administration. Since August 2024, the Department has not processed applications for enrollment in any repayment plan such as IncomeBased Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, or PAYE. The Department is currently working with its federal student loan servicers and anticipates processing to begin next month.

Involuntary Collections

FSA will restart the Treasury Offset Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury, on Monday, May 5. All borrowers in default will receive email communications from FSA over the next 2 weeks making them aware of these developments and urging them to contact the Default Resolution Group to make a monthly payment, enroll in an income-driven repayment plan, or sign up for loan rehabilitation. Later this summer, FSA will send required notices beginning administrative wage garnishment.

The Department will also authorize guaranty agencies that they may begin involuntary collections activities on loans under the Federal Family Education Loan Program. All FSA collection activities are required under the Higher Education Act and conducted only after student and parent borrowers have been provided sufficient notice and opportunity to repay their loans under the law.

Support for Borrowers

FSA is committed to keeping borrowers updated with clear information about their payment options to put them on a productive path toward repaying their federal student loans.

“Student

Transforming spaces, elevaTing lives The Vision Behind Transformational Color

By Rebecca Levy

For over 30 years, Gregory LeBaron has brought more than just color to homes—he’s brought transformation. As the founder of Transformational Color, a boutique painting company based in Aptos, LeBaron combines artistry, intuition, and craftsmanship to create spaces that don’t just look better—they feel better.

“Painting has never been just a job to me,” says LeBaron. “It’s a way to change the way people experience their homes—and sometimes even their lives.”

From Craft to Calling

LeBaron began his journey like many tradespeople—out of necessity. But it wasn’t long before he recognized a deeper calling.

“I started painting houses in my twenties and thirties to pay the bills,” he recalls. “But I quickly became fascinated by the power of color. I took many trainings, started experimenting, exploring exotic finishes, and teaching myself through hands-on practice and curiosity.”

That exploration became a passion. Over time, LeBaron developed a philosophy that merged his personal growth journey with the work he was doing in clients’ homes. This holistic vision is at the heart of Transformational Color—a name that reflects not only the change he brings to walls but to the people who live within them.

A Thoughtful Process

What distinguishes Transformational Color isn’t just the premium materials or meticulous techniques—it’s the deeply personalized process. LeBaron guides clients through one of the most personal design decisions: Choosing color.

“Color lives inside of you,” he says. “My role is to help you find it. I don’t impose my tastes—I ask the right questions, listen carefully, and create space for clients to be honest about what they’re drawn to. That’s where the magic begins.”

He recalls a memorable project on a

initially requested a purple house. LeBaron began with soft, muted shades, only to hear, “No—we want it as purple as you can possibly get!”

That moment of honest clarity led to a bold and beautiful palette. Together, they narrowed down 30 options to 7 striking colors, including three rich purples, offset by deep green, gold, and rose accents.

“It turned out beautifully,” he says. “And it all started with that honest reaction.”

This collaborative process is central to each project. For a home that needs 2-4 final colors, LeBaron might start with 6-8 or

more, creating large sample boards so clients can see how colors behave in their actual environment.

“Light, landscaping, and the orientation of your home all change how a color appears,” he explains. “I help clients see those nuances before we commit.”

Flair Meets Precision

While many clients come to LeBaron for expert guidance in traditional interior and exterior palettes, others seek out his artistic touch. His own home is a showcase of creativity, featuring distressed rustic paneling, American Clay finishes, and botanical

impressions made by pressing real leaves into a metallic plaster.

These finishes aren’t just beautiful— they’re functional. Natural plasters like American Clay help regulate moisture, dampen sound, and provide a subtle elegance that can’t be replicated by standard paint.

“If a client is open to something distinctive, we can explore all kinds of textures and effects,” he says. “But only if it truly fits their vision. Most of the time, the transformation starts with the right color.”

Behind the artistry is a foundation of technical excellence. Especially in coastal homes, where sun, fog, and salt air take a toll, LeBaron prioritizes proper preparation—power washing, priming, caulking, and sealing— ensuring the final result lasts for years.

“When the prep is done right, a paint job can last 10, 15—even 20 years,” he says. “I’ve had clients call me after two decades, and the work still looked great.”

He also uses eco-friendly, low-VOC paints to protect both his clients’ health and the environment.

At the core of Transformational Color is a commitment to collaboration, trust, and clear communication.

“We show up on time, respect your space, and make the entire process as smooth and rewarding as the outcome,” LeBaron says.

He often likens his role to that of a “color therapist”—someone who listens deeply, reflects insights, and helps clients move from uncertainty to clarity.

“When you transform your space, you transform your experience of home. That’s what this is all about.” n

Transformational Color is located near the Deer Park Marketplace in Aptos and serves Santa Cruz County and beyond.

Visit www.transformationalcolor.com to explore project galleries, read 5-star reviews, or schedule a consultation.

Open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Phone: 831-435-9706

Victorian near the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The homeowners

Camp New Brighton Civilian Conservation Corps in Capitola

By Deborah Osterberg

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

Camp New Brighton was established in Capitola in 1934.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the CCC with an executive order on April 5, 1933, as a relief program during the Great Depression. From 1933 to 1942, the CCC established conservation camps throughout the nation where nearly two million young men were assigned to improvement projects on public lands.

The CCC was considered one of the most successful of the New Deal programs, not only for its long list of accomplishments, but also for its value to the men it employed by providing them with educational opportunities, valuable new skills and a heightened confidence in their abilities.

Though the new CCC camp in Capitola was called New Brighton, it was not located at New Brighton State Beach.

Instead, the camp was situated on seven acres at the intersection of Monterey and Washburn Avenues, immediately adjacent and east of the Capitola-Santa Cruz airport

(today’s Cliffwood Heights neighborhood and New Brighton Middle School).

Camp New Brighton (known as State Park-24), which was intended only for winter occupation, shared the site with the summer training site for the U.S. Coast Artillery, Camp McQuaide (1926-1938).

The property was initially equipped with four barracks able to accommodate 52

boys each, a large cook house and dining room building.

The new camp boasted over 200 men, the majority of whom were from New York and New Jersey. Each young man enlisted for a minimum of six months and in addition to receiving room and board, they were paid $30 per month.

Each enrollee, who worked from 8 a.m.

to 4 p.m. five days a week, was required to send $22 to $25 of their monthly earnings home to support their families.

Enrollees worked on projects at state park beaches including Seacliff, New Brighton, Natural Bridges, Rio Del Mar, and Sunset.

But life at Camp New Brighton was not all work and no play. After 4 p.m. the enrollees were at liberty to do as they pleased.

Many enrollees enjoyed the same seaside amenities that had attracted so many to Capitola for decades.

Community members also hosted dances and members of church and fraternal organizations entertained enrollees with weekend musical programs and holiday celebrations. And sometimes the favor was repaid by talented members of the camp.

But by far the most popular pastime was sports including boxing, baseball, and basketball, with team competitions often set up with neighboring camps and communities.

“Camp New Brighton” page 15

Welcoming baby. With the warmest ‘‘hello’’ of all.

From the time you find out you’re expecting, you dream of the first moment holding your baby. And Dominican Hospital’s Family Birth Center is here to help make that first “hello” as special as your new bundle of joy. We have a team of experts ready to guide you throughout your journey—from specially trained OB/GYN doctors and nurses, to midwives and board-certified lactation specialists. And our Level III NICU offers the highest level of maternity care in the Monterey Bay area should your baby need specialized support. Take a virtual tour of our Family Birth Center at DignityHealth.org/DominicanBirthCenter

CCC Camp New Brighton in Capitola.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Be the Difference Award Winners

Wednesday, May 14 • 11:30 a.m. • Coconut Grove

Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County presents the Be the Difference Awards on Wednesday, May 14 at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s Coconut Grove.

The annual event celebrates volunteers, organizations, and businesses that make Santa Cruz County stronger through exceptional service.

Each year, this event brings together 400 community leaders and everyday heroes for recognition, connection, and a delicious lunch. Tickets are $60 at https://tinyurl.com/ Be-Difference-2025.

Awards are given in six categories: Social & Economic Justice, Families & Youth, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, Health & Wellness, Arts & Culture and Building Community. Here are the honorees:

Business: GOAT Santa Cruz • Superior Foods

Groups: Alpha Theta Chapter of Omega Nu Watsonville • Caroline’s Nonprofit Thrift Shop • Community Action Board • Friends of Hospice • Friends of Watsonville Parks & Community Services • Gardenia Amor Y Bienestar • Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay • Harbor Cares Club • Hope’s Closet Santa Cruz • KSQD/Natural Bridges Media Literacy Program • Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery • Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation • O’Neill Sea Odyssey

Individuals: Cheryl Anderson, Guide Dogs

for the Blind • Amy Bowman, Homeless Garden Project • Susan Cabrera, St Vincent de Paul, Volunteer Center • Rob Darrow, Santa Cruz Pride, MAH • Mark De La Vega, Restorative Justice • Kay Denike, NAMI Santa Cruz County • Jennifer Fenton, The Equine Healing Collaborative • John Fitzgibbon, Second Harvest Food Bank • Brenda Guzman, CASA • Valerie Hayes, Hospice of Santa Cruz County • Todd Hoffman, Scotts Valley High School • Jeanne Howard, Santa Cruz Gives • Christina Kuo, Monarch Community School • Tom Ellison & Larry Friedman, The Diversity Center, Santa Cruz Pride • Fabian Leonor, Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes, Watsonville Community Volunteer • Wendy McDonnell, ReStore Watsonville • Michele McKee, CASA • Leticia Medina-Kohrs, Walnut Avenue Women’s & Family Shelter • David & Jan Mintz, Multi-agency & community volunteers • John Mizell, Santa Cruz County Search & Rescue • Joyce Olvera, Salud y Monarca • Isabel Piccini, Serve • Analupita Ramirez, Monarch Services • Mary Ripma, Santa Cruz Library Commission, Santa Cruz Chapter of American Association of University Women • Giselle Serriteño, Palomo Salud y Monarca • Min Ting, Superior Foods • Sandra Wallace, For Kids Foundation Monterey Bay • Kit Wheeler, Second Harvest Food Bank • Rick Wright, Santa Cruz Shakespeare n

“Student Loans” from page 10

Over the next two months, FSA will conduct a robust communications campaign to engage all borrowers on the importance of repayment.

FSA will conduct outreach to borrowers through emails and social media reminding them of their obligations and providing resources and support to assist them in selecting the best repayment plan, like the new Loan Simulator, AI Assistant, and extended servicers call times.

FSA will also launch an enhanced IncomeDriven Repayment process, simplifying the time that it will take borrowers to enroll in IDR plans and eliminating the need for borrowers to recertify their income every year. More

information will be posted on StudentAid.gov next week.

FSA intends to enlist its partners — states, institutions of higher education, financial aid administrators, college access and success organizations, third-party servicers, and other stakeholders — to assist in this campaign to restore commonsense and fairness with the message: student and parent borrowers — not taxpayers — must repay their student loans. There will not be any mass loan forgiveness. Together, these actions will move the federal student loan portfolio back into repayment, which benefits borrowers and taxpayers alike. n

Detailed information to help borrowers get out of default is at StudentAid.gov/end-default.

2024 winner: Habitat Golden Hammer crew

“Camp New Brighton” from page 13

Some enrollees took advantage of the many opportunities to improve their minds and skills. The camp included a library with at least 500 books and the enrollees produced their own semi-monthly newspapers.

Every week, optional educational and vocational classes were offered, including: Business English, journalism, diesel, psychology, forestry, blueprints, bookkeeping, how to study, spelling, arithmetic, photography, science, German, history, civics, shorthand, public speaking, radio, penmanship, and aviation.

Enrollees could also attend night school at Santa Cruz High School to earn their grade school or high school diplomas and take a correspondence extension course from the University of California. It’s estimated approximately 57,000 illiterate men learned to read and write while enrolled in CCC camps.

Religious services were routinely conducted at the camp by local pastors. Some of the enrollees were of the Jewish faith as evidenced by an article in the Dec. 11, 1934, Santa Cruz Sentinel about a holiday observance hosted by the Jewish families of Santa Cruz.

“Twenty-five boys of Hebrew parentage from the CCC camps at Capitola and Big Basin were guests of the Jewish families of Santa Cruz at Sunday’s observance of Chanukah or Feast of Lights at the Jewish Community center, the occasion commemorating the renewal of the Jewish covenant …”

In October 1935, Camp New Brighton was re-established with 190 boys from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the District of Columbia, many of whom were described as mostly of “Hungarian and Irish descent but the boys are all real Americans.”

“The boys having spent the past summer in the Calaveras Big Tree national park fighting forest fires, are all more or less fatigued and look forward to a comparative rest at the ocean camp. Many of the young men have never seen the ocean and are unusually well pleased with the many attractions to be found in the Santa Cruz area.”

During the winter of 1937, the mess hall was partitioned to create a couple of classrooms. New vocational courses were added in road building theory and primary building construction theory. During the day the boys received practical instruction regarding Park Avenue from New Brighton Beach to the Watsonville-Santa Cruz highway.

That winter the camp was made up of enrollees from Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana and other parts of the deep South.

“As soon as one hears voices at the camp it becomes evident the boys hail from southern states, for their soft slurring words … They seem well pleased with the location and the camp in general … They express their satisfaction with the Capitola site, saying it is the best camp they have ever seen.”

The winter of 1938 once again saw enrollees from the deep South including Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and North and South Carolina “who impressed and amused Santa Cruz and Capitola residents last year with their gentle mannerisms and lazy drawls.” These fortunate boys were treated to trips to see the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco.

At the end of the winter season, many New Brighton enrollees boarded trains to Clarkia, Idaho, where they spent the summer assisting Forest Service personnel with firefighting. This seasonal change-over in personnel was a staple of CCC management.

Each April the officers and enrollees of Camp New Brighton hosted an “open house” in honor of the establishment of the CCC. A meal for members of local government and civic organizations was followed by an inspection of the camp and often, a baseball game. Among their early accomplishments were completion of a 1,000-foot bulkhead, a custodian’s house, a stairway and a 40-site campground with picnic tables and fireplaces at Seacliff Beach.

In January 1936, the Pennsylvania boys left Camp New Brighton for Ft. Hoyle, Maryland. While in Capitola these enrollees completed not only major projects at state beaches but also beautified the camp’s landscape by polishing abalone shells, a novelty to them, and placing them along camp walkways.

The departed Pennsylvania boys were soon replaced by a group of Missouri enrollees transferred down from Calavera County.

In March 1941, Camp New Brighton was both lauded and the object of scandal. According to the March 29, 1941, Santa Cruz Sentinel, the local community benefitted from approximately $2,000 a month in camp purchases and another $1,500 a month from the personal spending of enrollees.

That same month a federal grand jury indicted former camp commander, Lieutenant Garrett T. Jarvis, for embezzling at least $2,200 from camp funds. He finally surrendered in Jacksonville, Florida and was returned to San Francisco for trial. Jarvis pled guilty, blaming his troubles on “too many gay parties at Santa Cruz,” for which he was often stuck with the check.

CCC Camp New Brighton officially closed in July 1941. Some enrollees were sent home, while others were transferred to other camps. Thankfully the unethical actions of a single individual did not dimmish the outstanding accomplishments of the entire camp staff. The work and dedication of the CCC

enrollees of Camp New Brighton transformed the beaches of Santa Cruz County into jewels of the California State Park system that we continue to enjoy today. n •••

Deboarh Osterberg is the curator of the Capitola Historical Museum, located at 410 Capitola Ave, Capitola. The admission-free museum is open every Friday through Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. The curator is researching the history of the New Brighton CCC Camp and other CCC camps in Santa Cruz County. If you have any information, photographs, or know folks who were camp enrollees, contact her at 831-464-0322.

SENIOR BENEFITS INSURANCE

That year there was also a major change to the work program. Camp New Brighton enrollees were assigned to help the California State Parks with the restoration of Mission San Juan Bautista. The CCC boys helped rehabilitate the adobe home of General Jose Castro, improved the Zanetta home by transforming its secondfloor ballroom into a museum, and restored the plaza to its 19th century appearance.

Since its establishment, the CCC was quick to point out that enrollees were not to receive military training. But by 1940, enrollees were being offered courses in blueprint reading, auto mechanics, welding, and carpentry “… with the aim in mind of preparing them to fit into the national defense program when they are out of camp.”

That year the New Brighton camp, “set what is believed to be a precedent for CCC administration by returning the same contingent to the same locality for the third successive year.”

They also received top honors in a ranking of Fresno district camps. “Rankings were made on a basis of administration, number of desertions, and the percentage of men turned over to the technical agency.”

The camp superintendent declared that “This particular group of young men from Dixie … are the most courteous he has yet commanded in his six years of this type of work.”

CCC Company 5447 at Camp New Brighton.

Company 5447’s boxing team.

An Actor’s Physical Instrument

Editor’s note: This is the ninth in a series.

The word “acting” denotes action. In life or in the theater one cannot merely “think about” a solution to a problem; one’s job is to perform some physical act — walking across a stage or embarking on a project — and one’s instrument is oneself.

My illustration mimics Leonardo DaVinci’s famous drawing titled Vitruvian Man. DaVinci’s image depicts ideal human proportions and symmetry, and expresses the interplay between the natural world, mathematical precision, and artistic expression. My drawing takes a different approach: it illustrates how our limitations and imperfections reveal us as individuals, armed with unique appendages that can be used as tools to express our personal vision.

Through motion and gesture, actors use their bodies to convey a message of conviction. Their movements — along with theatrical devices like sets, props, costumes, and lighting—can help bring a playwright’s words to life.

Other art forms also benefit from physicality to convey creative expression: a pianist exerts certain natural movements to create sound at the keyboard, and a painter might be said to “dance” in front of her canvas, manipulating a pallet knife or brush to trowel on splashes of pigment in rendering a cliff, a tree, or a landmass.

This search for an awareness of our natural propensities brings to mind 18th-Century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s observation that artists need to discover how

COMMUNITY NEWS

to use themselves. Seeing one’s body as a tool can bring a greater appreciation of one’s talents and foibles, strengths and weaknesses, tendencies and omissions — both emotional and physical — and help release an expression of one’s nature.

By Joe Ortiz

Besides movement and gesture, other physical attributes can also color an actor’s performance. The voice, for instance, is also a vehicle for communicating meaning and emotion to an audience. A good example is singer-songwriter Tom Waits, whose vocal machinations give his songs an edgy, down-toearth character identity — like a cowboy poet delivering a rough-and-tumble monologue.

In order to make effective use of physical expression— whether it be the voice, a hand gesture, or the full body as a creative instrument—an artist must be willing to remain vulnerable, for human fallibility is a part of an artist’s tool kit.

As Waits explains it, “I really like the physicality of music making and the possibility of human error. As much as you rehearse and perform it, the music never really wants to stay the same. What you’ve got to do is respect the moments when it escapes your control.”

What We Can Learn: Expressing vulnerability in acting, singing, or any art form requires an attitude of trust in allowing our imperfections to be revealed instead of hidden. By letting our tics and shortcomings express themselves impulsively, we create an emotional connection to our audience, which can help reveal our humanity.

Whether it is a stumble in our gait or a hesitation in responding to a fellow actor’s delivery of a line of dialogue (on stage) or a loved one’s question (in our relationships) — the subtleties of gesture and posture can communicate truths beyond what words alone could accurately express. n

Welcome Dr. Marni Sandoval, County Behavioral Health Director

Santa Cruz County’s new behavioral health director is Dr. Marni R. Sandoval, who comes from Monterey County where she was deputy director of behavioral health.

She starts May 5.

She succeeds Tiffany Cantrell-Warren who left at the end of January after a two-year stint and Karen Kern, who filled in as interim director.

The Mental Health Advisory Board was involved in the selection process.

Dr. Sandoval is a licensed psychologist. She

has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Davis, and a master’s degree in clinical professional psychology in San Francisco.

County staff said Dr. Sandoval is deeply committed to integrating trauma-informed and culturally relevant approaches to mental health and substance use care, ensuring that children, youth, adults, and families receive equitable access to services.

While at Monterey County she has played

a crucial role in implementing MediCal plan responsibilities, CalAIM initiatives including payment reform efforts, and advocating for policies that support the well-being of underserved populations.

She has contributed to the development of the state’s behavioral health ecosystem through her work with Breaking Barriers California and the Child and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, where she co-authored a state paper aimed at improving resource and service integration across agencies.

Dr. Sandoval also has been dedicated to

“Foster Kids Budget” from page 8

We are at a critical point in our ability to continue delivering these essential services. The State Legislature has not yet renewed funding for California CASA in the 2025–2026 budget— funding that provides enormous benefit to our local program here in Santa Cruz County. This funding supports the recruitment and training of new volunteers to walk alongside children in foster care or juvenile probation, as well as the operational support we need to do this work every day.

We are deeply grateful to State Assemblymember Gail Pellerin and State Senator

training and mentoring future mental health professionals. Since 2005, she has served as the training director for the American Psychological Association accredited Doctoral Psychology Internship and Practicum Program at Monterey County Behavioral Health.

Her experience includes leadership in aspects of behavioral health, high-level program management, budget oversight, grant and contract administration.

In private practice, she has provided specialized assessments for educational disabilities, learning differences, and traumarelated issues. n

John Laird for their support, and we urge our community to contact your state representatives—Robert Rivas, Gail Pellerin, Dawn Addis, and Senator John Laird—and ask them to ensure continued support for CASA. You can find your representative here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/findyour-representative. Help us continue providing life-changing services to our community’s most vulnerable youth. n

Lynne Petrovic is executive director, CASA of Santa Cruz County. Email her at lynne@casaofsantacruz.org

Marni Sandoval

2025 Youth Poet

Laureate Finn Maxwell

On April 17, Finn Maxwell, a junior at San Lorenzo Valley High School, was selected as the 2025-2026 Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate.

He will serve a one-year term and will act as an advocate and county ambassador for poetry, social action and civic engagement. He will champion his own poetic practice while encouraging peers through readings, workshops and appearances throughout the county.

The competition is organized by Santa Cruz Public Libraries and 2024 Santa Cruz County Poet Laureate Farnaz Fatemi, in partnership with Urban Word.

Finalists included Sylvi Kayser of Aptos High School, Mason Leopold of San Lorenzo Valley High School, Noemi Romero of Pajaro Valley High School and Xander Shulman of Santa Cruz High School.

The announcement took place at Samper Recital Hall, Cabrillo College, Aptos, at a program hosted by Fatemi.

It included readings from each of the finalists and from the outgoing, inaugural cohort of poets, including Dina Lusztig Noyes, 2024-25 Youth Poet Laureate.

Finn Maxwell writes short stories and poems, often inspired by his Boulder Creek home. His work has been recognized by the Scholastic Writing Awards and the Iowa Young Writers Studio and is present in The Malu Zine, The Blue Marble Review, and The Incandescent Review.

When he isn’t writing, he spends his time painting and practicing photography. n

Here is a poem Maxwell submitted in his application to be the county youth poet laureate:

American Sonnet for a Machine Gun

By Finn Maxwell

Our metal arm of liberty up high; as kings lay bleeding where they stood and lied. People toil, no wealth; loose a grave sigh. So honor steel; revolt be dignified. The instrument of our freedom will be the bullet, threads the wound: the new nation. Honor the golden gun: end of chiefdom; this gun, our arm, an end to caste station. Liberty bells ring, yet children still weep. And held by teachers, the students bleed red. The lives of children bought and sold for cheap to serve the venal few who never bled For man is sick, and hurt, and destitute; the metal arm, a danger to refute.

This year’s finalists for Santa Cruz County youth poet laureate.

Finn Maxwell (left) and Dina Lusztig Noyes

FEATURED COLUMNIST

A Shiny Assault on Clean Water

Trailblazing biologist and nature writer

Rachel Carson once wrote, “The real wealth of the Nation lies in the resources of the earth—soil, water, forests, minerals, and wildlife.”

She penned these words in a 1953 letter to the editor of the Washington Post, which was picked up by an Associated Press wire and reprinted in Reader’s Digest.

Carson wrote in an attempt to catch the eye of President Dwight Eisenhower as he was taking office, and his administration swiftly began instituting policies that could destroy nature in the name of business.

Today, we are taking a closer look at mineral mining and water contamination, because in March President Trump signed an executive order to increase mineral production in the U.S.

“The United States was once the world’s largest producer of lucrative minerals, but overbearing Federal regulation has eroded our Nation’s mineral production,” the order reads. “Our national and economic security are now acutely threatened by our reliance upon hostile foreign powers’ mineral production.”

It’s true that minerals are essential for technologies across our economy, including in energy, defense, health care, and electronics. They are vital for electric vehicle batteries.

The order calls to fast-track “mining projects for copper, uranium, potash, gold, and any critical mineral, element, compound, or material identified by the chair of the National Energy Dominance Council.”

But how will this directive impact our water?

All That Glitters is Not Gold

Water has been called “mining’s most common casualty” by James Lyon of the Mineral Policy Center, now known as Earthworks.

Under the 1872 Mining Law, public land was freely given to mining companies, which have taken hundreds of billions of dollars in minerals without paying a dime to U.S. taxpayers, according to the org. The mining industry has littered the landscape with 500,000 abandoned mines and left taxpayers with the clean-up bill.

Learn more about the abandoned mine inventory of the U.S. at https://pubs.usgs. gov/fs/2025/3003/fs20253003.pdf

Mining operations impact freshwater resources in two main ways, according to safewater.org, 1) by consuming large quantities of water during ore processing activities, and 2) by contaminating water sources through the release of mine discharge and leakage from tailings storage and waste rock facilities.

The new executive order does not discuss how every day millions of gallons of

water loaded with arsenic, lead, and other toxic metals flow from some of the most contaminated mining sites in the U.S. and into surrounding streams and ponds without being treated, according to reporting from the Associated Press.

This pollution stands as a legacy of how the mining industry was allowed to operate in the U.S. for more than a century, according to the A.P. Companies that built mines for silver, lead, gold, and other hardrock minerals took off once they were no longer profitable, leaving behind contaminated water that still seeps from the abandoned mines and *sometimes* gets cleaned up — with taxpayer dollars.

It wasn’t until the ‘70s that the federal government established requirements for mine operators to reclaim the land after their operations ceased to minimize or address the environmental impacts of the mining operations.

In 2019, federal agencies identified about 140,000 remnants of mining operations from before that time. The A.P. looked at just 43 mining sites under federal oversight, some containing dozens or even hundreds of individual mines, using data from public records requests and independent research.

The records determined that at average flows, more than 50 million gallons of contaminated wastewater streams daily from the sites. In many cases, it runs untreated

By Erin Brockovich

into nearby groundwater, rivers, and ponds. That’s about a 20-million-gallon daily dose of pollution that could fill more than 2,000 tanker trucks.

Hardrock mines and features on federal lands pose risks to human health or wildlife, according to a 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which found at least 22,500 known abandoned hardrock mine features that could leak toxic chemicals into nearby waterways.

The Departments of the Interior and Agriculture spent about $109 million and $10 million, respectively, to clean up contamination during fiscal years 2017-2021. The agencies reported that they had more abandoned hardrock mines than funds to clean them up. Now, consider recent moves to weaken the Clean Water Act. The 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency dramatically reduced what wetlands deserve protection from pollution. Watersheds are vulnerable.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask the mining industry of this country to conduct business responsibly.

“The ethical and strategic way to handle this situation is for the federal government and environmentalists to encourage this industry to return to the United States and to hold it to the highest sustainability standards,” wrote Stephen Lezak, an environmental researcher at Oxford and Berkeley, in a 2024 New York Times opinion piece. “Because safe and ethical mines are more expensive to run, consumers will have to pay a small premium for products with minerals sourced from these operations. Many of us are already paying more for responsibly sourced goods, such as chocolate and coffee. We should demand the same for our smartphones and batteries.”

These expensive hurdles include “paying fair wages, safely storing toxic waste, and setting aside money for cleanup.”

Lezak notes that some mining companies prefer to try to make larger profits by operating in countries with cheaper labor and lax regulations.

But it’s not the only way. Large companies like Apple or General Motors could commit to purchasing ethically sourced materials, he suggests. This move might incentivize miners and investors to sell the materials at a higher price like organic farmers do with organic food.

Federal and state governments could also commit to purchasing only vehicles with materials sourced from mines certified by groups like the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance, he writes.

So why do we want to increase mining projects?

We live in an uncertain world hedging bets on the economy.

“Abandoned Mines” page 22

Photograph of acid mine drainage coming from an abandoned mine in Sierra County, California. Photograph by California Department of Conservation, Abandoned Mine Lands Unit staff.

By Teresa Hidalgo Dance

In over 50 years of business as a specialty screen and glass shop, The Skylight Place has achieved a sterling record of providing impeccable remodeling service to scores of homes and offices in Santa Cruz.

Service indeed is what separates The Skylight Place from its competitors, a wellearned assessment that Paul Eastman, general manager, is proud to impress upon his customers.

Eastman adds he and his crew’s aggregate experience on the job of multiple decades has given them the confidence to never reject any project opportunity, no matter how short a deadline or how challenging the job.

Case in point: Just last April, the nonprofit learning destination, 1440 Multiversity, asked The Skylight Place to put up three huge overhead skylights in their building in the Scotts Valley redwoods within only a sevenday time frame.

“When my guys first got there, they said this might take two weeks,” recounted Eastman. But the multiversity couldn’t allow construction for more than a week with important clients scheduled to come in.

“So we figured out a work strategy and I got the project finished,” Eastman said with satisfaction. “We were able to hustle up and meet that deadline that they needed.”

Eastman had put six of his long-time installers on the $77,000 project that required placing a 30-foot skylight and two others, each 15 feet long, on the roof.

Economic times though have caught up with the screen and glass shop. A hurdle The Skylight Place is facing is the impending rise of material costs.

“We’re just kind of working through the issues with tariffs,” said Eastman. “A lot of

The skylighT place

Remodeling with World-Class Standards

our glass comes from Mexico. Our aluminum from China or Canada. And a lot of wood comes from Canada, too.”

Business has already slowed down with people putting off remodeling projects for a more financially opportune time.

“We’re kind of waiting to see how everything shakes up,” he said of his company’s response to this development.

But Eastman remains confident of his company’s future.

“People will always need glass,” he says. “You’re still going to have repairs, you just are not changing to new windows. So I think there’ll always be a need for us, for repair, maybe not new installation.”

The folks at The Skylight Place indeed remain bullish.

Locals know where they are, the shop being as much a fixture of Santa Cruz as the thousands of glass, shower doors, skylights, window screens, and windows it has installed.

Founded in 1971 by Eastman’s stepfather, Rick Burger, the screen and glass shop has attracted the best men in the business. Eastman himself first began working at The Skylight Place as a 14-year-old making window screens. He has been general manager of the company for the past six years.

Skylight’s employees all possess a work ethic that explains the shop’s success and which translates to an appreciation of the exceptionally good work environment.

Satisfied employees built their careers as installers in The Skylight Place. Men such as Sushil Joshi who has worked for the company for 39 years and Gerry Donoghue for 26 years.

Such loyalty is a hallmark, too, of customers drawn to The Skylight Place. One reason behind this loyalty is that pleasing customers with outstanding professionalism is a forte of the screen and glass shop.

“For the construction industry, we’re probably one of the best at this,” explained Eastman. “We show up when we say we are going to show up. When we say we are going to do something, we do it. That’s not a very common practice in the construction industry.”

The Skylight Place takes pride in their well-done projects.

All the homes and offices it has worked for is testament to that pride. n

The Skylight Place is located at 4850 Capitola Road, Capitola. Call (831) 281-3392. Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Friday: 8:30 am – 4 pm.

Website: https:// www.skylightplace. com/

Glass installation by Skylight Place provides a scenic view of Monterey Bay.

Skylight Place installs skylights for 1440 Multiversity, the retreat center in Scotts Valley.

County Chooses LifeArk for Homeless Housing

In early April, the County of Santa Cruz is expected to begin construction activities, including demolition, for a new 32-bed supportive housing facility at 2202 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz.

This is the former site of Harbor Veterinary Clinic and it’s next to the county’s Behavioral Health Center operated by Telecare.

This new facility, expected to open in early 2026, is part of the County’s Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program to provide temporary housing and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges.

It is funded by a $10.2 million grant from the California Department of Health Care Services, along with funding from the state’s Whole Person Care Housing Pilot Program launched in 2016 for highrisk MediCal beneficiaries, and Measure K countywide sales tax.

The new facility will feature the award-winning LifeArk modular units — flexible, resilient and affordable — offering private living spaces, communal areas for gathering and dining, and access to health and behavioral services.

Santa Cruz Public Library Pride

Santa Cruz Public Libraries joins Santa Cruz Pride in celebrating their 50th anniversary with events at branches from through June, including the Summer Reading Program with the theme of Color our World.

“The public library in Santa Cruz has always been a welcoming space for all people, including LGBTQ+ people and youth,” said Rob Darrow, chair, Santa Cruz Pride and LGBTQ+ support consultant, Santa Cruz County Office of Education. “The library has been an integral partner for the student podcast project and other celebrating events. The podcasts highlight the history and stories of LGBTQ+ people across Santa Cruz County in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Santa Cruz Pride that began in 1975.”

The student created podcasts are available on Spotify at: https:// tinyurl.com/SCCQueer-History n

Santa Cruz Library Pride Events Thursday, May 15, 6:30-8 p.m.: Queer

Trivia on Tap @ Steel Bonnet Brewing, Scotts Valley.

https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/ 14184921

Thursdays, May 15–June 26, 6-7:30 p.m.: Pride: Screening and Discussion of Six-Part Documentary, Live Oak Library Annex at Simpkins Family Swim Center. https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/ 13996346

Wednesdays, June 4–July 9, 6:30-8 p.m.: Pride: Screening and Discussion of Six-Part Documentary, Branciforte Library, Santa Cruz. https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/ 13996367

Fullerton, Santa Barbara and El Monte for homeless individuals. When Unitied Way analyzed the cost of 28 permanent supportive housing, Life Ark El Monte had the lowest cost: $189,294 per unit.

“This facility will serve as a critical resource for some of the most vulnerable members of our community, offering stability, care, and a path to permanent housing,” said Mónica Morales, director of county health services. “We are committed to fast-tracking these services to make a meaningful difference.”

Construction experienced minor delays due to site preparation and geotechnical studies, according to county staff, but is now on track to complete the project by fall.

The nonprofit Housing Matters has been contracted to manage and operate the facility.

No walk-up services will be available.

The facility is one of three new centers planned by the County and partners to help transition unhoused community members into long-term housing. n

For information on the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program, visit www.santacruzhealth.org/bridgehousing

LifeArk was a winner of the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative’s Housing Innovation Challenge.

Architects designed these units to replace shanties in the Amazon prone to flooding, and they have been employed in

your lettuce, garlic, and winter squashes in a Knox Garden box!

Photo Credit: Rob Darrow, chair, Santa Cruz Pride and LGBTQ+ support consultant, Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Evie’s Comeback after Flu Helps Team Take First

After fighting influenza B, Santa Cruz runner Evie Marheineke is back to finish her senior season strong for Archbishop Mitty High School.

“Abandoned Mines” from page 18

If you are reading this article on your smart phone, you should know that your phone contains about 60 different types of metals, many of which are mined.

Minerals, such as gold, silver, and copper, play an important role in the U.S. economy by contributing to multiple industries. However, mining introduces the potential for serious public health, safety, and environmental hazards, particularly if a mine has been abandoned.

Consider Arizona — a state known for its rich reserves of uranium and copper.

Mining employs nearly 50,000 Arizonans, according to the Arizona Mining Association, and the copper sector accounts for two-thirds of domestic production.

The largest uranium producer in the country is there too, just south of Grand Canyon National Park. This controversial project is back to work after sitting dormant since the ‘80s.

New interest in uranium mining brings potential new threats to the environment. Advocates argue that the mine is located too close to the Colorado River, and they worry about water contamination.

Many water sources on the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona remain polluted from uranium mining activity in that region.

Bristol Bay, Alaska, a pristine ecosystem and home to the world’s largest salmon fishery, is also the site of decade-long looming open-pit copper and gold mine.

In a 2024 legal challenge filed in an

At the Central Coast Section Top 8 took place April 19 at Los Gatos High School, she ran a season’s best 10:54 in the 3,200 meter, placing 4th, a medal finish.

Moments later, she ran the 3rd leg of the 4x400 meter relay where her team ran in 4.01.29 for second place.

St. Francis won in 3:55.27.

Archbishop Mitty girls tied with Saint Ignatius (54 points) for 1st place in the overall team standings.

Local Results

4x100 Relay: Aptos, 5th in 49.97. Siena Black, Bella Hartnett, Izzy Graff, Myla Appleby.

100 meter dash: Joy Roberts, Santa Cruz, 7th in 12.56

200 meter dash: Joy Roberts, Santa Cruz, 9th in 25.38

100 meter hurdles: Naomi Seastrom, SLV, 6th in 16.42

300 meter hurdles: Naomi Seastrom, SLV, 2nd in 45.04, and Jocelyn Guzman, Watsonville, 8th in 47.67

400 meter dash: Ava Decleve, Scotts Valley, 5th in 57.58

800 meter: Heidi Green, 3rd in 2:16.18 and Dylan Turzak, Scotts Valley, 12th in 2:21.49

3,200 meter: Isla Roake, Santa Cruz, 11th in 11:18.35

Frosh soph 400 meter: Skyla Leggett, 6th in 1:03.28

Alaskan federal court, the State, Pebble Limited Partnership and its parent company, Northern Dynasty Minerals, sought to strike down an EPA determination issued in 2023 to protect the watershed under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act.

In 2020, the first Trump administration did the right thing by blocking the project. But who knows what might get approved under this new executive order?

Full disclosure: I am an executive producer of “Unearth,” a documentary that made its world premiere at DOC NYC last year. The story follows two sets of siblings, the Salmon sisters and the Strickland brothers, who live in Bristol Bay.

Both sets of siblings are alarmed when they learn of and fight against advanced

plans for a Pebble Mine in the vicinity of their homes. The Salmon sisters, Native Alaskans, work on the regulatory front, pushing the EPA to block the project, while the Strickland brothers, independent fishermen, expose the truth behind what the Pebble Mine developer is telling the public.

The documentary shows systemic failures in mining and the balance between the need for materials and their environmental costs.

I know a little something about facing powerful entities, and I am inspired by the unwavering determination to safeguard Bristol Bay. The film is a testament to the promise activism holds in the face of fatigue and disillusionment.

Despite my love of water and natural

Sophomore 1,600 meter: Taylor Glinkowski, Soquel, 7th in 5:23.18

Frosh soph 3,200 meter: Beth Gabrielson, 12th in 12:49.83

Lots of great achievements for county athletes! n

Frosh soph 800-meter : Skyla Leggett, 10th in 2:27.74; Stella Sutcliffe, 15th in 2:33.78

places, I’m not foolish enough to think that we don’t enjoy a certain standard of living thanks to business and industry. We need jobs and commerce. We also need to preserve our natural resources.

It’s not about rejecting modern life but it’s also not allowing business to hastily carry on, making people sick or destroying the water we all need to live.

What I see is this: Prevention • Monitoring Regulation & Policy • Enforcement

On one side of the political spectrum, many people harp about how there is too much regulation and red tape for businesses to function.

I want these same voices to get loud about how companies plan to prevent accidental toxic spills. I want them to join me in advocating for more clean-up plans and community oversight, even after a company leaves a site. Right?!

We could save so much money and resources (our tax dollars) on regulations and enforcement if companies put more attention and emphasis on prevention and clean-up. They spend the money anyway—in huge legal departments to help circumvent regulations and hefty fines after they have polluted. Just shift the budget.

If we are going to make America get back into mining hardrock minerals, let’s do it safely for communities throughout the country. n

See https://www.thebrockovichreport.com/

Photograph of a mine shaft in Utah that the U.S. Department of Energy’s Defense-Related Uranium Mines program safeguarded with a bat grate. The closure prevents human entry and wildlife entrapment while preserving habitat for bats. Photograph by Environmental Protection Services (Nevada).

Storing Luggage at Hotel? Keep it Safe

By Christopher Elliott

If you’ve ever stored your luggage with a hotel, you probably know the nagging question: Is my bag safe?

Two recent cases come to mind.

One involves one of my readers, Lauren Labadie, who stored three bags at a hotel in Marseille, France. She only received two back — bizarrely, from a male hotel worker who was wearing her blouse.

the value of any lost, stolen, or damaged Items up to $10,000 for each bag. (From $6.90 per day)

The other is a case handled by fellow consumer advocate Chris Chmura. A man entrusted $7,000 worth of his personal belongings to a San Francisco hotel. Then an employee reportedly gave his bag to a thief who claimed he had lost his claim check.

Both cases ended the same. Despite the involvement of law enforcement and seasoned consumer advocates, the guests received far less compensation than they deserved.

The reason: Federal, state and local laws limit the liability of innkeepers. In California, under a never updated 1979 law, it’s $1,000. In Nevada, $750.

“Problems like misplaced bags, theft, or damage can happen,” says John Rose, chief risk and security officer for ALTOUR, a global travel management company. But he says they are relatively uncommon, even during one of the busiest times for travel.

Hotel thefts on the rise?

I asked several security experts about the theft of stored luggage.

Hotels don’t track and report thefts from secure storage areas in a systematic way. But they agreed that travelers are paying closer attention to this problem — and asking hard questions before they hand over their valuables.

I haven’t seen a noticeable uptick in consumer advocacy cases involving luggage theft. But, like the security pros, I’ve heard more people talking about this issue. So, let’s talk about it.

If you’re worried you might be a victim, stop reading this story and buy a tracker like an AirTag — $29. Slip it into your luggage so you’ll always know where it is.

But you have other options for keeping your valuables safe, including luggage storage services and some pro tips for keeping your belongings from falling into the wrong hands.

How safe?

Luggage storage services offer a way to lighten your load, and to protect your valuables with security guarantees.

For example:

Bounce has a program called BounceShield Protection that may compensate you for

LuggageHero offers protection that covers up to $3,000 in case of theft or damage. The company also conducts background checks on its partner locations to ensure a safe environment for bags. ($1.20 per hour, $4.90 per day)

Nannybag, another luggage storage service, offers 10,000 euros of protection for certain losses. ($4.50 per bag per day)

Restrictions apply, of course. For example, Nannybag’s protection only covers a limited range of incidents, including material damage to luggage and its contents, breakage, loss, and theft that may occur to the stored luggage. In other words, you can’t file a claim if you missed a flight because you had to go to the police station to file a report.

Protect your luggage

There are ways to ensure your luggage is in good hands when you store it at a hotel.

“First, use sturdy, easily recognizable luggage — something with bright straps or tags so it’s less likely to get taken by mistake,” says Russ Johnson, the CEO of Linx Legal, and an experienced traveler. “Before checking in, remove anything valuable and place it in your carry-on.”

Inspect the storage area. Before you hand over your luggage, make sure the area is secure. “The storage area should be locked at all times,” says Frank Harrison, regional security director for the Americas at World Travel Protection. “If the storage door is propped open or accessible to nonstaff, consider alternative arrangements.”

Make sure there’s a secure system. The hotel should offer you a claim check, instead of just letting you claim your luggage by identifying it in a room. “The hotel should have some sort of claim ticket system for identifying you and your luggage,” notes travel advisor Brandi Taylor. “Even better is when your name is written on the luggage tag, and then the hotel representative asks to see a form of ID when you pick it up, along with the claim tag.”

Document your belongings. This is an important step, and often overlooked.

“Take photos or make a list of valuable items in your luggage before checking it in,” advises Raymond Yorke, a spokesman for Redpoint Travel Protection. At a minimum, take a picture of your luggage. But if you want to be extra careful, open your bag and take a picture of the contents.

Make sure you have insurance. Jeremy Murchland, president of Seven Corners

Travel Insurance, says travelers often forget that travel insurance can help when someone steals your belongings from a secure holding area. “If something goes missing when your bags are checked with your hotel, your coverage could reimburse

Reserve ad space by 5/20/2025

you to replace that item.” he says. (Just remember to file a police report; your travel insurance company will need it.) Is there a safer way?

“Luggage” page 26

with the

California: High Residential Electricity Rates

Editor’s note: In January, the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, a nonpartisan advisor to the Legislature released a report on residential electricity rates, detailing difficult decisions ahead for lawmakers.

California’s electricity rates are among the highest in the country.

California has the second highest residential electricity rates after Hawaii, with average rates that are close to double the national average. these trends largely are driven by the high rates charged by the state’s three large investorowned utilities.

California electricity rates also have been increasing rapidly in recent years — not only growing faster than inflation but also outpacing growth in other states.

These trends currently are on track to continue.

Reasons for the High Rates

MostHow are Residential Electricity Rates Structured?

costs are collected through volumetric charges rather than fixed charges.

A key decision for CPUC and POU boards when they are structuring rates is how much of the revenue requirement to recover from fixed charges (a set amount per month) versus volumetric charges (an amount based on how much electricity the customer uses).

To date, even though most of the costs of providing electricity are fixed, California electricity rates have been structured to collect most revenue through volumetric charges.

Historically, some publicly owned utilities have had some modest fixed charges in addition to volumetric charges. For example, SMUD assesses a monthly fixed charge of $24 and LADWP assesses a monthly fixed charge of $12.

Until recently, however, state law has prohibited investorowned utilities from assessing fixed charges of more than $10 per month.

In practice, CPUC historically has not authorized

investorowned utilities to impose any fixed charges, in large part due to concerns that they could discourage electricity conservation.

The limited use of fixed charges in California contributes to the need to charge relatively high volumetric rates to meet utility revenue requirements.

Fixed Charges Now Allowed

Chapter 61 of 2022 (AB 205, Committee on Budget) modified state law to repeal the $10 limit on fixed charges and required CPUC to authorize fixed charges that vary by income for residential electricity rates. In accordance with Chapter 61, CPUC issued a decision in May 2024 that will impose some fixed charges on investorowned utilities’ customers starting in late 2025 or early 2026. Notably, the magnitude of these charges—roughly $24 per month for nonCARE customers and $6 per month for CARE customers—is roughly in line with the amounts charged by various POUs in the state. However, these new fixed charges are more modest than those originally proposed to CPUC by the investorowned utilities, which would

Although the specific reasons for California’s relatively high rates have not been precisely quantified, some of the key factors include: Significant and increasing wildfirerelated costs, the state’s ambitious greenhouse gas reduction programs and policies, and differences in utility operational structures and services territories.

have been as high as $128 per month for some higherincome households.

How Charges Vary

Electric utilities typically offer residential customers various options for rate structures, such as timeofuse rates and tiered rates.

A timeofuse rate plan includes volumetric charges that vary according to the time of day and season, with higher charges during “peak” hours when electricity is relatively scarce and lower charges “off peak” when electricity is relatively plentiful. This type of rate plan is intended to discourage households from using electricity when it is comparatively difficult and costly for LSEs to purchase.

In contrast, a tiered rate plan assesses different volumetric charges depending on the total amount of electricity used by the household, with the perunit charge increasing as a household uses more energy. This type of rate plan is intended to promote conservation by charging more for using substantial amounts of electricity. n

Many of these factors are particularly significant for customers of investorowned utilities (as compared to those served by publicly owned utilities.

Additionally, within a given utility, the rates that residential customers pay can vary widely.

This is largely due to California’s relatively robust costreduction programs for lowincome households and rooftop solar customers, which are subsidized by other ratepayers who do not qualify for those discounts.

Strains on Residents

High and increasing electricity rates add cost burdens to ratepayers across the state.

Many residents who earn lower incomes or live in hotter regions of the state are feeling these growing costs even more acutely.

High electricity rates also impede the state’s efforts to meet its ambitious climate goals by discouraging households from pursuing electrification through switching out their fossil fuelpowered cars and appliances.

Difficult Choices

Various emerging issues have the potential to affect residential electricity rates in California. These include the increasing stringency of the state’s greenhouse gas reduction reduction goals, growing demands for electricity in the state, and increasing wildfirerelated costs.

To the extent that these factors raise electricity rates, that will increase already high cost burdens on Californians and make meeting the state’s ambitious climate goals through electrification even more difficult.

Accordingly, the Legislature likely will confront difficult decisions about how to approach electricity rates in order to best support its varied goals, including balancing the desires to both mitigate and adapt to climate change as well as preserve affordability.

Issues That May Affect Electricity Rates & Legislative Decisions

Increasing Stringency of GHG Emission Reduction Requirements for Electricity Grid

Key decision: how to balance the state’s ambitious GHG reduction goals against the inevitable costs that will result for ratepayers.

Accommodating More Electricity Demand From Electrification.

Key decision: how to pay for the costs of the infrastructure required for electrification in ways that balance the state’s various goals. Growing Demands for Funding to Pay for Programs Aimed at Supporting State Climate Policies.

Key decision: how much of needed funding to meet statewide electrification goals should come from electricity rates versus other sources of state revenues (such as tax revenues).

Continuing Wildfire Related Costs.

Key decisions : how to balance the goals of reducing wildfire risks against costs to ratepayers, how to ensure utilities undertake the appropriate level and types of wildfire mitigation activities, and how wildfire mitigation activities should be funded.

Trade Offs Related to Fixed Charges for Investor Owned Utility Customers.

Key decisions: how to design rates in a way that encourages beneficial electricity use while limiting the cost burden on certain households, and what level of authority to grant to CPUC. n

To read the full report see https://lao.ca.gov/ Publications/Report/4950

NATIONAL NEWS

Panetta: Congress Should Reclaim Trade Powers

On March 27, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) authored and introduced the Reclaim Trade Powers Act which he said would ensure that Congress, not the Administration, has the final say on imposing broad tariffs.

HR 2459 was introduced ahead of

President Donald Trump’s plans to invoke widespread tariffs April 2 on U.S. trading partners to boost federal revenue and American manufacturers hurt by free trade deals that sent manufacturing offshore for decades.

The bill has four Democrat co-sponsors and a 1% chance of passing, according to Govtrack.us.

The Reclaim Trade Powers Act would strike Section 122 of the bipartisan Trade Act of 1974, which allows the President to impose sweeping 15% tariffs on all imports in the event of a so-called balance of payments crisis.

This provision, originally intended to address a scenario in which a nation’s currency is backed by a commodity or foreign currency, is no longer applicable since the United States is no longer on the gold standard, according to Panetta.

However this scenario is not mentioned in a 2024 analysis by Alan Wm. Wolff of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

The 1974 legislation passed 272-140 in the House on Dec. 11, 1974, and two days later 77-4 in the Senate.

The U.S. is importing $1.13 trillion more in gods and services than it is exporting.

This prompted the new Trump Administration to justify imposing tariffs based on trade imbalances.

Panetta claims the balance of payments authority has been mischaracterized to justify broad tariffs bypassing Congressional oversight. He sees his bill as closing a loophole. By repealing Section 122, the Reclaim Trade Powers Act would:

• Reclaim Congressional authority over trade powers;

• Restrict the Administration from unilaterally imposing broad, acrossthe-board tariffs without Congressional approval. n

Co-sponsors are: Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA01), Don Beyer (VA-08), Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Terri Sewell (AL-07).

Mother’s Day

Wesak — Taurus Buddha Full Moon Festival in the Himalayas

The full moon, Taurus Solar Buddha Wesak festival is occurring on Monday, May 12th. Disciples, Initiates, New Group of World Servers (NGWS), holy ones and pilgrims, as they do every year at this time, are travelling to the Himalayas for the Wesak (holy waters) Festival — when the Buddha, who enters the earth (etheric plane) for only eight minutes, distributes a blessing of Will and Love from the Father (God) to His children on Earth. It is a time when the light that transforms and uplifts streams into Earth from Taurus (22 degrees), the Sun and the Forces of Illumination.

This year 2025 is most important as the 100year Conclave, determining the timing of the World Teacher’s Reappearance, commences at the Festival.

The Hierarchy (inner spiritual world government), the Christ (World Teacher) and NGWS have been preparing since Winter solstice for Wesak. Those with inner sight will see (or dream of) the Festival — the mountains, the valley with a rock table at the north, a small stream to the right and pilgrims dressed in white, gathering around fires, chatting together. The sound of tinkling bells informs us some travelers have their goat and sheep herds nearby. It is a time of friendship,

ARIES

You are developing a greater awareness of self as you continue to experience personal, political, inner/ outer change. New ideas and revelations appear, coloring your experiences. A sense that a fire burns within, like a heart wanting to give warmth to the world. You feel bright and brilliant. You are. You’re responsible for providing this fire and ideas to the world waiting for inspiration. For truth, too. Are you ready?

TAURUS

Most likely you’re not going too many places these days. It’s possible your vehicle(s) is/are in need of something — a tune up, a checkup, air conditions, perhaps experiencing breakdowns, battery failure, or flat tires so you can’t go too far. A state of contemplativeness has entered your life and all you can accomplish is gardening, slow walks, reflection and hiding from events, phones and people. You’re a leader whether this is acknowledged or not. You’re in preparation for later use in the world.

GEMINI

Deeper revelations of divinity are occurring, in day dreams or possibly in sleep, and definitely they are about serving the world. Here is a mantra of intentions to recite each morning in meditation. Visualize yourself as part of the New Group of World Servers, reciting this daily. “I assume a new and fresh attitude of community and hold it during the hours of service which lie ahead each day. I guard with care all thoughts and speech. I call for those I will work with to stand with me and help build the new culture and civilization.” There’s more. When you ask for more.

CANCER

Slowly you are building a reputation and gaining strength, courage, self-recognition and achievements as you carefully turn around and re-enter the world. So often you’re hidden under a protective shell for safety and shelter. Trust of others can be difficult. Often you’re working toward goals we don’t see or understand — not until you share and offer them as nurturance, a nourishment that serves others. You’re ambitious but no one can tell. You’re a leader. And you hide this, too. We miss you often.

Risa D’Angeles

information exchanged, and an opportunity to work directly with the Hierarchy and the Christ in calling forth the Buddha.

The NGWS everywhere prepares for three days prior, some travel to the valley, all will be in meditation the night before (Sunday night), and Monday early morning. To participate it is suggested to place crystal bowls filled with pure water outside (under the stars and full moon) to absorb the blessings of the Buddha. This water is the “waters of life distributed to thirsty humanity” and all the kingdoms.

Just before the Buddha appears, the Great Ones with the NGWS perform sacred movements and recite mantric chants, which magnetize the Buddha. At the moment of the full moon, a crystal bowl of water is lifted and the Buddha is invoked with the words, “We are ready, Lord, Buddha!” And the Buddha appears, hands in a blessing, distributing that blessing from Shamballa.

“And so, at the Wesak Taurus solar festival, east and west, Buddha and Christ, Shamballa and Hierarchy, purpose and love are linked. And a blessing spreads over the World.” n

Follow along each day with astrological and festival events at Risa’s FB page and https://nightlightnews.org/daily-postings/

LEO

Restlessness often overtakes the fiery heart of Leos. They have ambitions that are hidden, hopes for recognition they hide too. Leos are leaders and warriors but only after great training. You need a change of environment, of scenery, perhaps a change in friendships. You also need to communicate what you’ve learned to those with curiosity and the ability to understand more expansive heart-centered ideas. In our daily morning meditations we thank our Teachers — past, present and those to come. You are a teacher in training.

VIRGO

You’re focused on the horizon with multiple goals. You have big ideas, as high as the mountaintop under which the coming Wesak festival takes place. You’re proud of what you know. When using your knowledge with humility, goodwill, right relations and right attitude, others learn from you. In turn you must want to learn, too. The information harbored in your lower mind must be turned into true knowledge, your love into wisdom. How, you ask?

LIBRA

There’s a sense you must enter just a bit deeper into life, perhaps by contemplating life changes, including the fact of death and dying — dying and regenerating like a phoenix in your most intimate relationships. Yours is the Path of the Harmonizer, going into battle with desires and aspiration, seeking the virtuous way, increasing the demand for change, compelling others to change also. Through harmony, which is a paradox. For rebirth to occur, something from the past must be relinquished. It’s a hurt you hold. It can be let go now. Forgiveness helps.

SCORPIO

As we grow older, our true self emerges. This is the Soul part of ourselves, a five-pointed star above our heads, always gazing at our personality selves, waiting waiting waiting. I remember my art teacher telling me, a young art student, “As we age we become more of our rising sign.” I didn’t understand her. But I do now. The inner essence of our rising sign shows us our Soul’s purpose and as we grow in age and experience, our Soul comes forth to direct our personality. This becomes our foundation. We become a soul-infused personality!

SAGITTARIUS

You’re proud of your family, history, lineage, heritage, your religion and early education. These constitute your hidden and private life. You are careful with your privacy. Only those you trust may enter and know the true you. Only those you trust can come close. There are people in your life who learn to be trustworthy from you. They sense trust is something based on truth, ethics, understanding and knowing you will work for the good of both self and others. Are you trustworthy?

CAPRICORN

Be very careful with thoughts, communication and actions. Don’t go too fast. You will miss something. Communication can be difficult and misunderstandings occur — Neptune in Aries is calling you to refine your communication. To not leave anyone out. Begin each day with intentions to think and speak with a loving heart. This cultivates a joy that brings strength, courage, revelations and great creative ability. For gardening follow the biodynamic planting guide. Plant borage, bergamot, edible flowers and a fig tree.

AQUARIUS

You feel restless perhaps. More than ready to make changes in your home and the way you live and work. You sense a deep need for independence. This is how you must move about in your world. It’s important to be flexible, adaptable and to have mental agility allowing you to communicate clearly to everyone who comes your way. New values, a shift in resources and a deep need for nesting appears. Pray to the devas for what you need. And determine, in advance, how you will participate in holidays with others.

PISCES

As a child, as a Pisces, living underwaters, not understanding form and matter, it was difficult to experience, know, create or even understand solid secure foundations. As an adult, and still a Pisces, a secure foundation is most necessary. However, it’s difficult often for Pisces to build it. Begin by identifying what you value, what you love and need and what is beauty to you in terms of a home, land, village. Gradually over time, you have psychologically become the solid and secure foundation you always sought. Summon daily what you need. Make ready as it will appear!

“Luggage” from page 23

Are there better options than checking luggage at the hotel? Yes, says Markus Feller, CEO of Like Magic, a hotel guest and operations platform. Look for properties specializing in luggage storage that offer cardless entry systems: Mobile keys and automated PIN-based locks.

“Unlike your traditional keycards, which can be easily lost or cloned, mobile keys generate unique, time-sensitive codes directly onto the guest’s smartphone that expire after check-out,” he says “That significantly reduces the chances of unauthorized access.”

Context is everything when it comes to luggage security. For example, I recently spent a few days in Doha, Qatar. I needed to store my luggage before my next flight and entrusted it to a hotel that had very little security. I could walk into the storage area and take whatever I wanted.

Was I worried? Not really. Doha is one of the safest places on Earth. In the unlikely event that someone tries to steal your luggage, there’s a good chance it will be quickly retrieved. I wasn’t concerned for a minute. In other places, not so much.

But perhaps the best way to ensure your luggage stays safe is to keep it with you. (I know, I know. Thanks, Captain Obvious!) But it’s often overlooked. Pack lightly and put your valuables in wearable luggage like a ScotteVest travel jacket, and you won’t have to worry about someone pilfering your luggage. Because there will be nothing to pilfer. n

••• Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can email him at chris@elliott.org. Illustration by Dustin Elliott

Context is everything when it comes to luggage security. For example, I recently spent a few days in Doha, Qatar. I needed to store my luggage before my next flight and entrusted it to a hotel that had very little security. I could walk into the storage area and take whatever I wanted.

Was I worried? Not really. Doha is one of the safest places on Earth. In the unlikely event that someone tries to steal your luggage, there’s a good chance it will be quickly retrieved. I wasn’t concerned for a minute. In other places, not so much.

Big Year Ahead: SqCWD Rolls Out Key Capital Improvement Projects

Investments in Water Quality, Reliability, and Infrastructure Resilience

Ensuring a safe, clean, and reliable water supply for our community is a year-round commitment for the Soquel Creek Water District — and 2025 will be a particularly productive year as several critical Capital Improvement Projects take center stage. These projects reflect the District’s continued investment in modern infrastructure, proactive planning, and long-term water sustainability.

With a strong focus on replacing aging pipelines, upgrading treatment facilities, and meeting new State water quality regulations, each of these projects is a step toward future-proofing our water system. As our community grows and regulatory standards evolve, we are working diligently to ensure that every drop of water delivered to customers meets the highest standards of quality and reliability.

The design of the project will be complete this June, and construction is expected to start late 2025/early 2026. This work is partially funded by a U.S. EPA Community Grant, which supports infrastructure upgrades that improve system resilience and water delivery.

Down in Capitola Village, the District identified a critical need to replace an aging 6-inch cast-iron water main following a main break in August 2024 on Monterey Avenue . The new project, designed in-house and finalized in February 2025, will install an 8-inch PVC main to ensure a reliable water supply in this high-pressure zone. Construction is scheduled to begin after Labor Day.

Here’s an overview of the major projects breaking ground or progressing through design this year and into the near future — each one contributing to a stronger, safer water supply for the people of Aptos, Capitola, and beyond.

Water Main Replacements

The Moosehead Main Replacement Project will address aging and undersized pipelines with new 6-inch PVC piping on Moosehead Drive and Winfield Way in Aptos, to help ensure reliable water delivery.

This proactive replacement of aging and undersized pipelines helps avoid future emergency repairs and service disruptions, reinforcing the District’s preventive maintenance philosophy.

Cunnison-Tannery Centralized Water Treatment Plant

A critical part of the District’s long-range infrastructure strategy, the Cunnison-Tannery Centralized WTP is currently in the design phase, with design completion anticipated by July 2025. Construction is anticipated to begin in Winter 2026.

This project will modernize and centralize treatment of groundwater from both the Cunnison and Tannery wells, replacing

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

an aging treatment system at the Tannery site.

By combining treatment for both wells into a single facility, the District is achieving significant capital cost savings. The facility will use advanced treatment to remove iron and manganese and is partially funded through an Implementation Grant awarded to the Mid-County Groundwater Agency.

Cunnison-Tannery Centralized Water Treatment Plant Pipeline

Construction is underway on a key pipeline project that will support future water treatment operations throughout the District. The Cunnison-Tannery Centralized WTP Pipeline began construction in April 2025 and is expected to be completed by June.

This new pipeline will convey groundwater from the Cunnison well to the future centralized treatment facility located at the Tannery site. In addition to its primary

function, the project will add a treated water service and a new fire hydrant at the Cunnison well site, improving both water quality and fire protection infrastructure.

New Treatment Plant to Protect Public Health

In response to new State regulations on hexavalent chromium (Cr VI), the District is taking decisive action to ensure compliance.

Hexavalent chromium is a naturally occurring metal found in the Aromas Aquifer, which spans underground from Aptos to the Pajaro Valley.

A new maximum contaminant level for Cr VI went into effect in October 2024. The District has since completed a pilot study to evaluate cost-effective treatment methods and is now designing a permanent treatment plant at its Bonita well site.

“Capital Improvement” page 30

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SOQUEL HIGH SPRING EVENTS

May 7 — Choir pop concert

May 10 — Spring music concert

May 22 — Senior awards

May 23 — Multicultural Graduation

May 30 — Graduation at 10am in stadium https://www.soquel.sccs.net/calendars

SUPERVISOR KIM DE SERPA OFFICE HOURS

County Supervisor Kim De Serpa invites residents to attend her upcoming office hours, providing an opportunity for community members to share concerns, ask questions, and discuss local issues directly with their County Supervisor.

These open sessions provide residents with an opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and engage directly with their District 2 representative. Office hours will be held at the following locations:

Wednesday May 7: 3-5 p.m. — South County Service Center, 790 Green Valley Road, Watsonville Wednesday, May 13: 2–4 p.m. — Corralitos CalFire Station, 120 Eureka Canyon Road. (Please note: This is a rescheduled date and time for the Corralitos office hours originally planned for April 24.)

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

“These office hours are an important way to hear directly from the community,” said De Serpa. “I look forward to meeting with residents and working together to address their concerns and priorities.”

For more information or to reserve a specific time to meet with Supervisor De Serpa, contact her office at second.district@ santacruzcountyca.gov.

CAREALERT FOR LOVED ONES

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office CAREalert program aims to enhance the safety and well-being of individuals with special needs by providing law enforcement officers with critical information during emergency responses. By registering loved ones with special needs, community members can help make information available to officers, such as specific limitations, communication preferences, and potential triggers. This proactive approach helps to prevent misunderstandings and enables law enforcement to provide individuals with the appropriate care and support during interactions when appropriate and when this information is available. Register at https://carealert.santacruzcountyca.gov/

SOQUEL/HARBOR HIGH WELLNESS CENTERS OPEN

Santa Cruz City Schools has opened two new on-campus hubs for mental health, support and resources at Soquel High and Harbor High. A Wellness Center is a welcoming place on campus to connect with social emotional counselors.

The Soquel High Wellness Center opened April 1 and the Harbor High Wellness Center opened on April 2.

The Santa Cruz High Wellness Center is expected to open next year.

Wellness Centers simplify access to support for students, providing a door that is always open. Furthermore, the centers will be staffed by a “Wellness Navigator,” trained to guide students through the process of finding whatever support they need. Wellness Centers are also a place to find resources for mental health, sexual health, substance abuse and more.

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

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

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

Santa Cruz Student Services Director Casey O’Brien describes Soquel High’s temporary Wellness Center, which opened last fall, as a huge success with students.

“The response we have seen has been really incredible,” said O’Brien. “It has streamlined the process of connecting students with whatever help they need.”

There is excitement throughout the counseling departments to have a permanent home for these services, adds O’Brien.

APTOS PUBLIC LIBRARY EVENTS

May 1 • 5-6 p.m. — Friends of the Aptos Library Meeting Julia Lupton, Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at UC Irvine, dramaturg for UCI’s New Swan Summer Festival.

Readings: Act 2, Scenes 1 & 2; Act 3, Scene 1

During the 2nd hour volunteers will read aloud part of the play.

During the final session a film will be presented. For information, Zoom link or to be a reader, contact: saturdayshakespeare@gmail.com

May 7 • 6-8 p.m. — Positive Discipline Workshop for Parents of 2- to 5-year-olds.

Connect with other parents through this interactive and engaging parent educational series to become an effective parent.

Saturdays

Saturday Shakespeare • 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

May 3 — A Midsummer Night’s Dream Second Saturdays Meditation for Stress Relief and Increased Energy 3-5 p.m.

Feeling stressed or low on energy? Join a rejuvenating meditation session led by Harsha Golla, a certified mindfulness meditation instructor with over a decade of experience. Whether you’re new to meditation or looking to deepen your practice, this program is designed for everyone! What to Expect:

• 5-minute Breath-work: Learn simple breathing techniques to calm your mind and body instantly.

• 20-minute Guided Meditation: Experience a gentle, easy-to-follow meditation that will leave you feeling centered and energized.

• Habit-Building Strategies: Discover practical tips to integrate mindfulness into your daily routine for lasting benefits.

Harsha has been practicing meditation since 2011 and regularly leads group sessions at the Aptos Library.

His teaching style is approachable and supportive, making it easy for participants of all levels to enjoy.

CAUCUS SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE

The nonprofit California Legislative Central Coast Caucus Foundation announces the opening of this year’s Central Coast Impact Scholarship application for students from five counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura.

Application deadline: May 31.

A personal statement on higher education is required, along with a short biography, resume, transcript, and two letters of recommendation. Past winners can re-apply.

“Reflecting on the success of the inaugural Central Coast Impact Scholarship, we are proud to continue supporting students from Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. Hearing from past recipients about how this scholarship has positively influenced their educational journeys and community involvement reaffirms our commitment to investing in our region’s future leaders,” said Foundation Chair Dawn Addis (Assemblymember, D-Morro Bay).

Interested candidates can apply by visiting CLCCCF.org, where details about the scholarship criteria and application process are available.

CALL FOR NATIVE AMERICAN ARTISTS

Seeking Native American/Indigenous artists for the upcoming Native Arts Market in Aptos on June 21.

The event will be free to the public. Looking for artists working in original contemporary or traditional art to participate.

Interested Native artists call Becky Olvera Schultz at 831-295-7562.

COUNTY FAIR BOARD MEETINGS

The Santa Cruz County Fair Board will meet most months

CAPITOLA BEACH FESTIVAL’S 7TH ANNUAL LIGHTED NAUTICAL PARADE

Calling All Float Builders!

Capitola Beach Festival is seeking float builders for its 7th annual Lighted Nautical Parade on Soquel Creek. This enchanting event will take place on Saturday, September 27, and invites participants to embrace the theme of “Vacation Snapshots.”

Parade Details — The parade is a wonderful opportunity for nonprofits, businesses, families, friends, and neighbors to showcase their creativity.

Whether you opt for high-tech decorations such as computer-generated LEDs or choose a more traditional approach with cardboard and holiday lights, every float will reflect beautifully on the water.

Float Assembly and Specifications — The Beach Festival provides an 8x12 foot barge and a designated site where participants can assemble their floats on the day of the parade.

This ensures that every builder has a solid foundation and ample space to bring their creative visions to life.

A Chance to Win — The parade offers more than just a chance to shine; it also includes a competition with cash prizes for the top three floats.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will receive cash donations for their favorite nonprofit organizations, making this event not only fun but also impactful.

Get Involved — To sign up for the parade, interested participants can contact Capitola Beach Festival via email at capitolabeachfestival@gmail.com.

For more details about the event, visit capitolabeachfestival.com.

Capitola Beach Festival’s 7th annual Lighted Nautical Parade promises an unforgettable evening of creativity, community, and celebration.

at 1:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday in the Heritage Building at the fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Blvd., Watsonville.

Upcoming Meetings: May 27, June 24, July 22, Aug. 26, and Oct. 28; none in September. Dates in November and December have not yet been decided. For agendas, posted 10 days in advance, see santacruzcountyfair.com

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays

BRIDGE CLUB

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

The Aptos Branch Library hosts Bridge Club sessions on Mondays (except holidays).

Bridge Club is a partnership between Santa Cruz County Parks and Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Register at scparks.com or in-person the day of the event.

Fourth Mondays

READING POEMS TOGETHER: LUNCHTIME LEARNING

Noon – 1 p.m., Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Road Come join a community of readers who meet each month at Capitola Library to hear poetry and discuss its curious powers.

Participants will read poems from a selected poet and share reactions. Discussions are facilitated by three Aptos poets: Paola Bruni, Elaine Fletcher Chapman, and Jessica Cohn Registration encouraged. Walk-ins welcome.

Tuesdays

EL MERCADO FARMERS MARKET

3-7 p.m., 61 Crestview Drive, Watsonville El Mercado is a weekly farmers’ market promoting access to fresh produce and wellness resources for Pajaro Valley families.

Due to construction at Ramsay Park, El Mercado has moved to 61 Crestview Drive, Watsonville (in the lot behind Watsonville Health Center).

Open through October, El Mercado features fresh produce, ready-to-eat foods, local artisans and monthly family events. El Mercado also offers health screenings, vaccine clinics, and community resources in partnership with local nonprofits.

Funding for El Mercado was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.

Fourth Tuesdays

BOOKS & BITES COOKING CLASSES

6 p.m., Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St Suite 100 In partnership with the Watsonville Public Library, the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley will offer Books and Bites Fourth every month at the Watsonville Library.

You’ll cook alongside a Registered Dietitian, learn healthy recipes, and enjoy delicious, freshly prepared meals — all while receiving bite-sized, easy-to-digest information.

Topics:

Tuesday, May 27 – Vegetable Fideo Free to the community! All are welcome.

Info: https://pvhealthtrust.org/books-and-bites/

Last Wednesdays of the Month

PV HEALTH CARE DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS

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

PARENT/CAREGIVER MENTAL HEALTH SEMINARS

5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Online Meeting

Dr. Ramona Friedman of the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Soquel will be hosting a free Parent Drop-in Zoom session. Parents and caregivers are

Kim De Serpa

invited to log on and ask questions to Dr. Friedman about youth mental health issues, challenges, and ideas.

Parent Drop-Ins are free, 1-hour sessions where parents can seek guidance from experts specializing in specific mental health disorders. Parents can also connect with others facing similar challenges.

Clinical psychologists who specialize in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidality, and medication, experienced youth mental health experts, host each session. For more info, visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/ parent-drop-in-soquel-ca/247794

Thursdays

HAPPY HOUR

5-7 p.m., California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Drive, Aptos California Coffee in Redwood Village hosts an open mic happy hour every week.

Third Thursdays

SIP AND STROLL

6-9 p.m. (check-in starts at 5 p.m.), Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos

Come to the Seacliff Inn: Tapestry Collection by Hilton, for a Sip & Stroll event where local artists to show and sell their works. Wines are 30% off, and the featured winery will offer tastings of three varietals for $10 per person.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wine30-sip-strolltickets-668910307737

Fridays (except First Friday of the Month)

LA SELVA BEACH LIBRARY BRIDGE GROUP

10:30-Noon, La Selva Beach Public Library, 316 Estrella Ave. Come for bridge from 10:30 to noon at the La Selva Beach library.

Call La Selva Library to reserve your seat: 831-427-7710.

Saturdays

SATURDAY SHAKESPEARE

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

Second Saturdays

First Saturdays

CAPITOLA BEACH CLEANUP

9-10 a.m., Esplanade Park

Help preserve and maintain the coastal beauty of Capitola. Join a beach cleanup every month at Esplanade Park. Keep Capitola Salty is a grassroots movement dedicated to responsible efforts helping to maintain and preserve the environment, scenic beauty and coastal recreational activities of Capitola. This movement is always looking for volunteers. Email KeepCapitolaSalty@gmail.com.

Second Saturdays

HISTORICAL AIRCRAFT DISPLAY

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Watsonville Municipal Airport, 100 Aviation Way Watsonville Municipal Airport hosts a Historical Aircraft

Display every second Saturday. Admission is free.

Third Sundays

MONTEREY BAY AREA CACTUS AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY

12 p.m., Corralitos Grange Hall #487, 165 Little Corral Way, Watsonville

The nonprofit Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society meets every third Sunday at Corralitos Grange Hall. The society contributes to the study and cultivation of succulents, cacti and other drought-tolerant plants. Monthly meetings include displays of plants and plant raffles. Meetings are on the third Sunday of each month with the exception of the Spring and Fall Show and Sales months (announced on the website).

New members to club meetings will receive a complimentary plant. All are welcome!

For information, contact Mary at (831) 229-3289 or e-mail crossmarylouise@gmail.com. Visit mbsucculent.org for more information.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

WOMENCARE VIRTUAL FILMFEST FUNDRAISER

Wednesday May 7 thru Sunday May 11

Last year, WomenCare launched a local alternative to the beloved Lumafest — and it was a great success! Building on that momentum, this year, all four films in the 2025 virtual filmfest fundraiser were donated by the filmmakers and are by and about women. Proceeds go to WomenCare to support women facing cancer. Here is the 2025 lineup:

Shoreline (36 minutes) Director Carina Raffaelli — A grieving young artist rescues a strange girl from drowning and can’t seem to let her go.

Love in the Time of Migration (21 minutes) Documentary by Erin Semine Kökdil & Chelsea Abbas — The Doctumentary follows Ronny and Suly’s love story as one of sacrifice, commitment, and faith. Suly considers migrating to the US to be with Ronny but Ronny decides to voluntarily return to Guatemala after 12 years of living in the U.S.

Public Defender (photo) (50 minutes) Director Andrea Kalin — Heather Shaner, a feisty public defender in Washington, D.C., gets a call asking her to represent some of the Jan. 6, 2021 rioters. She accepts a caseload of nonviolent offenders and is surprised when her disdain for the rioters eases.

First Date (11 minutes) Director Carly Usdin (based on a true story) — Visiting friends in Los Angeles, Atlanta native Anna matches with Jennifer on Bumble. They’re unable to meet, but weeks later begin a flirtatious text conversation which leads to an epic first date: Jennifer flying across the country to attend a wedding as Anna’s guest.

Tickets are $25-$40 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womencare-virtual-filmfest-fundraiser-2025-tickets-1288712877909

DATED EVENTS

Thursday May 1

MONTEREY BAY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP: REGIONAL OUTLOOK

8 a.m.–4 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos MBEP, which turns 10 this year, hosts the 2025 Regional Economic Outlook at Seascape Golf Club. Delve into key insights and perspectives on the economic landscape of Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties. This year’s keynote address and economic outlook will be provided by Jon Haveman, executive director, National Economic Education Delegation and an expert on trade policy, followed by a discussion with veteran political consultant Mike Madrid based on his latest book, The Latino Century.

Learn about the regional work being done across the Central Coast and Monterey Bay by: Uplift Central Coast, Regions Rise Together, and Monterey Bay Tech Hub. Additional speakers to be announced.

Registration is $119 for members, $149 early bird through April 11 at www.mbep.biz/events/2025-regional-economic-outlook

Sunday May 4

ART & SPIRIT CLOSING RECEPTION

2-4 p.m., Pajaro Valley Arts Gallery, 37 Sudden St., Watsonville

Pajaro Valley Arts Gallery’s Art & Spirit exhibition, featuring renowned sculptor and educator Coeleen Kiebert, will hold it’s closing reception on the final day of the show.

With a master’s degree from UC Santa Cruz, Kiebert works out of Rio del Mar in ceramic and bronze and, for 40 years, has taught the psychology of the creative process.

The exhibition is curated by Joan Blackmer.

Wednesday May 7

COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ CAREER FAIR

4-7 p.m., Watsonville Civic Plaza Community Room (4th floor), 275 Main St.

Looking for a rewarding career? Come to the County of Santa Cruz Career Fair at the Watsonville Civic Plaza Community Room.

Meet department representatives from across the County, explore exciting job opportunities, and learn how you can make a difference in your community. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking for a new opportunity, this is your chance to connect, ask questions, and take the next step toward a fulfilling career!

For current job vacancies see: www.santacruzcountyjobs.com

Friday May 9

2025 SANTA CRUZ SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT

8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Cabrillo College’s Samper Recital Hall, 6500 Soquel Dr, Aptos

Experience the pulse of Santa Cruz County’s vibrant entrepreneurial scene at the Annual Small Business Summit at Cabrillo College’s Samper Recital Hall in Aptos.

Presented by the Santa Cruz County Small Business Development Center at Cabrillo College, this daylong conference with the region’s most

accomplished business professionals, innovative entrepreneurs, and industry trailblazers. Keynote speaker is Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley. Networking opportunities.

Registration is $39 at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/2025-santa-cruz-county-small-businesssummit-tickets-1299679459249. Save 30% - Code: SBDCSBS30 https://www.santacruzsmallbusinesssummit.com

HEALTH FAIR

2-6 p.m., Watsonville City Plaza, 358 Main St. Community Health Trust’s annual Health Fair will be at Watsonville City Plaza.

This event offers health information, screenings, and a variety of community resources for FREE!

The goal is to create awareness of health and wellness resources in the Pajaro Valley, increase equitable access to health services, and empower individuals to take care of their well-being.

For information contact Development@pvhealthtrust.org.

Saturday May 10

RUN SHE IS BEAUTIFUL

Race Start 8:15 a.m., Near the corner of Bay St. and Lighthouse Dr., Santa Cruz

Registration is open for Run She is Beautiful 5K and 10K race in Santa Cruz with a course along West Cliff Drive. Roads will be closed on the Westside with no-parking zones for the race.

Registration fee: $53+ processing fees, benefit for Walnut Avenue Women’s Center.

See https://runsheisbeautiful.com/events/she-is-beautiful-santacruz/

SECOND PITCH-IN ALL-COUNTY CLEANUP DAY

The second Pitch In Initiative plans an all-county cleanup day’s goal is to raise awareness of litter and illegal dumping. Pitch In Signs can be seen at beaches, trail heads, city and county parks, Libraries, County Office buildings, Metro stops and other locations.

They are working with schools and many non-profit partners to expand participation and help achieve their goal to Make Santa Cruz the cleanest county in the state!

This is good for business, tourism, and the health and well-being of our human and wildlife communities. Check their county-hosted website pitchinsantacruz.org. Businesses can participate by hosting a cleanup, or offering samples, discounts, two-for-one coupons or other incentives for youth-led clean ups, and to encourage clients and employees to pitch in.

Pitch In signs and window decals are available. Visit https:// pitchinsantacruz.org for more info.

WALK OF REMEMBRANCE FOR CHINESE FISHING COMMUNITY

11 a.m., Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, 165 Forest Ave Walk begins 1 p.m.

The Walk of Remembrance is an annual journey through history, paying tribute to the Chinese Fishing Village at Point Alones and the vital role its community played in shaping Pacific Grove and all of Monterey County.

Bond Projects Underway: Starting School Facilities Improvements

By Scott J. Turnbull, Superintendent, Soquel Union Elementary School District

Last November, our community came together and made a bold statement about the importance of education and the future of our local schools. With the passage of Measure P on Nov. 5, 2024, voters approved $73 million in funding for much-needed school facility improvements throughout our district. As we shared earlier this year, this investment will help ensure our schools remain safe, modern, and ready to serve our community and generations of students to come.

Today, we’re excited to share that the first wave of projects is officially underway.

These improvements represent more than just bricks and mortar — they reflect the trust and confidence our community has placed in our schools, staff, and students. We are deeply grateful to our voters for their overwhelming support, and we’re committed to using these dollars responsibly and transparently.

Our first official Measure P project was security perimeter fencing at Main Street Elementary School . Similar fencing will

“Capital Improvement” from page 27

This new plant will treat water from three wells that exceed the new Cr VI MCL using a reduction-coagulationfiltration process—the same trusted method used throughout the District to remove iron and manganese. We reached the 50% design milestone in April of this year, with final design anticipated by January 2026. Construction is slated to

ultimately be installed at all four of our school sites. We prioritized Main Street based on the school’s programs and specific student safety needs.

You may have also noticed that construction fencing has gone up around New Brighton Middle School in preparation for the construction of a modern, all-weather field and track! This project is actually the result of matching state funds afforded to us by our last general obligation bond, Measure C, in 2016.

The work we’re beginning now lays the groundwork for future long-term success. These early projects are just the first step in our broader commitment to ensure that every school in our district is safe, welcoming, and built to serve both current and future generations of students. Our schools will also continue to be resources for our broader community.

In determining how to allocate the $73 million from Measure P, the district prioritized equity and assessed each school’s facility needs, factoring in age, condition, location, enrollment, and site-specific considerations. Public input also played a key role in shaping the plan.

The approved estimated allocations are: Soquel Elementary ($22 million), Main Street Elementary ($11 million), Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary ($16 million), New Brighton Middle School ($20 million), and $4 million dedicated to Child Nutrition Services and districtwide technology infrastructure.

The following is a brief summary of the

begin in March 2026 and conclude by September 2027.

The District will explore potential outside funding sources to help offset project costs, as compliance with the new regulations is currently an unfunded state mandate.

These projects represent a forwardthinking investment in our water system’s safety, reliability, and sustainability. Soquel Creek Water District

types of projects that are projected to occur at our schools:

Soquel Elementary, serving 338 students in grades TK–5, will see modernization of its historic building, roof repairs, a new artificial field and jogging track, enhanced security fencing, a shade structure, ADA-compliant upgrades, restrooms for transitional kindergarten classrooms, and a redesigned office to better serve families.

fencing, ADA upgrades, and a reconfigured administration area designed to better serve students and families.

Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary, home to 227 TK–5 students, will benefit from a modernized building, roof replacement, synthetic field and track, new amphitheater and shade structure, improved security fencing, additional staff parking, and ADA upgrades.

Main Street Elementary , with 385 students in grades TK–5, will receive a new artificial turf field with a jogging track, an amphitheater, roof and window replacements, updated security fencing, new shade structures, and ADA improvements.

New Brighton Middle School , serving 581 students in grades 6–8, will receive a new synthetic field and multilane track, a renovated library and science building, updated breezeways, enhanced

remains committed to ensuring that our infrastructure meets current needs while preparing for future challenges—because water is not just a resource, it’s a lifeline.

Residents can stay informed about project timelines and any construction impacts through the District’s website. As always, the District appreciates the community’s support and patience as it works to build a stronger, more resilient water system. n

Community support for our schools is about more than just facility upgrades. It’s a commitment to equity, opportunity, and pride in our neighborhoods. Strong schools benefit everyone, whether or not you have a student currently enrolled, by strengthening property values, supporting local jobs, and creating a shared sense of progress.

We are proud to take this next step with the community’s partnership. And while we’ve only just begun, the promise of Measure P is already becoming a reality. n

To learn more about current and upcoming Measure P projects, visit www.suesd.org/measure-p.

Editor’s note: The Soquel Union Elementary School District hosted a groundbreaking April 30 for its $5 million bond project to renovate New Brighton Middle School’s track and field.

These projects represent a forwardthinking investment in our water system’s safety, reliability, and sustainability. Soquel Creek Water District remains committed to ensuring that our infrastructure meets current needs while preparing for future challenges—because water is not just a resource, it’s a lifeline.

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Featured Pet

Copy Cat

Meet sweet-talking Ditta (A319871), the newest Chatty Kathy purr-ading around the shelter.

Ditta came to us from her previous home, where she lived with a variety of animals, including other cats and dogs. We do not have details about her specific setup, as Ditta’s conversations with staff have been mostly small-talk, lots of meows, chirps, and purrs.

We anticipate Ditta would do well in a variety of indoor homes, so long as she has a grace period to acclimate and adjust to her new family.

If you are looking for a confident, talkative new family member, put one foot in front of the other and march on down to meet Ditta.

Ditta’s adoption fee is decreased by $20 thanks to the Shelly’s Angels Fund — a fund that draws adopter’s eyes towards often overlooked senior cats. •••

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is full of adoptable animals. Fostering animals is an awesome way to improve a Shelter animal’s life and fill your home with love and fun! If you are interested in fostering any kind of animal please email jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us. You can also Follow SCCAS on Instagram and/or Facebook to stay up-to-date on shelter news and where to find adoptable pets around town at breweries, stores and events. All adoptions are first come, first served.

Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 • Hours: Daily 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Arrive before 4 p.m. for “meet and greet”)

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

Website: www.scanimalshelter.org

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

Nonprofit of the Year: Homeless Garden Project

The Homeless Garden Project has been selected as a 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-28).

vative and holistic program that offers so many community benefits, hand-in-hand.

Mother’s Day

© Statepoint Media

Now in its tenth year, the California Nonprofit of the Year initiative provides the opportunity for each California state legislator to recognize a nonprofit organization doing outstanding work in their district. The program culminates with a celebratory luncheon at the Capitol on California Nonprofits Day, which this year is May 21.

We are deeply humbled to be recognized by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin as a 2025 Nonprofit of the Year,” Ganzhorn said.

Founded in 1990, the Homeless Garden Project provides job training, transitional employment and support services to people experiencing homelessness — and operates a vibrant community education and volunteer program for the broader community.

The programs operate in Homeless Garden Project’s 3.5-acre organic farm, two retail stores and online.

Founder and Executive Director Darrie Ganzhorn says over the last 10 years, 95% of Homeless Garden Project graduates obtained jobs in the community and 88% of graduates secured housing.

“For 35 years, the Homeless Garden Project community has been ‘Planting Seeds and Transforming Lives’ through our inno-

“Calendar” from page 29

Led by local historians and descendants, this powerful story sheds light on the resilience, contributions, and injustices faced by early Chinese immigrants in Monterey Bay and reminds attendees that the descendants are still here, still doing incredible things, and still facing many of the same issues with racism and vitriol their forebearers did.

As visitors walk the path of history, they will gain a deeper understanding of the people who built and sustained an essential fishing industry that has fueled not just Monterey County but the entire United States for well over a century.

Hosted by Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Tuesday May 13

CAPITOLA SOROPTIMIST CLUB MEETS

4 p.m., United Way of Santa Cruz County, 4450 Capitola Road, Suite 106

Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea will meet at United Way of Santa Cruz County. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Members will elect FY 2025-26 officers, complete plans for the Region Conference, and hear a report about the Dream It, Be It program on April 26.

Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training to achieve economic empowerment.

Soroptimist is a coined Latin phrase meaning Best for Women.

For more information, visit t www.best4women.org, or email

Geoff Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits, said the recognition was well-deserved.

He also said, “Nonprofits are not just innovators and problem-solvers, but also a major economic force within the state,” said Green.

“Causes Count,” a 2019 report commissioned by CalNonprofits, found the nonprofit sector is the 4th largest industry in the state, employing more than 1.2 million people and generating more than $273 billion in revenue annually.

Unpaid labor contributed by volunteers at nonprofits is equivalent to 330,000 fulltime jobs a year. n

For info, see https://homelessgardenproject.org/

Saturday May 17

VWS IN THE VILLAGE

7 a.m.-4 p.m., Capitola Village VDUBs in the Village, an air-cooled VW event, is planned to take place in Capitola Village.

Organizers have reserved the village for the day to accommodate over 200 vintage Volkswagens (up to 1979) to park throughout the streets of the village. Live bands will perform on the Capitola Village beach stage. Check out all the different VWs on display, walk on the beach, check out the restaurants, shop at the boutiques, grab something cold at the ice cream parlor, and play some games in the arcade.

• Arrive between 6:30-9am to get parked. The streets within the village area will be closed off to any moving vehicles by 9:45 am.

• You must register your VW to park your Volkswagen in the Capitola Village. Register for $40-$100 at https:// www.vdublicious.com/village.

• Your registration is good for “1 VW” parked in the Capitola Village.

• Walk ins and general admission — free.

• No pop-ups or canopies by your car. Chairs & umbrellas are ok.

• Note — Pop-ups, chairs & umbrellas are ok on the beach.

Saturday May 24

HOLLYWOOD HISTORY

3 p.m., Aptos Public Library, 7695 Soquel Dr. Aptos History Museum presents: “When Hollywood Came to Aptos” at Aptos Library. More information to come. n