Capitola / Soquel Times March 2012

March 2012

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

Vol 17 No. 3

Serving Central Santa Cruz County

2012 TPG Poetry Contest Winners

he Times Publishing Valentines Day Poetry Contest for 2012 was an opportunity to reward local poets (and their sweethearts) from Capitola/Soquel with the ultimate romantic reward – Dinner for two at Michael’s on Main.

Our readers once again proved just how romantic a place Santa Cruz County truly is! Poems entered in the 2012 TPG Valentines Day Poetry Contest were steamy, passionate, funny, touching, and (of course) romantic.

Poets from all over took the time to compose and submit their odes of love expressing love and affection for their special valentines. Once again, our staff had the difficult task of selecting the winner for each of our three newspapers.

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Paul Meyerhofer, Pilot Plant Project Manager, explains operations.

By Noel Smith o Desal or not to Desal, that is the question. The Santa Cruz Water Department and the Soquel Creek Water District believe that is the most rational option to ensure an adequate, consistent water supply for the future. They have formed

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Capitola Target to Open in July 200 future employees

DESALINATION

a partnership known as scwd2 to pursue a regional seawater desalination program. A pilot plant at UCSC’s Long Marine lab facility has already addressed the technical issues of seawater intake, brine disposal, and quality of the water produced.

The results of all this testing can be found on the scwd2

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website, www.scwd2desal.org along with an explanation of why desalination is considered the best long-term choice for additional supply.

Why is more water needed? alifornia is subject to droughts. In the late 70’s Santa Cruz County suffered a three-year drought, but there

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Fourth Annual Prom Dress Drive

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THE ‘WHY’

Water Wars – Part One

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have been documented periods of little rain lasting five years and longer. Without a new and reliable water supply, such protracted dry spells would seriously affect our local economy, environment, and quality of life.

Welcome to the new Capitola Police Chief

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Locally owned & operated www.TPGonlinedaily.com

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CommunityBriefs

Caltrans Awards $11 Million in Grant to Local Public Transit SACRAMENTO — Caltrans has awarded nearly $203 million in grants to improve public transit across California.

More than 80 projects will upgrade transit service, purchase ecofriendly buses, modernize transit stations and create jobs throughout the state.

The grants are funded through Proposition 1B, the 2006 voterapproved transportation bond, which is providing $3.6 billion over a ten-year period to improve public transit in California.

“These projects are a direct investment in our state’s public transit system and will help energize California’s economy,” said Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Not only will these projects help create jobs, they will also reduce traffic congestion, clean the air, and provide Californians an alternative to rising gas prices.”

The local project awarded Proposition 1B funding: • $11 million to the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District for a Metro Base Operations Facility.

• To date, Proposition 1B has funded $1.34 billion in transit projects.

2 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

For a comprehensive list of all projects that received transit grants in this funding cycle, please visit: www.dot.ca.gov/docs/Prop1BTransitProjectsFe bruary2012.pdf ••• Central Fire District Receives $200,000 Grant for SCBAs n Assistance to Firefighters Grant was awarded this year to Central Fire protection District from FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. The grant is in the amount of $222,163. The funds will be used to purchase 46 complete SCBA’s (self contained breathing apparatus), 46 spare SCBA cylinders and the same number of respiratory fit test maintenance kits. It was determined, in 2011 that Central Fire District’s self contained breathing apparatus did not meet national safety standards and required replacement.

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Table of Contents

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Cover Water Wars – Part One: The ‘Why’ of Desalination for Santa Cruz County - By Noel Smith 2012 TPG Poetry Contest Winners - By Noel Smith

VOL. 17 NO. 3

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Community News Caltrans Awards $11 Million in Grant to Local Public Transit • Central Fire District Receives $200,000 Grant for SCBAs Paul Vogt writes about ‘Our Bond’ Ordinance Proposed for Community Vote on Desalination scwd2 Desalination Program Update Target to Open Capitola Store in July – 200 local area team members to be hired ‘Under the Boardwalk’ Family Concert on Sunday, March 4 • Become a Court Appointed Special Advocates for a neglected or abused child Twenty-one Community Leaders Selected for Focus Agriculture Class XXIII 4th Annual Prom Dress Drive • UCSC Recreation Offers 16-hour Wilderness First Aid Course Capitola Soroptimist’s Honor Three Local Women Protect your child from whooping cough – It’s never too early to prepare for 7th grade required immunizations Meet the Author at the Porter Memorial Library – Claudia Sternbach presents her memoir, ‘Reading Lips: A Memoir of Kisses’ Rudy Escalante Chosen as New Capitola Police Chief • Cabrillo Stage Holds Open Casting Call for 2012 Season Positive Parenting Program Seminars this Spring • Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (Ic3) Scam Alerts IRS Releases the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2012 Announcing 2012-13 Poet Laureate David Swanger • Candidate filing period for June ballot ends March 9 Applications for Open Studios Art Tour 2012 Now Available • Save Our Shores invites Public to March 13 Free Screening of Award-Winning Film ‘The End of the Line’ Sports Wrap Mid-County Scoreboard

Letters to the Editor Time for a Gut check - By Kirby Nicol

School Spotlight Cabrillo Youth Summer Institute – Summer Camps to Help Middle School Students Discover and Explore Career Paths • Soquel High School’s CollegePrep Humanities Academy Accepting Applications School Open House Private Education: What are the benefits!

Health & Safety Heart and Artery Damage and High Blood Pressure

Business Profile The Van Zantes Photography in Aptos – Professional Photographic Artistry and Custom Framing - By Gail Penniman Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28 & 29

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

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Featured Columnists The Book Bag - By Robert Francis – Looking for some fascinating non fiction?…

Carbon Monoxide Alarms Now Required - By Mike DeMars Work in Progress - By Camille Smith – GIGO: Garbage In, Garbage Out Out & About - By Josie Cowden Money Matters by Brian Cooke and Cole Strickland – Getting Ready for Tax Season: Changes for 2012 Seniors in Action - By Noreen Santaluce – Folk Dancing At Mid County Senior Center SPCA Featured Pet • Page 31 – It’s a Sister Act!

www.tpgonlinedaily.com

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 3

CoverStory publisher

Patrice Edwards publisher’s assistant

Lindsay Nelson editor

Noel Smith contributing writers

Noel Smith, Gail Penniman, Kirby Nicol, Annabel Burton, Brian Cooke, Cole Strickland, Robert Francis, Mike DeMars, Camille Smith, Josie Cowden, Noreen Santaluce layout

Michael Oppenheimer, Mike Lyon graphic artists

Mike Lyon, Michael Oppenheimer production coordinator

Sandra Gonzalez advertising sales

Don Beaumont, Sadie Wittkins, Meredith Pozzi Feldsted office coordinator

Cathe Race distribution

Bill Pooley, Jana Mears

Times Publishing Group, Inc. 9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 The Times Publishing Group Inc., publishers of the Aptos Times, a bi-weekly publication, the Capitola Times and Scotts Valley Times, each printed monthly, Coastal Weddings Magazine, printed twice annually and Hospice Magazine, printed once annually, is owned by Patrice Edwards. Entire contents ©2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission.

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

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

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Paul Vogt writes about ‘Our Bond’

eople often ask me how I met my wife, and how long we’ve been married. We’ve been very happily married for 34 years this coming June 18th. But our bond goes back even further.

My birth mother suddenly passed away on Memorial Day in 1959, when I was just one-year-old. My father fell in love with a nursing volunteer at the hospital where he worked as an X-Ray technician. As fate and love would have it, they married in December of 1960. My stepmother found herself the mother of my sister and I, both under the age of three. She wrote to her best friend, Daisy, back in Massachusetts about the new family she had just inherited.

Daisy also had a little bit of news for my stepmother, Ann. It seems she had given birth to a cute little girl by the name of “Rhonda” in October and wrote a letter to her friend way out in California to tell her about it. They say those letters crossed in the mail, and today they both tell the story about when they received each other’s letters and read about the new little children in each of their lives, they called each other to say, “Wouldn’t it be neat if our kids got married someday?”

In 1970, my mother told us that Daisy and her kids would be coming out to California to visit us in San Diego for the Christmas Holidays. We were all very excited and I can remember the day that they drove into our driveway. In rapt attention, we watched the family of six pile out of a little Toyota sedan.

Cupid wasted no time at all in directing my eyes to the cute little brunette climbing out of the car (in slow motion with angels singing in the background).

She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen! While paying absolutely no attention to me at all, she walked to the trunk (in slow motion) to get a small cool-

“Poetry Winners” from pg 1

The first place winner for the Capitola Soquel Times was awarded a dinner for two at Michael’s on Main, for the Aptos Times, dinner for two at the fabulous Seascape Resort’s Sanderling’s Restaurant and for the Scotts Valley Times, dinner for two at the Hilton Hotel’s Café Max. n ••• 2012 Winners Capitola Soquel Times — Paul Vogt Aptos Times — Tricia Contreras Scotts Valley Times — Jan Mennite

4 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Paul & Rhonda Vogt

er to take into the house. My mouth was hanging open at the beauty of this perfect angel. Cupid shoved me a little on the shoulders, and I mustered enough courage to walk up to her and asked her if I could carry the cooler (all in slow motion). She said, “No.” Suddenly things returned to regular motion, the angels stopped singing, and I thought, “Ok, this may take a while.”

Apparently, Cupid’s little arrow took more time to penetrate her heart than mine.

This cute little girl was “Rhonda,” and we instantly became very good friends. Believe it or not, she and her family moved out from Massachusetts a couple of months later and lived just five houses down the street from our home— YES!!! As her family and my family became very good friends, we did everything together— vacations, picnics, holiCapitola Soquel Times First Place Paul Vogt Dedicated to my wife, Rhonda Our Bond

We share a bond so tender, It abides within our hearts; It binds our lives together, We can’t be pulled apart.

We share each other’s feelings, Our joys and heartaches, too; Our precious bond is the strength That helps us make it through.

From our youth we shared this bond Through music and with dance;

days, etc… Rhonda and I attended the same high school, and rode the same bus; in fact, we were so in love, that we didn’t date anybody else, ever.

I finally asked her to marry me in June of 1977 (she said “yes”) and we got married on June 18, 1978, between my sophomore and Junior years at Loma Linda University.

Rhonda and I have something very special that is rare, and we don’t take it for granted. A love like this doesn’t just come along every day, although it should.

I barely have a memory without Rhonda in it. That’s pretty cool!

When people ask us what the “secret” is to our love and marriage, we look at each other, get all gooey inside, give each other a hug and a kiss and say, “When you have given each other your whole heart, there’s nothing more to give to another.” n We were ravished with each other Through our passion and romance.

On life’s path we’re walking With its many twists and turns; The bond we share is stronger now For each other we still yearn.

As life moves on, the outside ages But our youth remains inside, When the lights go off, our passion rages; In our hearts it still abides.

The decades fly so very fast, Our hearts still bound together; The bond we share is selfless love, It has bound our hearts forever.

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“Water Wars” from pg 1

Our tourist economy — which includes hotels and restaurants — would suffer, agricultural income would be hurt, hospitals and schools would be first priority while residents would see their lawns and gardens dry up and shower-sharing would become a necessity, not just recreational.

Most of Santa Cruz County is unique in that we are entirely dependent on local sources for our water. The Santa Cruz Water Department, serving an area from the North Coast to Capitola, depends on surface water (runoff) for its water supply with Loch Lomond reservoir as the primary source during the dry season. The Mid County (Capitola, Aptos, La Selva Beach) depends on the Soquel Creek Water District for its water. Despite its name, the District doesn’t depend on Soquel Creek for its water — it all comes from wells, which are already overdrafted and are at risk of being ruined by saltwater intrusion into the underlying aquifer.

So here are two adjacent water companies with different problems. The Santa Cruz Water District customers — dependent on runoff — will suffer if there is a drought while the Soquel Creek Water District will suffer from continuing to overdraft their source of water. In order to reduce water demand, both districts have successfully promoted water conservation to the point where their customers use 30 percent less water per person than the rest of California.

But no matter how much their customers conserve, they are each still are faced with the potential problems of drought for one, and saltwater intrusion for the other.

makes good economic and environmental sense.

So, what is all the fuss about? here is a group, Santa Cruz Desal Alternatives, which insists that there is no justification for using desalination because there are viable alternatives, that Desal is too expensive and uses too much energy. Some of the hypothetical alternatives to desalination they have presented: • Recovering more water from the San Lorenzo River Three problems with that are: 1.) Where do you store it to prepare for a drought?

There is no additional reservoir capacity, and future reservoirs face immense environmental, legal, cost and regulatory hurdles. 2.) We know that federal and state regulators will require the City to decrease the amount of water it currently draws from streams, to provide habitat protection for endangered species. 3) In drought years, there’s no water in the river to take.

• Recycling Sewage Water Recycling sewage water or gray water for human use is illegal. Using it for nonhuman use (parks, golf courses, etc.) is costly because it takes building a separate distribution system and would be limited in its impact on overall water usage.

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What is the solution? ow to provide a consistent supply of water in all conditions is the problem that each has struggled with for over fifty years. There is no outside source of water coming into the county in a pipeline or canal that they can draw upon. As far as water is concerned, we are on our own.

However, there is a rather abundant source of water available that borders the county — the Pacific Ocean. By drawing water out of the ocean and removing the organic material and the minerals in order to desalinate the water, both Water Districts have a solution to their respective problem.

With desalination, the Santa Cruz Water Department would have a source of water that wouldn’t depend on yearly rainfall totals which they would be able to draw upon it during the dry months of summer and periods of severe or extended drought.

With desalination, the Soquel Creek Water District would have a source that would allow them to reduce or even cease pumping water from their wells thereby allowing the aquifers to recharge and thus preventing further saltwater intrusion. In the case of a drought, the Santa Cruz Water Department would get the desalinated water and the Soquel Creek Water District would go back to pumping until the rains returned. This is what is known as an elegant or win-win solution that

“Desalination” > 6

Ordinance Proposed for Community Vote on Desalination

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anta Cruz Mayor Don Lane and Santa Cruz City Councilmember David Terrazas issued the following press release this week announcing a proposed ordinance to mandate a vote of the people on desalination.

Below is the press release and proposed ordinance.

Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane and Santa Cruz City Councilmember David Terrazas, both representatives for the City of Santa Cruz on the scwd2 Desalination Task Force, announced their plans to bring an ordinance to the February 28 City Council meeting.

The ordinance would mandate a vote of the people before proceeding to

construction of a local desalination facility while avoiding significant flaws contained in a competing measure.

Lane and Terrazas released the following statement: There is strong community consensus that the voters should have the opportunity to make the call on how Santa Cruz will address our need for long-term drought protection and the protection of our coastal aquifers.

And the community should weigh in on, how we will meet State/Federal mandates to protect endangered fish species with a likely reduced draw of water from local streams.

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 5

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scwd2 Desalination Program Update A s a reminder, the City of Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek Water District have publicly stated that no decision has been made on the approval of a desalination project. Both agencies are focused on continuing the evaluation phase of the project to fully inform the public and decision-makers of the environmental impacts and associated costs. To that end, it is imperative to continue with the analyses and the environmental review process, which will serve to inform and encourage comments from the entire community.

Extensive efforts are currently underway towards providing a thorough and rigorous evaluation of environmental impacts and alternatives

related to the proposed desalination project. The release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) is scheduled for sometime this year, possibly as early as this spring and will be followed by a public review period, during which there will be opportunities for the public to provide comments on the document. Responses to comments will be prepared and provided to both governing bodies (City of Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek Water District) for their consideration prior to certifying the Final EIR. The project may not be approved without a certified EIR. For more information, visit www.scwd2desal.org/Page-Projectphases_EIR.php.

Video Footage on Recent Community Meeting about Desalination: Energy and Climate Impacts Now Available On-Line Is the proposed desalination project’s typical energy use comparable to (a) the wastewater treatment plant, (b) a mid-size hospital or (c) an amusement park? Visit www.scwd2desal.org/PageEnergy-Calcs.php to see a comparison chart used at our recent Energy Meeting or www.communitytv.org/programs/ online/seawater-desalination-energyuse-and-climate-change-impacts to view the video of the presentation material and the question/answer period that was filmed by Community TV of Santa Cruz County. n

“Vote” from pg 5

fair and timely ballot choice to Santa Cruz City voters by: • Requiring the Santa Cruz City Council to obtain voter approval for the City to participate in the construction of a desalination facility; • Structuring the ordinance to allow for a citizen vote as soon as practicable rather than unnecessarily delaying the people’s vote on water issues for an extra year or even more; • Saving the community money in terms of duplicative election costs and in terms of project costs that increase with long delays; • Ensuring that the ballot measure is neutral on the issues, in contrast to the

competing ballot measure, which contains questionable assumptions and biased rhetoric; • Ensure the vote comes after completion of the Environmental Impact Report (likely in the first half of 2013).

In anticipation of concerns that a city ordinance could be undone and deny voters their right to weigh in, Lane explained the strength of the ordinance’s commitment: “Once adopted, if the City Council ever moved to repeal it, a single voter could file a simple referendum petition and suspend that repeal. That relatively simple filing action would keep the ordinance in place until the people had a chance to decide. The voters would still have the final word.”

Terrazas added: “There is strong community consensus for a public vote on this issue and the question will ultimately be going to the voters one way or another.

Let’s provide this opportunity now – to guide our current decision making and to help shape the substantive discussion and decisions required to meet our long-term water needs.” n To view the press release in .pdf format, visit: www.scwd2desal.org/documents/ press_release/desal%20voting%20press%20 release.pdf To view the proposed ordinance in .pdf format, visit: www.scwd2desal.org/ documents/press_release/desal_voting_ord_ proposed.pdf

“Desalination” from pg 5

for the citizens served exercise, as it takes a lot longer to recharge Desalination is an by the Santa Cruz Department than it does to opportunity for the peo- Water and the recharging of remove the water.

• Water Neutral ple of this county to help the aquifers that the Creek Water Development return the environment Soquel District depends on Water neutral development does to what it once was for to serve its communinot improve the situ- both its current and orig- ties.

The Effect on the ation because it does Environment not provide addition- inal inhabitants while al water for use in a providing a sustainable nvironmental drought or for issues, including recharging an aquifer. water supply for future energy use and offIt puts enormous eco- generations. sets, water intake and nomic burden on outflow, protection of new projects, thus creating a major disin- North Coast streams and the mid-county centive for new housing, commercial or aquifer are being addressed in the detailed public uses that the community may actu- Environmental Impact Report (EIR) which ally support. is now in process. We will cover these in Each of these proposed alternatives to depth in a future “Water Wars.” desalination falls short of addressing suffiBut there are two significant “wins” ciently the problems of potential drought for the environment if a desalination

plant is built: • The aquifers that have been drawn on for so long will have the opportunity to recover allowing local springs and streams to return to their original flow rates in Mid-County.

• With their increased flows, the larger streams and rivers (San Lorenzo River, Soquel Creek, Aptos Creek etc.) will become a friendlier habitat for fish and other wildlife.

Desalination is an opportunity for the people of this county to help return the environment to what it once was for both its current and original inhabitants while providing a sustainable water supply for future generations. n ••• We welcome your comments. Email them to; info@cyber-times.com Coming Soon: Water Wars – Part Two – The Economics of Desalination for Santa Cruz County

A flawed ballot measure has been put forward by desal opponents which does not offer a timely opportunity for democratic decision-making to address our community’s water needs. Unfortunately, that measure unintentionally would create an expensive delay in community decision making and would lead to greater uncertainty in our water planning process.

This new ordinance, should it pass at the February 28, 2012 City Council meeting, would provide a simpler and more straightforward way to ensure a democratic decision about water and desalination.

This new proposal would provide a

• More Water Conservation The county is already one of the lowest urban water usage areas in the state.

Additional conservation could be achieved, but not enough to solve the water supply shortfall that both districts face. We would be hard pressed to save significantly more without causing health and quality of life issues.

• Water Sharing The only other local water district with large enough resources that could share water with Santa Cruz in a drought is the Soquel Creek Water District. 1.) Water sharing would mean pumping more water from their wells, which accelerates saltwater intrusion. 2.) Recharging the aquifer through water sharing means taking water from the San Lorenzo River, which federal regulators are unlikely to permit. 3.)

Recharging an aquifer is not a seasonal

6 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

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CommunityNews

Target to Open Capitola Store in July

200 local area team members to be hired

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arget plans to open a new store in Capitola in July 2012. The store will be one of the 20 stores the company plans to open in 2012, including the first five CityTarget locations.

The new store, located at Capitola Mall, will offer guests the everyday essentials and exclusive brands they have come to expect from Target. In addition, it will include a selection of fresh produce, fresh packaged meat and pre-packaged baked goods to further enhance guests’ experience. The store will be approximately 135,000 square feet and employ approximately 200 team members.

“Target is pleased to open its first store in Capitola, making it the second in Santa Cruz County,” said Cary Strouse, Target’s senior vice president of stores in the Western region. “California continues to be a great market for Target. We are commit-

ted to being a good neighbor and developing long-lasting relationships with guests and the Capitola community.”

Target will host job fairs approximately two months prior to the new store opening, at which prospective candidates may apply and interview for open team member positions. Candidates may also apply online at Target.com/careers or at in-store kiosks located at all Target stores approximately three months prior to the new store opening.

Target creates strong partnerships with local organizations in all of the communities where the company does business through Target’s community giving programs. This store will start a local grant program, contribute to the United Way

and donate food to a Feeding America member, or approved agency. Target also encourages team members to volunteer their time to serve the needs of their community.

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,763 stores across the United States and at Target.com.

Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week. For more information about Target’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit Target.com/ hereforgood.

••• For more information, visit Target.com/pressroom.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 7

CommunityNews

Santa Cruz County Symphony Presents

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‘Under the Boardwalk’ Family Concert on Sunday, March 4

he Santa Cruz County Symphony presents its 2012 Family Concert, “Under the Boardwalk,” on Sunday, March 4, 2 pm at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. “Here Comes the Circus” is educational concert designed for all ages and is presented in a highly accessible style, using elements of humor, movement, and audience participation. The program explores the different instrumental sections of the orchestra and demonstrates the many thrills that music can make!

Joseph Ribeiro, renowned local actor who has performed with Shakespeare Santa Cruz, will narrate the centerpiece of the concert, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra serves as a guide to the orchestra’s various sections and instruments and works, perhaps most importantly, as a great piece of music.

An additional highlight of the concert will be a performance of the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean, featuring dancers of the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. The auditorium will also be brought to life with the colorful antics of stilt-walkers from the Orchard School Circus Troupe towering over the audience. Other works to be performed include Richard Wagner’s, Ride of the Valkyries, John Philip Sousa’s Semper Fidelis March, and The Torreadors from Carmen Suite No. 1 by Georges Bizet, featuring guest conductor, Nathaniel Berman.

Immediately following both concerts, audiences will be invited to “Meet the Instruments” with members of the Santa

Cruz County Symphony. This educational activity provides young people the opportunity to meet musicians close-up and to play instruments of the orchestra. The Family Concert is part of the Symphony’s Youth and Family Program, which includes in-classroom classical music presentations to 4,000 local 4th and 5th graders, and free Youth Concerts for stu-

or a child who has been neglected or abused, the world is a lonely place. In Santa Cruz County there are more than 250 children living in foster care right now because they have suffered severe abuse or neglect at home.

You can be a friend, a mentor, and a powerful voice in court for a child in foster care. Join the more than 1,000 members of our community who have been trained as sworn officers of the court to speak up for the needs of a child in foster care. Becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate means volunteering 3 to 5 hours a week to give a child the gift of your friendship, experience, and advocacy.

You can change your life and the life of a child with one phone call.

Call CASA at 761-2956, or visit www.casaofsantacruz.org to attend an informational orientation. n ••• Orientation Schedule North County Locations change monthly Tuesday, March 6 at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 3 at 5:30 p.m.

South County CASA House–813 Freedom Blvd. Watsonville Wednesday, March 21 at 5:30 p.m.

••• For location details and to RSVP contact Danielle at 831.761.2956 Ext. 102 or Danielle@casaofsantacruz.org Join CASA in helping Santa Cruz County children stay safe, healthy, and connected to our community. Together, we can do it.

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Maestro John Larry Granger

Photo Credit: Lloyd Van Zantes

dents and their teachers.

“Under the Boardwalk” will be a funfilled activity for the whole family to enjoy. n ••• Tickets: Civic Box office, 831-420-5260 or online at www.santacruztickets.com Ticket prices are $12/adults and $10/students.

Discounts are available to groups of ten or

more. Please call the Symphony office at 4620553 for more information on group sales.

YOUTH & FAMILY PROGRAM SPONSORS: Monterey Peninsula Foundation; Santa Cruz County Office of Education; Macy’s; Toyota of Santa Cruz / Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk; James & Catharine Gill; Jack & Barbara Ritchey; Russ & Mary Ann Hobbs; Upjohn California Fund

Become a Court Appointed Special Advocates for a neglected or abused child

8 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

CommunityNews

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Twenty-one Community Leaders Selected for Focus Agriculture Class XXIII

lass XXIII of the Focus Agriculture program with have twenty-one attending this “firstin-the-nation” program designed for community leaders to learn about agriculture in Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley.

The program consists of once-amonth, daylong seminars, held over a period of nine months. The first session will be held on Friday, March 23.

Speakers ranging from farmers to elected officials to representatives from environmental groups will address the class. The sessions will cover such topics as ethnic groups in agriculture, new technology and diversity of commodities locally grown. In addition, there are many farm tours and hands on experiences. The participants will spend one day working on a farm.

In announcing the selected participants of Class XXIII, Agri-Culture President Bill Ringe, stated, “Community leaders will find this program beneficial and, in turn, growers who present information to the class will learn the public’s current perspective of local agriculture.

The program is designed to be a two way learning process.”

The Focus Agriculture program received a national award for its innovated approach to bringing the public and growers together. The award was presented in Atlanta, Georgia in January 2011. n “Briefs” from pg 2

The SCBA’s used by Central Fire will reach the end of their service life this year and will have to be removed from service. Due to local economic conditions and reductions in the fiscal budget, the district did not have adequate funding available to purchase new SCBA’s.

The fire district has competitively applied for several grants in past years without success, but was successful with this year’s grant application.

••• Central Fire Revising Business Plan o the residents of Live Oak, Capitola and Soquel: Central Fire is in the process of revising its strategic business plan through the year 2015. Recently, we engaged our employees, Board of Directors and other key stakeholders in identifying key service delivery expectations from our service. We have developed a strategic plan template

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••• Focus Agriculture Class XXIII — 2012 John Armstrong: Asst. DirectorAlternative Program, Santa Cruz County Office of Education • Ralph Barcamonte: District Manager, Central Water District • Carla Carstens: President, Carla Carstens Designs, Inc.

• Leslie DeRose: Trustee, Pajaro Valley Unified School District • Karen DeWitt:

Executive Director, Ag Against Hunger • Zach Friend: Principal Analyst, City of Santa Cruz Police Department • Grace Galvan: Operations Director, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County • Bill Gielow: Retired, Landscape Design • Tony Gregorio: County Supervisor ’s Analyst, Supervisors Greg Caput • Michael MacDonald: Sergeant, County of Santa Cruz Sheriff ’s Office • Mary Lou Nicoletti: Agricultural Commissioner, County of Santa Cruz • Richard Otto: Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Investments • Malkeet S. Padda: Postharvest Research Analyst, Driscoll’s Associates, Inc. • Ana Rasmussen: Program Director, Mesa Verde Gardens • Ken Schwan: Chef/ Owner, Monterey Bay Caterers • Melodye Serino: Senior Administration Analyst, County of Santa Cruz, CAO Office • Ginny Solari Mazry: Executive Director, Richard & Mary Solari Charitable Trust • Jennifer Squires: Editor, Watsonville Patch (AOL) • Eric Summers: Assistant Vice President Business Banking, Comerica Bank • Michael Turpin: President & Publisher, Santa Cruz Sentinel • Joseph Williams: Operations, Pacific Coast Ag

listing our mission, core values, goal and the strategies we desire to pursue in the coming years. The Board of Directors, along with the management team of the District, feels it is important to engage our community, and other key stakeholders, in a conversation to calibrate our strategic plan direction.

We would welcome your involvement, insights and input into our mission and strategic direction. We have scheduled a community forum, a type of town hall discussion, on Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Central Fire Administration 930 17th Ave. in Live Oak. Please confirm your attendance by emailing your attendance to Chief Jeff Maxwell at Jeffm@centralfpd.com or leaving a message at 831-479-6842.

Thank you in advance for your participation in the process.

Respectfully, Central Fire Protection District of Santa Cruz County n www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 9

CommunityNews

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Fourth Annual Prom Dress Drive

he Planning Committee for the 4th Annual Prom Dress Drive are excited to Kick-Off this year’s Drive taking place during the months of February, March, & April 2012.

Can you imagine not being able to attend your prom?

Sadly, many high school students and their families are feeling the hurt of our tough economy. But the tough economy should be no reason for our students to be denied the time-honored tradition of going to prom. Join us in making memories possible for everyone in our local schools and helping students come together. Your generosity will help promote self-confidence, individual beauty, and inclusion among our youth.

In collaboration with local schools and agencies all students will be invited to locations in Watsonville and Santa Cruz for the 2012 Prom Dress Free Shopping Days Please help our local high school students in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties by donating a gently used prom dress and give a less fortunate student a chance to attend their prom this year.

Santa Cruz City Council member Tony Madrigal said, “During these tough eco-

nomic times, I urge everyone to donate their pre-owned prom dress to help a local student in need attend their high school prom.”

Pamela Whittington of Classic Cleaners said, “In 2012 people donated over 1,500 dresses plus shoes, jewelry and other accessories and Classic Cleaners was happy to clean them for free.”

Prom Dress donations can be dropped off at: Classic Cleaners locations at 609 Soquel Ave & 2220 Soquel Ave in Santa Cruz, and 809 Capitola Ave in Capitola • All Comerica Banking Centers in Santa Cruz County • All Bailey Properties Offices • CSU Monterey Bay Alumni & Visitor Center, 100 Campus Center, Seaside, 831-582-4550 • The UPS Store at 245 Mt Hermon Rd, Suite M, in Scotts Valley • The UPS Store at 1961 Main Street, in Watsonville • Comcast Store at 2440 Fremont Street, Monterey • Comcast Store at 1481 N. Davis Road, Salinas • Comcast Fulfillment office at 106 Whispering Pine Road, Scotts Valley • Beach Flats Community Center, 133 Leibrandt Avenue, Santa Cruz • La Manzana Community Resources, 521 Main St. Suite Y, Watsonville • Live Oak Family Resource Center, 1740 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz

The Free Prom Dress Shopping Days will be: 10 am - 4 pm Sat April 14 in Santa Cruz at Teen Center, 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA 10 am - 4 pm Sat April 28 in Pajaro at Casa de la Cultura, 225 Salinas Road, Pajaro, CA n ••• The Prom Dress Drive 2012 Committee:

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Pamela Whittington & Classic Cleaners staff • Santa Cruz City Council members Tony Madrigal, Hilary Bryant • Terri Jimenez, Cheryl Glover, Comerica Bank • Reyna Ruiz, Beach Flats Community Center • Judy Scarabello • Leslie Steiner, Coastal Celebrations! • Jeff Bettencourt & PPD Multimedia Team • Jaymini Karsan, The UPS Store • Deborah Scherer • Noelle White

UCSC Recreation Offers 16-hour Wilderness First Aid Course

10 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

ast paced and hands-on, this two-day course covers a wide range of wilderness medicine topics for people who travel in the outdoors.

Whether spending time in the backcountry is your passion or your profession, you should never have to ask, “What do I do now?”

On this course, you’ll learn how to prepare for the unexpected. The Wilderness Medicine Institute’s (WMI) curriculum is unique and includes many advanced topics that other programs leave out such as dislocation reduction, focused spinal assessment and epinephrine administration. In just two days, you’ll have the knowledge, skills and ability to make sound decisions in emergency situations.

This course is ideal for trip leaders, camp staff, outdoor enthusiasts and individuals in remote locations. WMI’s course

is pre-approved by such organizations as the American Camping Association, the United States Forest Service and other governmental agencies. This course does not include CPR. If you hold a current Wilderness First Responder certification from WMI, SOLO (Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities INC.), or WMA (Wilderness Medical Associates), you will receive a WMI-WFR (Wilderness First Responder) certification upon successful completion of your Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course. n ••• Sat. & Sun., March 3 & 4, 2012 8 am — 5 pm UCSC Stevenson College Room 175 $150 UCSC Students/ $200 Community Register online at www.ucscrecreation.com

CommunityNews

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Capitola Soroptimist’s Honor Three Local Women Yuliana Vasquez, a UCSC student who is a single mother and head of her household who is working toward a master’s degree in social work and plans to help at-risk youth and others Presenting Checks to Benefit Local Organizations apitola Soroptimists presented more than $4,000 in checks to benefit several local organizations, according to SI President Gwyn Larson.

At a recent meeting, a check for $2,000 each was presented to LaVerne Coleman, program director for WomenCARE, which provides free support services for women diagnosed with cancer, and Cynthia Chase, program director of Gemma, a program of the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc., which helps women reunite with their families and the community after incarceration. A third check for $500 will be presented to Siena House, a maternity home that provides an environment of total support for women experiencing a crisis pregnancy, at the February SI of Capitola meeting.

“We’re proud of these awards and specifically raised funds for these organizations at our annual “Bras For A Cause” live and silent auction and gala,” Larson explained. “These organizaYuliana Vasquez tions and individuals help

oroptimists International of CapitolaBy-The-Sea will honor three local women at its annual awards dinner on March 13 at Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos.

Social time begins at 6:30 p.m. with program and dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35. Reservations are required no later than March 7, and can be made by calling 831465-9667.

Those being honored at the dinner include: Ruby Award winner, Santa Cruz Sentinel Writer/Reporter Jondi Gumz, who received the award for women helping women for her work on a variety of topics affecting women and the community at large Violet Richardson award winner, Rose Leopold, a senior at Pacific Collegiate School, for her community service work teaching nutrition classes to women and children in Mexico Women’s Opportunity Award winner,

Jondi Gumz

Rose Leopold

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Cynthia Chase (left), program director at GEMMA and LaVerne Coleman, program director at WomenCARE receive checks from Capitola Soroptimists.

some of the most vulnerable women in our community and that supports the SI mission both locally and worldwide.” n Soroptimist, a Latin word meaning Best for Women, is a worldwide service organization

for women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. Visit the SI Capitola website at www.best4women.org or contact SI Capitola at info@best4women.org.

Mid-County Scoreboard SportsWrap

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Girls Basketball

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Boys Basketball

SCCAL Tournament – Championship Game Santa Cruz 60 – Soquel 56 (OT) oquel Scoring: Tyler Stewart 1 pts, 7 rbds; Tori McBride 12 pts, 5 rbds; Marissa Azua 11 pts, 6 rbds; Madison Rocha 7 pts; Erika Bertelsen 3 pts; Keahna Clark 4 pts 6 rbds; Natalie Diaz 6 pts, 4 rbds; SCCAL Tournament Aptos 52 – Soquel 49 oquel Scoring: Alex Shearer 14 pts; Cody Valcarcel 14 pts; Lucas Cordoza 10 pts; KC Snowden 3 pts; Sam Walters 5 pts; Jon Tobin 3 pts;

Boys Soccer

SCCAL All League Defender of the Year: Eric Wolfinger (Soquel)

Midfielder of the Year: Edwin Puga (Harbor) First Team Soquel – Alex Tomayo, Omar Marquez, Osbaldo Zambrano Harbor – Jose Magana, Stevie Lopez, Fernando Del Toro Second Team Soquel – Tate Sprague, Joel Fajardo, Jesse Sanchez “Local Sports” > 17

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 11

CommunityNews

Protect your child from whooping cough

It’s never too early to prepare for 7th grade required immunizations

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ompleting immunizations before the end of the school year is as much a part of school as studying for finals or concluding the science fair project. The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency Health Officer, Dr. Poki Namkung, is promoting Preteen Vaccines in a statewide effort to remind families about recommended and required immunizations for 11-and 12-year olds.

“It’s not too early to protect your child, “said Dr. Namkung. “ As the current year is wrapping up, I encourage families of preteens to schedule a preteen doctor visit and get the shots they need to stay healthy and meet the school entry requirement.”

For the 2012-13 school year and beyond, all incoming 7th graders must provide proof of having immunization against whooping cough (‘Tdap’) before starting school. In light of California’s recent whooping cough (also known as pertussis) epidemic, there is no reason to wait for the new school year.

Health professionals encourage parents to have their children vaccinated with the whooping cough booster shot, Tdap, now in order to protect them against whooping cough and to meet the school requirement. And in fact, whooping cough has a peak season, occuring during the summer months for infants and early fall for teens, so it makes sense to protect your child now.

12 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Unlike the previous school year, there is no grace period in the current law,” reminds Dr. Namkung. “All incoming 7th graders will need to meet the Tdap before starting school.”

Immunity received from certain childhood vaccines may wear off over time, exposing a child to serious diseases that could easily spread, leading to missed weeks of school or worse. Besides the Tdap

shot, there are other immunizations that are now recommended for this age group, including the meningococcal vaccine, a second chickenpox shot (if they never had chickenpox disease), and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series. And everyone older than 6 months old is recommended to receive a seasonal flu vaccine in the fall.

If a child does not have health insurance, or is only partially insured, your healthcare provider or your local health department can provide information about the Vaccines for Children Program, which provides no- or low-cost vaccines.

“Protecting the health of California’s youth is one of our most urgent priorities, “said Dr. Namkung. n For more information, please visit www.shotsforschool.org or www.GetImmunized CA.org.

County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency, PO Box 962, 1060 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95061. Telephone: (831) 4544141 FAX: (831) 454-5048

CommunityNews

Meet the Author at the Porter Memorial Library

Claudia Sternbach presents her memoir, ‘Reading Lips: A Memoir of Kisses’

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n March 14 from 10:30-11:30 a.m., the Porter Memorial Library will f e a t u r e beloved local columnist and author, Claudia Sternbach.

She will present her charming memoir, “Reading Lips: A Memoir of Kisses” revealing her life “one kiss at a time. “ This Claudia Sternbach anthology of essays ranges from childhood memories to adult recollections. All of her books are wonderful, full of insight, humor, honesty and grace.

Claudia Sternbach is best known locally from the time when she was a featured columnist with the “Santa Cruz Sentinel.”

Readers looked forward to reading her columns and felt that they knew her husband, Michael, her daughter, Kira, and Claudia herself whether she wrote about her unfortunate choices in men (before Michael), being diagnosed with breast cancer, or handling an everyday object, such as a red-handled eggbeater. Many in Santa

Cruz have been students of hers as she encourages people to write their own memoirs and helps them to do so.

In addition to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, she has also often written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Tribune, and the San Francisco Examiner.

She currently leads a bi-coastal existence, either in Santa Cruz where her husband resides, or in New York City, where her daughter lives.

Come to the library’s free program to meet Claudia Sternbach, not only through her writing, but also in person. Her books will be for sale and she will autograph them at the end of the program.

Refreshments will be served with coffee generously provided by The Ugly Mug. n ••• The Porter Memorial Library is located at 3050 Porter Street. There is limited parking available behind the library by entering The Bagelry parking lot and driving to the left. More information on this program may be obtained on the library website at: www.porterml.org, or by calling the library at 475-3326 during normal library hours: Monday-Friday from 12-4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Come to the library’s free program to meet Claudia Sternbach, not only through her writing, but also in person. Her books will be for sale and she will autograph them at the end of the program.

LetterToT TheEditor

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Time for a Gut Check ou may have noticed the trouble in Greece and other places … like Washington, Sacramento and, yes, right here in Santa Cruz, where government has become too big, too benevolent, politically paralyzed and unaffordable. This is a serious problem, and its our problem.

Runaway government happens because we demand that our elected leaders keep us happy, give us everything we ask for.

Irrespective of cost and consequences, they try.

This is a formula for failure.

Our founding fathers endowed us with blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – nothing more, nothing less. The vast array of popular cradle-tograve entitlements we’ve piled on top of these basics over the years, is clearly, unsustainable. Deep down, we all know this. We need to change course. If we are to have a future worth having, we need to tell our leaders to get back to basics, and we’d better start soon.

Kirby Nicol — 476-2100

www.TPGonlinedaily.com www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 13

SchoolSpotlight

Cabrillo Youth Summer Institute

Summer Camps to Help Middle School Students Discover and Explore Career Paths

APTOS —The Santa Cruz CTE (Career Technical Education) Community Collaborative today announces its new Cabrillo Youth Summer Institute, a series of week long summer camps designed to give junior high students the opportunity to begin their journeys to college and careers. The camps will be held this summer during the weeks of July 9, July 16 and July 23, and registration for the Cabrillo Youth Summer Institute is now open at www.santacruzcte.org/camp. The camps in the Cabrillo Youth Summer Institute are arranged as a series of ‘Institutes.’ In each, students will spend a week exploring a chosen career path through both classroom and hands-on activities. The Institutes include: • Allied Health Institute • Culinary Arts Institute • Digital Media Institute • Engineering Design and Build Institute • Engineering Technology Institute • Entrepreneurship Institute • Horticulture Institute “Research shows that a key contribu-

tor to a child’s future academic and career success is exposure to career awareness activities in grades seven and eight,” said Luan Seaman, CTE Community Collaborative Program Manager. “The Cabrillo Youth Summer Institute creates a fun learning experience that introduces kids to college and career opportunities, while preparing them to make decisions about their futures.”

The camps will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at the

Cabrillo College Aptos Campus, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Students entering seventh and eighth grade in fall 2012 are eligible to participate. Each Institute can accommodate between 20 and 25 students, except the Culinary Arts Institute, which has a maximum capacity of 14 students.

Every Institute will have its own faculty member, as well as a camp counselor.

Students will need to bring a snack, lunch and drink, except those students in the Culinary Arts Institute, who will make their own snacks and lunches and only need to bring a drink.

The cost of each institute is $165/week, except the Culinary Arts Institute, which is $235/week. Camp tuition includes all materials and supplies. Scholarships are available, and registration is open at

www.santacruzcte.org/camp. For additional questions, please call 831-477-5605 or email CabrilloYouthSummerInstitute @cabrillo.edu.

About CTE. The members of Santa Cruz County’s CTE Community Collaborative are working hard to make sure Santa Cruz County stays ahead of the curve by preparing our students for the future. We are part of state, regional, and national initiatives working on the same goals: helping students identify, explore and pursue promising careers. Access Santa Cruz County’s CTE Community Collaborative includes Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program (ROP), K-12 schools, and local industry partners and employers. Together, they work to anticipate workforce needs in our County and throughout the region, and then respond with the programs. n ••• Cabrillo College is a leading California community college serving Santa Cruz County with locations in Aptos, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Founded in 1959, the college offers over 100 academic and career technical education programs that serve multiple educational goals such as A.A. and A.S. degrees, certificates of achievement, skills certificates, transfer to 4-year institutions or for lifelong learning and personal enrichment.

Soquel High School’s College-Prep Humanities Academy Accepting Applications

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14 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

n March, Soquel High School’s rigorous and popular Humanities Academy program will begin its application process for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Applications will be available for New Brighton and Shoreline Middle School students on March 14 when students visit Soquel High School. Students from other feeder schools can pick-up application packets at the Soquel High School counseling office after March 1.

Completed applications must be brought to one of the assessments which will take place from 4-5:30 pm on March 28, 29, and 30 in room 114 at Soquel High School. On May 1, the names of accepted and wait-listed students will be posted on the Soquel High website and next to the door of the front office at Soquel High.

The Humanities Academy, which has a linked, enriched English and social studies curriculum, is a program for academically motivated students. Graduates of The

Academy have gained admittance to some of the finest universities in the country.

Parent participation is vital and encouraged in this program. n ••• There is no required fee to apply or attend, although a yearly donation is encouraged for accepted students. For more information, please contact assistant principal Gail Atlansky 429-3909 x 132 or gatlansky@sccs.santacruz.k12.ca.us.

CommunityNews

Rudy Escalante Chosen as New Capitola Police Chief

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atsonville Deputy Police Chief Rudy Escalante will step in as Capitola’s new police chief beginning April 1 when he will be replacing retiring Capitola Police Chief Mike Card.

The 50-year-old Escalante has worked in Santa Cruz County law enforcement for almost 30 years. He started his career working in security at the Beach Boardwalk.

Then in 1985 joined the Santa Cruz Police Department where he spent 24 years before Rudy Escalante being selected in 2009 as the Watsonville Deputy Chief.

“I’ve made a lot of contacts in law enforcement and community service that I can draw upon,” Escalante said, “I look forward to meeting the people of Capitola and hearing their concerns. I live very close to the city in Live Oak and often start the day with coffee at Gayle’s Bakery.”

Escalante has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from San Jose State

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University, a Bachelor ’s Degree in Business Management from University of Phoenix, and an Associate of Science Degree from Cabrillo Junior College. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia and is an active committee member with the California Police Officers Association’s (CPOA) Standards & Ethics Committee.

During his time with the SCPD, he served as the committee chair for the City’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Escalante is a 1980 graduate of Santa Cruz High School. Escalante’s family includes his wife Cathie, son Mason, brother Bernie, a Santa Cruz police lieutenant and their father, Rudy Sr. who served as a reserve police officer in Watsonville in the 1950s.

Escalante enjoys outdoor activities such as golf, surfing, skiing and beach volleyball. He is the current Board President for Janus of Santa Cruz, a drug and alcohol treatment facility in Santa Cruz County. He is a past board member of the Boys & Girls Club in Santa Cruz.

Welcome to Capitola chief Escalante! n

Cabrillo Stage Holds Open Casting Call for 2012 Season

abrillo College’s Professional Musical Theatre Company Welcomes Public to Audition March 3 and 4 - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cabrillo Stage is proud to announce open call auditions for its 2012 Repertory Season. This summer Cabrillo Stage will produce three musicals: A Chorus Line, to be directed and choreographed by Janie Scott, will perform July 13 to August 12; Anything Goes, to be directed and choreographed by Kikau Alvaro, will perform July 27 to August 19; and the World Premiere of Joe Ortiz’s musical memoir Escaping Queens, to be directed and choreographed by Greg Fritsch, August 10 - 19.

Auditions will take place at the Cabrillo Crocker Theater on Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4. You must attend both the vocal and dance audition calls on either day. Vocal call is from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Dance call from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., on both Saturday and Sunday.

AUDITIONS are on a first-come, firstserved basis. Bring sheet music in your key; accompanist will be provided. Thirtytwo bars or 1-minute cutoff time, stylistically appropriate tune. A cappella or taped accompaniment is not acceptable. A dramatic or character monologue no more

The secret to our wedding’s success was coastalwedding.com

then 1 minute long may be requested.

Dress appropriately for dance auditions.

AEA guest artists considered.

Cabrillo Stage auditions for the Summer 2012 Repertory Season, Saturday March 3, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. AND Sunday March 4, 10 a.m. — 6 p.m. Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA. n ••• For more information, visit www.cabrillostage.com or call 831-479-6429

coastalwedding.com

articles • sights & services directory • tips & advice your one stop source for wedding information on the central coast www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 15

PrivateSchoolO OpenHouse

Private Education: What are the benefits!

P rivate schools benefit students by fostering academic excellence and high achievement, educating the whole child within a values-based setting, and preparing youngsters for success in life. If you want a caring, challenging, nurturing, safe and secure environment for your child—a place where he/she can learn and succeed—consider a private school.

Academic Excellence rivate schools are known for the high standards they set. They engage students and spark the desire to learn.

Teachers expect excellence from students, and most students try to live up to those expectations. The high expectations and academic rigor help account for aboveaverage levels of student success, including higher college-going rates. If you’re looking to help your child reach his/her potential in a school committed to academic excellence, consider a private school.

In a 2002 report titled Private Schools: A Brief Portrait, the U.S. Department of Education said this about the academic performance of private schools: • Private school students generally perform higher than their public school counterparts on standardized achievement tests.

• Private high schools typically have more demanding graduation requirements than do public high schools.

• Private school graduates are more likely than their peers from public schools to have completed advanced-

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level courses in three academic subject areas.

• Private school students are more likely than public school students to complete a bachelor’s or advanced degree by their mid-20s. “Students who had attended private school in 8th grade were twice as likely as those who had attended public school to have completed a bachelor’s or higher degree by their mid-20s (52 versus 26 percent).”

High Achievement rivate school students scored well above the national average in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). According to NCES data, 88 percent of private high school students apply to college, compared to 57 percent of public high school students. And reports from the College Board indicate that SAT scores for private school students are well above the national average.

School Safety rivate schools provide more orderly and safe environments; the kind of setting necessary for students to learn. The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), published by the National Center for Education Statistics, provides data on school safety and discipline.

In October 2003, the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics provides a comprehensive picture of the exposure of students and teachers to crime in schools. While the report’s focus is public schools, a few of its

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Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory Phone: 831-423-0658 Address: 425 Encinal Street, Santa Cruz Web Site: www.kirby.org

many charts and tables also extend to private schools. Here are some of the major findings of the report that involve private schools.

Percentage of teachers reporting a student: Threatened them with injury: Public 10 – Private 4 Physically attacked them: Public 4 – Private 2 Percentage of students, age 12-18, reporting having experienced: Violent victimization at school: Public 1.9 – Private 1.0 Bullied at school: Public 8.0 – Private 7.3 Fearing being attacked or harmed at school: Public 6.6 – Private 4.6 Targets of hate-related words at school: Public 12.7 – Private 8.2

Street gangs were present in school: Public 21.6 – Private 4.9 Focus on Values rivate schools focus on the essentials — that which provides purpose and meaning to life. The sad reality is that our society is marked by a great fear that fundamental values are coming undone.

Within that context, a growing number of parents desperately desire the opportunity to choose schools whose primary purpose is to provide youngsters a sound moral and/or religious education.

Private schools can assist parents with moral, religious and spiritual development of their children—a sphere of development essential for their complete and proper upbringing. n

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Monte Vista Christian School Phone: 831-722-8178 Address: 2 School Way, Watsonville, CA 95076 Web Site: www.mvcs.org

Considering independent education for your student in grades 6 through 12?

Kirby Prep offers personal attention (average class size 12); comprehensive math, humanities, science and technology curriculum delivered by an accomplished, dedicated and caring faculty; renowned visual and performing arts and wellness programs; competitive/club sports; college counseling services helping Kirby grads attain a record of admission to the finest colleges and universities; in an intimate and inclusive setting. Call 831-423-0658 or visit www.kirby.org.

Our beautiful 100 acre campus provides a safe community for 800+ students, with bus routes to three counties. As an accredited coeducational college-preparatory school for day students (grades 6-8, 9-12) and residents (grades 9-12), we offer student activities, athletics teams, an award-winning arts program, and challenging academic courses.

Teachers encourage students to think independently, to strengthen their problemsolving skills, and to live with integrity. We share with them the joyful truth about Jesus Christ through interdenominational study of the Bible.

MCP Middle & High School of Santa Cruz

Chartwell School

Open House Tues, Feb 28 6:30-8 p.m.

Phone: 831-458-9800 Address: 117 Fern Street, Suite 150, Santa Cruz, 95060 Web Site: www.exploremcp.org

MCP Middle & High School of Santa Cruz (formerly Monterey Coast Preparatory) serves unique, gifted & talented students, including those with learning differences (such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD). Grades 6-12. Personalized education plans for every student's need. Our very small classes (5-8 students), assistive technology, and teacher support (staff to student ratio of 1:3) are a very different approach to education. Attend an Information Night and find out if Monterey Coast Preparatory may be best for your child. Or call 458-9800 to schedule a personal tour.

16 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Phone: 831-394-3468 Fax: 831-394-7991 Address: 2511 Numa Watson Road, Seaside, CA 93955 Web Site: www.chartwell.org www.newhighschool.org

About 15-20% of all students find that learning to read is very difficult despite normal or better intelligence. Research shows this is because of physically based differences in the ways their brains process visual and auditory information. Founded in 1983, Chartwell provides the specialized education that meets the needs of these students, providing them with the academic skills, confidence, creativity and perseverance necessary to meet the challenges of mainstream education and lifelong learning. Serving grades 1 thru 12. Currently, 40% of students are receiving need-based financial aid.

HealthandSSafety

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Heart and Artery Damage and High Blood Pressure

here are several harmful consequences for your arteries and heart because high blood pressure, also called hypertension, places a higher workload on them. It addition, high blood pressure can damage other organs.

How does high blood pressure hurt the arteries?

HBP damages the walls of the arteries.

If you have high blood pressure, the force on your arteries is too high. It’s so high that it creates microscopic tears in the artery walls that then turn into scar tissue.

Damaged arteries trap more plaque.

Acting like latticework inside your arteries, this scar tissue provides a lodging place for particles of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which are collectively called plaque. As the plaque builds up, the arteries slowly narrow and harden, causing conditions such as peripheral artery disease (PAD) and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).

HBP speeds up hardening of the arteries. As you age, your arteries will naturally harden and become less elastic over time.

This happens even in people without HBP. However, uncontrolled high blood pressure speeds up the hardening process.

Damaged and hardened arteries can lead to: Damaged organs. Damaged arteries cannot deliver adequate blood flow to the body’s organs. The organs suffer because they do not receive a full supply of blood, which they depend on for oxygen and nutrients. So over time, not only are the arteries unable to function properly, but the organs can’t perform as they should either.

Blood clots. When fatty deposits nar-

“Local Sports” from pg 11

Harbor – Freddy Mata, Alex martin, Ryan Falge Stevenson 3 – Harbor 2 (OT) Harbor Season Record: (10-6-4) arbor Scoring: Jose Magana (fk) 30:00, Steven Lopez (pk) 70:00

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Girls Soccer

SCCAL All League Co-defender of the Year: Rebecca Herndon (Soquel) Forward of the Year: Madeline Diaz (Soquel)

First Team Soquel – Kendra Bonsall, Bella Montgomery, Lexie Lyons Harbor – Caitlen Akeman, Nicole Bare, Erin Woods

row arteries, you have a greater risk for developing blood clots. Your blood can carry these clots until they become lodged in narrow spaces. When this happens, the clot can significantly or completely block the blood supply to parts of the body.

How does high blood pressure lead to a heart attack?

BP causes damaged and blocked arteries. A heart attack is the result of a blocked blood supply to the heart muscle tissue. This can happen when the arteries to the heart become thicker and harder from a buildup of plaque. High blood pressure causes scarred arteries that fill up with plaque and become more prone to blood clots. Sometimes plaque or a blood clot can completely close an artery, blocking the blood flow to tissue on the other side.

Damaged arteries cause blood supply failures. When a blockage cuts off the blood supply, part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery is deprived of blood. This is when a heart attack occurs. The oxygenstarved part of the heart muscle begins to die. The longer the artery stays blocked, the greater the damage to the heart.

Heart muscle tissue dies when arteries do not supply blood. Unfortunately, the heart muscle is fragile. Once damaged, it cannot repair itself. Prevention is key. One of the best ways to care for your heart is to know your blood pressure levels and to keep them in the normal range (below 120/80 mm Hg - below 120 systolic AND below 80 diastolic) How does HBP lead to heart failure?

BP damages the entire circulatory system. “Heart failure” is the term used for a heart that is not supplying sufficient blood flow to the rest of the body. High

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blood pressure damages the entire complex circulatory system. As mentioned above, HBP creates conditions for blocked arteries.

HBP adds to the workload of the heart. The narrowed arteries reduce the blood’s ability to travel through the body smoothly. This adds to the workload on the heart, making it work harder than normal.

HBP can cause the heart to enlarge and fail to supply the needed blood to the body.

Over time, the heart thickens and becomes larger. This slightly bigger heart still pumps

blood, but if it becomes too over-sized, it will have a hard time meeting the body’s demands for oxygen and nutrients.

When you control your blood pressure, you help your heart maintain a manageable workload. n

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Second Team Soquel: Rachel Herndon, Michaella Parelius, Katy Macy Harbor: Maddy McDougall, Jillian Aban, Aleah True Sacred Heart Prep 2 – Harbor 0 (CCS first Round, Div III) Harbor Season Record: (9-6-4) Soquel 0 – Scotts Valley 0

Wrestling

SCCAL Finals Third place: Harbor 131.0 pts Fifth Place: Soquel 80.0 pts

Baseball

Soquel 4 – Christopher 3 Soquel Season Record: (1-1) WP: Hunter Parkinson (1-0) Westmont 4 – Harbor 0 Harbor Season Record: (0-1) n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 17

CommunityNews

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Positive Parenting Program Seminars this Spring

y daughter is a confident child…but it hasn’t always been that way. She would get easily frustrated when she couldn’t accomplish a task and give up right away. I would then get frustrated with her for not trying hard enough and we would both walk away upset and disappointed. Then I learned a few simple tips from Triple P that helped me encourage and support her. Now she engages in new activities without prompting and we both walk away proud.” Triple P Parent If you are a parent, you know that parenting can be very challenging. It is often easy to get caught up in the everyday chores and tasks, forgetting about the important role we play in raising confident and resilient children. At every stage of a child’s life, parents can encourage and teach their children skills that allow them to have healthy self-esteems and the confidence to reach their full potential.

The Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) acknowledges the joy and the difficulty of parenting and recognizes that many small changes can make big differences in families. There is no one right way to be a parent, but Triple P offers information, support and practical answers to everyday parenting concerns.

Triple P offers 30 years of evidence based parent education and support to families all over the world. In Santa Cruz County, parents can expect a range of high quality parenting services that are easy to access through a central phone number and website. Options include: seminars for parents of children 0-12; workshops; groups and individual consultations.

This spring, free Spanish and English seminars are being offered to local parents.

These seminars cover key strategies to build positive parent-child relationships and promote children’s development.

These 2-hour seminars are geared towards any parents with children between the ages of 0-12. The seminars occur in a series of three, but parents can choose which ones and in which order to attend. Seminars include: The Power of Positive Parenting in which parents will learn how to improve their relationship with their children.

Raising Confident, Competent Children in which parents will learn about the social and emotional skills that children need in order to thrive at home, in school and throughout life.

Raising Resilient Children in which parents will learn strategies to teach children healthy ways to deal with their emotions.

After seminars, parents have expressed that some of the strategies are so simple and effective and that they wish they had tried it earlier. One of these strategies is providing your child with descriptive praise when she has done something on her own. For example, when she finishes her homework without needing a prompt, saying: “nice job for starting your homework all on your own. I’m very proud

Internet Crime Complaint Center ’s (Ic3) Scam Alerts

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his report, based upon information from law enforcement and complaints, details recent cyber crime trends and new twists to previously existing cyber scams.

••• Mystery Shopper/Wire Transfer Scam – A new twist to the online employment scam he scam involves those who responded to online ads or were contacted via email because of their resume being posted on job websites. The scam involves posing as a research company requesting participants to complete a paid survey regarding services provided at wire transfer locations to improve the effectiveness of the company’s money-transfer services.

Participants were hired and then mailed a cashier’s check or money order.

They received instructions to cash the check/money order at their local bank, keep a portion as payment, and wire the

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of you for that.” Another one is remembering to tell your child what she did well before pointing out what she can do better.

After only 2 years of implementation, Triple P in Santa Cruz County is showing encouraging results and successes. Parents are showing improved confidence and improved parenting styles; child behavior is improving; and parents are finding more joy and support in their parenting responsibilities. Triple P Practitioner Urmila Schmit-Cohen commented, “Parenting is the hardest job we have and when you really find something that makes it easier, it’s a relief for parents.” (Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency Triple P Practitioner) Becoming a strong confident child and then adult doesn’t happen overnight. But with the right support and direction from parents, children will become confident and competent. These small changes can make big differences!

Every parent can benefit from the advice and information available at www.first5scc.org and at free Triple P seminars, workshops and groups available throughout Santa Cruz County. n ••• If you are interested in learning more about the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) and services available, contact First 5 Santa Cruz County: visit www.first5scc.org or contact Stephanie Bluford at sbluford@first5scc.org (831) 465-2217.

remaining amount via wire transfer to a designated recipient. Victims were then asked to immediately e-mail their employer with the transfer number, amount wired, recipient’s name and address, and the name of the wire transfer location evaluated.

Upon sending the information, victims received a questionnaire form regarding their overall wire transfer experience to complete and return. Those who did not “Ic3” > 21

CommunityNews

IRS Releases the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2012

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued its annual “Dirty Dozen” ranking of tax scams. It lists a variety of common scams taxpayers can encounter at any point during the year. But many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare their tax returns.

The following is the Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2012: Identity Theft opping this year’s list Dirty Dozen list is identity theft. Identity theft cases are among the most complex ones the IRS handles, but the agency is committed to working with taxpayers who have become victims of identity theft. The IRS is increasingly seeing identity thieves looking for ways to use a legitimate taxpayer’s identity and personal information to file a tax return and claim a fraudulent refund.

An IRS notice informing a taxpayer that more than one return was filed in the taxpayer’s name or that the taxpayer received wages from an unknown employer may be the first tip off the individual receives that he or she has been victimized.

Anyone who believes his or her personal information has been stolen and used for tax purposes should immediately con-

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tact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit. For more information, visit the special identity theft page at www.IRS.gov/identitytheft.

Phishing hishing is a scam typically carried out with unsolicited email or a fake website that poses as a legitimate site to lure in potential victims and prompt them to provide valuable personal and financial information. With this information, a criminal can commit identity theft or financial theft.

The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as

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text messages and social media channels. If you receive an unsolicited email that appears to be from either the IRS or an organization closely linked to the IRS, such as the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), report it by sending it to phishing@irs.gov.

Return Preparer Fraud bout 60 percent of taxpayers will use tax professionals this year to prepare and file their tax returns.

Questionable return preparers have been known to skim off their clients’ refunds, charge inflated fees for return preparation services and attract new clients by promising guaranteed or inflated refunds. Taxpayers should choose carefully when hiring a tax

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preparer. In 2012, every paid preparer needs to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) and enter it on the returns he or she prepares.

An unscrupulous return preparer: • Does not sign the return or place a Preparer Tax identification Number on it.

• Does not give you a copy of your tax return.

• Promises larger than normal tax refunds.

• Charges a percentage of the refund amount as preparation fee.

• Requires you to split the refund to pay the preparation fee.

• Adds unfamiliar forms to your tax return.

• Encourages you to place false information on your return, such as false income, expenses and/or credits.

For advice on how to find a competent tax professional, see Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer.

Hiding Income Offshore hile there are legitimate reasons for maintaining financial accounts

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“Tax Scams” > 21

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BusinessProfile

THE VAN ZANTES PHOTOGRAPHY in Aptos

Professional Photographic Artistry and Custom Framing

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By Gail Penniman

oyd Van Zantes has been a “shutter bug” since his days in college when he photographed for the school yearbook. When digital cameras were first marketed, he jumped in with both feet, buying high-end equipment which, like computer hardware, has to be upgraded or replaced every few years to keep up with the changing technology. Loyd chuckles at himself and the prices he paid for those early digital cameras, but shrugs it off, saying that had he not gotten into the digital photography current right away, his business would have been left in the dust.

Since 1993, Van Zantes studio has provided the wall and album-adorning images of high school graduates, bridal couples and their parties, newborns and their proud parents and patriarchs and matriarchs with generations of kin around them.

Loyd says that a lot of “weekend photographers” can take digital photos of your wedding day, but the unforeseen consequence of hiring an amateur to shoot your $$$ wedding is that he will spend as much time partying with your guests as he will taking photos. The work Loyd does is truly one-of-a-kind: catching the candid and tender moments, just the perfect lighting, the small moments that make up the totality of the biggest day in a young woman’s life.

When it comes to portraits of new-

The Van Zantes Family

borns and young children, Loyd says to do it while you can because they grow up so very fast. Many times a stranger (like Loyd) can capture a scene between siblings that would not take place if the parents were trying to pose them. His family gets together annually and has for years and years, to get that special photo of the growing and maturing extended family, like a chronicle of their clan. One of the most exquisite things on the walls of his studio is a family portrait that Loyd turned into a

20 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

painting from a digital photograph.

Photographer as Artist oyd has a computer program that allows him to create paintbrushes and hues, which he then applies to the digital photo with individualized strokes on a touch sensitive pad. When he gets it just the way he wants it—not pre-set actions like with some softwares, but a true customizing of texture and color—he prints the painting out on canvas. If he chooses, he can then use real acrylic paint to go the

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next step, adding more texture and depth before mounting the canvas for framing.

Loyd had a nighttime photo of Capitola Village taken from above the wharf, looking across toward Depot Hill. He used this painting procedure to create a one-of-akind piece of artwork from his simple digital photo.

With this photo-to-painting technique in mind, imagine a special honeymoon photo turned into a framed canvas as an anniversary gift, or a digital picture you took of your children turned into a painting for a gift for the grandparents. If the eyes or smile aren’t just perfect, never fear.

Loyd is a master at moving the perfect expression from another image.

Improving Your Images nother skill he has mastered is that of adjusting the tones in your digital photos. If you get your photos developed through an online service and you realize the colors were not true to how they should have been, there is nothing that can be done to alter that. Loyd goes the next step. He can take your digital image and, using his state-of-the-art software and printer manipulate the tones to get them true again. Or the customer can fix things right on a studio computer with Loyd there to make suggestions. Eyes are closed? No problem. Just bring another image with the eyes open and he can make the swap.

Van Zante has added custom framing to his studio. Whether you have him provide the photo or painting or you bring in your own piece to be framed, he will help you make the best frame and mat selections to enhance your photograph or artwork.

One of Loyd’s greatest passions is photographing high school seniors. His studio has fulfilled the high school contracts for the Pajaro Valley School District for many years. During the summer, the young people arrive to have their most important photo to date taken for the yearbook, family albums, to be framed and hung at home and sent to love ones or given to sweethearts. Loyd’s eyes light up when he mentions this part of his career. n ••• The Van Zantes Photography, 6193 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003. 831-4642084, www.vanzantes.com

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“Tax Scams” from pg 19

abroad, there are reporting requirements that need to be fulfilled. U.S. taxpayers who maintain such accounts and who do not comply with reporting and disclosure requirements are breaking the law and risk significant penalties and fines, as well as the possibility of criminal prosecution.

At the beginning of this year, the IRS reopened the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) following continued strong interest from taxpayers and tax practitioners after the closure of the 2011 and 2009 programs. This program will be open for an indefinite period until otherwise announced.

“Free Money” from the IRS & Tax Scams Involving Social Security Flyers and advertisements for free money from the IRS, suggesting that the taxpayer can file a tax return with little or no documentation, have been appearing in community churches around the country. Scammers prey on low-income individuals and the elderly. They build false hopes and charge people good money for bad advice. In the end, the victims discover their claims are rejected.

Meanwhile, the promoters are long gone.

“Ic3” from pg 18

promptly follow through with the instructions received threatening e-mails stating if they did not respond within 24 hours, their information would be forwarded to the FBI and they could face 25 years in jail.

Shortly after the transactions, their banks informed victims that the checks were counterfeit and were held responsible for reimbursing their banks. Most victims owed their bank over $2,500.

Gaddafi’s Treasure Found By U.S. Military Contractor Scam laiming to be a US military contractor who was performing reconstruction work in Libya, fraudsters sent unsolicited e-mails claiming that several metal boxes were found in cellars of high-rise buildings built and occupied by Muammar Gaddafi.

Each box purportedly contained large sums of money, in addition to guns, armor, bullets and drugs.

The e-mails requested the recipient’s assistance with transferring the money out of Libya. The fraudsters also told the email recipients that they were expected to receive, secure, and protect the boxes until the overseas assignment elapsed and promised the victims a 30 percent profit.

Once communication with the fraudsters begins, they request personal information, including but not limited to bank account details, claiming funds are needed to cover various expenses.

Be wary of any unsolicited e-mail, especially those requesting personal infor-

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The IRS warns all taxpayers to remain vigilant.

There are a number of tax scams involving Social Security with scammers promising non-existent Social Security refunds or rebate or convincing a taxpayer that may really be due a credit or refund but then uses inflated information to complete the return. Beware.

Intentional mistakes of this kind can result in a $5,000 penalty.

False/Inflated Income and Expenses laiming income you did not earn or expenses you did not pay in order to secure larger refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit could have serious repercussions resulting in repaying the erroneous refunds, including interest and penalties, and in some cases, even prosecution.

Farmers and other taxpayers who use fuel for off-highway business purposes may be eligible for the fuel tax credit. But fraud involving the fuel tax credit is considered a frivolous tax claim.

False Form 1099 Refund Claims n this ongoing scam, the perpetrator files a fake information return, such as a Form 1099 Original Issue Discount (OID), to justify a false refund claim. If you are a party to such schemes, you could be liable for

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mation or soliciting the submission of money for any reason. Unsolicited e-mails should not be opened, as they often contain viruses or other malicious software.

Telephone Collection of Delinquent Payday Loan Scam he payday loan scam involves a caller who claims the victim is delinquent on a payday loan and must make payment to avoid legal consequences. Callers pose as representatives of the FBI, Federal Legislative Department, various law firms, or other legitimate-sounding agencies, and claim to be collecting debts for companies such as United Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Net, or other Internet check-cashing services.

The fraudsters relentlessly call the victim’s home, cell phone and place of employment in attempts to obtain payment. The callers refuse to provide information regarding the alleged payday loan, provide any documentation and become abusive when questioned.

In a variation of this scam, the caller tells the victim there are outstanding warrants for their arrest for non-payment and for hacking into a named business with the intent of obtaining customer information.

The caller then demands payment via debit/credit card or instructs victims to obtain a prepaid card to cover the payment.

The high-pressure collection tactics used by the fraudsters have also escalated.

In one occurrence, a person posing as a process server actually made a personal

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financial penalties or even face criminal prosecution.

Frivolous Arguments he IRS has a list of frivolous tax arguments that taxpayers should avoid.

These arguments are false and have been thrown out of court. While taxpayers have the right to contest their tax liabilities in court, no one has the right to disobey the law.

Falsely Claiming Zero Wages iling a phony information return to lower the amount of taxes an individual owes is illegal. Typically, a Form 4852 (Substitute Form W-2) or a “corrected” Form 1099 is used to improperly reduce taxable income to zero or the taxpayer may submit a statement rebutting wages and taxes reported by a payer to the IRS. Taxpayers should resist any temptation to participate in any variations of this scheme.

Abuse of Charitable Organizations and Deductions RS examiners continue to uncover the intentional abuse of 501(c)(3) organizations. The IRS is investigating schemes that involve the donation of non-cash assets.

Often these donations are highly overvalued or the organization receiving the donation promises that the donor can repur-

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appearance at the victim’s place of employment. In another instance, a fake process server came to victim’s home. In both cases, after claiming to be serving the victim with a court summons, the fake process server said the victim could avoid going to court if the victim provided a debit card number for repayment of the loan.

If you are contacted by someone who is trying to collect a debt that you do not owe, you should: • Contact your local law enforcement

chase the items later at a price set by the donor. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 imposed increased penalties for inaccurate appraisals and set new standards for qualified appraisals.

Disguised Corporate Ownership hird parties are improperly used to request employer identification numbers and form corporations that obscure the true ownership of the business. The IRS is working with state authorities to identify these entities and bring the owners into compliance with the law.

Misuse of Trusts hile there are legitimate uses of trusts in tax and estate planning, some highly questionable transactions promise reduction of income subject to tax, deductions for personal expenses and reduced estate or gift taxes. Such trusts rarely deliver the tax benefits promised and are used primarily as a means of avoiding income tax liability and hiding assets from creditors and the IRS. IRS personnel have seen an increase in the improper use of private annuity trusts and foreign trusts to shift income and deduct personal expenses. As with other arrangements, taxpayers should seek the advice of a trusted professional before entering a trust arrangement. n

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agencies if you feel you are in immediate danger; • Contact your bank(s) and credit card companies; • Contact the three major credit bureaus and request an alert be put on your file; If you have received a legitimate loan and want to verify that you do not have any outstanding obligation, contact the loan company directly; Then, file a complaint at www.IC3.gov n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 21

FeaturedColumnist The Book Bag by Robert Francis

The Book Bag

by Robert Francis

Burt Rutan’s Race to Space: The Magician of Mojave and His Flying Innovations

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By Dan Linehan Zenith Press. $30 (Rating-Very Good) onterey writer Dan Linehan has followed up his first book, “Space Ship One: An Illustrated History” with this second nicely illustrated volume on aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan.

Besides a look into Rutan’s life, the book focuses on the groundbreaking, innovative designs and aircraft that Rutan created over the years. Over 44 manned vehicles have been created by the two companies Rutan created. Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF) and Scaled Composites have both been in the forefront in the race to create aircraft that would take civilians farther out into deep space.

The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum now houses some of these remarkable aircraft, including SpaceShipOne that won the $10 million Ansari X Prize for private spaceflight, the Voyager, Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer and the VeriEse. Over 200 color and black and white photos accompany Linehan’s informative text and make this a book that anyone interested in space flight, aviation or aeronautical design will want to own.

The Archive Series: Layout & Background

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From the Walt Disney Animation Studios Disney Editions. $50 (Rating-Excellent) here is virtually no text in this oversized volume, but the full-page illustrations speak volumes. From the simplest Disney ink washes and the lush paintings for past classic films to the computer renderings of more recent films, this collection of art highlights the amazing talent and range of the layout artists who have worked at the Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Over twenty of these talented individuals’ work is showcased on these pages.

The artwork, much of which has never been published before, provides a chance to see the work that influenced such Disney classics as “Cinderella,” “Bambi,” “Fantasia,” “The Lion King” and “ Snow White.”

Looking for some fascinating non-fiction? ...

Granted, this is a rather expensive book, but once you begin paging through it, it becomes very apparent that this was a costly book to produce and this one-of-akind artwork is not going to be readily available except in this volume. Therefore, it really is a bargain and worth the price!

Images of America: Soquel

By the Soquel Pioneer Historical Association Arcadia Publishing. $21.99 (Rating-Very Good) ivided into ten chapters, this pictorial history charts the history of Soquel from the early 1800s to the 1960s. You’ll learn about early settlers, the logging, fishing, orchard and agricultural industries that provided jobs in the early years and the way the residents of Soquel created a sense of community.

The section on “Disasters, Floods, Fires and Quakes” will also be of interest as well as the chapter that shows how folks spent their leisure time.

Over 120 pages of vintage, black and white photos with short paragraphs explaining the significance of each one make this a volume that those interested in Soquel’s past will want to own. If you have roots in the area that go back a couple of generations, you might be pleasantly surprised to find some of your family members appear in this book as well.

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MARSOC: U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command

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By Fred Pushies Zenith Press. $24.99 (Rating-Good) he U.S. Marine Corps has been involved in special operations dating back to World War II and the Korean War. But after the Desert One hostage rescue mission badly misfired, the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was created in 1987. The new command would handle special operations on land, sea, and air with Army, Navy and Air Force personnel.

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Rather than join in, the Marine Corps felt it needed to maintain its top warriors in its conventional forces. Thus, MARSOC was formed and in the aftermath of 9/11, when the need for special operations units became more pronounced, MARSOC became part of USSOCOM. Originally part of Force Recon, the highly skilled, combat hardened soldiers joined other sec ops professionals in the war on al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the global war on terrorism.

This pictorial history looks at the origins, training, special equipment, weapons, and the missions of this highly trained and lethal group of Leathernecks.

With 100 photos, the paperback offers an up-close and personal look at the country’s newest special operations force.

Sometimes the subject of military and adventure authors who create fictional scenarios and missions for a force like this, what you’ll find on these pages is anything but fiction. These men and women are the real deal and not the figments of someone’s overactive imagination!

Malcolm Gladwell Collected

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By Malcolm Gladwell Little, Brown. $80 (Rating-Excellent) his nicely designed box set contains three of Malcolm Gladwell’s best sellers – “The Tipping Point,” “Blink” and “Outliers.” The Canadian journalist, who now lives in New York City, brings together research in sociology and psychology as he attempts to explain some of the phenomenon that we encounter in everyday life.

In “The Tipping Point” Gladwell addresses how things reach “critical mass” that result in changes in how we live or perceive the world around us. For example, he looks at something as mundane as Hush Puppies and how they became a huge fashion statement.

“Blink” investigates how the subconscious and past experiences help explain events and can lead to making quick decisions and snap judgments in our lives.

Finally,” Outliers” focuses on how success and personality formation are a product of

environment, personal drive and motivation.

These works are all highly readable as well as entertaining. Although some critics dismiss them because they are not “scientific enough” and too general in nature, the fact is that these books were so popular because they did “simplify” and were more journalistic in nature. Yes, Gladwell does use a lot of anecdotal material and a conversational tone and that is precisely why so many people enjoyed reading these works.

If you missed reading these three best sellers, here’s the perfect opportunity to get the trio in an attractive package that you can enjoy and revisit for years to come.

The Fox Effect: How Roger Ailes Turned a Network Into a Propaganda Machine

By David Brock, Ari Rabin-Havit and Media Matters for America Anchor Books. $15 (Rating-Good) iven the subject matter, this is a paperback you’ll either love or hate!

It is no secret that Fox News and its commentators lean to the conservative right.

If Fox is one side of the coin, then Media Matter is the flip side, so obviously there is going to be a major divergence of opinions here.

The authors set their sights on Roger Ailes, Fox News President, and demonstrate how he has transformed the network into a full-throated partisan advocate for the Republican Party. Of course, this discussion also pulls in Fox contributors and commentators who range from Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Greta Van Susteren, Dick Morris and Glenn Beck to Bill O’Reilly and Bill Hemmer.

No matter what one’s political leanings, in an election year a book like this will generate some buzz. If you are Republican, this book will probably make your blood pressure skyrocket. If you are Democrat, no doubt you’ll be nodding your head in agreement over what you are reading. And, if you are an independent, this will confirm your decision to not commit to either party! n

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CommunityNews

Announcing 2012-13 Poet Laureate David Swanger

he Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County is thrilled to introduce renowned poet and longtime Santa Cruz County resident David Swanger as its 2012-13 Poet Laureate. During his term, Swanger will act as an advocate for poetry, literature and the arts, and contribute to Santa Cruz County’s poetry and literary legacy.

“I am honored to be chosen by the Cultural Council, County Office of Education, County Arts Commission and Poetry Santa Cruz as the second Santa Cruz County Poet Laureate; and it is a privilege to succeed Gary Young in this position,” says Swanger of his appointment. “We have a wonderfully varied, accomplished and vital cohort of poets in Santa Cruz. I look forward to working with my colleagues on a range of endeavors — Santa Cruz’ reading series, publications, commemorations, festivals and other celebrations.”

David has received fellowships in poetry from the National Endowment for the Arts and the California Arts Council.

He has written a book about poetry, The Poem as Process, and a book about aesthetic education, Essays in Aesthetic Education, as well as four books of poems.

His most recent book of poems, Wayne’s College of Beauty, won the John Ciardi Prize in Poetry. Wayne’s College of Beauty was also a finalist in Fore Word’s Book of the Year Awards. Two of his poems have been read by Garrison Keillor on NPR’s “The Writer’s Almanac.” n ••• Wayne’s College of Beauty

By David Swanger I know what wages beauty gives –Yeats

ontests to appear on the Santa Cruz County June 2012 ballot are: U.S. Senate • 18th and 20th Congressional Districts • 17th State Senate District • 29th and 30th Assembly Districts • County Superior Court Judge • County Supervisors in the 1st, 2nd and 5th Districts • Political party central committees or county councils • San Benito County Board of Education, Trustee Area 2.

The office of Superior Court Judge required a Declaration of Intent to be filed by February 8, and only the incumbent Jeff Almquist filed the required document.

Therefore, no other person may file to fun for that office.

Also, the Libertarian and Americans Elect parties will not be electing central committees in June.

During the February 13 to March 9 filing period, candidates need to file the following documents: Declaration of Candidacy Nomination Papers for all candidates except County Board Of Education.

Candidates must file a specified number of valid signatures on a Nomination Petition in order to have his or her name on the primary ballot. Signatures obtained during the Petitions In-Lieu period may be applied toward the Nomination signature requirement Candidate’s Statement of Qualifications is optional for candidates running for Superior Court Judge

Candidate’s Statement of Qualifications for Board of Supervisors, and Board of Education not exceeding 200 words must be filed and paid for at the time of filing the candidate’s Declaration of Candidacy Candidates for State Senate and Assembly may file a 250-word Statement of Qualifications by the deadline if he or she has agreed to adhere to the spending limits pursuant to Proposition 34 Candidates for Congress may also file a 250-word candidate Statement of Qualifications for printing in the county Sample Ballot by the March 9 deadline.

Forms are obtained from and often filed with the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department located at 701 Ocean St., Room 210, Santa Cruz, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (except for the furlough day on February 17), 831-454-2060. n ••• A “Candidate’s Handbook” detailing deadlines, forms, candidate filing requirements, and election processes for the June 5, 2012 Primary Election is available from the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department.

Candidate’s handbooks are also available online at www.votescount.com. In addition, a daily update of candidates who have taken out papers or have filed is available online at www.votescount.com as well as other important information regarding the June Primary.

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We have dropped out of the other schools to enroll here where no one fails; everything is fixed, fluffed, teased into its temporary best at cut-rate prices because we are all novices

Candidate filing period for June ballot ends March 9

in the art of making beauty, learning that beauty is not so hard. Beauty is not so hard we learn, because it is not chemicals or varieties of fashion.

Our scissors and combs, our libraries of lotions, our bright mirrors assure the timorous or imperious elderly they have come at last to the right place.

Wayne’s is not the Heartbreak Hotel, and when they leave beautiful, it is because they are briefly unlonely.

We have said, “How are you?”, “How would you like your hair?”, and we have touched them not cruelly, and with more than our hands. When it is over we swivel their chairs so they can see themselves carefully from several angles while we hover silent just above their doubts, a calculation that provides two faces in the mirror, ours smiling at both of us.

David Swanger

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 23

FeaturedColumnist

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Carbon Monoxide Alarms Now Required

By Mike DeMars — Public Information Officer Central Fire Protection District

have received many inquires lately from homeowners in regards to Carbon Monoxide alarms. In this article, I will answer some of the more frequently asked questions. In 2011, the state of California enacted senate bill 183. This bill enacted the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act. SB 183 requires that carbon monoxide alarms be installed in all single and multifamily dwellings. More specifically, carbon monoxide alarms will be required in a home that has fuel burning appliances, a fireplace, a woodstove or an attached garage. All new and existing homes should have had carbon monoxide alarms installed by the end of 2011. All multifamily homes are required to have them installed by 2013.

First, what is carbon monoxide?

Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. It is slightly heavier than air and produced by the incomplete burning of many fuels including wood, charcoal, kerosene, natural gas and propane.

Appliances and equipment powered by internal combustion engines such as motor

vehicles, lawn mowers and portable generators also produce monoxide carbon gas. It is common in small amounts in the air that we breathe.

What are the adverse effects of carbon monoxide? When inhaled, carbon monoxide gas bonds with hemoglobin in the blood stream more readily than oxygen.

Breathing this gas can cause headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and shortness of breath. Long time exposure can cause flu like symptoms. High levels of carbon monoxide in the body can produce vomiting, confusion, loss of muscular control, loss of consciousness and eventually death if not treated. According to The Center for Disease Control, an average of 500 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year. It is the leading cause of accidental poisoning in the USA. How can you prevent carbon monoxide poisoning? Operate fuel burning vehicles and equipment in well-ventilated

24 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

areas. Do not operate barbeque grills or burn charcoal indoors. Keep fuel burning appliance such as water heaters and furnaces in good working order and maintained as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Clean fireplace and stove chimneys at least once a year. Burn only clean, unpainted and untreated wood in your stove or fireplace.

Never leave a vehicle running for long periods in an attached garage. Install carbon monoxide alarms as required in your home.

What are carbon monoxide alarms?

Carbon monoxide alarms are electronic devices, similar to smoke alarms, which detect CO in the air when it reaches a health threatening level. House current or batteries can power these alarms. There are several types available and may have various installation instructions. Most types mount on the ceiling similar to a smoke alarm. However, you should install them

as directed by the instructions of the specific alarm that you purchase.

Change the batteries at the same time that you change your smoke alarm batteries. Become familiar with the sound of a CO alarm. It makes a different sound than a smoke alarm. Share this information with your family and include it as part of your home safety plan. If a CO alarm sounds in your home: call 911 as you would for a smoke alarm sounding. Evacuate the home until emergency services arrive. Do not reenter the home until it is declared safe by emergency personnel.

Where can I get more information about carbon monoxide alarms? First, I would recommend talking to your local fire or building inspector. Other sources of information include the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Department of Housing and Community Development and the California Building Officials Association. n ••• Mike DeMars-Fire Inspector Central Fire Protection District 930 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz, Ca. 95062, 831-479-6843

FeaturedColumnist

GIGO: Garbage In, Garbage Out

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By Camille Smith

hat phrase reminds us that what you put into something is what you’ll get out of it. If you put garbage in – cheap parts, shoddy workmanship, no quality inspection, inaccurate data – that will determine what comes out.

I think it’s time to employ that thinking again to what we put into people who we count on for output.

Measure o have a successful business, we measure outputs of profit, costs, which products sell, which don’t. To have a successful household, we measure savings, expenses, which foods are eaten, which become garbage. In both domains, we measure the financial bottom line.

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However, if that’s all we’re monitoring, we’re not seeing, and we don’t have access to influence, the factors that contribute to the kind of success we’re seeking today.

The triple bottom line came into existence around 2007. The TBL registers an expanded spectrum of criteria for measuring organizational success with metrics for (1) people (social) and (2) planet (ecological), and (3) profit (economic). The concept demands that a company’s responsibility lies with stakeholders rather than only shareholders (profit-seekers), with “stakeholders” being anyone who is influenced, either directly or indirectly, by the actions of the firm. Corporate Social Responsibility is an expression of this measure. A step in the right direction.

Another step is to measure what’s going into our people.

GIGO or HIHO (Happiness In Happiness Out)?

If people are in a toxic culture, one characterized by GIGO — gossip, broken promises, poor communication, inequitable compensation, discrimination, retribution rather than support — their output is likely to be toxic — low morale, low customer satisfaction, increase in union grievances, high absenteeism.

If people are in and around an engaging, invigorating culture, one characterized by HIHO — opportunity to learn, gain skills, supportive feedback, development paths that match ambitions — their performance and output will represent and reflect the culture; plus, they will experience work as satisfying.

BTW (By the Way): Creating an environment that fosters happy and satisfied employees does not mean that there won’t be conflict or disagreement. It means that when there is a conflict, it gets worked out and resolved in the open and doesn’t fester or go underground to sabotage relationships.

The effectiveness with w h i c h employees

Metrics for Nations

GDP (gross domestic product) and GNP (gross national traditional are product) measures for country’s success.

GNH (gross national happiness) is being used.

raise and resolve disagreements is a function of the level of trust.

Employees are happiest when they’re trying to achieve goals that are difficult but not out of reach. As they go after these difficult and attainable goals, thriving employees know how to avoid burnout. (The Bright Side of Burnout: How to recognize & fix it! a motivational and training video available at www.wipcoaching.com. Discount code: NOBURNOUT).

Research has shown that managers can take four measures to help employees engage in taking on difficult goals. All four are necessary to create a culture of vitality and learning. (Source: HBReview, Jan-Feb 2012 and my experience of working with tons of people around the world.)

1. Provide decision-making discretion.

Be clear about parameters.

2. Share information. Share data on all aspects of business with everyone, regardless of role.

3. Minimize incivility. Reduce (heck, Outlaw!) gossip, disrespect, intolerance and bullying.

4. Offer performance feedback. Create dashboards that show individual and team performance against goals.

When positive feedback outweighs the negative 5 to 1, satisfaction increases.

It will take a prolonged and shared commitment to bring these four measures into your workplace (or household). Old habits will need to be discarded, new practices will need to be invented and integrated. The process of creating a vital and learning environment can create happiness. Happiness In, Happiness Out. After all, it’s the input that creates the output. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 25

CommunityNews

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Applications for Open Studios Art Tour 2012 Now Available

he Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County is now accepting applications for the 2012 Open Studios Art Tour, available online at www.zapplication.org. Completely online for its second year, the application process is streamlined and easy to use. Those interested in applying should visit the CCSCC website for guidelines, FAQs, application assistance workshops and other tools to help them on their way.

Deadline to apply is midnight on Monday, April 30.

This yearly production attracted thousands of visitors in 2011, and generated over $775,000 in sales for local artists. This countywide event boasts high satisfaction rates among its participants, with over 89% of Open Studios artists reporting a wonderful, positive or satisfying experience.

2012 Open Studios Art Tour jury is comprised of five art professionals from outside Santa Cruz County. Jurors are provided with a detailed description of the scope and intent of the Open Studios Tour for reference while viewing applicants’ art. The panel uses a blind jury

process to review each set of images provided by each artist.

Jurors for the 2012 Open Studios Art Tour: • Bonnie Earls-Solari, Independent Curator & Art Advisory Service • Karen Kienzle, Director, Palo Alto Art Center • Melissa Pickford, Curator, Monterey Peninsula College Gallery • George Rivera, Curator, Triton Museum • Chris Winfield, Owner, Chris Winfield Gallery The CCSCC will also offer application and image preparation assistance to interested local artists. Please see below or visit our website ccscc.org/index.php/open-studios.html for more details.

FREE Application Assistance workshops — The CCSCC will offer four workshops starting on Thursday, February 23 to answer questions regarding the online application process and the

Coastal Home & Garden On the web and in your home!

www.coastalhomeandgarden.com

Looking For Home & Garden Services?

Our local guide has every type of contractor or supply you will need for your home and garden.

Looking To Buy or Sell Your Home?

Check Out Our Real Estate Section.

Find an agent or a property.

Find a copy in one of many local businesses or visit our website today!

26 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

preparation of the required jpeg and tiff files. No appointment needed. $25 Digital Image Preparation appointments — A limited number of 1hour appointments starting on Saturday, March 24th will be offered where we will prepare your seven application jpegs and

the Artist Guide/Calendar tiff from your digital files while you wait. IF you have registered on ZAPP© prior to the appointment, we will upload your images to ZAPP© for you. The $25 service fee will be donated to the Cultural Council. n

Save Our Shores invites Public to March 13 Free Screening of AwardWinning Film ‘The End of the Line’

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ave Our Shores (SOS), the leader in ocean advocacy on the Central Coast, is hosting a free screening of the award-winning film The End of the Line on Tuesday, March 13. Dubbed ‘The Inconvenient Truth of the Oceans,’ The End of the Line is the first major documentary film to reveal the worldwide problems caused by overfishing in our oceans.

Doors open at 6:30pm. Film will be shown in the Large Hall at First Congregational Church of Santa Cruz, located at 900 High Street. Popcorn and light refreshments will be served.

Filmed across the world — from the Straits of Gibraltar to the coasts of Alaska and the Tokyo fish market — The End of the Line follows Charles Clover as he confronts politicians and celebrity

A scene from the film “The End of the Line”

restaurateurs exhibiting little regard for the damage they are doing to the oceans.

Featuring top scientists, indigenous fishermen and fisheries enforcement officials, The End of the Line is a wake-up call to the world.

“End of the Line” > 30

FeaturedColumnist

&About

Out

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Lush Beauty Lounge ’m always filled with angst when I go to get my hair cut. I was filled with even more angst this time because I was getting a brand new style – with color and highlights as well. I need not have worried at all because Karen Dias, owner of Lush Beauty Lounge in Aptos, took good care of me and did a beautiful job on my hair. Dias has a wealth of experience after years in the business and made some great suggestions on the cut. The salon is a friendly place with an upbeat vibe – and they’ll make you a terrific cup of coffee, too.

Lush Beauty Lounge, 402 Bernal St. (in Aptos Village), Aptos, 431-7823.

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Unfiltered Camels very Monday evening I make a point of listening to Unfiltered Camels – presented by David Anton Savage on KZCS Radio, 88.1 FM. Savage presents such interesting world music that my ears are glued to the radio the whole time. It’s on for two hours starting at 4 p.m.

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Jade Taylor at the Backstage Lounge alking of music, local jazz songbird Jade Taylor has just released a new CD called “A Taste of Things to Come.” Taylor has a beautiful voice and will be singing songs from the CD at the Backstage Lounge on Thursday, March 16 from 7-10 p.m. Taylor will also be doing a CD release party at Don Quixote’s in Felton at some point in April, so keep a lookout for that as well. Her first CD is called “Shades of Jade.”

Backstage Lounge, 1209 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 469-9900 (next to the Rio Theatre). www.backstageloungerio.com.

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Watercolor Flower Mandalas alented artist Michele Faia will be teaching classes on how to create beautiful flower mandalas – from March 1 to April 5 from noon to 2:30 p.m. every Thursday. If you have always wanted to paint something that is symbolic of the blooming self, well, now’s your chance.

Capitola Recreation Dept., Capitola Community Center, 4400 Jade St., Capitola.

Info: 472-5935. If you have questions call Michele Faia at 662-8857.

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Freedom Bakery n the Feb. 1 issue of Aptos Times (also Capitola/Soquel Times, and Scotts Valley Times), I wrote about Freedom Bakery and all the wonderful baked goods they specialize in. I neglected to mention that they have a retail outlet at their facility, so if you’re craving delicious cake, you know where to go.

Freedom Bakery & Confections, 125 Hangar Way #120, Watsonville, 722-5223 or toll free (866) 548-7266. www.fbandc.com.

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By Josie Cowden

to your heart’s content – and wear optional 1940s attire to get even more into the groove of the era.

The event is on Friday, March 30 from 6 p.m. Cost: Dinner/auction $100; dance/auction $50. For information to sponsor a table or to buy tickets: www.cabrillostage.com/Show SpringSwing.html.

Dining Etiquette on’t forget to blot your mouth with your napkin before taking a drink at mealtimes. n ••• Josie Cowden is a freelance writer and proofreader. Contact her at ravenone274@comcast.net.

The Oscars

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Center Street Grill his lovely downtown restaurant has a new “mixologist” called Mark Thompson. Thompson used to be head bartender at Gordon Ramsay Restaurant and created all kinds of exciting cocktails for them – and now he’s doing just that for Center Street Grill. Try a Ruby Red Sunset or a Ginger Blossom –made with pear vodka. Center Street Grill runs specials all the time – the Baby Back Ribs on Thursdays for $14.95 are wonderful – and they now have a new local group playing on Thursdays called Bebop. Bebop’s young, talented musicians really know how to make music. And, by the way, Happy Hour is Tuesday through Friday from 5-7 p.m.

Center Street Grill, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz, 423-4745. www.thecenterstreetgrill.com.

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Swing Into Spring at the Cocoanut Grove he newly formed Cabrillo Stage Theatre Guild is putting on a fundraiser event at the Cocoanut Grove called Swing Into Spring. Many arts programs are suffering from lack of funds, so this is your golden opportunity to support our wonderful Cabrillo Stage productions. The evening promises to be an exciting event – with dancing to the sounds of the big band era of the ’30s and ’40s, and fun things to bid on in a silent auction. Jon Nordgren, producing artistic director of Cabrillo Stage, will be conducting the big band orchestra, so you can dance the night away

10. Kiln for drying hops 45. *"The Girl with the nominee 24. Obama to Harvard ACROSS Dragon Tattoo" 64. Wavelike patterned 11. The hunted Law School, e.g.

1. Type of eclipse 49. Band event 12. "Ever" to a poet silk 6. *1941's "How Green 25. Bud or chum 15. *He played Cold War 51. "We the ______" in 28. Cough syrup balsam 65. Make imperfect ___ My Valley" the Constitution spy 30. To mark with spots 67. Home to BYU 9. Drink too much 54. "30 Rock" character 20. Grommets, e.g.

68. Curving outward 35. ____ vera 13. Being of service 22. Milk ___, popular at 56. Emerald Ash _____ 37. *Nominated for role 69. "___ to Joy" 14. Gilligan's home pest the movies 70. Pivoted about a fulin "Moneyball" 15. Chicago's ORD 24. Coroner's perform- 57. "Wolf" in French crum 16. Smelling _____, pl. 39. Like sound of 58. Great masters' mediance 71. It usually contains pinched nose 17. In the past um, pl. the altar in a church 25. *Place of Woody's 18. Type of beam, also 40. Chess piece that 59. Strong desire 72. Women's organization midnight magic looks like castle an acronym 60. *It works with the 26. Unaccompanied 73. Rub out 19. *Best Picture nominee 41. Barges cast on films 27. Used for washing set in Jackson, MS 43. Circus venue 29. Often spread in the 61. Most luminous star 21. "Ripley's Believe It or 44. Reason by deduction DOWN 62. Day before, pl. classroom 1. A deadly sin Not" showpiece, e.g. 46. "The Iliad," e.g.

31. Beaten by walkers 63. Yesteryear 2. Beehive State 23. Accused by some of 47. *Mechanically64. Earned at Sloan or inclined film orphan 3. World's longest river 32. Imposter breaking up The 48. Seaman or sailor 4. Even though, arch. 33. *Best Actress winner Wharton Beatles 66. "Much ___ About in "Tootsie" 5. Wish ill 50. Bus ____ Nothing" 34. "Crocodile Rock" 52. Room in a house 6. Smack or sock performer 53. Like acne-prone skin 7. Leo month 55. Charlotte's creation 8. It has no back and 36. Augmented © Statepoint Media 38. Foolish person no arms 57. Hotel meeting place Answers on 31 » 60. *"The Descendants" 9. Bangkok inhabitant 42. Frown with anger

Michele Faia — Watercolor Flower Mandalas www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 27

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Announcements

Volleyball Classes

olleyball Coach Phil Kaplan will be leading Volleyball Class and Open Play, Friday Evenings at Cabrillo College. Sessions begin February 24, and will run for 14 weeks.

Cost is $72 plus a small health fee (about $6 per class.) Email Phil with any questions at kaplanvb@cruzio.com.

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I-You Venture

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

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

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Survivors Healing Center

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

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

Call (831)423-7601 to register

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Al-Anon

re you bothered by someone else’s drinking? Al-Anon is a 12-Step program for family and friends of alcoholics. There are meetings every day of the week and there are no dues or fees.

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

Ongoing Events Ongoing thru April 1

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Rain Forest Excursions at Roaring Camp

Everyday at 12:30 pm earn about California's own Rain forests (of coastal redwoods.) As guests ride at branch level through a virgin rain forest by steam train, fascinating information about the California coastal redwoods and forest ecosystem is revealed.

Tickets are $24 for adults, $ 17 for children.

Parking is $8. For more information, call (831) 335-4484

First Mondays of the Month

Lecture Series on "Great Decisions"

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

For more information, call (831) 688-0541

Second and Fourth Mondays First and Third Wednesdays

Alzheimers Support Groups

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

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Mondays thru April 30 (starts March 12)

Food for Life: The Power of Food

for Disease Prevention and Survival

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6:00pm-8:00pm, Westside New Leaf Community Market, Santa Cruz he Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is sponsoring an eight-week course entitled, “Food for Life: The Power of Food for Disease Prevention and Survival.”

Gain the knowledge that will enable you or family members to prevent disease or better manage it through nutrition. Topics include how foods fight diabetes, beneficial low-fat, high-fiber foods, using the glycemic index, disease-fighting compounds, and healthy weight control.

For more information and registration, visit www.foodforlifeclasses.org or call (831) 3253811 or email simplynutritious@gmail.com

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Tuesdays

Women Care Drop in Cancer Support

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

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

Tuesdays thru Fridays, Sundays

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Svaroopa® Yoga Instruction at Aptos Yoga

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

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

First Tuesdays and Third Wednesdays each month

Orientations to Become Advocates for Children

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

ASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Santa Cruz County needs your help. Volunteer 3-5 hours per week to provide support, guidance, and a powerful voice in court for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. Everyone welcome, men and bilingual folks especially encouraged.

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

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Wednesdays

Cooking Course on Cancer Prevention and Survival

thru February 15, 6:00pm-8:00pm, New Leaf Community Markets, 1101 Fair Ave. Santa Cruz hysicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is sponsoring a 4-week course entitled “Food for Life: The Power of Food for Cancer Prevention and Survival.” Learn how proper diet can help prevent and survive can-

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28 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

cer. Topics: how foods fight cancer; beneficial low-fat, high-fiber foods; dairy and meat alternatives; cancer-fighting compounds; and healthy weight control. $95 To register, visit www.cancerproject.org/ classes, call 831-325-381l, or email simplynutritious@gmail.com

Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay ADHD Support Group Meetings

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

Overeaters Anonymous

6:30-7:30pm at Teach by the Beach #50 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos For more information, call (831) 429-7906

First Wednesday of the Month

Child Welfare Review

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

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

Every Other Wednesday

(Next: February 29 • Thru April 15)

Free Tax Assistance

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9:30am-11:30 am, Mountain Community Resources, Highway 9 ree tax assistance will be provided by the Santa Cruz Community Credit Union on a walk in basis.

To learn more, call (831) 335-6600

Fourth Wednesday each Month

Ongoing Constitution Classes

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

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

Thursdays

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Capitola-Aptos Rotary Club Meeting

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

Overeaters Anonymous

1:00-2:00pm, Louden Nelson Community Center, Rm. 5 301 Center St. Santa Cruz For more information, call (831) 429-7906

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

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

For more information or to schedule an

appointment, call (831) 475-7184

Second Thursdays of the Month

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Veterans of Foreign Wars

6:30 pm, 2259 7th Ave. Santa Cruz ommander: Ronals Petty. For more information, call (831) 475-9804

Second and Fourth Thursdays of the month

Cabrillo Host Lions

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

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

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Fridays

Clutterers Anonymous

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

For more info call 426-1868 FREE

Saturdays

Come As You Are Zen

9-10:30 am, Ocean Gate Zendo, 920 41st Ave. Suite B, Santa Cruz (next to Family Cycling Center) ome as you are Zen focuses on Buddhist practices that enhance our daily lives. This will be an informal talk with time for discussion. Free — donation accepted.

Visit oceangatezen.org for more info.

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Aptos Certified Farmers Market

8:00 -12:00pm at Cabrillo College, Aptos. he Aptos Market, with over 80 vendors, is open year round, with the best selections of fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, seedlings, flowers, local honey, fresh eggs, fresh fish, artisan baked goods and gourmet foods. In addition, family activities, music, cooking demos by professional chefs, gardening workshops, seasonal fairs and events are a part of the market.

Scotts Valley Farmer’s Market

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

Dated Events

Wednesday February 29 The Sierra Club Presents: Wild and Minimal Impact, Camping

by Kayak, Bicycle, and Backpack

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6:30pm, Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave. Santa Cruz avid Casterson will present a hands on demonstration of equipment and techniques which will feature the actual kayak, mountain bike, road nike and packs used on minimal impact self supported camping trips to Baja, the Northern Sierra, and Pt. Reyes.

This event is sponsored by the Santa Cruz Group of the Sierra Club. This is a zero waste event! Please walk, bicycle, bus, or carpool if you can!

For more information, contact David Casterson at dcasterson@comcast.net

Tuesday February 28 Tuesday March 20 Parenting Workshop: Dealing with Disobedience

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5:30pm-8:00pm, Mountain Community Resources, Highway 9 mprove your parenting skills! These workshops will include free food, free childcare, and one on one parenting support. Topics will include supporting your partner, dealing with fighting and aggression, being bullied, and the power of self esteem.

Events are free! To learn more, call (831) 3356600

Saturday March 3

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St. Andrew Preschool Rummage Sale

8:00am-2:00pm 9850 Monroe Ave. Aptos t. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Aptos will hold its annual rummage and bake sale to benefit the preschool. There will be clothing, electronics, children's items, furniture, household goods, and much more!

For more information call (831) 688-7095.

Wednesday March 7 ADHD Support Group Meeting Special Speaker

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6:30pm-8:30pm, Mar Vista Elementary School, Aptos r. Juan Acosta, a local neuroscientist, will discuss neurofeedback as a treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at the next ADHD support meeting.

For more information, contact Judy Brenis at jbbrenis@comcast.net or call (831) 684-0590

Wednesday March 21 Freedom Forum Presents: Stealing America Vote by Vote

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7:00pm, Quaker Friends Meeting House, 225 Rooney St. Santa Cruz reedom forum presents this documentary film by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman, which offers behind-thescenes perspective from key races. Learn about startling occurances such as uncounted ballots, vote switching, and many other examples that warrent an investigation. Special Guest Gail Pellerin will help answer questions about our local system and our responsibilities as voters.

Tuesday March 27 Sons in Retirement Luncheon Meeting

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11:30 am, Severinos Bar and Grill, 7500 Old Dominion Ct. Aptos peaker will be Bill Fisher, CEO of Alzheimers Association Northern California and Nevada.Subject "Update on Alzheimers Disease and the Movement to Defeat it".

Call 688-0977 for information.

Saturday March 31 The Aptos Academy's Annual Auction and School Gala

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5:00pm-9:00pm, Chaminade Resort and Spa he Aptos Academy, a non-profit community school, invites the public to this year’s gala entitled: “Learners of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow.” The fun-filled event features wine tasting, no-host cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and silent and live auctions, all in an elegant setting at the Chaminade Resort and Spa in Santa Cruz. All funds generated will support the school’s Tuition Assistance and Enriched Arts Programs.

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

Your March Horoscope Annabel Burton • Astrologer ©

Venus continues to be helpful in terms of your social life and building relationships, and then you benefit from useful information regarding your finances. You find that being frugal is actually the way to go and this allows you to be inventive and creative. Meanwhile, ideas are brewing that are artistic but you are not yet ready to put them into practice until after the 20th, when the Sun moves into your sign. Research is important as you are spoiled for choice and need to be fairly discerning.

More than the usually activity occurs around meetings and connections with others of influence.

Aries (March 21-April 20)

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Announcements

Open Studios Art Tour 2012

he Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County is excepting applications for 2012 Open Studios Art Tour. Applications are available online at www.zapplication.org.

Learn more about the Open Studios Art Tour by visiting http://ccscc.org/index.php/openstudios.html.

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Business of Art Seminar Series — From Passion to Profitability

egistration for this informative series is now open. These seminars are offered to assist artists in Santa Cruz County. Seminar topics will include: The Business of Art 101, Pricing your Art, Solid Marketing Principles, and Leveraging Social Media for Your Art. These classes will be taught through the Cabrillo Extensions website. Classes are held on campus, and cost $25 each..

For more information, contact Nabil at grants@ccscc.org.

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Ageless Art Project

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

For information call 459-8917 ext. 208

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SPECTRA Arts Learning

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

Ongoing Events

Mondays

Live Team Trivia

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6:00pm Brunos BBQ 230 G Mt Hermon RD. Scotts Valley eams for trivia can be as few as one person or as large as 20! Great prizes for 1st and 2end place teams.

No cost to play.

Mondays and Wednesdays

Salsa Rueda Class

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

Tuesdays

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BINGO

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

Tuesdays and Weekends

Live Music on the Esplanade

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

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

Wednesdays

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Fourth Friday of each month

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Musical Me Inc. Family Jam Night

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

For more information call 831-438-3514.

Fourth Saturdays of each month

Writers and Poets Open Mike

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

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

Peninsula Banjo Band

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

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

Fridays

Ballroom Dancing

7:30- 11:00pm at Mid-County Senior Center, 829 Bay Ave, Capitola. ive music by The Rainbows.

Refreshments, large floor, friendly atmosphere, free parking. All for a donation of $8 per person.

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First Fridays of each month

First Friday Art Tour

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

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

Every other Friday

Shakespeare Club of Santa Cruz

10:30-12:30 pm, First Congregational Church, 900 High St. Santa Cruz, Next: March 2 hakespeare's club is seeking new members to join in the study of his plays.

For more information, visit www.fridayshakespeare.org

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Dated Events Friday March 2 thru Sunday March 4 Also March 9-11

Pacific Collegiate Charter School Presents "West Side Story"

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7:00pm Friday & Saturday, 2:00pm Sundays, Louden Nelson Center, Santa Cruz ome enjoy a brilliant performance of West Side Story. Inspired by William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the play is set in New York City in the mid-1950s and explores the rivalry between the Jets, and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.

Tickets $8.00 for children, $15.00 for general admission. Tickets can be ordered online by visiting www.pacificcollegiate.com/ seatyourself.biz/pacificcollegiate

Saturday March 3 The Travis Doherty 22/60 Foundations presents: The Masquerade Ball Fundraiser

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7:00pm-10:00pm, Sesnon House, Cabrillo College Aptos uests (age 21 and over) will enjoy the beautiful Sesnon House at Cabrillo College, Aptos, while listening to music, savoring delicious hors d' oeuvres, decadent desserts, wine and beer. Each guest will also receive a unique souvenir masquerade mask. $30.00 per guest. Purchase tickets at www.travisdoherty.org. For more information, call (831) 684-2207 or email info@travisdoherty.org

Saturday March 17 Bradley Elementary's Saint Patrick's Day Festival on the Green Carnival & Auction

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11:00am-3:00pm, Corralitos Community Center, 33 Browns Valley Rd. his event will include food, carnival games, live entertainment, bounce houses, face painting, and a hunt for Leprachan's GOLD! Proceeds go to Bradley's H&S club, non profit. $45 for Family Pack, $14 for child, and adults $6.

An Evening with Marilyn: An Intimate Look at the Legend

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6:00pm, Chaminade Resort and Spa, Santa Cruz ome see a private collection of Marilyn's possessions, (clothing, accessories, docu-

ments, etc.) at a special gala dinner. This event-cocktails, dinner, silent auction, entertainment-is a fundraiser for the United Way of Santa Cruz County. Come learn about Marilyn's fascinating life! $125.00 per ticket.

Saturday March 17 Sunday March 18 Opera Mania: Chamber Music Inspired by Opera

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8:00 pm Saturday, 3:00pm Sunday, Christ Lutheran Church, 10707 Soquel Dr. Aptos rtistic director/pianist Ivan Rosenblum, flutists Kathleen Purcell and Lars Johannessen, and cellist Judy Roberts.

Beloved opera melodies in rarely-heard instrumental arrangements. Beethoven’s variations on a theme from Mozart’s The Magic Flute; thrilling flute pyrotechnics based on themes from Rigoletto and La Sonnambula; John Harbison’s Gatsby Etudes for Solo Piano from his own opera, The Great Gatsby; and other works.

Tickets are available at the door 1/2 hour before performance. $25 general, $20 seniors, $10 youth, and free for ages 12 and under.

Visit Santacruztickets.com for tickets, or call (831) 420-5260. For more information, call (831) 425-3149 or visit www.scchamberplayers.org

Sunday March 18 Primavera 2012 Trips back to the 60s

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4:00pm-9:00pm, Chaminade Resort and Spa, 1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz himmy into your bell-bottems and fringed vests to help raise money for performing, literary and visual arts as well as the arts programs of the Cultural Council. Special guests "White Album Ensemble" will rock the music of the Beatles to get everyone moving on the dance floor. Silent and live auctions will feature the work of local artists, artisans, and mini-vacations.

Purchase tickets at www.ccscc.org, or call (831) 475-9600

Sunday April 1 The Best of the Central Coast Annual Santa Cruz Watercolor Society Show Awards by Nina Simon

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2:00pm-4:00pm, Santa Cruz Art League Gallery 526 Broadway SC or more information, contact Aimee at (831) 425-5954 or Judith at (831) 475-7733

Saturday April 7 Sunday April 8 Eggstraordinary Egg Hunt at Roaring Camp

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Easter Eggspress departs at 11:00am.

12:30pm, and 2:00pm, Roaring Camp, Felton op aboard the Roaring Camp Eggspress, for the Eggstraordinary Egg Hunt. Hear the story of Peter Rabbit as the train chugs up Bear Mountain. Visit the Easter egg patch and hunt for colorful chocolate eggs! Prizes for those who find specially marked eggs.

Easter crafts and games for children riding the train.

Parking is $8. Train rides are $24 for adults and $17 for children. To make reservations, call (831) 335-4484 or visit

You are blessed with having your ruling planet, Venus, in your sign from the 5th, where she will join the hugely optimistic Jupiter. These two can create lucky circumstances for you and life eases along at a gentle and pleasing pace. This is great for your financial dealings and also your love life. If you are single, there are some delightful flirtations in store and a chance to get your existing relationship on track, if you are attached. After the 21st, you are keen to escape the daily routine so it's a great time for an early getaway. This month's Full Moon on the 8th centres on hobbies and pastimes.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

This month brings a retro period from the 12th for your ruler, Mercury.

You go over old ground and find it hard to get ahead initially, but this brings a chance to catch up and sort out your stuff, so have a good clear out! In the first 10 days or so, you can make great strides forward as you take a quantum leap that has been waiting to happen for some time.

Make use of old contacts and get in touch with people who have been off your agenda for a while. You are considering where you are headed professionally and discover some valuable information about yourself which helps you to make a good choice.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

Travel is highlighted for you this month, Cancer, and this includes learning and exploring your options when it comes to discovering new skills.

A change of routine is welcome, since you are ready for the next step on your life journey. Letting go of the past is so much easier when you know where you are going to. After the 21st, the Sun moves into Aries and this illuminates your professional life. A career change is possible, or recognition and a promotion in your existing position. A love matter is settled once and for all.

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

At the start of the month, you could be feeling a little stuck and frustrated as you are trying to resolve an issue but seem to be coming up against brick walls. The passage of time helps here and a little bit of patience sees all the pieces finally fall into place, so trust that the right kind of change is happening naturally. The Full Moon on the 8th brings matters to a head, particularly around your finances.

Creativity and thrift go hand in hand and you get great satisfaction from being inventive. After the 20th, life is back on track and you have a renewed sense of optimism.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 23)

Throughout March, Mars is in your sign, but in a retrograde motion as is your ruler Mercury from the 11th. This can lead to frustration and delays, but Venus is in your fellow earth sign of Taurus. Satisfaction and fulfillment lie in your pursuit of happiness through travel, the media, and publishing. A wider world is calling you and perhaps being too limited in your thinking keeps you far too firmly in your place. So cast off the shackles, do something unexpected and let your imagination soar. Your sense of fun returns once more.

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sep. 22)

You work hard at finding solutions and mutually beneficial arrangements but you may run out of options after the first week, when you are in a less compromising mood. Now you become a little secretive and see the value of not spilling the beans until you have done a little exploration your self. Perhaps you are concerned about what others think but really this should not put you off! The sun moves into Aries on the 20th and you are juggling more than usual, you are enormously resourceful in how you delegate and get others involved with sharing the load. This frees you up to pursue what interests you long term.

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 23)

Ideas and sudden change features in the first week. While you are not too keen on having change thrust upon you, nevertheless, this has a way of shifting you out of your comfort zone and rethinking what you take for granted. The gift of this is that you could find yourself considering options that seemed just out of reach. Discuss possibilities and visions with a trusted loved one, particularly around the Full Moon on the 8th.

Jupiter in your chart area of relationships continues to add interest and intrigue in the this area of your life.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Life can get over complicated and you are determined to keep your eye on the ball and recognize what matters to you. Even so, the influence of others can at times be a little perplexing and illogical. You value freedom and have the tolerance to live and let live, but it seems that either the lack of ground rules, or too many rules that mean nothing are impinging on your domestic life. It all seems very close to home but you have the ability to turn this around into something valuable and sensible for all. After the 20th, you focus on the good things in life, and what is most fun and a lot less like hard work.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

You are reaping the benefits of decisions made some time ago, and while you have a certain sense of self satisfaction, you are not yet ready to rest on your laurels. You are aware that change can happen quickly and that it is important to be adaptable. It is how you respond to change that matters more than what the changes are. In fact, with your new approach you can see that having certain things in place you are ready for anything. The Full Moon in Virgo is the perfect time for envisioning a great future for you and a loved one.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

While you may have made considerable ground regarding the juggling of your financial situation, you also get the chance to review what works and what doesn't and you make brave steps to let go what isn't in your best interests. This makes everything far more streamlined, and less confusing. You find that new ideas and perspectives are worthy of exploration but you have a more realistic expectation, and unlikely to jump towards something that seems great on the surface. After the 20th much dead wood has been cleared and you can begin afresh, with your valuable experience and knowledge.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb. 18)

You feel at a crossroads at the start of the month, with outside influences pulling against what feels okay for you, so you are pretty stubborn and resistant to change, particularly if it has been proposed by your partner. Still, once you sort out your differences the pressure eases and you can enjoy being in charge again, or making decisions that you know are right. The Sun is in your sign until the 20th which is a time energy and power for you. Set goals that are achievable. You are soon going to be working with your talents to find work that truly makes you happy.

••• Find Out More www.AnnabelBurton.tv

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 29

FeaturedColumnist From Watsonville to Santa Cruz Free estimates for new roofs, reroofs, repairs, or just some advice!

KNOX ROOFING

461-0634 Lic.#696146

Getting Ready for Tax Season: Changes for 2012

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TO ADVERTISE IN THE BUSINESS GUIDE SECTION

call our offices 831.688.7549 30 / March 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Brian Cooke

By Brian Cooke and Cole Strickland, LPL Financial Advisors

lthough most Americans will not have to worry about 2012 taxes until early 2013 when 2012 tax returns are due, self-employed individuals or anyone who must pay quarterly tax payments will want to plan ahead.

And there’s good news for those that do. The IRS recently announced cost-of-living adjustments for the 2012 tax year that bump up brackets, deductions, and other thresholds for inflation.

The following is a summary of the key changes for 2012.

• Exemptions are up: The personal and dependent exemption increases to $3,800, up $100 from 2011.

• Standard deductions have increased: The 2012 standard deduction increases to $11,900 for married couples filing a joint return, $5,950 for singles and married individuals filing separately, and $8,700 for heads of household.

• Tax-bracket adjustments: Tax-bracket thresholds have increased for each filing status (see table below).

• Estate tax exclusion has increased: The estate tax exclusion increases to $5,120,000, up from $5,000,000 for 2011. The annual exclusion for gifts will remain at $13,000.

• Earned income credits rise: The maximum earned income tax credit (EITC) rises to $5,891, up from $5,751 in 2011. The maximum income limit for the EITC increases to $50,270, up from $49,078 in 2011.

• Transportation benefits adjusted: The monthly limit on the value of qualified transportation benefits exclusion for qualified parking provided by an employer to its employees for 2012 rises to

You’ll Find it here

Money Matters

$240, up $10 from the limit in 2011. However, the temporary increase in the monthly limit on the value of the qualified transportation benefits exclusion for transportation in a commuter highway vehicle and transit pass provided by an employer to its employees expires and reverts to $125 for 2012.

Several tax benefits are unchanged in 2012. For example, the additional standard deduction for blind people and senior citizens remains at $1,150 for married individuals and $1,450 for singles and heads of household.

Details on these and other inflation adjustments can be found in Revenue Procedure 2011-52: 2012 Tax Brackets Married Filing Single Joint Filers Separately 10% $0 - $8,700 $0 - $17,400 $0 - $8,700 15% $8,700 - $35,350 $17,400 - $70,700 $8,700 - $35,350 25% $35,350 - $85,650 $70,700 - $142,700 $35,350 - $71,350 28% $85,650 - $178,650 $142,700 - $217,450 $71,350 - $108,725 33% $178,650 - $388,350 $217,450 - $388,350 $108,725 - $194,175 35% Over $388,350 Over $388,350 Over $194,175

This article is not intended to provide specific investment or tax advice for any individual. Consult your financial advisor, your tax advisor or us at (831) 476-SAVE if you have any questions. LPL Financial, Member FINRA/ SIPC Brian Cooke and Cole Strickland, MBA are Financial Advisors with LPL Financial CA Insurance Lic. #0D63585, CA Insurance Lic. #0G22630LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC 1500 41ST Ave. Suite 244 Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 476-SAVE (7283).

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There’s good news for those that do. The IRS recently announced cost-of-living adjustments for the 2012 tax year that bump up brackets, deductions, and other thresholds for inflation.

“End of the Line” from pg 26

This public event is being held in conjunction with the SOS Sanctuary Steward docent training that takes place each Tuesday evening, February through April. Attendees will have the chance to Take Action for our oceans by supporting California’s Marine Protected Areas

and sustainable ocean policies.

Following the film will be a brief panel discussion with local experts in the field including Melissa Stevens, Research Associate with NOAA Fisheries, Victoria Galitzine from FishWise, and Martin Reed, Founder of ilovebluesea.com.

For more information, please contact media@saveourshores.org.

To contact someone on the day of the event, please contact volunteer@saveourshores.org or 831.462.5660 ext. 3. n ••• Save Our Shores is the Central Coast leader in caring for the marine environment through ocean awareness, advocacy and citizen action. For more information visit: www.saveourshores.org.

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FeaturedColumnist

SPCA Featured Pet

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It’s a Sister Act!

Folk Dancing At Mid County Senior Center

very Thursday morning, the Mid County Senior Center is alive with lilting music from many different countries.

This music accompanies the dance steps of the members of the Folk Dance Class as they practice the intricate steps of native dances from the Balkan countries, Israel, Greece, Russia, France, Italy, England, Canada and America.

The two instructors, Norma Jamieson and Gabriele Swanson emphasize the fact that folk dancing is great exercise for both the body and the brain, enhancing balance, coordination and memory all done to beautiful music with exotic rhythms. Best of all, it is open to everyone, is inexpensive and does not require special clothing or equipment- just comfortable shoes. Also, one’s enjoyment does not depend on the availability of a partner.

Norma Jamieson was introduced to the art of folk dancing at Cabrillo College and Ben Lomond Park Hall 38 years ago. After ten years spent under the instruction of Bev and Virginia Wilder, she took over for them in 1990 and has been teaching for 26 years at the Santa Cruz Opportunities Center and the Mid County Senior Center. She is also involved in tap dancing, flamenco and line dancing, and enjoys bike riding, swimming and hiking. However, folk dancing is her favorite activity, which explains her motto, “I live to dance and I dance to live!” Her hope is that more men and women will join the Thursday group.

Gabriele Swanson started dancing at U.C. Berkeley in 1954 and began teaching dancing in Chico, California in 1988, as well

as in Italy and Germany. She came to this area in 1992 and joined Norma Jamieson in teaching the class in International Folk Dancing. She also currently dances with groups in Monterey, Carmel and Cabrillo College. She wants people to know that folk dancing is great exercise for both the body and the brain, enhancing balance, coordination and memory. She loves folk dancing because the music is so beautiful, one does not need a partner and one is physically connected to other people because most of the dances involve holding hands in a circle or a line. She points out that these classes are open to everyone, are inexpensive and do not require special clothing or equipment.

Apparently, once a person discovers the pleasure of folk dancing, it becomes a part of his or her life. Four members of the current Mid County Center Group are evidence of this fact. Carola Haesslein started folk dancing in Germany in 1994 and attends this group regularly. Bert Burroughs and Judy Zerbe have been attending the weekly sessions for seven years. Jeanine Swanson, who has been in the group for four years, has a love for folk dancing in her background. Her mother was the driving force behind the field of folk dancing at Cabrillo College many years ago.

Newcomers of all ages are welcomed to join in at any time. Just come to the Center on Thursday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m. wearing your comfortable shoes.

The donation is $3.50 for members and $4.50 for non-members. Call 476-4711 for more information. n

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hey are goofy, gregarious, and great fun! Coho and Cola are two five-month-old Bassett Hound mixes that were dropped off at the door of a shelter in a taped up cardboard box at only three-months old. Since then, these orphans have been bounced from shelter to shelter in order to spare their lives and have spent the last month at the Santa Cruz SPCA waiting and hoping for their forever homes to come find them.

These two beautiful girls have the total Bassett personality; outgoing, playful, and happy-golucky to the max. To them, heaven means a belly rub and exposing their big tummies for scratching is an hourly occurrence. Sunbathing is also a favorite past time for these sweethearts and they are quick to find a sunny spot to plop down in. Coho and Cola are a wonderful size, about 25 pounds and are long, low and solidly built without many of the conformation problems normally found in the purebred version.

We are looking to adopt these girls into separate homes as they are bonded but have a bit of sibling rivalry and would enjoy homes all their own. Because they are still young and have spent much of their puppy life in a shelter, they will need all the normally puppy house and obedience training and should not be left alone for long periods. They would do well in a home with a yard and active people, as they like to explore and need plenty of activity.

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

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

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

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By Noreen Santaluce

The Oscars © Statepoint Media

Mid-County Senior Center International Folk Dancers

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2012 / 31