Capitola Soquel Times: March 2022

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March 2022 • Vol 27 No. 3

20% OFF the rental on all green colored equipment rented out on March 17th OPEN AND DELIVER 7 DAYS A WEEK 8 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU! www.AToolShed.com • 1-800-A-TOOL-SHED

Classic Car Show Returns

By Sam Storey Do you like old cars? If you do, come to the Capitola Rod & Custom Classic Car Show this summer. There you’ll see lined up in Capitola Village dozens of shiny, colorful, and curvy old cars.

Full Story page 11

Local Government Academy: Apply Now!

Homeless Housing Proposal

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Full Story page 8

Pastina: Food for the Soul

By Jondi Gumz

eighbors are abuzz over a proposal for which Santa Cruz County is seeking up to $13.5 million from the state to build 36 rental units in Soquel to permanently house people who are homeless or at risk of losing their abode.

They plan a community meeting at noon Sunday, Feb. 27, in Willowbrook Park.

The 1.04-acre site at 28387 Park Ave. is undeveloped, filled with trees and blooming flowers, and .311 riparian acres are protected, leaving .73 acres buildable.

The site is next to Thrive Natural Medicine, the holistic practice of Dr. Irene Valencia and Dr. Carlos Rios, and a dentist, Dr. Vasavi Chinnam, a beautifully landscaped office at 2840 Park Ave., Soquel. ... continues on page 4

Exccdingectatiis!

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The night Freddie da Bookie showed up with the gun, my father had his head stuck through the wrought iron security bars of our kitchen window. It was circa 1952 in the Queensborough Projects when I was 7 years old.

Full Story page 16

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No. 3

Volume 27

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Table of Contents

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Cover Homeless Housing Proposal, By Jondi Gumz 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 22 23 24

Community News Deputy Sheriffs’ Association Gives $100,000 to Sgt. Gutzwiller Memorial, By Kieran Kelly Dignity Health: $1 Million for Harvey West Studios Vaccine Mandate Proposed for All Workers: 13 Covid Deaths in Four Weeks; Case Numbers Falling, By Jondi Gumz Local Government Academy: Apply Now! • Santa Cruz Chamber Awards Gala How Inclusive Are You? • Court Appointed Special Advocates Recognizes Dr. Kent Thompson #CaliforniansForAll College Corps: Debt-Free College For Low-Income Students • Trustees Sought for Pajaro Valley Health Care District • Leadership Santa Cruz Taps Trudie Ransom Mock Trial: Deadly Rattlesnake Bite & Fourth Amendment Rights Central Fire: Changes For Nov. 2022 Election Newman Leads Housing Coalition Bobcats Star in Wildlife Photo of the Year Capitola Historical Museum to Debut ‘Perspectives’, By Deborah Osterberg Tesla Pays EPA $275,000 in Clean Air Settlement Aria Menon Wins Spelling Bee, By Jondi Gumz • Dientes’ Tiffany Turner Wins National Award First U.S. Park Rangers Were Buffalo Soldiers!: Celebrating Black History Month With Appreciation and Pride for my Predecessors, By Aniko Kannas-Millan Community Foundation Grants Deadline • Got Inflation? Tell Us About It Darrie Ganzhorn Named Hunger Fighter of the Year, By Jondi Gumz Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Pisces — Two Fishes Saving the World, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

Featured Columnists 11 Classic Car Show Returns, By Sam Storey, Mayor, City of Capitola 16 Pastina: Food for the Soul, By Joe Ortiz 24 She Returned the Merchandise to eBay. What Happened to Her Refund?, By Christopher Elliott 25 Real and Sincere Apology: A Vital Life Skill, By Joyce and Barry Vissell 27 Real Easy French Bread, From Marianne Evans of Capitola 30 Soquel Homekey Project Takes Shape, By Manu Koenig, Supervisor, First District 31 Late Pruning For Early Bloomers, By Tony Tomeo SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Fabrienne: Shy But Affectionate

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COVER STORY Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

publisher editor

contributing writers Jondi Gumz, Kieran Kelly, Deborah Osterberg, Aniko Kannas-Millan, Risa D’Angeles, Sam Storey, Joe Ortiz, Christopher Elliott, Joyce and Barry Vissell, Manu Koenig, Tony Tomeo layout Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin photography Michael Oppenheimer, Ward J. Austin, Brad King website Michael Oppenheimer, Camisa Composti production coordinator Camisa Composti media consultants Teri Huckobey, Brooke Valentine, Tara Carcamo office coordinator Cathe Race distribution Bill Pooley, James Hudson

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Entire contents ©2022. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission

“Homeless Housing” from page 1 Thrive, however, does not own the medical-dental office building.

The owner is Pajaro Wall Street Inn LLC in Watsonville, which bought the property in 2019 for $1.6 million.

Abdol H. Novin, the owner’s agent, is affiliated with Novin Development of Walnut Creek, which partnered with the county to apply for funding under Project Homekey, a state effort to rapidly expand housing for homeless people.

Novin restored the 70-unit Wall Street Inn and proposed to build 145 affordable rentals at 831 Water St., Santa Cruz, a SB35 project under review.

Project Homekey has $1.45 billion, $1.2 billion from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and $250 million in state General Funds. The funds, if granted, must be spent in eight months.

County Communications Manager Jason Hoppin said the county should hear back on funding in March.

County supervisors voted in January to apply for funds with Novin Development and the Central Valley Coalition for Affordable Housing. The development is described as “Permanent Supportive Housing” because residents would receive services on-site.

A lack of detailed information prompted neighbors to share concerns on NextDoor. At Thrive, staff knew Novin owns 2838 Park Ave. and 2840 Park Ave. but did not know if Thrive’s doctors would have to find a new location.

Hoppin provided answers to questions posed by Capitola-Soquel Times.

Asked if the medical office in involved, he said, “It depends. However, that is not part of the Homekey proposal.

It could theoretically happen under

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 Calendar Listings: www.tpgonlinedaily.com Graphics Department: graphics@cyber-times.com Billing Inquiries: cathe@cyber-times.com Classified Sales: sales@cyber-times.com Production: production@cyber-times.com CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT: www.tpgonlinedaily.com mission statement We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc. are dedicated to providing a voice for the individuals and organizations in our community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses. We seek to promote healthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, school news, senior events, community groups and entertainment 4 / March 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

A look at the plot of land the proposed apartments would be built on.

AB 140, which preempts local land-use laws. Under current zoning, it would have to be a mixed-use or commercial project but for the Homekey application.”

He said the property owner had submitted several prior proposals for 2838 Park Ave. for a slightly larger, mixedincome rental housing project.

The medical office property provides access to 2838 Park Ave. via its driveway and parking lot.

Hoppin said the Homekey proposal is to house extremely low-income families, veterans and “transition-age youth,” many exiting the foster care system and who would benefit from proximity to Cabrillo College and a major transit route.

Individuals with restrictions on where they can live relative to facilities with children will not be approved as tenants at the site, Hoppin said.

Prospective tenants would be referred by the county’s “Coordinated Entry System” for households experiencing homelessness, Hoppin said, with all applicants undergoing a screening process by the on-site property manager prior to lease.

There would be 32 one-bedroom units,

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four two-bedroom units, a leasing office, meeting rooms and amenities, he added.

This would add 35 extra-low income units toward the quota mandated by theAssociation of Monterey Bay Area Governments for 2015-2023, which, Hoppin said, “would be major achievement consistent with County, CoC, and State housing policy.”

CoC means Continuum of Care.

Hoppin noted state law requires all rental properties with 16 or more units to have a resident manager on site.

Supportive services would be provided by Abode Services, headquartered in Fremont with a presence in Watsonville since 2012, which has provided services via contracts with the county and Continuum of Care. Recently Abode had a CoC contract to reach out to property owners and property managers with financial incentives to consider homeless tenants.

Other organizations would likely provide support, Hoppin said, citing the Veterans Administration, which has committed VASH vouchers to the project.

“Housing Project” page 8

COMMUNITY NEWS

Deputy Sheriffs’ Association Gives $100,000 to Sgt. Gutzwiller Memorial

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By Kieran Kelly

he Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association announced the largest gift in the union’s history: A $100,000 “challenge grant” for the Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller Memorial at Willowbrook Park in Aptos.

The Association’s membership voted to make the gift in memory of Sgt. Gutzwiller, who was killed in the line of duty on June 6, 2020.

“The contribution is a commitment to the community, to Damon’s family and to our fallen brother,” said DSA president Ethan Rumrill. “This project brings all of us together, and we invite everyone to remember Damon by making this project a reality through their own contributions.”

The donation was made public Feb. 14 when the association presented a check to the nonprofit County Park Friends.

DSA members hope the community will match or exceed the donation, with many local community members and businesses having already contributed another $18,000 to the memorial.

Red Apple Cafe in Aptos is donating a portion of all sales in February to Sgt. Gutzwiller’s memorial.

“This is a transformative contribution from those

Photo Credit: Kieran Kelly

Deputy Sheriffs’ Association presents check for $100,000 donation for the Sgt. Gutzwiller Memorial Project at Willowbrook Park. Left to right, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Lt. Nicholas Baldrige, Santa Cruz County DSA President Ethan Rumrill, County Park Friends Executive Director Mariah Roberts, and County Park Friends Board Chair Terry Corwin. that loved and worked with Sgt. Gutzwiller,” said County Supervisor Zach Friend. “My hope is that their gift inspires others in our community to bring improvements and a memorial — to a park he loved — one step closer.”

The memorial will be constructed at Willowbrook

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County Park and it will include the installation of a circular memorial seating area that looks out towards a new flagpole.

As part of the project, updates and enhancements will also be made to the park’s entrance, play areas, and sport courts.

The project’s supporters selected Willowbrook Park for the memorial site because Sgt. Gutzwiller was a resident of the surrounding neighborhood and could be frequently found there with his dog, Shasta.

“We are grateful to see the continuing support and love from our neighbors,” said Faviola Del Real, Gutzwiller’s widow. “We have lost so much, and this project will stand as a reminder that there is one thing we will never lose – the memory of the sacrifice that Damon made on behalf of his hometown.”

In partnership with the nonprofit County Park Friends, the Willowbrook Park Gutzwiller Memorial campaign aims to raise $805,000 in community donations and sponsorships through a variety of giving opportunities. n Visit https://www.countyparkfriends.org/willowbrook.html for more information, schematics of planned park renovations or to make a donation.

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Dignity Health: $1 Million for Harvey West Studios D ignity Health is awarding a $1 million to Housing Matters to build Harvey West Studios, a residence for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in Santa Cruz County.

The total cost of this ambitious project, years in the making, is estimated at $25 million to $28 million.

Construction for Harvey West Studios, designed by David Baker Architects, is expected to begin in fall 2022.

This five-story apartment complex with 120 rental units with a manager’s unit and supportive services is be built at 119 Coral St., Santa Cruz, a new addition to the Housing Matters campus.

The developer is New Way Homes, founded by Sibley Simon in 2015.

Each studio will provide about 300 square feet of modest living space.

Modular construction is planned for this all-electric building, with solar and “clean air” technologies to reduce energy requirements and environmental impacts.

A fee waiver has been requested from the city of Santa Cruz. The Planning Commission endorsed it, and City Council has yet to vote.

Housing Matters launched its Building with Purpose campaign for Harvey West Studios in June 2021.

Most new housing built in Santa Cruz County is priced for middle income to affluent households as those developments are more profitable than building rental apartments for the low-income market, although such units are much needed.

Developers seek federal low-income tax

credits but the funding provided by Congress falls far short of the need, stalling many projects.

Although Santa Cruz County has received millions in state homeless funding, the Grand Jury in 2020 found that funding is inconsistent, making it difficult for local agencies to plan projects that take years to come to fruition.

As a result, “temporary fixes tend to receive emergency funding…leading to reactive and tactical rather than strategic planning,” the Grand Jury added.

Dignity Health, a longtime Housing Matters partner, is a nonprofit health system that includes Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz and Dignity Health Medical Group – Dominican physicians and locations throughout Santa Cruz County.

“As health care providers, we do all we can to mitigate the health impacts of our patients who are experiencing homelessness, but no amount of health care can substitute for stable housing,” said Dominican Hospital President Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz. “We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Housing Matters as they provide innovative solutions to this pressing challenge.”

“Harvey West” page 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

Vaccine Mandate Proposed for All Workers

13 Covid Deaths in Four Weeks; Case Numbers Falling

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By Jondi Gumz

he local toll from Covid-19 rose with 13 deaths in four weeks in Santa Cruz County, all with significant underlying conditions, as the number of cases has dropped dramatically.

On Feb. 11, Assembly Member Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) introduced AB 1993 to mandate vaccines for all employees and independent contractors — and require employers to verify their workers are immunized. It may be heard in committee March 13. Co-authors include Assembly Member Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley) and Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), the children’s doctor who introduced SB 871 to require the Covid vaccine for schoolchildren and eliminate the personal belief exemption.

On Jan. 13, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Biden administration mandate that employers with 100 or more workers vaccinate or test. The ruling said the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration did not have the right to regulate public health broadly.

The court allowed a federal vaccine mandate for workers at medical facilities accepting Medicare or Medicaid payments.

Employers can mandate vaccines or tests for their employees if they feel it’s needed.

New Yorkers for Religious Liberty sued New York City, aiming to halt enforcement of the city vaccine mandate but the city fired more than 1,400 workers for failing to comply.

School Mask Mandate n Feb. 16, Santa Cruz County and Bay Area counties followed Gov. Gavin Newsom in lifting the indoor mask mandate in response to declining hospitalizations and test positivity.

The state requires masks at schools — attendees at high school basketball playoffs must be masked — but will reassess data Feb. 28.

Ten local deaths occurred between Jan. 16 and Feb. 10, and then three more, all during the peak of the highly contagious and thought-to-be-mild Omicron variant.

“This is sobering information and a reminder that the pandemic still holds significant risks to many,” said Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel.

11 Over Age 75 ge has been a factor in Covid-19 mortality, and 11 of the 13 who died were 75 or older. One person was more than 100, three were in their 90s.

One was in his 50s and unvaccinated, according to County Public Health, and the most recent three were unvaccinated

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as well. (The county website now lists vaccination status as “yes” or “no.”)

The most COVID fatalities in the county occurred in January 2021, when 22 people died in one week, according to the county Covid-19 dashboard. Vaccines were not available to most individuals.

Outrage hotos of Gov. Newsom, without a mask, with sports celebrity Magic Johnson, without a mask, taken at a soldout, 80,000-fan Los Angeles Rams game and posted on Johnson’s Instagram page outraged parent Rob Ellison.

His concern: Kids in masks with speech delays, reading delays, depression and anxiety — and the double standard for Newsom, according to the full-page ad in the San Francisco Chronicle. For information, email out ragedparentsbayarea@ gmail.com.

After raising $10,000 in 24 hours via email, Ellison created a GoFundMe campaign to spread the word to more parents and 300+ donors gave more than $15,000.

A Covid vaccine mandate, imposed Jan. 15 on truckers by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, led to a protest blocking the busiest international bridge in Detroit, for a week, hurting auto-makers in the U.S. General Motors, Ford and Toyota cut production at plants in the U.S. and Canada due to a lack of parts.

The bridge reopened after negotiations, arrests on charges of mischief, and vehicles seized by authorities. The Canadian Trucking Alliance estimated 85% of Canada’s 120,000 truckers were vaccinated.

Myocarditis n Japan, the number of case reports of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination have recently increased, according to a case study published in January 2022.

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart, which can lead to clots, a stroke or heart attack.

The Japanese government amended the label for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna to add myocarditis to their list of significant “adverse drug reactions.”

Young Kids, More Data n Feb. 11, Pfizer and BioNTech said they are delaying completing their request for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize their coronavirus vaccine for children under 5 years old, because there’s not enough data on whether a third dose produces the desired result.

The FDA postponed an advisory panel

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meeting scheduled for Feb. 15 to discuss the matter.

Pfizer and BioNTech7don’t expect to have three-dose protection data until early April. Parents anxious to have shots for their younger children age six months to 4 years must wait.

When Pfizer began applying for emergency use authorization for young children, the application was for two doses, not three.

According to FDA, the goal was to see if two doses would provide enough protection.

Peter Marks, head of the FDA division responsible for vaccine safety, was asked to describe data leading to postponement, but he didn’t answer that question, according to Politico.

In January, Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House chief medical adviser, said younger children will likely need three doses because two shots did not induce an adequate immune response in 2- to 4-year-olds in Pfizer’s clinical trials.

Mary Holland, president and general counsel of Children’s Health Defense, contends there is no COVID emergency for children under 5 years old.

Children have a 99.995% recovery rate, and a body of medical literature indicates that “almost zero” healthy children under 5 have died from COVID, according to Holland. She cited these studies: • Germany: Zero deaths for children under 5 and a case fatality rate of three out of a million in children without comorbidities. In medicine, comorbidity means one or more diseases is present along with the primary infection.

• Johns Hopkins: 48,000 children with COVID, zero mortality rate in children under 18 without comorbidities.

• England and Wales: Throughout 2020 and 2021, only one child under 5 without comorbidities died from COVID .

Student Vaccine Mandate ince Dr. Pan introduced SB 871 on Jan. 24, hospitalizations have fallen from 15,000 to 5,500. Track the bill at: https:// leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB871 Public health officials consider vaccinations to be the number one tool to prevent hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.

California reports 82.9% of residents age 5 and up have had at least one shot.

On the CDC Covid tracker, Santa Cruz County reports 92.7% of residents age 12 and up have at least one shot and 84.6% fully vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated means having two shots (Pfizer or Moderna) or one Johnson & Johnson shot. All were developed for the initial Covid-19 coronavirus.

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For Omicron, a booster shot is needed.

Booster shots are 90 percent effective against preventing Omicron hospitalizations, according to the federal Centers of Disease Control.

Protesting Mandates ur Kids, Our Choice is a non-partisan, grassroots web platform launched in early 2015 to oppose SB 277 and “uphold medical freedom for parents and children.”

The website is http://www.ourkidsourchoice.org/home.html Parents with the group rallied at the state Capitol in January to encourage other parents to speak up.

Public health officials say the scientific consensus is that Covid vaccines are safe, but protest leaders were skeptical about relying on science from drug-makers, which saw profits rise in 2021. They point to the U.S. government database, https://vaers. hhs.gov/, where health care providers are to report adverse events after a vaccine.

The reporting site was created after Congress passed a law in 1986 protecting vaccine manufacturers from civil personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits resulting from vaccine injuries.

After Covid arrived, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar invoked the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, a 2005 law that allows the HHS secretary to provide legal protection to companies making or distributing critical medical supplies such as vaccines unless there’s “willful misconduct” by the company, according to a report by CNBC. This lowers the cost of immunizations, and the protection lasts until 2024.

Dr. Pamela Popper of Ohio has sued HHS, FDA and CDC concerning vaccines for kids under 16, hopes to get discovery, the point at which both sides can get evidence. Updates are at https://makeamericansfreeagain.com/ On Jan. 6, federal judge Allen Winsor in Florida denied a motion by the U.S. Department of Defense seeking to block discovery of evidence. The lawsuit was filed by 18 service members challenging the vaccine mandate.

Active Cases ctive Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County fell from 6,677 to 3,238, as of Feb. 21.

The assumption is Omicron, the most easily transmissible variant of the Covid-19 coronavirus, quickly drove the increase in January and the decline in February.

Omicron was confirmed in two cases in the county on Dec. 16 and 17.

“COVID Update” page 8

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 7

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Local Government Academy: Apply Now! he City of Capitola announces the 2022 Local Government Academy, a series of evening workshops via Zoom for city residents.

The virtual program, which starts March 2, is designed to promote civic participation, help residents better understand how the City works, and frame the City’s role in the larger community. There is no cost to participate.

This year, the Local Government Academy will consist of four sessions: March 2, March 16, March 30 and April 13.

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“COVID Update” from page 7 The numbers ballooned from 325 cases confirmed on Dec. 29 to 1,265 confimred on Jan. 20, according to the county health dashboard, which is updated twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays.

Hospitalizations are down from 43 to 23, including five in intensive care, according to a state dashboard, which updates daily.

Possibly people entered the hospital with another condition or for scheduled surgery, then got tested for Covid. The dashboard does not explain.

Hospital Sale Approved ocal cases are split between Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz and Watsonville Community Hospital, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

On Feb. 22, Judge Mary Elaine Hammond approved the sale of the Watsonville Community Hospital operation – which has 620 employees — to the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project, a local consortium that was the sole bidder. Fundraising has generated $20 million, and leaders such as Mimi Hall, formerly the county’s Health Services director, hopes to gain state funding, which could happen in light of a $20 billion budget surplus.

To donate to the consortium, see https://www.pvhdp.org/ The California Department of Public Health estimates Omicron comprises 91% of cases statewide and Delta 6.5% but does not have a breakdown of Omicron hospitalizations or deaths.

Not all COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalization are sequenced, and the proportion of cases due to the Omicron variant that die is still being determined.

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“Housing Project” from page 4 A dozen “tuck-under” parking spaces would be in the rear of the building for residents, along with parking on the front and side. The building is to include a meeting room, leasing office, bike parking and laundry room.

This location is is walking distance to Cabrillo and within a quarter-mile of the nearest Metro bus stop on Soquel Drive.

Elderly residents may call for Lift Line, Uber or a cab, Hoppin said. Younger residents would likely bike or walk to school or work.

Each meeting will be 2 hours, beginning at 6 p.m. Most meetings will be Wednesdays, but recognition will take place during the City Council meting April 28.

Topics include: Finance, recreation, history, public works, community development, Capitola Police, Soquel Creek Water, Santa Cruz Public Library, Soquel Union Elementary School District, Central Fire Protection District.

Application deadline is Friday, Feb. 25.

For questions, contact Larry Laurent at 831-475-7300 or email at llaurent@ci.capitola. ca.us •••

Santa Cruz Chamber Awards Gala anta Cruz Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its community award winners at a gala dinner 4-8 p.m.

Thursday, March 24, outdoors at the Colonnade at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz.

Honorees are: Person of the Year: Bonnie Lipscomb, Director, City of Santa Cruz Economic Development Businesses of the Year: Bay Federal Credit Union, 1st Capital Bank, Santa Cruz Community Credit Union and Santa Cruz County Bank.

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Organization of the Year: Dientes Community Dental Clinic Lifetime (Legacy) Achievement: Willy Elliott MCrea, CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County Reserve your ticket for this fun event, raising a glass and congratulating our award winners.

The year 2021 was a year for recovery from the novel coronavirus and its variants as businesses, nonprofits and the public sector worked to regain economic footing.

Tickets are $155 per person. Register at http://www.santacruzchamber.org/recognitionawards-gala.html n

Less Deadly micron is less deadly than Delta, which raged in 2021. Santa Cruz County reports 249 Covid deaths, up from 225 as of Dec. 15, before Omicron.

One statistic is similar: 79% to 81% of those who died had pre-existing conditions.

Why do people fear Omicron?

They may have a pre-existing condition (diabetes, obesity, asthma, high blood pressure).

Half of Americans do, so they are at higher risk for severe Covid illness.

So are people 85 and older.

Some people who got Covid experience “long Covid,” with fatigue and brain fog months afterward. A 2022 study in the journal Cell by researchers following more than 200 patients found many acute Covid patients had low cortisol, which could be addressed.

Soquel Schools oquel schools report 29 active student cases and one staff case in February.

Main Street Elementary 13 student cases, New Brighton Middle, 7, Soquel Elementary 6, and Santa Cruz Gardens 3.

New Brighton has one staff case; zero at the other schools.

Testing anta Cruz County Office of Education, with Inspire Diagnostic, has provided 315,500 tests.

Cases peaked at 4,407 on Jan. 27, dropping to 653 on Feb. 22. The 14-day positivity rate, 12.25% two weeks ago, is down to 4.78%.

The County Office of Education offers drive-though testing for students, staff and families at these locations: Cabrillo College, Aptos, Parking Lot K,

Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville, Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 399 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, Monday to Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.

In a Feb. 16 letter, local school superintendents reminded parents that the state did not lift the mask mandate for schools. Currently: • All students regardless of vaccination status are required to test weekly to participate in indoor sports, Band and Drama.

• Students exposed at school, where both parties were masked, who participate in testing, may continue to take part in all aspects of K-12 schooling, schooladministered afterschool programs, sports and extracurricular activities unless they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.

• Schools will only take into account test results administered by health care providers, Inspire drive-through/ school clinics or CLIA-certified labs.

Home tests are only for parental use.

• Third-party programs on school campuses must follow CDPH guidelines which differ from those for schools.

Hundreds of school staff have rapid response antigen tests, courtesy of the County Office of Education, and schools are distributing more for home use.

Directions are posted at https://drive. google.com/file/d/1U8AdsSyH14sDvrjD 6T25krhvOFRFsuXs/view For test options see: https://tinyurl. com/get-tested-santa-cruz.

Shorter Isolation n Feb. 23, the California Department of Public Health reported a 3.7% test positivity rate statewide, down from 23% in January.

Based on federal recommendations, the state has shortened the isolation time for those testing positive from 10 days to five days.

Booster shot appointments can be scheduled at https://myturn.ca.gov/ and by asking your local doctor and pharmacies.

For local vaccine providers, visit www. santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine.

For help scheduling an appointment, call the Community Bridges Helpline at 831-219-8607 or 831-440-3556 (English, Spanish, Mixteco and Triqui).

For local information on COVID-19, go to www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus or call (831) 454-4242 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. n •••

O

To neighbors concerned that people addicted to drugs would move in, Hoppin said, “The population of homeless persons is varied and while some struggle with substance use issues, many do not and simply cannot afford the extraordinary housing costs driven by years of insufficient affordable housing production that this project and other Homekey projects seek to begin to remedy.

The development will not be a recovery or halfway house. It will serve as a permanent residence for highly vulnerable individuals and families who are very low-income or at risk of homelessness,

or are exiting homelessness. This is just an affordable housing project, similar to many throughout all areas of our community.”

He added, “These same kinds of concerns were raised in connection with the Aptos Blue project... Now that it has been built, it has been a wonderful community asset with few if any issues. Same with St. Stephens (which Novin led) and many others.”

Asked about environmental review and community meeting, Hoppin said AB 2162 (a 2018 law to streamline approval of supportive housing) and Homekey projects “are exempt from CEQA so

environmental impact reports are not required. The county’s Development Review Group has reviewed the preliminary project plans and has not identified any technical infeasibilities at this point.”

He added, “A community meeting is not required, but the applicant is planning to begin outreach to the community if the Homekey award is received, and Supervisor Koenig plans one as well. Should the development meet the requirements under 2162 and/or receive Homekey funds, the law is very clear that the project must be approved.”

Hoppin said adjacent tree removal activities are unrelated to 2838 Park Ave. n

O

S S

8 / March 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Total COVID cases: 3,238

••• COVID Deaths: 252 As of Feb. 21 Age 85 and older: 108 • 75-84: 58 • 65-74: 44 60-64: 15 • 55-59: 4 • 45-54: 10 35-44: 8 • 25-34: 5 Underlying Conditions Yes: 203 • No: 49 Race White 143 • Latinx 88 • Asian 16 • Black 2 Amer Indian 1 • Hawaiian 1 • Another 1 Gender Men: 128 • Women: 124 Location At facility for aged: 113 Not at a facility: 139

How Inclusive Are You? T o learn how to foster inclusivity, here is some suggested reading from Tricia Montalvo Timm of Scotts Valley: • “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations about Race”

by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD • “Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice that Shapes What We See, Think, and Do” by Jennifer Eberhart, PhD

Tricia Montalvo Timm is the former General Counsel and Executive Sponsor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Looker Data Sciences, Inc.

COMMUNITY NEWS

• “How to Be an Anti-Racist” by Ibrahim X. Kendi • “So You Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo • “me and white supremacy” by Layla F. Saad • “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism” by Robin DiAngelo • “Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race” by Debby Irving • “The Sum of Us: What Racism Cost Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together” by Heather McGhee ••• Tricia Montalvo Timm is the former General Counsel and Executive Sponsor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Looker Data Sciences, Inc. where she led the company in a $2.6 billion acquisition by Google. She is currently a board member and investor and has a passion for creating spaces of belonging.

Court Appointed Special Advocates Recognizes Dr. Kent Thompson

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r. Kent Thompson is Board Member Emeritus at Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Cruz County.

Dr. Thompson, a retired pediatrician who practiced locally for more than 30 years, was voted that status unanimously based on his many years of dedication and service to CASA. He was a board member from 20082015 and board president from 2012-13.

He was successful in raising funds for

“Harvey West” from page 6 Unhoused individuals lacking health insurance or a primary care doctor can seek medical care at a hospital emergency department.

Dominican Hospital’s emergency department is the only one in north Santa Cruz County, and under the 1986 federal EMTALA law, they must be treated, whether or not they can afford to pay.

Santa Cruz County, which has little low-cost housing, has one of the highest per-capita rates of homelessness in the state.

In January 2019, the Homeless Point-in-Time Count, a federally mandated census, estimated 2,167 people homelessness.

That’s one of every 125 residents.

Some have a disabling condition.

In 2022, California is providing monthly Supplement Security Income of $1,040.

the 2009 purchase of the CASA House in Watsonville and worked tirelessly on the renovations so staff could move in as quickly as possible a year later, which made the dream a reality.

Upon completing his board service, Dr. Thompson has remained active with CASA. He remained committed to the Board Finance committee and joined the Friends of CASA, an auxiliary volunteer organization which supports CASA of Santa Cruz County.

Their stability relies heavily on access to daily services like medical care and other supportive services, and permanent affordable housing.

“Harvey West Studios will offer a healing environment where people can feel at home within a shared community,” said Phil Kramer, Housing Matters CEO. “On-site services and the proximity to services co-located on the Housing Matters campus will further support them on their individual paths to health and housing stability.”

The design includes gathering areas for residents, landscaped spaces, and onsite medical and behavioral health services.

“We’re so grateful to receive this contribution, which we see as a deep commitment to the health of our entire community,” said Mer Stafford, chief impact officer at Housing Matters. n ••• Images by David Baker Architects

Dr Thompson became vice chair and then chair of the Friends of CASA from 2017-2021. He still serves on the executive committee of Friends and is active in all their events and volunteer activities.

His work has developed the organization to be stronger, more inclusive, and more supportive, CASA leaders say.

As an avid fundraiser for CASA, he dedicated countless hours soliciting donations of items, hanging decorations, attending planning meetings, and being a friendly face of CASA at most every fundraiser event. n

Kent Thompson

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

#CaliforniansForAll College Corps

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Debt-Free College For Low-Income Students

n Jan. 27, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the leaders of California’s college and university systems with Josh Fryday, head of California Volunteers, launched a new college service program called #CaliforniansForAll College Corps.

“If you step up to serve your community, we’ll help you pay for college,” said Fryday.

California Volunteers said 45 colleges and universities were selected as inaugural partners for the service-based college opportunity program.

“California is a world leader in both higher education and service,” said Newsom.

“The #CaliforniansForAll College Corps advances these priorities by connecting Californians of different backgrounds with enriching service opportunities throughout the state while making college more affordable for our state’s future leaders.” #CaliforniansForAll College Corps

will provide up to 6,500 college students over two academic years with service opportunities in areas such as climate action, K-12 education, and COVID-19 recovery.

Students who complete a year of service will receive $10,000. This program creates state-funded opportunities for AB 540 eligible Dreamers.

The 45 campuses were chosen to participate via a competitive application process. They include UC Berkeley, San Jose State, and Vanguard University. A full list is posted at https:// w w w. c a l i f o r n i a v o l u n t e e r s . c a . g o v / californiansforall-college-corps/#colleges Nearly four million Californians owe $147 billion in student debt with Black and Latino Californians facing the highest rates of default and delinquency.

N e w s o m prioritized the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps to relieve the debt burden on recent graduates while moving the state forward with service-focused careers.

“The University of California is pleased to partner with Gov. Newsom on this innovative program, which will help thousands of students pay for college while they give back to their communities,” said University of California President Michael V. Drake. “Providing more pathways to a debt-free degree while empowering students to pursue serviceoriented career paths is a reflection of our shared commitment to access, affordability, and public service.”

California State University Chancellor

Joseph I. Castro said, “The California State University students who participated in the pilot program over the past year took their world-class CSU education and translated that into on-the-ground tutoring and mentoring in their communities.”

California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley said he was heartened to see the governor’s initiative recognizes the value of investing in community college students, who have tremendous gifts to offer.”

In the pilot, community college students were deployed to feed those who rely on food banks, Oakley said.

Association of Independent Colleges and Universities President Kristen Soares said California’s private non-profit colleges and universities prioritized student aid as costs soared nationwide.

“We are proud to have participated in the pilot program over the past year and are honored to continue,” she said. n

Trustees Sought for Pajaro Valley Health Care District

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he County of Santa Cruz is seeking applicants to the board of the newlycreated Pajaro Valley Health Care District to govern activities associated with the delivery of medical care in the Pajaro Valley, and manage the sale of Watsonville Community Hospital.

The Pajaro Valley Health Care District submitted the only bid during the ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reorganize.

Financial reports submitted to the California Department of Health Care show the 106-bed hospital lost $14.3 million in 2019 and $17.9 million in 2020.

Court documents show the hospital lost $32 million in 2021.

Watsonville Community Hospital serves an area of lower household income and access to quality housing, transportation, and healthcare, according to the California Healthy Places Index. Revenue comes largely from Medicare or Medi-Cal, the state program for low-income residents, and rates do not cover the cost billed for services.

Despite the financial difficulties, the hospital remains fully operational.

The amount of the bid has not been revealed, but the county contributed $5.5 million, Central California Alliance for Health $3 million, the County of Monterey

$3 million, and the city of Watsonvllle $130,000 toward the local effort.

Ten days ago, State Sen. John Laird ( D-Santa Cruz) told Monterey County Weekly the group had raised $18 million.

To make the sale possible, he introduced SB 418, which was approved by the Legislature in 19 days and signed by Gov. Newsom on Feb. 4.

A sales hearing was scheduled in bankruptcy court for Feb. 23.

Applicants must be permanent residents of the boundaries of the Health Care District (see the map on application form), a registered voter in Monterey or Santa Cruz counties, and able to complete statements of economic interest.

Ideal candidates are to “reflect the diversity of Pajaro Valley and have experience in healthcare, business, and/or community endeavors,” according to the county.

The five board positions are voluntary.

Future terms will be subject to districtbased elections by the voting public.

Applications are due by March 4.

To apply, go to https://tinyurl.com/ PVHCDBoard.

The Board of Supervisors will make appointments on March 22. An introductory meeting will take place March 24 followed by a planning meeting March 26. n

Leadership Santa Cruz Taps Trudie Ransom

L

eadership Santa Cruz County opportunities and learning more about the Santa Cruz County announces Trudie community.”

Ransom as its new Her goal is “steering class executive director. The owner members to their best expeof the SUP Shack at the Santa rience ever at Leadership Santa Cruz Harbor and executive Cruz County.” secretary at the Capitola She’ll be shadowing Dave Chamber of Commerce, she Vincent, interim executive was a member of Leadership director, as he wraps up Class Santa Cruz County Class 30 Trudie Ransom 35, which graduates in June, six years ago.

Ransom said the experience “gave and welcomes Class 36 in the fall.

The nonprofit provides a broad me the confidence to grow my business.”

She added, “I loved the networking base of community knowledge to class

10 / March 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

members and creates opportunities to interact with leaders in government, business, health care and other industries.

For example, Class 35 will visit Watsonville on March 4, stopping at Watsonville Airport, the wetlands, and the Water Recycling Plant.

Next comes a focus on agriculture, one of the top two industries in the county along with tourism, with stops at the county fairgrounds and Gizdich Ranch.

Art & Culture Day is scheduled for April 15. For information, visit leadership santacruzcounty.org.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Classic Car Show Returns

D

o you like old cars? If you do, come to the Capitola Rod & Custom Classic Car Show this summer.

There you’ll see lined up in Capitola Village dozens of shiny, colorful, and curvy old cars. Viewing them all in one place is a quick walk through the history of the automobile. Here is displayed in one place the evolving style and technology of cars.

If you’ve never been to the Capitola Classic Car Show, I encourage you to come see it for yourself at Esplanade Park this June 11 & 12, 2022.

However, this article is not just about the car show, but more importantly, about the people behind it and why they put it on.

The Capitola Public Safety & Community Service Foundation has put on the Capitola Classic Car Show since 2005. The Foundation was also started in 2005 by a group of Capitola citizens with the mission of increasing direct citizen participation in community safety. These citizens and the city worked together to establish the

By Sam Storey, Mayor, City of Capitola

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

One of the classics at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan. If you can’t get to Michigan, the next best thing may be the Classic Car Show in Capitola Village.

Foundation. It is now a nonprofit organization with a board of 16 members made

up of local residents, business owners, employees, and police officers of Capitola.

The members work together to support the Capitola Police Department, community policing, and other community services in Santa Cruz County. In order to raise its necessary funding the Foundation relies on donations and events such as the Classic Car Show.

The Classic Car Show is one of the Foundation’s major fundraising events.

The money raised is used to sponsor and fund efforts to improve public safety and community services. The recipients have included the Capitola Police Department, the Capitola Volunteers in Police Service program, the Neighborhood Watch Program, Capitola Lifeguard Program, the Annual National Night Out event, Herb Ross Award, the Fallen Officers Association, and Operation Surf for wounded veterans. And many more.

All of these efforts contribute to the ongoing effort to sustain community policing.

“Storey” page 13

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 11

COMMUNITY NEWS

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Deadly Rattlesnake Bite & Fourth Amendment Rights

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he finals of the 2022 Santa Cruz County Mock Trial competition will be at 5 p.m. Feb. 24 virtually via Zoom.

Students from Aptos High, Harbor High, Pacific Collegiate, Santa Cruz High, Soquel High, and Scotts Valley High are participating.

To avoid bias, the finalist teams cannot be identified before the event.

Mock Trial is one of several academic competitions organized by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Sita Kaimal and Denise Pitman-Rosas are the coordinators.

This year’s case involves a deadly rattlesnake bite, landlord-tenant tensions, a smart camera and the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

Students have been working on the case, People v. Cobey, since the start of the school year, coached by teachers and volunteer attorneys. The presiding judge volunteers. Volunteer attorneys evaluate how the students do.

People v. Cobey is the trial of Jamie Cobey, a horticulturist living in Burnsley, California, a town in the high desert.

Cobey is charged with the homicide of Cobey’s landlord and next-door neighbor, Erik Smith.

The prosecution will argue that Cobey should be convicted of first-degree murder or the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter.

In the early afternoon of April 29, 2021, Erik Smith opened his mailbox and was bitten by a Mojave rattlesnake that was inside.

The relationship between Cobey and Smith had deteriorated with both engaging in unneighborly behavior.

Tensions intensified once the pandemic eviction moratorium went

into effect, and Smith wanted to evict Cobey and Cobey’s elderly mother for non-payment of rent. After Smith shut off the power to Cobey’s home, Cobey’s mother died on April 22.

The prosecution alleges that on the morning of April 29, Jamie Cobey intentionally placed the rattlesnake with its rattle removed in Smith’s mailbox so the snake would fatally bite Smith.

Prosecution witnesses include a lineworker who witnessed Cobey standing close to Smith’s mailbox that morning while Cobey held a small metal-wire cage.

A neighbor will testify to seeing Cobey enraged at Smith at the funeral of Cobey’s mother the day before Smith’s death, as well as overhearing Cobey yell, “I’m going to kill him!” later that evening.

The medical examiner will testify to the severe lethality of the snake’s venom and the unlikelihood the snake crawled by itself into the mailbox through a mail slot.

The sheriff’s deputy will testify to finding snake-handling items and books about desert snakes in Cobey’s home, as well as fingerprints of Cobey, Smith, and one other neighbor on Smith’s mailbox.

The defense argues that Jamie Cobey lacked the specific intent for firstdegree murder, the sudden quarrel or heat of passion needed for voluntary manslaughter, and the act of placing the rattlesnake inside the mailbox.

Defense witnesses include a herpetologist who will testify that other circumstances superseded the causal link between the bite and Smith’s death, especially Smith’s willful refusal to seek medical attention. The herpetologist will also testify that the snake more than likely squeezed itself into the mailbox.

“Mock Trial” page 14

Mock Trial is one of several academic competitions organized by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Sita Kaimal and Denise Pitman-Rosas are the coordinators.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Central Fire: Changes For Nov. 2022 Election O n Feb. 10, the Central Fire District Board of Directors opted to move forward with one of the maps presented by National Demographics Corp. drawing boundaries for 5 areas of representation for the future elections.

The map chosen is “Purple II.” The map divides Central Fire into 5 areas, each with a nearly equal population and taking into account common issues, natural dividing lines and common needs and hazards.

The new voting system is designed to comply with the California Voting Rights Act and avoid lawsuits that have been expensive in other jurisdictions.

The voting public will be able to elect a director who lives in their area, to ensure the best representation for that area’s needs.

The next step in moving to this new district-based election system is to submit the map to the Santa Cruz County Recorders Office for approval.

Central Fire District leaders expect to have the new areas approved and implemented for the November 2022 election.

Residents can view the “Purple II” on Central Fire’s interactive map page, and enter their address at the top left to see which represented area their property is going to be part of: https://tinyurl. com/central-fire-purple-2

“Storey” from page 11 Community policing is a two-way street; the police need to be engaged with the community and the community needs to be engaged with the police. In the process, relationships and trust are built.

In Capitola, the Foundation is the keystone to that engagement. There have been many people who have volunteered their time and talents to make their community safer. Its hard to single out any one of them.

However, there is one person in particular who represents the spirit of community engagement. Her name is Lin Banks and she is the recently retired president of the Foundation. She has volunteered with the Foundation since its

The map was chosen following four public hearings.

Four maps were initially presented

by NDC, then two more (Orange II and Purple II) after input from the board and public.

At the fourth public hearing, all six maps and two alternates presented by a member of the public were all viewed and discussed before deciding the “Purple II” map was the most appropriate. n ••• For information on the decision-making process, including draft maps of the proposed areas and how to give feedback, visit www.centralfiresc. org/2279/Re-Districting-Process-2021-2022.

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inception and has made our community a better place for her efforts.

In her own words, “one of my greatest desires has been to serve toward the betterment of this town that I love so much.”.

Thank you Lin Banks for making Capitola a better town!

So, in closing, if you go to the Classic Car Show, enjoy the automobiles and the other sights. However, keep in mind the people who bring it to you and why. If you would like to be a sponsor for the Classic Car Show or make a donation you may go to their website, www.capitolafoundation. org, for more information. n ••• Sam Storey is mayor of Capitola. Contact him at samforcapitola@yahoo.com.

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14 / March 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

ousing Santa Cruz County, a countywide coalition of local organizations and individuals working to increase affordable housing opportunities for local residents and workers, has named Brooke Newman as interim managing director.

This is a new position.

Newman will lead the staff as Housing Santa Brooke Newman Cruz County enters its second year of mobilizing the community in support of key affordable housing policies and affordable projects designed to meet the needs of Santa Cruz County’s lower-income families and individuals.

“Brooke has seen the devastating impact that inadequate and unaffordable housing supply has on our community,” said Don Lane, Housing Santa Cruz County governing board chairman. “We believe her deep experience working with marginalized communities will help housing Santa Cruz County better understand and advocate for community members in need of affordable housing solutions.”

Newman’s background is in community organizing and building partnerships between disparate groups. She is experienced at facilitating relationships between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to work toward shared goals.

“After years of working in the realm of homelessness, it has become abundantly clear that our collective efforts to lift people out of poverty will continue to be stalled until we demand that the creation of more affordable housing be prioritized throughout the county,” Newman said.

“Mock Trial” from page 12 Another tenant of Smith will testify to Cobey’s even-tempered character and lack of hostility toward Smith before Smith’s death. A different neighbor and friend of Cobey will testify to Cobey’s habit of “cooling off” after outrageous actions by Smith, as well as the common knowledge about rattlesnakes crawling into mailboxes.

Finally, Jamie Cobey will deny placing

She played a lead role in the management and strategic growth of the Santa Cruz Downtown Streets Team. During her tenure, she developed its first CalFresh Employment Training program, first weekly women’s empowerment program, first culinary training program, and expanded the Team’s reach throughout the county.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Newman worked with the City of Santa Cruz and the County of Santa Cruz, and their nonprofit and community partners, to expand access to shelter and services for people experiencing homelessness throughout the county.

“For many of those who are housed and unhoused in Santa Cruz County, there has been little reason to believe that a pathway to safe, stable affordable housing exists for them,” Newman said.

“I’m excited about working with Housing Santa Cruz County and its members as we advocate for a sea change in affordable housing development throughout our county.”

Newman has held leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit organizations including executive director of Birchbark Foundation, founding board member for the Alliance of Self-Directed Education and administrative manager of the World Trade Center Health Program in Queens, New York.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Eugene Lang College at the New School University and a master’s of public administration from the Baruch School of Public Affairs.

For more about the coalition, see www.housingsantacruzcounty.com and on Facebook.

See the 2020 City of Santa Cruz Reponse to Homelessness report: https:// tinyurl.com/sc-homeless-report n

the snake in the mailbox and will testify that the items found by the sheriff’s deputy were everyday items for desert horticulturalists.

The question is whether Erik Smith’s use of a smart camera provided by law enforcement to capture an image of snake-feeding tongs on the property of Jamie Cobey constituted a search under the Fourth Amendment and therefore required a search warrant, or whether it fell outside the warrant. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 15

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16 / March 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

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By Joe Ortiz

he night Freddie da Bookie showed up with the gun, my father had his head stuck through the wrought iron security bars of our kitchen window. It was circa 1952 in the Queensborough Projects when I was 7 years old.

“Help me,” he clowned in his Puerto Rican patois. “Joey, help me. I can’t get out!

My head’s stuck inna bars.”

“Let me try, Daddy,” I said. “Let me try.” For better or worse, my father was my hero and I wanted to do whatever he did.

Mama, who was cutting up a chicken to make broth for pastina, had no time for these games. “Just like ya fatha,” she said disgustedly. “Betta ya should imitate me makin’ pastina.

At least pastina’s good for ya.”

She put the cut-up chicken in eight cups of boiling water along Joe Ortiz with a carrot, a stalk of celery, and a roughly chopped onion.

Meanwhile, Daddy, his head still stuck out the bars, saw Freddie coming up the path to our apartment so he ducked into the back bedroom to hide.

“Herman in?” Freddie snapped at Ma. “No, he just left,” my mother covered.

So, Freddie pulled a pistol out of his waist and laid it on the stove next to the boiling broth.

“He home now?”

“Ahhhhhh, Herman! He’s got a gun!”

When he heard my mother scream, Dad came running, pulling up his pants and rubbing his eyes as if he’d been resting up just for Freddie’s visit.

In the panic Mama let the broth boil over and that turned out to be a slice of good fortune. See, just like everyone in our neighborhood, Freddie knew a little something about pastina himself.

“You shouldn’t ova boil the stock. It’ll bruise the broth,” Freddie said, sticking the gun back in his waist.

After you give a man advice about his pastina, it just doesn’t seem right to fill him full of holes. Believe me, in our neighborhood a man’s life often hinged on smaller matters than good soup.

Besides, Freddie was right. The boiling down of the broth is essential to the flavor. Cooked down too little, the flavor is weak; too much, the flavor is too intense, the broth too thick.

Later, after the broth cooled, Mom put it on a potholder in the refrigerator and we went to bed.

The next day, the whole neighborhood was gabbing about Freddie and my father’s gambling and the pistol and the whole mess. My mother just went right on making her pastina. She took the chicken broth out of the fridge, skimmed off the cold, white fat from the top of the pot, then took the meat off the bone to use with some leftover tomato sauce (we called in “gravy.”) for chicken cacciatore. Mom strained the chicken broth with cheesecloth and put in back on the stove to cook down a little more.

After that my mother took off her apron, sat me down on the edge of the table and yelled out to my father in the living room, “Herman, watch Joey and make sure the chicken broth doesn’t boil ova. I’ll be right back. I gotta get some parsley from Aunt Rose downstairs.”

As soon as she was gone, I went to the window and squeezed my head through the bars. Below me I could see Aunt Rose’s hand coming out her window to pick a few springs of parsley from her window planter box. That’s when I realized my head really was stuck.

Just then I heard my father opening the front door and saying something about a quart of beer. “If the chicken broth starts ta boil, just turn it off,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

“But Daddy,” I squealed, “my head’s stuck . . . “ “Pastina” page 23

COMMUNITY NEWS

Bobcats Star in Wildlife Photo of the Year L ivermore native Sue Crow Griffin’s image of affection displayed by a mother bobcat to her offspring along an Alameda County walking path has earned the 2021 grand prize in the 10 th annual California Wildlife Photo of the Year contest.

In a virtual celebration, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham named Griffin’s photograph the best among all entries in the yearlong contest. The contest is presented

by California Watchable Wildlife and CDFW’s Outdoor California magazine and sponsored by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Out of This World Optics.

“When you see this image, your jaw will drop,” said Bonham. “What’s special about this particular image is the way it shows emotion. There’s caring here, love and a sense of tenderness.

And on top of that, it’s just a super cool photograph.”

Traditionally the winner’s legislative representative invites him or her to the floor of the California Legislature to announce and honor the winning photo.

For the last two years, the presentation has been virtual due to pandemic restrictions.

Griffin recalled how she captured the shot. She said the adult bobcat had just called the youngster to her to offer a fresh caught ground squirrel. The pair greeted each other on the limb of a felled tree before the youngster accepted the squirrel and disappeared into the wooded background.

“I know we’re not supposed to put human emotions on the cats, but it was just so tender,” she said. “The mom had brought back the food; the kitten had eaten and then they were sharing some time on this log and then they butted heads—it was just precious.”

Griffin began walking as a way to improve her health and eventually started taking pictures of what she would see on her journeys. She discovered all sorts of wildlife on her daily outings, ranging from bald and golden eagles to coyotes, foxes and a wide variety of birds. But the bobcats are what did it, she said, noting that she didn’t have any experience with photography prior to her walks.

Bonham selected the grand prize winner from 17 finalists. The contest had a record 741 entries this year.

In addition to Griffin’s bobcat photograph, the finalists on display include: • Long-tailed Weasel races across field (Douglas Croft) • Pacific Forktail Damselfly (Andrew Lincoln) • Black-tailed Jackrabbit at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (Larry Whiting) • Urbane Digger Bee pollinating in white cosmos (Andrew Lincoln) • Bald-faced Hornet verses California Yellowjacket (Robin Agarwal) • Osprey catches morning meal (Douglas Phillips) “Wildlife Photos” page 21

Sue Crow Griffin’s winning photo captures mama bobcat and her offspring.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 17

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Capitola Historical Museum to Debut ‘Perspectives’

T

By Deborah Osterberg

he Capitola Historical Museum will premiere its new annual exhibition on Saturday, March 4, from noon until 4 p.m. The new exhibition entitled, “Perspectives – Capitola in the Eye of the Beholder,” will explore different perspectives of Capitola through both the art and words of its beholders, past and present.

The exhibition will feature a variety of perspectives: The Pioneers, The Promoters, The Sportsmen, The Pleasure Seekers, The Conventioneers, The Developers, The Artists, The Hippies, and the Residents.

The way we perceive a place depends upon why we came there and how we interact with it. The reasons for passing through or coming to stay are diverse and myriad.

And so too are the depictions of Capitola over its long history. Taken together, they tell a compelling story.

Accompanying these diverse perspectives will be period artifacts and pieces of rarely seen artwork from the museum’s collection, including some of the earliest depictions of Capitola to modern views created for the annual Plein Air juried art competition and exhibition held every autumn.

One exhibit case brings to life the lobby of the grand Hotel Capitola, built

by F.A. Hihn in 1895. The exhibition will also provide the opportunity for visitors to share their own unique perspectives of Capitola.

“Perspectives — Capitola in the Eye of the Beholder” will be open to the public throughout 2022.

A formal exhibition reception will take place Saturday, April 2 from noon until 2 p.m. to unveil a new painting by Ann Thiermann, renowned local artist and art instructor at Cabrillo College. She has created five major California Native American murals for libraries, museums, and California State Parks plus 70 natural history murals throughout Northern California.

The Capitola-Soquel area is the traditional homeland of the Aptos, Cajastaca, and Uypi peoples. The new painting, commissioned by the City of Capitola, will depict Indigenous people, just before European contact, conducting traditional fishing and foraging of sea life at what we know today as Capitola Beach and Lagoon.

The Capitola Historical Museum will continue to include Native American history and stories, past and present, in all of its future annual exhibitions.

Starting March 4, the admission-free museum will be open Friday through Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. at 410 Capitola Avenue, next to Capitola City Hall. n ••• Deborah Osterberg started as curator of the Capitola Historical Museum last June. This is her first exhibit.

Capitola has attracted beach-goers for more than a century. Hotel Capitola, at the water’s edge, was built in 1895, but the 160-room resort burned in December 1929.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Tesla Pays EPA $275,000 in Clean Air Settlement O n Feb. 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Tesla Motors Inc. in which the electric car-maker agreed to pay a $275,000 penalty.

EPA found Clean Air Act violations at their auto manufacturing plant in Fremont, which applied coating materials containing formaldehyde, ethylbenzene, naphthalene and xylene.

Based on several information requests to Tesla, EPA determined the company violated federal regulations under the Clean Air Act from October 2016 through September 2019 by: • Failing to develop and/or implement a work practice plan to minimize hazardous air pollutants emissions from the storage and mixing of materials used in vehicle coating operations.

• Failing to correctly perform required monthly emissions calculations needed to demonstrate that coating operations complied with federal standards on hazardous air pollutants, which are known to cause cancer.

• Failing to collect and keep all required

records associated with the calculation of the hazardous air pollutants

emission rate for Tesla’s coating operations.

The EPA said Tesla has corrected the violations and returned to compliance.

Tesla targets buyers concerned about the environment, boasting lower carbon dioxide emissions. The 2022 Model S starts at $44,900 and up while the high-end Model X starts at $104,990.

“Today’s enforcement action against Tesla reflects EPA’s continued commitment to ensure compliance with federal clean air laws,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman.

People living in communities near sources of hazardous air pollutants may face significant risks to their health and environment.

According to the EPA, the list of hazardous air pollutants includes more than 180 chemicals known to cause cancer or other serious health effects.

The EPA said the settlement aligns with EPA’s National Compliance Initiative, Creating Cleaner Air for Communities by Reducing Excess Emissions of Harmful Pollutants. n ••• For info on Clean Air Act enforcement: www.epa.gov/enforcement/air-enforcement

We’re on a mission to bring you fresh, healthy, and delicious 10% of food. This season’s harvest profits go back to the includes asparagus from community Coastal View Produce and local artichokes are on the way.

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 19

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Aria Menon Wins Spelling Bee

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ria Menon, 9, a fourth grader at Mountain Elementary School in Soquel is this year’s elementary winner of the Santa Cruz County virtual spelling bee.

She will go on to compete in the state spelling bee in person May 14 in Stockton.

Her mother, Sita Kaimal, said her daughter is an avid reader and was inspired by her brother Adi, 13, who competed for two years.

During winter break, she got a spelling list from the school and invested her vacation time in spelling.

The payoff: She got every word correct and bested fifth graders and sixth graders.

No doubt she’s reviewing new words this very minute.

The elementary division is for grades 4-6.

Runner-up was Ihan Kang, who attends Westlake School in Santa Cruz, and Manuel Mattila, who attends Valencia Elementary in Aptos, placed third.

In the junior division for grades 7-9, Ella Webb, a freshman at Scotts Valley

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Aria Menon High School, earned first place and the right to go to the state bee.

Runner-up was Vikram Sathigh, who attends Scotts Valley Middle School and Sage Kelly who attends New Brighton Middle School, placed third.

Locally, the spelling bee is organized and hosted by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. n

Dientes’ Tiffany Turner Wins National Award

T INFLATION BUSTER SALE

By Jondi Gumz

iffany Turner, chief operations clinics following strict protocols after a officer at Dientes Community two-month shutdown for all but emerDental Care in Santa Cruz, was gency visits. honored with the prestigious Emerging Her attention to detail has resulted Leader Award at the National Asso- in zero COVID outbreaks in Dientes’ ciation of Community Health Centers clinics to date, colleagues said.

Policies and Issues annual “Her high expectations, conference in Washington, guidance to achieve goals, and D.C., on Feb. 16. team-orientation, combined The Emerging Leader with on-the-job experience, Award is given by George has allowed multiple Washington University’s front-line staff to advance Geiger Gibson Program in without formal management Community Health Policy to training,” said Dientes CEO exceptional young leaders Laura Marcus. whose work has helped She added, “Ms. Turner Tiffany Turner further health care and better goes above and beyond to health for medically underserved mentor and promote women of color to patients, communities, and special leadership positions … We couldn’t be populations. prouder to have a young woman of this Turner ’s initiative throughout the caliber leading our operations. She is an pandemic enabled Dientes to reopen its inspiration.” n

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ONLINE ORDER COUPON CODES “Wildlife Photos” from page 17 • Bald Eagles in the Angeles National Forest (Andrew Lee) • Yellowed-bellied Marmots in Yosemite National Park (Vishal Subramanyan) • Coyote leaping for food in Yosemite National Park (Alice Cahill) • Golden Eagle versus Ground Squirrel (Shravan Sundaram) • Northern Pygmy Owl in Santa Cruz Mountains (Robin Agarwal) • Spotted Owls at Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Maximilian Rabbitt Tomita) • Sea lions at Channel Islands National Park (Ken Howard) • California Condors at Tejon Ranch (Loi Nguyen) • White-tailed Kites mid-air food transfer (Don Henderson) • Great Gray Owl at Yosemite National Park (Vishal Subramanyan)

Two photographs received special recognition. California Watchable Wildlife chose Alice Cahill’s shot of a leaping coyote as a favorite, while the Sierra Nevada Conservancy picked Vishal Subramanyan’s photo of a pair of Yellowed-bellied Marmots.

Both were taken in Yosemite National Park. n ••• To view all of these photos, go to https:// www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=240797574895 527&set=a.237260935249191

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 21

COMMUNITY NEWS

First U.S. Park Rangers Were Buffalo Soldiers!

Celebrating Black History Month With Appreciation and Pride for my Predecessors

F

By Aniko Kannas-Millan

ormed in 1866 after the Civil War, six all-Black regiments were created within the US Army to help with westward expansion and protection.

The 9th and 10th Cavalry and 24th and 25th Infantry were formed of 1,000 men.

Most were freed slaves from the north, however, this was also an opportunity for Black men to serve in a prestigious role and escape plantation work.

The soldiers were responsible for

clearing westward lands of poachers, land squatters, fighting Mexican revolutionaries and anything else that would stand in the way of expansion.

Additionally charged with fighting in the Indian Wars, it became a personal struggle for the soldiers to carry out orders against the Native Americans.

They found it difficult to fight against a people that were being oppressed by the very same government that treated Blacks so poorly, including the soldiers who themselves received rotting food, the poorest uniforms and equipment and the worst horses.

There are a few theories, but Native Americans are said to have named them the Buffalo Soldiers for their dark tight curly hair that looked like the buffalo’s fur, dark skin and bison coats they wore.

Also they were considered worthy adversaries who fought hard and bravely like the revered buffalo.

The Buffalo Soldiers accepted the name as an honor and both groups developed a mutual respect for each other.

Only allowed to serve west of the Mississippi, Buffalo Soldiers were chosen to fill the need to protect the new national parks that were established.

So in the spring of 1899, the 10th Cavalry and the 24th Infantry of 500 soldiers were sent on a 16-day journey from the San Francisco Presidio to Yosemite to take up residency and build infrastructure.

Scotts Valley’s Aniko Kannan-Millan in her favorite hat.

Until 1913 the soldiers managed and protected Yosemite, Sequoia and General Grant National Parks, becoming the first park rangers.

In 1903, Colonel Charles Young, one of only three Black men who graduated from West Point was sent to lead the Buffalo Soldiers at Sequoia in building roads, trails, buildings, and fighting forest fires.

Colonel Young was the highest ranking Black officer and the first Black superintendent of Sequoia National Park.

Under his leadership, the troops also built the first trail climbing Mt. Whitney and created the Yosemite Arboretum, the first museum in the National Park Service.

Many of their contributions to the parks still stand today. n ••• Aniko Kannan-Millan is a retired park ranger, now serving as parks and programs specialist with the nonprofit County Park Friends.

See www.countyparkfriends.org/didyouknow

Courtesy of Aniko Kannan-Millan

The Buffalo Soldiers created the iconic Park Ranger hat or Smokey Bear Hat too! They found that by pinching together the top of the hat, that the rain would shed off of it faster. I can personally vouch for the brilliant design.

22 / March 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

Community Foundation Grants Deadline: Mar. 8 C ommunity Foundation Santa Cruz County has had the privilege of stewarding charitable gifts from generous locals who want to see their community thrive. During 2021, its 40th anniversary year, together with donors, the foundation celebrated the awarding — since 1982 — of $183 million.

The annual Community Grants cycle, which opened Feb. 8 for all Santa Cruz County-serving nonprofits, closes on March 8. Grant decision notifications will be sent April 29. There will be an online information session on Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. More information about Community Grants and the webinar is at www.cfscc.org/grants.

In 2022, foundation leaders expect to fund $1.5 million from endowed funds that have been given by forward-thinking donors over four decades. The majority of these funds are restricted to children, youth, and seniors and are focused on education, end-of-life care, youth development, historic preservation, and human services.

Dedicated funding for the arts, environment, and other interest areas is more limited.

Foundation leaders will continue to prioritize support for organizations serving those disproportionately affected by the pandemic, including immigrants who may be ineligible for other support

“Pastina” from page 16 Too late. The door slammed and I was alone. In a minute the pastina started to boil. Steam began to crawl down the sides of the kitchen walls and roll out the window above my head.

I started to scream for help but all that did was draw and appreciative crowd, eager for a good laugh. I could hear the broth boiling down, down, down and I knew my mother was going to be steaming when she found out I’d spoiled her hard work. The bars began to tighten around my ears.

Finally, I saw Daddy walking up the path below me, carrying his beloved bottle of Rheingold Stout. He looked cockeyed at the crowd outside our place. Then he spotted me.

“Stop joking around, Joey,” he yelled.

But then he looked at me again. He could see something in my face and knew I wasn’t joking.

He ran up the stairs, put his beer down, checked the pastina, then reached around, grabbed hold of the bars, and spread them like a pair of suspenders. I dropped to the floor like a dirty piece of laundry.

Community Foundation CEO Susan True and Director of Engagement & Impact Kevin Heuer are excited to announce the opening of the Community Grants application period. programs, seniors, youth, and families suf- capacity of our nonprofit partners to program. “As the impact of the panfering ongoing economic, educational, and respond to evolving needs and increased demic and fire recovery wears on, we demand for services,” said Kevin Heuer, continue to offer flexible grants so nonhealth impacts.

“Since 2020, we’ve seen the flex- director of engagement and impact, who profit partners can apply funds where ibility, commitment, and incredible oversees the Foundation’s grant-making they’re most needed.” n

The curative effect of chicken broth is something Italians, Jews and other ethnic groups have long prescribed for any ill fortune, a sort of religious experience tied to suffering and repentance. Like Mom used to say, “You sin; you suffer. You pray (and eat a little, warm bowl of pastina): you save the soul.”

When my mother got done gabbing with Aunt Rose downstairs, she came back up and threw a handful of tiny star macaroni into the broth.

“Don’t put too much in,” she told me.

“It grows when it cooks.”

All I could think about was my head expanding in the bars.

When the macaroni was cooked, Mom chopped up a few springs of the parsley and added it to the soup. We all sat down to a golden, glowing bowl of pastina. With a few sprinkles of black pepper and a little parmesan grated on top, a warm bowl of pastina can lift the weight of any little agony a soul may have to endure. n ••• Joe Ortiz, author of “The Village Baker,”

wrote and produced a musical inspired by bread and created a musical based on his family story, Escaping Queens, that was a hit at Cabrillo

Stage. He and his wife Gayle received the 2016 Gail Rich Award for contributions to the arts in Santa Cruz County.

Got Inflation? Tell Us About It

H

ow is inflation affecting you?

In its fourth quarter report, Yelp says consumers described more inflationary experiences in their 2021 reviews than ever before.

In 2021, mentions of higher costs reached a fiveyear peak — 49% higher than at the onset of the pandemic in the second quarter of 2020.

For the March 1 Aptos Times, let us know how prices have changed for you: Rent?

Groceries? PG&E bills? Gasoline? Used cars? To stick within your budget, have you cut back on other spending?

Tell us in 50-100 words we can share with readers. Email Editor Jondi Gumz at info@cyber-times.com n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 23

FEATURED COLUMNIST

She Returned the Merchandise to eBay. What Happened to Her Refund?

When Gloria Lenoir returns her merchandise to eBay, the company doesn’t refund her $29 and closes her case. How does she get eBay’s attention?

••• recently bought two tubes of Voltaren, a pain medication, through eBay. I paid $29 for the product but decided I could not use it. I tried to return the product, but the seller did not respond. eBay provided a USPS shipping label so I could return the item. I returned the item to the seller about a month ago but I did not get my refund.

When I tried to enter the USPS tracking number, the eBay website will not accept it. eBay has closed the case. Can you help me get my refund?

— Gloria Lenoir, Austin, Texas •••

I

S

o let me get this straight: You returned your tubes of Voltaren to the buyer via eBay and you received nothing?

Come on.

The seller should have responded when you asked to return the product.

This isn’t the first time we’ve had an nonresponsive eBay seller.

When that happens, eBay should reconsider whether the merchant belongs on its platform. No ghosting customers! And after talking to eBay myself, there’s no evidence the merchant got a talkin’-to.

I’m glad eBay got involved and sent you a return label. For a few days, at least, it looked as if eBay had taken your side.

“We have reviewed this case and decided in your favor,” it said in an email to you.

By Christopher Elliott

“You should return the item to the seller for a refund. We’re sorry you had a problem with your purchase.” eBay should have been able to track your return and issue a refund, but for some reason, it couldn’t. The tracking number USPS gave you was valid. Someone in New York accepted the merchandise after you sent it back. But it looks like the tracking number didn’t quite work with eBay’s system.

Closing your case was the wrong move; eBay should have opened an investigation and not closed it until it was resolved. Your case just slipped through the cracks.

I think you did everything you could to keep your case alive. You kept your

correspondence in writing (good work!), and you kept all emails and messages (nice going!), but you still couldn’t get to the right place at eBay. Next time, try one of these executive contacts at eBay: https:// www.elliott.org/company-contacts/ebaycustomer-service-contacts/. A polite, brief email with your entire paper trail attached should get to the right person.

I asked eBay about your case. Although it wouldn’t reveal what went wrong with your refund, the company promptly refunded your $29 after I contacted it. n ••• Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer for Elliott Advocacy. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help with any consumer problem by contacting him at http:// www.elliott.org/help • ©2022 Christopher Elliott.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Darrie Ganzhorn Named Hunger Fighter of the Year

D

By Jondi Gumz

arrie Ganzhorn will be honored as Hunger Fighter of the Year by Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County at a virtual awards celebration 4:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 4..

Holiday Food & Fund Drive Co-Chairs Megan Martinelli and Carlos Palacios, along with fellow Santa Cruz County Hunger Heroes and Hunger Fighters will recognize the accomplishments of so many in 2021 – the second year of a global pandemic. More than 225 people plan to attend. RSVP at https://give.thefoodbank. org/campaigns/17468-annual-awardscelebration-celebrating-you Ganzhorn has been executive director of the Homeless Garden Project for more than 25 years, planting seeds and transforming lives.

The nonprofit provides a way out of being homeless, giving people experience growing produce and flowers on a 3-acre organic farm on Westside Santa Cruz with a seasonal farm stand, and creating salves, soaps, herbal seasonings, teas, baking mixes and jellies sold online and at a store in downtown Santa Cruz.

Each year, about 17 trainees are selected to participate in the one-year program, where they are paid as they learn.

On the Home Garden Project website, Patricia, Cody and Chris share their stories of lives transformed.

Over the past six years, 97% of trainees got jobs or a stable income -- and 90% got housing.

In 2020, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the farm produced 20,000 pounds of organic produce. Trainees logged 14,000 paid hours. The volunteer program was scaled back for safety, yet 501 people contributed 3,421 hours to support various projects. The Community Supported Agriculture program was fully subscribed with 66 people signed up to get a weekly box of organic produce (and a wait list).

The Feeding 2 Birds campaign made 30 shares to nonprofits such as Hospice, Boys and Girls Club and Gemma, providing their clients with organic produce, herbs and flowers.

A new partnership with Coke Farm, an organic grower in San Juan Batista, created “Growing the Table” to address

24 / March 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

summer food insecurity due to Covid, packing and delivering 2,400 food boxes through 20 local organizations. Among the recipients families at Gault Elementary in Santa Cruz.

In the summer, the Homeless Garden Project created “Lean on Me,” a community event for vendors to build connections.

A virtual fundraiser featured wellknown chef and restaurateur David Kinch, giving attendees a kit of farm ingredients to make a recipe with Kinch.

Ganzhorn promoted the “21 Day Challenge,” a three-week commitment with daily lessons to understand connections between race, justice and food systems.

The plan is to repeat this in 2022.

For Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, volunteers came to the farm for a day of service.

Seeing the need, Ganzhorn has been working for 20 years to move the farm to the Pogonip, a 640-acre greenbelt in Santa Cruz where decades ago the affluent enjoyed polo playing and skeet shooting. The goal is to triple the size of the farm, with room for fruit trees, and more varieties of vegetables

Darrie Ganzhorn

and herbs. The committee supporting this effort has raised more than $3 million to fund the buildings, farm and infrastructure.

Ganzhorn has persisted despite hiccups (such as lead in the soil left by skeet shooters) and stayed true to her vision. She can collaborate with Alice Waters, famous for opening Chez Panisse, one day, and help a trainee with a housing application the next.

As her nomination for the award says, “Darrie not only feeds people via produce but feeds their spirit as well.” n

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Real and Sincere Apology: A Vital Life Skill

J

oyce and I understand that hurting another person is inevitable. Most of the time, we do not intend to hurt someone, but still we may. We may be insensitive with our words or actions or even our lack of words when words are needed.

We may hurt someone through miscommunication or lack of understanding.

Sometimes we hurt someone intentionally, like when we are angry. In either case, we need to apologize in order to keep growing spiritually. The results of a sincere apology are often amazing. Most people feel lighter right away after apologizing, as if they have let go of a heavy burden.

Here are some real examples. Stan apologized to his younger brother for some of the abusive things he did when they were growing up, like hitting, playing cruel practical jokes on him, and saying mean things. Gail apologized to her exhusband for not having the courage to share her unhappy feelings in the several years before she left him, when they could have gotten help.

James apologized to his mother for holding a grudge against her, and not speaking to her for ten years. In a couple’s workshop, Susan apologized to her partner, Frank, for the pain she caused by comparing him unfavorably to her former boyfriends.

Apologizing and asking for forgiveness are two very different things.

Apologizing doesn’t ask anything of the person we have hurt. It doesn’t depend on what they do or how they feel about

By Joyce and Barry Vissell

us. The person may or may not accept our apology, or may even choose to stay angry at us.

What the other person does is out of our control and really doesn’t matter.

Apologizing is simply our own work on ourselves, our own righting of the wrongs we have committed, or in 12-step terms, it is “making amends.”

So why don’t we apologize to someone we have hurt? There are two main reasons.

First, we may feel that we are right, that we didn’t actually do anything wrong. It’s their problem that they are hurt by something we said or did. Naturally, the hurt feelings may belong to the other person, but to maintain this position is to deny our own responsibility in the interaction.

Needing to be right is needing to win, but relationship is not a game. In relationship, if there is a winner and a loser, both people lose. One person only wins if both people win. If someone feels hurt by us, we need to apologize no matter whether we hurt them intentionally or unintentionally, or whether we feel innocent or guilty.

The other main reason for not apologizing is shame. In the first case, we don’t apologize because we feel innocent. When we feel guilty, we don’t apologize because of shame. We may feel so badly about what we did to another that we hide in shame, slide into inertia, and do nothing.

We may hope that time will heal things, or that we or the other person will forget, but it doesn’t go away, at least not until we apologize sincerely.

Some feel that to apologize is to admit defeat or show weakness. This has its origins in shame, too. We are ashamed about making mistakes, but apologizing for our mistakes is a sign of courage, not weakness.

Remember, making a mistake doesn’t mean you are a bad person, just a momentarily clumsy or unskillful person. Feeling like a bad person because

of your mistakes can lead to toxic shame, which is identifying with your mistakes, rather than identifying with who you really are, a beautiful soul on the journey of life. You can make mistakes, but you are not a mistake.

Apology does not work if it is halfhearted or insincere. Saying “I’m sorry,”

and not sincerely meaning it, does nothing.

True apology comes from the heart, not the mind. Sometimes, you may think that you’re apologizing, but you’re only going through the motions, and no one feels better.

“Sincere Apology” page 26

The 1940s

ACROSS

1. Decree 6. *U.S./U.S.S.R.’s cold one 9. Harry Potter’s mark 13. Syrup flavor 14. ____ Khan 15. Bird of prey’s nest 16. Lieu 17. H+, e.g.

18. Bashful or Happy 19. *”1984” author George 21. *Best-selling pop artist Bing 23. Writer ____ Monk Kidd 24. Genghis or Kubla 25. Cranberry habitat

28. Not nice 30. Saddle holders 35. *Boris Karloff’s movie “The ____,” pl.

37. Actress Barrymore 39. Asian goat antelope 40. Supernatural life force 41. Seethes 43. South African antelope 44. Cook from above 46. Rotisserie part 47. Not odd 48. Italy in Italian 50. What snob puts on 52. .0000001 joule 53. Sound of a dropped tome 55. Beer acronym 57. *____ Doctrine, U.S. foreign policy 60. *”How Green Was My ____”

63. Another word for nutria 64. Ciao in the U.S. 66. Trip guide 68. Surveyor’s maps 69. Afflict 70. Will alternative 71. Additionally 72. Nucleic acid 73. Term of endearment 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9. Uses a Singer 10. Underwater hermit 11. Ethereal 12. Gridiron official, for short 15. Apollo Creed’s son 20. City in northern England 22. Old towel, e.g.

24. Rollerskater’s protector (2 words) 25. *Disney’s 1942 DOWN orphan Emergency acronym *1949 international 26. Abstractionism using optical illusion org.

27. Kind of salami Copycat 29. Crafts’ companion Chicken feet 31. Network of nerves Christian hymn (2 32. Treasure collection words) 33. Dreamer?

Graveside sound 34. *Popular music style Gone by TV’s Yellowstone, e.g. 36. Ship canvas

38. *1939-1945 42. Parallel grooves 45. Acid turns it red 49. “Bingo!”

51. Daryl Hannah’s 1984 movie 54. Open up 56. In spite of the fact, arch.

57. Church sound 58. Swedish shag rugs 59. Plotting 60. Velum, pl.

61. Zeal 62. New Haven University 63. IRS employee?

65. Yang’s opposite 67. Canny

© Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 25

Pisces — Two Fishes Saving the World

“Sincere Apology” from page 25

Esoteric Astrology • March 2021 • By Risa D’Angeles

E

ach year, at the end of February and much of March and just before spring arrives, we are under the light, love and influences of the Lords of Pisces, sign of two fishes held together by a silken cord, one facing heaven, the other looking down into form & matter. The two fish represent the Soul, the other, the personality of each of us. The fishes cannot be separated. Eventually the personality when strong enough accepts the direction, care and tending of the Soul. The two fishes gaze in all directions, longing for their release (to save the world).

Pisces understands these things. Pisces understands imprisonment, captivity, being confined, abandoned, betrayed, looked down upon, judged, criticized, not having freedom, caught so often in sadness, illusions and glamours, cults, drugs and sex. Pisces, the last of the zodiacal signs, and containing impressions from all the previous eleven signs understands sadness, sorrow, grief, melancholy, woe, and most of all, being misunderstood. All of which makes Pisces, after many lifetimes, able to offer understanding, compassion and care, which “saves the world.”

ARIES

Pisces, when building the personality, experiences drugs, alcohol, dramatic emotions, drowning in a world of senses. On the Soul/Spiritual level, Pisces is the “Light of the World....the light that reveals the Light of Life itself. Pisces light ends forever the darkness of matter.” Those words “light of the world” sound familiar. Many of the Saviors who came to Earth were born in Pisces. They appear on Earth as Avatars to help humanity struggling towards the light.

Jesus, the Christ, was One (savior). So was Buddha, Zarathustra and all the many religions teachers that have appeared on Earth since time’s beginning. In these dark times of the Kali Yuga Age (our present time, where the darkness is allowed to manifest so humanity can make a choice), we await the Reappearance of the Christ, the new Savior and World Teacher of the Aquarian Age. They say, “He will come soon to restore the Law. He comes with a fiery sword repelling those as do evil”. We too, in Pisces, stand with our fiery swords and lamps held high. So the way is not so dark for our brothers and sisters on the Path. n

LEO

While busy with professional shifts, changes, reorientations and rebalancing, turn your imagination more towards kind thoughts of forgiveness, towards friends and the future — where the true reality is. Set goals with others, helping them to stabilize and be successful. Don’t demand too much from others. It creates disappointments. This is a time of great creative potential. Do I see greenhouses & natural warm pools when I enter your realm?

You’re sensitive, more than usual. Leo, Cancer and Pisces (and hidden Scorpio) are most sensitive.

Here you are in your reality and it seems something, over there somewhere, is either calling to you or opposes you. What this means is an integration (of things & thoughts, new & unusual) is attempting to occur. An absorbing and balancing of new realities. One reality may be that creating more companionship & alliances would assist you. Assist your heart, actually.

TAURUS

VIRGO

GEMINI

You become more practical with resources because you know needed changes, new experiences and a new education are coming that reorient your beliefs. That is, if you have the courage to step into a new reality, enter into a group of like-minded others, join the New Group of World Servers, work cooperatively with others creating the plan that saves the world. You have only a bit more time to prepare. Education in the New Aquarian Age calls to you. It’s never too late.

You want to play a little more. Some Libran’s are very serious; they don’t play much. They feel injustices in the world and seek to alleviate them. You do this. However, now’s the time for a bit of lightness — for friends, entertaining, communicating with loved ones, interacting with children. In the coming weeks and months, tend carefully to health. See a natural doctor, dentist, care provider, and a deeply listening therapist. Get new shoes. A new endeavor may appear. Don’t spend on things you cannot see.

CANCER

SCORPIO

The times call you to retreat, inner solitude, rest, repose There’s always so much to accomplish, so many people to and relaxation. This prepares you daily to contact, so many ideas to jot down & create be able to withstand and work with the goals with. It’s good that Virgos have a wellimportant reorientation and changes taking developed and orderly work ethic. Virgo is place in our world. In that inner time, conalways responsible and intelligent. Creativity sider new goals & plans, tending to their manifestation. is to be practical & purposeful this month. You remember This is “white magic”. Magic is the ancient word for using something. It makes you sad, glad, wondering, concerned, the imagination to create a thought form, then focusing happy, joyful. All those things together. Clap your hands! on it till it appears in form and matter. You have that gift. Write a poem!

This is esoteric.

SAGITTARIUS

New thoughts and/or ideas, very unique, very futuristic, may be streaming through your mind, creating a feeling of Tesla-like electricity in your body. People can sense you’ve become a bit different. You need a close companion. Tesla’s closest companion was a dove.

They communicated daily. Begin to speak from the heart with everyone around you. Focus on them more. Soon a strange new spirit of adventure unfolds. A new learning, a new lesson. It is not in form and matter. Not yet.

CAPRICORN

Capricorn identities (who am I, really?) continue to appear, disappear, shift, change and be transformed.

Venus, Mars and Pluto are in your sign, creating a great transforming field around your sense of friendship and choice of actions.

People respond to you differently now. They see something – a light perhaps, a sense of focus, a power, a beauty. Stay close to loved ones. And should you require it, call forth all the resources needed in your life. They will arrive like angels at just the right time.

LIBRA

It’s tax time. Or soon will be. Sometimes that creates anxiety. This year with Neptune in Pisces and Chiron in Aries, it can be even more confusing. Sometimes taxes shift a person’s identity, feeling that everything’s just too complex. Like many, you may feel you’re on uncharted waters, in a boat with no captain, no shore in sight, and there’s rumors that pirates are just around the bend. Life feels like that now. Be sure to rest. And find soothing warm calm waters (or arms) to lay in.

AQUARIUS

Careful with money, assets, facts and figures. Know you always have enough. Keep track of your bank accounts, what’s in, what’s out. Be orderly about this. Don’t allow a lack of time or attention to take you away from this task.

Train yourself to have a clear idea of all financial transactions. Have a book where you jot down finances, facts and figures. This calls for a bit of discipline, more practicality and it allows you to have a firm idea of all that you’re worth.

Write down too the perfect work you want to do. It’s waiting.

PISCES

So, happy birthday, Pisces …yesterday, today, this week, Tend to family with extra care, touching in, making contact next week. When our birthday month arrives, with all the family, even those not often the Sun’s rose gold light shines through us. seen. There’s a pull between home and It’s in our eyes, radiating outward. We are work, family & the world, internal & external beautiful. Our angels stand close by during realities. Try to meet personal needs first. our birthday month, waiting to hear our needs for the Remain at home in a state of calm and peacefulness. Let coming new year. A birthday celebration only truly occurs outer realities fall away. This gives you time to consider a when we talk with our angels. Telling them of our wants and different course of action concerning how to use your gifts, needs. They stand around us...waiting, listening, tending, talents and abilities in the world. What needs tender care patient as ever. They offer their gift of loving protection. And concerning your own self? of helping us receive all that we need.

•••

Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com 26 / March 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Automatic, or knee-jerk, apologies may not help either. It doesn’t contain thoughtful consideration, and it doesn’t show that you actually understand how you hurt your friend. Real, sincere, apology requires that you truly understand why your friend feels hurt. For when you understand why they feel hurt, and can acknowledge this understanding, they can much more easily accept your apology.

Here’s an example: In a couple’s retreat, during an apology exercise, Anne asked her husband, Ted, for an apology for watching pornographic videos online. When she had confronted him in the past, he would often say, “A lot of men watch porn. There’s nothing wrong with it.” Anne started to explain why this was so painful to her, but Ted got angry. He clearly didn’t want to hear her feelings. And he was invested in being right.

Joyce and I had to intervene. We asked Ted to listen to his wife. Anne hesitantly began to speak, “In my previous marriage, my husband constantly criticized my body, and compared me to younger women. There was no way I could win. In his eyes, I felt ugly most of the time.” Anne started sobbing.

Ted had never heard his wife’s pain about this. It appeared to move him deeply. He gently put his arms around her and said, “I’m so sorry, Anne. I had no idea about any of this. Now I can see why my watching pornography would be so painful to you. I commit to never watching it again. It’s just an old habit that I thought was innocent. Your body is so beautiful to me! I’ll make sure you always know this.

Ted’s apology was real and sincere.

He understood Anne’s hurt.

So please don’t read this article and say to yourself, “Nice article, good ideas,” and then do nothing. Challenge yourself to practice the skill of real apology. Who are you needing to apologize to and for what?

Do you need to more clearly understand this person’s hurt feelings? If so, make the effort to find out. Close your eyes and speak your apology with as much sincerity and feeling as possible. Then follow this up with an apology to the actual person.

Free yourself for even more love in your life. n ••• Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors near Santa Cruz, CA, who are passionate about conscious relationship and personal-spiritual growth. They are the authors of 9 books and a new free audio album of sacred songs and chants. Visit their web site at SharedHeart. org for their free monthly e-heartletter, their updated schedule, and inspiring past articles on many topics about relationship and living from the heart.

FEATURED COLUMNIST

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From Marianne Evans of Capitola

M

ama cut this out of the Sunday newspaper magazine section sometime in the 1950s. I’m sure I have made it, literally, well over a thousand times, and always in the same 2-quart Pyrex casserole. I made soup every Sunday for many, many years… maybe 30-plus.

French Bread 1 pkg yeast (not instant) 2 cups lukewarm water 4 cups flour 2 T sugar 3 tsp salt Dissolve yeast in one cup of the water. Sift flour, sugar and salt together into a large bowl, then stir in the dissolved yeast.

Add just enough the second cup of water to hold the dough together.

Mix until you have a soft, sticky dough.

Cover and let rise until double in size –- 2 to 4 hours depending on the warmth of your kitchen. (I have sometimes forced it in a very low oven.)

When dough is high and spongy punch down with your fist and give it a good sound beating with your hand. (It will be pretty messy.)

Grease a casserole or baking sheet very well…I use Crisco. Don’t skimp on the grease or you’ll be sorry!

The recipe says to put dough, divided into 2 parts in 6” casseroles, but Mama made one large loaf on a cookie sheet. I use a 2-quart Pyrex casserole.

Cover with a clean cloth and let

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o you have a recipe that is a family favorite? Or maybe one from your childhood you would like to share? The Capitola Soquel Times will be publishing one recipe each issue from a community member.

Feel free to add a little history to the recipe if you want (approximately 75 words). Every issue we will randomly choose a recipe to publish.

Find your favorite and send it to cathe@cyber-times.com today!

rise until double in bulk. Brush with melted butter (I no longer do this) and bake at 400 for about an hour. Test it by thumping it with your knuckle. It should sound firm and hollow.

This makes a thick-crusted rustic loaf. Serve hot or warm…not very good cold. Great for toast. Great bread for soup or steamed clams. n ••• Editor’s note: A wonderful idea for a chilly day. Thanks, Marianne, I bet you will start a run on 2-quart Pyrex casseroles.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 27

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS CAPITOLA LIBRARY ACTIVITIES The Capitola branch library is open seven days a week.

Hours are: Mon-Thurs: 10-6 • Fri-Sat 12-5 Sun 1-5 Call: 831.427.7053; text: 831.264.0647; online chat: https://www. santacruzpl.org/contact/?display=chat; or send a question at https://www.santacruzpl.org/contact/ Homework Help: Tuesday, 3 to 5 p.m.

Afterschool STEAM: Wednesday, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Kids age 8 to 28 learn how to survive in the world of Minecraft.edu. Limited to 18 on a first-come basis. No advance registration.

STEAM Projects: Fridays. 2 to 4 p.m., kids 6 to 11.

R.E.A.D Reach Every Amazing Detail: Wednesdays 3- 5 p.m. One-on-one reading comprehension instruction for readers 2nd through 12th grade with California credentialed teachers. Sessions last 25 minutes. By appointment only. Call 831-427-7717 or email pro@santacruzpl.org In-Person Tech Help: Fourth Tuesday, 10 a.m. to noon. Tech-savvy staff will help troubleshoot your issue with a 25-minute (or less) appointment. Make an appointment: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/appointments/laselva Appointments are prioritized. Visit information desk or call 831-427-7713 for help making an appointment. Arriving later than 5 minutes after scheduled time may result in cancellation.

BRAVER ANGELS WORKSHOPS March 5,12, 19, 26, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Polarization is a problem in America. Many of us avoid or dread political conversations with friends or family members whose politics differ from our own. Or we use language that makes it worse.

Are you interested in finding ways to help reduce hostility between Democrats and Republicans?

Braver Angels, a grassroots organization active in all 50 states aims to bridge the partisan divide via online workshops. These no-cost gatherings teach skills for respectful conversations that clarify differences without demeaning, and skills to disagree while searching for common ground.

Workshops are slated for four Saturdays. Pick a date that works for you and register at https://tinyurl.com/ braver-angels-signup.

(Full URL: https://hobbyschool.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/ form/SV_4T2JSnBmqRmz0sS?Q_DL=iEJKIevM0oJ8Yr b_4T2JSnBmqRmz0sS_CGC_KTMook4EGU3BRj0&Q_ CHL=email) Participants can take a survey as part of a research study and earn a $10 gift card upon completion.

SENIOR OUTREACH Family Service Agency Senior Outreach offers free one-on-one counseling for people 55 and over via the phone, Skype or Zoom. Counselors are experienced.

In-person counseling has been suspended to prevent Covid-19 spread.

Groups for men and women will be restarted as soon as possible, with a women’s group starting in February. Dates are not available due to the changing Covid situation.

Hopes are to restart peer training, for which there is a waiting list.

To express interest in participating, call Barbara Salata, 831459-9351 ext. 206, who will return your call in 24 hours.

SUPPORT FOR MOTHERS OF SURVIVORS Survivors Healing Center is offering online women’s support groups and mothers of survivors of childhood

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by March 21 MAH EXHIBITIONS Thurs. thru Sun., Noon-6 p.m., 705 Front St., Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History presents two exhibitions starting in January.

Jan. 14–May 15: Atmosphere, an exhibition by artist and filmmaker Enid Baxter Ryce featuring paintings and soundscapes that STARTUP CHALLENGE MONTEREY BAY ENTRY DEADLINE explore the phenomena of Monterey Bay’s fog and atmoThe deadline to enter your idea in the 2022 Startup spheric rivers. Ryce’s work will Challenge Monterey Bay is March 7. be exhibited with collections of Workshops for contestants will be led by CSU archival photos, an interactive Monterey Bay’s Institute for Innovation and Economic musical sculpture, and fog collectors Development created in collaboration with historian Dr. William Executive Director, Cowan, musician Lanier Sammons, sculptor Natalie Dr. Brad Barbeau, via Jenkins, and scientist Dan Fernandez.

Zoom at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, and Thursday, Jan. 21–March 20: Rydell Visual Art Fellowship March 3.

Register at https://startupchallengemb.com/prepare- exhibition, honoring the legacy of local philanthropists Roy and Frances Rydell and featuring the 2020-2021 to-compete/ The qualifying round takes place April 8 and the finals Rydell Visual Arts Fund recipients: Printmaker and illustrator Ann Altstatt; sculptor and designer Marc are in May. Startup Challenge is an annual competitive business D’Estout; choreographer Cid Pearlman; and photogaccelerator for new businesses that teaches, coaches, rapher Edward Ramirez. Presented in partnership with mentors, networks, and connects entrepreneurs to the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County. knowledge and resources they need to succeed in the Suggested admission: General, $10; students / teachers / veterans, $8, free for members and children under 5. marketplace.

The Challenge is open to new businesses based in Monterey, San Benito, or Santa Cruz counties, oper- CULTIVATE GRANTS AVAILABLE ating for less than two years. There are divisions Dreaming up a new artistic creation or leveling up your for Main Street businesses, Venture businesses, artistic career? Apply for a Cultivate Grant to fund your Social Ventures and students. Judging is based on creative project or professional development. identifying a problem and a solution, revenue and Grants of up to $3,000 for artists, nonprofit organizago-to-market strategy, and competition, to name a tions, and other partnerships are available. Application few. closes at 5 p.m. March 23.

Benefits include making connections with potential Grants awarded in July. investors and perfecting your pitch. Finalists receive Information at https://www.artscouncilsc.org/forcash prizes, mentoring opportunities and additional grantseekers/ workshops.

Questions? Email grantsprogram@artscouncilsc.org .

Enter at https://startupchallengemb.com/ NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR VISIT SANTA CRUZ BOARD HELP FOR LOCAL EMPLOYERS Visit Santa Cruz County and its Nominating Task Force A coalition of local governments and nonprofits in Santa are seeking nomi-nations to the Board of Directors.

Cruz County has launched the Behind Every Employer Deadline to apply is Thursday, Feb. 24. initiative.

Responsibilities of the 25-member board include This is a business resource network for local participation in general advocacy for the tourism employers interested in workforce and other local industry and active participation at board meetings six business services. times per year. Board members serve for two terms.

Behind Every Employer Santa Cruz County connects Members represent regions of the county, 13 lodging businesses needing assistance recruit-ing talent, seats, and a cross-section of representatives of busiidentifying needed workforce training, consulting about nesses, cultural, governmental and organi-zations with challenges facing a busi-ness, finding information about affiliation to the travel and tourism industry. the local market and locating needed financing.

For a nominating form, see https://tinyurl.com/visitBehind Every Employer is a project of Workforce scc-board-nomination Santa Cruz County, the County of Santa Cruz; the cities Call 831-425-1234 for more information. of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Capitola and Scotts Valley; the Santa Cruz Small Business Development Center and PUBLIC LIBRARY CAREER WORKSHOPS El Pajaro Community Development Corp.

The Santa Cruz Public Libraries presents career For information: https://behindeveryemployer.org/santa-cruz/ development workshops for teens and adults through April, thanks to grant funding.

TEENS CAN SERVE Second Wednesdays: Resume and interview skill Teens who live in the Soquel Elementary Union School workshops at 10 a.m.

District and attend Soquel, Harbor or Aptos high school Third Wednesdays: Resume and interview skill can apply to serve on City of Capitola advisory bodies. workshops in Spanish, 10 a.m.

Openings are available for: Art & Cultural Commission, Hours for English/Spanish bilingual career assistance Commission on the Environment, Finance Advisory at the downtown Santa Cruz library will begin in January.

Committee, and History Museum Board. Meetings take place via Zoom.

LIBRARY TECH TALKS See https://www.cityofcapitola.org/bc/page/serve-city-board- 11 a.m.-Noon, Online Classes commission-or-committee The Santa Cruz Public Libraries offer Tech Talks four sexual abuse support group. The goals are to empower through a healing process and prevent sexual abuse of children and youth.

You are not alone. You are not to blame.

More information: (831) 423-7601 or www.survivorshealing center.org

28 / March 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Thursdays in March to help you become tech-savvy.

Each class is free.

Registration is required. The Zoom link will be emailed upon registration. If you need help with registration call 831-427-7713.

••• March 3: Calendar Optimized — Organize your built-in calendar app on your iPhone or iPad. Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/8935564.

March 10: Smartphone 101 for Android users — Register at: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/8935693.

March 24: Two-Factor Authentication — Register at: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/8935736.

March 31: Smartphone 101 for Apple users — Register at: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/8935764.

ONGOING EVENTS Ongoing thru March 15 NAMI PEER-TO-PEER 5-7 p.m., Online Classes NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a free, eight-session educational program via Zoom for adults with mental health conditions who are looking to better understand themselves and their recovery.

Taught by trained leaders with lived experience, this program includes activities, discussions and informative videos.

Sign up at https://www.namiscc.org/peer-to-peer.html Signing up does not guarantee enrollment, but puts you on the list to be notified about enrollment.

Check your email within 5 business days of completing the form, and save anastasia@namiscc.org as a contact to prevent emails from going to spam.

Contact (831)-824-0406 or anastasia@namiscc.org with questions or if you do not hear back within 5 business days.

Ongoing Through April 17 ART OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA Thurs.–Sun., 12-6 p.m., Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St. Art of the African Diaspora, in partnership with the Richmond Art Center, supports artists of African descent in the Bay Area through representation, professional development, and building a creative community.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of this exhibition program, and features over 100 artists of African descent. Artwork is on view at the Richmond Art Center, as well as in open studios and satellite exhibitions at venues across the Bay Area.

This satellite exhibition is curated for the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History by Santa Cruz artist and organizer Abi Mustapha and MAH Historian in Residence Luna HighJohn-Bey. Featured artists include Abi Mustapha, Zoe Boston, Tiffany Conway, Carla Golder, Louise Schine, Janet Barnes, Eijah Pfotenhauer and Justice Renaissance. https://www.santacruzmah.org Photo: Art of the African Diaspora First and Third Mondays Each Month SENIOR LIFE ONLINE 4 p.m., Online Meeting Join a local group of senior citizens for “Senior Life Online,” a free online (Zoom) program featuring a presentation by a local expert. View the full schedule at scottsvalleyseniorlife.org/current-activities/.

Upcoming Events: March 7: “How to Declutter or Downside Your Home” with Christy Best of Clutterbug. This presentation includes tips for how to get encouraged, inspired, motivated; and selling, donating and gifting things. Best, an organizer for 30 years, is a former member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals since 1995, as well as a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of NAPO and the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR To participate, you need an Internet connection and a computer, tablet or smart phone. A 1-time preregistration is required at https://tinyurl.com/SVSLA-6.

Questions? Call George at (831) 334-7763.

Senior Life Online is sponsored by Scotts Valley Senior Life Association (SVSLA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to promote healthy living for senior citizens.

Information is at http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org.

Tuesdays CHESS AT THE CAPITOLA LIBRARY 3:30-4:30 p.m., 2005 Wharf Rd, Capitola The Aptos/Capitola Youth Chess Club started back up on Tuesday, Feb. 15 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. and continues every Tuesday. Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/8243107 The Chess Club with Gjon continues at the Downtown Santa Cruz Branch Library on Saturdays from 2-3:30 p.m.

First Tuesdays of the Month UCSC ARBORETUM: FIRST TUESDAYS FREE 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, 1156 High St, SC Community Day at the UCSC Arboretum means free admission on the first Tuesday of every month 9 a.m-5 p.m.

Guests are invited to explore the biodiversity of the gardens, enjoy bird watching or relax on a bench in the shade. arboretum.ucsc.edu

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP FOR DIVERSE REPRESENTATION 6:30-8 p.m., Online Seminars This is the second of five seminars which focus on a specific topic and include a panel of speakers, small group discussions for networking, and provide an opportunity for connection for mentorship in the political field.

Session 2: How to Build a Campaign — Steps to take to start a campaign, developing a team, developing a winning message, fundraising, issues specific to diverse women running. Resources and connections for running.

Upcoming sessions: Thursday, May 12: City Councils Thursday, July 7: School Boards Thursday, Sept. 8: Commissions & Groups For details, see https://www.ncsl.org/legislators-staff/ legislators/womens-legislative-network/institute-for-electedwomen-california.aspx.

Wednesday May 4 Thursday May 5

NEST FLIGHT Virtual Conference, Details to come NEST Flight will be a 2-day virtual experience, in time IRISH BAND LÚNASA AT KUUMBWA for graduation season. This annual conference is Friday March 4 geared toward young professionals, recent grads and current students in high school or college. If you are 7:30 p.m., Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St, Santa Cruz 17 to 24 and exploring your options for the future, this The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay presents the internationally acclaimed Irish band Lúnasa at conference is for you.

Third Thursday Each Month Kuumbwa Jazz Center.

Hosted by Digital NEST and founder Jacob Martinez, this Lúnasa, formed in 1997, is renowned for superb musicianship and touring around the globe in 36 counPET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM event features 20 inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, tries. since the band formed in 1997.

Folk Roots magazine called this lineup an “Irish music dream team.”

6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting powerful panel discussions and one of a kind networking Bassist Trevor Hutchinson was a key member of The Waterboys, and later he, with guitarist Donogh HenBirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support opportunities — crafted to help students propel their nessy, formed the rhythm section of The Sharon Shannon Band; Ed Boyd (Flook, Michael McGoldrick Band) Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated careers, no matter where you are in your job exploration. recently replaced Hennessy; fiddler Sean Smyth is an All-Ireland champion who has played with Donal by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings is keynote Lunny’s Coolfin; Kevin Crawford, considered to be among the finest flutists in Ireland; and piper Cillian Thursday of each month. speaker. Lili Gangas, chief technology officer of Kapoor Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefVallely of the Vallely artistic clan has performed with Riverdance and recorded with Bruce Springsteen.

Center, gives a closing keynote. Emcee is Amber support or call 831-471-7255.

Attendees must provide proof of vaccination at the door. For children under 12, proof of a negative PCR Gonzalez-Vargas, senior program manager at Latino test within the past 48 hours is required.. Masks must be worn at all times except when eating or drinking.

First Sunday Every Month Community Foundation, which has invested $17 million Tickets are $25 at www.celticsociety.org; $30 at the door. in 150 grassroots Latino-led nonprofits.

WESTSIDE MARKETPLACE Registration before March 1 is $10, and $20 afterward. (You 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Old Wrigley Building Parking Lot, 2801 on the logistics of starting a new business in the County can apply for a free ticket before March 1). See https://www.

Saturday February 26 Mission Street, Santa Cruz of Santa Cruz. nestflight.org/ Sunday February 27 Come by on Sundays and shop at over 40 unique Subjects include: Legal Structures • Fictitious & wonderful artists, makers & vintage sellers — CLAM CHOWDER COOKOFF Business Name • Business Licenses • Possible Permits Friday March 4 there’s something for everyone at the Westside The Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off is hosted by the Needed • Employer Identification Numbers • Required thru Sunday March 6 Marketplace!

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Rain dates are scheduled for the following Sundays. Awards are given for Best Chowder in each category, plus Tax Documents • Employee Classification • Business CAPITOLA COLLECTACON Insurance • Business Funding The Market is free to attend and is 100% local!

People’s Choice, Most Tasted, and Best-Themed Booth All local and state health guidelines will be followed.

Register at www.santacruzsbdc.org/event/santa-cruz-starting- Capitola Mall, 1855 41st Ave, Capitola The participants will be lined up across the Capitola Collectacon will take place March 4-6 at the Please wear your mask, maintain social distance while Boardwalk offering their chowders to the public as a-business-in-the-county-of-santa-cruz-5/. For more small Capitola Mall inside the former Sears Building. you shop and stay home if you don’t feel well. Hand business events, visit www.santacruzsbdc.org/events/ part of the competition. Tasting Kits are $12 each Friday will be a VIP event from 3-8 p.m. featuring sanitizing stations will be available. and include six taste tickets, spoon, cup and a former American Idol contestant James Durban For more info, go to the event page: www.facebook.com/ Wednesday March 2 People’s Choice ballot.

Saturday and Sunday will be General Admission, events/ 170470481551895 Visit beachboardwalk.com/clam-chowder-cook-off/ for more details. TITANS OF TECH 2021 starting at 10 a.m. and ending 5 p.m. on Saturday and 7-10 p.m., Online Seminar (In-person if possible, location TBA) 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Tuesday March 1 Santa Cruz Works’ annual Titans of Tech features comDATED EVENTS Prices are $20 per day for General Admission/$35 for MARDI GRAS PARTY TO BENEFIT APTOS HISTORY MUSEUM munity members who have made an impact on the Santa both days. The VIP pass is $50.

Friday February 25 Cruz tech community that year, plus Hometown Heroes, 5-7 p.m., Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Ct, Aptos thru Sunday February 27 who helped us get through the year of COVID and wildfires. See https://www.capitolacollectacon.com/ for more details Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday” or Carnival, a 2022 BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL Organizers hope this will be an in-person + streaming and event options. celebration kickoff before Easter.

WORLD TOUR event.

Come celebrate with great appetizers, music and Saturday March 26 7 p.m., Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz For tickets, available mid February, see santacruzworks.org more at the Seacliff Inn. UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec presents the 2022 Banff BOARDWALK FUN RUN Bring your beads and masks. There will be prizes Thursday March 3 Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Santa Cruz at for the best dressed, a no-host bar featuring Bourbon 8 a.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk the Rio Theatre.

OUR COMMUNITY READS: TRIVIA ON TAP Street classics, and Uke4Joy will provide the music.

Lace up your shoes and get outside with a familyThis event benefits the UCSC Wilderness Orientation Help raise funds for the Aptos History Museum by 6:30 to 8 p.m., Steel Bonnet, 20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley. friendly race through the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Willie Williams Scholarship Fund and Adventure Rec bidding on silent auction items and a 50/50 Raffle.

Register by March 25 at https://tinyurl.com/ Hosted and moderated by Jenn Hooker, librarian with the student scholarships.

Tickets are $40 general/$35 for museum members. Call Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Trivia on Tap will feature ques- boardwalk-fun-run-signup Each year, nearly $20,000 in scholarship funds (831) 688-1467 or aptoshistory.org for information and tions selected from Red Letter Days, challenging teams of Two options: 1K (six-tenths of a mile) for age 12 and are awarded to UCSC students based on financial reservations. Let the good times roll! under and 5K for ages 4 and up (parents too). Cost no more than six persons to answer 30 questions. need, affording them the chance to share in outdoor is $20 for the short run, $40 for the longer run, plus You can get snacks at Steel Bonnet, or at outlets in adventures.

STARTING A BUSINESS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY sign-up fees. the same complex, or make food at home and have Each night features a different lineup, Maple, Larch Runners get a medal, Boardwalk Swag Bag, up to 3 hours of a picnic-style meal while you ponder the questions. and Spruce. Tickets are $25 for Saturday and $23 for 2 p.m., Online Seminar Adviser Keith Holtaway of the Santa Cruz Small Business Winners get the grand prize of a $25 gift certificate to free-play in the Casino Arcade and $15 off Ride Wristband on Friday and Sunday.

Race Day. To buy tickets, visit https://recreation.ucsc.edu/adventure/banff Development Center is offering a free one-hour webinar the Steel Bonnet.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 29

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Soquel Homekey Project Takes Shape

By Manu Koenig, Supervisor, First District

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roject Homekey grant funds have been applied for to fund a Permanent Supportive Housing project at 2838 Park Ave. in Soquel.

The proposed project would be for people recovering from homelessness and would not be a nightly shelter with different people cycling through. It would be longterm housing, and the people living there would be full-time, long-term residents.

The proposed project would provide 36 units: 17 units for veterans, 14 units for transition age youth (young people exiting the foster care system), and 4 two-bedroom units for families with children.

There would also be one unit for a full-time on-site manager.

On-site supportive services would be provided through Abode, and would be only for the residents.

New-construction Homekey projects are required to be built within 1 year of receiving funding, so the developer plans to use modular construction to meet the deadline. If this project moves forward this will be the first use of modular construction in our County.

The Homekey application was submitted at the end of January and the State will make their determination within 45

days. The process is very competitive and receiving the funds is by no means a sure thing.

We’re scheduled to receive an update at our March 22 Board of Supervisors meeting.

If the project receives the Homekey funding, I will work with the project developer to host a community meeting as quickly as possible, likely in early April.

I will work with residents to understand concerns and create a plan to address them early and often.

ALERTWildfire Camera Update anta Cruz County utilizes the ALERTWildfire camera system for early detection of wildfires, and last fall our office introduced an item to improve this system by installing several new fire camera sites. This February, the Board of Supervisors received an update from the Office of Response, Recovery, and Resiliency on the progress.

As part of the County’s settlement agreement with PG&E regarding their wood debris activities after the CZU Fire, two new ALERTwildfire cameras are being installed: at the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz and at the Watsonville Airport. Both sites are expected to be operational in time for the start of the 2022 fire season.

Another location that has been identified and funded through a generous donation will be located at the Silver Mountain Winery off Summit Road.

The new camera at this site will provide sweeping visibility and greatly expand early detection capabilities for the Summit area and Soquel Valley. This site will likely be operational by the start of the 2022 fire season as well.

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SPECIALTY SCREEN & GLASS SHOP Contact us for a free on-site consultation.

New-construction Homekey projects are required to be built within 1 year of receiving funding, so the developer plans to use modular construction to meet the deadline. If this project moves forward this will be the first use of modular construction in our County.

831-476-2023 Skylightplace.com

30 / March 2022 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Local Local Local

OR3 staff is talking with CalFire and County Fire staff, PG&E staff and the AlertWildfire team to identify other key priority locations for new cameras, and will be looking at these areas in particular: the north coast region, either the Swanton area or Bonny Doon, and Upper Highway 236.

To learn more, visit https://www.alertwildfire.org/region/centralcoast/.

Soquel-San Jose Improvements ig improvements are coming for Soquel-San Jose road, an important arterial corridor many 1st District residents depend on. Last December the Regional Transportation Commission announced $1,455,000 for the project, to be funded by State gas tax revenues.

The project will include multi-modal improvements for bikers and pedestrians, including improved bike lanes and pedestrian crossings, as well as critical pavement resurfacing along the bottom 3.15 miles of Soquel-San Jose Road, from Soquel Drive to Laurel Glen Road.

The exact start date for this project has not yet been determined, and will be dependent on when the State makes the funds available.

Community Meetings n 2022 we are hosting monthly in-person hybrid meetings at rotating locations throughout the First District on the second

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News ...

Sports ...

Politics ...

Thursday of every month. Upcoming meetings include: Santa Cruz Gardens Neighborhood Town Hall Thursday, March 10: 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Hybrid Meeting: In-person at Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary — 8005 Winkle Ave., Santa Cruz, or virtual https://

zoom.us/j/96708318897

Soquel Town Hall Thursday, April 14: 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Hybrid Meeting: In-person at Porter Memorial Library, 3050 Porter St., Soquel, or virtual https://zoom.

us/j/96708318897

Prospect Heights Neighborhood Town Hall Thursday, May 12: 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Hybrid Meeting: In-person at DeLaveaga Elementary School, 1145 Morrissey Boulevard, Santa Cruz, or virtual https://

zoom.us/j/96708318897

Want to speak to us sooner? We invite you to give us a call at (831) 454-2200 or email us at first.district@santacruzcounty.us. n ••• Supervisor Koenig hosts monthly office hours at the Sheriff Center in Live Oak on the first Wednesday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m. The Sheriff Center is located at 5200 Soquel Ave. in Live Oak, and the 1st District office is on the first floor, directly to the left after entering the main entrance.

SCCAS Featured Pet

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Late Pruning For Early Bloomers

By Tony Tomeo

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F

Fabrienne: Shy But Affectionate

crossword on 25 »

abrienne is a 3 year old brown tabby and white domesticated shorthair who has been at the shelter for a month. Fabrienne is as beautiful as her name, starting with her sweet little heart-shaped nose.

She is a little shy at first, but she loves pets, and is very gentle and affectionate. They say good things come in small packages, and inside this furry little girl, is a big heart full of love.

Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals on our website and then visit the Shelter to turn in your application. All adoptions require proof of home ownership or landlord approval. Please have this information prepared. If an animal is in Foster Care, please bring in your adoption application and schedule an appointment to meet the animal. Call 831-454-7200 x0 during business hours or visit www.scanimalshelter.org for more information! n ••• Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter: Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 Hours: Daily Noon – 5 p.m.

Watsonville Location: CURRENTLY CLOSED 580 Airport Blvd, Watsonville, CA 95076 SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us

inter is generally the best season for pruning. Obviously, it is when a majority of plants are dormant, and therefore most complaisant to such potentially invasive procedures. Of course, there are exceptions to this generalization. A few plants are dormant during other seasons. Some simply prefer late pruning to accommodate their bloom or fruiting cycles.

Late pruning is important for some of the same reasons that dormant or winter pruning is important. It controls growth and directs resources. Removal of superfluous or unwanted growth reallocates resources that such growth would otherwise consume, to more useful or productive growth. The primary difference is that late pruning happens after dormancy.

Flowering cherry trees are very similar to fruiting cherry trees, but generate only copious bloom without fruit. Flowering crabapple trees likewise produce only their unique bloom, but without much fruit.

Technically, both would prefer dormant pruning during winter. Yet, late pruning immediately after bloom allows them to first bloom as profusely as they can.

Fortunately, flowering but fruitless counterparts of fruitful trees require pruning that is less severe than what their fruitful relatives require. Comparably severe pruning would be too stressful for them after dormancy. However, flowering peach trees can endure harsh late pruning to stub their bloomed shoots. Stubs generate more shoots for bloom next spring.

Late pruning begins as early as spring blooming trees and shrubs finish bloom.

Because of warm weather this winter,

The 1940s © Statepoint Media

Deciduous magnolias get pruned after bloom.

many are blooming early. Stems of some types work well as cut flowers, either while in bloom or immediately prior to bloom.

Once the first few flower buds begin to show color, most buds on the same stem should continue to bloom inside.

Camellias supposedly prefer pruning during their bloom cycle, since they resume growth immediately afterwards. Because such pruning would ruin some of the bloom that is their primary asset, most camellias must tolerate late pruning after bloom. Dogwood, forsythia, redbud, and flowering quince, as well as flowering cherry and flowering crabapple, are likewise tolerant of these technically untimely techniques.

••• Camellia hile other bloom might be lacking through late winter, camellia, Camellia japonica, can help compensate.

Although generally not as profuse as spring and summer bloomers, its individual flowers display elegantly against luxuriantly glossy evergreen foliage.

Lack of sturdy stems for cutting is no problem for a few flowers simply floating in a Many camellias have shallow bowl. already finished bloom.

Centuries of breeding has produced more than 2,000 cultivars of camellia. Floral form can be single, semi-double, double, formal double, paeony, anemone or rose, so is quite variable. Floral color ranges from pure white to deep red, with many hues of pink in between. Stripes, speckles, blotches or picotee margins are within the same color range.

Camellia generally develops as nicely dense shrubbery that stays lower than the eaves. Some cultivars stay even lower. A few slowly mature as small and perhaps sparse trees. Individual flowers are about three inches wide. Some are smaller. A few are comparably bulky. Camellia sasanqua is a separate species with smaller but more abundant flowers. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / March 2022 / 31

IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO SELL? There were only 9 homes for sale in the month of February in Capitola and Soquel combined. (little supply & huge demand) Median sale price for Capitola & Soquel is 43.4% higher than one year ago.

The average price per square foot has increased by 29.2% compared to this time last year.

Give yourself every advantage.

AMBER MELENUDO REALTOR® 831.566.2263 AmberMelenudo.com ambermelenudo@gmail.com DRE 01921098