Scotts Valley Times: March 2022

Family Owned For Over 30 Years • Scotts Valley, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek & Felton

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March 2022 • Vol 25 No. 3

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Farewell to Tracy Ferrara

For 33 years, Tracy Ferrara has been a beacon of consistency in Scotts Valley City Hall, always looking for ways to make things better.

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By Donna Lind, Mayor, City of Scotts Valley The challenges of the past two years have led to many changes. Telecommuting has provided options to continue work at a safe distance and providing more flexibility, however this has also brought challenges.

Recently Salesforce, a San Francisco-based software company, announced they’ve entered into a partnership with 1440 Multiversity located in the redwoods of Scotts Valley. ... continues on page 4

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Mourning Mateo

The A Home Within community is mourning the loss of Mateo Deihl.

He was a former foster youth who took his own life during his freshman year at Scotts Valley High School.

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First U.S. Park Rangers Were Buffalo Soldiers!

Celebrating Black History Month With Appreciation and Pride for my Predecessors

F

By Aniko Kannas-Millan, of Scotts Valley

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

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

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.

“Buffalo Soldiers” page 6

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.

No. 3

Volume 25

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15

22

Table of Contents

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Cover Trailblazer Ranch at 1440: Salesforce to Bring 100 New Jobs & Boost Local Econo-my, By Donna Lind, Mayor, City of Scotts Valley

17 19

Community News First U.S. Park Rangers Were Buffalo Soldiers!: Celebrating Black History Month With Appreciation and Pride for my Predecessors, By Aniko Kannas-Millan Mourning Mateo: Family Creates Fund at A Home Within to Support Foster Youth • Parents United Attorney Alleges Bullying of Unvaccinated Students, By Jondi Gumz Farewell to Tracy Ferrara Good-Bye: Camp Evers Memories SLV Students Stage ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ Lois Henry Resigns from SLV Water Board • San Lorenzo Valley Water Post-CZU Progress Report, By Rick Rogers Spelling Champ Ella Webb Going to State, By Jondi Gumz • Tesla Pays Environmental Protection Agency $275,000 in Clean Air Settlement • Deputy Sheriffs’ Association Gives $100,000 to Sgt. Gutzwiller Memorial, By Kieran Kelly Bobcats Are the Stars in Wildlife Photo of the Year How Inclusive Are You?

7

In Memoriam Robert Reader

2 5 6 7 8 10 16

Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Newsletter • Pages 11-14 11 CALL FOR ARTISTS! — Scotts Valley Art Wine & Beer Festival: Save $40 with Early Bird Discount before June 15th • Calendar of Upcoming Community Events 12 Empowering Hands Therapeutic Massage: New Location: Ribbon Cutting March 10th, 5:30-7pm 13 Scotts Valley Community Awards Gala: Friday, May 6. 2022 – Tickets on Sale Now! 14 New Member Spotlight: Lightspeed Martial Arts Acedemy Monthly Horoscope • Page 18 – Pisces — Two Fishes Saving the World, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 20, 21 1 15 15 17 22

Featured Columnists Trailblazer Ranch at 1440: Salesforce to Bring 100 New Jobs & Boost Local Econo-my, By Donna Lind, Mayor, City of Scotts Valley Warm Season Vegetables For Spring, By Tony Tomeo Real Easy French Bread, From Marianne Evans of Capitola Helping the People of Ukraine, By Joyce and Barry Vissell Update on Tiny Homes, CZU Rebuilds, Taxes on June Ballot, By Bruce McPherson, Supervisor, Fifth District SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 23 – Fabrienne: Shy But Affectionate

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COVER STORY Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

publisher editor

contributing writers Donna Lind, Aniko Kannas-Millan, Jondi Gumz, Rick Rogers, Kieran Kelly, Tony Tomeo, Joyce and Barry Vissell, Bruce McPherson 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

Times Publishing Group, Inc. 9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 The Times Publishing Group, Inc., publishers of the Aptos Times, a bi-monthly publication, the Capitola Soquel Times and Scotts Valley Times, each printed monthly, Coastal Weddings Magazine, Coastal Home and Garden Magazine, Aptos’ Fourth of July Parade Official Program Guide and Capitola’s Summer Festivals Official Program Guide, is owned by Patrice Edwards.

Entire contents ©2022. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission PHONE: (831) 688-7549 FAX: (831) 688-7551 GENERAL E-MAIL: info@cyber-times.com Patrice Edwards: patrice@cyber-times.com Publisher’s Assistant: assistant@cyber-times.com Editor: info@cyber-times.com 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

“1440” from page 1 1440 Multiversity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit philanthropic campus and learning destination committed to creating hope for living well ranked in top 11 wellness centers in the world.

Salesforce employs more than 72,000 people with offices in most countries around the world. During the past two years, like many in the workplace, they’ve worked remotely.

During the pandemic, Salesforce has hired tens of thousands of employees and enjoyed much success. Although employees appreDonna Lind ciated the flexibility of working remotely, they realized something was missing.

Employees hired during the pandemic have never met their manager or their teams in person. Many existing employees hadn’t seen colleagues face-to-face in two years. Finding ways to connect was the number one thing Salesforce employees asked for in a recent survey. They wanted to bring back the spontaneity and joy that comes from being together in person.

Working to address these concerns led to a partnership with 1440 Multiversity.

In support of the Salesforce endeavor, “Trailblazer Ranch at 1440” was launched that includes 1440 educational initiatives.

1440 and Salesforce will co-create employee engagement programs that help inspire and enrich the world, applying joint research and learnings to future programs. Starting in March, Trailblazer Ranch 1440 will host onboarding, trainings, skills building and talent development to bring its employees together to connect in person.

This collaborative work will result in a research study that will be used to provide information and best practices for other organizations to strengthen corporate culture, right action, community

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 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Careers at 1440

The nonprofit 1440 Multiversity is recruiting staff in culinary, housekeeping, security, facilities, guest services and “signature class instruction.” Employees get free healthcare options, a matching 401-K retirement plan, paid vacation, sick and volunteer time, monthly meal stipend, and wellness offerings. See 1440.org/careers involvement, corporate social responsibility and employee wellness. The study will be published for public benefit and use. It is hoped the study will result in a toolkit for leadership, social change and flourishing.

Salesforce puts a priority on giving back, their core values include trust, customer success, equality and sustainability.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has been around for 22 years and has a model called the 1-1-1. They give 1% of company profits back to the community, 1% of software is given away at no cost as part of their nonprofit education program and employees give 1% of their time in the community.

Each employee is strongly encouraged in a positive way to volunteer. Employees are given time off and benefits to volunteer.

There is a huge push around philanthropy.

At an individual level, employees are also encouraged to give back to projects they care about. There is donation matching for worthwhile organizations.

There’s ways to give back to communities that employees live in and as a company, they give back on a large scale.

Salesforce gives a large number of grants to education organizations, schools, hospitals and more. This philanthropy is a legitimate part of the culture which is one more reason the City of Scotts Valley is thrilled

and proud to partner with Salesforce and 1440 Multiversity.

When searching for a location for Trailblazer, in addition to an accessible location, the company has a strong brand presence around nature and sustainability.

It was important to find a location that was green, sustainable green in the ecological sense as well as the outdoor sense.

There aren’t many places that are like Scotts Valley, with redwoods, the mountains and access to the beach. Specifically, 1440 Multiversity is a beautiful unique facility, providing the tranquil peaceful experience that’s a priority for Salesforce.

Guests will be transported in smaller groups so not to negatively impact the neighborhood.

Tr a i l b l a z e r Ranch at 1440 will create approximately 100 new jobs in the community. Not only will the additional guests benefit the local economy, the social sector will also get a boost with volunteering opportunities for Trailblazer. The City of Scotts Valley looks forward to this partnership and working with Salesforce and 1440 in helping quantify what the post-pandemic workplace will look like.

“Trailblazer is an exciting program with global implications of the future of work,” said City Manager Mali LaGoe. “Scotts Valley is fortunate to be the home of 1440 Multiversity where this research study will take place. The idea of Scotts Valley serving as a place for wellness and growth to Salesforce employee builds upon what 1440 has already established through its programs for the last five years.”

In addition to hosting Trailblazer at 1440, 1440 Multiversity will continue to welcome guests for public programming on select dates, along with philanthropic advocacy programs — these learning opportunities will be listed on the 1440 website as they become available.

The City of Scotts Valley is blessed to have both 1440 Multiversity and Salesforce a part of our community. n ••• Donna Lind is mayor of Scotts Valley.

Contact her at dlindslind@earthlink.net.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Mourning Mateo

Family Creates Fund at A Home Within to Support Foster Youth

T

he A Home Within community is mourning the loss of Mateo Deihl.

He was a former foster youth who took his own life during his freshman year at Scotts Valley High School.

He was well-known for his compassion for others, a willingness to step for those in need and an amazing sense of humor.

Mateo’s family has created this fund in his honor, asking that donations be made to A Home Within. Mateo’s memorial fund will help support pro bono mental health services for other children who have experienced foster care.

Donations can be made at https://secure.givelively. org/donate/a-home-within/mateo-s-memorial-fund A Home Within got its start in 1994 when a small group of psychotherapists created an organization to heal the wounds of complex trauma and ambiguous loss for current and former foster youth by providing individual, open-ended, relationship-based psychotherapy free of charge through local networks of volunteer clinicians.

The organization incorporated as the nonprofit A Home Within in 2001. It has grown to 20 chapters across 11 states serving more than 500 young people currently or previously in foster care.

The vision is for all children who experience foster care receive essential support, ensuring that as they transition from foster care, regardless of which stage of life they are in, they have the inner tools they need to thrive.

For foster youth who often watch people move in and out of their lives, this model creates an anchor of support.

Reed Connell, who has a master’s in social work from UC Berkeley with a concentration in management, is the executive director.

Grace Manger, who has a master’s in social work from Portland State Universiy is national program director Research consultant Saralyn Ruff is the director of the Foster Care Research Group, a lab examining best practices supporting the wellbeing of current and former foster youth. n To sign up for the newsletter, see: https://www.ahomewithin.org/history-vision-mission/ ••• Editor’s note: More than 200 people attended a memorial for 15-year-old Mateo Deihl at Roaring Camp. His mom, Regina Deihl, posted that Mateo, who was Latino, faced comments about his race and was bullied, situation not adequately addressed by Scotts Valley Unified School District. Schools Superintendent Tanya Krause has invited parents to participate in a listening session with Inclusion Counts, an organization the district contracted with in November. When many asked for an alternative date, two more listening sessions via Zoom were scheduled on Feb. 24 and March 3. According to the district post, these sessions are “part of a large effort to internally assess and determine concrete steps in moving forward with our DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) work at our schools.” One mom posted on Facebook, “My family thinks of Mateo and your family every day and are still wearing the bracelet as an ongoing reminder of the kindness he radiated and the important change that needs to happen.”

Parents United Attorney Alleges Bullying of Unvaccinated Students

A

By Jondi Gumz

lawyer representing Santa Cruz County Parents United contends healthy children whose parents decided against the Covid-19 vaccine face bullying and discrimination by teachers and calls on all schools in Santa Cruz County to cease violations of the law, or expect a lawsuit.

In a seven-page letter Feb. 19 to Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Faris Sabbah, Carmel attorney Tracy Henderson alleged a kindergartner was refused in-person instruction because the parents chose not to vaccinate, or as she put it, “chose not to enter a 5-year-old into a medical trial” and a 2-year-old was dis-enrolled because the parents did not wear masks in their car during pick-up and drop-off. “Coaches are passing around lists of the un-injected to embarrass students,” she added. “… several children have been forced to miss school for upwards of 10-28 days for allegedly coming into contact with someone who tested ‘positive.’”

The demand came three days after the California Department of Public Health lifted the indoor mask mandate, seeing Covid hospitalization from the highly contagious and less deadly Omicron variant plummet. Hospitalizations in Santa Cruz County are down from 43 to 22, including three in intensive care, according to a state dashboard, which updates daily.

All 10 school superintendents in Santa

Cruz County have responded in unison to the pandemic, which has claimed the lives of 84,928 Californians including 254 Santa Cruz County residents in the past two years.

Omicron, which causes cold-like symptoms, was identified locally on Dec. 16 and is suspected in 29 deaths, while 225 deaths can be attributed to the initial coronavirus and then the Delta variant.

Two-thirds of the local deaths were people 75 or older, and 79% to 81% had pre-existing conditions.

Henderson contends the state Department of Public Health has not added “the Covid injection” to the list of 10 required school immunizations. She contends the Covid shot available is not the FDA-approved Pfizer Comirnaty, but the Pfizer BioNTech product, which has only emergency use authorization for ages 12-15, and thus cannot be mandated for those children. She contends the Pfizer BioNTech product, until licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, remains investigational and that federal law explicitly prohibits a child from being enrolled in a clinical trial of an investigational product without parents’ express consent.

She alleged the vaccine mandate for parents watching their children’s activities violates the Unruh Act, prohibiting discrimination against someone based on a medical condition — such as vaccination status — and noted civil penalties of $25,000.

She urged school districts to use the Covid funds they received to modify building ventilation systems “instead of causing mental suffering and learning loss.”

Sabbah responded on Feb. 25, saying the County Office of Education “has been and will continue to follow the requirements and guidance from the California Department of Public Health, the California Department of Education and local health authorities. When the requirements and guidance change, we will review those changes and make any appropriate adjustments.”

He added, “We are not in agreement with many of your statements and analysis regarding the requirements.” And he pointed Henderson to the standard form used to file a claim: http:// sccoe.link/GovCode910 According to Henderson, members of Santa Cruz County Parents United have children at Monte Vista Christian School, Twin Lakes Christian School, Santa Cruz City Schools, and Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

Mask Guidelines n Feb. 25, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed mask guidelines for 63% of counties, based on new cases and hospital admissions.

Santa Cruz County rates medium, yellow on the map, so most people need not mask. The

O

CDC said people with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with Covid-19 should wear a mask. Those at high risk for severe illness should talk to their healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask.

Counties with a high level of Covid-19 (such as Monterey) are red on the map so everyone is expected to wear a mask indoors.

Other counties (such as San Mateo) have so few cases, they are green, no restrictions.

California hospitalizations, which topped 15,000 at the peak in January, have dropped below 4,000, and the test positivity rate, 23% in January, has fallen to 2.6%.

On Feb. 16, Santa Cruz County and Bay Area counties followed Gov. Gavin Newsom in lifting the indoor mask mandate.

Starting March 12, the state said, masks will not be required at schools and child care facilities but they will be strongly recommended.

A mask mandate still applies to public transit, hospitals and clinics, jails and prisons, homeless shelters and long-term care facilities.

Hospital Sale Approved n the past six weeks, 15 Santa Cruz County residents with significant underlying conditions died of Covid. Eleven were 75 or older.

Active cases have declined dramatically from more than 10,000 in Jan. to 1,869 as of Feb. 28.

I

“COVID Update” page 9

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Farewell to Tracy Ferrara F or 33 years, Tracy Ferrara has been a beacon of consistency in Scotts Valley City Hall, always looking for ways to make things better.

She’s held several roles, administrative analyst, deputy city clerk and for the last 17 years city clerk, in charge of Scotts Valley city elections, and preparing agendas and minutes for twice-a-month City Council meetings, which in the Covid era have taken place via Zoom.

She was the point person for business owners, city employees and residents needing assistance during the CZU lightning fire and the Covid pandemic.

She’s worked with five city managers and 23 council members.

All that comes to a close when she retires March 4.

Her entire career has been in government service. She spent 18 months with the city of Santa Cruz, 7 1/2 years with the city of Watsonville, and 22 years with the California Army National Guard, retiring in 2001 as a sergeant first class.

She’s been recognized by congressional representatives, the U.S. Census Bureau, the City Clerks Association of

A

Tracy Ferrara

California and of course, the Scotts Valley City Council.

For Ferrara, Scotts Valley has been a good place to work, a city of 12,000 with a community feeling.

She just turned 60, and she wants to spend more time with her 2-year-old grandson.

In fact, she told the council a year ago that she wanted to retire, but she stayed on, thiniing she could train her successor.

A successor has yet to be announced.

No doubt Tracy Ferrara will be missed. n Photo Credit: My Scotts Valley

Recruiting Update

pplications closed Feb. 25 for the job as Scotts Valley city clerk.

The salary range is $93,630 to $125,480, depending on experience.

Under the direction of the City Manager, the city clerk manages, organizes, and retains records of City actions; record and process meeting minutes for City Council meetings; and provide a wide variety of administrative and managerial services.

Essential duties include serving as

“Buffalo Soldiers” from page 2 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

a liaison between the public and the City Council, coordinating the preparation and distribution of meeting agendas and minutes, managing the production of City Council meetings, processing resolutions and ordinances adopted by the City Council, preparing and maintaining custody of all official records, serving as the City’s election official in coordination with the County, receiving and opening bids, responding to public records requests, providing notary services for the City. n

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

IN MEMORIAM

Robert Reader O n January 22, 2022, we lost a great man, friend, and son. Robert F. Reader II was an icon in his own right within the Via Pacifica Gardens community.

He was a great coach, a true friend, a die-hard San Francisco 49ers and Giants fan, yet loved all sports. He was also someone who would tell it like it is.

Robert spent 18 years as a resident of Scotts Valley and nearly 14 years in Aptos. He was loved by all as he was full of life. Robert was known as “Blue” by many. He coached basketball for Bethany College.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, Robert had no next of kin to be able to handle his affairs in the event of his untimely death. However, he did entrust Phillip and Destiny with his instructions and wishes prior to his passing and as his friends we are making an effort to get

him to his final resting place in Jackson, CA, where he wanted to be laid to rest next to his father.

Phillip and Destiny have worked hard with the Deputy Public Administrator of Santa Cruz Cunty in order to put things in order to accomplish Robert’s instructions and wishes.

A GoFundMe Account has been established to help us fulfill his wishes and instructions. The link is https:// gofund.me/843df1b8 for online donations.

To give a donation in person, please contact Destiny Castillo at (831) 353-1680 or (831) 7943846. All donations are highly appreciated and will go toward Robert’s cremation and burial expenses.

We thank you in advance for your support at this time. As his friends and as a community you will help to accomplish Robert’s last wishes.

Thank you and God bless! n

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Good-Bye: Camp Evers Memories

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ongtime residents were surprised to see a demolition crew tear down an old house across the street from Scotts Valley Middle School that is part of the Camp Evers shopping center.

Tracey Hudson, owner of Shine Beauty Studio, posted a photo on the MyScottsValley page on Facebook.

One man commented that it had been a bit of an eyesore for 25 years, to which another man responded, “better an eyesore than 10 more townhouses.”

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Debbie Muth, a former city planning commissioner, said she was told there are no development plans yet, and that the reason for the demolition was major water damage due to the lack of a proper roof.

The city’s 2016 Housing Element report, which covers the period through 2023, estimated 2 percent of homes built before 1950 were in need of major rehabilitation. n ••• Photo Credit: Tracey Hudson

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SLV Students Stage ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ S

an Lorenzo Valley High School Theatre Department presents Little Shop of Horrors, with book & lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, directed by Daria E. Troxell, with music and vocal direction by Nicki Kerns, at the SLV Performing Arts Center, 7105 Highway 9, Felton, from March 4 through March 13.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., and a special Community Night performance on Thursday, Photo Credit: Tara McMiliin March 10 at 7 p.m.

Purchasing advance tickets is Seymour Krelborn (Cody Bumbaca-Thomas) has a crush on his highly recommended; advanced flower shop co-worker Audrey (Rachel Young), but he’s shy and she tickets are available online via the has a boyfriend. His caring for an unusual plant leads to a shocking SLV Theatre Boosters webpage: turn of events.

Howard Ashman and Alan Menken https://hs.slvusd.org/apps/pages/theatreboosters. A limited number of tickets will be (Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty available to purchase at the door one hour And The Beast, and Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind what has become prior to show-time.

Advisory: Little Shop of Horrors has one of the most popular shows in the dark themes and is not recommended for world.

This is the second show Troxell has young children or very sensitive viewers.

The story begins when a meek floral directed at San Lorenzo Valley High assistant, Seymour Krelborn, stumbles School, the first being Once Upon A Matupon a new breed of plant, which he names tress in 2007.

Troxell is well-known as a director “Audrey II” after his co-worker crush.

This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing with Mountain Community Theater, carnivore promises unending fame and Little People’s Repertory Theatre, Kids on fortune to the down-and-out Seymour, so Broadway. As an actor, she has appeared locally in: Miracle on 34th Street: The long as he continues to feed it blood.

Over time, Seymour discovers Audrey Play, Harvey, A Streetcar Named Desire, II’s out of this world origins and intent on to name a few. She has a master’s in fine arts in acting from California Institute of global domination.

A Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi the Arts.

For Kerns, this is her fifth stint as smash musical, Little Shop Of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theatre-goers music director for San Lorenzo Valley for more than 30 years, and is one of the High School since Grease in 2017.

She is the staff accompanist at San longest-running Off-Broadway shows.

Lorenzo Valley High School, music director at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Santa Cruz, and teaches piano virtually from her studio in Boulder Creek. She has a piano performance degree from Dominican College and a master’s in music education from Boston University. n ••• Purchase tickets online at https://search. seatyourself.biz/webstore/accounts/slvhs/ buy-tix General admission is $20, and seniors/ students/SLV Staff, $15.

For information, see https://hs.slvusd.org/ apps/pages/theatreboosters.

“COVID Update” from page 5 Local hospitalizations are split between Dignity Health Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz and Watsonville Community Hospital.

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 and sole bidder.

Fundraising has generated $20 million. Leaders such as Mimi Hall, formerly the county’s Health Services director, hops to gain state funding from the $20 billion budget surplus.

To donate, see https://www.pvhdp.org/ CDC Data he U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made public only a fraction of the data it collected about the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report in The New York Times on Feb. 20.

In January, the CDC posted information on the effectiveness of boosters for those under 65 but did not offer data on those 18-49 years old, the Times reported. As a result, federal health agencies relied on data collected in Israel for booster shot recommendations, according to The Times.

Recently, the CDC created a dashboard showing how much Covid bacteria has been found in wastewater, although state and local agencies had sent the CDC their data since the start of the pandemic, according to The Times.

Jessica Malaty Rivera, an epidemiologist on the team that ran the Covid Tracking Project, told The Times she had been “begging” for that sort of data for two years.

In response, CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said the agency prioritizes accuracy, noting fears the public might misinterpret some information.

Some information was held back, she told The Times, “because basically, at the end of the day, it’s not yet ready for prime time.”

Vaccine Mandates he federal vaccine mandate for health care workers was allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court but the court on Jan. 13 blocked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandate that employers with 100 or more workers vaccinate or test, saying the agency did not have the right.

California lawmakers have introduced various bills to address Covid-19.

On the table: AB 1993 Assembly Member Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) 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).

Senate Bill 1479, proposed by Pan, to mandate Covid testing plans for school districts. Senate Bill 871, proposed by Pan, to end a personal belief exemption in the student vaccine mandate.

Senate Bill 866, proposed by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, to allow children 12 and older to get Covid vaccines without parental consent.

Track these bills at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov Myocarditis he 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” after case reports of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination increased.

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

Parents anxious to have shots for their younger children (six months to 4 years) must wait for Pfizer and BioNTech to gather more data on whether a third dose produces the desired result. That may be in early April.

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Mary Holland, president and general counsel of Children’s Health Defense, contends there is no Covid emergency for children under 5 years old as children have a 99.995% recovery rate, and medical literature indicates “almost zero” healthy children under 5 have died from Covid.

Vaccination ublic health officials consider vaccinations to be the number one tool to prevent hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.

According to County Public Health, and the two most recent three deaths were men, one in his 70s and one in his 80s. One was unvaccinated; the other was vaccinated but not boosted. Both had underlying health conditions.

The county website lists vaccination status as “yes” or “no.”

In February, 10 deaths in February were added to the dashboard, which now shows fatalities week by week.

The most Covid fatalities in the county occurred in January 2021, Vaccines were not available and in one week, 22 people died.

California reports 83.1% of residents age 5 and up have had at least one shot.

The CDC Covid tracke reports Santa Cruz County has 92.8% of residents age 12 and up with at least one shot and 84.7% 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.

For Omicron, a booster shot is needed. Booster shots are 90 percent effective against preventing Omicron hospitalizations, according to the CDC. Public health officials say the scientific consensus is that Covid vaccines are safe, but others question 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.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar invoked 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. This protection lasts until 2024.

Dr. Pamela Popper of Ohio has sued HHS, FDA and CDC concerning vaccines for kids under 16, and offers a support group. See https://makeamericansfreeagain.com/ The U.S. Department of Defense has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by 18 service members challenging the vaccine mandate. Federal Judge Allen Winsor in Florida is hearing that case.

Omicron he state estimated Omicron comprises 91% of cases statewide but did 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.

People fear Omicron, though this variant is less deadly than Delta, which raged in 2021.

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.

Scotts Valley Schools cotts Valley schools, with 2,183 students, report 20 active student cases and 2 staff cases in March.

Brook Knoll Elementary has 6 student cases and 2 staff cases.

Scotts Valley High has 6 student cases, Scotts Valley Middle School 5 and Vine Hill Elementary. All have zero staff cases.

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Santa Cruz County Office of Education, with Inspire Diagnostic, has provided 335,400 tests.

Student and staff cases peaked at 4,407 on Jan. 27, dropping to 434 on March 1, according to the County Office of Education. The 14-day positivity rate, 12.25% in January, is now 3.13%.

The County Office of Education offers drivethough testing for students, staff and families at: 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.

For test options see: https://tinyurl.com/ get-tested-santa-cruz.

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

For booster shot appointments go to https:// myturn.ca.gov/ or ask your local doctor and pharmacies. For local vaccine providers, visit www. santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine.

For help scheduling an appointment, call Community Bridges Helpline, 831-219-8607 or 831440-3556 (English, Spanish, Mixteco and Triqui).

For local information on COVID-19, go to www. santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus or call (831) 4544242 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. n •••

Active COVID cases: 1,869

••• COVID Deaths: 254 As of Feb. 28 Age 85 and older: 109 • 75-84: 59 • 65-74: 44 • 60-64: 15 55-59: 4 • 45-54: 10 • 35-44: 8 • 25-34: 5 Underlying Conditions Yes: 205 • No: 49 Race White 145 • Latinx 88 • Asian 16 • Black 2 Amer Indian 1 • Hawaiian 1 • Another 1 Gender Men: 130 • Women: 124 Location At facility for aged: 114 • Not at a facility: 140

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / March 2022 / 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

Lois Henry Resigns from SLV Water Board L ois Henry, a board member of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District December 2018, resigned as of March 1.

The Board of Directors will address the vacancy at an upcoming board meeting.

Details will be posted on slvwd.com.

A Lompico resident, Henry served on the Lompico County Water District board from December 2008 to June 2016 — before and during its 2016 consolidation with San Lorenzo Valley Water District. She played a vital role in the consolidation, and her financial background as a credit union CEO helped the water district move

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counted on to put what was best capital improvement projects for the District first, regardless forward. of politics,” continued Mahood.

She was the SLV water “Being a relative newcomer to district appointee to the Santa the Valley, I especially valued Margarita Groundwater Agency, the perspectives Lois brought which after many meetings comfrom her involvement in the pleted a sustainability plan for the foundational stages of the Santa Santa Margarita basin in 2021, as Margarita groundwater agency mandated by the state.

Lois Henry and from her critical role in res“Lois has been a major force in shaping the water landscape in San cuing the Lompico water district from Lorenzo Valley legacy she can be proud financial catastrophe and then shepherding the process of consolidation with of,” said Board President Gail Mahood.

“In her exchanges with staff, and, SLVWD.” District Manager Rick Rogers said: when it came time to vote, could be

“It’s not often a new director gets elected and hits the ground running, there’s usually a big learning curve. With Lois’s experience and financial background, she did just that, she hit the ground running.”

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District, established in 1941, is governed by a five-member Board of Directors, elected at-large.

The district has190 miles of pipeline and provides water to 7,900 residential, commercial, and institutional connections with two sources derived solely from rainfall within the San Lorenzo River watershed. n

San Lorenzo Valley Water Post-CZU Progress Report

By Rick Rogers

ur community continues its resiliency and commitment to building a better San Lorenzo Valley Water District. In 2021, we made major strides in improving our water system after the impacts of the 2020 CZU Wildfire Complex.

We continued to upgrade aging infrastructure, began to harden critical infrastructure facilities, and moved forward with crucial planning efforts. In 2022, the district will continue to move these efforts full-speed ahead. The “State of

10 / March 2022 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

the District” details 2021 accomplishments and upcoming projects in 2022.

I’d like to highlight the following efforts. In the 2020 fire, the district lost seven of its nine surface water intakes, which in the winter months is the primary water source for a majority of the system.

In December 2021, the draft construction feasibility report for rebuilding the raw water supply lines, to bring the damaged surface water intakes back online, was released to the Engineering Committee.

In early 2022, the board will give staff direction on moving the reconstruction

of the pipeline forward, increasing water reliability for the district. The district has made progress on capital improvements, completing three tank upgrades, and 11 pipeline replacements improving fire flow, while carrying out emergency work throughout the system.

In 2021, the district received about $600,000 in grant funding for fire resiliency and forest health projects. These grants will harden and reduce fuel loads around critical infrastructure while promoting a healthier forested watershed.

“SLVWD” page 19

Got Inflation? Tell Us About It

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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 April 1 Scotts Valley 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

CALL FOR ARTISTS!

Scotts Valley Art Wine & Beer Festival Save $40 with Early Bird Discount before June 15th

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he 2022 Scotts Valley Art Wine & Beer Festival dates are Saturday August 20 from 10am to 6pm and on Sunday, August 21 from 10am to 5pm.

The Kids Fun Zone will be back and the area’s most prestigious wineries and awardwinning micro-breweries pouring their best. The everpopular Cops ‘N Rodders Car Show will be on Saturday and on Sunday, the fun-filled “Dog Day” will feature many canine contests and prizes!

All artworks will be juried.

Artist must have original, quality art and excellent craftsmanship in all areas of the various mediums. No kits, mass-produced items, commercial reproductions or imports will be allowed.

The Artist Application is now open, and you can apply at Artist Questions?

Email svartfestival.com svartwinebeer@gmail.com ••• Earlybird Pricing Save $40 through June 15

$35 (non-refundable) jury fee = $390 Non-Local SC County Residents Single Booth $295 (12x12) + (non-refundable) jury fee = $330 Registration Fees: Double Booth $575 (12x24) + Local SC County Residents (non-refundable) jury fee = Single Booth (12x12) $185 + $35 $610 (non-refundable) jury fee = Initial Results of Jury will $220 be Posted on June 15th.

Double Booth (12x24) $355 + Applicants after June 15th

Calendar of Upcoming Community Events Thursday March 10th 5:30-7 pm Grand Reopening Red Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Empowering Hands Therapeutic 5215 Scotts Valley Drive

Thursday April 21st

5:30-7 pm 15 Year Red Ribbon Cutting Celebration Lightspeed Martial Arts Academy 5004 Scotts Valley Drive

Thursday April 28th

5:30-7 pm MultiChamber Networking Mixer Hilton Scotts Valley (Tentative) 6001 La Madrona Drive

Friday May 6th

5-10 pm Community Awards Gala

Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton

Thursday May 19th will be Juried on an individual basis.

Final Registration Deadline is July 20th.

••• *To protect against the spread of COVID-19, all vendors, volunteers, and attendees of the festival shall comply with the stricter of the currently effective Santa Cruz County or State of California Health Orders

5:30-7:30 pm Grand Opening Red Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

MADabolic The Hangar, 262 Mt. Hermon Road Suite #101

Thursday June 17th

5:30-7:30 pm Grand Opening Red Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Faultline Brewing Company The Hangar, Mt. Hermon Road

Get Your Business Listing in the Annual Directory – Join the Chamber Today!

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / March 2022 / 11

Scotts Valley Chamber News

Empowering Hands Therapeutic Massage: New Location

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Ribbon Cutting March 10th, 5:30-7pm

oin on us on March 10th for the Grand Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Empowering Hand Therapeutic Massage at their new location at 5215 Scotts Valley Drive. Empowering Hands Therapeutic Massage is excited to share their new location with the Community of Scotts Valley.

Please join Empowering Hands and the Chamber of Commerce for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony March 10th at 5:30pm.

Empowering Hands proudly offers quality massage therapy that is rejuvenating and most of all therapeutically beneficial to one’s health and wellbeing.

Owner and Massage Therapist, Emily Dreon (Bigelow), established Empowering Hands in 2017.

It has been her mission to bring awareness to the many benefits one may experience from receiving regular massage and bodywork.

Empowering Hands strives to bridge the gap between therapy and luxury.

Our new spacious office has five newly renovated treatment rooms increasing availability for booking. Along with eight massage professionals specializing in an array of massage modalities from Relaxing Swedish, Deep Tissue, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi and more therapeutic techniques like Neuromuscular Therapy and Myofascial Release.

Empowering Hands offers a simple

easy to use website where you can learn more about each therapist and book your next massage at EmpoweringHandsMassage.com or call us at 831-888-7614

Leadership Santa Cruz County Announces New Executive Director

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eadership Santa Cruz County is excited to announce Trudie Ransom as its new executive director.

Ransom was a member of LSCC’s Class 30 and is the owner of the SUP Shack at the Santa Cruz Harbor and executive secretary at the Capitola Chamber of Commerce.

“LSCC gave me the confidence to grow my business,” said Ransom.

“I loved the networking opportunities and learning more about Trudie Ransom the Santa Cruz County community. I am honored and look forward to steering class members to their best experience ever at Leadership Santa Cruz County.”

Leadership Santa Cruz County is a nonprofit organization that provides a broad base of community knowledge to class members and creates participation opportunities to interact with leaders in government, business, health care and other industries.

After a pause for Class 35 due the pandemic in 2020 the organization is working toward helping those class members complete their coursework this spring and welcoming Class 36 this fall.

For more information, visit leadershipsantacruzcounty.org.

••• The mission of Leadership Santa Cruz County is to educate, foster connections, and increase the awareness and participation of individuals in leadership roles in Santa Cruz County, enabling them to address the issues, needs, and opportunities facing the county now and into the future.

Celebrating 41 Years of Managing & Selling Homes throughout Santa Cruz County — 1981 - 2021

$2950/Month $2900/Month

$2500/Month

2BR/1BA CONDO on Diamond St. 2BR/1BA NEWLY BUILT UPSTAIRS 1BR/1BA HOME PLUS OFC. in Santa Cruz on Spiker Lane in Capitola. Updated KI. APT. in Mt. Hermon. W/D. No pets. Water incl. No pets. Lg. yard. Great commute location.

AVAIL EARLY MARCH AVAIL IN MARCH AVAIL NOW

$1900/Month

STUDIO COTTAGE in Felton. W/D incl. Gas FP. A/C. Patio. Garbage incl. No pets.

AVAIL NOW

12 / March 2022 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

WATER MAIN

FLUSHING

The District begins flushing water mains on March 14. Flushing helps to maintain the capacity of the distribution system and to protect treated water quality by removing deposits built up inside the pipelines. Water service impacts to customers will be minimal and water will remain safe to drink. Learn more at www.svwd.org

Scotts Valley Chamber News

Scotts Valley Community Awards Gala

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Friday, May 6. 2022 – Tickets on Sale Now!

he Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce annual Community Awards Gala that normally takes place every January has been moved to a later date in the Spring due to the COVID Omicron variant. Save the date for Friday, May 6th for this in-person event at Roaring Camp Railroads Bret Harte Hall.

The space is a 6,000 square foot rustic barn with wrought-iron chandeliers, twinkle lights, and decorations to compliment this year ’s theme: an “Evening with the Stars”.

Through massive doors, the indoor space opens to a covered outdoor reception area and a beautiful meadow.

The evening of celebration will begin at 5:00 pm with dinner catered by Bruno’s Bar & Grill, desserts by the Hot Pink Box Dessert Company, and dancing until 10:00 pm. There will also be live music with James Durbin, many raffle items, and a brief live auction conducted by Chamber Ambassador and Auctioneer Kevin Anderson.

Opportunities to showcase your business by becoming a sponsor are available now!

Contact Executive Director, Danny Reber at dreber@scottsvalleychamber.com or 831-588-9392.

Tickets to attend the gala will go on sale on March 1st and can be purchased via the Chamber ’s website scottsvalleychamber. com.

Congratulations to Home by Zinnia’s on their Official Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting!

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

Our process? We listen. Really listen.

Our process? We listen. Really listen.

MKT-5894K-A-A1

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / March 2022 / 13

Scotts Valley Chamber News New Member Spotlight

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Lightspeed Martial Arts Academy

ightspeed Martial Arts Academy is located in Scotts Valley on 5004 Scott’s Valley Drive. Their academy has been a mainstay in this community for over 15

years.

They offer Tae Kwon Do classes for kids as young as 4 years old up to adults. They have something to offer for the whole family! Another fun class they offer is their up-beat fitness kickboxing class daily.

You may have heard about Lightspeed Martial Arts Acedemy from attendees of their after-school pickup program, called “TASMA”, which stands for Transported Afterschool Martial Arts.

They pick up from 4 schools in the San Lorenzo Valley

and their students are always excited to see their big white vans pull up! During the summer, students are still able to participate via their popular Summer Camp Program as well as martial arts classes!

The benefits of martial arts classes are manyfold and the greatest part is that they operate year-round! Their students are able to maintain their skill level and build upon it, as well as enjoy a tight-knit community.

Martial arts classes help students of all ages build discipline, focus, endurance, and self-respect. A lot of their students start with a lack of confidence in themselves and blossom throughout their training. Lightspeed Martial Arts Academy holds testing regularly to ensure that students are able to set and achieve their goals.

Lightspeed’s Academy offers a first free class to all new students. They love to see families supporting each other in trying something new, so if your family does sign up, there is a group discount. Uniforms are provided and their classes do not need to be booked in advance.

our Make Y RA 2021 I ion ut Contrib gh Throu !

5 April 1

Lightspeed Martial Arts Academy invites you to come by or give them a call to schedule your first class and start your martial arts journey. Their phone number is (831) 4386068 and their website is lightspeedtkd.com!

The LPL Financial Advisors located at Bay Federal Credit Union can help you prepare for the future you want with a personalized retirement plan.

Make a complimentary appointment today!

Visit www.bayfed.com or call 831.479.6000, option 7 Investment Services

at Bay Federal Credit Union Available through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Bay Federal Credit Union and Investment Services at Bay Federal Credit Union are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Investment Services at Bay Federal Credit Union, and may also be employees of Bay Federal Credit Union. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Bay Federal Credit Union or Investment Services at Bay Federal Credit Union. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

Investment Services

Not Insured by NCUA or Any Other Government Agency

14 / March 2022 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Not Credit Union Guaranteed

Not Credit Union Deposits or Obligations

at Bay Federal Credit Union May Lose Value

Warm Season Vegetables For Spring

By Tony Tomeo

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arm season annuals for next spring and summer are already replacing the cool season annuals that bloomed so dutifully since last autumn. As this happens, it is also getting to be about time for warm season vegetables to replace cool season vegetables.

Strangely continuous warm daytime weather since December accelerated this process somewhat.

Removal of cool season vegetables that are still productive is as unpleasant as removal of cool season annuals that are still blooming. Fortunately, most cool season vegetables are finished by now, or will be soon. Few linger into warm weather as some cool season annuals might.

Regardless, warm season vegetables will need their garden space soon.

Unlike most cool season vegetables, which actually are vegetative, the majority of warm season vegetables are actually fruits. The plants that produce them generally continue to bloom and produce more fruits throughout their respective seasons. Some, such as bush bean and determinate tomato, exhibit brief seasons.

Many produce continually until frost.

Therefore, indeterminate tomato, pole bean, squash, cucumber, many varieties of pepper and some varieties of eggplant need no replacement within the same season. Cucumber can get tired enough by early summer to justify replacement in midsummer though. Okra, as well as several varieties of eggplant and pepper, produce for relatively brief seasons.

Phasing prolongs production of warm season vegetables that produce only once or only for a brief season. For example, corn

Frequent harvesting promotes continual zucchini production.

FEATURED COLUMNISTS

Real Easy French Bread From Marianne Evans of Capitola

that matures so uniformly that it is ready for harvest simultaneously lasts only a few weeks in a garden. Phases for seeding that repeat every two weeks or so develop in two week cycles. As the first phase finishes, the next begins.

Because so many individual plants are desired, and the seedlings do not transplant well, corn seed prefers direct sowing into the garden. So does seed for bean, root vegetables, and most greens. For tomato, pepper and eggplant, and perhaps cucumber and squash, small plants transplant well, and are not numerous enough in a garden to be expensive. Warm season vegetables grow slowly during cool weather, but accelerate as the weather warms.

••• Tomato ike most warm season vegetables, tomatoes, Solanum lycopersicum, are actually seed-bearing fruit. They are both the most diverse and the most popular home grown produce.

Grape tomatoes are smaller than little grapes. ‘Beefsteak’ can get wider than five inches. Although mostly red, some are yellow, orange, pink, green, brown, purple or pallid white.

Tomato champions the The most warm season vegetables. popular varieties of tomato for home gardens are indeterminate.

They produce fruit sporadically throughout the season, on irregularly sprawling stems.

Tomato cages or stakes support their growth. Shrubbier determinate varieties seem to be more productive only because all of their fruit develops within a brief season.

They work well for canning.

Small tomato plants in cell packs and four inch pots, which are available from nurseries, should grow efficiently in the garden as the weather warms through spring. Varieties that are unavailable as small plants can grow from seed in cold frames through late winter, to be ready for the garden after last frost. Directly sown seed can be vulnerable to mollusks. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

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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

Share A Recipe!

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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 Scotts Valley 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 Scotts Valley Times / March 2022 / 15

COMMUNITY NEWS

Spelling Champ Ella Webb Going to State

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By Jondi Gumz

lla Webb, 14, a freshman at Scotts Valley High School, is this year’s winner in the junior division (grades 7-9) 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.

She’s following in the footsteps of her sister Audrey, who competed at the state bee.

The Scotts Valley Times interviewed Ella via email.

••• How long had you been practicing? or the recent county competition, I only practiced for a week. But my parents say I’ve been practicing ever since I was little.

I practiced spelling words with Scrabble tiles. My parents first realized I could spell when a parent in preschool thought I was

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spelling the word ‘cat,’ but I finished the Scrabble word with ‘catapult.’

The state contest is in person. How much difference will that make for you? ’m really happy to get another chance to compete in person at the state level. I competed in the 2019 state spelling bee and was a top finalist.

I was set to compete in the 2020 state spelling bee, but it got canceled due to the pandemic.

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What’s your favorite subject at Scots Valley High School and why? y favorite subject is Math Academy 1.

It’s a challenging class so it gets my brain going for the rest of the day.

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I also enjoy our team practices and the group of kids in this class.

••• At state, Ella will be joined by Aria Menon, 9, a fourth grader at Mountain Elementary School in Soquel, the elementary winner (grades 4-6) for Santa Cruz County.

Runner-up in grades 7-9 was Vikram Sathigh, who attends Scotts Valley Middle School, and Sage Kelly, who attends New Brighton Middle School, placed third.

Runner-up in grades 4-6 was Ihan Kang, who attends Westlake Elementary in Santa Cruz, and Manuel Mattila, who attends Valencia Elementary in Aptos, placed third.

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

Ella Webb

Tesla Pays Environmental Protection Agency $275,000 in Clean Air Settlement

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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

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.”

Gutzwiller,” said County SuperThe donation was made visor Zach Friend. “My hope is public Feb. 14 when the assothat their gift inspires others in ciation presented a check to the our community to bring improvenonprofit County Park Friends. ments and a memorial — to a park DSA members hope the he loved — one step closer.” community will match or The memorial will be conexceed the donation, with many structed at Willowbrook County local community members and Park and it will include the instalbusinesses having already contributed another $18,000 to the Damon Gutzwiller lation of a circular memorial seating area that looks out memorial.

Red Apple Cafe in Aptos donated a towards a new flagpole.

As part of the project, updates and portion of all sales in February to Sgt. Gutzenhancements will also be made to the willer’s memorial.

“This is a transformative contribution park’s entrance, play areas, and sport from those that loved and worked with Sgt. courts.

16 / March 2022 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

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.”

“Gutzwiller Memorial” page 18

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Helping the People of Ukraine

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am quite sure that you, along with millions of humans on the planet now, are heartsick over the invasion of Ukraine. It is horrifying to see the innocent Ukrainian citizens (some of whom are children), being killed in this conflict. We are all wishing we could do something to help. Yes, we could send money and that is good, but not all people have the means to send money. But there is a powerful way in which each one of us can help on a daily basis, and we need to help.

In 1986, Barry and I attended a 10-day retreat at the White Eagle Lodge outside of London, England. We had been studying the White Eagle teachings for years, and it was a thrill for us to actually be at their center and study under the two women who helped found the White Eagle Lodge along with their mother.

Part way through the week, we were introduced to a group of older members of the lodge. These elders had survived World War II while living in London.

They told us about their experiences during the war. First of all, London was in a state of crisis with bombs going off at all hours, and everyone needed to rush to a bomb shelter when the siren warned them.

These members decided they would meet each Monday evening at the lodge

By Joyce and Barry Vissell

and sit together sending out light for peace.

Each and every Monday they would come together under great personal sacrifice because it was dangerous. They did this as they knew that sending out the light was powerful and would help.

The elders described an evening in which there were bombs going off all around them. They continued to sit in their circle silently and concentrate on sending out light, rather than evacuate to the nearest bomb shelter. They felt there was no more important thing that they could be doing.

There was much destruction, including neighboring buildings being hit by bombs, creating shock waves that shook their building, but they were all safe in the lodge, and the lodge was never harmed during the war. Each of these dear sweet English elders told us the work of sending out the light is so important and powerful and has a very positive effect.

They have continued every Monday since. They pick out troubled spots in the world and direct the light there.

What does it mean to send out the light? How does one do that? Sending out light is a very simple practice and it is not religious in any manner. A person of any religion, as well as a person who has no

affiliation to any spiritual path or religion, would feel comfortable doing this. It is simply necessary to recognize that light is a powerful energy.

With eyes closed, imagine that there is a bright light above your head, and with your breath imagine inhaling that light into the top of your head and allowing it to go down into the area of your heart.

Then as you exhale, you are imagining the light shining out from your heart.

In the current case of the trouble in Ukraine, visualize the country and its people surrounded in the protection of this light. And then continue this for as long as you are able. Even just a few minutes of doing this practice can be so powerful.

If you have trouble doing this visualization, just keep trying. Remind yourself this is one of the most powerful things you can do for the people of Ukraine. If you want, you can end this time of sending out the light with a prayer of protection for them.

Doing this practice is a lot better than being glued to the news and watching all of the events of the invasion. It is a lot better than going on social media and reading all of the stories of Ukraine. Doing this practice is such a positive thing to do.

Imagine if millions of people were doing it all over the world.

You could sit with your children and teach them this simple practice and share as a family. You could ask to begin a business meeting with a few moments of silence for Ukraine. Remember, everyone is concerned about this crisis. Everyone wants to help in some way.

This practice takes a just few minutes. If you are at home trying to place a call and are put on hold, you could do this practice as you sit and wait. The opportunities are numerous and the benefit is very profound.

The light is powerful and can overcome the darkness. Please take time every single day to send out the light.

Together, we can all help these dear people of Ukraine. n ••• Joyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors in Aptos 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. Call 831-684-2130 for finformation on counseling sessions by phone, on-line, or in person, their books, recordings or their schedule of talks and workshops. Visit their web site at SharedHeart. org for their free monthly e-heartletter.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Bobcats Are the Stars in Wildlife Photo of the Year

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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.

“Wildlife Photos” page 18

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

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / March 2022 / 17

Pisces — Two Fishes Saving the World

“Wildlife Photos” from page 17

Esoteric Astrology • March 2021 • By Risa D’Angeles

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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

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?

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

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

The times call you to retreat, inner solitude, rest, repose and relaxation. This prepares you daily to be able to withstand and work with the important reorientation and changes taking place in our world. In that inner time, consider new goals & plans, tending to their manifestation.

This is “white magic”. Magic is the ancient word for using the imagination to create a thought form, then focusing on it till it appears in form and matter. You have that gift.

This is esoteric.

There’s always so much to accomplish, so many people to contact, so many ideas to jot down & create goals with. It’s good that Virgos have a welldeveloped and orderly work ethic. Virgo is always responsible and intelligent. Creativity is to be practical & purposeful this month. You remember something. It makes you sad, glad, wondering, concerned, happy, joyful. All those things together. Clap your hands!

Write a poem!

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

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.

Tend to family with extra care, touching in, making contact with all the family, even those not often seen. There’s a pull between home and work, family & the world, internal & external realities. Try to meet personal needs first.

Remain at home in a state of calm and peacefulness. Let outer realities fall away. This gives you time to consider a different course of action concerning how to use your gifts, talents and abilities in the world. What needs tender care concerning your own self?

•••

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.

Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com 18 / March 2022 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

PISCES

So, happy birthday, Pisces …yesterday, today, this week, next week. When our birthday month arrives, the Sun’s rose gold light shines through us.

It’s in our eyes, radiating outward. We are beautiful. Our angels stand close by during our birthday month, waiting to hear our needs for the coming new year. A birthday celebration only truly occurs when we talk with our angels. Telling them of our wants and needs. They stand around us...waiting, listening, tending, patient as ever. They offer their gift of loving protection. And of helping us receive all that we need.

“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) • 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=240797574895527&set=a.

237260935249191 “Gutzwiller Memorial” from page 16 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 www.countyparkfriends.org/willowbrook. html for more information, schematics of planned park renovations or to make a donation.

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

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

“SLVWD” from page 10 We are especially excited to start the reconstruction of the Fall Creek Fish ladder and the replacement of a major pipeline along Quail Hollow Road. We have seen crucial planning documents adopted by the board of directors.

The Urban Water Management Plan, Water System Master Plan, Fire Management Plan, Forest Management Plan, and the Emergency Response Plan, all adopted in 2021 to guide the district. In 2022 the district will increase the number of “smart meters” in its system, allowing customers to monitor their water consumption and add online video chat to make connecting with customer service more efficient.

The district also started work on consolidating with three small water mutual companies, Forest Springs (128 connections) Bracken Brae (24 connections) and Big Basin Water (500 connections and outside the SLV Water District sphere of influence) — all severely impacted in the CZU wildfire.

A state grant of $3.2 million was awarded to the district to move the consolidation of Forest Springs and Bracken Brae mutuals forward. Further grant funding for the consolidation of Big Basin Water Co. is being explored by district staff.

The district is committed to providing a safe, reliable water supply for everyone we serve. We look forward to continuing progress on infrastructure upgrades and recovery in 2022.

••• Completed in 2021 • 2020 Pipeline (California Dr, Middle Dr, Beverly Dr, Fern Dr & Reynolds Dr) • Lompico tanks replaced (Kaski, Lewis, & Madrone) • Riverside Grove booster station, fireresistant roof (CZU) • Little Lyon, interior & exterior recoating (CZU)

• • • • •

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 “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

• Lyon Complex, new piping underground (CZU, Lyon/Big Steel/Little Lyon tanks) • Foreman intake rehab & pipe to Lyon water treatment plant (CZU) • Harmon Creek, removing stream choke point to mitigate potential debris flow (CZU) • Hazardous tree removal (CZU) • Alta Via, temporary pipeline replacement (CZU) Slated for 2022 • Fall Creek fish ladder rebuild to improve salmon passage • Pipeline replacements to improve fire flow (Orman Rd, Hermosa Ave, Juanita Woods, Zayante Dr) • 2021 FEMA pipeline replacement (CZU, Harmon St, Ridge Dr, Alta Via Drive) • Eckley Booster pump station replacement (CZU) • Blue Ridge Tank (replace redwood tank with steel to be fire resilient) • Quail Hollow, Replace main to provide fire flow & improve distribution system flow • Brookdale tank rehab (painting & coating) • Redwood Park, upgrading redwood tank to bolted steel & pipeline extension • Alta Via, permanent pipeline replacement (CZU) • Glen Arbor Bridge south water main replacement • Lyon Access Road (CZU) • Huckleberry Island , replace main • San Lorenzo River Bridge and King’s Creek Bridge main replacements • Brookdale, Re-route viaduct pipeline along Highway 9 • Foreman Creek, Stabilize slope (CZU) • Foreman Creek electrical construction (CZU) • Lyon zone, Replace mainline at Hwy 236, Boulder Brook Drive to Boulder Creek ••• Editor’s note: To view a report by Environmental Working Group on tap water across the U.S., see https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/

COMMUNITY NEWS

• “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.

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 23 »

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / March 2022 / 19

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS FELTON LIBRARY ACTIVITIES Advisory Council of Teens (ACT) Second Sunday of the month, 2–4 p.m.

Knitting @ the Library Every Monday, 12:30–2 p.m.

In-Person Tech Help Every Monday, 2–4 p.m.

Reading in the Redwoods Book Group Fourth Wednesday, 6–7:30 p.m.

Board in the Library Second Saturday, 12–5 p.m.

Teen Zine Club Second and fourth Sunday, 12–1:30 p.m.

Homework Help Every Tuesday 3–5 p.m.

John Schneider, a credentialed teacher (multiple subject), is available to assist students up to grade 12 with homework. He will work with students to reinforce skills learned in class and help to build confidence. If your student needs help with math, writing an essay, or re-sponse to literature, he can provide support.

April 9: From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Felton Library Friends will collaborate with Jay Ryan, an intern at Coastal Watershed, to remove invasives such as blackberry, thistle, and broom from the section of Bull Creek flowing through the Felton Discovery Park next to the li-brary. About 30 volunteers are needed. The goal is to improve the health of the creek. Fel-ton Library Friends will provide refreshments. Volunteers help keep the native plants in the park thriving through work parties the first Saturday of each month.

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.

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, 831-459-9351 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 sexual abuse support group. The goals are to empower through a healing process and prevent sexual abuse of children and youth.

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote?

Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by March 28 employers interested in workforce and other local business services.

Behind Every Employer Santa Cruz County connects businesses needing assistance recruiting talent, identifying needed workforce training, consulting about challenges facing a busi-ness, finding information about the local market and locating needed financing.

STARTUP CHALLENGE MONTEREY BAY ENTRY DEADLINE Behind Every Employer is a project of Workforce Santa Cruz County, the County of Santa Cruz; the The deadline to enter your idea in the 2022 cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Capitola and Scotts Startup Challenge Monterey Bay is March 7.

Valley; the Santa Cruz Small Business Development Workshops for contestants will be led by CSU Center and El Pajaro Community Development Corp.

Monterey Bay’s Institute for Innovation and Economic Development Executive Director, Dr. Brad For information: https://behindeveryemployer.org/santaBarbeau, via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, cruz/ and Thursday, March 3.

Register at https://startupchallengemb.com/ MAH EXHIBITIONS prepare-to-compete/ Thurs. thru Sun., Noon-6 p.m., 705 Front St., Santa Cruz The qualifying round takes place April 8 and the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History presents two finals are in May. exhibitions.

Startup Challenge is an annual competitive Jan. 14–May 15: Atmosphere, an exhibition by business accelerator for new businesses that artist and filmmaker Enid Baxter Ryce featuring teaches, coaches, mentors, networks, and paintings and soundscapes that explore the connects entrepreneurs to the knowledge and phenomena of Monterey Bay’s resources they need to succeed in the marketfog and atmospheric rivers. place.

Ryce’s work will be exhibited The Challenge is open to new businesses based with collections of archival in Monterey, San Benito, or Santa Cruz counties, photos, an interactive musical operating for less than two years. There are sculpture, and fog collectors divisions for Main Street businesses, Venture created in collaboration with businesses, Social Ventures and students. Judging historian Dr. William Cowan, musician Lanier is based on identifying a problem and a solution, Sammons, sculptor Natalie Jenkins, and scientist revenue and go-to-market strategy, and compeDan Fernandez. tition, to name a few.

Jan. 21–March 20: Rydell Visual Art Fellowship Benefits include making connections with exhibition, honoring the legacy of local philanpotential investors and perfecting your pitch. thropists Roy and Frances Rydell and featuring Finalists receive cash prizes, mentoring opportuthe 2020-2021 Rydell Visual Arts Fund recipients: nities and additional workshops.

Printmaker and illustrator Ann Altstatt; sculptor Enter at https://startupchallengemb.com/ and designer Marc D’Estout; choreographer Cid Pearlman; and photographer Edward Ramirez. PreRED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES sented in partnership with Community Foundation The Red Cross blood supply remains vulnerable as Santa Cruz County. doctors begin to resume elective surgeries postSuggested admission: General, $10; students / teachers / poned by the Covid-19 Omicron variant. To make veterans, $8, free for members and children under 5. an appointment to give blood, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED SCOTTS VALLEY SENIOR CENTER CROSS or download the Red Cross Open Mon.–Thurs., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Blood Donor App. Closed every 4th Friday. 370 Kings Village Road, Scotts Those who give March 1-31 will Valley. receive a $10 e-gift card, thanks to A book club has been meeting on Fridays via Zoom; Fanatics. And they will be automati- the book for March is The Reporter who Knew Too cally entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Much, and April is The Elephant Whisperer. the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in The spring bocce league begins April 4. You Los Angeles. must be a member of the Senior Center to en-ter.

Local donation sites: Registration is noon to 2 p.m. March 8 and 10. For March 5: From 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. — Highquestions, call Susan Taylor 831-461-9301. lands Park Senior Center/San Lorenzo Valley, 8500 Other available activities: American Mah Jong, Highway 9, Ben Lomond.

Chinese Mah Jong, line dancing, pinochle and yoga.

March 12: From 8 a.m.-1 p.m. — Twin Lakes Annual Membership: $20 (July 1–June 30).

Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos.

Information: 831-438-8666.

March 15: From 9 a.m.-2 p.m. — Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St., CULTIVATE GRANTS AVAILABLE Watsonville.

Dreaming up a new artistic creation or leveling up your artistic career? Apply for a Cultivate Grant to fund your HELP FOR LOCAL EMPLOYERS creative project or professional development.

A coalition of local governments and nonprofits in Grants of up to $3,000 for artists, nonprofit organizaSanta Cruz County has launched the Behind Every tions, and other partnerships are available. Application Employer initiative. closes at 5 p.m. March 23.

This is a business resource network for local Grants awarded in July.

You are not alone. You are not to blame.

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

20 / March 2022 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Information at https://www.artscouncilsc.org/for-grantseekers/ Questions? Email grantsprogram@artscouncilsc.org .

PUBLIC LIBRARY CAREER WORKSHOPS The Santa Cruz Public Libraries presents career development workshops for teens and adults through April, thanks to grant funding.

Second Wednesdays: Resume and interview skill workshops at 10 a.m.

Third Wednesdays: Resume and interview skill workshops in Spanish, 10 a.m.

Hours for English/Spanish bilingual career assistance at the downtown Santa Cruz library will begin in January.

SCOTTS VALLEY HIGH GOLF FUNDRAISER COMING IN APRIL The Scotts Valley High School Falcon Club, a 501c3 nonprofit, will host the 20th Annual Golf Tournament to support SVHS sports programs on Friday, April 29, at DeLaveaga Golf Course in Santa Cruz.

The tournament will start at Noon and will be a Best Ball Scramble format.

Cost is $160 per person and includes a round of golf, golf cart, box lunch and dinner.

There will be prizes for “closest to the pin” and “longest drive,” contests for men and wom-en, and awards, plus “Hole in One” for a new car.

Put together a foursome and register online at www. falconclulb.org or make check payable to SVHS Falcon Club and mail to 715 Tabor Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066.

Questions: kweaversv@gmail.com or 831-905-0544.

BE THE DIFFERENCE AWARD NOMINATIONS Deadline March 23 Submit your nomination for the Be the Difference Awards for the top volunteers in the county, individuals, groups and businesses to www.scvolunteercener.org.

Awards will be in person May 18.

LIBRARY TECH TALKS 11 a.m.-Noon, Online Classes The Santa Cruz Public Libraries offer Tech Talks four 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.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR 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 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.

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) 3347763.

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.

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 Fourth Wednesday of the Month EXCHANGE CLUB 5-6 p.m., Malone’s, 4402 Scotts Valley Dr. Exchange Club of Scotts Valley meets at Malone’s in Scotts Valley. Next meeting: March 23.

Information: victor.alejandro.usa@gmail.com

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.

Friday March 4 IRISH BAND LÚNASA AT KUUMBWA 7:30 p.m., Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar St, Santa Cruz The Celtic Society of the Monterey Bay presents the internationally acclaimed Irish band Lúnasa at Kuumbwa Jazz Center.

Lúnasa, formed in 1997, is renowned for superb musicianship and touring around the globe in 36 countries. since the band formed in 1997. Folk Roots magazine called this lineup an “Irish music dream team.”

Bassist Trevor Hutchinson was a key member of The Waterboys, and later he, with guitarist Donogh ART NIGHT AT SCOTTS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Hennessy, formed the rhythm section of The Friday March 11 Sharon Shannon Band; Ed Boyd (Flook, Michael McGoldrick Band) recently replaced Hennessy; fiddler 6-9 p.m., Scotts Valley High School, 555 Glenwood Drive, Scotts Valley Sean Smyth is an All-Ireland champion who has Scotts Valley High School presents Art Night in the school’s multi-purpose room. played with Donal Lunny’s Coolfin; Kevin Crawford, Art Night is a longtime tradition at Scotts Valley High School. considered to be among the finest flutists in Ireland; The work on display — paintings, graphics, portraits, ceramics — has been created by students of and piper Cillian Vallely of the Vallely artistic clan has teachers Emily Brandt and Matt McHan. Seniors in the International Baccalaureate program will be on hand performed with Riverdance and recorded with Bruce to talk about their art.

Springsteen.

Admission is free, and donations to support the art program are welcomed.

Attendees must provide proof of vaccination at the door. For children under 12, proof of a negative PCR FELTON LIBRARY FRIENDS MEETING Rain dates are scheduled for the following Sundays. test within the past 48 hours is required.. Masks must be worn at all times except when eating or drinking.

4:30-6 p.m., Community Room, Felton Library, 6121 Gushee St. The Market is free to attend and is 100% local!

March 6 features Saucey’z, Pana, Cuevas, Three Tickets are $25 at www.celticsociety.org; $30 at the door.

Felton Library Friends meet once a month in the Waves Coffee & Aunt LaLi’s — along with 40 vendors Community Room. & live music with Cement Ship.

The glass wall can be opened for lots of fresh air Saturday March 12 All local and state health guidelines will be followed. when the weather is nicer.

Please wear your mask, maintain social distance while LATINO ROLE MODELS Next meeting: March 23.

9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Online Conference you shop and stay home if you don’t feel well. Hand The new director of Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Yolande Latino Role Models is a free conference for Santa Cruz sanitizing stations will be available.

Wil-burn, will be on hand for the April 27 meeting.

For more info, go to the event page: https://www.facebook. County students from grade 6 to college and their families, featuring civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, com/scmmakersmarket/ Third Thursday Each Month recipient of the 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom, PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM as the keynote speaker.

DATED EVENTS 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting Joining her are Dr. Violeta Barroso, a family BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support medicine doctor at the Kaiser Permanente Thursday March 3 Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated Watsonville office, and Watsonville City Councilman OUR COMMUNITY READS: TRIVIA ON TAP by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third and former mayor Francisco ‘Paco’ Estrada, who Thursday of each month.

6:30 to 8 p.m., Steel Bonnet, 20 Victor Square, Scotts Valley. is director of development & communications at Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefHosted and moderated by Jenn Hooker, librarian with FoodWhat?! support or call 831-471-7255. the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Trivia on Tap will The emcee is Erandi García, originally from Morelia, Fridays feature questions selected from Red Letter Days, chal- Mexico, an Emmy-winning broadcaster and founder of TAI CHI OUTDOORS lenging teams of no more than six persons to answer a nonprofit called Juntos Podemos.

10 to 11 a.m., Felton Discovery Park, 6121 Gushee St. 30 questions.

There will be workshops. The conference is conTai Chi teacher Mary Mullligan leads gentle moveYou can get snacks at Steel Bonnet, or at outlets in ducted in Spanish with English translation, sponsored ments with a socially distanced group in the Felton the same complex, or make food at home and have

by Senderos, Cabrillo College and Santa Cruz County Discovery Park next to the library every Friday (weather a picnic-style meal while you ponder the questions.

Office of Education. permitting).

Winners get the grand prize of a $25 gift certificate to Register at: https://tinyurl.com/latinosmodelos2022 Donations are gratefully accepted. the Steel Bonnet.

For more information, email mullliganmary10@gmail.com.

POLAR PLUNGE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP FOR DIVERSE Noon (10 a.m. sign up, 11:30 judging), Rio Del Mar Beach REPRESENTATION First Sunday Every Month The 2022 Santa Cruz Polar Plunge fundraiser is 6:30-8 p.m., Online Seminars WESTSIDE MARKETPLACE happening!

This is the second of five seminars which focus on 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Old Wrigley Building Parking Lot, 2801 Individuals raise at least $125 for the opportunity a specific topic and include a panel of speakers, Mission Street, Santa Cruz to jump into the chilly waters of Rio Del Mar Beach to small group discussions for networking, and provide Come by on Sundays and shop at over 40 unique & support Special Olympics athletes. wonderful artists, makers & vintage sellers — there’s an opportunity for connection for mentorship in the “Calendar” page 23 political field. something for everyone at the Westside Marketplace!

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / March 2022 / 21

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Update on Tiny Homes, CZU Rebuilds, Taxes on June Ballot

By Bruce McPherson, Supervisor, Fifth District

A

s we head toward spring, I’m excited about a new affordable and environmentally-friendly housing initiative that could address development challenges in the Fifth District, especially for CZU Fire survivors in search of alternatives to costly or complicated rebuilds.

The County’s Planning Commission recently indicated support for a draft ordinance that would permit tiny homes, a program that has been in development since last year when District 1 Supervisor Manu Koenig and I brought a request to the Board of Supervisors to explore a new set of regulations.

Homes as small as 150 square feet are already permitted under the County’s Accessory Dwelling Unit rules. But we believe it is important to distinguish tiny homes as a separate affordable housing product, including those on wheels. There is a lot to be explored before approval, including questions about utilities, parking and mobility. We also are seeking to expedite the permitting process for fire survivors

who are seeking a temporary living arrangement on their land or a more permanent, yet smaller, footprint for the future.

The County’s Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience has premiered a new dashboard that tracks CZU rebuilding progress. The site shows how many permits are in process, how many pre-clearances have been approved, and the locations of permit activity by supervisorial district.

The Board has removed geological hazards review as a barrier, and reduced or eliminated many permitting fees.

And we will continue to offer expedited service through our dedicated fire Recovery Permit Center and Long-Term Recovery Group. All of these resources, plus the dashboard, can be accessed at santacruzcounty.us/ firerecovery.

It’s my hope that two other recovery barriers are removed soon.

First, we are still waiting for the California Office of Emergency Services to resolve the roughly $8 million in damage to Countymaintained and private roads caused by a state contractor during post-fire debris removal operations.

Second, while PG&E works to remove tree debris from properties where owners have requested clean-up of the utility’s post-fire operations, the County is still awaiting enforcement by state agencies regarding

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

831-476-2023 Skylightplace.com

22 / March 2022 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Local Local Local

CZU rebuilding dashboard shows 60 properties in the Fifth District ready to submit for dwelling unit permit notices of violation issued to PG&E for breaking environmental regulations and forestry practice rules.

You may have heard about PG&E’s plans to underground more of its infrastructure to reduce wildfire risk. We look forward to any undergrounding done in our County, but a more realistic and less expensive system-hardening endeavor would be to coat bare wires and replace other aging equipment.

I’ll conclude with a few notes about the upcoming June 7 ballot, starting with our rail line.

In early March, the Board of Supervisors will receive a report from County

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departments regarding potential impacts of the Greenway initiative, which has received more than 13,000 qualified signatures on a petition to establish a multiuse trail on the corridor.

Under election law, the Board is obligated to put the matter before voters, though I personally have not taken a position on the initiative.

However, I did receive a unanimous vote of the Board on Feb. 1 to pause for 30 days and get more information so that voters have a more informed view of the initiative.

“McPherson” page 23

SCCAS Featured Pet

“McPherson” from page 22 Meanwhile, Regional Transportation Commission Executive Director Guy Preston has pledged to reopen talks with Roaring Camp in Felton to discuss impacts of potential future actions related to freight service on the Santa Cruz Branch and Felton lines — all while maintaining Roaring Camp’s popular Beach Train.

Also expected to get underway soon is the Highway 17 undercrossing, a project critical for wildlife safety and one my office worked hard to have included in the Measure D plan passed by County voters in 2016.

Two County revenue measures will be on the ballot — an increase in the Transient Occupancy Tax paid by overnight guests of local hotels or vacation rentals, as well as a dedicated County share of a new

“Calendar” from page 21

F

Fabrienne: Shy But Affectionate

crossword on 19 »

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

The 1940s © Statepoint Media

The event strives to encourage inclusion and change the way that people think about and treat individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Costumes for the event are encouraged (judging at 11:30 a.m.) but not necessary.

Sign-in is at 10 a.m. Register at: https://p2p. onecause.com/santacruzplunge Questions? Email Allie Bakalar at Allieb@sonc.org or Officer John Hohmann at jhohmann@scottsvalley.org

Tuesday March 15 Wednesday March 16 ROADMAP TO RECOVERY WILDFIRE WORKSHOPS Tues. 6 p.m / Wed. 5 p.m., Online Seminars The nonprofit United Policyholders is offering the Roadmap to Recovery workshops for people affected by the 2020 wildfires in California and Colorado.

Tuesday: Survivor to Survivor Forum — Connect with trained volunteers who navigated recovery after previous wildfires, and others on the road to recovery.

Register: www.uphelp.org/mar15 Wednesday: Collecting Every Dime — This workshop will help you track and understand what you’ve been paid on your insurance claim, and helps you collect what’s owed to you.

Register: www.uphelp.org/mar16

Saturday March 19 ROTARY TRI-TIP DRIVE-THRU BBQ 5-6 p.m., Scotts Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village Road The Scotts Valley Rotary invites you to a drive-through Tri-Tip Roast BBQ at the Scotts Valley Community Center.

The meal includes a 40 oz. roast, a loaf of garlic sourdough bread, garden salad and ranch-style beans to serve four for $60. Add a bottle of wine for $20.

Buy tickets at https://drivethrubbq.brownpapertickets.com

Saturday March 26 BOARDWALK FUN RUN 8 a.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Lace up your shoes and get outside with a family-friendly race through the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

single-use disposable cup fee. Together, these measures are expected to bring in $3 million annually to fund a host of vital public services.

CZU rebuilding dashboard: https:// www.santacruzcounty.us/FireRecovery/ RecoveryPermitCenter/RecoveryPermitCenterDashboard.aspx n ••• As always, please contact my office at Fifth.District@santacruzcounty.us or 831454-2200 if we can be of assistance.

••• Editor’s note: For those wondering about the wood piles at Henry Cowell State Park in Felton, California State Parks plans to ignite them March 3-6, part of the program to improve the health of the forest for wildlife and lower the chance of catastrophic wildfire. Monitoring is planned through the weekend.

Register by March 25 at https://tinyurl.com/ boardwalk-fun-run-signup Two options: 1K (six-tenths of a mile) for age 12 and under and 5K for ages 4 and up (parents too).

Cost is $20 for the short run, $40 for the longer run, plus sign-up fees.

Runners get a medal, Boardwalk Swag Bag, up to 3 hours of free-play in the Casino Arcade and $15 off Ride Wristband on Race Day.

Wednesday May 4 Thursday May 5

NEST FLIGHT Virtual Conference, Details to come NEST Flight will be a 2-day virtual experience, in time for graduation season. This annual conference is geared toward young professionals, recent grads and current students in high school or college. If you are 17 to 24 and exploring your options for the future, this conference is for you.

Hosted by Digital NEST and founder Jacob Martinez, this event features 20 inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, powerful panel discussions and one of a kind networking opportunities — crafted to help students propel their careers, no matter where you are in your job exploration.

Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings is keynote speaker. Emcee is Amber Gonzalez-Vargas, senior program manager at Latino Community Foundation, which has invested $17 million in 150 grassroots Latino-led nonprofits.

Registration: $20. See https://www.nestflight.org/

Friday May 20 REGIONAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 9 a.m.-11 a.m., Online Seminar MBEP’s 8th Annual Regional Economic Outlook will feature Christopher Thornberg, Founding Partner of Beacon Economics, LLC. Widely considered to be one of the nation’s leading economists, Dr. Thornberg is an expert in revenue forecasting, regional economics, economic policy, and labor and real estate markets.

Beacon Economics is a leading independent research and consulting firm dedicated to delivering accurate, insightful, and objectively-based economic analysis to public and private sector clients in California and across the United States.

Tickets are $29. Register at https://tinyurl.com/MBEP-REO2022-register n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Scotts Valley Times / March 2022 / 23