On the Waterfront page 8
Volume 11: Issue: 3
Joyous Kitchen
One Tribe Spirit
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page 11
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March-April 2022
A Candid Conversation with Jimmy Panetta
By Wendy Sigmund
almost immediate relief from FEMA. He also talked of providing resources so local agencies have the tools they need in case another wildfire comes through.
Democratic House Representative Jimmy Panetta stopped by the Brookdale Lodge for a chat to let his new constituents learn a bit about him and how he plans to represent our mountain communities if he is re-elected to the new 19th district in Congress.
Dealing with the fire issue on the federal level is his task. There are now a number of issues dealing with year round fires. “At the federal level I helped pass the Re-Plan Act Reforestation this year and the Wildfire Emergency Safely Act which deals with management of federal forests, making sure there is more personnel to respond to wildfires when they occur.”
Congressman Panetta was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 in district 20. He represented parts of Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. The census caused redistricting in the beginning of the year and now Congressman Panetta may be our representative in the new District 19. A position previously held by longtime Congresswoman Anna Eshoo but as District 18. As the Congressman chatted about his background and his future plans, he asked a question of me; “What is the issue facing us in our community?” The fire was my immediate response. Congressman Panetta sits on the Agricultural Committee which, among other
things, covers Federal Forest land. Though our forest is primarily considered under private jurisdiction I asked the congressman his thoughts on wildfire prevention and the rebuilding efforts of many
of our mountain residents after the CZU complex fire which took so many homes. His response was decisive. He said he had worked with Congresswoman Eshoo to make sure our community had
Rebuilding mountain homes which were taken during the CZU Lighting complex fire is a huge issue for our residences. I asked the Congressman if there was any help he could provide. His answer was that the permitting policies are at the county level but he wants to make sure the county has the resources necessary to help make that bureaucracy work. I replied that there are huge flaws in the bureaucracy right now and people Continued page 2
A Delightful Night of Mystery and Murder
By Wendy Sigmund
It was a chilly Saturday night at the Brookdale Lodge. People came dressed to the hilt to experience this new type of dinner theater, murder mystery. Well, new to the Brookdale Lodge anyway. The evening began with delicious fajitas from the Brookdale Diner. The staff was dressed up and met us with big smiles. The food was as wonderful as always. What was new was this interactive show. Some guests came dressed as characters from the thirties. Other guests just came in street clothes. *************ECRWSSEDDM**************** Postal Customer Boulder Creek CA 95006
Either was fine, but clearly the folks dressed up were wanting to be part of the show. The show, set in a speakeasy in the 1930s, was exposed in layers based on events. Each table was given a clue card to record your findings. The goal was to learn the characters stories, why they were there and how their past interactions with other characters would reveal who was the murderer. It was seemingly simple, find the character who had motive, opportunity and means. It sounds easier than it was which made for a fun time getting to know everyone in the room. The show was a great combination of fun and intrigue. The improvisational nature of the crime scene gave opportunity for some guests
to really get into their characters. For those who wanted to be spectators it was fun too. The table of guests worked to discover clues and solve the mystery. It was truly a good time for all. The next Murder Mystery will be held in May and I recommend you dont miss it. Some tips to have the best experience. 1. Make a reservation. The tickets sold out quickly. 2. Arrive at the Lodge 30 minutes early to get settled and have plenty of time to enjoy your meal and cocktails from the bar. 3. If you want to participate simply let the folks running the show know. If you do not it is perfectly fine, just let them know that also. Everyone will have a blast with this unique dining theatrical experience.
Felton CA 95018, Ben Lomond CA 95005
March-April 2022
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letter from the publisher Dear friends, Happy spring! It was so nice to get rain this week. I love the saying that “April showers bring May flowers”. The rain came in march and we are already getting flowers but the idea is nice. Speaking of rain, as we head into spring and then into summer we are also continuing with a very big drought. Governor Newsome has so far left it up to the local water districts to place restrictions on water usage. So far it is recommended that we conserve water when and wherever possible. But there are no restrictions or penalties. It is, however, still an issue which will affect each of us in the coming months or even years. It is up to us to conserve water, not for the government to tell us that we have to. So do the right thing, conserve water now. Here are some suggestions for easy water conservation: place a bucket under your shower as the water gets hot, you can use it to water your plants. Turn off the water when you shave or brush your teeth and one more, check your sink and toilets for leaks, if you find one, have it repaired right away. I know these are simple things that most of us do anyway; so just a friendly reminder. Please stay safe out there. The other thing that spring brings is road bikes which need to share the road and the other kind of bikes, motorcycles which can sometimes use our roads as a track. Look out for all of them. Yours truly, Wendy Sigmund
Jimmy Panetta - Continued are suffering because of it. His response was that at the federal level, the only thing available to bolster county services is money which goes directly to the county for proper processing of the types of permits needed.
Panetta then talked about the new district 19. He said his job will be to represent the 3 Bs of the area: beauty, bounty and the burbs. His priority is continuing to make sure our environment is protected for future generations. Speaking of future generations here in the mountains, Panetta wants to find a way to ensure families can continue to stay and raise their families heren, not just for now but for future generations. “Over and over people tell me that they want to stay here but their kids can’t afford to live here.” The congressman continues, “We must address the housing issue and keep the area available to the next generations. One way is to realize that we don’t want a lot of vacation rentals. We will have some but we don’t want the whole community to be just that. We want people to work here and contribute to their communities. If you do not address these issues, then you lose the heart and soul of the area.” I asked about the way Congressman Panetta came to be on the ballot to represent our area instead of the agricultural communities he was representing. His response was agricultural redistricting. “They wanted to create a latino district,” he said, “seventeen new districts were created. They did that by scooping out the towns of Salinas, Watsonville, and Castroville, and San Bernardino county” These areas are now all part of one district represented by Zoe Lofgren.
- SCM Bulletin contributors Publisher: Wendy Sigmund-Mountain Publishing, LLC Editor: Lori Suzanne Holetz Contributors: Robert Arne, Mark Dolson, Kevin Foster, Lori Suzanne Holetz, Marcey Klein, Marybeth McLaughlin, Lisa Robinson, MJ Stearns, Joy Stewart Photographers: Steve Kuehl , Chucke Walkden Layout: Laura Testa-Reyes The Santa Cruz Mountain Bulletin 6265 Hwy 9 - Felton CA 95018 831-508-0033 | scmbulletin@gmail.com | wendy.mountainpublishing@gmail.com www.santacruzmountainbulletin.net | @santacruzmountainbulletin mountainpublishing.net | info@mountainpublishing.net Subscription Info: 1 Year for $50.00. FREE locally. The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Santa Cruz Mountain Bulletin (SCM Bulletin). SCM Bulletin is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement. Written permission from the publisher of the SCM Bulletin is required to reprint this issue of the SCM Bulletin in part or in whole.
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The positive part is now our agriculture will have two representatives. The agriculture industry of central California is not just a giant but it also feeds the country and in some cases the world. Gerrymandering was part of the process of redistricting. But he believes that Zoe Lofgren is up for the task. Panetta and Lofgren worked on the Dream Act and immigration reform. “I am the grandson of an immigrant and being raised on the Central Coast, I understand the importance immigration.” He continued, “My proudest accomplishment is that I was a co-sponsor of the Dream Act.” The Dream Act provides a path to legal citizenship for children who were brought to this country at a young age. They did not have any say in the decision to come here. The children integrated into the communities and became valuable members of that community.
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Now they want to continue to be valuable members of that very same community. This act can provide a way to legally do that. Panetta also works to foster a path for legalization for farm workers. These acts are stuck in the senate right now. “They are sorely in need of reform. These pathways will provide for a workforce that this country needs.” “Dreamers don’t just want to stay here, they want to contribute here. We have to continue to make sure both sides of the aisle understand how important our immigrants are. There are certain jobs Americans will not do. They rely on people coming here and wanting to contribute here.” “One of my proudest moments was working on the Dream Act and The Farm Workforce Modernization Act because this is the way bills should be done. We worked on it for eight or nine months and we grinded out formulating this bill. We sat at the table with democrats, republicans, farmers and farmworkers. We didn’t get a perfect bill but we got a damn good bill. It is the most bipartisan immmigration bill to pass out of the house in the last 30 years. We still have a lot of work to do in the Senate.” “There are industries across the country which rely on people coming here to do them. We are seeing the remnants of the previous administration and the toxicity of immigration. Both sides of the aisle need to see the importance of immigration. That is going to have to be done through us in congress.” I asked the congressman to comment on a topic that is important to many mountain residents: cannabis. Here is his response: “I have been an advocate for the legalization of cannabis at the federal level for a long time. It needs to be done in the appropriate way. That is to say taking it off the FDA list as a schedule one drug. Meaning it has no medical benefit. Then there needs to be a process of dealing with the issue of banking. The Safe Banking Act got taken out but we are getting there. I see it as a big ship turning slowly, still a process, but making sure the Federal Government follows California’s lead. In closing I asked the Congressman about his future aspirations in politics. His response, “Once you start looking too far ahead you lose focus on what you’re doing. My only focus is on my constituents.” Be sure your vote is cast and counted for the new 19th district. June 7th preliminary election and November 8th general election.
March-April 2022
Local Continuum of Care Relaunced
SLV History
Celebrating Valley Newspapers
Ben Lomond historian Alice Wilder remarked that he was “set in his ways. He was eloquent, he worked hard, and he only did something because he thought it was right.” But McHugh’s vivacity and passion in his writings would get him into trouble more than once and eventually in 1956 he was convicted of libel for untruths he had printed and for which he spent six months in County Jail. He was a tempest in the courtroom too filing lawsuits to stop actions he felt were not in the best interest of local businesses.
by Lisa Robinson Continuing the celebration of the Santa Cruz Mountain Bulletin’s tenth anniversary, let us continue our look back at some of the other newspapers that have, in the past, reported on local Valley news. When Tom McHugh passed away in 1984 Laurie Slothower the Sentinel Staff Writer described him colorfully - a curmudgeon, cantankerous, irascible, feisty, bellicose - were just a few of the words she used to describe him. After leaving Santa Cruz High School, he became a printer’s apprentice and then a reporter for the Santa Cruz Evening News. McHugh loved history, and in February 1940, he along with local
March-April 2022
historian Leon Rowland called a meeting at the downtown main library with the objective of organizing a Santa Cruz Historical Society. However, McHugh was best known as a writer and editor. In 1941, he was described as the “well-known San Lorenzo Valley writer and newspaperman.” He was editor of Riptide and the Penny Press, initially both printed in Santa Cruz, then Brookdale. According to Slothower, he coined the phrase “county board of Stupidvisors” and called the city manager the “city damager.” She recalls that the Penny Press had a run of 1,000 copies and a readership of 30,000.
In 1958, he established the Torrent. A weekly newspaper published by the Penny Press Publishing Company “exclusively for the promotion of business and the economic prosperity of the entire San Lorenzo Valley.” The Torrent was folded into the Penny Press a couple of years later. His love of local history manifested itself in his quarterly publication the Frontier Gazette. A publication “devoted to a review of pioneer times in Santa Cruz County ‘’ and which was published sporadically from 1958 until his death in 1984. He ran for fifth district supervisor in 1972, 1978, and in 1980, when he received 1,514 votes forcing a runoff election between Pat Liberty and Joe Cucchiara, and had announced his intentions to run in 1984, the year of his passing. When Slothower visited him at his home on Center Street in Brookdale she described the front yard as being covered, at times knee deep, in newspapers. She described him as the “soul of courtesy” who talked “with a reverence for women and babies.” He told her, “I like a good fight … [it] keeps the blood circulating.”
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The former Homeless Action Partnership, Santa Cruz County’s federally-designated continuum of care (CoC), has been rebranded as the Housing for Health Partnership (H4HP). The new name better aligns with the Housing for Health Division, which works under Santa Cruz County’s Human Services Agency and serves as the lead CoC partnership agency. In addition, the governance of H4HP has restructured to give local jurisdictions officials and people with lived experience more direct involvement in H4HP policy decisions. The new H4HP structure includes a Policy Board, responsible for high level planning, decision-making and system oversight. The Policy Board delegates implementation, operational, and planning responsibilities to specific Operational Committees and Working Groups. The Policy Board consists of 15 community leaders who represent constituencies with significant experience or resources to address the issue of homelessness. Jurisdictional members include Capitola City Manager Jamie Goldstein, Santa Cruz Director of Planning & Community Development Lee Butler, Santa Cruz Vice Mayor Martine Watkins, Watsonville Community Development Director Suzi Merriam, Watsonville interim City Manager Tamara Vides, County Health Services Agency Assistant Director Tiffany Cantrell-Warren, Santa Cruz County Public Defender Heather Rogers, and Santa Cruz County Supervisors Manu Koenig and Ryan Coonerty. Partner members include UCSC Assistant Dean of Students Mariah Lyons, Central California Alliance for Health Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Sonnenshine, and Community Foundation of Santa Cruz Chief Executive Officer Susan True. Three seats remain open, at least one of whom must have lived experience with homelessness. To apply to be a member or to learn more about the H4H Partnership, visit www.housingforhealthpartnership.org.
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The Joyous Kitchen
• 1/3 cup mirin (Japanese sherry); any semi dry white wine will do nicely as a substitute • 2 Tablespoons sugar • (optional) • 1 teaspoon of gochujang, or any hot sauce (pref a sweet hot sauce)
and drizzle with the oils and soy sauce. Roast for 35-45 minutes (or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165 or above). Set the chicken thighs aside for serving with the ramen. Strain the fat and set aside. Now you’re ready to assemble the ramen.
Ramen Noodle Soup
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3 packages store bought ramen, flavor packets reserved for another recipe
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger Method
Miso Ramen with Roasted Chicken Thighs & Ramen Eggs by Joy Stewart We love ramen. The rich, satisfying broth, the fresh, crunchy vegetables and the chewy, silky noodles. Not to mention the jammy, savoryand-sweet marinated soft boiled egg. Until recently, I didn’t think it was possible to make ramen at home. Now, with a little prep and some imagination (and the availability of good miso these days), it is actually pretty easy to make ramen at home, although I’ll admit this recipe has a lot of parts. The ramen egg, a soft boiled egg marinated in sweet, slightly boozy soy sauce, needs at least four hours to marinate (some recipes say a minimum of 24 hours), and can be kept in the fridge for up to four days. So, it’s a wonderful thing to make ahead. If you don’t think you or your family will enjoy having a runny yolk and soft egg with their ramen, feel free to skip making it. But it really is delicious and a part
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of the traditional ramen experience, so I do recommend trying it at least once. It is called ajitsuke tamago in Japan. With regards to toppings, the only necessary toppings are some kind of crunchy vegetable (julienned carrots and bean sprouts are my favorite), some nori (seaweed sheets; I use nori snacks, cut into ribbons with my kitchen shears) and your chosen protein (in this case the roasted chicken thighs). Optional toppings are chili powder (the Japanese chili condiment is called shichimi togarashi), sesame seeds, seafood cake (narutomaki) and sliced spring onions.
Heat the marinade ingredients in a small pot until the sugar has dissolved. Set marinade aside. Put a medium sized pot filled with water on to boil. Beside the stove place a metal bowl filled with cold or ice water. When the water is boiling, lower the heat to low and gently place your eggs into the water, taking care not to crack the shells (I use a soup ladle for this). Bring back to a boil and cook the eggs for 6 1/2 minutes. Transfer them quickly to the cold water. When they have cooled down enough to peel, do so carefully and combine them with the other ingredients in a quart freezer bag. Place the eggs and marinade together in the bag and refrigerate until ready to use (minimum four hours and up to four days).
Roasted Chicken Thighs • 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (approx 1.1 lbs) • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • 1 teaspoon soy sauce • 1 1/2 teaspoons honey (opt)
Serves 4
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
ramen egg ingredients
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
Method
Marinade • 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
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Rinse and pat dry your chicken, especially the skin. Rub skin with oils and honey, season with spices 1
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• 5 cups chicken stock • 1/2 cup white or yellow miso • 3 large cloves garlic, peeled and scored • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil • 2 Tablespoons reserved chicken fat Toppings • 1/2 cup bean sprouts, rinsed • 1/2 cup julienned carrots Ramen eggs • 1 ounce nori, sliced into ribbons Method Pan roast garlic in vegetable oil until the garlic has turned golden and has softened. Set aside. In a large pot bring 5 cups of water and the chicken stock to a boil. Boil ramen noodles for 3 minutes, then divide noodles up between four serving bowls. Turn the heat down to a simmer and add miso and chicken fat. Mash garlic and add garlic as well. To serve, divide broth between bowls. Pull the chicken meat from the bones. Top with 1/4 of each of the toppings, starting with the chicken and vegetables, then one egg each, sliced in half and finally the nori and chili powder (if desired)..
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Across Modular house (6) Summing (6) Audio repetition (4) Together (3,2,3) Incorrect (8) Pitch (4) Large, crushing snake (6) Calm and dignified (6) Pace (4) Idolizes (8) Clash (8) Agreement (4) Put a book away (6) Almost never (6)
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March-April 2022
Healthy Tidbits
Eating for Cancer Prevention by Marcey Klein BS, NC Cancer is a multifaceted disease, there are many areas to look at in preventative care. One area is decreasing the toxicity we receive from our environment. Pesticides sprayed on our conventional foods, our yards, and that leach into our water, may get stored in our bodies and can cause hormone, cell, and gut disruption. Phthalates from conventional beauty products like nail polish, perfumes, and in plastics to make them more pliable, can cause hormone disruption. All of these can exert a damaging estrogenic effect in the body and can cause endocrine disruption because these chemical estrogens are stronger than our own estrogens, latching on to receptor sites meant for our own hormones. Breast cancer risk is increased with a higher level of estrogen, especially with these more aggressive synthetic versions. We can try to limit these damaging chemicals from getting in our bodies in the first place by avoiding produce with pesticides sprayed on them as much as possible. Eating organic is important, and especially with produce that absorbs pesticides more than others or has multiple pesticides sprayed on them. Here’s a list of produce to mostly buy organic: Peaches, apples, strawberries, grapes, cherries, nectarines, pears, raspberries, bell peppers, celery, spinach and lettuces, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic and more. You also may want to try to have organic milk, meat, and butter and fats since the pesticides will be concentrated in them along with any antibiotics and hormones that were given to the animal. We need proper gut health, meaning beneficial bacteria and prebiotics (aka soluble fiber). Having a healthy gut will help our bodies eliminate and not recirculate harm-
ful estrogens. Refined sugars, chemical sweeteners , cigarettes, alcohol, and processed foods damage our good bacteria and raise our insulin levels and our cancer risk. Ground flax seeds, which are the richest source of plant lignans, help move out estrogens as they are a rich source of soluble fiber and antioxidants. Flax seed consumption is also correlated with reduced cancer risk in studies. I put a tablespoon of ground flax in my morning smoothie, but if one has hormonal issues or has high cancer risk, then two tablespoons would be the therapeutic dose. Chicory root is a great prebiotic, essential for having a healthy digestive system, along with jicama, artichoke, asparagus, and onion. Another factor that contributes to cancer is cellular damage due to heavy metals, oxidative stress, and lack of nutrients to repair this damage. I’m big on antioxidants, good nutrition, hydration, and detoxification. Getting phytonutrients from eating the rainbow is important, and taking a good multivitamin to fill in the gaps is essential. Vitamin D plays an important role in cancer prevention as does vitamin C with bioflavonoids, folate which is important for healthy cell replication, vitamin A to regulate cell death, all the minerals as they help with so many enzyme activities, and omega 3 oils for cell membrane health. Lycopene from cooked tomatoes is a great phytonutrient to prevent angiogenesis (blood supply) to cancer cells. Genistein from soy also aids us in this way, cutting off the blood supply to cancer cells. 10 grams per day, the amount in one cup of soy milk is enough for this benefit, and also to help the survival rate, and prevention of breast cancer coming back.
in the sprouted form, they can be 100 times more potent than their counterparts. Sprouted broccoli is a great example. Some other cruciferous vegetables include cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, and bok choy. These vegetables contain sulfur, a very important nutrient needed for detoxification of estrogen, and helping to slow the development and spread of cancerous cells. We want to include colorful foods like carrots, squash, yams, and mangos to give us a dose of antioxidant rich beta carotene. Citrus fruits and bioflavonoids increase our level of vitamin C to protect and repair our cells. Garlic, eggs, and onions are high in detoxifying sulfurs. Shitake, maitake, and reishi mushrooms help to stimulate T cell growth, green tea helps with cancer cell death, sea vegetables contain iodine, a nutrient concentrated in the breast and thyroid tissue important for regulating cellular health and replication. Berries provide us with important antioxidants for cellular repair, and pineapple and papaya are high in important anti-inflammatory enzymes. Turmeric is a must since
this helps fight cancer and tumors on so many different levels and is also good for our livers. Last but not least is eating a whole food, nutrient dense diet that can help our detoxification and rejuvenate our systems in the body. Take care, be well, and come into Wild Roots Market for any questions.
Now, let’s get into the foods we can eat to help our fight against cancer. Cruciferous vegetables are at the top of my list. Especially
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Mountain Ear
The Housing Market Frenzy By: MJ Stearns ROOM Real Estate Are you in the market to buy or sell and are not sure if this is the right time for you to do either one? U.S. home prices have risen 18.8% over the past 12 months. Home price growth can’t outpace income growth forever. Home prices are growing six times faster than wages. The lack of inventory isn’t isolated to a few hot markets. It’s a nationwide problem. As we head into the spring buying season, there are a few things you should be aware of if you want to get a house, perhaps the same house 20 others want too get. The price is usually not the price, so
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let’s just be real here. You see a home and your budget is $899,000, and it is listed for $899,000, so should you really be looking at this home? Unless a home is overpriced, the actual list price is just an attention-grabbing number, and if enough people are interested in that house for $899,000, it is going to sell for somewhere around 1 million to 1.1 million all day long here. So the bottom line is if your price maxes out at $899,000, then you should realistically be looking in the $699,000 range, or you won’t be able to compete to get the home you want and will get discouraged quickly.
when you’re competing with all these people and a lot of the time in cash. Make sure you’re working with a real estate professional who knows the market and can negotiate on your behalf. It’s not always about the money. They have other ways of negotiating to get you your dream home. Working with local agents and lenders is also very popular in this area. You want an agent who knows the area and works with the local realtors and lenders so when it is time to work with your agent, they will already know them and want to do business together. Also, the local lender is important because we know they know the area and what to expect here. They usually know most of the realtors, and they trust this person and know they get the job done, and therefore your offers will be more appealing to the professionals on the other side.
Mortgage rates are about 1% higher than they were this time one year ago. What this means for spring 2022 homebuyers is that a 1% difference in mortgage rates can eat into your buying power compared to last year. The sellers’ market will continue into the 2022 spring home-buying season, but it should be less competitive for buyers than last year. The number of homes for sale should increase compared to 2021, but it is likely to remain lower than normal levels. Buyers will still be facing bidding wars but not as often or as intense. For sellers, you’ll want to get ahead of any maintenance or upgrades you want to make before putting your house on the market, especially if it is work you can’t do yourself.
How do you win the dream house
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March-April 2022
Taking the Bull by the horns
Bruce Baker, Our Beloved Friend of the Forest By Kevin Foster When I hear the term “friends of the forest”, one individual comes to mind immediately; a great friend, Bruce Baker. Bruce started his journey in Santa Cruz on Pacheco Avenue near Pacheco Park. As a small boy, Bruce was drawn to the outdoors as far back as he can remember. Bruce’s mom and dad would visit Big Basin and Fall Creek to go camping often. Bruce recalls he was always frequenting the beach or the forest. Some of Bruce’s fondest memories were around fourth and fifth grade; his mom would bring them to a friend’s cabin in Boulder Creek where he would spend many hours in the forest. His sophomore year, Bruce moved in with his father into a cabin surrounded by redwoods. He recalls
how his dad would get on the roof and shoot limbs out of the trees to try to prevent branches from coming down and poking holes in the roof, creating leaks during the rainy season. That’s when trees began to pique Bruce’s interest. When around 15 years old, he ran into a family friend, Ray Liebenberg, a local tree climber, who taught Bruce his first climbing knot and gave young Bruce some beginners advice on limbing trees. Bruce’s dad realized it was something his son had a calling for and got Bruce his first lineman spurs and a lineman‘s telephone belt. They customized these tools the best they could for climbing redwoods so Bruce could practice. Word got around in the neighborhood and the neighbors were asking Bruce if he could climb and limb their trees. After high school Bruce found a job working at Safeway but he would spend his early mornings climbing trees and making just as much money as he did at Safeway. In the 70s, Bruce’s passion led him to learn more about trees, seeking a better understanding and education of logging and
the timber industry. In his early 20s, Bruce headed north to south eastern Alaska. There he spent three years starting at the bottom and working his way to the top while living in a logging camp, learning all aspects of the timber trade; living and breathing trees. He would come back from Alaska during winters to be Foreman for Christiansen tree service during those 3 years. In 1984 Bruce became a licensed timber operator with all the proper insurances for the trade and for Cal Fire requirements. Bruce had reached his goal of becoming an independent contract timber faller working the coastal mountain ranges from Half Moon Bay to Big Sur and at the same time found the love of his life, wife Kimberle. Bruce had chased his dream, reached his goals and was doing what he loved.
the forest where Bruce does what he does best. Now at 67 years old, Bruce is an inspiration to many, still going strong, falling hazardous trees and monitoring our forests for safety. In Boulder Creek, Bruce Baker is someone who everyone gets a smile on their face when they see him or hear his name. He helps others where and when he can, helping to maintain the forest paths and trails, keeping a watchful eye on them while he is working way out in the woods. Our wildlife in the woods and our mountains are much safer with Bruce Baker working in them. We are all so grateful for Bruce’s passion and watchful eye.
Bruce continued his forest calling up until August 1, 2012 when he survived a near fatal automobile accident. With more than two years of recovery time, learning to talk and walk again, the timber industry was patiently waiting with welcoming arms back to
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March-April 2022
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SLVWD Behind the Scenes: A Small Engineering Team Taking Big Steps Forward by Mark Dolson The San Lorenzo Valley Water DisIt’s often easy for SLVWD ratepayers to take their ready access to high-quality water for granted. To better appreciate how the District maintains this high level of service, it can be revealing to take a peek at the internal workings of individual District departments. The District’s Engineering team is a case in point. The actual physical delivery of water to the District’s customers is the joint responsibility of the District’s Engineering and Operations teams. Operations deals with essential day-to-day concerns (operating and maintaining the water system, producing water, and ensuring water quality) whereas Engineering is responsible for the new infrastructure projects that ultimately define the District’s capabilities. With the support of the Board, the District has recently substantially strengthened its Engineering team which now consists of Josh Wolff (hired away from a Bay Area engineering firm in January, 2021 to be the new District Engineer and team lead, filling a major void), Joel Scianna (Assistant Engineer), and Weston Locke (the District’s new GIS/CAD Specialist).
With such a small team, the District is heavily dependent on outside companies to perform most of its infrastructure design, construction, and construction management. Nevertheless, improving the capabilities and processes of the Engineering team can still ultimately save the District a lot of money, and developments over the past year are beginning to bear this out. The team recently released a Standards Specifications document which provides standard drawings, specifications, and tests for all manner of routine installations (e.g., fire hydrants). This was a year-long undertaking that addressed a long-standing deficiency in the District’s operations. The team similarly set about developing a Computer Aided Design (CAD) library that allows them to design more efficiently and thereby perform more work in-house thus enabling the District, in some situations, to avoid the expense of an engineering consulting firm for the initial design phase of a project. Yet another major initiative focuses on improving the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) so that Staff can more easily locate facilities in the field (e.g., when they have become obscured by undergrowth). The team has also dramatically expanded the range and quality of
All of this progress notwithstand-
Feb-March Issue Answers
On the Water Front
the bids it receives from outside companies. In the past, the District often found itself with only a few bids to choose between for each new contract. The new and improved process involves reaching out to industry contacts and getting many more well-qualified companies to respond. In addition, the District Engineer is working to develop good relationships with his counterparts working for the County, the City of Scotts Valley, and Caltrans so that potential issues can be resolved more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Q W B U R E A E D P R O S I G E N T L S H C O U W U D I A G R P H K E T T L S S
P A U L E R P S M A L U C E M A N
F A L L F L A C H P O T R O A M S S T T L E E N A R R P
G R N A E S H Y S A T A U R V M E D
S T
O F L
ing, SLVWD remains a small District of 35 employees with a lot of challenges, including 190 miles of mainline pipe and nearly 50 storage tanks, much of which needs repair or replacement due to age. In addition, the District must contend with significant budget constraints which impact its ability to make key infrastructure investments and to continue to attract top talent. It is heartening, though, to see the advances that the District’s Engineering team has made over the past year, and this kind of exemplary engagement bodes well for the District as a whole.
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Fae Masquerade Ball Saturday May 14 at the
Brookdale Lodge
Live music, wonderful food, multiple bars, magical vendors, fortune teller 21 years and up Please
Join us for a magical evening
BTREvents.com Page 8
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Discounted rooms available March-April 2022
Event Calendar: April-May 2022 Friday, APRIL 1
@ 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM FIRST FRIDAY SANTA CRUZ FIRST FRIDAY ART TOUR Various locations in Santa Cruz County | Plan your First Friday night and visit participating venues in Downtown, the Tannery Arts Center, Midtown, Westside, Eastside, Felton, and Ben Lomond! Get out and support the arts! Find the full listing of participating artists and venues and all of the details on our website, firstfridaysantacruz.com 831-425-1234
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2022,
9:30 AM – 2:30 PM CESAR CHAVEZ DAY of SERVICE Join the Homeless Garden Project for a workday on the farm in honor of Cesar Chavez. We’ll gather at 9:30 am & ¯work till 2:30 pm. We’ll also be kicking off our local community participation in the nationwide 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Food Challenge. More information about the event can be found below & how to sign up. from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm. Homeless Garden Project’s Natural Bridges Farm Shaffer Rd. and Delaware Ave. Santa Cruz, 95060
Wednesday, APRIL 6
@ 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM WEDNESDAY NIGHT SAILBOAT RACES Santa Cruz Harbor 135 5th Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95062 United States 831-475-6161 www.santacruzharbor.org
Saturday, APRIL 16
@ 11:00 AM - APRIL 17 @ 3:30 PM ROARING CAMP RAILROADS: EGGSTRAORDINARY EASTER WEEKEND The Easter Bunny makes a stop at Roaring Camp. After riding either the Redwood Forest Steam Train or the Santa Cruz Beach Train, your kids will have a blast participating in Easter activities in Town. Activities: Easter Crafts Gold Panning (call to reserve) Candle Making Blacksmith Easter Bunny Jumbo Easter Egg With Candy & Prizes *All activities will comply with Covid-19 safety regulations. Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road Felton, CA 95018 United States 831-335-4484 www. roaringcamp.com
Sunday, APRIL 17
@ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM HENRY COWELL REDWOODS STATE PARK: FALL CREEK AFTER FIRE Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park | The Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park has reopened after 18 months of recovery efforts in the wake of the CZU Lightning Complex fire, and we want to share it with you. Join
March-April 2022
us for a series of 2-mile, 2-hour guided walks through some of the burn zones. We will observe the successive growth, talk about fire ecology, and help monitor the fire’s impacts through community science. Register for each session at www.santacruzmuseum.org/ fall-5creek-after-fire-2022. Free event. For more information, call 831.335.7077, or visit www.santacruzmuseum.org Event made possible by Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Mountain Parks Foundation, and California State Parks. DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ MAKERS MARKET EVERY THIRD SUNDAY! 10 AM-5 PM Come on out for some fresh air and crafty goodness! in Downtown Santa Cruz on Pacific Ave at Cathcart & Lincoln. This market hosts a wide range of locally handmade goods! You can find some of your favorite Santa Cruz makers here AND brand new makers… the variety of work at the market is AMAZING! Check out our website www.scmmakersmarket.com for the full list of participating vendors!
APRIL 23
@ 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM OMEGA NU 32ND DUCKY DERBY Harvey West Park, Ducky Derby 2022 Saturday April 23rd 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM Friendship Gardens Omega Nu will hold its 32nd Annual Ducky Derby and Carnival at Harvey West Park. A fun-filled day for the entire family! Come to the duck races and enjoy food, games, and music. Listen as the bugle blares signaling the start of each race and children run to watch as thousands of rubber ducks course down the water raceway. Adopt a duck and have a chance to win over 100 prizes. All proceeds from duck adoptions go directly back to our community through the Omega Nu Scholarship program and grants provided to teachers, non-profits, and charitable organizations. The ducks race rain or shine! To learn more about how you can support the Santa Cruz community through Omega Nu and Ducky Derby
in its 7th year! There’s plenty of space to spread out & enjoy the evening! Eat at a picnic table or bring lawn chairs & blankets! Location: Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley Friendly leashed pups are welcome! 5-8pm foodtrucksagogo.com 831-4383251 We’ll see you there!
Save the Date Sunday, MAY 8
@ 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM ROARING CAMP RAILROADS: MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH Treat Mom to something memorable on her special day with a delectable Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet accompanied with live music by Pat Hull. After a lovely brunch, relax with a train ride through the towering redwoods. 831.335.4484 | www.roaringcamp. com
Saturday, May 14
7:00 PM - 1:00 AM Fae Masquerade Ball - Welcome to the Realm Join us as we welcome the fairies, green man, sprites, mermaids and all other magical creatures to a night of frolic at the Brookdale Lodge. Dancing, live music, amazing costumes, and great food in the transformed Lodge. Rooms are available at a discounted rate.
Saturday ,May 28
The Felton Remembers Parade and Covered Bridge Festival is held in Felton every year. The Festival has grown during the past several years into an event which features live music great food hamburgers, hot dogs, tri–tip, watermelon, pastries and a beautiful beer garden serving beer and local wine, soft drinks and specialty items. Booths promoting local artists, non–profit organizations, jump houses, and festival games for the kids, are all part of the fun. Parade starts at 10:00 Highway 9.Starting at Henry Cowell State park to Graham Hill. Festival Starts following the Parade @ 11:00 to 4:00. Covered Bridge Park on Graham Hill Road Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send information to scbulletin@gmail.com, subject line calendar.
Please visit our website @ www. duckyderbysantacruz.org 831-4205270 Come and enjoy a great day at the park!
Friday, APRIL 29
@ 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY Skypark Food Truck Friday features your favorite food trucks at these monthly events at Skypark! In addition to dinner, we have a very popular Beer & Wine Garden + Live Music! Join us at this wonderful Community event — now
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- Support Local Business Computer & Cell Repair
Andrew Savoy Computer and cell phone repair, broken screens or broken computers are my specialties 831-278-2210
Event Planning
Financial Services
Pest Control Mountain Home Pest Control
Bayview Residential Brokerage Paula Ruth Smith Loan Originator/Sr. Processor 650.529.4702 paula@bayres.net bayviewresidential. com DRE# is 02047332 and NMLS# is 1703342
Termites & General Pests Botanical Alternatives Available FREE Competitive Bids 831-338-0888
beneaththeredwoods @gmail.com
Mobile Help MobileHelp, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1-831-534-3008
Matthew Sigmund Handyman & Custom Woodworking
If you can dream it, we can make it! Call for a free quote. 831-241-3036
Septic Service
Tree Service
Advanced Arbor Care All phases, Affordable and fully insured. Emergency response is available. 831-566-6659
Tree Service
The Honey Bucket Man
831-335-1393
Ron Easley
thehoneybucketman.com
Dental Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company
Stellar Tree Care
Complete Septic Services
Kunz Valley Trash Recycling & Hauling Weekly, Bi-weekly & Monthly Pick-ups www.kunzvalleytrash.com kunzvalleytrash@ hughes.net 831-338-9050
Handyman Weddings, parties, and events. Contact Wendy Sigmund
Trash & Recycling
831-227-5414
Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-877621-0147 www. dental50plus.com/ santacruz #6258
Mountain Community Resources
Become a published author! Publications sold at all major secular & specialty Christian bookstores. CALL Christian Faith Publishing for your FREE author submission kit. 1-855-566-0504
valleywomansclub. org
Portable Oxygen
Building Design
Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit!
Azure Building Design PO Box 811 Felton CA 95018 www.Drafting-Room. cpm
Call 866-531-0150
Plumbing
6124 Hwy 9 Felton 831-688-8840
Spa Services
Spa Santangelo Private Day Spa ~ Breathe ~ Relax ~ Enjoy Book relaxing spa treatments alone or with loved ones. 831-331-8006 (text) spasantangelo.com
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Publish Your Book
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Valley Women’s Club
Apollo Drain & Rotto Service 831-338-3203
DIRECTV Switch and Save! $49.99/month. Select All-Included Package. 155 Channels. 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand. FREE Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Premium movie channels, FREE for 3 mos! Call 1-855-686-9802
PO Box 574 Ben Lomond CA
Serving the Santa Cruz Mountain Community after the CZU Fire of 2020 Cell 831-291-0707 Cell 408-455-2866
BC Recreation & Park Boulder Creek Recreation & Parks District Hallie Greene 13333 Middleton Ave Boulder Creek, CA 831-338-4144
Blueprints & Permits Randy Hudson Designs Expert drafting, Additons, Remodels New Construction You name it. Extensive local experience. RandyHudsonDesigns.com
831-345-0750
March-April 2022
One Tribe Spirit The Garden
~ a collection of reflective musings inspired by a small garden ~ Pause for a moment... Take a deep Breath Gaze at the wonderment... and feel refreshed Nature’s blessings are many... and Our Mother Earth will provide if you’ll pause for a moment... stop here in your stride The flowers are plentiful... here for your pleasure Spirits and Divas dancing ‘round all of their treasure Be very still... You may be surprised You may even catch a glimpse of a tiny sprite rise Nature’s beauty is a mirror, reflecting back to us For your heart to be full ~ Seeing is a must So pause for a moment, Bathe your ears, nose, and eyes Take a moment of pleasure in the Mother’s Glory devised Just Breathe Welcome to My Garden! Our gardens reflect so much of who we are. Or, is it that the plant world bears, upon closer inspection, a closer resemblance to us humans than most see? One evening, while sitting in spring’s gentle evening breeze, I shared a conversation with the man I am loving about this little garden. We talked about the plants there and what his vision of this little garden might be; what work needed to be done, what plants he liked... and he welcomed my help in this little garden. The man I love lives in a small but cozy place with a small rolling mound of earth as the front yard. The thing that first catches one’s eye is the lush sprawling bougainvillea, with its bursts of passionate pink blossoms at the end of each gracefully arching branch. They seem to say, “Come here, I am a thing of beauty in this barren landscape, and I can offer you my passion if you are willing to look more closely.”. As I view it, yes, all that magnificent beauty is there on the outside, showy and bright, but if you are willing to look a little closer, each bloom, each manifestation holds a surprise in the form to three pistols that will burst open into three tiny little white flowers that each have five little hearts and five little swords for their petals (the numbers three and five being magical for many reasons). Furthermore, there is the deeper essence of the whole plant, called the “diva”, that speaks of the entire plant’s qualities, its ability to re-create over and over again and its deeper beauty overall. This is what speaks to me. This bougainvillea speaks of its sweeping, graceful branches, of its sprawling wildness, its rippled leaves. It speaks of its occasional thorn that it uses for protection against anyone who would choose to not approach it with care and loving tenderness. This is what speaks to my heart as I gently lift up its branches and pick out the fallen
March-April 2022
debris from underneath. Around this beauty of a plant, lies barren dead weeds, the past year’s wildness, and waste. What is living are the remnants of three rose bushes, the plant of love and romance; some French lavender, a plant for soothing restoration, protection, and purification; and some very sad lantana with a pungent aroma that speaks of its once present vitality. However, I have come prepared to clear away the old and make some space for some newness to be invited in. I have come with a few good reliable tools, to dig down deep; my hands plunged into the work, to pick through it all until the deeper beauty can again be seen.
such dryness. I came here today to think about my life, about my happiness now, at this moment, working in this garden, with the earth, with this man. Working with plants has always helped me to think and to find my answers. I came here to think and to work and instead, to my surprise, I was inspired. I was inspired to love this garden, I was inspired to love my life, I was inspired to love this man more, I was inspired to write this little story. But even though it is a little story, it is a good story. It is a story of richness and abundance, of restoration, re-creation, and renewal... It is a story that grew up out of this tiny garden with hearts at the center for petals. It is a good story. It is a good garden... and the man I love is a good man. They all just need a little attention, a little patience, and space... and a little loving to thrive again. Before I left this time, I took an empty bottle of the favorite beer
As I begin to clear away, the plants begin to talk to me and they all say, “Don’t give up, there is still a part of me that is alive and can grow into beauty again... can you see me?”. Yes, I see it. So I listen carefully... and I watch more carefully still. I begin with the first and smallest rosebush. At first glance the whole appears hopeless, but as I begin to cut away gently, what appears not worth attention, also bears a tender inside. I watch and I listen even more closely. There is more life here after all. It is just that all this past material needs to be cleared away. This life needs some attention and nourishment, food for its core essence and some water for its thirst, to thrive again. And roses, known for their beauty but sharp thorns... this rosebush did not prick me once with its thorns in objection of my attentiveness.
of the man I am loving, that was filled with “buts” - the why-nots and I shook them all out, gave it a good swish of fresh water to wash away the residue and I set it on his threshold with a sprig of the bougainvillea and its showy blooms. They beckon, “look more deeply at what is here waiting for you... look at what I harvested today for you.” The man I am loving will get the message for his heart and soul too are of this garden. You just have to look a little more deeply within him to see it. So this tiny garden taught me so much today; trusted me and welcomed my care. This garden is much like the man I love. I am happy with this garden, this life, this work, and this man. So, do our gardens reflect us or do we reflect our gardens? I think so.
SPRING SATURDAY
MAY 7 10AM-5PM
As I continue my work, I notice the dryness... it is all so parched, so thirsty... all of its ability to recreate, all of its juiciness, gone! Even the emptied snail shells are a testament to this dryness. They were once moist and juicy too. And I found that the Bermuda grass, most often the toughest garden foe, gave up its fight fairly easily in
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111 Aspen Lane $174,000
0 Jim’s Road $145,000
Boulder Creek
• Features a double lot • Amazing opportunity! • Previous house approx. 1054 sqft with detached garage • Semicircular driveway • Use of the local swimming pool
• • • •
Bonny Doon, .6 acre
• Adjacent to San Vicente Preserve A Hikers Paradise • Pre CZU fire 3bd/3ba 2077SF Farmhouse w/ detached Garage, come rebuild. • Well. Paved road.
G DIN
$1,135,000
LD
SO
• • • •
$389,000
N PE
Sold Price $1,280,000
3 Bed / 2 Bath 1521SF 2 stories Soaring ceilings, open floor plan Bonus detached office/guest rm 2 car garage, large fenced yard
113 Oak Street
Ramble Road
E
L SA
1+ acre, easy access Prolific spring water Existing PG&E Service Gorgeous redwood trees
2932 Granite Creek Road
345 San Vicente Terrace $299,000
Ben Lomond
$99,000
11 Acres Boulder Creek
• • • •
• Views, sun, privacy • Well water, greenhouse • Lovely camp-like setting
Brookdale
2 Parcels totalling 14,027 SF Lot. Great neighborhood. Original home was approx 1180 SF. Come rebuild your own home.
View more properties at: www.santacruzmountainrealestate.com
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March-April 2022