Capitola Soquel Times: July 2021 by Times Publishing Group, Inc.

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For aging adults isolated at home, getting to essential appointments or doing simple home repair is challenging even in “normal” times. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these tasks became nearly impossible for such adults. Full Story page 14

Wednesday Night Concerts Are Back! Full Story page 7

Special Olympics Torch Run The Special Olympics torch run returned June 16 after taking a year off due to COVID-19. Team Capitola raised approximately $1,200 for Special Olympians, according to Police Sgt. Leo Moreno. Ten Special Olympics athletes live in Capitola, with

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July 2021 • Vol 26 No. 7

about 190 more living in other parts of the county. Capitola Vice Mayor Sam Storey presented a proclamation to the police officers association during brief ceremony at City Hall the day of the torch run, a day when temperatures were on the rise. ... continues on page 4

Grand Jury: Minimal Jail Staffing Leads to Injustice

The Sheriff’s Office’s senior leadership believes that more staffing is most needed to improve performance and safety. Full Story page 5

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No. 7

Volume 26

Table of Contents

Cover Special Olympics Torch Run 5 6 7 9 10

12 14 17 22

Community News Grand Jury: Minimal Jail Staffing Leads to Injustice Cabrillo Stage: Live Music in the Great Outdoors, By Mindy Pedlar Wednesday Night Concerts Are Back!, By Jondi Gumz • So When is the Capitola Library Open? • Mid-County Senior Center is Open Again Rent Deal Could Help Tenants, Landlords, By Jondi Gumz • Santa Cruz County Fair Returns September 15-19 Dominican Modifications OK’d, $360M for Parking Garage, Surgery Center, By Jondi Gumz • Friday Night Live Presents: Youth in Action Summit Friendly Dog Needs A New Home Volunteer Center Restarts Transportation & Helping Hands, By Trea Robinson Red Cross Honors Diane Bridgeman, Megan Erk Live Music at Severino’s! • Garden Volunteers Needed at Castro Adobe State Historic Park

Local Sports 11 Savannah Cambell to Play Volleyball at Johnson & Wales Business Profile 18 Birchbark Foundation: If You Have a Pet, Help is Available, By June Smith Your Opinions 23 Support Zero Emisssions Rail & 32-Mile Coastal Trail, By Faina Segal, Board Chair, Friends of the Rail & Trail  23 Coastal Rail Not Feasible, Surfers & Greenway Say, Submitted by Buzz Anderson

Monthly Horoscope • Page 26 – Hiding Away Under its Shell, By Risa D’Angeles Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28, 29

Featured Columnists 13 Summer Bringing Lots of Changes, By Yvette Brooks, Mayor, City of Capitola 24 Sunday Brunch: You’re Invited To Add One!, By Ron Kustek 25 Stage 3 Water Cutback: What You Can Do, By Rebecca Gold Rubin 30 Portola Drive Separated Bikeways Need Feedback, By Manu Koenig, Supervisor, First District 31 Perennial Plants Perform For Years, By Tony Tomeo

SCCAS Featured Pet • Page 31 – Meet Misto!

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COVER STORY Patrice Edwards Jondi Gumz

publisher editor

contributing writers Mindy Pedlar, Jondi Gumz , Trea Robinson, June Smith, Faina Segal, Buzz Anderson, Risa D’Angeles, Yvette Brooks, Ron Kustek, Rebecca Gold Rubin, Manu Koenig, Tony Tomeo layout Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson graphic artists Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson

“Torch Run” from page 1 Capitola Police Department Runners Chief Terry McManus Captain Andy Dally Sergeant Leo Moreno Officer Mike Kilroy Officer Gabe Rankin Officer Oscar Valdez. ••• City Staff Runners Kailash Mozumder Chloe Woodmansee

photography Michael Oppenheimer, Jim Johnson, 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 ©2021. 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 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 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Nikki Bryant Cory McNair Staci Butcher

••• Donations are still welcome and can be made at: https://specialolympics.donordrive. com/team/7183 or call Sgt. Leo Moreno at 831-475-4242 for more options. n ••• Cover Photo: Gabe Rankin, parking enforcement officer, leads the way carrying the torch, followed by Kailash Mozumder, public works project manager, and Police Chief Terry McManus.

Above/Below: Torch runners pose around Capitola.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Grand Jury: Minimal Jail Staffing Leads to Injustice Editor’s note: This is excerpted from the 29-page report by the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury on county jail operations. Email your feedback to Jondi Gumz at info@cyber-times.com ••• he Sheriff’s Office’s senior leadership believes that more staffing is most needed to improve performance and safety. For the past several years the Corrections Bureau has operated with the minimal staffing thought to be necessary, and mandatory overtime to staff each shift has been more the rule than an exception. The Main Jail day shift includes the Watch Commander (a sergeant), two Senior Corrections Officer for housing and booking, and 13 corrections officers assigned to specific posts in the facility. The night shift has the same number of senior people as working on days, but with one less CO, as at night there is only one CO in the Control Room instead of two. Assign-

ments for each shift are noted on a chart with the names of the CO assigned to each position on that shift. Beneath these levels is a “red line” below which are slots for three additional COs, but they are never filled. A substitute is called in whenever a CO assigned to work one of the slots calls in sick, is injured, or otherwise is unable to work. Normally COs get three days off for every three 12-hourshifts they work. Often

this results in filling the shift roster with COs being required to work mandatory overtime. As a consequence it is not uncommon for COs to put in five, and even six shifts per week. The work is both stressful and exhausting. COs are responsible for filling out reports and other paperwork that document their activities. The COs assigned to housing units supervise them from a control booth outside the locked units.

But COs are constantly going in and out of the units like yo-yos. Their duties include mandatory hourly safety checks, serving three meals per day, collecting dirty laundry and distributing clean laundry, distributing and collecting grooming supplies, distributing commissary items purchased by inmates, dealing with requests by individual inmates, supervising inmate movements in and out of the housing units, supervising open time, assuring that inmates are in their assigned cells when it’s time for “lock down,” and often responding to calls for assistance from other COs when needed. Intake, booking, and release Cos deal with all movement in and out of the facility including new bookings, releases, and inmates being processed in and out for court appearances, as well as assisting COs in the various housing areas as needed. “Grand Jury” page 8

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Cabrillo Stage: Live Music in the Great Outdoors

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’m listening in on a rehearsal of the Cabrillo Stage Big Band. What a joy it is to hear live music again! The musicians preparing for ACT 1 of the Cabrillo Stage Summer Musical Festival that will present five different productions over the five weekends in July in the Cabrillo College outdoor amphitheater. Artistic Director and Conductor Jon Nordgren says, “On this very special Independence Day weekend, as we throw off the shackles of the pandemic, we celebrate America with a tribute to popular Big Band Jazz inspired by Broadway. You will hear some of your favorite arrangements from the likes of Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Glen Miller, along with vocal performances by the Stars of Cabrillo Stage including our host Andrew Ceglio.” ACT 1 runs July 2-4. Andrew is also directing, choreographing and appearing in Tomfoolery, Act 4 of the 5-weekend series. He muses, “The opportunity to work not only on this show but on some of the greatest hits of the Tom Lehrer songbook has been an absolute dream come true for me. Mr. Lehrer’s material requires a certain level of intelligent witticism as well as a heaping dose of frivolity, both of which I heartily enjoy. But most importantly, being able to collaborate with one of my favorite Musical Directors of all time, Michael McGushin, not to mention a phenomenal cast of seasoned theatre veterans and colleagues, makes this an experience that people will not want to miss. The pure fun and joy we are having with crafting this production for an eager audience of Tom Lehrer fans will

be something that I know will be reflected in the quality of the work.” Act 4, Tomfoolery, runs July 23-25. With Covid restrictions still in place for many venues including colleges, Nordgren has found a way to bring music back to our community. His concept uses the outdoor Cabrillo College amphitheater, scaling back the visual elements to create a rustic country festival feel with performances by troupes of actors, singers, dancers and musicians. The lighting will be outdoor daylight with Skip Epperson’s sets — including color-themed flags decorating the entire amphitheater. Moreover as Nordgren has reported, “The highest production values will be embodied by the incredible talent of our performers.” Don’t miss Act 2, Circus-Knives, Blood and Water July 9-11, Act 3, Cabrillo Stage Pit Orchestra July 16-18 and the season finale Act 5, Pirates of Penzance July 30-Aug 1. All performances are in the Cabrillo College Outdoor Amphitheater. Live streaming is available for ACTS 1, 2, and 3. Observing COVID-19 safety protocols, seating is limited. Tickets in the bleachers are sold as Box Seats in sets of 2 ,3, 4 or 5 seats. Lawn seating is available in circular pods of 2, 3, 4 or 6 seats. Prices range from $50 for 2 seats to $215 for 6 seats, depending on placement within the amphitheater. Evening performances begin at 6 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m. n ••• Tickets are available online at cabrillostage. com. Box office hours are Thursday – Saturday, 12-6 p.m.; call 831-479-6154.

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Andrew Ceglio, director/choreographer for Tomfoolery.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Wednesday Night Concerts Are Back! By Jondi Gumz

ith the state giving the all-clear sign to small outdoor events, the Capitola City Council on June 24 agreed to restart the popular Twilight Concert series featuring live music at the Esplanade bandstand on Wednesdays. Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic dinner or buy dinner at one of the restaurants nearby in Capitola Village. The bands are usually booked with local sponsorships so the cost to attend is free; the city is soliciting sponsorships. For information, email Kbarreto@ci.capitola. ca.us. Here is the 2021 schedule: July 14: Extra Large, playing rock and funky funk July 21: Joint Chiefs, playing soul and funk Aug. 4: Mike Hammar & the Nails, playing blues Aug. 11: Tsunami, playing classic rock/R&B, dance Aug. 18: Everyday People, playing classic Latin rock Aug. 25: Beggar Kings, playing Rolling Stones/dance music Sept. 1: Digbeats, playing classic rock. “The bands really want to play,” said Larry Laurent, assistant to the city manager. Also approved: the city-sponsored Art & Music at the Beach for three Sundays in July and August — July 18 and Aug. 1 and 15 — and the city-sponsored Movies at the

Beach on two Friday nights, Sept. 10 and 17. Look for more details at https://www. cityofcapitola.org/acc/page/sunday-artmusic-beach-2021 All of these events were cancelled by COVID safety restrictions last year. The city has included $19,000 in the 2021-22 budget to make these events happen. A special event permit is expected to be approved for the new Agility Tribe, a new climbing gym on 38th Avenue anticipating 150 guests for its soft opening July 10.

Other special events approved June 24 by the City Council are: • Capitola Beach Festival, Sept. 25-26, attracting 3,500 people to the Nautical Parade event and 50-150 at the other activities. • Women on Waves surfing event Oct. 9, which is expected to attract 250 participants. • Monte Foundation Fireworks Oct. 10 (the day before the holiday of Columbus Day) attracting 5,000 to 7,000 people to Capitola Village.

The Capitola Art & Wine Festival, which each year attracts more than 25,000 attendees over two days, qualifies as a “mega-event” under state guidelines that defines mega events as those attracting more than 10,000 people. The organizer, the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce, is expected to apply for Sept. 11-12, but no one from that group or the public at large had a comment. Asked whether attendees will be required to wear masks, city Manager Jamie Goldstein said, the city staff would have to work with event organizers to make sure the Art & Wine Festival complies with relevant restrictions. City Police Chief Terry McManus said there’s no way to limit attendance at the events but agreed that having a command center in the right place helps in managing resources. The vote to authorize the summer events was unanimous. The county reports 464 COVID cases in Capitola since the pandemic broke out a year ago, 2.9% of the 16,262 known cases in the county, and it’s unknown how many of the 59 active cases are in Capitola. Dr. Gail Newel, the Santa Cruz County health officer, is concerned about spread from visitors with counties with more variants that spread easily. In Santa Cruz, 79 percent of spread has been person-toperson in a household. n

So When is the Capitola Library Open? Mid-County Senior Center is Open Again

apitola residents have a beautiful new library, but it’s not open every day and some days, it doesn’t open

until 1 p.m., in which case the book dropoff has to suffice. Hours for right now are: Tuesday and Thursday: 1-6 p.m. We d n e s d a y : 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday: Noon to 5 p.m. The plan is to expand operating hours beginning July 11, when the library will be open Monday through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. n ••• Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

he senior center in Capitola reopened June 7 for activities with a modified schedule. Monday’s schedule included folk dance 10:30 a.m. to noon, photo club from 1-3 p.m. and ping pong 3:30-5:45 p.m. Tuesday started with ukulele, 10:30 a.m. to noon, bingo from 1-3:3:30 p.m. , and country western line dance, 5-6 p.m.

Michael Lew, in his cowboy hat, teaches line dancing.

Wednesday’s lineup started with physical fitness 9:30-10:30 a.m., gift shop open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and line dance lessons 7-8 p.m. Members pay a fee per class, usually about $4; the fee is $1 higher if you’re not a member. n For details about July activities, call 476-4711.

Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 7

“Grand Jury” from page 5 When the CO assigned to a specific area is not at the control booth he/she will not hear a call from an inmate’s in-cell intercom. Employee turnover among COs is frequent. Many Cos see their employment as a stepping stone to law enforcement, and will leave if they are able to switch into the SO’s Operations Bureau or another agency. Further, the pay scale for beginning COs in Santa Cruz County is at the lower end of pay scales in neighboring counties. It is $579 less per month than in Monterey County and $1240 per month less than in Santa Clara County. Many COs have long commutes to work in the Main Jail. Few, if any, can afford to live in close proximity given the extraordinary cost of housingin most of Santa Cruz County, and a good number of COs live “over the hill” or beyond into the Central Valley where affordable housing isi n greater supply. Management has lauded the dedication and competence of the COs. Yet low morale, butnout, and employee retention are both persistent and problematic. Budget and Board of Supervisors’ Oversight he budget for the Sheriff’s Department is reviewed annually by the BoS. In June 2020county budget reviews were conducted; the adopted budget detail may be found in the “The County of Santa Cruz Adopted Budget | Fiscal Year 2020-21.”[70] In particular, the Sheriff’s budget was reviewed on June 23, 2020 as item no. 52.[71] The Board Letter, which introduced the proposed Sheriff’s budget, stated that: Over the next year, the department will be focused primarily on public safety and the community we serve as well as providing care and resources for the population in our correctional facilities.[72] (Justice in the Jail: Published June 17, 2021/Page 13 of 29) An examination of the specifics of the Corrections Bureau budget, found on pages236-238 of the County budget document, shows the following: • The 2020-21 Corrections Bureau budget is increased approximately $2.2M over the 2019-20 budget. • Salary and benefits increases account for all of this increase. • Total staffing equals 151 positions, 11 positions remain unfunded.[73] The total staffing (151) does not mean that there are 151 people available to work. The number of people able to work is reduced by the number of unfilled positions due to resignations, terminations, and retirement, or people unavailable to work due to illness, injury or vacation. What is apparent is that for many years the Main Jail has operated with the fewest possible number of people on the job each day, and then only by requiring COs to put in mandatory overtime to the extent that it has had a negative effect on both morale and performance. Poor morale and overworked, tired workers lead to mistakes. The Grand Jury is aware that there are many competing interests for limited county resources. Both the COVID-19 pandemic and the CZU Lightning Complex Fire imposed unprecedented and unforeseen pressure on those resources. However, we note that the county is currently defending three civil actions related to events in the jail at a substantial cost to the County. Might these resources be better spent on prevention, i.e., on adequate staffing? Board of Supervisors’ Oversight he BoS is ultimately responsible for setting the county budget and overseeing how public funds are spent, including if they are spent properly, wisely, and are sufficient fordoing whatever needs to be done. Historically the BoS receives information regarding events, issues, and needs of the SO’s

Corrections Bureau through various sources. They include informal one-on-one communications with the Sheriff, articles appearing in the local press, or what individual supervisors may read or be told by others. When serious events occur, the Sheriff may call individual supervisors, and if necessary, appear before the BoS in closed session. But there is no formal structure or transparency by which the BoS is timely and regularly kept informed about the Corrections Bureau.[42][74][75][76][77] As a result, all the public ever knows is what appears online, in the local press or on the local news. Stories concerning the Corrections Bureau make the news almost exclusively when bad things happen in the jail, of which there have been far too many. In fact, the only established recurring process or communication concerning the operation of the Corrections Bureau occurs when it is time to address budgeting. The process involves the Sheriff interacting with the County Administrative Officer concerning the budgetary needs of the SO including its Corrections Bureau. The Sheriff will make a written and/or oral presentation to the BoS when the SO’s budget is on the agenda. When special circumstances have warranted it, the Sheriff has gone to the board and requested and obtained special allocations.[42] One example is the approximately $1.5M allocated in February 2020 to replace the defective and outmoded emergency backup generators by late 2021.[12] The money’s there, but it will be another year and a half before the Main Jail has adequate backup power capacity to run essential systems.[17][42] This illustrates why ad-hoc, informal communications cannot provide the oversight and transparency that could — and would — make for better, more efficient, and less costly operations. Grand Jury Oversight t might be argued that an oversight board is not needed because of the Grand Jury. California law mandates that every county in the state impanel a Civil Grand Jury each year. Each year, the County Superior Court convenes a Civil Grand Jury of 19 jurors with a term of one year. Like most juries, grand jurors are individual citizens who volunteer their time and energies. Their responsibilities include examining resident complaints, inquiring into the “public prisons in the county,” and conducting investigations and producing reports on topics they select intended to improve the operations of a wide range of local governmental boards, agencies and departments.[78] The Grand Jury’s oversight broadly encompasses every aspect of local government, including county, city, education, and other aspects of local concern. On the other hand a Sheriff Oversight Board or an Inspector General will develop an ongoing and in-depth understanding of the SO’s entire operations including corrections, financial needs, funding opportunities, and state requirements. The Case for a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General, as Provided in Assembly Bill 1185 (Government Code §25303.7) Assembly Bill No.1185, which added § 25303.7 to the Government Code, was enacted and signed by Governor Newsom on September 30, 2020,and became effective January 1, 2021. It allows the board of supervisors in each of California’s 58 counties to establish either an appointed “sheriff oversight board” or “inspector general” to assist the board of supervisors in its duty to supervise the conduct of county sheriffs. The law specifically states that such oversight shall not obstruct the “independent prosecutorial functions of the sheriff and district attorney.” Nor does the law limit the board’s budgetary authority over the sheriff.[79] (Appendix D has the full text) The statute makes no provision regarding

8 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

compensating a sheriff oversight board or inspector general. The BoS can appoint citizens willing to volunteer their time or it can establish compensation as it does for any board-appointed advisory board or commission. There is no requirement that costs associated with an oversight board or inspector general come out of the sheriff’s budget. Even before AB 1185 was enacted, the counties of Orange, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Sonoma, and Santa Clara each had adopted provisions creating independent bodies to monitor county corrections and law enforcement functions. Since AB 1185 was signed into law, San Francisco County’s voters adopted it, and Santa Clara, Sonoma, and Los Angeles Counties amended their respective ordinances to give their oversight board subpoena power as authorized in Government Code § 25303.7. An oversight board or an inspector general would have similar investigatory powers, as does the Grand Jury, but with both significant differences and additional advantages: • It would not cease to exist, and need to start fresh each year with a new group of citizens. • It could act as an advocate for the Sheriff’s needs for resources before the Board of Supervisors. • It could issue periodic reports calling attention to issues of public interest concerning the operation of the Sheriff’s Office including its Corrections Bureau. • It would provide the public with greater transparency of the operations of the Sheriff’s Office, which every year consumes the single-largest slice of all local and state taxes expended by the county.[81] • In the end it will save money because oversight will bring about more efficiency, improved morale and working conditions, and reduce human error. Conclusion ased on everything learned in this investigation we believe that it is critically important that everything be done to assure the health and safety of jail staff and inmates alike, and to go the extra mile to compensate for the reported structural deficiencies of the Main Jail. This paramount need includes the SO and the General Services Department making every effort to prioritize maintaining the necessary equipment and systems and upgrading them when necessary as expeditiously as possible. This need includes assuring that the Correction’s Policy Manual is current,and that necessary amendments be adopted to better control inmates’ access to potentially dangerous items. This need includes providing the Corrections Bureau with sufficient personnel to both fully staff the facility and reduce the dependence on mandatory overtime that is detrimental to both morale and efficiency. Last, but certainly not least, we believe that it is essential and in the public interest to improve oversight by adoption of a Sheriffs Oversight Board or Inspector General as authorized by Government Code § 25303.7. The Grand Jury strongly recommends that the issue be brought up before the Board of Supervisors. If the Board won’t adopt it, put it on the ballot and let the voters decide. Findings F1) The Board of Supervisors has failed to assert and exercise proper oversight within their purview of the Main jail. F2) Adoption of a Sheriffs Oversight Board or Inspector General under Government Code § 25303.7 will provide necessary public transparency and structure to support the Board of Supervisors’ supervision of the Sheriff’s Office Corrections Bureau. F3) Adoption of a Sheriffs Oversight Board or Inspector General under Government Code § 25303.7 will provide an effective advocate before the Board

of Supervisors and the public regarding the Sheriff’s needs. (Justice in the Jail: Published June 17, 2021 Page 16 of 29) F4) The Correction’s Policy Manual must provide timely, comprehensive, applicable, and consistent guidelines for jail operations that serve to assure the safety of inmates and staff. F5) The policies in the Correction’s Policy Manual regarding razors do not sufficiently assure that razors cannot be used by inmates to harm themselves or others. F6) Events of violence and death in the Main Jail contrast negatively with the Sheriff’s Office mission, visions, and goals. F7) Old and outdated equipment and systems in the Main Jail are detrimental to safe, efficient, and effective management of the facility. F8) Long delays in replacing the backup power generators put staff and inmates at risk in the event of a power failure. F9) Limited staffing and requiring mandatory overtime of Correction Officers at the Main Jail are detrimental to performance, staff morale, and contribute to human error which can threaten the health and safety of staff and inmates. Recommendations R1) Within six months the Board of Supervisors should either establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General as provided in Government Code§ 25303.7, or alternatively place the issue before the voters in the county.(F1–F9) R2) Within six months the Board of Supervisors should agendize and open for public comment issues raised by Government Code § 25303.7.(F1–F9) R3) Within six months the Sheriff should propose for the Board of Supervisors’ review and approval an increase in Correction Officer staffing and associated budget to reduce the need for mandatory overtime and to sufficiently staff the Main Jail.(F1, F9) R4) Within six months the Sheriff should amend the Correction’s Policy Manual to remove inapplicable provisions and to add provisions relating to razors that more effectively limit and control the conditions of their use by inmates. (F4, F5) R5) Within three months the Sheriff’s Office and the General Services Department should establish formal protocols for regular monthly meetings to review the status of all correctional facilities, including providing estimates of completion for any repairs and/ or replacements that are outstanding, and prioritizing items that directly affect the health and safety of inmates and/or staff. Such meetings should be documented and open to inspection by the County Administrative Officer and the Board of Supervisors. (F7, F8) R6) Within 60 days the Sheriff’s Office and the General Services Department should provide a written report to the Board of Supervisors and the Chief Administrative Officer providing both the specifications for, and a timeline for, completion of each stage of the project to replace and/or repair the backup emergency power system, and thereafter update such report every thirty days until such project is completed. (F7, F8) (Justice in the Jail: Published June 17, 2021 Page 17 of 29) Commendations C1) The Grand Jury commends the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Chief Deputy of the Corrections Bureau for their aggressive, efficient, and entirely successful actions that prevented any outbreak of COVID-19 in the inmate population. C2) The Grand Jury commends the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office and the Chief Deputy of the Corrections Bureau for adopting innovative programs designed to promote reentry and reduce recidivism. C3) The Grand Jury commends the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office and the Chief Deputy of the Corrections Bureau for fully cooperating with our investigation and providing requested documents and information. n

COMMUNITY NEWS

Rent Deal Could Help Tenants, Landlords

By Jondi Gumz

ood news for renters and landlords — a state deal announced June 25 extends the eviction moratorium until Sept. 30 and pay landlords all the back rent that went unpaid during the pandemic. But the deal isn’t final and must be voted on by the Legislature, which could happen June 28. The deal is in AB832. Some tenants lost their jobs, others had COVID-19 medical bills or other financial hardship and thus didn’t pay rent. Tenant lawyers say evictions for other issues are still happening.

Landlords were offered another deal earlier to pay to 80 percent of back rent, requiring them to forgive the remainder. But it wasn’t popular, perhaps due to bureaucratic requirements. The state paid out only $61 million of the $659 million counties requested in aid, indicating a need was not met. Both deals relate to residential properties; it’s not clear whether there will be additional aid for small businesses or restaurants/food trucks that did not get forgivable loans or outright grants from the federal government.

The Santa Cruz County is doing better as of May with unemployment at 6.8 percent and a big jump from April in farm jobs and hospitality and food service jobs, though those categories often are low-paying. Capitola Produce is looking for a clerk, paying $13 an hour to start. The city of Capitola is surveying residents about accessory dwelling units: Budgeting, style preferences, and the amount of time to permit and build. To view that survey, visit www.cityofcapitola.org/ n

Santa Cruz County Fair Returns September 15-19

he Santa Cruz County will return Sept 15-19 at the county fairgrounds in Watsonville, after a

year in which the infectious new coronavirus COVID-19 squelched all gathering events.

“We intend to gather in person and put on a full and joyous celebration of community,” said Santa Cruz County Fair CEO Dave Kegebein in an announcement June 21 after Gov. Newsom opened the state for business as normal since COVID-19 case spread was down dramatically across the state as 40 million vaccines were administered and close to 19 million people were fully vaccinated. “The 2021 fair will look a lot like the last fair we put on in 2019,” Kegebein added. That includes the animals, the rides, Fair food, strolling through

the exhibit halls, motorsports on Wednesday and Thursday nights, music on the main stage, everything fairgoers love will be back, according to Kegebein, who said volunteers are eager to get started. Tickets will be available soon along with updates on the Fair website as the army of volunteers build their departments around the theme of “Cool Shades and Tractor Parades.” n ••• Those updates and the link to online tickets will start appearing over the next few weeks at santacruzcountyfair.com

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

Dominican Modifications OK’d, $360M for Parking Garage, Surgery Center

By Jondi Gumz

n June 8, Dominican Hospital got the unanimous go-ahead from Santa Cruz County supervisors for a $360 million project to build a new surgical department and a three-story parking garage with 409 spaces. The 222-bed hospital at 1555 Soquel Drive is the only one with an emergency room in north Santa Cruz County and staff played a key role in helping the county get through the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital has been using valet parking for some time to deal with the shortage of parking spaces as its facilities got busier. Before the pandemic, visitors often would circle the parking lots, hunting for a space that didn’t seem to exist. The only issue that sparked debate was whether Dominican should pay $540,000 in traffic impact fees, the amount recommended by county

planner Nathan McBeth based on standard formulas for square footage, as the new operating rooms will total 85,000 square feet, generating an estimated new 901 vehicle trips. The end result will be 10 operating rooms; today there are eight. No patient rooms are being added, as current rooms with two beds will become single occupancy with privacy. Deidre Hamilton of Hamilton Land Planning made a case to reduce the traffic impact fee to $88,000, calling square footage a poor way to analyze impact. The hospital’s consultant projected an increase of 148 vehicle trips with an increase of 39 employees, and that a travel demand program and car pools could reduce the impact significantly. “We serve everyone, especially those who are unable to pay,” said Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz, the hospital’s president and CEO. “This is an important investment,” said Supervisor Zach Friend. Supervisor Manu Koenig called the proposed building beautiful and praised the way the planned landscaping would shield the building from the neighborhood. A rendering of a new waiting area. The project

A rendering of the proposed parking garage.

was designed by Devenney Group of Oakland, which specializes in health care developments. Supervisor Ryan Coonerty proposed a compromise in which Dominican would pay $88,000, based on the hospital’s analysis and then pay an additional $250,000 as a community benefit. However, that would leave the county Public Works Department short by some $200,000 toward planned improvements on Soquel Drive, the main access route to the hospital, to boost its rating from Level D, with wait times barely acceptable by transportation standards, to Level C, with has shorter wait times. County Public Works chief Matt Machado has secured a $16 million state grant that requires $9 million in local

matching funds, and the current budget picture is lean, with no similar-sized developments on the horizon to contribute traffic impact fees. “Without that funding, our improvements are at risk,” Coonerty conceded. Dominican also agreed to contribute about $622,000, a 43 percent share of a project to upgrade stormwater drainage. The project will start with the parking garage on Mission Drive. That will displace 140 employee parking spaces. Dominican’s solution is an agreement with Oakwood Memorial Park, the funeral home and cemetery that flanks the hospital on Paul Sweet Road, for employees to park. “Dominican Upgrades” page 12

Friday Night Live Presents: Youth in Action Summit

Tuesday July 13 • Wednesday July 14 • 1– 3 p.m., Online Seminars; Register by July 12

anta Cruz County Friday Night Live invites all youth entering grades 6-12 to join the annual Youth in Action Summit 2021 on July 13-14, with the theme of “Building Confidence and Embracing our Identities!” This free, interactive networking and skill-building event is designed and led by the youth of Friday Night Live and will take place via Zoom.

Space is limited, and registration by July 12 is required at https://tinyurl.com/ YAS2021REG. Issa Bunch, youth facilitator, shared, “My absolute favorite part of our Youth in Action Summit is where every participant reflects on their experience and who made it extra special; did someone make you feel welcome, brighten your day, or made you laugh?

10 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

These compliments are shared anonymously so if you get a bit nervous like me, no need to worry. I love this activity; I still keep the affirmations that were given to me; so many memories! And we are looking forward to making more memories this year, with you!” Participants can earn community service hours, strengthen and practice new skills, make friends, and have fun! Through peer-lead games and activities, youth identify what they value, discover

their unique leadership style, and learn how they can address community issues that impact them. Participating youth are eligible to apply for an internship opportunity with the County of Santa Cruz Friday Night Live to practice the leadership skills they learned at this event and build future job skills. Community service hours and stipends are offered. “Youth in Action Summit” page 21

LOCAL SPORTS

Savannah Cambell to Play Volleyball at Johnson & Wales Y ou might have seen Savannah Cambell picking up trash for Save Our Shores, but she spent a lot of quality time playing volleyball for Mount Madonna School, leading the Hawks in 2019-20 to win the Central Coast Section crown, the NorCal title and Division V State Championship. And although she graduated from Mount Madonna School in June, her volleyball playing time will not end, as the Savannah Cambell 5-10 setter has signed a “National Letter of Intent” with Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, where the Wildcats are in the DIII division. “I am so excited to be playing volleyball at Johnson & Wales,” said Cambell. “It has been my dream to play volleyball in college and that dream came true earlier this fall. When I went to visit the school, I knew it would become my new home. The sport has become a part of who I am and I’m ready to take it to the next level as a Wildcat.” Cambell began her volleyball aspirations with Mount Madonna School in third grade. She advance her skills playing for Club Cruz and Summit Volleyball Club

and then Main Beach Volleyball Club in Aptos. As a high school athlete, she was recognized sophomore year with an All-Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Honorable Mention; and as a junior was named Athlete of the Week on Oct. 7, 2019, by the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian newspaper. In 2019, Cambell was honored by CalHISports.com as an All-State Girls Volleyball First Team pick; and selected for the All-SCCAL Second Team. When Cambell helped lead the Hawks to the D-V State Championship, she also helped the Hawks earn the California Interscholastic Federation’s scholastic team award for having one of the top five grade-point averages among all fall 2019 CCS volleyball teams. The 2019 state championship was the second in Mount Madonna’s history; the first was a girls volleyball title in 2007. “Savannah has had unparalleled success with us at Mount Madonna School,” said High School Athletic Director PK McDonald, who graduated rom the school in 2004. “It was a gift to be able to watch her volleyball skills develop. She consistently played with her whole heart, and was always a great friend and teammate. I am so happy that Savannah has the opportunity to continue her journey, and wish her the best of luck!” n

PLEASE JOIN US for this FREE event!

Fall in Love with BirchBark virtual celebration & fundraiser Saturday, July 31st, 6:45

more information at www.birchbarkfoundation.org/fil2021 or call 831.471.7255

GET BACK IN THE GROVE! THE AUDREY STANLEY GROVE, DELAVEAGA PARK, SANTA CRUZ

JULY 20 - AUGUST 29

The plays in our 2021 season explore the enormous impact an individual can have on history. Witness the political intrigue of RII and the passionate struggles of The Agitators. You will want a front row seat as we joyfully regather in The Grove. —Mike Ryan, Artistic Director

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

santacruzshakespeare.org Box Office: 831-460-6399 Savannah Cambell, Mount Madonna School senior, stands with Mount Madonna School athletic director PK McDonald as she shows off her sweatshirt from Johnson & Wales University, where she will play Division III volleyball in the fall.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 11

COMMUNITY NEWS

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12 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Friendly Dog Needs A New Home

f you need a pandemic puppy, this fourlegged shepherd/pit mix could be your new buddy. Fawn’s caretaker passed away recently and she is now in a foster home. She is a healthy Australian Shephard/ Pit mix, around 10 years old, weighing 58 lbs. She is spayed, up-to-date on vaccinations, and is house trained. Fawn enjoys walks, but is just as happy to hang out at home to take a nap or watch TV with you — just don’t forget the belly rubs! Fawn is very friendly, but gets excited when meeting other dogs. Once she is properly introduced, she becomes her usual playful self. She has been in training — mainly working on leash manners. Her trainer says Fawn is a kind, calm, and goofy dog who “has bursts of puppy energy that are absolutely adorable. Her ideal home would be with no cats.

“Dominican Upgrades” from page 10 Once the parking garage is complete, the new operating rooms will be built the existing emergency department remodeled. Seismic upgrades mandated by the state are part of the project, and creation of 60 private patient rooms from the former surgical department space.

If you are looking for a loyal companion who loves to snuggle and is eagerly waiting to find love again, please call Kay Patel at 831-818-6888 or email her at kaypatel1039@gmail.com. n

The project is expected to be completed within 10 years—so 2031. ••• Support this Project pportunities are available for community contributions to the improvement of Dignity Health Dominican Hospital. For information, call the Dominican Hospital Foundation, (831) 462-7712. n

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Summer Bringing Lots of Changes

COVID Guidelines and What It Means For Capitola  n June 15, all sectors listed in the Blueprint Activities and Business Tiers Chart may return to usual operations (withexceptions for Mega Events over 10,000 people) based on the following general public health recommendations: Restrictions Applying to Indoor & Outdoor Settings Vaccine Verification/ Required: Indoor mega Negative Testing Recommended: Outdoor mega Capacity Limitations No restrictions Physical No restrictions for Distancing attendees, customers and guests

SPECIALIZING IN

By Yvette Brooks, Mayor, City of Capitola

his summer brings a lot of change. The Capitola City Council will be discussing the future of summer events and outdoor dining at our June 24 meeting. More information to come. The Governor has updated guidelines on COVID19 regulations, which will have a dramatic impact on our community. You can stay up to date by visiting the CDPH and or Santa Cruz County Health Department. As we emerge from the pandemic, please remember to be patient with one another, our community and yourselves. This pandemic has significantly changed many of our lives and it will take time to recover.

Masking Travelers

“Dependable Service, Affordable Quality”

Follow current CDPH Guidance for Face Coverings Follow CDC recommendations and CDPH Travel Advisory

Capitola Library Complete am happy to announce the Capitola Public Library is now open. The virtual grand opening was so much fun with over 300 attendees registered! I again would like to thank all of the work done by City staff, staff of the Santa Cruz Public Library, Capitola City Council members and donors. We could not have done this without all of you. To learn more about visiting the library, visit the Santa Cruz Public Library’s website https://www.santacruzpl.org/.

SUMMER SPECIAL

Residential Repaints & If we paint your interior and/or Custom Homes exterior by July 31, 2021 Homeowners Associations we will buy the paint. Property Managers

Outside the Frame Opening June 27 apitola Mayor Yvette Brooks, Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra, Scotts Valley Mayor Derek Timm and Santa Cruz City Mayor, Donna Meyers have joined to create a first-of-its-kind experience of healing and positivity for people across Santa Cruz County in partnership with County Park Friends.

“Mayor Brooks” page 21

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Capitola Mayor Yvette Brooks organizes a FaceBook live stream with mayors Donna Meyers (Santa Cruz) and Derek Timm (Scotts Valley). Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra also participated.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 13

COMMUNITY NEWS

Volunteer Center Restarts Transportation & Helping Hands

By Trea Robinson

or aging adults isolated at home, getting to essential appointments or doing simple home repair is challenging even in “normal” times. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these tasks became nearly impossible for such adults. The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz

County Transportation Program & Helping Hands Program have served to address the needs of ambulatory seniors and the disabled by offering rides throughout the county and donation-based home repairs. Earlier in the pandemic, the Volunteer Center was not able to mobilize volunteers

Dave Kjos and Mark Null are two of the Helping Hands volunteers who provide safety checks for seniors. More volunteers are needed.

Here Are Some More Ways To Volunteer

Jacob’s Heart

acob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services is looking for volunteers. Ann, Diane, 1998-2018 2 0 A N N I V E R S A R Y and Mamiche — three amazing volunteers — have created card kits for children to take home. Summer is just around the corner. If you don’t have any plans, come volunteer with us.

14 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Jacob’s Heart” page 22

MAH Museum Volunteers

ow that the state and county have relaxed COVID restrictions, volunteers are invited to help the Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. A couple of ways to do that: ••• “MAH” page 22

for these programs due to restrictions. With restrictions easing, these programs have begun serving this vulnerable population again and there is a long waiting list of seniors eagerly waiting for support. “We are excited to be able to once again help our older adult community with safety modifications and essential rides. Our waitlist for both Helping Hands and Transportation is huge and it continues to grow as we struggle to catch up on the requests that came in during the pandemic,” said Senior Program Manager Tara Ireland. The Transportation Program matches volunteer drivers with seniors age 55+ and disabled individuals for essential trips to medical appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks. Rides are provided throughout Santa Cruz County including Watsonville, San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley, and Santa Cruz. “It is one of the founding programs of our organization and has been 100% volunteer run since its inception. All drivers and ride dispatchers are community volunteers,” said Executive Director Karen Delaney. Drivers can choose to make as little as one trip a month, or they can drive as often as they wish. They choose their own hours and destinations. All rides happen on weekdays during business hours, and drivers may receive mileage reimbursement. Helping Hands program volunteers play a crucial role in helping low-income senior homeowners, disabled older adults and veterans age safely in their homes. Volunteers provide home safety checks and basic modifications that prevent falls in and around the home and allow for seniors to engage in the activities they enjoy. “Our volunteers are the hearts and hands of our programs. The services and connections they provide literally save lives. We could not operate these valuable programs without them,” said Ireland. If you would like to give your time to a local senior in need, please reach out to either of these programs via the phone numbers below. • Helping Hands: 831-427-5070 x105 • Transportation: 831-427-3435 ••• For more information, visit https://sc volunteercenter.org/programs/

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 15

16 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

OUTDOOR MUSICAL FESTIVAL JULY 2 - AUGUST 1, 2021

JULY 9 - 11

Photo Credit: Virginia Becker | American Red Cross

Diane Bridgeman

JULY 23 - 25

JULY 30 - AUG 1

• Disaster Cycle Services Award / Extraordinary Commitment and Dedication — Al & Virginia Becker (Santa Cruz) • International Services Award — Jill Hofmann (Santa Cruz) • Biomedical Services Volunteer of the Year Award — Ben Roumimper (Santa Cruz) • General Support Services Award — Lee Hedgepeth (Monterey) • New Volunteer Award — Ann Bennett Young (Santa Cruz) • Good Neighbor and Partnership Award — Denise Acosta, The Salvation Army of Santa Cruz Other volunteers were celebrated for the large number of hours they devoted to Red Cross service during the 2020 calendar year. The annual event is designed to acknowledge all of the local Red Cross volunteers. “Our dedicated and wonderful volunteers have continued to support the mission of the Red Cross, even during this challenging time of COVID-19,” said Averill. “Their selfless contributions of time and energy make the work of the Red Cross possible.” n

JULY 16 - 18

n April 27, the American Red Cross of the Central Coast honored chapter volunteers from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties giving Dr. Diane Bridgeman of Santa Cruz the top honor, the Clara Barton Award. Named after the founder of the American Red Cross, the award recognizes a volunteer for service in a series of leadership position over a number of years. A volunteer in Santa Cruz County since 1991, Dr. Bridgeman has been a staple of the local chapter’s Disaster Cycle Services and Service to the Armed Forces teams. She has also made significant contributions to the International Services department. “A member of our chapter for 30 years, Dr. Diane Bridgeman is really the embodiment of compassion turned to action,” said Michele Averill, CEO of the local chapter. “As the territory lead for Red Cross mental health services, Dr. Bridgeman is constantly called upon to take care of our local workforce, aid residents affected by disasters, and provide compassionate support to our local communities during incidents that involve mass casualties.” The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Megan Erk of Aptos. She stepped up as COVID-19 broke out in March of 2020. She jumped in to support American Red Cross blood drives with thoughtful reassurances of safety to donors and the broader community. She became an active board member at the chapter level as well as on the regional executive board. When wildfires broke out last fall, and when there was potential for mudslides during the winter, she took on the Emergency Operations Center liaison role, working 18-hour days to ensure the Red Cross communicated with the county, partners, and survivors honestly and deliberately. She has now been promoted to the Pacific Division External Relations Lead, proving her professional and thoughtful communications approach. Other volunteers also were recognized at the virtual event: • Disaster Cycle Services Award / Exceptional Leadership — Edmund Tang (Santa Cruz)

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

JON NORDGREN

JULY 2 - 4

Red Cross Honors Diane Bridgeman, Megan Erk O

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 17

BUSINESS PROFILE

Birchbark Foundation

By June Smith

If You Have a Pet, Help is Available

recent news item stated that Queen Elizabeth, who had been gifted with two puppies by Prince Andrew, was devastated by the death of Fergus, one of the pups. They were meant to offer comfort and companionship while Prince Phillip was hospitalized. If her staff at Windsor Castle had access to an organization like Birchbark Foundation, she could have received added loving support for her loss. BirchBark was founded in 2013 by local veterinarian Dr. Merrianne Burtch, president of the foundation. BirchBark is the result of her dream to help people keep that wonderful bond with their pets. One of the most challenging parts of her job is watching people say goodbye to a savable pet when they cannot afford the needed medical care. Michelle Frampton, Birchbark executive director says, “We are the only organization in the tri-county region protecting and honoring the human-animal bond. We are both an animal welfare organization and a human service organization, which makes us unique in nature.” Financial Assistance or families facing the loss of a beloved pet needing medical care they can’t afford, the program pays up to 50% of the treatment. More than 30 local veterinary partners discount their services by another 25%, reducing the family’s cost to an affordable 25%. There are financial qualifications, but during the pandemic

Max is ready for treatment to counter the foxtail migrating to his lung.

and wildfires, a “Here and Now” program began, taking hardship factors under consideration. Loss and Grief et Loss and Grief Support groups take place on Zoom every third Thursday of the month. Also, one-on-one support with a counselor is offered free of charge. The hope is to add more group sessions in the upcoming months, both on Zoom and in-person.

Education ducational programs offer tips on good caregiving for pets. Upcoming seminars on how to do wellness checks at home are planned. Risks for both cats and dogs, especially during the holiday season, are outlined on the website. For dogs, chocolate is dangerous for the heart and blood pressure as well as their intestinal tract. Cats and kittens are attracted to ornaments and tinsel, and removal from the intestinal tract is a common emergency procedure.

Partners ave Parara, chief operating officer of MBS Business Systems, says, “MBS has been honored to partner with BirchBark Foundation for the past five years. We believe that their mission addresses something anyone who has ever loved a pet can understand. To not be able to save them because of money is unthinkable. BirchBark has been a fantastic partner to our company and responsibly does the work for us and our community we care very much about.” The Santa Cruz County Bank’s partnership has offered years of support and love. “We are committed to supporting local businesses that focus on improving quality of life and economic vitality,” said Mary Anne Carson, senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “BirchBark discovered a need and responded, creating options to help pet owners facing heartbreaking decisions. We’re so happy to support them and so many other nonprofits and organizations that are creating solutions to real problems.”

18 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Max is excited to go home after his treatment. Cindie Ambar of Heartsong Animal Healing in Aptos, who provides energy healing work for animals of all kinds, especially those who have suffered from trauma, says, “The BirchBark Foundation is an amazing resource, enabling humans and their animals to stay together during times of medical and financial stress. They have helped several of my clients and friends to provide the care that their animals needed. I also love their mission of supporting the animal-human bond. What could be more beautiful than that!”

As a fundraising organization, the need for support is critical, and a memorial gift is a way to show how much you care for a pet who has passed on. n ••• Join the FALL IN LOVE WITH BIRCHBARK Virtual Celebration and Fundraiser at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 31. Registration is free at: birchbark foundation.org/fil2021 or call 831-471-7255. To learn more or to donate: birchbarkfoundation.org info@birchbarkfoundation.org.

EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURES WITH CONFIDENCE

Endless opportunities await your student at Kirby School. Visit kirby.org and contact our Admissions team to learn more about our Test-Free Application process and to schedule a tour. Kirby School 425 Encinal Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 KIRBY.ORG 831-423-0658 admissions@kirby.org

We’re fans of responsibly raised meats, local produce, and California wines, and we know you are, too. Shop with us and share our commitment to the beautiful Central Coast.

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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 19

20 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Youth in Action Summit” from page 10 If you have questions, would like more information, or would like to register after July 12, call, text, or email Friday Night Live staff member Monica Nicholas at monica.nicholas@santacruzcounty.us or call/text (831) 359-8450. The Youth in Action Summit is developed and led by the Santa Cruz

“Mayor Brooks” from page 13 Each City will offer a unique walking experience where you will be able to enjoy each of our beautiful communities and local art! The program involves picture frames painted by five local artists, installed in each City, that “frame” a beautiful setting in our communities. The artist-painted frames put the focus on our beautiful parks, places and YOU! Grab a map at https://www.countyparkfriends.org/capoutsidetheframe. html to find all 5 frames. Come enjoy nature, take a photo, be inspired and GET OUTSIDE THE FRAME! Every City will also be hosting a fun kickoff event with County Park Friends so be sure to visit the website to learn more. Parks and Recreation Camp Capitola Partners with SUESD ith the less than normal school year we have had, we understand many children are playing catch up in summer school. However, your child does not have to miss out on the fun of summer camp. Camp Capitola is holding sessions at Soquel Elementary that coordinate and complement the current summer school programs. Adult Classes will be Back! s we cautiously dip our toes into “normalcy,” we will start bringing back classes to Jade St. Community Center. Keep an eye out for our new catalog for fall! If you have any questions or comments about our Summer programs feel free to contact us Monday-Friday 8:304:30 (831) 00475-5935. capitolarecreation@ci.capitola.ca.us cityofcapitola.org/recreation

Join the Finance Advisory Committee erving on a Capitola Board, Committee, or Commission is an excellent way to get involved in your community and participate in the decisions made at the local level. The Mayor and/or individual Councilmembers appoint applicants based on their qualifications and Interest.The Finance Advisory Committee currently has an open seat for a Business Representative; if you are in the business world in Capitola, visit the City’s website to apply.

County Friday Night Live Partnership Youth Council. Friday Night Live builds partnerships to promote positive, healthy youth development, and engages youth as active leaders and resources in their communities. n ••• For more information about Friday Night Live, visit https://tinyurl.com/SCC-FNL

2021-2021 Capitola Budget ity Council is scheduled to adopt the FY 21/22 budget on June 24. Highlights include $1 million in funding allocated to help repair our streets, almost $5 million to rebuild our wharf, and $50,000 to evaluate the City’s program for nonprofit community grants.

Employee Highlight ave you ever wondered why the City of Capitola’s streets, sidewalks, bathrooms, and beaches look so amazing when you come to work in the morning or drive through town after a visitor-heavy weekend? Or who cut and moved those tree branches after a windstorm blew them down? It starts with the team in Public Works led by Director Steve Jesberg and Field Supervisor Matt Kotila. Today I’m introducing Nathan Kessier of the Public Works Department, who has worked for Capitola for four years and who sometimes starts at 3 a.m. opening our streets or preparing for a big event. Nathan is proud of the work that he does as a maintenance worker. His supervisor says he has been heavily involved in beautifying Prospect and Rotary parks, has great attention to detail, and is always willing to go the extra mile when it comes to making trees and landscapes beautiful around town. So, a big shout out to Nathan and the rest of the Public Works crew. It might be magic that makes Capitola sparkle, but we are glad to have Nathan and Public Works helping it along.

Thirsty? No Problem! ave you noticed the refillable water bottle stations in the Village? The next time you are in Esplanade Park or walking on the Western end of the Seawall, be sure to check out this new environmentally friendly feature ... and bring your reusable water bottle! The City wishes to specially thank the two sponsors who made this possible: the Capitola Public Safety Foundation and Keep Capitola Salty (Jill and Matt Arthur). n ••• As always if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me directly at brooksforcitycouncil@gmail.com

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 21

COMMUNITY NEWS

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Live Music at Severino’s!

ome to Severino’s Bar and Grill at the Best Western Seacliff Inn in Aptos for Live Music in the dining hall! Music plays from 6–8 p.m. ••• June 2021 Tuesday, June 29 - Music Ted Wednesday, June 30 - Joint Chiefs July 2021 Thursday, July 1 - Little Big Band Tuesday, July 6 - Tsunami Wednesday, July 7 - Joint Chiefs Thursday, July 8 - Little Big Band Wednesday, July 14 - T-Bone Mojo Thursday, July 15 - Little Big Band Tuesday, July 20 - Tsunami Thursday, July 22 - Little Big Band Thursday, July 29 - Little Big Band August 2021 Thursday, Aug. 5 - Little Big Band

Garden Volunteers Needed at Castro Adobe State Historic Park

he Castro Adobe and Kimbro House Garden Committee is in need of volunteers — green thumb not required! The gardening committee meets at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and works for 2 hours, sometimes with a lunch break. Gardeners with a wide range of experience are needed, from knowledge of rose care, to simply deadhead spent

“MAH” from page 14 MAH Community Events mail Jamie at jamie@santacruzmah.org to volunteer at these events. • Saturday, July 24, 9am-1pm & 2-6pm. Race Through Time • Thursday, Aug. 5, 6-10pm. Private opening/member event • Saturday, Aug. 28, 10am-2pm. Family Slime Time! • Sunday, Aug. 29, 10am-2pm. Family Slime Time! • Sept. 16-19, time to be determined. Frequency: A Festival of Light, Sound, & Digital Culture

“Jacob’s Heart” from page 14

Your Community Partner for Reliable Water 22 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

• Visit the volunteer center, open 10 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday at 680 W. Beach St., Watsonville. There are tons of supplies you can use to make creative kid’s cards or decorate grocery bags.

Thursday, Aug. 12 - Little Big Band Thursday, Aug. 26 - Little Big Band October 2021 Friday, Oct. 8 - Lara Price & Velvet Plum ••• www.seacliffinn.com/aptos-restaurantwith-live-music.htm blooms and clean up fallen leaves. Castro Adobe State Historic Park is a beautiful, historic setting to get your hands dirty. Interested in volunteering? Email Geri King zozobra1@cruzio.com to get involved. www.thatsmypark.org/parks-and-beaches/ castro-adobe-state-historic-park/ ••• First Friday Celebrations he MAH is a stop on the First Friday Art Tour. Join the MAH in welcoming art lovers from across Santa Cruz County. • Aug. 6th, 1-5pm & 5-9pm, First Friday: Santa Cruz Speed Wheels Opening • Sept. 3, 1-5pm & 5pm-9pm, First Friday: Do You Know My Name Opening • Oct. 1, 1-5pm & 5-9pm, First Friday: Queer Santa Cruz Opening • Nov. 5, 1-5pm & 5-9pm, First Friday: Dia de los Muertos • Dec. 3, 1-5pm & 5-9pm, First Friday: Teen Art Market n

• If you don’t have much time but would still like to help, you can pick up supplies and work at your own convenience from home. • Come tour the beautifully renovated center and find out other ways that you can get involved. Call Paola Montes at 831-724-9100 or email volunteer@jacobsheart.org.

YOUR OPINIONS

Support Zero Emisssions Rail & 32-Mile Coastal Trail

By Faina Segal, Board Chair, Friends of the Rail & Trail

recent tie vote left the Regional Transportation Commission not pursuing further action to implement electric passenger rail service on our corridor. Here’s why we think that’s a big mistake. 1) Adding Rail is about Investing in Public Transportation. Clean light rail will cut commute times nearly in half by providing commuters with an alternative to Highway 1, allowing commuters more time with their families. Those who live in South County communities in and around Watsonville spend up to 90 minutes or more each way getting to and from work. These mostly essential workers need a better way to their North County jobs. In fact, we all need an alternative(1) to being stuck in traffic, regardless of the reason. 2) Adding Rail is a Climate Action. Historically, 60% of our county’s greenhouse gas emissions are transportation-related.(2) Adding zero emission light rail is the most effective thing we can do to reduce them. The most recent RTC study indicated that adding rail will reduce GHG emissions by 1482 metric tons annually, the equivalent of(3) planting 24,500 trees and growing them for 10 years every year, year after year.(4) That’s a huge reduction in emissions we can achieve with just this one project! There are no other transportation projects in Santa Cruz County that come close to this number. 3) Rail & Trail are Better Together. The award-winning and approved Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network plan(5) maps out a trail along the 32-mile rail corridor, next to the tracks. This plan shows we can have an improved transportation system with electric rail and a fantastic new trail that goes around the bay. The rail trail project has already gone through extensive legal and environmental review with rail alongside, and portions of the trail with rail have already been completed. Rail and trail together will provide both active transportation and public transportation. A win-win for all.(6) 4) Rail Enhances our METRO Service and Provides Car-free Options for All. About one third of our county residents, including seniors, youth, and

people with disabilities, cannot easily get around our community because they do not drive. These people rely on public transportation. Whether you are unable to drive or prefer not to drive, adding passenger rail will make car-free travel faster, easier and less expensive. In fact, adding clean light rail is projected to increase county-wide public transportation use to 250% of pre-pandemic levels which helps the long term health of METRO (more riders on every bus!).(7) With easy roll on & off convenience, light-rail provides better options than a walking and biking trail alone, enabling independent travel for errands, shopping, medical appointments and more.(8) As an added bonus, rail transit will be free of traffic congestion even during rush hour. 5) Rail Transit will create Safer Walkable Neighborhoods. The traffic reduction achieved by adding electric rail transit is projected to reduce vehicle, bike and pedestrian accidents by 346 collisions every year.(9) That’s almost one less collision every day! Plus, local businesses will enjoy more foot traffic, increased visibility and traffic-free transportation options during festivals and events. For a county with one of the worst pedestrian and cycling safety records in the state, making our(10) neighborhoods safer will have a positive impact now and for generations to come. 6) This is a Regional Project. Zero-emissions rail will seamlessly connect us to regional, state and national rail networks at the Watsonville Junction. Imagine “Around-the-Bay” car-free rail transit between Santa Cruz and Monterey and points in between. “Pro: Rail & Trail” page 24

Coastal Rail Not Feasible, Surfers & Greenway Say Editor’s note: This piece was submitted by Buzz Anderson, Santa Cruz County Greenway enthusiast, and signed by 100 surfers including Nat Young, Shawn Dollar and Tyler Fox. For information see sccgreenway.org. ••• anta Cruz County Greenway, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising broad-based support for transforming the unused Santa Cruz County rail corridor into a positive community asset, has announced the support of members of the local surf community. A number of Santa Cruz County surfers and ocean enthusiasts have come together to endorse the Greenway vision of a multi-use trail on the corridor, creating a wide enough path to accommodate bike and pedestrian use, as well as new e-mobility forms of active transportation. “It’s time for the community to come together around Greenway. The Regional Transportation Commission’s studies have made it clear that a train is not financially feasible,” said Kyle Thierman, big wave surfer, writer and local podcaster. “The community would benefit so much from taking up the tracks and building a wide multi-use trail for safe routes to schools, biking to work, and recreational use of all kinds.” The Greenway plan involves railbanking (preserving the corridor for a possible future rail option), removing the existing and unused tracks, and building a world-class trail down the center of the rail corridor using existing bridges and trestles, to optimize safety and ease of travel. Imagine being in a park-like setting and having the ability to bike to the beach, safely use your wheelchair, take a stroll with your family, walk your pet, or cruise to work on an e-powered mode of personal transit, all on a grade of less than 3%. Greenway envisions the coastal corridor being the backbone of a network of pathways connected to trails like the

Pajaro River levee, Slough trails, and enhanced protected bike lanes on city streets. South County residents will have access to the magnificent sloughs and beaches as well as a safe transportation alternative. The Santa Cruz surf community realizes the importance of creating recreational opportunities for all residents of the county, as well as providing alternative forms of non-polluting green transit. The Greenway vision promotes a healthy lifestyle, something our local surfers have embraced since the first waves were ridden at the San Lorenzo River mouth by three Hawaiian princes in 1885. “By building Greenway, our community will be setting a positive course for future generations, one that is in keeping with the character, ideals and environmental ethos of the people that live and work here,” said Tyler Fox, publisher of Santa Cruz Waves magazine and big wave surfer. “The best form of public transit going forward is an improved METRO bus system and Greenway.” Justine Willeford, water woman and sustainable swimwear brand owner, said, “The rail proposal is insanely expensive, forever in the future, and won’t benefit the populations that need affordable public transit the most. A new bike and walking path would cost very little by comparison, be completed quickly, and be heavily utilized by the community.” Blake Anderson, surfer, waterman and Santa Cruz Harbormaster would like to see the corridor near the Harbor be used for bike commuters and recreational travel. “The benefits of having bicyclists cross the Harbor via the trestle and not the Eaton Street bridge will result in fewer accidents and alleviate bike versus pedestrian pinch points at the upper harbor,” he said. Big wave surfer Shawn Dollar agrees with a multi-use trail will provide safety to users. “Con: Rail & Trail” page 24

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 23

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Sunday Brunch: You’re Invited To Add One!

ince things have opened up, we’re all trying to get back to the way things were. But after having friends in town on multiple occasions for the weekends, we were amazed that no one is offering Sunday Brunch anymore! Seriously? So that we’re all on the same page, let’s make sure we have the common understanding of Brunch. According to Wikipedia, Brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch, and regularly has some form of alcoholic drink (most usually champagne or a cocktail) served with it. It is usually served between 10 o’clock in the morning and midday. The word is a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch. Brunch originated in England in the late 19th century and became popular in the United States in the 1930s. Oxford defines brunch as “a late morning meal eaten instead of breakfast and lunch”. So brunch means a different meal than breakfast or lunch — so just offering the same breakfast items on Sundays, or the same lunch menu on Sundays, is not brunch. For customers: Good luck finding one! “Pro: Rail & Trail” from page 23 Imagine traveling stress free and car free between where you live and San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles or anywhere else in CA or the USA.(11) So what should happen to the rail corridor? We should use it for transit service and a great trail! Pausing this project threatens our ability to address worsening traffic and congestion, address climate change and improve the quality of life in our community. It is clear expanded transit, especially rail transit, is a priority for funding at the state and federal level. We threaten our ability to bring this money home by not moving forwards. Join Friends of the Rail & Trail, the Sierra Club, Bike Santa Cruz County, Youth for Climate Justice, the City Council of Santa Cruz, the City Council of Watsonville, the Monterey/Santa Cruz Counties Building & Construction Trades

By Ron Kustek

Café Sparrow once had what many considered the best champagne brunch in all of Santa Cruz County, but they’ve decided to remain closed on Sundays. Equally confusing is the choice of our local resorts Chaminade & Sanderlings, which only open on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. with their standard lunch menu, just like Palapas and Persephone in Aptos Paradise Beach Grille and the Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola. East End Gastropub and The Crow’s Nest DO serve brunch on BOTH Saturdays and Sundays along with The Harbor Café’s daily breakfast & specials. Additionally, Parish Publick House in Aptos is planning on bringing back their Sunday brunch (no specific date promised). For businesses: What happened to yours? For you business owners this question should be food for thought, as breakfasts and/or brunch offerings are usually the most profitable meals a restaurant can serve. Also, we are not talking about a ‘brunch buffet’ as this mode of eating will not likely be an option anytime soon.

The question becomes, as there is so much pent-up demand for eating out, socializing and for supporting local small businesses, then why aren’t more of our nicer sit-down restaurants offering a Sunday Brunch? I guess they’ve chosen to leave this market opportunity to a few of our local cafes and diners. If one did a simple yelp search for “Best Sunday Champagne Brunch in Santa Cruz” you’d find that many of the places listed don’t have a brunch at all, let alone on Sunday, or a Champagne Brunch. Then again, this is so Yelp can charge those establishments for every click one does to get more details. Nonetheless, this simple search can show a simple opportunity, for locals and tourists alike, who are thirsty and hungry customers waiting for some of our better full-service dining establishments to satisfy this business opportunity! Now, perhaps when this article was written mid-June, some of the establishments mentioned may have been planning their new Sunday Brunch menu, so I may have missed some business and if so, I welcome hearing from you! n •••

Council, the Santa Cruz County Democratic Party Central Committee, the Pajaro Valley Cesar Chavez Democratic Club, the Democratic Women’s Club of Santa Cruz County Environmental Committee, the San Lorenzo Valley Women’s Club Environmental Committee, the Campus Democrats at UCSC, and Roaring Camp Railroads and many other local organizations and businesses in promoting a rail and trail today! n •••

5-Fact sheet for the Current Rail Trail Plan https://sccrtc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FactSheet_MBSST_Coastal-Rail-Trail.pdf 6-$41M estimated cost to reverse policy. UCIS Appendix B, Table B-13: Trail Only 7-Pre-covid METRO annual reports indicate there are about 5,000,000 annual boardings on the bus 2 system or about 13,700 boardings per day. The TCAA/RNIS (Table 5.19) predicts adding LRT will increase use of public transit countywide to 34,300 boardings per day. Doing the math: 34,300 / 13,700 = 250% 8-See highest priority item 30 in the 2021 Final Draft Unmet Paratransit and Transit Needs prepared by 6 the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee of the RTC. Linked here: https:// sccrtc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Final-DraftUnmet-Needs-List-w-RTC-edits.pdf 9-TCAA/RNIS Table 5.9: Safety Performance Measures 10-https://www.flipsnack.com/sctrafficsafety/ the-impact-of-traffic-violence-on-santa-cruz-county.html 11-2018 SRP and TAMC’s RNIS both illustrate the future regional and state rail networks to which the 12Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line connects at the Watsonville Junction

1-Predicted travel times between destinations from the RTFS are: Watsonville — Santa Cruz 40 minutes; Aptos Village — Santa Cruz 18 minutes; Capitola Village — Santa Cruz 11 minutes. 2-County of Santa Cruz — Greenhouse gas emissions Inventories and emissions reduction targets. Tables 2.1 and 2.2. http://www.sccoplanning. com/Portals/2/County/Planning/policy/Climate%20 Action%20Strategy/2.0.pdf?ver=Ez5JfoXNLQ2WS8wjOCC_Q%3d%3d 3-TCAA/RNIS Table 5.21 Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions 4-EPA Equivalency Calculator https://www.epa. gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator

24 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Ron Kustek is a former senior marketing executive at The Cola-Cola Co., and entrepreneur who is currently teaching business at Cabrillo College. Contact him at RoKustek@ Cabrillo.edu “Con: Rail & Trail” from page 23 “Building Greenway would be a huge benefit for alternative, safe transportation in our county,” he said. “You could quickly and safely get across town--choosing a bike would far outweigh sitting in traffic. Currently, cutting through town is a zigzag of roads and mixed bike lanes. It’s dangerous and not friendly for kids. I really hope one day I’m able to hop on a bike with my family and use this path.” The list of surfers and ocean-minded watermen and waterwomen are the vanguard of rising support for Santa Cruz County Greenway. Unite with them in their support for the creation of an environmentally friendly, affordable and safe Greenway, which will be used for transportation and recreational purposes for generations to come. Interested community members can learn more at https://sccgreenway.org/ endorsers and add their name to the Greenway petition that already has more than 10,000 signatures. n

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Stage 3 Water Cutback: What You Can Do

ecurring droughts are something we’ve all learned to live with here in California, and unfortunately this year is shaping up to be one of the worst. As of last month, 94% of California is reported to be in a “severe” (or worse) drought condition, while 73% of the state is in the “extreme” drought category – and that includes right here in the Santa Cruz midcounty region. While the overdrafted groundwater supply we rely on to serve our customers may not be as immediately impacted by the current drought as surface water supply sources, it does have a negative impact over time. Thus, we remain in a Groundwater Emergency and Stage 3 Water Curtailment due to historical groundwater overdraft and seawater contamination occurring at the coastline. The community is already doing a remarkable job of daily water conservation – and during a drought, that commitment to saving water is even more important. Using our WaterSmart Customer Portal, considering smart irrigation controllers, and maintaining your irrigation system are three things that can really help. Our WaterSmart Customer Portal is

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

an online tool giving you more control over your water use and billing, leak detection, and more. It can notify you about potential water leaks so you can find and fix the leak before it becomes a bigger problem. You can also set up alerts for when your water use level or bill amount reaches your designated thresholds. With that information, you can minimize water loss due to a leak, reduce potential water damage, and get fewer surprises in your water bills. You can also pay your water bill, see how much water your irrigation system uses, identify watersaving opportunities, access conservation resources, and even apply for conservation rebates. Visit soquelcreekwater.org/ watersmart for more information and to register for this free online service. July is Smart Irrigation month! So, you might consider installing a smart irrigation controller that automatically adjusts your watering schedule based on daily weather changes will help you save water. Smart irrigation controllers, also known as weather-based irrigation controllers, use current weather information to create appropriate irrigation schedules that adjust as the weather changes. They are most cost-effective for

medium-size or larger landscapes; however, they can be used for any size landscape. The District offers rebates of up to $125 when you buy and install a weather-based irrigation controller. Visit soquelcreekwater.org/rebates to learn more about this and other rebates available when you install water-saving tools. Smart irrigation controllers reduce

landscape water use by an average of about 8% as part of a well-maintained irrigation system. But they can’t correct common irrigation problems — to really benefit from a weather-based controller, you should ensure your existing irrigation system is working well. “Stage 3” page 26

The 4th of July

ACROSS

1. Steps to the river, in India 5. Hot springs resort 8. Meal in a shell 12. Driver’s misbehavior? 13. *Grilling technique 14. Medal of Honor descriptor 15. Cracked open 16. What Knave of Hearts stole from Queen of Hearts, sing. 17. Raise one’s rank 18. *July 4th pyrotechnic display 20. Hubble Space Telescope operator, acr. 21. Chip dip

22. i topper 23. *Main Street tradition on the 4th 26. Superlative of fumy 30. Ribonucleic acid 31. Store as fodder 34. Moonfish 35. Rose oil 37. Number cruncher 38. Fairytale garden dweller 39. Indian Lilac tree 40. Extinct type of zebra 42. Steampunk decoration 43. Did 2 + 2 (2 words) 45. Crocheted blanket 47. Swedish shag rug 48. Ancient port city in Israel 50. Smiley face 52. *First President to hold July 4th celebration at the White House

56. Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and ____” 57. Medicinal succulent 58. Hit the bottle 59. Earthenware pots 60. View from a highspeed train? 61. Observer 62. “Glengarry ____ Ross” 63. G, in solfa 64. “The Fountainhead” author

DOWN

1. Former tennis pro Steffi 2. One who’s made the pilgrimage to Mecca 3. Petri dish filler 4. Mother of Calcutta 5. Roebuck’s partner 6. a.k.a. anorak 7. A in B.A.

8. *”No ____ without representation” 9. Unfortunately, exclamation 10. *Drink to wash down burgers and hot dogs? 11. Table scrap 13. Steal, past participle 14. What haters spew? 19. Crane or heron 22. Expecting woman’s date 23. Life force in Sanskrit 24. Chipped in 25. What Motion Picture Association of America did 26. *Most popular July 4th decoration 27. Notable period 28. Polynesian island country 29. Feudal lord

32. Fish a.k.a. porgy 33. Beer acronym 36. *Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to Be an ____” 38. Blooper 40. Sine ____ non 41. Old-timer 44. Force units 46. Wedding tossable 48. Jiggly dessert 49. Run _____ of the law 50. Type of sea bird 51. Agitate 52. Kickboxing moves 53. Miso bean 54. U.S. ____ in golf or tennis 55. Egghead 56. Leisurely run © Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 25

Hiding Away Under its Shell

Esoteric Astrology • July 2021 • By Risa D’Angeles

s summer begins, we are influence by Cancer, sign of mother, family, home, the embryonic waters nurturing new life. Cancer, its light flowing through the moon, nurtures the masses of humanity. In our very earliest incarnations on Earth everyone entered planet Earth under the sign of Cancer. Cancer therefore has a deep and abiding connection with the human race. Cancer is called the “Gate Into Matter” — the doorway through which humans (from the spirit world) appear on Earth. Cancer guards and guides all of humanity. Cancer people (Sun, Moon, Ascendant) intuitively understand the common everyday person’s basic wants, needs and motivations. Cancer rules (oversees, protects) home, (the parent who is the) mother, family, tribes, birth, childbirth, the sea, women (in general), instincts, inherited tendencies, domestic life, cooks,

kitchens, nurturing, gestation, protectiveness, baskets, the sea, the demarcation line between water and land, moody feelings and all places of refuge and repose. Cancer receives and distributes Ray 3 (new ideas) and Ray 7 (taking root, anchoring in the world, the great sea of life). Cancers are very intelligent. Cancer is the “Light within the form — awaiting the Light of the Soul.” Cancer lives half on earth and half in the water. Often Cancer hides away under its shell, silently waiting for the environment to be safe and trusting. Cancer rules our treasures, our private life, conception, heredity and one’s spiritual security (ashram or sangha). Cancer is always seeking home for its refuge. Cancer has unrealized gifts buried deep within. Cancer’s gifts of nurturing and nourishment are profound and mysterious. What they don’t realize is they need nurturing and nourishment, too. n

ARIES

LEO

SAGITTARIUS

Opportunities are presented along with challenges. You find the courage to meet each one because of your nature — fiery, willing, enthusiastic. This year and for many more, you will experience vast changes, radical shifts, a state of impermanence that, in the end, will constitute unusual creative endeavors and ways of being based on new rhythms and archetypes. Keep moving, pausing for rest here and there only when needed.

As work comes with more responsibilities, you will notice how strong and courageous you are, able to assume multiple tasks with skill and agility. Many people seek your help, trusting your constancy, sense of rightness and patience. Simultaneously, you’re harboring secret thoughts, hopes, wishes and dreams. It’s important to take time away from the world. Step into the shadows. What do you see and feel there? Who will join you?

You need the same things Libra needs, but more so. Something of fantasy may come and stay a while. You may not know what it is. It will have two faces. Don’t be confused. Be spontaneous, curious yet cautious. Careful with money. The usual warning, but more so, again. As home feels like it’s dissolving away, your creative expression takes on Aquarian tones, work becomes ever more expanded. You can do all of this with poise and equanimity. And joy. Joy is a choice. You seem to need community now.

VIRGO

Take time to consider what you would like for the future. Create a picture/photo journal depicting how You’re the lucky one this year. You drew the lucky card you want your life to be. Begin before your and all that you’ve wished for begins to birthday so that when it arrives you have a appear. Know however, this includes lots clear idea of your new coming year. Don’t be of work, much pondering, thinking and study, detailed planning, and waiting for predictable. Be groundbreaking, inventive and original. Use right timing (astrological) to occur. Your good judgment nothing from the past — no beliefs or plans — to create your has others seeking your advice and insight. You may possible future. The past needs to be transcended completely. travel this year for information, comfort and beauty. And So a new future can present itself that you yourself create. perhaps a wedding. Plan now. TAURUS

CAPRICORN

Here are the energies for Caps as they enter the summer months. A shift in self-identity, something precious being found, small joys in daily life, new thinking, refining tasks and communication, a change at/of home, pursuing the Art of Living, little gardening tasks, summer walks in different neighborhoods, an ice cream maker, nurturing intimate relationships, enlivened through travel, bringing forth balance through Right Relations in the world. And finally, and most important, having an interlude of rest.

LIBRA GEMINI

Notice if (and when) much of the past, including people and events, begins to slip away. This is not good, bad or something to be frightened about. It means you’re traveling onward; your life itself is clearing any limitations and hindrances. A healing is occurring and patterns of thought no longer useful are being released. “Healing”, the Tibetan writes, “allows for the Soul to be free”. You need to be free.

You need to run away at times to places far away. You need to travel, have many adventures, find new people to communicate with, see new art and artifacts, bathe in warm blue pools at midnight. You need environments and communications to be more harmonious. You need a new garden to work in. You need to think the impossible. Know that ideas become ideals and slip into form and matter when we visualize. You need change, a feeling of being submerged in a completely new reality. What do you think you need?

AQUARIUS

You’re interacting and making contact with many different groups of people. This is your spiritual task. To be an acquaintance to everyone, gathering and dispersing information about the future endeavors of humanity. The Hierarchy looks down on Earth seeking to find who carries the “light” within. You carry that light. Therefore you’re sent here and there to disperse that light. Rest a while sometimes. Play more. Share. Visualize. What you need eventually appears.

CANCER

Summer belongs to you. Are you communicating with friends and neighbors? Do not be involved in gossip. It’s good to be somewhat secluded or helping others in need. Be aware of power struggles with others. There’s a projection from you of being in charge and it’s possible you’re not listening to others’ communication. This creates separation and misunderstandings. You must ask yourself what’s most important in relating to others. Be restorative with others.

PISCES

New and different worlds are becoming acquainted with you along with new and different experiences. An As daily life changes, and continues to, all relationships unexpected endeavor is being introduced and begin to shift and change. This includes considered. An impression from above. Follow all the ways you can think relationships this path and do the work needed each day. It (interactions, partnerships) can improve and expand. Daily life becomes different will eventually heal hurts and separations. A depth of commuand unusual. What’s unusual eventually becomes the nication is available at this time. Use this opportunity to make usual, but it will take a bit of time. The past, showing contact with all (people, kingdoms, events) that you value. If up on your doorstep, arrives in order to eventually dis- some cannot be contacted, visualize the two of you, heart to heart. Love happens then. appear again. Perhaps for the last time. We hope. ••• SCORPIO

Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com 26 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

“Stage 3” from page 25 Maintaining your irrigation system will help ensure you are watering as efficiently as possible — in fact, landscape irrigation issues are one of the top three causes of water leaks and waste. The first step is to monitor your water bills (it’s easy with the WaterSmart Customer Portal!). Here are some of the basic things you can do to keep your irrigation system running smoothly: • While the irrigation is running, look for and fix or adjust overspray onto hardscapes or other run-off, broken heads or leaking seals, obstructed or misdirected heads, and dying or drowning plants. • Know how to use your irrigation controller and consider purchasing a “smart” one that automatically adjusts for recent rainfall and time of year. • Create a map of your yard showing each irrigation zone and its valve number — this will save time when trouble-shooting any problems. • Add mulch to help hold moisture in the landscape and prevent erosion on slopes. • Irrigate when the sun is down (but inspect your system when the sun is up). • Adjust your irrigation schedule with the four seasons. The drought we’re now experiencing emphasizes the importance of the District’s Pure Water Soquel supplemental water supply project (soquelcreekwater. org/PWS), and we’re happy to report that construction of eight miles of that project’s pipelines is now underway. This is the “conveyance system” that will transport water to the Pure Water Soquel advanced purification facility to be built, and then carry that ultra-clean water to the seawater intrusion prevention wells where it will be pumped underground to replenish our overdrafted groundwater basin. This construction began in late May at two locations, as crews started installing pipeline in Santa Cruz on California Street through the Laurel Street intersection, and on Soquel Avenue near Chanticleer Avenue. Construction of the pipeline system is anticipated to continue at various locations into 2023. Be sure to visit soquelcreekwater.org/ PWSconstruction for information about ongoing and upcoming construction for Pure Water Soquel, including maps and schedules, and to sign up for email construction updates. Visit our website at https://www. soquelcreekwater.org/186/Stage-3-WaterShortage-Emergency for a list of our current water use restrictions and directions on how to report water waste in our community. We thank our customers for continuing to conserve water and being diligent about preventing water waste. n

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 27

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS FREE FAMILY MOVIE NIGHTS Brought to you by Santa Cruz County Department of Parks, Open Space & Cultural Services. Register at scparks.com. Movies begin at dusk. Bring blankets, jackets and low-back chairs. Dates and Locations: July 9: Finding Nemo, Anna Jean Cummings Park, 461 Soquel San Jose Road, Soquel. And bring your dog! July 23: Onward, Highlands County Park, 8500 Hwy 9, Ben Lomond.

First and Third Monday 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 To participate, view the calendar at https://communitybridges. presentation by a local expert. Senior Life Online meets org/SCWOL/ and find a class. That day and time, click on the on the first and third Monday of each month at 4 p.m. link in the calendar to be connected. If you have a problem View the schedule at scottsvalleyseniorlife.org/currentconnecting, call Clara Munoz at (831) 458-3481. activities/. To participate, you need an Internet connection SECOND HARVEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION and a computer, tablet or smartphone. A one-time Second Harvest Food preregistration is required at https://tinyurl. Bank’s drive-through food com/SVSLA-5. Questions? Call George at (831) distribution will continue 334-7763. operating at the county Senior Life Online is sponsored by Scotts Valley Senior Fairgrounds 9 a.m.-Noon on Life Association (SVSLA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose the following Fridays: mission is to promote healthy living for senior citizens. July 9 • July 23 Information is at http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org. Aug. 6 • Aug. 20 • Sept. 10 • Sept. 24 Food hotline: 831-662-0991. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday NAMI RECOVERY SUPPORT 1-2:30 p.m., confidential Zoom meetings. ONGOING EVENTS National Alliance on Mental Illness Santa Cruz Ongoing thru July 31 County offers the “Connection Recovery Support SUMMER READING Group,” a free, peer-led support group for any adult 18 or older who has experienced symptoms All ages are invited to register for the Santa Cruz Public of a mental health condition (no diagnosis Libraries’ Summer Reading Program June 1 – July 31 and earn prizes and entries to a raffle of local merchant gift required). You will gain insight from hearing the challenges cards. Go to santacruzpl.org/srp, call 831-427-7713, or text and successes of others. Groups are led by trained leaders who’ve been there. It’s confidential and 831-264-0647 to sign up and for more information. Kids up to age 18 get a $10 Atlantis Fantasyworld gift drop-in friendly. To attend, complete the registration form. You certificate toward a collection of comics and graphic will immediately get an email with the Zoom link. novels. You will need to do this only once, and will be able After reading for 5 hours, kids up to age 11 get a to use the same link for all groups in the future. new book selected by librarians, kids 12-18 get a tote Register at: https://tinyurl.com/nami-zoom-register bag with goodies, and adults get a tote bag and a raffle (Full URL: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMldticket. Prizes include a free scoop from The Penny Ice 6trTgjEtOukidbv3qCQQTitZ92kXFf) Creamery. Grand prize is family membership to the If you are unable to register, do not have an email Monterey Bay Aquarium or the Santa Cruz Museum of address, or have other questions, call the office at Art and History. (831)-824-0406 or email anastasia@namiscc.org. The Beanstack online platform with mobile app For a recording of the March 18 speaker or more will track summer reading and allow readers to claim information on support groups and classes, https://www. namiscc.org/ rewards. Paper reading logs are available. Summer reading events include magic shows, circus acts, NorCalBats, musical performances, and STEAM projects. See Tuesdays santacruzpl.org/calendar. FARMERS’ MARKET AT RAMSAY PARK 2–6 p.m., Ramsay Park, Watsonville Ongoing Through Labor Day El Mercado is a new farmers’ market hosted by Community LOCH LOMOND RESERVOIR OPEN Health Trust of Pajaro Valley. Hours: August–Labor Day: 7 a.m-8 p.m. • June & July: 7 There will be healthy locally grown produce, a veggie a.m.-8:30 p.m. • Closed Wednesdays Rx redemption site, cooking demonstrations and Loch Lomond Recreation Area is owned and wellness screenings. operated by the City of Santa Cruz Water Sponsors include Lakeside Organic, Salud Para La Gente and Department, primarily storing water for Santa Cruz Kaiser Permanente. Visit pvhealthtrust.org/elmercado for more info. residents and offering boat rentals, picnicking, fishing and hiking. ROTACARE RETURNS! After Labor Day, the Reservoir will remain open on 5:30-8 p.m., Behind Star of the Sea Church, 515 Frederick St. weekends through the second weekend of October, open Santa Cruz 7 a.m.-6 p.m. The Free RotaCare Santa Cruz Clinic is reopening at its Vehicle entrance fee: $8 • Season pass: $80 new location. Information: https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/ For more info, call 831-204-6040 or visit https://www. city-departments/water/watershed/loch-lomond-recreation/ rotacarebayarea.org/santacruz park-map First Tuesdays Of The Month FIRST TUESDAYS FREE 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz 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. https://arboretum.ucsc.edu

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by July 19

• Nessy Barzilay • Michael Bashista • Lucia Bruer • Trudi Burney • Jay Capela • Lee Cavanaugh • Paul Cheney • Kathleen Crocetti • Sally Diggory • Franco Di Majo • Barbara Downs • Scott Graham • Leonard Groner • Roy Holmberg • William Hufmann • Kristen Kolbek • Marilyn Kuksht • Ron Lion • Lyn MacDonald • Mike McClellan • Kirk McNeill • Susan Megorden • Annie Morhauser • David Mudgett • Geoffrey Nicastro • Nancy Niles • Jeff Owen • Jane Reyes • Pierre Riche • Jewel Rogers • Mandy Spitzer • Judy Stabile LITERACY PROGRAM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS Nearly every day someone reaches out to the Literacy • Richard Starks • Aaron Vanderkerckhove • Susan von Program, part of the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz Schmacht • Jenni Ward • Lea de Wit • April Zilber County, to ask about learning English. Some want to SUMMER DANCE CLASSES get a job, advance their career, or to be able to talk Agape Dance Academy in Scotts Valley and Aptos with their child’s teacher. The Literacy Program aims presents Swan Lake ballet classes July 6-31. to connect these motivated adults with a volunteer Sign up at https://agapedance.com/ tutor. Questions? Call 831-359-0850 or email agapedance7@gmail. Tutors impart more than English. They provide a com wealth of information about how life works in Santa Cruz County. They may assist students in gaining the BLACK HEALTH MATTERS: basic skills to go shopping, engage socially, navigate FRESH AIR ’21 THIS SUMMER the local landscape, or they may provide insight about work norms. And tutors provide basic training Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center for students to further their education and to obtain Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center’s Black Health citizenship. Matters Initiative is kicking off a summer of free proTraining is offered four times a year. There is a one-time $50 gramming, Fresh Air ’21, to address and elevate the mental materials fee. To volunteer, call 427-5077. Then participate in health and wellness of the Black community of Santa Cruz a one-hour online orientation: https://scvolunteercenter.org/ County. programs/literacy-program/volunteer/ Black Health Matters, with Santa Cruz County Parks and County Parks Friends, will produce a diverse HEART OF THE CACTUS and accessible lineup of COVID-mindful events and experiences led by and for Black residents (and allies) in On Display Thru Aug. 1, viewing by appointment at Pajaro beautiful outdoor spaces. Valley Arts Center, 37 Sudden St., Watsonville From movement classes, guided nature hikes, and Pencas del Corazón/Heart of the Cactus — comself-care workshops, to weekly virtual content, community artwork created munity gatherings, and celebrations, this summer-long in a series of virtual pop-up events guided by campaign is geared toward having a seat at the table for all. local visual and Register: https://tanneryworlddance.com/bhm-happenings/ performing artists and TWDCC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twdcc_ curators — is on display dance/?hl=en at Pajaro Valley Arts Center beginning June ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION 16 through Aug. 1, with CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS galley hours Friday-Sunday by appointment. Pencas del Corazón is a tribute to the culturally Alzheimer’s Association is significant cactus plant that symbolizes resilience and offering video and phone sustenance for many Latinx cultures. meetings for caregivers An inaugural Rydell Visual Arts Partnership awardee, throughout the month: Pencas del Corazón celebrates the culmination of a Second and Fourth Wednesdays year-long project between lead artists, Yesenia Molina Santa Cruz, 2-3:30 p.m. via phone — Facilitators: Jill and Irene Juárez O’Connell, the Watsonville community, Ginghofer and Laurie McVay. and Arts Council Santa Cruz County. First and Third Wednesdays Contributors include: Guillermo Aranda, Janet Johns, Salvador Santa Cruz, 5:30-7 p.m. via video or phone — FaciliLua, Gabriel Medina and Mayra Ruiz-Valtiera. tators: Francie Newfield and Kathleen McBurney. https://pvarts.org/pencas-del-corazon-heart-of-the-cactus/ Second Saturdays Scotts Valley, 10-11:30 a.m. via video or phone — SCULPTURE IS: IN THE GARDEN 2021 Facilitator: Diana Hull. Register by calling 800-272-3900 or email ymflores@alz.org. On display thru Oct. 31 ••• 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden, 2660 East Second Wednesdays Lake Ave., Watsonville Spanish, 7-8:30 p.m. via phone — Facilitator: Yuliana Sculpture IS: In the Garden 2021, is the 15th sculpture exhibit in partnership with Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden. Mendoza. The jurors, Susana Arias and Jeff Rosendale, selected Register by calling 831-647-9890 or email ymflores@alz.org. more than 100 sculptures created by 42 artists and SENIOR CENTER WITHOUT LIMITS collaborators. Visit the stunning two-acre demonstration garden, This new program from Community Bridges brings relax under the umbrellas, and spend an afternoon enrichment activities like yoga, art, music, tai chi, cooking, enjoying the outdoor exhibit. tech and support groups to seniors age 60 and up in their Admission is free. Visitors can see works created by: homes at no cost. To participate, you need an internet Jamie Abbott • Cristy Aloysi • Susana Arias • Jeff Arnett connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone. 28 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ONGOING EVENTS

This collaboration between Food Trucks A Go Go and the Santa Cruz Mountains Makers Market presents a great mix of creators of all kinds! Live music by Papiba & Friends from 2-5pm! The Market is free to attend and is 100% local. Pups on leashes are welcome! Updated event info can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ events/211037987416328

(cont.)

Tuesdays thru July 13 GRIEF SUPPORT 1–2 p.m., Outside at St. Joseph’s Church, 435 Monterey Ave., Capitola Grief Ministry with Doreen Alfaro will offer four Tuesday sessions in coping with grief. Meetings will take place outside by the Grotto of the Virgin Mary at St. Joseph’s Church. Come share your grief experiences. Come pray. Come gain some insight on how to copy with grief. Come for all for four sessions or drop in. Covid protocols to be followed. If interested contact Doreen Alfaro at 408-893-8399 or dmalfaro@comcast.net Fridays MIDTOWN FRIDAYS Ongoing thru Oct. 29, 1111 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz (next to the fire station) Event Santa Cruz is hosting a Friday festival through the end of October. Called “Midtown Fridays,” the event will have a featured musical act plus food, artists, vendors, and more. Admission is free. Scheduled Musical Acts: July 2: Dylan Rose Band July 9: John Michael Band July 16: Eric Morrison & the Mysteries July 23: Fuse (Ted Welty, Don Caruth, Rob Ouse & Ryan Price) July 30: Andy Pancakes featuring Tammi Brown https://www.eventsantacruz.com/event/midtown-fridays/

DATED EVENTS Sunday July 4 WORLDS SHORTEST PARADE 10 a.m., Soquel Drive between State Park and Aptos Village Square For information, call the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, 831-688-1467 SCOTTS VALLEY FOURTH OF JULY PARADE 3–4 p.m., Scotts Valley Drive, between Carbonero Way and El Pueblo Rd. For information, call Donna Lind at 831-438-4251 BOULDER CREEK VIRTUAL PARADE 11 a.m. Community Picnic, Sequoia Retreat Center, Ben Lomond Boulder Creek Business Association presents a virtual parade on their website at bcba.net. Help to celebrate the 4th of July by uploading your own video contribution. Deadline to submit videos is June 18. Downtown merchants will be hosting sidewalk sales with live music and goodie bags for kids. Auction fundraiser community picnic at Sequoia Retreat Center, with music by Joshua Lowe, to rebuild the historic Alba School House. Visit fb.me/e/KAq9DV9V for more information. SANTA CRUZ SUNRISE ROTARY FIRECRACKER 5K RUN RETURNS 8 a.m., Harvey West Park, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary’s Firecracker 5K Run returns at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz, the first post-pandemic reopening event in the city. The chip-timed 5K run will have socially-distanced starts from 8 to 10:50 a.m., with no 10K or kids’ 1K, but the race will be live again instead of virtual. Registrations are capped at 500 to comply with safety regulations. Register at www.SantaCruzFirecracker.org. The club aims to raise $10,000 in sponsorships to cover the costs of this year’s return to live racing so all race revenues can go to this year’s key beneficiaries: Teen Kitchen, American Red Cross of the Central Coast,

Tuesday July 6

BOOMERIA 2021 • SANTA CRUZ BAROQUE FESTIVAL Saturday July 10 1-5 p.m., Boomeria, 60 Verde Dr., Bonny Doon Four wonderful organists will play delightful music for up at the Boomeria chapel in the redwoods of Bonny Doon as part of the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival. William Visscher, Vlada Moran, Ann Thiermann and Linda Burman-Hall will share a four-hour concert to help raise funds to maintain the Boomeria organ. The festival will also feature fine wine, fencing demonstrations, a brass ensemble and a Drehorgel (Barrel Organ) Most importantly, it’s a chance to be in the physical presence of friends, old and new Tickets can be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/boomeria-tickets To directly support the Boomeria Organ, visit https://tinyurl.com/Boomeria-organ-gofund ••• Bill Visscher was around to see the (perhaps terrifying) glory days of Boomeria, when water-gun wars raged, a diving bell was installed in the swimming pool, and a zip line that, because it terminated at a tree trunk, required a well-timed release into the pool. He is currently the music director and organist at All Saints Episcopal Church in San Francisco, where he also resides. He also builds and maintains pipe organs all over the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas, including the one at Boomeria that you will get to hear him play. Vlada Moran, a member of the Baroque Festival’s Board of Directors, is also an in-demand organist. A native of Russia, Vlada Volkova-Moran holds diplomas from the Tula Music College, the Moscow State Pedagogical University, and the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory as a musical educator, accompanist, and as a performing artist. She runs a large piano studio in Santa Cruz, and is an accompanist for many local ensembles. She has beem a featured solo artist at the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival and is the founder and artistic director of the annual New Year’s Eve “Organists Kaleidophone” concert series in Santa Cruz. Ann Thiermann is also well known among organ enthusiasts in the area. She has played organ with Antiquarian Funks, Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, and numerous concerts around town and beyond. She is also a professional painter, classically trained in landscape, portrait, and mural art. She teaches studio art classes at Cabrillo. Visit her website, www. annthiermann.com, if you’re curious to know more. Linda Burman-Hall needs no introduction. As the originator of Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, its Artistic Director since its beginnings in 1974, and its driving force, she will be familiar to anyone who has been following the festival. She is well known for her excellent playing on early keyboards, mostly harpsichord, organ, and pianoforte, with a great many recordings and performances to her credit. This will be just the second time that she has played the organ for this annual event.

N.COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB: BROADBAND ACCESS 6 p.m., Online Zoom Meeting Denton Murphy, California Democratic Party Rural Caucus member, will be the guest speaker for the Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County. Murphy will talk about federal funding allocated for broadband infrastructure to improve access in areas dealing with fragile networks and poor connectivity. Murphy will also discuss how people can urge their elected representatives to bring affordable robust internet access to all Santa Cruz County residents. Members of the public are invited. For zoom meeting link, visit www.svslvdemocrats.org. Social time starts at 6 p.m. and club meeting begins at 6:30 pm.

Friday July 9 BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS GOLF FUNDRAISER 12 Noon, DeLaveaga Come July 9 at noon for a day of fun and camaraderie on the greens of DeLaveaga raising awareness and funds in support of programs that benefit the youth throughout Santa Cruz County. Highlights include lunch at noon, 18 holes of golf with shotgun start at 1 p.m., auction, opportunities to spread awareness about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County. Guests must adhere to current safety guidelines.

Saturday July 24 Sunday July 25

ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL Opens 10 a.m. each day, Monterey County Fairgrounds The Artichoke Festival returns to the Monterey County Fairgrounds on July 24-25, with the theme, “Thistle be a Good Time!” The 61st annual event expects 8,000 visitors; safety and social distancing protocols will be followed. Advance festival admission tickets will soon be available at www.ArtichokeFestival.org and at the door, ranging from $15 for adults; $5 for youth 6-12, $10 for active military and seniors (62+). Children under 6 are free. Early-bird ticket packages will be on sale until July 10. Gourmet artichoke dishes, with products supplied by the region’s top growers, will be prepared in a variety of ways, including: fried, steamed, grilled, and forms such as lumpia, burritos, sausage, cupcakes and ice cream. Cooking demonstrations showcasing the artichoke’s versatility will be given by chef Daniel Elinan, executive and other nonprofits. Email RaceDirector@SantaCruz- White and Blue — at the City Plaza at 2 p.m. chef at The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa; Eduardo Firecracker10k.org to inquire about sponsorships. To view a list of homes and businesses registered and decorated for July 4, go to https://www.cityofwatsonville. To learn more, visit www.SantaCruzSunriseRotary.org. Coronel, executive chef of Rio Grill in Carmel; and Chef Ivan, org/2209/Spirit-of-Watsonville-2021-4th-of-July-E part of the culinary team at Tarpy’s Roadhouse in Monterey. SPIRIT OF WATSONVILLE ACTIVITIES RETURN Chef demos will be hosted by Partnership for Children, WESTSIDE MARKETPLACE IS OPEN ON THE 4TH! which provides transportation to medical care and family Activities begin at Noon throughout the city Mayor Jimmy Dutra will host a bike ride with Bike Santa 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Wrigley Building parking lot, 2801 Mission St. support services for children with life-threatening conditions in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties. Cruz County, Friends of Watsonville Parks and ComThe upcoming outdoor market on the Fourth of July Information: www.partnerforkids.org. munity Services and Santa Cruz METRO, starting at 12: is taking place! Food vendors include: Pana, Taquizas There will be a bountiful farmer’s market, an ag 45 p.m. in the alleyway between the 2nd Street Parking Gabriel, Nomad Momo and Aunt LaLi’s. Garage and the Post Office. Come hungry to sample an amazing array of food from education exhibit, a new car show hosted by Gold Coast One of the Metro’s new electric buses will lead the way. the food vendors and shop local with 30 local vendors! Rods, and a new carnival, a new art exhibit plus arts and crafts vendors, and the artichoke harvest contest. Come at noon to help decorate the bus and your bike; The Westside Marketplace on the first Sundays of Festival proceeds will benefit nonprofits. For information, see prizes for the most spirited adults and young people. the month is where local art, handmade and vintage www.artichokefestival.org. n The Watsonville Band will give a free concert — Red, shopping meet delicious food!

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 29

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Portola Drive Separated Bikeways Need Feedback By Manu Koenig, Supervisor, First District

he First District office has been busy over the last month, working on issues that affect you and your neighborhood. Here are a few highlights: Portola Drive Pop-Up n June 25 opening day festivities for the Portola Drive pop-up project were held in the lot next to Back in Shape Chiropractic on Portola Drive. We were excited to kick off the project, and together we enjoyed pizza, and the opportunity to try out the temporary pedestrian improvements and protected bike lanes. The Portola Drive installation is based on the concepts of the Portola Drive Streetscape Study, but tests a different design for bicycle facilities. The Portola Drive Streetscape Study includes buffered bike lanes, which have a painted buffer between the bike lane and motor vehicle lane, but the pop-up project tests separated bikeways — which have been shown to reduce collisions and increase bike ridership. S e p a r a t e d bikeways are separated from the motor vehicle lane by parked cars, planters, curbs, or other barriers. One of the primary goals of the temporary installation is to gather community feedback on whether separated bikeways should be included in any permanent project for Portola Drive.

Come out to Portola Drive between 36th and 41st Avenues from June 25 to July 21 to view and test the design concept for this area. The Portola Drive Streetscape Study is still the plan for the corridor, but feedback from the installation will be used to make design decisions for the future permanent project.  After you’ve tried out the installation, provide feedback to help shape the final project by taking the survey at: https:// ecoact.org/poweredbyme/. Proposed Kaiser Building Draft EIR Released major 1st District project took a step forward last month with the release of the draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Kaiser medical office building and parking garage at 5940 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. Proposed for this site is a new four-story medical office building, providing approximately 160,000 square feet of medical office use for specialty outpatient services, including advanced medical and urgent care clinics and outpatient surgery facilities. The project also proposes the construction of a four-story parking garage, providing 730 new vehicle parking spaces, including approximately 47 charging stations for electric vehicles, and bike lockers. A new driveway would be constructed from Soquel Avenue that facilitates circulation between the medical office building and parking garage, and a separate driveway for service vehicles would also be constructed. Significant public works and street frontage improvements along Soquel Avenue are planned to occur alongside this project. New pedestrian sidewalks and bicycle facilities are proposed, as well as potential off-site intersection

HELLO!

Book a photo session for your dog! evasacher.com 30 / July 2021 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

improvements. The proposed project will include on-site and off-site utility and drainage improvements, including new 8-inch sanitary sewer, 8-inch fire, and South 4-inch domestic water lines, as well as a new stormwater outfall that would be constructed along Rodeo Creek Gulch. Public comment is open until Aug. 9. You can view the draft EIR and appendices on the County’s CEQA website: CEQA Documents Open for Public Review (sccoplanning.com), scroll down to “Medical Office Building Project.” You can also submit comments through the same website. There is a hard copy available at the Planning Counter, 701 Ocean St., fourth floor, for any one who prefers paper. Copies will also be available at the Porter and Live Oak libraries, once the libraries are again open for public browsing. Upon the close of the public comment period on Aug. 9, the final EIR will be produced. The project will then head into the public hearing and approval phase.  We anticipate it will be heard at the Planning Commission in November, and the Board of Supervisors in December or January. This is a major development for the 1st District. If you want to share your opinion on this important project, public comment is now open! 2021 Measure D Projects his last month, the Department of Public Works released a revised Measure D

schedule for the 2021 project locations. For the most up-to-date information on Measure D projects, visit scmeasured. blogspot.com. Please see the posted signsNorth in the project areas for most up-to-date schedule information. Any questions regarding the schedule or projects should be directed to Mark Christensen, (831) 477-3962, mark. christensen@santacruzcounty.us, or Sal Duran, Teichert Construction, (510) 7898807, sduran@teichert.com. Rental Assistance is Still Available! anta Cruz County still has millions of dollars available to help people pay rent for financial hardship due to COVID-19. Renters and landlords can apply through the state’s Housing is Key program for assistance for past due and future payments. To apply, visit Housing Is Key (ca.gov). Please share this information with anyone you know who may need assistance. If you need help with the application, call Community Bridges at the Live Oak Family Resource Center, (831) 476-7284, 1740 17th Ave, Santa Cruz, 95062. n ••• We invite you to share your feedback on these issues and others. Email us at first. district@santacruzcounty.us, and join us for constituent meetings, held every Monday evening prior to Board of Supervisors meetings. Visit District 1 (santa-cruz.ca.us) for a complete list of upcoming constituent meetings.

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SCCAS Featured Pet

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Perennial Plants Perform For Years

P M

Meet Misto!

crossword on 25 »

isto (A282267) is an outgoing black and white domestic shorthair cat who needs a cat savvy adopter. Shelter staff thinks he is about 1 year and 1 month old. In his previous home he had a history of being a great cat overall, but one that can get overstimulated fairly easily — resulting in some accidental nips and scratches. Since being in the Shelter, Misto has been provided with lots of mental and physical stimulation. This has lowered his overstimulation response and provided a more appropriate outlet for his energy. Misto should go to an adults only home where he will continue to get lots of physical and mental stimulation. He would be a great candidate for a catio set up where he can be supervised outdoors in a safely enclosed area. So what do you say? Want to hang out with the mystical Misto? 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 10 a.m. – 6 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

By Tony Tomeo

erennial” is a simple adjective that describes something that last for more than a single year. Horticulturally, it is not this simple. After all, every plant that is not an “annual.” which completes its entire life cycle within only one year, is technically a “perennial.” Those that develop lignified (woody) parts instead conform to such categories as tree, shrub or vine. Even these categories are not as simple as they seem to be. Palms are trees, but without woody stems. Technically, they are merely very large perennials. Some consider them to be “herbaceous trees.” Yucca trees conform to the same category; while terrestrial yuccas are usual perennials. Sweet peas are annual vines. Perennial peas are perennial vines. Many annual bedding plants, such as begonia, chrysanthemum, primrose, cyclamen and even busy Lizzie, are technically perennial. They could survive for a few or several years if they get such a chance. All ferns, including tree ferns, are perennials. So are bamboos, ornamental grasses, and many succulents. ‘Biennials’ are perennials that live two years. Many of the most popular perennial plants have an indefinite life span. It is impossible to know how long they can survive. They are constantly replacing themselves with new but genetically identical parts. For example, bearded iris migrate and propagate by rhizomes that could have been propagating for centuries. New plants are identical to their original. However, many perennial plants with potential to propagate indefinitely might eventually get shabby. New Zealand flax, after many years, may slowly migrate

Feral perennial pea might bloom white.

outward from where it started growing, leaving a bald spot in the middle. Outer shoots relocate easily to patch such bald spots, or unite as a fresh clump. Crowded lily of the Nile benefit from thinning. Bulbs and bulb like plants are generally perennial, even if unreliable as such in the mild local climate. (Many bulbs and bulb like plants prefer more chill through winter than they get here.) Most of these sorts of perennials are dormant for part of the year, so die back to the ground. Hostas are bare through winter. Florists’ cyclamen are bare through summer. ••• Perennial Pea lthough rarely planted intentionally in home gardens, perennial pea, Lathyrus latifolius, is somewhat common near rural roadside ditches and in riparian situations. It naturalizes to a minor degree, generally where the soil retains a bit of moisture after the rain finishes. It can eventually become somewhat overwhelming in unrefined but irrigated landscapes. Bloom is typically rich purplish pink during late Perennial pea has potential spring or early to naturalize. summer. A few specimens might bloom white or pale pink. Seed for varieties that bloom in any of these three colors, as well as red, is available online. Flowers resemble those of annual sweet pea, but are more abundant, and lack fragrance. Their delicate foliage might be slightly bluish green. Vines might be lean through their first season from seed, but can get six feet long. By the middle of summer, they begin to die back to their plump perennial roots. They last longer with watering. Without watering, they may finish before July. Vines that grow from mature roots as winter ends after the first season should be bigger, fuller and perhaps voracious. n ••• Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / July 2021 / 31

JUNE 2021

CAPITOLA & SOQUEL BY THE NUMBERS 11

108%

homes sold this month

list price received

1.785m median sale price

new listings

average days on the market

TH E R E H A S N E VE R B E E N A B E T TE R TI M E TO S E LL It’s a sellers market right now. Have you thought of selling? Have you noticed the listings in your neighborhood? They’re all selling for record-breaking prices. Above is a look at sales data around your home. Contact Amber today to learn the value of your home in today’s market.

AMBER MELENUDO REALTOR®

831.661.5591

ambermelenudo.com amber@davidlyng.com DRE 01921098

TOP 1% PRODUCING AGENT IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Capitola Soquel Times: July 2021

Articles inside

Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28

Perennial Plants Perform For Years, By Tony Tomeo

Stage 3 Water Cutback: What You Can Do, By Rebecca Gold Rubin

Portola Drive Separated Bikeways Need Feedback, By Manu Koenig

Sunday Brunch: You’re Invited To Add One!, By Ron Kustek

Birchbark Foundation: If You Have a Pet, Help is Available, By June

Volunteer Center Restarts Transportation & Helping Hands, By Trea

Summer Bringing Lots of Changes, By Yvette Brooks, Mayor, City of Capitola

Red Cross Honors Diane Bridgeman, Megan Erk

Wednesday Night Concerts Are Back!, By Jondi Gumz • So When is the Capitola Library Open? • Mid-County Senior Center is Open Again

Dominican Modifications OK’d, $360M for Parking Garage, Surgery Center, By Jondi Gumz • Friday Night Live Presents: Youth in Action

Cabrillo Stage: Live Music in the Great Outdoors, By Mindy Pedlar

Friendly Dog Needs A New Home

Rent Deal Could Help Tenants, Landlords, By Jondi Gumz • Santa Cruz County Fair Returns September 15-19