Aptos Times January 1st 2013

January 1 2013 • Vol 22 No. 1 • www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Serving Our Community For 21 Years • Aptos, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, Freedom & Watsonville

Mariners Take Consolation PrizeThe Aptos High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team came back from a first round loss in the Alisal Winter

Jam Tournament, winning its next two

against Greenfield and Pacific Grove to win the conso-lation division.

The Mariners struggled against ...

Full Story on page 24

Last ThoughtsThis is my final column as the Second District County Supervisor. Super-

visor-elect Zach Friend will take office on January 7, 2013 and my twelve

years of representing the District will come to an end.

I have very mixed feelings about closing this chapter of my life. I’m excited about doing new things and going new places but I have ...


Like a diesel train starting its engines getting ready to begin moving down the track, Aptos seems to have finally reached a point of pent-up energy ready to be let loose. Significant changes are coming that will modernize and change our (relatively) quiet community. The two major transformations coming are the renovation of the Rancho Del Mar Shopping

Center and the impending development of a brand new Aptos Village.

Property Development Centers (PDC), a wholly owned real estate subsidiary of Safeway Inc., purchased the Rancho Del Mar shopping center at the intersection of Soquel Drive and State Park Drive in Aptos in Feb-ruary 2012. ... continued on page 4

Aptos Ready for Change

2013 Valentine’s Day Poetry ContestWhether it’s the memory of Love, Love that has stood

the test of time, or the rush of young Love, that is what we celebrate each February

14, Valentine’s Day. What could be more romantic than to express through your

own poetry about that Love for your loved one - and for our readers - to

read. So it’s time to send us your poem about those tender feelings and romantic thoughts to our annual poetry contest.


2 / January 1st 2013 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Apto

s Tim

esVo

lum

e 22

N

o. 1

Rio Del Mar Mexican CuisineFine Mexican Food

CUERVO GOLD MARGARITAS!Full Bar! January Lunch special

Two (2) plates for

$1499*

Tuesday thru Friday • 11 a.m.-3 p.m.*Some Restrictions Apply

Coupon must be present at time of order. Expire 01/31/13

Open New Year’s Day at 3 p.m.!

662-8795 • 9067 Soquel Drive, AptosSunday 12pm - 9pm • (Closed Monday) • Tuesday-Thursday 11am - 9 pm

Friday 11 am - 9:30 pm • Saturday 12 pm - 9:30 pm

www.palapasrestaurant.com831-662-900021 Seascape Village, Aptos

Ocean ViewLunch & Dinner Daily

Reservations Suggested

Reasons to Dine at PalapasGreat

Bring the family to Palapas for dinner Monday thru Thursday nights for our unique style of Mexican food and your children dine for free!*

KIDS FREEMID-WEEK SPECIALSDINNE

R

DINE FO

R

Tuesday: Mahi Mahi Tacos w/Mango Salsa Fresca

Wednesday: Sandabs w/garlic Tomatillo Sauce

Thursday: Housemade Tamales Chicken or Pork

All special entrees $10.95

*Offer is good for one child’s (under 12) menu item per entree purchased from our regular menu by an adult in party. Valid Monday thru Thursday except holidays. Expires 3-14-13.

*Offer is good for one child’s (under 12) menu item per entree purchased from our regular menu by an adult in party. Valid Monday thru Thursday except holidays. Expires 3-14-13.

Fine Dining Mexican Style

Wharf to Wharf donations near $400,000The Santa Cruz Wharf to Wharf Race

donated a record total of $388,394 to local schools and non-profit organi-

zations during 2012, Race Director Scott McConville announced this week.

“The Wharf to Wharf is far more than a yearly running event. In fact we are one of the largest charitable organizations in the county,” McConville said. “Our main goal annually is to promote the health and fitness of the youth of Santa Cruz County.”

The Wharf to Wharf non-profit cor-poration donated nearly $400,000 to 36 separate organizations during 2012. The

two largest gifts were given to Soquel High ($110,000) and Aptos high ($60,000) for the resurfacing of their tracks. A complete listing is included below.

The Wharf to Wharf Race began in 1973, and has grown into one of the premier road races in the country. Last year, more than 15,000 people ran the race from Santa Cruz to Capitola.

The Wharf to Wharf Corporation is char-tered to promote running as a means to health and fitness, particularly for young people.

“WtW Donations” page 10

The new surface of the Aptos track

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / January 1st 2013 / 3

Cover Aptos Ready for Change by Noel Smith

Community News2 Wharf to Wharf donations near $400,0003 New Year! New Look! • Holiday Mecca for Toy Train Lovers • Wetlands

Watch Docent Training Begins in January • Harp Music Concert8 Aptos Village Street is Given a Name!9 2013 Youth Chamber Music Competition • Fireplace and Woodstove Safety

by Mike DeMars, Central Fire Protection District10 Know the Signs — Help Prevent Suicide13 2013 Valentine’s Day Poetry Contest14 Soquel Creek Water District Appoints Richard Meyer as New Board

Member • Supporting Traditional and Visual Artists – Creative Work Fund Announces Their Grants Process For The Next Year

15 Meet the Author at Porter Library • Safety for All Schools in Santa Cruz County On Everyone’s Mind By Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputy April Skalland

16 Banff Mountain Film Festival – Ignite your passion for adventure, action & travel!

18 Old Happens!19 SOS Seeks Community Leaders – Sanctuary Steward Docent Volunteer

Training Program Starts Soon • Over 2,000 Illegally Possessed Firearms Seized in California Throughout 2012

21 Former Carmel Developer Sentenced – O’Meara to Spend 78 Months in Prison for $16 Million Golf Course Investment Fraud Scheme • Nine Local Farmers Attended California Farm Bureau 94th Annual Meeting

22 What Kids Learn From Chores – Proof That Suffering — And Help Around The House — Builds Character

23 Beware of ATM skimming devices25 Marine Debris Act Passes in both House and Senate

Private School Open House11 Give your child a head start

Business Profiles20 Aptos Yoga Center – Promoting Health Through Svaroopa® Yoga by Cynthia

Howe

Local Sports24 Reggie’s Dream • Mariners Take Consolation Prize at Alisal Winter Jam

Tournament • Aptos Scoreboard

Home & Garden25 Five Grocery Staples for Youth & Vitality

Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28 & 29

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

Featured Columnists6 Last Thoughts By County Supervisor Ellen Pirie26 The Book Bag by Robert Francis – Plenty of action, adventure and suspense

for the New Year…27 EarthTalk® – What Makes an America City Green?30 Electrical Safety This Winter by Mike Conrad, Division Chief Operations, Aptos

La Selva Fire Protection District31 Seniors in Action by Noreen Santaluce – Captivity during WWII Remembered

SPCA Featured Pet • 1 – Who Needs Rudolph When You’ve Got Cupid!

Apto

s Tim

esVo

lum

e 22

N

o. 1

www.tpgonlinedaily.com

8 11 20 24

Table of Contents

New Year! New Look!Welcome Aptos Times readers to our first edition of the the New Year!

You will experience a brighter paper throughout the issue, brighter colors with more color pages. We are excited to give you, our readers a

newly designed front cover and newspaper with the same local content making us your Hometown paper. This year has been an exciting year for TPG, with the launch of our new website and, our weekly news blast (sign up online) and all the fun Facebook posts with participation and interaction from you.

The staff at TPG will continue to give our readers the best of local content by supporting local businesses while providing our reader’s the best in local news, sports and information that you need to know!

Tell your friends, family and neighbors, for more local news, they can logon to our hometown papers online. They are updated daily on our website www.tpgonlinedaily.com or like us on Facebook.

Thank you for 22 years of readership and loyalty to your hometown paper the Aptos Times! Happy, healthy, prosperous New Year from the staff here at

Holiday Mecca for Toy Train Lovers

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) welcomes all lovers

of trains starting December 21 with its toy train extravaganza. Join us for a rotating cavalcade of operating toy trains from the 1920s to the 21st century. Watch a massive standard gauge steam engine from the 1920s start up-headlight flashing, drive wheels spinning, smoke flowing from the smoke stack and of course a mighty whistle. On another track, see a modern O gauge diesel with all the latest electronic features. Emphasis is on fun!

Hear the roar as the diesel starts up, the blast of the mighty horn, the squeal of the brakes at the train slows for a curve and the chatter between the engineer and the control tower. Toy trains have come a long way over the last century, but new or old, the emphasis is on fun!

The exhibit opened Friday Dec. 21 5-9 p.m. and runs through Saturday Jan. 5. The MAH is closed Mondays, Christmas Day and New Years Day. Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA. Phone: (831) 429-1964. Website: www.santacruzmah.org

•••Wetlands Watch Docent Training

Begins in JanuaryWATSONVILLE — The Watsonville

Wetlands Watch 2013 Docent Training Program will begin on January 23. Local experts will provide an inside look at the wetlands of Watsonville, including the ecology, history and restoration of the wetlands. This 7-week program includes Wednesday evening presentations and Sat-urday morning field trips.

New docents will be prepared to assist with field trips and lead walks. Docents also have the opportunity to help with community events, work in the library or greenhouse at the Fitz Wetlands Edu-cation Resource Center, work on special projects, and participate in wetlands res-toration. There is a need for bilingual (Spanish/English) docents, but being bilingual is not requirement.

The Watsonville Wetlands Watch is a nonprofit community-based organization dedicated to the protection, restoration and appreciation of the wetlands of Pajaro Valley. For more information, visit our website at www.watsonvillewetlandswatch.org.

Please contact the Volunteer Coordi-nator, Kathy Fieberling, at 831-345-1226 or email [email protected] for details and to enroll.

••• Harp Music Concert

Community Music School presents the 9th annual Santa Cruz Harp Festival,

a celebration of the harp in its many forms: from the folk harp to the historical wire strung harp to the autoharp to the Classical pedal harp typically seen in orchestras.

“Briefs” page 21


publisherPatrice Edwards

publisher’s assistantLindsay Nelson

editorNoel Smith

contributing writersNoel Smith, Ellen Pirie, Mike DeMars, April Skalland, Cynthia Howe, Annabel Burton, Robert Francis, Mike Conrad, Noreen Santaluce

layoutMichael Oppenheimer, Mike Lyon

graphic artistsMike Lyon, Michael Oppenheimer

production coordinatorSandra Gonzalez

advertising salesDon Beaumont, Sadie Wittkins, Jackie Hinds

office coordinatorCathe Race

distributionBill Pooley, Jana Mears

Times Publishing Group, Inc.9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003

The Times Publishing Group, Inc., publishers of the Aptos times, a bi-weekly publication, the Capitola Times and Scotts Valley Times, each printed monthly, Coastal Weddings Magazine, printed twice annually and Coastal Home and Garden Magazine, printed twice annually, is owned by Patrice Edwards. Entire contents ©2013. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the publisher’s written permission

PHONE: (831) 688-7549FAX: (831) 688-7551

GENERAL E-MAIL: [email protected]

Patrice Edwards: [email protected]’s Assistant: [email protected]

Editor: [email protected]/Letters: [email protected] Listings: www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Graphics Department: [email protected] Inquiries: [email protected]

Classified Sales: [email protected]: [email protected]

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT:www.tpgonlinedaily.com

distributionWe 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

Aptos Times

“Ready For Change” from page 1

PDC then immediately announced plans for a new store and the renovation of the shopping center. The 50-year-old, 3-acre Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center opened in June 1961 and has been the heart of retail and restaurant activity in Aptos for the past 50 years.

The renovation will affect 14 busi-nesses in eastern portion of the center, as the buildings they occupy will be torn down. This includes the Rite Aid drug-store, Aptos movie theater, Ace Hardware Store, Aptos Jewelers, Erik’s Deli, Sophia’s, Aptos Burger, and Baskin Robbins. These businesses and others will be faced with the tough decision to either shut their doors or move elsewhere during the 2-year construction period in the Shopping Center, This renovation will significantly change the character of the local business community.

With the county’s approved Aptos Village Plan, the developer, Barry Swenson Builder, is expected to begin the steps nec-essary for development beginning in 2013. The concept is that of a rural village look with a mixed use of residential and retail occupants. Aptos Village will provide a community center and a public open space

— a village common — as a gathering area for social and civic events. The new village may also provide an alternative location for some of the businesses being forced to move out of the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center due to and during its renovation.

Another development on the verge of actually taking shape is McGregor Park in Seacliff. Plans to build a community park in the Seacliff Village of Aptos were on hold since 2007 because of a lack of funds. Recently more than $600,000 in grants has put the park back on track. The undeveloped 1.25-acre McGregor Neigh-borhood Park is at the corner of Sea Ridge Road and McGregor Drive. Plans call for an amphitheater, picnic area, shade structures, playground, skate areas and restrooms. The boundaries of the park will be planted with drought-tolerant plants while the 15,000-square-foot center will be covered with drought-tolerant turf.

A seminal event regarding the pur-chase of the railroad 31-mile right-of-way between Watsonville and Davenport took place on November 17 with the Rail Cor-ridor Ribbon Cutting in Aptos. The Iowa Pacific Railway has been given the rights to freight and passenger service on the

(now) publicly owned rail corridor and has named its new venture the Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway. No word on when freight service will start but passenger service was kicked off with demonstration passenger runs on November 17 and the Train to Christmas Town which ran five days per week in December from the Boardwalk to just past Wilder Ranch.

Notable changes that took place in 2012 have effected four people closely asso-ciated with Aptos and Cabrillo College.

First, Second Dis-trict Supervisor Ellen is stepping down after 12 years in office with supervisor-elect Zach

Friend taking her place on January 7.

Also, Maestro John Larry Granger conducted his last concert with the Santa Cruz County Sym-phony in May 2012. A series of candidates are now conducting this year’s concerts as they are considered as Granger’s replacement.

Lastly, Cabrillo College Pres-ident Brian King is moving on to take over as Chancellor of the Los Rios Com-munity College District in the Sac-ramento area. No replacement for Cabrillo College president named to date. n

Zach Friend

Brian KingA rendering of the Aptos Village Plan

Aptos Village will provide ... a gathering area for social and civic events. The new village may also provide an alternative location for some of the businesses being forced to move out of the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center due to and during its renovation.

John Larry Granger


Mount Madonna’s Production of Alice in WonderlandAlice and the Royal Cardsmen — Eighth grader Savannah Willoughby performs as Alice in a scene with the Royal Cardsmen from Mount Madonna School’s production of Disney’s “Alice in Won-derland, Jr.”

Last ThoughtsBy County Supervisor Ellen Pirie

This is my final column as the Second District County Supervisor. Super-visor-elect Zach Friend will take

office on January 7, 2013 and my twelve years of representing the District will come to an end.

I have very mixed feelings about closing this chapter of my life. I’m excited about doing new things and going new places but I have loved working with my constituents and will miss many of them. The friends I have made in County government and in community organizations have helped me in innumerable ways and have made me a better person and a better Supervisor.

Although I expect to be gone from Santa Cruz County for a couple of years, I hope to return and be a part of this won-derful community again. In the meantime, I want to leave some final thoughts on a couple of issues …

The Rail Right-of-Way

After more than 10 years of work, the Santa Cruz County Regional Trans-

portation Commission (RTC) completed the purchase of the Santa Cruz Branch Line in October 2012. The purpose of the purchase is to “preserve the rail corridor” for future multi-modal transportation uses. Multi-modal means multiple means of travel – trains, bicycles, feet and who knows what else!

Passenger Rail Service

Roughly half of funding for the pur-chase of the rail right of way was from

state Proposition 116 funds. The purpose of Proposition 116 was to encourage pas-senger rail service, so a condition of that funding is that the RTC initiate passenger rail service. There is no requirement that the RTC maintain passenger rail service indefinitely.

The RTC is meeting that “initiate passenger rail” con-dition by allowing Iowa Pacific to run the Train to Christ-mastown, a tourist passenger service running between Santa Cruz and up the North Coast a short distance. It will run from late November until Christmas. Iowa Pacific has a 10-year contract with the RTC to run that service

every year, as well as provide freight rail service in the Watsonville area.

If the tourist train is financially suc-cessful, Iowa Pacific (doing business locally as the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Railway) will want to operate it for the full 10 years and continue it in the future. If it is not financially successful, they will want out of the contract early. Either way, the RTC will have met its obligation under the terms of the state funding agreement to initiate passenger rail service.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail

Another potential use of the rail line is for a bicycle and pedestrian trail. On

this rail line, it will be difficult, although not impossible, to have both an operating rail line and a bike and walking trail. The reasons it is difficult are the narrow width of the right of way corridor in some places and the 37 trestles and bridges along the right of way.

The rail corridor varies in width because it is comprised of many different sized parcels of land. The parcels vary in length and width – some are long and skinny, others are short and wide. The parcels vary from only 16 feet wide to well over 100 feet wide.

Most of the right of way is plenty wide to accommodate both rail and a trail. However, in those areas where the right of way is narrow, say under 32 useable feet, there isn’t room for an operating rail service and a trail, at least not under the terms of the current contract with Iowa Pacific. The contract between the RTC and Iowa Pacific gives Iowa Pacific an easement 20 feet wide (10 feet on each side of the centerline of the track) for the passenger and freight service. The minimum width required for a trail

next to an operating rail line is 12 feet. So, a minimum width of 32 useable feet is needed on this line to accommodate rail and trail.

A possible solution to the problem is to amend the contract between the RTC and Iowa Pacific to reduce the rail service easement to 17 feet wide. Federal law allows the easement to be as narrow as 17 feet and it is possible that Iowa Pacific would agree to such an amendment. However, Iowa Pacific hasn’t agreed to the reduction of its easement yet and it has the right to say “no.” If Iowa Pacific says “yes,” it would reduce the minimum needed for both rail and trail to 29 useable feet.

The other reason it is difficult to have both rail and trail on this particular rail line is the many trestles and bridges on the line. Under state and federal law, and for obvious safety reasons, the RTC can’t put a trail on a trestle if there is an operating rail service. Since there are 37 trestles or bridges on the rail line, these present serious obstacles.

This isn’t an insurmountable problem; it’s just an expensive problem to solve. The options for dealing with this problem are either:

• Build a pedestrian bridge next to the existing railway bridge, or

• Move the trail off of the rail corridor and go around the bridge or trestle.There’s no question that having an

operating rail system is a mixed blessing. It provides train service, at least as a tourist attraction, but also makes the creation of a bike and pedestrian trail more expensive and difficult. If there is no operating rail system at some point in the future, then the trail can run where the tracks are now.

No additional land or bridges would be needed.

Second District County Supervisor Ellen Pirie (right) and the Supervisor-Elect Zach Friend (left) stand with local historian Sandy Lydon.


APTOSSELECT SHOPPING / APTOS VILLAGE

STATION

A Little Center With

A Lot of Class!Plenty of Free Customer Parking

Aptos VillageSkin & Body Care

A skin care center688-4541

Wilder Associates Inc.Property Management Specialist

662-0291

Salon AptosHair and nails for a good look

688-8804

Village LiquorsFor all your beverage needs

688-5691

Yoga WithinExploring the mind-body connection

687-0818

Joy of MovementPilates & Gyrotonic®

More zest for life688-8077

WarmboardRadiant Subfloor

Simply smarter radiant heat685-9275

Epicenter CyclingTrek bicycles for all types of riders

662-8100

Dentistry for AnimalsDr. Judy Force, DVM

768-7148

Commuter Rail

I’ve heard a lot of people talk about how great it would be to have a commuter rail system

running from Watsonville to Santa Cruz. And I agree! The problem is that the economics of operating a commuter rail system require a dense population with many people using the rail. We don’t have a dense population and the financing of a commuter rail line just doesn’t work here. A number of much larger cities, such as Portland, San Jose, have light rail systems that struggle financially.

In 1998 or so, the RTC did a study of transportation in Santa Cruz County. One of the issues it looked at was the viability of a passenger rail system on our tracks. The study found that operating a regular pas-senger rail system would require a public subsidy of about $60 per rider, per ride. That’s simply impossible now. However, things could change in the future and operating a commuter rail system could someday make sense.

Rail Banking

If there comes a day when there is no operating rail service north of Watson-

ville, the RTC could “rail bank” the line. Rail banking is a federally recognized process in which the corridor owner, the RTC in this case, officially says: “We aren’t currently using this rail corridor for rail service but we hope to be able to use it for rail service in the future.” The purpose of rail banking is to protect the corridor.

The rail corridor is made up of many separate parcels of land. Some are owned outright by the RTC. But for some parcels, the RTC only owns an easement for rail service. Under normal real property law, if the owner of the easement ceases to use it for the intended purpose, then the easement ends. So, the RTC could lose its unbroken corridor because its easements over some of the parcels would be terminated. Rail banking prevents the loss of those easements.

Then if in the future regular passenger rail service makes sense, the unbroken cor-

ridor is there for public use. And in the meantime, the corridor can be used for a bike and pedestrian trail, or other trans-portation uses.

Other things to keep an eye on …The Master Plan for the Sanctuary

Scenic Trail — This draft master plan was released by the RTC in November and comments are due by Dec. 21. It is an excellent draft but it does have some errors and oversights. For example, the draft barely mentions the RTC’s 10-year contract with Iowa Pacific. I think that the public should know about issues that impact the construction of the Trail and that contract certainly does.

The Master plan also assumes that Iowa Pacific’s rail service easement will be reduced to 17 feet, which it may or may not be. The purpose of the Master Plan is, or should be, to lay out a clear picture of where a trail is feasible on the rail line and what obstacles will need to be overcome.

Comments can be made about the draft Master Plan to the RTC until December 21. The RTC may or may not agree with a comment and may or may not incorporate it into the final Master Plan. The RTC staff will make recommendations to the Com-mission itself. The Commission (including

Supervisor Friend) will make the final decision about what changes to make to the draft Plan.

The Mar Vista bicycle/pedes-trian bridge over Highway 1 — The Mar Vista Bridge is one of three new bicycle/pedestrian overcrossings planned as part of the Highway 1 cor-ridor improvement program. The Mar Vista crossing will connect Aptos and Seacliff and will reduce travel dis-tances for bicyclists and pedestrians traveling between Mar Vista Drive at

McGregor Drive in Seacliff to Mar Vista Elementary School by up to 1.6 miles. It will also reduce traffic through the busy State Park Drive interchanges.

Most importantly, the funding is in place for the Mar Vista Pedestrian Bridge. The EIR on the highway improvements, including this bridge, will be completed next year. Design is expected to be done the following year. Once built, it will improve access to residential, educational, recreational and commercial destinations, including Seacliff State Beach, Cabrillo College, Aptos and Seacliff Villages. Please stay engaged to comment on the design and insure that the project serves the com-munity well.

The Rancho del Mar/Safeway remodel — No application for a permit has been filed yet but it is expected in the spring. The County will require a traffic study to be done by the applicant. It will be very important that the public read and under-stand the traffic study.

I have been honored to be the Second District County Supervisor for the past 12 years. It has been inter-esting, fun, aggravating and never boring! It’s been a great experience and I’m grateful to the voters for giving me this opportunity. n


February 21, 20133:30 – 7:00PMat the Capitola Mall

Businesses, Organizations, Non-Profits…

Join us for the 27th annual Greatest Showcase on Earth! From Accounting to Yoga and everything in between…Santa Cruz County is bustling with great businesses! It’s your time to shine! Reserve your exhibitor space today!

The Food and Wine Pavilion offers an excellent opportunity for restaurants, caterers, wineries and breweries to showcase their specialties!

Sponsorship opportunities available!

Download a registration form at: www.capitolachamber.com/events/calendar/ or call the Capitola-Soquel Chamber at 831.475.6522 or the Aptos Chamber at 831.688.1467. Complete registration form and return to the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce: By mail: 716-G Capitola Ave, Capitola, CA 95010 FAX: 831.475.6530 Email: [email protected]

Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce, 716-G Capitola Avenue, Capitola, Ca. 95010, capitolachamber.com 475-6522

CPT

7965 Soquel Drive, Aptos • 688-4528

Private Fitness Training Studio

Getting back to it...Specializing in

BOOMERFitness

www.suesmythefitness.com

Aptos Village Street is Given a Name!The most popular choice for the

name of a planned east-west street as part of the Aptos Village devel-

opment was determined to be “Aptos Village Way.”

The new street will connect Trout Gulch and Aptos Creek Roads through the Village and will run parallel to and north of Soquel Drive.

“Aptos Village Way” was selected by informal balloting organized by out-going Second District Supervisor Ellen Pirie, who spearheaded the Aptos Village Plan and development proposal during her 12 years on the Board. Voting was done at community events and online during the past month.

Other street choice names included “Rafael Castro,” “Sawmill Road,” and “Apple Barn Street.” Rafael Castro was a well-respected Californio, who was born in Santa Cruz County and owned the 6,000-acre Aptos Rancho, including the land where Aptos Village stands. Sawmill Road was suggested to com-memorate the sawmill that was on

Aptos Creek in the 1800s. Apple Barn Street was proposed in recognition of

the large apple-packing shed that has been used as an antiques market and will be moved and remodeled as a

grocery store in Aptos Village.“Aptos Village Way” was the clear

winner with twice as many votes as each of the other choices. More than 430 votes were cast. Community members also suggested other names such as Bike Jump Place, Steve Colbert Street and Aldrich Lane, in honor of Lucille Aldrich who started the Aptos Fourth of July Parade.

“Pirie Place” was also suggested, but Pirie said, “No, absolutely not!”

“I want to thank all those who took the time to vote,” Pirie said. “And I’m pleased that there was a clear first choice.”

Road names are usually suggested by the developer and then approved by Emergency Service personnel to ensure the name is not duplicated elsewhere in the County. Supervisor Pirie wanted the community involved in the selection, just as the community was involved in the creation of the Aptos Village Plan. “Historians Sandy Lydon and Carolyn Swift helped narrow the list of names,” Pirie said. n

Overall Site Plan

“Aptos Village Way” was the clear winner with twice as many votes as each of the other choices. More than 430 votes were cast.


2013 Youth Chamber Music CompetitionThe Santa Cruz Baroque Festival

has opened its 11th annual Youth Chamber Music Competition. The

competition is open to high-school musi-cians performing in chamber ensembles, and are residents of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties (see “Eligibility” below).

Following auditions on Saturday, Feb-ruary 23, 2013 the awards ceremony takes place at the Baroque Festival’s Concert III, Saturday, March 16, at the UCSC Music Center Recital Hall from 7:30 PM. Each

member of the winning ensemble will receive $100 up to a total of $400 and the group will perform at the competition’s awards ceremony. Second place winners will receive $50 each up to a total of $200 and will be recognized along with hon-orable mention award groups.

Deadline: Audition appointments are scheduled by completing the Com-petition Entry Form and returning it to us by Saturday, February 15, 2013 (receipt deadline). You will then receive confirmation of your audition appointment by email by the fol-lowing Monday. You may download this form from our website, (www.scbaroque.org/youth.html), or request it by phone, (831-457-9693) or email, ([email protected]).

Auditions: The competition will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013, at the UCSC Music Building, Room 131, between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM, and under the super-vision of our artistic director, Dr. Linda Burman-Hall. While we take into account schedule preferences for auditions, groups are recommended to be available at any time during the planned judging block.

Repertoire: We encourage groups to compete by playing baroque and other

early music (pre-1750), but the com-petition is also open to instrumental ensembles performing Classical and Romantic concert repertoire.

Ensembles (NEW): Individual stu-dents may enter in no more than two different ensembles in a given compe-tition year.

Eligibility: The competition is open to high-school students residing in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties. Santa Clara County ensembles are admitted on a space-available basis. Accomplished younger musicians are

welcome to compete. Ensembles are expected to range from 2 to 10 players in size.

By entering the competition, ensemble members affirm their ability to play at the awards ceremony (March 16). Com-plimentary tickets will be available to all competitors (2 guests per student) and coaches (1 per ensemble). There is a charge for parking at UCSC. n

•••For additional information you may visit

our website at www.scbaroque.org.

Central Fire Talks About Fireplace and Woodstove SafetyMike DeMars — Public Information Officer Central Fire Protection District 831-479-6843

The Central Fire District would like to remind homeowners that in order to be safe when disposing of ashes from

fireplaces or wood stoves:

• Hot coals and embers can be concealed in the ash and smolder for hours.

• Because coals and embers can stay hot for hours or even days, never store

ashes inside of your home or garage.• When disposing of ashes, always use a

metal can with a lid.• Store the metal container outside away

from your home and combustible materials until the ashes are cool.

“Fire Safety” page 21


“Change” from page 2

Ken Thomas, president of the Wharf to Wharf Board of Directors, said that the 2012 charitable donations has brought the total number of con-tributions to nearly $5 million since the race’s inception. “Every year we go through a number of grant appli-cations from schools and non-profits to ensure that the money we donate goes directly to programs of health and fitness,” Thomas said. “We’re proud of the success that these programs have had. This year was the largest amount ever.” n

•••

Here’s a complete list of donations for 2012:Aptos High School $11,800 Track / Football / Cheer / SoftballHarbor High School $8,300 Track / Football/ Water Polo/CheerMonte Vista Christian $7,000 Track & FieldPajaro Valley High School $7,000 Track & FieldSanta Cruz High School $12,540 Track & Field / Girls BasketballScotts Valley High School $9,300 Track & Field / Girls BasketballSan Lorenso Valley High School $9,600 Track & Field / Girls Softball / FootballSoquel High School $15,100 Track & Field / Football / Baseball / Cheer / Water Polo

Watsonville High School $13,000 Track & Field Saint Francis High School $7,000 Track & Field Salesian Sisters School $600Twin Lakes Christian School $450Pacific Collegiate School $1,000New Brighton Middle School $2,084Branciforte Middle School $12,500Pajaro Valley Middle School $1,600Delaveaga Elementary School $800Linscott Charter School $1,000Soquel Elementary Schools $4,000YES School $800Aptos Junior High School $1,200E.A. Hall Middle School $3,800Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League $1,300

Mission Hill Middle School $1,350Scotts Valley Middle School $1,470Soquel Stadium Track Resurfacing Fund $13,000 Equipment Fund $3,000International Games $1,400Student Athlete Scholarship Fund $30,000Capitola Junior Guards $7,000Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Reserve $9,600Capitola Explorers $400Aptos High School Track Resurfacing $60,000Soquel High School Track Resurfacing $110,000Coast County Athletic League $1,800Santa Cruz Track Club $17,600TOTAL 2012 DONATIONS: $388,394

Know the Signs — Help Prevent SuicideIn 2010, 3,823 Californians took their

own lives, and 16,425 people were hos-pitalized for self-inflicted injuries.

As part of its comprehensive Suicide Prevention Initiative, the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) has launched a mass media campaign intended to prepare Californians to prevent suicide by encouraging them to know the warning signs for suicide, find the words to offer help to someone they are concerned about and reach out to resources.

“Stephanie Welch, Senior Program Manager for CalMHSA said, “The Know the Signs campaign serves as a way for us to educate our communities how to play a role in the prevention and early inter-vention process by reaching out to loved ones who may be at risk for suicide.”

It’s often difficult for individuals who might be at risk for suicide to reach out for help. Therefore, the campaign speaks directly to individuals who are most likely to see the signs of suicide and respond appropriately, such as family and friends.

“While the signs for suicide can be subtle, they are there,” said Anara Guard, suicide prevention advisor to the cam-paign. “The campaign goals are to educate people on what those signs are, to rec-ognize them when they are present, and how to intervene early before the situation becomes critical.”

The media campaign includes TV,

radio, outdoor billboards, online, mobile and print advertisements and is running across the state through January. Campaign materials are also available for download on www.YourVoiceCounts.org, the campaign’s online forum that encourages dialogue and participation for suicide prevention.

The campaign is funded by counties through the voter approved Mental Health

Services Act (MHSA) (Prop. 63) and admin-istered by CalMHSA, an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

The 3-year campaign is funded from September 2011 through June 2014, and aims to achieve the following goals:

• Prepare more Californians to prevent suicide by increasing knowledge of warning signs, how to offer help and local resources.

• Provide individuals who are going through tough times with resources, hope and reassurance that help is available.

• Work with the news media to increase reporting about suicide in ways that are consistent with national recommendations.For more information on the Know the

Signs campaign, visit www.suicideispre-ventable.org.

“Prevent Suicide” page 14


LEARN MORE

OPEN HOUSE at Chartwell School

Chartwell School & The New HS Project 2511 Numa Watson Road | Seaside 831-394-3468 | CHARTWELL.ORG

We see students reach their full potential by helping them get the education they need. Grades 2—8 Academic Skills | Grades 9—12 College Prep | Day School

Saturday, January 12th

& Tuesday,

January 15th

10:30 am—12:00 pm

Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence in Education

Give your child a head startThroughout the busy school year,

many high school students across the country are already taking

steps to explore college and other post-graduation opportunities. In fact, in today’s challenging economic climate and competitive job market, it has become increasingly important to begin planning for future career options at an early stage.

One area that is particularly ripe for opportunity is in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). In August 2012, U.S. News & World Report reported that there will be a need to fill over 1.2 million STEM jobs in the U.S. by 2018. STEM careers offer lucrative and stable opportunities; for example, pharmacist jobs boast median salaries of $105,000, with a projected 25 percent job growth rate between 2010 and 2020. STEM fields

are also drivers of innovation: Experts note that those working in STEM are overwhelmingly responsible for creating breakthrough inventions compared with non-STEM counterparts.

Despite the promise these career

paths offer, less than one-third of eighth graders in this country are proficient in mathematics and science and fewer than 15 percent of U.S. undergraduates receive science or engineering degrees. This aca-demic lag has resulted in the country’s

STEM workforce hovering under 3 percent of the total working population.

“It is important to close these gaps because STEM fields have an enormous impact on our country’s growth and also provide rich opportunities for our youth,” says John Jones, R.Ph., J.D., who is a senior vice president at OptumRx and the chair of the Pharmacy is Right for Me educational initiative. “We should reach students early in their education to get them thinking about the opportunities the sector has to offer, and begin taking those first steps toward building careers in the diverse STEM arena.”

So how can parents and caretakers help kids embark upon successful profes-sional journeys in STEM and related fields? Jones recommends taking the following steps:

“STEM” page 12

Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School425 Encinal Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Phone: 831-423-0658 web: www.kirby.org Fax: 831-423-0679Academic Excellence - Exceptional Arts

Kirby is an independent, non-sectarian school serving 222 students in grades 6 through 12 in Santa Cruz, CA. We know that offering a healthy balance of rigorous academics, artistic expression, and participation in athletics is vital to your student’s development. With an average of 12 students in each classroom, our teachers have the time and focus to give your child personal attention. Furthermore, our faculty and student body are exceptionally friendly and welcoming. Schedule a shadow day with our Admissions Director Nancy Ondrejka ([email protected]), or attend our next Open House on January 17 (www.kirby.org/rsvp).

Chartwell School2511 Numa Watson Road, Seaside, CA 93955

Phone: 831-394-3468 Fax: 831-394-7991e-mail: [email protected] web: www.chartwell.orgChartwell is an independent day school for co-ed students diagnosed with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Chartwell offers an academic skills program in grades 2-8 and a college prep project-based curriculum in grades 9-12. Research shows that nearly 20% of all students find learning to read difficult despite average or better cognitive ability; mainly due to the ways their brains process visual and auditory information. At Chartwell, we see students reach their full potential by helping them get the education they need. Our fund-raising efforts provide need-based financial aid or tuition support funding to nearly half of our student population.


Delta CharterHigh SchoolAn alternative public charter high school on the campus of Cabrillo College — for students who have not been successful in their regular high school.

• Strong Academic Program• Class Size Under 20 Students• Interesting and engaging Curriculum• On-Site Counselors• high School Diploma• Independent Studies Program

open HoUse

Thurs., Jan. 31st

5-7 p.m.

Call 477-5212 for more informationwww.deltaschool.org

“STEM” from page 11

1. Engage young students early on and provide them with an educational roadmap. Students may not con-sider careers in STEM fields because they simply do not know about what those pathways can offer. Help expose kids as early as elementary and middle school to the types of unique and exciting options found through STEM. Work with your children to build a strong foundation in math and science skills, which are essential to pursuing STEM opportunities at every level — from technical posi-tions to those equiring advanced degrees.

2. Encourage hands-on learning. Gaining real-world STEM experience through internships, summer jobs, or even participation in student innovation

competitions can help kids get excited about future possibilities and apply their science and math education in creative ways. Shadowing STEM pro-fessionals in the local community can also provide a deeper understanding

of what STEM pro-fessions involve on a day-to-day basis.3. Seek out addi-tional support both in your local community and online. Preparing for post-high school and post-college life can be extremely chal-lenging, even with parental support.

Encourage children to seek addi-tional help at school by speaking with their guidance counselors. Find mentors at school or in the local community to provide pro-fessional guidance. Use credible Web-based resources for educa-tional and financial information. Online resources, such as those offered through Pharmacy is Right for Me’s website, Facebook and

Twitter channels, can help young students navigate through the chal-lenges of reaching their long-term goals.Despite the challenging job forecast,

there is a wide range of prospects open to

students in the thriving STEM industries. Engaging the next generation of STEM leaders by getting kids excited about these careers can help secure successful futures for youth. n

Brandpoint Media

“It is important to close these gaps because STEM fields have an enormous impact on our country’s growth and also provide rich opportunities for our youth.”

— John Jones, R.Ph., J.D.

Monte Vista Christian School2 School Way, Watsonville

Phone: 831-722-8178 Fax: 831-722-6003 web: www.MVCS.org/3dOur beautiful 100-acre campus provides a safe community for 800+ students, with bus routes to three counties. As an accredited coeducational college preparatory school for day students (grades 6-12) and residents (grades 9-12), we offer student activities, athletics teams, an award-winning arts program and challenging aca-demic courses. Teachers encourage students to think independently, to strengthen their problem-solving skills and to live with integrity. We share with them the joyful truth about Jesus Christ through interdenominational study of the Bible.

Delta Charter High School Grades 10-12

Cabrillo College: 6500 Soquel Drive, Bldg. 1190, AptosPhone: 831-477-5212 Fax: 831-479-6173Principal: Rob Martin web: www.deltaschool.orgDelta Charter High School is an independent public charter school located on the Cabrillo College campus. Delta is designed for students who have not been successful in other educational settings but are motivated to make some change. A dedicated faculty and staff, small class sizes, access to a college campus, counseling support positive learning environment and a focus on student accountability are cornerstones of Delta’s academic program. The school also has an independent studies program and offers classes tailored to a variety of learning styles, interests and abilities. It works to prepare students for community college and beyond. Teachers individualize curriculum when necessary so that students may improve their academic stills and earn credits towards graduation. Delta is on a trimester system and has openings for new students at the beginning of each 12-week term. Students must complete an interview process to be considered for acceptance.


Valentine’s Day Poetry ContestIt’s Time for the Annual Times Publishing Group, Inc Writing Competition

By Noel Smith

Whether it’s the memory of Love, Love that has stood the test of time, or the rush of young Love,

that is what we celebrate each February 14, Valentine’s Day. What could be more romantic than to express through your own poetry about that Love for your loved one - and for our readers - to read. So it’s time to send us your poem about those tender feelings and romantic thoughts to our annual poetry contest.

Times Publishing Group is sponsoring its 13th Times Publishing Valentine’s Day Poetry Contest to reward three local poets (and their sweethearts) with the ultimate in Valentine’s Day romance. It’s time for poets throughout our county to make public their feelings for those they love in celebration of Valentines Day and be one of our poetry contest winners.

The 2012 Times Publishing Annual Val-entine’s Day Poetry Contest drew poems from Watsonville to Boulder Creek and even

from New York. Some were funny, some romantic, some touching. All were a joy to read! As usual, a winning poem was chosen for each of our three newspapers; the Aptos Times, Capitola Soquel Times, and Scotts Valley Times.

Express your love – in 250 words or less – (see “Contest Rules” for complete details) and tell the world what makes your Valentine special! n

•••2013 Poetry Contest Rules

Please Read CarefullyWrite a poem about, or to your Valentine

and send it to us. Only one poem per poet and no more than 250 words and 25 lines. Submit it via email to [email protected] with Poetry Contest in the subject line or mail it to 9601 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003.

Be sure to include your name, address, day and evening phone numbers, e-mail address, and for whom (fiancée, spouse, parent, child, lost love, etc.) your poem is written.

Three First Place winning poems and three honorable mention poems will be selected by the Times Publishing editorial staff: from south county representing the Aptos Times; from Capitola/Soquel/Santa Cruz representing the Capitola Soquel Times and from Scotts Valley/San Lorenzo Valley representing the Scotts Valley Times. (Note: We welcome submissions from all readers living within Santa Cruz County.)

The Aptos Times’ winning prize is a Val-entine’s Day (Thursday, February 14, 2013) dinner for two at a local restaurant.

All entries must be received by 5 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013. The winner will be notified on or before Friday, Feb-

ruary 8. Please call us at 831/688-7549 if you have any questions. The winning poems will be published in the March 1 editions.

•••2012 Winners

Aptos Times – Tricia ContrerasCapitola Soquel Times – Paul VogtScotts Valley Times – Jan Mennite

“Poetry Contest” page 16

The Aptos Times’ winning prize is a Valentine’s Day

(Thursday, February 14) dinner for two at a local restautant

It’s time for poets throughout our county to make public their feelings for those they love in celebration of Valentines Day and be one our poetry contest winners.


SCWD2 Appoints New Board MemberOn Tuesday, the Soquel Creek

Water District’s board of directors unanimously appointed Richard

Meyer to fill the vacancy left on the board by Daniel Kriege, who resigned after 39 years of dedicated service. The five directors who govern the District are elected to four-year terms by voters in the District’s service area. Meyer will serve out the remainder of Kriege’s term through 2014.

Meyer’s concern for water supply and climate change, combined with his technical and environmental back-

ground, led him to apply for the open board seat. An Aptos resident, he spent 25 years working in management for Silicon Valley high-tech companies. In 2008, he started a consulting business helping clients reduce their carbon footprints. Recently, Meyer served on a technical working group analyzing the potential options for

minimizing energy use of desalination facilities.

Meyer joins the District’s board at a critical time. Currently, the District relies solely on underground aquifers to provide water to its customers. The aquifers are in a state of overdraft; meaning water is pumped out faster than it is replenished. In fact, the amount of water being pumped from the aquifers needs to be reduced 35% for 20 years to allow water levels to recover and prevent seawater intrusion from contaminating the water supply. The District is seeking

solutions through the development of a supplemental water supply including evaluation of a proposed desalination facility in partnership with the City of Santa Cruz, water exchanges, increased conservation and possible future water restrictions. n

•••The Soquel Creek Water District is a

nonprofit, local government agency providing water to Capitola, Aptos, La Selva Beach, Opal Cliffs, Rio Del Mar, Seascape and Soquel. For more information visit the SCWD Website: www.soquelcreekwater.org

Richard Meyer

Supporting Artists: CWF Announces Grant Process For 2013

The San Francisco based Creative Work Fund (CWF) invites artists and nonprofit organizations to apply for

grants for collaborative projects featuring traditional or visual artists. Letters of inquiry are due by Friday, March 1, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. Up to $650,000 will be available for grants that may range in size from

$10,000 to $40,000. To assist individuals and organizations interested in applying, CWF will host and co-host a series of sem-inars and webinars in December, January, and February.

The CWF grant program emphasizes the creation of new work-not distribution or productions of work already developed. To be eligible to apply, the principal collab-orating artists and organizations must live or be located in the Northern California counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, or Stanislaus; and

have been there for at least two years. Artists and organizations should

plan projects and prepare their letters of inquiry together. Letters of inquiry are due by Friday, March 1, 2013. By May 3, 2013, The Creative Work Fund will invite approximately 55 detailed proposals from among those who have submitted letters. Completed applications (from those who are invited) are due July 19, 2013. The grant

awards will be announced October 11, 2013. Grants are highly competitive and recommended to CWF by committees of accomplished panelists.

The CWF offers several optional seminars and webinars for potential appli-cants. While these are not required, they are highly recommended, especially if the applicant is not familiar with the Fund. To attend a seminar, you may reserve a space at www.creativeworkfund.org/seminars.html (preferred method), or by calling 415-402-2794. n

The CWF grant program emphasizes the creation of new work — not distribution or productions of work already developed. “Prevent Suicide” page 10

Para Español, visite www.elsuicid-ioesprevenible.org.

The Know the Signs Campaign encourages anyone who is in crisis to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to speak with an experienced crisis counselor 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

The California Mental Health Ser-vices Authority is an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. CalMHSA operates services and education programs on a statewide, regional and local basis. For more information on CalMHSA visit: www.calmhsa.org


Meet the Author at Porter LibraryT he annual Meet the Author

series begins at The Porter Memorial Library on January 9,

2013, at 10:30 a.m. with well-known local author Donna Rankin Love. She will be discussing three of the books she’s written since her 80th birthday. Hear about Donna Love’s experiences including walking over 5,000 miles for peace as described in “Walking for Our Lives,” is certain to be an inspirational experience.

Donna has written short stories most of her life. Her first book, “Tell Me a Story,” started as a Christmas gift for her family. The 42 short stories comprise a memoir. She discovered that memories and short stories are a perfect match, but writing memoirs is less intimidating, ‘cause “you don’t need to start at the beginning.”

“To Make the House Complete” chronicles 14 years as Love moves into four houses and a marriage, each needing work. Ranging from two Casa’s in Mexico to a farmhouse in Oregon to a beach cottage in Capitola, plus a 10-year second marriage, she recounts her efforts to make them, and her life,

better. In the end, she’s keeping the beach cottage!

Donna Love believes that: “Writing memoir contributes to per-sonal peace, peace within families and in communities.” She will discuss memoir writing, read excerpts from “Walking for Our Lives,” and sign her books. Copies of her books may be purchased at the Porter Memorial Library.

The “Meet the Author” programs at The Porter Memorial Library are held on the second Wednesdays in January, February, March and April from 10:30-11:30 a.m. The programs are informal coffee hours around the

fireplace that feature local authors who discuss their works and answer questions from the audience. They are free of charge and open to the public. Coffee will be provided by The Ugly Mug and refreshments will be served. n

•••The library is located at 3050 Porter

Street, Soquel. Limited parking is available behind the library. Enter from Soquel Drive into the Bagelry parking lot and drive through to the left. For more information, call the library at 475-3326 during library hours: Monday-Friday - 12-4 p.m. and Sat-urday - 10a.m.-2p.m., or find us on the web at: www.porterml.org.

Donna Rankin Love

Safety for All Schools in Santa Cruz County On Everyone’s MindBy Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputy April Skalland

Every community across the country has been impacted by the recent events at Sandy Hook Elementary

School. Santa Cruz County is no different. In light of recent events, there has been an increase in requests of the Sheriff’s Office regarding this topic. Multiple schools in Santa Cruz County are working with the Sheriff’s Office to make the students, facility and parents feel safe while returning to school this week. Deputies are making an increased presence at the different schools throughout the county at different times during the day. Many parents were happy to see the Sheriff’s Vehicles in front of the schools.

Over the past decade, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has actively been training our personnel for dynamic shooting situations on school campuses. This primary responder training includes school lock-down procedures, active shooting situations, active scenario’s, updated tactical training, identifying and communicating with mental health patients and debriefing incidents from all parts of the country.

The Community Services Division maintains ongoing contact with school officials regarding lock down proce-dures, lock-down training and maintains maps and keys of local schools to utilize in the event of such an incident. In con-junction with local schools and other local law enforcement agencies, the Sheriff’s Office has also coordinated

countywide active shooting training and scenarios in order to better prepare for such a situation.

The Sheriff’s Office is constantly seeking updated training, tactics and tech-nology regarding active shooter situations. The Sheriff’s Office maintains open lines of communication with our school offi-cials both in deterring criminal events at our local schools as well training school teachers and staff how to react to these types of situations to better protect their students. n


“Poetry Contest” page 13

Unconditional Love – Tricia Contreras

I ever knew what “unconditional love” really meant until one day in 2011 when the doctors said “Cancer.” I dedicate this poem to my husband Eric, who showed me the most amazing gift – his love.

It’s true, life does flash before your eyesThe day my life was turned around

Opening my eyes, I barely remember the words“Ovarian cancer was found”

Nothing felt real, I turned to my husband“I’m only forty, I said”

As he held me, I tried to be strongBut thoughts of death danced in my head

I was angry, this was not enough timeI had only been married two years

How can I leave this man I loveWho wipes away my tears

On the bad days you gave me hopeAlways there to hold my hand

Even when I lost all my hairYour love for me was grand

You stood by my side through ChemoThe hot flashes and the pain

You’ll never know how much loving youGave me strength to face the rain

It’s true, life does flash before your eyesThe day I found out I beat “Cancer”

What I saw was an amazing manMy husband, my prayers answered

Banff Mountain Film FestivalIgnite your passion for adventure, action & travel!

Feb. 22, 23, & 24, Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz • $14 Students/$17 General Admission

Get off the beaten path and explore the edge of the believable with the Banff Mountain Film Festival

World Tour. See exhilarating stories on the big screen at the Rio Theatre, Feb 22, 23 & 24, at 7 pm. Explore exotic locations, stand on the highest peaks and be part of the gripping tales that make this year’s Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.

The 2012/2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour brings films from the 37th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival to more than 35 countries around the world. From an exploration of remote landscapes and mountain cultures to adrenaline-fueled action sports, films in this year’s world tour are sure to captivate and amaze the explorer within you.

Be moved. Be inspired. Don’t miss out. Reserve your tickets today. Dif-ferent films each evening. Films will be announced in January. Tickets available mid to late December at santacruz-tickets.com or in person at Pacific Edge Climbing Gym, UCSC Recreation and the Bicycle Trip beginning early January. This stop on the world tour is hosted by UCSC Recreation. n

•••Sponsored by Pacific Edge Climbing

Gym, Bay Tree Bookstore, the Buttery, Bicycle Trip, Allterra E n v i r o n m e n t a l , Ryan Brandt M.D. & Family, New Leaf Community Markets, Santa Cruz Bicycles, Kayak Connection, Sea-horse Swim School, Santa Cruz Weekly

Above: FlowhuntersLeft: MoonwalkBelow: The Way Home


Old Happens! “If you think I’m lying, just keep on breathing.”

Old Happens is a solo perfor-mance play by David Glover about growing old and finding

total acceptance in the process, with pride and dignity for all life in all its forms and dimensions from young to old to finale.

Old Happens is a profound statement by writer and actor David Glover that growing old is a process of life that we all go through over time, if we live long enough. How each individual deals with it varies from one to another.

David Glover is taking a new approach to growing old, and it’s getting him rave reviews. In his one-man musical comedy show “Old Happens” … Glover shares an uplifting message about “glori-fying” advanced age rather than fearing it, reaching his audience through song, humor and conversation.

— San Jose Mercury News 11/23/12

•••

David Glover made his singing debut at an early age of five at his aunt’s

church in Philadelphia. The young

Glover broadened his stage experience while in 5th grade in Buffalo, New York, where he performed in a school pro-duction of the Broadway musical hit “Oklahoma.”

At age 19, Glover moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to attend college to study music. While attending college, Glover performed at various nightclubs around the Bay Area, and performed on the bill with such luminaries as Al Jarreau, Larry Graham and Sly Stone. Glover earned a B.A. in music and minor in dra-matic arts.

Through the years, Glover has con-tinued his vocal performances from storefront churches to Carnegie Hall, from the Bay Area and throughout the US. He wrote his first play “Doo Wop” in 1 981, a 50’s Rhythm & Blues Musical that was a popular and critical success, earning him the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for best original score, and best choreography as awarded to Mari Winsor (founder of Winsor Pilates, Inc.).

To date, Glover continues to innovate in the theater. In 2000, Glover kicked off the new millennium with “Relationships,” a one-man show about a man’s journey through a series of romantic relationships. In 2003, he created “A Game You’ll Never Win,” an R&B Hip Hop musical, which he performed at the 5th Annual San Francisco Theater Festival.

Glover is all about determination and never giving up regardless of appearances and circumstances. n

•••Old Happens!

Written and Performed By David GloverSaturday, December 29 • 7:00 p.m.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 6401 Freedom Boulevard, Aptos.

Donation: $10.00

David Glover

[David] Glover shares an uplifting

message about “glorifying”

advanced age rather than fearing

it, reaching his audience through song, humor and

conversation.


SOS Seeks Community LeadersSanctuary Steward Docent Volunteer Training Program Starts Soon

SANTA CRUZ — Save Our Shores (SOS), the leader in ocean awareness, advocacy and action on the Central Coast, announced today that their volunteer training program is starting in February. The renowned Sanctuary Steward Program prepares citizens to become high impact marine educators, community organizers and resident experts on issues affecting the Monterey Bay. Stewards help to educate the greater community on issues such as pol-lution prevention, marine debris, habitat conservation and marine fisheries.

Program participants receive a pro-fessional level education from highly renowned marine biologists, scientists and conservationists. In turn, Stewards

make a personal pledge of 50 volunteer hours per year to volunteer for Save Our Shores. These highly trained Stewards are poised to take leadership roles in hosting beach clean-ups, making presentations and attending special events.

“I had three goals for the summer of 2011. Do something that would benefit my local community, be outdoors as much as possible, and hopefully learn something in the process. The Save Our Shores Sanctuary Steward program allowed me to achieve all three. The most fulfilling moment for me as a Save Our Shores Steward was on the 4th of July. I was told on numerous occasions how much my efforts were appreciated, and

how thankful they were for my being there.” — Curtis Luckado, Sanctuary Steward Class of 2011

In 2012, Save Our Shores volunteers prevented 26,000 lbs of trash from harming our ocean and marine wildlife. They also helped to educate over 23,000 community members on issues affecting the ocean. Imagine what our beaches would look like without Save Our Shores volunteers? Save Our Shores encourages people to join the Sanctuary Steward Docent program and give back to the ocean this New Year. Save Our Shores relies on volunteers to carry out their mission of advocating for the beaches and waters of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

The 2013 Sanctuary Steward Docent Program is now forming. Classes will be held every Thursday night from 6:30p.m. to 8:30p.m. from February 21 to April 11. The application deadline is February 7. Community members passionate about the ocean are encouraged to apply. Information and applications can be found online at saveourshores.org/stewards or by calling Rachel Kippen at Save Our Shores at (831) 462-5660 x3 or email [email protected]. You can always find us on the web at www.saveourshores.org. n

•••Save Our Shores is the Central Coast

leader in caring for the marine environment

through ocean awareness, advocacy and citizen action. Our core initiatives are Clean Boating, Marine Debris and Ocean Awareness. Today we focus on educating youth about

our local watersheds, tackling marine debris on our beaches and rivers, supporting habitat conservation efforts, and providing our com-munity with educated and inspired Sanctuary Stewards!

Over 2,000 Firearms Seized in California Throughout 2012SACRAMENTO — Attorney General

Kamala D. Harris today announced 2,000 firearms were seized from individuals legally barred from possessing them, including persons determined to be mentally unstable and those with active restraining orders.

“California has clear laws determining who can possess firearms based on their threat to public safety,” said Harris. “Enforcing those laws is crucial because we have seen the terrible tragedies that occur when guns are in the wrong hands. This program is an important part of our law enforcement work and I thank all of the agents who work so hard every day to keep our communities safe.”

From January 1 to November 30, 2012, Department of Justice agents used the Armed Prohibited Persons System (APPS) database to identify individuals prohibited from owning

guns, including convicted felons, individuals with active restraining orders, and those deter-mined to be mentally unstable. In total, DOJ agents seized 2,033 firearms, 117,000 rounds of ammunition, and 11,072 illegal high capacity magazines.

The majority of firearms were seized during two 6-week sweeps. The first statewide sweep targeted individuals prohibited because of

mental health issues and the second focused on people with legally registered assault weapons that were later prohibited from owning them.

Senate Bill 819 passed in June 2011 and became law on January 1, 2012. This Harris sponsored legislation increased funding for the Department of Justice’s APPS program using existing regulatory fees collected by gun dealers.

The APPS database cross-references five databases to find people who legally purchased handguns and registered assault weapons since 1996 with people who are prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. The database was completed in November 2006, and the first statewide sweep was conducted in 2007.

California is the first and only state in the nation to establish an automated system for tracking handgun and assault weapon owners who might fall into a prohibited status. n


Aptos YogA CenteRPromoting HealtH

tHrougH Svaroopa® Yoga

By Cynthia Howe

“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.”

— B.K.S. Ivengar

The instructors at Aptos Yoga Center are passionate in their desire to introduce and

share Svaroopa® Yoga with their com-munity, young and old, in sickness and in health, athletic or not. Why? Because they believe it is a benefit to all, and a cure to many.

The Center was founded by Christine Kalavati Hernandez and Liz Chudala Darling, certified Svaroopa® Yoga teachers. Their journey toward founding the center came from their own search for health and wellness. Svaroopa® Yoga, for them, became a way of life that brought health, and what is more important, joy.

The instructors at the Center utilize

supportive blocks and blankets, shift stu-dents’ limbs and bodies, all to provide optimum alignment and ultimate benefits. Students learn and progress at their own pace. This non-athletic form of yoga results in flexibility, but does not require it. Classes begin with Shavasana, a deep relaxation pose, coupled with extensive breathing exercises called ujjayi pranayama. The ben-

efits of Svaroopa® are amazing.

Students have experienced a reduction in stress, deeper relaxation, back pain relief, improved flexibility, improved posture and strength, as well as improved circulation. The over-all health benefits are unique to each

student, but many have reported a greater sense of well-being and mental clarity. With so much positive energy emanating from the Center, Christine and Liz are excited for their students, as well as the Center itself.

In October, Aptos Yoga Center announced its new nonprofit status. They are now looking forward to promoting their mission of health to the community through the practices and teachings of Svaroopa® Yoga, as well as conducting research on the healing effects of this unique yoga style.

Founders Hernandez and Darling are enthusiastic about their first project as they undertake case studies of students with medically diagnosed limitations. They will chart, assess and objectively study how the disciplines of Svaroopa® yoga provide relief and/or healing to the students.

“In the past people have given monetary donations, but we’re excited that benefactors will be able to make tax-deductible donations that support dis-counted fees for students, free introductory programs and community events, such as the one planned in January.” shared Kalavati.

Aptos Yoga Center happens to be the only Svaroopa® Yoga Center on the

Central Coast. While the word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “union,” the word Svaroopa® means “The bliss of your own being.” The concept being that this form goes beyond the offerings of tra-ditional yoga, resulting in the kind of joy the founders themselves have experienced, as well as their students.

Maia Madden, former editor of Yoga Journal shared. “Through the guidance of the loving teachers at Aptos Yoga, I have discovered a practice that has improved my physical well being and deepened my connection to all living things. Whether you are seekin`g to add another dimension to your current practice or want to try yoga for the first time, Svaroopa® will transform your experience of yourself and leave you with a feeling of bliss, freedom and purpose.”

The founders of Aptos Yoga Center have been privileged to see continual growth in their students over the last three years. They look forward to developing the Center’s growing community by offering free monthly introductory Svaroopa® Yoga classes. These hour and a half classes are typically held the second Saturday of the month. Upcoming dates are February 9th, March 9th, April 13th and May 11, each meeting at 9 a.m. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required.

You’re invited to the Aptos Yoga Cen-

ter’s Great Celebration! On January 12, the Center will be celebrating, with the Aptos community, their 3rd Anniversary and their new nonprofit status. There will be moments of learning, moments to partic-ipate and moments of entertainment.

At 9 a.m. and again at 11 a.m., the Svaroopa® teachers will be holding an hour long Blissful Basics Svaroopa® Yoga Class, leading the participants into a variety of relaxing and easy poses that release deep tensions. This particular form of yoga quiets the mind, increases flex-ibility, reduces pain and promotes injury recovery, particularly to the spine. Please sign up for these free classes as space is limited.

At 1 p.m. There will be a puppet show performed by Kathleen Avalon, “The Tomten,” This fantastical Scandinavian story is about a kindly old troll who serves as protector of a small farm.

At 2:30 p.m. there will be a Drum Circle led by Jim Greiner, a local percus-sionist and community drumming pioneer.

For additional information, or to hold a space at one of the free introductory classes mentioned herein, please call 688-1019, or visit their website at aptosyoga.org. n

•••The Aptos Yoga Center is located at 783

Rio Del Mar Blvd, (Deer Park Center) suite 23 (upper level), Aptos, CA 95003.

Liz Darling and Christine Hernandez


“Briefs” from page 3

The concert features wonderful soloists, a harp “petting zoo” at inter-mission where audience members can try the harps, and the Community Music School Harp Orchestra conducted by Shelley Phillips performing traditional music from France, Venezuela, Germany, medieval Europe and Anglo/Celtic America.

Soloists: Jennifer Cass - pedal harp • Leah Daugherty - Celtic harp & vocals • Lizzie Raugust - Autoharp & vocals

Special guests: Lars Johannesson – flute • Sue Brown - violin

Free admission! Donations are greatly appreciated too — we are a non-profit educational organization. CDs and music books will be sold to raise funds as well.

Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 2 PMAfternoon matinee, very kid and elder

friendlyOur Lady Star of The Sea Church, 515

Frederick St, Santa Cruz, CACommunity Music School: (831) 426-9155www.communitymusicschool.org

Kaily, the Goth Harp Angel•••

Nine Local Farmers Attended California Farm Bureau 94th Annual Meeting; 6

Awards plus President’s Award for County

Seven hundred eighty (780) farmers and families attended a successful

California Farm Bureau Federation 94th Annual Meeting held in Pasadena this month. Officials representing the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau were Del-egates: Cynthia Mathiesen, President and David Van Lennep, 1st Vice-President. Alternate-Delegates were Tom Broz, 2nd Vice President and Chris Enright, Past-President. Also attending from Santa Cruz County were:

Lorraine Mathiesen, Farm Bureau member; Jess Brown, Executive Director; Nita Gizdich, Board Member; Bill Ringe, Agri-Culture President; and Chase Renois, County Young Farmers & Ranchers committee member and District #10 Repre-sentative on Young Farmers and Ranchers State Committee.

The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau received five “Activities of Excellence” awards for Membership, Policy Imple-mentation, Leadership, Ag Education and Public Relations. The county also received a President’s Awards for Leadership.

“This was a great opportunity for Santa Cruz County farmers to discuss important issues with other farmers from throughout the state,” said Mathiesen. She further stated, “We encouraged the state leaders to be proactive and bring forward a GMO labeling proposal that would be acceptable to consumers and farmers. The consumers have the right to know infor-mation about the food they eat.”

Cynthia Mathiesen and David Van Lennep reviewing policies at State Farm Bureau Con-vention.

Former Carmel Developer SentencedO’Meara to Spend 78 Months in Prison for $16 Million Golf Course Investment Fraud Scheme

SAN JOSE — A former Carmel real estate developer was sentenced to 78 months (6 1/2 years) in prison for wire fraud and money laundering arising out of his golf course investment fraud scheme in which he defrauded more than 50 victims of more than $16 million, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

Thomas Joseph O’Meara, III, 66, for-merly a Carmel resident now living in Palm Desert, California, pled guilty on July 25,

2012, to wire fraud, and money laundering. O’Meara admitted in his plea agreement that he carried out an investment fraud scheme from 2004 to 2007 that involved 50 or more victims. O’Meara recruited individuals to invest more than $16 million

in an 18-hole golf course and gated housing development in Fresno, California, that he named the Running Horse Golf and Country Club.

O’Meara retained professional golfer Jack Nicklaus’s firm, Nicklaus Design, to design the Running Horse golf course and convinced the PGA Tour to publically schedule a PGA Tour event to be called

“Investment Fraud” page 23Thomas O’Meara, III

“Fire Safety” from page 9

• Water can be added to the container to reduce cooling time.

• Do not dispose of ashes with household garbage.

• Cooled ashes can be used as fertilizer, but do not dispose of ashes in compost.

• Never use trash or charcoal as fuel as these may give off toxic gases when

they burn. • Flammable liquids should not be used

to light indoor fires as vapors from the liquids can flash back when lit and cause burn injuries.These are just a few common sense

ideas. For more fire safety information, check the Central Fire District website at www.centralfpd.com or contact your local fire department. n


What Kids Learn From ChoresProof That Suffering — And Help Around The House — Builds Character

By Dr. James G. Wellborn

Like so many parental expectations and requirements, getting your kid in the habit of doing chores will help

prepare them for the real world – if you can ever get them to move out.

Here are some of the benefits kids derive from assigned chores:

Responsibility – When you make a mess YOU are obligated to clean it up. The most straightforward reason your kid needs to do chores is to drive the point home that he is responsible for his actions in the world (and the messes he makes).

Personal Obligation – When you live with other people, you’re obliged to contribute to the general upkeep of common living areas. Chores help your kid learn to pull her own weight when it comes to keeping shared

spaces clean (so she doesn’t end up moving back home because even her friends consider her a slob).

Organization and Prioritizing – Chores are unpleasant for most kids. Unfor-tunately, life is filled with unpleasant but necessary tasks. Chores provide the chance for your kid to practice making time for necessary evils like routine maintenance in their schedule of otherwise fun or mean-ingful activities. This helps them learn how to plan, organize, prior-itize and suffer.

Sensitivity for others – It isn’t crucial that things be straightened or cleaned. Exposure to germs and disease can help build the immune system (if it doesn’t kill you first). But, there are some things you do because it is important to someone else (like, say,

a spouse or the health department). Chores provide your kids with a clear message that the world doesn’t revolve around them and they need to take others’ feelings and sensibilities into consideration.

Pride in a job well done – It is important to take pride in even the most insig-nificant tasks. Chores help your kids learn that every task, however base, is an opportunity to work their hardest and do their best. (The expression on their face when you feed them this line is priceless.)

Self-sufficiency – Handling your chores means that you have control of your environment and are not dependent on others. This builds confidence that is important once they strike out on their own and become a responsible adult.

Like so many time-h o n o r e d p a r e n t a l e x p e c t a t i o n s , h o u s e h o l d chores have a value more sig-nificant than the practical issue of household maintenance. That said, what is the most important reason kids should do chores? Because you said so, of course. n

•••Dr. James G. Wellborn is a clinical psy-

chologist with a private practice in Brentwood, Tenn., focusing on adolescents and families. He is the author of the book Raising Teens in the 21st Century. His website is: www.DrJames-Wellborn.com.


O’Meara admitted in his plea agreement that he carried out

an investment fraud scheme from 2004 to 2007 that involved 50 or more victims.

“Investment Fraud” page 21

the Running Horse Golf Championship with a purse of $4,500,000 for October 22-28, 2007 at the golf course. O’Meara admitted in the plea agreement that in an effort to recruit investors and secure money for the planned golf course, he lied about Nicklaus Design’s and the PGA Tour’s confidence in the development.

O’Meara also lied to investors about the progress and financial con-dition of the development. The Running Horse Development ultimately failed, investors lost millions, no PGA Tour golf event took place, and the 450 Fresno-area acres on which the golf course and gated community were to have been located remain largely undeveloped.

Evidence at sentencing showed that O’Meara’s fraud caused some of his investors to lose their homes, their chil-

dren’s college education funds, and their chance at retirement.

O’Meara’s sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Lucy H. Koh, who ordered O’Meara remanded into custody immediately after sentencing.

O’Meara has been on home detention with electronic moni-toring, secured by a bond, since his arrest in Palm Desert on August 3, 2010. Judge Koh also sen-tenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered a

hearing on restitution to take place on Feb-ruary 6, 2013.

The prosecution is the result of a multi-year investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The United States Attor-ney’s Office recognizes the substantial and valuable assistance of the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office in this matter. n

Beware of ATM skimming devicesSanta Cruz District Attorney, Bob Lee,

warns county residents to be aware of ATM skimming devices. Reports

from across the state indicate that ATM skimming is a growing crime. Theft of bank funds and customer pin numbers are resulting in losses to consumers.

Cases reported by Attorney General, Kamala D. Harris’s eCrime unit in June, 2012 involved the “skimming” of credit card information of Chase Bank customers throughout the state. In two cases from San Luis Obispo County, the defendants replaced the card readers at Chase Bank ATM machines along with micro cameras that captured the customers’ Pin numbers.

Five defendants were convicted of the crimes in San Luis Obispo County that included grand theft, computer access fraud, identity theft, second-degree bur-glary and forgery of access cards.

One of the defendants had withdrawn approximately $220,000 from 300 Chase Bank customers in Santa Clara, Marin, Fresno, and San Luis Obispo counties.

The Santa Cruz County District Attor-ney’s office offers these tips:

• Know the appearance of the ATM machine at banks, stand alone ATM machines and card readers at gas pumps.

• Does anything look out of the ordinary?

• Does the mechanism seem bulky and/or flimsy?

• Check the front of the card reader for unusual scratches or adhesive residue.

• Avoid late night and early morning hours.

• Check your banking statements regularly. Contact your bank imme-diately if there are any unauthorized withdrawals.Consumers may contact Santa Cruz

District Attorney’s, Consumer Affairs Office at 454-2050 with any questions. n

•••AbOve RIghT: Know the difference between an ATM with a skimming device (right) and an ATM without one.

Five defendants were convicted of the crimes in San Luis Obispo County that included grand theft, computer access fraud, identity theft, second-degree burglary and forgery of access cards.


Reggie’s Dream Comes TrueAptos High wrestling coach Reggie Roberts dreamed of a

wrestling tournament that everyone would want to be a part of; even teams from out of state. His dream has come

true. Seventy-seven teams are competing in this year’s California Coast Wrestling Classic.

Even though it’s billed as the 44th annual event, this is only the second year that Aptos High School has hosted the event. The difference that made the event more than double in two years over is the facilities at Aptos High and Coach Robert’s enthusiasm.

Competing teams include Gilroy, which is coming off its 10th straight Central Coast

Section title last season which and took fifth at the state tour-nament. Also taking part is St. Francis of Mountain View, the third-place section finisher. Strong Out-of-section teams include Atwater, Bear Creek, Elk Grove, Ponderosa, Porterville, and 13-time SJS champion Vacaville, which finished sixth-place at state last season.

Seven county schools will be competing: Aptos, Harbor, Soquel, SLV, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. n

Mariners Take Consolation Prize at Alisal Winter Jam Tournament

The Aptos High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team came back from a first round loss in the Alisal Winter

Jam Tournament, winning its next two against Greenfield and Pacific Grove to win the consolation division.

The Mariners struggled against San Benito in the opening game, falling to Hollister 60-22, then rebounded against Greenfield for a 59-45 victory before facing the Breakers in the final.

The game started out tight with PG jumping out to an early lead. The Mar-iners engine was a little cold in the gym as they started out slow with behind 11 - 8 in the first quarter. Megan Maxwell had 5 of

her 9 points with Kari adding the 3. Aptos’ defense was the first to heat

up holding PG to only 2 points in the second quarter while scoring 15. Behind Karsen’s 8 points and Crowder’s 4 with Rojas adding 2.

The Mariners’ chill returned in the third quarter as they let PG jump back into the game with 11 points while Aptos only scored 5. In the fourth quarter Crowder did the most scoring while PG’s full court press failed to produce the desired results.

Aptos Scoring: Kari Crowder-15 pts; Meghan Maxwell 9 pts; pts; Karsen Welle 9 pts; Mariah Rojas 6 pts. n

•••

Aptos High ScoreboardBoys Basketball

Aptos Season Record (6-3)Aptos 76 – Watsonville 41

Aptos Scoring: Cole Welle 18 pts, 22 rbds, 2 blks; Ben Brenkwitz 13 pts: Antonia Andrade 8 pts, Jonathan Bol 8 pts; 7 rbds; Tyler Clark 7 pts; Rewen Reyes 7 pts; Chris Galvan 5 pts; Jonah Gonzales 4 pts, 4 assists; Kenny Harrah 2 pts; Frank Horst 2 pts; Luke Rossi 2 pts

Aptos 70 – Gilroy 55 Gilroy Tournament – 3rd place

Aptos Scoring: Cole Welle 18 pts, 17 rbds, 3 assists, 3 blocks; Rewen Reyes 15 pts; Ben Brenkwitz 10 pts, 5 assists

Girls BasketballAptos Season Record (3-6)

Aptos 71 – Marina HS 26Aptos Scoring: Blanca Otvos 19 pts, 3

rebounds, 1 steal; Amanda Ang 15 pts, 5 rebounds, 6 steals; Karsen Welle 10 pts, 7 rebounds; Karianna Crowder 8 pts, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; Vanessa Ramos 6 pts, 4 rebounds, 5 assists; Meghan Maxwell 5 pts, 7 assists; Mariah Rojas 4 pts, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals; Kendall Bivins 2 pts, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals; Kassi Rodriguez 2 pts, 1 rebound, 1 assist

Del Campo HS 54 – Aptos 32Aptos Scoring: Vanessa Ramos 9 pts;

Kendall Bivins 7 pts; Meghan Maxwell 4 pts; Blanca Otvos 4 pts; Mariah Rojas 4 pts; Bella Di Grazau 2 pts; Amanda Ang 2 pts

Carmel 39 – Aptos 34Aptos Scoring: Meghan Maxwell 7 pts;

Mariah Rojas 5 pts; Karsen Welle 4 pts; Amanda Ang 2 pts; Kendall Bivins 2 pts; Karianna Crowder 2 pts; Adrianna Cortez 2 pts; Blanca Otvos 2 pts

Boys SoccerAptos Season Record: (2-5-0, SCCAL 0-2-0)

Soquel 3 – Aptos 0

Girls SoccerAptos Season Record: (1-4-3)

Aptos High School varsity wrestling coach Reggie Roberts (right) with his 2010-11 Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Champions.

The Aptos High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team after the Alisal Winter Jam.


Five Grocery Staples for Youth & VitalityPhysician Advises Next Time You Stop at the Store, Pick Up These Tasty, Nutrition-packed Foods

The next time we go to the super-market, Dr. Eudene Harry, author of “Live Younger in 8 Simple Steps”

(www.LivingHealthyLookingYounger.com), says, “When people shop on the go, they tend to gravitate toward old standbys and foods they can multipurpose with – usually not the most nutritious choices possible. But by substituting a few items on your list, you can not only look and feel more youthful, you’ll boost your resistance to certain cancers and other illnesses.”

Some of the most nutrition-packed foods not only taste great, they’re readily available at the grocery store and easy to prepare. Here are five food combos for shoppers with healthy eating on their minds:

• Tomato, garlic, chicken and almonds: Tomatoes contain one of the world’s most concentrated sources of cancer-fighting lycopene, which is best absorbed from tomatoes that are cooked. Garlic has been used for cen-turies for various health purposes and is a known free-radical destroyer. Nuts help to lose weight, m a i n t a i n healthy blood pressure and support moods; almond crumbs are a great substitute for b r e a d c r u m b s on chicken. Pair these goodies with whole-wheat couscous for a full dinner.

• Pomegranate-Balsamic tempeh: With its high protein, fiber and isoflavones content, and meaty texture, tempeh is a staple of vegetarians. It’s made from

soybeans processed in a manner similar to cheese making. Like tofu, tempeh takes on the flavors with which it is cooked or marinated, including zesty-tangy balsamic vinegar — perfect for accentuating salads.

• Mashed cauliflower gone Greek: Not only does the “original” yogurt have a thicker texture and richer taste, it’s also denser in lactobacilli, the healthy bacteria that may delay the onset of cancer. And yogurt is low in fat and high in protein, which is essential for many body functions, including building and repairing muscle tissue, organs, bones and connective tissue. Rather than add fatty, cholesterol-filled butter and sour cream to starchy potatoes that stick to your ribs, why not pair two healthy options with mashed cauliflower with Greek yogurt and fresh black pepper for simple goodness?

• Sushi – wild salmon, minced cucumbers, shredded carrots, kelp, sesame seeds and rice: A sushi roll

is much more filling and satisfying than a non-sushi eater would think. Many grocery chains offer ready-made rolls, but they are also easy to make. A bamboo roller is a great start; place a sheet of nutrient-dense kelp

as the first thing on the roller, and add, lengthwise, desired ingredients. Your first try is not likely to be perfect, but the tasty and healthy ingredients will be there.

• Fruit salad for dessert: Bring together chopped apples, strawberries, can-taloupe, watermelon and pineapple with blueberries and grapes for a sweet and juicy post-dinner palate-cleanser. Lemon juice prevents fruits from bruising. If that’s not enough, combine the salad with Greek yogurt — perhaps blended with vanilla or almond extract — and fiber-filled granola for a parfait. n

•••Dr. Eudene Harry is currently the medical

director for the integrative and holistic Oasis Wellness and Rejuvenation Center, and for more than a decade practiced emergency med-icine as an attending physician in Level II trauma centers.

2012 in Review

ACRoss1. Come from an egg6. Bad-mouth9. Cargo13. Gem state14. Make a choice15. Move sideways16. Chocolate substitute17. Wade’s opponent18. *”The _____” moved

to Chicago from NYC19. *GOP’s 2012 choice21. *Deceased singing

legend23. Pock mark disease24. Boris Godunov, e.g.25. Chicken order28. Vegetative prickle30. Speed of play, pl.

35. Like decorated cake37. Luau souvenirs39. Third rock from the sun40. Laughing on the

inside, in a chatroom41. Small drum43. Memorization method44. Full of pep46. Russian parliament47. Farmer’s purchase48. Auteur’s art50. Peacock’s pride52. *Ann to Mitt53. “Anything ___?”55. Excessively57. *PSY’s style61. Bronx Bomber64. Whippet or Basset,

e.g.65. Bard’s before67. Lifeboat support69. Elephant trainer’s goad

70. Summer mo.71. “Lohengrin,” e.g.72. In a golfer’s pocket73. Registration, for short74. One born to Japanese

immigrants

Down1. Wino’s sound?2. Month of Purim3. Tropical tuber4. Bite5. Rub elbows6. Nemo’s forgetful

friend7. *Facebook’s big move8. Seethes9. Dryer fire hazard10. Scandinavian war god11. Burn soother12. Refuse to accept15. Evening party

20. Jump for joy22. Pillbox or tricorne, e.g.24. Tomb of the Unknown

Soldier, e.g.25. Whitman’s dooryard

bloomer26. A threat to food safety27. “___ __ on the ground

floor”29. Part of ROM31. *”Curiosity” landing

site32. Preface33. Weasel’s aquatic

cousin34. Outbuildings36. *Felix Baumgartner’s

space ____38. “Brave New World”

drug42. Indian side dish of

yogurt and cucumbers

45. Corrects or edits49. Chicken _ __ king51. *Where many struck

gold54. _____ campaign56. Giraffe-like African

animal57. Steps to the river58. First rate59. Heat in a

microwave60. African migrators61. Safecracker62. December 24 and 31,

e.g.63. Michael Collins’s

country66. Parisian way68. Chi precursor

© Statepoint MediaAnswers on 31 »


Whispering Death: A Hal Challis Investigation

By Garry DisherSoho. $25 (Rating-Very Good)

The sixth installment of this Australian crime series featuring Inspector Hal

Challis of the Mornington Peninsula Police is as carefully plotted and gripping as its predecessors. With the department dealing with budget cuts and being understaffed, the last thing Challis needs is a mini-crime wave. Of c o u r s e , that’s just what is d e a l i n g w i t h , though, in this novel.

T h e m o s t serious of the cases placed on the inspec-tor’s plate is a situation i n v o l v i n g a serial rapist who, dressed as a police officer, is terrorizing the peninsula.

Then there’s the elusive female cat burglar spreading angst as she helps herself to the valuables of the wealthier folks in the area. Finally, a band of hooligans stage a series of frightening home invasions that are upsetting the local citizens and cre-ating more problems for the overworked authorities.

With problems within the department as well as out on the streets, Challis is going to be hard pressed to calm the volatile situation and regain the confidence of the beleaguered citizens of Waterloo.

If you enjoy mysteries with a foreign flavor, this award winning Australian author’s crime series will not only provide plenty of entertainment but also provide an armchair tour of his native land.

The Intercept: A Jeremy Fisk NovelBy Dick WolfWilliam Morrow. $26.99 (Rating-Excellent)

The man behind the award winning Law & Order television series, Dick Wolf

once again puts his exceptional storytelling skills to good use in the creation of a new character and series.

A detective assigned to the NYPD Intelligence Division of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Jeremy Fisk is charged with diffusing threats before they make inter-n a t i o n a l headlines.

It is just days before the July Fourth holiday and the dedi-cation of One World Trade center at Ground Zero. On a flight over the Atlantic, five pas-s e n g e r s and a flight attendant foil a hijacking and are immediately dubbed heroes. While the public celebrates the foiling of what appears to be another terrorist plot, Fisk takes a more critical look at the situation. This may have been a clever diversion so that other passengers on the flight could slip into the country amid the chaos.

Of course he’s right! Now he and his partner, Krina Gersten, have to find the real threat. With the clock ticking down to the dedication ceremonies that will focus the world’s attention once again on Ground Zero, can this anti-terrorist duo avert another shattering catastrophe in New York City?

This deadly chess game with its evenly matched opponents will have the reader on edge and so caught up in the story that he’ll lose all sense of time. This is what good fiction is all about!

Invisible Murder: A Nina Borg Novel By Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete FriisSoho. $25 (Rating-Very Good)

If you’re a fan of Nordic noir and read “The Boy in the Suitcase,” you’ll want

to read this latest novel by this talented Danish duo.

In a deserted Soviet military hos-pital in Hungary, two gypsy boys search for odds and ends they can sell for a little money. When they stumble upon some-thing that has value far beyond what they could ever imagine, the two youngsters set off a chain of events that will have serious repercussions.

Thousands of miles away in Copen-hagen, Denmark, Red Cross nurse Nina Borg visits a band of Hungarian gypsies s u f f e r i n g from a strange i l l n e s s . Placing her own life on the line, Nina wants to find out what is making these people so sick. What she stumbles into is a pre-dicament that has exceed-ingly dire ramifications and places many people at risk.

Their first novel was praised as a “frightening and tautly told story” and said to pack “an almighty punch.” Rest assured, this sequel is just as good, if not better!

Notorious Nineteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel

By Janet EvanovichBantam. $28 (Rating-Good)

No stranger to mystery lovers, Janet Evanovich has written nearly thirty

novels and most of them have landed on the best seller lists. Jersey girl and bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is back in this new release and she’s landed an assignment that could help pay a few o u t s t a n d i n g bills. The only problem is the person she’s trying to find has totally vanished.

G e o f f r e y Cubbin is c h a r g e d with embez-zling a lot of money from one of Tren-ton’s premier assisted-living homes. But while the con man is in the hospital for an emergency appendectomy, he somehow mysteriously disappears.

With no one volunteering any information, Stephanie sends in her grand-

mother to do a little undercover snooping at the senior living community that may not be the best of ideas.

She may not be in over her head on this case but Stephanie is about to discover that senior citizens are not to be messed with and hospitals aren’t always in the business of assisting those in need. Finally, when all is said and done, Stephanie dis-covers there’s literally a pot of gold at the end of this caper.

Talking to the DeadBy Harry BinghamDelacorte. $26 (Rating-Very Good)

Welsh Detective Constable Fiona Griffiths has earned a reputation as

being one of the quirkier members of the Cardiff police force. Not only is she a little too intense for the liking of her peers, but the rookie cop often ignores p r o t o c o l and relies too much on her intuition works a case also.

W h e n a young w o m a n , a p p a r e n t l y into drugs and prosti-tution, and her six year old daughter are discovered dead, it seems to be the retelling of an all too common tale of a misspent life leading to tragedy. The case takes an unexpected turn, though, when the credit card of a very wealthy business- man is found at the crime scene. More of a surprise is that fact that the steel tycoon has been dead for a while.

Assigned to the investigative team, Fiona is charged with following the credit card trail and where it leads her is an eye-opener. Not only are some of the seaside community’s secrets about to be exposed, but the detective’s own past will also be a factor in this case’s final outcome.

This novel marks the American debut of Harry Bingham who has already received much acclaim in his native Great Britain. The Oxfordshire resident is already on work on a second adventure featuring his intriguing heroine. n

Plenty of action, adventure and supense for the New Year…


What Makes an America City Green?

Which American city is the greenest depends on whom you ask. Every year dozens of

publications and websites release their own assessments of which cities have the most environmentally conscious citi-zenry, the highest percentage of recycling or the lowest carbon footprint per capita. Portland, Oregon, Seattle and San Fran-cisco are often top contenders, but some of the other leading choices may be a surprise.

The Daily Beast based a recent round-up of greenest U.S. cities on data collected by market research firm Experian Simmons, which has been tracking the greening of the nation for half a century. Researchers polled thousands of Americans to find out what percentage in different geographic regions think and act in an eco-conscious way versus what percentage do not, as well as what percentage make a conscious effort to recycle. The company also tracked the number of public transit trips per capita and the percentage of households that use solar heating by region. Honolulu, most likely by virtue of the fact that one percent of homes there utilize solar power, came out on top. New York, with more than double the amount of public transit rid-ership per capita than any other U.S. city, is #2, followed by San Francisco, Seattle and Boston.

Meanwhile, the website Ecosalon looked at similar types of data and drew

different conclusions, finding San Francisco to be the greenest. Ecosalon was especially impressed by San Franciscans routinely voting for aggressive green programs (like banning plastic grocery bags and financing renewable energy sources for public facil-ities) and by the fact that the city diverts 70 percent of its waste, thanks to man-datory recycling and composting. To top it off, nearly half of all San Franciscans bike, walk or take public transit every day—and the city is on track to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent below 1990 levels this year. Ecosalon ranks Portland, Oregon second, followed by Seattle, Chicago and New York.

In another ranking, Canadian research company Corporate Knights granted Portland, San Francisco and Seattle a three-way tie for America’s greenest city. Denver ranked #4 while Albuquerque, Charlotte (NC) and Oakland tied at fifth. “Unlike other city-sustainability rankings, this ranking focuses on the effort cities are making rather than on their results, which could take years to achieve,” reported Kent Portney, a Tufts University researcher who participated in the project. “In other words, this ranking is aspirational in nature.” He says that each city was awarded a point for undertaking one of 38 programs or policies listed by Corporate Knights, in categories such as smart growth, land-use planning, pollution prevention, etc.

And in yet another recent round-up, Mother Nature Network (MNN) declared Portland, Oregon—where 200 miles of ded-icated bike lanes and legions of supporters of local and sustainable food sources rule—the nation’s greenest city. San Francisco, Boston, Oakland and Eugene (OR) round out MNN’s top five.

Regardless of which city is “greenest,” all U.S. cities are greening up every day because planners now realize the economic advantages of using less energy, recycling more and keeping air and water clean. We can all help by supporting municipal

energy savings, recycling and composting programs, and community enhancement efforts. Who knows: If you keep it up, maybe your city will top one of next year’s lists. n

Contacts: The Daily Beast, www.thedai-lybeast.com; Ecosalon, www.ecosalon.com; Corporate Knights, www.corporateknights.com; Mother Nature Network, www.mnn.com.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a reg-istered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send ques-tions to: [email protected].

Dear EarthTalk: Which are the greenest American cities, and why?

— D. Hansen, Wichita, KS


AnnouncementsGluten-Free Healthy Cooking Class – 6 Week Series6 pm – 8:30 pm. Cost: $200. New Leaf Community Markets, 1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz.

Join Chef Lauren Hoover-West for a 6-week, hands-on cooking

class beginning Tuesday, Jan. 8 and running every Tuesday for six weeks (ending Feb. 19). The class features super delicious gluten-free, dairy-free and low glycemic index foods that are also high in protein and fiber. Look and feel fantastic without feeling deprived! Make quick, easy, gourmet meals at home that have fewer calories than restaurant food. All three meals of the day will be covered plus snacks, beverages, and dessert. Learn cooking techniques, and get menu planning and shopping tips during a short store tour. In addition, Naturopathic Doctor Brad West will inform you further about fats and other nutrition topics. Bring questions.Preregistration required. Register at www.newleaf.com or call 831.426.1306 x 0.

Nar-Anon

What is co-dependency? What is enabling? What is this

insanity? Am I the only one who feels this way? Join Nar-Anon, a world wide fellowship of relatives and friends of addicts who have been affected by someone else’s addiction. Three meetings are now being held in Santa Cruz County, on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.For a meeting near you call (888) 374-1164 or email [email protected] Visit http://nar-anon.org/Nar-Anon/California.html for more information.

Mid-County Pony Baseball

Registration for the spring season is now open. Recre-

ational baseball league for 13-14 year olds and under with games at the Polo Grounds in Aptos. Regis-tration deadline is January 23. Player registration packets available at www.midcountypony.com.

Ongoing EventsMondays thru FridaysSvaroopa® Yoga ClassesSee website for times, Deerpark Shopping Center, 783 Rio Del Mar Blvd. Aptos

Yes, you can do yoga! With the support of blankets, beginning

students relax into easy poses designed to release to deepest

tensions in the body along the spine. Discover this unique form of Hatha yoga that deeply relaxes, quiets the mind, reduces pain, accelerates injury recovery, and promotes better over all health. For more information, visit www.aptosyoga.org, or call (831) 688-1019

First MondaysGreat Decisions Lecture Series7:00pm-8:30pm, Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, 125 Canterbury Dr. Aptos

Lecture series on “Great Deci-sions”, put out by The Foreign

Policy Association. Lectures led by Dr. Laina Farhat-Holzman, sponsored by Santa Cruz Branch, American Association of Uni-versity Women (AAUW).For more information, call Lois Holcomb (831) 688-0541.

Second and Fourth MondaysFirst and Third WednesdaysAlzheimers Support Groups Monday: 2:00 - 3:30pmWednesday: 5:30 – 7:00pm Conference Room at Elena Baskin/Live Oak Senior Center, 1777-A Capitola Rd, Santa Cruz

Facilitated by Jill Ginghofer, this group is for caregivers and

family members of people with Alzheimers.

TuesdaysWomen Care Drop in Cancer Support

Drop in Support Group is a gathering for women with all

types of cancer. We offer support for women through all stages from diagnoses through treatment. For more information or to reg-ister call (831) 457-2273

Drop in Grief Support6:00pm at Aegis, 125 Heather Terrace, Aptos

Join other adults who are grieving the death of a friend

or family member. Learn helpful tools for coping: Share stories and receive support from people who care.No registration required, please call (831) 430-3000

Ocean Gate Zen Center7:00pm. 920 41st Ave. Suite B, Santa Cruz (next to Family Cycling Center)

Please join us on Tues. evenings at 7pm for two 30 min. periods

of sitting meditation with a 10 min walking meditation in between, followed by tea and discussion. Zazen instruction 6:30pm first Tues. of each month. Morning meditation schedule Tues. & Thurs. 6:45am & Sat. 8:30am fol-lowed by “Come As You Are Zen.”Visit oceangatezen.org for more info.

First Tuesdays each monthTail Wagging World of Dog Ownership6:30pm at the Santa Cruz SPCA, 2685 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz (cross street is Soquel Ave.).

First Tuesdays and Third Wednesdays each monthOrientations to Become Advocates for ChildrenNorth County, 5:30-7p.m., first Tuesday of month (for location details contact Danielle at 761-2956 X102) South County, 5:30-7 p.m., third Wednesday of the month at the CASA Office, 813 Freedom Blvd. Watsonville

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Santa

Cruz County needs your help. Volunteer 3-5 hours per week to provide support, guidance, and a powerful voice in court for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. Everyone welcome, men and bilingual folks especially encouraged. To RSVP call 761-2956 Ext. 102, or email [email protected]

Second Tuesdays each monthFree Job Seek Workshop!6:00pm-7:00pm, Gateway Bible Church, 5000 Granite Creek Rd. Scotts ValleyFor more information, visit http://hirewire.org

PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) 7:00pm-9:00pm, 900 High St. First Congregational Church of Santa CruzTo learn more, call (831) 427-4016 or visit www.pflagscc.org

WednesdaysToastmasters: Speak for Success12:00pm-1:00pm, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 5271 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley.

Giving a business presentation? Interviewing for a job?

Improve your speaking skills in a friendly, supportive environment with Redwood Ramblers Toast-masters. Open to all levels.Drop-ins welcome. For more information, call 831-335-3693.

Overeaters Anonymous6:30-7:30pm at Teach by the Beach #50 Rancho Del Mar, AptosFor more information, call (831) 429-7906

First Wednesday each monthChild Welfare Review6:00pm- 9:00pm 1400 Emeline

Avenue room 206, Santa Cruz.

The orientation is designed to review the child welfare system

and to give you a chance to have your question answered by child welfare staff.To register to one of the meetings and for directions, please call 454-4024.

Coastal Professionals8:00am to 9:30am at Aptos History Museum, Old Dominion Court, Aptos.

Learn tips and make connec-tions. Local professionals

meet weekly to focus on business building and collaboration. Interested business owners, inde-pendent professionals and guests welcome. For more information: 621-1153, www.CoastalProfessionals.net

Second and Fourth WednesdaysFreedom Forum Presents: Constitution Classes7:00pm, Quaker Friends Meeting House, 225 Rooney St. Santa CruzFor more information, visit www.meetup.com/santacruz-freedom-forum/

ThursdaysCapitola-Aptos Rotary Club Meeting12-1:30 p.m. at Seascape Golf Course. Contact Doug at 831- 724-9192 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

Overeaters Anonymous1:00-2:00pm, Louden Nelson Community Center, Rm. 5 301 Center St. Santa CruzFor more information, call (831) 429-7906

Second Thursdays each monthVeterans of Foreign Wars 6:30 pm, 2259 7th Ave. Santa Cruz

Commander Ronals Petty leads the meetings.

For more information, call (831) 475-9804

Second and Fourth ThursdaysCabrillo Host Lions Club7:00pm at the Cabrillo Com-munity Center, Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Rd.

Public is invited to all programs. Contact President Jess Allen

831-684-2721 or Past President Barbara Chamberlain at 831-688-3356 for meeting/dinner reservations or information or visit www.cabrillohostlions.org.

Third Thursday each monthPacific Speakers Association7:00pm, Firehouse on Soquel Dr. Aptos

Speakers helping speakers get gigs.

Call (831) 332-8221 for more information.

FridaysClutterers Anonymous5:30-6:45 Sutter Maternity & Surgical Center, 2900 Chanticleer Ave, Soquel Dr. Santa Cruz.

Tired of Clutter? Stuff piling up? Support is available. CLA

meeting every Friday.For more info call 426-1868 FREE

SaturdaysAptos Certified Farmers Market8:00 -12:00pm at Cabrillo College, Aptos.

The Aptos Market, with over 80 vendors, is open year round,

with the best selections of fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, seedlings, flowers, local honey, fresh eggs, fresh fish, artisan baked goods and gourmet foods. In addition, family activities, music, cooking demos by professional chefs, gardening workshops, seasonal fairs and events are a part of the market.

Scotts Valley Farmer’s Market9a.m.-1p.m. SV Community Center, 360 Kings Village Drive www.santacruzfarmersmarket.org

Come As You Are Zen9-10:30 am, Ocean Gate Zendo, 920 41st Ave. Suite B, Santa Cruz (next to Family Cycling Center)

Come as you are Zen focuses on Buddhist practices that

enhance our daily lives. This will be an informal talk with time for discussion. Free — donations accepted. Visit oceangatezen.org for more info.

Santa Cruz Bingo4:00pm, 707 Fair Ave. Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Bingo supports local charity. All games have a

minimum of a $150 prize, smaller crowds mean you have better odds. For more information, visit www.santacruzbingo.com or email [email protected]. You can also call (831) 427-1007 and press 4.

SundaysOver-Eaters Anonymous9:00am-10:15am, Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center, 2900 Chanticleer Ave. Sc.

OA is a 12-step support group for those who wish to stop

eating compulsively. All are welcome.Free childcare with advance

reservation by 5pm, Fridays. Call (831) 429-7906.

Church Bible Study/Worship9:45am: Bible Study; 11:00: Worship, First Baptist Church 7565 Sunset Way, Aptos

Looking for a church? Come worship with us!

Dated Events

Thursday January 10 Wellness Lecture: Dietary Tips & Chronic Disease Prevention 6 pm – 7:30 pm., Free. New Leaf Community Markets, 1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz.

Travel with Nutritional Con-sultant Sandi Rechenmacher

through a Natural Landscape and learn nature’s uncanny ways of preventing chronic disease (obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease.) The body is a rich resource of essential nutrients (omega-3s), protective phytonu-trients, and vital anti-oxidants. Understand the natural basics of how to reduce inflammation and keep blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and PSA numbers low. PLUS, you will discover how to eat more and weigh less! Preregistration required. Register at www.newleaf.com or call 831.426.1306 x 0.

Wednesday January 16 Wellness Lecture: The Untold Story of Gluten 6 pm – 7:30 pm., Free. New Leaf Community Markets, 1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz.

Join Nutritionist and author Rebecca Rovay-Hazelton to learn

about precautions to take with eating a gluten-free diet, complica-tions with traditional methods for testing, and the best option available today. You will also gain tips for meal planning, and an action plan for reducing systemic inflammation caused by gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease. Preregistration required. Register at www.newleaf.com or call 831.426.1306 x 0.

thursday January 17 Lecture and Demo: Cooking with Herbs & Spices 6 pm – 8 pm. $25. New Leaf Com-munity Markets, 1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz.

During the coldest months, herbs and spices warm

the heart and hearth. Join Chef Zachary Mazi and find out what the body needs to thrive in times of reduced light and heat, and how to use herbs and foods to counter the effects of a draining season. Food is medicine in the deep cold of winter. Chef Mazi will bring the heat back to your kitchen! Listen, learn, and enjoy samples. Preregistration required. Register at www.newleaf.com or call 831.426.1306 x 0.

Wednesday January 23 Lecture: Winter Wellness and Immunity 6 pm – 7:30 pm. $20. New Leaf Community Markets, 1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz.

Join Corey Miller, Licensed Acu-puncturist and Herbalist, for an

informative session on how to stay healthy through these cold winter months. Learn how to eat for warmth, and select the right rem-edies for cold care and vitamins for sustained health. Registration includes a take-home wellness kit to get you started on a path to optimal health this year. Preregistration required. Register at www.newleaf.com or call 831.426.1306 x0.

CHADD ADHD Meeting hosted by Lynda Meeder6:30-8:00pm, Mar Vista Elementary School, 6860 Soquel Dr.

Yoga and how its practice can help children with ADHD,

even children, will be the topic of discussion when the Santa Cruz CHADD ADHD Support Group hosts Lynda Meeder, Director of Children’s Yoga at Luma Yoga and Family Center. Come wearing comfortable clothes for a yoga demonstration following the presentation.For more information, contact Judy Brenis at [email protected] or call (831) 684-0590.

Thursday January 31Open House / Science Fair6 - 8 p.m., Aptos Academy, 1940 Bonita Dr.

Meet our wonderful teachers, tour our facility, and browse

through the Science Fair while finding out how our school could be just what you’ve been looking for!Call 688-1080 for more infor-mation, or to set up a tour at a more convenient time. www.aptosacademy.org n

Community Calendar


Your January HoroscopeAnnabel Burton • Astrologer ©

•••Find Out More www.AnnabelBurton.tv

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb. 18)Mars, the action planet, is in your sign for the whole of this month. This can be brilliant for new ventures, initiating the start of a different lifestyle and helps with taking on board new challenges. You are more forceful and determined and will be proactive in making happen what needs to happen. Others may even accuse you of being a little bossy, but you are not willing to put up with inaction. The Sun enters your sign from the 20th and a Full Moon in your opposite sign could be significant for relationships at the end of January. Your powers of communication are brilliant.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)Dealing with large organizations, groups, and friends of like mind is a major feature for the first half of the month. Group projects and collective endeavours are where you are spending your energies more creatively. Later, take note of your inner visions and intu-ition since this is a time for you to collect your thoughts and take note of your dreams. Variety is key this month and you are likely to have a lot different and unusual experi-ences. this comes form the diverse people who are now part of your life. being part of a community takes on new significance.

Aries (March 21-April 20)What you set out to do you can achieve because of your determination and persistence. Developments in your career plan are beginning to take shape at last. You feel especially creative at the start of the month and see no barriers or obstacles. This instill confidence in others and so you generate quite a momentum. The Full Moon on the 27th favours your social life and celebrations, but a change of scene is as good as a rest and you make the most of this by seeking out the unusual and unconventional. Life becomes extremely interesting after the 20th.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)This is a great time of year for you, Taurus as the Sun shines a light on your desire for travel and opportunity. You have high hopes and optimism and are busy making plans well into the year. You are glad that 2012 is now history and can look forward to a more profitable and productive time. Intriguing developments around your love life instill excitement and change here, but in a way that you would wish. This is excellent for those seeking new love . Venus, your ruler, will be spending much of this month in Capricorn, which is helpful and lucrative with regard to foreign connections.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)While it is traditional in the New Year to let go of the past and welcome the new, this has special significance now as important milestones are encountered . This is a result of your own efforts but also indicative of the natural progression of those around you. Because you are naturally adaptable, you look forward to change, whereas others are a little wary of what is necessary. You are thinking outside the box from the 20th and can look forward to a better financial situation from the 9th. Your clever ideas are paying off at last.

Cancer (June 22-July 22)There are plenty of helpful influences around for you, including friends and loved ones and a new optimism that makes life easier and simpler. You accept that two heads are better than one and feel less like shouldering responsibilities on your own. With this in mind, you appreciate those who it would have been so easy to take for granted. New beginnings are possible on the 11th and a situation comes to a head on the 27th with the Leo Full Moon. Have your say mid month since you are most influential at this time.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 23)Taking charge of a situation requires that you know exactly where you stand and what you believe in. This becomes more evident from the 20th where partnership matters are highlighted and Full Moon in your sign at the end of the month is a turning point for you. Before then, practical matters take precedence and you are dealing with paper work and officialdom but it is all for a good reason. You find time for a more active social life as you less focused on one particular project as you see it through to its conclusion.

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sep. 22)You are pleased with how this month works out and you would be right to think that you deserve a break. There is a sense of balance once more as your previous efforts are paying off. Useful discussion translate into workable solutions that make life a lot easier, but no less interesting. It is this month when you can make plans and decisions about what you want to see more of and you start with masses of enthusiasm. Maintaining this is the hard bit. Your ruler, Mercury, in Aquarius from the 19th is a time for health and well being to be a top priority.

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 23)When you see that to a certain extent you are limited, this gives rise to workable solutions based on what you can do rather than what you can’t do. This is extremely valuable as you are more focused and as such have a clearer idea of what is necessary. Recent research is paying off as you have been on a voyage of discovery. Nevertheless, your own experience counts for more than you realise so don’t underestimate what you are truly capable of. The work life balance is something that needs to be considered throughout January.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)Useful connections are made at the start of the month and those chance encounters can lead to greater friendships and relationships. Somehow, being in the right place at the right time has a whole new meaning. You may or may not understand the importance of resolutions, but you do have a clear idea of what you want more of in the coming year. Travel is becoming increasingly significant, although this does not mean global travel. Ideas and discussions with others begin to shape your future expectations.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)You may feel as though you are having more than you wish of deja vu moments, as you revisit old situations and circumstances. But now you have the benefit of hindsight so can be more relaxed and certain about outcomes. Relationships are a work in progress and new understandings come from important discussions. Practical and financial matters feature this month too, and you get the opportunity to increase your income with an unusual proposition. The Full Moon at the end of the month brings to light a brilliant possibility.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)This is the time of year which is a new year for you as well as everyone else, since the Sun is in your sign. Making plans and setting out your goals comes easier to you than most as you love to having something to look forward to and plan. At the start, you have a new determination and your intentions are set but you have more choice than you realise about what is important. This could bring about interesting discussions with your other half. Your finances are looking good at the start of January, even after the Christmas period! Some of you may have got that promotion you were hoping for!

AnnouncementsAnnual BATA Fashion Show at Watsonville High needs donations!

The Business and Technology Academy of Watsonville High

School will be hosting their annual fashion show. They are looking for local boutiques and clothing stores to donate or lend clothes for their show.If you are interested in partici-pating, contact Barbara Castro at [email protected], or by calling (831) 239-7258.

Ongoing EventsTuesdaysbINgO6:30 p.m. Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, 150 Jewell St.

Hosted by Soquel Sports Foundation. Buy-In $25.

Also, we have a special BINGO, celebrating our 2nd anniversary, on Sept. 28 at 6:30. Buy-in only $15. www.soquelsports.com

Free Trivia7:00pm, Boulder Creek Pizza and Pub, 13200 State Route 9, Boulder Creek

Great fun and prizes too! Come and enjoy some amazing

pizza, breadsticks, drink, friends, and trivia! Who could ask for more?

Tuesdays and WeekendsLive Music on the EsplanadeParadise Beach Grille 215 Esplanade, Capitola.

Live music weekends and acoustic guitar Tuesdays.

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

WednesdaysPeninsula Banjo Band7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Harry’s Hofbrau, 390 Saratoga Ave, San Jose

Forty-seven years of performing in the Bay Area, over 250

popular tunes. Come see our band for Free in Sunnyvale Every Wednesday. No cover. Contact Lee McLaughlin, Booking Agent, at 408-993-BAND (2263) for information about booking the band for Non-profit events (dona-tions are tax deductible). www.PeninsulaBanjoBand.org

Last Thursdays each monthMonthly Argentine Tango at Star bene Italian/Argentine Restarante4:30pm-9:30pm, Star Bene Italian/Argentene Restarante, 21245 East Cliff Dr.

This is a night for true “Social Tango.” Order a wonderful

meal from the Star Bene Argentine Menu, (or their well known italian menu), and enjoy the ambiance of Argentina and join us in a social tango dance to music from the Golden Age of Tango.Private instruction and classes by arrangement. For more information, call Michael (831) 239-2247.

First Fridays each monthFirst Friday Art Tour

The First Friday Art Tour is a Santa Cruz Institute

of Contemporary Arts event, managed in conjunction with the participating art venues. The event takes place year-round and illuminates some of the most talented local artists from local galleries. To find out where to par-ticipate in a First Friday art tour, visit firstfriday-santacruz.com (Most galleries are open 12-9 pm for First Friday viewings.)

First and Third Fridays Friday Shakespeare Club10:30am-12:30pm, First Congre-gational Church, 900 High St. Santa CruzFor more information, visit www.fridayshakespeare.org, call Kris at (831) 421-0930 or Nanette at (831) 438-3615.

Second Fridays each monthBig Band Dance7:30pm-10:00pm, at Mid-County Senior Center 829 Bay Ave, Capitola

Ballroom dancing to live music by The 10th Ave.

Band. Refreshments, large floor, friendly atmosphere, free parking. Open to the public-singles welcome! Suggested donation, $6 per person. Proceeds benefit MCSC. For more information, call (831) 476-4711.

Fourth Friday each monthMusical Me Inc. Family Jam Night6:30-8:30p.m. 239 High St., Santa Cruz.

Bring your favorite music to dance to and any instru-

ments you’d like to share or perform with. Sliding Scale donation per family of $10-$25 (all proceeds going to our schol-arship fund.)For more information call 831-438-3514.

Fourth Saturdays each monthWriters and Poets Open Mike2:00pm-4:00pm, Porter Memorial Library, 3050 Porter St. Soquel(no meeting Jan., July, Aug. or Dec.)

Writers and Poets are invited to a new monthly open

mike reading series. Come and read your fiction, essays, or poetry.For more information, call Jean at (831) 475-4221

SaturdaysLive Jazz and Local Art at Zizzo’s Coffee11:30am-1:30pm, Zizzo’s Coffee, 3555 Clare’s St. Capitola

Listen to live jazz featuring members of the Santa Cruz Jazz

Society. So many talented musi-cians and singers! And an exhibit of local art will be featured 7 days a week.For more information, contact Christine Shelton-Anderson at (755) 544-5651.

Dated Events

saturday January 12Free Yoga, Puppet Show & Drum Circle!All Day, Aptos Yoga Center, 783 Rio Del Mar Blvd, Ste 23B

Join with Aptos Yoga Center as they celebrate their 3rd

anniversary and new non-profit status with a day of free, family-friendly events. Featuring two Blissful Basics Yoga Classes from 9 - 10 am and 11 am - noon; a delightful Scandinavian puppet play, “The Tomten” performed by Kathleen Avalon from 1 pm - 2 pm; and a Community Drum Circle with award winning percussionist Jim Greiner with instruments provided and all ages welcome from 2:30 - 3:15 pm. Visit website for details: www.aptosyoga.org. Preregister for all events as space is limited. 688-1019.

saturday January 26Golden West Casino Night7 -11 p.m., Aptos Academy Audi-torium, 1940 Bonita Dr.

Come try your luck while you support our school’s youthful

arts! Tickets are $40 and include chips, a glass of wine, light snacks, and fifty dollars in chips; prizes for top winners. Call 688-1080 to reserve your seat! www.aptosacademy.org n

Arts & Entertainment


cros

swor

d on

25

»

PACIFIC FENCE

CRAIG ANDERSON

Quality Work - Competitive PricesOver 20 years experience

Office & Fax: 831-684-0957CA license # 708339Website: www.Pacific-Fence.net

Owner

If you are reading this, I would like to congratulate you on having survived Y2K twelve years ago

and the end of the Mayan calendar back on December 21, 2012. After surviving these two potential apoca-lyptic events it would be a horrible thing to have you become severely injured or worse, by a down elec-trical wire. So for all of our safety let’s review some do’s and don’ts of electrical emergencies.

First, there is no need to worry about Volts, Amps or Ohms that just makes things confusing. We do need to remember that the higher up the electrical pole the wires are the more voltage they carry and these elec-trical wires are not like an extension cord in your home — they are most often bare with no insulation. Also just because a wire is located low on the pole if it is contact with a wire from high on the pole it can still care as much danger as the wire high on the pole.

All electrical systems will have fuses and circuit breakers of different types. One such device is known as a Line Restorer. The Line restorer functions much different than a fuse or breaker, it will automatically reset several times in an attempt to restore power to that circuit. As a result of this action it is impossible to determine when a down power line may be re-energized, this is the main reason we treat all down lines as energized and we do not attempt to move them.

There are four things that we must always keep in mind when we are faced with down power lines. First is what is called Ground Gradient, this is when an energized power line comes into contact with earth. At the point of contact the ground will become energized with the same voltage as in the wire, this voltage will travel away from the point of contact much like ripples in a pond and as it get further away from the point of contact the voltage decreases.

The voltage Gradient can extend for a large distance from the point of contact, the amount of voltage in the line, type of ground, moisture in the soil and humidity can all affect this distance and extend it to 100 feet or more.

So first thing to remember is the ground around the power line can be energized.

The second thing to think about is what’s called touch potential. Touch potential is when items like vehicles, chain link fence or other conductive materials come in contact with an energy source. If we should happen to touch such an item, we would in turn complete the electrical path and at the least be shocked and

at worst be electrocuted.The third thing is Step Potential,

step potential occurs when we have a ground gradient around a point of contact. If we walk into this area the difference in voltage from one leg to the other will cause a path for elec-tricity to travel and yes, that path would be through us. So always stay a safe distance from any down power line.

The forth thing that you should always keep in mind if you are con-sidering crossing over or touching a down power line, is the reason for doing it worth your life? We see it every winter people walking or driving over power lines because they have to get home to feed the bird, or they can’t be late for work and the list goes on and on. I know that limp piece of wire lying on the ground disrupting your day looks harmless enough BUT it has the ability to change your life and the life of your family forever in a blink of an eye. n

•••For more information please go

to the PG&E website or contact your local fire department. Aptos LaSelva fire district 6934 Soquel Drive Aptos, CA 95003, 831-685-6690

Electrical Safety This Winter

By Mike Conrad, Division Chief Operations, Aptos La Selva Fire Protection District

We need to remember that the higher up the electrical pole the wires are the more voltage they carry and these electrical wires are not like an extension cord in your home — they are most often bare with no insulation.

You’ll Find it Here!


Pet

Who Needs Rudolph When You’ve Got Cupid!

There is no greater Christmas gift for our sweet Cupid than a home before the holidays. Cupid, a 1 ½ year-old Terrier/Chihuahua mix, has spent over half of his life here at the Santa Cruz SPCA. There is no good reason for it other than

he simply blends in with the crowd and gets looked over easily. He eagerly greets strangers and known volunteers alike, walks wonderfully on a leash, playfully romps with other dogs and quietly crates at night. He’s really the perfect package!

Even though he’s a “Chihuahua” mix, he weighs 18 pounds and as sturdy as they come. He’s got great social skills with people and other dogs; the perfect buddy with which to cruise the town. Cupid is not a “barker.” He truly is a big dog in a little body and is not fragile or dainty.

Cupid would do very well with an active family with or without children. He would enjoy other canine company but could also quickly learn to love getting all the attention to himself as the only dog. He does fine around cats however, he thinks it’s quite fun to chase if the cat decides to run. Cupid is a very happy, well-rounded and joyful dog who’s looking for an equally jolly new home where he could spread some extra holiday cheer. Although we have been a family for him thus far, Cupid needs to know what it’s like to have one for real. Could that be you?

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

For more information call the Santa Cruz SPCA at 465-5000, or visit www.santacruzspca.org. The SPCA is located at 2685 Chanticleer Avenue in Santa Cruz, CA 95065 and is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 p.m. The SPCA Mall Adoption Center and Gift Shop is located at the Capitola Mall near Target and is open on Friday from 11am-5pm and Sat-Sun 11am-4pm. n

cros

swor

d on

25

»

2012 in Review© Statepoint Media

Captivity during WWII Remembered

September 7, 1941: The Day Of Infamy, when Pearl Harbor

was bombed. We know what the United States response to this act was, but many here do not know what the Japanese did in their own back yard. The attack was fol-lowed by years of infamy for millions of families living within “The Zone of Captivity,” a far-flung circle ranging from the coast of China to just short of Australia, encompasing all the island nations with in the circle.

Ten days after the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, in the Netherlands East Indies on the island of Java, a twelve year old Dutch girl named Jeanne de Quant was living a comfortable life on a sugar /coffee plantation that was managed by her father. Without warning, the family was rudely awakened in the middle of the night by Japanese soldiers. She, her mother and two sisters were loaded onto a truck and that was the last time they would see their father and husband for four years. With other women and children, they were driven to the train that took them to the Concentration Camp of Socrabaia.

They spent the next four years of their lives under guards, performing back breaking work in the kitchens and the fields from dawn to dark, sleeping on the floor, twelve to a room. The young boys had been allowed to stay with their mothers, but in September of 1944, all boys over the age of ten were taken to the Men’s Concentration Camps and put to work, which meant that the women and girls had to work even harder.

They were given no medical attention, and in some camps almost starvation diets, which led to physical problems in later life for many of the detainees.

During the years, they had no contact with the outside world and knew nothing of the progress of the war. In December of 1944, there was a noticeable tension among the guards. They later found out that this was the time that Tokyo was bombed for

the first time. On August 22, 1945, the women and children were assembled and told that the war was over, Japan had lost and they were free. There was still danger in the area because the extremists among the native Merdika people had taken over the abandoned weapons of the Japanese and were trying to take back their country.

The de Quant women were soon reunited with their father, who had been treated fairly well because of his engi-neering background. They traveled to Perth, Australia where they waited for two years to be sent to Holland. Finally, they arrived in Holland to safety, school days, ice-skating and normal lives again. It was an easier transition for the de Quant family than from some others who had grown up in the warm humid climate of Java because Jeanne and her family had returned to Holland on furloughs several times.

Later, Jeanne met her husband who was a reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, and they moved to United States when he was assigned to Boston, Mass. They raised two sons and Jeanne worked as an executive Secretary for The Christian Science Monitor. She could speak six languages, but never spoke Japanese. Jeanne has chosen to forget many of the incidents that happened during her years in the Concentration Camp. Now living a peaceful and busy life at La Posada, she has this to say: “You do not know what freedom is until you lose it.” n

•••Reference: “PRISONERS OF THE JAP-

ANESE- POWs of World War II in the Pacific” By Gavan Daws

By Noreen

Santaluce

Jeanne de Quant

SPCA Featured Pet

FOOD & DRINKSDeer Park Wine & SpiritsDeluxe FoodsPanda InnMangiamo Pizza & Wine BarRed Apple Cafe

BANKSBank of AmericaUS Bank

BUSINESS SERVICESClarion Pacific Insurance ServicesGalapagos TravelJean Starcevich, AttorneyKendall & Potter Property Mgmt.Opus SolutionsPDM InternationalSAR Asset Management, Inc.Ship SmartSloan RealtyWavestaff, Inc.

PERSONAL SERVICESAptos Academic TrainersAptos YogaBody in MotionBrian Del Core, DDSCVS PharmacyDel Mar CleanersEye Shapes OpticiansHighlights for HairJ-Bella NailsLaser Hair Solutions

Aptos Times January 1st 2013

Documents

Transcript of Aptos Times January 1st 2013