LIFE Everything Aptos, Capitola, Soquel

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By ERIK CHALHOUBOf Aptos Life

APTOS — About 25 years ago, a small, scraggly redwood tree was found covered in pampas grass

and litter near the entrance to Aptos Village Park.

Volunteer Jack Metzger envisioned the nine-foot tree could become the town’s Christmas tree. So, volunteers started

watering and pruning it, and by the time Christmas rolled around, the tree was decorated with lights and ornaments using a ladder.

Over the years, the ladder

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DECEMBER 2014 EVERYTHING APTOS, CAPITOLA & SOQUEL

Inside ...Cabrillo enrollment 2Community briefs 4 - 5 Chamber awards 10Guest columns 11Coastal Magicians 14Calendar 18



HISTORYCORNER

By John HibbleCall: 688-1467

Visit us online:aptoshistory.org

Visit the museum:7605-B Old Dominion Court Aptos, CA

Sports 2 Capitola tree lighting Page 2


Vol. 3 No. 5

APTOS SOQUELCAPITOLA

A young boy chases seagulls on the beach in Capitola. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life

By VALERIE LEMKEFor Aptos Life

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Though snow may not be in the forecast for Santa Cruz County anytime soon, there is a special place located inside of a Watsonville warehouse that is beginning to look a lot like the North Pole this time of year.

Toys for Tots of Santa Cruz County is once again preparing to put their toy workshop back into action as they take on their 26th year of service to local kids and families in need.

The Toys for Tots program started

in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, and his wife, Diane, tried to donate a handmade doll to a child in need, but found no organization to do so. Hendricks decided to form a charity drive to provide gifts to kids in need, and as a result, more than 5,000 toys were donated that year. In 1948, the United States Marine Corps adopted this drive and turned it into a nationwide community action project known as U. S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots Program.

That same year, Walt Disney

Toys for Tots gears up for 26th year of helping local children

Rio del Mar was a grand resort born during the heyday of the Roaring 20s, but where was the actual Country Club located? Originally, prospective property owners were housed in the Spreckels’ mansion or the golf lodge. Ultimately the centerpiece of the resort was an elegant hotel located at the crest of Rio Del Mar Boulevard on the bluffs overlooking the Monterey Bay and the esplanade and beach below.

Originally named the Hotel Don Rafael de Castro, it was a first class hotel of Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture with 22 rooms. The hotel was designed by San Francisco architect Benjamin D. McDougal. It was built in just seven months at a cost of $100,000 and opened on May 1, 1929. The entry foyer was decorated with items from the estate of Rudolph Valentino.

The stock market had been on a nine-year run up that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average increase in value tenfold, peaking in September 1929 and then crashing, causing

Rio del Mar Hotel Projects under

way in Rio del MarRDMIA launches fundraising campaignAptos Life staff report

APTOS — The Rio del Mar Improvement Association is currently in the midst of its “Beautification Strategy” for 2014-2015, with a number of projects in the works, and is seeking donations to help fund them.

A new roundabout is coming to life at the base of Rio del Mar Boulevard at the Esplanade at Rio del Mar State Beach. Detours, road closures, circulation changes and parking restrictions are still ongoing in the area.

Work is expected to wrap up around Dec. 19, weather permitting. All businesses in the area continue to operate with normal hours.

An artist’s rendition of a new entrance sign to Rio del Mar.

Holiday tradition returns Dec. 6

Emmery Loder, 4, is delighted to be greeted by Santa Claus during the annual Aptos tree lighting ceremony in 2013. File photo by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life

2 - Aptos Life - December 2014 www.AptosLife.com

Publisher - John Bartlett

General Manager - Amy Bartlett

Editor - Erik Chalhoub

EditorialTodd Guild, Tony Nuñez, Tarmo Hannula

Photography - Tarmo Hannula

Advertising SalesTina Chavez, Susie Ronzano, Allison Stenberg

Production - Daryl Nelson

Design - Mike Lyon

EVERYTHING APTOS

Thank you for reading!

Contact UsAptos Life

7605-B Old Dominion Ct. Aptos, CA 95003

(located in the Aptos History Museum)

[email protected]

Aptos Life is published monthly. All rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher. Aptos Life made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. Aptos Life is a division of the Register-Pajaronian. Publishing in Santa Cruz County since 1894.

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By TODD GUILDOf Aptos Life

APTOS — High school students with an eye on continuing education have always been able to take courses at Cabrillo

College while they attend their schools.This “concurrent enrollment” — taking

classes at both schools — is billed as a chance for young people to earn extra credit while getting an early view of college life.

And the college benefits as well, with potential future students ready to collegiate academic standards upon graduation.

But for many, the cost of classes put the opportunity out of reach. Students at Cabrillo pay $46 per credit, making some classes as much as $138.

Thanks to an agreement between Pajaro Valley Unified School District and Cabrillo, however, that is no longer a concern.

The college announced Nov. 17 that it is waiving fees for high school students to attend certain classes

Now, high school students who qualify need only to pay some $30 in student fees, and can take up to 11 credits.

“It’s a huge deduction,” said Vice President of Student Services Dennis Bailey-Fougnier. “We’re waiving the fee so they can have access to Cabrillo College and have a leg-up when they graduate.”

Certain courses are off-limits to the high school students, but they are able to take a wide range of classes ranging from art to biology to engineering to medical assisting. All must get approval from parents, principals and counselors.

The college has aligned certain courses to high schools’ bell schedule, making it easy for students to make it to class.

“I predict it will increase the enrollment at Cabrillo in the long run,” said PVUSD Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Instruction Murry Schekman. “It’s a win-win for the community.”

•••The pilot program is open to high

school students across the county. Registration begins Jan. 5.

Interested students must complete and submit a concurrent enrollment form and bring it in to Cabrillo’s Admissions and Records Office at either the Aptos or Watsonville campus locations.

For information, visit www.cabrillo.edu/services/outreach/concurrent.html or call 479-6165 or 479-3516.

The enrollment form is available at www.cabrillo.edu/services/ar/forms.html.

Aptos Life staff report

CAPITOLA — Capitola Village will hold its inaugural Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting on Dec. 6 from 1-5:30 p.m.

The event will combine both the Community Caroling and the Tree Lighting Ceremony, of years past, into a larger, more family-oriented daytime event, which also supports local businesses. Families can enjoy performances, activites and shopping while strolling through the streets of Capitola Village.

Capitola Village businesses will be giving away more than $2,500 in gift certificates during the event. There will be prize drawings every half hour, with a grand prize drawing at 5 p.m.

Many shops will be offering special discounts and doing something special for customers, such as giving out cookies and cider or featuring artists in their stores for the Open House.

Inside the Capitola Mercantile, children will enjoy complimentary face painting, cookie decorating, sponsored by Whole Foods, and ornament making. Plus, Shadowbrook Restaurant and Paradise Beach Grille will be providing snacks and beverages nearby.

There will be musical performances by the Soquel High Jazz Singers in front of the Mercantile (on the Margaritaville side of the building), who will then lead caroling through the village. The New Brighton Middle School Band will also perform in front of the

Mercantile.The Christmas Fairy will be sprinkling

“fairy dust” around the Village while giving out candy canes and posing for photos with the kids.

Village businesses are also kicking off their first Window Display Contest this year. All are encouraged to vote on their favorites. Everyone who votes will be entered into the grand prize drawing at 5 p.m.

The event will conclude with the tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.

For information, contact the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce at 475-6522 or visit www.capitolachamber.com/events.

Capitola Village kicks off holiday season with new event


APTOS — Fifteen building contractors were cited in an undercover sting operation Nov. 5 and 6 for alleged contractor license violations, worker compensation violations and other charges.

The Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with investigators from the California Contractors State Licensing Board and detectives from the California Department of Insurance Fraud Division, conducted the operation. Investigators posed as homeowners looking for exterior construction work on a residence.

Suspects were previously identified by investigators for advertising as a licensed contractor or failing to properly identify themselves as unlicensed contractors, the D.A.’s office said. Those subjects were contacted and scheduled to conduct an estimate. If the estimate exceeds the lawful amount mandated by law, they were detained and given a citation. Also, any subject who reported having any employees and did not have proper Workers Compensation Insurance, was also cited.

During the two-day investigation, a

total of 17 subjects were contacted. Other charges included various Contractors State License Board violations, contracting without a license and fraudulent use of a contractor’s license and improper advertising.

All of the citations were for misdemeanor violations.

The action was conducted as part of an ongoing effort by the District Attorney’s Office and the State of California to maintain a safe and lawful construction industry in Santa Cruz County. By ensuring that contractors are properly licensed and bonded, it helps to protect the residents of Santa Cruz County from substandard construction and fraud, the D.A.’s office said. It was also an effort to minimize the underground economy that often undermines legitimate, licensed contractors that struggle to compete in an unfair playing field.

Anyone who would like to report any employers who are not properly ensuring their employees or unlicensed contractors work may contact the District Attorney’s Office at 454-2400 or email [email protected].

Fifteen cited for contractor license, workers compensation

violations

Cabrillo eases the way for high school kids to take classes

A Christmas tree dominates downtown Capitola in 2013. File photo by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life

CHP on the lookout for distracted drivers

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By TARMO HANNULAand TODD GUILDOf Aptos Life

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — California Highway Patrol Officer Mario Galvez was on driving on northbound Highway 1 recently when he spotted a scofflaw.

He raced to catch up with a young Watsonville woman, who was using her cell phone while driving.

In addition to using her phone while driving — a violation that can add up to $160 for a first-time offense — Galvez found that she was driving on a suspended license, and had no choice but to tow her vehicle.

The woman unwittingly found herself caught up in a yearlong Adult Distracted Driving traffic safety campaign, which was sparked by growing incidence statewide of drivers using electronic devices while behind the wheel.

“Distracted Driving is a huge cause of accidents,” Galvez said. “There are so many things going on while you’re driving that it’s hard to concentrate on it when you’re using your phone.”

If drivers receive an important call while driving, they should pull off the road and park somewhere safe to take it, Galvez said.

“No phone call is worth your safety or anyone else’s,” he said.

The campaign is in partnership with the Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The CHP will complete approximately 80 distracted driving enforcement operations and at least 500 traffic safety presentations by the end of September 2015.

Another component of the grant is a distracted driving awareness education and enforcement campaign in April by the CHP.

The increased enforcement is an effort to encourage drivers to recognize the dangers of distracted driving and reduce the number of people impacted by it.

“It is important to note that the success of this campaign is not measured by the number of enforcement actions taken by officers, but measured by the number of lives we save,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow.


APTOS — A California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Administrative Law Judge has called a prehearing conference on Dec. 12 to consider dismissal of PG&E’s application to construct the Santa Cruz 115 kV Reinforcement Project.

The CPUC also announced that the environmental review and release of a Draft Environmental Impact Report is currently on hold pending the outcome of the Dec. 12 conference. The Draft EIR was initially scheduled to be released in summer of 2014, but has been delayed.

PG&E will request the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which oversees 80 percent of the state’s power grid, to re-evaluate the need for the

Santa Cruz 115 kV Reinforcement Project. CAISO approved the project in 2009.

“Neighbors Organized to Protect Our Community (NOPOC) has been asking for data that justifies this massive and environmentally destructive project since the project was first announced,” said Dr. Thomas Barker, a founding member of the nonprofit, all-volunteer association. “Data provided by PG&E and by the California Energy Commission shows that demand for electrical power in Santa Cruz County has been steadily declining, and the heat wave that occurred in early October calls into question the accuracy of peak load forecasts for the area.”

Information about the status of the proposed project is available on the CPUC website at bit.ly/1vS0YeL.

CPUC calls hearing to consider dismissal of proposed power line project

California Highway Patrol officer Mario Galvez talks to a Watsonville woman on Highway 1 about the hazards of distracted driving. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life

CHP on the lookout for distracted drivers

was put aside to make room for a cherry picker, and on Dec. 6, the now 50-foot tree will be lit during the Aptos Chamber of Commerce’s annual holiday craft fair from 2-5 p.m. near the entrance to the park.

“It’s all about being a community, being with our families and enjoying the spirit of the holiday season,” said Karen Hibble, co-executive director of the chamber.

The tree, which is decorated with the help of Lewis Tree Service, now features 75 strands of LED lights, and donations of more strands are appreciated. The lights come on when darkness falls at the end of the event, with a countdown and a bagpipe performance by John Hibble.

A craft fair will feature local vendors selling homemade ginger bread,

ornaments, jams and more. The Soquel High Jazz Choir and Aptos Academy of Dance will perform during the event.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Christmas event without Santa Claus, who will ride in on a fire truck as children will gather in line to tell him what they want for Christmas.

Toys for Tots will collect toys for distribution, and food donations to Second Harvest Food Bank are encouraged.

Hibble said families are encouraged to attend.

“I think that’s what a small town is for,” she said. “People are able to connect with their neighbors, and love the cool nights and beautiful nights. We thank everyone for coming and being part of the community.”

Continued from page 1Aptos Tree Lighting

A crew from Lewis Tree Service and volunteers from the Aptos Chamber of Commerce decorate a 50-foot tall redwood tree recently in Aptos Village. Photo by John Hibble


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CAPITOLA — The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery opened in the Capitola Mall on Nov. 15.

The theme of the 8,000-square-foot museum aims to showcase the “wonders of Santa Cruz County,” said co-founder Patrice Keet, “where technology meets recreation, where agriculture meets health.”

The museum contains a range of exhibits from high tech to hands-on. Alphabots, which are programmable robotic arms, will be used in the exhibit area as well as in the program area. Other exhibits include the Space Palette, a musical and graphical instrument that lets users play music and paint visuals simultaneously by waving their hands in the holes of its wooden frame, among many more exhibits.

A dedicated toddler area features exhibits themed around the topics of health and energy.

An activities room will host classes, workshops and daily hands-on activities related to the exhibits.

SCCMOD is partnering with La Selva Beach-based nonprofit Learn to Discover, who will offer classes in Claymation, Lego robotics and programming, among other topics for children ages 4 and over.

For information, visit www.sccmod.org.

Museum opens in Capitola Mall

The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery’s grand opening was celebrated with a ribbon cutting on Nov. 15. Photo by Nicholas Laschkewitsch

Melissa Gilbert is shown with Jacob’s Heart survivor Christina. Contributed photo

Aptos Life staff report APTOS — Melissa Gilbert, of “Little House on the

Prairie” fame, will talk about her experiences with children with cancer at Seascape Golf Club in Aptos from 9:30-11 a.m. on Dec. 12.

Gilbert will share stories of her work with children with cancer and their families. She’ll discuss her public triumphs and personal struggles while juggling the roles of actress, wife, mother and advocate for children with cancer. She will also share her advice for making the most of your charitable giving now and throughout the year.

The event is sponsored by Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford and Stanford Children’s Health in support of the services Jacob’s Heart provides to local families of children with cancer. For the past 16 years, the oncology department at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford has worked with Jacob’s Heart as a community partner.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Jacob’s Heart. For tickets, visit jacobsheartbreakfast.eventbrite.com.

Event benefitsJacob’s Heart

Cabrillo College announces Area III Board of Trustees

provisional appointment


APTOS — At a special meeting on Nov. 5, Cabrillo’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to provisionally appoint Christina Cuevas to the Board seat representing Area III.

Trustee Area III includes a portion of the City of Capitola as well as Live Oak, Soquel and a portion of Aptos. Cuevas will fill the seat that was vacated by vacated by the Oct. 7 resignation of Susan True.

Cuevas has been the program director for the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County since 1998. She currently serves on the boards of several local organizations, including First Five Santa Cruz County, the Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County, the Regional Water Management Foundation, the Santa Cruz County Community Credit Union, and the Work Force Investment Board of Santa Cruz County. She is also a Steering Committee member of the United Way’s Community Assessment Project.

“I understand the importance of affordable public education in preparing people of all ages to earn a decent standard of living and live a long and healthy life,” said Cuevas. “Because of the critical role Cabrillo College plays in that system and in our community, I want to be part of advancing its mission and goals.”

Cuevas will be sworn in at the Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 8 and she will fill the position until the next regular election of the Board of Trustees in November 2016.


ART EXHIBITBIRCHBARKSAVING WATER

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customers achieve water savings

Aptos Life staff report SOQUEL — Throughout November, the Soquel

Creek Water District thanked its customers for their water savings in 2014. Since February the district has pumped an average of 20 percent less water from the over-drafted groundwater aquifers that are currently its only water source.

“From the bottom of our hearts and wells, we thank our customers and recognize that these savings are the result of a lot of hard work, more than a few brown lawns, and a conscious effort to do more with less,” said General Manager Kim Adamson.

The district’s board called for a voluntary water use reduction of 20 percent on Jan. 28, recognizing Gov. Jerry Brown’s statewide drought emergency declaration. This year the board also declared a Stage 3 Water Shortage Emergency and a Groundwater Emergency at its June 17 meeting which enacted emergency water rates.

The water savings achieved this year not only help protect the groundwater supply against the current drought, which severely reduces recharge, but also against the district’s long-term issue of groundwater over-draft and seawater intrusion.

The district is also tackling the long-term groundwater shortage by monitoring groundwater levels, seeking new water sources, collaborating with others who use the shared groundwater basin and requiring those seeking new water connections to offset their expected water use by funding conservation and groundwater recharge projects.


SOQUEL — On Dec. 10 and 11, starting at 5:30 p.m. Main Street Garden and Cafe, 3101 North Main St. in Soquel, will donate a percentage of all dinner proceeds to benefit BirchBark Foundation.

The BirchBark Foundation teams up with veterinarians to help defray medical bills by as much as 50 percent.

To be considered, the case must be life-threatening and catastrophic. Pet owners must first meet certain financial requirements. After that, the case goes to a board of five veterinarians who must give majority approval. With organizers being on call around the clock, the process occurs rapidly.

Once those are met, they are responsible for 25 percent of the bill, and the veterinarian cuts the bill by another 25 percent. The BirchBark Foundation, meanwhile, pays the remaining 50 percent.

Make a reservation by calling 477-9265 and mention you are dining for BirchBark.

Cafe to donate proceeds to

BirchBark Foundation

“Proudly I Fought” by Becky Olvera Schultz


SANTA CRUZ — Aptos artist Becky Olvera Schultz is currently showing her work at the Veteran Resource Center, 1658 Soquel Drive in Santa Cruz.

The exhibit displays military-themed art by Olvera Schultz, which will be ongoing, including at least one permanent piece. Her father, 95-year-old World War II veteran Lupe Olvera, is the subject of some of the works.

For information, call Olvera Schultz at 688-0694 or email [email protected].

Works by Aptos artist on display

Contributed photo


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designed the well-known train logo and created the first poster used nationally to advertise their campaign.

Toys for Tots of Santa Cruz County has its own history that was formed out of need from a natural disaster.

After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Delilah Valadez and now retired Watsonville Assistant Fire Chief, Don French, who both eventually became the co-founders of Toys for Tots of Santa Cruz County, helped to organize donations of needed supplies after the earthquake. Soon, donations of toys began to roll in just in time for Christmas.

”Stuff just kept coming to town,” Valadez, who also holds the position of program coordinator for the charity, said. “Blankets, tents, coats, food and water started showing up by the truckload. One of the things that started coming to us a month later were toys at the local fire departments with no means to get them out. We developed a network of nonprofits already working with displaced and struggling families to get the toys out in a way that was responsible.”

As the next year approached it became clear that the need was still there, and the program continued to serve the Pajaro Valley area. The charity grew over time to include all areas of the county.

In the mid-1990s, the group joined up with Toys for Tots and became the only Marine Corps Toys for Tots program in Santa Cruz County, continuing to serve all those in need across the entire county.

Each year the program takes a break for about six to eight months before they start searching within the community for a site to set up their distribution center for the upcoming Christmas season. For the past three years, they have had the same location in Watsonville.

Getting the toys ready for distribution takes many volunteers to sort, assemble and bundle toys before they’re ready to go to the nonprofit agencies that will give them out to the families in time for Christmas.

Toys are sorted by gender and age

by volunteers. There are stations set up for assembling bikes, bundling books, matching toys with batteries and even an air pumping station for inflating toys. The majority of toy donations received are geared toward kids in the 5 to 11 age group, leaving a shortage of items for infants and toddlers, as well as for teens, which is a gap that they hope will be filled by donors.

“It’s like the North Pole,” Valadez said. “There are Christmas carols, Martinelli’s cider, people are humming and happy to be here. A lot of the volunteers have been coming here for a long time and it has become their tradition. I’ve seen little kids grow up. It’s been a privilege to be a part of this. I’ve been doing this for 26 years,

I’m happy.”One hundred percent of donations

received by Toys for Tots in this county remain local. Last year, more than 9,700 toys were donated and given to more than 4,000 local children.

Toys are collected at participating fire stations, businesses and other drop-off sites as well as several community events that are on the calendar for December.

“It is really gratifying to see how much support there is in Santa Cruz County, not just for our program, but also for the local food banks,” Valadez said.

Volunteers are always needed, as well as donations of new and unwrapped toys, books (bilingual, too), art supplies, bikes,

batteries and more. They also welcome monetary donations. They ask that people avoid donating toys of aggression, unpackaged stuffed animals or items that contain food.

Families in need can contact the Santa Cruz Community Food Hotline (sponsored by the Second Harvest Food Bank) at 662-0991 for a referral to local agency that will be distributing toys.

For a list of events and participating fire stations and other drop off locations, as well as a list of volunteer opportunities, or if you’d like to host a drop off location, visit the Toys for Tots website at santacruzcounty.toysfortots.org.

Delilah Valadez, coordinator for the Toys for Tots program for the past 26 years, is shown in the warehouse talking about donated toys that are bound for 25 agencies in 2013. File photo by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life


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A new roundabout is coming to life at the base of Rio del Mar Boulevard at the Esplanade at Rio del Mar State Beach. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life

Once the roundabout is complete, the Whaley Sculpture, which is currently located on the traffic island on Rio del Mar Boulevard opposite the Deer Park Center, will be relocated in the new roundabout.

Built in honor of Tom Whaley, a Rio del Mar resident and former RDMIA board member, the sculpture is a curved steel shaft supporting a seagull in flight. It is approximately 14 feet in height.

Plans are also under way to construct a new entrance sign to Rio del Mar. The sign will replicate one of the original

“Rio del Mar” signs erected when the community was first established in 1928-29.

The sign will be located on the traffic island across from the Deer Park Center.

A pilot program to construct new benches along the sidewalk of the Flats is also being de-veloped. In coordination with State Parks, the RDMIA is launching a trial program to install the first bench by the end of the year. Each bench is expected to cost between $700-$1,200.

The RDMIA is also looking at sand berm improvements for Rio del Mar Beach. There is a

proposal to create sand berms on a temporary basis to direct the flow and direction of water leading to the ocean.

About $3,500 has been donated by private individuals/business for the cost of a Coastal Permit for the project.

For all of these projects, the RDMIA has launched a fund-raising campaign. Check dona-tions can be sent to RDMIA, PO Box 274, Aptos, CA, 95001, or making a credit card donation on the RDMIA Facebook page.

For information, visit www.rdmia.com or www.facebook.com/RiodelMarImprovemen-tAssociation.


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History Corner Continued from page 1

the Great Depression, which lasted for 10 years. Both of the Seacliff and Rio Del Mar developments were caught up in the fallout. In 1931 the name of the hotel was changed to the Rio Del Mar Country Club Inn.

After Prohibition was repealed at the end of 1933 plans were made to expand the hotel. Benjamin Schreyer of San Francisco was hired to design an additional 9,000 square feet of space including 18 new bedrooms, a dining room and ballroom that could accommodate 500 people with 120 feet of windows overlooking the bay, a cocktail lounge and a detached casino. The new additions were dedicated on New Year’s Eve, 1936.

Big bands played at the hotel and were broadcast nationally making Rio Del Mar famous. This was the hotel’s high point. World War II caused the hotel to close in the fall of 1942.

A group of local investors leased the hotel in 1946, and renamed it the “Rio Del Mar Hotel” but it went bankrupt in 1949 and was closed. The hotel sold again in 1955 and reopened as the “Aptos Beach Inn” in 1957 but closed again in 1961.

In October 1962, the hotel was leased for five years and renamed the “Aptos Beach Inn & Racquet Club,” and reopened in November. Four months later, on March 17, 1963 on St. Patrick’s Day a fire broke out in the kitchen, and spread rapidly. The famous inn was destroyed by a $450,000 blaze. Three hundred guests were evacuated safely, but two firemen suffered serious burns during the desperate fight by eight fire departments in the face of a totally inadequate water supply. All firefighting had to be done from the street side because of the closeness of the rear of the hotel to the edge of the cliff.

Shortly before midnight, cooks had spotted smoke seeping from the kitchen ceiling around light fixtures, accompanied by “a crackling in the walls” and the alarm was given. I am told by knowledgeable sources that the manager went from table to table and asked the guests to take their drinks outside temporarily and that the problem would be fixed shortly. After the guests realized that would not be the case, many of them walked down the hill to the Sea Breeze bar and ordered additional

sustenance.The east wing was a total loss but

the west wing was saved, however, the next day people not only sifted through the debris, but some also went in to the west wing and liberated everything that was not tied down. I have seen the fire damaged entry doors and pictures of the office safe. At the Aptos History Museum we have had donations of a wrought iron lamp from the hotel exterior and a decorative iron grate that was in the entry foyer.

The remains of the hotel were torn down and ultimately replaced by the Shore Del Mar condominiums at 260 Rio Del Mar Blvd. Amazingly, the casino still exists as a private home. It was separate from the hotel. Although slot machines were legal in private clubs, it is likely that other forms of gambling took place. The wrought iron screen doors have cutouts of clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades. By being separate from the hotel it was possible to avoid the prying eyes of the government agents.

Much of this article was based directly on the research of the late Allen Collins. If you enjoy stories about Aptos history please visit the Aptos History Museum and consider purchasing a membership to help keep our doors open.

St. Patrick’s Day, 1963. Aptos History Museum collectionThe Rio Del Mar Hotel in 1937 with the casino in the upper right. Aptos History Museum collection

Entrance foyer and lounge. Aptos History Museum collectionThe Fireside Room. Aptos History Museum


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By TODD GUILDOf Aptos Life

APTOS — Santa Cruz County’s homeless population climbed significantly in 2013, with 3,536 counted during a biennial survey. That number was up 765 from 2011.

The announcement came Nov. 24 during the release of the annual Community Assessment Project, also known as the CAP report.

Hundreds of community members gathered in the Cabrillo College Samper Recital Hall and Music Building to hear the release of the report.

Meanwhile, the county’s unemployment rate dropped from 9.5 percent to 6.8 percent. That trend that mirrors improvement to the employment picture statewide and nationwide since 2010.

Santa Cruz County experienced a drop in the overall crime rate, from 36.9 incidents per 1,000 residents in 2012 to 34.3 incidents.

The survey, which focused on the year 2013 and compared it to previous years, gives a snapshot of community perception of a wide range of topics. It is often used to help government officials and social services workers determine where to focus their efforts. It is spearheaded by United Way of Santa Cruz County and conducted by Applied Survey Research, whose researchers interviewed more than 700 people throughout the county to get representative samples.

EconomyThe numbers of white people who said

they felt more financially secure rose this year by three percent, while those numbers in the Latino community showed a three percent decline.

More people said they felt they had job opportunities in Santa Cruz County. Education

More Pajaro Valley Unified School District students graduated in 2013 than the year before, rising 3.8 percent to 88.6 percent. That shows a trend of rising rates in school

districts throughout the county.More significantly, more people say they

are satisfied with the education system in both north and south counties, which PVUSD superintendent Dorma Baker said could add up to more parent participation.

This is important as it can add up to more parent participation, she said.

“We were glad to see the overall satisfaction among the schools,” she said.

HealthThere was little good news in the health

portion of the report, with no significant overall change in the numbers of people who have a regular source of health care. However, that number jumped by 10 percent this year in the Latino community.

Obesity rates and alcohol use rose, while the numbers of people who said their health was good remained at 84 percent, virtually the same as last year.

The numbers of children entering childcare centers who had all required vaccines dropped dramatically, from 88 percent last year to 74 percent this year.

That is a concern to Santa Cruz County Health Officer Lisa Hernandez.

“As health officer this is a challenge to me, because this is a way to reduce disease,” she said.

Public SafetyIn addition to a drop in the county’s overall

crime rate, the daily jail population has dropped, an indication the county’s focus on alternatives to incarceration is working, said UC Santa Cruz professor of psychology and legal studies Craig Haney.

Such programs also helped decrease the number of cases of gang-related cases and arrests, Haney said.

Juvenile arrests for felonies and misdemeanors also dropped, with 27.4 arrests per 1,000 youth. That number is down 7 percent from last year and 39.5 percent since 2007.

“Community involvement is the essence of the solution,” Haney said.

Social EnvironmentWhile people across Santa Cruz County

said they had to go without food, rent, utilities or housing in 2013, those numbers were more than double among Latinos. More than 20 percent, for example, said they had to go without utilities, and nine percent said they went without food.

Community heroesPerhaps the highlight of the CAP project

is the naming of the people who have contributed to each of the report’s categories.

HealthSilvia Austerlic, the Latino Community

Liaison at Hospice of Santa Cruz County. Laura Marcus, executive director of Dientes Community Dental Care. Guillermina Porraz, a healthcare outreach worker with Salud Para La Gente.

Natural EnvironmentAlan Schlenger, treasurer for Santa Cruz

County Community Farmers Markets. A volunteer leader, and has served on several City and County environmental commissions and on the Boards of both Ecology Action. Charles Kieffer has served as a volunteer educator for Santa Cruz State Parks, and has been deeply involved in the rebuilding of the newly designated Castro Adobe State Historic Park.

EconomyBrent Haddad is the Associate Dean of

Engineering for Technology Management at UC Santa Cruz and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship.

EducationCarol Polhamus, instructor with the

County Office of Education Alternative Education Programs for more than 25 years. Larry Drury, Executive Director of GOKIDS.

Public SafetyNereida Robles and Fe Silva, founded and

operate the folkloric dance group Centeotl. Clotilde Sanchez, a resident volunteer with the City of Watsonville who works with the Neighborhood Services Division, Neighborhood Accountability Board and Watsonville Police Post Incident Team to increase public safety.

Social EnvironmentPeter Connery and Maggie McKay,

members of the Project Homeless Connect Steering Committee. Maria Virgen, volunteer Nutrition Ambassador leader of the Second Harvest Food Bank’s Passion for Produce program at Starlight Elementary for more than six years. Mary Masters is the director of Bridge of Hope; a local organization that connects dedicated volunteers with disabled residents of nursing facilities.

Homelessness increases, crime rate decreasesCommunity Assessment Project released

Gabriela Sanchez Ramirez announces the Community Assessment Project Community Heroes for the social environment. Photo by Todd Guild/Aptos Life


Guest Columnist

Time for celebration, festivities and financial review


APTOS — Heysa Janssen’s father survived the Holocaust, and her mother lived through the Great Depression in New York.

Even through it all, they still took the time to help others.“Even though they didn’t have a lot, they always gave,”

Janssen said.With the example set, Janssen, the owner of Cinnamon

Bay in the Seascape Village, has helped out local organizations through fundraisers and other means of support.

Cinnamon Bay was recognized as Business of the Year by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce during its annual awards dinner Oct. 24 at the Seascape Beach Resort.

The business opened in 1990, one of the first tenants in the Seascape Village shopping center. Through fashions shows, Cinnamon Bay has raised funds for organizations such as Katz Cancer Center, Toys for Tots, S.C. Cancer Benefit Group, Omega Nu of Watsonville and more.

For five years, the business has organized a fundraiser to benefit the Aptos Adopt a Family Program, and has also dedicated an annual shopping day where 20 percent of all sales go to Children’s Hospice & Pallative Care.

Bob Norton, who has lived in Aptos since 2000 and retired from his business brokerage four years ago, was honored as Man of the Year.

Norton chairs Second Harvest Food Bank’s Development Committee, which he joined in 2011.

“It’s an incredible organization,” he said.He has been involved with the Aptos Chamber Board for

13 years, and chairs the Fourth of July Parade Committee, describing the parade as his “favorite day of the year.”

Twin Lakes Church was recognized as Organization of the Year for its donations to Second Harvest and other efforts.

“Giving is a deep part of Twin Lakes Church’s DNA,” said Pastor Rene Schlaepfer.

Retired Aptos/La Selva Fire District Chief Jeff Terpstra and retiring Santa Cruz County Sheriff Phil Wowak both received a Community Hero award. Also receiving awards were Jeanne Harrison for Woman of the Year and Santa Cruz Waves for Business of the Year.

The awards event featured a live auction led by Bob Donati of 101 Livestock Market Inc. in Aromas.

Aptos Chamber dishes out awards

Heysa Janssen, owner of Cinnamon Bay, receives the Business of the Year award during the Aptos Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner.

Photos by Erik Chalhoub/Aptos Life

Bob Norton was honored as Man of the Year.

Pastor Mark Spurlock (right) of Twin Lakes Church accepts the Organization of the Year award as Assemblyman Mark Stone listens in.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Phil Wowak received the Community Hero award.

Rob Morse (left) of Pacific Gas & Electric jokes with retired Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection Chief Jeff Terpstra, who received a Community Hero award.

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Guest Columnist

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By ZACH FRIENDSanta Cruz County Supervisor

Over the coming months the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors will be considering changes to the local vacation rental ordinance. In the last few years the county has been working to address concerns surrounding vacation rentals. Complaints of noise, parking issues and even neighborhood character are attempted to be balanced with the interest

of providing rental stock for visitors to our area. Most of the changes have focused on the greater Live Oak area and now those regulations are being proposed for the coastal Aptos area including Seacliff, Rio Del Mar and parts of La Selva Beach.

I believe the proposed regulations meet an important balance of three things:

1. It maintains the current vacation rentals that are compliant with the ordinance. In other words, current vacation rental owners are preserved and protected.

2. It allows for a responsible increase in the current number of vacation rentals.

3. It preserves neighborhood character and integrity by setting caps on the total number of vacation rentals on a block/neighborhood.

Specifically, the proposed changes would limit the number of vacation rentals to 20 percent per block and no more than 15 percent overall in the coastal designated district in Aptos. In other words, if you have 20 homes on a block, no more than four homes could be vacation rentals. The

proposal does plan to provide exemptions or higher allowances for areas of Rio Del Mar (such as Beach Drive) where more than 20 percent of the homes are already vacation rentals.

On top of this, the proposal presents reasonable changes to the current ordinance such as enumerating what is a violation of the ordinance that could be cause for non-renewal of a permit, visible signage requirements with contact information for the property manager/owner for neighbors, requires amendments to permits if the home is expanded (additional bedrooms are added) and more.

This proposal has been met with concern by vacation rental property managers that have expressed reservations about having any sort of regulation. In addition, since the Seacliff/Aptos area has not had the extent of complaints as the Live Oak area they have expressed to me a concern that these changes are unnecessary.

While I understand this viewpoint I believe it’s important to make public

policy decisions for the future as opposed to legislating by crisis. I’d rather that our area not face the significant issues that were seen in Live Oak, which included noise, trash, parking and neighborhood character loss, before we address the issue. Instead, I would rather proactively work to meet the balanced needs of the neighborhoods and vacation rental owners, which I believe these proposed changes accomplish.

The Planning Commission considered the proposed density changes to coastal Aptos designated zone (20 percent per block and 15 percent overall) at their recent meeting and voted to extend the opportunity for public comment on this item specifically. The Planning Commission did, however, vote to recommend the other set of changes (signage requirements, etc.) to the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors may consider these recommendations in December, so your input is needed.

As always, I appreciate hearing your thoughts. Please feel free to call my office at 454-2200.

Proposed vacation rental changes in coastal Aptos area

By GARY E. CROXALL, CFP® and SOREN E. CROXALL, CFP®

As 2014 draws to a close, it is easy to get caught up with family, friends and festivities. However, before you ring in 2015, it is worthwhile to take a look at a few key pieces of your financial life and make sure you’re maximizing your opportunities.

• Investment review — If you haven’t looked at your 401(k) or IRA allocation all year now might be a good time to do so. Make sure your overall portfolio is aligned with your investment time horizon and risk tolerance level. If you need to, rebalance your retirement accounts as they may have shifted from your target allocation. Also,

review the underlying holding in each of your accounts and make sure you are making tax efficient choices. As a general rule, you want income producing assets in your retirement accounts as these accounts grow “tax deferred.” For taxable accounts, consider assets that produce income that is tax-exempt, tax deferred, or long-term growth assets that produce qualified dividends which receive more favorable tax treatment.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) — If you have been contributing to a flexible spending account throughout the year, but haven’t used it yet, now would be a good time to make some qualified year-end purchases. Prior to 2013, FSA’s were subject to the “use it or lose it rule,” meaning that if an employee did not use all of their yearly contributions by the end of the calendar year, they forfeited the remaining dollars. The IRS has modified this rule slightly and now allows employers to allow employees to carryover up to $500 into the next plan year. However, not all employers are required to allow this, so check with your human resources department.

• Insurance — If you have experienced a life change this year or just haven’t reviewed your policies in a while, it would be prudent to review your current coverages. If you got married or had a baby, do you have adequate life insurance to protect your family? Do you have adequate disability coverage in the event you were not able to work? Are your

homeowners and auto policy limits enough to cover you in the event of a loss? Is it time to consider the consequences of potential long-term care needs? These are all questions to review with your financial professionals.

• Charitable contributions — If you have been meaning to clean out your closet and make a Goodwill run, before the end of the year is the time to do it. Don’t forget to keep receipts of all cash and non-cash donations that you have made throughout the year to help when you file your 2014 income tax return.

As the year comes to a close, we sincerely hope that 2014 has been positive for all of you and your families. We wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe holiday season.

Gary E. Croxall, CFP®Soren E. Croxall, CFP®Croxall Capital Planning

Securities and Advisory Services offered through National Planning Corporation (NPC), member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Consulting and Investment Management offered through Croxall Capital Planning (CCP), a Registered Investment Advisor. CCP and NPC are separate and unrelated companies. NPC and CCP do not provide tax advice. The information contained herein is for general education and is not intended as specific advice or a recommendation to any person or entity. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of NPC.

Time for celebration, festivities and financial review


DECEMBER 2014


Second Harvest Food Bank distributes nearly 8 million pounds of food each year through our network of 200 agencies and programs to children, seniors, and families in need in Santa Cruz County.

800 Ohlone Parkway, Watsonville, CA 95076831-722-7110

Aptos High School sports schedule

All home games take place at Aptos High School, 100 Mariner

Way, unless otherwise noted.Boys varsity soccer

Dec. 1@ Westmoor H.S., 3 p.m.

•Dec. 5vs. Anzar H.S., 7 p.m.

•Dec. 10@ North Monterey County School,

3:30 p.m.•Dec. 12

vs. Gonzales Union H.S., 7 p.m.•Dec. 15

vs. Watsonville H.S., 7 p.m.•Dec. 19

@ Prospect H.S., 3:30 p.m.

Girls varsity soccerDec. 2

vs. St. Francis Mountain View, 7 p.m.•Dec. 4

@ Santa Catalina School, 3 p.m.•Dec. 9

vs. Los Gatos, 7 p.m.•Dec. 11

@ Gilroy H.S., 5:45 p.m.•Dec. 16

@ Sobrato, 3:30 p.m.•Dec. 18

vs. Watsonville H.S., 7 p.m.

By TONY NUNEZOf Aptos Life

SALINAS — Matti Peoples etched her name among the Aptos High greats and her team continued its domination of the section.

Peoples secured her first Central Coast Section Division III championship by completing the Toro County Park 3-mile course on Nov. 15 in 18 minutes, 38 seconds and the Mariners won their fourth consecutive team title by filing in behind Peoples in second, fifth, seventh and eighth.

“I’m really proud of Matti,” said Aptos High head coach Dan Gruber. “She seized the day. She learned from some of the best of how to win a section title and she went about it and took care of that.”

The Mariners have now produced three section champions in the past four years. Last season Clare Peabody took home the title and in 2011 Nikki Hiltz was crowned a champion. Both are now at NCAA Division I programs.

“It’s exciting because I always looked up to Clare, who won (the CCS D-III title) last year and Nikki, and all of them,” Peoples said. “It’s exciting to win one myself.”

Peoples nearly pulled off a wire-to-wire win, but the junior runner was caught up in the opening mess, but by the time they separated from the pack at the 1-mile mark it was all Peoples.

Peoples, and the dreaded Toro Park hill, that is.

“I was just telling myself that I can

do it and just to go for it,” Peoples said of trudging up the hill where she took a comfortable lead. “It was definitely pushing me knowing that my teammates where right on my back, because they are all really good.”

Freshman Marea Zlatunich was just seconds behind her at 18:46 while their lone senior Yulisa Abundis, who won her fourth section team title, placed fifth with a time of 19:03.

“We wanted to do it for Gruber to show him what he means to us,” Zlatunich said, “and we wanted to do it for (Abundis) to send her off the right way.”

Sophomore Annika McBride took seventh (19:22) and freshman Annika Niles rounded out the pack in eighth (19:41).

“We have so much depth so it really helps that when someone falls, another picks her up,” Gruber said. “That’s what happened at league. You see different girls that placed higher here than at league. That’s why we feel confident going into state.”

A year removed from an 11th-place finish at the California Interscholastic Federation state meet, the Mariners will try to make it into the top three when they make the drive to Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 29.

“We’ve worked really hard for this opportunity,” Zlatunich said. “It all boils down to this.”

The Mariners had the most lopsided win of any division as they beat out second place Valley Christian by 105 points (20-125). Coming into Nov. 15 they had hopes of pulling the clean sweep -- taking places 1-5 -- but Juliana Mount (3rd) from Notre

Dame, of San Jose, and Live Oak’s Kaylah Grant (4th) halted their attempt.

“I think everyone still did really well,” Peoples said. “Those other two girls were really good runners.”

Peoples wins individual title as Aptos dominates D-III

Aptos High’ Matti Peoples strides through the final stretch of the Central Coast Section Division III championships Nov. 15 at Toro County Park in Salinas. Photo by Tony Nunez/Aptos Life



Second Harvest Food Bank distributes nearly 8 million pounds of food each year through our network of 200 agencies and programs to children, seniors, and families in need in Santa Cruz County.

800 Ohlone Parkway, Watsonville, CA 95076831-722-7110


APTOS — Aptos High School has hired several new coaches recently.

Rick Schroeder is the new boys volleyball coach, the school announced Nov. 17. Schroeder comes to Aptos with nine years of coaching experience.

He is currently the boys program director and the 15U head coach for the Main Beach Volleyball Club. He is also an assistant coach for the undefeated and defending state champion Cabrillo College women’s volleyball team. In addition, Schroeder was the head coach at Soquel for three years, and has coached at Harbor High School, Woodbridge High School, and for the Balboa Bay Volleyball Club and the Orange County Volleyball Club.

Schroeder also played four years of volleyball at Woodbridge High School in

southern California, two years at Orange Coast College, and two years at UC Santa Cruz, where he helped the Slugs reach the NCAA National Championship in 2010. He is a graduate of UCSC with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

Long-time assistant Phil Rojas is the new head softball coach, replacing the departed Erika Campbell, the school announced Oct. 24.

Rojas was a two-time All-MBL shortstop at Watsonville High School, and a two-time All-Conference shortstop at Cabrillo College, where he was also selected to the All-State team. After Cabrillo, he continued to play baseball at the University of Nevada, Reno, until arm trouble derailed him. In addition, Rojas played for the Watsonville Aggies U18 team, which advanced to two consecutive years World Series in 1983 and 1984.

In addition to being the varsity assistant

for Aptos softball for the past five years, Rojas has also coached baseball at Aptos and Watsonville, and he has coached many youth and travel teams. He brings more than 30 years of baseball and softball coaching experience to Aptos High.

Brandan Smith as the new head lacrosse coach, the school announced Oct. 15.

In addition to playing on championship lacrosse teams at Oak Ridge High School, Smith also played four years of lacrosse at CSU Chico. Smith has coached lacrosse at several levels. He has coached youth lacrosse, travel teams, and most recently he coached at Palma HS last spring. Currently he is coaching the Braveheart travel team.

Smith has his PE teaching credential. He is currently a PE teacher at Pajaro Valley High School. In the spring, he’ll be teaching PE at Aptos Junior High.

By TONY NUNEZOf Aptos Life

SALINAS — All seniors Jack Rose and Morgan Miller were hoping for were solid finishes to their senior season, instead they bought themselves one more race.

In an unexpected turn of events the Aptos Mariners qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation state meet by taking third place as a team in the Central Coast Section Division III finals Nov. 15 at Toro County Park.

“All we were aiming for was to have a good race,” Rose said. “I’m glad that Morgan and I did well because we’ve been running together since freshman year.”

Rose took fourth place finishing the 3-mile course in 16 minutes, 8 seconds and Miller was sixth at 16:21. The next three Mariners, freshman Koya Oki, sophomore Christopher Plechot-Binder and freshman Jorge Benitez, came in 20th (17:21), 29th 17:40), and 33rd (17:49), respectively, to give Aptos a score of 74.

They finished behind St. Ignatius (32) and Saratoga (67), but beat out Prospect (127) by 53 points.

“I never would’ve thought that this would happen,” said Aptos High head coach Dan Gruber, noting that one of his runners dropped out mid-race and another top finisher did not race for them this season. “It’s a testament to the spirit of the team. The two seniors stepped it up today. They both got on the podium and I’m really happy for them. Running three freshman, usually, for a boy’s team, that’s a sign of a weak team, but our guys raced well.”

The state berth was so unexpected for the Mariners that Gruber had yet to book a room in Fresno, where the state championships will take place on Nov. 29. Whether he’ll decide to keep the boys at home or take them for the experience, is still up in the air.

“The boys might be sleeping in the back of a van somewhere,” Gruber joked. “We’ll figure out something.”

If Aptos does make the trip to Woodward Park for the state meet they’ll face some tough competition in D-III. Last year, with a

team full of juniors and seniors, they finished 18th.

“If we go it’ll be a good experience for the freshman,” Miller said, “but if we don’t, it won’t be a big deal. I’m super happy if this is my last race.”

The St. Francis High duo of junior Paul Colosi and sophomore Braxton Rico both came in with the goal of making the cut for state and both snuck in placing 10th (17:39) and 12th (17:44), respectively, in the Division V race.

“I’m happy with it,” Rico said. “I’m happy I made it to state and happy that Paul is in there too.”

Last year Rico fell just short of qualifying but decided to make the trip as a spectator. Now he’ll set his toes to the line in two weeks with the top D-V runners in the state.

“There’s going to be a lot of competition,” Rico said. “A lot of fast paces, fast times.”

It’ll be the first time that Colosi, who has split time at soccer practice and cross country practice over the past few weeks, sees the environment of the state meet.

Peoples wins individual title as Aptos dominates D-III

Aptos High’ Matti Peoples strides through the final stretch of the Central Coast Section Division III championships Nov. 15 at Toro County Park in Salinas. Photo by Tony Nunez/Aptos Life

Mariners sneak into state meet

Shaun Burns of Santa Cruz shows off his skills in the quarter finals in the O’Neill Coldwater Classic surf contest at Steamer Lane. He was eventually eliminated, finishing second.

Santa Cruz local takes second in

Cold Water Classic

Derek Peters of Huntington attempts a 360 degree turn. Photos by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life

Aptos High hires new coaches


Seascape VillageHoliday Fair

Sunday, December 7th

9:00-4:00 6th Annual Beauty Bash Sale benefitting Santa Cruz Childrenʼs Charities, Inc.11:00-2:00 Fun childrenʼs activities including face painting, holiday crafts & cookie decorating11:00-2:00 Local artists & craft fair12:00-2:00 Wine tasting paired with appetizers at Seascape Foods4:00 Gather to toast the holidays with a cup of hot cider in the Courtyard by the community Christmas Tree

Open House & Specials at participating merchants throughout the day, merchants will donate a portion of their December 7th sales to Santa Cruz Childrenʼs Charities, Inc.

SeascapeVillageShops.com


CAPITOLA — Red Malone has made a living doing the things he loves. Not only is he a magician, but he has also spent time as a jazz band drummer and champion archer, who once appeared on the “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.”

His lengthy career achievements can be seen on his wall of fame inside his Capitola residence: Newspaper articles, awards, photos, proclamations and more cover the wall.

Now 88, Malone is one of the founding members of the Coastal Magicians Club of Santa Cruz County, a group that provides a venue for local magicians to meet and share their tricks, as well as performing at local venues.

“We like to teach and perform and get young people involved in magic,” he said.

With about 30 members, Malone said the club is looking for new members, and is especially looking for younger members.

“The idea is to keep magic going in the area,” he said.

The club has not only tasked itself with keeping the spirit of magic alive, but it also formed to give magic a presence in an area that was lacking in it.

“With magic in Capitola, there was nothing happening,” Malone said.

Malone, along with fellow magicians Bob Dippel, Doug Greer and Rex McCulley, formed the club for magicians and anyone interested in the discipline. The first official club meeting was held in July of 1997.

The club meets the fourth Wednesday of every month, except for November and December, from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Bay Avenue Senior Apartments, Building 4 Community Room, 750 Bay Ave. in Capitola.

Each meeting has a specific theme, such as “Your Favorite Trick,” “Spooky Magic” and “Television Magic.” The theme for the next meeting on Jan. 28 is “Magic Items Swap Meet,” were members can display their magic items for sale.

Annual membership dues are $15 for adults and $8 for juniors. For information, visit www.coastalmagicians.com.

Club keeps spirit of magic alive

Capitola magician Red Malone performs a magic trick with a coin and a bucket in his home recently. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life


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APTOS — Like a musician who has to play their music, Sam Hernández needs to keep crafting sculptures.

“It’s like breathing for me, I have to do it,” he said.

The Watsonville artist not only creates wood, bronze and steel sculptures, but he is an active painter as well. For Hernández, art allows him to express himself in a way not possible in other forms of communication.

“It’s my way of communicating something I can’t communicate with words,” he said.

Hernández’s work is filling the Cabrillo College Gallery in an exhibit, which opened Nov. 11, titled “Focus on the Object/Selections: Two Decades.”

Hernández, who recently retired from Santa Clara University after being a professor of art for 37 years, is the recipient of many honors including a Senior Fullbright Scholar Award and Silicon Valley’s Artist Laureate award. His work has been shown in museum and gallery exhibitions internationally, as well as in public collections including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Cantor Center at Stanford University, the New Orleans Museum of Art and more.

The work shown at the Cabrillo Gallery features pieces from the last 20 years of Hernández’s art career, some showing how earlier pieces led to the creation

of newer works, he said.Hernandez said the next exhibit of his

work will be at the Alex Bult Gallery in Sacramento.

•••The Cabrillo College Gallery is located

on 6500 Soquel Drive, Library Room 1002, in Aptos. “Focus on the Object/Selections: Two Decades” runs through Dec. 17. For information, visit www.cabrillo.edu/services/artgallery and www.samhernandezart.com.

Artist showing two decades of work

“Magdalena,” a redwood and oak piece by Sam Hernández. Photo by r.r. jones

Halloween extremeHalloween decorations go over the top at the Windjammer Lounge in the Rancho del Mar center in Aptos. Photos by Tarmo Hannula/Aptos Life

Bartender Mike Cahaley is friends with a deranged but smartly dressed servant.


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Joseph Amado St. Mary’s School Fenesia Braga CEIBA College Prep Elexia Butler Holy Cross School Katherine Casper Holy Cross School Dominic Conway Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Joseph Correnti St. Mary’s School Riley Croghan Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Ruby Galvan-Maldonado Lakeview Middle School Andre Gutierrez Cesar Chavez Middle School Gabriella Gutierrez San Carlos School Ella Hernandez Lakeview Middle School Susan Jimenez Salesian Elementary and Junior High School E.J. Kelly Moreland Notre Dame Christian Lilly Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Nora MacKinnon San Carlos School Maia Madrigal-Hernandez Alianza Charter School Abel Martinez CEIBA College Prep Devin McLeod Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Mathieu Morin Sacred Heart Hollister Parish School Luz Muñoz Aromas School Andrew O’Rourke Holy Cross School Diego Ramirez Aptos Junior High School Jesse Robinett Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Cesar Sanchez-Saenz Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Aaron Soto Moreland Notre Dame Isaac Tani Holy Cross School Jake Taylor Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Kathleen Tripp Good Shepherd School Francisco Vargas St. Mary’s School Brianna Vasquez Salesian Elementary and Junior High School

ADMISSIONS DATES TO REMEMBER:• HSPT Prep Day: January 8, 2015• HSPT Applicant Exams: January 10 & 17, 2015• Admissions Deadline: January 30, 2015• Tuition Assistance Application Deadline: February 2, 2015• Student/Family Interviews: February 7, 2015 (by appointment)Contact the Admissions office with any questions at 831-724-5933 ext.206 or [email protected]

St. Francis is still accepting

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2400 East Lake Ave. • Watsonville, CA 95076Admissions Office: 831-724-5933 x206

Web: www.stfrancishigh.net


Join our Class of 2019!Accepted through the Early Commitment Program

Joseph Amado St. Mary’s School Fenesia Braga CEIBA College Prep Elexia Butler Holy Cross School Katherine Casper Holy Cross School Dominic Conway Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Joseph Correnti St. Mary’s School Riley Croghan Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Ruby Galvan-Maldonado Lakeview Middle School Andre Gutierrez Cesar Chavez Middle School Gabriella Gutierrez San Carlos School Ella Hernandez Lakeview Middle School Susan Jimenez Salesian Elementary and Junior High School E.J. Kelly Moreland Notre Dame Christian Lilly Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Nora MacKinnon San Carlos School Maia Madrigal-Hernandez Alianza Charter School Abel Martinez CEIBA College Prep Devin McLeod Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Mathieu Morin Sacred Heart Hollister Parish School Luz Muñoz Aromas School Andrew O’Rourke Holy Cross School Diego Ramirez Aptos Junior High School Jesse Robinett Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Cesar Sanchez-Saenz Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Aaron Soto Moreland Notre Dame Isaac Tani Holy Cross School Jake Taylor Salesian Elementary and Junior High School Kathleen Tripp Good Shepherd School Francisco Vargas St. Mary’s School Brianna Vasquez Salesian Elementary and Junior High School

ADMISSIONS DATES TO REMEMBER:• HSPT Prep Day: January 8, 2015• HSPT Applicant Exams: January 10 & 17, 2015• Admissions Deadline: January 30, 2015• Tuition Assistance Application Deadline: February 2, 2015• Student/Family Interviews: February 7, 2015 (by appointment)Contact the Admissions office with any questions at 831-724-5933 ext.206 or [email protected]

St. Francis is still accepting

applications!

2400 East Lake Ave. • Watsonville, CA 95076Admissions Office: 831-724-5933 x206

Web: www.stfrancishigh.net


SANTA CRUZ — Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents its annual holiday production of “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 19-21, at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St.

The production, now in its 12th year, features more than 70 dancers, a live 51-piece orchestra conducted by Pamela Martin and special guest stars.

Based on a story by E. T. A. Hoffmann, “The Nutcracker” tells the story of young Clara who receives the gift of a nutcracker from her mysterious uncle, and is swept into a world filled with magic and sweets. Tchaikovsky’s score is performed by the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre Orchestra.

Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre has produced many dancers now performing in professional companies. Alumni returning to Santa Cruz as guest stars in this year’s production include Melody Mennite Walsh, principal dancer with the Houston Ballet; Lauryn Winterhalder and her

partner Richard Smith, of the Sacramento Ballet; Michael Beardon of Ballet West, and Gabriel Williams, formerly of the Sacramento Ballet and Trey McIntyre Project, and a soloist and principal with New York Theatre Ballet, Madison Ballet and more companies.

Special Nutcracker events for the 2014 season will include a pre-show event, “Nutcracker Sweet Treats.” “Sweet Treats” ticket holders will receive a backstage tour, meet, greet and photo opportunities with their favorite Nutcracker characters, a Pacific Cookie Company cookie, and a Nutcracker-inspired ornament.

Performances are Friday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. (starring Lauryn Winterhalder), Saturday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (starring Melody Mennite Walsh), and Sunday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (starring Melody Mennite Walsh). Tickets are $10-$55 and can be purchased by calling 420-5260 or visiting www.santacruztickets.com.

‘Nutcracker’ to showcase guest artists

Photo by Bari Lee

Cabrillo College Foundation celebrates

planned bequestAptos Life staff report

APTOS — Longtime Cabrillo College supporters Brian and Patti Herman have established a planned bequest that will provide a significant contribution to several programs at the college.

The couple that has made Santa Cruz County their home for more than 40 years said the gift reflects their strong support for the mission of the community college. Everyone, they say, should have access to education and job skills training.

“Cabrillo College fills an important gap in the educational system for students who aren’t prepared for a four-year university or can’t afford the cost,” said Brian Herman, who taught Communication courses at the college and served as an interim tennis coach in the ‘70s. “We’ve really seen the programs working here and see the people involved.”

This is the largest private bequest to Cabrillo College to date, according to the college. Proceeds from the Brian and Patricia Herman Endowment will benefit the Tutorials Center, Women’s Educational Success (WES), Cabrillo Advancement Program (CAP), the President’s Circle, Early Childhood Education, and Cabrillo Stage.

Earlier in the year, the couple gave $27,289 to sustain the Cabrillo Tutorials

Center, which had suffered from severe budget cuts. Their gift helped sustain free peer tutoring services for about 400 transfer students per semester.

Patti Herman has enjoyed Cabrillo literature courses over the years and said, “It is a small thing we can do. Cabrillo has been a part of us.”

The couple made the decision to allow the gift to be public because they wanted to encourage similar philanthropy in others.

“We’re regular people,” Patti Herman said. “This is about Cabrillo and the students.”

The Hermans noted the enthusiasm of student tutors and Lori Chavez, Cabrillo College Tutorials coordinator, and how easily it is to see the positive impact peer tutoring has on students’ ability to move forward with their goals.

“The support will result in enhanced academic success,” Chavez said. “We greatly appreciate this kind of support from our community.”

American Sign Language student Christine Holeman, who practices regularly with native signer and student Garrett Nichols, said, “Tutoring has made the difference between passing and being successful. With a tutor, it comes alive.”

“It’s very enriching to be able to give back,” said Brian Herman.


Public Meetings

Business &Service Directory

Community Calendar Community Calendar


All meetings take place at Capitola City Hall, 420 Capitola Ave.

APTOS SOQUELCAPITOLA

December

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• Gift CertificatesApple Juice Press on Saturdays

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Thanksgiving Pies Also Available At: Shoppers Corner • Ben Lomond Market Deluxe Foods • Corralitos Market • Freedom Meat Lockers• Sunnyside Produce

Dec. 2Museum Board, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 4Planning Commission

7 p.m.

Dec. 9Art & Cultural Commission

6:30 p.m.

Dec. 10Architectural & Site Review

3:30 p.m.

Dec. 11City Council, 7 p.m.

Dec. 16Soquel Creek Water Board

7 p.m.

OngoingNar-Anon family groups

Nar-Anon Family Groups is a 12 step program/support group for friends and families who have been affected by the addiction or drug problem of another. Nar-Anon members share their experience, strength and hope at a weekly meeting. Scotts Valley - Fridays, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Meets in Bison Center, The Camp Recovery Center, 3192 Glen Canyon Road. (Park in lower lot, walk up driveway and turn right at sign.) Helpline: 888-688-7834. Find other meetings: www.nar-anon.org

Dec. 5-7Alladin Nursery open house

Alladin Nursery, 2905 Freedom Blvd. in Watsonville, will hold its ninth annual Christmas Open House from 4-8 p.m. Guests will be able to enjoy homemade pastries with a cup of coffee, hot apple cider, or a glass of local wine. A craft fair, live music, light displays and more will be featured. The event is free.

Dec. 6Holiday Factory Sale

The Holiday Factory Sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Watsonville. Twenty local businesses will be selling their wares at discounts. For information, visit www.cityofwatsonville.org/visitors/watsonville-factory-sale.

Whole Foods Market Capitola Holiday Gala

Whole Foods Market in Capitola will hold an evening of wine tasting (first 100 people receive custom wine glass), from 9-11 p.m. Food tasting, live music, and DIY gift ideas. Cost is $10 a person, tickets available in store or online at bit.ly/WFMCAPGALA.

Capitola Village open house and tree lighting

Spend the afternoon shopping, dining, and enjoying Capitola Village from 1-5 p.m. The Holiday Fairy will be out to greet, and the New Brighton Middle School Jazz Band will perform, followed by a tree lighting.

Bargetto Winery Art in the Cellars

Shop for fine art and gifts from local artists at Bargetto Winery’s historic cellars, located at 3535 North Main St. in Soquel, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Aptos Village tree lightingAptos Village will hold its annual tree lighting and holiday craft fair from 2-5 p.m. There will be local vendors selling arts and crafts, carols, hot cocoa and coffee, a visit from Santa Claus and more. For information, visit www.aptoschamber.com.

Lighted Boat ParadeThe free festival features 50 decorated boats parading throughout Santa Cruz Harbor from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For information, visit www.santacruzharbor.org.

Holiday ShowSenior Citizen’s Opportunities are presenting a Holiday Show at Market Street Theater, 222 Market St., Santa Cruz at 1 p.m. featuring the ladies of the Santa Cruz Follies. This is being combined with the monthly potluck so all that is needed is a dish to be shared or $4 at the door. For information, call 423-6640.

Dec. 7Beauty Bash and Warehouse

SaleSeascape Village Fitness Center and Santa Cruz Children’s Charities, Inc. is hosting the sixth annual Beauty Bash and Warehouse Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 16A Seascape Village, Aptos. Shop for luxury, salon-grade hair and skincare brands at below wholesale prices. All proceeds benefit families in the Santa Cruz County. For information, call 708-2323.

Watsonville Plaza tree lighting

The tree in the Watsonville City Plaza will be lit for the first time during a ceremony at 5 p.m., complete with a choir and a visit from Santa Claus. For information, visit www.cityofwatsonville.org.

Marrow donor fundraiserFriends of the Bauman Family are hosting a donor registry drive and fundraiser to raise awareness about the need for marrow donors, and to perhaps find a matching donor for 9-month-old Conrad Bauman. Two months ago Conrad was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), an extremely rare form of leukemia. The event will take place at Bliss Salon, 9051 Soquel Drive in Aptos. For information, visit bit.ly/match4conrad.

Holiday concertThe Watsonville Community Band will perform a holiday concert at 2 p.m. at the Henry J. Mello Center, 250 East Beach St. in Watsonville. Admission is free.

Tree of LightsThe annual Tree of Lights will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County in Aptos to celebrate those who have died. Names of those remembered are gathered in a booklet and available at the tree lighting ceremony.

Dec. 8Holiday mixer

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will hold a holiday mixer at Seascape Beach Resort from 5-7 p.m. Admission is $5 for chamber members, $10 for non-members.

Dec. 11Breakfast meeting

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly breakfast meeting at Best Western Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court in Aptos, from 7:30-9 a.m. The special guest speaker will be Cabrillo College President Dr. Laurel Jones. Cost is $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers. For reservations, call 688-1467.

Happy HolidaysHappy Holidays


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LIFE Everything Aptos, Capitola, Soquel

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