Rob Brezsnyโ€™s Astrology: Dec. 29-Jan. 4, 2022

Free will astrology for the week of Dec. 29

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Historians disagree about the legacy of Jimmy Carter, who was President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. Was he effective or not? Opinions differ. But there’s no ambiguity about a project he pursued after his presidency. He led a global effort to eliminate a pernicious disease caused by the guinea worm parasite. When Carter began his work, 3.5 million people per year suffered from the parasite’s debilitating effects. Today, there are close to zero victims. Will 2022 bring an equivalent boon to your life, Aries? The banishment of an old bugaboo? A monumental healing? I suspect so.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In 2022, I hope you will express more praise than ever before. I hope you’ll be a beacon of support and inspiration for the people you care for. The astrological omens suggest this could be a record-breaking year for the blessings you bestow. Don’t underestimate your power to heal and instigate beneficial transformations. Yes, of course, it’s a kind and generous strategy for you to carry out. But it will also lead to unforeseen rewards that will support and inspire and heal you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If you search Google, you’ll be told that the longest biography ever written is the 24-volume set about British political leader Winston Churchill. But my research shows there’s an even more extensive biography: about Japan’s Emperor Hirohito, who lived from 1901 to 1989. His story consists of 61 volumes. In the spirit of these expansive tales, and in accordance with 2022’s astrological aspects, I encourage you to create an abundance of noteworthy events that will deserve inclusion in your biography. Make this the year that warrants the longest and most interesting chapter in that masterpiece.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): One of the 20th century’s most famous works of art was Fountain. It was scandalous when it appeared in 1917, since it consisted entirely of a white porcelain urinal. Marcel Duchamp, the artist who presented it, was a critic of the art market and loved mocking conventional thought. Years later, however, evidence emerged suggesting that Fountain may not have been Duchamp’s ideaโ€”that in fact he “borrowed” it from Cancerian artist and poet Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven. There’s still disagreement among art scholars about what the facts are. But if definitive proof ever arrives that von Freytag-Loringhoven was the originator, it will be in 2022. This will be the year many Cancerians finally get the credit they deserve.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Author Carson McCullers wrote the novel The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. Early in the story, the character named Mick Kelly has a crisis of yearning. McCullers describes it: “The feeling was a whole lot worse than being hungry for any dinner, yet it was like that. I wantโ€”I wantโ€”I wantโ€”was all that she could think aboutโ€”but just what this real want was she did not know.” If you have ever had experiences resembling Mick’s, Leo, 2022 will be your year to fix that glitch in your passion. You will receive substantial assistance from life whenever you work on the intention to clarify and define the specific longings that are most essential to you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): After careful research, I have concluded that one of your important missions in 2022 will be to embody a perspective articulated by poet Rand Howells: “If I could have but one wish granted, it would be to live in a universe like this one at a time like the present with friends like the ones I have now and be myself.” In other words, Virgo, I’m encouraging you to do whatever’s necessary to love your life exactly as it isโ€”without comparing it unfavorably to anyone else’s life or to some imaginary life you don’t actually have.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If your quest for spiritual enlightenment doesn’t enhance your ability to witness and heal the suffering of others, then it’s fake enlightenment. If your quest for enlightenment encourages you to imagine that expressing personal freedom exempts you from caring for the well-being of your fellow humans, it’s fake. If your quest for enlightenment allows you to ignore racism, bigotry, plutocracy, misogyny, and LGBTQIA-phobia, it’s fake. Everything I just said about enlightenment is equally true about your quest for personal success. If it doesn’t involve serving others, it’s meaningless. In this spirit, Libra, and in accordance with the astrological omens, I invite you to make 2022 the year you take your compassion and empathy to the highest level ever.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Two mating rabbits could theoretically engender 11 million relatives within a year’s time. Although I suspect that in 2022 you will be as metaphorically fertile as those two hypothetical rabbits, I’m hoping you’ll aim more for quality than quantity. To get started, identify two projects you could pursue in the coming months that will elicit your most liberated creativity. Write a vow in which you state your intention to be intensely focused as you express your fecundity.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A blogger named Soracities writes, “The more I read, the more I feel that a good mark of an intelligent book is simply that the author is having fun with it.” Sagittarian author George Saunders adds that at its best, “Literature is a form of fondness-for-life. It is love for life taking a verbal form.” I will expand these analyses to evaluate everything that humans make and do. In my opinion, the supreme sign of intelligence and value is whether the creators had fun and felt love in doing it. My proposal to you, Sagittarius, is to evaluate your experiences in that spirit. If you are doing things with meager amounts of fun and love, what can you do in 2022 to raise the fun and love quotient?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Microbiologist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928. It was later described as “the single greatest victory ever achieved over disease”โ€”an antidote to dangerous infections caused by bacteria. But there’s more to the story. Fleming’s strain of penicillin could only be produced in tiny amountsโ€”not nearly enough to become a widespread medicine. It wasn’t until 1943 that a different strain of penicillin was foundโ€”one that could be mass-produced. The genius who made this possible was Mary Hunt, a humble researcher without a college degree. By 1944, the new drug was saving thousands of lives. I mention Hunt because she’s a good role model for you in 2022. I believe you’ll have chances to improve on the work of others, generating excellent results. You may also improve on work you’ve done in the past.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Catherine Pugh wrote a series of children’s books collectively known as Healthy Holly. Later, when she became mayor of the city of Baltimore, she carried out a scheme to sell 100,000 copies to hospitals and schools that did business with the city. Uh-oh. Corruption! She was forced to resign from her office and was arrested. I’d love for you to be aggressive and imaginative in promoting yourself in 2022, but only if you can find ethical ways to do so. I’d love for you to make money from doing what you do best, but always with high integrity and impeccability.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean Vaslav Nijinsky is regarded by many as the 20th century’s most brilliant dancer. He had a robust relationship with beauty, and I want you to know about it. Hopefully, this will inspire you to enjoy prolonged periods of Beauty Worship in 2022. To do so will be good for your health. Memorize this passage from Nijinsky: “Beauty is God. God is beauty with feeling. Beauty is in feeling. I love beauty because I feel it and therefore understand it. I flaunt my beauty. I feel love for beauty.”

Homework: Name your greatest hope for the person you love best. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Beauregard Vineyardsโ€™ Brut Blanc De Blanc is a Bubbly Treat

Ryan Beauregard is at the forefront of winemakers in the Santa Cruz Mountains. His Bald Mountain Vineyard 2016 Brut Blanc De Blanc is a fine example of his expertise. Most of the wines he makes are available at Shopperโ€™s Corner in Santa Cruz, so thereโ€™s still time to get some Beauregard bubbly before ringing in the New Year. 

Using all Bald Mountain Chardonnay is Beauregardโ€™s new sparkling wine projectโ€”the term โ€œBlanc de Blancโ€ means, only white grapes were used. 

โ€œThis release of the 2016 Blanc de Blanc ($70) was made utilizing traditional Mรฉthode Champenoise winemaking techniques identical to the approach used in the Champagne region of France,โ€ says Beauregard. 

In other words, no stone is left unturned to make a sparkling wine fit for any kind of celebration. The taste is fresh, delicious, fragrant and harmonious. 

Bald Mountain Vineyard is in Bonny Doon and farmed by Ryanโ€™s father, Jim. They make a good team.

There are two places to taste Beauregard wine: Santa Cruz and Davenport. The Davenport wine bar is relatively newโ€”they have lots of fun events, so check their website regularly. The Davenport venue is also available for private parties and corporate events.

Beauregard Vineyards, 10 Pine Flat Road, Santa Cruz. 831-425-7777. The Slow Coast Wine Bar, 450 Hwy. 1, Davenport. beauregardvineyards.com.

Cambio Roasters

Cambio Roasters founders Ann Hutson and Kevin Hartley have come up with eco-friendly coffee pods. I love coffee; I have a Keurig and a French press. But the Keurig is easier to use than falling off a log, so I tend to go with that. Cambioโ€™s K-cup full-bodied coffee comes in different strengths, and the pods are recyclableโ€”their unique, easy-peel lids help make the recycling process easier. Additionally, theyโ€™re biodegradable, organic, fair trade and roasted in California, so each pod is like a love letter to the planet. Visit cambioroasters.com for more information.

Downtownโ€™s New Top Spot Sports Pub and Kitchen Goes Big

Following an October 2021 soft opening, Top Spot Sports Pub and Kitchen will have an official grand opening in January 2022. Top Spot Owner Ethan Merritt, formerly a small business consultant who spent 10 years as a bar manager in San Francisco, envisioned opening a pub with a โ€œbig cityโ€ feel. 

Merrittโ€™s new downtown Santa Cruz joint has it all: reclaimed wood floors, custom wood bar top, a whiskey bar, a beer deck outside, bar games on artificial turf, and, most importantly, high-quality grub described as โ€œpub fare with soul food flare.โ€ The menu superstar: Mama Lainaโ€™s buttermilk-marinated fried chicken.

Top Spot is open noon-midnight every day except Mondays. Recently, Merritt spoke about Top Spot and why he believes it will fill a niche in downtown Santa Cruz.

Why did you choose this space?

ETHAN MERRITT: We started with a great foundation, a completely built-out kitchen with a wood-burning Italian pizza oven and an amazing patio bar. Nine months ago, when I began prospecting my pub concept, I created the look of the interior on a PowerPoint. Itโ€™s extremely satisfying to now see my concept become reality and share it with our community. We like to use the word โ€œpubโ€ because we feel it belongs just as much to our customers as it does to us. Iโ€™m also a single father, and it has always been my dream to raise my daughter here in Santa Cruz because we love the beach, outdoor activities and also just the positive vibes.  

What does Top Spot bring to Santa Cruz?

We believe that with our Southern fried chicken, we have a unique food offering for the community. And with recent local pub closures, we felt there was a void for a classic and comfortable place to enjoy sports, food, drinks and bar games like darts, cornhole, ring toss and beer pong. Weโ€™ve also partnered with local breweries, as well as the Santa Cruz Warriors. We provide catering for the team after games; the players really go nuts for our fried chicken and collard greens. 

711 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 831-471-8089, topspotpub.com.

Public Library Friends Join Santa Cruz Gives

โ€‹โ€‹Since 2015, Santa Cruz Gives, the digital holiday fundraising program for local nonprofits, has provided financial support to an array of agencies that do good work for others. Whether providing meals, financial assistance or access to job opportunities, the 501c3 organizations selected by Santa Cruz Gives to participate in the end-of-year donation haul find themselves basking in the glow of appreciation for their efforts.

As outlined in last weekโ€™s edition, Valley Churches United in Ben Lomond is one of the recipients of the goodwillโ€”and good fundsโ€”generated by the Santa Cruz Gives program. This weekโ€™s good news is brought to you by the letters F, O, T, S, C, P and L: Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries.

Incorporated in 1979, the nonprofit has dedicated itself to supporting local public libraries in Santa Cruz County, including the architecturally stunning libraries in Felton and Scotts Valley, and the newly renovated Boulder Creek Branch. 

With 10 branches in its collection and a pandemic in full swing, the Friendsโ€™ board of directors finds themselves trying to navigate a new normal while continuing to provide access to quality materials on the shelves. 

According to Board President Janis Oโ€™Driscoll, their partnership with Santa Cruz Gives has provided a financial boost for the group in a time of uncertainty. 

โ€œWe are beyond excited that at the moment the Friends stand at 99% of their 2021 fundraising goal. Should we fall short, we will review the percentage of the goal we designated for each branch and distribute the funds we have accordingly. Our community has been so responsive this year that my hopes are high that we will reach our goal,โ€ said Oโ€™Driscoll.

The onset of Covid-19 created a new normal for the Friends group, including a large move towards virtual services. All virtual services have remained available so people can search the catalog, use the databases, and even reserve materials for non-contact pick-up, said Oโ€™Driscoll. 

In addition, branches that have remained open have maintained Wi-Fi connections so they can be available to those who need it, and many programs quickly moved from in-person to virtual. 

For example, said Oโ€™Driscoll, children continued to read to animals over Zoom in the popular reading enrichment Tales to Tails program. And book clubs and community conversations continued online.

โ€œOur Library staff has been amazing during the pandemic and their energy remains constant,โ€ said Oโ€™Driscoll.

In 2016, Measure S was passed to support construction or upgrades to all 10 of the countyโ€™s branches. 

โ€œThough $67 million was raised through this measure, construction costs have risen in part due to the pandemic shortages of supplies and labor. The Friends are dedicated to raising money to fill the gap between construction costs and Measure S funds,โ€ said Oโ€™Driscoll. 

With only three full-time employees and 175 volunteers, the Friends group works hard to create usable spaces in libraries, including exhibits and collaborative study areas comfortably furnished to keep visitors engaged.

So how did the Friends group become aligned with Santa Cruz Gives for 2021? 

โ€œIt was suggested to us by Cynthia Mathews, who is one of our very active supporters and volunteers,โ€ Friendsโ€™ Executive Director Bruce Cotter said. โ€œShe told us it would be a great program and we shouldnโ€™t miss the opportunity to participateโ€”and she was absolutely right. Jeanne Howard and all the folks at Santa Cruz Gives have been very helpful and great fun to work with.โ€

While the Santa Cruz Gives fundraising event is conducted in a small window at the end of the year, the Friends group has been engaged in a year-long campaign. 

โ€œ[Our goal is] to raise funds for the Garfield Park, Branciforte, and Aptos renovation projects,โ€ said Cotter. โ€œWe had set a very aggressive goal of raising $1 million dollars to support those branches, and we were looking to raise $20,000-25,000 from Santa Cruz Gives to help us to achieve those goals. At this point, it is clear we are going to raise at least $1 million from various sources, and we are grateful for the support that has come in from Santa Cruz Gives.โ€

As of Dec. 22, Friends was the beneficiary of nearly $38,000 from the Santa Cruz Gives efforts, allowing the group to move forward in 2022.

โ€œThe Friends have not stopped raising awareness and funds for the revitalization of the 10-branch system. Friendsโ€™ chapters have continued the Capitola Mall bookstore, book sales in the community, and the popular Our Community Read program,โ€ said Oโ€™Driscoll.


Want to help your local library realize its next chapter? Visit santacruzgives.org to donate.

Showcasing Santa Cruz Countyโ€™s Top Dining Spots in 2021

In a year of dining dangerously, we all took culinary pleasure where we could find it. Often it was in carryout dinnersโ€”Avanti Santa Cruzโ€™s lamb meatballs with polenta, Lailiโ€™s marinated beets, coriander, arugula and goat cheese salad. Oh, and the lamb kabob with perfumed saffron rice and those fiery and complex chutneys.

But as restaurants tip-toed into outdoor parklet dining, we enjoyed incredible meals in the romantic back patio of La Posta. The house sourdough holds a place in our heart. At one special dinner, we feasted on an appetizer of large shreds of smoked trout, joined by fingerling potatoes and diagonal slices of fresh snap peas in a vinaigrette infused with fermented Fresno chilis, lemon, and garlic. Equally impressive was a sensuous cannelloni entree filled with succulent braised pork, kale and black currants, dusted with parmesan inside and out.  

Sometimes it was one spectacular dish that stood out: a fried calamari appetizer at Oswald, feather-light, crisp and tender. A slice of tumescent pumpkin pie, spices perfectly balanced, from Kellyโ€™s, served at 11th Hour Coffee. At Gabriella Cafe an entree of local coho salmon glazed with Gema Cruzโ€™s chimichurri sauce knocked me out, as did an appetizer of watermelon gazpacho. From the energetic hand of chef Todd Parker at Sante Adairius came a mile-high chicken salad sandwich that was like nothing Iโ€™ve ever eaten, sandwich-wise. Lots of labor-intensive dicing went into the central core of chicken, celery, carrots, a ripe juicy tomato, and preserved lemon (the key to these cascades of flavors). Inside the micro-chopped chicken salad was the tart, citrusy surprise of sorrel leaves.

The Ibiza Hippie Salad from Barceloneta won us over, again! Kale, preserved lemons, yams, little pastas. Easily the most delightful suite of ingredients in town. At Venus Spirits Cocktails and Kitchen the crisp, crisp brussels sprouts with pink onions, cashew cream and black garlic sauce was perfection, paired with the Venus No.2 G&T laced with star anise and a bay leaf. At Copal, we accompanied our margaritas with hand-made corn tortilla quesadillas, warm with melting cheese and mushroomsโ€”the star of the meal! When Brad Briske of Soquelโ€™s HOME took over the kitchen at Discretion Brewing for a while, he created something outrageousโ€”fresh cod tacos layered with sriracha aioli, avocado whip, cabbage slaw and pickled onions.

Brunch at Gabriella was good enough to get us out of the house on a Sunday morning. And it was our very first meal in a restaurant during this weird year. Eggs Florentine (perfect avocados) and breakfast tacos made celestial by the addictive house salsa plus French press coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice. So satisfying.

Mentone in Aptos Village specializes in delicious sophistication. One particular stand-out meal included a gorgeous platter of earthy, salty Wagyu bresaola, a definitive pizza bianca with three cheeses, and transformative Negronis, classic as well as the Spagliato Bianco. The housemade fior di latte gelato, infused with sea salt and olive oil, is the dessert we want for our final meal on earth.

Dinner at Trestles in Capitola Village was at this year’s very top, thanks to the uncanny touch of chef Nick Sherman, who reinvents seafoods and elevates vegetables through fusion sauces and playful combinations of ingredients. Pork belly with roast watermelon and jalapeรฑo vinaigrette shared the spotlight with roast trumpet mushrooms in balsamic glaze. We were also amazed by a dish of caramelized scallops cushioned by kohlrabi and a port reduction.Our favorite lunch at Iveta always delivers: turkey and havarti sandwich, with sea salt chips, a lime wine spritzer and that incredible Cowboy Cookie. Hereโ€™s to health, happiness and a re-opening of our world in 2022!

Valley Churches United Joins Santa Cruz Gives Campaign

Lynn Robinson, the executive director of Valley Churches United, has a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. In addition to the success of their Sidewalk Holiday Gift Shop, the nonprofit has a new list of benefactors with whom to share its gratitude: contributors to the Santa Cruz Gives fundraising event. 

The holiday fundraising program founded in 2015 has encouraged tax-free, project-based giving over the past six years, resulting in a shift towards โ€œmodern fundraising,โ€ and supports area nonprofits like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre and the Alzheimerโ€™s Association. 

This year, Robinsonโ€™s group is thrilled to be part of the program. 

โ€œWe donโ€™t have the same name recognition as other large organizations, so weโ€™re really thrilled to be in such great company. Itโ€™s tough to get the word out about our programs, especially when weโ€™re in the crunch time of the holidays, so we appreciate the opportunity to share what we do,โ€ said Robinson. 

The agency is finding its footing amongst the other nonprofits on the websiteโ€™s leaderboard, with nearly $800,000 raised since the fundraising kickoff in November. 

โ€œCurrently,โ€ said Robinson, โ€œwe have about $5,000 in dedicated donations to us. If we can get closer to $10,000 that would be a huge win for our program.โ€

Robinson reminds readers that the agencyโ€™s main goal is to keep the community pantry stocked for those in need year-round, but that need increases exponentially around the holidays. 

โ€œIn November, we served 391 families, and 785 individuals,โ€ Robinson said. โ€œThose numbers always go up in December, so we appreciate any donations that come our way.โ€ 

In addition to keeping food on the shelves, the agency also provides financial help to locals who are struggling, with special attention being dedicated to CZU fire victims.

While Santa Cruz Gives supports nonprofits of any size, its backing comes from well-known behemoth sponsors like the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, Driscollโ€™s Berries, Santa Cruz County Bank, and the Good Times (sister publication of the Press Banner). The 2020 campaign brought in over $700,000, and 2021 has proved to be even more successful, which makes Robinson overjoyed in the face of hardships that she knows local residents have endured. 

โ€œThere are 80 nonprofits participating, so weโ€™re watching our own hometown find its footing. Itโ€™s an honor to be part of the program,โ€ she said.

But Santa Cruz Gives isnโ€™t the only messenger of hope for Valley Churches United. Schools within the Scotts Valley Unified School District are holding a canned food drive benefitting the nonprofit. 

โ€œWeโ€™ve been hosting the canned food drive for over 20 years; as of Dec. 8, Vine Hill students collected nearly 6,000 cans of food,โ€ said Michele Sanguinetti, a kindergarten teacher at Vine Hill School. 

Brook Knoll, Scotts Valley Middle School and Scotts Valley High School all participated in the event this year. There was no canned food drive in 2020 due to the virtual learning environment caused by Covid-19. 

The classroom with the most canned food donations collected will receive a trophy and a pizza party, but the real winner is Valley Churches United. 

โ€œWe are recognized for serving a portion of the county that is traditionally underserved,โ€ said Robinson. โ€œI see how engaged the staff is at the Good Times, and how dedicated they are to making sure that this is a successful event. Itโ€™s a great experience for everyone involved, and for agencies like ours who are operating on a skeleton staff, we can get spread pretty thin. Fundraisers like this can make all the difference for us.โ€

Want to throw your checkbook in the ring? Santa Cruz Gives is accepting donations through Dec. 31. To contribute, visit santacruzgives.org.

Former SVPD Officer Files Another Suit Against City

By Drew Penner

Disgruntled ex-Scotts Valley Police Department officer David Ball has launched a new lawsuit against the city of Scotts Valley, Police Chief Steve Walpole, Jr. and his former trainee Pascale Wowak, claiming defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Itโ€™s the third action Ball, who was kicked off the force for reportedly sexually harassing and retaliating against Wowak, has filed in Santa Cruz County Superior Court against the City following his dismissal.

Scotts Valley City Attorney Kirsten Powell said Wednesday the City had not yet received a copy of the new suitโ€”which was filed Dec. 14โ€”so she couldnโ€™t comment on it.

Wowak did not reply to multiple requests for comment.

Ball has also filed a so-called โ€œwrit of mandateโ€ civil action, which is an attempt to get reinstated on the force, as well as a lawsuit seeking damages for age discrimination and enduring a โ€œhostile work environment.โ€

But documents emerging through court filings show authorities determined it was Ball who created a toxic workplace by repeatedly sexually harassing Wowak, then enlisted teammates to try to get the new female officer fired.

In a Sept. 13, 2019 termination letter written by Walpole (to be effective Sept. 27, 2019), Ball was accused of sex discrimination against Wowak.

โ€œYou subjected officer Wowak to unwelcome solicitation of a sexual relationship, which she rejected,โ€ Walpole wrote. โ€œDuring her field training, you indicated a romantic or sexual interest in her by telling her, โ€˜I better never be drunk around you, that would be dangerous. Iโ€™m not sure I could control myself.โ€™โ€

Through his lawyer, Ball denied this.

โ€œBall is adamant that he never indicated a romantic or sexual interest in Wowak,โ€ said Neil Berman, of Salinas-based Rucka, Oโ€™Boyle, Lombardo & McKenna.

Wowak had joined in early April 2018. She had previously secured a settlement in a class-action sex-discrimination lawsuit against the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safetyโ€”for a reported $1.95 millionโ€”where she was employed as an officer.

Based on Ballโ€™s own recommendation, Wowak made it through her field training faster than usual and was placed on his team, according to the disciplinary letter, which states that Ball would text Wowak on her day off to say he โ€œmissed herโ€ and was โ€œthinking of her.โ€

In at least one text, he messaged, โ€œMorning Sunshine,โ€ according to the letter.

Then, in late August, Ball told Wowak his wife had discovered their text messages and was upset, according to the document.

โ€œYou then told Officer Wowak twice that if you had gotten some nude photos from her, then it would have been โ€˜worth it,โ€™โ€ Walpole wrote. โ€œOfficer Wowak responded to you by telling you in no uncertain terms, that she had no intention of providing you with any nude photos or engaging in other sexual relations with you.โ€

Suddenly, Wowak got a bad job performance rating at the end of September, which caused her to burst into tears, according to the disciplinary letter.

Ball gave her a โ€œpoor performanceโ€ mark again for October 2018, and then tried to get her fired at a staff meeting that month, Walpole wrote.

โ€œNotably, prior to the September 2018 performance evaluation, there is no documentation created by you concerning Officer Wowakโ€™s performance deficiencies or policy violations,โ€ he wrote, adding Wowak was reassigned to Sgt. Brandon Politoโ€™s team around early Novemberโ€”he was reassigned again in January 2019. โ€œThe evidence shows that you had approached both Sgt. Polito and Sgt. Milroy, separately, to discuss your expectations that they have issues with her performance, that those issues be documented and that her employment be terminated while she is still on probation.โ€

Polito declined to comment on Ball and Wowakโ€™s relationship, or if Ball asked him to help get rid of her.

Through his attorney, Ball denied he asked Wowak to send him naked pictures.

โ€œHe never solicited nude photos from Wowak,โ€ Berman said, claiming Wowak would initiate text conversations more frequently than he wouldโ€”including after the negative performance reports.

The firing letter adds that Ball enlisted three additional officers to make derogatory and demeaning comments about Wowak, including that her lawsuit against Sunnyvale DPS was โ€œBS.โ€

Ball says that never happened.

And he contends that several elected officials, including long-time former SVPD officer Donna Lind, who is now mayor and has served on the City Council for years, should have recused themselves from considering the city managerโ€™s ultimate decision to fire him.

โ€œAs all council members do, they have an obligation to be unbiased,โ€ City Attorney Powell said. โ€œShe made a determination that she could consider the facts independent of her relationships with the police chief and Sgt. Ballโ€”Mr. Ball now.โ€

However, Randy Johnson did recuse himself for apparent medical reasons, while Derek Timm recused himself due to a conflict of interest connected to previous work as a lawyer.

Lind told the Press Banner that Ball didnโ€™t object to her making a decision about the case.

โ€œI worked with Dave Ball for most of his career,โ€ she said. โ€œI spent my career evaluating evidence.โ€

Wowak is still employed at the Scotts Valley Police Department.

Students Buy Teacher New Wheelchair

Holiday gifts come in all shapes and sizes, but the best ones come from the heart. 

Just ask Kendra Kannegaard, 27, a former Scotts Valley High School student who loved theater. She has since become the schoolโ€™s English and drama teacher, and theater juggernaut.  Kannegaard was 17 when her life was turned upside down by a large spinal tumor that took up residence in her body, resulting in a 14-hour surgery, a zipper scar down her spine and an introduction to moving through life in a wheelchair.

Back then, a $12,000 wheelchair seemed nearly out of reach for the vivacious and outgoing drama student, so Maloneโ€™s Grill hosted a fundraiser for Kannegaard to raise the balance of the cost not covered by insurance. 

Now, in 2021, Kannegaard, affectionately known as โ€œMs. K.โ€ to her students, is in need of a new set of wheels, and her drama students have taken it upon themselves to raise the monies needed to get Kannegaard the chair she critically needs but of which she could only dream.

โ€œWheelchairs are not a one-size-fits-all kind of equipment,โ€ said Kannegaard. โ€œEach specification of the chair, from the width of the seat to the type of wheels and frame composition are made to order, so you canโ€™t just walk into a store and pick one up. The measurements are precise, and custom fit to the individual.โ€ 

As Kannegaard says, people can change a lot over time. 

โ€œThe 5-year-old chair I have now is no longer a good fit for me,โ€ said Kannegaard, remarking on how she had shared her thoughts with her students during class earlier this month.

Betwixt Jones-Cruz, a member of Kannegaardโ€™s drama posse, and the organizer of a GoFundMe fundraiser that aims to help buy the new wheelchair, said that โ€œAs soon as I heard she needed a new wheelchair, I just knew I had to help.โ€

Word of Jones-Cruzโ€™s philanthropy spread to teachers, families and SVHS alumni, and 30 students gleefully presented the results to Kannegaard in a surprise announcement. 

โ€œ30 drama kids with a plan is really something,โ€ quipped Kannegaard. 

In less than four days, Jones-Cruz said they had raised almost $7,000. 

โ€œOur goal was originally $8,000 because we wanted to get her the frame she needed,โ€ said Asher Hildebrand, a drama student at the high school. โ€œNow weโ€™re aiming for $12,000 to completely cover the wheelchair.โ€ 

The GoFundMe accountโ€™s total as of Dec. 21 is more than $10,000, and the students are on their way to making a wish come true for Kannegaard.

โ€œIโ€™m still speechless about it,โ€ said Kannegaard, โ€œthat these kids would take the time and make the effort to raise this money. I didnโ€™t have wordsโ€”how do you say thank you for something like this? I was stunned speechless. Iโ€™m so proud of all of these kidsโ€”they are the kindest people I have ever met, and I have the honor of teaching them.โ€

The wheels alone for Kannegaardโ€™s chair are $900, the carbon fiber backrest is $700, and frames are thousands, says Kannegaard.

โ€œSheโ€™s the best director Iโ€™ve ever had, and I have spent months wracking my brain about how I could support her. I couldnโ€™t think of anything until she mentioned the need for a new wheelchair,โ€ said Jones-Cruz, โ€œand then it just came together.โ€

Multiple students participated in the spread of the campaign, who shared it amongst their friends and Facebook groups. 

โ€œI was getting emails every few secondsโ€”one person donated $1,000 on the very first day,โ€ said Jones-Cruz.

Sydney Peterson took Kannegaardโ€™s drama class when she started at Scotts Valley High School. She said Kannegaard helped her โ€œget out of my comfort zone.โ€

โ€œI canโ€™t thank her enough, and this is my way of showing her that I love her, and how I will never forget her,โ€ she said.

Added drama student Kavin Pugazhenthi: โ€œThe pandemic made things tough for all of us, and we all struggled to get through it. The overall impact that this department has had on the students is tremendous, and none of it would have been possible without Ms. K. This doesnโ€™t begin to return even a fraction of what she and this department have given to us students.โ€

Hildebrand had been doing drama tech in middle school, so he was familiar with life in theater, and he found a way to use his voice during Kannegaardโ€™s class. 

โ€œShe helped me find my voice in drama, and Iโ€™m so grateful to her for that,โ€ he said.

Tisa Sholokhman had done ensemble theater and tech in middle school, so when Kannegaardโ€™s drama class became available via Zoom, she signed up. 

โ€œI thought I would never be able to fit in, but for the past two years, Iโ€™ve become a part of that class, and every day that I have drama, itโ€™s a reason for me to keep going,โ€ she said. โ€œIโ€™ve had a lot of dark times this year, and drama has really shown me the light. I feel accepted, and like a part of something for once in my life. I finally feel like Iโ€™m worth something.โ€

With a new set of wheels in her future, Kannegaard can turn her focus to additional forward momentum in her life: the exchange of wedding vows with her fiancรฉe, Luke Thornley, whom she met while a drama student at SVHS. 

โ€œThis school and department have given me more than I can express,โ€ said Kannegaard, wiping away tears. โ€œI am so blessed. Itโ€™s the greatest gift to be a teacher.โ€


The GoFundMe for Ms. K. is still up. Visit bit.ly/3ss9J6Z to chip in, and help the drama students of Scotts Valley High School reach their goal.

Watsonvilleโ€™s Portuguese Community Celebrates Sister City Designation

WATSONVILLEโ€”Situated along the western coast of Sรฃo Jorge Island in Portugal is Velas, a historic port town with a population of just over 5,580 people. Located in the Azores, the city is one of the oldest settlements on the island, boasting incredible ocean views from high, verdant cliffs.

And as of last week, it is officially a sister city of Watsonville. 

Months of work came to fruition on Dec. 14 as members of Watsonvilleโ€™s Portuguese community gathered at a city council meeting to celebrate the designation. A committee formed by then-mayor Jimmy Dutra were on hand to bear witness to the historic moment.

โ€œIโ€™m really proud of the Portuguese community for coming together and making this happen,โ€ said Dutra, who is of Portuguese descent. โ€œAs mayor, I had a lot of visions. One of them was to create a sister city in Portugal. I knew I only had one year to get it done โ€ฆ so we formed a committee and got to work.โ€

Goretti Carvalho, who immigrated from Portugal and has lived in Watsonville for 53 years, helped get the ball rolling. Having a home in Sรฃo Jorge where she spends a few months every year, she began making connections with Velasโ€™ mayor and other representatives. 

โ€œItโ€™s a really great feeling,โ€ she said. โ€œThis is a wonderful accomplishment. Itโ€™s not easy to do this. But it was worth it. The people [in Velas] are also very excited.โ€

Carvalho said that her husband, John Carvalho is from Sรฃo Jorge. In fact, a large number of families who immigrated from the island landed in Watsonville, making it a โ€œperfect choiceโ€ as a sister city, she says.

Committee member John Bettencourt added that the cities have a lot in common: They both have plazas and airports, and are coastal with similar weather. Both communities have deep roots in organic agriculture; Lakeside Organic Gardensโ€™ owner Dick Peixoto is Portuguese-American himself. They are also home to large Catholic populations and are passionate about sports, especially soccer.

Committee members Nathalie Costa and Lucy Rojas presented on Dec. 14 to the council, who unanimously agreed to the designation. 

โ€œIโ€™m feeling really hopeful of what this can mean for our two communities,โ€ Rojas said. โ€œIโ€™m excited to build a partnership. This can also be a way to engage future generations of Portuguese-Americans in Watsonville.โ€

Rojas said that most Portuguese in the area are first-generation and that having a sister city will help keep their language and culture alive.

โ€œAs we move forward, there is more and more distance from our children to those traditions,โ€ she said. โ€œSo Iโ€™m excited. This is a really great way to continue on.โ€

Jaidon Bettencourt, president of Irmandade Santissima Trindade Watsonville (ISTW), said that the designation will also be beneficial for the greater Watsonville community.

โ€œI feel like itโ€™s good to educate people,โ€ he said. โ€œThey see our events โ€ฆ They see us going through town with our parade. But not many know the reasons behind it. This is a really good step.โ€

Two days before the city council meeting, friends and family gathered at the Portuguese Hall of Watsonville to celebrate the holidays and yet another milestone: the publishing of a new volume of โ€œPortuguese in California: the History of Generations.โ€ Author Nelson Ponta-Garรงa, a correspondent with Portuguese National Television, was on hand to sign copies of his book, which includes history and interviews with people in Watsonville. 

Consul General Pedro Pinto also visited San Francisco for the event.

โ€œNelson called me and was like, โ€˜The Portuguese Ambassador wants to come down!โ€™โ€ John Bettencourt said. โ€œIt was a surprise. So much happened all at once.โ€

As for the sister city designation, there is still a ways to go before the relationship is solidified. The committee will work with Velas to decide on the terms of the agreement and what it means for both cities. An official ceremony will take place sometime next year.

โ€œThat will come through conversations with Velaโ€™s mayor and everyone there,โ€ Dutra said. โ€œItโ€™s going to be really exciting, seeing what happens next.โ€

Watsonville also has sister cities in Japan, China, Croatia, Mexico and El Salvador. To learn more visit cityofwatsonville.org/1723/Sister-Cities.

Elderday Moving to Downtown Watsonville

WATSONVILLEโ€”After operating for years in Santa Cruz, Elderday Adult Day Health Care will soon relocate to Watsonville.

The move comes thanks to a $2.5 million grant from Central California Alliance for Health, which Elderday will use to purchase and modernize the space at 521 Main St.

Elderday, a program of Community Bridges, currently provides care for about 150 older adults with medical conditions such as dementia, and people with disabilities, allowing them to stay in their own homes and out of institutional care.

The new space offers an additional 3,600 square feet than its current location.

Organizers also say the larger facilityโ€”located in a more accessible location in downtown Watsonvilleโ€”will allow Elderday to serve more people and help meet the needs of a growing aging county population.

The program is staffed by a team that includes nurses, social workers and physical and occupational therapists, with services such as medical, preventive and social care, therapeutic activities, personal care, hot meals and nutritional counseling. Transportation to and from the center is also available.

A study released by the National Council on Aging in March 2021 found that social isolation increased mental and physical health problems in older Americans, exacerbated poverty for those unable to work, and increased food insecurity.

This means the demand will be higher for services like Elderday for some time to come.

During the pandemic when in-person services were limited, Elderday met the needs of clients through telehealth and other remote services.

The organization also partnered with Santa Cruz County Parks and Recreation Departments and libraries to create Senior Center Without Limits (SCWOL), which offers virtual services to any older adult in the county to help them stay connected with activities and friends even as they sheltered in their own homes. 

While those virtual services will remain in place, Elderday has begun to gradually bring participants back to the center for in-person services.

โ€œElderday provides our members who are seniors and people with disabilities in Santa Cruz County a place to meet their social, mental and physical health needs,โ€ said Alliance CEO Stephanie Sonnenshine. โ€œAccess to the array of supportive services offered at Elderday is critical to maintaining health for these members, and for their family and caregivers.โ€

Community Bridges CEO Raymon Cancino said that such care is particularly important after the Covid-19 pandemic forced many into โ€œextreme isolation.โ€

โ€œWe expect to see demand for adult day services grow as seniors feel safer to gather together again,โ€ Cancino said. โ€œDuring this season of gratitude, we are extremely grateful for the partnership and support that Central California Alliance for Health has provided for the future of Elderday. They are among those organizations for whom Community Bridges is most thankful this holiday season.โ€

For information, visit www.communitybridges.org and www.thealliance.health.

Rob Brezsnyโ€™s Astrology: Dec. 29-Jan. 4, 2022

Astrology, Horoscope, Stars, Zodiac Signs
Free will astrology for the week of Dec. 29

Beauregard Vineyardsโ€™ Brut Blanc De Blanc is a Bubbly Treat

Plus, Cambio Roasters is one of the most eco-friendly K-cup coffee pods on the market

Downtownโ€™s New Top Spot Sports Pub and Kitchen Goes Big

Whiskey bar, outdoor beer deck, games and upscale pub fare is just the beginning

Public Library Friends Join Santa Cruz Gives

Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries supports Santa Cruz County libraries, including the newly renovated Boulder Creek Branch

Showcasing Santa Cruz Countyโ€™s Top Dining Spots in 2021

From Avanti Santa Cruz and Oswald to Barceloneta and La Posta, variety reigns supreme

Valley Churches United Joins Santa Cruz Gives Campaign

The agency provides financial assistance to struggling localsโ€”special attention has been dedicated to victims of the CZU Fire

Former SVPD Officer Files Another Suit Against City

David Ball, fired for reportedly sexually harassment and retaliation, is now claiming defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress

Students Buy Teacher New Wheelchair

Beloved former Scotts Valley High School drama teacher Kendra Kannegaar, aka 'Ms. K.', lost her ability to walk due to a large spinal tumor

Watsonvilleโ€™s Portuguese Community Celebrates Sister City Designation

Velas, on Portugal's western coast of Sรฃo Jorge Island, is a historic port town with a population of more than 5,580 people

Elderday Moving to Downtown Watsonville

The longtime program provides care for older adults with medical conditions such as dementia, allowing them to stay in their own homes
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