Page 500 – Good Times

Santa Cruz in Photos: Chardonnay Sailing Tours Return

Tarmo Hannula

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July 6, 2020

Santa Cruz in Photos: Chardonnay Sailing Tours Return

The Chardonnay II, a 70-foot luxury sailing yacht, sails across the Monterey Bay out of the Santa Cruz Harbor.

Chardonnay Sailing Charters resumed operation on July 1 after being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. They have new guidelines in place aimed at limiting the potential spread of the virus, including keeping six feet of distance from other people.

Chardonnay II, a sleek, designed-for-speed cutter with a 65-foot mast and nine feet of draft, seats 49 people with plenty of space to stretch out. The charter sail offers two-hour sailing adventures around the bay that feature a mix of energized sailing and relaxing inner bay stretches.

The themed public sails include wildlife and whale watching, a pizza charter, Champaign brunch charter, the Taste of Santa Cruz, the Brewmaster, Wednesday night sailboat races, Pono Hawaiian Grill, Akira Sushi Sunday, a Sunset charter, the Winemaker charter and more.

See more from the Santa Cruz in Photos series.

Faith, Community Leaders Praise Tax Break for Undocumented Workers

Johanna Miller

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July 6, 2020

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Faith, Community Leaders Praise Tax Break for Undocumented Workers

Faith and community leaders with the California Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) celebrated a victory Tuesday after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a budget that includes an expansion of the California Earned Income Tax Credit (Cal EITC) to undocumented workers with young children.

While not a full expansion to all undocumented workers, the tax credit will help tens of thousands of families with at least one child under the age of 6 who pay their taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Some households may receive up to $2,600 each year, depending on their income and family size.

According to IAF, undocumented immigrants represent 10% of the California workforce, and their labor has largely fallen into work deemed “essential” throughout the pandemic—in agriculture, food distribution and service, elder care and child care, among other occupations.

“What we have been pressing for is justice for essential workers, not charity,” said Fr. Arturo Corral of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, One LA. “It cannot be disputed that immigrant workers are bearing the brunt of pandemic-related health risks in order to keep all our boats afloat. We could not provide food for our families without their labor. They pay billions in local and state taxes, and they contribute over $180 billion to our economy. And they have been ruthlessly left out of federal relief.”

On May 5, more than 1,200 California IAF leaders, along with 10 Bishops and nine state legislators, convened on Zoom to press Newsom to expand the Cal EITC. More than 1,000 faith and community leaders signed on to a letter in support of the expansion, and in the thick of budget negotiations they organized hundreds of leaders to send letters to the governor and to the top leadership of the senate and assembly.

“We commend Gov. Newsom and state legislators for investing in families, especially during a deficit year,” said Rabbi Susan Leider with Congregation Kol Shofar, Marin Organizing Committee. “We know they have faced enormous pressure to cut back, and instead they have paid in. This tax credit is not just a one-time handout, but will help families year after year. Our leaders have been working for months to make sure our essential workers aren’t left behind, and this is a huge step forward.”

But many IAF organizations say there is much more to do to buffer immigrant and low-income workers from the health and economic risks ahead. With recent economic forecasts predicting a slow recovery, organizations continue to organize hundreds of conversations.

“We are concerned that our low income and undocumented families will continue to be the hardest hit as we inch our way out of this pandemic,” said Maria Elena Manzo, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Salinas, and a leader with COPA.

Extended Learning Program Provides Thousands of Bags to Students

Tarmo Hannula

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July 6, 2020

0

Extended Learning Program Provides Thousands of Bags to Students

A huge program is underway in Watsonville to help keep students finely tuned and focused on education through the summer.

Jen Bruno, a curriculum coach, said the Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Extended Learning Programs (ELP) over the past few weeks has loaded more than 4,000 new backpacks with around 5,000 hands-on literacy and science kits and other school supplies. They hope those supplies encourage area students, through K-8 Distance Learning, to roll up their sleeves and jump into a wealth of learning exercises during the ongoing Covid-19 closures.

“I’m so excited about this program and the many workshops,” Bruno said. “I really couldn’t be doing a better thing with my summer. I’ve never been a part of something so big.”

Extended Learning worked with community experts to develop lessons and activities for students to have access to quality online learning opportunities this summer.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) lessons include science, coding, visual arts, music, drama, fitness, nutrition and more. That set of lessons, which also features virtual camps and field trips, is free.

The programs—funded by grants from After School Education and Safety and 21st Century—are powered by the City of Watsonville, the city’s Science Workshop, the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County, Watsonville Wetlands Watch and the Code Naturally Academy of Santa Cruz.

They include 15 lessons per week that are structured to be family-friendly and inclusive and use PVUSD-issued Chromebooks.

“I get it as far as family learning goes,” Bruno said. “I have four kids of my own; I know how to work alongside these families.”

Available to roughly 13,000 students, the program continues through July 30 and is geared for students to learn at their own pace in English and Spanish, Bruno said.

Sharon Sanchez, a first-year kindergarten and bilingual teacher at Mintie White Elementary School, was one of several who waited patiently during Tuesday’s drive-thru pick-up at Watsonville High School—the program’s staging ground.

She picked up 13 bags, 10 for her kindergarten students and another three for some of their siblings because their parents were busy working. She said the hands-on activities included in the bags will help keep her students busy and are a good alternative for families that are not able to access online lesson plans.

“We did try to implement distance learning but for a lot of families, especially my families, they can’t access that technology,” she said. “For the kids that don’t have summer school, this is a great way to keep busy and keep learning during the summer.”

Bruno said the distribution was largely completed Tuesday.

“Though we weren’t supposed to open the line until 11:30am, we had a line at 9am that was two cars wide all the way to the pool area,” Bruno said.

Youth N.O.W., Watsonville’s Police Activities League and the YMCA played a role in getting backpacks out to students. Bruno said some of the remaining backpacks will be driven directly to agricultural working families.

“I really want every student to get a kit,” she said. “This is about equity.”

For the past 13 years Bruno has headed up Fitness 4 Life, an after school fitness program for around 4,000 PVUSD students, grades 2-8, annually. Staff from F4L also came on board to assist the ELP, Bruno said.

“Truly, the 14 staff who worked alongside me creating these kits for weeks made this project such a success,” she said. “They helped create the website, passed out kits for hours day after day, called homes, made dump runs, unloaded 93 pallets of supplies, organized all the paperwork, and drove the kits to families that couldn’t pick-up. This miracle team gave their hearts to create these kits to ensure PVUSD students could have a memorable experience during this pandemic.”

Capitola Branch Library Upgrade Project Moves Ahead

Tarmo Hannula

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July 6, 2020

0

Capitola Branch Library Upgrade Project Moves Ahead

Work is moving forward on the Capitola Branch Library on the corner of Clares Street at Wharf Road.

The more than $13 million project will transform the previous 4,300-square-foot temporary library structure into an 11,700-square-foot hub with a community room, an expanded children’s wing, study and reading rooms, reading “nooks,” an outdoor reading deck, a fireplace and a space for teens.

Measure S, which voters passed in 2016 to fund library construction and upgrade projects in Santa Cruz County, provided $10 million, while the city’s general fund and redevelopment money added $2.6 million. The nonprofit group Friends of the Capitola Branch Library helped fundraise another $750,000.

An estimated 60,000 people visit the branch each year, making it one of the busiest libraries in the county.

“We are looking forward to opening the library this summer,” says Steve Jesberg, public works director for Capitola. “I think our community has enjoyed watching the project come to life as walls have gone up, and people are excited to see the finished product.”

Megan Blackwell, marketing manager for Otto Construction, said Otto is the general contractor for the job. Initial plans called for the library completion this summer.

Facebook Bans Right-Wing Boogaloo Movement From Its Platform

Todd Guild

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July 2, 2020

0

Facebook Bans Right-Wing Boogaloo Movement From Its Platform

The world’s largest social media company announced Tuesday that it has declared the Boogaloo movement a dangerous organization, and is banning it from its platform.

In a post dated June 30, a Facebook spokesperson said that the company began to remove Boogaloo content last year when it was determined to pose a threat to public safety.

The move to ban the group entirely came as part of the company’s stated overarching goal to ban people who claim a violent mission from using the platform.

Such content, the company says, violates Facebook’s Dangerous Individuals and Organizations policy.

“As a result, this violent network is banned from having a presence on our platform, and we will remove content praising, supporting or representing it,” the statement says.

Boogaloo members use Facebook to contact each other and to recruit new members, the company statement reads.

“It is actively promoting violence against civilians, law enforcement and government officials and institutions,” the statement says.

The Boogaloo Bois movement is a loosely knit group of heavily-armed, racist extremists who say they are opposed to government tyranny and police oppression. Members of the group have advocated starting a race war.

Facebook’s announcement came three weeks after Steven Carrillo, who is thought to be a member of the group, was arrested for killing Santa Cruz Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and trying to kill three other people on June 6.

Carrillo is also accused, along with Robert Justus, Jr., of killing a federal police officer in Oakland and wounding a second one on May 29. Justus is also thought to be a Boogaloo member.

A federal grand jury handed down two-count indictments for both men on June 25. They are being held in federal custody without bail.

Carrillo made his first court appearance in Santa Cruz County on June 12, but did not enter a plea. He returns on July 17. He has also not yet entered a plea in federal court after appearing on June 23 and 29, because it is still not clear who will represent him. The federal public defender’s office that would normally be appointed has a conflict of interest in the case because it is already representing Justus.

Santa Cruz in Photos: Biking Through Arana Gulch

Tarmo Hannula

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July 2, 2020

0

Santa Cruz in Photos: Biking Through Arana Gulch

A bicyclist enjoys a cruise on the bike and pedestrian path through Arana Gulch.

A network of such paths thread through Arana Gulch between Agnes Street, Brommer Street, the Upper Harbor and Frederick Street. Arana Gulch is one of five city-owned Greenbelt lands.

The city opened the site in 1994 and is working to improve the reserve’s natural habitats for native plants and wildlife. In the 1920s Arana Gulch was the site of the East Side Dairy under the ownership of the Kinzli family.

See more from the Santa Cruz in Photos series.

Newsom Clamps Down on Bars and Restaurants, But Not in Santa Cruz

Todd Guild

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July 1, 2020

1

Newsom Clamps Down on Bars and Restaurants, But Not in Santa Cruz

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered bars and restaurants in 19 counties to close their indoor dining options for at least three weeks, as the state faces increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases and residents plan for the busy July 4 weekend.

The state saw 5,898 new cases on Tuesday, Newsom said during a noon press conference, adding that 110 deaths linked to the virus were reported in the 24 hours leading up to the announcement.

The order applies in Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Merced, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Solano, Stanislaus, Tulare and Ventura counties.

Those counties were placed on the state’s new County Watchlist for more than three weeks. The list was created for those that show increased numbers of new cases and hospitalizations due to Covid-19.

While neither Santa Cruz nor Monterey counties are affected by the closure order, Newsom also announced that the state is closing parking facilities at state beaches in Southern California and the Bay Area.

“I want to remind everyone that if we want to be independent from Covid-19, we have to be much more vigilant in terms of maintaining our physical distancing from others, and be much more vigilant as it relates to the prospects of being in situations where are transmitting Covid-19,” Newsom said.

While parking lots here are shuttered, Santa Cruz County beaches remain open after Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel lifted restrictions on June 25 that kept them closed from 11am to 5pm.

Face masks are still required statewide for most indoor activities, however, and social distancing is either required or strongly encouraged in most places.

Newsom did not discuss statewide face mask requirements during the press conference, after hinting Tuesday that he would require local jurisdictions to step up their enforcement. He also indicated that the state has the financial resources to do so.

“We have conditioned $2.5 billion in our state budget on applying the spirit and the letter of the law as it relates to health directives at the county level,” Newsom said. “If local officials are unwilling to enforce and are being dismissive, we will condition the distribution of those dollars.”

Newsom also urged that residents refrain from holding family gatherings, which he said was one of the likely causes of the surge in new cases.

“This is about keeping you safe, keeping them safe, your friends neighbors and family members, and moreover just making sure we mitigate the spread and don’t do harm and damage to the lives of those that we love,” Newsom said.

The new restrictions, Newsom said, will be enforced by a “multi-agency strike team” made up of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, the Department of Business Oversight, the Department of Consumer Affairs and the California Highway Patrol.

Violators could face fines, but most people will likely comply with the new restrictions, Newsom said.

“I’m not coming out with a fist,” he said. “We want to come out with an open heart, recognizing the magnitude of some of these modifications.”

Home and Garden Magazine 2020

Special Publications

GT Staff

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July 1, 2020

0

This issue of Home & Garden Magazine really shows how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected our domestic lives in unexpected ways.

It’s changed what we do with our free time around the house, and why; it’s even changed how we see the space we live in. The stories in these pages explore those issues, and in the end I hope they reinforce our conviction that everything we need to get through this is within reach—from our families and friends to the garden in the backyard that seems more important than ever, both as a source of physical and emotional nourishment. Stay safe and keep digging!

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR

FEATURED STORIES:

FULL ISSUE:

Car Plunges into Sea in Santa Cruz Following Police Chase

Tarmo Hannula

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July 1, 2020

0

Car Plunges into Sea in Santa Cruz Following Police Chase

A man is in custody following a dramatic high-speed police chase that began on the North Coast near Davenport Tuesday around 3:30pm.

Police received reports of shots fired in an attempted carjacking of a female driving a white Volvo sedan, according to emergency dispatchers.

When police from multiple agencies arrived, a “be-on-the-lookout” alert was enacted, and Davenport residents were ordered to shelter in place.

San Francisco police told emergency dispatchers that they had reports of a suspect committing similar crimes on Monday and Tuesday.

Around 3:45pm, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies got behind the vehicle on southbound Highway 1, and a pursuit began, reaching speeds of 100 mph. The pursuit wound its way to the Westside of Santa Cruz, where the car plunged off the cliff at Stockton Street at West Cliff Drive.

A witness at the scene said they saw the suspect strapped to a gurney being carried to an ambulance wearing a neck brace.

Home and Garden Resource Guide

Special Publications

GT Staff

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July 1, 2020

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Find local businesses and groups for all your home and garden needs:

American Leisure Patio

1118 Ocean St., Santa Cruz

831-423-2425, americanleisurepatio.com

Annieglass

310 Harvest Drive, Watsonville

800-347-6133, annieglass.com

APPI Pool and Spa

1527 Commercial Way B, Santa Cruz

831-476-6363, appipool.com

Aptos Landscape Supply

5025 Freedom Blvd., Aptos

831-688-6211, aptoslandscapesupply.com

Aptos Feed and Pet Supply

7765 Soquel Drive, Suite C, Aptos

831-685-3333

Artisans and Agency

1368 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz

831-423-8183, artisanssantacruz.com

A Tool Shed

3700 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

831-477-7133, atoolshed.com

Batteries Plus

101 Mt. Hermon Road, Scotts Valley

831-439-6720, batteriesplus.com

Bay Federal Credit Union

3333 Clares St., Capitola;

48 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos;

2028 Freedom Blvd., Freedom;

420 River St., Santa Cruz;

255 Mount Hermon Rd., Scotts Valley;

1481 Main St., Watsonville;

831-479-6000, bayfed.com

Bay Plumbing Supply

2776 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

831-475-2900, bayplumbingsupply.com

Botanic and Luxe

701 Front St., Santa Cruz

831-515-7710, botanicandluxe.com

Brass Key Locksmith

220-A Mt. Hermon Road, Scotts Valley

831-438-4904, brasskeylocksmith.com

Carpet King

6000 Soquel Drive, Aptos

831-476-4849, carpetking.org

Carpet One Floor and Home

6000 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

831-295-5850, carpetonesantacruz.com

Central Home Supply

808 River St., Santa Cruz,

831-201-6167;

180 El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley,

831-201-6178;

centralhomesupply.com

City of Santa Cruz Public Works

831-420-5160, cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/public-works

Clark’s Auction Co.

103D Whispering Pines Drive, Scotts Valley

831-706-8776, clarksauctions.com

Craft Gallery

209 Capitola Ave., Capitola

831-475-4466, craftgallery.net

Cypress Coast Fence

836 Walker St., Watsonville

831-783-1500, cypresscoastfence.com

Dell Williams

1320 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz

423-4100, dellwilliams.com

Dig Gardens

7765 Soquel Drive, Aptos

831-688-7011, diggardens.com

Drapery Enterprises

831-458-2578, draperyenterprises.com

Dreamscape Creative Landscape Solutions

P.O. Box 3192, Santa Cruz

831-476-6800, dreamscape-cls.com/services

Ecology Action

877 Cedar St., Suite 240, Santa Cruz

831-426-5925, ecoact.org

Expert Plumbing

2551 S. Rodeo Gulch Road, Ste. 7, Soquel

831-316-7338, expertplumbingca.com

Far West Nursery

2669 Mattison Lane, Santa Cruz

831-476-8866, farwestnursery.com

First Alarm Security and Patrol

1111 Estates Drive, Aptos

831-685-1110

Fybr Bamboo

1528 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz

831-423-3927, shopfybr.com

The Garden Company

2218 Mission St., Santa Cruz

831-429-8424, thegardenco.com

General Feed and Seed

1900 Commercial Way # B, Santa Cruz

831-476-5344

Goodwill

ccgoodwill.org

Graniterock

350 Technology Drive, PO Box 50001, Watsonville

831-768-2000, graniterock.com

Hidden Gardens Nursery

7765 Soquel Drive #A, Aptos

831-688-7011, aptoshiddengardens.com

Home/Work

1100 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

831-316-5215, shophomework.com

Hot Springs Spas of Santa Cruz

707 River St., Santa Cruz

831-425-7727, hotspring.com

Houz Concepts

1855 41 Ave. D-08, Capitola

831-222-3991, houzconcepts.com

IBEW

10300 Merritt St., Castroville

831-633-2311, ibew234.org

Illuminée

402 Ingalls St. #23, Santa Cruz

831-423-1121, illuminee.com

Interlite Skylight

420 Kennedy Drive, Capitola

831-462-1700, interliteskylight.com

Interior Vision Flooring & Decorating

2800 Daubenbiss Ave., Soquel

831-219-4484, interiorvision.biz

Ironhorse Home Furnishings

925 41st Ave., Santa Cruz

831-346-6170, ironhorsehomefurnishings.com

Joshua Zelmon Stone Design

180 Little Creek Road, Soquel

831-818-0111, site.joshuazelmonstonedesign.com

K&D Landscaping

62c Hangar Way, Watsonville

831-728-4018, kndlandscaping.com

Laureen Yungmeyer, State Farm

230-F Mount Hermon Road, Scotts Valley

831-423-4700, statefarm.com

Lauren Spencer, Realtor

824 B Mission St., Santa Cruz

831-662-6522, mysantacruzrealestate.com

Lenz Arts

142 River St., Santa Cruz

423-1935, lenzarts.com

Locatelli’s Firewood

262 Elk St., Santa Cruz

831-423-3215

Mighty Mite

215 E. Hacienda Ave., Campbell

408-837-7347, mightymitetermite.com

Mountain Feed and Farm Supply

9550 Hwy. 9, Ben Lomond

831-336-8876, mountainfeed.com

Native Revival Nursery

831-684-1811, nativerevival.com

Natural Selection Furniture

607 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

831-423-4711, naturalselectionfurnituresc.com

Om Gallery

1201 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz

831-425-9107, omgallery.com

Outside-In

7568 Soquel Drive, Aptos

831-684-0186, outside-in.myshopify.com

Poly

345 Encinal St., Santa Cruz

831-426-5858, poly.com/us/en

Pottery Planet

2600 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

831-465-9216, potteryplanet.com

Redo Consign and Redesign

1523 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz

831-439-9210, redoconsign.com

Roots of Health Santa Cruz

709 Frederick St., Santa Cruz

831-824-4005, rootsofhealthsc.com

Samaya’s Eco-Flooring

317 Potrero St., Unit B, Santa Cruz

831-466-9719, ecowoodfloor.com

Sandbar Solar and Electric

2656 Mission St., Santa Cruz

831-469-8888, sandbarsc.com

San Lorenzo Garden Center

235 River St., Santa Cruz

831-423-0223, sanlorenzolumber.com/garden-center

San Lorenzo Valley Water District

13060 Hwy. 9, Boulder Creek

831-338-2153, slvwd.com

Santa Cruz County Builders

831-359-4300, santacruzbuilders.com

Santa Cruz Construction Guild

PO Box 2335, Santa Cruz

santacruzconstructionguild.us

SC41 Furniture

2701 41st Ave., Soquel

831-464-2228, sc41.com

Sierra Azul

2660 East Lake Ave., Watsonville

831-728-2532, sierraazul.com

SSA Landscape Architects

303 Potrero St., Suite 40-C, Santa Cruz

831-459-0455, ssala.com

Stripe

107 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz

831-421-9252, stripedesigngroup.com

Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping

831-425-3514, terranovalandscaping.com

Tom Ralston Concrete

241 Fern St., Santa Cruz

831-426-0342, tomralstonconcrete.com

Turk the Roofer

3330 Gross Road, Santa Cruz

831-479-9653

Wallis Woodworks

2608 Mission St., Santa Cruz

831-460-9183, walliswoodworks.com

Warmth Company

140 Post Office Drive, Aptos

831-688-3200, warmthcompany.com

Westside Farm and Feed

817 Swift St., Santa Cruz

831-331-4160, westsidefarmandfeed.com

Zinnias

219 Mount Hermon Rd., Scotts Valley

831-430-9466, zinniasgiftboutique.com

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Hope Floats

Playing Nice

Santa Cruz in Photos: Chardonnay Sailing Tours Return

Faith, Community Leaders Praise Tax Break for Undocumented Workers

Extended Learning Program Provides Thousands of Bags to Students

Capitola Branch Library Upgrade Project Moves Ahead

Facebook Bans Right-Wing Boogaloo Movement From Its Platform

Santa Cruz in Photos: Biking Through Arana Gulch

Newsom Clamps Down on Bars and Restaurants, But Not in Santa Cruz

Home and Garden Magazine 2020

Car Plunges into Sea in Santa Cruz Following Police Chase

Home and Garden Resource Guide

Santa Cruz in Photos: Chardonnay Sailing Tours Return

Faith, Community Leaders Praise Tax Break for Undocumented Workers

Extended Learning Program Provides Thousands of Bags to Students

Capitola Branch Library Upgrade Project Moves Ahead

Facebook Bans Right-Wing Boogaloo Movement From Its Platform

Santa Cruz in Photos: Biking Through Arana Gulch

Newsom Clamps Down on Bars and Restaurants, But Not in Santa Cruz

Home and Garden Magazine 2020

Car Plunges into Sea in Santa Cruz Following Police Chase

Home and Garden Resource Guide