Foundation Offers Grants to Farmers Affected by Fires

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Foundation Offers Grants to Farmers Affected by Fires

The California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation is poised to help organic farmers recover from the unprecedented wildfires burning across the West Coast, including CCOF’s hometown of Santa Cruz. 

The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund gives grants to organic business owners affected by hardships of all kinds, including wildfires, natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since 2007, the CCOF Foundation has distributed $210,000 to farmers, but this challenging year has already resulted in a four-fold increase in applications for financial assistance. It is yet to be seen how the fires will further increase applications to the fund, but organic supporters can help meet this increased need by making donations to the Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund. All donations to the fund go directly to organic farmers and business owners.

“California’s Central Coast is one of our most robust areas of organic producers, including many of the farmers who founded CCOF. And as the leading state in organic production, we expect to see many organic farmers across California who will need support to rebuild,” said CCOF CEO Kelly Damewood in a press release. “We have already received a record number of applications to the Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund this year as a result of Covid-19, and we expect to be inundated with more requests for help as a result of the fires.”

Earlier this year, CCOF chapters—made up of CCOF-certified organic business owners—contributed some of their own chapter resources to the Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund in order to reach even more farmers in this year of great need. 

“People often overlook organic farmers during times of crisis, and we don’t have the same resources and support programs as other farmers,” said CCOF Board of Directors Chair and organic farmer and winemaker Phil LaRocca in a press release. Every penny of assistance makes a difference for farmers hit by disaster. We are already operating on such tight margins to produce healthy food, sometimes we need a little help to make it through the hard times and keep our communities going.”

The next grant application cycle ends Nov. 20.

County Agriculture Copes with Heat, Fire, Smoke and Ash

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County Agriculture Copes with Heat, Fire, Smoke and Ash

The worst wildfires in California’s history have burned more than 3 million acres, about 3% of the state’s total acreage, and didn’t spare Santa Cruz County vineyards, orchards and tree farms.

The fires scorched fields, destroyed barns, melted irrigation lines and disrupted power, water and supply chains for farms along the coast and in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The CZU Lightning Complex fire destroyed 40 acres of Crest Ranch Christmas Tree Farm and a large chunk of Bonny Doon’s McHenry Vineyard. In Davenport, Swanton Ranch, Sun Gap Farm, Pie Ranch and Two Dog Farm lost buildings. Small organic producers have launched GoFundMe pages to recover from the disaster.

“The fires broke out when wineries were just about to start harvesting,” Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo said, estimating that about 148 acres of vineyards out of the county’s 630 are a loss due to fire, smoke and ash and excessive heat. The local wine industry is “looking at more than $1 million in damages, at least,” he added.

Hidalgo said they are still waiting to get an assessment of damage to the timber industry, but that it’s “probably going to be huge.”

The Pajaro Valley was not hit directly by the fires but was blanketed by drifting smoke and falling ash. Though these can affect crops such as berries and leafy green vegetables, two of its main exports, the impact has been minimal. 

“We have been fortunate so far,” Hidalgo said. “The impact has been small, and most growers have been able to keep up with the harvest.”

The biggest issue, Hidalgo said, has been the effect of smoke and ash on people working in the fields. 

“Early on, when the fires started … air quality quickly became a huge problem,” Hidalgo said. “Our main concern was finding ways to protect our workers.”

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, N95 masks have been in short supply. The Commissioner’s office collaborated with the State of California to provide more masks to farmworkers who continue working through both crises. 

But the intense, dry heat that has recently hit the Central Coast—the root cause of the fires—has had an effect on every aspect of agriculture, from worker safety to the crops themselves.

Hidalgo estimates a 10-20% loss, primarily in berries, due to deformities caused by scorched flowers. Wine grapes were also susceptible to sunburning and smoke taint.

“It might not be noticeable in the grand scheme of things, but small losses add up,” he said. “Growers will not only lose commodities but will also need to bring workers in to clean up. It will create a delay in the entire process.”

Hidalgo said that his office’s main focus right now is collecting disaster losses and getting the information back to the United States Department of Agriculture, who can help support farmers in future clean up and replanting efforts. This is especially important as technically, the fire season in California has just begun.

“October is typically our worst fire month in California,” Hidalgo said. “We’re very concerned about that. We are trying to make sure that if that does happen again, we are ready.”

Sean Arlt Police Shooting: Father Says Santa Cruz Should Keep Its Word

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Sean Arlt Police Shooting: Father Says Santa Cruz Should Keep Its Word

Next month will mark the four-year anniversary of the night a Santa Cruz Police officer shot and killed Sean Arlt when Arlt was in the midst of a mental health crisis.

Sean Arlt’s father Jeffrey says he’s still waiting for the city of Santa Cruz to make good on two promises city officials made to him. And the process of repeatedly following up with the city only forces him to relive the trauma all over again, he explains.

“It’s been four years, and you tend to think we can move on with our lives, but this is unsettled, and so going back to it is kind of re-traumatizing,” Jeffrey says.

At 3am on Oct. 16, 2016, Sean was screaming and pounding on the front door of the house of a family friend, who called the police. Sean, the father of a then-four-year-old boy, had been taken by police to the county’s Mental Health Services Center five days earlier during a separate call.

When officers arrived on the 16th, Sean walked out of the yard wielding a rake over his head and approached the officers. An investigation by the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office found that two Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) officers deployed Tasers, but Sean kept advancing. When Sean got within 10 feet of the officers, Officer Erik Bailey fired two gunshots, hitting Sean in the head and the chest and killing him, according to the investigation. The DA “found no legal wrongdoing on” Bailey’s part.

In the aftermath, the Arlt family sued the city of Santa Cruz, and the two parties settled. Although it acknowledged no wrongdoing on Santa Cruz’s part, the City Council voted in November 2018 to pay the Artl family $1.6 million, as announced in a press release at the time. What the press release did not mention, however, was that the city also agreed to consider changes to policy, procedures and use-of-force protocols. This includes requiring that all SCPD officers attend a minimum of two hours of training every two years on appropriate tactics for interacting with mentally ill people and finalizing changes to the city’s force policy—only allowing officers to deploy deadly force in the face of an “immediate threat,” as opposed to simply an “imminent threat.”

Jeffrey says Police Chief Andy Mills confirms that his department has implemented those changes.

But there were other changes that the city agreed to in its 2018 settlement. The city promised to review data and consider adjusting the hours of its mental health practitioners, who work 7am-5pm seven days a week. Additionally, the city agreed to research funding sources to explore the possibility of increasing the total number of hours mental health workers are available. In recent months, Jeffrey was trying to learn more about the status of those items. He says he was having a hard time getting through to the city, and it wasn’t clear who he should be talking to.

Since speaking with GT, Jeffrey has heard again from Mills, who told Jeffrey via email that, based on Santa Cruz’s data, “it does seem like a good idea to have additional coverage extended past the time when the mental health liaisons leave.”

Mills said he’s watching for state and federal grants to fund a possible expansion of hours, although he didn’t offer further elaboration about any funding opportunities. In a later email, City Manager Martín Bernal told Jeffrey that the city has fulfilled its end of the settlement agreement; technically, the agreement doesn’t say that the city has to fully implement those final steps—only that it has to look at the data, consider making adjustments and seek funding.

Also, Mills told Jeffrey that city staff has been busy dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, budget cuts and civil unrest protesting systemic racism.

Seeking comment, GT reached out to Santa Cruz spokesperson Elizabeth Smith, who wasn’t with the city at the time of the shooting or at the time of the settlement. In response, Smith forwarded Mills’ message to Jeffrey and reiterated some background information.

Jeffrey does not want to see anyone else go through the grief that he and his family dealt with after the death of his son. He says these kinds of shootings are not just hard on the victims’ families. The tragedies, Jeffrey explains, also put an immense burden on the officers involved, who—even when they’ve completed their Crisis Intervention Training—simply don’t have the same skill set as an unarmed mental health expert.

“It’s traumatizing for them also,” he says.

Update Sept. 19 8:50pm: A previous version of this story misattributed the sources of two emails that Jeffrey Arlt received from city of Santa Cruz officials.

Watsonville Film Festival Hosts Outdoor Screening at Abbott Square

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Watsonville Film Festival Hosts Outdoor Screening at Abbott Square

When Covid-19 shelter-in-place restrictions hit Santa Cruz County in March, the Eighth Annual Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) was one of the first large events to be shut down.

Executive Director Consuelo Alba and her team were forced to cancel the multiple film screenings, activities and presentations. Alba’s first call was to Melissa Elizondo, director of the documentary To Stir the Heart. Elizondo was close to boarding the plane from Mexico City for her appearance in Watsonville when she received the bad news. 

“It was devastating,” Alba said. “She’s a very talented filmmaker. We were eager to show our community her beautiful film.”

Since the cancelation of the festival, the organization has been finding ways to present its films in a safe manner. The Virtual Watsonville Film Festival launched in May with the help of Digital NEST, offering people free online film screenings and live discussions with filmmakers via Zoom. This week, WFF offered To Stir the Heart, including a Q&A with Elizondo on Thursday.

Now WFF is taking things a step further. Together with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, the organization is kicking off a series of free outdoor film screenings at Abbott Square in Santa Cruz. To Stir the Heart will be screened Saturday at 8pm. 

The film follows a group of children in San Gregorio Atlapulco, Xochimilco who are recovering from Mexico’s devastating Sept. 19, 2017 earthquake. The children in the film “channel their trauma” through art and poetry.

“I think it’s now more relevant than ever,” Alba said. “We are all going through a lot of trauma … it can be hard to find a silver lining. The movie is a beautiful example of the power of art and community.”

Saturday’s film screening at Abbott Square is limited to 100 guests. Social distancing and other Covid-19 safety protocols will be implemented. Organizers recommend arriving early to secure a spot.

“The MAH is thrilled to be partnering with [WFF] to share their festival offerings,” said Exhibitions and Project Manager Whitney Ford-Terry. “They have such a rich program that aligns so well with our vision here at the MAH. We’re excited to be able to extend their rich online program out into the world during this challenging time for theaters.”

In addition to Saturday’s event, WFF is preparing for a special screening next week. The documentary We Are the Radical Monarchs will be available to watch free on their website on Wednesday night at 6pm.

The film, which has won numerous awards at festivals across North America, documents the Radical Monarchs—an alternative to the Scout movement for girls of color based in Oakland. The girls earn badges for completing units on social justice, such as being an LGBTQ+ ally and environmental issues.

Alba said that securing the rights to the film was a challenge, and the reason why it will only be available for 24 hours.

“It’s a bit tricky,” Alba admitted. “But we are thankful to have gotten it at all. This is an incredibly important film.”

WFF is also in the process of moving its Annual Celebration of Day of the Dead to a mostly-virtual format. The organization has already held a themed design contest and is looking for ways to adapt other aspects of the event.

“It’s an ambitious project,” Alba said. “How can we translate everything we normally do in the plaza to a computer screen? But we are figuring things out.”

Local Groups Celebrate Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month

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Local Groups Celebrate Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month

This week, communities across the U.S. are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, a month dedicated to the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

The origins of the observance began with President Lyndon Johnson, who designated Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. In 1988, it expanded to a full month, starting on Sept. 15 and ending on Oct. 15. Mid-September is significant as many Latin American countries and Mexico celebrate the anniversary of their independence from Spain.

In Watsonville, various groups have kicked off celebrations. Watsonville Public Library has organized its first-ever “Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month Art Contest.” Organizer Stephanie Barraza, who works as Watsonville’s Adult Services Librarian, said she was inspired by the success of the library’s recent online poetry contest.

The contest is split into four categories: elementary students (grades 3-5), middle school students (grades 6-8), high school students (grades 9-12) and adults. Submissions can be paintings or drawings, sculpture and mixed media. People can submit virtually and voting will be held online.

It was important, Barraza said, to keep the contest open to as many people as possible. The library has already seen a lot of interest from high school students in particular. 

“I see the value in having everyone involved,” she said. “Especially the youth. It is a challenging time right now … it’s good for them to channel their energy into something creative. And it’s just great to see their perspective on things.”

While the contest is centered around Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month, submissions are not limited to it. One early submission, Barraza said, was inspired by the recent fires and how they affected the community. 

Twelve winners will be selected. Their work will be shared on the library’s website and social media, and staff hopes to hand out gift cards to local businesses and restaurants. A submission form can be found here.

In addition to the art contest, the library, located at 275 Main St., is handing out sugar skull craft kits, which residents can pick up during curbside pickup hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday noon-5pm, and Tuesday-Thursday noon-7pm.

The library is also hosting its Ballet Folklorico Summer Workshop virtually, with instructor Graciela Vega. The workshops were funded by a grant from the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County. The final will be released on the last day of Latinx and Hispanic Heritage month on Oct. 15 and will be a special ballet folklorico workshop in honor of Dia de los Muertos, featuring traditional dance from the Michoacán region.

Culture through film

Watsonville Film Festival will host a screening of the documentary To Stir the Heart with Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History at Abbott Square on Saturday at 8pm. The film, also available to view online this week at watsonvillefilmfest.org, follows a group of children recovering from the Sept. 19, 2017 earthquake in Mexico, channeling their trauma through poetry and painting.

Executive Director Consuelo Alba said that director of the film Melissa Elizonodo was scheduled to appear at the festival’s event in March before the Covid-19 pandemic hit California. To make up for it, the Watsonville Film Festival hosted a special virtual chat with the director Thursday.

Alba said that To Stir the Heart is a “beautiful example of the power of art and community … how children can turn trauma into something beautiful.”

Space for the in-person film screening is limited; Abbott Square (725 Front St., Santa Cruz) is limited to 100 guests. Organizers advise that people arrive early to secure their space. Social distancing and other Covid-19 safety protocols will be implemented.

Alba said that while Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month is a good way to promote people’s stories and experiences, it is important to recognize it year-round.

“Hispanic heritage is American heritage,” she said. “There is so much polarization right now in this country. It is super important to remember that [Hispanic and] Latino stories are always relevant.”

Added Barraza: “For me … it is my heritage, and it is definitely important to be able to celebrate and be proud of my culture. But I think especially now, with people so disconnected. This kind of celebration brings us all together.”

County Reopens Sexual Assault Examiner Program

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County Reopens Sexual Assault Examiner Program

Santa Cruz County now has another tool to help survivors of sexual assault.

The Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) program, a team of nurses trained to recognize, document and collect evidence from patients, resumed operations at Dominican Hospital on Aug. 24 after a three-year hiatus, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Forensic Services Director Lauren Zephro said.

The SAFE satellite location in Santa Cruz County will have trained medical professionals on-call 24 hours a day for sexual assault medical examinations for survivors from ages 12 and up.

The SAFE program is run by the County’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). The local program was closed in 2017 because of the difficulty of recruiting and retaining staff, Zephro said.

That meant a trip to Santa Clara County Medical Center (SCVMC) for victims already traumatized, said Monarch Services Communication Director Delphine Burns. Watsonville-based Monarch runs the county’s Rape Crisis Center.

Burns says that reporting a sexual assault can be an arduous process, made worse by a long drive to a remote clinic.

“There usually is an expression of frustration and sadness and trauma from a survivor making that transition,” Burns said. “Once that decision is made, to be told, ‘You’re doing this hard thing; you’ve made this hard decision,’ that there is another barrier in the way to you getting justice—sometimes that can discourage individuals from wanting to report.”

Zephro said that the Sheriff’s Office, the Health Services Agency, Dominican Hospital, Monarch Services and SCVMC have been working to rebuild the program since 2017.

“We knew that we needed to have a solution here in Santa Cruz,” she said. “It’s been a long three years.” 

Survivors of sexual assault seeking SAFE examinations may choose between two types of examinations: an investigative or non-investigative exam. If a survivor chooses an investigative examination, law enforcement will conduct a criminal investigation and will be provided with evidence collected during the exam. Alternatively, in a non-investigative exam, evidence is still collected, but law enforcement will not start a criminal investigation until the survivor chooses to do so.

The evidence obtained during a non-investigative exam is confidential and will be preserved and stored indefinitely. 

SAFE exams are provided at no cost to the survivor. 

Every survivor seeking a SAFE exam is entitled to a Monarch Services advocate. 

If you or someone you know needs a SAFE exam, call 911 or Monarch Services’ 24-hour confidential, bilingual crisis line at 888-900-4232.

Watsonville Tries to Keep Clean As Masks, Gloves Add to Street Litter

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Watsonville Tries to Keep Clean As Masks, Gloves Add to Street Litter

Keeping area streets and sidewalks tidy has become more of a chore since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. 

An uptick in disposable gloves and all types of masks dumped on the streets has been commonplace since early March. And they’re building up.

These items, as well as fast food wrappers and various beverage containers, are easily spotted along Main Street in Watsonville and near the City Plaza. They’re on the slough trails, the river levee and beaches as well.

Just ask Juan Zuniga and Caesar Sanchez as they run through their routine duties of keeping the City Plaza tidy; picking up these items has now become a regular chapter of their daily chores.

“We see them every day, the masks and things—it’s just part of our day,” said Sanchez, a parks maintenance worker for the city. “But we never do a half-way job. You just look around and you see the Plaza looks good—we like to keep it that way.”

Zuniga, also a parks maintenance worker, said he’s seen his share of syringes, broken glass, gloves and masks.

“But that’s what we’re here to do,” he said. “It’s a good job, and we are here to make this a better place. We keep the Plaza clean and people like it—everybody likes it. A lady walked up to me this morning and said the Plaza looks beautiful.”

On top of this, in adapting to recent Covid-19 lockdowns, restaurant takeout containers have surged, translating to some of these boxes, bags, utensils and such ending up in the gutters and parking lots, among other locations. They’re also filling trash and recycle bins faster.

Jackie McCloud, the senior utilities engineer for the city, said she has been deeply dismayed by the accumulation of mask and glove litter.

“I’m an ultra runner, and I’m shocked at how many masks and gloves I’m seeing along the trails where I run,” she said.

Jointly addressing the issue Tuesday morning, McCloud and Steve Palmisano, the director of the Public Works Department for the City, said efforts this week to attack city litter will take a big step up as volunteers with Hope Services and the Community Action Board (CAB) will come back into action following, collectively, months of shutdown.

“That’s the reason we are seeing so much litter,” Palmisano said. “Hope Services have been off since March and CAB was off for a month, but they’re coming back and we’ll start to see a big difference; it will have a tremendous impact.”

McCloud said the two teams focus on litter removal in the city including “inner slough channels and the Pajaro River channel.” She said in the 2018-19 fiscal year they collected 1,600 cubic yards of litter, equivalent to 800 fully-loaded dumpsters.

“We’re just teaming up with these teams again and we’re excited,” McCloud said. “It’s about a big collaborative effort between these teams and the City.”

McCloud stressed the idea of empowerment of such community teams “to be a part of the solution.”

Palmisano spoke bluntly: “We’d love to send a message: We don’t have enough resources. We ask the community to help out—help get those discarded masks and gloves into the trash. The last thing we need is to add to the litter problem; it really takes those volunteer groups and the public to keep our cities safe.”

Palmisano added that with September being Coastal Cleanup Month, work is ongoing through even wider spread volunteer efforts, but under a different formula this year due to the pandemic.

Instead of organized coastal cleanup groups, and concentrated teams hitting area beaches and shores, the public is being asked to fan out on their own to collect litter.

“People are stepping up,” Palmisano said, “to help keep our environment safe and clean.”

County Supervisors Approve Streamlined Rebuilding for Fire Victims

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County Supervisors Approve Streamlined Rebuilding for Fire Victims

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved a set of detailed rules that outline how residents who lost their homes in the CZU Lightning Complex fire can rebuild.

Under the new rules, the county will add consultants and staff to process building and other related permits. In addition, demolition permits will not be required to begin rebuilding, and displaced residents can now set up at least one temporary structure such as RVs and ADUs on properties throughout the county.

The supervisors also agreed to reduce planning fees by about $6,000 and to allow previously unpermitted structures built before 1986 to be “grandfathered in” for approval during the rebuilding process. 

The board also approved a plan to allow Felton Quarry to receive and process concrete, asphalt and other “hardscape” materials from sites affected by the fire.

The supervisors will discuss on Oct. 6 the possibility of amending county code to support “streamlined recovery and rebuilding.”

“They want to get their lives back of course, and to do that they need a clear path that is predictable, affordable and feasible,” Supervisor Bruce McPherson said. 

The CZU Lightning Complex fire destroyed 911 homes, three multi-family residences, 148 commercial or mixed-use buildings and 391 minor structures, according to county spokesman Jason Hoppin.

Preliminary estimates place the total damage valuation at $340 million, which includes extensive damage to public infrastructures such as roads and water systems, Hoppin said.

In other action, the board approved a new urgency ordinance prohibiting price-gouging in goods, services or housing. 

Existing law limits certain price increases in these areas to no more than 10% in the 30 days after a disaster declaration. The new ordinance authorizes the Board or the Director of Emergency Services to extend those restrictions at 30-day intervals as needed. Violations are a misdemeanor punishable by fines of $1,000 or up to one year in jail. Violators are also subject to civil penalties up to $10,000. 

McPherson compared price-gouging during a disaster to looting.

“We really need to protect under these circumstances from those who would profit so to speak from misfortune,” he said. “This is probably the lowest you can go.”

The Board also authorized hotel stays in excess of 30 days for fire evacuees. 

As residents who lost their homes to the fire begin to assess their properties, county officials announced Tuesday they cannot yet dig, sift or evaluate the debris left behind until approved by environmental health authorities. 

Fire sites are often toxic and include hazardous substances such as lead-acid and household batteries, compressed gas cylinders, bulk pesticides, fertilizers and pool chemicals; paints, thinners and aerosol cans, asbestos and more. 

Fire-damaged debris will not be accepted at any county waste facility, and placement in residential or commercial trash collection bins will result in bins not being accepted by GreenWaste, Hoppin said.

Removal of hazardous waste must be completed by federal, state and local jurisdictions working under safe handling guidelines. 

“Fire debris can be toxic and needs special handling and disposal procedures,” said Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Director Marilyn Underwood. “It is critical that the public refrain from removing any fire-damaged debris from their property.” 

For more information, visit santacruzcounty.us/firerecovery.aspx.

County Prepares For Election Day Under Extraordinary Circumstances

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County Prepares For Election Day Under Extraordinary Circumstances

With Election Day less than two months away, Santa Cruz County elections officials are preparing to conduct an election beset by twin calamities—fires that ravaged the county and displaced tens of thousands, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Santa Cruz County Clerk Gail Pellerin says that two executive orders recently signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom will allow her department to safely carry out the Nov. 3 election.

“Covid-19 and the CZU fires have changed how we will conduct this November 3 election,” Pellerin said in a press release. “We have launched a Vote Safe Santa Cruz campaign to make sure voters have plenty of options to cast their ballot without risking their health and safety.”

One change for the November election is that county elections officials will mail a ballot to all registered voters in California as a way to slow the spread of Covid-19 by allowing people to vote from home.

Ballots will be mailed by Oct. 5, then daily for new registrants or people who have updated their registration. 

Voters who have been impacted by the CZU Lightning Complex fire do not need to re-register to vote, Pellerin said. They can fill out a change of address form on the County Elections Department’s website at votescount.us. The mailing address can be a place of work, the home of a family member or friend, or a post office box.

Residents can also go to an in-person location to get a ballot or sign up to receive a ballot via email.

“Ballots cannot be forwarded,” Pellerin said. “So, if you signed up for your mail to be forwarded through the USPS, you still need to update your mailing address with us. Otherwise, your ballot will be returned to us as undeliverable.”

Pellerin also said voters should sign up to track their ballot at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov. Voters will get email or text alerts when their ballot is mailed, when it is received by the county elections office and if there is any problem with counting the ballot.

Voters can additionally sign up for free informed delivery through the United States Postal Service. 

Even though ballots will be mailed to all voters, counties must also provide in-person voting. However, Santa Cruz County will not have traditional polling places. Instead, voters can go to any one of at least 17 voting locations to return their ballot or get a replacement ballot, among several other services.

Voters do not have to return the ballot through the mail, although that is a safe option, Pellerin said.

“There has been concern about the United States Postal Service’s ability to manage the amount of election mail California will have this fall,” she noted in a press release. “Postal reps have reassured elections officials that they can manage the mail and ballots will not be delayed.”

The elections department is providing several options to return ballots:

Drop Boxes

The ballot drop boxes will be located at the following locations and available 24/7 until 8pm on Nov. 3:

  • Aptos – Public Library, 7695 Soquel Drive
  • Aptos – Polo Grounds, 2255 Huntington Drive
  • Aptos – Cabrillo College by football stadium, 3732 Cabrillo College Drive
  • Ben Lomond – Highlands Park, 8500 Highway 9
  • Boulder Creek – Library, 13390 W. Park Ave.: Walk up (may have to be relocated due to the fires)
  • Capitola – City Hall, 420 Capitola Ave.
  • Capitola – Shopping Mall (near Sears), 1855 41st Ave.
  • Felton – Covered Bridge Park, Mt. Hermon/Graham Hill Road
  • Santa Cruz – County Gov. Center, 701 Ocean St.
  • Santa Cruz – Public Library, 212 Church St.
  • Santa Cruz – UCSC Quarry Plaza: Walk up
  • Scotts Valley – City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive
  • Watsonville – Parking Lot 14, 316 Rodriguez St.
  • Watsonville – County Health Center, 1430 Freedom Blvd.
  • Watsonville – Corralitos Community Center, 35 Browns Valley Road
  • County Elections, Simpkins Swim Center and City Clerks will have ballot return boxes.

Voters may also return their ballot inside one of the locations below that are open during regular business hours:

  • County Elections: 701 Ocean St., Room 310, Santa Cruz      
  • Santa Cruz City Clerk: 809 Center St., Santa Cruz
  • Simpkins Swim Center: 979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz         
  • Capitola City Clerk: 420 Capitola Ave., Capitola  
  • Scotts Valley City Clerk: 1 Civic Center Drive, Scotts Valley      
  • Watsonville City Clerk: 275 Main St., Watsonville

Voting locations 

Some of these sites may have to be relocated due to fire damage or being used for a shelter or other emergency purpose: 

  • Aptos – Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road
  • Boulder Creek – Boulder Creek Recreation Hall, 13333 Middleton Road
  • Capitola – New Brighton Middle School, 250 Washburn Ave.
  • Felton – San Lorenzo Valley High School, 7105 Highway 9
  • Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections, 701 Ocean St., Room 310
  • Santa Cruz – Simpkins Swim Center, 979 17th Ave.
  • Santa Cruz – Bonny Doon Elementary School, 1492 Pine Flat Road
  • Santa Cruz – Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St.
  • Santa Cruz – Masonic Center, 828 N. Branciforte Ave.
  • Santa Cruz – Natural Bridges School, 255 Swift St.
  • Scotts Valley – Scott Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village Road
  • Scotts Valley – SV High School, 555 Glenwood Drive
  • Soquel – Soquel Conference Center, 1931 Old San Jose Road
  • Watsonville – Watsonville City Clerk Office/Community Room, 250 Main St., 6th Floor
  • Watsonville – Pajaro Valley Community Trust, 85 Nielson St.
  • Watsonville – La Selva Beach Clubhouse, 314 Estrella Ave.
  • Watsonville – Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave.
  • Watsonville – Calabasas Elementary School, 202 Calabasas Road
  • Santa Cruz – UCSC, Merrill Cultural Center, open only Nov. 2 from 8am-5pm and Nov. 3, from 7am-8pm

Unless otherwise noted, the above sites will be open during the following times:

  • Saturday, Oct. 31 from 9am-5pm
  • Sunday, Nov. 1 from 9am-5pm
  • Monday, Nov. 2 from 8am-5pm
  • Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 7am-8pm

Voting locations will also have ballot return boxes. The Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Office at 701 Ocean St., Room 310, and the Watsonville City Clerk’s Office located at 250 Main St., 6th floor, will be open beginning Oct. 5 for voters who want to get a ballot in person.

To learn more, visit the County Elections Department’s website votescount.us.

Click here to see all of our ongoing 2020 election coverage.

A Stellar, Bright Chardonnay 2017 from Sarah’s Vineyard

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A Stellar, Bright Chardonnay 2017 from Sarah’s Vineyard

One of the best Chardonnays I ever tasted was made by Sarah’s Vineyard—and they continue to do a stellar job with all their wines. The 2017 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay ($36) is a sure-fire hit. Grapes are harvested from the Bruzzone vineyard in Santa Cruz, resulting in a wine of bright acidity with “a light touch of oak.” Gorgeous notes of tropical fruit, citrus and flowers intermingle with aromas of pineapple, pear, honeysuckle and a smidgeon of almond.

Proprietor Tim Slater also makes estate Chardonnay as well as an abundance of other fine wines. His Grenache Blanc, with its “zingy tropical fruit characters,” is another good wine to keep on hand. There are tasting room exclusives, too. A six-pack of summer whites is $150—not a bad deal for half a dozen superb wines.

Sarah’s Vineyard has now opened up a patio area for tastings. Reservations can be made Thursdays through Sundays for up to six people from the same household. And you are welcome to bring your own picnic or purchase snacks for their menu. Table reservations are for a 90-minute window, with three seatings available. And check out the recipes that Slater and his wife Megan have posted on their website. You might get some inspiration for what to pair with Slater’s Chardonnay.

Sarah’s Vineyard, 4005 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy. 408-847-1947. sarahsvineyard.com.

Atoria’s Family Bakery

Atoria’s Family Bakery in Gilroy—their vegan facility is based just over Hecker Pass—makes a delicious assortment of naan, pita and lavash. Lavash is a thin, soft and pliable ancient flatbread which keeps in the refrigerator or stores for months in the freezer. Made with healthy ingredients and low in calories, it comes in plain, whole grain and flax, spinach, or garlic and herb. And the new cauliflower and coconut mini lavash is now my favorite. Try Atoria’s pita bread and naan—ideal for adding pizzazz to a sandwich or using as pizza dough. Atoria bakes “clean bread with simple ingredients.” Available at local stores, or buy online.

Atoria’s Family Bakery, Gilroy. 800-634-5502. atoriasfamilybakery.com.

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A Stellar, Bright Chardonnay 2017 from Sarah’s Vineyard

Gorgeous notes of tropical fruit, citrus and flowers make this wine a sure-fire hit
Read more
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