It was 17 years ago that a group of volunteers began to restore the Rancho San Andreas Castro Adobe, a structure whose endurance over its 176-year lifespan helps paint a picture of California history.

Now fully restored and equipped with interpretative displays, touchable exhibits and multimedia offerings, the building is open monthly—including this Sunday, Aug. 11.

Restoration efforts began in 2007, when volunteers made more than 2,000 adobe bricks by hand and recreated the kitchen, which is one of just four Mexican-era “cocinas” in the state, says Bonny Hawley, executive director of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, a nonprofit operating partner for local state parks.

“That was quite a project,” Hawley says. “This is painstakingly restored.”

Several historical displays tell the story of the Castro family, who once owned the land, and the families that lived in the house in the intervening years.

In addition, engineers retrofitted the building for earthquake safety, building a “steel rib cage,” Hawley said.

The historical displays also tell the story of the people who worked in the house, and the vaqueros who rode the vast land once owned by the Castros.

Just inside the door is the dining room, where realistic kitchen sound effects and displays of dishes give a sense of what the inhabitants may have seen.

Visitors can also see the dance hall and the master bedroom once occupied by Juan Castro, who was elected as county supervisor just after California achieved statehood, and was the first and only Latino to hold that role until Tony Campos in 1988.

Historians excavating the site also found pieces of dishes, along with the broken face of a China doll and even buckshot, all of which is on display.

Originally built in 1848, the Castro Adobe boasted a fandango room, which drew neighbors and workers alike to parties that lasted for days.

After the structure was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, owner Edna Kimbro tried for years to get it restored before selling it to the state in 2002. It’s now a National Historic Site and a California State Landmark.

“The Castro Adobe has an amazing story waiting to be told and the day has finally arrived for visitors to experience it,” said Chris Spohrer, Santa Cruz District Superintendent for State Parks. “We are so excited to celebrate this decades-long collaborative process to preserve and interpret the Castro.”

The public can tour the Castro Adobe from 10:30am to 3:30pm on these dates: Aug. 11, Sept. 21, Oct. 13, Nov. 16 and Dec. 8. For information, visit  SantaCruzStateParks.as.me.

When thousands of Pajaro Valley Unified School District students return to school on Aug. 14, they will likely meet their teachers, pick up armloads of books and greet friends they haven’t seen in weeks.

What they may not notice is the sizable behind-the-scenes transformation that has taken place at the PVUSD district office among cabinet-level positions.

Historically, the district has employed two assistant superintendents, one who oversaw elementary education while the other was charged with middle and high schools.

But the assistant superintendent titles—one of elementary education and the other secondary education—frequently dissuaded otherwise qualified candidates from applying, said Superintendent Heather Contreras.

“People might see an elementary title or a secondary title and think, ‘Oh, I taught elementary school, and even though I have great leadership skills or an understanding of comprehensive education, I see that elementary title  and think, I can only apply for elementary,’” she said.

And the plan worked, attracting a qualified pool of applicants, Contreras said.

Worse, separating the elementary and secondary into two separate entities unnecessarily compartmentalized a system that must work together seamlessly, Contreras said.

“One of the things I really believe in for a school district is that it’s a continuous pre-K–12 system,” she said. 

When Contreras started with the district in May, all but one cabinet position was filled with interim employees.

That, she said, was an opportunity to restructure the system.

“It allowed people to be able to see themselves in different positions,” Contreras said. “The old titles were siloing our workers from elementary to secondary.

“I think teaching and learning applies to every human being,” she added. “We tend to learn in the same ways. It’s just the leadership that helps to support people on that journey that seems to matter most.”

Under the new system, the following are cabinet-level positions:

• Assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction

• Assistant superintendent of educational services

• Assistant superintendent of human resources

• Director of technology

• Chief business officer

• Director of technology

• Executive director of student support services

• Public information officer

My early years were spent in Hollywood, California. We lived under the Griffith Park Observatory. I was a joyous, sprite-like, hyperactive kid. In second grade, I was recognized as a budding artist who excelled at jigsaw puzzles. My teenage years were filled with music, art and bikes. My studies included welding, photojournalism, photography, clothing design and culinary arts.

My favorite invention has always been the bicycle. Riding a bike was like flying. It was freedom, transportation and joy, an emotional full-body experience.

In July 1982, our family moved from Hollywood to Santa Cruz. The next month, I bought a one-way bus ticket back to LA and left a note for my mom. But that’s a different story for another time.

My first job in Santa Cruz was for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. I delivered the afternoon paper. My second job was at India Joze, busing tables. Later, I worked at the Bagelry, Community Foods, Photo Drive-Up, and various farmers markets selling tropical fruits and bone broth.

Starting in 2007, I became a professional disc golfer and got to travel across the US for world championships, which led to instant community. In 2018, I discovered mountain bike racing and collected a handful of bikes. My favorites were single-speed mountain bikes.

People remember me from Local Talk, a column in Good Times that I wrote for 18 years. During the pandemic, dozens of people came up to me and asked, “Why aren’t you doing the column anymore?” I told them free papers are run by advertisement dollars. When businesses close, ad dollars dry up.

In June 2022, I worked four part-time jobs just to live in Santa Cruz.

Early morning, July 1, 2022, I had a motorcycle accident. When the emergency crew found me, I didn’t have a pulse. I was flown by helicopter to Natividad Trauma Center in Salinas. I had suffered a traumatic brain injury and required surgery for multiple skull fractures.

I was placed in an induced coma and intubated for two weeks. A doctor asked my sisters if they wanted to start morphine and discontinue life support.

My sister, Sarah, a local registered nurse responded, “That is not an option!” If she had not said that, then you wouldn’t be reading my story right now.

I spent a month at Natividad and the doctors there told my family I was a “Miracle Boy.” Next, I was transferred to Dominican Hospital, remaining there for 5 1/2 months. The care at Dominican was full of love, truly next-level love.

Today, I still have my long-term memories, my sense of humor, my amazing good looks (lol), and now my voice is returning. I am also learning to walk again. Among my many wishes would be improved vision, clearer speech, walking on my own, use of my hands (to cook, to do art, to dress myself, etc.) and to ride a bike again on my own. I am now disabled, legally blind and learning how to walk and talk again.

I am forever grateful for my family, the continued support of my Santa Cruz community and friends all around the world. When the accident happened, my family and friends had prayed for my recovery. My Aunt Victoria sent me these words: “God says to you, Matthew, ‘I have restored you. Your old life is left in the mountain, Go and live a new life I have given you.’”

It’s been two years since the accident that has changed my life. I feel that I am ready to step into a new role, perhaps as an inspiration for others who also have suffered from traumatic brain injury.

At the same time, I am still an artist, a journalist, a humanitarian and a survivor.

Looking out into our world these days, I am concerned with our politics. And I have a few ideas. 

Can we all agree to preserve our democracy this way:

• Designate the First Saturday in November as a National Holiday.

• Institute rank choice voting.

• Abolish gerrymandering.

• Term limits for all representatives.

• Dismantle the electoral college: one person, one vote.

• Repeal Citizens United, money is not free speech.

With the support of my family and community, I know a new life is possible. Being unemployed and disabled for almost 24 months now, I must draw upon my creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and will power to develop a nonprofit that can help me continue to thrive against present and upcoming financial burdens.

What am I up to now?

The following are some endeavors I am working on with support of beloved family and friends:

• An app that I created called “I Call U Out”—a way to get people, young and old, off their devices and go outside into the fresh air.

• A podcast interviewing local artists, writers, change makers, musicians, peacekeepers and entrepreneurs.

• A high-quality book of photographs and artwork that I have created throughout my life.

• A nonprofit for traumatic brain injury awareness.

• A gallery and community center, hosting music, art, comedy and various events.

Donations of original artwork are being accepted for an upcoming benefit, launch party and silent auction. If you can, please contribute gift certificates for local small businesses and tickets for upcoming concerts.

Thanks to the unconditional love of everyone reading this. Gratitude and thanks to my mother, Risa, and my sisters, Laura and Sarah, and my extended family, my many loving friends, the unique Cabrillo Community College Stroke Center, local farmers, and the dedicated support from Jove, Jay, Ann Wasserman and my caretakers.

“Every day in every way, I am getting better and better, and the best is yet to come!” has been my daily mantra.

Gratitude, goodwill and love are the greatest healers.

To learn more about Matthew Scott and efforts to aid his recovery, visit his GoFundMe campaign, the Facebook Page Love for Matt Scott, and Scott’s own website, heartwrencher.com.