Capitola / Soquel Times December 2011

COMM U N I T Y N EW S T H AT MA K E S A D I F F E R E N C E Vol 16 No. 12

Serving Central Santa Cruz County

Chairmen of the Second Harvest Food Drive.

December 2011

By Noel Smith

fter three years of theeconomic recession,

hunger has become a commu-nity crisis on the CentralCoast. Many residents arefaced each day with difficultchoices in how to use their

diminishing resources;whether it’s for transportation,food, rent, utilities or medi-cine. Many have to considerlimiting their food purchases,which could result in periodsof hunger. Such food insecuri-ty often results in the purchaseof cheaper, lower quality foods

that can increase the risks ofmalnutrition and obesity.

Communities are consid-ered to have food securitywhen everyone has access toculturally appropriate, nutri-tious food from local, non-emergency sources. SecondHarvest Food Security projects

help support this goal.To better understand the

challenges faced by our hungryneighbors and the agencies thatserve them, Second Harvestrecently released its 2010 hungerstudy showing that:

... continued on page 5

SECOND HARVEST – THE POWER OF COMMUNITYYour Holiday Giving Will Last Well Into 2012

Locally owned & operatedwww.TPGonlinedaily.com

PAGE12 14P

AGE6PAGE

2011 HolidayVolunteer

Opportunities Guide

his season, the Volunteer Centerinvites community members to

reach beyond their normal holiday cele-brations and create new traditionsthrough volunteering. The VolunteerCenter maintains an on-line listing ofHoliday VolunteerOpportunities on theirwebsite to make thesearch for holiday vol-unteer opportunitiesquick and easy. Thislist will be availablenow through NewYear’s and will be regularly updatedthroughout the season.

To view the listing visitwww.scvolunteercenter.org and checkout the list of opportunities. Feel free tocall the Volunteer Center with any ques-tions about Holiday Volunteering at 831-427-5070.

•••

The Valley Churches UnitedMissions Thanksgiving Project pro-

vides ingredients for a Thanksgivingmeal. The Christmas Project providestoys, gifts, basic necessities and food tofamilies, seniors, disabled and homeless.

... continued on page 4

A

TGathered donated gifts

World ofMany ColorsSC World Choir

TheNutcrackerTradition

Bob BegunRememberedFormer Capitola Mayor

AnnualValleyHolidayProjects

Now throughDec. 22

2 / December 2011 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

CCoommmmuunniittyyBriefsCabrillo Winter Dance Concert

Cabrillo College Dance DepartmentPresents Annual Winter Dance

Concert Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2 & 3 at7:30 PM • Sunday, Dec. 4 at 1:00 PM

The Cabrillo College DanceDepartment proudly presents its annualThe Winter Dance Concert. The concertfeatures dances by faculty and guest chore-ographers, performed by Cabrillo Collegedance students.

Guest choreographers include FlexDance Company’s Leslie Johnson,SambaDa’s Dandha Da Hora, Hip Hop

choreographer Marissa Valera, andDamara Vita Ganley, of San Francisco’scritically acclaimed Joe GoodePerformance Group. Faculty choreogra-phers include David King, Cid Pearlmanand Amy Farhood with her WatsonvilleSalsa Repertory class. Flex DanceCompany and Dixie Fun Dance Theatrewill also perform.

~~~Friday & Saturday, December 2 & 3 at

7:30 PM | Matinee Sunday, Dec. 4 at 1:00PM Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 SoquelDrive, Aptos

Tickets: $12 General, $10Students/Seniors, $8 Student Activity Card atwww.brownpapertickets.com

•••Christmas with The Santa Cruz Chorale

Join the Santa Cruz Chorale and friendsin celebrating the Christmas season.Friday, December 16, 7 pm Our Lady

Help of Christians 2401 East Lake Ave,Watsonville

Saturday, December 17 8 pm –Sunday, December 18, 4 pm, Holy CrossChurch, 170 High St. Santa Cruz

Performing Bach’s Nun komm derHieden Heiland, Magnificat in D major byMonteverdi, and some wonderful

“Briefs” > 21

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / December 2011 / 3

VOL. 16 NO. 12

CoverSecond Harvest – The Power of Community – Your Holiday GivingWill Last Well Into 2012 By Noel Smith2011 Holiday Volunteer Opportunities Guide

Community News2 Cabrillo Winter Dance Concert • Christmas with The Santa Cruz

Chorale6 Bob Begun – Always Looking Into the Future By Noel Smith9 Capitola Mayor proclaims December 3 Heartland Hospice Day •

Christmas Tree Sales Support School Programs11 Seascape Beach Resort’s Mad Hatter’s Holiday Tea Party December 1112 The Nutcracker - A Santa Cruz tradition! December 16, 17 & 18 14 A World of Many Colors – New Concert by the Santa Cruz World Choir

and Orchestra17 Give the Gift of Music – The Santa Cruz County Symphony Concert

Season is here! 19 Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to Protect 10,000 Acres – Group seeks

final $2.5 million in $46 million fund-raising campaign21 Highway 1 Drainage & Guardrail Upgrades from Nov. 15 to March

2012 announced24 Hospice of Santa Cruz County Understands the Journey of Grief and

the Holidays

Sports Wrap8 Coastal Collision – Newest Martial Arts Showcase by Noel Smith • Mid-

County Scoreboard

Business Profiles16 AA Safe & Security – Over 50 Years of Security Solutions By Gail

Penniman20 The Wardrobe – Where Shopping is Always an Adventure By Gail

Penniman

Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28 & 29

Monthly Horoscope • Page 29 - Your December Horoscope -Annabel Burton, Astrologer©

Featured Columnists21 Money Matters – Let’s Make a Winning Deal by Brian Cooke and Cole

Strickland22 The Book Bag by Robert Francis – Books with holiday themes for all

ages…25 Work in Progress by Camille Smith – There’s no pill for communication

indigestion … only a cure 27 Out & About by Josie Cowden30 Holiday Fire Precautions & Prevention by Mike Conrad, Division Chief

Aptos La Selva Fire District31 Seniors in Action – Is There Really a Santa Claus? By Noreen Santaluce

SPCA Featured Pet • Page 31 – SPCA Opens Pet AdoptionStore in Capitola Mall

www.tpgonlinedaily.com

Table of Contents

9 16 19 25


The Times Publishing Group Inc., publishersof the Aptos Times, a bi-weekly publication,the Capitola Times and Scotts Valley Times,each printed monthly, Coastal WeddingsMagazine, printed twice annually andHospice Magazine, printed once annually, isowned by Patrice Edwards. Entire contents©2011 . All rights reserved. Reproduction inany form is prohibited without the publish-er’s written permission.

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CoverStory

They run Adopt-A-Family, Adopt aSenior Program, and a Christmas foodDrive. Volunteers are needed to fill foodbags, gift-wrap, for pick up and delivery,clerical support, and distribution help.They are open 7 days a week through Dec.22. To Volunteer call 336-8258.

•••

The California Grey Bears is a non-prof-it organization made up of seniors

helping seniors. The organization’sHoliday Food Delivery is on Dec. 23-24,and help is needed to deliver food to sen-iors throughout the county. For more infor-mation, call 831-479-1055.

•••Adopt A Family Holiday Project

Volunteers Needed

The Holidays can be a worrisome timefor families struggling to make ends

meet. The Volunteer Center in partnershipwith fellow nonprofits, strives to make theholidays brighter for more than 400 localfamilies by providing them with holidaypackages of food, clothes, and giftsthrough the Adopt a Family HolidayProject.

You can be the difference and share inthe holiday spirit by volunteering to sup-port this annual program. There are a vari-ety of volunteer opportunities availablethroughout the project session. Our Adopta Family Phone Lines are now openMonday through Friday from 10am-4pmuntil Dec 9. Give a call to adopt a family,donate, volunteer or ask questions. 831-427-5075 in Santa Cruz and 831-722-2364 inWatsonville.

Beach Flats Community Center Annual Thanksgiving Meal

Join us for our Thanksgiving dinner withall the Turkey Trimmings. This wonder-ful, warm celebration is open to all com-munity members, and supports homeless& low-income folks. Volunteers needed to

help with the welcome table, set up, serv-ing, kids activities and clean up. Dinnerwill be served from 3-6pm, but we willneed volunteers from 1-7pm. Two hourshifts available. Dinner will take place atBeach Flats Park (corner of Raymond St. &Leibrandt Ave/ 160 Raymond Street, SantaCruz, CA 95060). In the case of rain, themeal will be held inside of the Beach FlatsCommunity Center, at 133 Leibrandt Ave,Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

Community Connection Thanksgiving Meal

We are seeking 3-5 volunteers to sup-port with preparing food for the

Community Connection ThanksgivingMeal. This is a wonderful, free meal pro-vided to low-income folks in south county@ the Watsonville Veteran’s hall.Traditionally, South County mental healthstaff serves the meal to the mental healthclients in this festive, annual communityevent.

Volunteers are needed to help preparestuffing and mashed potatoes at theWatsonville Volunteer Center kitchen(located, adjacent to the Veteran’s Hall at12 Carr Street, Santa Cruz, Ca 95076.) Allingredients and recipes will be provided,volunteers will simply support with thefood prep work. Volunteer Shift. Tuesday,11/22/11, from 9:30-12:30pm. For MoreInformation/To Get Involved: ContactCommunity Connection VolunteerCoordinator Rachel Glynn @[email protected] or via phone831.722.6708

Holiday Camping Trip Sat, Dec. 10, 9am to Sun Dec. 11, 5pm

Volunteers ages 18+ are needed to assistwith a fun Holiday Camping Trip for

developmentally disabled children andadults. Volunteers will spend the night atCamp Krem in Boulder Creek and assistcampers with their needs during theirovernight visit. Volunteers will help us

offer a wide array of activities includingarts/crafts, music, dance, games, hiking.Volunteers will also assist with supervi-sion, food prep and clean up. Please join usfor this festive weekend, featuring treetrimming, a visit from Santa, a talent showand more! Volunteers should be mature,friendly and patient folks who can committo a full weekend volunteer shift, from 9amon Saturday through 5pm on Sunday.Background Check required. To apply,email us at [email protected].

Mad Hatter’s Holiday Tea Party Sunday Dec. 11

Alice, again, will venture into theRabbit Hole to attend (and help host)

the Mad Hatter’s Holiday Tea Party to ben-efit Toys For Tots in Santa Cruz County,sponsored for the third year by AptosSeascape Beach Resort. This season, in aneffort to involve as many characters as pos-sible, the Mad Hatter is planning a cabaret-style program, characters roaming table-to-table. This means adding an MC, per-formers, and yes, even MORE madness!Invited along to the party are the WhiteRabbit, King & Queen of Hearts, Jack ofHearts and the Caterpillar as characteractors (adults please), and you know therest! Event to benefit Toys For Tots-SantaCruz County — Experienced child per-formers, and adults, are welcome to partic-ipate as: musical entertainers, · performdance routines, · magicians, jugglers, and ·performing skits that fit the theme. Bringus your creative ideas and talent for con-sideration! ·Adults needed for Director,Backstage and Production Crew assistance.

Community Connection Christmas PartyDec. 22 11am - 1pm

Cooks (12/21 evening and 12/22 morn-ing, deliver to our offices on 12/22 by

10am) (in our kitchen: 12/22: 7-10:30am).We need one to three cooks to prepare avariety of dishes from cranberry sauce toturkey. Cook in the comfort of your homeand deliver to our offices for the party orbring your favorite apron and whip it up inour kitchen on the morning of the 22nd.

Set Up 12/21 2-5pm: The party plan-ners are seeking two people to help withpre-party set up. This includes hangingdecorations, arranging tables and otherodd jobs to make our office a magicalWinter Wonderland. One or two people arewelcome to make detailed adjustmentsto the party setting just before our guestsarrive. This includes setting up tables,preparing food trays, sign making, andother tasks for our elf helpers.

Wrapping Gifts 12/21: The ElfWrapping Crew can expect to become tapemasters, red and green paper twirlers, andscissor symphonists. Come transform ourpurchases into picturesque presents.Please call or email for shift times. n

“Holiday Gifts” from pg 1

Volunteers work on decorations for gift packages.


CoverStory

• Second Harvest serves 17,200 peo-ple each week by through its 200 memberagencies. This total has increased 58 per-cent since 2006 and is now over 55,000 peo-ple each month.

• 93 percent of these member agenciesare staffed entirely by volunteers.

• 45 percent of those served are chil-dren

Second Harvest Food Bank was thefirst food bank in California and the sec-ond in the nation. Founded in 1972, SecondHarvest began by distributing food from aparking lot in Santa Cruz to groups operat-ing the Breakfast for Kids programs.

For over thirty years, Second Harvesthas distributed surplus locally grown pro-duce and other food staples to the needy inour community. Second Harvest receivesfood from local growers and shippers,food industry manufacturers and retailerslike local grocery stores, federal food pro-grams, food bank networks, and commu-nity food drives like theHoliday Food Drive.

Second HarvestFood Bank operationsare streamlined and effi-cient, providing 55,000clients per month withnutritious food andleveraging every dollardonated to provide fourindividual meals forneedy families. This is done with a smallstaff and a low 5 percent overhead.

How do they do it? It’s communityworking together to gather the donatedharvest of fresh, frozen and preparedfoods. It’s the fundraising gathering in themoney needed to pay for food. It’s havingprofessionals at Second Harvest and itsmember agencies working to coordinateall these efforts of community support andthe host of volunteers. Its having leader-ship that maintains focus on its mission ofhelping to feed low-income families, chil-dren, seniors, and the working poor.

All food and funds raised during theHoliday Food Drive will be used to pur-chase the food that Second Harvest pro-cures, and that our network of 200 agenciesand programs distributes throughoutSanta Cruz County in the winter months.

What foods shouldbe collected? CannedMeat, Fish & Soups •Canned Ready to EatMeals�• CannedVegetables & TomatoProducts • PeanutButter (plastic contain-er)�• Iron Rich Cereal(45% or more of dailyvalue) • 100% Fruit

Juice (48 oz. or less plastic bottles)�•Canned Fruit (in juice) • Dry Beans (anytype) • Enriched Rice or Pasta �•Powdered Milk

Stories shared at this year’s HolidayFood Drive Kickoff ranged from six-year-old Travis raising hundreds of dollars bygoing door-to-door in his neighborhoodselling homemade kites, to St. FrancisHigh School in Watsonville stepping up toraise 10,000 lbs of food, to Twin lavesChurch pledging to raise 1 million lbs offood in financial and food donations.There are also hundreds of private partiesand community fund-raising events. We’realways astounded by the creativity anddesire to make a difference that embodiesthis amazing community of ours.

The Power of Community reallymakes a difference to all who live herewhether they are the givers or those whoseneeds are met by the generosity and sacri-fice of others. Find your way to tap into thePower of Community

Merry Christmas! n•••

Cover Picture: Former and currentHoliday Food Drive Chairmen (from left):Bruce McPherson, former California Secretaryof State • Ryan Coonerty, Current Chairman& Santa Cruz Mayor • René Schlaepfer, Pastorof Twin Lakes Church.

“Second Harvest” from pg 1

Six-year-old Travis has raised hundreds of dol-lars by going door-to-door in his neighborhoodselling homemade kites.

Ryan Coonerty & Willy Elliott-McCrea, SecondHarvest CEO


CCoommmmuunniittyyNews

Bob Begun – Always Looking Into the FutureBy Noel Smith

Bob Begun was a futures person.Whether it was finance, land use, orcity government, he was always

looking for the best way to make Capitolaa better place to live. Bob’s monthly col-umn in the Capitola Soquel Times wasalready a fixture when I first became partof the Times Publishing Group, Inc. familyin 2004. Each columndealt with not only thecurrent issues facingCapitola, they alsoaddressed how best tomeet those issues.

As a retired pro-fessional engineer, Bobwas a pragmatist. Hewasn’t always lookingfor the most popularsolution, but the most practical and costeffective. Because he cared deeply aboutCapitola, he brought the best he had interms of his intellect and experience tocrafting resolutions that he determined tobe the best for the city.

Every so often, I would get a phone

call from Bob inviting me to meethim for lunch at Carpo’s. Hedidn’t talk about his health orhis past, the conversationalways revolved aroundCapitola and its current chal-lenges such as the library, theRispin mansion, the Golinoproperty, a proposed hotel orskate park or city finances etc. Hewanted to know what I thought orsuggested or was concerned about regard-ing Capitola.

Bob will be sorely missed for his intel-lect, integrity and his attention to detail butmost of all for his devotion to makingCapitola a better place for all its citizens. n

•••Robert ‘Bob’ Arnold Begun

Born: Oct. 1, 1927, in New York CityDied: Nov. 20, 2011, in Santa CruzMilitary Service: Ensign in U.S.Maritime Service, 1947

Education: College of the City of NewYork, bachelor’s degree in electronicengineering, 1950

Career: Electronic engineer, man-ager at FMC, San JoseCivic Service: Capitola citytreasurer, 2000-2006; CityCouncil, 2004-2008 andmayor in 2009; served asCapitola’s representative toLocal Agency FormationCommission and the Library

Financing Authority; served asthe city’s alternate on the Santa CruzCounty Regional TransportationCommission; founding member ofthe Capitola Economic DevelopmentCommittee; chairman of the CapitolaFinance Committee, 2011; active inthe Senior Coalition; small businesspartner for Intelligent Automation,which built and supplied time stop-pers for the Boy Scouts’ small car rac-ers.�

Columnist: Authored CapitolaReflections; a monthly column for theCapitola Soquel Times since 2000

Survivors: Sister Sara Begun; daughtersAnn Begun and Debbie Braga; partner

of 14 years, Doree Steinmann; twogranddaughters; and a great-grand-son

Services: Burial in Los Gatos alongsidewife Joan, who died in 1997 after 45years of marriage.

•••Memorial Contributions can be made in

Bob’s name to Hospice of Santa Cruz County,www.hospicesantacruz.org or the AmericanLung Association, www.lungusa.org

As a retired professionalengineer, Bob was a prag-matist ... he cared deeplyabout Capitola, he broughtthe best he had in terms ofhis intellect and experienceto crafting resolutions thathe determined to be thebest for the city.

Robert “Bob” Begun


Girls VolleyballSeason Records – Soquel 33-5

Soquel (No. 2) def. Salesian (No. 7) (25-12, 25-14, 25-16)

NorCal D-IV playoffs – First round

Soquel – Ragine Graves 20 assists; BriaMorgan 12 kills, 3 aces, 14 digs; Faith

Apolskis 7 kills; Sarah Savoca 4 aces;Camille Steber 15 digs

Soquel def. Sacred Heart Prep (25-23, 25-20, 26-24)CCS Division IV Final

Soquel – Bria Morgan 23 kills, RagineGraves 37 assists; Faith Apolskis 7 kills;

Sarah Savoca 4 blocks; Camille Steber 17digs

Boys Water PoloTCAL Mountain Awards

MVP: Max Schell - SoquelSophomore Player of the Year: Ivan Silva

– SoquelFreshman Player of the Year: Max

Somple – SoquelCoach of the Year: Marcelo Adas –

SoquelFirst Team – Soquel: Max Draga,

Cullen Raisch, Max Schell ZackWesterfeldt

Second Team – Soquel: Ivan Silva, MaxSomple

Richard Chamberlin SportsmanshipAward: Caleb Howard – Soquel

TCAL Valley AwardsSophomore Player of the Year: Gabriel

Santos – HarborFirst Team – Harbor: Avery WilmotSecond Team – Harbor: Cesar Diaz,

Jack HanaganRichard Chamberlin Sportsmanship

Award: Brennan Craig – Harbor

Girls Water PoloTCAL Mountain Awards

MVP: Lexi Mueschen - Soquel Senior Player of the Year: Lexi Mueschen

- SoquelSophomore Player of the Year: Liliana

King-Adas – SoquelCoach of the Year: Ryan Chapatte –

SoquelFirst Team – Soquel: Liliana King-Adas,

Lexi Mueschen, Michella Parelius, JillianTarr

Second Team – Soquel: Shelby WhiteTCAL Valley Awards

First Team – Harbor: Kayla Blackburn,Marissa Parker, Katie Ostermeier

Second Team – Harbor MoniqueLeBourveau

Richard Chamberlin SportsmanshipAward: Marissa Parker - Harbor

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) returnsto the Santa Cruz countyFairgrounds on December 10.

The Monterey Bay Fight Club presentscoastal Collision 4. Doors open at 6 pm,first fight at 7 pm. A number of local mar-tial art academies andfight clubs will havefighters represented atCoastal Collision 4.

Richard Delfin,25, one of the mostdedicated local MMAfighters, wrestled forAptos high school.This 5’4, 145 pound fighter of Filipinoancestry won two league championshipsin 2003 and 2004. After high school, Delfinmoved on to jiu jitsu where he eventuallychose IMS where he has been a student offormer IFPA World Champion Brian Burnsfor the past five years. Richard is also beingtrained by renowned athletic trainers Marvand Gary Morenovich at the academylocated at 1037 17th Ave. Live Oak, in SantaCruz, CA.

Richard is a recent Bethany Universitygraduate and is a minister at Grace Templein Watsonville. His amateur MMA fight

record is seven wins and three losses. Hestrives to live by the famous saying “carpediem” (Seize the day).

MMA Basics

How can one tell if the match is aMixed Martial Arts fight? First, the

gloves are 4 oz if it’s a professional boutand 6 oz for amateurs. Next, the fightersare bare foot and shirtless. The ring isround and is circumscribed by a fencerather than ropes. There is a referee insidewith the fighters and lots of screamingfans outside the ring.

A match is won when the loser “tapsout” (I quit, no mas), gets knocked out, isunable to continue (TKO), won by judges’decision, stopped by a ring doctor due toan injury, the fighter’s corner throws in thetowel, the fight is forfeited, or a fighter isdisqualified.

Coastal Collision 4 is an MMA ama-teur tournament with three 2-minuterounds per match with a one-minuterest period between rounds. MixedMartial Arts is as the name says, a mixof boxing, wrestling kickboxing. jiu jitsuand any other martial art you can find.It’s kind of like a barroom brawl with(few) rules and a timekeeper. But its

fans and practitioners wouldn’t have itany other way.

There are a growing number of fight-ers in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties,which is creating a growing business for

the martial arts academies and gainingsponsors for the tournaments.

Don’t forget, Coastal Collision 4,December 10, Santa Cruz CountyFairgrounds at 6 pm, first fight at 7 pm. n


SportsWrap

Newest Martial Arts Showcase ArrivingCoastal Collision takes place December 10 at the Santa Cruz County Fair Grounds

By Noel Smith

Richard Delfin

Mid-County High School Sports Update

The Mayor of Capitola, Dennis Norton,has proclaimed Saturday December 3,to be Heartland Hospice Day.

Heartland Hospice is located in Capitola andhas been serving all of Santa Cruz County forthe past 10 years. Heartland Hospice is dedi-cated to providing care wherever patientscall home. Whether it is in the home lived infor years, a skilled nursing center or assistedliving center, they tailor their caregiving to fiteach patient’s needs and each family’sunique situation.

To commemorate the proclamation,Heartland Hospice is hosting their firstannual “Light up a Life” event, in the vil-lage of Capitola by the bandstand,Saturday December 3, from 3:30-5:30pm.The event is free and open to the public.

“Heartland Hospice is a much neededmember of our service community,” saidMayor Norton, “and we are honored to bein partnership with them to create this

wonderful, family-friendly holiday event.”Participants are invited to decorate a

Luminary bag in honor of a loved one, andilluminate the bag in unison at about

5:15pm. Live musical accompaniment willbe provided by Celina and the C Monkeys,who will be singing the beautiful song“somewhere over the rainbow”, ukuleleHawaiian style, at the moment the bags arelighted. She will also be performingthroughout the event as participants aredecorating their bags.

“I’m just really happy to be able tosupport Heartland Hospice and the com-munity by singing at this incredible event.”– Celina Gutierrez

Free food and beverages will beserved throughout the event, and partici-pants can come anytime between 3:30 and5 to decorate a bag, with the battery- pow-ered lighting taking place at 5:15pm. n

•••Heartland Hospice Services – Capitola, 824

Bay Avenue, #40, Phone: 831-476-2158, Fax:831-476-2925. For questions, contact Forbes Ellisat Heartland Hospice in Capitola, 831-373-8442

Capitola Mayor proclaims December 3 Heartland Hospice Day‘Light up a Life’ memorial celebration event planned to honor loved ones

This year, 2011, Adam and ChristineFurlanic are celebrating their 20thyear selling Christmas trees in Santa

Cruz County. It started in Aptos in 1992with Adam’s first experience sellingChristmas Trees at the corner of ParkAvenue and Soquel Drive where Bay Photois currently located. The next year he metChristine when she came to the lot to buy atree. They sold trees on that same corneruntil 1998 when Bay Photo was built andtheir lot moved two blocks down toMonterey Ave.

In 2002, they purchased Aptos VillageProduce Market in Aptos Village next tothe Bayview Hotel. That was the first yearthat they sold pumpkins as well. Theyspent a lot of time cleaning up the fire-wood in the back area and started AptosFirewood, which they still run today. After

4 years in Aptos, they moved to their cur-rent location in Live Oak.

“When our first child started school,we realized what a great sense of commu-nity there was in Live Oak and we wantedour business to be part of that.” Their twochildren both attend Live Oak Schools andthis has brought to their business a newdimension. Christine became a boardmember of the Home and School Club andsaw firsthand the need for additional fund-ing in the schools. They found a way toincorporate fundraising into their treebusiness.

“We make flyers for the schools to dis-tribute which gives the tree buyer 10% offtheir purchase and their child’s Home andSchool Club gets an additional 10% as well!The schools use if for field trips, studentsupplies, art and music programs, andassemblies, or however their parent clubchooses to spend it. It ends up being a win-win for everyone because not only do ourcustomers get a discount, but the schoolsget a donation, and the money is stayinglocal instead of going corporate.”

So far, they have worked mostly withthe Home and School Clubs in Live Oak,but last year there were people from ScottsValley to Aptos asking if they could partic-ipate. They would love to reach out andsupport as many kids as possible throughsports leagues, daycare centers or otherkids clubs countywide.

The trees on their lot are Noble Fir,

Douglas Fir, Grand Fir,Fraiser Fir, and Nordmann.This year they plan to fea-ture local Silvertips,Sequoias, and MontereyPines in addition to theirOregon trees. There are freejumphouses for the kids,visits from Santa, and a pet-ting zoo. n

•••For information on get-

ting your Home and SchoolClub or business involved,visit www.furlanic.com andemail Christine Furlanic:[email protected]

Christmas Tree Sales at Furlanic Tree Farm Support School Programs



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Seascape Beach Resort’s Mad Hatter’s Holiday Tea PartyDecember 11 annual event to benefit the 2011 Toys for Tots campaign

Seascape Beach Resort is set to onceagain host their annual Mad Hatter’sHoliday Tea Party to benefit the 2011

Toys for Tots Santa Cruz County cam-paign. This magical fundraiser, which isbased on “Alice’s Adventures inWonderland,” will take place at the resorton Sunday, December 11.

This third annual festive holiday teaparty will feature a new production, underthe direction of Eileen Tull, with localactors, including children, as Alice, theWhite Rabbit, and Mad Hatter. The magicof the season will come alive in this annualHoliday Tea Party that will take place atSeascape Beach Resort, One SeascapeResort Drive in Aptos from 12:30 to 3pm.Reservations can be made by going to

Seascape Beach Resort’s “calendar ofevents page” at www.SeascapeResort.com.Tickets are available by going online toBrown Paper Tickets directly atwww.brownpapertickets.com/event/206202. Questions can be answered by callingSeascape Beach Resort at 831-662-7108.

Come and walk through the Queen’sCastle into Wonderland! Party guests willenjoy a hearty and plentiful buffet alongwith an array of sumptuous desserts pro-vided by well-known community bakerswill also be offered in Mad Hatter style! Ofcourse coffee, hot chocolate, sparklingcider, and most importantly, Tea, will beoffered while being entertained by thesebeloved storybook characters. Face paint-ing, crafts, and photo opportunities withthe characters in a photo booth will also beincluded. Raffle tickets will also be sold foropportunities to win fun prizes from localcompanies.

Perhaps best of all will be the wonder-ful feeling of true giving in knowing that allnet proceeds and an unwrapped child’s toy*

or cash donation fromeach participant willhelp brighten a deserv-ing family’s holiday.Toy donations from lastyear’s event sold outevent brought smiles tothe faces of over 500local children. The costof this delightful after-noon is $29 for thoseaged 2-12 and $40 forthose age 13 and over.Reservations arerequired by Friday,December 9.

*Toys for Totsrequests that for everytwo guests attending atleast one new unwrapped toy be donated.The biggest needs are for children up to 3years old and girls 9-12. Soccer balls, artsets, board games, etc. are popular with thelatter age group. Please, no guns or toys ofaggression, and for health reasons Toys for

Tots cannot accept unpacked stuffed ani-mals. n

•••More information on the local Toys for

Tots organization is available athttp://santacruzcounty.toysfortots.org

With the assistance of theOrchestra Manager, NormanPeck, Maestro John Larry

Granger gathers the Santa Cruz BalletTheatre Orchestra together each year sinceRobert Kelley and Diane Cypher, movedtheir Nutcracker to the Civic Auditoriumin 2006.

Tchaikovsky is renowned for being amaster of orchestration, and gives everyinstrument something special to do. Thepleasure of playing the music is something

that John Larry Granger encourages, at thesame time expecting, indeed demanding,each musician’s best effort.

Norman says not only is this produc-tion glorious looking, but also because themusicians are in full view of the audience,they are more involved and immersed inbringing this story to the audience.

Concert Mistress Kristina Anderson, alocal professional violinist, said: “Themusic, especially for the first violins, isvery difficult. The overture to TheNutcracker is on auditions for many majorsymphonies, and takes practicing everyyear, no matter how many times one mayhave played it.” She loves seeing the youngdancers experiencing the grandeur andsheer danceability of this music as thestory of The Nutcracker unfolds.

Polly Mahan, who plays viola in theorchestra, was introduced to this holiday

tradition as a child. She says, “I was five thefirst time. I was thrilled and insist-ed on starting ballet lessons immediately!”She appreciates playing in her own town: “Itholds a special charm.” In Santa Cruz, shecan enjoy seeing current and former musicstudents both onstage and in the audience.

It takes a lot of people working hard tomake sure this masterpiece by Tchaikovskycome to life each December. All the musi-cians agree that Santa Cruz Ballet Theaterprovides a magical production and that theholiday season would not be completewithout The Nutcracker.

Maestro John Larry Granger contendsthat The Nutcracker is one of the greatsymphonic scores that never gets old; assuch, it continues to be a ballet that pleasesaudiences all over the world. His ownrewards in the performance include work-ing with Robert Kelley, Diane Cypher andtheir dancers and guest artists. “Of course,the greatest reward is witnessing the glow

on the audience’s faces after they haveenjoyed this magical experience.”

Co-Artistic Director Diane Cyphersays that live music has changed the per-formance for the dancers. “They are sovery fortunate to have the experience ofwaiting for the conductor’s downbeatbefore they start to dance and making eyecontact with him on certain phrases fortempo. It is a thrilling experience for themand contributes to the electricity of liveperformance.” Co-Artistic Director RobertKelley agrees and adds that there is nodoubt that the orchestra brings the story tolife in a way that a recording cannot. Thefact that the audience can both listen to andwatch the musicians along with thedancers makes the Santa Cruz BalletTheatre production even more compelling,especially for children.

Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre hopes thatyou will join the orchestra and the dancersto enjoy the gift that is The Nutcracker. n



The Nutcracker - A Santa Cruz tradition!December 16, 17 & 18

Starring Guest Artists and alumni Melody Herrera and

Lucien Postlewaite, with Conductor Larry Granger and the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre Orchestraat the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium

Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre’s annual production of “The Nutcracker”

The Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre’s annual presentation of The Nutcracker will be performed for the sixth time at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium with a 55-piece symphony orchestra conducted by John Larry Granger.

Performances: Friday, December 16 at 8 p.m.,

Saturday, December 17 at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.Sunday, December 18 at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online through www.scbt.org or www.santacruztickets.com.You may also purchase in person at the Civic Auditorium Box Office, 307 Church Street,

Santa Cruz, or by calling 831-420-5260. An additional Nutcracker Sweet Treats backstage event, a delight for children of all ages,

can be purchased separately.



A World of Many ColorsNew Concert by the Santa Cruz World Choir and OrchestraThe Santa Cruz World Choir and

Orchestra is a labor of love for com-poser and artistic director Stephen

Bigger, and his labor is back on displaywith “A World of Many Colors” taking

place at the Rio Theater on December 11.Now in it’s second season, the

SCWCO is unlike any other group in thearea. Influenced by the visual artistry ofperformances like cirque du soleil, and the

musical impact of groupslike Ladysmith BlackMambazo, SCWCO drawsupon the great wealth oftalent in the area andbrings a unique flavor totheir holiday perform-ance. This is not your typ-ical choir.

A veteran composerfrom a musical familymany of the works to beperformed are originalcompositions by StephenBigger.

“ Growing up, musicwas everywhere, I wouldbe trying to write a songon the piano in my bed-room... “I’d play like eight

chords in a progression (probably coppingChopin) and say “dad- what comes next?”and he would say, “its your song. What doyou want to come next?”

“ I approach composing for the groupin a few different ways. Sometimes I willjust listen to a certain style of music or agroup from a particular region and listenfor what is the unique flavor of that cul-ture. I then begin to compose somethingfor the group. Other times, a melody willget into my head and I have no choice butto get it out. Often, it will be influenced bywhat I have been listening to.”

Stephen’s approach to taking theworlds musical traditions and blendingthem together is not only echoed in thisyear’s concert, featuring special guest, TheTaiko Ensemble of Watsonville, it is alsohow Stephen is cooperating with otherlocal groups to grow the audience for all.

“ I first met Stephen last year in theUgly Mug in Soquel. He was sitting next tome talking about the choir and how tomarket a new musical ensemble,” said

M i c h a e lLogue, amember of theSanta CruzChorale andnow also anintegral partof theSCWCO. “ Iwas intrigued,so I intro-duced myself.We began reg-ular conversa-tions abouthow we couldgrow the audience for each our groups bycooperating. In today’s economy it is theonly way for the arts to thrive.” n

•••This years SCWCO concert, A World of

Many Colors, is December 11, 7 pm at the RioTheatre 205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz. Tickets are$15 in advance available online fromwww.santacruzworldchoir.com or $20 at the door.


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In Santa Cruz County, AA Safe &Security represents the most completesource locals can find for locksmith

and security requirements, whether forbusiness, residential, commercial, educa-tional, industrial or institutional applica-tions. The company is a full-service lockand security company that works withbig clients such as Palo Alto MedicalFoundation, Cabrillo College and UCSCas well as apartment complexes and indi-vidual homeowners.

You can walk in and get a key made orhave your locks re-keyed, but that’s justthe tip of the iceberg. AA Safe & Securityprovides auto locks and accessories, deco-rative door hardware, key boxes, closedcircuit TV systems, residential and com-mercial safes, high security locking sys-tems, loss and liability control systems,storefront door hardware, keyless entrysystems, loss prevention alarms, accesscontrol systems, bike locks, keyless entrysystems, ADA compliance hardware andmuch more. They are proud to carry highsecurity locks made by Medeco.

•••Secure at Home

Every 13 seconds a home is burglarizedin this country. In over half of residen-

tial burglaries, entry is gained through adoor. If anyone, such as a babysitter, clean-ing service or auto mechanic, has access to

a key, then a duplicate key can be madewithout identification. A Medeco key can-not be duplicated by just anyone. Withtheir patented key control system, Medecodealers are the only ones authorized toduplicate a key and only with proper iden-tification and record keeping. ScottEdelstein, owner of AA Safe & Security,calls this “closing the circle of security.”When you hand out a key to someone whoworks for you and the key is returned, youwill have peace of mind knowing thatthere are no other keys outside of your con-trol.

“What you want is real security notfeel-good security,” Edelstein says. He alsostates that homeowners will buy them-selves high-end entertainment equipmentand home furnishings and then protectthem with a lock off the rack from a dis-count home store for about the price of apizza. Well-known brands of locks havebeen available for so many years that thecompanies have re-used combinations sev-eral times. His company is available tochange out the hardware and locks or inmany cases can install Medeco lock cylin-ders into an existing lock. Medeco securitylocks have unique combinations: no twoare alike in the entire world. Installation ofMedeco cylinders or locks and using theirkey control system, will add two new lev-els of security to any home.

Another form of home security is a fireand burglary rated safe. AA Safe &Security carries American made wall safes,floor safes, gun safes, and small to largecapacity safes that are bolted down secure-ly to the floor. The safe can be moved to anew home or sold with a home as a value-added feature. A safe is a life-time invest-ment to protect cash, jewelry, insurancecertificates, deeds,photos, collectibles, taxreturns, computerdrives and disks, oranything you wouldnot want stolen ordestroyed in a fire.Although bank safedeposit boxes are agood form of security, a home safe pro-vides more space and access to your valu-ables on your schedule around the clockand at a moment’s notice.

•••A Community Asset

Since 1956 AA Safe & Security has hadcommunity safety as its number one

goal. The expert staff is what Edelsteinrefers to as his company’s greatest asset, agroup of individuals with decades of expe-rience, professionalism and courtesy. Theyare available first as security consultants,analyzing the needs before suggesting andimplementing solutions unique to each sit-uation. AA Safe & Security holds a GreenBusiness Certification and is a member of

Think Local First Santa Cruz. They areinvolved with the local school districts andassist in ADA code compliance for publicand private clients.

AA Safe & Security takes the time tointerface with Sheriff’s Department on aregular basis. Edelstein is currently work-ing with the Sheriff to implement a localneighborhood watch program, preparing a

combined power-point presentation toeducate the citizens.His goal is to get allmembers of the com-munity to think pro-actively about theirsecurity and safetyneeds. AA Safe &

Security has established long-term rela-tionships in our area and continues to doso, working with home owners, contrac-tors, business owners, and large public andprivate institutions to discuss and solvetheir security needs.

Whether the job is small or large, AASafe & Security addresses it with this goalin mind: meet and exceed the client’sexpectations and provide the safety the sit-uation dictates. n

•••Visit their newly re-formatted website at

www.aasafe.com. Located at 712 Soquel Ave,Santa Cruz, CA 95062. Telephone: 831-423-5415. Store hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 AM to 6 PM,Sat. 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

BusinessProfile

AA SAFE & SECURITYOver 50 Years of Security Solutions

By Gail Penniman



Give the Gift of Music The Santa Cruz County Symphony Concert Season is here!

For the holiday season, the Santa CruzCounty Symphony is offering specialgift packages for the remaining three

concerts of the Symphony’s 54th Season.This exceptional live classical music makesa perfect gift for the aspiring musician andmusic-lover alike, and will bring yourfriends and family happiness that will lastfar longer than your holiday decorations!This year, consider giving a meaningfulgift that will both inspires and uplift thespirits of your loved ones… the gift ofmusic!

This season is a special one for theSymphony because it is the last to be con-ducted by the Symphony’s beloved maes-tro of over 20 years, John Larry Granger,before his retirement. Under MaestroGranger’s direction, the Symphony hasadvanced to become a fully professionalorganization. Its artistic caliber hasimproved markedly and it has received thehighest ranking in its class by theCalifornia Arts Council. There’s no bettertime to hear this musical gem in our com-munity.

•••January Concerts“Certified Organic”Saturday, January 288 p.m. Santa Cruz CivicSunday, January 29

2 p.m. Mello Center, Watsonville

The Symphony celebrates the 150thanniversary of the British composer,

Frederick Delius, and opens this concertthe opulent first movement of his Florida

Suite. This concert also features JonathanDimmock, a frequent organist for the SanFrancisco Symphony, performing twomajor works by French composers FrancisPoulenc and Camille Saint-Saëns.Poulenc’s dramatic Organ Concerto is richwith contemporary harmonies, vividrhythms and haunting melodies. The pow-erful ‘Organ Symphony’ of Saint-Saëns is atriumphant work whose themes were fea-tured in the movie “Babe.”

March Concerts“Three B’s”

Saturday, March 24 8 p.m. Santa Cruz CivicSunday, March 25


The Symphony opens this program withEstrella de Soria, a rarely heard over-

ture by the early Romantic Swedish com-poser, Franz Berwald. Then JonNakamatsu, Van Cliburn Gold Medalistand favorite of local audiences, returns toSanta Cruz County to perform Beethoven’sFourth Piano Concerto. This inventivework’s intimate exchange between pianoand orchestra offers a unique glimpse atthe composer’s tender and graceful side.The concert concludes with JohannesBrahms’ final majestic Symphony in Eminor.

May Concerts“Poetic Songs”Saturday, May 12

8 p.m. Santa Cruz CivicSunday, May 13


The Symphony’s season concludeswith the orchestra’s time-honored

collaboration with the CabrilloSymphonic Chorus, under the directionof Cheryl Anderson. Following the bril-liant Maskarade: Overture by Danishcomposer, Carl Nielsen, the chorus andorchestra perform Felix Mendelssohn’sextraordinarily beautiful Psalm 42. Theconcert concludes with VaughanWilliams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, which fea-tures the dramatic and timely poetry ofWalt Whitman about the human costs ofwar and peace. The Symphony is joinedby Soprano Anja Strauss, and baritoneSteven Berlanga for a rousing finale toits 2011/12 season and the accomplishedcareer of Maestro Granger. n

•••Gift Subscriptions: Call the Symphony

office at 831.462.0553 ext. 10 to purchase.Single Tickets: $20 - $65�On-Sale

online at SantaCruzTickets.com — Civic BoxOffice phone: 831.420.5260

Civic Auditorium: 307 Church Street,Santa Cruz Box office opens 90 minutes beforeconcerts Hours: Tu-F 11- 6 PM and Sat 10 AM– 1:30 PM �All single tickets subject to taxesand service charges.

Mello Center: 250 E. Beach Street,Watsonville Box office is open 90 minutesbefore concert only. Advance sales throughCivic Box Office. All single tickets subject totaxes and service charges.

Pre-concert talks by Dr. Don Adkins willtake place at 7 PM in the Civic Auditoriumprior to the Saturday evening concerts and byDr. Anatole Leikin at 1 PM in the WatsonvilleMello Center prior to the Sunday matinee con-certs.

John Larry Granger

Jonathan Dimmock

Jon Nakamatsu

Steven Berlanga


The Land Trust of Santa Cruz Countyannounced today that it is in thehome stretch of a campaign to pro-

tect 10,000 acres critical to water quality,wildlife habitat, and recreational and eco-nomic opportunities for the people ofSanta Cruz County by the end of 2012. Thiscampaign is the first step in the implemen-tation of the Land Trust’s ConservationBlueprint, which called for the protectionof five times as much land over the next 25years.

A key acquisition over the next yearwill be the 1,200-acre StarCreek Ranch in the PajaroHills, the start of a long-term protection effort inthat region. The PajaroHills are situated east ofWatsonville and west ofthe Highway 101 corridorand form a natural green-belt between Santa CruzCounty and the urban growth that isspreading from San Jose to Salinas.

“By the end of 2012, we will have pro-tected a slice of old California that eachgeneration will be able to discover anew,”said Terry Corwin, Executive Director ofthe Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.Acquisition of Star Creek Ranch is the startof a long-term goal to protect 24,000 acresin the region, Corwin said, noting that theLand Trust’s Conservation Blueprint iden-tifies the Pajaro Hills as a priority area forconservation. The hills provide a criticallink between the Santa Cruz Mountainsand Gabilan Range and protect the long-term health of wide-ranging species likethe mountain lion and badger.

In addition to protecting the PajaroHills, the organization will secure a conser-vation easement on 80 acres of appleorchard in the Pajaro Valley by the end of

the year. The transaction will keep the landin private ownership and permanently setaside the property for agriculture.Although the Land Trust currently protectsanother 1,300 acres of farmland in thePajaro Valley, this transaction marks thefirst protected orchard land in the region.

The campaign will also fund the pro-tection of 100 acres of rare Sandhills habi-tat. The organization is working with threeof its four Living Landscape Initiative part-ners, POST (Peninsula Open Space Trust),Save the Redwoods League and

Sempervirens Fund onanother major project thatthe Land Trust plans toannounce in the nearfuture.

The total cost of pro-tecting 10,000 acres willexceed $46 million. TheLand Trust anticipates rais-ing most of that from foun-

dations, state bond measures and otherconservation partners. A quarter of it, $13.5million will be raised locally from individ-uals – making the campaign one of thelargest in county history. The Land Trustsays it has already raised $11 million froma few key donors and from its Board ofTrustees – and is seeking to raise the final$2.5 million within the next year. “The biglesson I’ve learned these past six years isthat the people of this county love it – andthat they will dig deep to protect it forthose who will follow us,” says Corwin. n

•••Formed in 1978 by local residents con-

cerned about protecting the lands that makeSanta Cruz County special, the Land Trust hasprotected more than 3200 acres of land andworked with other organizations to protectanother 9,000 acres. The trust protects bothworking lands, like farms and timberland, and

natural lands with high conservation value –thus protecting water supplies, wildlife habitatsand open space. For more information and to

browse a photo gallery of the lands the LandTrust will protect over the next year, visitwww.landtrustsantacruz.org.



Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to Protect 10,000 AcresGroup seeks final $2.5 million in $46 million fund-raising campaign

The Land Trust campaign to protect 10,000 acres of land by the end of 2012; more land WilderRanch State Park or within the Santa Cruz city limits. • ABOVE: Star Creek Ranch


The Wardrobe consignment shop hasbeen open for business for over 15years and just recently has moved to

its new location in the Brown RanchMarketplace across from the Capitola Mall.

The owners are delighted to offer thesame high quality consignment clothing,shoes, boots, handbags, jewelry, scarves,hats, sunglasses, belts and more that theyhave displayed for years. This store is awin-win situation for the shopper as wellas the consignee and is a place where fabu-lous treasures are waiting to be discovered.

The Thrill of the Hunt

Shoppers at The Wardrobe will noticethat the shop is beautifully organized

into sections by color and the dressingrooms are spacious and comfortable.Consignment shopping brings out the cre-ative side, putting together somethingfrom nothing and women often come in,not knowing what they are looking for, butare surprised to find one piece that com-

pletes an outfit they have at home or areable to create an entire outfit from the gar-ments and accessories they find that day.

Every item in the store is selected bythe staff that knows what their 20‘s to 60‘sclientele are looking for. Consignmentshopping offers more satisfaction thanordinary department store shoppingbecause you are not being told what to buythis season like in a department store andthe cost savings is huge. At The Wardrobe,everything is in very good to excellent con-dition and is usually styled from threeyears ago or less. They also carry some vin-tage items. Because every item in the storeis unique and since there is always move-ment of merchandise through sales andnew consignment goods, the store looksdifferent every time a shopper visits.

“We say that accessories are what bindan outfit together, and we buy a lot ofaccessories,” the owner says. They carryscarves, wraps, ponchos, necklaces, ear-

rings, bracelets, watches and sunglassesthat are not just eyewear, but can double asa headband.

About Variety and Affordability

The Wardrobe has casual to dressyclothing. A professional woman can

find an outfit to wear to work, choosing ablazer and separates. They have dressesthat are suitable for an evening out with apair of their heels. For holiday dress,there is a selection of the “basic blackdress” that can be tricked out with a pieceof jewelry.

On the racks at The Wardrobe, one canfind clothing from stores at a fraction ofwhat they cost originally. You’ll find lots ofcashmere sweaters in beautiful colors,Coach handbags, clothing from Chico‘s,Italian shoes and sexy boots, Lucky, Seven,Joes and Calvin Klein jeans as well as otherbrands. The brands are always changing asthe merchandise moves, but the quality isalways excellent.

Shopping Here is Green

Giving clothing, footwear and acces-sories a second life is part of the green

movement. It is also a budget-consciousexperience, which makes perfectly goodsense these days. And it’s fun!

The store hours are 11am to 6pmMonday through Saturday and 1 to 5pmon Sunday.

Women can bring in clothing for con-signment from 11am to 2pm on Mondaythrough Saturday and on Sunday from 1:30to 3pm and an appointment is necessary toconsign. The store is located at 3555 ClaresSt. Suite V, just around the corner fromFresh Choice. Telephone: 429-6363. n

BusinessProfile

Classy Consignment Comes to Capitola

THE W ARDROBEWhere Shopping is Always an Adventure

By Gail Penniman

In the venerable CBS show “Let’sMake a Deal!” hosted by WayneBrady, wildly dressed contestants

weigh the potential of buying, selling ortrading an offer of a less desirable item,such as a box of cereal, for a more valu-able prize, such as a new car or trip.Items for trade are often hidden behindthree numbered doors-1, 2 or 3.

Let’s pretend Marie is our next con-testant on our own show, “Let’s Make aDeal!” After Marie’s screams die down, shegets to pick one of three prizes:

Behind Door Number 1 is a brand-new, six-person hot-tub worth $9,000

Behind Door Number 2 is a first-classtrip to Hawaii worth $9,000

Behind Door Number 3, Marie isallowed to contribute $6,000 to her 401(k)plan, and her employer makes a $3,000matching contribution

Which door should she choose?Before we can answer that question, weneed to know that Marie makes $40,000 ayear, is in the 28% and 6% federal and stateincome tax brackets, respectively, and hasnever participated in any 401(k) plan.Also, know that, according to the InternalRevenue Service, for any amounts over$600, winners of game show cash andprizes must pay taxes on the cash theyreceive. Winners also pay taxes on the fairmarket value of non-cash prizes theyreceive (state income taxes also mayapply).

“Let’s Make a Deal!”Tax Savings Worksheet

Marie’s Options NewHot Tub Hawaii 401(k)Plan

Pre-Tax Income $40,000 $40,000 40,000401(k) Contribution N/A N/A $6,000Emp. Matching Cont. N/A N/A $3,000W-2 Income $40,000 $40,000 $34,000Value of Prize $9,000 $9,000 $3,000Taxable Income $49,000 $49,000 $34,000Fed. Tax Owed (28%) $13,720 $13,720 $9,520State Tax (6%) $2,940 $2,940 $2,040Total Taxes Owed $16,660 $16,660 $10,560Tax Savings from 401(k) $0 $0 $6,100(This example is not intended to be tax advice)

If Marie chooses to fund her 401(k)instead of taking the tub or trip, she wouldhave $6,100 more to spend, after tax.

Benefits of Retirement Plans

Some savings plans offer tax advan-tages, and some don’t. It usually

makes sense to use tax-favored plansbefore turning to those that offer no taxbenefits. Your 401(k) plan offers the fol-lowing tax advantages:

Contributions are made with pre-taxdollars, which lowers your taxable income

You pay no taxes on your employer’smatching contribution. This is “freemoney”

No income tax is paid on any potentialgrowth while your money remains insidethe account

Since taxes do not eat away at yourearnings each year, your account has thepotential to grow faster than comparabletaxable investments, as the chart on thispage shows:

Faster Growth Potential5 Years 10 Years 20 Years

Taxable Account $34,887 $81,521 $227,183Tax-deferred Account $36,983 $92,093 $296,474

This example assumes contributionsof $500 per month, a hypothetical 8%nominal rate of return compoundedmonthly, and a 28% tax bracket for thetaxable account. It does not reflect theeffect of taxes on withdrawals on eitherthe taxable or tax-deferred account. Thisillustration is not intended to predict thereturn of any investment. Past perform-ance does not guarantee or indicate futureresults.

Keep in mind that 401(k) plan with-drawals are not tax-free. The amountsyou withdraw from your plan are gener-ally considered income and will betaxed in the year received, and anywithdrawals made prior to age 59 ½ aresubject to a 10% IRS early withdrawalpenalty. n

•••This article is not intended to provide

specific investment or tax advice for anyindividual. Consult your financial advisor,your tax advisor or us at (831) 476-SAVE ifyou have any questions. LPL Financial,Member FINRA/ SIPC Brian Cooke andCole Strickland, MBA are FinancialAdvisors with LPL Financial CA InsuranceLic. #0D63585, CA Insurance Lic.#0G22630, LPL Financial, MemberFINRA/SIPC 1500 41ST Ave. Suite 244Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 476-SAVE(7283).


By Brian Cooke and Cole Strickland, LPL Financial Advisors

Let’s Make a Winning DealWhy investing with tax advantages is far better than saving without tax breaks

FeaturedColumnist

MoneyMatters

BrianCooke

Renaissance Motets and Christmas songsfrom around the world. The Chorale willbe joined by some of the Bay area’s finestinstrumentalists.

Tickets are available onlinewww.santacruzchorale.org, from members ofthe Chorale or at the door. General Admission$23, Seniors $19, Students $5

For information call 831-427- 8023

•••

Hwy 1 Drainage & Guardrail Upgradesfrom Nov. 15 2011 to March 2012MONTEREY AND SANTA CRUZ

COUNTIES — A 14-mile project to installmetal beam guardrail and make concretebarrier improvements along Hwy. 1 fromTrafton Road inMonterey County tojust north of 41stAvenue in SantaCruz will begin next Tuesday, November 15,Caltrans officials announced today.

This project will result in overnightalternating lane closures Mondaysthrough Fridays from 9 pm to 6 am.Minimal delays are anticipated.Roadwork is expected to be completed byMarch 2012, weather permitting.

Caltrans reminds motorists to moveover and slow down when drivingthrough Caltrans construction zones. n

“Briefs” from pg 2


The Book Bag by Robert Francis

by Robert Francis

FeaturedColumnist

The Book Bag Books with holiday themes for all ages …

A Christmas HomecomingBy Anne PerryBallantine. $18 (Rating: Excellent)

Anne Perry constructs this unusual hol-iday mystery around Bram Stoker’s

“Dracula.” Christmas is just weeks awayand a theatrical troupe has been sum-moned to the coastal village of Whitby inYorkshire to perform a special adaptationof “Dracula”.

You might remember that this is thefishing village where Stocker’s CountDracula arrives inEngland. Thedaughter of a localmillionaire, CharlesNetheridge, haswritten the playand it is all butimpossible to per-form.

With tempersgetting shorter andshorter and theweather getting nastier, it appears the playwill not make it to the stage. Then a myste-rious stranger arrives and takes over thedirecting chores. Is he a theatrical genius orsomething else? The production suddenlybecomes strangely compelling and abrooding evil emerges under the man’sdirection.

When a murder mars the rehearsalsand threatens the production, it is up toone of the company’s members to playamateur sleuth. Something quite sinisterseems to have taken over the inhabitants ofCharles Netheridge’s lonely hilltop man-sion and totally marred the festive season.The question is whether anything can besalvaged of what is supposed to be a spe-cial holiday treat.

Christmas at TimberwoodsBy Fern Michaels Zebra. $7.99 (Rating: Very Good)

Timberwoods Mall is ablaze withChristmas cheer, but head of security

Heather Andrews isn’t celebrating. If fraz-zled parents, disgruntled Santas and,rowdy teens and the occasional shoppingbag snatcher aren’t enough to cause

Heather concern, Angela Steinhart hasbecome a big headache.

Besides designing the mall’s spectacu-lar holiday displays, Angela is also knownfor her premonitions, which have a nastyhabit of coming true. The young womanhas had a vision that tragedy will strike themall on Christmas Eve.

As much as she would like to ignoreAngela’s fears and dismiss them as holidaystress, Heather realizes she can’t just ignorethe woman’s uncanny certainty that some-thing really, really bad is going to happenat Timberwoods.

As the days countdown toChristmas, Heather will need to stay veryalert and look for signs that someone isabout to outdo the Grinch on ChristmasEve. If she fails, it could be a very memo-rable holiday in the very worst way imag-inable!

The Hanukkah Hop!By Erica SilvermanIllustrated by Steven D’AmicoSimon & Schuster. $12.99 (Ages 3-6)

No one loves Hanukkah more thanRachel. While she helps her dad deco-

rate the house and her mom whips up abatch of latkes,Rachel hums aHanukkah tune.

“ B i d d y -biddy bim-bombim-bom bop,”she sings. “I’llwhirl all night atour HanukkahHop.”

When the house is ready and the foodprepared, the family’s guests begin toarrive. “Bubbes and zaydes zoom in byplane. Nieces and nephews ride buses andtrains. Great-aunts, second cousins, oldfriends from afar are arriving by motor-bike, camper, and car.”

After the menorah is lit and the drei-del song sung, everyone sits down to eat.And, when they are all done, the real funbegins. The four-piece Klezmer Bandarrives and once they are set up the danc-ing begins.

“Cousins are twisting and jumpingand flipping. Great-aunts and uncles arestepping and dipping.” After dancing theevening away, everyone is tired exceptRachel. “Biddy-biddy bim-bom bim-bombop, I’m the only one still dancing at ourHanukkah Hop,” she says.

The 12 Bugs of ChristmasBy David CarterLittle Simon. $12.99 (All ages)

If you have enjoyed the series of bug pop-up books created by David Carter, you’lldefinitely want to get a copy of thisreworking of the traditional holiday song,“The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

“On the first day of Christmas my truelove gave to me…” Flip open the gaily-wrapped box on the accompanying pageand you see a fruitcake bug in a pear tree!

And so it goes. Cuckoo bugs, sneakybugs, snowflake bugs, and so forth. It iswhen you get to the final days that you’llsee if Carter is up to the challenge. Ofcourse, he is! On the eleventh day you’llfind eleven dainty bugs a-dancing and onday twelve up will pop a tree with a dozenangel bugs a-rising!

Whether you collect pop-up booksbecause you love their intricate paperengineering or just like unusual holidaybooks, this is certainly a little volumeyou’ll want to buy and share with friendsand family.

To Santa With LoveBy Janet DaileyZenith. $7.99 (Rating-Very Good)

Author Janet Dailey has been writingholiday romances for years. “Searching

for Santa”, “Scrooge Wore Spurs” and“Maybe This Christmas” are just a few of the

popular titles her readers have snatched upthe second they became available.

This season’s novel finds free-spiritedJacquie Grey heading west to start a wholenew life. Her solo road trip is going greatuntil she literally runs into Arizona rancherChoya Barnett. Luckily, no one is injured,but Jacquie’s car needs major repairs andshe doesn’t have the money to make them.

At this point Choya offers to give hera job taking care of his young son andhome until she makes enough money to beon her way again. What choice doesJacquie have?

Of course, a temporary job turns intosomething a little more permanent as therancher and his new nanny/housekeeperdiscover an attraction that is very hard toresist.

With Christmas just around the corner,perhaps there will be a very special presentunder the tree for this adventurous youngwoman. And for Choya and his little boy,this might be one of the best holidays theyhave had in a long time.

Santa’s New JetBy David BiedrzyckiCharlesbridge. $7.95 (Ages 3-6)

Poor Santa! It is almost time to startdelivering toys but he is facing some

major transportation problems. Not onlydoes his sleigh need major repairs, but thereindeer are also totally out of shape aftereating pizza and watching TV all summer.

Fortunately, Orville the Elf has a solu-tion to the problem. He and the other elveshave designed a special jet that will whisktheir boss off on his Christmas Eve journey.

Unfortunately, the new mode of trans-portation isn’t perfect. In fact, it is hard toland on roofs and when the fog sets in,Santa is in a real pickle. In fact, it looks likeno more gifts will be delivered unless someold friends can quickly harness up andcome to Santa’s rescue.

A lot of different spins have been puton Santa’s Christmas journey, but this is oneof the more humorous ones. Children andadults will get a few chuckles as they watchhow new, cutting-edge technology isn’talways the best solution to a problem! n



LISTEN & BE HEARD ON ULTIMATE LOCAL RADIOListen to KSCO’s Happy HourCommute from 4pm to 7pm

Local News, King of the Hill Traffic, Sports inYour Shorts, Weather, Music from the Past,Comments about the Present and Your

Telephone Calls about Everything

Listen as 89 of your friendsand neighbors talk their walk

on AM 1080 KSCODave Alan, Easton Allyn, Kim Allyn, Gary Arnold, Steve Ashley,

Tavia Avila, Sam Badawi, Jamie Baker, Mike Baxter, Dr. David Biles,Sam Blakeslee, Vernon Bohr, Catherine Boult, Jennifer Brewer,

Allen Bushnell, Karen Calcagno, Al Carman, Don Carroll, Lisa Carter,Dr Matthew Chalmers, Rosemary Chalmers, Rebecca Costa,Katherine Cunningham, Donald Davidson, Jacques Delacroix,

Ron Dornseif, Charley Freedman, Benjamin Fuchs, Jeff Galipeaux,Dr Cory Gold, Bill Graff, Steve Gregg, David Harken, Franklin Harris,

Helbart, Pamela Fugitt-Hetrick, Thomas Hughes, Don Husing,Michael Jacobi, Donna Jacobs, Nikki James, Chris Jensen,

Dr Pete Keesling, Steve Kuehl, Kristina Kuprina, Michael Larson,Al Lundell, Sun Lundell, Richard Luther, Jim Martin, Joey McMurry,Renee Mello, Dave Michaels, Nada Miljkovic, Michael Milligan,Bill Monning, Dr Stan Montieth, Kelsey Olson, Michael Olson,

Ric Orlando, Rick O’Shea, John Pengally, Tom Quinn,Dan Rusanowsky, Michael Sammet, Michael Sarka, Tim Sculley,Edmund Scurich, Rocky Snyder, Jeff Shapiro, Rachael Shelton,Dr Aimee Shunney, Alan Smith, Carol Stafford, Mark Silverman,

Susan Simon, Michelle Sousa-Pennuto, Chris Spenser, Teresa Thomae,Kurt Useldinger, Melanie Useldinger, Alex Valesquez,

Katia Valesquez, Peter Vokos, Dr Joel Wallach, Rex Walters,Natalia Williams, Doug Winfrey, Kay Zwerling, Michael Zwerling

Be heard by KSCO/KOMY’saudience of

decision-making adults.Contact Michael Olson

[email protected] • 831-475-1080

“Genial Genius”Charley Freedman

“Dead Air Dave”Dave Michaels


Holidays once filled with joy can bea painful time when someone welove has died. Many people who

are dealing with loss are often caught inthe dilemma between the need to grieveand the pressure to get into the spirit of theseason.

Hospice of Santa Cruz County under-stands that many bereaved people simplyask what they can do to get “through” theholidays. Since every individual handlesstress and grief differently, there is no onesimple answer.

Think about how following the sametraditions might impact you during thistime. You may even consider changingsome of them.

Linda Donovan, who is now a griefsupport volunteer for hospice said, “Onone holiday season after my husband died,I decided that I didn’t want my daughtersto experience the painful reminder thattheir father would no longer be with us. So,I changed our holiday tradition, and tookthe girls on a trip to a place we had neverbeen before. We created new memoriesand had a wonderful time. It may be some-thing as basic as going to a family movietogether after a holiday dinner or making a

meal that is totally different than what youhave had in the past.”

Donovan also recommends the specialservices that hospice offers during the hol-idays. “The drop-in grief support group onCoping with Grief during the holidays andmany people may find comfort in theInterfaith Memorial Service and the Tree ofLights Ceremony.”

Another suggestion: do what is com-fortable. “The holidays can create unbear-able pressure,” commented Jack Gordon,President of HFA. “The key to coping withgrief during the holidays is tofind the way that is right foryou.”

Hospice of Santa CruzCounty has several eventsplanned that may provide sup-port throughout an individ-ual’s personal grief journey this holidayseason. In addition to our ongoing individ-ual and group counseling, we offer a num-ber of community events during the holi-day season to support healing and com-memorate those who have died.

Hospice Tree of Lights CeremonySunday, December 4, 5:30pm At TheCommunity Foundation of Santa Cruz,

7807 Soquel Dr AptosHospice’s Tree of Lights ceremony is

not only a remembrance service but also away to raise much-needed funds to sup-port Hospice programs. Family andfriends are invited to remember andhonor loved ones by dedicating a light onthe tree. Each light will represent athoughtful donation made in memory of aloved one, or to celebrate a special rela-tionship.

The trees will remain lit during theentire season as a reminder of the love and

memories of special people inour lives. Funds raised providehospice care for those who areuninsured or underinsured;community-wide grief support,including children’s programs;Transitions care for those not

yet ready for hospice; education and out-reach. To make a Tree of Lights donation inhonor of a loved one, please visitwww.hospicesantacruz.org or call 430-3082.

Hospice Foundation of America alsosuggests additional steps to help thosegrieving during the holidays:• Plan for the approaching holidays. Be

aware that this might be a difficult time.• Doing things a bit differently canacknowledge the change while pre-serving continuity with the past.

• Be careful not to isolate yourself anddon’t cut yourself off from the supportof family and friends.Hospice of Santa Cruz County pro-

vides grief support to everyone in need inSanta Cruz County. If you are grieving thedeath of someone close to you, call HSCCat (831) 430-3000. Let them share how theycan help.

HSCC relies solely on foundation andcommunity support to raise over $1 mil-lion each year to cover the costs of commu-nity grief support, Transitions care, hospicecare for uninsured and under-insuredpatients, end-of-life educational and out-reach efforts and the We Honor Vets pro-gram.

Hospice programs include:Transitions: A program designed to

ease the concerns of those who are notquite ready for hospice by helping to coor-dinate care and resources while providingan understanding of the disease processes.

Hospice of Santa Cruz County Understands the Journey of Grief and the Holidays

“Hospice” > 30


During the changeover in a recent tennisgame, one of my buddies reached in hisbag and offered his partner some pills,

saying “We really need our vitamin A today.”Wanting to join in, I quipped: “A for attitude?”They laughed, “No. A for Advil. Otherwise,we’ll seize up!” It got me thinking.

What vitamin could we take for thosetimes when our conversations seize up andwords get stuck in our throats?

You know… those times when youhave something important to say, but don’tknow how to say it so you swallow yourwords. Those times when you want to ask aquestion, but don’t. Those times when youoverhear someone being verbally abusedand rather than step in, as you wish youwould, you quickly move out of the area toavoid being seen by the parties involved.

Here’s what I experience as I help peo-ple regain their voice and learn how todeliver and receive difficult messages.When we go silent when we don’t want to,we are listening to a flurry of internal con-

versations that sound something like this:“Be quiet… it’s too risky to speak up… it’snot my place to say something…he/she/they won’t understand… I’ll speakup next time.” Not only do we listen to theflurry, we believe it’s true and absolutelygoing to happen.

What’s driving this internal snowstormthat freezes us? Many of us believe thatbeing silent is better than risking sayingsomething that might damage the relation-ship. Here’s the cosmic joke: The silence weinvoke to protect the relationship often doesmore damage than a conversation that’srough around the edges but wrapped inpartnership. Our silence does not salvagethe relationship, it sinks it. Our fear thatwe’ll lose the relationship actually is real-ized. Sad, isn’t it? Sometimes people havetold me one of the myths they have believedis: It’s better to have a bad relationship thatno relationship at all.

While there isn’t a pill for this kind oflaryngitis, there is a cure. Rather than put-ting something in us, we need to generatesomething out from us. We need to gener-ate a commitment to who we want to beand how we want to show up. From there,we can then generate a way of communi-cating that’s summed up by this mantraoffered by Susan Scott in FierceConversations: Model what I want.

Learn the communication Heimlichmaneuver:

• Stand behind yourself. Take a stand forthe kind of communicator you want to be.

• Squeeze yourself. If you want open-ness and honesty from others, be open andhonest when you speak. If you want othersto reveal their secret agendas, share yourhidden agenda first. Squeeze yourself toask in this way, not others.

• Dislodge myths. As youmodel the way you want to becommunicated with, the mythsthat have kept you silent will bedislodged. Waiting will not dis-lodge them. Taking new actionswill.

• Use your words.Recognize the phrase? Yeah,that’s what we say to childrenwho are throwing a tantrum.Maybe being silent, out ofspite and not reflection, is anadult tantrum. The “silenttreatment” punishes bothparties.

Removing the block-age to communicationbegins with you. I know itmay be annoying to keep

hearing that it’s up to you. Too bad. Youare that powerful.

Modeling the behavior you desirefrom others is risky and rewarding. Riskybecause you don’t know exactly how theconversation will turn out. That’s uncom-fortable. Rewarding because once youexperience communicating in the manneryou want to be communicated with, you’llfeel a new sense of power (not force), pur-

pose and partnership. That’s addictive.It’s either a tough or sweet pill to

swallow when we get that it’s up to us togo first. We have the cure inside us, wejust need to cough it up. Give yourself aHeimlich for what sticks in your throat.Be mindful that what comes out modelsthe behavior you want to receive. You’llstop chocking and breathe a lot easier, Ipromise. n

There’s no pill for communication indigestion … only a cureBy Camille Smith

WHEN TIMES ARE UNCERTAIN, DO YOU:1. Feel out of control?2. Stop communicating effectively?3. Get crankier than usual?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these and you’re ready toget a grip and learn how to say “No” to these samequestions, here’s a special offer:

Take an online assessment and receive coaching from Camille

Go to www.wipcoaching.com/assessment,enter promocode: TPG to receive a $175 discount…and get a grip.

Questions? Call Camille, 831-685-1480

Self-administeredHeimlich Maneuver

Give yourself a communicationHeimlich!

• Stand behind yourself.• Squeeze yourself.• Dislodge myths.• Use your words.

FeaturedColumnist


Soquel

425-01233711 Soquel Dr, 95073Just West of 41st. Ave.*Restrictions Apply

Aptos

687-01239687 Soquel Dr, 95003Between Rio Del Mar & Freedom Blvds.

Watsonville

728-0123445 Herman Ave, 95076

Holm Rd. (Off Airport Blvd.)

3 Convenient locations to serve you

• Staffed to meet your storage needs• Happy to answer all questions• Well lit and completely secure• Locally owned and operated• Ask about reduced rates

“Self Storage you can trust with a personal touch”

Refer a friend & get a $20 GIFT CERTIFICATE!Through the month of December

Family Service Agency of the Central Coast and the Daisy Auxiliary

The Family Service Agency of theCentral Coast exists to assist members

of the community who are struggling toface life’s challenges. The Agency is thereto give a helping hand and some practicalencouragement to those in need. For morethan five decades, the Family ServiceAgency has been helping the communityof Santa Cruz County by providing coun-seling, suicide prevention, education, out-reach and supportive services.

The Daisy Auxiliary

The Daisy Auxiliary was founded in1968 as a volunteer organization bene-

fiting the Family Service Agency. TheDaisy runs a store in Capitola – an upscaleresale boutique selling women’s clothing,purses, scarves, hats, shoes, jewelry, col-lectibles and more – which is mannedentirely by volunteers. It is well worth avisit to rummage around and find that lit-tle treasure you can’t live without. All themoney from The Daisy’s sales goes to helpfund the Family Service Agency. A fewweeks ago, I attended a fashion show at theCocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz put on byThe Daisy organization. As well as havinga great time and seeing lots of friends whowork at The Daisy, it was good to knowthat all the money raised is for a very goodcause.

Family Service Agency, 104 Walnut Ave.,Suite 208, Santa Cruz, 423-9444. The Daisy,King’s Plaza Shopping Center, 1601 41st Ave.,Capitola, 462-3686. www.fsa-cc.org.

Sharp Quick

The last thing you need during the holi-days is a drawer full of blunt knives.

With all the parties, family gatherings andendless meals to be prepared over the fes-tive season, it’s good to have sharp knivesthat will cut and chop easily.

Terry Beech, owner of Sharp Quick,has a speedy knife-sharpening business –and you can find him all over town atfarmers markets and outside variousstores. Beech had set up outside Staff ofLife recently and sharpened several pairsof scissors for me. He also sells beautifulknives – many of them imported from Italyand Germany – that would make greatgifts for Christmas.

www.sharpquick.com

Le Chef in Aptos

Le Chef in Rancho Del Mar ShoppingCenter is the most wonderful little

kitchenware store. Almost everything inthe place would make a good Christmasgift or stocking stuffer. Owners Keang andDee Dee Lee have filled their store withand endless list of affordable items – allcarefully chosen and attractively dis-played. There are kitchen towels, aprons,chopping boards, colanders, scales, casse-role dishes, rolling pins, and oven mitts,coffee pots, coffee presses, tea pots, and afine assortment of teas. Several itemscaught my eye – a beautiful cheese boardwith two stainless steel knives for $40; gor-geous pepper mills (handmade in Maine)at various prices; little paring knives with aplastic cover for $5.99; and a good assort-ment of electric kettles ranging in pricefrom $29 to $100. There are Gelpro kitchenmats for $100 – made in Texas – and evenchopsticks.

Le Chef, 94 Ranch Del Mar ShoppingCenter, Aptos, 685-1808. Email: [email protected].

Aptos Center Holiday Open House

On Saturday, Dec. 3 from 1-4 p.m. therewill be discounts and raffle prizes at

every store in the Aptos Center – includingChic Boutique, Zameen MediterraneanCuisine, Frank’s Pharmacy, Aptos NaturalFoods, Ace’s Flowers, Pacific CoffeeRoasting, Blue Moon, Bella Donna andCampus Styling, Heather’s Patisserie,Carried Away and Mark Areias, ShoeFetish and Patrick James. Santa will bemaking an appearance; so don’t miss thisfestive event.

Aptos Center, Soquel Drive, Aptos (in the700 block).

Dining Etiquette

Don’t forget the golden rule of not clear-ing away a single plate until every-

body at the table has finished eating. Thisis the correct thing to do. Restaurantservers make this mistake all the time –

prompting those left behind to hurriedlyfinish their food. Even at special eventswhere people should be taking their timeover each course – such as weddings andbirthday gatherings – diners are alwaysrushed. I call it Dine and Dash! n

•••Josie Cowden is a freelance writer and proof-

reader. Contact her at [email protected].


At The Gym

© Statepoint Media

Answers on 31 »

ACROSS1. Can cause mass

destruction6. *Part of a strength

training set9. Ball of yarn13. Fear-inspiring14. Husk of corn15. It has two doors16. "Boy _____ World"17. "He ___ and drank the

precious Words..."18. Packers QB19. *Lookout man21. ____ the Great, king

of Persia23. Rolled grass24. Colored25. Socialist, abbr.

28. ____ E. Coyote30. Silver in a cloud?35. Often done cold turkey37. Harsh, as in remark39. Oil tanker40. "Do ____ others as

you would havethem do..."

41. _____ like a darkcloud

43. Bog down44. Sour in taste46. Feed storage47. Don't forget to hit this

button when done48. Ennui50. *Done to a sparring

partner52. Bear's winter hangout53. Conservative talk-

show host55. File a suit57. Red light, green light60. *Dumbbells and

plates

64. Narrow water-filledgorge

65. And not67. Greek bazaar68. Raja's wife69. *Sometimes follows

injury70. Himalayan country71. *____ gym, accessi-

ble to everyone72. Kicked in yard game73. Proficient

DOWN1. Tailor's actions2. Sound from rival of

#28 Across3. Black and white treat4. Catcher's gear, pl.5. Bequeath6. Back seat7. Jack Sprat couldn't

do this to fat8. College president9. Sweet talk

10. Used in angling11. ""Iliad," e.g.12. Skin cyst15. *Exercise of the heart20. Piaf or Wharton22. Unagi24. Ascetic Muslim

monk25. *Glute exercise26. 1/16th of a pound27. Recognized29. Vietnam's neighbor31. Jodie Foster's "____

Island" (2008)32. It describes the

siege of Troy33. Courage to go on34. Light signal36. Reality TV actress

Spelling38. "Wilhelm ____" by

Friedrich von Schiller42. Agitate45. *Often done in four

counts

49. Police ___ shot51. Region of northeast-

ern South America54. Type of boom56. Pelted, as with eggs57. *Congratulatory

gesture58. *Listen to one on

headphones whileexercising

59. Bad luck predictor60. Kind of bird61. It springs eternal?62. Try not to fall into

this63. Lot's wife turned

into a pillar of this64. "To and ___"66. South American

tuber

By Josie Cowden

FeaturedColumnist

&Out About

Le Chef


AnnouncementsBizaid for AIDS CampaignNovember 25 thru December 5

Now in its 21st year, BizAID for AIDS wasdeveloped by New Leaf Community

Markets and Santa Cruz Aids Project (SCAP)as a way for businesses to support people inSanta Cruz County living with HIV.Participating companies commit to SCAP apercentage of sales or a specific amount todonate during the ten days afterThanksgiving. SCAP provides critical supportto people living with HIV/AIDS for free,including referrals, psychosocial support andfinancial support, plus outreach to high-riskpopulations to prevent the spread of HIV,Hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted diseases.You can support SCAP by patronizing busi-nesses displaying BizAID for AIDS posters intheir windows. More information at: www.scapsite.org

Become a CASA Advocate

For a child who has been neglected orabused, the world is a lonely place. In santa

cruz county there are more than 250 kids liv-ing in foster care because they have sufferedsevere abuse or neglect at home. You can be afriend, mentor, and a powerful voice in courtfor a child in foster care. Join more than 1,000members of our community who have beentrained to serve children in foster care and assworn officials of the court. Becoming a CourtAppointed Security Advocate means volun-teering 3-5 hours a week.For more information, call CASA at (831)761-2956 today and find out how you canhelp.

Ongoing EventsFirst Mondays of the MonthLecture Series on "Great Decisions"7:00pm-8:30 pm, Episcopal Church of St.John, 125 Canterbury Dr. in Aptos

Lectures will be lead by Dr. Laina Farhat-Holzman, sponsored by Santa Cruz Beach,

American Association of University Women.For more information, call (831) 688-0541

Second and Fourth MondaysFirst and Third WednesdaysAlzheimers Support Groups Monday: 2:00 - 3:30pmWednesday: 5:30 – 7:00pm Conference Room at Elena Baskin/Live OakSenior Center, 1777-A Capitola Rd, Santa Cruz

Facilitated by Jill Ginghofer, this group is forcaregivers and family members of people

with Alzheimers.

TuesdaysOcean Gate Zendo7 p.m., 920 41st Ave., Suite B, Santa Cruz.(next to Family Cycling Center)

Please join us on Tues. nights at 7pmbeginning with a 30 min. meditation, fol-

lowed by a Dharma talk. Tea & cookiesserved after the talk, during a discus-sion/question period.Visit oceangatezen.org for more info.

Drop in Grief Support6:00pm at Aegis, 125 Heather Terrace, Aptos

Join other adults who are grieving thedeath of a friend or family member.

Learn helpful tools for coping: Share sto-ries and receive support from people whocare.No registration required, please call (831)430-3000 for information.

Women Care Drop in Cancer Support

Drop in Support Group is a gatheringfor women with all types of cancer.

We offer support for women through allstages from diagnoses through treat-ment. For more information or to register call (831)457-2273

Tuesdays thru Fridays, SundaysSvaroopa® Yoga Instruction at Aptos YogaAptos Yoga, 783 Rio Del Mar Blvd. Ste.23B,Aptos. 831-688-1019

Svaroopa® Yoga is very different fromwhat most of us think of as yoga. With

the support of blankets, beginning studentsrelax into easy poses designed to release thedeepest tensions in the body along thespine. This release deeply relaxes the body,quiets the mind, reduces pain, acceleratesinjury recovery, and promotes better overallhealth. Classes five days each week. FirstClass free. For more information, call 688-1019www.aptosyoga.org

First Tuesdays and Third Wednesdays each monthOrientations to Become Advocates for ChildrenNorth County, 5:30-7p.m., first Tuesday ofmonth (for location details contact Danielle at761-2956 X102) South County, 5:30-7 p.m.,third Wednesday of the month at the CASAOffice, 294 Green Valley Rd. Suite 326,Watsonville.

CASA (Court Appointed SpecialAdvocates) of Santa Cruz County

needs your help. Volunteer 3-5 hours perweek to provide support, guidance, and apowerful voice in court for children whohave been removed from their homesbecause of abuse or neglect. Everyonewelcome, men and bilingual folks espe-cially encouraged. To RSVP call 761-2956 Ext. 102, or [email protected]

WednesdaysAptos Toastmasters Noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Rio Sands Motel,116 Aptos Beach Drive, Aptos.

If you have trouble or fear of public speaking,this is a perfect opportunity for you to getover your fears!Call 970-2229 for more information.

Lectures on Western Civilization1:30pm-2:30pm, Monterey Peninsula College

Exciting lectures will cover fascinating topicssuch as "The Art of Alchemy," as well as

"Lord Byron: Mad, Bad, and Dangerous toKnow." Purchase free parking tickets at thecollege, lectures are free.

RR Toastmasters meetings12:00pm at St. Philip Episcopal Church,5271 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley.

Fear of public speaking is the #1 fear inAmerica. Since public speaking fears are

so common, realize the tremendous powerof influence that you will hold when youmaster speaking skills. Come and find outhow you can lose your fears and realizeyour full potential at Redwood RamblersToastmasters Club.

Coastal Professionals8:00am to 9:30am at Aptos History Museum,Old Dominion Court, Aptos.

Learn tips and make connections. Local pro-fessionals meet weekly to focus on busi-

ness building and collaboration. Interestedbusiness owners, independent professionalsand guests welcome. For more information: 621-1153,www.CoastalProfessionals.net

First Wednesday of the MonthChild Welfare Review6:00pm- 9:00pm 1400 Emeline Avenue room206, Santa Cruz.

The orientation is designed to review thechild welfare system and to give you a

chance to have your question answered bychild welfare staff.To register to one of the meeting and fordirections, please call 454-4024.

Fourth Wednesday each MonthOngoing Constitution Classes7:00 pm Quaker Meeting House, 225 RooneySt. Santa Cruz

View video lessons of an in-depth teachingabout our Constitution, one of the most

respected and copied documents in ournations history. For more information, visitwww.meetup.com/santacruz-freedom-forumor email [email protected]

ThursdaysCapitola-Aptos Rotary Club Meeting12-1:30 p.m. at Seascape Golf Course.

Contact Doug at 831- 724-9192 or [email protected] for more

information.

Second and Fourth Thursdays of the monthCabrillo Host Lions 7:30pm at the Cabrillo Community Center,Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Rd.

Public is invited to all programs. ContactPresident Paul Henry 831-688-31 or Past

President Barbara Chamberlain at 831-688-3356.For meeting/dinner reservations or informa-tion or visit www.cabrillohostlions.org.

FridaysClutterers Anonymous5:30-6:45 Sutter Maternity & Surgical Center,2900 Chanticleer Ave, Soquel Dr. Santa Cruz.

Tired of Clutter? Stuff piling up? Support isavailable. CLA meeting every Friday.

For more info call 426-1868 FREE

SaturdaysCome As You Are Zen9-10:30 am, Ocean Gate Zendo, 920 41stAve. Suite B, Santa Cruz (next to FamilyCycling Center)

Come as you are Zen focuses on Buddhistpractices that enhance our daily lives.

This will be an informal talk with time fordiscussion. Free - donation accepted. Visit oceangatezen.org for more info.

Aptos Certified Farmers Market8:00 -12:00pm at Cabrillo College, Aptos.

The Aptos Market, with over 80 vendors, isopen year round, with the best selections

of fresh fruits and vegetables, plants,seedlings, flowers, local honey, fresh eggs,fresh fish, artisan baked goods and gourmetfoods. In addition, family activities, music,cooking demos by professional chefs, garden-ing workshops, seasonal fairs and events are apart of the market.

Scotts Valley Farmer’s Market9a.m.-1p.m. SV Community Center, 360 Kings Village Drive www.santacruzfarmersmarket.org

SundaysMain Beach Volleyball Club Blenders Program9:30am - 11:30 am Cabrillo College Gym5-6th grade coed, 7-8th grade girls.Contact Jan Furman at 831-345-1441

Dated EventsThursday December 1Open House at Aptos Academy6:00pm-8:00pm 1940, Bonita Dr. Aptos

The Aptos Academy invites you to an Openhouse to meet the schools friendly, inspir-

ing teachers and view a video of the beautiful,five acre campus with a theater, running track,and horse facility. Learn how PreK-8th gradestudents at this WASC-accredited, non-denom-inational school are inspired by individual-ized, arts-enriched academic programs, anddaily PE.

For more information, call (831) 688-1080, orvisit www.aptosacademy.org

Saturday December 3Local Artisan Holiday Gift Faire at theSanta Cruz Naturopathic Medical Center12:00pm-5:00pm, 736 Chestnut St. SantaCruz

Meet local artists, support local business-es, and enjoy holiday music. Find great

gifts, such as jewelry, artwork, handmadeskin products, winter tonics & elixirs, localorganic edibles, fair trade products, discount-ed gift certificates, and packages for SCNMCand more! For more information, call (831) 477-1377 orvisit www.scnmc.com

Holiday Style Event for CASA 5:00pm-9:00pm, Urban Groove Salon, 5757th Avenue, Santa Cruz

Hot Groove Salon and more than a dozenlocal beauty and health related businesses

will host "Hot for The Holidays," a night ofsocializing, shopping, and a silent auction thatwill benefit Court Appointed SpecialAdvocates, in memory of Celestial Cassman, aformer salon client and a member of CASA'sBoard of Directors. $10 in advance, $15 at the door includes giftbag and complimentary glass of wine.

Saturday December 7Auditions for the Santa Cruz Youth Symphony

There are openings in all sections of theorchestra, including all strings. Scholarship

assistance is available.For audition information, [email protected] or call (831) 607-9678

Thursday December 8Women in Business Annual Giving Luncheon11:00am-1:30pm, The Cocoanut Grove

The Women in Business program of theSanta Cruz Chamber of Commerce will

be holding its annual "Giving Luncheon"which will feature keynote speaker, JohnGray, sponsored by Bay Federal. John Gray,PhD, is the best selling relationship authorof all time. He is the author of 17 booksincluding "Men are from Mars, Women arefrom Venus." As our Call to Action, theCommittee is asking attendees to donatenew and gently used coats to support Coatsfor Kids, a project created by ClassicCleaners. Cost for Chamber of SC members is $37, Costis $50 for non-members. For more informa-tion, contact the Chamber at (831) 457-3720or visit www.santacruzchamber.org

Tuesday December 13Sons In Retirement (SIR) Ladies Holiday Luncheon11:30am, Aptos Seasape Golf Course, 610Clubhouse Drive, Aptos.

Entertainment will be the Mele O KeKapuna (The Music Of The Elders) band

playing holiday and traditional music of theIslands. SIR is an organization for retired menfor which there are no dues or fees, political orreligious agendas.Call 688-0977 for information. nTerri and students at Aptos Academy


AnnouncementsThe 2012 Aptos History Calendar is finally Available!

This calendar, created by Heidi andDick Garwood of Aptos, features pho-

tographs and brief anecdotes describinghistorical events in mid-county. It alsofeatures ads from many local advertisors!Buy it now at seven Aptos locations aswell as the Capitola Book Cafe.

Holiday Tree WalkNovember 25, 26, 27; December 3, 4, 10, 11,17 & 18: train departs at 11:00am & 12:30pm

Passengers riding the stream train willdelight in the tree-lined walk of festive hol-

iday trees displayed atop Bear Mountain.Guests may sip hot cider and view beautifullyadorned trees, decorated by area businesses anorganizations as they raise funds for theirrespective organizations.For more information, visitwww.roaringcamp.com

Donate to the Holiday Boutique and Santa's Workshop!9400 Hwy. 9, Ben Lomand.

The Holiday Boutique remains open fromthrough Christmas! Visit the shop and

purchase slightly used items or drop offdonations. There are many ways to volunteer,from baking cookies to building senior boxes. For more information, call (831) 336-8258

Ageless Art Project

Artists/Crafts people volunteers Shareyour talent and make creative expres-

sion possible by leading an art group of carefacility residents. Become an Ageless ArtProject Volunteer. For information call 459-8917 ext. 208

SPECTRA Arts Learning

The Cultural Council of Santa Cruz Countyis seeking stories and anecdotes from peo-

ple with current or past experience with SPEC-TRA Arts Learning. These stories will serve asexamples of successes students have foundthrough the Council’s SPECTRA program overthe years, and may be used to promote theCouncil’s Arts Learning Resource Directory. Ifyou are an artist, parent, teacher or studentwith a story to share about your experiencewith SPECTRA, you are invited to send a briefnarrative to Sonia Deetz at the CulturalCouncil: [email protected].

Ongoing EventsMondays and WednesdaysSalsa Rueda Class7:00pm at Louden Nelson Center, 301 CenterSt., Santa Cruz.

Learn Salsa Rueda. For more informationvisit www.salsaruedasantacruz.com or call

831-457-7432

TuesdaysBINGO6:30 p.m. Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, 150 Jewell St.

Hosted by Soquel Sports Foundation. Buy-In $25. Also, we have a special BINGO,

celebrating our 2nd anniversary, on Sept. 28 at6:30. Buy-in only $15. www.soquelsports.com

Tuesdays and WeekendsLive Music on the EsplanadeParadise Beach Grille 215 Esplanade,Capitola.

Live music weekends and acoustic guitarTuesdays.

For schedule and more information: (831)476-4900 Or visit paradisebeachgrille.com

WednesdaysPeninsula Banjo Band7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Harry’s Hofbrau, 390Saratoga Ave, San Jose

Forty-seven years of performing in theBay Area, over 250 popular tunes. Come

see our band for Free in Sunnyvale EveryWednesday. No cover. Contact Lee McLaughlin, Booking Agent,at 408-993-BAND (2263) for informa-tion about booking the band for Non-profit events (donations are taxdeductible).www.PeninsulaBanjoBand.org

FridaysBallroom Dancing7:30- 11:00pm at Mid-County Senior Center,829 Bay Ave, Capitola.

Live music by The Rainbows. Refreshments,large floor, friendly atmosphere, free park-

ing. All for a donation of $8 per person.

First Fridays of each monthFirst Friday Art Tour

The First Friday Art Tour is a Santa CruzInstitute of Contemporary Arts event,

managed in conjunction with the partici-pating art venues. The event takes placeyear-round and illuminates some of themost talented local artists from local gal-leries. To find out where to participate in a FirstFriday art tour, visit firstfridaysantacruz.com(Most galleries are open 12-9 pm for FirstFriday viewings.)

Fridays thru Sundays thru Nov. 19Cabrillo Theatre Arts Presents: The Three SistersFriday & Saturday nights at 8:00pm; SundayMatinees at 2:00pm and a special perform-ance, on Nov. 18 at 10:00 am

For ticket information, call (831) 479-6154 orvisit www.ticketguys.com Tickets are $15

for students/seniors, $18 for general public

Every other FridayShakespeare Club of Santa Cruz10:30-12:30 pm, First CongregationalChurch, 900 High St. Santa Cruz, StartingNovember 4th

Shakespeare's club is seeking new membersto join in the study of his plays.

For more information, visitwww.fridayshakespeare.org

Fourth Friday of each monthMusical Me Inc. Family Jam Night6:30-8:30p.m. 239 High St., Santa Cruz.

Bring your favorite music to dance to andany instruments you'd like to share or per-

form with. Sliding Scale donation per familyof $10-$25 (all proceeds going to our scholar-ship fund.)For more information call 831-438-3514.

Fourth Saturdays of each monthWriters and Poets Open Mike2:00pm-4:00pm, Porter Memorial Library,3050 Porter St. Soquel

Writers and Poets are invited to a newmonthly open mike reading series. Come

and read your fiction, essays, or poetry.For more information, call Jean at (831) 475-4221

Dated EventsSaturday, November 26Holiday Gift Show at Center St. Grill12:00pm-6:00pm, 1001 Center St. SantaCruz

Center Street Grill and Community Bridgesinvite you to the 5th annual holiday gift

show featuring beautiful and unique giftsfrom local vendors. Wares include jewelry,accessories, photography, ornaments, wreaths,soaps, candles, jams, candy and much more!Each artist and the restaurant will donate aportion of sales to Community Bridges. Pleasejoin us for a day of shopping along with livejazz and a wine and Champagne bar.For more information, call (831) 423-4745

Saturday November 26Sunday November 27Santa Cruz Holiday FaireSaturday 10:00am-5:00pm, Sunday 10:00am-3:00pm

This holiday faire will feature arts, gifts,crafts and more. Meet the artisans and

shop their wares. They will feature their cre-ative treasures, including gifts, jewelry, dolls,toys, wearables, scents, computers, electronics,cameras, candy, and foods. Admission freewith donation to Valley Churches UnitedChristmas Food Drive or pay $3 per person.Free for active military families and wellbehaved children under 13.

Saturday December 3Vinnie Hanson Book Signing1:00pm-3:00pm Cross Roads Books, 1935Main St. Watsonville

Local author Vinnie Hansen is a recent retireeafter 27 years of teaching at Watsonville

High School. She will be signing her locally setmysteries featuring intrepid heroine, CarolSabala, a baker and private investigator.For more information, visit vin-niehansen.com, or contact the author [email protected]

Saturday December 3Sunday December 4$25 or Less Handmade Gift SaleSaturday December 3rd at 1543 Pacific Ave.Santa Cruz; Sunday, December 4th at TheArt Factory, 9099 Soquel Dr. Aptos

After you watch the Parade in downtown SantaCruz, enjoy this fabulous gift sale. Items for sale

will include handmade jewelry, clothing, organicpreserves, sea glass treasures, and much more!Fore more information, contact Yvette at(831) 688-8862, or Jenny at (831) 425-0960

Bargetto Winery 20th Annual Art in the Cellar11:00am-5:00 pm, Bargetto Winery

Shop local artists fine art and gifts inBargetto Winery's Historic Cellars.

Purchase a festival glass and enjoy wine tast-ing, hot spiced Chaucer's Mead and ChristmasCarolers while meandering throughout ourcellars filled with fantastic gift options.Food will be available for purchase, PrivateWine Club Reception Saturday, Dec. 3(6:00pm-8:00pm.)

Sunday, December 4Corralitos Festival of Lights10:00am-6:00pm, Corralitos CommunityChurch, 26 Browns Valley Rd.

Come visit the second happiest place onearth! Our festival of lights features music,

tasty food, gingerbread houses, and cookiedecorating. Santa and Mrs. Clause will ride inon a Fire Truck at 2:00pm for photos, and afabulous Tri-Tip Dinner will be served from1:00-6:00pm.For more information call Shirley at (831)724-7962 or Joyce at (831) 722-2919

Sunday December 11Third Annual Mad Hatter's Tea Party12:30pm- 3:00pm, Seascape Beach Resort, 1Seascape Resort Dr.

This 3rd annual festive tea party will fea-ture local actors, including children, as

Alice, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter.All proceeds and one unwrapped toy perperson will be donated to Santa Cruz Toysfor Tots. Donations: $29 ages 2-12, $40 ages13 and up. For more details, visit www.seascaperesort.comor call (831) 662-7108

Sunday December 11Youth Music Showcase3:00pm, Resurrection Church, 7600 SoquelDr. Aptos

The Santa Cruz County Music Teacher'sAssociation of California presents a concert

uniting Santa Cruz's three youth orchestras,Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony, theSanta Cruz Chamber Strings, and the CabrilloYouth Strings Baroque-Classical Ensemble, aswell as solo performances by selected youngmusicians. The audience will have the oppor-tunity to enjoy the multiple talents of our com-munities young musicians.Admission is free, for more information con-tact [email protected]

Wednesday December 14Good Shepherd Catholic School Presents their Annual Holiday Concert6:00pm, 2727 Mattison Lane, Santa Cruz

The students at Good Shepherd CatholicSchool will present their annual Holiday

Concert. The preschool through first grade stu-dents will perform at 6:00pm, the secondthrough fifth grade students will perform at7:00pm.Admission is free, for more information pleasecall (831) 476-4000 n

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)This month begins on a high as Venus and powerful Pluto meet, bring-ing passion and love into your life. You are distracted by this so thatother matters are on hold for a while but you are keen to make animpression with long lasting consequences. A situation that is in the bal-ance resolves itself after the 25th and in fact Christmas Day could be aturning point for you as you reflect on the previous months. Your prior-ities are changing which can have far reaching consequences, and thetime for actions starts from the 22nd.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb. 18)This month brings a helpful alliance between Neptune in your sign andSaturn. This can have the effect of making your dreams real, and some ofyour wackier ideas being a working reality. By now you will have doneyour homework and research on what is important and begin to allow aventure to take shape at last. Venus enters your sign after the 21st andbrings a more peaceful and collaborative time, especially when you aredealing with others. After the 22nd, you know your limitations and canwork with what you have to greatest effect.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)While much of this month you are thinking about the path you want totake and your direction long term, you are also mindful of how this fitsin with your relationship. Mars here has been stirring things up and ifyou are in a new relationship, then it is in the exciting and passionatetime. You are juggling with so many demands on your time it's hard toknow how to do as much as you want without being burned out. Butyou are resourceful and will go with the flow without worrying toomuch about the consequences. Let intuition be your guide but begrounded in commonsense particularly after the 21st.

Aries (March 21-April 20)You are more positive and upbeat and looking forward to the season ofgoodwill. Indeed, you have plenty to keep you occupied and althoughparties and celebrations may not be quite what you expect, neverthelessyou are resourceful enough to make this a happy time for those who feelless than enthusiastic. Initially there may be conflict around a work orhealth issue, but this doesn't dampen your spirits. You are ambitious andlooking for a change regarding work and this could come through in theNew Year.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)While you have had the feeling that certain matters have been on holdfor a while, this is set to change this month, when your preparations arenow on track and your expectations are high. Your personal hopes andwishes are more likely to be fulfilled, but this has a lot to do with otheraspects of your life reaching a natural conclusion. Venus links to Plutoat the start of the month and this helps you to feel effective and passion-ate about what is important and fairly ruthless about what isn't.Harmony prevails from the 22nd onwards.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)Relationships are under the spotlight and you could be catching up withpast loves or those who have been away for a while. this is a time whenteam work is best for you and a helpful ally brings you the assistanceyou need to get a project off the ground at last. Mercury goes directagain after the 14th and those matters that have floundered somewhatare now back on track. Use your resourcefulness to plan ahead for theNew Year and enjoy the spirit of Christmas in a simple and creative way.

Cancer (June 22-July 22)Intriguing developments at the start of the month could mean new lovefor some of you, and perhaps a really meeting of hearts and minds forothers. Venus in your chart area of relationships bodes well for themonth, at least until the 21st. After this time the Sun enters this area.This is a time when you feel less like taking charge and are happy to beguided by your special other. You could do with some serious rest andrelaxation and a last minute break is tempting. The lunar eclipse on the10th in Gemini invites you towards a more spiritual and peaceful time.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 23)The Sun is in the most playful part of your chart initially and you can makethe most of this by rediscovering your inner child, making things forChristmas and not being to precious about being perfect or caring whatother people think. Mercury is here too, promising plenty of activity andinvites and you are witty and great company to be around (nothing newhere!). Take note of the eclipse around the the 10th as this puts a focus onyour friends and associates. You have an ideal and a vision you want toshare to make the world a better place.

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sep. 22)All month Mars is working its way through your sign. On the onehand you are ready to battle, and on the other you want to createsomething new and change the way things were done previously.This could get you into all sorts of hot water, but you have what ittakes to make things happen. Your relentlessness could leave youfeeling somewhat exhausted, so do the right thing and delegate if nec-essary. You take the initiative, which is fun, and as such you could stirthings up at home. Your travel plans are looking great after ChristmasDay.

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 23)You have been feeling under pressure to do more than you are will-ing to do and take on board commitments that you are not absolute-ly sure of. This may mean that others think you are stubborn but youhave good reasons. You are protective of your space and don't wantto be invaded! Be clear and make sure there are no misunderstand-ings. The lunar eclipse on the 10th works well for you and allows youto rise above petty squabbles. All is peaceful later and you can enjoythe festive season. You win respect for some hard decisions towardsthe end of the month.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)What you hear and understand can have quite an impact on you initial-ly and it's these kind of chance encounters that can lead you down a dif-ferent path. Take note of how you feel towards someone new and seethat there could be a great future collaboration here that you can bothbenefit from. You are particularly clever with your cash in Decemberand boost your income in ingenious ways, particularly after the 14th.You reach a kind of turning point on the 10th as an idea takes hold. Afterthe 21st, travel is an important feature and you could be changing yourmode of transport.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)This month Mercury has been retrograde in your sign, which may havethe effect of holding things up a little but also giving you valuable timeto rethink something that is important and precious to you. this has animpact on your closest relationship which was helped by Venus in yoursign. Now with the lunar eclipse in your opposite sign of Gemini on the10th certain agreements can be made which enhances your futuretogether. Your focus is on your resources after the 22nd. Counting thecost of Christmas?

•••Find Out More www.AnnabelBurton.tv

Your December HoroscopeAnnabel Burton • Astrologer ©


It’s the holiday season; everyone isbusy with the hustle and bustlethat goes with this time of year.

So, while you are enjoying familyand friends this year, please take afew moments to ensure their safety.

Kitchen & Cooking Safety

Statistics from the U.S. FireAdministration shows that dur-

ing the month of December, 72 per-cent of all structure fires are in resi-dential buildings and the leadingcause involves cooking and is closelyfollowed by heating related fires.While you’re busy in the kitchen thisyear pay close attention to the com-mon causes of holiday cooking fires.Cooks can often become distractedduring this time of the year, by fami-ly, friends and yes, even adult bever-ages.

On average 54 percent of cook-ing fires during the holidays willresult from either food or cookingequipment being left unattended orcombustible items like towels, wood-en utensils, oven mitts and cookbooks being left too close to a heatsource. Keep all combustibles wellaway from any heat source andnever leave items cooking left unat-tended, it only takes a few minutesfor oil in a pan to reach its ignitiontemperature and possibly ruin a hol-iday.

Fireplace, Wood Stove & Open Flame Safety

During the holidays, we also seethe use of open flame in our

homes increase, with the use of afireplace, wood stove and candles.With this increase we also see anincrease in fire’s not only from theobvious of items coming into contactwith these open flames but also fromkids playing with fire.

Be very careful with candleskeep them away from combustibleitems and never leave a candle burn-ing when you leave the house or go tobed. Make sure items are not stored toclose to the fireplace or wood stoveand if you have children in the homeremind them that fire is a tool, a verydangerous tool and should not beplayed with. Depending on the age ofyour children you may consider tak-ing this time of year and teachingthem the proper use of fire and howto safety start a fire in the fireplace orlight a candle, always under adultsupervision.

Christmas Tree Safety

While the number of Christmastree fire incidents tends to be

low, they can produce the most dan-gerous fires of all. An averageChristmas tree will burn with thesame intensity as a 2-foot pool ofgasoline. How fast a Christmas treefire will spread depends mostly onhow dry it is. Take a few minutes andsearch for videos of Christmas treefires on the internet, you will findmany that show a fire in a treespreading to the entire room in just acouple of minutes. If you have a realtree, keep it well watered andremove a dry tree right away.

Always keep the tree well awayfrom ignition sources like the fire-place or heater and inspect all lightsthat you place on the tree and neverleave them on while away fromhome or when going to bed.

Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Make sure you always haveworking smoke detectors in

your home, change the batteriestwice a year, you should have donethis in November with the timechange. While maybe not as excitingas many other holiday gifts, the giftof a smoke detector, carbon monox-ide detector and a fire extinguishermay give the gift of life.

On behalf of the members of theAptos La Selva Fire District I, wouldlike to wish you and your family ahappy and safe holiday season. Oh,and don’t forget you can spread thejoy of the holiday season by stoppingby any of the fire stations and donat-ing food or toys for those in need.

For more holiday safety tips, pleasecontact your local fire department or visitHoliday Fire Prevention atwww.sufa.dhs.gov/safety/tips/holiday.shtm

If you have any questions for ChiefMike, e-mail him at,[email protected]

Grief Support: Support forHospice families or to anyone facedwith the loss of a loved one.

Healthy Understanding ofGrief (H.U.G): helps children andteens with their grief by helping themto feel and direct their emotions ofloss in a positive and healthy manner.

Charity Hospice Care: Helpsprovide Hospice care for the underand uninsured community.

Education and Outreach: Avariety of programs that help edu-cate the community about the servic-es that Hospice of Santa CruzCounty provides.

We Honor Vets: Our newestprogram identifies the special

needs of Veterans, honoring theirservices and connecting Vets andtheir families with benefits andresources. n

•••For more information about

Hospice of Santa Cruz County and howthey can help your family, call 831-430-3000, or visit them online atwww.hospicesantacruz.org.

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FeaturedColumnist

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“Hospice” from pg 24


On November 15, tails beganwagging at the new SantaCruz SPCA store in the

Capitola Mall for the holiday season.The 5,000 square foot retail space isopen five days a week, Wednesdaythrough Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4p.m. offering dog and cat adoptionsas well as the sale of jewelry, t-shirts,greeting cards and other SPCA mer-chandise.

Aside from adoptable animals,visitors can also expect to see awardwinning Santa Cruz photographerPortia Shao at the new store offeringholiday pet portraiture for newadopters as well as the public andtheir pets. High fashion canine gar-ments MyFavoriteCouture made bylocal designer Anastasia Torres-Gil,will also be on display for sale.

Manager of the Capitola Mall,Merrie Ann Millar, invited the SantaCruz SPCA into their high trafficshopping center because of her lovefor animals. “I have always had won-derful experiences with SPCA and it’sa chance for everyone to learn moreabout the organization and what theyactually do for our community. Thebonus is that this exposure leads tomore animals finding “forever”homes.” Millar said.

One-day adoption events havebeen held at the Capitola Mall in thepast, but nothing quite like this. “Wefeel absolutely privileged to have beengiven this amazing opportunity andplan to put as much effort into it aspossible,” said Lisa Carter, Executive

Director of theSanta CruzSPCA.

The chanceto showcase

adoptable animals while interactingwith the public on a large scale is awonderful and welcome change.

“We look forward to being moreaccessible to the public and for ourorphaned animals to have a greateramount of exposure. Running thisstore in such a well-known place willhelp us really show people who weare as an organization,” said Carter.

The mall also sees the partnershipas beneficial. “Retail locations makegreat alternative adoption centers forpeople who do not want to visit theshelter. It benefits the mall by attract-ing visitors that might not come to themall otherwise,” says Capitola Mallmanager, Merrie Ann Millar.

Adoption policies and procedureswill be followed as normal and theoriginal shelter will continue to run asusual. The Santa Cruz SPCA recentlypurchased land for the construction ofa new home shelter and is currently inthe design process.

As pet lovers, we are excited tosee the world continue to lean in theanimal-friendly direction, with bigbusiness providing animal organiza-tions and owners alike opportunitiesdirectly benefiting their pets. n

•••The Santa Cruz SPCA is a private,

non-profit, no-kill rescue that relies solelyon donations. They are located at 2685Chanticleer Ave in Santa Cruz. Visit theirwebsite at www.santacruzspca.org or call831-465-5000.

At The Gym© Statepoint Media

crossw

ord on

27»

Is There Really A Santa Claus?” is thequestion posed by the Choraliers Intheir quaint December 18th Christmas

Show.Director Wanda Kocina has written

this show from the viewpoint of an eight-year-old girl reporter seeking answers tothis whimsical question from a variety ofpeople in local locations.

She finds an overwhelming opinionthat even busy shoppers know, “We NeedA Little Christmas” and the tinkling of“Silver Bells” on each corner adds to thefeeling of the holiday spirit.

She also is told that a group of visitorsfrom the North Pole really do work in a“Toyland” for Santa. They also relate thatat the right time “Santa Claus Is ComingTo Town” and that they hope it will be a“White Christmas” to add to the mystiqueand charm of the holiday.

Even the furry creatures who guideSanta in his sleigh are eager to explain how“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”and that they feel quite badly about this.They also know they must hurry to com-plete their Christmas Eve journey so‘hurry-up’ practices to the “ReindeerBoogie” are great fun and useful exercise.

As she travels along, our girl reporternotices that there seems to be a Santa Clausand carolers on every corner. As the carol-ers are performing familiar, heart-warmingand mood elevating Christmas Carols, shestops to listen and enjoy them while wait-ing for her chance to ask them their opinionon the burning question about the reality ofSanta Claus. Unfortunately, they move onand the question remains unanswered.

An original song, featured with thecarols, was written by the late DonMitchell. It will be performed by his wife

Betty in this show. This song truly capturesthe spirit of the Holidays encompassingthe anticipation of this season as well thatindefinable something that seems to cap-ture us when we realize, as he writes, “TheChristmas season’s comin’ you can tell, thefeelings in the air.” Don’s song, “ChristmasFeelings “is truly a gift to all who hear it.

Leaving the carolers, our girl reportercontinues on her way suddenly finding herschool friends. She learns that one of themwants a rather different gift while anothergushes about mistletoe, ribbons and candycanes and says, “That’s What We LoveAbout Christmas.”

The only thing missing on her journey,sure enough, suddenly appears as sheencounters angels. One is a rather amusingwhile the other encourages her to believein them and, ”Find something good ineverything you see.”

Does our aspiring young reporter findan answer to her burning question, “IsThere Really A Santa Claus?” Come toMid-County Senior Center for the show onDecember 18 at 2:00 p.m. to find theanswer.

Assisting Wanda in this show aremusical director, Carolyn Crocker,Choreographer, Alice Peterson, Pianist,Charlotte Gaidos, Violinist, Alice Yerkes,Guitarist, Sena Knornschild, accordionist,Dolores Diego, Don Ratto strumming theukulele and Doug Meyers on the saxo-phone and flute.

There is a donation of $5.00 per personfor the show that includes refreshmentsserved at the end of the performance. n

•••If you are interested in any activities come

to the Mid-County Senior Center or call 476-4711.

FeaturedColumnist

By Judy

Chamberlin

Standing: Dolores Diego (from left), Patricia Samaras, Emma Peterson, Lois Duncan and MarilynQuaintance. Kneeling (center): Director Wanda Kocina.

SPCA Opens Pet AdoptionStore in Capitola Mall

Documents

Capitola / Soquel Times December 2011