Aptos Times Dec.1st 2012

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 20 No. 23

Serving Aptos, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, Freedom, Watsonville, & Pajaro

Selling Caterpillars to raise funds for Second Harvest Food Bank

December 1 2011

ust ten weeks ago, PastorRene Schlaepfer of Twin

Lakes Church, issued a challengeto his congregation: Donate onemillion pounds of food to theSecond Harvest Holiday FoodDrive by Thanksgiving.

He asked every person inthe church congregation, adultsand children, to set aside $1.40 aday for ten weeks. “For ourchurch, that adds up to over$330,000,” explained PastorRene. “Since Second Harvest

Food Bank equates 3 pounds offood per dollar during the holi-day food drive, that’s a millionpounds worth of food.” Thisadds up to almost half of SecondHarvest’s total goal of 2.5 mil-lion pounds.

“I told everyone I was pray-ing for total participation, 100%.I even asked the little kids tohelp out and they had someamazingly creative ideas,” saidPastor Rene.

... continued on page 4

1,229,916 POUNDS DONATED BY APTOS CONGREGATION!Twin Lakes Church Collects Over One Million Pounds for Second Harvest Holiday Food Drive

Locally owned & operatedwww.TPGonlinedaily.com

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AGE5PAGE

The Nutcracker~A Santa Cruz ~

tradition!

December 16, 17 & 18

ith the assistance of the OrchestraManager, Norman Peck, Maestro

John Larry Granger gathers the SantaCruz Ballet Theatre Orchestra togethereach year since Robert Kelley and DianeCypher, moved their Nutcracker to theCivic Auditorium in 2006.

Tchaikovsky is renowned for being amaster of orchestration, and gives everyinstrument something special to do. Thepleasure of playing the music is some-thing that John Larry Granger encour-ages, at the same time expecting, indeeddemanding, each musician’s best effort.

Norman says not only is this pro-duction glorious looking, but alsobecause the musicians are in full view ofthe audience, they are more involvedand immersed in bringing this story tothe audience.

Concert Mistress Kristina Anderson,a local professional violinist, said: “Themusic, especially for the first violins, isvery difficult. The overture to TheNutcracker is on auditions formany major symphonies, and takes prac-ticing every year, no matter how manytimes one may have played it.”

... continued on page 4

J

W

The Nutcracker

‘Plaid Tidings’ atChristmasCabrillo Stage

Aptos Adopt-A-Family18 Years of Helping

Holiday Cheer forCASACal Giant

2 / December 1st 2011 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com

www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 1st 2011 / 3

Cover1,229,916 Pounds Donated by Aptos Congregation – Twin LakesChurch Collects Over One Million Pounds for Second Harvest HolidayFood DriveThe Nutcracker - A Santa Cruz tradition! December 16, 17 & 18

Community News3 Christmas with The Santa Cruz Chorale • Cabrillo Winter Dance

Concert5 Holiday Cheer for CASA Children from Cal Giant Employees • Local

Kid-Rock Bands Taking Stage in Santa Cruz6 Aptos Adopt-A-Family – Eighteen years of providing for families in

hardship8 ‘Plaid Tidings’ Christmas Production – Cabrillo Stage Brings Back

Audience Favorite9 AWorld of Many Colors – New Concert by the Santa Cruz World Choir

and Orchestra11 SPCAOpens Pet Adoption Store in Capitola Mall12 Second Harvest – The Power of Community Your Holiday Giving Will

Last Well Into 2012 By Noel Smith16 State Wants to Return $17 Million in Undelivered Tax Refunds24 Hospice of Santa Cruz County Understands the Journey of Grief and

the Holidays

Business Profiles14 Annieglass Custom Glassware for that Perfect Gift – Celebrate With

Collection of Santa Cruz Christmas Ornaments By Gail Penniman20 Frank’s Pharmacy for Superior Service – Always Striving to Improve

By Gail Penniman

Sports Wrap16 County Soccer Teams Battle in Tournament Final – Coach Priscilla

Meza to try out for Mexico’s Olympic team • Aptos High SchoolScoreboard

17 Coastal Collision – Newest Martial Arts Showcase by Noel Smith

Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28 & 29

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

Featured Columnists18 EarthTalk® – Garlic & Onions May Help to Prevent Some Cancers22 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 cure27 Out & About by Josie Cowden30 Holiday Fire Precautions & Prevention by Mike Conrad, Division Chief

Aptos La Selva Fire District

SPCA Featured Pet • Page 31 – Hope Is All It Takes

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VOL.20NO.23

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CCoommmmuunniittyyBriefsChristmas 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 majorby Monteverdi, and some wonderfulRenaissance Motets and Christmassongs from around the world. TheChorale will be joined by some of theBay area’s finest instrumentalists.

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

•••Cabrillo 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 Hopchoreographer 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, $10 Students/Seniors, $8 Student Activity Card atwww.brownpapertickets.com n


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.

Times Publishing Group, Inc.9601 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003

PHONE: (831) 688-7549FAX: (831) 688-7551

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mission statement

We at the Times Publishing Group, Inc.are dedicated to providing a voice forthe individuals and organizations inour community while highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of ourlocal businesses. We seek to promotehealthy family values through our coverage of youth activities, schoolnews, senior events, community groupsand entertainment.

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CoverStoryAPTOS TIMES

“One six-year old boy sold his hand-made paper kites door-to-door for two dol-lars each. A junior high kid did chores forneighbors. Two martial arts students held a

‘board break-a-thon’ One of my favorites:Four little brothers, aged 2 to 7, sold toycaterpillars they made themselves. Theyraised over $300 that way!”

Adults, equally inspired by PastorRene, sold furniture and books online, held

garage sales, and more. One couple soldtheir old coin collection. Another familydecided they would all forgo Christmaspresents and give to the food drive instead.The owners of Yogurtland of Capitoladonated a portion of one day’s proceeds tothe cause, raising over $1500.

“This year’s goal is more than TwinLakes’ combined total from the previousthree years,” said Willy Elliott-McCrea,Chief Executive Officer of Second HarvestFood Bank. “It was an incredible leap andaccomplishment and we are really excitedto find out how much they’ve raised.”

Just $1 dollar donated to SecondHarvest can provide four meals. Everyaction and every dollar makes a differencein the lives of our neighbors in need.Working together, we build stronger com-munities.

“Residents of Santa Cruz County havebeen unable to escape the negative impactsof loss of jobs, health benefits and homes.Second Harvest is committed to assuringthat our families are able to obtain healthy,nourishing food through these trying timesand we can only do it with support fromcommunity leaders like those that make upTwin Lakes Church,” said Willy Elliott-McCrea. n

•••For more information:

www.thefoodbank.org

“Food Drive” from pg 1

She loves seeing the young dancersexperiencing the grandeur and sheerdanceability of this music as the story ofThe Nutcracker unfolds.

Polly Mahan, who plays viola in theorchestra, was introduced to this holidaytradition as a child. She says, “I was fivethe first time. I was thrilled and insist-ed on starting ballet lessons immediately!”She appreciates playing in her own town:“It holds a special charm.” In Santa Cruz,she can enjoy seeing current and formermusic students both onstage and in theaudience.

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 Robert

Kelley 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 thedancers to enjoy the gift that is TheNutcracker. n

“The Nutcracker” from pg 1

Former and current Holiday Food Drive Chairmen (from left): Bruce McPherson, former CaliforniaSecretary of State; Ryan Coonerty, Current Chairman & Santa Cruz Mayor; and René Schlaepfer,Pastor of Twin Lakes Church

Afestive party will bring holiday joyto the children served by CourtAppointed Special Advocates

(CASA) thanks to the employees ofCalifornia Giant Berry Farms. EachDecember CASA hosts a holiday party forthe children and their adult CASAAdvocates. For the second year in a row

California Giant Berry Farms employeesare sponsoring the party, providing fund-ing for the supplies, decorations, crafts,food and beverages for a wonderful andcarefree day of play.

“Our company holds fundraisersthroughout the year to support importantcauses in our community,” says Cal Giant’s

Cindy Jewell. “This is justone of the ways ouremployees can give back,and we are especially happyto help support the childrenand volunteers of CASA.”

The children will deco-rate home-baked cookieswith heaps of frosting andsprinkles, and enjoy a vari-ety of other fun activitiesand crafts. To help themunderstand the joy of giv-ing, the children will deco-rate picture frames to holdphotographs taken of them

by CASA staff to give as gifts to the impor-tant people in their lives.

“The employees of California GiantBerry Farms have been incredibly gener-ous to CASA and our children,” saysLonnie Truax, President of the CASABoard of Directors. “We could not do whatwe do without the vital financial supportof our caring community here inWatsonville and the Pajaro Valley.”

The children served by CASA are inthe foster care system because they have

experienced abuse or neglect in their fami-ly homes. A judge appoints a trainedCASA volunteer to speak up for the child’sbest interests in court, at school and in thecommunity, and to serve as a caring,steady presence in the child’s life until asafe and permanent home can be found.

Next year will mark CASA’s 20thanniversary in Santa Cruz County. Since1992, CASA volunteers have brought sup-port and mentorship to more than 1,500children in the foster care system. n


CCoommmmuunniittyyNews

Local Kid-Rock Bands Taking Stage in Santa Cruz

Playing the popular game “Rock Band”is not enough for some local kids, so

they’ve gotten out from in front of theirgame consoles to form REAL rock bands.�With the help of music instructorMatthew Pinck of Be Natural Music, eightkids, ages 10-14, have come together andformed two bands, which will be showcas-ing their talents on Sunday, December 4, at4pm in The Crepe Place – 1134 SoquelAve., Santa Cruz – and Sunday, December18, at 5pm in Coaster’s Bar & Grill at theBoardwalk Bowl – 115 Cliff Street, SantaCruz.

The band 3-Hole Punch showcases thetalents of Isabella Edge/vocals, KieranO’Leary/keyboard, Will Bigelow/bassand Andrew Breeden/drums, featuringcover songs by Foo Fighter, Muse, TheWhite Stripes, AC/DC and more.

The band FunKdefiers showcases thetalents of Catlynn Noernberg/vocals,Thatcher Dunsmore/keyboard, VersaiKnight/bass and Ilias Staheli/drums &alto sax, captivating audiences with theirjazz funk renditions of Miles Davis andThe Meters.

Come and support Santa Cruz’s finestup and coming musicians! n

Website: http://benaturalmusic.net/

Holiday Cheer for CASA Children from Cal Giant Employees

Cindy Jewell and Sandy Jurach of California Giant Berry Farmspresent CASA Program Manager Charles Lerner and Board VPKent Thompson with their check sponsoring CASA’s annual holidayparty for children.

CCoommmmuunniittyyBrief

Aptos Adopt-A-Family primarilyfocuses on families having finan-cial challenges due to medical

catastrophe within their family. Death orillness in a family is devastating. Suchcrises can emotionally and financially crip-ple them. Our program can step in, findsomeone to adopt the family, and help outwith needed medical equipment, homecare, etc.

The Aptos Adopt-A-Family committeeasks you to adopt a family or just one child,or send your donation in the form of giftsor a check. Everything sent will be given toa family you choose or distributed fairly toothers.

Sponsors provide their “adopted”family with gifts and sometimes decora-tions and a tree. Some families even go hol-iday shopping together! Several of thesefamilies have stayed friends over the years.Adopt-A-Family helps by providing giftcertificates to local stores along with thegifts that the sponsor family has provided.

Please give us a call to find out howyou can adopt a family this year or howyou can help make this a Merry Christmas

for one of our families by donating to theprogram. If you know of someone in need,please don’t hesitate to call and let usknow. All referrals are anonymous.

Why “Adopt-A-Family?”

Eighteen years ago, a local businessmanin Aptos was diagnosed with inopera-

ble cancer. As the cancer progressed, hewas unable to work or support his familyas the holidays approached. Our commu-nity put on a huge Spaghetti feed and themoney collected went to help his family.Patrice Edwards of the Aptos Times and afriend worked tirelessly to collect toys,food, clothes, rent money and more tocarry his family through the comingmonths. He passed away but his family isstill here.

This was the birth of Adopt-a-Family.Death, illness, a traffic accident, divorce,loss of job, anyone can become unable tomanage without help. Members of ourcommunity from children to seniors, frommothers to single dads to entire familieshave been adopted and helped by Adopt-a-Family.

Making a Difference!

Over the years, there have been hun-dreds of stories, and thousands of

gifts. Gifts of wheelchairs, a handicapaccessible van, lifts, food, clothes, toysbikes, rent, phone bills, physical therapy –gifts that helped a family to enjoy the holi-days. One year Adopt-A-Family was ableto donate a $4,000 wheelchair lift to a localfamily. Trees, turkeys, gift certificates –whole neighborhoods have adopted fami-lies! Girl Scouts have adopted families.

Churches, parents, those who could onlygive one toy and those who could providea sizable check: It’s been wonderful. Welive in a very generous community.

Those of us who are blessed enough toin such a beautiful area often forget thatthere are many families, some of whom areour neighbors, that need help. TheThanksgiving, Chanukah, and Christmasholiday seasons are a time of celebration.But for some families there are no feasts orChanukah gifts or presents under aChristmas tree. There is no joy for them intelling their children there will be no spe-cial turkey dinner or that Santa isn’t com-ing this year. In this time of economic dis-tress and tight budgets, remember thatthere are those in our communities whomay have no earnings at all or no place tocall home.

There are people from all walks of lifewho undergo changes in circumstancesthat force them to depend on others to helpkeep their families from becoming frac-tured and feeling that there is no hope.That’s where Aptos Adopt-A-Familycomes in and connects families with fami-lies. Look into your heart and find that byhelping others, it makes you a better per-son and brings the true meaning of the sea-son into your life.

You can help!

Eighteen years is not enough. There willalways be those in need in our commu-

nity. Someday it could even be you...Help Aptos Adopt-A-Family make

this holiday a little brighter for those inneed.

Call Aptos Adopt-A-Family at 688-7549 or send donations to Adopt-A-Familyc/o Times Publishing Group, 9601 SoquelDrive, Aptos, CA 95003.

Happy Holidays! n



Aptos Adopt-A-FamilyEighteen years of providing for families in hardship

Adopt-A-Family volunteers deliver gifts and food for the holidays.

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‘Plaid Tidings’ Christmas ProductionCabrillo Stage Brings Back Audience Favorite

Cabrillo Stage, the professional musi-cal theatre company, completestheir 30th anniversary season with

the holiday musical comedy, Plaid Tidings,which performs in the Crocker Theater,December 16 through 30.

An Audience favorite, Plaid Tidings isthe Christmas version of Stage’s 2008smash hit Forever Plaid, which will com-bine two members of the original cast, MaxBennett-Parker and Tad Kistner, with newcast members Matt Dunn and Sean Gorski.

The storyline of Forever Plaid centersaround four hilarious young male singersfrom the late 1950s who were killed in a carcrash on the way to their first big concert,and then miraculously revived for thechance to fulfill their dreams and performthe show that never was. In the Christmasversion, Plaid Tidings, The heavenly quar-tet return with their tight swingin’ har-monic renditions of musical hits from the’50s and ’60s. This nostalgic holidayextravaganza is the very best of ForeverPlaid wrapped up in a nifty package witha big bow on top! Stuffed with “Plaid-erized” Christmas standards like “Mr.

Santa,“ “Let It Snow” and “Have Yourselfa Merry Little Christmas,” the boys areback to perform their Christmas Special. Atfirst, they aren’t sure why they’vereturned, but a phone call from the heav-enly Rosemary Clooney lets them knowthat they’re needed to put a little harmonyinto a discordant world.

“Plaid Tidings” > 11



A World of Many Colors

New Concert by the Santa CruzWorld 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” takingplace at the Rio Theater on December 11.

Now in it’s second season, theSCWCO is unlike any other group in thearea. Influenced by the visual artistry ofperformances like cirque du soleil, and themusical impact of groups like LadysmithBlack Mambazo, SCWCO draws upon thegreat wealth of talent in the area andbrings a unique flavor to their holiday per-formance. This is not your typical choir.

A veteran composer from a musicalfamily many of the works to be performedare original compositions by StephenBigger.

“ Growing up, music was everywhere,I would be trying to write a song on thepiano in my bedroom... “I’d play like eightchords 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 will

get 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,” saidMichael Logue, a member of the SantaCruz Chorale and now also an integralpart of the SCWCO. “ I was intrigued, so Iintroduced myself. We began regular con-versations about how we could grow theaudience for each our groups by cooperat-ing. In today’s economy it is the only wayfor 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 thedoor.


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Plaid Tidings director Andrew Ceglio,who also directed the original production,shares his take on the show: “Forever Plaidis more than just a musical revue, it is astory with many themes including com-passion, courage, love and friendship.What I love about the show is the journeythe characters go through as they progressthrough the storyline. The ‘Plaids’ werenot a famous boy-band when they werealive, but they continued to perform out ofa deep love for what they did. The charac-ters, with all their human flaws, followtheir dreams and realize that life is whatyou make it.”

Singing in the closest of harmony andexecuting their charmingly outlandishdance moves, the “Plaids” will keep audi-ences rolling in the aisles when they’re nothumming along to some of the great pophits and Christmas songs of the 1950s and

60s. Cabrillo Stage will be showing PlaidTidings at 7:30 PM evenings, as well as 2:00PM. matinees. For complete schedule,please go to www.cabrillostage.com. n

•••Cabrillo Stage presents Plaid Tidings,

December 16 – 30 Evenings at 7:30 PM,Matinees at 2 PM. Cabrillo Crocker Theater,6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos

Tickets: $16 - $34, plus service fees.Online sales now available. Box office 479-6154 or www.cabrillostage.com.

NOTE: No performance on Sunday, Dec.25

Cabrillo Stage is a non-profit, non-unionprofessional summer stock musical theatrecompany dedicated to presenting full-scaleBroadway musicals to the greater MontereyBay Area by producing a diversity of musicaltheatre works with the goal of educating as wellas giving its audiences quality family enter-tainment. Producing Artistic Director, JonNordgren.

“Plaid Tidings” from pg 8


SPCA Opens Pet AdoptionStore in Capitola MallOn November 15, tails began wagging at

the new Santa Cruz SPCA store in theCapitola Mall for the holiday season.

The 5,000 square foot retail space is open fivedays a week, Wednesday through Sunday from11 a.m. to 4 p.m. offering dog and cat adoptionsas well as the sale of jewelry, t-shirts, greetingcards and other SPCA merchandise.

Aside from adoptable animals, visitorscan also expect to see award winning SantaCruz photographer Portia Shao at the newstore offering holiday pet portraiture fornew adopters as well as the public andtheir pets. High fashion canine garmentsMyFavoriteCouture madeby local designer AnastasiaTorres-Gil, will also be ondisplay for sale.

Manager of theCapitola Mall, Merrie AnnMillar, invited the SantaCruz SPCA into their high traffic shoppingcenter because of her love for animals. “Ihave always had wonderful experienceswith SPCA and it’s a chance for everyone tolearn more about the organization and whatthey actually do for our community. Thebonus is that this exposure leads to more ani-mals finding “forever” homes.” Millar said.

One-day adoption events have beenheld at the Capitola Mall in the past, butnothing quite like this. “We feel absolutelyprivileged to have been given this amazingopportunity and plan to put as much effortinto it as possible,” said Lisa Carter,Executive Director of the Santa Cruz SPCA.

The chance to showcase adoptable ani-

mals while interacting with the public on alarge scale is a wonderful and welcomechange.

“We look forward to being more acces-sible to the public and for our orphaned ani-mals to have a greater amount of exposure.Running this store in such a well-knownplace will help us really show people whowe are as an organization,” said Carter.

The mall also sees the partnership asbeneficial. “Retail locations make greatalternative adoption centers for people whodo not want to visit the shelter. It benefitsthe mall by attracting visitors that might not

come to the mall other-wise,” says Capitola Mallmanager, Merrie AnnMillar.

Adoption policies andprocedures will be followedas normal and the original

shelter will continue to run as usual. TheSanta Cruz SPCA recently purchased landfor the construction of a new home shelterand is currently in the design process.

As pet lovers, we are excited to see theworld continue to lean in the animal-friendly direction, with big business pro-viding animal organizations and ownersalike opportunities directly benefitingtheir pets. n

•••The Santa Cruz SPCA is a private, non-

profit, no-kill rescue that relies solely on dona-tions. They are located at 2685 Chanticleer Avein Santa Cruz. Visit their website atwww.santacruzspca.org or call 831-465-5000.



Second Harvest – ThePower of Community

Your Holiday Giving Will Last Well Into 2012By Noel Smith

After three years of the economicrecession, hunger has become acommunity crisis on the Central

Coast. Many residents are faced each daywith difficult choices in how to use theirdiminishing resources; whether it’s fortransportation, food, rent, utilities or med-icine. Many have to consider limiting theirfood purchases, which could result in peri-ods of hunger. Such food insecurity oftenresults in the purchase of cheaper, lowerquality foods that can increase the risks ofmalnutrition and obesity.

Communities are considered to havefood security when everyone has access toculturally appropriate, nutritious foodfrom local, non-emergency sources.Second Harvest Food Security projectshelp support this goal.

To better understand the challengesfaced by our hungryneighbors and the agen-cies that serve them,Second Harvest recentlyreleased its 2010 hungerstudy showing that:• Second Harvestserves 17,200 peopleeach week by throughits 200 member agen-cies. This total has increased 58 per-cent since 2006 and is now over 55,000people each month.

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

• 45 percent of those served are childrenSecond Harvest Food Bank was the

first 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 the Holiday FoodDrive.

Second Harvest Food Bank operationsare streamlined and efficient, providing55,000 clients per month with nutritiousfood and leveraging every dollar donated

to provide four individual meals for needyfamilies. This is done with a small staff anda 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 throughout

Santa Cruz County in thewinter months.

What foods shouldbe collected? CannedMeat, Fish & Soups •Canned Ready to EatMeals�• CannedVegetables & TomatoProducts • Peanut Butter(plastic container)�• Iron

Rich Cereal (45% or more of daily value) •100% Fruit Juice (48 oz. or less plastic bot-tles)�• Canned Fruit (in juice) • Dry Beans(any type) • 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 LakesChurch 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


Annieglass is a local company,famous the world over, thatdesigns and produces hand-made

“art for the table” glassware. The manystyles of plates, bowls, platters, candleholders and art pieces are the creativegems from glass artist Annie Morhauserwho over 30 years ago fell in love withglass as art.

Annie graduated from the CaliforniaCollege of Arts where she learned theprocess called “slumping” from which shedeveloped her own patented process. Asheet of flat glass is melted over variouslyshaped ceramic molds and fired at 1350°Fresulting in unique and lovely shapes andthe permanent fusing of precious metalsinto the glass.

For over 25 years, Morhauser’s award-winning glassware has sold worldwide, isfound in fine stores such as NeimanMarcus, Bergdorf Goodman,Bloomingdales, and is used at such estab-lishments as the Bellagio Hotel and Casino,the Four Seasons, the Ritz Carlton and theWaldorf Astoria. Many celebrities have pri-vate collections of Annieglass and in 2006,two pieces from her Shell series became apermanent part of the SmithsonianMuseum of American Art collection.

New Creations for this Holiday SeasonMirror Ornaments: New collection ofSanta Cruz Christmas ornaments.These darling new mirror ornamentswill only be available at her SantaCruz and Watsonville stores. Eachornament includes a beautiful ribbonfor hanging on the tree and comesindividually gift boxed.

Votives: As Annie regularly finds inspi-ration on her tours, it’s no surprisethat her many trips to the NewOrleans area have inspired theCurlique Oval and Fleur de Lysvotives. Both feature clear one-inchthick glass with an antique gold finishthat glows when tea candles are lit.The votives make ideal centerpiecesfor an understated, but elegant event.And since they are chip proof, they’reperfect for lighting up the patio on afrosty fall night.

Edgey: This enchanting new collection isthe result of countless years of experi-mentation with glass and gold.

Through her unique creative process,Annie realized that hammering therims to make jagged edges and thenpainting the rim with 24 carat gold orgenuine platinum would allow thelight to catch every tiny angle of theimperfect rim, creating a dancing haloaround each piece.

Mini Splash Bowl: Constantly inspiredby the calm strength of the ocean,Annie introduces the UltramarineMini Splash Bowl. Although a “mini,”it still makes a statement. Use as a per-manent fixture on your table, on abookshelf or on your mantel andtransport the bold serenity of theocean into your home.

Monterey Bay Aquarium SeafoodWatch Program: To honor theMonterey Bay Aquarium’s 25thanniversary, Morhauser created aseries of plates with seahorses andstarfish in tex-tured aquamarineglass. Annieglassdonates all profitsfrom the sales ofthis collection tothe Aquarium’sSeafood Watchprogram to encourage environmental-ly responsible seafood practices. Fournew pieces join the Seafood WatchCollection, whose proceeds benefit theMonterey Bay Aquarium’s program ofthe same name. Show your supportfor sustainable choices from ocean to

plate.Wallet-sized Seafood Watch

guides list the best seafood choices forhealthy oceans, people and the planet,so everyone can make wiser selectionsand avoid exploiting dwindlingresources. The plates are stunning andthe program has a great advocate inAnnie Morhauser.

Local Company, Community-Minded

Morhauser is as down-to-earth as theblue jeans she wears around the stu-

dio with her two Jack Russell doggies intow. She says that there are things for salein her shop from $10 up to several hundreddollars – something for everyone.

With others in mind, Morhauser hasbecome actively involved in giving back tothe local community and has co-chairedthe Holiday food drive for Second HarvestFood Bank. Annieglass gives academicscholarships to Watsonville High School

and to her alma mater,the California Collegeof Art where she isalso a trustee and anadvisor for their MBAprogram. Annieglassannually donates toover 300 charitable

organizations devoted to children, educa-tion and the arts.

Annieglass Tours and TastingsFor the Love of Grapes and Glass

If you have ever asked yourself, “Is thereanything new to do on a weekend?” youranswer is here. Every Friday, Saturday and

Sunday Wine Tasting 12:00 pm to 4:00 pmwith award-winning local wines for pur-chase and tasting and free tours of theAnnieglass 15,000 square foot studio twicea day at 11:30 AM and 2 PM.

For tour reservations call 831-761-2041x21 or email [email protected]. Walk-ins are also welcome. Be prepared to beamazed at the manufacturing plant inside.Glass arrives on 4,000-pound pallets theneach piece is cut, polished or painted byhand. There are no assembly lines. Theglassware is bent in very small batches inseveral individual ovens so that many dif-ferent kinds of items can be made at thesame time. Morhauser employs 20 full timeemployees and resident artists-in-trainingwho hand make more than 55,000 plates,bowls, serving dishes and decorativeaccessories annually.

See Collections of True Beauty

The shops are a treat for the eyes and arearranged in collections. There are the

ultra aquamarine pieces in the B.C. andShell collections and the Nature and WaterLilly series in a soothing shade of light seafoam green. Arabella combines gold andplatinum in an elegant filigree style. Thereare Satin Leaves in three shapes and threecolors: gold, silver and copper. With theirsmooth satin finish, they are jewelry for thetable. See the aquamarine slab plates withAsian lines—a perfect presentation forsushi at home or for dessert. The Retroseries are oval plates with gold or platinumbanding around the rims.

Morhauser’s original collection calledRoman Antique in gold or platinum band-ing is now an icon in the design world. It isthe collection she first designed and pro-duced 30 years ago and is still the mostpopular of her creations. Bridal registry attheir shops is available and single piecesmake great anniversary and birthday pres-ents for people growing or starting a col-lection. n

•••Annieglass: 310 Harvest Dr., Watsonville

on the corner of Harvest Drive &Riverside/Highway 129. Open daily from 10am-4 pm telephone (831) 761-2041 X21.Downtown Santa Cruz 110 Cooper St. (831)427-4260. Open Daily 10 am to 6pm�Sun 11am to 5 pm. Visit annieglass.com for 24-hourshopping and gift registry.

BusinessProfile

ANNIEGLASS CUSTOM GLASSWAREFOR THAT PERFECT GIFT

Celebrate With Collection of Santa Cruz Christmas OrnamentsBy Gail Penniman

Martin Ranch 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml$1399

Martin Ranch 2007 Merlot 750ml . . . . . . . .

$1399

Allure Pink Moscato 750ml . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$599

Chavrie Herb Log 4 oz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$359 EA

Kaukauna Blue Cheese Ball 10 oz. . . . . . . . . . .

$399 EA

Creamy Gorgonzola Torta w/ Figs 7.5 oz$829 EA

Just Desserts Caramel Apple Bundt Cake 28 oz$1299 EA

Max’s Gluten Free Cranberry Flaxseed Cookies 7 oz ..........$499 EA

Original Two Bite Spiced Pumpkin Cakes 8.8 oz .$399 EA

Satsuma USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$179 LB

Navel Oranges USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99¢ LB

Zucchini Squash Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99¢ LB

In loving Memory of Nora Lee Dorsa

Nora Lee was a valued member of the Deluxe teamand a dear friend. We will miss your smiling face andgood humor, Mama Mia!

Blue Moon Brewing Co 12 Pack Bottles$1299 +CRV

Tecate 12 Pack Cans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$999 +CRV

Red Hook 12 Pack Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1299 +CRV

All Natural Pork Tenderloin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$499 LB

Pan Ready Chicken Fajita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$799 LB Precious Mozzarella Balls 16 oz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$499

Sunridge Farms Cranberry Jubilee Mix 8 oz . . . . . . . . . .

$369

Evolution Lemonades 15.2 oz . . . . . . . . . .2FOR $500

Knudsen Sour Cream 16 oz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$249

Boar’s Head Pastrami . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1049 LB

Columbus Hot or Mild Coppa . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1299 LB

Fresh Orange, Fennel, Pomegranate Salad . . .

$799 LB

In the District Cup Tournament finals in MorganHill, Aptos Tide 99G Team found themselves pittedagainst Santa Cruz Jaws 99G. After defeating teams

from Palo Alto, Morgan Hill, San Jose and Belmont,only the two Santa Cruz County teams were left to faceoff at 3:15pm championship game. It was a nail bit-ter both teams played amazing well by not letting therainy cold weather play a factor.

Aptos Tide 99G scored in the first 10 minutes withSanta Cruz Jaws 99G scoring 10 minutes later. Backand forth the two teams played but the score stayed 1-1 for the rest of the game. In the 10 min overtime, bothteams made several attempts but the score remainedthe same.

Then came the Penalty Shootout. After the regula-tion five kicks from both sides, the game was still tied.When it came down to the sixth player Aptos Tide99G finally won the game and our Goalie, AmandaChurchill, was named MVP for the tournament.

The six girls who took the penalty kicks were:Mattea Romo, Hayley Hopp, Mia Prichard, SachiLand, Mariah Sanchez, Lindsey Fierro

The coaches this year were Priscilla Meza andJohn Armstrong. Priscilla is an authentic soccer starand is getting ready to try out for Mexico’s Olympicteam this December.

The 5 foot 9, 25-year-old former WatsonvilleHigh and Cabrillo College star needs financial helpto make her dream possible. You can help by donat-ing to her Bank Of America Account#0034561732 under the name Dulce Priscilla Meza.All donations big or small will be greatly appreciat-ed.

The Aptos Tide 99G team was fortunate to havePriscilla and John both step in to help us have a teamthis year. The players were really inspired by her andthe parents were impressed with her training tech-niques.

CIF State Cross Country ChampionshipsAptos Mariners Take Third in State ChampionshipsGirls Cross Country team reaches division III goal

The Mariners beat out Campolindo,last year’s D-III champion, 147 to

150, to earn its place on the winner’spodium. This was definitely a victoryfor Aptos as they were ranked the No. 6Division III team before the meet.Finishing in first and second placeahead of the Mariners were Div. III

champion Palos Verdes with 103 pointsand Vista Del Lago with 143.

The Mariners’ Santa Cruz CoastAthletic League (SCCAL) and CentralCoast Section (CCS) D-III champion NikkiHiltz placed fifth in the field, an improve-ment of 10 places over last year. Hiltz’stime on the 3-mile course was 17 minutes,46 seconds with Clare Peabody taking 11thplace (18:24) leading the team to its thirdplace finish.

Coming in first for the meet in 17:19was Carrie Verdon of Campolindo win-

ning by 1 second overKarlie Garcia of Oakmont.Mimi Eckhardt of SantaCruz finished in 25th place running thecourse in 18:49.

Division III Girls FinishNikki Hiltz (A) – 5th 17:46, Claire

Peabody (A) – 11th 18:24, Mimi Eckhardt(SC) 25th 18:49, Yulissa Abundis (A) – 41st19:09, Jackie Stanger (A) 64th 19:34,Meghan Morse (A) 70th 19:42, KarenJimenez (A) 177th 21:49, Sara Gruber (A)192nd 23:03


SportsWrap

County Soccer Teams Battle in Tournament FinalCoach Priscilla Meza to try out for Mexico’s Olympic team

The Aptos Tide 99G Team: RRooww 11 ((ffrroomm lleefftt)) Mattea Romo and Lindsey Fierro. RRooww 22((ffrroomm lleefftt)) Sara Cabak and Kassandra Hayes. RRooww 33 ((ffrroomm lleefftt)) Coach Pricilla Meza(with trophy), Mariah Sanchez, Tera Hall, Katie Farley and Sachi Land. RRooww 44 ((ffrroomm lleefftt))Hayley Hopp, Annika San Miguel, Madelyn Gaeckle, Amanda Churchill, SydneyLivingston, Mia Prichard and Rebecca Williams.

Aptos High School Scoreboard

SACRAMENTO — The Franchise TaxBoard (FTB) announced it is holding morethan $17 million in returned state incometax refunds.

This year more than 52,000 refunds,ranging from $1 to $39,000, have beenreturned.

Typically, refunds are returnedbecause the taxpayer changed residencesafter filing a tax return. Taxpayers expect-ing a state refund, or unsure if theyreceived their refund, can check its statusat www.ftb.ca.gov. The “Check YourRefund” feature is available in bothEnglish and Spanish.

FTB reissues returned refunds auto-matically once a new address isreceived. MyFTB Account is the fastest

and easiest method to update youraddress. If you are unable to updateyour address using MyFTB Account or ifyou do not have access to a computer,you may call FTB at 800.852.5711between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to updateyour address.

To avoid this situation in the future,

please ensure we have your most currentaddress on file. Another option is to usedirect deposit. This year more than 5.8 mil-lion California taxpayers received theirrefunds through direct deposit, fast andsecure. Direct deposit refunds are typicallydeposited within days into a taxpayer’sfinancial institution rather than the weeks

State Wants to Return $17 Million in Undelivered Tax RefundsCCoommmmuunniittyyNews


SportsWrap

Coastal Collision: NewestMartial Arts Showcase

Santa Cruz County Fair Grounds — December 10By Noel Smith

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)returns to the Santa Cruz coun-ty Fairgrounds on December

10. The Monterey Bay Fight Club pres-ents coastal Collision 4. Doors open at 6pm, first fight at 7 pm. A number of localmartial art academies and fight clubswill have fighters represented at CoastalCollision 4.

Eric Lopez, chose Farley’s KickboxingAcademy (FKA) where he has been a stu-dent of Francis Farley, former ISKA WorldMiddleweight champion who held the titlefor five years. Eric is also being trained byat the academy located at 2551 SouthRodeo Gulch Rd #4 Soquel, CA, Ph# 831-600-7160, Website: farleyskickboxing.com

Richard is a recent Bethany Universitygraduate and is a minister at Grace Templein Watsonville. His amateur MMA fightrecord 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 a MixedMartial Arts fight? First, the gloves

are 4 oz if it’s a professional bout and 6 ozfor amateurs. Next, the fighters are barefoot and shirtless. The ring is round and iscircumscribed by a fence rather than ropes.There is a referee inside with the fightersand lots of screaming fans 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 itsfans 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 forthe 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

Eric Lopez • Weight Class 155 lbs

Farley's Kickboxing Academy


Natural healers have extolled thecancer-preventing virtues of gar-lic and onions for years, but only

recently do we have enough scientificresearch to draw some conclusions.Several animal studies showing promis-ing results using garlic and other mem-bers of the allium family (onions, leek,shallot, and chive) to prevent tumors

have led to hun-dreds of studiesinvolving humangarlic eaters.While it is near impossible to pinpoint adirect link between garlic consumptionand cancer prevention, the NationalCancer Institute (NCI) reports that“several population studies show anassociation between increased intake ofgarlic and reduced risk of certain can-cers, including cancers of the stomach,colon, esophagus, pancreas, andbreast.”

To wit, a multi-year study of 25,000people from Switzerland and Italy foundthat those who ate the most garlic andonions were up to 88 percent less likely todevelop various types of cancer (includ-ing cancers of the esophagus, mouth,

FeaturedColumnist

Garlic & OnionsMay Help to PreventSome CancersDear EarthTalk: Given thepreponderance of carcino-genic chemicals out theretoday, is it true that eatingcertain foods like garlic oronions can actually helpprevent cancer?

— M. Stone, Boston, MA


FeaturedColumnistthroat, colon, breast, ovary, prostate andkidney) than those who said they ate littleor none. “High onion intake, for example,was associated with a 56 percent lowerrisk of colon cancer and a 25 percent lowerrisk of breast cancer compared to no onionintake,” reports Karen Collins of the non-profit American Institute for CancerResearch (AICR).

According to Collins, another studyfound a 32 percent lower colon cancer riskamong Iowan women who ate at least onegarlic clove a week compared to otherswho ate one once a month or less, whilean analysis of several studies worldwide“linked a 31 percent lower risk of coloncancer with consumption of about four tofive cloves of garlic weekly.” And theresults of several studies conducted inChina show that that those who eat fivecloves of garlic a week are half as likely todevelop stomach cancers than non-garlic-eaters. Meanwhile, AICR reports that iso-lated components of garlic have shownthe ability to slow or stop the growth oftumors in prostate, bladder, colon, andstomach tissue.

Just how do allium plants preventcancer? “Like many vegetables, onionsand garlic contain antioxidants that canblock highly reactive free radicals fromdamaging cell DNA and starting the can-

cer process,” reports Collins.“Laboratory studies have shown thatonion and garlic compounds can increaseenzymes that deactivate carcinogens inthe body, enhancing our ability to elimi-nate carcinogens before they do anydamage.”

Some researchers, however, say thatstudy limitations—that is, the accuracy ofreported amounts and frequency of garlicconsumed and the inability to comparedata from studies that used different gar-lic products and amounts—make a defin-itive declaration on the topic unlikelyanytime soon. And without such defini-tive conclusive proof of a causal link, theU.S. Food and Drug Administration willnot allow food purveyors to state thehealth benefits of the garlic in their prod-ucts on their labels.

NCI would like to see better-designed human dietary studies usingpredetermined amounts of garlic to dis-cern potentially effective intakes as wellas more studies directly comparing vari-ous garlic preparations. “Given this pro-tective potential, the challenge now is toidentify amounts that will provide opti-mal effects,” says Collins. In the mean-time, don’t skimp on the garlic andonions. n

•••

Contacts: National Cancer Institute,www.cancer.gov; American Institute forCancer Research, www.aicr.org.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by

Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a regis-tered trademark of E - The EnvironmentalMagazine (www.emagazine.com). Send ques-tions to: [email protected].

Photo Credit: ThinkstockStudies seem to indicate that consumption of onions, garlic and other members of the allium fami-ly (leeks, shallots and chives) reduces the risk of certain cancers.


Frank’s Pharmacy has a 25-year histo-ry of setting the standard in our com-munity for independent, personal-

ized pharmacy services. Owner FrankGiuliani is still a part of the business, buthas taken a less significant role in recentmonths as his partner John Lindberg hastaken on more and more responsibilities.John has a long history in the independentpharmacy arena; his father owned an inde-pendent pharmacy and John grew to knowthe value and importance of the servicesthat are provided outside of the big corpo-rate structures that seems to rule the mar-ketplace.

There is Always a Market for Personal Customer Service

The same conscientious, friendly staffmembers are on duty behind the count-

er at Frank’s today, with as much as 15years’ experience, greeting customers byname and remembering details of past con-versations. In addition to John Lindberg,there are two other pharmacists with thesame dedication to one-on-one attention:Cindy Keys with 20 years of service andTanya Miller with 5 years of service. Thethree pharmacists work on various sched-ules, and are dedicated to upholding thetradition of Frank’s Pharmacy.

Despite the fact that the pharmacyindustry has, to a large extent, been taken

over by the giant corporations that dictatemuch of what goes on in the marketplace,there is always a market for personal serv-ice. In communities like Aptos and SantaCruz County in general, people are moreaware of the benefits of shopping at locallyowned businesses and Frank’s is a primeexample of locally owned and operated.How Frank’s Pharmacy is Improving

The loyal and supportive customer baseat Frank’s enjoys great service that is

being enhanced through John’s efforts todo even more to make his customer’s liveseasier.

The store now has expanded hours,opening at 8:30 instead of 9 and closing at6:00 instead of 5:30 to accommodate workschedules of the customers.

John has upgraded the pharmacycomputer system with the most advancedfeatures. With a little effort behind thescenes, he can work with customers’ insur-ance companies and coordinate the refillsof multiple prescriptions so that they canrefill automatically at the same time eachmonth. Gone is the bother of multiple tripsto the pharmacy when a patient is on morethan one medication on an ongoing basis.This innovation saves the patient time andaggravation. John says it takes some workon his part, but he is happy to provide thisservice at no charge to his customers.

Another feature of this program is thatJohn can work directly with insurancecompanies to authorize extra refills inadvance for people who are travelling outof the area for extended periods. For cus-tomers who are only allowed a 30-day sup-ply at one refill, this is a real benefit.

Responding to Customers’ Needs

If a doctor orders a medication that is notcovered by a patient’s plan, the insur-ance company requires the doctor to fill

out a prior-authorization form beforethe insurance company will evenconsider allowing the prescription tobe filled. In a chain pharmacy, thisproblem may take days to weeks tohandle and often the paperwork fallsbetween the cracks, causing thepatient aggravation while trying toadvocate for him or herself. AtFrank’s Pharmacy, they do the advo-cacy for you. If an insurance compa-ny informs the pharmacist that themedication requires prior authoriza-tion, Frank’s will fax the exact formthat the insurance company requires,filled in with all the pertinent infor-mation, to the doctor’s office. All thedoctor has to do is fill in his portionand fax it to the insurance company.This streamlined approach saves thepatient time and needless distress.

The state-of-the-art computersystem allows patients to access and

print their medication profile from thepharmacy website. Web-based refillrequests are available and there’s aniPhone app for refills as well. When youcall Frank’s Pharmacy, however, it is strict-ly old school. A real human being willanswer the phone without the caller hav-ing to go through long automated menus.

Going the Extra Mile

Just inside the front door of the store,Frank’s has installed a locked containerin which to dispose of expired or unusedmedications so that customers can safelydispose of them without worry. Theseproducts are incinerated so that none of thechemicals can harm the environment, ani-mals or people.

A delivery service is available for anominal cost and if a patient has a coordi-nated delivery of several prescriptionsfilled at the same time each month, Frank’soffers a once per month delivery at nocharge. They deliver to Aegis, one blockaway, on an almost daily basis.

Combining old-fashioned personalpharmacy service with 21st century tech-nology, Frank’s will continue in its well-established tradition of letting their cus-tomers know they are really cared for. n

•••Open Mon-Fri 8:30am to 6pm and Sat

9am to 2pm. Closed Sun. Located at 7518Soquel Drive, Aptos. Call 685-1100. Visit theirwebsite at franksrx.com.

BusinessProfile

FRANK’S PHARMACYFOR SUPERIOR SERVICE

Always Striving to ImproveBy Gail Penniman


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 play andit is all but impossi-ble to perform.

With tempersgetting shorter andshorter and theweather gettingnastier, it appears the play will not make itto the stage. Then a mysterious strangerarrives and takes over the directing chores.Is he a theatrical genius or something else?The production suddenly becomesstrangely compelling and a brooding evilemerges under the man’s direction.

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 causeHeather concern, Angela Steinhart has

become 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 a Hanukkahtune.

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

When thehouse is readyand the food prepared, the family’s guestsbegin to arrive. “Bubbes and zaydes zoomin by plane. Nieces and nephews ridebuses and trains. Great-aunts, secondcousins, old friends from afar are arrivingby motorbike, 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 jumping

and 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, sneaky

bugs, 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 thepopular titles her readers have snatched up

the second they became available. This season’s novel finds free-spirited

Jacquie 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, butthe reindeer are also totally out of shapeafter eating pizza and watching TV allsummer.

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

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].

By Josie Cowden

FeaturedColumnist

&Out About

Le Chef


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

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#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


AnnouncementsSixty-Third Anniversary of Human Rights

For the Month of December, The UnitedNations Association of Santa Cruz isCelebrating the 63rd Anniversary of the'Universal Declaration of Human Rights.' TheUNA will have a "Peace, Human Rights &Justice" Display at the Santa Cruz Library, 224Church St. (831 420-5700) and the Aptos Librry7695 Soquel Dr. Aptos (427-7702)

Bizaid 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 santacruz 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 peoplewith 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. Withthe 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 areso 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, fresheggs, fresh fish, artisan baked goodsand gourmet foods. In addition,family activities, music, cookingdemos by professional chefs, gar-dening workshops, seasonal fairsand events are a part of the market.

Scotts Valley Farmer’s Market9a.m.-1p.m. SV CommunityCenter, 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.

Tuesday, December 6Aptos Village Tree Lighting4:00 pm, Aptos Village Tree (next toBritannia Arms)

Come Help Us Light the Aptos VillageChristmas Tree! Bring the family on

Tuesday, December 6th at 4:00 to Aptos Villagefor the Aptos Chamber’sAnnual Tree Lightingevent! Enjoy Christmascaroling with the TwinLakes Church YouthChoir, hot chocolate,Santa Claus, and thelighting the AptosCommunity ChristmasTree! Please bring yourfavorite cookies to share!We will also be collectingcanned food for SecondHarvest Food Bankand/or unwrapped toysfor Toys for Tots.

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. n


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 $15for 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 December 3Vinnie Hanson Book Signing1:00pm-3:00pm Cross Roads Books, 1935Main St. Watsonville

Local author Vinnie Hansen is a recentretiree after 27 years of teaching at

Watsonville High School. She will be signingher locally set mysteries featuring intrepidheroine, Carol Sabala, a baker and privateinvestigator.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 downtownSanta Cruz, enjoy this fabulous gift sale.

Items for sale will include handmade jewelry,clothing, organic preserves, 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 winetasting, hot spiced Chaucer's Mead and

Christmas Carolers while meanderingthroughout our cellars filled with fantasticgift 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 youthorchestras, Santa Cruz County YouthSymphony, the Santa Cruz ChamberStrings, and the Cabrillo Youth StringsBaroque-Classical Ensemble, as well assolo performances by selected youngmusicians. The audience will have theopportunity to enjoy the multiple talentsof our communities 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

Saturday, December 17Santa at the Rio Sands Motel2:00pm-5:00pm, The Rio Sands Motel 116Aptos Beach Dr.

Santa Clause at the Rio Sands Motel! Freeraffle for 2 night stay anytime!Refreshments will be served. For more information, call (800) 826-2077 orvisit www.riosands.com 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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SPCA Featured Pet:Hope Is All It Takes

For five years, this six-year-old tiny toy Poodle named Hope was forced to deliver litter after lit-ter so the owners could sell the puppies for a profit. The last litter was not the money produc-er her owners had hoped for; instead, it nearly took her precious life and left her orphaned

with nowhere to go. After four days of heavy labor, Hope was finally taken to the vet who foundthat the four puppies inside her had died and were now poisoning her from within. Without sur-gery, she would die a painful death and without much thought, her owners chose to have her euth-anized.

The Santa Cruz SPCA was notified of her situation and quickly made the decision todelve into our Second Chance Fund and provide her with the lifesaving surgery she need-ed. We then vowed to provide her with all the care she needed until we could find her a newhome. She now lies comfortably in her bed, recovering from surgery and has proven herselfto be the sweetest and most gentle girl we could have ever imagined.

She’s quiet and patient and would make the most amazing lap dog for someone seek-ing out a small and calm companion. She has no problem being in the company of otherdogs or cats and doesn’t mind being held or picked up. Hope is in great health but is still ona few medications that will be provided to any future adopter. This sweet girl deserves onlythe best and will give you so much more. When all else failed, a little hope was found.

Our adoption package for dogs and cats includes spay/neuter, vaccinations, micro-chipping, an ID tag, collar, a free health exam with a licensed Veterinarian, one month’s freehealth insurance, discounted crate purchase and other animal care materials.

If you would like to help animals like Hope and her orphaned friends, please considerdonating to the Santa Cruz SPCA. The Santa Cruz SPCA is a 501c3 charitable organizationand receives no government funding, relying solely on public donations to run its many pro-grams that benefit the animals and people of our community.

For more information call the Santa Cruz SPCA at 465-5000, orvisit www.santacruzspca.org. The SPCA is located at 2685Chanticleer Avenue in Santa Cruz, CA 95065 and is open to the pub-lic Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 p.m. n

Documents

Aptos Times Dec.1st 2012