Open Studios
When more than 300 artists open their studio doors to the public, it will be for the 2015 Open Studios Art Tour. Mark your calendars for the first three weekends in October. NorthCounty, which includes ScottsValley and San LorenzoValley, will be on October 3rd and 4th. South County is on October 10th and 11th. On October 17th and 18th, the Encore Weekend will cover both North and SouthCounties and only features select artists.
It is well worth the trip to San LorenzoValley where there are 15 artists to meet. They include painters, ceramicists, photographers, sculptors and woodworkers. There are 12 artists participating in ScottsValley as well.
You can pick up a free Guide in the September 30th issue of Good Times, preview the Guide online at: artscouncilsc.org/open-studios, or you can purchase a guide at participating retailers for $5.00.
If you want to get away from the city’s traffic, come on up to the mountains and enjoy a leisurely and scenic arts tour.
Fire Disaster Response
The West Coast is battling an intense wildfire season and emergency teams are responding around the clock. Raging wildfires have forced thousands of people from their homes and these fires continue to spread rapidly.
The American Red Cross gets there immediately, providing shelter, meals, snacks, supplies and emotional support to help families who have evacuated and first responders battling the blazes. In hardest-hit areas of California, the Red Cross is providing support, comfort and hope to many people who had to spend a night in Red Cross and community shelters. The American Red Cross and other response teams remain ready to assist should the wildfires grow.
State assistance to Districts and students affected by wildfires
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced that local educational agencies which include school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education — will continue to receive state funding despite a possible loss of student attendance due to the wildfires.
“My deepest sympathies for the families, fire fighters, communities, students, and school districts that have been affected by the wildfires,” said Torlakson. “In an emergency like this, I want to assure them that their schools will continue to receive state support, while we help find facilities where their children can continue their education.”
The California Department of Education is working with districts to find facilities for students displaced from their schools by the wildfires, including portable classrooms. Districts affected by the wildfires whose teachers educate students in portable or other temporary classrooms, even if physically located outside their own district boundaries, can continue to count these students in their Average Daily Attendance.
ADA is the basis on which state funding for each district is calculated. If displaced students enroll in other districts, the home district may file a waiver for a loss of student attendance, and the enrolling district can also claimattendance for thosestudents. For information on filing a waiver, districts may consult the Management Advisory 90-01 web page. Also, the Department is requesting that districts, and others with surplus portable classrooms that can be loaned out to temporarily replace fire- damaged classrooms, notify the Department’s School Facilities and Transportation Services Division, so they can be matched with districts in need.
The Department will be sending additional guidance on the waiver process to CountySuperintendents in the coming days.
Santa Cruz County Libraries help voters to register
The Santa Cruz Public Libraries, a network of 10 neighborhood library branches throughout Santa CruzCounty, announced that all of its branches will participate in National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, September 22.
Volunteers will be available at each branch library during each branch’s regular operating hours to facilitate voter registration, either online or on paper forms.
“Libraries are a cornerstone of democracy and we’re proud to help facilitate voter registration for our patrons and local residents,” said Janis O’Driscoll, interim director of Santa Cruz Public Libraries. “Voter registration forms are always available at Santa Cruz Public Library branches.”
SCPL is one of thousands of national, state and local organizations participating in National Voter Registration Day 2015. These partner organizations will coordinate hundreds of National Voter Registration Day events nationwide and leverage #CelebrateNVRD in all social media platforms to drive attention to voter registration and the midterm elections.
Started in 2012 for the presidential election, National Voter Registration Day is designed to create an annual moment when the entire nation focuses on registering Americans to exercise their most basic right — the right to vote. Thousands of Americans need to re-register to vote each year if they just turned 18, moved, changed their name, changed their political party, just completed probation or have not voted in four years or more. More than 356,000 Americans have been registered to vote since the inaugural National Voter Registration Day.
“Every eligible American voter should exercise his or her right to be heard at the ballot box,” O’Driscoll said. “National Voter Registration Day is the right place to start by getting registered.”
Library branch locations and hours:
- Boulder Creek: 13390 West Park Ave., Boulder Creek, at 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Branciforte: 230 Gault St., Santa Cruz, at 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Capitola: 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola, at 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Downtown: 224 Church St., Santa Cruz, at 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Felton: 6299 Gushee, Felton, at 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- GarfieldPark: 705 Woodrow Ave., Santa Cruz, at 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- La Selva: 316 Estrella Ave., La SelvaBeach, at 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Live Oak: 2380 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, at 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- ScottsValley: 251 Kings Village Road, ScottsValley, at 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Aptos: 7695 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Avoid common car seat mistakes to keep your child safe
As children have gone back to school and family schedules become hectic with after school activities, busy parents might unknowingly risk their children’s safety when on the road. National Child Passenger Safety week is September 13 –19 and parents are being reminded to properly restrain their children on every trip and avoid common errors made out of convenience or carelessness.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of three children 14 and younger, were killed and 462 were injured every day in the United States in motor vehicle crashes during 2012. Research shows that in passenger cars, child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent of infants and 54 percent for toddlers.
Please note the list of some common hazardous shortcuts taken by parents and tips that can instead be used to ensure child safety while riding in a vehicle:
1. “I’m only driving a few miles from home, so my son doesn’t need to be secured in his car seat since it’s a short trip.”
Tip: You should buckle up properly on every trip-no matter the distance-since most crashes occur close to home.
2. “I’m picking up several kids after soccer practice and I’m going to put my 8-year-old daughter in the front seat so all the children can fit into the car.”
Tip: All children under age 13 are safest when riding in the back seat and restrained in the appropriate child restraint system.
3. “We will be driving more people in our car than we have seatbelts. Since it’s a short trip, it’s not a big deal for someone to ride on another person’s lap.”
Tip: It’s never safe to ride on a person’s lap. Each passenger should be properly restrained on every trip.
4. “My son is 10 years old and 4’6” tall. It’s safe for him to stop using his booster seat and only use a seat belt now.”
Tip: Children age 8 or older, or who are 4’9” or taller, may use the vehicle seat belt if it fits properly with the lap belt low on the hips, touching the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt crossing the center of the chest. If children are not tall enough for proper belt fit, they must ride in a booster or car seat.
Children under age 8 must be properly buckled into a car seat or booster in the back seat.
For more information about booster seats call 866-SEATCHECK.
California Department of Public Health warns against eating baby spinach
California Department of Public Health Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith warned consumers not to eat a specific lot of Organicgirl brand baby spinach after CDPH conducted tests found unacceptable levels of cadmium. Recent chemical analysis of this specific lot code of baby spinach determined that the product contained 1.90 parts per million of cadmium is more than ten times the average amount of cadmium found in spinach.
Organicgirl Produce, LLC of Salinas, CA initiated a voluntary recall of the Organicgirl brand baby spinach. The recalled product has a “USE BY SEP 13” and a lot code of B030298- 001B08S.
While there is no risk of acute illness from consumption of this level of cadmium, long-term consumption of elevated levels of cadmium such as these may result in adverse effects on the kidneys, liver, and the immune system.
The recalled baby spinach was packaged in five ounce plastic containers with labeling applied to the top and bottom of the package. Consumers in possession of the recalled spinach should discard it immediately. Anyone finding this product for sale should call the CDPH Complaint Hotline at (800) 495-3232.
Scotts Valley Cyclesport
Scotts Valley Cyclesport just became the first green business bike shop in Santa Cruz County. The County Board of Supervisors is recognizing 13 businesses that got certified this year with an award ceremony on October 6.
