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Scotts Valley
February 16, 2025
music in the park, psychedelic furs

Talk About Money: Downsides to a Roth IRA conversion

Last week’s column focused on the new 2010 tax law that permits universal Roth IRA conversions and its advantages. Let’s call it the “Roth IRA conversions for all” rule. Still, that doesn’t mean this tax-planning strategy is for everyone.

Something missing? Maybe you need more than color

By this time of year, you probably have planted some new perennials for color in your garden. But if you look around and still feel something is missing, the answer may be that your landscape needs more than color.

Cougar boys run for league title; Falcons close behind

Despite heat in the mid- to upper-90s as summer winds down, the high school cross country teams in the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley have a plentiful crop of runners out for the 2009 season. Both teams have about 50 members, and each has aspirations of running in the state championship meet in late fall.

Datebook

Saturday, May 21

Valley neighbors: Retired firefighter reflects on rescue

Dave Churchill, a retired firefighter, has had many close calls in his life.

Plain Talk About Food: Spatchcocking a Chicken

Mention to anyone that you are serving Spatchcocked Chicken for dinner and the ladies will blush, the men will frown and the children will giggle.

San Lorenzo Valley Museum names Rios as 2024 Artist-in-Residence

Artist-in-Residence Bailey Rios
Artist Bailey Rios has been named the San Lorenzo Valley Museum’s 2024 Artist-in-Residence.  Rios is an oil painter, born in Walnut Creek, Calif., in 2002. He received his BA in studio art from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2024. Throughout his undergraduate experience,...

Sports Roundup: SV’s girls cross country takes third at Ram Invitational

Scotts Valley Sophomore Ashlyn Boothby won race No. 1 to help the Falcons cross country team take third place at the 2.6-mile Ram Invitational at Westmoor High on Sept. 25. Boothby, the defending Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League champion, finished in 15 minutes, 40 seconds...

The Baymonte Christian School One Lap Marathon

Mrs. Fernald, the PE Teacher at Baymonte Christian School, organized a one lap marathon for students, family members, and a dog, on April 3rd.  Students at Baymonte Christian, from kindergarten through 6th grade, joined together for this fun, safe, and healthy activity.  In order to promote social distancing at the event, participants were instructed to remain in their cars until they were told to run a lap, by themselves, or accompanied by family members, while adequately spaced staff cheered them on.  Mrs. Fernald recalled the faculty meeting about four weeks ago at Baymonte, when they were informed of going virtual.  “Our principal told us we’d be transitioning to a distant learning model.  My heart immediately sank.  I had so much planned in the spring, like Presidential Fitness and track and field day.”  During the meeting, Steve Patterson, the principal asked his teachers what they could do to overcome their newest obstacle.  Fernald says, “It came to me immediately.” She summarized her idea to the attendees, “We’ll host a one lap marathon!  Parents drive their kids up, their kids or their family get out, run a timed lap, get back in the car, and drive off.” Mr. Patterson had an “extremely supportive response.  If you dream it, he’ll say go for it.  He makes my job fun and easy.”  Since that meeting, Fernald has been planning the marathon, alongside other teachers, Patterson, and the office manager, Leslie Rapolla, who “made awesome signs. The signage was huge.  It needed to be organized and everyone needed to know what to do when they came, to maintain a safe environment.” Fernald also reached out to local law enforcement, to double check safety procedures during the event.  Captain Wilson, of the Scotts Valley Police Department, gave a resounding “Yes!” and added, “The Santa Cruz County Health directive tells us to get out and exercise in a healthy manner.  This is perfect!” On April 3rd, Fernald and the other teachers of Baymonte Christian were so excited to see the long line of cars, “being distant during learning, you can’t see the kids.  I miss them… Everyone had to remind themselves to not hug and stay at their assigned cones.  I, and a few others, almost cried to be able to see our kids and give them lots of support as they ran around the track.  What amazing confidence we’re pouring into these kids, after all the negativity they’ve been exposed to in the news.” Overall, the event was a huge success, with 113 runners, and a family dog.  To virtually experience and hear about the award winners, check out:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY4NRsdqzkU&t=184s.  The 1st-3rd place winners were each rewarded with an amazon gift card, to give the older kids “a little incentive.”  Fernald was so pleased with the turn out as she feels, “a sense of responsibility to keep kids healthy during this time.  We already have a huge problem with childhood obesity.  I want to motivate them in a positive way for the benefit of them. There’s so many video games, TV shows, movies, and so much screen time.  I just want the kids to get out and have fun.  If there’s anything I can do to promote positivity, getting out and exercising, I’ll do it.”Fernald’s socially distanced creativity does not stop with the marathon!  She’s putting together a drive-in movie night for the school and has started her own YouTube Channel.  PE TODAY! With Mrs Fernald suggests new activities and exercises for kids, alongside the Baymonte mascot Leo the Lion and a new theme each video. You can subscribe or view her videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeFw-O9n9zVNCcZ-HzwceSA.

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Measure Q gets underway with citizen oversight, funding allocation

With the overwhelming approval of Measure Q, formally known as the “Santa Cruz County Safe Drinking Water, Clean Beaches, Wildfire Risk Reduction and Wildlife...