Valley People

Valley People
 
Firefighter, officer of year named in SV
ScottsValleyparamedic and firefighter Armando Cortes and Scotts Valley Police Department Detective Brandon Polito have been named firefighter and police officer of the year by the Scotts Valley Exchange Club.
Cortes was honored in part for performing CPR on an 88-year-old man during a concert atBaymonteChristianSchool. He lives inScottsValleywith his wife, Gretchen, and their three daughters, Angelina, 10, Marissa, 8, and Sophia, 5.
Polito was successful in closing a number of cases inScottsValley. He also volunteered for the Junior Police Academy and coached a Police Activity League youth football team.
Cade Gillen, 12, Jonathan Schulze, 10, and Galina Lee Cantey, 14, won gold medals at the State 4-H Field Day in Davis on May 26.
The three members of theScottsValley4-H Club participated in the beginning guitar project led by Mindy Gillen. Their guitar presentation included each member demonstrating skills learned during the project, including parts of the guitar, three chords and strumming. The group then performed a song, with the audience singing along.
Galina, the junior leader for the guitar and ukulele projects, was excited about the gold medals and noted that the new 4-H year begins July 1. All school-aged kids can join the club.
Activities such as archery, quilting, woodworking, cheese making, emergency preparedness, knitting, ukulele and guitar are part of the club. The goal is to build confidence and learn responsibility through participation.
For information:

4H************@gm***.com











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SV alumnus graduates with doctorate
William G.M. Vance, a 2003 Scotts Valley High School graduate, graduated May 25 with his doctorate in physical therapy fromSamuelMerrittUniversityinOakland. Vance attended Cabrillo College before transferring toSan DiegoStateUniversity, where he received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and pre-physical therapy.
Vance is the son of Priscilla and Craig Higgins of Aptos and William Vance andChristina Amate ofMartinez; and grandson of Patricia and Ron Vance and the late Bessie and Lester Spinner. He is engaged to Tristyn Khouri ofWalnut Creek.
Local sisters announce career plan, further studies
ScottsValley’s Caitlin Brigham is graduating fromUniversityofCalifornia,Santa Cruzwith a degree in early-modern literature and a minor in education. Brigham has been accepted as a tutor and teacher atMatchSchoolinBostonand will begin her work there in August.
Her sister Laurel Brigham will participate in theUniversityofCalifornia, San Diego Global Environmental Leadership and Sustainability program at Biosphere 2 inArizona, where she will attend classes and conduct research this summer.