Excerpts From the Past

Some Favorite Articles From The Last 25 Years

Awesome Fireworks Display to Benefit Schools (1996)
By Stacy Fisher

Spectacular events are sometimes accompanied by extraordinary people. Marc Monte of Deluxe Foods of Aptos is one such person. Together with countless Aptos neighbors and residents of Santa Cruz County, Marc and his family still maintain that spirit of community. Community is trust, supporting neighbors doing what’s right and respecting the rules. But just as importantly – community is fun! And on October 12, the sky lights up in yet another extravaganza of sight and sound. What a great time of the year for fireworks! And all the proceeds going to benefit local schools.

Settlement Proposal Seeks Secession Solution (1997)
By Dick Little

It certainly doesn’t rank with ending the Arab-Israeli conflict in importance but the determination shown by both sides of the Aptos Secession movement indicates there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel after a group of politicians, secessionists and other “interested parties” announced they had agreed on a way to keep Aptos as part of the Pajaro Valley School District.

What is Your Ideal Way to Get Around! (1998)
By Dick Little

Aptos are residents made it clear where they stand on transportation alternatives, the Highway One Freeway needs to be widened and should be the first priority for funding. That information is from an open house sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Transportation Commission, at the Seacliff Inn. At the end of the Open House “votes” were counted – vehicle transportation was the clear winner.

A large crowd was on hand… talking to… Supervisors Walt Symons, Jan Beautz and Santa Cruz Councilman Mike Rotkin.

Top Honors For Aptos Community Members (2004)

The results are in! The Aptos Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the 2004 award recipients for the Man, Woman, Business, and Organization of the Year. The results are:

Men of the Year: Ted Burke and Bob Munsey • Woman of the Year: Claire Biancalana • Business of the Year: The Best Western/Seacliff Inn • Organization of the Year: The Rotary Club of Capitola/Aptos • Outstanding Achievement Awards: Save the Music and Senator Bruce McPherson.

New Sheriff Takes Over (2005)
By Noel Smith

After 26 years as a Sheriff’s Deputy, Steve Robbins was appointed as the Santa Cruz County Sheriff by the County Board of Supervisors on January 11, 2005 to serve out former Sheriff Mark Tracy’s term that expired Dec. 31, 2006.

Robbins, 54, of Aptos holds a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from San Jose State University and graduated from San Francisco Law School in 1976.

Tracy, a 33-veteran who headed the office for 10 years, retired because wants to spend more time with his family. Elected in 1994, Tracy replaced five-term sheriff Al Noren and ran unopposed in 1998.

Debate continues over former Aptos Par 3 site (2006)

Just because Standard Pacific has withdrawn its application for a housing project on the old Aptos Par 3 site doesn’t mean the debate is over about the future of the 13.5-acre property.

Not even close. Reportedly, South County Housing is interested in locating another partner for a combined market rate-affordable housing project on the site. Standard Pacific and South County Housing had been collaborating on the previously proposed 210-unit project, which would have included 40 percent affordable housing. And, the newly formed neighborhood group Save Open Space (SOS) is still looking for ways to keep the entire site zoned for open space and recreational uses. Among the options being floated by the group: placing a bond issue on the ballot to purchase the land for a park, a difficult proposition given the two-thirds approval requirement; and soliciting donations to purchase the land and donate it to the County, which would operate it as a nine-hole golf course.

County vs. Private School (2007)
By Noel Smith

The County Planning department has proposed a number of conditions that the Salesian K-8 School on Enos Lane in Corralitos must meet to continue operation.

The Salesian Sisters is the same Roman Catholic religious order that once had a girl’s school in the Porter Sesnon house on Soquel Drive in Aptos. That was until they were forced into selling the property to Cabrillo College and moving to Corralitos 30 years ago in 1975 under the threat of having their property taken through eminent domain so that the College could expand using the Porter Sesnon property.

The Salesian Sisters acquiesced and started over again on 55-plus acres on Enos Lane. At the time there were only two or three other residents along that private rural road. They began by building quarters for the sisters and then re-opened the school.

Aptos HS Student wins art contest (2009)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Alexander Werdmuller Von Elgg, a senior at Aptos High School, is the winner of the local division of the 28th annual Congressional Art Competition. His painting, titled “PROGRESS,” was judged best on Monday among the 23 entries presented in San Juan Bautista.

Alexander wins three round-trip tickets to Washington to attend a June 24 reception and a $1,500 renewable scholarship from the Savannah College of Art and Design. His painting will also be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year.

Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center Update (2012)
By Courtney Dimpel

The third design meeting held on August 22 yielded some interesting news. Safeway announced that they have hired the Small Business Development Center at Cabrillo College to help all the tenants at the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center to, “take look at their business plans” and “explore” lease options within the Center or elsewhere. According to SBDC Director Teresa Thomae, there is a lot they can do with the $50,000 Safeway has invested, and will be visiting every business in the Center in the coming weeks.

Safeway’s focus of the meeting was again the overall design, look and feel, and layout of the Center. Safeway architect Robert Lyman, who presented his updated drawings based on the feedback and input given in previous meetings led the discussion.

Some of the changes included “green walls,” to resemble the Aptos creek bed, and wooden stairs similar to the set leading down to Rio Del Mar beach. While the drawings were nice, they could not camouflage the proposed 60,0000 foot Safeway that will lay under the shops and stores on the second floor of the structure.