Times Publishing Group, Inc.

06/17/2025

SUMMER IS KICKING OFF HOT AND THE 4TH OF JULY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, READ OUR PARADE PROGRAM!

Grand Marshals • Letter From the Aptos Chamber President • Parade Participation Information • Aptos Parade Map • Aptos Chamber of Commerce Sponsors &

06/03/2025

Capitola-Soquel Times is pleased to recognize the eight Soquel High School valedictorians and the two salutatorians for their hard work that put them at the top of the Class of 2025.
At Soquel High, salutatorians are students with only one B during their four years.
Soquel High School hosted the Senior Awards Ceremony on May 22, presenting awards and scholarships to the top graduating seniors, the multicultural celebration May 23 and the graduation ceremony May 30. One valedictorian was camera-shy.
Some of the valedictorians shared their future plans:
Matthew Hofmann
Parents: Sophia Lee and Ralf Hofmann
What will you do after you graduate? College?
I am going to Georgia Tech
Do you have a major in mind?
I am going to pursue Material Science Engineering
What activities did you participate in at Soquel High?
I did AP classes and was a teacher assistant for the library
What will you remember most about Soquel High?
Mr. Matt Bruner is the best teacher.

06/03/2025

The Aptos Times is pleased to recognize the two Aptos High School valedictorians; Benjamin Baker and Zia Wang, and the three salutatorians; Sophie Cornish, Natasha Newcombe and Pax Young, for their hard work that put them at the top of their class in 2024.
The graduation ceremony is Thursday, June 5, 5 p.m. at Cabrillo College.
Here the top students share their post-graduation plans and memories of Aptos High:

Valedictorians
Benjamin Baker
Parents: John and Rachelle Baker
What will you do after you graduate?
This summer I want to spend quality time with my family and friends before I have to leave in the fall for college.
There’s also some good books and movies I haven’t had a chance to get to, so it’ll be nice to go through those over the break.
College you plan to attend?
University of California, Berkeley
Do you have a major in mind?
Cognitive science
What activities did you participate in at Aptos High?

The Aptos Times is pleased to recognize the two Aptos High School valedictorians; Benjamin Baker and Zia Wang, and the three salutatorians; Sophie Cornish, Nata

06/03/2025

The Scotts Valley Times is pleased to recognize Scotts Valley High School valedictorian Brent Kong and salutatorians Ian Jory and Sofia Niklaus for their hard work that put them at the top of their class in 2025.
Here they share their post-graduation plans and memories of Scotts Valley High:

Valedictorian
Brent Kong
Parents: Julius Kong, Nancy Leung
What will you do after you graduate? College? Do you have a major in mind?
I plan on attending the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) as an applied and computational mathematics major. I will also be swimming for Caltech.
What activities did you participate in at Scotts Valley High?
I am a full IB Diploma candidate. Additionally, I am the captain of the Varsity Swim Team, founder and president of the Math Club, and co-founder and vice president of the Red Cross Club.

The Scotts Valley Times is pleased to recognize Scotts Valley High School valedictorian Brent Kong and salutatorians Ian Jory and Sofia Niklaus for their hard w

06/03/2025

This year, the Cabrillo College graduating class — the 66th — is 1,599 students strong.
This is among the largest graduating classes in Cabrillo’s history.

Graduates received their degrees as is customary at an in-person graduation ceremony Friday, May 30, at Carl Conely Stadium in Aptos.
The ceremony included the first graduating class of apprentices in Cabrillo’s history.
In addition, more than 361 graduates and non-graduates will transfer to four-year universities.
This year, Cabrillo awards 1,287 A.A. degrees and 578 A.S. degrees, according to spokeswoman Kristin Fabos.
Some students graduated with more than one degree.
In addition, 365 students graduated with a unique degree offered by the California Community Colleges for transfer into the CSU system. Students who earn this degree and meet the California State University minimum eligibility requirements are guaranteed admission to a CSU.

This year, the Cabrillo College graduating class — the 66th — is 1,599 students strong. This is among the largest graduating classes in Cabrillo’s histor

06/03/2025

Continuing a tradition begun in 1977, the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League announces the 2024-2025 Male & Female Athletes-of-the-Year:
This year the male athlete is Eli Fitchen-Young from Santa Cruz High School. Two females tied for the honor, three-sport athletes Izzy Graff of Aptos High and Scotts Valley High School’s Claire Skinner.
In the 48 years of this award, there have been only three previous ties (1994, 2019, and 2024). This is thesecond time there has been a girls tie.
•••

Claire Skinner
Scotts Valley
A 3-sport athlete, Claire was the SCCAL co-MVP in Flag Football, a 1st-team All-SCCAL selection in basketball, and a 1st-team All-PCAL selection in lacrosse.
Her Flag Football and Basketball teams were SCCAL team champs, and the Scotts Valley lacrosse team was the only Santa Cruz County team to make the CCS playoffs.
Claire will attend Azusa Pacific University next year.

Continuing a tradition begun in 1977, the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League announces the 2024-2025 Male & Female Athletes-of-the-Year: This year the male a

06/03/2025

By Jondi Gumz
For the past five years, it has been the delight of my life to be editor of Aptos Times, Capitola-Soquel Times and Scotts Valley Times, curating a collection of news and information your community cares about, building up the Coastal Health & Wellness magazine and working for a rare local owner, Patrice Edwards.
However, I feel I must step back to focus on my own health. I’ve been living with breast cancer since 2018, disappointed that two nodules returned despite the lumpectomy that year.

I’ve chosen the alternative holistic integrative path, no radiation or chemo, healthy food choices, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, zinc, melatonin, pancreatic enzymes, PectaSol, which has given me great quality of life to spend with my grandchildren, who are now 8, 7, 3, and 2.
In March, the respiratory virus RSV knocked me for a loop, left me with coughing fits for which I’ve tried every remedy, in vain.

By Jondi Gumz For the past five years, it has been the delight of my life to be editor of Aptos Times, Capitola-Soquel Times and Scotts Valley Times, curating

06/03/2025

John Postovit, teacher at Scotts Valley High School, and Minc Robinson Brooker, education specialist at Pajaro Valley High School, share the 2025 Santa Cruz County Educator of the Year Award..
Their work exemplifies the values of equity, service, and excellence.
•••
John Postovit began his teaching career in 1992 following work in the night vision goggle industry. Over the years, he has taught physics and every level of high school math, from pre-algebra to calculus and differential equations, in King City, Carmel, and Scotts Valley.
He has been a faculty member at Scotts Valley High School since 2009, where he currently teaches two levels of physics and International Baccalaureate Math Higher Level.
He also serves as the school’s IB Coordinator and WASC Accreditation Coordinator.

John Postovit, teacher at Scotts Valley High School, and Minc Robinson Brooker, education specialist at Pajaro Valley High School, share the 2025 Santa Cruz Cou

06/03/2025

By Jondi Gumz
During closed session of the May 8 City Council meeting, Capitola Vice Mayor Alexander Pedersen resigned, according to Mayor Joe Clarke, who provided no further information.
Pedersen’s departure left a seat on the dais open, and Council Member Margaux Morgan moved into that chair next to the mayor.

Pedersen also represented Capitola on the 11-member Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, which has been pushing an ambitious and not fully funded countywide Rail Trail project requiring demolition of Capitola’s historic Trestle.
The resignation came as Capitola-Soquel Times was investigating a claim by Concerned Citizens of Capitola that Pedersen had purchased a single-family home in Santa Cruz in February and was living there with his wife.

By Jondi Gumz During closed session of the May 8 City Council meeting, Capitola Vice Mayor Alexander Pedersen resigned, according to Mayor Joe Clarke, who prov

06/03/2025

Aptos High School Valedictorians & Salutatorians • Cabrillo College — 1,599 Graduates: New Program Graduates 11 Apprentices • PVUSD Students of the Year • Community Foundation Awards 47 Scholarships • Paula Rocha-Meza, Aptos High Scholarship Winner • Excitement Builds for Cabrillo’s ‘Sweeny Todd’ • Educators of the Year: John Postovit, Minc Robinson Brooker • Dear Readers, I Will Miss You!, By Jondi Gumz • SCCAL Athletes-of-the-Year: Izzy Graff • Eli Fitchen-Young • Claire Skinner • Aptos High Wins Pat Lovell Award • Local Track Athletes Going to State • Evie Marheineke Wins Scholarship • Curves Aptos: Fitness, Friendship & Community With Heart, By Heidi Johnston • Sandcastle Toys: Hands-On, Heirloom Quality, Photos and Story By Heidi Johnston … and much more!

 Aptos High School Valedictorians & Salutatorians • Cabrillo College — 1,599 Graduates: New Program Graduates 11 Apprentices • PVUSD Students

06/03/2025

Soquel High School Valedictorians & Salutatorians • Capitola Vice Mayor Alex Pedersen Resigns: His Eligibility Questioned after He Bought Santa Cruz Home, By Jondi Gumz • CASA: New Advocates for Children in Foster Care & Juvenile Justice • Bay Fed Employees Raise $15K for Local Nonprofits • County Fair Entry Guide is Online • Rep. Jimmy Panetta Announces Six Local Nominees to the U. S.

 Soquel High School Valedictorians & Salutatorians • Capitola Vice Mayor Alex Pedersen Resigns: His Eligibility Questioned after He Bought Santa

06/03/2025

Scotts Valley High Valedictorian & Salutatorians • Educators of the Year: John Postovit, Minc Robinson Brooker • Excitement Builds for Cabrillo Stage’s ‘Sweeny Todd’ • Community Foundation Awards 47 Scholarships • Hwy 1 Chanticleer Walkway Bridge Ribbon Cutting, By Jondi Gumz • Cops ‘N Rodders Classic Car Show: Register your 1995 or Older Classic Car Today! • Member Spotlight: Earthwise Pet • Calendar of Upcoming Community Events • 2024 Scotts Valley Community Awards Gala • Scotts Valley Exchange Club Honors 2024 Police Employee and Firefighter of the Year • Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Athletes-of-the-Year: Claire Skinner • Eli Fitchen-Young • Izzy Graff • Local Track Athletes Going to State • Evie Marheineke Wins Scholarship • Aptos High Wins Pat Lovell Award • Dear Readers, I Will Miss You!, By Jondi Gumz … and much more!

 Scotts Valley High Valedictorian & Salutatorians • Educators of the Year: John Postovit, Minc Robinson Brooker • Excitement Builds for Cabrill