It's True - Laughter is Strong Medicine
by Casey Beyer, Chamber CEO
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It’s true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner.
On Friday, August 14 at 7 pm, the Santa Cruz County Chamber and DNA Comedy Lab will co-host a webinar entitled Stress is a Laughing Matter -You can find the registration link here.
For the past six months we have lived in a stressful work, home and community environment as we shelter in place, wear a face covering and follow social distancing protocols — all in an effort to stop the spread of this dreaded coronavirus disease. Every day since March 12, I wake up with anxiety trying to muster the energy to battle forward with a positive strategy to help businesses get back on their feet. It is a non-stop effort to help them educate their employees, work with the chamber’s business partners and the community to seek some sort of normalcy. And the next day is just like yesterday — a repeat.
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Stress is a Laughing Matter
at DNA's Virtual Comedy Lab
Friday, August 14, 2020 7:00 PM
Join us for a happy hour comedy event where you'll not only be entertained, but you'll learn how you can intentionally use comedy & humor to decrease your stress during these challenging times! With a mix of side-splitting humor & actionable strategies for reducing stress, it's the perfect event to gather your remote teams & colleagues for a morale boosting get together to end the week!
Feature Act: Emily Van Dyke
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Urgency Ordinance for Health Order Violations Passes
Responding to increasing infection rates and hospitalizations due to COVID-19, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an urgency ordinance implementing infractions for violations of a state or local health order.
The ordinance allows law enforcement officers or designated administrative staff to issue citations rather than penalize violations through misdemeanors, which carry fines of $1,000 and up to six months in jail. The citations will result in fines of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense and $500 for a third within a calendar year, and is effective immediately.
The ordinance covers all aspects of state and local public health orders, including the local order to wear face coverings. Residents are urged to continue to wear face coverings, maintain physical distancing, avoid gathering in groups outside your household, and practice safe hygiene including washing your hands with soap and water frequently.
English and Spanish versions of local health orders can be found on the
The County’s primary objective continues to be educating individuals on health order requirements. The lower level of enforcement allows law enforcement officers and administrative staff to support community health and safety by quickly addressing situations without escalating them into court cases or arrests.
The new ordinance applies only in unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County. Any enforcement within cities is subject to future action by local jurisdictions.
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Blue Check Sign Program Launches
The County of Santa Cruz is pleased to announce the launch of a new program designed to protect the health and safety of the community by providing a public health endorsement to businesses following safer health and safety practices.
A collaboration between the Public Health Division and the Office for Economic Development, the Blue Check Program is a voluntary program giving businesses that follow public health guidelines for staff and customers, signage endorsing their operations. Participating businesses will be given a unique “COVID-19 SAFER, Blue Check” display to post near entrances.
“The Blue Check Program is a way to support local businesses while protecting public health,” Economic Development Director Andy Constable said. “Local businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and customers want reassurances that business owners are looking out for them before returning to the marketplace. This program helps provide that comfort by assuring businesses follow the best medical advice to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
Businesses joining the Blue Check Program attest that they follow basic Social Distancing Protocols, including the use of face coverings, enforcement of physical distancing, limits on the number of customers in a store, disinfection of shared equipment and more.
The guidelines have been adapted from a former requirement for essential businesses known as Appendix A. With the expiration of local shelter-in-place orders, posting Appendix A is no longer required – however, the Blue Check Program continues voluntary compliance with the public health principles of Appendix A while offering customers additional information regarding the safety of individual businesses.
The program is voluntary and open to all Santa Cruz County businesses. Complaints about non-compliance with participating businesses should be emailed to bluecheck@santacruzcounty.us.
Businesses can obtain the sign via the Office for Economic Development website, www.sccvitality.org.
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New Member Spotlight: Lookout Local
Lookout Local, a network of mobile-first, editorially robust, intensely local media outlets, will launch its first site in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA – August 6, 2020—Lookout Local (www.lookoutlocal.com) makes communities better. Today, Lookout Local announces its first site, Lookout Santa Cruz, to be launched later this year.
“We’re bullish on our communities, believing life and democracy start at home, and must be supported by a new, higher standard of trustworthy, non-partisan local news and information,” said Ken Doctor, CEO and founder of Lookout.
“We believe that while the global Internet business is based on scale, local news will be rebuilt on the solid foundation of multiple, authentic relationships. Our members and civic and marketing partners will both enjoy a new relationship with Lookout, with the wider community and with each other. We are thrilled to be able to demonstrate this new model in such a turbulent time of social change and multiple community needs, and see it as an unprecedented opportunity. We believe that Santa Cruz County, and many places like Santa Cruz County, deserve the ability to vigorously support vital local news enterprises, and we will continue to talk with them as we build and launch Lookout Santa Cruz.”
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Monterey, CA, August 4, 2020 – Laura Williamson, for nearly 25 years a senior sales executive at KCRA-TV and KQCA-TV, Hearst Television’s NBC and MyNetworkTV duopoly serving the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, California, television market, has been named president and general manager of KSBW-TV, Central Coast ABC (CC ABC) and Estrella Costa Central–the company’s NBC, digital ABC and Estrella TV subchannels serving the Monterey-Salinas, California, television market.
Williamson, whose appointment is effective September 8, 2020, succeeds Joseph W. Heston, who recently announced plans to retire after more than three decades with Hearst Television.
“Laura has been instrumental in the growth of our Sacramento duopoly,” said Hearst Television President Jordan Wertlieb. “A native Californian, her familiarity with the region and her management experience at one of the nation’s leading local stations make her ideally suited to work with the outstanding team in Monterey in achieving even greater success.”
“Laura’s track record of success and her engagement in the business and civic communities in our state’s capital make her a wonderful fit for leading KSBW, CC ABC and Estrella Costa Central,” Heston said. “I look forward to working with Laura in her transition to the Central Coast.”
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President and Chief Executive Officer David Heald
to Retire from Santa Cruz County Bank
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SANTA CRUZ, CA – August 1, 2020: Santa Cruz County Bank (OTC Pink: SCZC), with assets over $1 billion, is a top rated community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz County. Today the Bank announced the retirement of David Heald as President and Chief Executive Officer of Santa Cruz County Bank. Mr. Heald will continue to serve as President and CEO until his successor is identified.
Chairman William J. Hansen stated, “Today we announce the retirement of David Heald as our President and CEO of Santa Cruz County Bank. David has navigated through several unprecedented challenges including the collapse of the real estate market in 2008 and most recently the current Covid-19 Pandemic. Throughout all of these challenges David’s leadership has resulted in Santa Cruz County Bank being recognized nationally as a top performing community bank. We have been fortunate to have had David at the helm of Santa Cruz County Bank for the past fourteen years. David’s banking knowledge and experience, from a career spanning 48 years, has been instrumental in the growth and success of the Bank.”
David Heald, Pres./CEO remarked, “I’ve had the privilege of working beside the most dedicated, committed and talented leadership team whom I hold in the highest esteem and owe an enormous amount of gratitude. Throughout my career I’ve been blessed with long close relationships I will cherish and keep forever. I will truly miss my Bank family, all of whom I am extremely proud. My years with Santa Cruz County Bank are the highlights of a long satisfying career in banking. Everyone in the community has been wonderful to me and we could not have built our Bank without the support of so many of you. I thank the Board of Directors for the opportunity and confidence in me to lead the organization for the last 14 years. It has been a most satisfying experience to build a locally and nationally highly ranked and respected community financial institution together. I look forward to continuing my community involvement.”
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Santa Cruz's Historic Chaminade Resort & Spa
Completes Multi-Million Dollar Transformation
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Santa Cruz, CA (August 4, 2020) –Considered one of Santa Cruz’s premier, luxury destination resorts with breathtaking views of Monterey Bay, the 156-room Chaminade Resort & Spa is celebrating the completion of an extensive, $10 million transformation.
To restore the integrity of the beloved property’s1930’s iconic Spanish Revival architecture, the property’s public spaces including a new arrival experience, spacious lobby, signature restaurant and lounge with spectacular views, the expansive outdoors and firepit areas as well as its 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space, provided an ideal canvas to renew the spirit and heritage of Chaminade’s endearing legacy.
The new design elements emphasize a Spanish-modern aesthetic that comes through with bold, colorful tiles and features that embrace the property’s heritage as seen in the Spanish arches and exposed decorative wood beams. Upon entering the lobby, an impressive grand entry stairway is accented with bold tiles and warm woods with a towering, arched glass ceiling above that showcases the beautiful California sky.
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809 Center Street, Room 10, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 • (831) 420-5010
City Implements Temporary Park Closures and Program Cancellations Due to COVID-19
Starting August 7, the City of Santa Cruz will be closing some facilities and canceling some programs for the fall 2020 season.
“Due to the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parks and Recreation Department has seen a temporary reduction in staffing levels. The department is examining how best to deploy our existing resources given this reduction. We will be focusing our efforts on facilities and programs allowed to run under State guidelines,” Director of Parks and Recreation Tony Elliot said.
Temporary closures and cancellations for the fall 2020 season currently include:
- Athletics and leagues
- Community events and special events scheduled for the Civic Auditorium
- Lower DeLaveaga Park and George Washington Grove
- Laurel Park
Park restrooms will be replaced by portable restrooms and hand-washing stations at Grant Park, San Lorenzo Park, Frederick St. Park, Ocean View Park, Neary Lagoon, and Garfield Park.
The Civic Auditorium and Louden Nelson Community Center will also remain closed for public programs. The department is exploring possibilities to be repurposed to provide much-needed additional space for government activities, childcare, or homelessness response during the pandemic. Additionally, the San Lorenzo Park Benchlands will be closed to the general public but will continue to function as a managed encampment for individuals experiencing homelessness in partnership with Santa Cruz County.
A full slate of online programming will continue to serve community members. The fall activity guide will be posted the week of August 10, and registration for classes begins August 17. Classes offered will primarily be virtual with a small number of in-person outdoor fitness classes for adults. For more information, visit santacruzparksandrec.com.
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Santa Cruz County Chamber Events
Save The Date!
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These upcoming Chamber events will remain on the Chamber events calendar as tentative subject to public health officer protocols, social distancing and face coverings. If COVID-19 does not allow for safe and healthy conditions, the events will be postponed to a future date. |
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Offering Support To Our Members! |
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During this time of crisis, we want to help you and your business! We would like to offer to all current Chamber members an opportunity to be featured on our Social Media platforms.
Please send us any information on how your business is operating during these times, whether it’s how you are maintaining operations with new health/safety guidelines, new products/services you are offering to help the community members operate during this time, promotions you are offering, etc. We want to help you notify the community you are here and operating during these times.
Please email any information you would like us to publicize to
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