Courtyard Connections
News-Bytes

For the past two early mornings, I have heard someone in the bushes next to Unit 120, and another unhoused woman wandering in the courtyard. Other residents have seen people trespassing on our property after dark as well.

As a reminder, many unhoused individuals use drugs and are often unpredictible. Instead of confronting someone, it is best to call the Santa Cruz Police Department non-emergency line (831) 471-1131.
If you feel threatened, or it is an emergecy, call 9-1-1

Another way to deter trespassers on our property is to leave your front porch light ON at night. This will help illuminate the courtyard and your front entry area. Illuminated areas are less likely to have people sneeking around.

Be Smart and Be Safe!

10-1-25 - Ocean Street Traffic Survey

Ocean Street Neighbors Unite to Slow Traffic on Ocean St.

See the website and results of 63 neighbors who responded to the local survey.

LINK

Recipe
Lemon Squares

Prep Time:

20 mins
Cook Time:

50 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 10 mins

Servings:

Yield:

1 (9x13-inch) pan

Ingredients:
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter, melted
4 large eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup all-purpose flour
⅝ cup lemon juice

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
Grease a 9x13-inch pan.
Stir 2 cups flour and confectioners' sugar together in a medium bowl; blend in melted butter.
Press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 15 minutes.
Beat eggs in a large bowl until lighter in color.
Mix sugar, baking powder, and 1/4 cup of flour in a separate bowl until smooth with no lumps.
Stir sugar mixture into eggs.
Finally, stir in lemon juice.
Pour mixture over prepared crust and return to the oven.
Bake for an additional 30 minutes or until bars are set.
Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.

Enjoy!

7/7/25 -
Warning Neighbors...
Recent Auto-Gas Theft!

July 7, 2025

BEWARE... recently some of the cars parked on Jewell Street were found to have had gasoline syphoned from the gas tank over night. Residents may want to consider investing in a locking gas cap to make it more difficult to steel your car's gas. Report any suspicious activities around our community to the SCPD by calling 911, if it is an emergency, or call the non-emergency line at (831) 471-1131.

2024

2024
👻 Haloween in the Courtyard! 🎃

10/16/24 - Red Flag Wildfire Warming

Red Flag Fire Warning

October 17, 2024

The National Weather Service has posted a Red Flag Warning for the northern part of Santa Cruz County from 11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. The forecast includes offshore winds in the 25-35 mph range, with gusts up to 65 mph across the highest peaks. The warning also extends to neighboring Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Benito counties and most of Monterey County.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire conditions are likely or imminent. Critical conditions include low humidity, strong winds, and dry fuels and could result in fires starting more easily and the potential to spread rapidly.

Wildfire poses a serious and potentially devastating threat to our campus. Wildfire safety is a shared responsibility among students, staff, and faculty.

As a reminder, burning is not permitted at UC Santa Cruz without the explicit approval of the Designated Campus Fire Marshal. During a Red Flag Warning, remember:

Don't use any source of heat or open flame outdoors, including cooking, power tools, or mowers.
Don't smoke outdoors.
Avoid driving or parking in dry grass or vegetation.
Keep your devices charged in case of a Public Safety Power Shut Off.
Check vehicles for any dangling/damaged components that contact the road when driving.

If you see any fire activity, report it immediately by calling 9-1-1.

Keep in touch with local officials for the most up-to-date information.

10/15/24 - Santa Cruz County - Prescribed Burns

Santa Cruz County

Dear Residents,

As we transition from fire season into our winter rainy
season our state and local partners will be shifting into prescribed fire
season. Beneficial fires can help keep landscapes healthy and prevent the
spread of larger wildfires, but they also can cause concern among residents who
are unaware that prescribed burns are happening.

The goal of a prescribed fire is to reduce catastrophic
wildfire potential by reducing hazardous ladder fuels from the forest
understory, restoring natural ecosystems, clearing downed or dead trees and
debris, and diversifying wildlife habitats. To help inform the public about the
purpose and timing of local prescribed burns, the Santa Cruz County Office of
Response, Recovery & Resilience (OR3) has a helpful resource for residents.

To learn more about the science behind prescribed burns and the timing of any upcoming
prescribed burns visit:

https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/OR3/OR3PrescribedFireInformation.aspx

OR3 in collaboration with our City partners and Fire agencies have also added the ability to receive prescribed burn notifications via CruzAware the alert and warning system used by all jurisdictions. Residents are encouraged to sign up or sign in to their existing CruzAware account to choose to receive prescribed burn notices via email through CruzAware.

Visit https://cruzaware.org for more information.

Notifications will ONLY come via email for prescribed burn updates ONLY to those who sign up.

There is a Prescribed Fire SCHEDULED for TODAY – 10/15/2024

Near Jamison Creek Road and Empire Grade Road more info here: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Prescribed-Fire-Planned-for-Eagle-Rock-Area-in-Santa-Cruz-County.html?soid=1134934685173&aid=kDocpU9K_LI

Thank you, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to: cruzaware@santacruzcountyca.gov

As a reminder, burning is not permitted at UC Santa Cruz without the explicit approval of the Designated Campus Fire Marshal. During a Red Flag Warning, remember:

Don't use any source of heat or open flame outdoors, including cooking, power tools, or mowers.
Don't smoke outdoors.
Avoid driving or parking in dry grass or vegetation.
Keep your devices charged in case of a Public Safety Power Shut Off.
Check vehicles for any dangling/damaged components that contact the road when driving.

If you see any fire activity, report it immediately by calling 9-1-1.

Keep in touch with local officials for the most up-to-date information.

9/8/24 - Wine Down Friday

7/27/24 - Wine Down Saturday

It was another beautiful afternoon for a friendly neighborhood gathering. A nice turn-out with yummy food and drinks, engaging conversations, and some tiny visitors!

Say cheese!

See you next time...

WineDown 7/27/24

Tiny (beetle) visitor

Tiny (man) visitor

7/23/24 - Yet Another Accident on Ocean Street near Jewell St.

On June 13, 2024, overnight or early morning, a car coming down Graham Hill Road was being driven too fast to make the curve, and drove onto the sidewalk, taking out about 50 ft of cemetery fencing and snapped a power pole, leaving the top part of the pole dangling by the power lines. The location of this accident is just up and across the street from Jewell St and our Villa Granada community, where many of us, and other community neighbors walk to get to the amazing Ocean Street Extension, or downtown.

This is the fifth accident in the same general area ,do to people driving too fast, that has taken place in the past two years. Three of the five accidents ,that I am aware of, have resulted in the driver losing coltrol of the car and driving onto the sidewalk where pedestrians regularly walk.

A few weeks ago, I called the police department records department to requested records of traffic accidents on Ocean Street between the Hwy 1 overpass and Graham Hill Road over the past two years. I have yet to receive this report, but when I do, my intention is to approach the City Council, City Manager, and the Public Works department to finally DO something about this to help ensure that our streets (and sidewalks) are safer for pedestrias and cyclists!

My suggestions are as follows:

Conduct a traffic study to see how fast traffic is driving up and down Graham Hill from Ocean Street.
Station a traffic officer at the corner to start issuing speeding tickets to get the word out.
Install a flashing cross-walk to cross Ocean Street @ Jewell St. w/ buttons on each side of Ocean St.
Re-paint the cross walk lines and curbs to make it more apparent.
Install new, bright, tall, and reflective delineator posts along the curve and along the sidewalk where at least three cars have driven up onto the sidewalk.
Install a flashing sign on Graham Hill that indicates the speed limit, and possibly shows the actual speed of traffic.
Possibly install a guard rail along the sidewalk to prevent cars from crossing the sidewalk and to make it safer for pedestrians.
Open to your suggestions!

I need your help to get the powers that be to listen to a community, rather than just me.

I am planning to create a web form so that neighbors in Villa Granada, and the several other condos and rental homes in our two or three block area can weigh in. The more people we can get to demand safety improvements, the more likely we can all be safer walking down the sidewalk in our own neighborhood!

Stay tuned, as I will update you once I receive the report from the Police Department.

Thank you,

Paul (122)

View from Graham Hill Rd side

Damage to fencing

Tire Tracks
Crossing the sidewalk and destroying fencing

Recipe - Avocado with Grapedruit and Sweet Onion Salsa

Avocado with grapefruit and Sweet-Onion Salsa

SERVES 4

Cut avocados just before serving

to keep them from discoloring.

2 pink grapefruits

1 cup finely chopped sweet onion

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Coarse salt (to taste)

2 avocados, cut in half, pitted and peeled

1. Cut off both ends of grapefruits, and

remove the peel, pith, and outer

membranes, following the curve of the fruit

with a paring knife. Working over a bowl

to catch the juices, use the knife to care-

fully slice between the sections and

membranes of each grapefruit to remove

the segments.

Slice each grapefruit

segment into small pieces, and set aside.

2. Place onion in a small bowl.

Squeeze remaining juice from grapefruit

membranes over onions, and let stand 20

minutes to soften.

Pour off and discard

juice, and add grapefruit segments and

cilantro. Add enough reserved grape-

fruit juice to moisten.

Season with salt.

To serve, place 3 to 4 tablespoons on

each of the avocado halves.

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Courtyard Connections News-Bytes

2025

10/24/25 - Recycle Right!

10/13/25 - Suspicious Neighborhood Activity 👀