Community members host Gratitude Picnic for Hwy 17 workers
Traveling on Hwy 17 this winter was a nightmare for many commuters. The main thoroughfare through the Santa Cruz mountains was hit hard with massive mud slides, downed trees, closed lanes, accidents and traffic backed up for miles.
“I got stuck one day for about three and a half hours,” said John Stimmer of Santa Cruz. “So it wasn’t too bad for me I guess. There were other people who have been worse off than I.”
To thank all of the crews who responded, repaired and cleaned up the heavily traveled highway, community members organized a Gratitude Picnic for Hwy 17 Workers.
“I was stuck in one of those traffic jams for four hours and looking at the people working and getting the roads cleaned up, and I thought man I wish I could feed those people right now,” said picnic organizer Erin Buchla.
At the picnic in Scotts Valley Skypark, crew members were treated to a hearty bar be que and dessert, live entertainment, massages and raffle prizes.
“This is such a great thing, that they’ve come together to show appreciation to everyone that worked through that horrible winter season,” said Trista Drake with the California Highway Patrol.
“It’s important to meet and greet and everyone gets to know each other,” said Luke Duncan with the Scotts Valley Fire Department. “A lot of times people don’t realize what we do.”
There is also a fund for Bobby gill, a Graniterock construction worker who lost his life while working to help clear a mudslide on Hwy 17.
“It’s really heartwarming to see the support for him and what happened out on Hwy 17 this winter,” said Shanna Crigger, Graniterock Director of Communications. “Very tragic accident and something that we still feel very sad about at Graniterock.”
Event coordinators told KION even though the chaos is over on Hwy 17, they hope the spirit of appreciation continues.
“Maybe this would inspire people to go out there and have gratitude and be thankful for everybody that makes their life a little easier on the daily basis,” said Buchla.
The event costs about 5,000 to put on, which was all raised through donations.
